Hotel News In Brief

Jan 21, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters…

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has been awarded the World’s Leading Hotel Brand for the fourth year running, as well as World’s Leading Business Hotel for the second year in a row at the Grand Final Ceremony of the 2012 World Travel Awards in New Delhi, India.

Simon Scoot, IHG’s Vice President Brands – InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and IHG Global Resorts says of the awards: “We are very proud to have won the award for the World's Leading Hotel Brand for the fourth year running, as well as so many other awards regionally throughout the year. For us, this is valuable recognition that our hotels and resorts continue to provide our guests with unrivalled insider knowledge in our many destinations around the world.”

A nationwide foreign currency provider has released new statistics which reveal that UK holidaymakers are shunning long haul destinations in favour of short haul, cost effective holidays in Eastern Europe.

The statistics, which compare currency exchanges made by half a million Eurochange customers between 2011 and 2012, reveal that travel to Eastern Europe has seen a prolific increase in 2012, as those countries left out of the Eurozone experience a weaker exchange rate. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia are among the countries that have seen the highest growth in tourism from the UK. Transactions made by Eurochange for Croatia alone have increased by 77 per cent while Hungary has seen a 65 per cent increase.

Gehr Development Corporation, a Gehr Group company, owner of the Fairfield Inn and Suites New York Times Square and the Four Points by Sheraton Midtown Times Square announced the hotels contributed donations totaling $50,000 to local charitable organizations in New York and New Jersey.

This is in addition to a $25,000 personal donation from Norbert Gehr, chairman and CEO. The donations will be used to aid those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

Less than a month after celebrating its sixth anniversary, Vietnam's most distinguished resort is raising a glass to a new face and a renovated space. The Nam Hai Hoi An welcomes Anthony Gill, who takes over as general manager after spending almost two years overseeing La Residence Hotel & Spa, another lauded hotel on Vietnam's up-and-coming central coast. Gill's arrival comes at the same time The Nam Hai pulls the curtains back on a refurbished Beach Restaurant, a popular poolside dining venue that now features a sleek glass roof. Gill's hospitality career began in 1998 with Chateau Elan, an acclaimed winery just outside of Atlanta. The 33-year-old Briton from Newcastle has also worked at prestigious properties in England, Scotland, Monaco, Qatar and the Maldives. His relationship with Vietnam began in January 2007, when he was appointed executive assistant manager of Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang. Three years later, he earned his first general manager role at Life Heritage Resort Hoi An.

Dolce Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of James Bennett to Vice President of Sales, North America. With extensive sales experience for large branded hotels, Bennett will serve as a strategic business leader for the hotel group's North American properties while building value-based customer relationships to better achieve sales objectives. Bennett arrived at Dolce from Starwood Hotels & Resorts in New York where he served as the Leader in the NYC Metro Market. In that role he organized and executed the sales transformation of 11 hotel sales teams of over 100 employees to a single dynamic selling organization. Bennett led a team that produced over $500 million in revenue consisting of group, transient and catering for Starwood's corporate-managed hotels. Previously, Bennett was with Marriott International as Director of the Association Sales Team, managing an experienced sales staff that produced over $250 million in revenue annually. From 2005-2008, he served as Vice President of Revenue Development at Experient Inc. in Atlanta, where he was responsible for converging the sales process during the transition of three companies into one.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

The Marti Group officially opened its first city address with Marti Istanbul Hotel, a new 5-star property set in the cultural and commercial heart of Istanbul. Fashioned by internationally acclaimed designer Zeynep Fadillioglu, the glamorous 11-story, 270-room hotel is arrayed with contemporary attributes, striking artwork and exclusive touches that reflect the heritage of the surrounding city. The hotel's phase one, soft opening was in July 2012, and now Marti Istanbul Hotel is celebrating their Grand Opening, with the unveiling of all public spaces.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, today announced the opening of Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, its first leisure property in India. Operated by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Writer Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., the retreat is nestled in the serene and unspoiled landscape of the Sahyadri mountain range in the Western Ghats.

Fourth Ibis Styles Hotel Opens in London. And there were 4! That’s how many ibis Styles hotels there are in Greater London now that the ibis Styles London Excel has opened. This one is in the Docklands, a new, booming tourist hotspot near London City airport and the Olympic Park. The hotel has 302 rooms, is packed with the brand’s finest features and radiates a distinctive designer pop atmosphere.

The ParkRoyal on Pickering (Singapore) opened its doors on Wednesday. Designed by internationally acclaimed local architectural firm WOHA, ParkRoyal on Pickering boasts over 15,000 square metres of lush four-storey tall sky-gardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and cascading vertical greenery, amounting to twice its land area.