Hotel News in Brief
Mar 15, 11 | 12:01 am 
Hotel Announcements
Kempinski Hotels, Europe's oldest hotel group, has recently signed a management agreement for a new property in the Seychelles with the owning company, European Hotels and Resorts Ltd. (EHR), and is scheduled for soft opening in September 2011. The luxury hotel group, which was recently awarded the prestigious German "Best Brands" award in the category of Best Service Provider, will complement its growing portfolio in the Indian Ocean with a new holiday resort in the Seychelles islands, which comes in line with its ambitious expansion strategy for Africa. "We are proud of this new project, as it will not only add value to our portfolio by marking our entrance in this exclusive market, but also to the destination itself," said Ulrich Eckhardt, Kempinski President for Middle East and Africa.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a management agreement to convert Hacienda La Boticaria, an Andalucian style retreat close to Sevilla, into a luxury Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts property. Hilton Worldwide has already begun operating the resort, which is set to become a Waldorf Astoria in early summer 2011 and will mark the arrival of the brand in Spain. Located in Alcala de Guadaira, what is to become Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria is 20 minutes from both Sevilla city centre and San Pablo airport, plus only a couple of hours drive from the Costa del Sol. Originally opened in 2004, the 133-room property sits in 40 acres of private land and offers a truly authentic Andalusian experience. John Vanderslice, global head, luxury and lifestyle brands, Hilton Worldwide, said, "Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at la Boticaria will be a wonderful addition to our growing brand portfolio, offering a truly unique guest experience. The property will be a warm and inviting hideaway, where guests will discover the delights of the Andalusian lifestyle while enjoying exceptional facilities, only minutes from Sevilla and many local attractions.
Sonesta Collection announced the opening of its third hotel in Colombia, the 126-room Sonesta Hotel Bogotá. This full-service hotel is located in the midst of business, shopping, restaurants and cultural attractions in Bogotá. The hotel is located at Carrera 15A #127-03, adjacent to METRO 127 on Carretera, and adjoins a shopping arcade. This hotel, and its sister properties in Barranquilla and Valledupar, Colombia; Peru; and Chile are all branded Sonesta Hotels and managed by Colombia based GHL Hoteles. Source: Hotel Interactive.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Expands in Turkey with Two New Hotels in Bursa. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has signed agreements with Faik Celik Turizm, a division of Faik Celik Holding, to develop two new hotels in Turkey's culturally-charged industrial centre. The new Sheraton and Aloft hotels will inject a new range of accommodation to Bursa when they open in 2013. Located in an emerging business and upscale residential area adjacent to the Bursa New Cultural Green Park and upcoming football stadium, Sheraton Bursa and Aloft Bursa will together add more than 300 rooms to this developing city. Source: hoteldesigns.
Global Staff Movement
Hyatt Regency Boston welcomes Kierie Heim as the newly appointed Director of Sales and Marketing. Heim stepped into her new role following the promotion of Kerry Schlaack, who is now overseeing the 1,096 room Hyatt Regency O'Hare as Director of Sales and Marketing. Heim received her Bachelor of Science degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Mercyhurst College. Heim's Hyatt career started in 1998 at Hyatt Regency Oakbrook as a corporate management trainee for the sales department. After completing her CMT program in ‘99, Heim was promoted to sales service manager at Hyatt Regency O'Hare, where she later transitioned to meeting connections manager. In 2001 Heim was promoted to major market sales manager at Hyatt Regency Islandia in San Diego. After three years in San Diego, Heim transferred to Grand Hyatt New York where she held the title of senior sales manager, then associate director of sales.
Longtime spa industry professional Sherrie Huebner has been named the new spa director of the Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, an award-winning, 27,600-square-foot wellness facility. In her new role, Huebner will supervise all spa operations - overseeing 45 employees, a fitness facility, an indoor spa pool, a spa salon and boutique and a spa menu with more than 90 treatments, including unique water-themed therapies. With more than 15 years of spa and wellness industry experience, Huebner was most recently director of spa services for the Natural Wellness USA, a retail, spa and movement space based in Arlington, Texas. Prior to that, she served as spa director for Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas, and at Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Additionally, she helped conceive, launch and operate the luxury spas at Hyatt Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio and the St. Regis Hotel and Spa in Los Angeles.
Other Related News
On February 28th, at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, the M&IT Awards Annual Ceremony, organized by the British trade magazine Meetings & Incentive Travel took place. In total, more than 1,900 organizations nominated and more than 8,300 votes counted for 21 exceptional awards designated by a jury of professionals and organizers in tourism area and magazine's readers. Their mission: to reward the best of excellent of service and products offered by the nominees from the various tourism sectors. Among the nominees, the Fairmont Monte Carlo won, for the second consecutive year the Gold Award for the "Best Overseas Hotel", ahead of prestigious European hotels. Win two consecutive years such a prestigious award is the culmination of daily commitments for the 500 Fairmont Monte Carlo employees. A new success and a real pride as this wonderful victory is the symbol of all efforts made by the collaborators during the year and a team building recognition for them. For the destination Monaco, the success story was repeated this year with a second Gold Award "Best Overseas Convention Bureau" for the Monaco Tourist Authority, and, as the "Best Overseas Conference Centre", the Grimaldi Forum won its eighth M&IT Awards. A triple gold recognition for "Destination Monaco" as leaders in MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives and Conventions & Exhibitions).
UNWTO Secretary-General looks ahead to the decade of travel and tourism. The next ten years look set to be "the decade of travel and tourism", says UNWTO Secretary-General opening the ITB Travel Trade Show (Berlin, Germany, 9-13 March). "The first decade of the twenty first century was a decade of extraordinary tourism growth, but also of severe shocks: a decade that began with September 11 and ended with global economic crisis," said Mr. Rifai. "Now - with recovery underway and international tourist arrivals up by 7% in 2010 - is the time to look forward and ask what the next ten years hold for our sector". Meeting at ITB against a "background of a recovering economy and significant geopolitical shifts", the world is faced with the diverse and complex challenges of unbalanced economic growth, high unemployment, rising oil prices and the environmental imperative. As world leaders face up to these challenges, tourism can lead "a new decade of fairer, stronger and more sustainable growth" said Mr. Rifai, "and be one of the most effective agents of development". "As traditional economic sectors lose dynamism, it is clear that a second wave of service sectors, including tourism, are emerging. These are the industries that have exhibited particularly strong growth over the past few years. And these will be some of the most dynamic and economically significant industries and development agents of this decade," he added.
Bored in your hotel room? Want to watch a film, but don't want to pay the fees? The new "Free Movie Zone" system (FMZ) offers hotel guests a wide selection of the latest films available in digital image quality, in various languages at no additional charge. FMZ is easily integrated into the existing hotel TV system allowing hotels to be included in the available advertising time. The exclusive licensed content consists of feature films from the world's largest film studios. The Free Movie system is the only company of its kind in bringing top-quality content to end consumers for free. Working with Free Movie Zone has many marketing benefits. Each partner's hotel brand is integrated into the FMZ website and featured in all marketing communications. Additionally, the FMZ website provides a booking engine, which promotes hotel rooms for partners. Free Movie Zone's service includes its licensed feature film content, installation of all equipment, maintenance and repair, tech support, marketing, as well as a service hotline. FMZ has signed up Grand City Hotels in Germany and The Netherlands. The company also services Best Western in Germany as well as Floris Hotel Group in Belgium.
