Hotel News in Brief
Aug 01, 11 | 12:01 am 
Industry Announcements
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to expand Sheraton and Westin's portfolio of hotel spas across Asia and the Middle East in the coming year as both brands continue to expand its footprint in the world's fastest growing markets. In tune with the resurgence of the economy and growing demand for luxury services, Sheraton will increase its spa portfolio by nearly 50% with 10 openings this year; Westin will add six spas in 2011, increasing the Heavenly Spa portfolio by almost 20%. As the largest operator of upper-upscale and luxury brands in the world, Starwood is committed to introducing branded, lifestyle experiences - including spas - to the market.
IHG has announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport in Bogota, Colombia. It is IHG's sixth property in the country, across four brands - InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts and Holiday Inn Express®. The new-build, eight-story Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport features 191 rooms and is located within ten minutes of El Dorado International Airport. Situated within the vibrant neighborhood of El Salitre, one of Bogota's most important and modern business districts, the property is part of a mixed-use complex called Centro Empresarial Arrecife (Arrecife Corporate Center) and near the Corferias Convention Center, the United States Embassy, Bogota's main industrial park and downtown Bogota. The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport, located at Avenida Calle 26 #69-D-91 in Bogota, is owned by Alianza Fiduciaria S.A., under a franchise agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotel will be operated by METRO hotels on behalf of Alianza Fiduciaria S.A.
Global Staff Movement
Francisco Silva has been named General Manager of The Westin Playa Bonita Panamá, the first Westin in the burgeoning destination, which is on schedule to be complete in October 2011. Silva has been brought on to oversee the successful completion of the property's construction, which includes hiring as well ensuring various systems are in place prior to the beach hotel's unveiling. Once open and operating, his responsibilities will include day-to-day physical and financial operations and constructing and implementing service training programs. Silva brings more than thirty years of experience in the hospitality industry to The Westin Playa Bonita Panamá. Silva comes full circle in his career since first entering the field of hotel management as Executive Assistant Manager of The Holiday Inn Panamá. Most recently, Silva held the title of General Manager of the Marriott Tijuana. Over the course of his career, Silva has held various managerial positions at diverse properties such as Posadas de Mexico, Westin Camino Real, Hilton Hotels, AMResorts and Marriott Hotels.
Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach, is pleased to announce the appointment of Cassandra Sessa as the spa director of Acqualina Spa by ESPA. Sessa brings a wealth of knowledge to the award-winning spa at Acqualina, Sessa established herself as a pioneer within the spa industry during a time when it wasn't standard for resorts to offer spa services. Her main responsibilities will include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the oceanfront Acqualina Spa by ESPA. Cassandra Sessa joins Acqualina Spa by ESPA most recently from WTS International where she worked as the Director of Spa Services at the Greenbier Resort in West Virginia. Previously Sessa served as the Spa Director at Conrad Miami as well as Regional Account Executive overseeing operations for six resort spas in South Florida.
Other Related News
More beach resorts in Myanmar, which traditionally close shop during the monsoon season from May to October, are electing to remain open due to an increase in bookings. Flight services have also been operational, as opposed to being cancelled or having frequencies reduced. Oliver E Soe Thet, owner of Laguna Lodge Eco Hotel on Ngapali Beach, said the property had received twice as many bookings as last year. He added that most of the hotels that were operational were offering discounts of up to 50 per cent during the monsoon. Four hotels have chosen to stay open at Ngapali Beach, up from two last year. At Ngwe Saung Beach, nine out of 22 hotels are open for business, according to Silver View Hotel director, Aung Htay Linn. Ocean Paradise is offering a 10 per cent discount on bookings during the monsoon. Its operations manager, Tun Zaw Oo, said the hotel was targeting budget-conscious local travellers. At Chaungtha Beach, where bookings are up about 10 per cent, some 15 hotels are offering discounts of about 15 to 20 per cent.
Hotel workers have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Hyatt Corp. after an incident last week in which heat lamps were turned on during a strike at the Park Hyatt Chicago, according to Unite Here Local 1. The union on Thursday maintained that 10 heat lamps were turned on where workers were picketing for about an hour on the morning of July 21, during a demonstration to draw attention to working conditions of housekeepers. It was 83 degrees at the time, according to the National Weather Service. On July 22, the company issued an apology, saying a manager was responsible for the move. By Emilly Bryson York. Source: Chicago Tribune Business. To read the full article, please Click Here.
