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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: June 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 30, 2005Raffles Holdings set to expandControlling 41 luxury hotels and resorts in locations around the world is not enough for Raffles Holdings. It plans to buy or lease more hotels and to take on management contracts for properties it does not itself own. More... [1020 views] CeME and HTNG collaborate to produce white paper that details the “Guest of the Future”A new report, authored by CeME (Center for Marketing Effectiveness) and produced in collaboration with Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), was released to HTNG members last week in Los Angeles at the Hotel Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC). Entitled “The Guest of the Future: In-Room Technology Preferences Today and Tomorrow,” this 6 month research effort defines the profile of the guest of the future and the impact this changing profile has on in-room technology decisions. More... [657 views] Price Not Always King In Leisure Travel DecisionsThe latest study from the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), Leisure Travel Planning: How Consumers Make Travel Decisions, shows that leisure travelers decide where they want to go and for how long before they even consider the price tag. The study helps travel industry professionals better understand leisure travel decision making among U.S. residents and the role of pricing in a highly competitive environment. More... [971 views] European hotel investment tops €6.4bn so far this yearThe first half of the year has seen over 51,000 rooms already change ownership totalling an investment volume of €6.4bn. The activity was mainly driven by public hotel operators disposing of assets for strategy reasons such as the disposal of non-core assets or the return of capital to shareholders. More... [576 views] Hyatt Is First Hotel Chain to Provide Satellite Radio Free-of-Charge at Properties From Coast to CoastHyatt is the first hotel chain to offer complimentary satellite radio at properties across the continental U.S. Hyatt guests will be able to listen to XM's 150-plus digital radio channels of commercial-free music and premier sports, news, talk, and entertainment on custom-designed XM tabletop radios located in each guestroom. An XM channel guide and promotional information will be available with the radios. More... [797 views] Hotel industry veteran to head new Hotel Division in Far East OrganizationFar East Organization (FEO) announced the appointment of Mr Arthur Kiong, 45, as Director of Hotel Operations. Mr Kiong will head the newly created Hotel Division within Far East Organization to oversee the operations of the five hotels under the organisation, namely Albert Court Hotel, Changi Village Hotel, The Elizabeth Hotel, Golden Landmark Hotel, and Orchard Parade Hotel. Mr Kiong will also hold a concurrent appointment as Director of Hotel Operations in Orchard Parade Holdings Limited, which owns Albert Court Hotel and Orchard Parade Hotel. More... [768 views] Marriott Named a 'Best Place to Work in Information Technology' by Computerworld for Third Consecutive YearMarriott International, Inc. announced that it has been recognized by IDG's Computerworld as one of the "Best Places to Work in IT" for the third year in a row. More... [672 views] The Olympics Haven't Begun, but the Party HasIn the last decade - and especially since 2001, when Beijing was announced as the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics - growth in the Chinese capital has taken off at warp speed. Today, Beijing seems light-years away from the days when armies of workers in Communist garb rode the streets in throngs of bicycles. More... [783 views] Regent International Hotels Appoints Tom Manno as Senior Director of Sales and OperationsRegent International Hotels today appointed Tom Manno as senior director of sales and operations. In his new role, Mr. Manno will focus on developing and executing sales, marketing and operations plans for Regent International Hotels in the Americas. Mr. Manno will report to Monica Neumann, vice president of operations for Regent International Hotels. More... [753 views] Carlson Hotels Worldwide Opens 19 New Hotels In April And MayCarlson Hotels Worldwide announced that its global portfolio of brands opened 19 new properties during April and May. The company has opened an average of nine new hotels per month since the start of 2005. These additions bring the company's total number of properties to 895 in 68 countries. Carlson hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlsonsm and Park Inn®. More... [688 views] Good climate continues for UK HotelsThe good climate continued for the UK hotel industry in May with increases in room yields for both Regional and London hotels, according to the latest figures from PKF hotel consultancy services. More... [509 views] Marco Polo Appoints General Managers for Hotels in Shenzhen and Ho Chi Minh CityThe Marco Polo Hotel Group has appointed Henk Meyknecht as General Manager of the soon to open Marco Polo Shenzhen in China and James Ong as General Manager of The Marco Polo Omni Saigon. More... [730 views] Chi Spa "Village" opens at Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort, CebuShangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort Hotel opened its CHI Spa Village, the first and largest spa resort of its kind in the Philippines last June 22. The 10,000 square metre facility was launched with a rousing ceremony with the Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the guest of honor More... [1180 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 29, 2005Lead the Trend to becoming Guest-CentricThe art of Hospitality includes two aspects by definition: reception and entertainment for the Guest in a generous and kindly manner. We market our entertainment factors aggressively, crafting the experience we believe our Guests require, but fail miserably on the other aspect, how they are received – that crucial first impression which sets the tone. By John R. Hendrie, CEO, Hospitality Performance, Inc. More... [1233 views] Complicated hotel clocks just one cause for alarmIs your hotel room smarter than you? Mine often is. "It looks like a spaceship," said Leslee, my 9-year-old cousin, as she pointed to the coffeemaker in our Colorado cabin. Apparently we're no rocket scientists. It took three adults and one child a half-hour to decipher the alien apparatus, which seemed to us to possess more parts than a Chinese puzzle and more gauges than a jet cockpit. I later learned it came with a 44-page manual. By Jane Engle, San Francisco Chronicle More... [778 views] Western hotel chains build on China's changeU.S. and other Western hotel companies are expanding rapidly in China, as the country emerges as an economic superpower and prepares for the 2008 Olympics. Working with local developers, Marriott, Hyatt, St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton are some of the five-star U.S. brands pouring billions into the country. More... [673 views] Marriott Closes Purchase for 29 Renaissance Hotels & Resorts and three Courtyard hotelsMarriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), CTF Holdings Ltd., Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (NYSE: SHO), Walton Street Capital, L.L.C., and Tarsadia Hotels announced that they have substantially completed the set of purchase and sale transactions originally announced on April 27, 2005 involving 29 Renaissance Hotels & Resorts and three Courtyard hotels, and certain joint venture interests. More... [738 views] PKF Study Finds Hotels Increase Marketing Budgets by 6.1 Percent in 2004 More... [706 views] Private Luxury Tour Operator Compiles List of “Absolute Must Try” Spa Experiences Around the WorldAbsolute Asia, the leading provider of private luxury travel to Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific, has conducted a comprehensive study of worldwide spa offerings, and has compiled a list of the Top 10 “Absolute Must Try” spa experiences for sophisticated travelers. Absolute Asia is confident that the list represents the most deluxe, innovative, and exciting spa experiences available today. More... [919 views] Belinda Pote appointed Senior Vice President International Marketing at MarriottMarriott has appointed Ms. Belinda Pote as senior vice president international marketing, reporting to Ed Fuller, president and managing director for International Lodging. More... [791 views] The Grand America Hotels and Resorts Appoints Bruce Fery to Executive Vice President of Hotel DivisionThe hotel division consists of independently owned properties by Earl Holding including, The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah; Little America properties in Arizona, Wyoming and Utah; and The Westgate Hotel in San Diego, California. More... [928 views] CHECK IN, CHECK OUT: Hôtel du Petit Moulin in ParisThere's not much basic about Hôtel du Petit Moulin, the boutique hostelry designed by Christian Lacroix that opened early this year in the Marais district. The fashion designer, known for his creative exuberance, has had a field day with fabric, furniture, wallpaper, paint, accessories - and that's just the lobby. The lavishly Lacroixian touches continue throughout the 17th-century building. Each of the 17 guest rooms has a different look. Walls might be covered in haute-couture sketches, starry skies or giant carnations. Furniture ranges from antique to pop to zen, sometimes in the same room. It's lodging as theater. More... [645 views] Scott Pierce Named Educational Institute PresidentScott Pierce has been appointed president and COO of the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF). More... [476 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 28, 2005Luxury hotels cash in as European Union enlargesLuxury hotels in central and eastern Europe are experiencing a boom as tourists discover the eight former communist countries that joined the European Union last year, officials say. They attribute the influx of travellers to EU enlargement and to the growing number of discount airlines laying on cheap flights from the rest of Europe, saying tourists skimp on airfares so they can afford grand hotels. More... [692 views] Welcome onboard SANTASYeoh Siew Hoon is rather tickled by the notion of a Qantas-Singapore Airlines merger. More... [684 views] Australia: Hotel Investment Outlook Remains Overwhelmingly PositiveAccording to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, investor interest in Australian hotel assets is set to continue through the second half of 2005. The firm’s recently released Hotel Investment Outlook report confirms that in Australia, Asian hotel owners are looking to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate and the strong investment market by divesting in 2005. More... [565 views] Benchmark appoints Sam Haigh President & Chief Operating OfficerBenchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Sam Haigh as president & chief operating officer for the leading hospitality management company. Burt Cabañas, chairman and chief executive officer, made the announcement. More... [652 views] Grand Gourmet Summit confirms agreement with World Gourmet ClubGrand Hyatt Dubai’s Grand Gourmet Summit signs up with world’s top organiser of gourmet events. The Grand Gourmet Summit, an event created by Grand Hyatt Dubai running from 13th -18th November 2005 has confirmed association with the World Gourmet Club, the umbrella organisation for all top level gourmet events around the world, including the World Gourmet Summits in Singapore and Las Vegas, and the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival. More... [730 views] Can I Get TiVo In This Suite?In-room hotel entertainment has long been a backwater of technology. That's beginning to change. Though the lobby lounge is really fabulous, technology lovers who stay at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City may never want to leave their rooms. The hotel, which opened a year and a half ago, decked out its rooms with all the latest gear: flat-screen TVs, state-of-the-art speakers, 97 channels—including 10 in high definition—and scores of on-demand movies. More... [722 views] Heartware Hotel....at Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square. Being a member of the staff at Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square means that you will be given access to training programs, highlighting career development, financial assistance, non-formal high school education and scholarships. These development programs help create job satisfaction and a sense of belonging. More... [555 views] Tourists Arrivals to Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi dropped by 70% vs. last yearSix months after the Dec 26 tsunami hit Thailand's Andaman shoreline, and with the peak tourist travelling season over, the region that once was the country's most popular destination is still almost dead quiet. There is barely a sign of business activity, particularly in those tourism and hospitality sectors. More... [585 views] Alain Briere appointed Area Director of Sales and Marketing of Pudong Shangri-La, ShanghaiAlain Brière has been appointed Area Director of Sales and Marketing of Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai. In this position, Mr Brière manages and oversees the Sales and Marketing Division, comprising of Sales, Events Management, MICE and Communications. More... [883 views] Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts' Pioneering Move into Major Qatar ProjectMövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) have just announced the signing of a management contract for a major new project in Qatar's capital, Doha. The pioneering agreement is the Swiss domiciled company's first diversification in the Middle East from the concept of a city or resort hotel: the property is planned as a Residence and is due to open in 2006. More... [518 views] Hospitality Information Technology Association Seeks to Enhance the Guest ExperienceAt its 12 annual conference held this week, the Hospitality Information Technology Association (HITA) sought to advance the use of information technology to not only boost business profitability, but to enhance the guest experience. Mandarin-Oriental CTO/CIO Nick Price, a leader in the use of technology as a business strategy, was the Keynote speaker and shared Mandarin’s success and approach in applying technology to enhance the customer experience. More... [867 views] Asset Management Scope and Compensation: A Wide SpectrumAsset managers provide a wide range of management oversight, analysis, and support to hotel owners. The specific scope of services is tailored to each owner. Compensation is usually a flat fee or a fee that is a percentage of gross revenues. By Mark Lynn, HVS International More... [884 views] HVS' 2005 Franchise Fees Analysis GuideThis report is a survey of the fees charged by the major hotel franchisors in the economy, mid-rate, and first-class market segments, enabling hotel owners to easily compare the total cost of one hotel franchise with that of another. More... [471 views] Rezidor SAS Extends Partnership with Meeting Professionals International (MPI)Rezidor SAS Hospitality has renewed its partnership with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) for a further two-year period. As part of the extension of this European partnership, Rezidor SAS will further support MPI in increasing its’ brand awareness throughout Europe. More... [516 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 27, 2005Hilton International Chief Unveils New Management StructureHilton International Hotels' new Chief Executive, Ian Carter, has announced a new structure for the business, effective 1 July 2005. As part of the process of developing his strategy for the global hotel operator, the structure aims to provide the foundation for Hilton International's growth over the next three to five years. More... [1544 views] Most Luxurious Honeymoon DestinationsHaving just pulled off the biggest logistical challenge of your life, paid to put your caterer's children through law school, danced with your most hirsute in-laws and made some rather sweeping promises in front of everyone you know, is there a better time to get out of town? In the past, the honeymoon used to be a chance for a newly married couple to get to know each other better. Today, it's a chance to recuperate. By Sophia Banay, Forbes.com More... [1275 views] Let the Games beginYeoh Siew Hoon gets caught up in Olympics fever as she returns from a top contending city to one that will host those who will decide the winner. Bottomline: Everyone behave please. More... [552 views] The picky traveler wants more than the usual snacks in the room. Teddy bears anyone?Check the tab. Here's a sampling of what you would be expected to pay at the Four Seasons Hotel on 57th Street, as opposed to comparable items at a nearby Duane Reade store:When all 1,946 rooms in the Marriott Marquis were occupied, it took 20 housekeepers seven hours to check the minibars, whether guests drank a Pepsi or not. So about a year ago the Times Square hotel yanked the little refrigerators, leaving an empty space in the armoires and a void in Leslie Lennon's experience as a guest. More... [1425 views] London Hotels Full Of EnergyLatest results from the HotelBenchmark Monthly Profitability Survey for London reveal this year is off to a cracking start for hoteliers across the capital. Year-to-April 2005 results show Income Before Fixed Charges (IBFC) has grown 7% per-available room (PAR) adding an additional £450 PAR to the bottom line. Total revenue has also increased by 7% but despite this, the profit conversion ratio remains virtually unchanged from the same period last year at 43%. More... [564 views] Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Travel Agents Pick Top Destinations for All-Girl GetawaysSay hello to summer, sisters, and while you're at it pack your bags and get ready for a vacation of a lifetime -- but leave the men at home! According to Liberty Travel, one of America's largest travel agencies, all-girl getaways are one of the hottest trends in travel, as more and more female bonding trips are being booked at places far away from home with no men in tow. More... [970 views] Colombian conman arrested after hotel heistOne of the world’s most wanted men, a Colombian conman who absconded from a prison in Britain, was arrested in Dublin yesterday. Juan Carlos Guzman-Betancourt, 29, who has conned his way into hotel rooms around the world, went on the run from an open prison in Britain earlier this month. He was being hunted by gardaí in Dublin following a burglary at the Merrion Hotel last week, in which jewellery, credit cards and tens of thousands of euro were taken More... [753 views] Hotelier's $1 Mil Gift Will Support University's Acclaimed Hospitality and Tourism ProgramSan Diego State University today announced a $1 million contribution to its acclaimed Hospitality and Tourism Management program from California hotelier Terry Brown, president of Atlas Hotels Inc. The gift will endow an Executive-in-Residence program that will bring top hotel industry executives to the classroom. More... [504 views] Mandarin Oriental to open luxury hideaway resort and spa in prestigious Grand CaymanMandarin Oriental Hotel Group today announced that it will manage an exclusive hideaway resort currently under development in the secluded Barefoot Beach area of Grand Cayman Island in the British West Indies. The project will extend the Group’s successful hideaway concept, designed for sophisticated travellers in search of tranquility, serenity and luxury, to a premier travel destination in the Caribbean. The resort is scheduled to open in 2007. More... [691 views] NH Hoteles appoints Francisco Zinser Chief Operating OfficerFrancisco Zinser, current Business Unit Director of Las Americas of NH Hoteles, has been named Chief Operating Officer and member of the company’s Management Committee. More... [773 views] iExplore Announces 2005 Top Ten World Travel DestinationsIn a mid-year update, iExplore announces the list of "Top Ten World Travel Destinations" in 2005 (to date) as determined by bookings of its adventure and experiential travelers between January 1, 2005 and May 31, 2005. More... [815 views] Smaller Asia Pacific Hotels in Rush to Go OnlineSmaller, independent hotels throughout the Asia Pacific region are looking at going online at a faster rate than ever, according to the regional head of hotels for leading online travel service, Travelocity®. More... [590 views] New ‘No Experience’ Hospitality Masters proves successfulAlready demand has exceeded expectations for the new Le Cordon Bleu Master of International Hospitality Management attracting students from across the globe. Launched in January this year intakes for January and July 2006 are already filled, culminating in the offer of an additional September 2006 intake. This September intake will allow more students to take advantage of this exciting program, which offers students a comprehensive exposure to the dynamic hospitality industry. More... [626 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 24, 2005The battle for corporate meetingsAre global hotel brands in danger of boring planners with sameness in guarantees and standards for successful meetings, or are they still able to innovate their meetings programmes? Raini Hamdi takes a look. More... [1159 views] Wi-Fi Going from an Added Value to an Expected AmenityWireless Internet connections are becoming as common in hotels as cable TV and a free newspaper on the doorstep. Tech-savvy travelers are looking for hotels that have added wireless "hot spots" throughout the property -- from public spaces and meeting rooms to individual guest rooms. More... [959 views] Leading industry leaders and academic administrators appointed to the Joint Advisory Board of Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality ManagementNanyang Technological University (NTU) and Cornell University have appointed industry stalwarts and leading academic administrators as members to the Joint Advisory Board of the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management (CNI). CNI is an alliance between Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration and NTU’s Nanyang Business School, offering a first-of-its-kind joint graduate degree program in hospitality management. More... [742 views] Benchmark Hospitality Launches "Best of the Best" A Unique Employee Recognition ProgramBenchmark Hospitality International, which manages 28 award-winning resorts, conference centers and hotels in the United States and Japan, has announced the launch of a unique employee recognition program. Called Best of the Best, the program involves inducting top performing employees into a special "club" that provides ongoing recognition and rewards to this exceptional group of employees - forever - so long as the individuals remain members of the Benchmark team in good standing. More... [1202 views] Carlson Hotels Worldwide Names New President of AmericasCarlson Hotels Worldwide today announced the promotion of Yvonne La Penotiere, formerly executive vice president of brand marketing, to the position of president of Carlson Hotels Worldwide-the Americas. The appointment was announced by Jay Witzel, president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide and CEO of Carlson Cruises Worldwide. More... [511 views] Most important meal of day gets upgradeHotels are re-thinking the most important meal of the day, spending millions to make their complimentary breakfast programs more appealing to guests More... [934 views] Domina Hotel Group unveils its new corporate identity and four new brandsDomina Hotel Group is fast making a name for itself as one of the most dynamic operators in the world of hospitality, and is now showing further enterprising spirit by announcing the global launch of four new hotel brands, which will add up to over 250 properties by 2015. More... [773 views] Hotel Check: THE CHEDI MUSCATChedi and Omani architecture go well together. Both are marked by clean lines, an uncluttered look and gleaming white facades. This is unmistakably a match made in heaven. And heaven it was during my recent stay at The Chedi, Muscat. By Raini Hamdi, TTG Asia More... [790 views] Shangri-La expands further in Inner MongoliaAsia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, will open a new hotel in Manzhouli city of China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region late 2007. This is the third property the group will develop in the region, in addition to Shangri-La Hotel, Baotou opening mid-2007, and Shangri-La Hotel, Hohhot opening early 2008. More... [565 views] Bali Hilton achieves Green Globe CertificationBali Hilton International has achieved Green Globe 21 Certification. This certification is the result of three years of intense effort to address key environmental issues within the hotel. More... [853 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 23, 2005Jumeirah International rebrandsJumeirah International, the Dubai based luxury hospitality group, announced that from today the company will be known as ‘Jumeirah’. The group also unveiled a new corporate identity, and announced that it will rebrand its existing portfolio of luxury, award-winning hotels before year end in an aim to create a single, memorable identity for the company More... [1123 views] The new appeal of OmanThe Chedi Muscat gave the sultanate a chic image. This year, Shangri-La will add to the glamour with its Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, and next year Six Senses with its Evason Hideaway. Raini Hamdi discovers the new appeal of Oman. By Raini Hamdi, TTG Asia More... [735 views] King KongFor more than 75 years, The Peninsula has been Hong Kong's favorite luxury hotel. With a helicopter landing pad on the roof, 14 private Rolls-Royces (including a vintage 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom) and a fleet of trademark white-uniformed pageboys, The Peninsula Hong Kong sets the gold standard of hospitality--Asian or otherwise. The 300-room hotel is the oldest in Hong Kong, having opened in 1928, when it catered mainly to overland traders stopping on their way to China or Europe via the Trans-Siberia Railway. By Sophia Banay, Forbes.com More... [1020 views] Grosvenor House opens for business - Landmark hotel is the first on Dubai MarinaThe first hotel on Dubai’s newest residential location, Dubai Marina, the 45-storey Grosvenor House West Marina Beach by Le Meridien, has opened its doors to hotel guests and apartment residents. The hotel, which has been just over two years in the making, is a mix of furnished apartments and hotel, and general manager Pam Wilby said: “This is a total lifestyle property, and all the facilities have been created to answer what the modern guest or resident truly wants. More... [667 views] Ritz-Carlton Keen to Establish Presence in Saudi ArabiaThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, which claims to offer "unrivaled luxury and legendary service," is surveying properties across Saudi Arabia to establish its presence. "We're interested in properties in Riyadh and Jeddah, and of course in Makkah," Marc F. Dardenne, Ritz-Carlton's vice president and area general manager based in Dubai, told Arab News on the sidelines of a Gulf-wide road show. More... [584 views] Boutique hotels going the extra mileRead 'boutique hotel' and you will probably picture ultra-plush and original decor, grand architecture, an award-winning restaurant, luxury spa, wellness centre, lush gardens and perhaps even a putting green on the side. Indeed, it is a genre of hospitality that one generally associates with luxury and leisure, and not corporate travel. Boutique properties are, however, increasingly positioning themselves as primarily business hotels and business travellers are responding positively to the shift. More... [1077 views] Smith Travel Research, Cornell Hotel School Announce New Research PartnershipThe long and beneficial association between Smith Travel Research (STR) and Cornell University has been strengthened with the announcement that STR has become a Partner with Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research (CHR). “This is an excellent next step in our relationship,” said STR co-founder and CEO Randell Smith. More... [503 views] Emma cooks up a storm in culinary awardsTrainee chef Emma Aboud of Sydney’s Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde has progressed to the Grand Final in the 2005 Hospitality Training Network and Meat and Livestock Australia Culinary Competition. More... [527 views] New Appointments At Accor Hotels AsiaAccor Asia Pacific announced several General Manager appointments in Thailand and Indonesia. More... [1384 views] Starwood Hotels introduces its first Westin in India with the signing of the Westin New Delhi Hotel & ResidencesStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and Vatika Group, real estate and hospitality players in India, announced an agreement to build The Westin New Delhi Hotel & Residences in Gurgaon, India. Scheduled to open in 2007, and managed by Starwood, the hotel marks the entry of the Westin brand into India and its continued expansion in Asia. More... [632 views] CNL Hotels & Resorts Completes the Sale of 30 Hotels for Estimated Net Gain of $37 MillionCNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc., the nation's second-largest hotel real estate investment trust ('REIT'), announced today it has completed its previously announced sale of 30 non-strategic hotel properties to certain affiliates of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE:AHT) for $465 million. The total net gain to CNL Hotels & Resorts is an estimated $37 million More... [522 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 22, 2005Best Tip for Increasing Tips... SmileResearchers agree. Smiling can actually help boost tips for servers. So can telling jokes, patting customers on the arm and forecasting good weather, according to a recent report published by Cornell University's Center for Hospitality Research. More... [1322 views] The world's most expensive cities - Tokyo again topped the list.Tokyo again topped the list, with Osaka moving up to second from fourth, pushing London down one place to third. Moscow also dropped one place to fourth, while Seoul rose from seventh to fifth. Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, retained its position as the cheapest city in the survey. More... [1859 views] Revenue Management Systems - Considerations for EvaluationA recent Cornell University Study found '..hotels that price above their local competitors to be the most aggressive revenue managers. (This study) … also suggests that those hotels which are best able to extract high REVPARs are most likely to engage in revenue management practices.'Most (not all) hotels want to be able to sell rooms at higher rates resulting in increased REVPAR. If aggressive revenue management is the key, as the article suggests, many will be looking to institute or upgrade their revenue management systems. By Carol Verret
More... [1468 views] Three Generations of Luxury: Rosewood Celebrates 25 YearsRosewood Hotels & Resorts, the premier manager of ultra-luxury hotels and resorts throughout the world, is commemorating a milestone this year with the 25th anniversary celebration of the company. More... [968 views] Hoteliers In Driver's Seat: Insiders see Demand, Rates Rise Through 2007Most hotel executives and investors expect strong occupancy and revenue levels to continue through 2007, according to a survey of more than 170 hospitality executives, investors and real estate professionals attending the New York University 27th Annual International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference here this month. More... [536 views] PKF Study Finds Rampant Optimism in U.S. Hotel Investment ArenaU.S. hotel investors and lenders are the most optimistic they have been since the mid-1990s, according to a recent study published by a leading hospitality consultant. The purchase and lending criteria used in this year's lodging transactions indicate a community of buyers willing to pay higher prices and financiers offering liberal lending requirements. More... [480 views] Nearly 15,000 New Hotels Rooms Scheduled to Open in Southern California Over Next Three YearsIn a special issue of its Lodging Development Forecast and Trends report for attendees at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference 2005 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, Lodging Econometrics, the Industry Authority for Hotel Real Estate, announced that nearly 15,000 New Hotel Rooms are scheduled to open in Southern California in 2005-08. More... [852 views] European Hotel Operations Forum moves towards technologyEHOF, the European Hotel Operations Forum, will next year focus on technological innovations. Now in its’ 3rd year, EHOF will bring together senior European and Middle Eastern hotel IT executives to network, discuss new products and develop business partnerships. More... [635 views] Summer Rates Cut by 25 Percent at 2,200 Utell by Pegasus Member Hotels Through Worldwide GREATRATE PromotionSignature Program Discounts Rates by as Much as 50 Percent at Prominent Independent Properties; Travel Agents Can Access Rates Via UI Code on all Major GDSs More... [535 views] Dusit poised for brisk expansion, opens M.E. regional officeDusit Hotels & Resorts Chief Operating Officer, Khampi Suwanarat, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam-Erik Ruttmann as the Regional Vice President of the newly-set up Dusit Middle East Regional Office in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. More... [728 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 21, 2005Case Study - World of ACCORAs distribution becomes more divergent, the need to be more targeted in communications and marketing becomes more critical. Raini Hamdi observes how Accor Asia-Pacific achieves this with the World of Accor roadshow. By Raini Hamdi, Editor, TTG Asia More... [1014 views] Flush With Profits, Chains Invest In Hotel RenovationsRecent room development plans unveiled by Hilton Hotels Corp. and Marriott International indicate that the U.S. hotel market, with strong revenue growth and limited opportunities for new property construction, this year will see an unprecedented boom in renovations and amenity upgrades. More... [806 views] Commemorating TsunamiAs the tourism business recovery in the Tsunami hit areas from Thailand is still very slow and is impacting the lives of thousands of people in those regions in a terrifying and un-human way, a nation-wide debate is in progress about the quality and quantity of the present and past recovery efforts. By Bert van Waldbeek, CEO, The Winning Edge More... [517 views] Russell’s phoney war has a ring of truthYeoh Siew Hoon is rather disappointed with Russell Crowe and his phone-throwing antics in New York. More... [985 views] Industry Big Hitters Join WORLDHOTELSSupervisory board established to advise leading global hotel sales, marketing and distribution company. WORLDHOTELS, one of the world’s leading global sales, marketing and distribution companies for the hotel industry, today announced the formation of a supervisory board made up of leading industry players including former Opodo Chief Executive David Scowsill and Hasso von During, CEO of TUI Leisure Travel, one of Europe’s largest travel organisations. More... [682 views] Online Booking Still Lags In EuropeOnline booking of airline tickets by managed corporate travelers continues to advance in Europe, but the rate of that acceleration and the reasons for it are grounds for industry argument. More... [632 views] Hungarian hotel, Thai resort are 'best'A hotel in Budapest, Hungary, and a seaside Thai resort topped the annual "Best of the Best" list in this month's issue of Robb Report. More... [1131 views] New website for Corinthia Hotels InternationalCorinthia Hotels International launched its next generation corinthiahotels.com website, featuring a more modern design and the latest technological advancements that allow for easy browsing and a more streamlined hotel booking facility. More... [627 views] Great Hotels of the World Announces New Member Opening in Mallorca, SpainGreat Hotels of the World is delighted to announce that it has a new member hotel opening in Mallorca , Spain . Nestled on 900-m stretch of seafront on the eastern coast of Mallorca , near to the pretty fishing village and marina of Porto Petro, Blau PortoPetro Beach Resort & Spa is set to open on 18th June this year More... [569 views] Four weeks till Sydney welcomes back the HiltonHilton Sydney will re-open for business in the heart of the city on July 15 2005, with a spectacular and ambitious new design, contemporary dining and exclusive bars, and state-of-the-art conference and events facilities. The new hotel follows in the footsteps of the sleek new Hilton Kuala Lumpur which opened in September last year and which raised the benchmark for Hilton in the Asia Pacific. Hilton Sydney will also adopt some of the concepts successfully initiated by Hilton Kuala Lumpur including Zeta Bar. More... [826 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 20, 2005Top 10 U.S. hotel pool barsForget about trendy restaurants and lounges, the pool is the new hot spot at U.S. hotels. Not only can you lounge poolside with a cocktail in hand, indulge in luxuriant massages in your own private cabana, and swim up to floating bars while listening to music underwater, but, you can return at night for the hottest party in town. Miami started the wet trend with its sexy nighttime sanctuaries and now you can enjoy the same sultry poolside scene at hip hotels across the country More... [1554 views] Inside the Pritzker family feudSince the 1999 death of the revered Jay Pritzker, tensions have quietly roiled Chicago's wealthiest family. Here is a look behind the scenes. More... [2082 views] Differentiation, new technologies and transfer of experiences through the Internet is crucialThe Travel Distribution Summit in Europe 2005 took place in the Business Design Centre in Islington, London between the 7th and 8th of June and highlighted a number of issues related to the travel and tourism industry. More... [670 views] Preferred Hotel Group Launches Boutique, a New Collection of HotelsBoutique promotes a new standard of excellence for intimate, design-savvy properties of 150 rooms or less. Leveraging the strength of the Preferred Hotel Group, Boutique provides a dynamic combination of sales, marketing, distribution, and technology solutions designed to deliver maximum benefits and value to the world's premier boutique hotels. As Managing Director of Boutique, Lindsey Ueberroth believes that the emphasis on service and quality assurance standards is one of the most important aspects of Boutique. More... [736 views] The Olympics: good or bad for London hotels?There's no greater prize for any city than winning the honour of hosting the Olympics Games and Paralympic Games. The Games are the world's greatest show, they are watched by a TV audience of some four billion, while hundreds of thousands of visitors will come to a city just for the Games. There is no doubting the short-term benefits for hoteliers, all these visitors need to stay somewhere, but what of the longer term?By Jamie Talmage, Visit London
More... [896 views] What’s in the WWW for hotels?With all the convincing reports of how the number of reservations made online is soaring, there seems to be an opportunity to be seized. In general, strategies such as investing in a branded hotel name, working with online travel agents and optimizing a hotel’s own websites are ways to exploit the online market. All are sound strategies and will result in a very positive outcome when a hotelier is precisely aware of his product, the market and what competitors he faces. More... [1215 views] Online industry leaders collaborate to launch Bezurk - Asia Pacific's next generation travel search engineSenior executives from top internet travel and lifestyle companies - Expedia, Priceline.com, chinadotcom, Fairfax Digital and Yahoo South East Asia have banded together to launch Bezurk in the Asia Pacific Region. Bezurk is a travel "Search Engine" which is the next generation application for the online travel industry. More... [662 views] Hotel deal thwarts ConranSir Terence Conran's hopes of owning London's Great Eastern Hotel suffered a setback last night as Blackstone, the US private equity group, bought its parent company for $ 3.24 billion (£1.8 billion). Sir Terence, who owns 50 per cent of the fashionable city hotel through his Conran Holdings company, has been in informal talks with Wyndham International, Great Eastern's owner, for months about buying the hotel outright. More... [528 views] Greg Dogan appointed Vice President at Shangri-La Hotels and ResortsBased in Shanghai, Mr. Dogan is responsible for nine of the group's 19 mainland China hotels, ensuring that these properties meet their financial performance targets and comply with corporate operational standards. In addition, he oversees four new hotel projects in Chengdu, Xian, Shenzhen and Ningbo in mainland China. More... [1248 views] Amora Group Acquires Duxton Hotels New Zealand PortfolioJones Lang LaSalle Hotels is pleased to announce that Amora Group Pty Ltd has conditionally agreed to buy the companies that own and operate the three Duxton Hotels in New Zealand from the current owners, Low Keng Huat (Singapore) Ltd. More... [943 views] Starwood Hotels & Resorts names Sean Hunt as Vice President & Area Managing Director, Australia Starwood Pacific Hotels, and M D of Sheraton On The ParkStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has recently announced the arrival of Mr. Sean Hunt, as Vice President & Area Managing Director, Australia Starwood Pacific Hotels and Managing Director of Sheraton On The Park.. Mr. Hunt will champion some of the Asia Pacific region’s most valuable assets in his new role being responsible for all aspects of Starwood Property management in Australia. He will work closely with the General Management Team in the 10 hotels throughout the region further strengthening the position of Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton and W Sydney in their respective markets. More... [1530 views] Tourism in Toronto continues strong upward trendOverseas visitors increase by 26% in first quarter of 2005. The rebound of the tourism industry in Toronto continues to gather momentum, according to figures from Statistics Canada released today by Tourism Toronto, the industry-led group responsible for marketing the Greater Toronto Area to the rest of the world. More... [734 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 17, 2005Nudes on wheels: It’s summer in Europe.Europeans are planning their summer vacations and Yeoh Siew Hoon fears Asia will be far from their minds this year. More... [1304 views] New Hotel Technology Surround Us - Yet Face-to-face Selling is Still Most ProductiveAutomated sales and catering systems have grown in popularity and are weaving their way into ever smaller independent and franchised hotels. Once exclusive to the larger properties with considerable public space, these marvels of technology have proven themselves to be a good investment, over and over again. By: Neil Salerno, Hotel Marketing Coach More... [806 views] Dorchester Group appoints Ezio Indiani General Manager of Hotel Principe Di Savola of MilanDorchester Group today announced the appointment of Ezio Attilio Indiani as General Manager of its Milan property, Hotel Principe di Savoia. In this role, he will oversee the progressive refurbishments currently underway at the hotel and take the Principe, one of the five exclusive luxury properties owned and managed by the group, to the next stage in its history. He will report to François Delahaye, the Group Operations Director based in London More... [982 views] Hotel guest pays £32,000 for wee dram before bedA hotel guest has bought a bottle of whisky for £32,000 and drunk it in one night. The anonymous regular at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, was joined by a group of friends who helped him put away the world's most expensive single malt in the oak-panelled surroundings of the establishment's Ascot bar. More... [1040 views] Bali to host SIBEC ASIA 2006Pelican Events have announced that the fifth SIBEC ASIA will be held from February 23rd-25th in Bali. The actual venue will be announced shortly, but the organisers believe that the time is right to stage this unique wellness forum on the “Island of the Gods” More... [501 views] Hilton completes its portfolio in Beijing with two new hotel brandsHilton International (HI) has signed two new management contracts for Beijing, including the first Conrad hotel in China and the first Scandic by Hilton outside Europe. Together with the existing Hilton Beijing, the three hotels will make Hilton history by offering for the first time, a complete lineup of HI brands in a single city. More... [725 views] John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Announces Execution of Merger AgreementJohn Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with JQH Acquisition LLC. The merger agreement provides that, upon the consummation of the merger, each outstanding share of the Company's class A common stock will convert into the right to receive $24.00 cash per share. More... [782 views] Travel + Leisure Voted St. Regis Hotel, Shanghai One Of The World's Best Top Hotels For ServiceSt. Regis Hotel, Shanghai recently received its fifth award,' The World's Best Top Hotels For Service', in World's Best Awards 2004 voted by Travel + Leisure. We are honored to be the only hotel in China that received this award. More... [757 views] Hilton Garden Inn Salutes Best of the BrandHilton Garden Inn Salutes Best of the Brand at Annual Hotel Performance Awards Ceremony. Hilton Garden Inn(R), the award-winning upscale mid-priced brand targeted to today’s growing segment of mid-market travelers, proudly saluted its top hotel performance award winners for 2004, during a presentation held at the brand’s Focused-Service Brand Conference on February 14-17, 2005, in Las Vegas. More... [574 views] Cradle of China Communism eyes 'Red Tourism' richesCoarse grain and a night in a cave don't feature in most holiday brochures, but the remote town of Yan'an hopes to earn a fortune from "red tourists" eager to relive the tough experiences of China's Communist pioneers. Yan'an was a dusty but secure home to Mao Zedong from 1935 to 1947 and where he coined the motto "serve the people" and welded his party into a fighting force capable of winning the civil war. But since the troops left, its main industry has been reliving the past. More... [475 views] Industry First: The Concierge Assistant System Gains Real-Time Website Interface for Improved Guest ServiceGuests Use Property’s Website, Enter Requests Directly into Concierge System Without Email. Gold Key Solutions, provider of The Concierge Assistant tm software application, announced today it has developed and implemented the industry’s first real-time bridge to the hotel’s online concierge guest service system. Hotel guests may now enter any requests or inquiries directly into the property’s website and this information is automatically sent to The Concierge Assistant system without resorting to emails More... [649 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 16, 2005Innovators to be Honored at the Hotel Investment Conference Asia PacificRobert Burns, Chairman of Robert H. Burns Holdings; Georg Rafael, Managing Director of Rafael Group and Adrian Zecha, Chairman of Amanresorts will be awarded the Innovation Award at the upcoming 16th annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), scheduled for 12-14 October 2005 at the InterContinental Hong Kong. More... [680 views] Top Five “Must Dos” to Raise Room ProfitabilityThe industry is in a healthy recovery. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, Americans will be traveling in record numbers this summer, building on the momentum in travel recovery from 2004 with an expected 2.3 percent increase in leisure travel. Nevertheless, you might find yourself asking, “The hotel market is finally booming; so why is everyone’s revenue up but mine?” By Kelly Blake and Bonnie Buckhiester More... [2040 views] Ramada Brand Builds Marketing Campaign Around GuestsFranchisees attending the Ramada Worldwide annual conference here today learned that the brand plans to strengthen its consumer value proposition and boost incremental room night sales through targeted marketing. More... [943 views] Sheraton New York Becomes First Hotel in Manhattan to Use Environmentally-Friendly High Temperature Fuel Cell TechnologyStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced today that Allentown, Pa.-based PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL - News) has completed the installation of a clean, reliable, high temperature 250-kilowatt Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant at the 1,750-room Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Sheraton's largest and flagship property, in midtown Manhattan. This is the third DFC power plant to complete the installation in a Sheraton hotel, and similar to the other two plants located at properties in New Jersey - the Sheraton Edison Hotel and the Sheraton Parsippany. More... [747 views] Hotel Insurance Expense: Minor Cost, Major ConcernPKF Study Finds Premiums Doubled Since 1999. Insurance premiums have become the fastest growing expense for U.S. hotel owners. Despite a slight decline in 2004, the payments made by hotel managers for general liability and property insurance have more than doubled since 1999. Given the impact of recent natural disasters, as well as the continuing threat of terrorism, it is feared that this cost will continue to rise at a greater pace than other expenses in the future. More... [642 views] Record Numbers for ITE 2005This years International Travel Expo (ITE), opened on June 9 by Mr. Stephen Ip, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour of the Hong Kong SAR Government, recorded record numbers. The first two trade days drew 9500 buyers and trade visitors, up 13.1% over 2004, which is on top of the 20% growth seen in 2004 over 2003. More... [423 views] Electric cables used for hotel broadbandA UK company is looking to use existing electrical cables to deliver broadband services to public areas such as hotels. Unlike powerline technologies that compete with DSL by delivering broadband over electricity cables to homes and business, the Cibersuite service needs a broadband connection in place already. More... [1114 views] Hilton Hotels Corporation Sells Three HotelsHilton Hotels Corporation announced that it has sold two Hilton Suites and one Embassy Suites Hotel to Bethesda, Maryland-based RLJ Urban Lodging Fund, LP, an affiliate of RLJ Development, LLC, for $72 million in cash. More... [559 views] World Tourism Organization Executive Council Strongly Supports Frangialli's ReelectionThe governing body of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) has given strong support to current Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli in his bid to be re-elected for a further four-year term. Twenty of the 28 votes cast at the WTO Executive Council meeting in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort town of Nessebar on Monday (13 June) were in favour of Mr. Frangialli. More... [445 views] Travel agents holding their own against the InternetTravel agents have proven to be far more resilient than they've been given credit for. They've survived airlines cutting their commissions. They've weathered wars, SARS and economic downturns. And it appears they're holding their own against the biggest threat of all: the Internet. With consumers booking their own travel online, conventional wisdom held the traditional travel agent was doomed to extinction. More... [824 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 15, 2005Blackstone Buys Hotel Group Wyndham InternationalPrivate equity group Blackstone has agreed to buy hotel owner and franchiser Wyndham International Inc. (WBR.A) in a deal valued at $3.24 billion, Wyndham said on Tuesday. The Dallas-based company said Blackstone will pay $1.15 per share as part of the deal, while holders of Wyndham's preferred stock will receive $72.17 per share in cash. More... [911 views] Ramada Brand Launches Second Phase of RepositioningRamada President Keith Pierce, addressing franchisees at their conference here today, announced the launch of Phase II in a systemwide repositioning that aims to establish the brand as the 'global leader in mid-market lodging.' More... [882 views] The Indian Hotels Company Limited (TAJ) Financial Results – Year Ended March 31, 2005For the year ended March 31, 2005, the Company reported 26% growth in revenues at Rs 873 crores as against Rs 694 crores achieved in the previous year. For the quarter ended March 31, 2005, the revenue was Rs 270 crores compared to Rs 221 crores in the corresponding period of the previous financial year, a growth of 22%. More... [512 views] HSMAI's World Quest agenda includes international protocol and latest trends in planning international meetingsAn impressive line-up of speakers from various aspects of the international meeting and event planning industry will headline the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) 2nd annual World Quest conference, a three-city tour taking place July 22-29, 2005 in Washington, DC, New York and Chicago. More... [430 views] Six hotels awarded Boutique Hotels & Resorts International affiliation in Middle EastFive of the United Arab Emirate's most distinctive boutique hotels and one of Oman's most unique resorts are now members of Boutique Hotels & Resorts International", Chief Operating Officer, John Sears, announced today. "We are pleased to welcome these spirited, genuine boutique hotels. Boutique enthusiasts will be delighted with these hotels in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Al Barka, said Sears." More... [845 views] Accor adding six new properties in Thailand and VietnamAccor announced its most significant expansion in Thailand and Vietnam since it entered the region`s hotel market more than two decades ago , with six new hotels and beach resorts added to its fast growing regional network. More... [706 views] Accor Première Vacation Club on acquisition trailAPVC invests $30million in three new properties in Hunter Valley, Mt Buller and the Swan Valley. Accor Première Vacation Club (APVC) has accelerated its acquisition trail, today announcing three new property purchases in the Victorian High Country, the NSW Hunter Valley and the Swan Valley in WA. More... [568 views] Pearls of the Gulf … Danat Hotels & Resorts set to develop new business in the emirate of Abu DhabiNew hotel brand to compete with the best of the best. Danat Hotels & Resorts is accelerating the pace of its expansion plans, less than a year after its formation as the hospitality division of Abu Dhabi-based National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels (NCT&H). The group, which has launched two new hotels in the past six months, is mapping out a strategy to capitalise on the government’s aim of increasing visitor numbers four-fold within 10 years. More... [650 views] Radisson SAS promotes ‘Food for Thought’ in Mid EastFirst class hotel brand introduces balanced lifestyle cuisine. Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, part of the fast-growing, Brussels-based Rezidor SAS Hospitality, is introducing a dedicated healthy diet menu in its Middle East properties as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to responsible business practices. More... [695 views] Hotel Research EssentialMonthly data provided by large hotels around New Zealand is the most accurate indicator of the sector’s performance and must be shared to keep the market informed. New Zealand Hotel Council (NZHC) Chairman, Steve Kirkpatrick, says that trends from eight years collection of monthly occupancy and room rate statistics provide essential information for people looking to expand or build new hotels. More... [501 views] Operating income continues to improve for Club MedRevenues amounted to 750 million euro for the period, compared with 784 million euro in first-half 2004 , representing a 4.3% decrease as reported and a 3.1% decline like-for-like (at comparable scope of consolidation and exchange rates). More... [480 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 14, 2005Hoteliers See Boom Through 2007Most hotel executives and investors expect healthy occupancy and revenue levels to continue through 2007, according to a survey of more than 170 hospitality executives, investors and real estate professionals attending the New York University 27th Annual International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference held in New York this week. More... [810 views] The Pearl-Qatar's tower interiors unveiled Interiors reflect Mediterranean lifestylesThe Mediterranean-style interiors of the first 10 towers to be built around Porto Arabia, the main marina of The Pearl- Qatar, the US $2.5 billion island being reclaimed off the coast of the Qatari capital, Doha, have been unveiled. The luxury interiors, designed by Seattle's Callison Architecture Inc., reflect what will be Porto Arabia’s traditional lifestyle. More... [830 views] TravelCLICK Names Hyatt International “E-Marketer of the Year”TravelCLICK and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) honored excellence in electronic marketing for 2004. Top honors went to Hyatt International. TravelCLICK also recognized outstanding career achievement in electronic marketing and regional excellence within several additional “E-Marketer of the Year” categories. The winners in these categories included, a hotel brand, a hotel group and four individual hotel properties. More... [821 views] Langham Hotels celebrate 140 years of luxurious hospitalityWith a luxury hotel heritage dating back to the 19th century, the Langham brand celebrates its 140th anniversary in June this year. The Langham legend began as the original Langham Hotel was opened in London by the Prince of Wales on 10 June, 1865. The Langham was Europe's first truly 'grand hotel' - preceding The Savoy by 23 years and Claridges which was rebuilt between 1895 - 1899. More... [638 views] Conrad managers sharpen hotel skillsThe Conrad Hotel Bangkok last month initiated an e-learning programme to help middle management employees improve skills and advance their careers. More... [790 views] Shangri-La Hotel Dubai goes wireless- and it's freeWhat is the most common item left behind at a hotel pool? At the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, thanks to their free WiFi, it’s the laptop. Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai has announced Wireless connectivity throughout the award-winning five star luxury hotel property. And it’s free. More... [749 views] Cornell launches web-based Management Tool for Calculating Turnover CostsA new web-based management tool published by The Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell has been developed to help lodging practitioners accurately compute all of the costs associated with the departure and replacement of an employee. More... [851 views] Confidence in Country House Hotels Continues to ClimbsBMR Hospitality International announced the results of their first country house hotel survey. This survey, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, concentrates on the performance of individual country house hotels, a significant sector of the UK hospitality industry, and their major issues of concern. More... [567 views] The Philadelphia area's hospitality industry discovers that less is morePhiladelphia hotels are going through more pillow mints. Average occupancy rates at area hotels are expected to surge through at least midyear, helped by major conventions, the Salvador Dali exhibition, more corporate travel and, at the same time, having fewer hotels in the city. Through midsummer at least, the outlook looks good. More... [554 views] David Simpson named Director of Acquisitions and DevelopmentDavid Simpson has been appointed Director of Acquisitions and Development, Pacific region, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific Division. In this role, David is responsible for overseeing acquisitions and development in the Pacific region. More... [775 views] China helps Indonesia restore tourism marketChina's tourism administration and travel agencies are doing their best to help restore Indonesian tourism market, after it was hit by the monstrous tsunami last December. More... [636 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 13, 2005Europe On SaleThe timing could not have been better--at least for Europe's travel industry. Just in time for the kickoff of the summer holiday season, the failed bids in France and Holland to ratify the European Union's constitution last week have pushed the euro to its lowest point against the dollar since last October.
More... [860 views] Hotel wars: Chains offer new amenities to lure upscale travelersWhile the hospitality industry as a whole reeled from the one-two punch of a recession and the downturn in travel after 9/11, the "Heavenly" franchise -- extended to include shower heads, bathrobes and pet bedding -- was a cash cow, bringing in $4.3 million in 2003, a year when many hotels struggled to break even. Now competing chains have caught on, engaging the hotel business in an all-out war for upscale travel dollars. Among the contenders are the Hyatt chain, which has produced the Grand Bed; Radisson, with its Sleep Number Bed; and the Marriott, which is rolling out an unnamed luxury bedding package this year. More... [863 views] Pierre hotel shareholders approve Taj Hotels as new operator after Four Seasons withdrawsShareholders of the owner of the Pierre hotel have approved Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces as its new operator to replace Four Seasons Hotels Inc. Four Seasons said Friday in a release that it had been notified of the approval by shareholders 795 Fifth Avenue Corp., the hotel's landlord. Four Seasons had been in discussions with 795 Fifth Avenue to end its lease on the property after its profits were squeezed by higher compliance costs under new accounting regulations and restricted pricing capacities at the hotel in New York City. More... [699 views] Around the world in 360 famous hotelsSo many hotels, so many stories. Sometimes hotels immortalise people, sometimes it is the other way round. Somerset Maugham is inseparably linked to Raffles and the Oriental, Dorothy Parker to New York's Algonquin. Martin Luther King had his dream at the Willard in Washington. The Ritz in Paris will always remind us of the doyen of this industry, the charismatic Cesar Ritz. More... [1475 views] Julia Hands wins First Women AwardJulia Hands, who created the award-winning Hand Picked Hotels four years ago, was today hailed a trailblazer in the First Women Awards to recognise women who have broken new ground in British business life. More... [704 views] Jurys to sell flagship hotel sitesSince day one the markets have said the shareholding of the daughters of PV Doyle and their close associates would ultimately determine the future of the Jurys Doyle Group. Between them, the three Doyle sisters: Bernie Gallagher; ER Monahan and Anne Roche hold 22% of the equity, while former director Walter Beatty has a near 8% stake. More... [619 views] PwC U.S. Lodging Midyear Forecast: Occupancy And Room Rates Set Record HighsPricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality & Leisure Practice has issued its revised U.S. Lodging Forecast with few changes from its prior forecast. RevPAR (Revenue per Available Rate) will increase 7.8 percent in the current forecast compared with 7.3 percent in the previous forecast. PricewaterhouseCoopers issues regularly scheduled updates every quarter. More... [505 views] Ultimate Resort Announces Appointment of Chief Operating OfficerUltimate Resort today announced the appointment of Dana Percival to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Ultimate Resort, recently selected as the finest luxury destination club in 2005 by Panache Magazine, is designed to provide individuals, families and corporate members with virtually unlimited access to 100 luxury residence club properties planned over the next few years, each averaging $1.5 million in value. More... [553 views] Canadian REIT Buys Seven HotelsToronto-based InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust said today that it has agreed to purchase seven mid-market hotels--four Radissons, one Delta, one Holiday Inn and one independently branded hotel--from partnerships controlled by the Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds and the Westmont Group for $85.3 million plus transaction costs. The acquisition, which is expected to close by mid-August, will bring the REIT's total portfolio to 132 properties, or 14,600 rooms across Canada. More... [505 views] Mandarin Oriental announces new Luxury Hotel and Residences In ChicagoMandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a new 250-room luxury hotel and 50 branded residences which are planned to open in Chicago in early 2008. The project provides the Group with a unique opportunity to establish its luxury brand in another important American city. More... [568 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 10, 2005It’s a big, bad, mobile worldYeoh Siew Hoon shares a note of caution about mobile technology and how it could affect your mental health. More... [918 views] Sustainable Tourism in the luxury travel sector: a PR exercise or critical strategic initiative?According to the world’s leading climate change expert, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, global warming is now at an extreme danger level. Whilst the main cause of global warming is the high levels of carbon dioxide caused by industrial emissions, there is no doubt that travel and tourism organisations can play a critical role in helping arrest environmental degradation. More... [803 views] M & C Hotels appoints new President for the Americas.Millennium & Copthorne Hotels & Resorts announce the appointment of Mr Sudheer Raghavan as its President for the Americas. Sudheer, a Singaporean who has a Master of Science Degree from Cranfield Institute of Technology in the UK, will take up his appointment on 1 August 2005. More... [547 views] Hilton Hotels CEO: No merger with Hilton Group soonSteve Bollenbach, the co-chairman and chief executive of U.S.-based Hilton Hotels Corp., has dashed hopes of an imminent merger with Hilton Group PLC, which operates the brand outside the U.S., the Financial Times reports in an article on its Web site Thursday. More... [770 views] InterContinental Hotels Group steps up focus on Crowne Plaza growthInterContinental Hotels Group, the world’s largest and most global hotel company, continues to grow distribution in the Americas, with a heavy emphasis on franchising the Crowne Plaza brand. “Crowne Plaza growth started off strong in 2005, on the heels of a year where more Crowne Plaza properties were added to the portfolio than during any of the past five years,” said Kirk Kinsell, senior vice president and chief development officer, the Americas, IHG. More... [751 views] Singapore to see tourists double in 10 years - but will the hotel industry be ready?Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore has for centuries been a bridge between the East and West, bursting with culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. The country ranks among one of the smallest and most densely populated in the world. However, this has not stopped Singapore from thinking big. More... [783 views] Condominium Hotels and Fractional Ownership Where to next?During the past few years a lot has been said about the cutting edge new vacation ownership models, but a “belly button” approach has been undermining the possibility of expansion of this concept into new markets. Europe, Middle East and Africa, including the Indian Ocean offer an entire new portfolio of opportunities including some of the most desirable destinations and prestige locations. So why has it been so difficult for the new wave of hospitality real estate concept to penetrate these regions? More... [785 views] Thanks to HORECA Beirut is Again a Destination for Hospitality ActivitiesHORECA this year will take place from June 21-24 at BIEL, marking its 12th year with a significant number of confirmed international exhibitors and an expected high turn out of local and foreign visitors. The Levant’s largest and most regional hospitality and food event is believed to be a significant catalyst in jumpstarting a promising hospitality season. More... [557 views] Hilton has high hopes for IrelandLuxury hotel operator Hilton has set its sights on expanding in Ireland. Executives are looking at new locations in Dublin and Cork after signing a contract to operate the Mount Wolseley Hilton Hotel, Spa and Country Club in Co. Carlow More... [556 views] Germany sets the stage for World Cup eventPreparations are ongoing in the twelve host cities with the construction and renovation of stadiums and hotels for the three million visitors expected to attend the 2006 FIFA World Cup from June to July 2006. More... [528 views] Fiji hotels stay full in off-seasonLocals dominated hotel accommodation during weekends in Nadi leaving very little room for tourists and transiting visitors. Fiji Visitors Bureau chief executive Viliame Gavoka said in The Fiji Times that while this did not pose a problem during the off season, the busier months could see a shortage of rooms. More... [497 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 9, 2005To the mattresses -Testing the beds at six New York and Miami hotelsWe wanted to know how the new hotel beds compare to some longtime favorites. Peter Jon Lindberg volunteered for duty. Hotel chains are spending millions of dollars and countless hours of market research to enhance your "sleep experience," but does that necessarily mean you'll rest easier? To find out whether these efforts are actually working, I checked into six properties in New York and Miami, pitting newcomers in the luxury-bed world (Crowne Plaza, Marriott, Grand Hyatt) against the original branded bed (Westin) and two luxury gold standards (Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons). By Peter Jon Lindberg, T+L editor-at-large More... [1412 views] Fairmont to Install Check-in Kiosks with innovative Guestroom Mapping and Airline Check-In-FeaturesTeams with IBM to Debut Industry-First Guestroom Mapping and Airline Check-In Features.Building on its rich history of technology innovation, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today embarked on a plan to revolutionize the guest registration process by announcing plans to install self-service kiosks in its hotels in North America. Deployed to service the ever-evolving expectations of business and leisure travelers alike, the brand's latest technology initiative will commence with an installation at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York More... [686 views] Four Seasons and JMB confirm intention to sell Ritz-Carlton ChicagoFour Seasons Hotels Inc. (TSX Symbol "FSH.SV"; NYSE Symbol "FS") and Urban Investment ("Urban"), a subsidiary of JMB Realty Corporation ("JMB"), indirect owner of the Ritz- Carlton Chicago, confirmed today that they have agreed to begin a process to sell all or part of the ownership interest in the Hotel. Four Seasons and Urban have also agreed that, upon completion of the sale, Four Seasons will cease managing the Hotel and will be entitled to receive payment, an amount which Four Seasons believes will compensate it for the value of its long-term management contract. More... [621 views] Affordable Luxury at Tsunami Hit ResortsHolidaying in dream-like resorts that cater to the well-heeled usually comes with a hefty price tag. But since tourism was hit by last year's tsunami, luxury has become more affordable. Phuket, where most resorts were at best half full in the four months following the disaster, has been the most aggressive in its attempt to lure back spenders, big or small. More... [640 views] Spanish Hotel Chains set-out internet distribution strategy.Spanish hotel chains are taking control over their ecommerce distribution by making several important decisions to their strategy. Online distribution is a market that has developed from nothing into one of the main resources of reservations for hotels in Spain in the last 5 years. From being used to work with the classic tour operators the hotels have been slightly taken by surprise by the growth of the ecommerce market at first. In no time it represented 20 to 40% of their market mix. It is a very powerful distribution channel. More... [713 views] Ashford to sell five hotelsAshford Hospitality Trust Inc. on Monday said it has five hotels under contract for sale to four separate buyers. The deal is worth $29.85 million, Ashford said. The sale of three of the hotels is expected to close this month, yielding proceeds of $18.85 million. The remaining two hotel sales are expected to close before Dec. 31 for proceeds of $11 million.
More... [480 views] Shangri-La introduces "Best Rate Guarantee"Shangri-La guarantees its customers that no other website will offer a better room rate than what is available on www.shangri-la.com. Should an online booker find a lower room rate elsewhere within 24 hours of making a reservation online, the hotel will not only match the lower rate but apply a further 10% discount. More... [611 views] China will be biggest outbound market by 2007According to the UK’s Economist Intelligence Unit, 28.5m tourists will fly out of China this year. This will rise further, following last year's decision by the Chinese government to increase to 90 the number of destinations worldwide approved for its citizens to visit. By 2007, the country is expected to replace the US as the largest originator of world tourists. More... [609 views] Rated hotels in Beijing to scrap disposable toiletriesTourists traveling to Beijing will have to pack their own toothpaste and brush beginning June 13 as 13 rated hotels in the city announced they will stop supplying the toiletries in their guest rooms. The phasing out of toothpaste, toothbrushes, slippers, bath soap, shampoo and combs in hotel rooms will help protect the environment by reducing waste, said a managing official with the Jianguo Group, a hotel conglomerate in Beijing. More... [624 views] Whiteface Region Leads Essex County Tourism InitiativeBusinesses in the Whiteface Region will be the first to sport a new Forever Adirondack Quality Assurance Logo in the coming months. The region is leading the county in a progressive Quality Assurance initiative that aims to increase consumer confidence in area businesses and enhance the brand of the region as a competitive visitor destination. More... [444 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 8, 2005Where do your online reservations really come from?The opportunity to sell rooms or generate reservations online (through web-based protocol) has evolved tremendously over the past few years. Many, if not most, hotels worldwide are aware and try to take an active part in online reservations yields promising results. Nevertheless, hotelier has to keep in mind that online reservations can in fact be made from many sources: they could have come from third party portals (intermediaries) or as well from a hotel’s own website. More... [1297 views] Starwood Hotels Unveils New BrandWith the DNA of W Hotels, ''Project XYZ'' to Introduce Style, Design and Whimsy at Comfortable Rates Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. will debut a new hotel brand to provide style, design and energy at comfortable rates. The brand is being developed by the team that created W Hotels, widely regarded as the most successful new hotel brand in decades. More... [1068 views] City Living Reinvented By Ian SchragerOne-of-a-Kind, Show Stopping Residences With All the Benefits of a Unique World Class Hotel to Offer an Unprecedented Level of Luxury Services Simply Not Available Any Place Else More... [776 views] Merchant deals: Don't loose your commercial logicAs global hotel giants such as InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) slog it out with the third-party online distributors, small groups and independents are happy to sit back and watch their hotels fill up with savvy internet shoppers who have researched and booked their rooms through the likes of Expedia and Priceline. While the big boys are struggling to regain lost ground and revenues, the smaller players look at the online intermediaries as welcome partners who are giving them a fighting chance to compete on a level playing field. By Steve Shellum Editor/Publisher of Hotel Asia Pacific More... [735 views] Ex-Meridien VP joins Macdonald HotelsMalcolm Ross has been appointed deputy chief executive of Macdonald Hotels and Resorts. He joins from Le Meridien Hotels where he was vice president, Europe More... [781 views] The World Made Irresistible" by InterContinental HotelsInterContinental Hotels & Resorts rolls out the red carpet for guests with the latest Luxury Escapes promotion designed to make every stay an exceptional experience. Currently available until 1 September 2005, Luxury Escapes offers discerning guests a range of luxury accommodation and attractive privileges at more than 130 InterContinental hotels and resorts globally. More... [769 views] Does a 42-Inch Plasma TV Justify a 4-Star Hotel Price?A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to the remarkable profusion of top-shelf five-star luxury hotels operated by major chains in cities here and around the world. Now domestic hotel companies are trying to get you to pay more attention to the category one star down the ladder. With business travel up and prosperity returning to the lodging business, business travelers are edging back to four-star hotels. So the big chains are scrambling to liven up and clearly define their four stars, whether they be a Sheraton, a Marriott or, in the case at hand, a Hilton. More... [1180 views] The Westin Kuala Lumpur sees changesThe Westin Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Residences, which turns two this September, will initiate some changes over the next three months that could help the hotel reach its RM72 million revenue target in the current year ending December 31 2005. This would represent a 27 per cent revenue increase over the RM58 million chalked up last year. More... [825 views] Doubletree Hotels Continues Strong Growth Pattern In Development PipelineDoubletree Hotels announced that between January and June of this year the brand has added nine new hotels to its growing roster. This rapid growth pattern puts Doubletree on a solid development pace that could potentially add nearly 20 hotels to the brand's current collection of 160 full-service properties during 2005. More... [658 views] Luxurious New Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik Becomes First Hilton Hotel in CroatiaHilton Hotels, Suites and Resorts is proud to announce the opening of the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, the first Hilton in Croatia, which began welcoming guests on May 1. The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is the outcome of a 25 million Euro investment made by the shipping company Atlantska Plovidba, Hilton International and the Austrian construction company Bau Holding Strabag. The hotel is strategically positioned on the edge of the historic city walls that enclose the old city, set in a beautiful garden and boasting a great sea view. More... [539 views] Procaccianti Group to buy five Doubletree hotelsThe Procaccianti Group said on Monday it had signed a deal to buy three Doubletree Guest Suites and two Doubletree hotels from GE Asset Management for $300 million More... [485 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 7, 2005Hospitality "QED", or, that's latin to me!Most of us can reasonably define Hospitality, but the Romans certainly knew how to establish expectations with QED – Quad Erat Demonstrandum, translated as, “which was to be demonstrated”. QED is an acronym we see in use quite frequently, although never applied to the Hospitality Industry. But, that is what it is all about, Demonstration, present, past and future tense, how we frame an experience for the Visitor and Guest, how we deliver on that promise, and how we move forward, further exceeding their expectations.By John R. Hendrie, CEO, Hospitality Performance, Inc. More... [885 views] High-tech hotels: The 'wow' vs. the `how?'In a survey in March of 1,000 Americans, commissioned by Hilton Hotels Corp., fewer than one in five said they relied on a hotel's alarm clock when traveling. Most brought their own or ordered a wake-up call. When it comes to user-friendly technology, there is room for improvement in the lodging industry, said Alan Hedge, professor of ergonomics at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and a frequent traveler. More... [835 views] New Chairman of CDL Hotels New ZealandMillennium & Copthorne (M&C) Hotels plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Tsang Jat Meng as the Chairman of CDL Hotels New Zealand and CDL Investments New Zealand with effect from 25 May It is believed that Mr. Tsang is the only Singapore-born Chairman of a listed group in that country. More... [649 views] $20M Pillow case: allergic guest sues Waldorf-AstoriaAn Irish businesswoman is accusing The Waldorf-Astoria hotel of nearly killing her — with a feather pillow. Eileen Boulger, 36, a bridal-shop owner with a deadly allergy to feathers, is suing the swank hotel for $20 million for allegedly placing a feather pillow and duvet in her hotel room last month, causing an allergy attack that almost took her life. More... [1879 views] Accor sees fast recovery for Phuket propertiesFrench hotel group Accor said Friday that occupancy in its two properties on the southern Thai island of Phuket has recovered from 10-15 percent in the aftermath of the December tsunami to almost 50 percent over the past month, close to last year’s level for this season. More... [550 views] ICCA Statistics International Meetings Market 2004 PublishedMarket share per continent Europe had the largest global market share in 2004 with 60%. Asia’s market share rose from 16% in 2003 to 18% of the total number of meetings in 2004, at the cost of Europe, which dropped by 2%. Other regions of the world remained relatively the same. More... [453 views] Myra H. deGersdorff Named Area General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New OrleansMyra H. deGersdorff was named the new Area General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans which includes The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, The Maison Orleans and The Iberville Suites hotels. More... [1132 views] 2005 Manhattan Hotel Market Overview Manhattan to exceed 2000 occupancy and average rate levels by year-end 2005 - Manhattan market showed very robust increases in 2004 and is forecast to achieve a RevPAR increase of nearly 17% by year-end 2005 More... [518 views] Meet discusses ways to enhance tourism - QatarVarious issues related to the hospitality sector in Qatar and ways and means to improve the experience of visitors to Qatar came up for discussion at the first meeting of the Qatar Tourism Authority's newly established Hospitality Management Group that was held recently at the Inter-Continental Hotel. The meeting also discussed what efforts should be made to raise the overall levels of service quality and standards of hospitality in the country. More... [554 views] Accor Announces Largest Ever Expansion In Thailand And VietnamNew southern Thai resorts show confidence in post-tsunami recovery. Accor announced today its most significant expansion in Thailand and Vietnam since it entered the region's hotel market more than two decades ago, with six new hotels and beach resorts added to its fast growing regional network. More... [628 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 6, 2005Symon Bridle appointed Chief Operating Officer of Shangri-La Hotels and ResortsSymon Bridle has been appointed chief operating officer of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group. In this new position, created in response to the company's rapid growth, Mr. Bridle will supervise the hotels' vice presidents to ensure optimal operational and financial performance among existing and opening hotels, as well as represent the management company to owners and shareholders. More... [1131 views] Follow Trends, One Guest At A TimeCustomization is King. From Casual dining concepts offering mix-and-match dinners, to Hoteliers like Joie de Vivre providing first time guests a tour of San Francisco completely tailored to the desires of the guest, brands are seeing the value of giving the guest both a choice and a role in creating the outcome. This is not new. Fuddruckers' original success was a direct result of giving the guest a chance to "make the World's Greatest Hamburger". More... [672 views] Who is In and Who is Out - Global Staff MovementsThe latest global update on executive staff movements.... More... [2129 views] World's Most Luxurious BeachesThe world is full of beautiful beaches. Many of them are located in idyllic, out-of-the-way locations that are best reached by boat, or at least via a long walk through the underbrush. The drawback to these beaches, though, is that the accommodations are usually a tent, you have to cook your own food and the local nightlife has either wings or fur.
More... [1262 views] Ever Heard of a Medieval design hotel?The term "design hotel" does not typically conjure up images of three interconnected 14th century buildings in a near perfectly preserved medieval town. But one probably also wouldn't expect this same town to harbour a vibrant nightlife, cutting-edge fashion and design, and gourmet cuisines behind its centuries old facades. The Three Sisters hotel in Tallinn, Estonia shows that special properties sometimes come in unusual packages in unexpected places. More... [620 views] Overseas markets gain strength in March in CanadaEuropean and Asia/Pacific markets continued to make positive gains in March 2005, although overall international travel to British Columbia decreased slightly, with overnight customs entries declining 1.2 per cent in March compared to the same month last year, and year-to-date entries decreasing 1.6 per cent to 770,069. More... [413 views] Hilton, Doubletree and Embassy Suites Hotels Sign Deal to Open More Starbucks StoresMore guests of Hilton, Doubletree and Embassy Suites Hotels will begin their day with delicious Starbucks(R) beverages and pastries now that Hilton Hotels Corporation has entered into a master licensing agreement with Starbucks that will enable selected Hilton Family full service hotels to operate Starbucks licensed stores. The hotel-based stores will provide new outlets for Starbucks customers to enjoy Starbucks brewed coffee and espresso drinks, Frappuccino(R) blended beverages, Tazo(R) teas, and a variety of pastries. More... [544 views] Web Bookings Surge at the new Swissôtel.com - New Features Added to Further Gain MomentumWithin four months of its launch, swissotel.com’s room night bookings have grown by more than 50% while daily hits grew by over 150% over previous year. Growth of revenue gained through swissotel.com, at over 60% over previous year, is outpacing the industry average of about 30%. More... [650 views] New "Living History" book series for historic hotelsDestinations Press Ltd., publisher of the popular Travel Memories series of destination gift books, has announced that it is developing a new book series for America`s historic hotels. Each book in the series will feature one legendary hotel, telling the story of the hotel`s rich history by bringing it to life with lively text and beautiful illustrations. More... [435 views] Senior Globetrotters Enjoy “Year-Round Holidays” With Special Rates at WORLDHOTELSDiscounts of up to 20% or more with Senior Citizen rate. Senior travellers can enjoy year-round holidays at WORLDHOTELS’ independent hotels and resorts, following the introduction of special Senior Citizen rates at properties worldwide. More... [462 views] Sleep Sweeter at Sheraton HotelsSleep has become serious business and competition is heating up with Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announcement of the roll out of more than 40,000 new beds in over 100 Sheraton Hotels across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. More... [1107 views] Singapore Visitor arrivals for April 2005 - registering a 7.5% growthSingapore welcomed 702,170 visitors in April 2005, registering a 7.5% growth over the same period in 2004 . This improvement resulted in an estimated S$858 million in tourism receipts in April 2005, a 17% increase over April 2004. More... [438 views] Hotels in Jakarta told to beef up securityHotels in this Indonesian capital are beefing up security following a warning from the US embassy that extremists could target hotels frequented by foreigners, reports Xinhua. The Jakarta Police Friday asked hotel operators to be on the alert for possible terrorist attacks and to increase security measures. More... [546 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 3, 2005Marriott sees strong profit growth through 2008Hotel operator Marriott International Inc. expects earnings to rise at a compound annual rate of 17 percent to 22 percent through 2008, based on strong increases in room revenue this year, followed by more modest gains. More... [784 views] Is the Check-In Kiosk in the Lobby for Real?Dust collectors. That is what employees at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers call their new automated check-in kiosks, as one guest who has repeatedly tried to use them found. "I was checking in, and try as hard as I might, the kiosk wouldn't cooperate," Henry Harteveldt recalled. He flagged down a staff member and said, "This doesn't seem to work." "Oh," she shrugged. "You mean our dust collector? It never works." More... [1357 views] Coming to a casino near you, big, fat whales.Yeoh Siew Hoon goes whale-spotting at the Jones Lang LaSalle conference in Singapore, More... [687 views] Peninsula Group's business ahead of last yearHongkong and Shanghai Hotels, operator of the luxurious Peninsula hotel chain, said yesterday that business so far this year was ahead of the same time last year and predicted a rosy outlook for Hong Kong's tourism industry in the long-term. More... [509 views] Singapore Sentosa Island Resort C.E.O. to address record number of delegates at HOTEC ASIA 2005Darrell Metzger, Chief Executive of the Sentosa Island Resort in Singapore, is one of the key speakers at this year’s HOTEC ASIA, which will be running for the 5th time from the 31st October to the 2nd November. Since his appointment in 2002, Metzger has spearheaded an extensive, ten-year programme to re-organise the business and transform Sentosa island into a world-class lifestyle destination More... [594 views] Second Annual Cornell Hotel Society Spa-Celebrity Chef Weekend Announced for June 23-26, 2005The AZ Chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society has announced their Second Annual Spa Educational Conference-Celebrity Chef Weekend to be held at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort over the weekend of June 23-25. Following on the very successful Inaugural Spa-Celebrity Chef Weekend last year, the chapter was urged by participants to follow up in 2005 and make the weekend an annual affair. Details are available at www.chs-spa.com. More... [457 views] Asia's market share in Meetings increased but Europe`s droppedEurope had the largest global market share in 2004 with 60%. Asia`s market share rose from 16% in 2003 to 18% of the total number of meetings in 2004, at the cost of Europe, which dropped by 2%. Other regions of the world remained relatively the same. More... [486 views] Hotel Negotiating Tougher: Buyers Revising Strategies For 2006Travel buyers this month told BusinessTravel News that tougher hotel rate negotiations for 2005 have made them rethink their approach to negotiations this fall for 2006 rates. Strategies run the gamut from seeking chainwide deals to providing negotiated rates in more markets to better ensuring the equitable application of last room availability provisions. More... [610 views] Hilton appoints two new members to board of directorsBarbara Bell Coleman and senior financial services executive Christine Garvey have joined Hilton Hotel Corp.'s board of directors. More... [579 views] Hotel rates to jump in U.S. key citiesHotel rates in seven U.S. gateway cities are projected to increase an average of 10.8 percent in June and 6.4 percent in July, compared to the same months in 2004, according to projections made today by JP Morgan Chase. The data is the latest evidence that buyers can expect stiff rate negotiations for 2006 in the markets where they are likely to have the greatest volume. More... [528 views] ITE 2005 to benefit from growing list of Seminars"Wine and Dine in French countryside", "Sahara trip in Libya", and "Arctic Adventures in Finland" are some of topics that will be presented in travel seminars at the International Travel Expo (ITE) in Hong Kong this year. In addition, attendants will also be able to learn about chartering a cruise in the Mediterranean or cruising around the World, cultural tour in Latin America, driving tour in New Zealand, Safari and eco-tours in South Africa, to name but a few. More... [433 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 2, 2005Armani Hotels and Resorts launchedFollowing the signing of a Letter of Intent in 2004, Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and EMAAR Hotels & Resorts LLC are pleased to announce that their respective Chairmen, Mr. Giorgio Armani and Mr. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, have today executed the formal contractual agreement between the two companies for the development of a unique international collection of 'Armani Hotels and Resorts'. More... [1533 views] Last month's most viewed Newsletter articles....Last month's most viewed Newsletter articles.... check it out. More... [1280 views] Kempinski adds two new mid east properties in biggest global expansion drive everKempinski Hotels & Resorts unveiled details of its regional expansion programme according to which the opening of two new five star properties in the UAE and Jordan scheduled for completion over the next 12 months and the launch of two more Middle East hotels, which are currently on the drawing board. More... [709 views] According to PKF Hospitality: Hotel Energy Costs; Not So Shocking NewsEntering 2005, news of oil exceeding $50 a barrel and gasoline rising far above $2 per gallon made hotel owners and operators wonder whether rising utility costs and declining demand will stymie the industry recovery. Fortunately, it appears that the U.S. lodging industry will not experience any significant negative impact from the recent spikes in energy costs. More... [789 views] InterContinental Hotels links regional growth to booming sports tourism sectorFast cars, galloping thoroughbreds and world-class athletes are contributing to a new wave of tourism in the Middle East . With countries in the region investing heavily in attracting international sporting events, the boost to the `sporting tourism sector` has been phenomenal, acknowledges the InterContinental Hotels Group. More... [731 views] UK hotels report 3.4% YTD revPAR growthAccording to new figures from TRI Hospitality Consulting, revenue per available room (revPAR) at UK hotels increased by 11.3% year-on-year to £55.36 in April 2005. More... [473 views] Accor Asia Pacific Managing Director Michael Issenberg speaks of China Expansion PlansAccor is to manage three new Sofitel hotels in China, located in Hangzhou, Haikou and Liyang. Two of the hotels are scheduled to open by the end of 2005, which will extend the number of Sofitel hotels opening in China this year to eight. More... [775 views] KOU - Hong Kong’s First Lifestyle Concept Boutique Opens in JuneKOU, a unique new lifestyle boutique designed in the style of a luxurious mansion is to open in mid-June, bringing a totally new and exciting concept in shopping to Hong Kong. More... [852 views] Emirates Towers Hotel partners with Chopard to launch first ladies-only floor in the Middle EastThe award-winning Emirates Towers Hotel, part of Dubai-based luxury hospitality group Jumeirah International, announced the launching of the Middle East`s first hotel floor exclusively for women . In the first initiative of its kind, the ladies-only floor was launched in association with Chopard, featuring amenities by Chopard exclusively. More... [790 views] Le Meridien Teams Up With Cornell To Develop Knowledge And Skills Of Its EmployeesGlobal hotel group Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts is collaborating with Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and has launched a Professional Development Programme designed to improve the strategic management, knowledge and skills of high potential employees from hotels and corporate support offices worldwide. More... [813 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 1, 200510 GREAT INFINITY POOLSWhat is it about a swimming pool with water that appears to flow right over its edge, to infinity? It is the WOWfactor, says Mary Gostelow, editor-in-chief www.WOWtraveler.net. Here are some favorites. More... [1951 views] At Some European Hotels, Three's a CrowdRing the unmarked doorbell at 5, rue de Moussy, a small street in the chic Marais district of Paris, and you'll encounter a new breed of luxury accommodation, a concept so new that it has yet to be properly labeled. Minihotel? Lifestyle suite? Haute B & B? More... [1056 views] RSS: What It Is and Why You Must CareOnly 5 percent of Americans have caught on to a free, easy-to-use technology that will permanently change how people get information online. That technology is Really Simple Syndication, or RSS. It works by pulling feeds from Web sites and blogs, making new content available as it’s posted. Underlying RSS is Extensible Markup Language (XML), whose main purpose is to facilitate the sharing of structured text, data and information across the Internet. More... [790 views] Ritz-Carlton Hotel to Appear in MoscowThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company will open its first 332-room hotel in Moscow in the middle of 2006. “Our expansion into Russia signifies an exciting strategic move for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. More... [608 views] International tourism meeting in Chilean PatagoniaThe number of foreign tourists arriving in Chile has been increasing at an annual rate of 15%, and Magallanes Region stands above the national average revealed Oscar Santelices, head of the Chilean Tourist Services Board during an international meeting taking place in Punta Arenas. More... [488 views] Watching Barry Diller's InternetFor those of you still wondering why an old-line media mogul like Barry Diller wanted to pay roughly $2 billion for an underdog Internet search engine like Ask Jeeves, Diller himself is happy to try to explain. At the D3 Conference, the media mogul told a roomful of geeks that in today's world of technology, content guys are more important than ever. More... [548 views] InterContinental Hotels Group holds largest and most global online saleCelebrating its 10-year anniversary as the first hotel company to take online reservations, InterContinental Hotels Group is offering 20 percent or more off room rates for summer travel around the world. More... [716 views] Internet`s influence, business development, latest travel trends were hot topics at 5th Annual Resort Management ConferenceThe latest buzz words and travel trends, such as "Togethering" and "Strategic Control," along with forecasts, a lodging outlook and more than a dozen breakout sessions to educate resort management professionals headlined the agenda at the 5th Annual Resort Management Conference. Other hot topics were Internet marketing, de-mystifying distribution, building business health, and marketing to meeting planners. More... [615 views] Rezidor SAS launches online destination guidesRezidor SAS Hospitality, the international multi-brand hotel management company, is launching interactive destination guides for its Radisson SAS and Park Inn brand websites. The guides are being provided for five launch destinations (Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Oslo and Paris) covering 16 properties initially, and will be rolled out to other Rezidor SAS destinations in several phases. More... [575 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: June 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 30, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 29, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 28, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 27, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 24, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 23, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 22, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 21, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 20, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 17, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 16, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 15, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 14, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 13, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 10, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 9, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 8, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 7, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 6, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 3, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 2, 2005Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 1, 2005
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