Hotel News in Brief
Jun 18, 09 | 1:45 am 
Brian Kelleher has been named general manager of the 458-room Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, according to Keith Clampet, senior vice president, hotel operations, Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Milestone Internet Marketing announced today the launch of eBuzz ConnectTM Social Media Management System targeted at the hospitality and travel industries. eBuzz ConnectTM is an online Social Media Management system for hotels, restaurants, and businesses to manage online reputation and social media channels from an integrated single interface. In addition to Social Media channels, eBuzz ConnectTM also monitors Online Travel Agency channels such as Expedia and Travelocity. Hotels can measure their performance against social media marketing goals and benchmark their performance vs. competitors using the system. Source: www.milestoneinternet.com.
HEI Hotels & Resorts took home the 2009 Corporate Energy Management of the Year Award from the Association of Energy Engineers for the company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. HEI has implemented a number of green efforts throughout its properties, including the switch to energy-saving light bulbs, reuse and recycling of goods, and better management of HVAC systems to decrease cooling water consumption.
Langham Hotels International (LHI) is set to open a new boutique resort, Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach, in November, 2009, following the signing of its latest management contract with Gurich Company Limited. Located on the Island of Samui, the latest addition to Langham's portfolio of five-star hotels is for fun-loving, young-at-heart travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach enjoys prime position beachside and comprises a chic modern village of 77 stunning villas and suites, many featuring personal plunge pools and views over the Gulf of Thailand.
On Thursday, June 25, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago will unveil The Terrace at Trump, the property's much-anticipated outdoor dining venue located on the 16th Floor. This chic, outdoor oasis will showcase a dramatic vista of the Chicago skyline -- including the historic Wrigley Clock Tower and Tribune Building -- as well a picturesque view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River and its famous bridges. In emphasizing the superior service and modern American fare for which Executive Chef Frank Brunacci has been lauded, The Terrace at Trump will offer a newly crafted menu that will be served alongside a variety of boutique wines and hand-crafted cocktails.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, announces the Al Muna Karim Radisson Blu Hotel in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The 322 rooms-property is scheduled to open in Q3 2009 to welcome its first guests during the holy month of Ramadan and is Rezidor's second hotel in town - the group also develops the Al Madinah Paradise Radisson Blu Resort which will welcome the first guests in Q4 2010. "This new hotel is our 10th hotel in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and underlines the importance this market has for us", comments Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. Other key markets with Rezidor hotels in the country are Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Al Khobar and Yanbu.
The Hilton Garden Inn at Hilton Head has a new sparkle these days, thanks to a recent half-million dollar renovation to the property on the inter-coastal waterway. Guests will find completely new guest room areas, featuring Hilton's exclusive "Garden Sleep System (GSS)" beds, allowing each side of the bed to be adjusted to sleeper's preferred firmness. All rooms have been freshly carpeted and painted, and include new furniture, Herman Miller desk chairs, window treatments and lamps.
RateTiger announced that it has just completed connecting the 400th third party website making it the largest number of single OTA website integrations in the channel management industry. RateTiger's channel list directory counts each OTA only once, regardless of domains,available, thereby giving the user a true figure of the number of channel options available. RateTiger's 12 member integration team completed 150 connections in the last year and has now set a new goal of achieving the 500 mark by the end of 2009.
Luxury lifestyle provider DAMAC Properties Dubai has announced that it has awarded the enabling works contracts for its Marina Bay development at Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. The AED7.5million contract has been awarded to National Dewatering and Drainage services (an offshoot of ‘National Piling') and work is due to commence on site shortly. The enabling works are scheduled to last for around four months and will include dewatering, shoring, excavation, piling and pile testing on site. Marina Bay is a mixed use development which will feature a 25 storey tower of one, two and three bedroom apartments. In addition there will be retail and commercial space with shops and restaurant outlets along the ground and mezzanine levels. Marina Bay's prime location within the Al Reem master development means that residents will have views across the canals that run through the entire development and also out across the Marina itself.
