Global Hospitality News - ARCHIVE 2002

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News Archive for September, 2002

September 16 - 30, 2002

September 16, 2002

U.S. Hotels cope in downturn with aid from interest rates

The U.S. hotel industry is holding up better than expected in the post-Sept. 11 downturn due to low interest rates, flexible bankers and, in the case of smaller owner-operators, a growing reliance on Small Business Administration loans.

For detailed report,Click Here

The Center For Hospitality Research at Cornell University releases New Report: The Safety and Security of U.S. Hotels: A Post-September 11 Report by Cathy A. Enz, Ph.D., and Masako S. Taylor, MMH

Among the many outcomes of the terrible events of September 11, 2001, is a renewed interest in the safety and security of hotels. This has always been an important issue, but it has become a top-of the- mind matter for hotel guests and managers alike. For one thing, experts have warned that hotels themselves may become targets of terrorism.1 In response to those concerns, some hotel operators have created new security procedures, such as conducting more detailed background checks on their employees.

To read the complete report,    Click Here  

Summit MD planning to net more revenue

e-Tid.com  -  Summit Hotels' new managing director has recognised that overhauling the IT infrastructure of the business is key to increasing revenues.

For details,Click Here

Regional tourism in the Caribbean expected to recover in 2004

Vice-President of the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association CHTA , Berthia Parle, says while some Caribbean states are registering slight increases in arrivals out of the United States market, no significant recovery is anticipated before the first quarter of 2004.

For details,Click Here

Arts tourism in Singapore is a multi-billion dollar business

Arts tourism in the Lion City is a multi-billion dollar business, and the opening of Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay on October 12 is expected to rake in more dollars for the segment. In 2000, arts and cultural activities contributed S$1.06 billion (US$570.39 million) in revenues to the Singapore economy, says the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). "Over 70,000 overseas visitors participated in arts-related activities in Singapore, more than double the number in 1999," says Yeow Mei Sin (meisin@stb.com.sg), deputy director-marketing communications of STB.  

For details,Click Here

HSMAI is the largest operator of meetings industry Trade Shows

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) debuted an additional HSMAI Meetings Quest trade show in St. Louis last week, bringing the total number of shows annually to a record 11 for HSMAI, the largest operator of meetings industry trade shows.  At a time when suppliers are searching for cost-effective ways to generate business, and buyers are looking for options and the greatest value, HSMAI delivers like no other organization in the marketplace. 

For detailed report,Click Here

Mexico Tourism Recovery

Mexico's Tourism Secretary Leticia Navarro said the tourist industry could recover this year after the serious drops provoked by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States  

For details,Click Here

Corporate Teambuilding Popular with Conference Clients at JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa

Since its inception in March following the grand opening of JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, the corporate teambuilding program has become very popular with conference clients.

For details,Click Here

JP Morgan Cuts Starwood Hotels to 'Long-Term Buy' 

Analyst Harry Curtis says he downgraded because the outlook for lower RevPAR and EBITDA growth in 2003 reduces the upside in Starwood to about 10%. Curtis thinks Starwood's estimates have greatest risk due to more optimistic guidance from management and underperformance at its Sheraton brand.

For further details,Click Here

September 17, 2002

Raffles stake up for grabs?e-Tid.com  - 

The Business reports that CapitaLand is inviting offers for its 60% stake in Singapore-listed Raffles Holdings.

For details,Click Here

Institutional Investor World's Best Hotels Survey names Four Seasons Seattle as Nr 1

The Institutional Investor Magazine announced the results of it's 22nd annual World's Best Hotels Survey, a signature feature which ranks the world's most prestigious hotels.

For further details and rankings, Click Here

Hotel occupancy rebounds, prices don't

Nearly one year after hoteliers across New York city slashed rates in a desperate attempt to fill their beds, occupancy figures show strong signs of a rebound but there are no price increases in sight.

For further details,Click here

6C's postponed update sparks profit warning/major deal speculation

The Business reports that Six Continent's decision to delay a trading update due this Wednesday is 'fuelling speculation' that it is either about to issue a profits warning or announce the long-awaited purchase.

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Hong Kong hotels to create 5,000 jobs on back of tourism surge

Hong Kong's hotel industry forecast that up to 5,000 jobs could be created in the next three years as tourist numbers rise, giving a much needed boost to the territory as it battles to revive its stagnant economy.  

For details,Click Here

Dubai to have over 1500 new 5-star hotel rooms to cope with demand for Dubai 2003

The organisers of Dubai 2003 have announced that the city will have over 1500 new 5-Star hotel rooms in the city to serve the requirements of the estimated influx of over 16,000 visitors expected to arrive in September 2003 for the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

For details,Click Here

Compass steers safe acquisition course

The ups and downs of the world's biggest caterer

Maybe it is down to the current paranoia about racy stock market multiples. Or maybe it is concern about low returns on capital and weakening margins. Whatever the reasons, the Compass Group share price has surrendered the premium rating that it has enjoyed for more than a decade; and Mike Bailey, the catering behemoth's chief executive, knows he is going to have to work hard to regain it.  

For details,Click Here

Singapore Swissotel M.D. is  "cautiously optimistic" about 2003

Managing director of Singapore's largest hotel (Swissotel, The Stamford and Raffles, the Plaza), Markland Blaiklock, says he is "cautiously optimistic" about business in 2003.  

For further details,Click Here

Inter-Continental plans global roll-out

Six Continents Hotels will unveil the "Inter-Continental brand of the future" in a global roll-out that will last three days in Asia.

Senior vice president-staff services and chief marketing officer for Six Continents Hotels Asia/Pacific, Patrick Imbardelli, said the unveiling would be done in Hong Kong on September 23, followed by Singapore and Japan will see the launch on September 25.

Langkawi to host Asia Pacific Ecotourism Conference 2003

The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) together the private sector and non-government organisations, such as the Langkawi Nature Society, will host the Asia/Pacific Ecotourism Conference (APeco) in 2003.  

For details,Click Here

Seven Ways to Boost Conversion Rates

By Bryan Eisenberg Clickz.com

In a recent column, I discussed relevance and its value as the most critical factor in the conversion mix. Today, I'll share with you seven practical tips you can use to boost your conversion rates. They happen to be the seven most common relevance problems we uncover for our new clients.  

For full report,Click Here

Grand Hyatt Melbourne named Best Business Hotel in Australia

On Tuesday 3 September at the 2002 Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards held in Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Melbourne was named Best Business Hotel in Australia.

For details,Click Here

Radisson SAS launches Electronic Hotel Directory

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, which operates eight Middle East and African properties, with six more scheduled in Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey, has launched its first electronic hotel directory, containing detailed information about the chain's 113 hotels worldwide, as well as all Radisson hotels.

For details,Click Here

September 18, 2002

U.S. airport hotels are safest, most secure, Cornell expert finds

People who worry about traveling and spending time in public places may be relieved to learn that most U.S. hotels are pretty safe places to be, a study by a Cornell University hospitality-industry expert finds.

For further details,Click Here

News@PATA PATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO RECEIVE PRESIDENTIAL WELCOME

In the Philippines, the Office of the President has confirmed that President Arroyo will host a September 20 welcome reception at Malacanang Palace for the PATA Board of Directors, which meets September 20-22 in Manila. Mr. Richard Gordon, Secretary of the Philippine Department of Tourism said: "This is an extraordinary opportunity and we would like to extend our warm hospitality with a grand welcome to all delegates attending the meeting." 

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

J.D. Power's Highest Ranked Hotels In Guest Service

As business travel remains on the decline, leisure travelers have taken an increasingly important role in the lodging world, that combined with the added competition that follows a sluggish economy has made guest satisfaction a critical aspect of brand loyalty and driving revenue.  

For details,Click Here

Australian Tourist Commission  reviews its trade events

The Australian Tourist Commission is undertaking a comprehensive review of its trade events calendar which will determine the future of its own events as well as participation in third party events.  

For details,Click Here

Malaysia records surge of West Asian tourists

Tourists from West Asia to Malaysia rose to a record high last month due to continuing concerns of these visitors to holiday in the US and Europe.  

For details,Click Here

Outlook Bright For Korea As A Convention Destination

Korea's Meeting, Incentive, Convention & Exhibition (MICE) sector has seen an average annual growth rate of more than 10% over the past 10 years. Fresh from the successful co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup to the up-and-coming 14th Asian Games Busan 2002, continued increases are expected for this sector in the near future.

For details,Click Here

Shanghai gains popularityEverybody wants a piece of the action in the vibrant city as China opens up;

SHANGHAI is probably the most mentioned Asian city these days, especially in the context of a China that appears to have been unscathed by the current global economic slowdown.  

For detailed report,Click Here

Thai hotels set to increase rates but the question is when.

Hike inevitable but first, the mind games ; Thai hotels look set to increase rates but the question, aside from how much, is when. "We would like to gradually increase hotel rates because this will allow our hotels to upgrade the quality of their infrastructure and service further," says Juthamas Siriwan (Juthamas@tat.or.th), governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

For details,Click Here

LA confidential

Hollywood has always loved the face-lift, reinvention, the classic comeback and Hollywood hotels are enjoying just that, luring travellers with celeb workouts, glamorous new digs and freshly repainted old faces.

For details,Click Here

Thailand's last pristine islands falling victim to tourism assaults

Koh Chang, Thailand - It's almost like a military operation. First come the reconnaissance teams: the backpackers. They're followed by the light infantry: the local tourist operators. Then the last wave storms ashore: the Thai and international resort developers.  

For detailed report,Click Here

September 19, 2002

Le Meridien to offer hotels in sale-leaseback deals

U.K.-based hotel group Le Meridien said yesterday it is restarting fund raising by offering 10 top continental European hotels in a sale-and-leaseback deal to bring in up to Pound Sterling 400-million.

For details,Click Here

Making The Ideal Hotel Investment

By Stephen Rushmore, MAI, CHA, CRE, 
president and founder of HVS International

I have been helping people buy and sell hotels for the past 30 years and also have acquired a few for my own account. Hotels are complicated, high-risk investments that require specialized operational expertise or you will run the risk of quickly losing a substantial amount of capital. Over the years, I have developed a set of criteria that I use for making hotel investments and would like to share this information with you.

For full report,Click Here

PwC gives 'boutique' the boot, chooses 'lifestyle'

e-Tid.com  PricewaterhouseCoopers has issued a survey into the European 'lifestyle' hotel, a term that PwC says is a more accurate definition of the sector than the Shrager-coined term 'boutique.' 'As a diverse range of properties began to claim the boutique label, our research has shown that the term 'lifestyle hotel' more accurately describes and defines the boutique,' the survey says. PwC also includes 'town house properties' under the lifestyle banner.

For further details,Click Here

Club Med eyes U.S. for more closures: Shut 15 resorts last year

Club Mediterranee SA shares advanced as much as 5.7% after Europe's largest resort operator said yesterday it may close two or three more holiday villages in North America.  

For details,Click Here

Jordanian tourism revenues increase for first time in two years

Jordan's tourism revenues increased by 7.9 percent in the first eight months of 2002 in the first rise in two years, according to central bank figures published Tuesday.  

For details,Click Here

More space wanted at AIME 2003

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meeting Expo 2003 in Melbourne is expected to be a bigger show than the previous year, with the organiser reporting that many exhibitors are opting for larger space. AIME 2003 is to be held on February 18 and 19 at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Australia.  

For details,Click Here

Indian Hotels eyes properties in U.S., China

indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHTL), the country's largest hotel chain, aims to establish a presence in the United States and China as part of its growth plans, a senior company official said on Tuesday.  

For details,Click Here

First Best Western Opens in Yemen

Best Western International,  enters a new territory with the affiliation of Best Western Hadda Hotel in Yemen. The hotel is located in the serene environs of Sana'a where the oriental atmosphere mingles with the generous hospitality of the hotel.

For details,Click Here

HFTP Hosts the 3rd Annual Hospitality Technology Professionals Forum

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTPR) will be hosting a one-day forum on hospitality technology designed to encourage participants to discuss important industry issues amongst each other. The Hospitality Technology Professionals Forum will be held on Friday, November 8 at the IH/M&RS located at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

For details,Click Here

September 20, 2002

CapitaLand: No firm plans at present to divest its investment in Raffles

CapitaLand has clarified its position related to press reports  which indicated that CapitaLand is inviting offers for its 60% stake in Singapore-listed Raffles Holdings. It has no firm plans at present to divest its investment in Raffles.

For details,Click Here

Starwood's Miguel Ko: Property sales won't stop Asia

Starwood's regional head for Asia Pacific has told TravelWeekly that the company's intended property sales will not slow Asia's momentum. Bloomberg reported Starwood chief executive Barry Sternlicht as saying the company had increased property sales to cut debt and raise cash for new opportunities.  

For further details,Click Here

Global Lodging Monthly from Deutsche Bank AG:

In the light of a deteriorating economic picture as well as heightened uncertainty regarding a potential war with Iraq, the sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience. In relative terms it has now 'marked time' for the past four or five months - hardly catastrophic when one considers the performance until that date.  

For complete report incl. Europe, UK, Asia,Click Here

PATA releases 2001 Annual Statistical Report

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has released the PATA 2001 Annual Statistical Report, the most authoritative barometer for travel and tourism performance in the Pacific Asia region.  

For further details,Click Here

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts launches luxury cruise vessel

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa presents an exciting new dimension in late 2002 for guests bound for the property's popular 12-acre private island. In addition to enjoying the Resort, adventurers can explore the untouched reaches of these exotic atolls aboard the Resort's new 39 meter/128 foot Four Seasons Island Explorer by selecting from three, four and seven night cruise options.   

For details,Click Here

The state of South Africa's hospitality industry

Following the slowdown of travel and tourism in the northern hemisphere after the terrorist attack in America on 11 September 2001, the hospitality industry in South Africa has shown a remarkable recovery and is experiencing a welcome upsurge.

For further details,Click Here

Six Continents Hotels uses Cairo convention to boost Middle East's travel business from UK

Six Continents Hotels will play a key role in reinforcing travel links between the UK and the Middle East next month when the influential Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) stages its annual convention in Cairo.

For details,Click Here

Sol Melia simplifies online rates across brands

The world's tenth largest hotel group Sol Melia today launched its new website with a 'Uniform Rate Plan' promotion exclusively for online bookings.

For details,Click Here

TTM 2002 opened yesterday

Thailand Travel Mart 2002 Plus Amazing Gateway to Mekong Region (TTM 2002) was officially opened at a ceremony chaired by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak yesterday, at Rachamongkon Hall, Suan Luang Rama IX park. A gala cocktail reception was hosted for hundreds of tourism operators from around the world.

For details,Click Here

Aviation recovery in 2004: IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says air passenger and cargo traffic may regain pre-September 11 levels next year. But global financial recovery of airlines may have to wait till 2004.  

For details,Click Here

September 23, 2002

Juergen Bartels  delays Le Meridien targets by a year

e-Tid.com  -  Juergen Bartels, Le Meridien's chief operating officer, told UK media last week that its market leadership targets have been put back a year to the end of 2005.
Bartels, known in the industry as JB, told his annual UK media briefing: 'We still aim to be the market leader in terms of gross operating profit, average room rate and occupancy, but we will have achieved this by the year-end 2005 rather than 2004 as originally planned.'

For further details,Click Here

NH Hoteles to adopt single pan-European/global brand

e-Tid.com  -  Spanish group NH Hoteles has decided to spend €8m (?5m) rebranding its Alstron Hotels in Germany as NH properties after deciding to operate globally under a single brand and with a homogeneous product.

For details, Click Here

Cornell University Hospitality Research Center Announces Strategic Alliance with PKF Consulting

The Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at Cornell University and PKF Consulting's research affiliate, The Hospitality Research Group, have entered into a strategic alliance to develop research studies that promote further understanding of the various issues affecting hotel profitability. The research projects will employ PKF Consulting's extensive database of hotel financial statistics and will be conducted by Cornell's Hotel School research faculty who serve as fellows of the CHR.

For details,Click Here

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Gets New Chief

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry announced  that from 1 October 2002, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will get a new Chief Executive. Mr Lim Neo Chian, 50, has been appointed as STB's Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive.  Mr Lim succeeds Mr Yeo Khee Leng, who will take up his new appointment as the Chief Executive of the new International Hotel Management School (HMS International) Pte Ltd. Both appointments take effect from 1 October 2002.

For full details,Click Here

Kempinski keen to join Siam Paragon hotel project in Bangkok

Kempinski, a leading international hotel chain , has joined the race for the contract for the Siam Paragon hotel project located on the site of the former Siam Intercontinental, said an industry source. Kempinski is one of the world's oldest luxury-hotel chains with more than 100 years of history. The company currently operates 34 properties and has a further 10 under contract for development or renovation.

For details,Click Here

Ibis sale signals Sydney turnaround

Ipoh Ltd has sold the Accor-operated Ibis World Square Hotel in Sydney to an Australian private company for A$22.7 million (US$12.5m). Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' senior vice president, Mark Durran, said the sale price achieved for the Ibis and other recent sales, such as the ANA Sydney and the Westin Hotel Sydney, reflected investor confidence in Sydney's improving hotel and tourism market fundamentals.

For details,Click Here

Bangkok:  YMCA to be transformed to Designer Hotel

The YMCA Collins International House on Bangkok's Sathorn Road will be turned into a five-star designer hotel called the Metropolitan and join the crowded luxury market.

For details,Click Here

Aviation recovery in 2004: IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says air passenger and cargo traffic may regain pre-September 11 levels next year. But global financial recovery of airlines may have to wait till 2004.  

For details,Click Here

September 24, 2002

Broadsheets unravel 6C's hotels/pub split

e-Tid.com -  Six Continents' statement Friday that it is actively considering demerging its pubs and hotels operations has led to more broadsheet speculation as well as a lift in its share price. The consensus is that more details will emerge on Oct 1, when it plans to issue its delayed trading statement.

For further details,Click Here

Swiss tourism industry in a slump: association

The Swiss tourism industry is mired in a deep slump, with occupancy rates down by six percent over the first seven months of the year compared with the same period last year, the Swiss Tourism Federation said last Thursday.  

For details,Click Here

2002 Hospitality Compensation and Benefits Survey Offers Valuable HR Information

Hospitality human resource professionals will find a wealth of information in the new 2002 edition of the Hospitality Compensation and Benefits Survey prepared for the American Hotel & Lodging Association by Smith Travel Research. The survey was funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation and is being sold by AH&LA's Educational Institute.

For further details,Click Here

Marriott International to Release Earnings for Third Quarter 2002 On October 3

Marriott International, Inc.(NYSE: MAR) will conduct its quarterly earnings conference call for investors and news media on Thursday, October 3 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Marriott's third quarter ended on September 6, 2002. Mr. Arne Sorenson, Marriott International's executive vice president and chief financial officer, will discuss the company's 2002 third quarter results as well as its business outlook.  

For details,Click Here

Discussing the corporate contribution to Sustainable

Tourism The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)  announced that Mr. Kevin Croley, Six Continents Hotels' Vice President of Sales Asia-Pacific and Dr. Pongsak Hoontrakul of Thaiparks123.com will lead plenary sessions at the 1st PATA Sustainable Tourism Conference and Mart, October 23-26, 2002 in Banten, Western Java, Indonesia.  

For further details,Click Here

?7m boost to tourism in London

A ?7 million three-year plan to reshape and revive London's tourist industry has been announced.  

For details,Click Here

Thailand goes for upmarket travellers.

Thailand says it wants up-market and quality visitors and a major global advertising campaign to promote next year's theme - Amazing Thailand-Experience Variety - would focus on projecting the country as a quality tourism destination.  

For details,Click Here

Four Seasons Hotel London named number one in 2002 Conde Nast traveller and 2002 Travel+Leisure Magazine reader surveys

Within just two weeks Four Seasons Hotel London received two of the travel industry's most prestigious awards.  In a ceremony at the National Science Museum on 18th September Conde Nast Traveller Magazine Readers named Four Seasons Hotel London the Best Business Hotel in the UK and number 19 on the World's Top 100 'Best of the Best' list.  

For details,Click Here

Macao's tourism industry booming

Macao reported a double-digit growth in the number of tourist arrivals from January to August, led by a huge influx of China's inlanders.  

For details,Click Here

Boom in Philippine hotel industry

The hotel industry in the Philippines is experiencing another surge after the hotel construction boom in the mid-1970s. But the surge this time is happening south of Metro Manila as evidenced by the rise in the Alabang business district of The Bellevue Manila, the first hotel with global standards in the area.  

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Hotel TV giants to explore combined global standard

e-Tid.com  -  Nasdaq-listed On Command Corporation and privately-held Quadrigha Worldwide have announced plans to create a global standard video and audio entertainment model for the hotel industry. The pair hope the system will reduce cost and improve revenues from guest stays.

For details,Click Here

September 25, 2002

US$ 1 Billion investment in refurbished properties and new global services from InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts announced yesterday that it is seeing the benefit of an ongoing $1 billion investment to improve the quality of its hotels and establish the brand in even more key destinations around the globe. Complementing this investment, which will be complete in 2004, InterContinental is also launching a host of new service initiatives that will further strengthen the brand's position as the premier hotel brand for today's international business traveller.

For details,Click Here

Wyndham to sell 13 hotels worth $447 million

Furthering its strategy of becoming a proprietary-branded hotel operating company, Wyndham International, Inc. (NYSE:WYN) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Westbrook Hotel Partners IV, LLC to sell 13 hotel properties for approximately $447 million.  All 13 properties will be managed or asset managed by Sunstone Hotel Investors, LLC. Sunstone currently operates 61 properties throughout the United States. 

For details,Click Here

Swiss government bails out ailing tourist industry

The Swiss government has pledged 135 million Swiss Francs (90 million US dollars) to the tourist sector to lift it out of the doldrums, Swiss Radio International ( SRI) reported on Friday. The bulk of the money will be provided in the form of a loan to the hotel industry, which reported a 6 percent fall in overnight stays in the first seven months.

For details,Click Here

News @ PATA

PRODUCTIVE BOARD MEETING IN MANILA One-hundred and thirty delegates joined the PATA Board of Directors meeting at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila, October 20-22. PATA President & CEO, Mr. Peter de Jong, said of the meeting: "It was very constructive, with a high degree of openness and participation. 

For the rest of this weeks PATA news and updateClick Here

UK top for conferences in Europe

The UK was the most popular destination in Europe for hosting meetings in 2001 and second only to the US worldwide, according to figures released by the Union of International Associations.

For details,Click Here

China ranks fifth in world in tourism

China ranked fifth in overseas tourist arrivals in 2001, hitting 33.2 million, up 6.2 percent from 2000, according to the latest statistics released by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).  

For details,Click Here

IH&RA Offers A Show of Spirit in New York

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association's 39th Annual Congress will take place November 8-11, 2002, in New York City alongside the 87th Annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) whose 2002 theme - "Global Marketplace" - underlines the first-ever concurrent positioning of the two events. Both events will be held at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and will attract and serve nearly 50,000 hotel and restaurant operators and suppliers from around the world. 

For details,Click Here

Jordanian tourism revenues up 7.9 percent

Jordan's tourism revenues increased by 7.9 percent on the year in the first eight months of 2002 in the first rise in two years, according to central bank figures published on Tuesday.  

For details,Click Here

Vietnam, Singapore committed to boosting tourism cooperation

Vietnam and Singapore were committed to boosting cooperation in tourism at an annual meeting of the two countries' joint-committee on tourism cooperation held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on Sept. 20.

For details,Click Here

A million Chinese set to visit Australia:  state leader

A million Chinese were expected to visit Australia each year from 2010, Chinese number two Li Peng was told here Friday at a reception in the north Queensland town of Cairns.  

For details, Click Here

September 26, 2002

Prosser expected to head hotels group in Six Continents demerger

Sir Ian Prosser, the chairman of Six Continents, looks set to become chairman of the company's hotels operation if the widely-expected demerger of the group's pubs business is given the go-ahead. The 59-year-old industry veteran, whose contract is up for renewal next July, is thought to have agreed to delay his retirement and stay on to oversee the breakup and head up the hotel business.

For details,Click Here

Gresham Hotel Group H1 loss narrows; sees improved H2 vs last year

Gresham Hotel Group PLC posted a narrowing in interim losses and said although it continues to operate in a challenging environment with limited visibility due to a shortening in booking patterns, it expects that the performance in the second half of the year will be ahead of the same period last year.  

For details,Click Here

World Travel Market 2002 update

Exhibition space at World Travel Market 2002 (11-14 November) has increased by just over 10% with more than 5,000 exhibitors and 82 new destinations or companies exhibiting for the first time. The rise to an unparalleled 36,210 square metres of exhibition space at World Travel Market, means this is the largest ever held. A total of 180 countries will be participating worldwide.  

For detailed report,Click Here

OTC buys All Hotels, announces ?2m placement to secure ATOL

e-Tid.com  -   Aim-listed Online Travel Corp (OTC) has bought All-Hotels Ltd while announcing a share placement which will raise ?2m. The cash will help OTC meet ATOL requirements for a licence for the year to end-March 04.

For further details,Click Here

Four Seasons sweeps rankings by readers of Institutional Investor and Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report

Four Seasons continues to dominate surveys completed by sophisticated travelers and the latest proof is in the results of the two most recent, prestigious surveys. Four Seasons Hotel Seattle claimed the number one position in Institutional Investor's 22nd Annual World's Best Hotels Survey, rising to the top from 12th place last year. Eleven additional Four Seasons properties were also listed in the ranking - more than any other luxury hotel company.  

For details, Click Here

CORRECTED: Hilton Sets Date for 3rd Quarter Earnings, Conference Call

Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) said today that it has scheduled Wednesday, October 23, 2002 for the release of the company's third quarter financial results and conference call. The results will be issued prior to the opening of the market on October 23, with a conference call to follow that day at 12 p.m. Eastern time (9 a.m. Pacific). The dial in numbers are 888-482-0024 (domestic)/617-801-9702 (international), passcode #275972.  

For further details,Click Here

Optimistic Survey on Travel Expectations

Business travel is poised for an increase over the next six months, according to a survey of more than 950 domestic business travelers by Accenture, the consulting company. More than a third of those surveyed said that they expected to travel more for business during the next half-year than they did in the previous half.

For details,Click Here

Rezidor SAS Hospitality signs master franchise agreement with Carlson Hotels Worldwide

The hotel operator Rezidor SAS Hospitality, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Scandinavian airline group SAS, said today (24 September) that it had entered into a master franchise agreement with the US hotel chain Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

For details,Click Here

Oman targets Russian tourists

Charter flights bringing well-heeled tourists from Russia and other CIS countries will soon be part of the tourism landscape of Oman. Come November, the first of several charters is due to arrive in Muscat, according to a report in the Oman Daily Observer.  

For details,Click Here

Dallas in Battle for Conventions

It's been a tough few years for Dallas' meetings business. Many large groups stayed away during the two years of construction at the Dallas Convention Center. City officials and hoteliers hope the expansion's opening on Thursday means the city's meetings business cycle can get back to normal. But industry upheavals -- increased competition among cities and changes in the way meetings are booked -- could be obstacles to Dallas keeping its reputation as a top-tier convention city.  

For details,Click Here

September 27, 2002

US confidence up

A study of American travel habits conducted by Travelocity last month reveals sentiment for out-of-town travel remains strong.

Twenty-five percent of the survey's 1,000 respondents say they avoided travel immediately after September 11. But almost 90 percent have taken a trip since then. And while 14.4 percent cited concerns for their personal safety as the reason for avoiding travel immediately after September 11, only 2.6 percent feel that way today.

US still a giant with meetings

The US takes pole position as the country with the most association meetings last year. At 185, it hosted 33 percent more meetings than Britain (139) and 34 percent more than Germany (138). Australia (129) is next, followed by Italy and Spain (128).

For details,Click Here

Tourism booms in China

Chinas tourism is a rising industry. It is only a little more than 20 years since it started as a real industry. By the end of 2001, the foreign exchange earnings from tourism were 13 times that of 1985 and the domestic earnings rose 43 times. The international tourism income ranks fifth in the world in 2001 as against 34th in 1980. China is beginning to establish itself as a world tourism power.  

For detailed report,Click Here

Just lie back and smell the profits

A spa brand can play an important role in attracting guests to both the hotel and the spa. Spa brands operated by spa management companies such as Mandara and Aspara typically have the benefit of being able to produce more focused and targeted marketing. But Banyan Tree and Raffles' Amrita Spa have proven that a hotel company can develop successful spa brands as well.

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Ramada back in Australia

The Ramada International brand will return to Australia in November with the opening of the 179-room Ramada Melbourne, owned and operated by Asia Pacific Hotels.  

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Westin Chosun Joins Ranks of World's 100 Best Hotels

For the second time, Westin Chosun has been included in the list of the world's top 100 hotels as surveyed by the authoritative financial journal Institutional Investor (II) of the United States.  

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Bali hotels on a roll

A year after September 11, the MICE business in Bali is slowly recovering. While some destination management companies and hotels said business started to come back slowly since the beginning of the year, others looked forward to a strong growth spurt in the second half of the year.  

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New York occupancy rates recover, ARR still short

According to figures from NYC & Company, New York's official tourism marketing agency, hotel occupancy in the city has rebounded post-11 September, but room rates are still down year-on-year.

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Business Traveller Asia Pacific awards Shangri-la best hotel group in Asia

Shangri-La  Hotels and Resorts has once more topped the Best Business Hotel Brand  in  Asia-Pacific  category  in  the  Business Traveller Asia-Pacific readers' poll.  In addition, the group's first hotel, the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, which last year celebrated its 30th anniversary, was awarded the prestigious  Best  Individual  Business  Hotel  in  the  World and the Best Individual Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific, whilst the Makati Shangri-La won the Best Business Hotel in Manila.  

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Tanzania gears up for tourism push

Tanzania is hoping the trend towards ecotourism, adventure and cultural experience holidays will help it become a leading tourist destination. The home of Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti plans and the beaches of Zanzibar believes its natural resources can help it build up its share of the massive tourism market.  

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World celebrates 'World Tourism Day 2002'

Once again, on 27 September, the international community will celebrate the World Tourism Day. The main purpose of the World Tourism Day is to foster awareness throughout the world of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.  

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September 30, 2002

May I Speak to the Manager? A Storm at Marriott

For John J. Flatley, a multimillionaire property developer, the eviction of his trusted overseer was more than he could bear. Mr. Flatley, an experienced real estate executive, had hired Marriott International to run his big new hotel in Quincy, Mass., south of Boston, but had installed his own man, Steven Lambert, to keep an eye on the business.

Last month, just 15 months after his Boston Marriott Quincy Hotel opened, Mr. Flatley sued Marriott in Federal District Court in Boston, accusing it of fraud, accounting irregularities, mismanagement and taking kickbacks from suppliers.

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Meristar lowers profit view, cites business travel

Hotel property owner MeriStar Hospitality Corp. on  Friday halved its third-quarter financial guidance, citing weak business travel caused in part by concerns surrounding the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

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PKF Data Now Available to Help Hotel Managers with Their Budgets

Each fall, hotel managers struggle through the process of preparing their budgets for the upcoming year.  "How do I forecast RevPAR for an entire year?" and "How do I know if the hotel is operating as efficiently as comparable properties?" are the questions most commonly heard from operators. To assist U.S. hotel managers prepare their 2003 budget, The Hospitality Research Group of PKF Consulting (HRG) has developed two products designed to simplify the budgeting process, as well as enhance accuracy.  

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Global Distribution Systems in Present Times

Written By: Samipatra Das HVS International

The travel marketplace is a global arena where millions of buyers (travel agents and the public) and sellers (hotels, airlines, car rental companies, etc.) work together to exchange travel services. Among the "shelves" on which buyers search for travel services are world's global distribution systems and the Internet distribution systems. These systems have become electronic supermarkets linking buyers to sellers and allowing reservations to be made quickly and easily. 

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Outbound restrictions for China may lift

Outbound restrictions on outbound travel for the Chinese may be lifted by 2005, said John Koldowski, PATA's managing director of the Strategic Information Centre.  

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UK: August second best month for inbound tourism

According to the British Incoming Tour Operators' Association (BITOA)'s 'Business Barometer' for August 2002, visitors to the UK were just 1.45% below the same month of last year.

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Announcing First Asia-Pacific Chrie Conference And Call For Papers

Newly created Asia-Pacific CHRIE (APacCHRIE) will hold its "first" annual conference and meeting in Seoul, Korea, on 21-23 May 2003. The conference theme is "Hospitality & Tourism Research and Education: 

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Rica Hotels ASA and HKC Hotels sign partnership agreement

The Norwegian hotel chain operator Rica Hotels ASA said today (26 September) that it had entered into a long-term partnership agreement with the privately-owned Swedish hotel chain HKC Hotels. The partnership agreement covered purchasing, sales and marketing and meant that HKC Hotels' five hotels in Sweden would join the Rica Partner Hotel organisation, Rica Hotels said.

Americans Are Still Traveling, But Their Reasons Are Personal

The travel industry may be suffering, but nearly three quarters of the population have stayed in a hotel room over the past 12 months, according to a recent eBrain Market Research Online Poll. Although the reasons why they traveled and where they stayed vary almost as much as the population.  

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More records set as August 2002 Hong Kong visitor arrival figures pass 1.5 million

Hong Kong's tourism industry is maintaining this year's record-breaking trend, with arrivals in a single month passing 1.5 million for the first time in August 2002, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced.

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Marriott anticipates higher profits for third quarter

Shares of hotel giant Marriott International Inc. rose last Thursday after it said profits for the third quarter may be higher than analysts' expectations, thanks in part to its synthetic fuel production business.  

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