Hotel News In Brief

Nov 22, 12 | 12:09 am

Some current conversation starters…

Stockholm’s first Boutique Hotel — Radisson Blu Strand Hotel is celebrating their 100 year anniversary and has designed a special suite in honour of Hollywood’s most legendary actress.

The Greta Garbo suite takes guests on an inspiring journey back in time to experience the international movie star’s glamorous life. Swedish-born Greta Garbo was a regular guest at the Stand Hotel and she is filmed on the hotel’s rooftop terrace in the 1920’s, prior to her international found fame in Hollywood. Her family have graciously given their official authorization to create the suite and it affectionately portrays Greta Garbo’s mythicial character and eventful life. The Strand Hotel was Ms. Garbo’s favorite place to stay when in Stockholm and her family continues to visit. The Suite is steeped in Greta Garbo’s spirit and character. For the guests, it will be like stepping into a black and white movie that reflects, glamour, luxury and drama. Greta Garbo’s dramatic film characters has inspired the suite’s colors black and gold. The choice of velvet and silk decor is inspired by Greta Garbo’s amazing dresses and robes. Even the mirrors are inspired by her lavish jewelry. There are also many details that are inspired by her personal and professional style. Decorated by renowned Swedish interior designer and stylist Maria Nordin. The decor is done with items from a wide range of Swedish interior designers, clothing and artifacts from the official Greta Garbo museum.

“I never said, “I want to be alone”. I only said, “I want to be left alone”. There is all the difference.”…..Greta Garbo

There are positive trends in occupancy, ADR and RevPAR in several Mediterranean and Middle Eastern destinations, according to a new report from MKG Hospitality.

Cyprus’ tourism industry has proven resilient thus far to the adverse economic conditions in Europe, MKG reported. According to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), as of year-to-date September 2012, tourist arrivals had increased 4.6% over the year-earlier period. This follows a 10.2% increase in arrivals for 2011. Tourism revenues also increased 12.9% so far this year. “Some clever and timely initiatives, such as the support of low cost carriers’ expansion to the island, have certainly provided a much needed boost, enhancing the destination’s accessibility. This growth also comes during a period when Cyprus took over the EU rotating presidency,” said Vanguelis Panayotis, director of development for MKG. MKG also highlighted strong results in Croatia and Turkey, where RevPAR was up 8.5% and 6.5%, respectively. MKG noted Tunisia has bounced back from its severely depressed 2011 figures, posting a 7.8% jump in occupancy to 48.3% and a 27.5% increase in RevPAR to €40.5 (US$52). Morocco, however, remained only stable, with a 0.9% boost in occupancy to 53.9% and a 0.5% drop in RevPAR to €63.2 (US$81).

Nick Massad Honored by the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

A graduate of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management, Nick Massad began his hotel career at an American Liberty owned hotel in Dallas. His title: Food & Beverage Director. Nearly 30 years later, he and his wife, Vicki, own American Liberty and have expanded it to 13 hotels, inns and resorts throughout the state. Not a bad career path. On Friday, Nov. 16, however, he achieved one of the best milestones any businessman, no matter how successful, can claim. His peers and those following in his path presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award to honour him for his contributions to the hospitality industry. This, the Association’s highest recognition, is not given every year. In presenting the special award, it was noted that what made Mr. Massad a perfect example of the individual for whom the award was originally created is how his impressive achievements in the industry have been more than matched by his generosity giving back. After beginning as Food & Beverage Manager for American Liberty’s Dallas property, he was eventually promoted to General Manager, a title he held at several of the company’s properties. In 1983, he was named President of the company, and eight years later, he and his wife purchased ownership. Since that time, they have expanded the company to more than a dozen properties, the latest being the Embassy Suites and Alden hotels in Downtown Houston. He has served in the community in various positions inclusive of the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chairman of the Houston Hotel Association, Board of Directors of the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, President of the Alumni Association for the Conrad N. Hilton College and is currently a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the College.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina announced today the appointment of Chef Davide Pugliese as new Executive Chef for the resort. In his new role, Chef Davide will oversee the two, world-class restaurants on property, and any specialty requests for events that occur in the 17,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting and banquet space. Originally from Firenze, Italy, Chef Davide, worked in New York before settling in the British Virgin Islands in 1984. He has spent 30 years in the restaurant industry as a chef and restaurant owner, initially learning the trade from one of New York City’s finest chefs, Fabrizio Bottero at 65 Irving Place. Most recently, Chef Davide provided his expertise as a Consultant Executive Chef to the exclusive Amangiri, an Aman Resort in Utah, and was Consultant Executive Chef and Hospitality Manager to Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Virgin Gorda.

Full House Resorts announced the following changes to its management structure to better support its recent acquisitions and significant growth. First, the Company is pleased to announce that Deborah Pierce will be joining Full House Resorts in December as its new Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Pierce has extensive experience in both public and private accounting arenas and most recently served as Chief Financial Officer since 2005 for Hooters Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. Prior to that, she served as a key finance executive in various other casino operations, including Vice President of Finance for Ameristar Casinos, Inc. and Vice President of Finance for Silverton Casino, LLC. Second, the Company’s current Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Mark Miller will retain the title and responsibilities of Chief Operating Officer. Due to the recent addition of the Silver Slipper Casino, as well as the need to concentrate on organic growth initiatives, Mr. Miller will now be able to focus fully on the execution of the Company’s operations.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

Trumbull Marriott Merritt Parkway in Trumbull, Connecticut, has revealed the results of a two-year renovation project. All of the public spaces and guestrooms have a new look designed by Marcia Rubin of Rubin Design Group; Jeff Mick of Mick White Renovations oversaw construction in the lobby, library, restaurant and more. The suites have been updated with new furniture layouts, updated electrical and sound systems, and bathroom upgrades. A two-story, double-sided fireplace made of natural fieldstone with a limestone ledge serves as a focal point of the new design for public spaces. Furniture in a palette of earth tones surrounds the hearth. The blue stone flooring in the lobby is indigenous to the surrounding area, while the caramel-coloured stone that covers the front desk comes from Brazil. Artwork by local photographers highlights the area’s history and natural landscapes. Geometric-patterned, frosted glass partitions and sliding doors appear in several parts of the hotel, including the bar, lounge, restaurant and private dining room. The new Parallel Post restaurant serves modern American cuisine under the direction of James Beard Award-nominated chef Dean James Max.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announces the Park Inn by Radisson in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The property featuring 478 rooms is scheduled to welcome the first guests in Q4 2014 and is the biggest hotel in the Park Inn portfolio for meeting and conferences, offering a massive 4,000 sqm of meeting space including a ballroom of 900 sqm. The 28,000 sqm building is located in the West side of Amsterdam next to the Amsterdam Sloterdijk Railway station, just 10 minutes from Schiphol Airport and 4 minutes from the Amsterdam city centre. Besides 478 stylish rooms and 4,000 sqm of meeting space, the hotel will feature an all-day-dining restaurant, an à la carte restaurant, a lobby bar, a gym and 300 indoor parking bays, making the hotel an interesting choice for events and conferences.

Global interior design firm HBA revealed a “locally inspired” interior design for the new Hyatt Regency Chongqing, launching the Hyatt Regency brand in western China. Said to be unique to its location, HBA’s Hyatt Regency Chongqing pays homage to Chongqing's cultural and historical attractions, combined with its river-crossed mountains. Thematically, HBA’s design concept was done to fit within the framework of the steeply hilly territory. The property is located in Jiangbei District, overlooking the Jialing River and, in the far distance, rows of terraced houses and commercial buildings that climb the hills. The lobby palette consists of tooled stones with natural patterns, Seppiagianti marble flooring, two tones of warm natural honey walnut and black walnut wood accented with metal finishes. To further established the sense of the place, nods are given to two of the Chongqing ’s historical sites. The lobby walls, for example, are art features in themselves, tiled with porcelain. This installation references Ci Qi Kou, the fabled “ancient porcelain village" known as the center of porcelain productions during the Ming Dynasty.