Hotel Industry News In Brief

Aug 24, 12 | 12:09 am

Some current conversation starters…

Don't Do This: Kiss Buddha, and Other Faux Pas that Get Tourists in Trouble.

Mon dieu! Three French tourists were arrested for desecrating a religious site in Sri Lanka. The owner of a photo shop alerted the police after the Gaulic travelers tried to print pictures of themselves imitating and kissing a Buddha statue. They got off easy, with suspended jail terms and minimal fines—but they're lucky. Away from home, some travelers take their freedom a little too far:

• An Australian senior was arrested after he illegally entered ancient Olympia. Silly man—the Olympics took place in London this year!
• Two British tourists, drunk on vodka, stole a penguin from an Australian theme park this summer. At least it wasn't Mike Tyson's tiger.
• A German gent tried to smuggle four iguanas from the Galapagos.
• An Englishwoman sobered up after a 10-hour drinking binge in Dubai facing three years in jail for having sex in a cab.
• A naughty Tweet landed two Brits in American jail after they joked about destroying the U.S.
• And it's not all fun and games, folks. A British kid is facing death sentence in Abu Dhabi after selling an undercover cop 20 grams of marijuana.

Luton has been revealed as the UK’s rudest airport, with Edinburgh named as the friendliest.

Skyscanner asked more than 500 travellers to rate UK and European airports according to the friendliness of their staff. Of the five airports serving London, four made the top five rudest list, with Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick taking slots two to four and Birmingham at number five. After Edinburgh, Newcastle was second in the friendliest airport list, followed by Manchester, then Belfast International and Belfast City. Paris Charles De Gaulle was named as the rudest in Europe, with Copenhagen Airport the friendliest. Across all airports, check-in staff are bottom of the list, while things start to pick up after the security gates with staff in restaurants and shops typically the chirpiest. Victoria Bailie, spokeswoman for Skyscanner, said: ‘The average scores were positive for UK’s airports. ‘However, customers travelling in and out of Heathrow faced quite a few problems during the Olympics with ex-employees being drafted in, many of whom had only completed basic training. Clearly there is still room for improvement.’

Viva Espana! Spain is Still Britain’s Favourite Summer Holiday Destination.

Sunny destinations in Spain are the most popular holiday choice for Brits this year, despite the lure of national events at home, say Holiday Hypermarket. According to the leading travel retailer, the combination of short flight times, attractive holiday deals and favourable currency exchange rates makes regions like Catalonia, Madrid and Valencia solid summer favourites. British holidaymakers were among the top spenders in these regions, which have seen an increase of 11.1 per cent expenditure in the first five months of 2012. A report from the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism stated that tourists are spending up to 114 euros per day, which is an increase of nearly four per cent from 2011. In addition, Spain is one of Britain’s most-visited countries, according to the Spanish Institute of Tourism Studies, which reported that there was a significant increase of British travellers to the Mediterranean country between January and May - making makes tourism one of the few industries to experience growth in Spain recently.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel companies, today announced the appointment of Rose Kutzli as vice president, Branding. In this new role, Kutzli will focus on the continuing revitalization and development of the Radisson brand in the Americas and Asia Pacific. The new branding team will be responsible for analysis of trends and insights, new product development, future-proofing, brand DNA, brand audits and brand governance. This marks the first of several moves designed to build specific brand teams and strengthen the commitment to our brands overall. Prior to joining Carlson Rezidor, Kutzli served in leadership roles for top international brands, including Hotel Missoni, Regent, Park Inn and Conrad. Most recently, she served as director of Marketing for Hotel Missoni at The Rezidor Hotel Group based in Brussels, Belgium.

Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gilles Evrard as Hotel Manager with immediate effect. Gilles has more than 18 years of extensive experience in hospitality industry with Food and Beverage roles. He has been acknowledged in his performance for the success to the companies. Prior to joining Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel, he was Deputy General Manager of Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villa & Spa in Egypt.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, formerly Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas and Spa, ushers in a new era today following a phase completion of an ongoing multi-million dollar renovation. To coincide with the rebranding as Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, the award-winning luxury resort also announces the opening of Citrus Marketplace and Cafe, the recently added, upscale gourmet market, featuring freshly prepared light bites and grab-and-go items. The extensive, multi-million dollar renovation commenced in February 2008, and the completion of Citrus marks another milestone in the exquisite California desert resort’s transformation. Imparting a fresh design throughout, the recent renovations to Hyatt Regency Indian Wells include the redesign of the resort’s contemporary lobby, the reconcepting and renaming of Lantana Restaurant and lobby bar Agave Sunset, the expansion of the resort’s private villas and the transformation of the 26 luxury Penthouse Suites.

On August 13, The Inn on Fifth in downtown Naples, Florida began a $1.7 million renovation project that will completely transform the boutique landmark hotel. Interior and exterior renovations of the 87-room inn will take place in three, three-week stages, giving the property a new look and feel. Renovations are expected to be complete in mid-October 2012. Under the direction of Orlando-based interior designer CVC Hospitality, the suites will showcase an elegant contemporary décor, with a palette of warm grays, creamy whites, and crisp black, with splashes of red. The renovations will add new custom-made furniture in guest rooms, which will also be updated with custom artwork, fresh paint, crown molding, custom carpet, new drapery and more. The ballroom and meeting spaces will also be renovated to complement the new look and feel of the property, while the lobby and common areas will be transformed with new paint, several bold wall coverings, decorative lighting, new furniture, custom artwork and LED color changing lighting. The exterior of the Inn on Fifth will be getting a complete makeover with new stone cladding and railings that will reflect the look of the new expansion. The transformation of the exterior will include fresh paint, light fixtures and awnings featuring a contemporary feel, as well as a completely new entrance to the hotel. Additionally, the stone balustrades with be replaced to offer a modern look.

Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney resort on China's mainland, will have two seven-story hotels when it opens at the end of 2015, according to the design plan issued by the Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone. "Hotel One" is close to the southern entrance of the future Disneyland. It will have waterfront views as the inner lake sits to the north of the hotel. The hotel, covering 64,750 square meters, contains a banquet hall, shuttle buses and nearly 300 parking spaces. "Hotel Two" is at the west of the resort and close to the tourist parking lot and the theme park. The hotel covers about 80,937 square meters and it contains 400 parking spaces.