Hotel News in Brief

Nov 23, 09 | 1:45 am

A recent survey conducted by DialAFLight suggests that frequent travellers are heavily reliant on alcohol to get them through flights. The research shows that 53% of people have drunk more than two units while waiting to board a plane, whilst a third have been drunk on a plane.The figures suggest that holidaymakers are abusing alcohol in increasing numbers, without considering the attached risks to themselves and fellow passengers. A spokesperson from DialAFlight said: "We would remind passengers to know their limits, and behave responsibly while flying. "Passengers will often have a drink in the airport lounge or on the aircraft and we do not want to stop people enjoying themselves, but it's important that they know when they've had enough. They forget that alcohol has double the effect at altitude". The survey comes after a man from Cardiff was imprisoned earlier this year for being drunk on a plane travelling between Egypt and Bristol. The man was arrested on landing and told he had shown a "reckless disregard" for safety on the busy flight, after having downed a bottle of vodka in a toilet cubicle. Sergeant Barry Attwater, based at Bristol International Airport, said: "There is no justification for getting drunk on an aircraft and anyone who does shows a reckless disregard for the other people on the plane. "As well as 200 other passengers having to put up with the drunken behaviour, passengers who are drunk are a serious risk to the safety of the aircraft and may even cause the flight to be diverted to a nearby airport so that they can be removed from the aircraft. "I would urge passengers to stop and consider how they would feel if a drink resulted in them gaining a criminal record." Being drunk on an aircraft is an offence punishable by a jail sentence, according to the Air Navigation Orders Act of 2005.


Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced today the culmination of a $70 million renovation to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Colorado's largest hotel. Sheraton Denver's extensive renovation is part of a $6 billion brand-wide global revitalization effort, which includes upgrading 100 hotels in the U.S., renovating 50,000 guest rooms and re-designing more than 100 new lobbies. To mark the celebration, Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen will present a $5,000 contribution to Mayor John Hickenlooper to benefit Denver's Road Home, whose mission is to end homelessness in the city. "We are incredibly excited to showcase an entirely new guest experience through this comprehensive and exciting renovation of the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel," said Mike Ehmann, General Manager for the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. "This $70 million renovation, begun by our owners, Chartres Lodging Group, underscores our dedication to the Denver hospitality community. Furthermore, the donation to Denver's Road Home reflects our commitment to those in need throughout the community."


Costa Cruises, Italy's largest tourism group and Europe's number one cruise company, and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) have announced a global first for the cruise industry. Costa Deliziosa, the Italian company's new "top of the range" ship, will be named in Dubai on 23 February 2010 and will be the first ever cruise ship to be named in an Arabian city.  The naming ceremony will take place during the ship's grand inaugural cruise, departing from Savona on 5 February 2010 and calling at Dubai between 23 to 26 February. Costa guests cruising on the first leg of the grand maiden cruise will be able to attend the christening ceremony. The Costa Deliziosa (92,600 gross tonnage and 2,826 guest capacity) is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri's Marghera, Venice shipyard and will be delivered on 29 January 2010.


Keli Misak of the Hilton Grand Rapids, Michigan has received the prestigious "Spirit of Hilton" award, the highest honor for a Hilton team member. The award is as a result of nominations submitted throughout the entire Hilton Family with only a select few chosen. Misak has worked as Assistant Front Desk Manager at the Hilton Grand Rapids since December 2007. Formerly, she was with the Ramada Plaza, also in Grand Rapids.  "Keli is an essential member of our team who truly deserves this award," said Bob Orr, General Manager of the Hilton Grand Rapids. "This is an amazing accomplishment and shows Keli's continued dedication to bringing home the gold by making a positive impact on our guests, the hotel and the community. That is why her teammates nominated her for this award." Orr continued, "Since the day Keli arrived, she has taken on her front desk duties with a phenomenal degree of dedication. Even though she is in school, she'll happily work back-to-back shifts when needed. In addition, sShe constantly boosts morale, always putting her teammates first."


Tourism to Israel hit an all-time high of 333,000 travelers in the month of October, a 9% increase from the same period last year, which was the previous record-high for travel to Israel. Also, Israel saw a 20% increase in cruise travel with 23,500 tourists arriving on cruise ships, and a 6% increase in the number of tourists who visited Israel and stayed for a minimum of one night compared with October 2008. "We are thrilled to see such a large increase in travelers to Israel in October 2009 during this important tourist time," says Arie Sommer, Commissioner of Tourism, North and South America. "And we are encouraged by signs that the trend will continue throughout the December holiday season, bringing us a robust end to 2009." A total of 1,068,121 travelers passed through Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv this October, a 1.5% increase compared to the same period last year.


Hilton Beijing Wangfujing sparkled at the recent World Travel Awards Grand Final 2009 organized by the World Travel Award Organization. Winning no less than four awards, Hilton Beijing Wangfujing walked away with World's Leading Lifestyle Hotel for the second year in a row plus three regional awards - Asia's Leading City Resort, Asia's Leading Lifestyle Hotel, and China's Leading City Resort. Over 167,000 global travel professionals from over 160 countries voted for their favorites at this year's prestigious annual event, which acknowledges, rewards and celebrates outstanding achievement in all sectors of the global travel industry. Nils-Arne Schroeder, General Manager of Hilton Beijing Wangfujing remarked, "We are truly honored to receive all four awards. We deeply appreciate the recognition given by the industry experts of our outstanding property, top-class food & beverage concepts and exceptional services. With winning the World's Lifestyle Award for the second year in a row, we are committed to raise the benchmark of operational excellence and further tailor our services to meet the business and leisure needs of increasingly sophisticated travelers."


CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Group Limited has clinched a contract to manage a new premium serviced residence in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, the largest commercial and lifestyle development in Malaysia's capital. Ascott was awarded the contract by GSB Sentral Sdn Bhd, an established property developer under Gapurna Group with interests in construction, commercial property development and information technology.The new 143-unit serviced residence, called Ascott Sentral Kuala Lumpur, is part of the prestigious 348 Sentral project which also comprises an adjacent office block whose main occupant will be Shell Malaysia. Slated to open in 2013, the serviced residence is strategically located in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, a unique 'City-within-a-City' development designed by renowned architect Dr Kisho Kurokawa. Kuala Lumpur Sentral offers connectivity, business convenience and an international lifestyle. It houses Malaysia's first Multimedia Super Corridor cyber centre and its largest transit hub with six rail networks connecting to all over the country. The exclusive urban centre is also home to the offices of many multinational companies as well as retail, recreational and entertainment facilities. Even though Kuala Lumpur Sentral is phased for full completion by 2015, it is already well-known for its self-contained live, work and play environment.  


Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of six new Westin hotels the remaining six weeks of the year.  The upcoming openings underscore the Westin brand's focus on international expansion and will include locations in India: The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, The Westin Mumbai Garden City and The Westin Pune Koregaon Park; China: The Westin Tianjin; and the United States: The Westin Washington Dulles Airport and The Westin Lake Mary, Orlando North. "Even during these challenging economic times, Starwood Hotels & Resorts continues to open best-in-class Westin hotels around the world by working with our proven development partners," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "With its diverse growth plan and reputation for quality among consumers and developers, the Westin brand is poised for long-term success in both established and emerging destinations around the world."