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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: January 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 31, 2005WTO Action Plan To Accelerate Tourism Recovery In Southeast AsiaA meeting of top international experts and the first ever special session of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) Executive Council, convened at very short notice on the island of Phuket, Thailand, will mark the beginning of large-scale international action, with which WTO intends to accelerate tourism recovery in the tsunami-affected areas. More... [787 views] Economic Review - outlook for 2005 Melt down?In this latest issue of the Deloitte Economic Review, Economic Adviser, Roger Bootle focuses on the possible meltdown of the UK economy. More... [800 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Appoints Regional Vice President and General Manager to London’s SavoyFairmont Hotels & Resorts has appointed Mark S. Huntley Regional Vice President and General Manager of The Savoy. Huntley returns to the renowned London property, where his hospitality career started in 1979, from his most recent position as Regional Vice President, California and General Manager, The Fairmont San Francisco. More... [1152 views] 2004 U.S. Lodging Industry ResultsSmith Travel Research (STR) announced full year 2004 results for the U.S. lodging industry today. Full year 2004 industry occupancy was 61.3 percent, up 3.7 percent versus 2003. Average room rate increased 4.0 percent to $86.41 and revenue per available room (REVPAR) --- the combination of occupancy and average room rate and a key industry productivity measure --- gained 7.8 percent to $52.93. More... [740 views] CIMET 2005: eighth Latin American conference of tourism ministers and entrepreneursOnce again this year, on the eve of the inauguration of the International Tourism Trade Fair, CIMET provided a forum for dialogue between representatives of the Latin American tourist industry and the Spanish business sector. Both industries presented their ideas, with a view to re-launching the investment drive this year in Latin American tourist destinations. More... [663 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. Reports Preliminary Fourth Quarter And Year-End 2004 Results;Comparable Owned Hotel RevPar Increases 17.9% in the Fourth Quarter More... [642 views] SRS-WORLDHOTELS Unveils New Brand IdentityAfter a long and distinguished history as SRS-WORLDHOTELS, the company unveiled on 25 January 2005 its new name and brand identity, WORLDHOTELS. The company also has a new strap line, "inviting choices", which reflects the choices the company offers. More... [931 views] Taj Hotels Releases 3rd Quarter ResultsFor the quarter ending December 31, 2004, IHCL reported 29% growth in revenues at Rs 253 crores as compared to Rs 195 crores achieved in the corresponding period last year. More... [663 views] Post Tsunami Sri Lanka: Damaged, But Not Defeated...Tsunami highlights tourism industry's biggest handicaps; its vulnerability to changes in the immediate environment. It is among the first to get affected but among the last to recuperate. Sri Lanka prepares itself for the troubled times, yet again. More... [666 views] Le Meridien Plans to Add Largest Number of New Hotels in India, More than Any Other Country GloballyThe UK based Le Meridien group of hotels, which has a major presence with 10 hotels across India, has outlined plans to double its base to 20 hotels in India by '09. Robert E Riley, CEO, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts, UK, said, "We will add the largest number of new hotels in India, more than in any other country globally. More... [1048 views] Hong Kong reports record-breaking occupancy for 2004Hong Kong's hotel industry has a record-breaking year with occupancy rate having reached 91 percent in December and 88 percent for the whole of 2004 – the highest since 1996, according to Hong Kong Tourism Board. Local tourism and hotel industries benefited from a relaxed visa policy by the Chinese government which allows individual mainlanders to visit Hong Kong since July 2003. More... [574 views] Iraq Is Already Preparing To Welcome Back Tourists, Delegation Tells WTOThe Iraqi government is confident that the up elections will pave the way for a revival in the country’s tourism industry, the Chairman of the Iraq Tourism Board Ahmed Shafik Al-Jobory said on a visit to the World Tourism Organization headquarters in Madrid on Tuesday. More... [562 views] Accor Indonesia signs MOU on opening 10 Formule 1 in IndonesiaTen hotels planned with first one opening end of 2005. Accor is revolutionising the budget hotel sector in Southeast Asia with the launch of its Formule 1 brand in Indonesia. Accor and joint venture partner PT Jakarta Setiabudi Internasional Tbk (JSI) have signed an agreement that calls for the development of Formule 1 hotels in key commercial centres around the country. Accor also manages the Mercure Convention Centre in Jakarta and the Mercure Resort Sanur in Bali for JSI. More... [841 views] No misstep here: SideStep gets cozy on the WebWe're only a couple of weeks into the new year, and already it's time for a trend watch. While I've written about Web searches here and there, today I'm taking a more comprehensive look at the future of searches. More... [724 views] Hotel Industry Veteran Paul Kirwin promoted to President, Carlson Asia PacificCarlson Companies has promoted veteran Paul Kirwin to the newly created position of President, Carlson Asia Pacific. Kirwin will be responsible for leading the coordinated development of all of Carlson's business interests in the Asia Pacific region. More... [702 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 29, 2005Panel of Hotel Industry Leaders in Asia Pacific Discuss How 2005 is Shaping UpIt’s shaping up to be a banner year for the hospitality industry in Asia Pacific, as industry leaders tell HOTEL Asia Pacific magazine’s Publisher/Editor Steve Shellum More... [875 views] FITUR:25 years working for tourismIn the early days in 1980, a recently-founded institution, IFEMA, set to work in order to endow an important industry in Spain, tourism, with its own fair . The first Director of FITUR, Manuel Ortuño, was to become the Head of the new Municipal Tourist Board of Madrid Council before the first edition of the fair took place in 1981, a post from which he continued to collaborate closely with the team on the project. More... [709 views] The 10 new countries that have joined the EU are officially represented at FITUR 2005In its desire to present an increasingly international exhibition,FITUR 2005, the International Tourism Trade Fair, taking place at FERIA DE MADRID fairground, features official representation on the part of the 10 new countries that have joined the European Union More... [644 views] 2004 Year-End Google ZeitgeistSearch patterns, trends, and surprises Based on billions of searches conducted by Google users around the world, the 2004 Year-End Zeitgeist offers a unique perspective on the year's major events and trends. We hope you enjoy this aggregate look at what people wanted to know more about this year. Did you know that "holiday inn" is the number one Hotel Chain search words.... More... [1002 views] Observations and Interactions - PhuketA "seasoned" technology exec takes off for Thailand, in the hope that experience and good intentions, on the ground, will lead to opportunities to be of help. Departing from Boston Jan 17, arriving in Phuket Jan 21 after some business in Europe, regular updates re plans, communications, and experiences. More... [755 views] Small favors help Rittenhouse Hotel rule 'revpar' roostHoteliers live and die by their revenue per available room, or "revpar." It's a simple idea, really: Book as many rooms as possible, 365 nights of the year, and charge as much as the market will allow. The result might be decent revpar -- an industry formula which factors in the average occupancy rate with the average rate charged, but also takes into account revenue from restaurants and gift shops. More... [908 views] Thailand announces tourism revival plan as post-tsunami arrivals fallThe government has announced plans to lure tourists back to the tsunami-ravaged Andaman coast as a minister said arrivals through Bangkok have fallen 5 pct since the December 26 disaster More... [851 views] Hilton embarks on affiliate marketing pushHilton International has partnered with online marketing firm TradeDoubler to establish an affiliate marketing program, as the hotel firm aims to drive 20% of its business online within three years. More... [1015 views] Millions ready for China's New Year celebrationsChina's peak Lunar New Year travel season, the world's biggest annual human migration, began on Tuesday and about 2 billion journeys are expected across China in the next 40 days, state media has said. People across the country of 1.3 billion traditionally try to reunite with their families or, as the middle class swells, head for top foreign holiday resorts More... [756 views] Expectations of Immediacy, Productivity and the Rise of Instant MessagingHuman interactions remain the foundation of most business relationships. Waiting days for a response to a more traditional form of communication has come to be tolerable but it doesn’t do much for productivity or customer satisfaction. More... [662 views] HORECA 2005: An edition not to be missedTime and again, experience has shown that Horeca is growing as fast as the industry is. By taking part in any of the Horeca events, participants secure important contacts and gain invaluable knowledge for promoting business and releasing its full potential. More... [688 views] Novotel Returns To Singapore With Prime Hotel SiteAccor is bringing its renowned 4-star Novotel brand back to Singapore with the re-branding of Hotel New Otani to Novotel Clarke Quay Singapore. More... [745 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 28, 2005Star-gazing in BangkokYeoh Siew Hoon sees stars in Thailand at an event that aims to make the connection between movies and tourism. More... [909 views] Accor Revenue Up 5.9 Percent in 4th Qtr.French hotel and catering group Accor SA said Wednesday its revenue rose 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter thanks to upbeat performance across all main divisions despite the dollar's weakness. More... [669 views] Middle-Eastern hotels tops global performance in 2004The first global hotel performance data for 2004 from the Hotel Benchmark Survey showed a marked improvement in the overall performance of Middle Eastern hotels compared to what it was the previous year, Gulf Times reported. More... [736 views] Spain December hotel occupancy 40.19 pct, up 2.79 pct year-on-yearHotel occupancy in Spain rose 2.79 pct in December to 40.19 pct from a year earlier, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said. The INE said a total of 3.8 mln travellers stayed in the country's hotels in December, with each spending an average of 2.94 nights More... [591 views] Fortis buys three hotelsFortis Properties Corp. is buying hotels in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg for $62.6 million from Greenwood Inn Ltd., the company an-nounced yesterday. The hotels are the 224-room Greenwood Inn in Edmonton, the 210-room Greenwood in Calgary and the 213-room Greenwood in Winnipeg. Fortis is also buying ownership and franchising rights to the Greenwood Inn brand. More... [629 views] Hawaii hotels had a record yearMoney poured into Hawaii hotels in 2004, $220 million more than in 2003, producing a record $2.73 billion in room revenue, Hospitality Advisors LLC reported Tuesday. More... [642 views] Spanish groups launch luxury hotel JVSol Melia and the Barcelona-based Stein Group have announced plans to operate a new joint venture covering the distribution, sales, marketing and management of small luxury hotels in Europe. More... [816 views] New era dawns for pacesetting luxury hospitality companyKuwait Hotels Company (KHC), one of the country's longest-established luxury hotel and service companies, is entering a new era with a comprehensive upgrade aimed at both meeting and exceeding the challenges of the region's rapidly-changing hospitality environment. More... [748 views] Rezidor SAS Hospitality appoints new Director of Corporate CommunicationsRezidor SAS Hospitality, the international multi-brand hotel management company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Birgit Borreck as Director, Corporate Communications, reporting to Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, Rezidor SAS. More... [721 views] Sofitel Continues Asia Pacific ExpansionSofitel, the prestige brand of Accor hotels, has announced it will manage the Sheraton Brisbane and re-brand it the Sofitel Brisbane as of February 1, 2005. More... [750 views] Mexico breaks tourism record in 2004Mexico set a new record for tourist revenue, the national tourism agency said Wednesday, with visitors spending $10.6 billion in 2004. More... [632 views] Great Hotels Organisation creates new e-distribution position to meet growing electronic distribution technology requirementsGreat Hotels Organisation has appointed Yunna Takeuchi as Sales & Marketing Director, e-distribution, a new role developed to address the increasing pressure to remain at the forefront of electronic distribution technology. More... [703 views] Shortage of rooms could hit tourism in IndiaThe ‘Incredible India’ campaign is proving highly successful, say tourism stakeholders in Goa. But they warn that shortfall in rooms in Indian metros could well spoil the party two years down the line. More... [747 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 27, 2005Economy Lodging: Always In TransitionSince its inception, the economy segment of the lodging industry has undergone a continual process of transition. Although most owners, operators and lenders take a “stick to the basics” approach to economy lodging, a problem arises when one attempts to define just what “the basics” are. More... [763 views] TIA's Traveler Sentiment Index Falls Moderately In Fourth Quarter 2004The Travel Industry Association of America's (TIA) quarterly Traveler Sentiment Index showed a moderate decline in fourth quarter 2004, falling 3.2 percent to 95.8 from third quarter 2004. More... [558 views] Mr. Marriott throws a pajama partyIn the highly competitive world of lodging, even a pillow sham can make the difference. Marriott is rolling out luxury bedding to compete with the likes of Westin's "Heavenly Bed" campaign. More... [1229 views] The Fairmont Chicago Hotel Offered for SaleOn behalf of The Swig Company, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has been appointed to market for sale the 692-room Fairmont Chicago. The hotel is ideally located in the heart of Chicago’s business district and a block away from the “Magnificent Mile,” one of the premier shopping and residential addresses in the nation. More... [808 views] Singapore Tourism Board sets 2005 targetsSingapore Tourism Board (STB) announces its targets for 2005 – to attract 8.9 million visitors to Singapore and generate S$10.4 billion in tourism receipts. These targets follow a bumper year for tourism in Singapore. They represent a 6.9% and 8.3% increase in visitor arrivals and tourism receipts respectively over the tourism industry’s record performance in 2004. More... [733 views] Asia – slow bookings and special offersOne month after the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated large stretches of the area’s coastlines new bookings in Germany for holiday destinations in the region remain slow, according to tour operators and travel agents. More... [718 views] China makes great breakthrough in tourismThe inbound tourists to the Chinese mainland reached 109.04 million in 2004 , breaking the 100 million mark for the first time. This earned the foreign exchange revenue up to 25.74 billion US dollars More... [674 views] Accor takes on hotel franchisingAccor is about to muscle in on the hotel franchise business, challenging the stalwart Flag, Best Western and Breakfree Resort Groups on their home turf. Accor Asia Pacific managing director Michael Issenberg said the idea was to give accommodation property owners who wanted to retain control over their business an alternate method of support. More... [1007 views] Opodo Announces Availability of More Unique Independent Properties and Small Groups of HotelsOpodo, the pan-European online travel agency, owned by travel technology company Amadeus and nine of Europe’s major airlines, today announced the expansion of its hotel choices to include more independent properties and small groups of hotels. The wide variety of hotels represented by the world’s largest consortia brand—Utell by Pegasus™—are now available through Opodo via Pegasus’ electronic distribution service. More... [819 views] Hotels.com Launches New Site, VacationSpot.comHotels.com owns and is powering a new consumer Web site that allows users to instantly book vacation rental properties, such as suites, villas and homes. More... [731 views] Club Med Phuket to reopen February 4 2005The process of recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of the Tsunami tragedy took a giant step forward with Club Med in Phuket set to re-open its doors on February 4, 2005, as part of its major commitment to attracting tourists back to the affected areas of Thailand. More... [718 views] Top London hotels to get £100m revampThree of London's best-known hotels are to get £100 million between them to add new suites, bigger bars and spas. The Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught will see major improvements. More... [851 views] World Bank puts tourism on the priority list for the OECSIn an effort to better serve the interest of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), a sub-region with the Caricom member states, heads of government in each island and the World Bank have agreed to establish a methodology to prioritize the developmental needs of the sub-region. More... [525 views] Record number of tourists flocking to Beijing from overseasThe national capital Beijing received a record 3.155 million tourists from overseas last year , a jump of 70.4 percent over the previous year, the latest statistics have shown. More... [608 views] More government tourism initiatives needed, says Kingdom’s ZokMore private equity and government initiatives are necessary to facilitate increased investment in developing More... [620 views] Defending Your Good Name(s): A Hotelier’s Guide To Cybersquatting And Domain Name Piracy by Peter M. Ripin, Esq.Let me start by telling a cautionary tale of what would probably be every hotelier’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately, it’s also a true story and one which I learned about when this hotel client presented himself in my office about a year and a half ago to recount his tale of woe. The story involves a war of the websites, and websites going dark and on-line reservations getting lost. More... [521 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 26, 2005What else can go wrong ?Crises like the Indian Ocean Tsunami are imaginable and conceivable, if only we, in the Hospitality Industry, would learn to ask ourselves more often : "What else can go wrong ? ” ....
This article is dedicated to those who lost their lives as the consequence of the December 26th, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami as well as to their families and friends, to those injured, to those that have lost everything else and to the, mainly local, Hospitality Operators and Suppliers that are reeling from the after-effects. More... [1252 views] Europe, Asia and the Middle East - Post Double-digit Growth in Revenue per Available Room During 2004Latest figures show that all regions across the world - Europe, Asia and the Middle East - managed to post double-digit growth in revenue per available room (revPAR) during 2004. The Middle East stole the show, pushing revPAR up by 28% on the prior year however Asia was not far behind reporting growth of 25%. More... [784 views] Is this the most stylish hotel in the world?An elite group of 22 architectural "galacticos" - including British-based designers Lord Foster, Ron Arad, David Chipperfield, John Pawson, Kathryn Findlay and Zaha Hadid - have come together to design the groundbreaking Hotel Puerta América, being built on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. Each of them has been given carte blanche to shape their own section of the hotel, with the 12 floors, bar, atrium - and even the car park - divided between them. More... [1311 views] Quinlan seeks larger hotel chainProperty developer Derek Quinlan said yesterday that he is looking to expand his luxury hotel chain The Maybourne Group. The company said yesterday that it is actively seeking other opportunities to acquire and develop super-luxury hotels globally. “This is an exciting day. There is a clear gap in the market for a group managing only landmark super-luxury hotel properties,” Mr Quinlan said. More... [999 views] Former Savoy Properties Form Mayborne Hotel GroupQuinlan Private, the leading international property investment and advisory group, announces the formation of a new super-luxury hotel company, Maybourne Hotel Group. Thne group will own and manage The Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught which, together with The Savoy, were bought last year by a group of investors led and advised by Quinlan Private. More... [648 views] Revenue Management - The Challenge for Hotel SalesRobust Revenue Management systems have been the drivers behind the industry's ability to drive ADR and REVPAR in 2004 and will continue to be the drivers for the foreseeable future. Consider the following forecast from PKF. More... [1744 views] Companies seek new franchisee wellsThe hotel franchising business is arguably in a transition period. As the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. begins its second decade of dominating ownership in the economy segment, franchisors are looking to see if there is another identifiable group that might someday match AAHOA's success. More... [601 views] Major Hotel Chains Grew Internet Reservations by 24% 2004 YTD;TravelCLICK today released its year-to-date results through third quarter from the company’s eTRAK report, demonstrating that Internet reservations received at the central reservation offices (CROs) of the major hotel brands grew 23.5% in the first three quarters of 2004 versus the same time period in 2003. More... [747 views] Ideas, insight, information at The Travel Technology ShowOver 125 technology suppliers specialising in finding business solutions for Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Hoteliers and Airlines will gather together at The Travel Technology Show, on 1st and 2nd February 2005 , Olympia, London. More... [642 views] AH&LA's President Joe McInerney Updates - January 24, 2005We’ve said that 2004 marked a point where the growing economy finally took over as the main factor driving industry performance. Well, this week’s Americas Lodging Investment Summit proved that the trend is accelerating. The resurgence of interest in lodging brought record numbers to ALIS where a wealth of ideas, deals, seminars and celebrations set the tone for the year ahead. More... [644 views] Hotels put pop into the questionFairmont Hotels and Resorts has a proposal for you if you're contemplating how to make the most important proposal of your life."Be it a rose-petal-covered room, romantic dinner for two on the beach at sundown, a special 'karat cake,' or a public proposal at a Red Sox game, all this and much more can be arranged with the help of Fairmont's engagement experts who promise to handle everything but popping the big question," the hotel management company says. More... [655 views] Hotels' VIP amenities becoming standard fare The beds are a lot nicer, but how long will hotel guests be willing to pay for all those pillows? That's a question hotel operators are grappling with as the latest drive to spruce up hotel rooms spills over to lower-priced lodgings.
More... [1010 views] Shangri-La Revitalises Golden Circle Guest Recognition ProgrammeShangri-La Hotels and Resorts has revamped its guest recognition programme, Golden Circle, for a February 15, 2005 re-launch. More than 600,000 Golden Circle members worldwide will be able to take advantage of more flexible criteria for advancing to upper tiers of the programme, among other enhancements More... [896 views] Waikiki hotels going from tired to trendyAging, budget hotels off Waikiki Beach are morphing into boutique "condotels" that bring in millions for developers and hotel-management companies. More... [721 views] Miami: Condo-hotel concept latest building boomAlready, the concept has changed how South Florida builds luxury hotels with developers turning to the real estate market instead of banks to fund construction costs. By selling ownership of the rooms in advance, developers secure more than enough money to build the hotels without the risk of making loan payments in the rocky early years of a hotel's debut. More... [876 views] New Year visitors to HK expected up 7.1%Lunar New Year visitors to Hong Kong are expected to grow 7.1 percent to 660,000 this year , the Tourism Board said Tuesday. More... [572 views] Indian Hotels net doubles in Q3A strong growth in average room rents and occupancies helped The Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) post a 111 per cent growth in net profit at Rs 35 crore in the third-quarter ended December 31, 2004, against Rs 16.60 crore in the corresponding period last year. More... [593 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 25, 2005InterContinental lines up £1bn for investorsShareholders in InterContinental Hotels could receive a further £1 billion pound windfall after more sales from its huge portfolio of hotels. Since its split from pubs operator Mitchells & Butlers in April 2003, InterContinental has returned £1 billion to investors via a special dividend of £500 million and two share buybacks of £250 million. More... [825 views] ASEAN seeks to rebuild tourism confidence, recoup lossesSoutheast Asia's tourism industry has lost billions of dollars since the killer tsunamis struck, Malaysia said as a two-day regional tourism summit opened Monday to seek ways to rebuild travel confidence. Tourism ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will explore joint marketing campaigns during their meeting More... [556 views] Business group travel seen boosting hotels in 2005Travel demand by business groups, if not convention business, is expected to pick up speed this year, driving U.S. hotel revenue and profits higher, according to hotel executives attending a lodging conference held Wednesday. More... [885 views] Phuket tourism slide 'becoming critical'Phuket island's post-tsunami tourism crisis is deepening by the day, with businesses at risk of closing if government aid does not speed up and tourists don't quickly return, officials warned. Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura said occupancy rates on the island, which as the jewel in Thailand's tourism crown hosts more than four million foreign and Thai tourists per year, have plummeted to as low as 10 per cent. More... [896 views] Linking Director Pay to Company PerformanceMany factors must be considered when linking director pay to company performance. More... [678 views] New York's Plaza Hotel to close in MayYitzhak Tshuva is energetically pursuing his ambitious plan to revamp Manhattan's Plaza Hotel, acquired by his company, Elad Properties, for $675 million last year. In May, the hotel will be closed for up to two years of thorough renovations to convert it into luxury one-room apartments. Tshuva aims to sell the apartments for $3 million per room. More... [981 views] Bali Hotel Association sees growth in room salesBali Hotels Association (BHA) noted a 42 percent overall increase in room nights sold among its 63 members during 2004 over 2003. This is in line with the international arrivals for 2004, which represented a 46 percent increase over 2003. The association announced preliminary key growth—or in this case recovery—indicators at its January monthly meeting. More... [654 views] UK Hoteliers shake off wintery chillUK hotel performance started 2005 on a markedly better note than it did last year, according to the latest figures released by PKF hotelconsultancy services today.PKF's monthly report for December 2004 shows that last year ended with an improvement on virtually all fronts, particularly in room rates. More... [556 views] Marriott clicks on 'virtual concierge'A few mouse clicks and the room service will be waiting upon your arrival. And the local weather report will help you decide what to pack. Or the convenience of an airport shuttle can be confirmed. These are a few of the services that guests will be able to request online via Marriott International Inc's `At Your Service' pre-arrival planning service and "virtual concierge". More... [1511 views] Embassy Suites Hotels to open 8 new hotels in 2005Embassy Suites Hotels®, currently with 175 hotels, will open eight new properties around the United States in 2005. The opening of these hotels represents the brand's continued progress in expanding to new markets. The new properties will be focal points for major convention center areas and on-going urban renewal projects. More... [591 views] Raffles Signs Deal To manage New Deluxe Hotel In ShanghaiRaffles International Limited has today signed a management contract with Jing An City Construction Fitting Development Company (Jing’an Chengjian), to manage a new hotel development in Shanghai slated for opening in 2007. Named Swissôtel Grand Shanghai, the 478-room hotel will be managed under Raffles International’s Swissôtel brand. More... [673 views] China hands Canada potential tourism windfallChina has recognized Canada as an approved tourism destination – a move that is expected to result in a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese visitors to this country. More... [555 views] Macao's hotel capacity to double in 3-5 yearsThe number of hotel rooms in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will double the present capacity in three to five years as the citi's tourist hardware facility could hardly accommodate the rising demand. More... [609 views] Turkey sets tourism recordThe target of 15 million tourists for 2004 was surpassed and US$13 billion in revenue is expected. A statement released by the Culture and Tourism Ministry says that 13.7 million foreign tourists entered Turkey in 2003. According to official data, 789,188 tourists came to Turkey in December 2004, a 22.57 percent increase over the same month in 2003. More... [621 views] Tourism in tsunami-struck countries likely to recover faster than expectedThe vital tourist sector in countries hard hit by last month's Indian Ocean tidal wave is likely to recover quicker than expected and the overall impact of the disaster on global tourism should be limited, industry analysts predict. More... [849 views] Google loses trademark dispute with Le MeridienA French court has ruled that Google must refrain from using the trademarks of European resort chain Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts to trigger keyword ads. More... [927 views] HVS International Celebrates Milestone Anniversary in 200525 years of excellence in hospitality consulting and services worldwide More... [608 views] Kerzner to Partner with CapitaLand to Submit Joint Concept Proposal for SingaporeKerzner International Limited, a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, casinos and luxury hotels, and CapitaLand , one of the largest listed property companies in Asia, will submit a joint concept proposal to the Singapore Government for the development of an integrated entertainment resort complex at Sentosa Island in Singapore. More... [676 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 24, 200515 years beyond the Berlin WallIn the period since unification in 1990, the position of the German economy has transformed from one of European powerhouse to something of a poor relation. This article explores the subsequent impact on the market performance of the German hotel industry. More... [885 views] Online Reservation System Should Captures the Interest of Travel Agents and Corporate Clients – Not only Internet UsersThe hospitality industry is one of the fast-growing market segments today, enhanced by a recovering global business environment. Thus, market opportunities are now expanding throughout nations and continents. With such a broader potential market, hotels are now able to increase daily occupancy. The better a hotel can maintain its customer base, the better revenue maximization it can enjoy. More... [1293 views] PWC Forecasts Record Aggregate Profits and Profits Per Available Room in 2005 and 2006According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the lodging industry will experience a 29.9 percent increase in profits in 2004 to $16.6 billion, a 25 percent increase in profits in 2005 to $20.8 billion in 2005 and record profits of $25.2 billion in 2006. More... [748 views] Google to launch free phone callsGoogle, the company which revolutionised the internet, is planning to launch a free telephone service. The service will link users via a broadband internet connection using a headset and a home computer. More... [480 views] Construction Signs Along the Road to Recovery Measuring Developer IntentThe economic and political events of 2001 through 2003 effectively brought new hotel construction to a trickle. During the late 1990s, construction activity added approximately 150,000 rooms per year to the U.S. inventory. More... [585 views] Caribbean marketplace sets the tone for a strong year 2005The huge success of the recently concluded Caribbean Marketplace predicts a very strong winter season for Caribbean tourism, according to Alec Sanguinetti, Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), organizer of the event. Held on January 9-11, 2005 at the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, the largest marketing event for Caribbean tourism attracted 1,500 delegates from around the world—the highest number of participants ever. More... [541 views] British tourism is set for a multi-million pound boost following a landmark agreement with China.Britain has been granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by China – opening the door to a flood of Chinese tourists to the UK.Until now, the Chinese government has officially permitted only business and study trips to Britain.But under ADS, exit procedures for Chinese tourists will be simplified and far more will now be able to come to Britain. More... [727 views] Best Hotels on the Web 2004 Released by TripAdvisorTripAdvisor announced the 2004 hotels included in its annual TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice list. Using its proprietary Hotel Popularity Index, each year TripAdvisor ranks the top hotels across six continents, based on the quantity and quality of information found on the Internet. A new category has been added this year to the list: Top Bed & Breakfasts in the United States. More... [1036 views] WOWtraveler.net appoints Stacy H. Small its exclusive online travel consultantWOWtraveler.net, the truly global online magazine for the discerning luxury traveler, has appointed Stacy Small as exclusive online travel consultant. Stacy Small is President and CEO of W. Palm Beach FL-based Elite Travel by Stacy. She will be available to answer lookers' questions and subsequently be able to make reservations for lodging and travel worldwide. More... [969 views] Expedia's Private Label Program Signs First Asian Hotel PartnerExpedia's WWTE program, its merchant hotel private label, has signed Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts as its first hotel partner in the Asia Pacific market. More... [809 views] Banyan Tree and UNDPin partnership for Maldives recovery effortsBanyan Tree Group has entered a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on a joint recovery effort in Maldives. The unique private sector-NGO co-operation shows the greenlight for Banyan Tree Group and UNDP to begin work for the reconstruction of homes and buildings in Naalaafushi, an inhabited island in the South Male Atoll of Meemu. More... [584 views] INTIMATE ESCAPES on target for Phuket in June 2005Boutique resort developer Pavilions Resorts announces that construction of its newest project, Phuket Pavilions, is progressing quickly, and remains on target to open in June 2005. The hill top location of the Phuket Pavilions site proved to be a refuge during December’s tsunami waters and there was no damage to any part of the site or structures. The construction team continues at full strength and the development remains set to open this June 2005. More... [618 views] Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts' aggressive expansion plans continue21 new hotels are currently in the pipeline to open during 2005 and beyond following on from the 10 new properties that opened in 2004. Global hotel group, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, continued its worldwide expansion during 2004 by adding ten new hotels to its already impressive portfolio. Global hotel group, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, continued its worldwide expansion during 2004 by adding ten new hotels to its already impressive portfolio. More... [1253 views] Marriott Unveils In-Room Fitness ProgramMarriott has kicked off its new complimentary in-room fitness program, "Great Health - Fit For You." Guests can choose from three different equipment options: the BodyRev, Michael Sena's Traveling Trainer kit and the BodyWedge 21. More... [838 views] Gordon Ramsey to Open his First Restaurant in JapanGordon Ramsay, the world famous British chef, will be opening his first restaurant in Japan, at the Conrad Tokyo, the city's newest luxury hotel scheduled to open in July 2005. Renowned for his successful London-based restaurants, winning no less than 7 Michelin Stars, Ramsay looks to repeat his unparalleled success in this much-anticipated expansion. More... [700 views] Travel Agents Recognize Belize as Best Adventure Eco Tourism Destination - WorldwideTravel Agents have voted Belize Best Adventure Eco Tourism Destination Worldwide on the occasion of Recommend Magazine’s 8th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards. More... [753 views] Caribbean tourism grew, despite hurricanesCaribbean tourism, an economic mainstay for many island nations, enjoyed its third straight year of recovery in 2004 from a slump that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, officials said. More... [538 views] Czech tourism numbers continue to growWorld travelers take notice -- the Czech Republic is a hot destination right now. Tourism is expected to have grown globally by 4 percent in 2004, but it increased 15 percent in the country and is expected to climb another 10 percent here this year, according to data from CzechTourism. More... [815 views] Carlson names Rautio as Chief Financial OfficerTrudy Rautio today was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Carlson Companies by Carlson Chair and CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson. "Trudy has tremendous experience both within and outside of our own operations, and her business acumen and counsel will be invaluable," said Nelson. More... [651 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 23, 2005Super Spas 2005Chances are not only have you been to a spa in the last 12 months, but so has your spouse, your teenage daughter and perhaps her grandmother. The spa industry is booming, and there doesn't seem to be any sign of it slowing down. According to the Lexington, Ky.-based International Spa ssociation, in 2003 the U.S. spa industry generated $11.2 billion in revenue, up from $10.7 billion in 2001 and $5 billion in 1999. More... [1402 views] Doubletree Hotels Begins 2005 With Strong Portfolio Growth and Development ActivityDoubletree(R) Hotels announced that between September 2004 and January 2005 the brand has added six new hotels and resorts to its growing roster of hotels. An additional 15 hotels are scheduled to join the brand's current collection of more than 150 full-service properties in 2005. More... [748 views] Savoy’s new owners plan $48m refurbishmentCanadian hotel chain Fairmont has officially taken over management of the Savoy in London following the historic property’s sale by Quinlan to the Kingdom Hotels International JV for up to £250m. The new owners have earmarked $48m (£25.7m) in renovation capital for the hotel with priority going to the function areas and river-view suites. More... [818 views] MK Records $1.3 Billion in Transactions in 2004Evidence that 2004 was a banner year for hotel real estate transactions continues to mount. Robert Koger, President of Molinaro Koger (MK), one of the world's leading hotel real estate brokerage companies, announced today at the America's Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) that MK closed a record $1.3 billion in hotel real estate transactions in 2004. More... [590 views] Shangri-La to strengthen presence in Asia with Shangri-La Resort and Spa, Borocay, opening mid 2007Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, has announced it will open a new spa resort in Boracay, Philippines in mid 2007, to complement the group's existing four properties in the Philippines. More... [911 views] Luxury lifestyle of charming hotel conman comes to endA playboy conman who rifled safeboxes of suites in the Savoy and the Dorchester in London, and other top hotels around the world, is in jail awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to stealing £150,000 of jewellery, cash, and clothes. More... [1027 views] Interval International sponsors scholarship fundInterval International has made a three-year commitment to the Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CHF), the education arm of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), to sponsor a new scholarship fund for Caribbean students to pursue hospitality and tourism studies. The Interval International Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship will be endowed with $15,000 per year for a total of $45,000. More... [763 views] Reed Exhibitions to Launch China International Business & Incentive Travel Mart, 25-27 July, 2005Reed Exhibitions is launching the China International Business & Incentive Travel Mart 2005 (CBITM 2005), a highly dedicated event seeks to deliver new business opportunities for all players in the fast growing BT and MICE sectors in China and Asia, at the China World Trade Center in Beijing on the 25 - 27 July, 2005. With its rapid development in the Business and MICE travel market segments, China is one of the most active players in the world tourism industry today. More... [607 views] Bermuda: ‘A brand new tourism industry’Working in the hospitality sector does not just mean lifting trays, Tourism and Transport Minister Ewart Brown said on Monday.And while there is honour in any job, he added, the diversity of career opportunities in the Tourism industry must not be underestimated.“Hotels need Bermudian food and beverage directors, Bermudian accountants, Bermudian engineers, and Bermudian general managers.” More... [931 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 22, 2005A tale of two pants, and ghosts - By Yeoh Siew HoonWho stole his pants? Who left his pants in her room? Were ghosts involved? How can our travel communicators overcome superstition and the supernatural? These questions puzzle Yeoh Siew Hoon. More... [1087 views] 2004: year end numbers reveal UK hotel industry is firmly back on trackPreliminary year end 2004 data from the UK edition of the HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte shows revPAR for London is up 11% on the previous year to reach £98.75. This is the best performance in terms of absolute revPAR that London has recorded since 2000 - the year preceding the events of 9/11 and subsequent geo-political instability. More... [674 views] Hotel performance exceeds 2000 levels in Asia and the Middle EastFirst global hotel performance data for 2004 from the HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte shows a marked improvement compared to last year. Latest figures show that all regions across the world - Europe, Asia and the Middle East - managed to post double-digit growth in revenue per available room (revPAR) during 2004. The Middle East stole the show, pushing revPAR up by 28% on the prior year however Asia was not far behind reporting growth of 25%. More... [702 views] HSMAI names `25 most extraordinary sales and marketing minds in hospitality and travel` for 2004Who are the most extraordinary sales and marketing minds in hospitality and travel today? To answer that question, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) polled senior executives throughout the marketplace to identify the "Hot List for 2004." More... [1293 views] Top Ten “Must Do's” for a Successful Luxury Hotel OpeningEffective public relations launches don’t have to “break the bank”. Whether it's a launch or a repositioning of a brand, a technology, a destination or a hotel, certain principles are fundamental to each new challenge: know the competitive environment, plan early and remember the adage that first impressions are lasting ones. Successful PR programs for upscale products just need to have the finest basic ingredients and a big dose of creativity. Here are the top ten “must do's” for a successful launch: More... [1827 views] Broadband in Hotels: Hospitality Industry?The next time you check into a business-class hotel, imagine how you'd react if told that use of the room TV would cost you $8 a night. Or that hot water would be surcharged by the gallon. If this seems ridiculous, what do you think about charging for high-speed Internet access? How much is that likely to cost you, and don't you think that it should be part of the basic rate for the room? More... [981 views] “Generate Pre-purchase Guest Satisfaction with Tomorrow’s Reservation System”Technology has become yet another important tool for the hotelier in his or her effort to continue to satisfy guests. It was once seen as a cost center, but has now evolved into a profit center. More... [1106 views] Hotel Construction Signs Along the Road to Recovery; Measuring Hotel Developer Intent. .The economic and political events of 2001 through 2003 effectively brought new hotel construction to a trickle. During the late 1990s, construction activity added approximately 150,000 rooms per year to the U.S. inventory. The current annual rate of inventory increase equals about 75,000 rooms. As these numbers indicate, hotel developers are patiently waiting for conditions to once again justify normal levels construction. Hotel firms now find that property values in many markets are approaching replacement cost, and that the time for new lodging development may be here today. More... [643 views] Hilton Hotels Corporation Announces Sponsorship of U.S. Olympic Team Through 2008Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) announced sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team, which will extend through the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy and the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, and include the 2006/2008 U.S. Paralympic Team(s) and the 2007 U.S. Pan-Am Team. More... [530 views] BITTM opens the door to a new staggering 1.3 billion Chinese MarketThis year's Beijing International Tourism and Travel Market (BITTM) will take place in Beijing April 20-23 , 2005 and is proving to be the premiere event of 2005 for travel brands serious about increasing their market share. More... [549 views] Choice Hotels Launches New All-Suite BrandChoice Hotels International has unveiled its new all-suite brand, Cambria Suites. More... [588 views] Marriott settles harassment suitThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement Monday of a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Marriott Ownership Resorts. Marnie McClain, a former sales executive at Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club Resort, will receive $190,000 under a consent decree approved by U.S. District Judge David Ezra. More... [1167 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 21, 2005Standards, or lack there of? The vacuum of best intentions.“I’d like to review your standards”, said the Auditor. “Which ones”, I responded. My accountant uses GAAP to make sure I balance my books correctly; my CPA uses the IRS standards, to ensure that I reflect my business activities accurately; my chef follows the Requirements of the Health Department; my architect and builder always work with the Building Inspector to insure that we are in code; my elevators are up to spec.... "I would like to see your Hospitality Standards, please”, he said. I abashedly said, “Oh!” By John R. Hendrie, CEO, Hospitality Performance, Inc. More... [1096 views] Western Europe dominates global tourism industrySo far, Americans have not let the sharp decline in the value of their currency stop their trips overseas. But if the greenback continues to slide, travel analysts say U.S. vacationers, especially those on tight budgets, may eventually decide the added costs of leaving the country are more than they are willing to pay. More... [799 views] Hospitality Industry's Top 10 Thoughts for 2005 - Ernst & Young1. Hospitality Investing: What a difference a year can make. Improved hotel operating performance over the past year -- and the anticipation of continued improvement for the foreseeable future -- has led to positive investor sentiment and increased capital markets activity in the sector. More... [1190 views] Carlson Hotels Worldwide is first hotel company to meet two top data privacy frameworksCarlson Hotels Worldwide has achieved certification by two top data privacy frameworks, TRUSTe and the U.S. Department of Commerce`s "Safe Harbor" program, becoming the first hotel company to accomplish this dual status More... [570 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Assumes Management Of The Savoy Hotel In LondonFairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. has assumed management of The Savoy Hotel, one of London's most-recognized luxury hotel properties. The hotel will now be known as "The Savoy, A Fairmont Hotel". More... [836 views] Tourism to countries affected by the Tsunami must continue, according to international Travel & Tourism associationsThe Global Travel & Tourism Community would like to extend again its condolences to all those affected by the tsunami which hit areas in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand. Many of those who lost their lives were tourists or tourism personnel. More... [596 views] Travel Firms Cast a Wider NetMajor hotel chains and airlines are trying to get travelers to go straight to their own Web sites instead of through the online agencies. They've also been attempting to negotiate better terms. And a newer kind of third party -- travel search Web sites that hunt through suppliers' sites to offer travelers a smorgasbord of different rooms or flights -- is emerging as a threat to online agencies like IAC/InterActive's Expedia, Sabre Holdings' Travelocity and Orbitz, now a unit of Cendant More... [648 views] Starwood announces travel friends and family programme to Phuket,Krabi and LangkawiFeaturing Special StarFriends Rates for Travel Industry Associates Starting from US$39. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the Travel Friends and Family programme with special StarFriends rates, starting from US$39, available at Sheraton resorts in Phuket, Krabi and Langkawi. More... [2342 views] HSMAI Summit To Focus On Channel ManagementThe Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Canadian Chapter is holding its 5th annual summit in Toronto, Ont. on February 15, 2005. This year, the summit will focus on channel management and the tools and technologies available to assist hotels in this ever-challenging balancing act. The summit is being sponsored by AV Canada. More... [611 views] HITEC 2005 registration opens amidst signs of a recovering hospitality industryWith reports rolling in of a recovering hospitality industry, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC(r)) is looking forward to a successful event in 2005 . Registration for the largest hospitality technology exposition and conference opened January 15, and will take place June 20-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. More... [496 views] Asia - TUI invests EUR 1.25m on aid projectsTUI has unveiled a EUR 1.25m investment programme to support reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed in the Indian Ocean flood catastrophe. Europe’s largest travel group will focus its aid on sponsoring rebuilding work in a village in the Tangalle district of Sri Lanka that was particularly badly affected by the flood disaster. More... [534 views] Branding Getting Its Day OnlineBranding is getting its day online, with Deutsche Bank and MediaPost finding that media execs put just over 41% of their clients' online ad budgets towards brand advertising. According to a survey of media executives conducted by Deutsche Bank in conjunction with MediaPost , 41.8% of online ad budgets in Q4 2004 were allotted to branding efforts, while 15.3% went towards search marketing and just 10.3% went towards e-mail. More... [564 views] Harrah's Gary Loveman Named Gaming & Lodging Industry's Top CEOGary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. , has been named the gaming and lodging industry's "Best CEO" by Institutional Investor magazine for the second straight year More... [590 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 20, 2005How Travellers Can Speed Up The Tsunami Recovery - PATA TRAVEL FACTSThe tragic devastation wrought by the Indian Ocean tsunami has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world, with unprecedented pledges of financial support for vital humanitarian relief efforts. We all want to help. - PATA Tsunami Recovery Travel Facts More... [896 views] Post-tsunami assessment of airline and travel sectorsThree major international events to be held next week will allow the region's aviation and travel industry leaders to assess the state of the industry, and explore where it is heading in the year ahead. More... [819 views] Asia – German travel trade wants marketing campaignTravel agencies and tour operators in Germany are calling for a large-scale marketing campaign in trade and consumer media to revive travel to holiday destinations affected by the Indian Ocean flooding catastrophe and to support the local population that is dependent on tourism. More... [615 views] Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' new website launched with online reservation contest"Where will you find your Shangri-La?" The answer is one click away on www.shangri-la.com, the new website of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group.The recently enhanced website contains 6,000 web pages in total in English, Chinese and Japanese, with improved content and site navigation. Following the English version, the Chinese and Japanese versions will be launched in the first quarter of More... [881 views] Singapore Hotels needed to meet new tourism goalIndustry players say airline capacity and logistics support not a problem in handling 2015 target. Singapore will need to build more hotels to cater to the tourism influx resulting from the Republic's target of 17 million tourists by 2015, industry players said More... [775 views] Park Hyatt Named ``Best International Hotel Chain'' by Global Traveler Magazine's GT 2004 Tested AwardsBusiness and luxury leisure travelers give Park Hyatt top honor in the annual Global Traveler Magazine's GT Tested Awards, naming the worldwide luxury brand "Best International Hotel Chain." More than 3200 Global Traveler readers participated in the open-ended nomination survey, citing Park Hyatt hotels for being "upscale but not snooty" and "the brand that provides a secluded haven for travelers abroad." More... [1015 views] Survey: what it takes to keep the 21st century woman business traveller happyA survey of 1000 business travellers has revealed the magic formula for the perfect business trip : a direct flight, flat bed, in-flight Blackberry, a friendly face at the airport, language lessons, online booking, e-tickets, flying alone, an iPod, high-speed Internet access, a power shower, a spa, crisp, clean cotton sheets, good hotel food and a concierge with contacts at all the best places. These are the principal ingredients for happy business travel in the 21st Century. More... [1149 views] Tourism Hotels & Leisure Plans to Acquire Up to 48% of Golden Tulip HospitalityPartnership Will Comprise 534 hotels in 45 Countries. ASX listed Tourism Hotels & Leisure (“THL”) (formerly Travel Holdings Limited) and Golden Tulip Hospitality B.V. (“Golden Tulip”), based in The Netherlands, today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership involving a cross shareholding structure that will see the new combined group become one of the largest operators of hotels in the world, with properties located in five continents. More... [637 views] American Cities Flooding the Market with New Convention Center Space Even As Trade-show Industry ContractsAmerican cities are flooding the market with new convention center space, even as the trade-show industry is contracting, a phenomenon likely to leave the landscape littered with underbooked big boxes, according to a study released Monday. More... [524 views] Australia: Tourism 'back on track'The nation's tourism industry had finally bounced back from the traumas of terrorism and SARS with an estimated record number of international visitors, the Federal Government said today. Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said the latest figures, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, show 5.2 million international visitors arrived in Australia last year. More... [591 views] Clarins targets 40 luxury hotel spas in four yearsFrench skincare brand Clarins is stepping up its luxury-spa presence, with a target of some 40 in total within three or four years, Clarins managing director Olivier Courtin-Clarins reveals. In February, the brand is set to inaugurate a spa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates luxury hotel Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina. “It is a good moment for wellbeing, and Clarins’s origin is the institute, so it is logical. In this way, we continue to create our image and our difference,” he adds, nevertheless admitting “It is not profitable.” More... [1065 views] New Adventure-Focused Hotel Chain To DebutA new hotel chain, eXtreme Hotels, is set to open their flagship property on March 12 in Cabarete, Dominican Republic with a focus on extreme sports enthusiasts. More... [683 views] The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of the Middle East & Turkey celebrate outstanding employee resultsThroughout The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C., one asset viewed as the most important resource in any property across the globe is the employees that work for the luxury hospitality provider By applying the principles of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and commitment to their people, The Ritz-Carlton nurture and maximize talent to the benefit of each individual and to the company. More... [801 views] Fiji Tops South Pacific Tourism GrowthFiji is matching its position as the South Pacific's top tourist destination by topping tourism investment for the region, a survey by the Fiji-based South Pacific Tourism Organization showed Tuesday. It also confirmed that tourism has become the region's leading industry, with an estimated 1,080,000 visitors flocking to South Pacific vacation spots during 2004. More... [700 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 19, 2005Benchmark's Top Ten Meeting Industry Trends for 2005Benchmark Hospitality International, which manages 28 award-winning resorts, conference centers and hotels in the United States and Japan, announces its annual "Top Ten Meeting Industry Trends" for the new year, as observed by its properties. More... [1528 views] Anatomy of a Hotel Investment FundIt seems like every week that a new hotel investment fund is announced to buy hotels. While the timing to buy hotels is favorable, and will likely remain so for at least the next 18 months, according to recent industry forecasts, what is attracting them to the industry and what are these new groups looking for? More... [1274 views] Taking it One Step Further Can Help Employers Secure Top Talent OnlineThere are many opportunities throughout the online recruitment process where taking it just “one step further” can help you secure top talent for your organization. More... [844 views] Thailand's Central Hotels group: Bt10-billion expansion over 5 yearsCentral Hotels and Resorts has revealed plans to expand its property as well as food holdings with the injection of a Bt10-billion investment. More... [703 views] Online Travel Firms Try Real PeopleVirtual travel agents are virtual no more. After years as online-only brands, Expedia and Travelocity.com will begin selling vacation activities the old-fashioned way. Both companies are opening kiosks and small retail shops in major tourist areas this month More... [760 views] Foreign countries urged not to dissuade tourists from visiting ThailandThailand has urged foreign countries not to advise their citizens to stay away from the country . The Thai government has said Thailand needs the income from tourism to help the country to recover from last month`s tsunami disaster. More... [593 views] Kuala Lumpur Hotels raising room rates as demand risesThe high influx of tourists has given the higher-rated hotels an opportunity to raise their room rates without much negative impact on the occupancy levels. More... [824 views] Denver hotel market up in 2004The Denver-area hotel market improved slightly in 2004 and should keep "ticking up" in '05, according to a new study. "The metro Denver lodging market is poised to take off in upcoming years," said the study released Jan. 13 by Horwath Horizon Hospitality Advisors LLC/Montgomery & Associates of New York, N.Y. More... [516 views] Hotel restaurants: a recipe for successRestaurants located on the premise of prestigious hotels are attracting international clientele More... [1167 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts goes to EuropeA billion-dollar partnership between the Bank of Scotland, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. and Kingdom Hotels International has started to open luxury hotels in key European markets. More... [951 views] 10th Gulfood Exhibition to showcase the latest from the world's food and hospitality industryThe world will literally arrive on a platter to the UAE and the region next month, when the 10th Gulf Food, Hotel and Equipment Exhibition is unveiled at the Dubai World Trade Centre. More... [614 views] Dubai hotels record 42 per cent growth in revenues in three quarters of 2004 as volume of business touches AED 4.38 billionDubai's booming hospitality industry showcased its vibrancy by posting over 42 per cent growth in revenues between January and September 2004 compared with the corresponding period last year, with hotels and hotel apartments playing host to 4,099,772 guests. The volume of business done by the Dubai hotel industry in the first nine months of 2004 was AED 4.38 billion. More... [629 views] Mexico says record tourism in 2004A record 20.5 million foreign tourists visited Mexico in 2004 and officials expect this year to be even better, the head of Mexico's tourism promotion board said. More... [594 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 18, 2005Fragile, yet resilient; here’s a chance to start a Brand New DayYeoh Siew Hoon makes the link between Sting’s songs and lessons we could learn in the tsunami aftermath after she catches the singer in a concert in Singapore. More... [739 views] Preliminary results for 2004 for the hotel industry in EuropeAfter 3 consecutive years of declines, revenue per available room for the European hotel industry has risen with the economic growth · In 2004, revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose by 3.7% at the EU level. · Rooms revenue incl. of tax for corporate chains grew by around 5% to reach 24 billion euros incl. of tax. · The United Kingdom is at the head of the recovery. Germany registered a rise in growth above the European average. More... [782 views] Search Wars about to BeginThe booming online advertising sector fueled tremendous revenue growth for Yahoo! and Google in 2004. Paid search advertising grew approximately 55% and became nearly a $4 billion market in the US alone. Plus Google went public and — confounding many analysts' predictions — topped $200 a share at the beginning of 2005. More... [600 views] Startwood reaches a milestone announcing its 30th property in ChinaSheraton continues its expansion stride in China – Hotel set to open in January 2008. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and Chongqing Taizheng Company Limited have announced an agreement whereby Starwood will manage the Sheraton Chongqing Hotel in China. This newly built 330-room Sheraton Chongqing Hotel is scheduled to open in January 2008. More... [611 views] Holiday World fair flourishingHoliday World (Prague) confirms its reputation of an influent and well-known Central European Fair by enlargening its exhibition space for the 2005 edition . To be held on February 17-20, 2005, at the Prague Exhibition Grounds, the Holiday World will once again attract tens of thousands of trade participants and general public. Over 600 exhibitors from 50 countries will be offering tourist services of all kinds. More... [504 views] Marriott On Fortune's "best Companies To Work For" ListFor the eighth consecutive year, Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Marriott ranked first among companies with 100,000 or more employees, and is the only U.S.-based lodging company on the list. Marriott is also on FORTUNE’s “hall of fame” list of 22 companies that have appeared on every list since 1998. More... [990 views] Wyndham International Promotes Mark F. Hedley to Executive Vice President and Chief Information OfficerWyndham International, Inc. has named Mark F. Hedley executive vice president and chief information officer, responsible for driving strategic technology initiatives throughout the company and overseeing casino gaming operations in Puerto Rico. More... [556 views] Hotels Revisit Their Internet StrategyWhen large hotel companies first checked into cyberspace they let others -- online travel agencies -- dictate the terms. But the hoteliers have been fighting hard to take back control, and they don't expect to relinquish it. More... [921 views] Carlson Revamps, Simplifies Loyalty Program for HotelsCarlson Hotels Worldwide, Minneapolis, unveiled a redesigned loyalty program that combines all of its hotel loyalty programs under one umbrella with one name and earnings structure. Previously, each Carlson hotel brand had its own program with its own name and the earning structure varied. More... [656 views] German Tour Operators plan resumption of holidays in tsunami effected zonesGerman tour operators are planning to resume normal package holidays in the flood-hit areas of southern and south-east Asia over the next few weeks to support the destinations and their economies. After cancelling holidays in the worst-affected areas of Thailand (Phuket), Sri Lanka and the Maldives during most of January, charter flights will be gradually re-started in the near future. More... [663 views] It’s Not Just About the MoneyCornell Study Says Personal and Career Growth Key to Retaining Hospitality Industry Leaders. A report published by The Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell provides insight and strategies for managers to use in encouraging employee retention, career growth, staff morale, and best practices in human resources. More... [886 views] Starwood Earns over 50 Top Spots on Conde Nast Traveler's Gold Lists Including Many New EntriesStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.has earned the distinction of having 51 of its hotels and resorts included on Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious Gold List and Gold List Reserve featured in the magazine's January 2005 issue. More than 20,000 Conde Nast Traveler subscribers voted for their favorite hotels, resorts and cruise lines around the world to make up the winners in the magazine's 11th annual Gold List. More... [863 views] The Health Club Challenge - Why Hotel Health Clubs Are Not 'Working Out'Having been in the health club industry for 25 years, and having been in positions ranging from ownership, consulting, and managing, and in various sectors such as Commercial, Residential, Corporate, and Hospitality, I have a certain affection for the hospitality marketplace. More... [1175 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 16, 2005Bob Burns returns to Hong Kong for latest ventureBob Burns, the Hong Kong hotelier who built the Regent name into one of the most recognisable hotel brands worldwide, is back in business. The American -born entrepreneur is negotiating with Japanese financiers to form a company to operate ultra-luxury hotels. The first properties are likely to be in Shanghai and Hanoi. More... [1548 views] Hotel Association of Canada Forecast 2005The Hotel Association of Canada expects 2005 to be a year of tempered growth .Remember the best barometer for our industry is the economy. Healthy levels of government spending will help support the Canadian economy in the absence of export strength. This results in large part from the minority government in Ottawa. More... [571 views] Marriott Intl's rosy earnings outlookShares of Marriott International Inc gained ground Thursday after broker Raymond James upgraded the hotel operator, citing higher earnings expectations amid improving fundamentals for the lodgings sector.Analyst William Crow lifted his rating on the company to "outperform" from "market perform," and established a 12-month price target of $70. More... [603 views] Sri Lanka: Bouncing BackA tsunami that wrecked Sri Lanka’s coast in peak tourist season is having its better fallouts, pushing through delayed reform plans while the sector bounces back. The Tourism Ministry said Thursday that it had just finalised plans to get the sector up and recovering, with a package of short term aid measures to help hoteliers. More... [628 views] German Travel Agents report few cancellations or re-bookings to AsiaRelatively few German tourists are switching their bookings for Asian destinations hit by the tsunami, according to travel agents. And the Asian flood catastrophe does not appear to have affected the overall demand for travel in Germany. "We cannot observe any downturn. On the contrary, bookings are growing at a double-digit rate,” said Ralph Schiller, head of the Reiseland chain. "We had a real boom at the start of the year,” commented Katja Richter, managing director of several Holiday Land agencies in Berlin. More... [617 views] Tsunami vs SARS, which was more damaging economically?Nature`s wrath can be unpredictable and the devastation caused by it can be incalculable. After the massive rescue operations by relief experts, it is now the turn of economists to assess the recent tsunami damages. Economists are now debating whether the damages caused were worse than those caused by the SARS epidemic which devastated the economies of several Asian countries two years ago. More... [661 views] Le Royal Méridien Phuket Yacht Club appeals to Travel Professionals with Special RateLe Royal Méridien Phuket Yacht Club is part of a strengthening number of tourism-related businesses that are appealing for people to return to Phuket, and help curb any further negative impact that the recent tsunami might have on the tourism industry and all of the lives and futures that it supports. More... [690 views] Chris Moon to Provide Inspirational Keynote Address at the International Hotel Investment Forum in BerlinChris Moon, an accomplished writer and speaker who talks with authority from a practical, academic and inspirational perspective, will be the keynote speaker at the 8th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) scheduled for 15-17 March 2005, hosts of the event announced. More... [548 views] Black year for Belgian hotel industry as bankruptcies upThe Belgian hotel and catering industry had a black year in 2004, new figures have revealed. More... [716 views] Bliss Opens New Flagship Spa At The W New YorkStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced today the opening of Bliss49, the new Bliss Spa flagship and first Bliss Spa to open at a W Hotel. Starwood acquired cosmetic, spa and catalog company Bliss from luxury goods conglomerate Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton (LVMH) in January 2004. More... [999 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 15, 2005Preliminary results for the French hotel industry in 2004After the drop recorded in 2003, the rooms revenue of hotel chains rose by 4% in 2004. · A RevPAR on the rise by 2.3% over the entire year, pulled upwards by the rise in average daily rates by nearly 1.9%
· An occupancy rate that is stable around an average of 67%
· A 4% rise in turnover in 2004
· Will the catastrophe caused by the tsunamis in the Indian Ocean have consequences on European hotel activity in 2005?
More... [717 views] Amsterdam Hospitality’s COO quits.George Dfouni, Amsterdam Hospitality Group’s Chief Operating Officer announced his resignation from his post today. More... [1234 views] Tourism recovery already beginsForeign travel bookings to Thailand, which plummeted in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, have begun to recover strongly, according to Abacus International. This is good news for Thailand’s tsunami-ravaged tourism and travel industry, even though the figures are not complete. Abacus’s president, Don Birch, suggested that tourism life could be back to normal even in the worst affected areas within six months. More... [598 views] Notes From HSMAI Internet Marketing Strategy ConferenceTimely and pertinent issues of certifying intermediaries and the new generation of online travel search engines headlined the agenda at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) 3rd Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference held in Los Angeles. More... [666 views] Hotels, restaurants turn to high-tech helpThe virtual concierge got those tickets you wanted, and the touch screen will take your order now. As the new year begins, these and other high-tech services are becoming more commonplace in the hotel and restaurant industry. More... [837 views] Celebrate The Life And Career Of Mr Reggie Shiu In BangkokFriends and travel industry partners are invited to celebrate the life and career of Mr. Reggie Shiu, who went missing in the tsunami tragedy. The family requests no flowers please, instead donations should be made to the ‘Accor Zoe Shiu Trust Fund’ for Mr. Shiu’s surviving daughter, Zoe, at the event. More... [1115 views] Macao reserves hotels for 2005 East Asian GamesThe 4th East Asian Games Organizing Committee (MEAGOC) of the Macao Special Administrative Region has signed an agreement with 23 local hotels booking hotel rooms to meet the accommodation needs during the 4th East Asian Games this year. More... [518 views] Britain’s 2004 overseas visitors to exceed 26mLatest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 25.24m international visits were made to Britain between 1 January-30 November 2004, 11% more than in the year-earlier period. More... [516 views] CWT Business Travel Barometer Survey forecasts business travel growth in `05Business travelers in North America cite airport security lines as having the largest effect on corporate travel today , with a higher negative impact than safety/terrorist concerns, flight delays, customer service or corporate travel policy restrictions. Yet despite the inconvenience of long lines, business travelers welcome more security precautions, believing that advanced passenger screening, such as fingerprint or eye print technology, is the most effective action government can take to ensure the safety of flying travelers. More... [532 views] The glamour is back: the Regent Esplanade Zagreb opensThe Regent Esplanade Zagreb, a landmark property in Croatia, has opened . Originally constructed in 1925, the hotel is one of the most well-known buildings in the capital of Croatia, originally built for the travellers of The Orient Express. After an extensive 15 million EUR (approx. $20.1 million U.S.) renovation, the former Hotel Esplanade has re-opened as The Regent Esplanade Zagreb. More... [690 views] Starwood Drives Branded Website Bookings by Offering Complimentary Stays in Africa & Middle EastStarwood Hotels in Africa & Middle East are driving a new initiative to promote direct bookings on their branded websites by offering customers the chance to win back the room nights they booked and stay for free. More... [742 views] Two hundred journalists witness re-birth of Club MedTwo hundred journalists from around the world gathered in Club Med Chamonix in the French Alps prior to Christmas for three days of festivities marking the reopening of the new resort and the relaunch of the Club Med brand. Club Med CEO, Henri Giscard D'Estaing, was joined by Club Med representatives from Asia, America and Europe for skiing and snow sports, spa treatments at the exclusive Cinque Monde spa within the resort and a gala party . More... [599 views] San Francisco launches world's first hotel-based Greeter ServiceAfter a three month trial period at only one hotel in the city, high guest demand and satisfaction prompted Joie de Vivre Hospitality, to roll out Golden Gate Greeter , a free welcome visitor program for guests, to all 17 of it`s San Francisco hotels. The service helps guests explore and experience a San Francisco neighborhood with a friendly volunteer Golden Gate Greeter. More... [692 views] Top ten world travel destinations in 2004iExplore announced the list of Top Ten World Travel Destinations as determined by the vacation purchases of its adventure and experiential travelers in 2004 More... [1615 views] Macao's hotel capacity to double in 3-5 yearsThe number of hotel rooms in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will double the present capacity in three to five years as the city's tourist hardware facility could hardly accommodate the rising demand. More... [582 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 14, 2005Remarkable Hospitality - The Road Map to ExcellenceMired in mediocrity, our Hospitality Industry has lost focus – exceeding the expectations of our Guests, as measured by their satisfaction. That is the bottom line – our Guests, their hopes and our delivery. This situation is not corrected by discounts, clever promotions, or throwing marketing dollars down that “black hole”. We need to rethink what makes that memorable experience, for our consumer is very savvy, a prudent shopper, no longer swayed by our claims of value. By John R. Hendrie, CEO, Hospitality Performance, Inc. More... [1083 views] Private investment “the backbone” of tourism growth in ArabiaPrivate investment is essential in developing tourism areas such as
More... [720 views] HCIMA Launches Tsunami Appeal and Sets Aside Funds for South-East Asia Members Affected by the TragedyThe Executive Council of the Hotel & Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) has launched a special ‘HCIMA Asia Relief Fund’, as well as allocating a sum of £10,000 for professional re-development, to help the Association’s International Groups and members affected by the continuously unfolding tsunami tragedy in South East Asia. More... [520 views] Singapore Govt Targets US$18.2 BLN From Tourism Each Yr by 2015A tripling of annual tourism income to S$30 billion (US$18.26 billion) within a decade forms a key plank of a new plan released today by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The plan, launched today by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, also envisages a doubling of visitor arrivals and the addition of 100,000 new tourism jobs by 2015. More... [663 views] Mandarin Oriental to sell Hawaii hotel interestHong Kong-based luxury hotel operator Mandarin Oriental International Ltd said on Jan 12 that it has exercised an option to sell its 40% stake in a Hawaii hotel to its partner for US$94 million. More... [776 views] Hotel sector booming in Middle EastWith as many as 45 new 5 and 4 star hotels opening across the Arabian Gulf region in the next three years, suppliers to the hospitality industry are looking forward to a bumper sales year. More... [907 views] Canadian hotel investment market falls in 2004, report suggestsAn estimated 44 hotels worth $339 million were sold in 2004, short of the levels set two years ago, according to a new report by Colliers International Hotels. More... [535 views] Suppliers look forward to bumper sales as hotel industry heads for major growthWith as many as 45 new 5- and 4-star hotels opening across the Arabian Gulf region in the next three years, suppliers to the hospitality industry are looking forward to a bumper sales year. More... [547 views] Raffles International to manage deluxe hotel in ShanghaiRaffles International Limited has today signed a management contract with Jing An City Construction Fitting Development Company (Jing’an Chengjian), to manage a new hotel development in Shanghai slated for opening in 2007. Named Swissôtel Grand Shanghai, the 478-room hotel will be managed under Raffles International’s Swissôtel brand. More... [1199 views] Room Revenue ManagementHotels are subject to supply and demand, but (unlike manufacturing) when occupancy is high they cannot add capacity to respond to fluctuations in demand. On the other hand, in a period of slack demand (low occupancy), a hotel cannot reduce its supply - and fixed costs remain. Thus, to get a maximum amount of revenue and the least cost, a hotelier has to think of how to distribute his ‘fixed’ room supply to the right party, at the right time and at the best possible price. More... [1583 views] Four Points By Sheraton brand debuts in China with the opening of its first hotel in ShenzhenStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inchas opened its first mid-priced property in China with the opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Shenzhen. This opening also marks the debut of the Four Points by Sheraton brand in China. More... [751 views] Thai hoteliers hope for quick recoveryWhite sand still squeaks underfoot, palms sway and operators of Thailand's wrecked Andaman Sea resorts say short memories will help overcome the tsunami's physical and psychological damage within months. More... [699 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 13, 2005Back to the beach? Tourism and Asia's tsunamiA quick revival of tourism would help some countries recover. This is the time of year when millions of Europeans relax with a glossy travel brochure or, nowadays, surf the internet, to plan and book their summer holidays. It may seem heartless to dream about a sunny beach in the aftermath of the devastation and loss of life caused by the Asian tsunami. But tourism is one of the most important industries in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives—all badly hit by the huge tsunami—and the return of tourists will make it easier for their battered resorts to recover, at least economically, than poor Aceh, an Indonesian province where few travellers ventured. More... [718 views] WTO: The tsunami will not sink world tourismThe World Tourism Organization (WTO) issued a statement on Friday, in which it assessed that the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster in Indian Ocean will have only a limited impact on world tourism. There are seven reasons for that, WTO says, among them the present expansion of tourism in the region and Asia`s capacity in dealing with crises. More... [630 views] Three quarters of Andaman destinations 'ready to welcome tourists'Around 75 percent of all tourist destinations in Thailand`s six southern provinces affected tsunamis are now ready to open their arms to welcome more tourists, the Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phornsiri Manoharn, announced. More... [555 views] Ritz-Carlton builds up for top-end Hong Kong tourist trade: reportRitz-Carlton's decision to open its second hotel in Hong Kong will allow it a larger slice of the growing high-end leisure visitor market, says regional vice-president and general manager Mark Lettenbichler. More... [727 views] Hotel Wi-Fi Outlook: Ubiquity to Amenity"Wireless HSIA continued its meteoric adoption rate, with ever more hotel chains adopting it as a brand standard, usually on a free-to-guest basis. It's not clear how much longer the hold-outs can still charge for the service, especially as they don't seem to provide any significantly better quality, speed or reliability in the connection." More... [808 views] Hong Kong Hotel occupancy rates lack room to growOverall, the industry was ahead by a comfortable 30 per cent over the same month in 2000, indicating average annual growth of just under 7 per cent. Although it falls short of the preferred 10 per cent growth rate that Hong Kong prefers, it is particularly good considering the industry shocks that have occurred during the period - the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Bali bombing, and Sars. More... [618 views] Testimony of Goran Aleksandrovski, General Manager of the Sofitel Magic Lagoon in Khao LakYesterday I arrived back to Germany and I will take a rest for the next few weeks. Before I go on my vacation, I wanted to give a short feedback about the support what we got from our associates after the Tsunami hit our Sofitel. More... [1851 views] Barbados: Strong Euro 'A Plus For Tourism'Barbados has little to fear from the uncertainty over the strength of the United States dollar and strong position of the euro and British pound sterling. While local retailers of European vehicles continue to worry about the strong euro position, nothing but positives have been forecasted for Barbados’ biggest money-earner – tourism. More... [644 views] Prism Hotels returns to its former acquisition modeAfter establishing itself as a hotel turnaround whiz, Dallas-based Prism Hotels is shifting its focus back to hotel buying -- recently closing on the Radisson Memphis Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. -- armed with almost $1 billion in capital from various sources.
Buying and managing hotels is "really our main business," said Stephen L. Van, president and CEO of Prism. "We are just returning to it."
More... [522 views] Boston: Room to grow: Hotel projects heating up for 2005Contractors looking for work in the new year might want to aim their sights on the hotel market, which is showing signs of life for the first time in at least three years. A number of hotel development projects are already in the pipeline, including the much-anticipated Battery Wharf, set to break ground this quarter
More... [654 views] Tourism Earns Kenya Sh30 Billion RevenueThe Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will today announce an excess of Sh30 billion in revenue collection recorded in 2004 financial year.Sources at the board say by October 2004, KTB had already achieved the Sh30 billion figure.The figure compares favourably with the 2003 collections, when the marketing body helped Kenya earn Sh22.5 billion (US$281 million) from tourism. More... [556 views] Leading Hotels Adds Several New MembersThe Leading Hotels of the World has added the following new members: the Metropolitan in Bangkok; Langham Hotel, Melbourne; Taj Krishna in India; Shilla Jeju ........ More... [930 views] Creating team is biggest challenge for hoteliersCreating a team that gels is one of the biggest challenges facing hoteliers today, according to Pam Wilby, general manager of the upcoming Grosvenor House West Marina Beach by Le Meridien. Wilby, who is also at the helm of Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, said: “We have bypassed many of the biggest challenges – creating a team that gels. More... [896 views] Timely Topics Topped HSMAI’s Internet Marketing Strategy ConferenceTimely and pertinent issues of certifying intermediaries and the new generation of online travel search engines headlined the agenda at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing International’s (HSMAI) 3rd Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference held in Los Angeles. More... [607 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 12, 2005ROI vs. ROLIs it ROI, Return On Investment or ROL, Return on Loyalty? In the current paradigm, ROI in terms of new product or service offerings or, God forbid, discounting, is easily measured and valued. It is also the paradigm where degree of guest satisfaction is the standard by which most organizations measure their performance. Unfortunately, studies have proven that a satisfied guest is just as likely to move to a competitor as they are to stay. In fact, because consumer’s expectations are so pitifully low, the principle of ‘exceeding guest expectations’ is no longer valid. ROI is part of the old world. Return on Loyalty is where the future lies. By Richard K. Hendrie, CEO, Link Inc. More... [1608 views] Balancing New Year's ResolutionsNow that the New Year has arrived, have you thought about your professional resolutions? Now is the time to finalize your goals and create a strategic balance between your personal and your professional improvement plans.
By Gene Ference, HVS International
More... [767 views] TIG Global and HSMAI publish first-ever distribution strategy guide for hotel industryWith so much to learn about managing a hotel`s distribution channels, TIG Global, an Internet marketing firm, and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) have released a just-completed Special Report designed to "de-mystify distribution" in the hotel industry. It is a comprehensive guide that was developed in response to a need in the industry to better understand how to take advantage of the new and growing distribution network for hotel services. More... [781 views] Phuket to be site of future "Model" developmentPhuket and other areas affected by the December 26, 2004 tsunami are to be rebuilt in line with strict principles of sustainable development and will be used as a model for future development in Thai coastal tourism. More... [756 views] Hotel companies could find equity markets more friendlyNational Report-The public equity markets are looking to reload on hotel stocks, reacting to what most perceive as a full recovery to pre-9/11 operating performance, experts say. More... [579 views] Shangri-La Opens Seventh Traders HotelShangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened the Traders Fudu Hotel Changzhou. More... [674 views] PATA launches recovery fund for tourism employeesThe Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a Tsunami Recovery Fund which will be dedicated to a recovery programme for the benefit of tourism employees in Asia Pacific resort destinations affected by the disaster. More... [515 views] Hotels seen revising upwards projection of occupancy rateThe Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) is likely to revise upwards its projection of average occupancy rate for this year,after a better-than-expected showing in 2004. Its vice-president Ivo Nekvapil said average occupancy could rise to as high as 75 per cent this year. Late last year, MAH had projected occupancy rate to reach 73 per cent in 2005. More... [734 views] New exhibitors, larger stands and more visitors put AIME onExpect to see a lot of new product and new exhibitors at AIME 2005 when it opens at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on 22 & 23 February. At last count, 162 new exhibitors had taken stands with more last-minute expressions of interest still being processed. With 800 exhibitors, 425 Hosted Buyers and the total attendance predicted to rise to 2,800, AIME looks set to break last year`s record numbers. More... [507 views] design hotels announces 22 new membersThe new portfolio features fascinating destinations including China, Greece, Portugal, South Africa and Cambodia, alongside vibrant cities such as Geneva, Barcelona, Graz, Copenhagen, Berlin and Helsinki. More... [1023 views] Concierge, draw me a bath!B ed, bath, and beyond can't begin to describe what luxury hotels are offering these days. Here are some of the world's newest lodgings for well-heeled globe-trotters. More... [1409 views] Mollies of Auckland, NZ - Named The Best New Small Hotel in Andrew Harper's Hideaway ReportMollies has been named the Best New Small Hotel in the Special Awards section of Andrew Harper's 26th Annual Hotel Awards of his latest USA Hideaway Report.Each year Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report singles out some of the world's most captivating hideaway hotels and resorts for special recognition. More... [653 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 11, 2005Tsunami Wave - An Economic Tourist DisasterA bleak tourist season awaits countries worst affected by the tsunamis, while Asia and the world as a whole bravely faces up to the loss and devastation wrought by nature's fury. By Manav Thadani, HVS International More... [987 views] For hotels, it's the day of the spaFrom Manhattan to Muscat, hotel chains are opening cutting-edge spas at business hotels. Developed by Hyatt International, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, W Hotels, and others, the spas offer everything from an entire floor devoted to treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor exercise facilities, restaurants and guest rooms where travelers can sleep and have treatments. More... [1421 views] Phuket to host special meeting of WTO Executive CouncilThe World Tourism Organization has decided to hold an emergency session of the WTO Executive Council, at the end of January, on the island of Phuket, Thailand. To everybody`s pleasant surprise, Phuket, which has been severely affected by the recent unfortunate disaster in the Indian Ocean, is fast recovering from the damage caused by the tsunami. More... [613 views] Philippine Department of Tourism upbeat on 2005 tourismTourist arrivals in 2005 would definitely be greater than in the year just past. Department of Tourism (DOT) chief Joseph Ace H. Durano pointed this out yesterday while noting the surge in visitor arrivals, and dollar receipts, in 2004 in spite of the travel advisories of the United States, Japan, Australia and Great Britain to their nationals against traveling to the country. More... [542 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts awarded Top Marks by Travel + Leisure ReadersTravelers have spoken, earning 13 Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recognition on the 2005 "T+L 500", Travel + Leisure magazine`s annual "ultimate hotel guide". Fairmont`s Canadian properties made a particularly strong showing including top hotel in the city status for Quebec City`s iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Vancouver`s sleek Fairmont Waterfront and Ottawa`s polished Fairmont Chateau Laurier plus a new entry by family favorite Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. More... [716 views] Attendance Urged at Inaugural South Pacific Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference Fiji 1-4 February 2005An inaugural tourism investment conference in early 2005 is likely to be a catalyst to attracting significant investment into the 14 South Pacific States in the next 5 years, according to Terry Ngan, director of Horwath Asia Pacific, which is assisting the organisers of the conference. Visitors to the region in the 2003 calendar year totalled approximately 1.1million, up 6.3% on 2002. Arrivals have increased approximately 10% in 2004 to date with record numbers to Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga. More... [598 views] Host Marriott sells six hotelsHotel owner Host Marriott Corp.on Friday said it would book a $45 million gain from the $223 million sale of six hotels. More... [904 views] U.S. court rules against heirs to Hyatt hotel fortuneSecret details about how the Pritzker family, the heirs to the Hyatt hotel chain, divided up the family fortune among feuding members were closer to being revealed after a court ruling last Thursday. More... [1101 views] Presidential status goes to the highest bidderIn preparation for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, The Madison, an independently owned and operated luxury hotel located in Washington, DC, has entered into the e-bay era with the hopes of igniting a bidding war on its Presidential Inauguration Package. Hoping to inspire some fun and spark some excitement from e-bay enthusiasts around the globe, The Madison created an extravagant inauguration package available only on e-bay with the minimum bid starting at $10,000. More... [656 views] Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Taps Rick Hollander as Senior Vice PresidentJones Lang LaSalle Hotels has named Rick Hollander senior vice president. Based in New York, Mr. Hollander will head all debt and joint venture equity originations for clients in the Americas. More... [676 views] Top Ten E-Business Trends for 2005eMarketer's team of analysts and researchers give their predictions of what to look out for in 2005 in the Internet, e-business and emerging tech arena More... [1181 views] Hospitality Training is Key for BulgariaHospitality training is a very important key for the future development of Bulgarian tourism, Nevada's former tourism minister said upon his arrival in Bulgaria. More... [742 views] Concorde Hotels Moves Under Louvre Hotels UmbrellaThe Concorde Group of luxury hotels is now operating under the Louvre Hotels umbrella, which includes Envergure, the second largest group of budget hotels in Europe. More... [751 views] Voice Service in US in Flux as Wireless and VoIP Gain Ground, In-Stat Forecasts Wireless Services Will Surpass Wireline in 2005The growth of wireless voice services will hit a notable milestone in 2005, as wireless phone revenue will outstrip traditional wireline service, reports In-Stat Cellular services by themselves will generate over 51% of all US voice service revenues by the end of 2005. The small, but growing area of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) will also reduce the share of traditional wireline voice service. More... [607 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 9, 2005WOWtraveler.net suggests 10 really WOW hotel spa experiences around the worldwww.WOWtraveler.net , the unique global guide to truly amazing travel experiences around the world, this month features 10 great hotel spas, chosen by editor-in-chief Mary Gostelow NEW YORK NY, USA Mandarin Oriental New York's eight room spa, on the 35th and 36th floors, gives sensational views over upper Manhattan, including Central Park and the Hudson River. I especially like the couple's suite, which has a working fireplace and a sunken tub lined with mother-of-pearl tiles - reserve it for three hours of treatments, with a bento box lunch. Afterwards, enjoy the full-size indoor pool. My favorite hotel rooms are end suites in the 16 series, for superb views of the Park. Opening General Manager Rudi Tauscher moved from the neighboring Trump International New York. More... [2196 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 8, 2005Hotelier’s 2005 Top Ten Internet Strategy ResolutionsIn 2005 25% of all revenues in hospitality will be generated from the Internet (20% in 2004, 15% in 2003). Another 25% of all hotel bookings will be influenced by the Internet, but done offline (call center, walk-ins, group bookings, etc). By the end of 2006, the Internet will contribute over 27% of all hotel bookings (PhoCusWright, CSFB). In 2004, for the first time Internet hotel bookings surpassed GDS hotel bookings. More... [1729 views] South-East Asia: The tourists will return but at whose cost?As the death toll in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake continues to rise, another disaster unfolds in the form of lost tourism business which, for countries such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, drives anywhere from 6% to 20% of the local economy. More... [767 views] Time to check-inThe most significant recent change in the UK hotel sector has been the type of investor checking-in to hotel investments which, in turn, has stimulated a fundamental change in the industry’s structure. This article examines some of the factors that have driven these changes, with particular focus on the long-term performance of UK hotels and value growth More... [719 views] Foreign tourists to China jump by 20%China on Saturday reported sharp increases in the number of foreign tourists and tourism dollars in the first 11 months in 2004 , jumping by around 20 percent and 50 percent year-on-year, respectively. More... [660 views] The Sarojin, Khao Lak, ThailandThe management of The Sarojin, the 56-room boutique luxury resort scheduled to open in January 2005, would like to thank their friends, prospective guests and the media for their kind concern and support following the Tsunami which hit Khao Lak so severely. Currently, the property has 1 member of staff and two guests missing and the management is continuing to search for them. There was one guest fatality. More... [676 views] Best Western appoints Larry McRae as ChairmanThe Board of Directors of Best Western International, Inc., has named Larry McRae as chairman, effective January 4. Other Board announcements include Raymond Johnston as vice chairman and Charles Helm as secretary/treasurer. More... [705 views] Choice Hotels International Provides Support for International Disaster ReliefSurvivors of the worst natural disaster in recent history will be getting much needed assistance quickly, thanks in part to Choice Hotels International . Worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels in partnership with Phoenix based Connect-Worldwide, an international travel representation company, Swift Transportation, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Northwest Airlines and O Premium Waters will supply 40 tons of O Premium Waters to Indonesia More... [548 views] Hilton Group Pledges Commitment and On-Going Support Following Disaster in AsiaHilton Group has pledged its ongoing support to the people and communities affected by the Tsunami disaster, committing an initial donation of £100,000 from The Hilton in the Community Foundation, and a further £100,000 from its betting and gaming division Ladbrokes towards aid relief. More... [626 views] China's Zhejiang province reports record high tourism income in 2004East China`s Zhejiang Province, home to such renowned scenic spots as the West Lake, earned more than 100 billion yuan (12 billion US dollars) in tourism revenue in 2004 , up 30 percent fro m 2003, the provincial tourism administration announced Saturday. More... [567 views] Staying A Step Ahead of Your GuestsStaying ahead of guests in technology is as important as providing ultra comfortable bedding these days. This article explores how to impress your guests without spending a fortune. More... [1408 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 7, 2005Still missing: Reggie Shiu of AccorMr Reggie Shiu, aged 47, senior vice president for Asia-Pacific for the Accor hotel group, is missing and feared dead, after the tsunami. He disappeared when the raging waters destroyed the luxury Sofitel Magic Lagoon resort in Khao Lak, north of Phuket. So did his wife, Singaporean-born, Ms Grace Tan Swee Seng, 40, and their two sons, Matthew, 13, and Nicholas. Miraculously, the couple’s six-year-old daughter, Zoe, survived. She was swept from the hotel swimming pool out to sea, clinging to a sofa seat. Zoe later managed to climb into a small boat with a Thai member of the hotel housekeeping staff who steered the craft safely to shore. by: Kevin Sinclair, TTG Asia More... [1964 views] WTO: Tourism sector hopeful about tsunami recoveryThe World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, along with the Members and entire international tourism community , has been deeply shocked and saddened by the terrible tsunami that took place on 26 December, causing unprecedented loss of life and damage. The WTO expresses its deepest sympathy to all the victims of the tragedy—local populations and tourists—and offers its heartfelt condolences to their relatives and friends More... [919 views] 2005 Hotel Investment Conference Announces Keynote SpeakersOfficials of the Hotel Investment Conference today announced that hospitality industry leaders Gary Tharaldson and Henry Vickers will be keynote speakers at the 2005 Hotel Investment Conference, to be held March 13-15, 2005, at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta, Ga. The Hotel Investment Conference is one of the industry's four major annual nationwide events designed specifically for hotel owners and investors. More... [831 views] Tourism drive for south Thailand: Revival campaign will cost Bt1 BillionPhuket and other resort provinces will launch a Bt1-billion tourism drive a little over a month after the tsunami disaster devastated the industry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said yesterday. Titled “Save Andaman”, it will get under way in February to bring back international tourists, said TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan. The new campaign also aims to restore tourist destinations in the three most damaged areas – Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga. More... [597 views] New Zealand Hotel, Tourism & Leisure Outlook - Issue 2Horwath Asia Pacific Limited has released Issue 2 of its Hotel, Tourism & Leisure Outlook , a regular publication discussing important issues currently facing the New Zealand hotel and tourism industries. According to Terry Ngan, a Director of Horwath Asia Pacific, despite the positive international visitor growth outlook for New Zealand (average of 5.8% pa to 2010), the tourism industry faces some serious growth challenges which require urgent attention. More... [745 views] Targeting Top Talent for the New YearAs the New Year is upon us, hospitality companies are finalizing budgets and defining their goals. Typically, human resource departments aren’t flush with funds so recruitment dollars must be carefully spent. While it can be difficult to predict the exact turnover for the year, knowing which recruitment strategies to use for varying positions can help companies see the greatest return on their investment. In fact, the savvy recruiter will be taking advantage of the many free resources that are available. Let us examine the different methods that can be used for recruiting line-level and mid-management talent. More... [858 views] Tourism Seeks to Bounce Back in Thailand, Sri LankaTourism officials in Thailand and Sri Lanka are hoping to draw vacationers back to beaches sledge-hammered by last week's tsunamis More... [600 views] Spain's Barcelo confirms raising bid for US' Hammons to 21 US$ per shareSpanish hotel chain the Barcelo Group said it has increased its friendly bid to fully acquire US group John Q Hammons Hotels to 21 usd per share from 13 previously, confirming an earlier report in Cinco Dias. More... [522 views] Westin Hotels bets big on hotel gyms53 New Hotel Gyms Open in Time to Cater to New Year's Resolutions. Just in time to cater to the 25% of Americans resolving to get fit in '05, Westin Hotels & Resorts has spent $12 million to build new fitness centers. Thousands of brand new treadmills, cycles, elliptical trainers, medicine balls, yoga mats and core boards have been installed in 53 new WestinWORKOUT® Powered by Reebok fitness facilities recently opened in Westin hotels in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean. More... [707 views] Marriott Launches 'Great Health - Fit for You' In-Room Fitness and Workout Options Designed to Fit Every BodyNow health-conscious travelers can stretch, flex and burn calories in the privacy of their hotel rooms with Marriott's new "Great Health - Fit for You" program, which offers complimentary use in-room fitness options that will provide guests with cutting edge exercise choices. More... [1588 views] South East Asia Tsunami - Le Meridien updated official statementThe management & staff at Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts extends their condolences to all those throughout the coastal areas of South East Asia, extending to countries across the Indian Ocean who have lost family and friends following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 26 December 2004 More... [1068 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 6, 2005The world is our friend but the media is our foe - by Yeoh Siew HoonYeoh Siew Hoon finds kindness and solidarity in Europe towards Asia but not so in the media, and she calls on all in tourism to make just one resolution in 2005. Travelling through the French countryside over the new year, I was reminded of a few things.One, how kind people really are. Two, how we are truly a global family. And three, how much damage media can wreak upon already shattered lives.Even in the smallest towns in Brittany, there were signs saying, “Soliditaire Asie”, calling for everyone to show sympathy and support for the victims of the tsunami. More... [1348 views] Strong foreign investor response to Faber Group's hotel tender packagePurchases of tender documents for the sale of the first tranche of six hotels and a commercial complex previously owned by the Faber Group Berhad are gaining momentum ahead of the January 10, 2005 closing date. Exclusive agent for the sale, Zerin Properties’ Previndran Singhe, said 230 tender documents had already been sold to prospective investors, 30 per cent of whom are foreign with strong interest shown by Singaporeans. More... [696 views] South African tourism to benefit from Asian TsunamiSouth Africa will probably experience a temporary boost in international tourism following last week's devastating tsunami in southeast Asia that destroyed tourism infrastructure in the region. The tsunami has affected countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Maldives. In Africa , Somalia and Tanzania also experienced casualties, taking the overall death toll to 150000 by yesterday. More... [631 views] Sri Lanka's Tourism leaders pledge "Aggressive Bounceback"Sri Lanka's tourism leaders pledged to bounce back aggressively to restore the industry that was growing at record levels before last Sunday`s Tsunami . "First we saw amazing acts of human kindness from Sri Lankans from all walks of life. Amidst the most staggering grief, I heard so many stories of our people reaching out to touch the lives of our foreign visitors. In so many different ways, Sri Lankans displayed their true hospitable nature"
said Mr Udaya Nanayakkara, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. More... [675 views] Hotel firms line up for Portland convention center jobOne developer wants to build a casino at the Oregon Convention Center. Another would feature a Hyatt Hotel studded with condominiums. Still another would build onto the existing Red Lion Hotel. When the Portland Development Commission asked hoteliers to submit proposals for a "headquarters hotel" to serve the convention center, four well-known firms and one newcomer answered the call.
More... [676 views] Glasgow: Middle Eastern influx sheikhs up city tourismThe Capital is enjoying a tourism windfall as well-heeled visitors from the Middle East flock to Scotland. The influx of wealthy tourists has been boosted by new direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow, with many visitors choosing to head for Edinburgh. One city five-star hotel reported the number of Middle Eastern guests had trebled year-on-year. More... [630 views] Texas hotels deliver a sizzling quarterThe Texas hotel industry enjoyed a sizzling third quarter this year, delivering a level of room revenue growth it hasn't seen since the 1990s. Third-quarter room revenue was $1.2 million, up 8.7% over the same period last year, according to Source Strategies, a hotel research and consulting firm based in San Antonio. In comparison, during the 1990s, room revenue growth averaged 7.5% annually in Texas.
More... [520 views] Sultanate to host global tourism conferenceAn international conference on issues of tourism and architecture will be hosted by the Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Tourism, from February 5 to 8. The conference, titled 'Built Environments for Sustainable Tourism (Best) — Sustainability, Cultural Diversity and Destination Image', will be held in conjunction with the Unesco and the World Tourism Organisation (WTO). More... [715 views] Phuket: Resort renewal plan pushes aheadBeach development to be regulated. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday pushed ahead with the effort to rehabilitate communities along the tsunami-ravaged Andaman coast. Representatives of the Interior Ministry, the Provincial Administration Department, Phuket Governor Udomsak Assawarangkul and concerned agencies met to begin working on a rehabilitation plan for affected areas and beaches in the six affected southern provinces. The plan will also call for regulations governing future beach development. Beaches were developed without restraint in the past. More... [725 views] SIBEC ASIA 2005 relocates to PattayaSIBEC ASIA 2005, the annual business meetings forum for the Asia Pacific Health, Fitness and Spa industry will now take place at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand. The dates will remain unchanged – from the 3rd – 5th March. More... [705 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 5, 2005Japanese group buys British hotel chain MenziesA Japanese financial group said it had acquired British hotel operator Menzies, which runs 14 properties around the country, for 120 million pounds (170 million euros, 228 million dollars).Nikko Principal Investments Limited, the European merchant banking arm of Tokyo-based Nikko Cordial Corporation, said it was buying the four-star chain as a potential acquisition vehicle More... [678 views] When tourism takes a big knockIt will be at least half a year before Phuket regains a semblance of the bustling paradise island it once was, tour industry sources said. That's much faster than the recovery of Bali's tourism industry after the 2002 bomb blast in the Kuta beach area. The reasons: Less heavy infrastructure and less fear. More... [892 views] Sri Lanka confident tourism will reboundTourist arrivals in Sri Lanka will see an early rebound after the current dip triggered by last week's tsunami catastrophe that sent foreigners fleeing, officials say. More than 100 foreigners were killed in Sri Lanka in Sunday's sea surges across the coastline, throwing the booming tourism industry into disarray. But the Government has voiced optimism that overseas travellers would be returning after a few months. More... [643 views] India's Hotel industry looks ahead to a buoyant yearThe hospitality industry had much to celebrate in 2004 - record tourist arrivals, good year-round occupancy levels, sky-rocketing room tariffs and lower taxes - leading to a buoyant outlook for 2005 as well. More... [629 views] Banyan Tree Group sets up Tsunami Recovery FundCompany Opts to Assist Recovery and Livelihood Rehabilitation Efforts Through Sustained and Long-Term Support. Banyan Tree Group announced today its commitment to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in Indonesia, Maldives, Phuket and Sri Lanka. The Group, which owns and operates resorts in the above destinations, pledged financial and human resources to help affected communities get on their feet. More... [631 views] Tourism resumes in MaldivesEven as south Asia continued to count its dead following the Indian Ocean tsunami a week ago, Italy's tourist machine is back to business with two charter flights taking off from Rome and Milan carrying tourists to the Maldives. Morally or materially, I've got no problems in going," a businessman identified only as Mario told the ANSA news agency. More... [762 views] Philippine tourism projects to go ahead despite tsunami threatThe Philippine government said on Sunday that the tourism projects under construction will go ahead despite the devastating tsunami which hit the country's neighbors last Sunday. Philippine presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radiointerview that with or without the catastrophe, the Department of Tourism of the Philippines would continue its tourism promotion campaign as one of the flagship programs of the government. More... [673 views] A Lankan tourism resort waning after tsunamiA handful of foreign tourists here on Sunday were seen sitting entertainingly in the cozy sunshine aside hotel swimming pools in Bentota, a renowned tourism resort 60 km south of Colombo. A miserable scene of wrecked yachts, triangular boats and palm-thatched deck houses, however, were reminding Xinhua reporters of the huge tsunami hit which stormed the island nation one week back. More... [655 views] Visa Asia Pacific donates US$250,000 to International Red Cross for Tsunami disaster reliefVisa will also match dollar for dollar for staff personal donations. Visa Asia Pacific is donating US$250,000 to International Red Cross to provide immediate relief to people in countries across the region affected by last week’s tsunamis. Visa is also enabling its staff to make personal donations by deduction from their salary, with the company matching dollar for dollar. More... [598 views] Hong Kong: Hotelier premiums rise with occupancy: reportRecord occupancy levels are taking an ironic toll on Hong Kong hoteliers by way of insurance premiums, as an increasing number choose to indemnify against guests who skip town without paying their bills. More... [681 views] San Francisco's Hotels are leaving their baggage behindThe San Francisco hospitality sector heads into 2005 with more momentum and promise than at any time in the past three years -- and with more potential for peril, as well. Almost every gauge on the industry's economic dashboard is pointing in the right direction. Revenue per available hotel room rose $11 to $149 for the 10 months through October, according to PKF Consulting, and for the first year this millenium, room rate actually rose along with occupancy. More... [478 views] Déjà vu: Boston Hotels foresee New Year's surgeMany hoteliers will be popping champagne corks on their own behalf this year as they toast sold-out occupancy and wait-list restaurant reservations on New Year's Eve, something hospitality folks haven't seen in several years. The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston's 92-year-old grande dame, expects to be sold out. Nearby Lenox and Copley Square hotels, owned and operated by the Saunders Hotel Group, may also sell out, according to general manager Jose Estrompa.
More... [494 views] Dubai Hospitality sector gears up for more visitorsWith the countdown for the biggest shopping festival in history having started, the hospitality industry of Dubai is in a frenzy of activity.Having experienced opt-imum accommodation during the month of festivities in the past nine years of Dubai Shopping Festival history, this year the hotel industry is geared up for more visitors, thanks to the interest raised by the DSF roadshows in the GCC.A record 3.2 million visitors are expected. More... [743 views] Call For Seminar Proposals For 2005 IH/M&RSThe American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is accepting seminar proposals for educational programs at the 2005 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS), to be held November 12-15, 2005, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The deadline for submitting proposals is February 28, 2005. More... [690 views] 2005 Korea-Japan Visit Year to Boost Bilateral TourismThe Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) held a welcoming ceremony on Saturday at Incheon International Airport for some 500 Japanese visitors, the first to arrive in Korea in 2005, the Korea-Japan Visit Year. The first Japanese tourists to Korea from Narita Airport received flowers and presents from the cast of the Korean soap opera "The Great Changkum,’’ which enjoys popularity in many Asian countries. More... [563 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 4, 2005Latest PATA update on TsunamiLatest PATA update on situation related to Tsunami in Thailand, India, Maldives and Myanmar.... More... [1559 views] PATA launches Tsunami Recovery FundThe Pacific Asia Travel Association announced the launch of its Tsunami Recovery Fund . The Fund will be administered by the PATA Foundation, the charitable arm of PATA. The Foundation is inviting PATA members, chapters, governments, tourist authorities, travel professionals and individual travellers to pledge money which will be dedicated to a recovery programme for the benefit of PATA member organisations both from the public and private sectors, in the eight PATA destinations impacted by the disaster. More... [564 views] Thailand: Tourists start changing routesHotel operators report shortage of vacancies. The tsunami has created extra demand for hotels and travel services at Thai destinations other than the six affected southern provinces from which tourist traffic is being diverted. Hotels in places such as Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Bangkok are seeing a shortage of rooms as many of their guests, who had planned to spend part of their holidays in the southern resorts, have decided to extend their stays. At the same time, many recent arrivals from abroad have been diverted from the South. More... [907 views] Tourism becomes a risky businessLast Sunday's tsunami has further exposed the fragility of the travel and tourism industry as an investment prospect, and could well lead bankers to look even more closely at the risks associated with the lengthening list of potential external shocks. Since the April 1997 haze (which began with forest fires, also in Indonesia), the Asia-Pacific region has suffered literally a shock a year, all of which have hit travel and tourism in one way or another. These include the currency crisis (1997), local political turbulence in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia (1998), the East Timor crisis, Y2K, 9/11, Sars, bird flu, the US attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism and the "war on terror" and now the dollar slump and unstable oil prices. More... [816 views] Taj Hotels in India, Sri Lanka and Maldives suffer Little DamageTaj Hotels has reported that there was no casualty or injury to any of the guests or staff members at any of the groups hotels in India, Sri Lanka or the Maldives. More... [749 views] Wyndham Sells 25 Non-Strategic Assets to a Partnership Comprised of a Private Investment Fund Managed by Goldman Sachs and Affiliates of Highgate HoldingsWyndham International, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell 25 non-strategic hotels to a partnership comprised of a private investment fund managed by Goldman Sachs and affiliates of Highgate Holdings (15 Wyndham-branded and 10 non-proprietary hotels). The purchase price of the transaction is $366 million. As part of the agreement, all 15 Wyndham-branded assets will remain in the brand's portfolio pursuant to new franchise agreements. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2005. More... [667 views] Update on One&Only Resorts in the MaldivesOne&Only Resorts, part of Kerzner International Limited, offers its heartfelt sympathies and concern to all those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Recognising the tragic loss of life, injury and devastation, One&Only Resorts is donating US$100,000 to the Maldivian Disaster Relief Fund to help the local community with rebuilding efforts. More... [802 views] Tsunami Hampers Thailand Tourism IndustryOf the 12 million tourists who visited Thailand this year, many headed straight to the gems of the south to soak up the sun along tropical beaches, dive on spectacular coral reefs and indulge in a languid, sometimes lascivious, lifestyle. More... [563 views] Wotif.com pitches in to help victims of Asia’s tsunami disasterGlobal specialist in last-minute accommodation, Wotif.com, has pledged to help victims of Asia’s tsunami disaster by setting up an online auction -on the Wotif.com site (www.wotif.com). Wotif.com’s partners and suppliers have contributed items such as hotel stays, air tickets, car rentals and other gifts, which will be offered as auction items for bidders. All contributions and proceeds will be channelled directly to the Singapore Red Cross Society – Tidal Waves Asia Fund. More... [658 views] Asian disaster not expected to hurt U.S. travel industry muchWhile the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis took a horrific toll in human life, the ripple effect on the U.S. travel and hospitality industries is expected to be modest. More... [548 views] Shanghai: More hotels needed as local tourism growsShanghai will increase the number of hotels in the city by more than 10 percent next year to make room for more tourists from both inside the country and overseas, local tourism authorities announced last week. More... [810 views] Singapore plans top 'integrated resort'Las Vegas has the Bellagio and the Venetian, Dubai has the Atlantis, and now it's the turn of Singapore to aspire to a world-class "integrated resort" that would bring in tourists in drove and raise its status as a leisure destination in Asia. More... [958 views] Hong Kong records 1,951,991 Visitor Arrivals in November 2004Hong Kong’s tourism industry notched up another strong performance in November 2004 with a total of 1,951,991 arrivals. This is easily the best November result on record, topping the 1.69 million arrivals in November 2003 by more than 260,000, or 15.8%. More... [541 views] Philippine tourism records highest tourist arrivals in 2004The Philippine tourism industry has recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals in the past six years, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said riday. According to the DOT statistics, the Philippines has also seen a hefty 1.61 billion US dollars in tourism revenue in 2004 although a number of travel advisories were issued against the country. More... [712 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 2, 2005Mandarin Oriental to sell The Mark, New YorkMandarin Oriental International Limited announced that its wholly owned entity, Madison Avenue Hotel Partners Limited Partnership, had entered into an agreement to sell its 100% leasehold interest in The Mark, New York for a gross consideration of US$150 million. More... [498 views] Plans to rebuild Moskva Hotel confirmedMoscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov told reporters on Saturday that the Moskva Hotel whose old building was dismantled last year would be rebuilt according to original draft in the same place near the Red Square. More... [521 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 1, 2005Celebrating the Life and Career and of Mr. Reggie Shiu - Snr VP Accor HotelsOver one thousand people attended the ceremony on 21 January 2005 at the Bangkok Convention Centre of the Sofitel Central Plaza Hotel. Many came long distances just to be there and remember a great hotelier who went missing in the tsunami disaster. No matter how stiff lipped and up-beat one tries to be on such occasions, it was a moving and emotional experience for all that attended. Partly because of the man himself and the tragic loss, but partly as it was for many the first pause for breath following the disaster. More... [569 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: January 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 31, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 29, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 28, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 27, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 26, 2005Revenue Management - The Challenge for Hotel SalesRobust Revenue Management systems have been the drivers behind the industry's ability to drive ADR and REVPAR in 2004 and will continue to be the drivers for the foreseeable future. Consider the following forecast from PKF. More... [1744 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 25, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 24, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 23, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 22, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 21, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 20, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 19, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 18, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 16, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 15, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 14, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 13, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 12, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 11, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 9, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 8, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 7, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 6, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 5, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 4, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 2, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: January 1, 2005
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