Hotel News in Brief

Sep 21, 07 | 7:46 am

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that the company scored a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sixth annual Corporate Equality Index and is a recipient of the HRC "Best Places to Work" award. The Corporate Equality Index rates employers on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors. The 195 businesses that met all of the criteria this year employ more than 8.3 million workers. When the Index was first released in 2002, only 13 companies, employing 690,000 workers, received the top rating. "Starwood is inspired by organizations like Human Rights Campaign that validate the importance of inclusion and respect as paramount to a 21st century business model," said Shelley Freeman, Director, Global Diversity & Inclusion. "Our thanks to HRC for recognizing Starwood's leadership for the second year in a row in the area of inclusion and to our associates who play a critical role in crafting work environments and guest experiences which demonstrate this commitment thereby earning Starwood a 100 percent score on this year's Corporate Equality Index." The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

"More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse and dedicated workforce," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "More importantly, these employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace."

Andrew Labetti has been named General Manager of The Benjamin, the 209-room luxury boutique hotel in New York City that is owned and operated by the Denihan Hospitality Group.  Previously General Manager of New York's Hotel Wales, Labetti brings more than 16 years of New York City-specific experience to the new post.   The appointment was made by Patrick Denihan, co-CEO of DHG and is effective immediately.

Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City, has scooped the Hospitality Sector Implementation of the Year award at the recently held ACN Arab Technology Awards which recognises and rewards people, products and companies that have contributed to the region's ongoing digital revolution. The property was honoured for its success in rolling out its IT infrastructure during the opening of the hotel's second phase, without interrupting day-to-day operations or inconveniencing its guests. Siegfried Nierhaus, General Manager of Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City said, "We continuously strive to have our software and hardware updated on a regular basis to the latest standards."  "The implementation also included IP TV, IP phone, Wireless IP phones and wireless internet coverage throughout the hotel which is accessible to all guests as part of the company's strategy." The hotel uses Smart Mobile Wireless Technology deployed by EMW together with Cisco infrastructure, Avaya wireless phones and the Trapeze Wireless Access points.

Roland Czekelius has been appointed executive chef at The Landings St. Lucia, A RockResort, opening December 2007. In this position, he will oversee all dining operations at the 231-suite beachfront resort. Chef Czekelius, a 35-year veteran of the culinary industry, joins The Landings with extensive consulting and cooking experience throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

Dusit has been listed among Asia's top 10 hotels in MEDIA magazine, one of the region's leading publications for the advertising industry.  The proprietary survey was commissioned by Media magazine and was conducted by Synovate through 9 Asian countries, with a sample size of 5,000 respondents. Based on an article by Shusha Lamoon, entitled, "The Personal Touch," in the Hotels section of the August main issue, the opening paragraph pointed out that "Asia hotels are finding that the key to sustained brand success may well depend on how well they personalise the brand experience." Dusit, which rated number 8 on the scale, preceding Sheraton and Oriental, has always positioneded itself as "Thailand's premier hotel chain, a reflection of its  professional personalised Thai service, which has become its trademark." The article continues to expand on the importance of websites and online bookings, which is on the rise, allowing guests to also provide their feedback about certain hotels, their rates, services, facilities, locations, and all other factors relating to hospitality.  In fact, early this year Dusit entered into an agreement with MICROS-Fidelio to implement OPERA Central Systems Solution providing single image inventory online reservations, and customer information systems.  All this will provide to Dusit hotels and their guests instantaneous guest recognition at the point of customer contact, combined with an enhanced distribution system for best rate bookings. Jennifer Cronin, Vice President-Sales & Marketing for Dusit Hotels & Resorts, said, "Dusit being the only Thai-owned hotel to be listed in Asia's top ten is recognition of our wonderful Thai heritage and marks our exciting evolution as we expand regionally and globally. 

Classic British Hotels member Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa in Newbury, Berkshire received nationwide recognition last night when it was named ‘Hotel of the Year' at the inaugural glittering AA Hospitality Awards ceremony, hosted by GMTV presenter Jenni Falconer, at the InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane in London. Attended by the UK's finest chefs and prominent hoteliers, the AA Hospitality Awards recognises and rewards the excellent services provided by the UK's very best establishments, and honours the finest AA-inspected and rated hotels, restaurants and pubs throughout the UK. Peter Birnie, the AA's Chief Hotel and Restaurant Inspector commented: "We selected Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa as AA Hotel of the Year because it proved itself to be a strong ‘all round' performer. The hospitality and service at the hotel are of a consistently high standard and they offer a fantastic proactive approach to staff training. This enables the hotel to operate successfully and efficiently across several markets and price points."

Marriott International will add two more Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Thailand in 2008 under a management agreement reached with Destination Properties Company, Limited.  The hotels are:  - 243-room Tipviman Hotel in Cha-Am which will be rebranded the Courtyard by Marriott Hua Hin at Cha-Am Beach and 180-room Kamala Bay Garden Resort in Phuket which will be reflagged the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach. Both hotels are will undergo extensive refurbishment prior to being reflagged as Courtyard by Marriott hotels. Earlier this year, Marriott announced management agreements with Destination Properties for the Grand Tropicana Hotel Phuket and the Surin Beach Resort in Phuket, both of which will also reflag to Marriott's Courtyard brand in early 2008.

The Westin Guangzhou has opened its Italian flagship restaurant ‘Prego' on the 40th floor of the hotel, offering stunning panoramic views of the city from its top floor location. With its superb Italian cuisine, stylish interiors and commanding location at the top of Guangzhou's brand new urban retreat, Prego is positioned to be a popular dining venue for both locals and corporate tenants of the neighboring CITIC Plaza - which is home to most Fortune 500 companies based in the southern provincial capital at the hub of China's Pearl River Delta. Westin's lively, lighthearted, and friendly concept of Prego offers a cozy, modern take on Italian dining rather than the more traditional Italian style and is already well established at The Westin Kuala Lumpur, The Westin Resort, Guam and The Westin Bund Centre, Shanghai where the restaurants are renowned as entertaining venues for wholesome Italian fare at value for money prices. Besides the lively main dining room with its popular open show kitchen, Prego has four private ‘salas' catering for business meetings or private gatherings, and a Tuscan style outdoor garden terrace ideal for Mediterranean style al fresco dining. 

The Hospitality Doctor: Hospitality Industry Secrets, Tips, Tonics, Remedies, Scams and Medicines