Hotel News In Brief

Mar 07, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters…

Norwegian Breakaway, the largest ship being constructed in Germany, was floated out of Meyer Werft’s covered building dock II this morning in Papenburg, Germany where the 146.600-tonne ship has been under construction since September 2011.

Beginning at approximately 7am (German time), the 4.000 passenger ship with her signature hull artwork designed by pop icon Peter Max, departed building dock II as the first ship to depart bow first. Norwegian Breakaway has an overall length of 324 metres, and is 39,70 metres wide The ship’s float out represents a major milestone in the vessel’s construction as it denotes that the ship has now moved into the final phase of construction with delivery taking place in just 58 days.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills the first West Coast property to feature in-room ICE Touch on iPads, is expanding its partnership with software developer Intelity to offer additional hotel services to guests who carry mobile devices.

Guests will now be able to transform their personal tablet or smartphone (Android or Apple) into a virtual concierge by downloading the hotel’s free app, granting them access to an array of services. With just the touch of a finger, guests can schedule a wake-up call or order a meal to be delivered to their room, among other guest services. Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has long put emphasis on offering top technology throughout the hotel. In 2011, the hotel launched ICE Touch on iPad2 devices in all 285 guestrooms and suites with access to the hotel’s services and amenities, bridging the gap of communication between staff and guests in real time. This new mobile app provides further access to the hotel’s unique services and amenities from any location in the world.

The number of planned new hotel rooms in the development pipeline in Africa has increased 16% compared with year-ago numbers, according to research by W Hospitality Group, Lagos, Nigeria.

The research is based on a sample of 29 international hotel chains with 59 brands among them. As in previous years, the details show a tale of two Africas, W Hospitality Group said. In North Africa, the development pipeline grew 9%, from 17,217 planned new guestrooms in 2012 to 18,782 rooms in 77 hotels in 2013. In sub-Saharan Africa, however, the chains’ pipeline now stands at 21,052 rooms in 130 hotels, up from 17,109 rooms in 100 hotels a year ago — a 23% increase. The five countries of North Africa all appear in the top 10 countries for new hotels in Africa, led by Egypt (7,644 planned new hotel rooms), Morocco (5,178) and Algeria (3,160). In sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria has by far the largest pipeline, with 7,470 planned new rooms. The companies leading the way are Hilton Worldwide with 6,230 rooms in its African pipeline, Carlson Rezidor with 5,947, Accor with 5,165 and Marriott with 3,900. “The main reasons for the slower growth in North Africa include the opening of hotels in the 2012 pipeline, particularly in Algeria, a reduced investment focus on North Africa due to political concerns and a greater emphasis on development in sub-Saharan markets,” said Trevor Ward, managing director of W Hospitality Group. “There is a boom in Africa in all sectors, including hotels. Economic growth in many countries is 6% or higher, and global investors are looking at the continent in a much more serious and sophisticated way.”

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

Officials of New Castle Hotels and Resorts, a leading hotel owner, operator and developer, today named Maurice Alfaro general manager of the 170-room Hilton Garden Inn in Norwalk, Ct. A 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Alfaro most recently served as director of operations/general manager of the Hilton Hartford in Hartford, Ct. Alfaro joined New Castle in 2006 as the assistant general manager of the Woodcliff Lake Hilton, a position he held until 2011 when he moved to the Hilton Hartford. Prior to joining New Castle, Alfaro served as rooms division manager for the Sheraton Weehawken and the Westin in Morristown, NJ. He also has held positions as director of facilities and executive housekeeper.

Leo Spriggs, President/CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) one of the nation’s leading and most respected management companies – proudly announces the appointment of Gerald Morris as Vice President of Hotel Operations. Gerald is responsible for the development, positioning and opening of all new and existing hotels for Hospitality Management Corporation. Morris brings more than 24 years of executive level leadership to the position. Most recently, Morris served as Regional Director of Operations for HMC and previously was General Manager of the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Conference Center Harrisburg PA which HMC also manages. Prior to HMC Morris worked with notable companies such as Wyndham International and the Marriott Corporation.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

Hilton Worldwide is expanding its portfolio of hotels in Egypt, with the company’s sixth property to Cairo. The 257-room Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi will be located in the upscale residential and diplomatic district of Maadi, offering direct access to the popular Corniche El Nile. The 23-storey property, which is forecast to open early 2016, will also boast views of the legendary River Nile as well as Egypt’s world famous ancient heritage sites, museums and popular tourist attractions.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has announced the Park Inn by Radisson Troyitska, Kyiv in Ukraine. The property will be located in the very centre of Kiev adjacent to the Olympic Stadium and feature 199 rooms. It is in advanced stages of development and scheduled to welcome the first guests in Q3 2013.

Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa, now open, is Anantara's second Chinese establishment, and the first and only five star hotel and pool villa destination experience in the Yunnan Province. Located in the midst of this scenic resort destination, an hour's drive from Jinghong International Airport, the resort is set within lush gardens and water features, and comprises 80 Deluxe guest rooms, as well as 23 one-, two- and three-bedroom Pool Villas. A luxurious blend of contemporary and local culture, authentic influences are drawn from the textures, colors and flavors of the region to deliver a bewitching blend of Chinese, Thai, and Burmese accents. Cultural aspects of the local tribes including the Dai, Jinuo and Hani people will feature not only in the resort's design, but also in its culinary concepts.

Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts, a division of Nikki Beach Worldwide, is thrilled to announce the 2014 opening of Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Bodrum, a luxury lifestyle beach front boutique hotel imagined by GAD, the award-winning New York & Istanbul based architectural firm. Spanning over 40,000 square meters of peninsula, the property will offer unparalleled views of the clear blue Torba Bay, Mediterranean Sea and nearby islands. Designed to blend into its natural surroundings and breathtaking setting, the property - as per the visions of entrepreneur Jack Penrod, founder & owner of Nikki Beach Worldwide - will expertly exude modern contemporary features that define Nikki Beach’s sleek look to local details and materials.