Hotel News In Brief

Nov 09, 12 | 12:09 am

Some current conversation starters…

Hotels Help You Kick Butt during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

While hotels had plenty of seemingly self-serving and more cutesy-than-caring promotions for October's Breast Cancer Month, many are taking a more serious and hands-on approach during November's Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Hotels across the globe are opening their doors and inviting guests to take a proactive approach to end their smoking habits once and for all and reduce their chances of lung cancer, which, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance, "is the deadliest cancer in the world that takes more lives than breast, colon, pancreatic and prostate cancer combined." Is quitting smoking on your New Year's resolution list? A trip to the UK might be in order. The Champneys Kick the Habit three-night program in Hertfordshire and Hampshire tackles both the psychological and physiological aspects of addiction with three 55-minute hypnotherapy sessions, full use of the spa facilities and up to 20 different classes per day. You won't be alone - smoking remains the biggest cause of premature death in England and is responsible for the loss of more than 100,000 lives in the UK every year. How about a sojourn to Australia to beat addiction? First time visitors get 25% off treatment sessions at Chuan Spa (The Langham Melbourne), including a consultation by a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner to interpret your states of well-being and apply relative treatments to combat compulsive smoking. Portugal's Vilalara Resort attempts to kick butt with their six-day Anti-Smoking Cure package involving thalassotherapy, auriculotherapy, and acupuncture treatments. If you want to stay within the United States, the Regency Health Resort in Florida and its year-round, five-day Smoking Cessation Program is designed to help people quit via juice detoxification, Tai Chi, yoga, and daily therapeutic sessions. So why not give it the old college try this winter? Hey, even if you don't end up quitting, it'll be the most fun attempt to date. By wakeandwander.

Geller’s sudden departure from Strategic Hotels raises question of sale.

Chicago-based Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. hasn’t had a profitable year since 2007 but has come close to stopping its losses. At that pivotal point in its turnaround, it is changing its chief executive. Strategic said Friday after markets closed that Laurence Geller, its founder and guiding light since 1997, is stepping down. Geller, 64, has been a longtime leader in the lodging industry and in Chicago business circles. The company’s board replaced him with its chairman, Raymond “Rip” Gellein Jr., who is taking on the role of chief executive officer. Geller will stay on to advise him through yearend. Gellein, 64, formerly worked for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and has been Strategic’s chairman since August 2010. The change was in accordance with a succession plan the company drafted two years ago, he said. But the announcement produced many questions from industry analysts, some of whom have speculated that Strategic will be sold. The company’s shares closed at $5.57 and are little changed from a year ago. In 2007, the shares commanded more than $23 each. The recession has been brutal on Strategic’s portfolio of high-end properties and the company has high debt levels from amassing its collection, which includes the InterContinental Chicago and Fairmont Chicago, plus the Marriott Lincolnshire resort. By David Roeder. Click Here to read on…

Four Seasons New York Said to Get $900 Million Unsolicited Offer.

Four Seasons Hotel New York owner H. Ty Warner received a bid for his 368-room luxury hotel in midtown Manhattan for about $900 million from an unidentified Asian buyer, according to a person close to the situation. The unsolicited bidder is probably affiliated with the government of Brunei, the kingdom located on the island of Borneo, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. If a deal is completed, the buyer would terminate the management contract held by Four Seasons Hotels Inc., the person said. Warner, the Beanie Babies creator, would accept the $2.4 million a-room offer should Four Seasons decline to match the bid for the flagship hotel on East 57th Street, the person said. Four Seasons has to decide within a month, the person said. The Brunei Investment Agency owns luxury hotel manager Dorchester Collection, which includes properties such as the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, its only two properties in the U.S., according to the hotelier’s website. Sorya Gaulin, spokeswoman for Four Seasons, which only operates but doesn’t own its namesake hotels, declined to comment in an e-mail. Donna Snopek, chief financial officer of Ty Warner Hotels, didn’t immediately return a message outside normal business hours seeking comment. Officials for the government of Brunei couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. The sale of the hotel, which Warner bought in 1999 for $275 million, would be one of the priciest in Manhattan. The most recent transaction in the area was Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc.’s (BEE) September purchase of the luxury Jumeirah Essex House, on Manhattan’s Central Park South, for $362.3 million. Rates at the Four Seasons for the week of Nov. 5 start at $995 a night, according to the hotel’s website. Warner, through his Ty Warner Hotels and Resorts, also owns the San Ysidro Ranch and Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, according to the company’s website. The Wall Street Journal reported the unsolicited bid yesterday. By Nadja Brandt.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

Raffles names new president. Raffles Hotels & Resorts will promote Peter French to president when John Johnston retires in January. French has most recently served as Raffles’ regional vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa as well as general manager of the Raffles Dubai. He had previously served as general manager of the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong as well as vice president of operations for Mandarin Oriental. Johnston has served as Raffles’ president since 2009. By Danny King.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has appointed Mr. Addison Wong as General Manager of Sheraton Qingyuan Lion Lake Resort. Mr. Addison Wong has been appointed as the general manger of Sheraton Qingyuan Lion Lake Resort, the unique Arabian architecture in Guangdong China. As a native hotelier, Mr. Wong has more than 35 years’ extensive experience. He started his career from Sheraton Hongkong in 1976 where he worked for 5 years and then later honed his senior management skills at a variety of international hotel chains serving in general manager and managerial roles. Additionally Mr. Wong has opened 7 deluxe hotels successfully in Hongkong & China.

The Latest in Hotel Opening

Hilton Worldwide announced the opening of Conrad Seoul in South Korea. Strategically located in Seoul’s financial district in Yeouido, the five-star luxury hotel will open its doors on November 12, 2012 and features 434 spacious, designer rooms that provide guests with a contemporary and exotic experience by delivering modern sophistication and smart luxury. “Conrad Hotels & Resorts offers today’s affluent travellers a world of style, service, and connection with the luxury of being themselves,” said John T.A. Vanderslice, global head of luxury and lifestyle brands for Hilton Worldwide. “Through Conrad Seoul, the brand’s presence in global gateway cities and most sought-after resort destinations is strengthened. Guests will experience the Conrad spirit of individuality and commitment to service synonymous with the brand.” “Hilton Worldwide continues to expand our presence in Korea and the Conrad Seoul is an outstanding addition to our growing portfolio of Conrad Hotels in Asia Pacific and to our expanding footprint in Korea,” said Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.

Accor announces signing of two hotels in Bangladesh. Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator, announces that it will enter Bangladesh, the Group’s 17th market in Asia-Pacific. Accor will open two properties in the country under management contracts – Novotel Dhaka Gulshan Avenue in the country’s capital and Novotel Chittagong. These developments will add over 350 rooms in Bangladesh’s two largest cities. This announcement, which confirms the Group’s commitment to the South Asian market, comes as Accor celebrates 30 years of operations in the Asia-Pacific region. “Asia-Pacific is one of the most important growth engine for Accor” says Michael Issenberg, Chief Operating Officer, Accor Asia-Pacific. “The opening of two Novotel hotels in Bangladesh will add hotel inventory to Bangladesh’s two largest cities, including the capital, Dhaka, and Chittagong.” Bangladesh offers strong growth potential. Along with its neighbour, India, Bangladesh has seen rapid economic expansion over the last decade, with annual GDP growth averaging six percent. Today, the country is the second-largest exporter of textiles in the world and the port city of Chittagong is a major regional manufacturing and transport hub. “We see Bangladesh as a tremendous opportunity for expansion, given the country’s growing manufacturing presence in the region,” continued Michael Issenberg. “Dhaka and Chittagong, the country’s two largest cities, have been the driving force behind much of the recent growth and serve as gateways to the country for business travellers. We are committed to offering our customers more choice in consistently high quality accommodation in the region.” Click Here to read on…

Hilton Worldwide signs agreement for Hilton development in Pilar. Hilton Worldwide announced that it has signed a management agreement with El Hotel Pilar, S.A. for a 170-room new-build Hilton hotel in Pilar, Argentina - part of Greater Buenos Aires. The hotel will form part of a mixed-use development featuring 130 residential condominium units that will benefit from all the services offered at Hilton Pilar. The Hilton Pilar Hotel & Residences project, currently under construction and expected to open in March 2015, is the third for Hilton Hotels & Resorts and fifth for Hilton Worldwide in Argentina. “As Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues its focus on global growth, signing our third project in one of South America’s most diverse countries is a key milestone for us,” said Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to welcoming travelers to experience our brand in one of Argentina’s flourishing cities.” Click Here to read on…