Hotel News in Brief
Jun 02, 09 | 1:46 am 
Swissôtel Göcek Marina & Resort opens for the summer season. After a six-month winter break, Swissôtel Göcek Marina & Resort has opened its doors again for the summer 2009 season. The picturesque fishing village of Göcek, located right on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, has long been recommended by those in the know as a perfect place to spend an undisturbed holiday away from the masses. The hotel overlooking the bay, which is excellent for sailing, thanks partly to the ideal wind conditions, offers crystal-clear water, idyllic Mediterranean scenery and a private sandy beach. Swissôtel Göcek Marina & Resort is the only hotel in the village, and boasts its own 280-metre-long private beach along with a marina with berths for 400 yachts. The hotel, which has just 57 bedrooms, provides a superb setting for a restful holiday in a peaceful location. The luxurious rooms are equipped with every modern amenity and all have a balcony or terrace with a stunning view of the turquoise sea or the surrounding mountains. For more information please visit: www.swissotel.com.
The Providence Group, LLC, a Massachusetts-based full service hospitality management company, announced that President Jed C. Heller will serve as a panelist at the 10th Anniversary U.S. Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing Forum, to be held June 11-12, 2009 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. Heller will participate in a panel discussion led by Stephen L. Rabinowitz, Chair, NY Real Estate Department, Greenberg Traurig LLP, on "Distressed Hotels: Where are the Best Investment Opportunities?" The one-hour panel discussion will discuss a variety of issues involving distressed hotel investments, including exit strategies, legal and due diligence acquisition points, capital sources, distressed mixed-use projects, turnaround and repositioning strategies, and operational issues. Heller will be joined on the panel by William McInerney, Partner Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, JJ Lenhart, Vice President, Citi Property Investors, Clark W. Hanrattie, Chief Investment Officer, Hei Hotels and Resorts, Kate Hendriksen, Senior Vice President of Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management, RLJ Development, and Bob Sonnenblick, Chairman, Sonnenblick-Del Rio.
iBAHN, the worldwide leader in Internet solutions and digital information and entertainment systems for the hospitality and meeting industries, announced that it has installed its innovative and all-digital IPTV solution, ETVi, at The Colonnade Hotel in Boston. The Colonnade Hotel is part of the Preferred Hotel Group, and iBAHN is a member of the prestigious Preferred Partners program. With the goal of providing its guests with the most innovative and user-friendly technology experience, the 278-room property took the opportunity of a recent $20 million renovation to change its high-speed Internet access provider as well, making iBAHN its partner for both HSIA and IPTV services. This installation is iBAHN's first US deployment of its proprietary all-IP ETVi system. "We are truly honored to be The Colonnade Hotel's choice for their digital entertainment and information solution," notes Gregory G. Hodges, iBAHN's resident. "Our focus has always been to bring the most innovative technologies to our hotel partners to help them differentiate their properties, drive revenue, and build strong guest loyalty." For more information please visit:http://www.ibahn.com.
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation announces Susan Thronson, senior vice president of global marketing at Marriott International, Inc., as the new HSMAI Foundation Chair. HSMAI Foundation board members elected Thronson to the position at the Foundation board meeting held in McLean, VA. Thronson will take over the position from past chair, Pam Streeter, president of PS Consulting, on June 1, 2009. For more information please visit: www.hsmaifoundation.org.
ResortSuite, a leading provider of integrated guest-centric hospitality management solutions, is pleased to announce that Spa at the Monastery and Suites in St. John's, Newfoundland has selected the ResortSuite solution for boutique hotels to manage its destination spa. Spa at the Monastery and Suites selected and implemented ResortSuite PMS and ResortSuite SPA to manage its 33-guest room hotel and 28-room spa, consolidating its front desk and spa activity into a unified database across its property. The consolidation will eliminate IT limitations, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance guest service by sharing guest information across both areas. "We selected ResortSuite because it meets the needs of our property in one solution", said Michelle Melee, General Manager of Spa at the Monastery and Suites. "We now have a single view of our guests and can manage our operation much more efficiently." For more information please visit: www.resortsuite.com.
Tourism Ministry to invest USD One million to train hoteliers. Angolan Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MINHUR) intends to launch this year, an upgrading course for 180 hoteliers from the provinces of Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Huila in light of the preparations for the African Nations Cup (CAN2010) in football to take place in the country in January 2010. The fact was recently revealed by the minister of Hotel and Tourism, Pedro Mutindi, during a meeting with members of inter-ministerial monitoring commission of the Organising Committee of the African Nations Cup (COCAN), businessmen and representatives of commercial banks, to analyse issues concerning the preparations of the biggest sports event in the African continent. MINHUR's director for the training area, Amélia Casalma, told the press in Lubango city that from the total number of people to be upgraded 330 are from Huila province, 470 from Benguela and 1,000 from Luanda. According to that official, out of the 90,000 hotel employees available in the country, only 5,000 have professional training on the subject. Source: Angola Press.
DAMAC Properties has announced the awarding of the piling contract for its Burjside Boulevard development in the Burj Dubai district following the successful completion of the enabling works on site. Stromek Emirates Foundations LLC, a subsidiary of M'Sharie (the private equity arm of Dubai Investments) and one of the leading foundation and enabling works contractors in the Middle East, has secured an AED5.6 million contract from Damac Properties to carry out piling work on the luxury tower which will feature nearly 300 serviced apartments. Hussain Sajwani, Chairman of DAMAC said: ‘'We have announced that we intend to award 10 contracts before the end of the year on our projects and this piling works contract is the start of that process.'' Site mobilisation and preparation has already commenced on site and the piling works for the ground plus 45 storey tower will commence within the next few weeks. Burjside Boulevard Tower is a luxury serviced apartment development in Dubai and will offer panoramic views of bustling Business Bay and the Burj Dubai. For more information, please visit www.damacproperties.com.
The changing face of recruitment - The Westin Mumbai Garden City conducts an innovative recruitment drive. Involve, engage and evolve was indeed the new mantra for this innovative recruitment drive recently conducted by The Westin Mumbai Garden City. As Westin Hotels and Resorts, one of the most innovative hotel brands, makes its foray into India, The Westin Mumbai Garden City is poised to create a difference in the way recruitment has traditionally been looked at, setting yet another benchmark for the industry. A mass recruitment drive was organized on 11th and 12th May, 2009 at the Le Royal Meridien Mumbai wherein a preview of the brand experience was provided for aspiring associates in a refreshingly creative manner. Scheduled to open later this year in Goregaon East, The Westin Mumbai Garden City is committed to carry forth the brand legacy by creating experiences that embody the spirit of its core values across all touch points not only for its guests but also for its associates. A sensory rich environment was created at the venue wherein the banquet hall was transformed to create a pleasing retreat for the candidates. Evoking a feel of the brand, signature brand elements which included aroma, music, botanicals and brand specific color scheme in the décor were woven together to create an experience like no other. The refreshing look and feel was complimented by brand posters, imagery and a mood video which not only inspired but also elevated the senses. For more information please visit: www.starwoodhotels.com.
Shama adds two shanghai properties to serviced apartment portfolio. Shama, one of Asia's leading pioneers in the serviced apartment industry, expands its rapidly growing portfolio of China properties today with the addition of two new residential offerings in Shanghai - Shama Century Park and Shama Luxe Huashan. The properties are owned by Morgan Stanley Real Estate which also holds a majority shareholding in Shama. The decision was taken by Morgan Stanley Real Estate to consolidate its serviced apartments offering under the Shama brand in order to realise a strategic growth plan that aims to make Shama the market leader in its sector in Asia. Shama has a varied portfolio of over 12 properties in prime commercial and residential districts in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing and is now the market leader in the serviced apartment industry in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Shama's aggressive expansion strategy includes plans to open properties in Chengdu, Dalian and Bangalore, India by the end of 2009, and by 2011, the company will have at least 40 properties across the region. Co-founded in 1996 by Shama CEO Elaine Young, Shama was introduced to the real estate market as the first boutique serviced apartment offering in Hong Kong. For more information please visit: www.shama.com.
London 2012 announces Holiday Inn as commercial partner ~19th sponsor signs up ~. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express as the ‘Official Hotel Services Provider to London 2012' and a Tier Three commercial partner. Holiday Inn, part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), will provide LOCOG with additional capability and expertise in the accommodation sector, supplying experienced personnel to assist in the planning and operation of the Athletes' Village. Currently undergoing a £600 million global relaunch, Holiday Inn will supply team members to work with LOCOG's Accommodation and Protocol teams in the lead up to the Games in 2012. Holiday Inn, along with other hotels in the IHG stable, will also provide accommodation and meeting rooms for LOCOG and its partners' as it builds towards the Games.
