Global Hospitality News - ARCHIVE 2002

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News Archive for October, 2002

October 16 - 31, 2002

October 16, 2002

Desbaillets leaves Six Continents

After nearly a quarter of a century of working for and developing the Inter-Continental brand in Asia/Pacific, Daniel Desbaillets is understood to be taking early retirement from Six Continents Hotels.

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Bali will prove resilient again: Hubner

Director of Operations, Six Continents Hotels Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore Rolf Hubner, believes Bali's "remarkable resilience" will help pull it through the terrible tragedy of Saturday. Hubner, who lived in Bali for six years as general manager of the Bali Inter-Continental, said, "Such events have a traumatic effect on us all and will surely influence those who are planning a holiday right now and for some time to come.

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Bali incident: The Rational Tourist should not be afraid

The nightmare of Saturday's attack on a club in Bali will haunt the families and friends of the victims for years. It will also scare away thousands of prospective visitors, not just to the formerly peaceful island but to the entire Indonesian archipelago. And millions of people whose usual destinations are far from the butchery in Bali may decide a foreign holiday is a risk too far. If a tranquil isle can suffer such a grave attack, where in the world can be safe?

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Australia: Outbound will take bigger hit

Australia, which sustained the biggest loss of lives in the Bali bomb blast, will see the inevitable "short to mid term negative impact" on its inbound tourism given that Bali is a popular stopover for visitors to the continent. However, managing director of the Australian Tourist Commission, Ken Boundy, said the outbound market is likely to be more impacted than inbound.

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HVS Hospitality Enews Europe

For the latest hospitality update on Europe,Click Here

Tishman to run boutique hotel group

Tishman Hotel Corp. has taken over the management of five Manhattan boutique hotels, including The Shoreham in midtown and Hotel Wales on the Upper East Side.Tishman replaced Boutique Hotel Management Group, a Manhattan firm.

The five properties are owned by Credit Suisse First Boston and have been for sale for more than a year. The investment bank bought the hotels in 1998 from Bernard Goldberg, a noted local hotelier.

Douglas Dreher Named President of The Hotel Group, Inc.

Douglas N. Dreher has been appointed president of The Hotel Group, Inc. He will be responsible for the oversight of all managed and owned properties, new hotel development, acquisitions, and strategic planning.

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Johannesburg Seen as Africa's Tourism Mecca

Johannesburg is increasingly being viewed as the Singapore or Paris of Africa because of the business and shopping opportunities it offered, Environment Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa said yesterday. He was speaking at the release of SA Tourism's quarterly report, and said that SA was starting to show signs of living up to its tourism potential.

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October 17, 2002

Raffles Holdings net profit tumbles 94%

Hotel group Raffles Holdings said its first nine months' net profit tumbled 94 percent to about S$ 19 million. But the plunge is mainly because the previous nine months' net profit was boosted by a S$ 356 million exceptional gain from divesting the office and retail space of Raffles City.

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Host Marriott Loss Widens on Slowdown

Host Marriott Corp. the No. 1 U.S. hotel owner, on Wednesday reported a sharply wider third-quarter loss, hurt by a fall-off in business and leisure travel.

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World Tourism Organization condemns Bali attacks

The World Tourism Organization yesterday condemned, in the most vigorous terms possible, the recent attacks in Indonesia's island of Bali, a favourite tourist destination for numerous international visitors.

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PKF alliance with Cornell will produce studies to help improve bottom line for hotels

What makes some hotel companies more profitable than others? Do strategies for investing in employees actually improve a company's bottom line and, if so, which strategies do this best? Soon hoteliers will get answers to key questions like those and others affecting their profitability thanks to a new strategic alliance between the top hotel school in the United States and PKF Consulting, a firm that manages the most comprehensive proprietary database on the financial performance of U.S. hotels.

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PATA cancels Sustainable Tourism Conference which was scheduled to take place in Indonesia

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) today cancelled the 1st PATA Sustainable Tourism Conference which was scheduled to take place at the Imperial Century Hotel in Banten, Western Java, Indonesia, October 23-26.

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Expedia books itself a hotel deal

Hotels could soon find it easier to sell rooms online, thanks to an acquisition announced on Tuesday by online travel company Expedia. Expedia is purchasing Newtrade Technologies, a Montreal-based software development company. Newtrade is developing an XML-based system that will allow hotels to send information about their room availability and pricing to various distribution networks via the Internet. Expedia and Newtrade plan to introduce the new technology early next year, the companies said.

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TIA Forecast Shows Slow Road to Recovery for Travel and Tourism Industry

Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), gave her much anticipated industry overview and forecast at TIA's Marketing Outlook Forum in Hollywood, Florida. After falling nearly 6 percent last year, domestic and international travel spending continues to be soft and isn't expected to recover to record 2000 levels until sometime in 2004.

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UK business travellers less optimistic for 2003 than Americans

e-Tid.com - A study from American Express shows that only 9% of international business travellers expect to travel less in 2003, with the UK respondents slightly less confident with 15% expecting fewer trips.
Amex has issued its International Business Traveller Survey for the first time. Its methodology sees 100 business travellers from 14 key countries questioned on a number of topics. Amex provides global, regional and country-specific data.

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Japan's optimistic new of Japanese economy & Travel sector prompts major expansion plans

Accor is to add its second deluxe Sofitel hotel in Japan following agreement for the rebranding of a prominent hotel in the heart of Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city and a highly significant commercial and industrial centre.

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October 18, 2002

There's no place like a hotel

'Hotels like to have a touch of class. They like to give their guests high-class wood hangers. It makes them feel good about themselves' . Mr Arnold Chrysler stands accused of stealing thousands of hotel clothes hangers. His defence is that he manufactures wardrobes that can only take hotel clothes hangers, and he can only get hotel hangers from hotels. As a service to any of us who have ever taken anything home from a hotel, we bring you a further extract from this trial.

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Macdonald Hotels boss hits out at VisitScotland

Leading Scottish hotelier Gerry Smith, group managing director of Macdonald Hotels, has accused Scotland's tourist authority VisitScotland and the Scottish Executive of failing to provide adequate support for the industry.

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Bali: a glimmer of hope

Four days after the devastating bomb blast in Bali, some glimmer of hope is starting to emerge, said Willem Loots, managing director of Asian Trails, Bali. "First of all, as far as our guests are concerned, only 10 percent have opted to interrupt their holiday and return home early. Since Monday, we did have a total of 39 forward bookings cancelled but these are all for reservations for the next three to four weeks.

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IT&CMA 2002 a crucial show at a crucial time

Early next week, between 23 - 25 October, the first ever IT&CMA, in its successful 10 year history, shall open its doors in Bangkok, Thailand. Following the appalling bombing of October 12 in Bali, there is no better time for the travel industry from within Asia and around the world to meet, share ideas and discuss what is the best way forward, not only in light of recent terrorist attacks, but also the uncertain future of a war in Iraq, and other potential events which could damage the industry as a whole.

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Hoteliers Conference Combines Best of Both European and U.S. Conferences

Hoteliers will discuss the latest global industry trends in a casual, networking atmosphere at the first International Hotel Conference to be held September 17- 19, 2003 at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

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Bali's Rival Destinations Enjoy Increased Demand from Korea

While travelers are taking Bali off their list of destinations, the impact of the weekend terrorist bombing on the Indonesian resort island has not resonated through neighboring Southeast Asian nations. In fact, rival vacation spots are enjoying unexpected demand as more Korean vacationers change their travel plans.

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Mexico's Tourism Income Up

After receiving the information on tourism income up to August from the Bank of Mexico, Tourism Secretary Leticia Navarro Ochoa now believes that results for the sector this year will be slightly better than last year.

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Thai Tourism Industry Braces for New Slump Following Bomb Blasts in Bali

The Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry is in a state of shock as it tries to assess the wide-ranging impact of the devastating bomb blasts in Bali at the weekend. "There is no such thing as a safe place in the travel and tourism industry any more," said Alwin Zecha, the managing director of the Pacific Leisure group, as cancellations poured in and hundreds of tourists began to leave what has long been considered a peaceful, tranquil Island of the Gods.

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October 21, 2002

Barry Sternlicht presented with the "Innovative Award" at the 13th annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific

The 13th Annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia-Pacific taking place in Hong Kong announced Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is the first recipient of the "Innovator Award". Voting for this prestigious recognition was done by a panel of high-level industry peers for an individual who has distinguished himself though extraordinary and

revolutionary innovations.

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Survey Names the Top 10 Issues Facing the Travel Industry;

HSMAI Polls 7,000 Members . Terrorism fears and the economy, along with human resource related issues of lack of quality labor available, the need for training, retention and turnover of employees and compensation have been identified as the top issues facing both the travel and hospitality industries, as well as the sales and marketing profession within the industry, by the members of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

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Fueling Peak-Performance Teams at Claridge's of London

Written By: Gene Ference Ph.D.HVS/The Ference Group

In our first article on Claridge's, Creating New Vision and Management Style, we addressed the challenge of implementing a team-based, modern-service culture based on the philosophy of continuous improvement. Ensuing analyses of comparative survey data led to a matrix of key metrics identifying the development of peak-performance teams throughout the property. The following article is the second of a three-part series based upon the organizational change addressed by the world-renowned Claridge's Hotel.

For detailed Report,Click Here

Six Continents Hotels announces 20 new properties for Middle East and North Africa

Six Continents Hotels, the largest hotel operator in the Middle East and North Africa, has confirmed its involvement in the development of 20 new hotels across the region.

For details including listing of planned hotels,Click Here

PATA Travel Reports show September 11 impact

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has released PATA 2002 Half-Year Report: Arrivals to Pacific Asia Destinations and PATA 2002 Second Quarter Statistical Report. Both reports are produced by the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre.

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Hotel Directories Need To Go!

Just think: What if all hotel companies were to take the money being spent on producing directories and used it on providing the franchisee with a tool that would provide more room sales? What a wonderful world we would all live in. Well, the time is now!

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Regarding Consistent Performance CEO Compensation 2002

Written By: Keith Kefgen and Stephen Goebel HVS International

The only thing tougher than getting to the top is staying there. If consistently is a business virtue, it seems that gaming CEOs are delivering the goods. In this year's survey of 60 publicly traded gaming companies, an amazing 63% of all CEOs achieved an HVS Value Index of greater than 90 (100 is the target). With the turbulent financial climate of the past two years, these results are getting Wall Street's attention. Furthermore, in the post Enron era, investors are more closely scrutinizing company financials and executive pay practices.

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U.S. Carlson Hotels to expand in Asia

Carlson Hotels Worldwide of the United States plans to open a Regent International Hotel in Tokyo as part of a plan to triple its operations in the Asia-Pacific region in five years, a senior company official said Tuesday.

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10,000-Room, $ 5 Billion Luxury Mega Resort Casino Unveiled in Las Vegas

Creator Michael R. Henderson today unveiled his concept for a 250-acre Mega Resort complex called "Moon". The concept is designed to be a 10,000-room, five-star, five-diamond luxury resort like nothing else on planet earth.

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October 22, 2002

Sternlicht: Industry has to ride out "perfect storm"

Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Barry Sternlicht, told a packed lunch crowd at the JW Marriott Hong Kong that the industry's biggest challenge was to ride out the "perfect storm" that had hit it. "Terrorism, the economy and war - and now we hold our breath for Iraq and a resolution to the Al-Qaeda problem.," he said at the lunch held in conjunction with the HICAP 2002 conference.

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Hilton/QMH in German franchise talks

e-Tid.com - The Business reports Hilton is interested in setting up a franchise deal with Queens Moat Houses that would see it enter the German market.

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UFTAA congress: Call for action on "sweeping" advisories

Industry associations meeting at the UFTAA congress in Kuala Lumpur have come out with strong messages of support for Bali's travel trade as well as issued calls for firm action to counter what could be a potentially devastating impact on tourism to the region.

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Shanghai chosen to host inaugural Asia Business Travel Market (ABTM)

Shanghai has been chosen to host the inaugural Asia Business Travel Market (ABTM) on 3-5 September 2003. Presented by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), leading worldwide business to business event specialists, ABTM will be held at Grand Hyatt Shanghai.

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Survey shows likes of business travelers from different countries

A recent survey found that the world's business travelers are not alike, they have highly different service priorities and needs while doing business. Sponsored by the American Express, the survey revealed the likes and dislikes of 1,400 business travelers hailing from 14 different countries and regions, including what they prefer in hotel rooms and on planes.

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South Africa Tops Competitors for Tourism Growth

South Africa has emerged unscathed from the post-September 11 tourism slowdown, with foreign tourist arrivals increasing 7,2% in the first seven months compared with last year.

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Bali blast will not impact investment prospects in Asia

Bali bomb blast will not darken the investment landscape in Asia/Pacific, a leading private equity fund investor told the HICAP 2002 conference.

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Prestigious award for Corinthia Hotels International

Corinthia Hotels International has been voted 'Best Hotel Group in the Mediterranean', by UK and Irish travel agents taking part in the 2002 Selling Short Breaks Travel Industry Awards, announced this month by popular UK Travel Trade publication Selling Short Breaks.

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Thailand Announces Tighter Security Measures for Tourism

Thailand has announced tighter security measures at its tourist destinations after this month's bombings in the Philippines and Indonesia. It is one of many Southeast Asian nations concerned that the terrorist acts in the region will devastate the crucial tourism industry.

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Le Meridien rolls out "profit protection and crisis plan" for Bali

Le Meridien has put in place a profit protection and crisis plan for its property in Bali, managing director Asia/Pacific Michael Sagild said. "The plan establishes scenarios based on revenue reductions of 30, 40 and 50 percent respectively where different activities kick in at different levels," he said.

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October 23, 2002

Tourism must triumph over terrorism: UFTAA chief

UFTAA president D Oscar Rueda Garcia made a call for the travel industry to beat the violence of terrorism and through "dialogues and tolerance, build up a world where everyone, regardless of his religion, will have a place." Garcia said this year's Congress was a turning point in the life of UFTAA given the recent changes to its structure.

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Cendant's net profit grows 19 percent

Travel and real estate conglomerate Cendant Corp. said Monday that net income increased by 19 percent during the third quarter because of the strength of its car rental and residential real estate businesses. The New York-based company also said it would "curtail acquisition activity" and use its cash flow to reduce debt and buy back $200 million in stock.

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News @ PATA

PATA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO BALI CONFERENCE
/ PATA President & CEO Mr. Peter de Jong has reaffirmed PATA's commitment to host the 52nd PATA Annual Conference in Bali, Indonesia, April next year. "In difficult times like these PATA will stand by Indonesia - especially so with a top-level event such as Conference which brings a lot of travel business and public relations benefits to a destination. It is we, the travel professionals, who set the example when we continue to travel for business and pleasure and that includes the 2003 PATA Annual Conference in Bali," he said.

For the rest of this weeks PATA news and update,Click Here

Japan acts to save Bali business

Japan is preparing to send a mission to Indonesia within days in a bid to safeguard its outbound business in the wake of the Bali bombings. The bombings on October 12 are perhaps the first test of Japan's new four-step travel advisory system, in place since April. Indonesia currently has a "grade two" warning in place by the Japanese government, allowing tour operations to continue at the agent's own discretion.

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Starwood plans asset sale for Asian hotel expansion

International hotel chain operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide plans to sell up to US$ 500 million in assets in the United States and Europe to finance new acquisitions in the Asia-Pacific region. Chairman Barry Sternlicht said the group had identified China and Hong Kong as key destinations for its expansion.

For details,Click Here

TravelCLICK To Partner With Pegasus Solutions on New 'Internet Hotelligence' Report

Ray Cohen, president and co-CEO of TravelCLICK, Inc., the leading provider of data solutions to the travel industry, today announced that the company has signed an agreement with Dallas-based Pegasus Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEGS) to launch a new service: "Internet Hotelligence." This new report will aggregate Internet reservations data to provide individual hotel properties with competitive aggregated booking performance, distribution, and revenue management information from Web-based channels.

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HYATT names g.m. of the year

Jerry Gibson, general manager of Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa, was recently awarded Hyatt's 2002 Donald N. Pritzker Award of Excellence, General Manager of the Year. The announcement was made by Scott Miller, president Hyatt Hotels Corporation, during the company's General Managers' meeting at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.

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Hotels Results Seen Weak

Slow business travel has cast a pall over many hotel companies reporting quarterly earnings this week, but financial analysts are gambling that casinos will again prove the ability to withstand tough times.

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October 24, 2002

Hilton's Third Quarter net income more than doubled

Strong Occupancy Levels Drive RevPAR Growth at Owned Hotels; All Hilton Brands Continue to Increase Market Share; Cost Controls Contribute to Solid Margins

Hilton Hotels Corp.'s third-quarter net income more than doubled despite continued declines in its average room rates. The hotel company Wednesday posted net income of $ 48 million, or 13 cents a share, on revenue of $ 934 million, up from $ 21 million, or 6 cents a share, on revenue of $ 942 million a year earlier.

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Bali hotel occupancy drops to 20 pct from 73 pct before bomb blasts

The hotel occupancy rate in Bali has dropped sharply to only 20 pct currently from 73 pct before the Oct 12 bomb attack in Kuta, Bisnis Indonesia reported, citing official data.

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World Tourism leaders to help Bali recover

World tourism leaders have united to help Indonesia rebuild Bali's once-thriving industry after the devastating bomb attack in Kuta. World Tourism Organisation representative Geoffrey Lipman said today the WTO would put all its research on responses to disasters in other tourist regions at Indonesia's disposal.

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Bahrain: Move to shut clubs irks hotel owners

Twenty-two hotel owners yesterday protested the order of the Minister of Information to close down their entertainment outlets for three months. Minister of Information Nabeel Al Hamer issued the order on Sunday to close down dance halls in six four star, six three star, seven two star and three one star hotels.

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Ex-Club Med director to head up RCI Europe

e-Tid.com - Cendant-owned timeshare operator RCI Europe has named Preben Vestdam as president and chief executive officer.

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BHA confirms Restaurant Association talks

Caterer.com - The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has confirmed that it is in discussions with the Restaurant Associations about a possible merger.

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Chinese tourism to create 40 million jobs in 10 years

China's tourism industry is expected to provide 40 million jobs in the next decade, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). People working in the tourism industry increased by 500,000 annually during the 1996-2000 period.

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Regent attempts a comeback in Asia

Carlson Hotels sets up Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore and is close to signing a Beijing property Carlson Hotels Worldwide, which bought the Regent brand from Four Seasons several years ago, and did little to grow it, is finally showing signs of moving the brand forward again.

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China International Tourism Mart to kick off in mid November

The fourth China International Tourism Mart (CITM) is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 14 to 17, giving participants from foreign and domestic tourism industries a chance to promote themselves.

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October 25, 2002

Starwood Reports Third Quarter 2002 Results

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) ("Starwood" or the "Company") today reported results for the third quarter of 2002.

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ABACUS Chief: "We'll recover if we learn from 9-11"

Asia's industry must build on the lessons of September 11 to recover from its current crisis, said ABACUS' chief. ABACUS president and CEO Don Birch told UFTAA Congress delegates that the events of September 11 had provided the script for the region's industry to recover - if it was willing to work hard.

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Golden Tulip initiates General Franchise Council

Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts announced the initiation of the first General Franchise Council ever to exist in its franchise organisation. On October 1st 2002, the management of Golden Tulip and franchisee representatives of all Golden Tulip regions assembled in The Hague, The Netherlands to present and discuss the implementation and structure of the 1st General Franchise Council.

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Six Continents Hotels awarded "Best Global Hotel Chain" in Asia Pacific

Six Continents Hotels, Asia's largest multi-brand hotel operator, today announced that it has received the "Best Global Hotel Chain" award at TTG Asia Media's 14th Annual Travel Awards.

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Budapest market profile

By Katharine Le Quesne and Julia Felton,Deloitte & Touche

Budapest is Hungary's capital and the nation's economic and administrative hub. The city was formed in 1873 through the unification of the formerly separate townships of Buda, Obua and Pest. Today the city covers an area of 525 km2 and has a population of some two million people.

For detailed report,Click Here

Banyan Tree and Angsana Spas to launch eight news Sanctuaries in Shanghai, Sydney, Hong Kong, Taichung and Guam

The newly launched sister brand of the award winning Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, the Angsana Spas is embarking on a rapid expansion plan in the Asia-Pacific region.

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New hotel development planned by major British group

Twelve two-star Express by Holiday Inn hotels will be built in Poland by the year 2008, according to Guy Simmons of the Global Hotels Development Group Poland.

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China: Target set to double tourism revenue

The Central Government plans to encourage the buoyant tourism industry to double its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) from about 5 per cent to 10 per cent by 2020. Authorities are also pinning their hopes on the industry creating more jobs to help reduce the growing unemployment rate, the People's Daily said.

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Connective issues

Caterer and Hotelkeeper Report

We've all been there: a stuffy hall with rows and rows of chairs full of sweaty men in suits, a speaker standing at a podium droning on in a monotone, and the only respite the odd sip of warm sparkling water. Is the conference as we know it facing extinction? Do delegates need to travel hundreds of miles to face the ordeal described above when they could just switch on their laptops and watch speeches from the comfort of their own desks?To read the full report,Click here

IATA figures reveal Asia/Pacific growth

Latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reveal the Asia/Pacific region has once more shown the strongest growth in international air traffic in August.

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Five new SAS Mid East hotels

Radisson SAS parent group Rezidor SAS is adding new hotels in the UAE, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The former Holiday Inn Resort in Sharjah, the Holiday Inn Martinez in Beirut, and Al Hayat hotel in Yanbu, will all be joining the group by January 2003. Two further Saudi hotels, one in Jeddah and one in Riyadh, will also be joining the chain.

Ciragan Palace, Istanbul, re-launch

The spectacular Ciragan Palace Hotel in Istanbul was relaunched at an event in the Montgomery Golf Club, Dubai, this week. This Kempinski hotel is a member of the leading hotels of the world, and has fantastic views as well as truly Ottoman opulence. For details visit,www.ciraganplace.com.tr

Caribbean Tourism Troubles

Reports are that the last eighteen months have been the worst ever for Caribbean tourism, and it is likely to get worse, with occupancies down by 18-35 per cent. In a report by Ms. Janet Silvera writing for the Jamaica Gleaner, this is as a result of new and emerging competition, increased promotion by other destinations outside the region, and the economic slowdown in major markets like the United States, Japan, and Germany.

For details,Click Here

October 28, 2002

What business travelers want

Business travelers are not monolithic; we often travel in different modes, depending on the purpose of the trip and where we are going, and our attitudes and behavior when we are on the road often come down to cultural stereotypes - a notion that is confirmed by an American Express poll published two weeks ago of 1,400 international business travelers from 14 countries.

For detailed analysis,Click Here

Jurys Doyle forecasts half-year profits rise

e-Tid.com - In a trading update ahead of its interim figures, Irish hotel group Jurys Doyle said profits in the six months to end-October 2002 would be ahead of the corresponding period of last year.

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Shangri-La launches its Meeting Promise to event organisers

Asian-based luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, announced a series of new initiatives to cater for the specific needs of the event organiser and to help ensure worry free and smooth running events. Shangri-La's 'Meeting Promise' is on offer to all event organisers booking events with over 30 rooms at any of the group's 38 properties in Asia Pacific and includes a range of exclusive benefits in addition to a dedicated meeting services specialist assigned personally to each event.

For details,Click Here

Bali shadow over IT & CMA meet

The implications of the Bali bomb blast figured widely at the 10th IT & CMA, Asia's biggest Meeting Incentive Convention and Exhibition (MICE) event, which concluded at the Impact Convention Centre last Thursday. The event was being held in Thailand for the first time, and this year's convention attracted 300 exhibitors from 30 countries - making it the biggest to date.

For details,Click Here

Starwood on track to expand its portfolio in Asia Pacific with at least 25 more hotels to be opened from 2002 to 2004

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has signed its 20th property in China, the Sheraton Dongguan Hotel, which is scheduled to open by second quarter of 2003. Starwood currently operates fifteen hotels in China, with five properties in the pipeline to open between 2003 and 2004.

For details,Click Here

Bali bombing could cost one in five jobs on the island

One in five workers in Bali could lose their jobs as tourists shun the Indonesian island after the Oct. 12 terrorist bombing, university experts said Friday. Employment figures could drop as much as 22 percent the next 12 months.

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Thailand: MICE Industry Set to Grow

Inbound tourism to Thailand will be boosted with the setting up of a dedicated Convention and Exhibition Bureau. This bureau will act as a one-stop service centre and coordinate with Thai public and private agencies to market the country as a world-class venue for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE).

For details,Click Here

South-east Asia still hot - But Australians told to leave Indonesia

Australian wholesalers and travel agents remain positive about outbound travel to South-east Asia despite large cancellations to Bali after the bombing on October 12. Wholesalers in various Australian states reported travel cancellations predominantly to Bali, with more expected to follow in the early days after the incident.

For details,Click Here

Thomas W. Higgins Named President and CEO of Best Western International

The board of directors at Best Western International, THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R) has appointed Thomas W. Higgins as the hotel chain's new president and chief executive officer.

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Have You Revised Your Marketing Plans and Strategies?

Written By: Leora Halpern Lanz HVS International

A year ago, in an article with this same title, I asked hotel marketers to immediately revise their marketing plans to respond to the re-focused travel expectations we were facing. And naturally, all of us have learned so much in these past 12 months. As we know, the Marketing Plan is a living, breathing document that needs to be flexible and open to revision as we proceed with its execution. How are the various elements of the marketing plan continuing to evolve in this (still) very interesting and uneasy period?

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Banyan Tree Hotels' Chairman KP Ho : the brand champion

By Yeoh Siew Hoon TravelWeeklyEast.com

Of late, the chairman of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, KP Ho, has been making the headlines a lot. The sudden burst of publicity has prompted some to wonder if the man credited with building up Banyan Tree into a global brand is preparing the company for a public listing. There are, of course, many other reasons why Ho is enjoying the limelight - Banyan Tree was recently named the third top brand in the world by Interbrand in a Financial Times publication, after Virgin and Pizza Express. Yeoh Siew Hoon talks to Ho on what's next.

For the entire interview with KP Ho,Click Here

Shotgun approach for association market

Speakers at the 'Whither the State and Shape of the MICE Business' seminar at the IT&CMA 2002 in Bangkok agree on how the segment can move forward in the light of New York-September 11 and Bali-October 12 - events will come back to Asia. There has been a slew of postponements, not cancellations, so far. Particularly in association meetings, says ICCA representative Martin Kinna.

For details,Click Here

Six Senses Spas 'Best in Asia-Pacific' in TTG Asia Annual Awards

Six Senses Spas was last Friday named Asia Pacific's 'Best Spa Group' in TTG Asia Media's Annual Travel Awards 2002. The award was presented at a gala dinner ceremony held in Bangkok.

For details,Click Here

October 29, 2002

WTM 2002: New venue, new hopes

World Travel Market 2002 will open with a party, to mark its new home at ExCeL and showcase the area as "the new London". Delegates, no doubt, will hope that business will be just as spectacular.

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News@PATA

INVITATION TO MICE PROFESSIONALS

The inaugural PATA-CEI Asia Pacific business event ("MICE") survey is currently online. The aim of the survey is to assess the health of the corporate business event sector in the Pacific Asia region. PATA encourages all industry operators associated with the business event (MICE) industry to fill out the online survey.

For the rest of this weeks PATA news and update,Click Here

Cornell's premier hospitality journal editor offers tips on how to get published in the Cornell HRA Quarterly

Michael Sturman, an associate professor of human resources management at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, was named editor of the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly as of July 2002. Now in its 42nd year of publication, the Cornell HRA Quarterly is considered the premier journal of applied research serving the hospitality industry. It is aimed at an audience of practitioners as well as scholars.

For details,Click Here

Shangri-La Opens Hotel Training Centre In China

Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to employee training and guest satisfaction, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened the Shenzhen Training Centre in Shenzhen, southern China. The new training centre will groom Shangri-La's talented mainland Chinese staff for key positions at its growing number of hotels in China and will help maintain the company's high standards of excellence.

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What does it take to be a leader?

So you think you have what it takes to be a leader? Here's an insight to what makes the world's most respected business leaders tick and the values that drive them.

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Fiji's billion-dollar challenge

Fiji has been given a tough challenge by the government - make tourism the nation's first billion dollar (US$469 million) industry by 2008.

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Vietnam says meetings matter for the county

Following its successful debut into the lucrative meetings market at EIBTM in Geneva in May, Vietnam is about to make inroads into the MICE market with the launch of Vietnam When Meetings Matter.

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Thailand - Cancellations spark call not to overreact - `No evidence of a specific threat'

Thailand has begun to feel the pinch of terrorist threats as tourists from several countries, Australia and Denmark in particular, are acting on warnings from their governments by cancelling travel plans. Cancellations are mounting as more Western countries are advising travellers to be on alert, particularly at restaurants and bars in Thailand where tourists are known to congregate. In Sydney yesterday, Australian tourists were urged to give the holiday island of Phuket a miss because of the risk of terrorist attacks.

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Caribbean Tourism Organisation News

After months of planning, the stage is now set for the opening of 25th Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-25) which comes at possibly the most challenging period in the fifty-year history of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). At present, the industry continues to struggle to recover from the effects of September 11, 2001 and subsequent global events. The latest statistics compiled by the CTO's Research and Information Management Division indicate that arrivals were down 9.0 percent between January and June 2002, following a 10.7 percent fall in the Winter.

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Hotel rate samplers

Here follows a quick look at how hotels in Asia expect the UK market to perform next year and how rates will move.

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Big leap forward for China incentives

China's incentive and meetings market is full of promise and the corporate sector is just waking up to the potential of incentives and meetings to motivate and reward employees.

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Voting commenced on October 1 2002, for the Ultimate Service Awards - the only global award for excellent service in the hotel industry

Customers and travellers around the world are urged to nominate hotels and give their thoughts on service in the hotel industry The international hotel industry will soon have a clearer insight into what their customers think and feel about service and if customers "like staying in hotels". Voting for The Ultimate Service Award 2002, the first and only global award that recognises and rewards good service in the hotel industry, commenced on October 1, 2002.

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Samoa Update

Samoa Arrivals Statistics July 2002 Visitor arrivals into Samoa for the month of July 2002 from around the world were 8091, down 17% compared to the same period last year. The Top 5 markets for the month were: American Samoa 2795 (- 25.8%); New Zealand 1824 (-23.8); Australia 1178 (0.3%); USA 1051 (-8.3%);

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Oz tourism still plunging

Australia's tourism leaders are calling for urgent action following the release of official figures showing overseas visitors to Australia in September fell by 11 percent from a year ago.

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October 30, 2002

Horst Schulze Believes He Can Do It Again with a New Luxury Hotel Chain

Inside an office on West Paces Ferry Road, one of the country's best-known hoteliers is quietly planning a new luxury chain. Horst Schulze, the longtime president of the Ritz-Carlton until he resigned nearly two years ago, has assembled a group from the old days. They are working out of the offices of W.B. Johnson, who owned the Ritz-Carlton from 1983 to 1998 and grew it into a worldwide chain.

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Marriott to give $6 mln refund to hotel owners - WSJ

Marriott International Inc. will distribute an additional $6 million in purchasing rebates to the owners of hotels it manages, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Monday. The unexpected payment comes after the hotelier finally closed the books for years 2000 and 2001 on its former purchasing unit, Marketplace by Marriott, the newspaper said.

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Owner Claims Four Seasons Staff Freeloaded $180,000 in Services at Caracas Four Seasons; Fierce Legal Battle Continues, $120 million Hotel Remains Closed

In July, 18 months after opening, the Four Seasons hotel in Caracas was shut down. Before the mudslinging, before the shouting, the Four Seasons hotel in Caracas was the toast of the town. It rose 21 stories high out of the upscale Altamira neighborhood, a marriage of luxury and modernity with an unmatched pedigree: Four Seasons' first South American hotel. Travel writers gushed, architecture mavens crowed, the developers rubbed their hands with glee. Then the trouble began. Today, the hotel's owner, Consorcio Barr, and manager, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, are waging a fierce legal battle that spans Caracas to Miami.

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Many Hotels Are Turning to Fancy Spa Services to Stand Out

It is called the "morning jump start" and is designed for jet-lagged guests who have to clear their minds for negotiating deals. Pretty much every high-end hotel these days has rooms with multiline phones and high-speed Internet access and a business center with fax machines and conference tables. How, then, to lure business travelers in a soft market? Spas are the thing.

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Thailand forms Convention and Exhibition Bureau

After several delays, the Thailand convention bureau is now formally established. Known as Convention and Exhibition Bureau and launched late last month, it will act as a one-stop service center and coordinate with Thai public and private agencies to market the destination as a world-class venue.

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UK: Incoming visitor figures up for first time

Caterer.com - The number of overseas visitors to the UK has entered positive territory for the first time this year, according to the latest survey. Figures from the British Incoming Tour Operators Association (BITOA) show visitor arrivals for September up by 3.71% on the same period last year.

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US Securities Markets- An Investment Opportunity In Hotels For Institutional Investors?

Written By: Michael T. Sullivan & Marshall A. Bendelac HVS Capital Corp

With the uncertainty in US Securities markets, many institutional investors have looked more favorably on real estate as an investment. Representing hard assets, which theoretically have solid intrinsic values, there has been a recent flight to this investment class due to its long-term tangibility. Such investments are often more favorable than some alternative speculative investments, such as companies bearing few, if any, hard assets (i.e., "dot-coms").

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Rooms channel marketing - what are your options?

The current reservation channel options are too complex for hotels to manage by themselves. So many hotel operators have voiced that quote in the past year it has become an industry clich?.

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Singapore: Tourism task force pushes for casinos

Will Singapore shed its squeaky-clean image and allow casinos to operate in the country? It may, if a proposal by a government-appointed task force wins approval.

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Hong Kong's September 2002 arrivals show 30% growth

Visitor arrivals in September 2002 totalled 1,370,279, a 30.1% increase over the same month in 2001, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today. This is the highest monthly growth rate recorded so far this year.

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Online travel site Expedia to enter Asia-Pacific

US online travel agent Expedia will expand into Asia by the end of this year, with plans to operate in three Asia-Pacific markets by March 2003, its regional chief said.

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October 31, 2002

Europe's hotel industry: France posts record performance for September

In Europe, the RevPAR grows by 5.6% in September The rise in the RevPAR ranges between +2% and +5% in most European counties
France has an exceptional September The RevPAR gains 13.5% in September across all categories; In 4* growth reaches 25.6%
in Paris, the RevPAR grows by 26.1% in September In 4* the rise is by 36.3%

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The Hidden Costs of a Hotel Room

Who can enjoy a hotel room that tries to peddle you a $6 bottle of water before you get your bags unpacked? I check out the minibar. Here are some prices: Pretzels, 1.5 ounces, $3; M&M's, 3.14 ounces, $3; "Breath Saver Kit," consisting solely of a plastic bag with a five-stick pack of Wrigley's gum and a regular roll of Lifesavers, $3.50.

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Jim Rosenberg to step down from post as President/COO of Winston Hotels

Jim Rosenberg reported he will step down from post as president/COO of Winston Hotels next month and Chief Executive Bob Winston will take on his duties.

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Rezidor SAS to Manage Three Al-Hassawi Group Hotels in the Middle East;

Rezidor SAS, the parent company of Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, which currently operates six Middle East properties, announced that it will immediately re-flag three hotels - including two that were previously Holiday Inns - to Radisson SAS with two additional hotels to be added by January 2003.

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What's new at AIME?

With more than 600 exhibitors from 50 destinations, AIME 2003 is a must. The 11th Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo will be held on 18 & 19 February at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Australia. Here is some of the new product that will be on show - just to whet your appetite.

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Paris Ritz losses turn screw on Fayed

Losses at Mohamed Fayed's Paris Ritz Hotel almost doubled last year, putting further pressure on the Egyptian tycoon's sprawling business empire.

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Choice Hotels Reports 3rd Quarter Recurring Diluted EPS Increase Of 20%;

Choice Hotels International, Inc. reported third quarter 2002 recurring net income of $ 21.9 million, or $ 0.54 recurring diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared to $ 19.8 million of recurring net income and $ 0.45 recurring diluted EPS reported for the third quarter of 2001.

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RFS Hotel Investors 3rd-qtr profit falls 16 pct

Real estate investment trust RFS Hotel Investors Inc. said its third-quarter results fell 16 percent, citing a steep drop in demand for lodging.

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Crime seen threatening Caribbean tourism, economy

Crime and the scruffy surroundings of resort areas are hampering Caribbean tourist officials' efforts to make more money in hard times by enticing visitors out of their hotels. The problem, say local politicians, is not confined to the violent island of Jamaica, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world, but is evident across the Caribbean, a popular winter vacation destination for Americans and Europeans.

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