  ResourcesDirectories
News Archive Search |
ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: September 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 29, 2006Budgeting for a Robust Internet Marketing Strategy in 2007A Best Practices Guide to Aid in Developing the 2007 Hotel Online Marketing Budget - As many hotels enter the 2007 budget planning season, this article aims to help hoteliers construct a competitive Internet marketing budget. The hotel’s overall competitiveness today is determined to a great extent by how well it manages its Internet marketing and distribution efforts. It is not a question of how big the budget should be, but rather what to include and how much to allocate in the Internet marketing budget for a meaningful ROI and online revenue growth. By Max Starkov and Jason Price More... [1820 views] For hotel guests, mints on pillows no longer sufficePlasma televisions, granite countertops and designer armchairs are no longer trappings of the rich and famous. Fiercely competitive hotel chains are spending millions on high-tech gadgets and luxurious furniture to lure customers in what increasingly resembles an interior-design arms race. Some hotels, many not very old, are undergoing complete renovations. Others are upgrading in phases, replacing ordinary furnishings with exceptional ones and making costly enhancements to common areas and meeting space. More... [1781 views] Bully MarketingSubtlety seems to be lost on Madison Avenue, where advertisers have no compunction telling customers to Just Do It, Get Out There, Be Hospitable, Live Richly or Think Different. It's called "didactic marketing," the new industry catchphrase used to describe the dictatorial trend in advertising. For many companies, the soft sell is out. Ordering customers around is in. More... [769 views] Marriott ranks seventh most innovative user of technology in USMarriott International has been named one of the top ten most innovative users of technology in the U.S. by InformationWeek magazine. Placing seventh overall among 500 companies, Marriott was the highest ranked hospitality and travel company on the list for the second straight year. More... [871 views] China hotel industry on fast boilForeign investment in China’s newest hotel properties is surprising. Patrick Ford, CEO of US hotel industry research group, Lodging Econometric, said, ‘It is hot to the highest point. For hotel operators, China is one of the most attractive places in the world. Therefore, the funds are being invested in an endless stream and major international hotel brands are vying to get in.’ More... [803 views] Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong reopens its doorsA traditional ceremony was held to mark the reopening of the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Nine months to the day since it closed for a comprehensive US$ 140 million renovation, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Chief Executive, Edouard Ettedgui, the hotel’s General Manager, Peter French, Hong Kong socialite Christina Lee and world-renowned actress, fashion icon and Mandarin Oriental fan, Maggie Cheung cut the ribbon to declare the property officially reopened. More... [937 views] Andre Agassi and Exclusive Resorts to Co-Develop Luxury Resort Real EstateExclusive Resorts, the world's leading luxury destination club, today announced that it has formed a partnership with tennis legend Andre Agassi. Together, Exclusive Resorts and Agassi Graf Development LLC announced plans to co-develop luxury resort real estate, design Agassi-Graf Tennis and Fitness Centers, and enhance the tennis and fitness experiences for Exclusive Resorts members as they travel the world. More... [1025 views] Two New Hilton Hotels Set to Open in IrelandHilton is set to increase its presence in Ireland with two new, contemporary, full service properties - due to open in Limerick and Dublin Kilmainham early in 2007. Hilton will operate the long term management contracts for the hotels which are owned by Lalco, one of Ireland’s leading development companies. Lalco has invested over €80 million in the development of the two hotels. Together the hotels will create more than 250 jobs in the Dublin and Limerick areas. More... [740 views] World Travel Awards: Thirteen years of travel benchmarkingThe World Travel Awards (WTA) has announced the results of one of the world`s most comprehensive travel trade polls of its kind, at the gala ceremony in Turks and Caicos, which was attended by over 350 travel executives. This year saw nearly 50 new elements enter the World Travel Awards, boosting the number of categories for the tourism industry to 791. More... [610 views] New hotel training center in ChinaSichuan Royalton International Hotel and Tour Management Academy has signed a cooperation agreement with CHN University Netherlands to set up a hotel management training center in China. The investment will be around RMB850 million. More... [715 views] Four Seasons adds another jewel to Thai collection with the opening of Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui early 2007Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is adding a fourth property to its Thai Collection with the announcement of a planned beach resort on the island of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. The opening, scheduled for February 2007, will reveal a secluded island retreat on the island's northwest Laem Yai peninsula. More... [864 views] Swiss Mountain Resort Pioneers the World’s First Coaster SystemThis winter sees the launch of the world’s first ever coaster system at the newly refurbished five-star Tschuggen Grand Hotel in the Swiss alpine resort of Arosa, Switzerland. The project, following six years of development, is an innovative transport system connecting the Tschuggen Grand Hotel to the heart of Arosa’s mountain ski slopes. More... [1031 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 28, 2006Rezidor SAS announces appointment of new Chief Operating OfficerRezidor SAS Hospitality, one of the fastest growing hospitality companies in the world, has announced the appointment of Thorsten Kirschke as Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 September 2006. More... [976 views] A crisis so immediate and obvious, you may have already missed itIs there a bigger challenge than designing the Guest Room of the Future, building the most extraordinary mixed-use resort facility, identifying the dining trends of the rich and famous or creating the next terrifying yet exhilarating theme park ride? Might we posit, there is. Who, in five years will deliver on your Brand promises, for Hospitality, in particular, and all businesses will be facing a most severe shortage of labor and certainly talent. By Brecca Loh, Cobalt Strategic Partners And John R. Hendrie, Hospitality Performance More... [1041 views] Beware Of "Barnum Effects" In Organizational AssessmentsProfessionals should avoid assessments with overly general and useless reports that "describe" virtually everyone. Best Practice assessments provide specific, actionable and evidence-based feedback grounded in Item Response Theory testing methods. By Jim Houran and Gene Ference More... [757 views] 55,000 rooms confirmed for development, making the UAE the world's largest hotel development pipelineJones Lang LaSalle Hotels have reported that 55,000 luxury 4 and 5 star hotel rooms are expected to be completed in the next five years across the UAE. Dubai is leading the market with the confirmed development of more than half of all projects, followed closely by Abu Dhabi. Arthur de Haast, Global CEO Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels says, 'Last year the confirmed pipeline of projects that were under construction or in advanced stages of planning stood at approximately 35,000 rooms. More... [1049 views] How Much? Many AnswersThere is no talking your way out of a mandatory $1-a-night telephone service charge at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. And when Dennis C. Tucker saw the surcharge on his bill recently, he did not even try. “I paid it,” said Mr. Tucker, a librarian from Modesto, Calif., who was in Las Vegas for a job interview. “But I don’t think I should have. I never picked up the phone, except to call room service.” Mandatory extras such as Excalibur’s phone fee, which covers the cost of unlimited local calls made from its rooms, are hardly new. For years, hotels have increasingly saddled their customers with nonnegotiable surcharges for everything from the use of an in-room safe to a general resort fee that pays for amenities that were once part of the room rate. More... [796 views] New hotel with private path to the wild Great Wall of ChinaA new modernist hotel with private access to an unrestored section of the Great Wall of China, opens this week. The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski is located in the Shuiguan Mountains, one hour's drive from Beijing. More... [858 views] Spain's Sol Meliá Hotels unveil international brand overhaulTo celebrate the 50th anniversary of Spain’s leading international hotelier Sol Meliá, the Meliá brand will undergo an overhaul based on the results of an extensive research project to meet the needs of today’s consumer. The renovation will be carried out over the next three years in over 30 hotels More... [879 views] Thailand's new airport to secure country's futureToday's official opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok's new international airport gives new impetus to the country`s quest to make Bangkok and Thailand the aviation hub of the region. Named `Suvarnabhumi` (meaning `Golden Land`) by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the development of Suvarnabhumi Airport as the aviation hub of the region is of strategic importance to Thailand`s future and is a priority on the "national agenda". More... [672 views] Mixed concept luxury developments planned for Shanghai and JiangsuOrient Overseas International is making an aggressive push into the hospitality market with plans to build up to four luxury hotel-commercial-service flats in Shanghai and in Jiangsu province at a cost of about one billion yuan. The group will build three developments in Shanghai's town centre and one in Hua Qiao, Jiangsu, about 35km from the People's Park in Shanghai. More... [624 views] Regent Hotels & Resorts' global expansion begins with opening of The Regent South Beach in late fall 2006Since the integration of Regent Hotels & Resorts and Regent Seven Seas in March 2006, The Regent brand has seen a surge in hotel development. In late fall 2006 , The Regent South Beach, Fla., kicks off a series of hotel openings for the luxury hotel brand throughout the U.S., Asia, Europe and the Middle East. More... [804 views] Hotels in Hainan count their starsThe number of stars that a hotel should have is very arbitary — except in China. In theory, there is always an official body which uses standard criteria for classifying hotels, but in many there is none. There have been attempts at unifying the classification system so that it becomes an internationally recognized and reliable standard but large differences still exist in the quality of the accommodation and the food within one category of hotel, sometimes even in the same country. More... [637 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 27, 2006My pet peeves about press tripsYeoh Siew Hoon was asked by someone how many press trips she’s been on and how many invites she gets a year. Her answers – too many to recall and not enough. She bares her soul about why some fam trips don’t work, and shares a few tips on how best to do it. After this column, I probably will not be invited on another press trip again. More... [1485 views] Create and Commit to a Brand World ViewMarketing has a central and powerful role to play in guiding a business to success. Beyond the creation and execution of brand communication, it holds the responsibility to be a brand evangelist, offering a brand world view that serves as context to all that a company does. By RIck Hendirie More... [805 views] Performance Clauses Essential In ContractThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in November 2002. By Steve Rushmore More... [1004 views] Toughest Travel DestinationsThese countries aren't just hard to get around--they're difficult to even get into. Fancy spending your next vacation in a Communist country, strict Islamist state or desolate archipelago? These days you can--but it'll cost you. Well-heeled vacationers are increasingly hearing the siren song of locations such as Libya, North Korea or Myanmar --isolated countries known not for pampering hotels or top shopping areas, but for strict and often arbitrary entrance requirements and severely limited tourism infrastructures. They give new meaning to the term "exclusive." By Sophia Banay, Forbes.com More... [803 views] Strong August performance completes a sizzling summer for UK hotelsLondon hotels continued to deliver a record-breaking performance in August according to the preliminary figures released today by PKF hotel consultancy services while regional hotels delivered solid year on year growth. More... [526 views] A new world class luxury Jumeirah Hotel to open in LondonJumeirah, the dynamic and rapidly growing luxury hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has been selected to create one of the world’s most luxurious hotels in a 51-storey glass tower, combining spectacular residential apartments and luxury hotel accommodation, next to the Thames in Southwark. More... [1378 views] 7 Components of a Well-Rounded SEO ProgramHow can you ensure the viability of your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) program well into the future? How can you reduce the impact of search engine algorithm changes and enjoy long-term visibility and ranking? The answer to both questions involves having a well-rounded SEO program. More... [812 views] Carlson Hotels Worldwide Adds Eight New Properties to Its Global Portfolio in AugustCarlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that the company has added eight new locations to its global portfolio of brands in August. These include one Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R) property in India; one Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts location in Ireland; five Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(sm) hotels and one Park Inn(R) hotel in the United States. More... [629 views] Sydney betting on 2010 World Expo to build tourist flowAfter failing to turn the state's exposure during the 2000 Sydney Olympics into a tourism bonanza, the New South Wales (NSW) state government is setting its priority to bid for the 2012 World Expo, according to latest news reports. The state is also jointly bidding to host the 2018 soccer World Cup, along with the Australian Football Federation. More... [528 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 26, 2006How to Add a Touch of Mystery to Your Guest ExperienceIf you want some ideas about how to add mystery to a hotel guest experience, read on. If you’re a fan of customer satisfaction (CS), for goodness sakes, don’t read this! You’ll have a heart attack! If you’re under the thumb of a CS-orientated corporate office, then you won’t be able to do much of this anyway … unless you are courageous and daring! (Pssst! I won’t tell them.) By Peter McAlpine More... [2937 views] Achieving Excellence: How to Truly Understand and Fulfill Customer Needs, Wants, and DesiresMy vision of how to lead a company has always been based on three principles: know your product; understand your customer; and don’t accept mediocrity. Knowing your product is the easiest of the three, although we all have encountered plenty of sales and management staff who don’t. These people need to practice MBIWA (Management by Interacting and Walking Around) and understand their products from the front line. I advise my management staff to get out onto the floors, talk to people in every department, and learn how each part of the product works. By Mark Hamister, CEO, The Hamister Group, Inc. More... [1439 views] Nicholas Clayton is appointed President of Kor Hotel GroupSeasoned hospitality veteran named to lead Los Angeles-based company in expansion efforts both nationally and overseas More... [940 views] Accor launches region's largest ever online room saleOver 50,000 rooms across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji for $50. In a first for the Asia Pacific region, Accor will hold a multi-million dollar Summer sale to relaunch its accorhotels.com.au, accorhotels.co.nz and accorhotels.com.fj websites with 50,000 rooms for sale at just $50 each. The sale is for a limited time, with the $50 rate valid for bookings from 1 December 2006 to 31 January 2007. More... [919 views] Worldwide Electronic Hotel Revenue Up 13.7 Percent in Q2 2006TravelCLICK's quarterly eMonitor results indicate continued robust health for the hotel industry based on electronic distribution performance for the second quarter of 2006. The data shows that worldwide electronic hotel revenue from the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and key Internet sites increased 13.7 percent over the second quarter of 2005. More... [694 views] Leonardo Expands Existing Relationship with Preferred Hotel GroupLeonardo Media, leaders in travel content management, e-marketing and distribution solutions for the global travel chain, announced today they are expanding their relationship with the Preferred Hotel Group to provide a Digital Asset Management platform for rich content media for its four hotel brands: Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Preferred Boutique, Summit Hotels & Resorts and Sterling Hotels. More... [590 views] India’s No. 1 holiday brand to develop 4 new resorts in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, KeralaClub Mahindra plans expansion on 10th anniversary. Club Mahindra Holidays, India’s leading lifetime family holiday company announced major expansion plans and forays into new territories. The Indian vacation ownership giant plans to set-up theme-based resorts in Kumbalgarh in Rajasthan, Lonavala in Maharashtra, Kollam in Kerala, and Corbett in Uttaranchal, expanding its resort offering to nineteen resorts from fifteen currently. More... [1285 views] Regent Beverly Wilshire RenamedNow, booking a room at Hollywood's most prestigious address is even easier, as travel agents and guests can now make reservations for the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, through every Four Seasons booking channel. Formerly known as The Regent Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, full information on the property can also be found at www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire. More... [832 views] Ian Hurst appointed General Manager of 51 Buckingham Gate & Crowne Plaza London St JamesIan Hurst, with over 28 years of experience in the hotel industry, has been appointed General Manager of 51 Buckingham Gate and Crowne Plaza London St James, with effect from 25th September 2006 . More... [1119 views] New Names, New Luxury for Sofitel Hotels in French PolynesiaAccor is re-launching and re-naming its Sofitel hotels in French Polynesia after investing over US$80 million in the upgrading of the four resorts on the beautiful islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. The first Sofitel in French Polynesia, Sofitel Maeva Beach, has been re-launched as Sofitel Tahiti Resort following the completion of the upgrading program of all its rooms and public areas. More... [954 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 25, 2006Meeting the Classic Hotelier: famoushotels goes EuropeIn 1989, Gert Prantner, general manager of the hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany (1975–1993) called The Most Famous Hotels in the World to establish the history of the hotel. The difference in hotel keeping between Asian and European hotels was apparent. In Asia the European way of hospitality management served as a distant sample. In Europe, it had been originated. In Asia you had five employees to fulfil a traditional European task, in Europe you had one competent person who knew what to do and who was even willing to take risks and the responsibility. More... [1192 views] Starwood Hotels & Resorts unveils its newest brand - ELEMENT HOTELSStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today unveiled its new extended-stay hotel brand: ELEMENT, a brand extension of Westin Hotels & Resorts. ELEMENT, formerly known by its working title Project ESW, will redefine extended-stay hospitality, incorporating smart design, modern style and a social environment into a category often associated with look-alike brands and generic features. More... [1287 views] The Palm In His WorldDonald Trump Jr. is executive vice president of development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization, which his father founded in 1980. Trump Jr.'s latest project is the 60-story Trump International Hotel & Tower, a condo hotel and residence on The Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island in the Persian Gulf. By Sophia Banay, Forbes.com More... [905 views] Hotels go for splashy new bathroomsAfter spending billions revamping bedding, bars and lobbies, U.S. hotels are starting to tackle guest bathrooms. The bathroom upgrades — either part of a broad improvement program or new construction designs — come as hotels enjoy record rates and occupancy levels. In the past two years, rates jumped on average 11%, says lodging consultant Bjorn Hanson of PricewaterhouseCoopers. More... [1044 views] Kurt Ritter Celebrates 30 Years at the Helm at Rezidor SAS2006 sees Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor SAS, celebrate 30 years with the group, out of which 17 years as the President & CEO, steering the company through a dramatic growth period, which now sees Rezidor SAS as a global operator of multiple hotel brands. More... [724 views] Greece Tourism in 2010: time for a wake-up callTwo years on from the Olympic Games, Athens has seen hotel occupancy and rates rise as visitor numbers to the city continue to grow. This is the good news. Athens is bucking the post-Olympic gloom experienced by Sydney. A review of hotel performance based on the HotelBenchmark™ Survey by Deloitte shows hotel occupancy in Athens has risen by 7.9% for the first seven months of 2006, up from 61.6% over the same period in 2005. More... [683 views] Forty Percent of All European Travel to be Booked Online by 2008Travel research and strategy firm PhoCusWright Inc. found that almost 40 percent of all types of travel purchased in Europe will be booked online by the end of 2008. The findings are part of a major study conducted by PhoCusWright across five major European markets in summer 2006. More... [754 views] Annette Hammer General Manager of the New Mövenpick Hotel HamburgAnnette Hammer has been appointed General Manager of the Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg, which is due to open officially in spring 2007. She is to be assisted by Kathrin Wirth-Ueberschär, who will be in charge of Marketing and Sales. More... [855 views] Golden Tulip introduces new upscale brand - Royal TulipGolden Tulip Hospitality launches new international luxury brand to meet the demand of the international upscale travelers. The Royal Tulip brand will sit along the Golden Tulip and Tulip Inn brands. More... [697 views] Jeffrey Sussman is new GM of Leela Kempinski MumbaiIn its quest to bring the finest talent on board, The Leela Palaces and Resorts has inducted Mr. Jeffrey Sussman as General Manager, Leela Kempinski Mumbai. More... [1587 views] Mandarin Oriental, Prague Opens In the Historic Heart of the Czech CapitalThe stone gates of a onetime monastery in the heart of Prague opened on 12 September to welcome the first guests to the new Mandarin Oriental, Prague. The 99- room hotel is the Group's first venture into Eastern Europe. More... [809 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 22, 2006Why sales ladies wear black and sales men always say “no problem”Once upon a time I worked for a hotel owner that had very “ clear ” ideas about the qualifications of a sales person ……. She insisted that, in order to be successful in selling hotel services, all you need is “ good looking female persons from well-to-do families, owning a car ……. “ And that is probably why this hotel in Bangkok has an average rate about US $ 20 lower than their competitors ……By Bert van Walbeek More... [3287 views] Innovation - How to Rekindle the Spirit of HospitalityOur recurrent lament says it all – no time, no energy, no resources, no interest. We might as well turn off the lights, lock the doors and head to the hills. For many the spirit has been dashed. Every once in a while, usually prompted by some song or quick memory flash, we think back to our early years in the trade, full of vigor, excitement, plans for the future, bustling with ideas, applying concepts, hungry for knowledge, seeking wisdom and guidance – don’t hold me back, I am alive and full of vinegar with fire in the belly. Then, the realities set in – the politics, the money managers, the daily swamp of alligators, the slow pace of change, lack of decisive leadership – our professional ethos was challenged, and we became morose, chained to our desks, managed by e-mail, the numbers, afloat, confused and lonely in the swirling landscape of Hospitality. By John R. Hendrie and Susan Swanson More... [1112 views] SHY interviews a new wave hotelierRaised in Dublin and trained as a lawyer - Loh Lik Peng returned to Singapore and promptly gave up the legal world to become a hotelier. His forte – taking old buildings and converting them into designer hotels. What he loves most about the business – seeing the customers' reaction to his creations. More... [912 views] Wealthy Americans Rate Most Effective Hotel AdsDo the best-rated Luxury Hotel brands have print advertising that match their brand reputation and customer experience? In the first Luxury Ad Effectiveness Index for Luxury Hotels just released by the New York based Luxury Institute wealthy consumers say that many top-rated brands need to get the effectiveness of their print advertising to equal their brand stature. In this breakthrough survey, a statistically valid panel of wealthy consumers rated 17 competitive print ads that ran during the first six months of 2006 and beyond in the Luxury Hotels category. More... [1388 views] Stein Hotels acquires three new hotels in London - plan to have 50 hotels within five yearsDavid Stein, the CEO and founder of Stein Hotels, the small luxury lifestyle hotel group, has announced the acquisition of three additional properties in central London bringing its total there to 5 hotels and the entire portfolio across Europe to 21 hotels, 17 in operation and 4 under development. Separately, the Group also has announced expansion plans to build its portfolio to 50 luxury hotels in Europe over the next five years, and to expand into North America including the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. More... [1476 views] Carlson Hotels - The Americas Announces Realignment and New Leaders to Support Guest Experience StrategiesCarlson Hotels Worldwide - The Americas (CHAM) today announced company realignment to support its customer- centered strategies, which includes the creation of a dedicated research and development team, a guest experience and brand standards area, and new leaders. More... [764 views] Hyatt is converting AmeriSuites to new Hyatt Place conceptHyatt Corp. is rolling out a hotel concept at two central Ohio properties, a strategy that's aimed at a younger crowd. Hyatt acquired 161 AmeriSuites hotels early this year and is converting nearly all of them to Hyatt Place hotels. Construction will begin in October on the AmeriSuites at 6161 Park Center Circle N. in Columbus, near the Mall at Tuttle Crossing. The other AmeriSuites in central Ohio, at 7490 Vantage Dr. in Worthington, will be converted in 2007. More... [947 views] Radisson Hotels Latin America Appoints Denise Estefan Litten to PresidentRadisson Hotels and Resorts International Latin America (RHILA) has appointed Denise Estefan Litten to the position of president. In her new role, Litten will be responsible for leading the strategy, management and key functional support areas of the company. More... [645 views] Chantilly, Virginia Rises to New Heights with aloft hotel Announcementaloft Chantilly to be One of the Brand's First New Hotels -- Introducing Style, Innovation, and Entertainment to the Select Service. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its much-anticipated new select-service brand, aloft hotels, announced today it has signed a deal with Asha Companies to develop an aloft hotel in the vibrant community of Chantilly, Virginia. More... [515 views] InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to Debut Flagship London and Boston Properties in NovemberInterContinental Hotels & Resorts is living up to its legacy as the first truly international luxury hotel brand in the world, simultaneously unveiling InterContinental London Park Lane and InterContinental Boston this November. As the newest flagship properties in the brand’s collection, both hotels boast perhaps the best locations in their respective cities. More... [745 views] Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Brands Luxury Residences in LondonMandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced an agreement to brand and manage 80 luxurious residences that will be developed on a site adjacent to the Group's award-winning hotel in Knightsbridge. More... [742 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 21, 2006Train Your Front Desk To Overcome Challenges of Fielding Reservations Calls At The Front Desk.It’s a fact of life at most mid-scale and economy lodging properties that the front desk staff has to shoulder the responsibility for fielding the majority of reservations inquires. Yet even at full service and luxury hotels with a dedicated, on premise reservations staff backed up by a brand or third-party central reservations office, it seems inevitable that some calls still end up coming into the front desk. Even more inevitable is that these calls seem to come in at the most inopportune times, such as when the last three check-ins of the shift have all shown up at once, and when the mid-shift “extra” has just been sent home early since it was slow the whole shift so far. By Douglas Kennedy More... [2313 views] A Case For Being IndependentThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in February 1, 2004. By Steve Rushmore More... [909 views] All Calm: Thai Tourism Operating NormallyPacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) members in Thailand are keen to reassure the global travel trade that the coup d'etat currently underway in the country has so far been non-violent, and that travel and tourism facilities and services are currently operating normally. PATA President and CEO Mr Peter de Jong wrote to Thailand-based PATA members this morning: "Even before this political crisis in Thailand comes to a resolution, we at PATA feel that it is important to send a clear message to the global travel industry that, so far at least, the situation here is calm and non-violent." More... [670 views] Welcome to Fortress IMFYeoh Siew Hoon reports from Singapore which is currently in the grips of IMF-dom. More... [730 views] Dutch Hotel Industry recovers from crisisThe Dutch Hotel Industry is doing well. Occupancy has increased notably in the past year, from 66.7% to 69.2%, according to the HOSTA 2006 report by Horwath Consulting. More... [667 views] Westin Hotels Launches Signature Home Fragrance Collection; Transform Your Home with the Soothing White Tea Scent of WestinConsumers don't have to wait for their next travel getaway to elevate their senses and soothe their spirit with the White Tea scent of Westin Hotels & Resorts. In response to heavy demand for the scent since it debuted in the brand's multi-million dollar print ad campaign and hotel lobbies worldwide, consumers can now infuse their home with White Tea by Westin - the hotel leader's signature fragrance collection featuring a luxurious 100% soy candle, gentle room oil diffuser and all-natural potpourri. Hundreds of guests asked how to purchase the scent for their home prompting a waiting list for the exclusive collection months before its debut. More... [1320 views] Buyers Expect Room Rates To Rise As Hoteliers Push Dynamic PricingIncreasing hotel room rates and the specter of dynamic pricing will force corporate travel managers to yet again up their hotel budgets for 2007. For some companies, hotel spend has begun to challenge air as the largest cost component of corporate travel programs. More... [890 views] Swiss-Belhotel International has appointed Linie Cortez-Palacio as the General Manager of Swiss-Belhotel Borneo, Samarinda, Kalimantan, IndonesiaGavin M. Faull, President of Swiss-Belhotel International, the international manager of hotels, resorts and serviced Residences in Asia, is pleased to announce that Ms. Linie Palacio joins Swiss-Belhotel Borneo, Samarinda as General Manager. More... [738 views] Hong Kong likely to fall short of its target of attracting 27 million visitors this yearIn a pessimistic development, the slow down in tourist arrivals has indicated that Hong Kong is unlikely to meet its target of attracting 27 million visitors this year. The development emerged as the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) shared that there have been 14 million visitor arrivals in the first seven months of the year, short of expectations. More... [629 views] Jumeirah dominates Business Traveller awards in the UK and Asia Pacific once again this yearFor the first time this year, Jumeirah was proud and honoured to be named 'Best Business Hotel Chain in the Middle East' by readers of Business Traveller magazine UK whilst the Group won the award for 'Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East/Africa' for the third consecutive year More... [738 views] Banyan Tree expands its footprints in India, Ireland and ChinaSingapore Main-Board listed Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, a leading manager and developer of premium resorts, hotels and spas in the Asia Pacific, recently announced that it has secured new agreements to manage two Banyan Tree Resorts and one Angsana Resort in India, and manage three new spas in Ireland, China and India respectively. More... [978 views] Nikko Hotels to expand India OperationsJapanese hotel chain Nikko Hotels International plans to expand its operations in India and the Gulf in the next few years and is looking at cities other than New Delhi in the country. More... [707 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 20, 2006Thai government faces coup attemptMembers of Thailand's military are attempting to seize power in Bangkok but the Thai leadership expects everything to return to normal soon, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai told CNN. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra -- currently at the U.N. headquarters in New York -- went on a government-owned TV station and declared a state of emergency, The Associated Press reported. More... [978 views] Let’s call each other names if we feel like itAfter watching a battle royale under way, Yeoh Siew Hoon at The Transit Café thinks we could all learn a thing or two from the current war of words going on in Macau. More... [944 views] When irate guests pounce: Should hotels have a blacklist?Hotel staffers routinely take abuse. Guests scream at front-desk clerks when a reservation has gone astray or the upgrade they demand isn't available. They collar the general manager to wheedle extras or rudely try to get the bill reduced. They party so hard that those in nearby rooms can't sleep till cops are called. More... [1959 views] Strategic Linking in Hospitality: Build a Robust Link PopularityStrategic Linking in hospitality and its important by-product, Link Popularity, are part of hotelier’s toolkit for building a robust Web presence and taking advantage of the Direct Online Channel. Strategic Linking achieves two important goals: a) exposes your website to incremental traffic and highly qualified potential bookers, and b) builds your website’s Link Popularity, a crucial criteria used by the search engines to determine how to rank the website in the search engine results). By Max Starkov and Jason Price More... [670 views] Deals Signed for 15 Wyndham Hotels in Major Markets, Including New YorkWyndham Hotel Group today announced agreements to franchise or manage 15 Wyndham® upscale hotels totaling 2,886 guest rooms in key markets including Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and – in a first for the brand – New York City, a move that would expand the chain to 102 hotels and 26,765 rooms. More... [611 views] Hotels luring guys with 'mancations'Gene Grabarnick longed for a hotel with all the things a man would want on a getaway with friends. Where the concierge ushers guests to the hottest clubs. Where requests, from hand-rolled cigars to a favorite beer in the mini-bar, are unflinchingly filled. Where luxury is wrapped in sexy, swanky style.So, he built it.The Regent South Beach, the hotel Grabarnick developed here and plans to open in October, is among businesses nationwide targeting guys vacationing -- or as they like to say, "mancationing" -- with their friends. More... [736 views] InterContinental Owner Wins Grand Prix Award as 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Tahiti Entrepreneur AwardsRichard H. Bailey, CEO of Tahiti Beachcomber SA, is the first American to be honored with the title of “Entrepreneur of the Year” at the Tahiti Entrepreneur Awards, held recently in Papeete. Bailey, 52, who owns the four InterContinental resorts in French Polynesia, won the Grand Prix award and will now be considered for the French Entrepreneur of the year award (an event sponsored by Ernst & Young), which will be held in Paris on October 17, 2006. More... [677 views] Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts Launches New .travel Websites For Five-Star Paradisus Resorts Luxury PropertiesIn an effort to further extend its renowned first-class service to the global traveler, Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts has announced the creation of new websites utilizing the .travel Internet domain, each dedicated exclusively to each of its Paradisus luxury, all-inclusive brand resorts. In order to register a .travel domain name, travel related companies must first be authenticated to prove that they are legitimate and legally entitled to use the domain name, immediately indicating to consumers that a website is authentic. More... [564 views] Hilton Hotels Corporation Opens 1,000th Hotel Since Promus AcquisitionHilton Hotels Corporation today celebrated the grand opening of the 150-suite Embassy Suites Hotel(R) - Fort Myers/Estero in Florida, representing the 1,000th hotel opened by the company since Hilton's highly successful acquisition of Promus Hotel Corporation at the end of 1999. Embassy Suites Hotels is one of the brands that joined the Hilton Family of Hotels from Promus as a result of the transaction. More... [680 views] Hyatt Regency Dubai welcomes new general managerHyatt Regency Dubai's team bid a sad farewell to Gordon Campbell and welcomed the hotel's new general manager, Andrew Hendrian. More... [1052 views] Accor Returns To Kuala Lumpur With Novotel Hydro MajesticAccor's Novotel brand adds one of Asia's key business and tourism hubs to its fast expanding network with the opening of the new Novotel Hydro Majestic Kuala Lumpur on 18 September. Strategically located within the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, the hotel is only a short stroll away from the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Petronas Twin Tower. More... [677 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 19, 2006Trouble could lurk in hotel roomsBomb-wielding jihadists may be the focal point of many travelers' unease, but terrorism isn't the only threat lurking around the world's airports and hotels. Other deadly, or at the very least disgusting, health risks can be much more difficult to spot. And those threats could now be present in travelers' coffee mugs, toothbrushes or hotel bed linens, travel industry sources said Monday in Las Vegas. From suicide bombers to bed bugs and vomit-laced ice buckets, there are seemingly countless ways to be sickened or killed when traveling both domestically and abroad. More... [1341 views] Setting Your Restaurant Up For Success: The Importance of Operating SystemsDocumented operating systems and policies are absolutely critical to the long-term success of any restaurant operation. Reduced turnover, increased morale, improved consistency and enhanced value are only some of the benefits that can be realized. By Michael Beam, HVS International More... [1526 views] InterContinental Hotels Group Appoints Bill Linehan, VP, Marketing & New Business DevelopmentBased in Atlanta and reporting to Steve Sickel, senior vice president, multi-brand relationship marketing, IHG, Linehan is responsible for developing marketing strategies and strengthening IHG’s development positioning as well as identifying new business opportunities that grow the distribution of IHG’s brand portfolio. More... [830 views] In India’s Hot Market, An Online Corporate Travel Industry EmergesIndia is clearly an emerging leisure online travel market, attracting millions in start-up funding, according to PhoCusWright's The Emerging Online Travel Marketplace in India report. But is there an online corporate travel market to speak of? The answer is yes… and no. More... [811 views] Sports, culture and conferences boost European hotel performanceEuropean hotels saw a healthy 9% increase in revenue per available room (revPAR) in the first eight months of the year, according to preliminary results from the HotelBenchmark(TM) Survey by Deloitte. More... [727 views] PwC: Fourth European Lifestyle Hotel SurveyLifestyle hotels are continuing to raise the bar for the industry through differentiation, innovation and value-for-money, according to research released today by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The fourth ‘European Lifestyle Hotel Survey’ reports that this niche sector continues to have widespread consumer appeal and, although there have been new developments throughout the lifestyle segment, the budget end saw the most action in terms of new names and new ideas. More... [992 views] Phuket's newest luxury resort Indigo Pearl appoints Anthony Ross as General ManagerIngido Pearl, Phuket’s newest luxury resort has appointed energetic hotelier Mr Anthony Ross as general manager, overseeing the property’s opening and all operations. Mr Ross has already held senior management positions for the launch of three hotels - Azur Lodge, New Zealand, Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel, Malaysia and Pan Pacific Hotel Gold Coast, Australia – during his distinguished career and brings a track record of instant operational success for new hotels. More... [903 views] Shangri-La eyes Gulf region's tourism growthHotel chain expanding presence to Abu Dhabi, Doha. Qatar will experience the strongest growth rate in travel and tourism in the Gulf Arab region in the next five years along with Abu Dhabi even as billions of dollars are being invested in the sector throughout the region, say experts. More... [730 views] Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts wins regional and global Business Traveller awards for sixth consecutive yearHoliday Inn Hotels & Resorts has been named Best Mid-Scale Hotel Brand in Asia Pacific and Best Mid-Scale Hotel Brand in the World at the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards for the sixth consecutive year. The accolades clearly show that Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts continue to deliver the levels of service, comfort and value that appeal to frequent travellers. More... [603 views] HK&S Hotels' Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong and Beijing room rate up in 1HHong Kong & Shanghai Hotels said its Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel recorded an average occupancy rate of 81% for the first half of the year, with a 11% increase in average room rate to HK$3,119. The average occupancy rate of the Peninsula Beijing dropped from 75% in the first half of 2005 to 63% for the same period this year, with average room rate rising 3% to HK$1,397, said CEO of Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels Clement Kwok at a press conference. More... [783 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 18, 2006From Haute To HotelThese days, anyone can spend the night with their favorite designer. In 2004, luxury-goods company Bulgari teamed with Marriott-owned Ritz-Carlton to form Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. The venture opened a lethally fashionable property in Milan, decorated in black Zimbabwe marble, Vicenza stone and teak and surrounded by an enormous private garden. At the time, a fashion/hospitality pairing was a rare thing. No longer. By Sophia Banay, Forbes.com More... [1140 views] The Peninsula Hong Kong: Why Michael Kadoorie climbs fully dressed into a bathtub20 Years of The Most Famous Hotels in the World - After unearthing the long lost original building plans of Raffles Hotel, thus saving Singapore's most famous hotel from demolition, our reputation for uncompromising historical research quickly spread. Urs Aeby, general manager of the Peninsula in Hong Kong immediately realised that it could only be to his hotel's advantage to join the new library of thoroughly researched books about historic hotels. Upon arrival I coined the sentence that would open the book: 'The Peninsula is the largest hotel in the world. It starts at the airport and comes to an end five miles away in the centre of bustling Hong Kong.' I was referring to the hotel's own airport manager who had welcomed us and to a modest Brewster green Rolls Royce that delivered us to the hotel. By Andreas Augustin, President, The Most Famous Hotels in the World More... [1730 views] Goodbye Fawlty TowersThis weekend, VisitBritain is proud to see the beginning of the end of poor quality accommodation. Hotel Gleneagles in Torquay - the model for TVs Fawlty Towers - reopens on 18th September and has been rated by National Tourism Agency, VisitBritain, as a quality 3-star property. More... [807 views] InterContinental Hotels Books TurnHere for Branded Web FilmsIn the hopes of getting people into its swanky rooms, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts is aiming the camera at what's outside of them. Local online travel video producer and distributor TurnHere has begun producing short Web films about each of the lodging company's 140 worldwide hotel locations. The effort, which is TurnHere's first wide-scale sponsored film series for an international advertiser, is part of InterContinental's broad branding initiative to promote its personalized concierge services and neighborhood smarts. More... [624 views] Taj Hotels may buy Ritz-Carlton BostonThe Ritz-Carlton Boston hotel, the longest continuously operated Ritz-Carlton hotel in the United States, may be sold to India's Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, the Boston Globe reported on Friday. More... [1058 views] Flodrive Group to buy Swallow Group's portfolio of 250 hotels and pubsFlodrive Group, the property business of Tony Khalastchi, one of the UK’s biggest private investors, has struck a deal with the administrator of London and Edinburgh Swallow Group to buy a portfolio of nearly 250 tenanted and managed pubs and hotels. More... [721 views] Ritz Carlton Hong Kong may be converted to grade A officeLai Sun Development is studying for the possibility to redevelop its Ritz Carlton Hotel in Central into a grade A office building in view of surging office More... [889 views] PATA Travel Mart Delegates Overwhelmingly PositiveBuyers and sellers at PATA Travel Mart 2006 (PTM06) in Hong Kong are overwhelmingly delighted with the show, despite a perception on the Mart floor that PTM06 seems more compact than PTM05. More... [588 views] Armani Hotels to add two hotels to New YorkNew Yorkers have long been familiar with the Giorgio Armani power suit. Soon they will make the acquaintance of the designer's power suite. More... [1117 views] Hilton London Heathrow Airport voted "Best Airport Hotel in the World"For the second year running, readers of Business Traveller magazine have voted Hilton London Heathrow Airport as 'Best Airport Hotel In The World' - in an annual survey carried out by the publication. Buzz Aldren, the astronaut and public speaker presented General Manager Dagmar Muhle with the prestigious award at a ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Monday 11 September. More... [1082 views] Spain-based Silken Hotels Group Renews Distribution Partnership With TravelCLICKTravelCLICK Inc., a leading provider of hotel business process management (BPM) solutions, announced today that Silken Hotels, with 30 properties throughout Spain, will continue to use TravelCLICK's iHotelier booking engine for its Web connectivity and proven ability to drive incremental revenue though electronic distribution channels locally and internationally. More... [570 views] Shangri-La Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia PacificThe Asia Pacific's luxury hotel group was named the Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific, for the sixth consecutive year in the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific magazine’s readers’ poll. In addition, the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore was voted Best Business Hotel in the World, Best Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific and Best Business Hotel in Singapore. More... [845 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 15, 2006Choice Hotels announces executive promotionsChief Executive Officer Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr. Named Vice Chairman Joseph M. Squeri Promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. New CFO and General Counsel Appointments Made More... [973 views] Spa-Goers Name World’s Top Spas in Spa Finder Readers’ Choice AwardsSpa Finder, Inc., the global spa resource, announced the winners of its 2006 annual Readers’ Choice Awards at Manhattan’s Cornelia Day Resort during a champagne reception attended by spa luminaries and press from around the world. Spa Finder CEO Pete Ellis and President Susie Ellis presented the awards to the spas that were voted the world’s best – covering six continents and 14 nations/regions - by Spafinder.com visitors and Luxury SpaFinder Magazine readers, which together attract millions of spa consumers annually. More... [1360 views] Domina Devotes to DesignDomina Hotel Group devotes to Design collaborating with Domus Academy’s Master in Interior and Living Design. The brief given to students had an aim: to rethink the concept of a city commercial medium to high end hotel. The focus of the seminar particularly concentrated upon the definition of a new idea of comfort and well being reached through affordable material and immaterial qualities. The students worked on defining new hotel layouts for rooms, food and beverage outlets and public areas. More... [606 views] Vegas tycoon Wynn opens huge casino resort in MacauCut-throat competition to control what is tipped to become the world's largest casino market heated up when US tycoon Steve Wynn opened his latest mega-resort in southern China's Macau. Wynn vowed Tuesday to revolutionize the mushrooming Asian gambling haven but distanced himself from a bitter war of words between his two main rivals that has electrified this tiny peninsular city. More... [891 views] China: Rapid Expansion of Budget HotelsOn the back of positive predictions about the continued growth of the Chinese tourist market, the country has become increasingly interesting to budget hotel brands from home and abroad who’ve accelerated their plans for expansion in the country in recent years. More... [1012 views] Preferred Hotel Group’s Asia Pacific Region Projects Record Growth in 2006Preferred Hotel Group’s Asia Pacific (ASPAC) region is in a period of rapid growth that has seen membership across its four distinct brands increase from 13 to 30 members in just over a year. Area Managing Director Ananya Narayan projects membership to reach 50 hotels and resorts by the end of 2006. More... [687 views] Dave Lawrence returns to Hawaii as Senior Vice President of Operations for Outrigger Enterprises GroupLong time hotelier Dave Lawrence has returned to Hawaii as Senior Vice President of Operations for Outrigger Enterprises Group, a new executive post within the company's corporate offices. More... [652 views] Prestigious Starwood Spa Collection welcomes new membersEight of the World’s Finest Spas Joins One of the World’s Largest Collection of Premier Spas More... [930 views] Solare Hotels & Resorts to increase portfolio of hotels in Japan to 44Solare Hotels & Resorts Co. Ltd. has reached agreement with Royal Park Hotels & Resorts to acquire Royal Park’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ryoei Kanko Kaihatsu Co. Ltd., which operates the Atsugi Royal Park Hotel in Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Starting October 11th, 2006, Solare will take over operation of the Atsugi Royal Park Hotel, which will continue to operate under its present name until March 2007. More... [550 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 14, 2006Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Reports U.S. Hotel Buyers Outnumber Sellers 5:2Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ latest Hotel Investor Sentiment Survey (HISS), reports that the strong appetite for hotel ownership persists, as aspiring buyers outnumber potential sellers approximately 5:2. Almost half, or 45.9%, of investors intend to buy, exemplifying the overriding buy intention on 21 of the 26 markets surveyed. More... [786 views] New Corporate Executive Appointments at Langham Hotels InternationalLangham Hotels International (LHI) is pleased to announce the group's latest executive appointments and promotions: Helmut Knipp, Senior Vice President – Development, Sherona Shng, Director of Communications, Jonathan Rose, Group Director of Spa, Winston Suen, Director of Corporate Engineering, Winnie Tang, Public Relations Manager More... [1008 views] Hotels begin outsourcing concierge servicesCall centers in India are one thing. But unbeknownst to most travelers, hotels are quietly outsourcing a core position that can make or break a guest's vacation: the concierge. After years of promoting concierges who will unpack luggage and arrange pet massages, some of the nation's biggest chains are trimming costs by renting out concierge desks at more of their hotels. More... [2123 views] Rocco Forte Hotels announced the appointment of two new General Managers.Stefano Gegnacorsi is the new General Manager of Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy in Florence. Davide Bertilaccio, the outgoing General Manager of Hotel Savoy, is moving to Geneva to assume the role of General Manager at Rocco Forte’s Le Richemond. More... [824 views] Singapore, Disney In Talks For Theme ParkSingapore and Walt Disney Co. (DIS) are in talks to build a theme park near the country's financial district, local media reported Friday citing unnamed sources. The Straits Times and Today newspapers said the proposed theme park will be located at Marina East, and will cover a land area of around 30 hectares. More... [1602 views] Hilton Sells The Drake Hotel in ChicagoHilton Hotels Corporation announced that it has sold the leasehold on the 535-room The Drake Hotel in Chicago, Illinois to WWL DHotel Investors, L.L.C., a partnership led by Chicago-based Lodging Capital Partners, LLC for an undisclosed amount. Hilton will continue to manage the property under the terms of a multi-year management agreement. More... [820 views] Arabian Hotel Investment Conference aims for 1,000 Delegates in 2007The cream of Arabian and Worldwide tourism decision makers will again descend upon the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai for the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) from April 28-30, 2007. More... [682 views] Ascott Group expands into IndiaIn an effort to tap on one of the world’s fastest growing economies, The Ascott Group (Ascott) has expanded into India with a master development agreement with The Rattha Group (Rattha) to acquire and develop seven properties in the southern states - Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra by 2010. More... [646 views] Renaissance Hotels Launches New Advertising CampaignNew Campaign Debuts in Conde Nast Publications Trend-setting artists are pouring in. Avant-garde designs are ready to take center stage. It's Fashion Week in New York City; the ideal backdrop to introduce the hot, new ad campaign by Renaissance Hotels & Resorts. More... [822 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 13, 2006The Magic, Curse Of LeverageThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in September 2004. By Steve Rushmore More... [1025 views] Nothing is lost in translation in PatongWhat you see is what you get. You get what you come for. And most of the time too, you get what you pay for. Yeoh Siew Hoon of The Transit Café spends three days in Patong, and ends up feeling strangely liberated as a tourist there. More... [872 views] Henrik Mansson joins the Executive Committee of Mövenpick Hotels & ResortsThe Cornell graduate Henrik Mansson will be strengthening the company management of the international hotel chain with Swiss roots: with effect from 2 October he has been appointed Senior Vice President Human Resources, a function previously exercised by Richard Oehler. Oehler becomes Senior Vice President Operational Standards & Systems, and is now responsible for the fields of quality assurance, operational standards and information technology. More... [763 views] Putting on the RitzReputed to have more millionaires per capita than any other city in Florida, Naples attracts its fair share of wealthy spa-goers. Many flock to The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, where they're privy to gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico and given free reign of the property's three-mile white-sand beach, part of what is commonly referred to as Paradise Coast. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Naples, a major draw to the resort, is a welcoming oasis of epic proportions. More... [982 views] Wyndham Hotel Group to lead hotel development in ChinaWyndham Hotel Group today announced that it plans to be the largest international hotel group in China with a total of 80 hotels in operation by the end of 2006. The group further disclosed plans to double in size by the end of 2008. More... [960 views] International Hotel Conference attracts record attendanceSignificant growth in global hotel development is attracting record attendance for the fourth annual International Hotel Conference, to be held at the Cavaleri Hilton in Rome, Italy, on October 11-13, 2006. Stephen F. Bollenbach, co-chairman and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation, and Roberto E. Wirth, president and general manager of Hassler Roma S.P.A., will be the keynote speakers.“ More... [677 views] Dubai hotel workforce to triple by 2010Dubai: Dubai's hospitality sector workforce could triple in four years as the emirate aims to have 80,000 hotel rooms by 2010 compared with the current 39,000. The tourism sector at the moment employs about 30,000 people, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) human resource manager Ebrahim Yaqoot said. More... [903 views] Western hotel chains build in VietnamSix years after the USA lifted its trade embargo of Communist Vietnam, western hotel chains are fueling a boom in high-end hotels. Hyatt last year opened its first hotel in the country in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. InterContinental will open its first hotel in 2007 in Hanoi. Accor, with nine hotels, plans four more by 2008. Starwood entered the country in 2003 and operates two Sheratons. Marriott operates two hotels, and Hilton, one. More... [688 views] Sanitation concerns limiting hotel tubsUpscale hotels such as the Hilton New York have begun replacing their tubs with showers because some guests hesitate to bathe in commonly used areas. More... [991 views] Accor releases financial results for 2006Accor has released its financial results for the first half of 2006, recording strong results over 2005 figures. Net profits were up by an impressive 54.3% on last year and earnings per share of €1.06, were up by 47.2%. More... [622 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 12, 2006The new best sellersCan the industry breed hotel sales and marketing professionals who are more strategists than sellers? Raini Hamdi reports from a roundtable organised by TTG Asia and Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Asia-Pacific, which looks at the new skills required of sales people. More... [1039 views] Apples and Oranges - The fruit basket of the guest experience“Oh, honey, look. A complimentary Fruit Basket. How lovely!” Impressions, nicely packaged and presented, become memorable. Naturally, we hope the same for the Guest Experience we have tried valiantly to craft. But, just like opening that Fruit Basket, the positive impression can unwind. Beyond the colorful, crinkly cellophane and ribbon, lies the fruit of our endeavors: if our selected delectables are scored, less than ripe or over done, meager, or poorly mixed, the components of the Basket have essentially destroyed the image and fulfillment of our product and service. Add some mince, and we have Aunt Matilda’s Holiday Fruit Cake, and we all know where that ends up. By John R. Hendrie More... [1503 views] Work for Hilton and carry on learningThe hotel group has started a university - and is reaping the reward, says Nick Jackson The greatest virtue of man, our first passion and our last; never, Einstein warned, lose your curiosity. More... [1170 views] Wow.Travel's seven sensational screening threaterswow.travel (the online magazine of kiwicollection.com ) edited by Mary Gostelow, introduces Seven Sensational Screening Theaters..... More... [850 views] Jumeirah strengthens presence in Asia PacificA large delegation from Jumeirah, the dynamic and fast-growing Dubai based luxury hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, will be travelling to Japan, China and Singapore next month for the first official sales road show and media functions for the Group in the Asia Pacific region. This road show follows a series of high profile announcements made by the Group recently, which included confirmation that it will manage the Hantang Jumeirah Shanghai, one of the cities' most prominent and prestigious new hotel developments. More... [926 views] Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management to expand its campusThe Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, part of Jumeirah Group, recently unveiled plans for a major extension of its campus with construction well underway for a scheduled opening in early 2007. To accommodate the rapid growth of The Emirates Academy, additional facilities will include additional class/teaching rooms, two auditoria and a large learning resource centre. More... [769 views] Accor to open new prestigious hotel at the heart of Brussels’ European quarter: Sofitel Brussels EuropeSofitel, Accor’s luxury hotel brand, opens the first upscale hotel in Brussels’ European quarter, named Sofitel Brussels Europe. More... [780 views] Podfitness.com and W Hotels Partner to Launch Programs Designed to Enhance the W Hotel Guest ExperiencePodfitness, the first-ever customized audio personal training service, has now partnered with W Hotels to provide enhanced guest experience via the hotels' popular Welcome Delight program, W Wired package and W The Card program. Podfitness launched in March of 2006, using patent pending technology that custom builds audio workouts for its users based on their goal and music, joins a prestigious list of select W Hotel partners, including Apple iTunes and Real Starz Movie Downloads with Intel. More... [756 views] Swissotel expands its presence in ChinaSwissotel Hotels & Resorts signed an agreement with Foshan Heng’an Real Estate Co., Ltd to manage a deluxe hotel development in Foshan, Guangdong Province. More... [686 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 11, 2006Global Staff Movements - Who is In and Who is OutThe latest update on international executive staff movements, check it out.... More... [4007 views] 20 Years - The Most Famous Hotels In The WorldThe very first book in The Most Famous Hotels in the World® series was launched in 1986, at Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Today this series of books is the globally accepted yardstick for reliable hotel history research. The Most Famous Hotels in the World® has grown into an organisation which lists close to 400 historic hotels. Every week until November 28 Andreas Augustin remembers one of the milestones of his bookseries, presenting 20 years of building the library of hospitality. It starts in 1986 with an Italian lesson of creative inn-keeping at the Raffles in Singapore: In 1986, Raffles Hotel in Singapore was certainly one of the most famous hotels in the world. More... [1909 views] A Room With a PedicureAccording to new research by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the consulting firm, a fifth of the top nonresort hotels in the United States now have spas. Of hotels in this category that are currently under construction or about to start construction, almost 40 percent will have spas, the survey found. Bjorn Hanson, a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, said spas in business travel hotels were once “an unusual amenity, then became common and are now emerging as expected.’’ More... [838 views] How to win tourists from China? Send them yours!No where is it more important to develop a bilateral strategy than when doing business with China. Especially when it comes to tourism, Chinese sensibilities must be considered carefully. An approach that places bilateralism at its heart will be richly rewarded. As China’s outbound tourism market continues to grow and develop, all destinations are considering how best to attract and retain visitors from there. At government level, tourism promotion requires more sensitivity and creativity than other more mature markets. At private sector level, as much emphasis needs to be placed on building relationships and rewarding loyalty as on offering great rates and spending marketing dollars. More... [923 views] CEO Kasama Punyagupta transforms The Erawan Group to once of Thailand's leading hotel develpersTwo years ago the stakeholders of the Erawan Group decided it was time to transform the family-run enterprise into a professional organisation with an eye to growth, so they recruited Kasama Punyagupta, a former investment banker with the Thanachart Group and Merrill Lynch Phatra. With a young, energetic president and CEO taking the lead, the Erawan Group (formerly Amarin Plaza Plc) began to move ahead with a dramatic series of reforms. More... [906 views] Golden Tulip appoints new chief operating officerMr. Kees Van Maaswaal have been appointed as Chief Operating Officer by Golden Tulip, effective as per January 1st 2007. Mr. Van Maaswaal is currently Managing Director of Accor Hotels for the Netherlands. In his future position Kees Van Maaswaal will be overseeing the four regional divisions of Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts: Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia and the Americas. More... [651 views] Carlson Hotels Adds 15 New Properties to its Global PortfolioCarlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that the company has added 15 new locations to its global portfolio of brands in June and July. More... [842 views] Singapore: Hotels poised for 25% jump in room ratesVisitors to Singapore this month can expect to pay more than they normally would as a result of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings being held here. According to hoteliers surveyed by BT, average hotel room rates will be at least 25 per cent higher during the period of the annual meetings of the boards of governors of the IMF and the World Bank, which takes place from Sept 13 to 20. The higher rates follow price hikes of about 10-15 per cent this year as occupancy levels have improved. More... [632 views] Andrew Mensforth is new General Manager of Park Hyatt Goa Resort and SpaMr. Andrew Mensforth will take the chair as the new General Manager of Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa . An Australian Native and an alumnus in Hotel and Business management from Adelaide University, he brings with him a dedicated sixteen year service with the Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts. More... [1825 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 8, 2006PwC Finds 4 Out Of 10 US Luxury And Upper-Upscale Lodging Projects Under Development Include Spa Facilities And ServicesPricewaterhouseCoopers research, supplemented by Smith Travel Research and the International Spa Association, indicates that approximately 40 percent of luxury and upper-upscale lodging projects under development in the US have spa facilities and services, compared to 27 percent of existing luxury and upper-upscale hotels that have spa facilities and services. More... [843 views] ProHotel International set sights on worldwide expansionProHotel International, the hotel management and ownership company specializing in small luxury properties, has embarked on an aggressive expansion program worldwide. The Houston based firm, known for the Riviera Maya's Ikal del Mar, has earmarked Latin America and Europe as its prime targets. More... [739 views] Hidden Costs Of Franchise AgreementsThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in October 2001. By Steve Rushmore More... [963 views] Price Sensitivity - It takes more than a teaspoon to stir public opinionIt is true that public opinion is like an ocean and it takes more than a teaspoon to alter, but when it comes to product and services we know that that we are price sensitive by nature. So, let's see what is price sensitivity? By Robin Trehan More... [934 views] Paul Ratchford Named President and Managing Director of The GreenbrierThe Greenbrier today announced the appointment of Paul Ratchford as president and managing director, effective October 23. Ratchford brings 32 years of hospitality experience to this position. Since 2003, he has served as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay near San Francisco. More... [779 views] Shangri-La Hotels to use 'Essence of Shangri-La' scent in LobbiesShangri-La Hotels and Resorts has introduced a signature “Essence of Shangri-La” scent in the lobbies of selected Shangri-La hotels and resorts in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. More... [1163 views] July sets new records in visitor arrivals for SingaporeSingapore`s tourism industry hit record highs this July for monthly visitor arrivals and Average Occupancy Rates. Reviewing its half-year progress, the Singapore Tourism Board projects the industry will see historical highs for annual visitor arrivals compared to last year. More... [595 views] Luxurious Ultra 5-Star Hotel Stuns Southern ShanghaiThe world-renowned Landis Hotel group announces the launch of Skyway Landis Hotel in Shanghai, with a grand opening scheduled for October 28th, 2006. The 52-storied ultra-luxurious 5-star hotel stands out with its uniqueness and prestige in the hotel industry. Striking a balance between business and leisure, Shanghai Skyway Landis Hotel takes the lead in providing outstanding service and facilities. More... [1026 views] Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. Announces Promotion of Jon D. Kline to PresidentSunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. has made several management promotions, effective immediately. The promotions are being made in recognition of the success and growth of the Company and are a natural step in the Company's evolution. Jon D. Kline has been promoted to President. Mr. Kline has been Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for the Company and its predecessors since April 2003. More... [504 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 7, 2006Accor to sell another 535 hotelsFrench leisure group Accor has reported a 54.3% rise in net profit to €241m (£164m) for the six months to 30 June 2006. The result included a €129m (£88m) capital gain on the sale of 68 hotels to Fonciere des Murs during the reporting period. Accor is accelerating its programme of hotel sales, with a further 535 to be put on the market by 2008, raising about €3.2bn. Over the past 18 months it has sold 261 hotels for more than €1.6bn, together with its stakes in Compass, Club Med and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. More... [954 views] InterContinental Hotels Group reports record hotel development pipeline activityAs reported in the IHG Plc. interim results (to June 30, 2006) stock exchange announcement issued on August 22nd, InterContinental Hotels Group the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, is experiencing record development pipeline activity company-wide with exceptional momentum surrounding its Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo brands. More... [1011 views] Mark Everton Named General Manager of Hilton San Francisco Financial DistrictOfficials of the Dow Hotel Company, LLC, a hotel ownership investment and management company, today announced that Mark Everton has been named general manager of the 549-room Hilton San Francisco Financial District in California. The hotel recently completed a $40 million renovation. More... [749 views] Room for a pound at London's newest hotelSinclair Beecham, founder of London's first "luxury-budget" hotel, describes himself as a customer, not a hotelier -- and to prove it he's offering city-centre rooms for a pound a night. His Hoxton Hotel in central London opened last Friday, selling 600 nights at just one pound (1.49 euros, 1.90 dollars), including a light breakfast -- a deal that the 48-year-old entrepreneur intends to repeat. More... [1174 views] Seven Shangri-La Hotels recognised in SmartTravelAsia.com's "Best In Travel Poll 2006"Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, featured prominently in SmartTravelAsia.com's "Best in Travel Poll 2006." In the "Best Business Hotel in Asia" category, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong was voted number one. More... [764 views] Hotel Leelaventure to invest in overseas companiesHotel Leelaventure Ltd today said its board has approved to invest in overseas corporate bodies to further its business besides setting up a subsidiary company . More... [580 views] World Travel & Tourism Council issues call for entries for 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow AwardsThe World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today issued a call for entries for the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Awards, now in their third year under WTTC stewardship, promote and reward best practice in Travel & Tourism all over the world. There are four categories for entry, allowing for applications from tourism destinations, businesses and organization. More... [643 views] Hyatt to Operate the 501-room Bonaventure Resort and Spa;Hyatt Hotels announced it is taking over management of the 501-room Bonaventure Resort and Spa, which has struggled to find its niche as an independently run property. Tom Ireland, owner of the Weston resort, has signed a 20-year management agreement with Hyatt, which will rename the resort the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center and Spa. More... [889 views] Room shortage to hit Goa tourismTravel operators are gearing up for a 20 per cent rise in foreign charter traffic to Goa this tourist season. The dampener though, is the 30 per cent shortfall in accommodation at the peak season. More... [700 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 6, 2006Conversations in Transit: Adrian MuellerAdrian Mueller recently uprooted himself from a corporate job to fly solo as a hotel owner. Not only that the former Shangri-La general manager also switched continents from Asia to Europe. How do the two worlds compare? Yeoh Siew Hoon of The Transit Café catches up with him in Chur, Switzerland. More... [1126 views] Do you have what it takes to MOVE your career to the next level?Work – a word much used and abused, like the very act itself. A definition of the word “Work” offered by the dictionary – “Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.” The thesaurus offers other alternatives…labor, employment, job, vocation, occupation, effort, labor, toil, drudgery…the list goes on…and so does the meaning of the word and the work we
do. By Jitendra Jain
More... [1571 views] Hilton International Appoints Robert Stoddard as Director Of Development For Russia and the C.I.S.Hilton International, a fully owned subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation, has appointed Robert Stoddard as Director Of Development for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The appointment marks a significant step in Hilton’s development plans for the region, as the company begins to introduce Hilton’s Family of Brands internationally. More... [715 views] Hotel of the future: download your dream roomWhat will the hotel of the future look like? Think robotics, customized rooms and downloadable amenities. That's according to a project called the Hotel of Tomorrow, organized by Gettys, a Chicago design firm, and the Hospitality Design Group. Companies participating in the project range from Starwood Hotels, Starbucks and Whirlpool to firms specializing in architecture, electronics, bedding, lighting and wallcoverings. More... [1949 views] Call for action to rebuild PangandaranIn the wake of the tsunami that devastated the resort town of Pangandaran, two NGOs are trying to help villagers rebuild their livelihoods for the longterm. Muriel Ydo calls on travel insiders to support their mission. More... [521 views] Norgani closes Finnish acquisitionNorgani Hotels ASA today closed the previously announced transaction with Finnish Kapiteeli Plc in which Norgani purchased Kapiteeli's 15 hotel properties and a large congress centre for an amount of EUR 306 million. More... [491 views] Hilton Adding Muscle to Barbados' TourismThe Hilton brand has added serious muscleto Barbados' tourism product as evidenced by the highly successful year of the Barbados Hilton. This from Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Noel Lynch, speaking Wednesday evening at the one year anniversary ceremony and cocktail party at the hotel. More... [574 views] Shanghai Marriott Hotel Hongqiao welcomes new General ManagerRobert F. Fabiano has been appointed General Manager of Shanghai Marriott Hotel Hongqiao. More... [948 views] Marriott International Named by Latina Style for 8th Time as One of the 'Best Companies for Latinas in the U.S.'For the eighth year in a row, Marriott International, Inc. is on LATINA Style magazine's list of the "50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work For in the U.S." According to LATINA Style, the companies that made the list were named for their sensitivity to the needs and goals of professional Hispanic women in the workplace. More than 800 of the most prominent corporations in the U.S. were included in the extensive search. More... [544 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 5, 2006Boring Subject, Big Pay-Back: Some Workers Safety and Compensation TipsWorkers Safety and Compensation may not be the most interesting topic, but it is a subject that you overlook at your peril. Ensuring a safe work environment for all co-workers is one of the most important challenges faced by managers. However, it is also our responsibility to control the costs of Workers Compensation so that it is available to those workers who truly need it for the right reasons. By Jack Turesky More... [795 views] Starck and Hitchcox Design Company Refuses to Settle for ‘Anything Less Than the Best’Following the recent announcement that YOO - the brainchild of world renowned designer Philippe Starck and property developer John Hitchcox - is to make its first venture into the GCC through a partnership with Galadari Investment Office (GIO) and the much anticipated formation of the G Tower, the team have today stated their reasoning behind this landmark move. More... [855 views] Stephen Griffin Joins The Dow Hotel Company as Senior VP of FinanceThe Dow Hotel Company, LLC, a hotel ownership investment and management company, today announced that it has appointed Stephen Griffin as senior vice president of finance. In the newly created position, Griffin will be responsible for all financial aspects of the company's investor relations and acquisitions, as well as oversee the company's proprietary hotel accounting systems and reporting. More... [624 views] Grand Hotel Rejects Mulpha OfferMulpha Australia, a subsidiary of the Malaysian-listed Mulphs International Bhd, has failed in its A$219 million takeover bid of the Grand Hotel Group. More... [693 views] Mövenpick Hotel Opens In The Heart Of AmsterdamIn keeping with the expansion objectives of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts to realise projects in major European cities, the new 4-star plus Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre has now just opened. Business executives first and foremost but also leisure travellers will now be able to enjoy genuine Swiss hospitality in the heart of Amsterdam. More... [641 views] Kempinski to manage further three new hotels in AsiaKempinski Hotels, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group is expanding its portfolio in Asia with the announcement that it will manage three new hotels in the region. The group has signed agreements to manage hotels in Huizhou in China, Jakarta in Indonesia and Khao Lak in Thailand. Kempinski’s portfolio in Asia currently includes 10 open properties and, with the addition of these three new hotels, the group will open a further 19 hotels by end 2009. More... [757 views] Westin Renews Auckland’s Waterfront : The Westin brand announces its first Westin property in New Zealand - The Westin Auckland, Lighter QuayStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and Melview Viaduct Harbour Limited announced today that Auckland’s prestigious waterfront precinct will become home to a 173-room Westin hotel – the first time the Westin brand has entered the New Zealand market. More... [766 views] Holiday Inn Brand To Debut In PattayaInterContinental Hotels Group announced the latest addition of Holiday Inn Pattaya to its rapidly expanding portfolio in Thailand. The 367-room hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2008. It will mark the award-winning Holiday Inn brand’s entry to Pattaya, a popular resort city less than two hours by road from capital city Bangkok and an hour’s drive from the new Suvarnabhumi international airport. More... [615 views] Ritz-Carlton Dubai introduces portable GPS devices for guestsHave you just arrived in the country? Or have you ever been lost on your way to a business meeting or social gathering whilst driving in Dubai? The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai has recently introduced a device to make sure you never lose your way around the city’s busy roads again. More... [1053 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 4, 2006You can only make a first impression once...I was sad to see that last month’s article “ Hotel General Manager, can anybody, everybody, somebody or nobody do this job ? “ generated more reactions than my previous 5 articles on the much more serious and essential subject of Risk & Crisis Management ! But perhaps this shows us that for most GM’s, their own future is much more important than their company challenges and the tangible and intangible assets they ( should ) manage……. By Bert van Walbeek More... [397 views] Kurt J. Wachtveitl to Receive HICAP Lifetime Achievement AwardHosts of the 17th annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) have confirmed that Kurt J. Wachtveitl, general manager of The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, will receive the HICAP Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, scheduled for 11-13 October 2006 at the InterContinental Hong Kong. Wachtveitl has been general manager of The Oriental, Bangkok for 39 years. More... [869 views] Wealth with wisdom - serving the needs of aging consumersDue to dramatic demographic changes around the globe and the aging of the Baby Boomer market, by 2008 companies in a range of sectors–including the consumer packaged goods, retail, financial services, healthcare, automotive, real estate and hotel and lodging businesses—will have to focus with ever greater savvy on serving the needs of a different type of consumer: one who is age 50-plus with shifting biological, psychological, social, and economic characteristics, needs and expectations. More... [752 views] Women Step Forward As Hotel ManagersWhen 55-year-old Nancy Johnson started as a front desk clerk at the Germain City Hotel in the early 1970s in St. Cloud, Minn., she couldn't name one female hotel general manager in the area. Not one. A 2004 turnover and diversity survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association of 2,048 properties noted that women comprised 34% of hotel managers. More... [1019 views] Kempinski To Manage A Second Property In ThailandKempinski Hotels announced it will manage a second property in Thailand, in addition to the five star luxury hotel project in Bangkok city. The new Kempinski will be located in Khao Lak, one of southern Thailand's top resort destinations, about an hour from Phuket airport. The resort is currently under construction, with the opening of the first phase scheduled for autumn 2007, in time for the high season. More... [632 views] Scott Berman of PricewaterhouseCoopers Joins Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research Advisory BoardPricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) and the Cornell Hotel School's Center for Hospitality Research announced today that Scott Berman, US Advisory leader of the Hospitality & Leisure Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers and a principal in the Miami office, has joined the Center's Advisory Board. More... [563 views] La Quinta Openes 31 Hotels in the First Half of 2006La Quinta announced it opened 31 hotels in the first half of 2006, as a result of its aggressive franchising and corporate development programs. The hotels are located in thirteen states in all parts of the country and added more than 3,400 rooms to the La Quinta system. Additional rapid growth is expected in the second half of the year thanks to an active and expanding pipeline of new properties. More... [479 views] General Manager appointed at the Crowne Plaza Fudan ShanghaiMr. Christophe Lajus has been appointed as the General Manager of the new Crowne Plaza Fudan Shanghai which opened on 12 June 2006. More... [731 views] Holiday Inn Asiasworld Taipei changing handsManagement of the Holiday Inn Asiaworld Taipei changed hands on September 1 to Chen Te-fu, chairman of the direct selling firm Sunrider. The hotel will also be renamed Sun World Dynasty Hotel Taipei . The move will further strengthen Chen's hotel network across the Taiwan Strait. More... [589 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 1, 2006The SHY Interview: Ed Fuller - President & MD, Marriott Lodging InternationalEd Fuller spends an average of 400K miles a year in the air. He recalls his toughest year as 1997, when he chalked up 700,000 miles. Yet he says one of his biggest frustrations is not having enough time to do more travel. By Yeoh Siew Hoon More... [1202 views] Guest Experience in Online Hotel ReservationAny booking engine incorporated into a hotel website should support the overall effort of the site to create a memorable guest experience. In fact, this is the most critical point of the online process, before the guest actually steps into the hotel. Today, more and more hotels have become aware that their website can indeed become a revenue center. Instead of having it sitting there on the net, a booking engine (reservation system) is now installed in most hotel website More... [1417 views] A tough time for Beirut hotels as occupancy plummetsHotels in Beirut have seen a dramatic decline in performance following the renewed tensions in the Middle East. After the first attacks on Lebanon on the 12 July, hotels in the capital saw immediate declines in occupancy with rates following suit a week later. A review of hotel performance based on Daily HotelBenchmark™ by Deloitte shows that during the first three weeks of the Lebanon crisis, Beirut hoteliers saw occupancy fall to around 33% - some 40% below the levels achieved in 2005. More... [688 views] Luis Fernandes named Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations for Kor Hotel GroupBrad Korzen, CEO and founder of the Los Angeles-based hotel, real estate development and management firm, The Kor Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Luis Fernandes to the newly created position of Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations for Kor Hotel Group. In this new management position, Fernandes will oversee Kor's properties in Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida and the East Coast. He will be based out of the company's regional office in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. More... [818 views] Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo opens 2009 as first Shangri-La hotel in JapanShangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd., Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, has signed a lease agreement with Mori Trust Co. Ltd. to fit-out and manage the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, marking the group's Japanese debut. Scheduled to open by March 1, 2009, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo will be located in the Marunouchi district. More... [716 views] Economic impact study on tourism in Australia shows surprising resultsThe Timeshare Industry has emerged as the fastest growing segment in Australia’s tourism industry, and is being hailed as a crucial contributor to the continued survival of regional towns, from employment and training opportunities, to investment and development of Hotels and Resorts. They are some of the key findings of the first major study into the economic significance of the $700 million a year Australian timeshare industry just released by the Australian Timeshare Ownership Council (ATHOC). More... [904 views] Choice Hotels marks continued progress of Extended Stay brandsChoice Hotels International, Inc. marked the continued progress of its Suburban Extended Stay Hotel and MainStay Suites brands, with strong segment performance coinciding with the recent signing of an agreement with MCD to develop ten extended stay properties in Arizona. More... [514 views] HFTP announces education topics for the 7th Annual Hospitality Technology Professionals ForumHospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) has planned a thought-provoking program for its upcoming Hospitality Technology Professionals Forum, November 11 at the Penn Club of New York in New York, N.Y. Featuring two tracks, Club Technology and General Hospitality Technology, industry experts will lead three different discussions on the industry`s prevailing topics of interest, providing an overview of the topic and moderating audience discussion. More... [531 views] Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Open StayFit@Hyatt 24/7 Gyms to Help Business Travelers Stay in Shape on the RoadHyatt Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of its StayFit@Hyatt 24/7 gyms. Guests at properties across North America and the Caribbean are now able to access the gyms, which feature state-of-the-art Life Fitness(R) equipment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More... [769 views] PATA focuses on the Gulf with regional appointmentThe Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is committed to forging stronger strategic alliances with the travel industry in the Gulf Region. PATA has appointed Ms Nicki Page, Executive Director of Fusion Marketing Management LLC, a Dubai-based specialist tourism marketing consultancy, as its regional representative. More... [526 views] 
|
 Travel ToolsVisit our sponsors Are you interested in advertising with ehotelier.com?
|
ResourcesDirectories
|
ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: September 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 29, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 28, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 27, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 26, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 25, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 22, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 21, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 20, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 19, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 18, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 15, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 14, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 13, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 12, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 11, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 8, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 7, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 6, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 5, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 4, 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 1, 2006
|
Travel ToolsVisit our sponsorsAre you interested in advertising with ehotelier.com?
|
