Hotel News in Brief

Aug 08, 08 | 1:46 am

IHG announced that the new Candlewood Suites prototype design has debuted with the opening of the Candlewood Suites Sheridan. The recently opened hotel features a comfortable residential look and feel incorporating a new exterior design and paint scheme, an expanded lobby and environmentally-friendly amenities. "This is the first major design change for the Candlewood Suites brand in 12 years, and we're extremely pleased with the outcome of the new look," said Robert Radomski, vice president, Brand Management, Extended-Stay Brands, IHG.  "Before making any changes, we did extensive research, which showed that guests and owners preferred a more residential design in extended-stay properties, and we're certain that this new prototype will meet the needs of both audiences.  We're able to provide our guests with even more of the comforts they find at home at a cost that's still attractive to our owners," he added.

 
Enviroflow Solutions, the UK provider of energy-efficient products, has today unveiled a new anti-bacterial, water-saving shower head.  Designed to protect against bacteria and viruses, the Ag+ shower head is particularly suited to hotels where cleanliness and hygiene is of paramount importance.  It is also a water-saving product which can cut water and energy bills by up to 50% without impacting performance. The Ag+'s unique design uses fragments of silver within the plastic to repel any form of bacteria from forming on the surface of the shower head.  This means that it provides 99% protection from bacteria, fungi and viruses, including MRSA, E-Coli, C-Diff and Legionella. The risk of Legionella is also reduced owing to the fact that the Ag+ is a volumising shower head, whereby the centre part of every droplet of water is replaced by air.  This makes the water droplets larger than average and consequently difficult to inhale.  Water is also emptied from the shower head via a small hole used for the aeration process, rather than being retained in the head to become stagnant. "As big consumers of energy and water, hotels are being hit hard by the rising cost of such resources," says Keith Grafham, Director at Enviroflow Solutions.  "At the same time, they have to maintain incredibly high levels of cleanliness and hygiene and keep their customers happy.  This is no mean feat.  Our new Ag+ shower head is designed to help such organisations juggle these pressures and get results in three ways: save money; increase hygiene; and maintain customer satisfaction." The Ag+ belongs to a range of energy-efficient products provided by Enviroflow Solutions, each of which delivers extensive cost savings for organisations.  The volumising nature of the shower heads mean less water is required compared to standard shower heads, yet the water flow is not affected.  This means that user satisfaction is maintained and often increased because the water droplets travel further with air inside them. Owing to the fact that it simply screws into an existing shower fixture, the Ag+ is extremely easy to install and maintain, just like all the shower heads in Enviroflow Solutions' range.  Maintenance requirements are further lowered because of the volumising and scouring action of the water within the shower head.  This automatically reduces the build-up of scale and bacteria, which means less cleaning or chlorinating is required. Available immediately, the Ag+ can be customised according to specific requirements, such as corporate colours (subject to a minimum order of 5,000 units).  It also comes with a 12 month guarantee and is priced at £39. For more information visit www.enviroflow.co.uk or call 0844 800 9840

Pablo Veloso, former General Manager of the renowned Mantra resort, has been selected to run Algodon Mansion, Buenos Aires' new luxury boutique hotel scheduled to open this December in the city's stylish Recoleta district.  The announcement was made by New York City-based Invest Property Group, LLC (IPG), developer of Algodon Mansion. Mr. Veloso has extensive experience in the luxury hotel industry, launching and managing Punta del Este's Mantra Resort, as well as its predecessor, the Cipriani Resort.  Additionally, he helped launch the Isla Victoria, a 20-suite luxury lodge in Bariloche owned by the Familia Iacheti (owners of the five-star Mares Sur Hoteles), and he began his career by opening the four-star Cristoforo Colombo in Buenos Aires.  Mr. Veloso holds a degree in tourism and hotel management from El Salvador University in Buenos Aires.

Pegasus Solutions has taken on the platinum sponsorship for the First World Tourism Investment Summit in Busan, South Korea, October 6-9, 2008. Organized by the Canadian World Trade University Global Secretariat (WTU) and the Tourism Promotion Organization for the Asia-Pacific Cities, the globally significant summit will be chaired by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Prominent participation in and partnership with the summit was a natural choice for Pegasus, according to David Chestler, Pegasus' senior vice president of corporate business development. "As technology and economic development around the world take the tourism market to a truly global level, it's the responsibility of companies like Pegasus to support the World Tourism Investment Summit in bringing together the best and most current investment, management and technology solutions to developing markets," said Chestler. "It behooves us to invest in these leaders and markets, because they represent the customers, travelers and leaders of tomorrow." Secretary General of the summit, Sujit Chowdhury of the WTU, reports the event will bring together more than 500 global representatives from more than 50 countries. The majority of attendees will be top-level decision-makers actively engaged in tourism investment, development and operations. Global delegates will include senior executives from the private sector, tourism ministers, financiers, government leaders on all levels, and senior officials of international organizations. Chowdhury added, "All delegates will work to explore new investment opportunities, broaden networks and foster collaboration on new and innovative projects in the tourism industry." With unprecedented investment initiatives and collaboration by government leaders, investors and related stakeholders currently available, the summit will focus on many issues, including: how does one decide where, when and with whom to invest; how can the public and private sectors work together to provide incentive investment opportunities; how can investments be best ‘assured' to minimize risks; how should a national government and the corporate sector work together to protect the local environment; and how to prepare a region and a community for the tourism impact. More information on the summit is available online at www.worldtourismsummit.com.

 
Ishin Hotels Group announces the opening Tuesday, September 9, 2008, of the former HAMILTON INN OCHANOMIZU reborn as the Ishin designer brand hotel, the b ochanomizu. We again had the pleasure of inviting Ms. Asao Nakayama of W Design International to design our new look property. Located in a quiet side street away from the main thoroughfare, the b ochanomizu is accessible from both the JR (Japan Railroad) and subway stations. the b offers our guests the b brand concept of ‘a well-balanced hotel stay'. Our guest rooms cater to modern tastes in design, with completely renewed curtains, chairs and beds in a chic, stylish, simple-modern space. The rooms are also more spacious than those of regular business hotels, so your stay with us can be comfortable, however long you may decide to stay or however much you may have shopped. To celebrate our renewal opening we have prepared a ‘Moist-as-Dew CLARINS Beauty Couple Plan,' with amenity goods from CLARINS. We are planning future services and facility improvements to please our guests. the b ochanomizu will be Ishin's seventh the b in the nation. Ishin Hotels Group looks forward to serving you with further the b brand developments in the nation.

 
The Austrian Housekeepers Group - International has awarded Mr. Shukla the title of Executive Housekeeper of the Month of August 2008 due to his personal dedication to a Department that is considered a ‘cleaner's workplace' by many and where education which exceeds the ‘cleaning-only'-attitude of many hotels is still not the rule. The nomination for Housekeeper of the Month is open to the Executive Housekeeper, the Assistants and Supervisors as well as Maids, Room Attendants and Public Area Cleaners. Should you wish to nominate someone whom you consider ‚the best choice for this title' due to an outstanding dedication to his work within the Housekeeping Department, please forward your suggestion and of course the reason for the same to: Ms. Brigitte Verba, Austrian Housekeepers Group - International, admin@austrianhousekeepersgroup.at.

HOTELCORP - one of Thailand's largest privately held hospitality management companies introduces its new hotel brand Hotel UNO.  In an announcement today, the first property to be developed under this brand is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2008. Mr. Roy E. Olsson, President and Chief Executive Officer of HOTELCORP says, "We discovered a market niche in many Asian cities where existing buildings in key locations were not being torn down due to the lengthy process required to obtain new construction permits. The Hotel UNO brand is ideal to fill this niche."

 
Thomas Lind, Chief Operating Officer of Elysian Hotels & Resorts, has announced the appointment of Joe Aguilera as Vice President of Sales.  Elysian Hotels & Resorts is an operating company focused on developing and operating hotels in the ultra luxury segment with plans to open its first hotel, the 188-suite Elysian Chicago, in early 2009.

 
Reservations are live now at NYLO Hotels' first property in the Northeast -- NYLO Providence/Warwick - opening in early September in Rhode Island. The pioneering hotel welcomes travel planners to be a part of the NYLO experience with a special offer: The first five planners to confirm a group for a minimum of 50 consecutive room nights will get a signature NYLO NYTE mattress by Simmons Bedding Company, inviting a blissfully comfortable night's sleep with its plush Beautyrest® pillow-top mattress.

 
Atlanta based Rialto Property Partners, LLC and Savannah based Melaver, Inc. announce that the new Hotel Indigo has commenced construction in downtown Athens (U.S.).  Located five blocks from the University of Georgia's campus, the boutique hotel will have 130 eco-luxury guestrooms and plans to be open by the fall of 2009. The building is anticipated to be among the first three hotels in the world to achieve LEED® Gold-Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Hotel Indigo Athens will offer a complete boutique experience.

Kokua is a Hawaiian word that means "to serve," and for the executive team at management company Kokua Hospitality, it is also a phrase they take to heart.  Formed just two years ago as a subsidiary of Chartres Lodging, its trail-blazing team of industry innovators is already overseeing more than $40 million dollars in renovations to a growing portfolio of luxury and upscale properties, billing itself as "fiercely independent" with a commitment to world-class service that maximizes owner ROI. That same independent streak is evident in the renovations Kokua is overseeing at its six properties that include Adams Mark hotels in Indianapolis and Buffalo; The Inn of Chicago; the Doubletree Hotel Magnificent Mile; the historic Allerton Hotel, Chicago; and the W Aloft in Maryland.  According to Craig Strickler, Kokua's corporate director of transitions and projects, all changes and upgrades across the company's portfolio, regardless if they are boutique or business properties, have focused on one thing:  providing guests with useful services that keep them coming back.

 
Palace Group sets first phase of Riviera Cancun Golf & ResortThe first phase of the Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts complex, which is being developed by the Palace Group of the Chapur Zahoul brothers, was set after a US$ 60 million investment was made in development works. The complex, which is being built in Cancun's hotel district, also includes a professional golf course and a club house, to which hotel projects will be added in the following phases, offering a total of 3,778 hotelier, tourism or condominium rooms. Source: TRAVEL@LatinAmerica