Hotel News in Brief
Sep 14, 09 | 1:45 am 
TravelCLICK, the leader in hotel ecommerce solutions, will present a webinar for hoteliers on September 17th and 18th to review findings from its 2009 Global Travel Agent GDS Study. Conducted by Phoenix Marketing International, an independent marketing research firm, the biannual, global survey included 474 travel agents from 24 countries. Agents surveyed represent all four major Global Distribution Systems - Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan. Findings will be presented by PMI research and analysis experts, Gregory Diaz, Vice President, and David Pluchino, Senior Research Manager. The study was designed to evaluate travel agents' purchasing behaviour and awareness of specific GDS media, as well as effectiveness of promotional messages in the current economy. TravelCLICK, together with the four GDS providers, commissioned the agent-focused study as a means to garner unbiased feedback on GDS promotional offers and their effectiveness.
The global webinar will answer such questions as:
- How often are travel agents using the GDS platform?
- How much are agents aware of, and satisfied with, promotional messages on the GDS?
- How are agents reacting to current economic conditions?
"Historically, TravelCLICK has been a strong supporter of the GDS as an effective promotional channel for influencing hotel purchases. As the distribution landscape has changed-magnified by economic uncertainty-it is important to validate the channel and uncover how agent behaviour is changing," said John Hach, Vice President of Media and Industry Relations for TravelCLICK. "This research provides independent third-party verification of the GDS channel role and its ability to provide opportunities for hoteliers. Survey results are key indicators for advising our hotel customers on how much-or how little-to invest in the GDS channel." Two sessions will be offered to accommodate a range of time zones:
September 17, 2009 6:00 pm CST
https://travelclick.webex.com/travelclick/onstage/g.php?d=926226709&t=a
September 18, 2009 9:00 am CST
https://travelclick.webex.com/travelclick/onstage/g.php?d=925054355&t=a
To register, click on the session above that you would like to attend or go to the Events Calendar on the TravelCLICK website at http://www.travelclick.net/.
Karambir Singh Kang, general manager of Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai, has been awarded the prestigious Virtuoso Hotelier of the Year Award 2009 at the Virtuoso "Best of the Best" Hotel Awards held in Las Vegas recently during Virtuoso's 21st Annual Travel Mart Conference. Kang was recognized for commitment and dedication in making Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai, one of the best hotels in the world. Kang said, "This is indeed a humbling experience for me. I am very happy to have been awarded this prestigious honor for a job that I am so passionate about. I am also very thankful to Taj for having given me this opportunity. This award is testament to our hotel's commitment to customer satisfaction and I would like to applaud every staff member and employee whose relentless efforts have resulted in this award." Raymond Bickson, managing director and chief executive officer of Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces, said, "This is a very exciting moment for the entire Taj family. We congratulate Karambir and take pride in his honor. Karambir's contribution to Taj has been unparalleled; he has exhibited great resolve and strength." Kang began his career with Taj over 17 years ago. His leadership was given the ultimate test when the hotel was devastated by a terrorist attack last November 26. Despite overwhelming property damage, the grief of personal family and Taj colleague loss, Kang reopened the hotel 23 days later. Under his leadership, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower has won many awards and accolades such as Conde Nast Traveller UK Reader's Travel Awards 2008 for Best Overseas Business Hotel; Conde Nast Traveler USA Gold List 2009 for Best Places to Stay in the World; National Tourism Award - Atithi Devo Bhava: Pride of India for exemplary service going beyond the call of duty; Economic Times Special Corporate Citizen Award for its brave staff putting service before self and for saving the lives of others at the risk of their own; and Travel & Leisure 2009 - World's Best City Hotels in Asia.
According to leading hotel website Hotels.com, last minute searches for late summer breaks are up by up to 400% compared to this time last year. The Croatian beach destination of Split saw the most dramatic increase in last-minute holiday-hunting, with searches up 400% year-on year. Likewise, the popular sunshine destinations of Marrakech in Morocco and Albufeira in Portugal have seen substantial increases in searches (up 350% from a year ago). Closer to home, Nice (up 80%), Venice (up 80%) and Bodrum, Turkey, (up 80%) also saw increased interest. Alison Couper, director of communications at Hotels.com, said: "The surge in last-minute searches shows travellers are keen to snap up the many great deals to be had. There are some real bargains on September breaks to be found on our site for those who want to get away for some late summer sun." Hotels.com offers five-star hotels in both Marrakech and Albufeira and a budget three-star hotel in Santorini that have been attracting the bulk of attention from site visitors. The Le Meridian N'fis is the site's most popular Moroccan hotel, offering views of the Atlas Mountains and easy access to the Cascades d'Ouzoud. The hotel's interior is a mix of oriental and western styles. In Albufeira, Hotel.com's most popular hotel this summer has been the CS Sao Rafael Suite Hotel, a five-star hotel with beach access and all the luxuries of a modern hotel. Santorini's most popular hotel, Best Western Paradise, boasts views over the Mediterranean Sea and is close to the famous castle and is just ten minutes away from Santorini Airport. Other locations that saw a surge were Tenerife (70%), Sorrento (45%) and Marbella (20%).
The Upper House, Hong Kong, has joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a collection of more than 700 of the world's most desirable destinations. Opening in October 2009, this luxury hotel is conveniently located within Pacific Place in Admiralty, Hong Kong's premiere commercial and retail complex in the business district with the convenience of a range of amenities on the doorstep.The modern 117 room hotel is designed using natural materials, distinctive sculptures and original artwork. Drawing on contemporary and oriental influences, it aims to provide a feeling of residential calmness and understated luxury.
Wyndham Hotel Group has announced the signing of the company's first management agreements in Bangkok, Thailand. Currently under development, the properties include the 188-room Ramada Encore Soi 10 - Bangkok, owned by Nai Chan Estate Co. Ltd., the 98-room Ramada Hotel & Suites Soi 12 - Bangkok, owned by Sookjai Condominium Co. Ltd. and the 150-room Ramada Bangkok Sukhumvit, owned by Asset Lifestyle Co. Ltd. "Bangkok is the center of economic development and the most prosperous part of Thailand, making it an ideal destination for the growth of the global Ramada brand," said Tom Monahan, Wyndham Hotel Group executive vice president of international development. "These new hotels will further the brand's reach and clearly position Ramada as a strong, vibrant and leading brand in the country." While the three properties are the company's first managed hotels in Thailand, Wyndham Hotel Group has a managed portfolio of 27 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties around the globe, including the 162-room Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour in London; the 600-room Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico and the recently opened 588-room Wyndham Xiamen in Xiamen, China. www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
Benchmark Hospitality International has announced a new partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America on a nationwide Hometown HospitalityTM initiative providing 30 complimentary vacations to deserving families. Hometown Hospitality is an outreach effort sponsored by Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading hospitality management company headquartered near Houston with properties coast-to-coast and in Hawaii. Through Hometown Hospitality, Benchmark reaches out to organizations, families and individuals in communities in which the company operates hotels and resorts with employee volunteer programs, in-kind donations and community activities. For the first time since Benchmark launched Hometown Hospitality in 2004, the company is partnering with a national youth-serving organization - Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Based in Atlanta, BGCA is one of the nation's most respected youth organizations, providing quality after-school programming to young people, ages 6 to 18. Established in 1906, Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides a network of more than 4,300 community-based facilities with caring youth development professionals offering award-winning programs emphasizing academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership. Through programs such as SMART Moves, Power Hour, Club Tech and Youth of the Year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, its dedicated staff and a vast network of volunteers help young people successfully navigate the path to a productive, healthy, and satisfying adulthood. "We are excited about this national effort to help Boys & Girls Club members and their families enjoy a wonderful vacation," said Burt Cabañas, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International, "and we are pleased to be partnering with such an impressive organization. Boys & Girls Clubs fill the needs of kids for healthy adult interaction, mentoring and positive role-models. As I know what it's like to grow up without a parent, I'm so appreciative that Boys & Girl Clubs exist and that we can be a part of helping members and their families."
Plans to redevelop the Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa, Bondi Beach have been shelved due the global financial crisis which has seen Bondi Beachside Pty Ltd reassess its business plans. As a result, the popular beachside hotel will remain open for business as usual for at least the next three years, and continue under Accor management.The Swiss-Grand will undergo a soft refurbishment to its conference inventory and rooms, a project that was on hold while the hotel's future being decided. Richard Holt, General Manager of the Swiss-Grand Resort and Spa said he is thrilled that the hotel will continue to run for the foreseeable future. "I am delighted that we can now assure our guests that the Swiss-Grand will not be closing down," he said. "It has been difficult to plan for the future while the hotel's development was in limbo but now we can concentrate on building business and move forward with quotes for weddings, conferences and events for at least the next three years. "We have had so many clients upset because they thought the hotel was closing and now we can let everyone know that the Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa, Bondi Beach is here to stay for several more years at least." Bondi Beachside Pty Ltd has an approved development application with Waverley Council to renovate and upgrade the site of the Swiss-Grand Resort and Spa including the development of high quality residential apartments, a boutique hotel, restaurants, cafes and retail outlets. www.accorhotels.com.au.
Choice Hotels International added 38 new properties to its ranks in August across 19 states and six countries. The openings add 2,500 rooms to the company's existing 475,000-plus rooms.The openings included seven Comfort Inns, five Comfort Suites, three Clarions, four Econo Lodges, two Sleep Inns, 10 Quality Inns and seven Rodeway Inns.
