Hotel News in Brief

Feb 05, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters...

With a 16% increase in sales year on year and traveller numbers reaching 2,6 million, Rail Europe confirms in 2012 its dynamism and reinforces its position as the #1 distributor of European rail travel in the world. Passing the symbolic € 200-million mark, Rail Europe 2012 sales established a new record in the company's history.

"We're thrilled with these outstanding results for 2012, which exceed our initial previsions and show a doubling of our sales in three years' time!" said Pierre-Stephane Austi, Rail Europe's CEO. "Despite a difficult worldwide economic context, Rail Europe managed, once again, to achieve a double digit growth, contributing to the growth of the whole industry and affirming its leadership role" Austi added. Greater China increased 21.13% compared to last year. Particularly, Mainland of China continued to grow 59% after a successful year in 2011. Singapore, Indonesia also showed the dynamism with 24% and 42% increases.

Best Western International was named the 2012 eMarketer of the Year at the Adrian Awards gala in New York City, held Monday, January 28.

The eMarketer of the Year award honours excellence in hospitality digital marketing. It was presented by TravelClick, the leading provider of revenue-generating solutions for hotels, together with Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). This is the twelfth year TravelClick has awarded this honour-applicants provide detailed data on their emarketing strategies and campaigns and are judged by an independent panel of digital marketing and ecommerce experts. This year's winner, Best Western launched several social, mobile and online initiatives to support its newly rebranded properties including a complete re-launch of its website and mobile site, which streamlined booking steps incorporating reviews and trip planning tools, plus a convenient way to manage Best Western Rewards® accounts. The updated search marketing strategies include keyword brand terms with top destination markets as well as used a combination of video, and paid advertising to educate consumers on the three hotel types. Additionally, Best Western was the first major international chain to enable travellers to book hotel rooms directly from its Facebook page which produced an increase in reservations in the first few months and continues to drive nearly 10,000 unique visitors to bestwestern.com monthly. They were also the first in their hotel category to reach 500,000 followers on Facebook.

CSM Corporation has announced the donation of $86,975 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest Division. 

The company, which owns and operates 38 nationally-branded hotels across the country through the subsidiary CSM Lodging, selected Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2010 as their companywide charitable partner and never looked back.  Along with CSM Corporation's contribution, many of the company's 2200 employees actively participated in the partnership during 2012, donating resources, in-kind gifts and personal time working with Ronald McDonald Houses in five states, with donations collectively totalling $86,975.  CSM Corporation's founder and CEO, Gary Holmes, presented the check to John Stanoch, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Upper Midwest. "It is such an honour for all of us at CSM Corporation to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities," said Bill Upshaw, president of the company's lodging and residential division, CSM Lodging.  "One of our company's core values is to give back to the communities in which our hotels are located.  I can't think of a more worthy organization for us to be affiliated with than one that supports hospitalized children and their families."

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments...

Starwood Capital Group announces C. Scott Rohm as President of SH Group, Starwood Capital's hotel brand management company that oversees the development and launch of the group's two new luxury and lifestyle hotel and residence brands, Baccarat Hotels and 1 Hotels & Resorts. In this role, Rohm will oversee the operations of the SH Group managed hotels, including development, operations, sales, finance & accounting, and human resources. Rohm brings nearly 30 years of hospitality experience to SH Group. Most recently he was President of Turnberry Hotel Group.  Prior roles include Senior Vice President of Operations for West Paces Hotel Group (currently Capella Hotel Group), Vice President of Operations for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and numerous positions with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

Wyndham Orlando Resort announced the appointment of Richard (Rich) Larkin as general manager, overseeing the hotel's multi-million dollar re-imagination project in 2013. He will also be responsible for hotel operations, staff management, project administration and guest relations. Joining Wyndham Orlando Resort with a comprehensive understanding of hotel operations, Rich Larkin most recently served as general manager of Hilton Daytona Beach Resort, where he led the property through an expansive 50 million dollar renovation and rebranding. While there, Larkin served on the boards of the Halifax Area Advertising Authority and the Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau where he was recognized several times for outstanding service and hospitality within the community. Larkin earned additional renovation experience while working with Pyramid Hotel Group, where he transitioned the International Plaza Resort and Spa to the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld on International Drive.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

Hyatt Hotels Corporation  and American Resort Management, LLC announced the opening of Hyatt Place Corpus Christi, the newest hotel in Corpus Christi and the first Hyatt Place hotel in the area. Located in the heart of Corpus Christi, the hotel is minutes away from Padre Island National Seashore, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

Singita Serengeti House is now open in the 350,000-acre Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania. The house accommodates up to eight guests, with two suites in the main house and two guest suites connected by pathways from the central pool deck. The suites all have bathrooms that include outdoor showers. Cécile & Boyd's interiors use a neutral palette of sun-bleached colours inspired by the Serengeti grass plains. The décor includes natural fibres, rattan, grass matting, polished concrete floors, local stones and leather chandeliers inspired by Masai skirts. The rooms contain a modern African art collection.

Starwood Hotels completes sale of Aloft and Element Lexington: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has completed the sale of the dual-hotel development in Lexington, Massachusetts, to Rockwood Capital for $36 million. Aloft and Element Lexington will be managed by Paramount Hotel Group and continue to fly the Aloft and Element flags.

La Casa del Zorro, a luxury Borrego Springs resort that's been shuttered for the last three years, has sold for $2.4 million. The new ownership, led by three San Diegans, closed escrow Thursday on the 42-acre resort and hopes to reopen it by May 1. Casa del Zorro, which includes 44 hotel rooms and 19 stand-alone casitas, last changed hands in 2007 when then owner Greg Pearlman purchased it for $2.5 million and subsequently invested an additional $7 million in renovations. Just 14 months later, the resort, which he had renamed Borrego Springs Ranch, closed. "Anyone who's been around San Diego for a while has been there, and this has always been a colourful and historic resort," said former San Diego City Manager Jack McGrory, one of the new Casa del Zorro owners. "Borrego has gone through some very tough years but it's coming back. They were trying to sell this during a very bad real estate market, and I think the market is coming back."