Hotel News in Brief

Jan 22, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters...

Golfers wanting to play Spain's best golf course can now arrive by high-speed rail thanks to the new link that connects Costa Brava to Europe's major cities.

The new line, which saw the Perpignan-Figueres section inaugurated in late 2010, has now been extended to Girona and Barcelona, enabling visitors from across Continental Europe to play some of Spain's top ranked golf courses on the Costa Brava. The latest 131 km branch between Figueres -home to Dali's Theatre-Museum- and the metropolitan city of Barcelona completes the 804km high-speed line between Madrid and the French boarder. It also leaves Spain second only to China in the size of its high-speed rail network, with 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) in service. Commenting on the new Barcelona-Figueres link, Ramon Ramos, Director of Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, said: "The new high-speed train line opens up many opportunities for Franco-Spanish tourism and enables visitors from across Europe to experience the Costa Brava, its famous gastronomy and cultural heritage, as well as its quality golf courses."

All Boeing 787 planes around the world have been grounded following safety warnings from US authorities.

Thomson Airways is due to become the first UK airline to take delivery of the aircraft, which is destined to start operating flights to Florida and Mexico this spring, and Boeing has said it is "working around the clock" to get the aircraft airborne again. However, Ethiopian Airlines became the last carrier to withdraw its 787s from service yesterday, after Japan Airlines and ANA, the launch customers for the Dreamliner, grounded their aircraft following a series of technical glitches. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered US airlines not to fly Dreamliner until it has been proven safe. Yesterday, Qatar Airways - the only airline operating 787 flights from the UK - grounded its Dreamliner. LOT airlines, the Polish national carrier, is seeking compensation from Boeing after grounding its plane at Chicago O'Hare airport yesterday. LOT also warned it would only accept delivery of three additional Dreamliners, expected in March, if the technical issues have been resolved. Analysts expect the final cost for Boeing to run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

Zip World, an exhilarating new attraction in Bethesda, near Bangor, North Wales, will open on 16 March 2013.

Zip World, which expects to attract visitors from around the world, will be the largest zip wire experience in the Northern Hemisphere and is set to see visitors fly through the skies for over a mile at speeds of up to 75mph. Located in the world's largest old slate quarry, Zip World is a first for the UK and will take visitors over 700ft through the air above a mountain lake with panoramic views out over Snowdonia, Wales to the Isle of Anglesey and even the Isle of Man on a clear day. The journey starts at ground level with guests being collected in ex-military vehicles and taken high up into the Welsh mountains on a three-hour fully guided interactive exploration of the area with commentary. Adventurous visitors will then get the chance to ride the mile long zip wire and fly through the air back to ground level. Guests will get chance to find their feet first with a short taster on the Little Zipper, before stepping up to the big wire. Participants will be supplied with a flying suit to wear that is wind and shower proof. Helmets and goggles will also be supplied.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments...

GHM, the 20-year-old luxury hotel group that has opened the door to some of Asia's most exotic locales, is appointing hospitality heavyweight Hansjörg Meier as senior vice president. Meier, a Swiss native with a prominent 34-year career on the international hospitality landscape, will oversee GHM's hotel and resort operations, as well as the upcoming openings of new projects in Europe and Asia, from GHM's corporate office in Singapore. General managers at all of GHM's properties will report directly to him. GHM currently counts upwards of 600 five-star rooms and suites in destinations as diverse as Hoi An, Muscat and Chiang Mai. Meier's arrival will strengthen the group's corporate structure and presence in line with its ambitious expansion plans.

Loews Vanderbilt Hotel announced the appointment of Tony Phillips to general manager. With more than 20 years of hospitality experience, including the last five years at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, he will manage all operational aspects of the soon-to-be-renovated hotel. Phillips has spent more than 10 years of his career at Loews Hotels, where he began as a Front Office Manager of the Loews Denver Hotel in 1998. He quickly advanced to top leadership positions including Director of Rooms and General Manager at Loews Beverly Hills Hotel in 2004 and Director of Rooms at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in 2005. Phillips relocated to Nashville in 2008 to take on the Director of Rooms role at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2012. During his tenure with Loews Hotels, Phillips has been a leader on several task force assignments including the pre-opening of Loews Atlanta Hotel, serving as the interim general manager at Loews Denver Hotel, and most recently as part of the takeover team of the Loews Hollywood Hotel.

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.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin To Open North East China. The soon-to-open Ritz-Carlton hotel with a grand neo-classical style facade was designed by the Tianjin Academy of Urban Planning and Design, with interiors created by luxury hospitality designer, Pierre-Yves Rochon. It houses 277 rooms, including 53 suites and reflects the cultural European heritage in the district.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts, 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. Located approximately a 2.5-hour drive (100km) and 30-minute helicopter ride from Mumbai and 1.5-hour drive (80km) from Pune, the property is spread across 320 acres within the 3,500-acre private Shillim Estate. Offering a sanctuary for the body, mind and spirit, the retreat features ecologically designed all-villa accommodation with butler service, extensive dining options, one of the largest wine cellars in India and among the largest and most comprehensive spa facilities in Asia that encompasses 70 acres and offers more than 150 treatments. The retreat is designed, built and operated with sustainability as its core commitment. With the opening of Hilton Shilim Estate Retreat & Spa, Hilton Worldwide extends its Hilton Resorts portfolio to 80 resorts across 29 countries.

Dolce Hotels and Resorts Located in the heart of CityWay, a new 14-acre neighbourhood development in downtown Indianapolis, The Alexander is Dolce Hotels and Resorts' 18th property in North America and will be the first LEED and only International Association of Conference Center (IACC) certified hotel in the state of Indiana. Developed by Indianapolis-based Buckingham Companies and designed by the noted architectural firm, Gensler, The Alexander features 209 guest rooms, all specially designed as relaxed refuges for work and rest. The hotel's dining scene offers three destinations, each inspired by the fresh local bounty of the Midwest. In its public spaces, more than 40 artworks will be on view, selected by Dr. Lisa Freiman, head of the Indianapolis Museum of Art's (IMA) Contemporary Art Department, and Veronica Roberts, adjunct associate curator of contemporary art for the IMA. The 12 unprecedented works are site-specific commissions for The Alexander.