Hotel News in Brief

Jul 18, 08 | 1:46 am

Member of the prestigious International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, Jules Sieburgh - incoming President of the Texas-based Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) - will be one of the key speakers at the 3rd British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA) Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition to be held on 5 and 6 November 2008 at the brand new Sofitel London Heathrow at Terminal 5, due to open on 30 June. "We are delighted to welcome such a distinguished international expert in the field of hospitality technology to address our two-day 2008 BAHA Conference and IT Exhibition, entitled ‘Managing to Sustain Future Profitability'," said Debra Adams, BAHA Head of Administration and Education. "We look forward very much to Jules Sieburgh - the incoming President of our US-based sister organisation, the HFTP  sharing his extensive industry experience and knowledge with our conference delegates." For more information please visit: www.baha.co.uk


Hilton Hotels in Asia has partnered with Visa to make Hilton Minibreaks even more rewarding for the modern traveller. Available on any day of the week at all 12 Hilton hotels and resorts throughout Asia, Hilton Minibreaks allows time-starved travellers to design their own short escape, choosing from a range of accommodation options including full service, bed and breakfast, or room. The tie-up with Visa offers guests an extra 10% savings on Hilton's best available rates when paying with a Visa card.  The special Visa offer is available for booking from now until September 15, 2008 for stays until 30 September 2008. Hilton Minibreaks was launched in 2007 following research that revealed a global trend towards shorter and more frequent holidays. The Hilton Minibreaks online campaign promoting short breaks in Hilton Hotels in Asia has been highly successful and recently received a silver award in the 2008 Effie Awards Singapore, which recognises effectiveness of marketing campaigns. For more information please visit: www.hilton.com


Park Plaza County Hall London's Human Resources Manager, Gemma Watts, wins Rising Star award. Gemma Watts received the prestigious accolade of Rising Star at the annual Hotel and Catering Personnel and Training Association (HCPTA) Awards ceremony. The award was presented to Watts at the Association's annual Art Deco Ball on 11 July 2008. Watts joined Park Plaza Hotels as Human Resources Officer for Park Plaza Riverbank London in March 2006, before moving to Park Plaza County Hall London as Assistant Human Resources Manager in September 2007. Earlier this month, aged just 25, Watts was promoted to Human Resources Manager at the four-star deluxe hotel as recognition for her outstanding work. She has a BA Honours in Human Resources and Hospitality Management from the University of Gloucestershire and over 12 years experience in customer facing roles in large hospitality corporations including Walt Disney World and McDonalds.


Reservations underway at New England's first Loft Lifestyle Hotel. NYLO Providence/Warwick announced that it will accommodate guests traveling with their favorite canine and feline friends when it opens in August.  The pets will be allowed to enjoy the property's stylish loft-style guest rooms, excluding the PURE allergy-friendly rooms, and walk the lavish grounds while accompanied by their owners.  Dogs and cats under 50-pounds are welcome.  A $50.00 non-refundable fee will be charged to guests with pets upon check-in.For more information please visit: http://www.nylohotels.com


Worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH) announced that it has entered into an area representative agreement with Ireland-based Kasterlee Limited for the exclusive right to license and develop Choice's Clarion brand in the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia.  Under the agreement, Kasterlee will develop a minimum of 16 Clarion branded hotels within eight years.  Kasterlee is the company's master franchisee for its Clarion, Quality and Comfort brands in Ireland.  There are 45 Clarion properties open across Europe, representing over 8,000 rooms.  In Europe, Clarions are full-service, 4-star luxury properties offering restaurants, room service, meeting space, fitness facilities and a number of other amenities.  Two of Europe's most luxurious hotels to open in recent months are both Clarion brand properties: the 560-room Clarion Congress property in Prague, Czech Republic and the 558-room Clarion Hotel Sign in Stockholm, Sweden. Recognized for its quality, the Clarion brand ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Scale Full Service Hotels" in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2007 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. For more information please visit: http://www.choicehotels.com


Professors unveil forecasts of tourism demand. Well-known academics, researchers and co-authors of PATA's new 'Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts 2008-2010', Professor Lindsay Turner of Victoria University (pictured left) and Professor Stephen Witt of Hong Kong Polytechnic University (right), delivered some of the report's findings at the 14th APTA Annual Conference on Tourism and Hospitality in Asia Pacific, which took place in Bangkok, July 9-14. For more information, please email publications@PATA.org. Source: PATA


The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has accepted the following new member hotels: MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, The Resort at Pelican Hill, The Arcadia Hotel, The Ellington Hotel, The Strand, Encantado - an Auberge Resort. More information from members of The Leading Hotels of the World is now available at www.lhw.com/press Simply click on "Online Press Center" and then "Access Member Hotel Press Room" where individual hotels post releases on everything from special offers, management appointments, renovations, and restaurant openings, to new service offerings and awards.


Regal Hotels International, which is one of the largest hotel groups in Hong Kong, has now acquired a prime development site in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. As the provincial capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu has been an important tourist and commercial hub in the south western China. The site is prominently located along two major roadways in the Xindu District of Chengdu. This site will be developed as a five star hotel together with related commercial areas with a total gross floor area of about 185,000 sq. m. and residential accommodation with a total gross floor area of 315,500 sq. m. It is expected that construction work will commence in early 2008 and should be completed in stages from late 2009. Source: China Economic Review


StarCite, Inc., the leading provider of Web-based solutions that help companies strategically manage corporate meetings and events, announced that Gregory J. Dukat was appointed as its Chief Executive Officer, effective July 15, 2008. Mr. Dukat brings to StarCite a solid background of leadership positions managing fast growth technology companies. Prior to joining StarCite, Mr. Dukat served as President and CEO of Ventyx, Inc., a leading provider of service delivery management solutions for energy, utility, and other asset-intensive organizations (previously Indus International, Inc.). Under his leadership, Ventyx's market capitalization increased five-fold in four years while revenues more than doubled. Mr. Dukat led the sale of the company in early 2007 for $250 million. "Greg is a proven leader who has demonstrated the vision, skills and passion to build businesses and accelerate growth," said Doug Alexander, managing director at Internet Capital Group and a member of StarCite's board of directors. "The Board believes Greg's unique blend of operational, sales and marketing leadership skills will further drive the value inherent in this leading on-demand business." Source: Business Wire


The Connaught Hotel and internationally acclaimed Chef Hélène Darroze are delighted to announce the opening of the celebrated chef's eponymous restaurant ‘Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.' Hélène Darroze at The Connaught reinforces the Mayfair landmark's remarkable 110 year legacy of discreet elegance, bespoke service and fine dining. The Connaught has recently emerged following an historic 8-month, $140 million restoration. The detailed restoration work included a magnificent redesign of the guest rooms, suites and interiors, and brought together some of the world's finest designers and craftsmen. The legendary hotel has been brought into the 21st century while preserving with great care its authentic elegance, distinctive personality and intuitive style of service. Source: Business Wire