Hotel News In Brief

Mar 21, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters…

Fantasy Friday: Le Meridien Serves World's Most Expensive Omelette

Perfect for this weekend's breakfast and brunch plans, we've got The Most Expensive Omelette in the World, courtesy of Norma's restaurant at Le Parker Meridien Hotel. It's called the "Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata" and it costs a cool $1,000. The restaurant's tag line for this eggy-goodness is, "Norma dares you to expense this." Yep, for real. Now why does it cost so much? Simple, it's filled to the brim with a whole lobster and topped with 10 ounces of caviar. That's over $500 worth of fish eggs right there. The rest of the cost is for the lobster, eggs, cream, and herbs. Obviously this omelette is mostly for show as the restaurant only sells about a dozen of them a year.

Spa travel trending up, survey shows

Bookings to hotel, resort and destination spas turned a meaningful corner in 2012, as more than two-thirds of travel agents surveyed by SpaFinder Wellness reported positive booking growth. SpaFinder Wellness’ sixth-annual State of Spa Travel report, completed in the fourth quarter of 2012, surveyed more than 160 travel agents worldwide. Other findings included:

• In 2010 only 10% of bookings topped US$350/night, but last year that jumped to 29%. And the majority of bookings now fall above US$300/night, up significantly from 2009-2011, when only 25% to 40% percent fell in that range.
• 35% of travel agents surveyed said “stay spa” deals were actually more aggressive in 2012 over 2011, with 55% reporting they held firm.
• The Mexico/Caribbean region was the number one global spa travel destination in 2012, leapfrogging the 2010 and 2011 leader, North America.
• The baby boomer generation (ages 48-67) remains this travel sector’s core demographic, with 67% of agents reporting baby boomers were the age group most likely to book spa travel in 2012. (By Ann Bagel Storck)

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has reported it is the first hotel brand to surpass one million fans on Facebook.

The strategic campaign to achieve one million likes on Facebook was based on the goal of increasing global engagement of qualified fans in target demographics. Since launching U.K. and Mexico specific pages earlier this year and focusing the audience growth plan, the platform has increased more than 123% since January 1. Hilton developed a strategy for Facebook promotion through wide-reaching targeting of users who like hotel brands, airlines, loyalty programs and other like-minded brands. The strategy also focused efforts on target countries where Hilton has a strong brand recognition and presence. Hilton said it reached these users through translation of content into local languages. (By Jeff Weinstein)

This year’s Hot List 2012 from Conde Nast Traveller covers the 60 best new hotels in the world - from Australia to Tanzania... Click Here to view them all.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

White Lodging is pleased to announce the following individuals have been named general managers within the last month across the company; properties include four hotels in Austin and one hotel in Memphis.

• Shane Doss has been promoted to general manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Memphis, Tenn.
• Kim Gagnon has been promoted to general manager of the SpringHill Suites Austin South.
• Grant D’Entremont has been promoted to general manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin North.
• Robert McGuire has been named general manager at the Residence Inn Austin North.
• Chris Hammons has been promoted to general manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites University Area in Austin, Texas.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups, announced the appointment of Michael Andrew as vice president and general counsel effective March 18. He will report directly to Thorsten Kirschke, president, Americas. Andrew will support the growth of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; protect our legal and business interests with a team of attorneys, paralegals and staff. “Mike’s appointment supports our Ambition 2015 strategy to build a global team and organization,” explained Kirschke. “He brings solid legal experience in the hospitality industry to Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group along with strength in business innovations. His extensive negotiation and litigation experience, background in developing and executing company strategies for a geographically diverse team of lawyers in North America, Europe and Asia—will be an asset in his new position.”

The Latest in Hotel Opening

Las Brisas Hotel Collection Unveils New Brands, New Properties. Las Brisas Hotel Collection will launch two new brands, the ultra-luxury NIZUC Resort & Spa and mid-level Sunrock Hotel and Residence, with the openings of NIZUC Resort & Spa on the Mexican Caribbean, a new destination for Las Brisas, and the Sunrock Hotel & Residences in Los Cabos. The company also disclosed plans to open a Las Brisas property, Galeria Plaza San Jerónimo, in Mexico City. A second NIZUC property, NIZUC Los Cabos, is slated for a 2016 opening. Las Brisas Hotel Collection will also be announcing the addition of two more properties to the NIZUC portfolio. The announcements were made at the Tianguis Turistico in Puebla, Mexico. “Tianguis is always an amazing opportunity to showcase our hotel portfolio to the world,” said Rafael Juan Millán, director general and CEO of Las Brisas Hotel Collection. “This year is even more exciting as we will be presenting the new elite brand of the company -- NIZUC Resort & Spa. This is our first foray into the Mexican Caribbean market, and to do it with a property of this caliber is a proud and exciting moment for the whole company.” The first NIZUC Resort & Spa is being launched in spring 2013. “With 274 sprawling suites -- most with private plunge pools, intimate villas with tropical gardens, six world-class restaurants, two exclusive beaches, a 30,000 square foot spa by ESPA and lush landscaping -- our attention to detail must be flawless,” said Louis Daniel, general manager of the resort. “This resort already has a long history and expectations are extremely high. We are confident that the product we deliver will surpass the expectations of even the most illustrious patrons.”

Tata Group's subsidiary Roots Corporation Ltd is expanding its presence in the midsize hospitality sector to have 50 budget hotels under its 'Ginger' brand by 2015 across the country, an official said Monday. "We are planning to have about 50 Ginger hotels in the lower-end of the midsize market over the next two years from 26 presently in view of the huge potential for budget hotels in the country and encouraging response we have been getting in this segment," Roots chief executive P.K. Mohan Kumar told reporters here Monday. Pioneered by the group's Indian Hotels Company Ltd, Roots' Ginger hotels are designed to have unique space that is conducive for guests in terms of comfort, relaxation and work requirements.

Luxe Radisson Blu hotel opens at MOA. A luxury Radisson Blu hotel with royal blue electric lighting and modern design ushered in a new era for expansion plans at the Mall of America on Friday, becoming the first nearby hotel to be linked by skyway to the mall. The opening of the 13-story, 500-room hotel comes at a time when the Bloomington mall is proceeding with a $225 million construction project that aims to add upscale retail, lodging and entertainment venues. “The hotel serves the same purpose as an anchor store, which is to bring in more people,” said Kurt Hagen, executive vice president of development at Mall of America owner Triple Five Group. “People staying in the Radisson Blu will shop, buy food and be entertained in the mall.”