Hotel News In Brief

Jan 25, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters…

Vienna 2012: Best tourism result in history.

The Viennese tourism industry can look back on its best year ever: 12.3 million overnight stays, up 7.5% on 2011, have set a new record. From January to December 2012 every single month saw a record number of overnight stays in Vienna - in total, the annual result of 12.3 million overnight stays represents a 7.5% improvement on 2011. "In 2012 Vienna continued to develop its international outlook as a destination. The 150th birthday of Gustav Klimt no doubt contributed to the result," explains Norbert Kettner, director of the Vienna Tourist Board. In 2012 Vienna's top ten tourism markets once again included Germany, with 2,399,000 overnight stays (+1%) in first place, followed by Austria (2,241,000 overnight stays, +7%), Italy (643,000, -2%), Russia (634,000, +22%) and the USA (618,000, +10%). In sixth to tenth place were the UK (429,000, +9%), Switzerland (384,000, +11%), Spain (379,000, -2%), France (368,000, +7%) and Japan (309,000, +12%).

Asia will account for 20% of the world cruise market by 2020, according to a forecast presented by Carnival Asia CEO Pier Luigi Foschi.

Foschi said Asia will account for 3.7 million passengers in 2017, and that number will grow to 7 million by 2020. The bulk of those passengers will be sourced from China, he said. "This is fantastic growth," Foschi said. Currently, about 1.7 million people a year cruise from the Asia-Pacific countries, according to Zinan Liu, chairman of the Asia Cruise Association and regional vice president for Asia at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Liu said the accelerating development in Asia can be gauged by the opening of new cruise terminals in Singapore last year and Hong Kong later this year. He added that the addition of the 3,100-passenger Voyager of the Seas to the China market by Royal Caribbean is another sign that Asia has come of age. "It signifies that ultimately cruise companies consider Asia not as a remote strategic market but as an immediate strategic market," Liu said.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is now offering complimentary Wi-Fi service in its limousines, a move that enables guests to access the internet using their mobile devices from the hotels’ chauffeur-driven cars.

In 2009, Shangri-La was one of the very first international luxury hotel groups to provide free internet access at all its properties. “Extending free Wi-Fi service to the limousines was a natural step to take after offering it at all our hotels. Connectivity is a vital part of the Shangri-La experience, and complimentary internet access has become one of our signature standards,” said Greg Dogan, president and chief executive officer of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

The St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino announces the appointment of Mr. Stephen Calland as their new Director of Food & Beverage. Stephen Calland’s passion for food & beverage combined with over 30 years of international culinary industry experience provides him with a wealth of understanding and expertise in all aspects of food & beverage. From being Head Chef at an Organics Institute in the UK, Stephen then moved into management where he introduced numerous successful food and beverage programs, branding initiatives and revenue-driven strategies to a number of luxury boutique properties in the UK and Mallorca, including The Alias Hotel Kandinsky, Stratford Manor, Stratford Victoria and The Welcombe Hotel. Stephen then moved to the Caribbean where he was responsible for the pre-opening and subsequent operation of Bel Jou Hotel, Saint Lucia. Following two years as Director of Food & Beverage at the Sonesta Great Bay Resort & Casino in Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten, Stephen undertook numerous food & beverage consultancy projects around the Caribbean including Aruba, Tobago and Jamaica before joining our luxury St Kitts resort.

The Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston, a non-profit organization representing one of the largest industries in Southeast Texas, has elected Nelson Gumm, co-founder and CEO of AJR Media Group, as its 2013 Board of Directors Chair. Other members elected to the executive board are Helen Bonsall, General Manager of the the Double Tree by Hilton Houston Hobby Airport, Chair Elect; Barry Shank, General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Medical Center as Secretary; Steve Trent, General Manager of the downtown Hyatt Regency as treasurer ; Shawn Gracey, General Manager of Hotel Derek, as Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Gumm replaces Tom Mathews, General Manager Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Med. Center as Board Chair. Stephanie Haynes will continue as the organization’s President. Gumm is co-founder and CEO of AJR Media Group, an integrated media company specializing in the travel & tourism industry since 1990. Before co-founding AJR Media Group, Nelson worked for both Time Warner & Pacific Telesis in their custom publishing divisions. Besides being a long-time member of the Houston Lodging Association of Greater Houston, he also serves on the boards of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association and the Southeast Tourism Society.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

Viceroy Hotel Group announced on Tuesday that it will enter New York City with the opening of Viceroy New York at 120 West 57th Street in Manhattan in September. The 241-room hotel is currently in development by Ark Partners, and its Roman and Williams-designed façade, a grid of black brick and steel-framed windows is already done. Roman and Williams is also designing the hotel’s interiors. The 29-story hotel will feature a rooftop food and beverage venue in addition to a restaurant on the ground floor.

Hampton Hotels (www.hampton.com), the international brand of nearly 1,900 mid-priced Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites and Hampton by Hilton hotels, today announced the results of an impressive fourth quarter, which marked the opening of 22 new properties and the addition of 2,437 new guestrooms. Collectively in 2012, 71 new properties opened their doors, bringing the brand's guestroom count to more than 185,500 rooms globally. Openings in the final three months of 2012 included 10 Hampton Inn, eight Hampton Inn & Suites and four Hampton by Hilton properties. Of note, the 90-room Hampton Inn by Hilton San Juan del Rio, Mexico marked the 16th property for the brand in Mexico. The 137-room Hampton Inn & Suites Austin @ The University/Capitol, which opened its doors in October, demonstrates the brand's ability to combine its consistent, quality offerings with an innovative and locally inspired design. Highlighting Austin's strong music culture and "eccentric elegance," the hotel features a 10-foot rotating guitar in the lobby and a rooftop pool on the fifth floor, as well as 11-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies. This November, the 109-room Hampton Inn Neptune/Wall in Neptune, New Jersey opened two weeks ahead of schedule to accommodate community members displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Team members from the property, which is located just 10 minutes from the Jersey Shore, also worked with a local vendor to provide a full sit-down Thanksgiving dinner for all guests at the property. Additional highlights in 2012 include the opening of Hilton Worldwide and Hampton Hotels' first dual-brand property in the U.K., Hampton by Hilton at St. George's Park/Burton Upon Trent. This hotel, along with the recently opened Hampton by Hilton York, is one of 10 Hampton by Hilton properties in the U.K., ahead of an additional 12 properties currently in development in the country.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide signed the Le Méridien Chicago — Oakbrook Center. Located in Greater Chicago adjacent to Oakbrook Center, the 10-story building is set to undergo a $20-million transformation prior to its 2014 debut. The property is owned by RockBridge and managed by Wischermann Partners. Le Méridien Chicago — Oakbrook Center will offer a new outer façade, a new arrival experience and reimagined public spaces. The ninth floor will feature a proprietary new bar and restaurant concept with a variety of meeting spaces. In addition, Le Méridien Chicago - Oakbrook Center will offer a fitness center outfitted with new equipment and a roof-top terrace. The hotel's 172 rooms and suites, including a presidential suite and two spa suites, will be refurbished and have the signature Le Méridien Bed.

The Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel in San Sebastian, Spain, reopened in October after nine months of restoration work. The Gallery at HBA London led the interior design. The hotel is named after the Queen Consort Maria Cristina, and the décor is both confident and feminine. The refurbishment used the hotel’s existing framework; original architect Charles Mewès used Art Nouveau detailing for the hotel when it first opened in 2912.