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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: November 2006Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 30, 2006International Society of Hospitality Consultants Announces Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007At the recent ISHC Annual Conference held in Miami, Florida, ISHC members participated in a series of roundtable discussions to identify the ISHC Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007. This year the debate included in-depth discussions on over 100 different issues with 27 making the ballot for the final vote by the members. Ultimately, the following Top Ten Issues were identified as ones that can be expected to potentially have the greatest impact on the industry in 2007. More... [2116 views] U.S. Hotel Profits Up 13.1 Percent In 2006The U.S. lodging industry continues to benefit from double-digit profit growth in 2006. According to a recent study, the gross operating profit (GOP) for the typical U.S. hotel increased 13.1 percent from the first half of 2005 to the first half of 2006. However, during this period hotel managers continued to struggle to control such costs as salaries and wages, employee benefits, utilities, and maintenance. More... [1010 views] Hospitality Lawyer: Who’s crying “Woof”? What you must know about the ADA requirements for disabled guests and their service animals . . .Hotel ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) problem? If your establishment is a “no pets” hotel, how do you respond to disabled guests and their service animals? Can you demand proof from a hotel guest that an animal is, indeed, a service animal? What can you do if the barking of a canine service animal disturbs other guests? What if a guest claims that a monkey is a service animal, needed to alert the guest to some danger, such as fire or smoke in a room? What can you ask a guest about a claimed disability and his or her service animal before you run afoul of the law? By Jim Butler More... [929 views] 10 Marketing Trends to Watch in 2007Throughout 2006, I've been watching and interpreting the marketing stats and studies that impact small businesses to give you tips on staying one step ahead. Now, with 2007 fast approaching, let's look at a roundup of the hottest trends, from changes taking place among consumer audiences through what to watch for in traditional and online marketing. Here's the info you need on the most important trends and how to make the most of them to increase sales and grow your business in the New Year. By Kim T. Gordon More... [2303 views] Condo-Hotels to be introduced to Thailand: Doubletree first of its kindDestination Properties, a new Canadian real estate servicing firm, plans aggressive growth in Thailand with a target to sell resort properties worth up to US$150 million in the first year of business. More... [790 views] Hilton aims to form one of the largest international hotel chains in India with DLFHilton Hotels Corporation today announced they will create a joint venture company (JV) in India with DLF Limited (DLF). The joint venture company plans to develop and own 75 hotels and serviced apartments over the next 7 years. The formation of the joint venture is pending receipt of formal written approval from the Government. More... [908 views] Susan Santiago Appointed New General Manager at Hyatt Key WestA seasoned veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, Santiago joined the resort in October 2006 and will oversee all aspects of its operations, including food and beverage, staff service training, public relations and marketing. More... [699 views] Choice Hotels sees continued strong interest in Cambria Suites brand with five contracts executed in third quarterThe company executed contracts for five Cambria Suites hotels in the third quarter, which included properties in the following cities: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; East Greenwich, Rhode Island; Kansas City, Kansas; and Omaha, Nebraska. As of September 30, 2006, Choice had franchise agreements executed for 33 Cambria Suites hotels across the country. More... [534 views] ITB Convention 2007 examines the future of travelIn addition to its established practice of devoting separate days to subjects such as the Future, Hospitality and Aviation, next year the ITB Convention on Market Trends & Innovations will look at Space Tourism for the second time and has invited some prominent figures to participate in this event. More... [695 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 29, 2006RevPAR still king, but GOPPAR on the rise Hotel executives stand firm behind revenue per available room as the standard performance metric, but gross operating profit per available room is gaining popularity. Both are equally important, according to Bjorn Hanson, principal, Hospitality and Leisure practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers. By
Stacey Mieyal Higgins
More... [2287 views] Jin Jiang spells out plans for expansionShanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Development plans to raise as much as HK$2.42 billion in an initial public offering next month, pricing its shares in an indicative range of HK$1.81 to HK$2.20, market sources said. It hopes to lift the profit contribution of its budget hotels to more than 30 per cent by more than tripling the number of budget hotels in its portfolio between now and 2010. "We plan to expand the number of budget hotels to about 600 in 2010 from 180 at the end of this year," said Yang Wei-min, the managing director and chief executive of Jin Jiang. More... [650 views] UK Hotels on way to achieve new heightsThe London hotel market remained buoyant in October and hotels in the regions also experienced further growth, according to preliminary figures released today by PKF hotel consultancy services. Amongst the key cities, Liverpool topped the charts with Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester not far behind. More... [577 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts appoints Charles Head as General Manager of The Fairmont St Andrews, ScotlandFairmont Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Head as General Manager, Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland, effective from 27 December 2006. More... [1041 views] “Asia” – The travel industry buzzwordThis coming March the Travel Distribution Summit Asia 2007 is returning to Singapore. A selection of the most highly qualified speakers from the most trusted worldwide travel brands, will meet to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this evolving market. Companies represented include: Expedia, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Blue, Shangri La Hotels and Resorts, Hilton, Continental Airlines, MakeMyTrip.com, Abacus, Travelport, Europcar, Yahoo!, Zuji, SpiceJet and many more More... [922 views] Mandarin Oriental announces exclusive Caribbean hideaway with private residences on Dellis Cay in Turks and CaicosMandarin Oriental Hotel Group today announced that it will manage an exclusive hideaway and residences currently under development on Dellis Cay, Turks and Caicos, in the British West Indies. The private island retreat is scheduled to open in late 2009. More... [768 views] Nonstop Growth for Online TravelApparently, the sky is the limit. According to a new report from JupiterResearch, "US Travel Forecast: 2006-2011," online travel revenues will reach $128 billion in the US in 2011 — 38% of all travel revenue for that year. More... [768 views] Booking is the KeywordEach industry is characterized by keywords used to describe business processes or achievements. How many copies of magazines are printed and distributed, the number of units manufactured by the automobile industry – and for the hospitality industry, the figure for room bookings. The fast-growing online travel booking business is an attractive proposition that should naturally appeal to hotels, as they can gain the most from it. More... [761 views] Jumeirah hotel chain to enter China marketThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Jumeirah Corporate, an international chain of luxury hotels and resorts, has decided to build its first Jumeriah brand hotel in China, the China Business News reported. More... [977 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 28, 2006The stuff that makes the hotel world go roundProving you’re never too old to learn, Yeoh Siew Hoon picks up new insights about the hotel business and dreams of bathing under a rainbow and taking aromatherapy showers. It was interesting meeting people on the other side of the fence, as it were, the folks who supply equipment to the hotel industry. More... [1273 views] The Rushmore Letter: Good Time To Own Hotel In United StatesHotel values in the United States continue their rapid recovery as occupancies and room rates escalate and capitalization rates decline. By Steve Rushmore More... [660 views] India's hotel industry isn't keeping up with country's hectic growthAs the nation's economy booms, foreigners and newly affluent Indians are flocking to the country's big cities in unprecedented numbers — but are finding a shortage of places to stay. More... [800 views] More MICE for your moneyInterContinental Hotels Group explains how its properties are diversifying products and services to meet demands of the modern MICE market. L eaps in technology have altered the way business people, friends and family meet. People can talk to one another almost continuously, in any place and at any time. And the hospitality industry has embraced the changes in communication by installing the types of IT solutions that discerning hotel guests increasingly demand. More... [982 views] Spa Trends for 2007: Is the reign of pamper-centred spas over?A leading hotel and spa specialist predicts that the reign of the pamper-centred spa is over. Ms Anne Biging, managing director of Healing Hotels of the World, outlined her predictions for spa trends in 2007. More... [1605 views] Accor Announces Major Expansion in India50 Formule 1 hotels, new Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis hotels announced - Accor is set to become one of the largest international hotel companies in India with up to 5,000 rooms opening in the next five years. Accor signed the first of a number of significant partnership agreements that will see the group expand its network across the full spectrum of India’s hotel market, including budget Formule 1 hotels, economy Ibis hotels, mid-market Novotel hotels and deluxe Sofitel properties. Budget and Economy Hotels: Formule 1 and Ibis More... [998 views] Ireland: Prime time for Wyndham’s branded hotelsIreland is a prime market in which to grow branded hotel chains and that is exactly what Jean Thomas plans to do for the Wyndham Hotel Group. More... [647 views] BHA chief executive joins board of International Hotel and Restaurant AssociationBob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), has joined the board of directors of the Paris-based International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA). More... [542 views] Semiramis InterContinental enters final phase of renovation programInterContinental Hotels Group has announced the start of the final phase of a multi-million renovation project that will transform the iconic Semiramis InterContinental hotel at the heart of Cairo’s city centre. More... [687 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 27, 2006The Most Famous Hotels in the World - The Strand YangonOnce again, I am taking you on a journey into a historic grand hotel. This one is in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, where it overlooks the banks of the city’s main river, on Strand Road. It is ‘The Strand’. By Andreas Augustin More... [1997 views] 'Good times for hotels set to continue'The vast majority of delegates at the recent Deloitte hotels investment conference predicted that the good times for the industry would continue in 2007. More... [813 views] Top Ten “Must Do's” for a Successful Luxury Hotel OpeningWho said that a celebrity studded gala, a million dollar party, or other big price tags are the only ways to get a new deluxe hotel or resort noticed? Effective public relations launches don’t have to “break the bank”. Whether it's a launch or a repositioning of a brand, a technology, a destination or a hotel, certain principles are fundamental to each new challenge: know the competitive environment, plan early and remember the adage that first impressions are lasting ones. More... [2363 views] InterContinental Hotels Group Opens Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo Casino & Convention CenterInterContinental Hotels Group announced the opening of the Crowne Plaza Maruma Maracaibo Casino and Convention Center located in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Maracaibo is the second largest city in Venezuela with a population of 2.5 million people and is the heart of the oil and petroleum industry. More... [677 views] Hotel Bill? It's in the E-MailFor business travelers, there are few things more troubling than being unable to find the hotel bills when filling out expense reports. For business travelers staying at Marriott International hotels, there is an answer: a copy of the bill via e-mail. More... [1429 views] Regal Hotels to sell Hong Kong REITRegal Hotels International Holdings said Thursday it plans to sell its five hotels here for at least $14 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $1.8 billion, to a real estate investment trust that it plans to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Regal then plans to sell 50 percent of the property trust, which will be named Regal REIT, in an initial public offering to the public, the company said in a statement to the stock exchange. More... [739 views] Brown Hotel Group Sells Bay Area PortfolioBrown Hotel Group, Westlake Village, California announced today that the Firm has closed on the sale of six independent hotel properties operating under the PACIFIC HOTELS name. The six properties totaling 450 rooms include the Arena and Valley Park Hotels in San Jose, The Crestview and Hotel Lodge in Mountain View, The Pacific Inn Redwood City and the Pacific Inn Sunnyvale. More... [651 views] Bed crashes through hotel ceilingThree people were badly hurt in a luxury Spanish hotel today when two tourists in a bed crashed through the floor onto a man renovating the room below. More... [1831 views] India Allows Hilton to Form Joint Venture With DLF for HotelsIndia has allowed Hilton International to form a joint venture with DLF Ltd., a real- estate company owned by billionaire Kushal Pal Singh. More... [935 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 24, 2006Fired at 60. What do you do?Well, if you're like this man Yeoh Siew Hoon met, you get on with it, and you thrive and you wished you had done it earlier. What do you do when you’ve worked for one company all your life and then you get fired at 60 because well, you’re too expensive and you’re too old? More... [2246 views] Identify the barriers and remove the excuses - a "green" format to move forward2006 appears to be the Year when “Green” made its’ impact, raising our sensibilities, conscience and consciousness. A variety of sources, issues and events seemed to coalesce, and our attention was riveted, as we tried to harness this momentum, which challenged our usual approach to business. We sought answers. Sustainability was a new word, stewardship, a new priority and “Green” went beyond the usual currency exchange. More... [757 views] Live In A LandmarkEver fantasized about living in the Plaza Hotel or New York Stock Exchange? Now you can. From New York City's Plaza Hotel to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, prominent properties such as luxury hotels, banks and even newspaper offices are being transformed into high-priced residential units. By Lucy Maher, Forbes.com More... [718 views] Langham gears up for aggressive Asia expansion with newly appointed Director of Global Sales - AsiaLangham Hotels International (LHI) has its sights firmly set on aggressive expansion, identifying Asia as the key geographic region for significant growth. In preparation for such expansion, LHI has appointed Ms. Cheryl Yue to take up the strategic position of Director of Global Sales - Asia. More... [888 views] 'Colleague Hotel' opens its doors to InterContinental Abu Dhabi employeesEmployees at InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi have been enjoying a slice of the luxury usually reserved for the hotel’s prestigious guests through the opening of a unique type of staff accommodation and leisure facility complex. More... [1154 views] Tom Hendrick Appointed Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for the Kor GroupJeffrey Smith, COO of The Kor Group, the Los Angeles-based hotel, real estate development and management firm, is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Tom Hendrick to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Development. More... [760 views] Marc Langevin Appointed General Manager of the Renovated Ritz-Carlton, St. ThomasMarc Langevin has been appointed general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, announced Simon Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Langevin is a hotel executive with more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience. He will be responsible for operating the luxury oceanfront resort following an extensive $40 million renovation and enhancement project. More... [983 views] Two Sofitels in Hanoi combined their efforts to deliver the best to APEC - Heads of State.Accor’s two Sofitel hotels in Hanoi this week have showcased their combined culinary talents as one of the official caterers to the APEC Summit. Superb menus featuring the best of Vietnamese & French cuisine were prepared for the APEC leaders, through a series of high profile events hosted by the Vietnamese government. More... [744 views] NYLO Hotels Breaks GroundIn a first for the new lifestyle hotel category, NYLO Hotels breaks ground today on its inaugural property in Plano, Texas. The hotel, in the upscale mixed-use community of Legacy, will open by the end of 2007. More... [625 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 23, 2006Trump's luxury residential mixed-use project in Hawaii sells out in 8 hours - new sales record claimed
More... [983 views] Cornell Study Says Restaurant Guests Take Major Complaints Directly To ManagementMany View Letters as Equal to Face-to-Face Complaints Communication theory says that people are most likely to complain in person when a restaurant has made a major service error. However, a new study from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research found that many guests might write a letter to the manager in the case of a major service failure, rather than complain on the spot. More... [903 views] Westin Hotels Captures a Snapshot of Travelers’ Health on the RoadWestin Hotels & Resorts today revealed the results of an attitudinal research study on the physiological and psychological effects of travel. The Travel-Related Responses in Passengers: TRIP Study was developed in collaboration with International Communications Research, a full-service research firm. The study revealed that travelers are often stressed and lonely, feeling out of control and even sick on the road. More... [677 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts appoints Robert Foster as General Manager of The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, ArizonaFairmont Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Foster as General Manager of The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, effective from 27 November 2006. More... [1122 views] Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group garners top accolades in Institutional Investor's 2006 World's Best Hotel RankingsMandarin Oriental Hotel Group achieved high marks in the 26th annual “World’s Best Hotels” rankings in the November issue of Institutional Investor magazine, capturing the #1 and #2 spots, with a total of nine properties ranked in Top 100 list. More... [1183 views] The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach names Brad Cance as General ManagerThe Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach is proud to announce the appointment of General Manager Brad Cance, as the hotel completes a $60 million expansion this winter. Cance is responsible for managing the hotel’s re-opening and daily operations post-opening. He brings a wealth of extensive hospitality experience and strong leadership to Palm Beach. More... [916 views] Jumeirah to manage exclusive private island resort in PhuketJumeirah Group, the dynamic Dubai-based luxury, international hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has been appointed by TGR Group – Asia to manage the five-star private island resort currently under development in Ao Po Bay, Phuket, - Thailand. Scheduled for completion in late 2008, the Jumeirah Phuket Private Island Resort will feature 65 lavishly appointed deluxe pool villas More... [962 views] New Sofitel adds European touch to Chiang MaiAccor is to open a new boutique Sofitel in the popular northern Thailand tourist centre of Chiang Mai next month. The hotel is schedule to open on 1 December 2006 and will be branded Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai in January 2007. The hotel is being developed by Riverside Spa Resort Co Ltd. It will be Accor’s 50th Sofitel in the Asia Pacific region. More... [607 views] W to Launch its First Retreat & Residences Product in ThailandW Hotels, the world's fastest growing style hotel brand, today announced plans to open its first hotel in Thailand. W Retreat & Residences-Koh Samui will be the brand's third retreat in the world, following W Maldives which opened in September 2006 and W Vieques, scheduled to open in late 2007. More... [858 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 22, 2006Hotels Magazine names Hervé Houdré 2006 Independent Hotelier of the WorldHervé Houdré, General Manager of the Willard InterContinental Washington was named "2006 Independent Hotelier of the World" by HOTELS magazine today. Over 60,000 HOTELS' readers in 170 countries voted upon this award. HOTELS is the premier magazine of the worldwide hotel industry. Houdré is recognized for his business acumen and his innovative focus on asset management and quality excellence. More... [1044 views] The Broker Vs. The Appraiser: How To Value A HotelThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in the Spring of 1997. More... [1090 views] Kids show hotels how it's doneChildren are going to take over the boardroom in a bid to show adults how to improve the hospitality industry from a youthful perspective. The Three Cities Hospitality Group, with hotels across Southern Africa, has appointed a seven-member junior board to keep the senior board members on their toes. More... [1150 views] Jinjiang eyes Starwood for share saleHotel operator to sell 10pc of US$300m Hong Kong flotation to the US giant. Jinjiang International Hotels Development, China's largest hotel operator, plans to sell about 10 per cent of its US$300 million Hong Kong initial public offering to the parent of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the third-largest hotel operator in the United States, market sources said. More... [734 views] Best Western International Expansion in China on Fast TrackBest Western International, Inc.announced its accelerated growth plan for China under the leadership of William Dong, president and CEO of Best Western China Company Ltd. The company currently has 17 hotels in China with 12 formal agreements for new development in place, making Best Western the fastest-growing hotel company in the nation. More... [646 views] "BlackBerry Thumb" sparks new form of hand massageSore thumbs after spending hours on a hand-held e-mail device? Sounds like a case of "BlackBerry Thumb" -- but help is at hand. The Hyatt hotel chain found so many of their business travelers were complaining of hand and arm discomfort that they have introduced a special "BlackBerry Balm" hand massage at most of their North American spas. More... [1101 views] Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announces eight appointments and promotionsEight appointments and promotions were announced by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, both at corporate and property level. More... [2131 views] InterContinental Hotels Group and Lane Hospitality Collaborate On a New Crowne Plaza PrototypeInterContinental Hotels Group announces the development of a new Crowne Plaza prototype designed to meet demands of the emerging marketplace, both from the developers' and the guests' perspectives. More... [966 views] China's Jianjiang Hotel to list in Hong Kong mid-DecemberJinjiang International Hotels Development, China's largest hotel operator, is expected to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange in mid-December, raising about 3 bln yuan, the official Shanghai Securities newspaper reported. More... [504 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 21, 2006Sternlicht and Starwood Capital to put $500 million in India for Crillon, ‘1’ Hotels and Residences and budget hotel chain, CampanileAs hospitality lawyers, we expected it. In my posting from the Phoenix Lodging Conference entitled Hospitality Lawyer – Hotels in China, India and Mexico are capturing the imagination and resources of the hotel industry, I said that I was struck by how the talk was absolutely dominated by discussions of development in China, India, Mexico and Europe. And I wondered out loud if a new era of hotel development outside the U.S. was already underway. More... [1135 views] So, You Have a New or Improved Hotel Web Site… Now What? How to Promote Your Web SiteDuring the past several years, many hoteliers made the commitment to revise their web sites to conform to search engine and hotel marketing guidelines. Although there are many hotel sites which are still dysfunctional and non-productive, others have been improved and ready to produce reservations. Now, the hard part begins; what are you going to do to dominate your online competition? By Neil Salerno More... [1444 views] Service promise unfulfilled with staffing challenges - alas, Woe is We, Gnash Teeth - so, what else is new?This is certainly a new topic, a bit like a record of the story, “the little boy who cried wolf”, yet this howl is caught in the vinyl groove, repeating a well known, obvious fact, over, and over, and over again. Whether you are in operations, staffing, consulting, or even job searching, you know the problem and you know the answers. By John R. Hendrie More... [822 views] Raffles may add 20 more hotels to its portfolioThe United States company that bought Singapore's Raffles chain of hotels and resorts last year aims to treble the number of properties using the world-renowned brand name. Colony Capital says 'Raffles' has such strong name recognition among travellers that it wants to add another 20 global hospitality properties under the brand name. More... [937 views] Physical Evidence and Product Innovation Core to Boutique Hotels’ SuccessWithin the hospitality industry, two opposing trends are taking place. Big brands and franchises are consolidating to extend their reach across the entire spectrum whilst niche players are emerging by offering new twists on existing concept or new concepts. According to the 2006 Trends in the Hotel Industry reported by PKF Consulting, boutique hotels have flourished and today outperformed high end, full service, branded hotels. More... [2132 views] 5 awards for members of design hotelsdesign hotels(TM) came out strong at the European Hotel Design Awards, which took place in London on the 8th of November 2006. Award winners in the 8 categories recognizing excellence in hotel design were selected from entries for hotels that opened between June 2005 and June 2006. Five awards, including the coveted Hotel Design of the Year award, went to members of the design hotels(tm) group: More... [919 views] Shangri-La's Phuket Resort and Spa to open 2008 featuring the group's first Residential SpaShangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Durham Holdings (Thailand) Limited to manage Shangri-La's Phuket Resort and Spa, opening the end of 2008. More... [1224 views] Four Points by Sheraton launches Search for Chief Beer OfficerWho says drinking beer won't get you anywhere? For those passionate for pilsners or crazy for crafts, your favorite pastime could earn you a fancy new title and a seat at the Board Room Table. In celebration of the simple pleasure of a perfectly poured glass of beer and the launch of its Best Brews program, Four Points by Sheraton hotels have officially kicked-off its Chief Beer Officer (CBO) executive search and began making room in the executive suite for its newest chief. More... [1154 views] Choice Hotels Announces 40 New Hotels in OctoberThis newly converted 185-room Clarion Hotel is owned and operated by Green County Motel Investment, Inc. The hotel offers a cocktail lounge, seasonal outdoor pool, sauna and restaurant. All guestrooms offer free wireless hi-speed Internet access, in-room coffee maker, hair dryer and iron and ironing board. Select rooms offer balcony, refrigerator and microwave. Pets are allowed at an additional cost. More... [671 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 20, 2006The Most Famous Hotels in the World: The Mena House, EgyptSome of the greatest and most legendary hotels stand in Egypt. The greatest of them all, the Mena House, commissioned us to write their history. In the shadow of the Great Pyramid we started digging, like Howard Carter in 1922. We didn't find Tutankhamun, but we found the truth. By Andreas Augustin, President, The Most Famous Hotels in the World More... [1393 views] Hoteliers, Are You Planting Corn, Trees or People?“If you want to plan for a year, plant corn.If you want to plan for ten years, plant trees.If you want to plan for 100 years, plant people”(Chinese proverb) A hospitality careerist recently brought this proverb to my attention in response to a previous article “Loyalty Is a Two-Way Street”. What a wonderful way to encapsulate the mindset of many of today’s hotel owners/operators! I can’t help but wonder though what percentage of hospitality farmers plant either corn, trees, or people? There’s no way to tell. But I can describe the characteristics of each to help you determine into which group you fall.
More... [657 views] Australia's Sunland Group to roll out 15 super-luxury Versace resorts around the worldGold Coast-based developer Sunland formalised an agreement with the House of Versace of Italy yesterday to roll out 15 super-luxury resorts around the world. It also announced a funds-management joint venture with acquisitive funds manager MFS Ltd to target the emerging markets in the Middle East. More... [909 views] Wellington's accommodation capacity increases with new and refurbished hotelsAccommodation capacity in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, is on the rise, due to raft of new and refurbished properties coming onto the market. In 2006, Wellington’s accommodation capacity increased by 12%. A further 9% increase is expected next year, after the 280 room Holiday Inn Wellington opens its doors to the public this summer. The hotel will become the city’s largest, and will also bring 600 square metres of dedicated conference facilities to the capital. More... [621 views] Quinlan nears EUR 1.5bn Marriott dealQuinlan Private, the property group headed by former tax inspector Derek Quinlan, is in advanced talks with two Israeli partners to purchase 47 Marriott-branded hotels in Britain in a deal valued at EUR 1.5 billion. One-fifth of Quinlan's assets are already hotels, but the latest deal is one of the largest in that sector for the company that, in 2004, bought the Savoy Group of hotels for £750 million (EUR 1.1 billion). More... [851 views] Accor to build 10 hotels in South Africa ahead of 2010 World CupAccor SA plans to build 10 new hotels in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup for football in Johannesburg, the company's co-founder Gerard Pelisson said. More... [639 views] Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Continues Expansion in TurkeyThe Swiss international hotel chain has just signed a management contract with the proprietor company Mak-Yol for two new hotels in Turkey. While the Mövenpick Suites & Spa Istanbul is to be Mövenpick’s second hotel in the bustling metropolis Istanbul, the first Mövenpick Resort within Turkey is to be completed in Bodrum. More... [638 views] Oxford Lodging and Perry Capital Acquire Chicago's Legendary Allerton HotelThe 443-room Allerton Crowne Plaza Chicago, the historical landmark-designated 1922-24 Chicago property that helped spur the redevelopment of North Michigan Avenue into the city's Magnificent Mile, was purchased today by ALT Hotel Partners, LLC - a joint venture between Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC, of San Francisco, and Perry Capital of New York - from FelCor Lodging, L.P, a subsidiary of FelCor Lodging Trust. CB Richard Ellis Hotels arranged the sale. More... [741 views] Hilton Hotels and Food Network Create the Perfect Pairing as Hotel Broadens its Partnership StrategyHilton Hotels and Food Network have joined forces to create an exclusive offering – the “Food Network Travel Package” – which will be available at 11 Hilton Hotels throughout the country beginning this week. More... [899 views] Global Recognition for Independent Hotels Proving a Current TrendTwo of the top independent hotel winners in the recent Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure awards are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts - The Imperial in New Delhi and The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. The Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul also deserves a special mention for its TIME Asia magazine award. More... [708 views] The Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel reopens as the leading new "Chic Retreat' in LondonThe Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London, part of Jumeirah, the fast growing, dynamic, Dubai-based luxury hospitality group, has officially reopened its doors today following a multi-million dollar renovation project. More... [876 views] Banyan Tree continues to expand its brands in China, India, Greece and the UAESingapore Main-Board listed Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, a leading manager and developer of premium resorts, hotels and spas in the Asia Pacific, announced that it has secured two new agreements to manage Angsana Resort and Spa in Greece and UAE and two independent Angsana Spas in China and India. The Group has also signed land acquisition agreements/MOUs with three different Chinese provincial and municipal governments for resorts sites in Jiuzhaigou, Lhasa and Guilin in China. More... [1257 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 17, 2006The natives are restless: InterTouch respondsShould hotels give away their Internet access in rooms? InterTouch CEO Charles Reed does not think so. He speaks to Yeoh Siew Hoon on how his company is treading that fine line between meeting growing customer demand for free access and the hotels’ need to offer a service that works. More... [1174 views] Hotel Investment Risk: What Are The Chances?The article illustrates the fundamental risk components inherent in a hotel investment and compares the risk profiles of the various asset classes in the industry. By Russell Kett and Elie Younes, HVS More... [1092 views] Rendezvous Appoints New Senior Team Members For Recent ExpansionRendezvous Hotels & Resorts International (Rendezvous) is continuing with the expansion of its operation in the Asia Pacific region and in response to resulting needs within the group's corporate team, has made further senior appointments. More... [940 views] Glowing online reviews by hotels and restaurants dupe customersLeading travel guides are being driven out of business by an explosion of websites that are prey to misleading reviews from hotels and restaurants. The company that publishes Les Routiers’ UK guide will this week go into liquidation, and the RAC says it will not be republishing its hotel guide following a boom in guests and diners posting reviews online. More... [769 views] Shanghai lifestyle surprise - Jia Shanghai
More... [1107 views] Fitness and Spa focus for HiltonHilton's commitment to enhancing the travel experience - whether for business or leisure - has gained new focus this month with the appointment of Keith Burnet as Vice President of fitness and spa. More... [1092 views] Mandarin Oriental to open Hideaway Resort and Residences in MarrakechMandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced today that it will manage a new luxurious hideaway resort and branded residences currently under development in Marrakech which is due to open in 2009. The project provides the Group with a unique opportunity to further extend its successful hideaway concept, designed for sophisticated travellers in search of tranquillity, serenity and luxury, to one of the Mediterranean’s foremost cultural and leisure destinations. More... [831 views] TravelCLICK Continues Global Expansion, Opens Regional Office in United Arab EmiratesTravelCLICK Inc., a leading provider of hotel business process management (BPM) solutions,announced today that it has opened an office in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide enhanced service to its growing number of customers in Africa and the Middle East. More... [695 views] India: Hotel occupancy, rates up for 3rd straight yearHospitality majors in the country have witnessed a confidence-boosting increase, both in occupancy and average room rates (ARRs), for the third year in a row. The industry, which saw a 12-month growth of 23.7 per cent in average rate during 2005-06, continued to grow at a similar pace, as opposed to the 20.7 per cent growth of the previous year More... [1362 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 16, 2006InterContinental profit triples on asset sales, rate increasesInterContinental Hotels Group on Tuesday reported its third-quarter net profit more than tripled, thanks to a gain from selling assets as well as rate increases in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More... [805 views] Hotels try a new color - Going green may be a good match for businessIt's increasingly good to go green in the hotel business, an industry long associated with constructing and renovating big buildings and using powerful chemicals for cleaning and maintenance rather than being environmentally friendly. Both new and established hotels are beginning to go green in varying degrees, for various reasons. Hoteliers want to cut down on toxic hazards to staff and guests, save money on energy bills, cut back on pollution, or win points for sensitivity. More... [1021 views] Anatomy of a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC)This publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. First published in February 1997. By Steve Rushmore More... [658 views] Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces Enters Definitive Agreement to Acquire The Ritz-Carlton, BostonTaj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, one of Asia's largest and finest hotel groups, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Hotel from its current owners, Millennium Partners. The $170 million transaction is scheduled to close on January 11, 2007. More... [762 views] Park Plaza Hotels Europe expands lifestyle hotel offering with 2 new art’otels in GermanyThe two properties are existing hotels located in central Berlin and in Potsdam, a historic cultural town just 20 minutes from the city. art’otel berlin kudamm, formerly the Sorat art’otel berlin, is located on Kurfürstendamm in the centre of Berlin, home to a variety of restaurants, bars, shops and leisure facilities. The hotel features 133 guestrooms, breakfast room with terrace, art bar and lounge, 2 meeting rooms plus private parking and offers WI-FI throughout. More... [627 views] The Ultimate RushThe newly awarded globally launched advertising campaign of the Conrad Hotels brand “The Luxury of Being Yourself” emphasizes that every Conrad hotel is dedicated to allowing guests to experienc the greatest luxury of all - Luxury presented through exclusive offerings and genuinely celebrated hotel individuality. The Conrad Hotel, Bangkok, has chosen to customize a new experience for its executive guests who look forward to a stylish approach – The Ultimate Rush. The stunning Mercedes-Benz SLK200 sports roadster is the latest addition to the hotel’s limousine fleet and ensured by DaimlerChrysler (Thailand) to be the first hotel in South-East Asia to use. More... [730 views] Marriott Busan to be re-launched as Novotel Ambassador BusanAccor has taken over management of the Marriott Busan in South Korea’s second largest city and the hotel is to be re-branded Novotel Ambassador Busan. The hotel will undergo an extensive multi-million dollar refurbishment programme to rooms and public areas to upgrade the property to Novotel’s renowned brand standards. The work is scheduled for completion by the end of March 2007. More... [584 views] First ever hotel investment conference planned for South AfricaThe Tourism Business Council of South Africa announced this week their plans to hold a South African Hotel Investment Conference in the country in May 2007. The conference, which has been timed to coincide with the annual tourism Indaba, is being organised together with Thebe Conferences and Events. More... [686 views] InterContinental Hotels Group to establish a second Crowne Plaza in New DelhiInterContinental Hotels Group has signed an agreement with the Eros Group to manage the new Crowne Plaza Mayur Vihar New Delhi, scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2009. This latest signing reflects Crowne Plaza’s growing brand strength and presence on the Indian Subcontinent. More... [1899 views] Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki Beach Walk Sells over $700M in One Day RecordBuyers in Honolulu and Japan Simultaneously Chose Luxury Hotel Condominium Suites, a World's First! On Thursday November 9, selling from two countries, the Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki Beach Walk(TM) set a record for the amount of residential property (dollar and unit volume) sold in one development on a single day. More... [986 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 15, 2006Hotels Magazine names Giovanni Angelini 2006 Corporate Hotelier of the WorldGiovanni Angelini, chief executive officer and managing director of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, yesterday was named “2006 Corporate Hotelier of the World” by HOTELS, the magazine of the worldwide hotel industry. This award was voted upon by over 60,000 HOTELS’ readers in 170 countries. More... [1345 views] The luxury brand hotels - Now you can not only wear Versace, Bulgari or Armani, you can stay thereWith buoyant international growth, global equity markets that keep hitting new highs plus a record year in the City and Wall Street, the super-rich are having their best year ever. All this wealth sloshing around has fuelled a boom in exclusive hotels; now some luxury Italian fashion houses are leveraging their experience in dealing with the rich and famous by entering the luxury hotel market. More... [1280 views] Welcome to the real worldIt's a battle of machines against man as Yeoh Siew Hoon goes from one world to another in her travels from Singapore to Manila. More... [806 views] Private equity partners lap up hotels to cash in on luxury boomAfter snapping up every other kind of asset they could get their hands on, private equity investors are now turning to luxury hotels, hoping to cash in on the global boom for upmarket goods and services. Many of the takeovers are being spearheaded by billionaire investors, who believe that they understand the posh end of the hotel business because they use it so often. Whether they are right, of course, remains to be seen. More... [830 views] Regional UK hotels look set for third year of growthLondon has dominated media coverage of the UK hotel market for the past year, and for some very good reasons. Its excellent performance, building on from the 7/7 recovery, makes good headlines. However, hotels outside the capital also have good stories to tell, with some markets matching London’s achievements. More... [699 views] As hotel rates rise, travelers seek aidThe steep run-up in hotel room rates and occupancies in the USA's biggest cities is slowing as discouraged travelers seek alternatives to high-priced stays. More... [775 views] Wynn Macau revenue tops US$45m in first 25 daysWynn Resorts, the Nasdaq-listed company controlled by Las Vegas resort developer Steve Wynn, said its US$1.2 billion Macau casino hotel recorded net revenues of US$45 million during its first 25 days of operation - a less than stellar start that company executives blamed on unexpectedly poor returns from its VIP operations as the casino lost an unusually high number of high-stakes bets. More... [764 views] First underwater hotel for ShanghaiShimao Group, one of China's fast-growing property development groups, will build the first underwater five-star hotel in China. Due to open in 2009, the Shanghai Shimao Wonderland will be located in Sheshan in Shanghai's Songjian District, where Shimao opened a five-star Meridian Hotel earlier this year. More... [1624 views] Indonesian - Erwin Rachim - wins Dubai Concierge of the Year 2006Erwin Rachim of Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah was declared 2006 Concierge of the Year, whilst The Fairmont Dubai won the overall Best Team Award. The competition was stiff as they were competing against all the other five star hotels in Dubai. The Concierge of the Year awards, initiated and sponsored by Wafi City are held in conjunction with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Government of Dubai. More... [712 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 14, 2006The 'Splits' - One size does not fit allAs hospitality lawyers and business advisors, my partners and I spend a lot of time with our hotel developer clients determining the appropriate 'splits' for their condo hotel projects. How to split - or divide - revenues earned from renting a condo unit between the unit owner, the hotel operator, and other stakeholders, is critical to a condo hotel's success. So let's look at some of the considerations. What are 'splits' all about? By Jim Butler More... [926 views] Fairmont Names Kevin Frid Senior Vice President Operations For North AmericaBased out of Fairmont's corporate headquarters in Toronto, Frid, who most recently held the position of Regional Vice President, U.S. Central Region & General Manager, The Fairmont Chicago, will be responsible for the direction and overall performance of Fairmont's hotel operations in North America. More... [1123 views] Room demand a concern in ShanghaiAbout 5,000 hotel rooms will be added in Shanghai by 2009, raising concerns that the market may enter a period of consolidation. Andreas Flaig, executive vice-president of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, believed Shanghai is experiencing some consolidation this year that is likely to continue for another 12 to 24 months. More... [1038 views] Singapore room rates hit new high, but still among region's lowestAverage hotel room rates across the board hit $190.40 - around US$121.40 - in September, exceeding the previous peak of $150.86 in 1997, says the Singapore Tourism Board. Research by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels reveals that average room rates, which have long languished, have gone up 25 per cent since last year. More... [793 views] Versace Denies Negotiating on Resort in SingaporeItalian fashion group Gianni Versace SpA is not involved in any talks for the building of a luxury hotel resort in Singapore, the company said, dismissing recent media reports. More... [705 views] Crowne Plaza Hotel Virginia Beach wins the InterContinental Hotels Group 2006 Quality Excellence AwardThe Crowne Plaza Hotel Virginia beach has received the InterContinental Hotels Group 2006 Quality Excellence Award, given only to hotels achieving distinction in all aspects of their operations. IHG is the world’s largest hotel group by total number of rooms. More... [640 views] Capella to open first U.S. Resort - Capella TellurideWhen a dedicated developer and a legendary hotelier meet at a storied mountain, the result is - Capella Telluride. Robert Levine, president and CEO of RAL Companies & Affiliates LLC and Horst Schulze, president and CEO of Capella Hotels and Resorts, announced today that Capella Hotels and Resorts has been selected to operate a new 148-unit luxury hotel and residential property in the spectacularly beautiful setting of the Town of Mountain Village, above historic Telluride, Colorado. More... [730 views] Carlson Unveils New Logo, Symbolizing the Company's Heart, Heritage and FutureCarlson Companies, a global leader in the travel, hotel, restaurant, cruise and marketing industries, today unveiled a new company logo, symbolizing Carlson's focus on heart (building relationships), heritage, its future, innovation and service. More... [929 views] Hotel Indigo announces deal to open four properties in the Greater Baltimore-Washington, DC MetoropolitanInterContinental Hotels Group announces that Hotel Indigo will add four new boutique properties in the greater Baltimore-Washington, DC metropolitan area to its rapidly growing pipeline. All four locations - Ashburn, Chantilly, and Herndon, Va., and Linthicum, Md. – will be new construction in upscale mixed-use development complexes and are scheduled to open by the end of 2008. More... [901 views] Michel Horn appointed as GM of Central World Hotel & Convention Centre BangkokCentral Hotels & Resorts recently appointed Mr. Michel Horn as General Manager of the Central World Hotel & Convention Centre Bangkok. Mr. Horn who is French, graduated with a Higher Degree of Hotel Management from the University of Hotel & Management of Strasbourg, France. He has also attended several hotel training courses and management courses in France and United Kingdom. More... [807 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 13, 2006Global Staff Movements - Who is In and Who is OutThis months' update on international executive staff movements. Check it out.... More... [3172 views] The Most Famous Hotels in the World - Above the Clouds the Sun always shinesSwitzerland is famous for exporting talented hoteliers all over the globe. The logic is simple: the country is known for having some of the most legendary hotels on the planet. Let's start with the Engadine, a mountain region at 1,800-3,000m. It inspired Hemingway (1899–1961) to say: "Switzerland is a small, steep country much more up and down than sideways, and is all stuck over with large brown hotels built in the cuckoo clock style of architecture." The Grand Hotel Kronenhof Pontresina
More... [1024 views] 2007 Zagat Survey U.S. Hotels: The Peninsula Chicago Rated No. 1 Large Hotel, the Four Seasons Big Island, Hawaii is the No. 1 Large ResortZagat Survey released the results of its 2007 U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas Survey. The new guide is based on the shared experiences of 14,461 frequent travelers. Thanks to the assistance of the American Society of Travel Agents 936 travel professionals who rated and reviewed 1,011 of the best places to stay nationwide. Among its other findings, the survey indicates that hoteliers are benefiting from high occupancy rates and travelers with bigger budgets. In turn, guests are enjoying luxury amenities, from celebrity chefs to WiFi to in-lobby flight check-ins and more. More... [895 views] PricewaterhouseCoopers Reports Slowing Growth for Business and Leisure Hotel DemandPricewaterhouseCoopers research, supplemented by the U.S. Census Bureau, Smith Travel Research (STR) and Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) data, indicates that, following a decline after September 2001, total business demand for U.S. hotels increased by 4.6 percent in 2004, by 3.8 percent in 2005 and by 0.9 percent in year-to-date June 2006. In comparison, total leisure demand grew by 3.3 percent in 2004, 1.7 percent in 2005 and declined by 2.2 percent in year-to-date June 2006. More... [628 views] 7th Hospitality Awards… and the winners are …In the presence of Mr. Léon Bertrand, French Minister for Tourism, surrounded by over 600 managers and partners of the hotel industry, the award ceremony of the 2006 Hospitality Awards took place on November 9th, at the Hilton Paris Arc de Triomphe. And the winners are..... More... [1274 views] Wow.Travel's Seven Sensational Retail Therapywow.travel ( the online magazine of kiwicollection.com ) edited by Mary Gostelow, introduces Seven Sensations Retail Therapy or Seven Sensational Shopping Centres. More... [661 views] Four Seasons Hotels Inc. Records 3rd Qtr 2006 Net Income of $10.9 million Compared with a Loss of $11.4 million for Same Period Last YearFor the third quarter, RevPAR(1) increased at our worldwide CoreHotels(2) by 9.7% and at our US Core Hotels by 8.3%. For the nine months September 30, 2006, RevPAR increased at our worldwide ended Core Hotels by 11.2% and at our US Core Hotels by 10.9%. More... [631 views] Olympic Hosts Benefit from TourismIn the presence of the two next hosts of the Olympics, China in 2008 and Britain in 2012, UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli stressed that "Tourism and Sport are two forces that represent the positive aspects in the globalization process. Large sporting events are more and more conceived and planned also as large tourism events and sporting activities are an important part of today's tourism supply". More... [610 views] Vienna International Hotels Expansion 2006: Paris, Prague and now WarsawWith another major acquisition, Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG has reached a further high point in its expansion this year. Following the takeover of the Dream Castle Hotel near the Disneyland® Resort Paris and the opening of the angelo Hotel in Prague in June, Vienna International has now taken over the management of the Hotel Jan III Sobieski in Warsaw. More... [832 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 10, 2006In whom we trust?Yeoh Siew Hoon walks away from Wired Travel Asia with one conclusion – the travel industry is facing a crisis of trust. We don’t know who to trust anymore when we are buying our travel. Once upon a time, it seemed that life was so simple. More... [945 views] Hotel Valuation TechniquesThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in October 2003. By Steve Rushmore More... [1183 views] US Hotel Industry Pre-Tax Profits Advance to $22.6 BillionAH&LA Releases 2006 Lodging Industry Profile As predicted by industry experts, the U.S. lodging industry recorded its best year ever in 2005, posting pretax profits of $22.6 billion, up from $16.7 billion in 2003, based on the American Hotel & Lodging Association's (AH&LA) Lodging Industry Profile (LIP), a statistical analysis of the lodging industry for year-end 2005. More... [841 views] Best Western names Charles Helm Chairman of the BoardThe Board of Directors of Best Western International, Inc., has named Charles Helm its chairman, effective November 6. Other Board announcements include Roman Jaworowicz as vice chairman and David Francis as secretary/treasurer. More... [666 views] Starwood Capital appoints Desmond Taljaard as head of Asset Management in EuropeStarwood Capital Group, a real estate investment company and parent of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide appointed Desmond Taljaard as a senior vice president and head of Asset Management for Starwood Capital Europe Limited. More... [926 views] U.S. Commerce Department forecasts record arrivals and spending from travelers to the United StatesThe U.S. Department of Commerce projects record arrivals and receipts from international travelers to the United States in 2006. The forecast exceeds the previous record arrival year of 2000, when more than 51.2 million international travelers visited the United States. In 2007, the United States is projected to host more than 54 million international visitors, generating $113 billion in exports. More... [486 views] Free Broadband Access: A Hotel Must-Have for Biz TravelersJupiterResearch asked business travelers which items would most likely motivate their hotel purchase decisions, and free Internet access beat out everything else, including free breakfast, room upgrades and personalized rooms. A struggle is taking place between frequent business travelers and hotels over high-speed Internet access, with guests demanding free access and hotels trying to recoup their costs. More... [1075 views] Hotel Europe invests in tourism with a €40 Million Euro redevelopmentHotel Europe, Killarney, Co. Kerry, which has operated as an hotel since 1962, has closed its doors for 2006 to commence renovation of the property to the tune of €40 million Euro. More... [862 views] HVS Executive Search is pleased to announce the release of the HCE London Salary Survey 2006HVS Executive Search is pleased to announce the release of the HCE London Salary Survey 2006. Compiled through the HCE Hospitality Compensation Exchange®, the report includes data from over 35 hotels in the First Class and Luxury segments in London and profiles over 220 positions from Linen Porter to General Manager. More... [1093 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 9, 2006Do You Deserve A Raise?It’s that time of year again. ‘Tis the season for annual job performance reviews when managers start checking their lists of employees who have been naughty or nice. But more to the point, they’re checking to see if you’re raise- or promotion-worthy. To make sure you’re seen in the best possible light, set the stage. Remember, most managers are overworked too, and they often have shorter memories. Use that to your advantage and remind them of all the wonderful things you did throughout the year. By Tara Weiss, Forbes.com More... [1458 views] A New Collection Unveiled: The Dorchester Group RebrandsCelebrating 10 years since its establishment, the London-based Dorchester Group, famous for its enviable portfolio of five of the world’s finest hotels, is being re-branded as the Dorchester Collection. The new name and image has been developed to support the group’s growth plans and signals a change to the strategic goals of the company. More... [1249 views] Emerging giants boost hotel performance across Asia PacificLooking back over the first six months of 2006, Asia’s hotels have continued to perform well with revPAR up 7.5% on the same period the prior year. Again average room rates continue to drive performance. South Asia and South-East Asia were the clear winners both seeing double-digit increases. At the back of the pack and showing little growth were North-East Asia and Oceania. More... [634 views] Moscow hotels enjoying boomHotels in the Russian capital of Moscow are the most profitable in Europe, according to a new survey. TRI Hospitality Consulting HotStats' survey of leading European cities found that hotel rooms in Moscow generated an average profit of €136.30 for the first nine months of 2006. More... [884 views] Hospitality eBusiness Strategies Receives Seven New Website Excellence AwardsHospitality eBusiness Strategies, (HeBS), New York City, today announced receipt of seven new awards for outstanding achievements in hotel website development. Both the Interactive Media Council (IMC) and the International Academy of the Visual Arts have recognized the work of Hospitality eBusiness Strategies by awarding them with these authoritative organizations’ highest awards in 2006. More... [740 views] Kempinski to manage new hotel in BahrainKempinski Hotels continues its growth in the Middle East & Africa region, signing its first property in the Kingdom of Bahrain with MAF Hospitality LLC More... [981 views] Radisson aims to become most prominent international hotel brand in Latin AmericaRadisson announced that together with its South American strategic partners it will expand, to become one of the most prominent international hotel brands in Central and South America by 2011. More... [731 views] Carlson Hotels Worldwide Adds Five New Properties to Its Global Portfolio in SeptemberCarlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that the company has added five new locations to its global portfolio of brands in September. These include one Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R) hotel California; three Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(sm) hotels in the U.S.; and one Park Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts hotel in India. More... [583 views] 2010 World Expo in Shanghai is hotel boom timeThe next few years is going to be important for hotels in Beijing and Shanghai. And possibly elsewhere in China. First we have the Olympic Games which will give a tremendous boost to the industry — an industry you would think needs little boosting. Then in 2010 comes the Shanghai World Expo. Most every major country will be taking part. More... [855 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 8, 2006Strategies for Assessing Exaggeration and Deception by Job CandidatesIt may be Halloween time, but children are not the only ones who may be wearing "masks." A three-part strategy for due diligence is outlined that reduces bad hires resulting from distorted candidate information. By Jim Houran and Howard Krieger More... [1344 views] Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Cornell University & eCornell collaborate to develop Raffles UnivirtualRaffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the successful development of Raffles Univirtual, in partnership with Cornell University and eCornell. Raffles Univirtual will provide top-notch online education to employees at all Raffles hotels & resorts located in major cities around the globe and in the world’s most sought-after leisure destinations. More... [1203 views] Whitbread bid possibilities increased as Starwood builds stakeWhitbread shares traded firmer after reports that US property company Starwood has acquired about 3% of the hotel and restaurant chain group in a potential take-over bid. More... [787 views] Fairmont raises the bar with new product and service positionWith a long history of delivering luxury experiences in unparalleled locations throughout the world, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has always strived to anticipate and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of travelers. Taking a proactive approach to this infinite quest, Fairmont has appointed Jon Mamela to the newly minted position of director, product and service strategy. More... [976 views] HSMAI charters New Asia Pacific ChapterThe Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has officially chartered an Asia Pacific chapter. The charter was officially launched along with HSMAI’s 2nd annual Asia Connect strategy conference at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Singapore, a two-day event attended by 90 hospitality and travel sales and marketing professionals. More... [577 views] Marriott to launch brands in IndiaGlobal multi-brand hotel chain Marriott plans to roll out several of its brands in India. It is all set to commission seven major hotels in the country and there are 20 more in the pipeline. It expects to push its Court Yard and even Ritz Carlton brands into India as many property developers are in parleys with the group. More... [956 views] Kempinski signs Management Contract for Third Property in ShanghaiKempinski Hotels has signed an agreement with Shanghai An Shun Real Estate Development to manage Kempinski Residences Hongqiao, set to open late 2007. The property will be the group's third in Shanghai. More... [743 views] Seibu group to sell 4 large hotelsAs part of the reorganization of its hotel and resort operations, the Seibu group is to sell three large hotel and resort facilities in Alaska. Hawaii and Toronto this fiscal year, it was learned. The group also is to sell the Roppongi Prince Hotel in Minato Ward, Tokyo. More... [714 views] Growth and Success Continue for Small Luxury Hotels of the World in Third QuarterSmall Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has had a remarkable year thus far and all signs indicate that it will end 2006 on a record high, both in terms of reservations revenue and hotel growth. The luxury brand of SLH, which earlier this year was voted “Number One in Exclusivity” by the US-based Luxury Institute, has for the first time surpassed 400 hotels in more than 65 countries, with the addition of 70 hotels just this year alone. More... [719 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 7, 2006One-On-One: Wolf Hengst Airs Four Seasons' View Of Deluxe Changes / Prince Alwaleed, Bill Gates bid for Four SeasonsWolf Hengst, Four Seasons president of worldwide hotel operations, spoke recently with BTN editor-in-chief David Meyer about the strength of corporate demand, current corporate negotiations, maintaining superior service, the importance of meetings and the state of hotel development for his deluxe hotel chain. More... [1710 views] It may be hard to hold hotels to their low-price guaranteesWebsites that promise to beat a better deal often make it tough to collect. Consumers need to be persistent. Low-price guarantees on travel websites are about as common as warts on a toad — and sometimes about as attractive. The guarantees typically say that if a traveler finds a better deal on another website for the same hotel rate or airfare, the website will match it. Some sites throw in incentives. Hilton, for instance, offers a $50 American Express gift card. Other sites offer a free night's stay. Sounds reasonable enough. More... [980 views] Carlson Hotels Worldwide Promotes Raj Rana to Regional Vice President of Operations, Full Service HotelsRaj Rana, an internationally experienced hospitality industry executive, has been promoted to regional vice president of operations for Carlson Hotels Worldwide's full service hotels in the Americas, including Radisson Hotels & Resorts and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts. In his new role, Rana will be responsible for approving new franchised hotels and resorts, and providing field support and operations expertise to these properties More... [691 views] AAA Adds 10 Hotels, Six Restaurants To Coveted 2007 Five Diamond ListTen hotels and six restaurants attained the hospitality industry's highest rating for 2007: the AAA Five Diamond Award. The total 151 AAA Five Diamond Award winners for 2007, which includes 93 hotels and 58 restaurants, comprises just 0.25 percent of the nearly 60,000 AAA Rated(R) properties across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. More... [1021 views] Anthony Slewka-Armfelt takes charge of Accor the Middle East Sales MissionAccor Middle East has recently appointed Mr. Anthony Peter Slewka - Armfelt as Director of Sales and Distribution Middle East. In his new position, Mr. Slewka will be responsible for providing effective coordination, support and direction to the inbound, outbound and intra-regional sales and sales distribution effort. Saudi Arabia will maintain a Director of Sales to boost productivity from the Saudi market. More... [666 views] Web reaches new milestone: 100 million sitesAre your Web surfing fingers getting tired? There may be a reason. Netcraft, an Internet monitoring company that has tracked Web growth since 1995, says a mammoth milestone was reached during the month of October. "There are now 100 million Web sites with domain names and content on them," said Netcraft's Rich Miller. More... [630 views] Hyatt Launches International Advertising CampaignThis fall Hyatt has launched an ambitious TV and print advertising campaign created to increase its visibility in emerging markets around the globe. The program includes an image-building television commercial and series of three print ads that accentuate the versatility of Hyatt properties that cater to high-end meetings business. More... [1200 views] First Versace Hotel in Asia to be built in SingaporeInstead of sporting a Versace bag or wearing the well-known couture's dresses, shirts or pants, you could be staying in a Versace suite. Singapore may soon be the site of Asia's first hotel and condominium by Versace, a name more familiar in the fashion world than housing and hospitality circles. Arab investors are now talking to the authorities here about a project costing a whopping $1 billion, which would include an ultra-chic, ultra-luxurious hotel with 500-600 rooms. More... [1225 views] Luxurious hotels to take bigger shares of Chinese marketMany luxurious hotels, including Intercontinental, Accor, Hyatt and Carlson, showed their strong confidence in the Chinese market in China Business Travel Forum in Shanghai. With about 40 million business population, China’s business travel market has a capacity of 120 million person-times per year at least. More... [770 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 6, 2006The Most Famous Hotels in the World - Best Stories20 years of researching the most famous hotels lead, as you can guess, to a rich collection of amazing and often amusing findings. There is the menu explaining ‘The possibility of an air raid compels us to ask our honoured guests for immediate payment'... The concierge, once asked 'If I know Beethoven?: Let me see – what room is he in?', Shoelaces pressed round or flat; 'Does "24 hour room service" on your in-room menu refer to the length of time that it takes for the club sandwich to arrive?' and: Ducks bathing in the lobby every afternoon. For all ehotelier subscribers we have put a little collection together..... By Andreas Augustin More... [2203 views] Ten Top Spa Trends to Watch for Calendar Year 2007The spa experts at Spa Finder, Inc., the global spa resource, have announced their fourth annual prediction of spa industry trends, providing an expert forecast of the innovations and ideas that will shape the world of spa in 2007. More... [1971 views] Hotel Labor & Employment – UNITE HERE goes too far. Class action suit by employees for invasion of privacy provides critical limits on union organizing activities.It has now been several years since UNITE-HERE targeted the hospitality industry with its organizing efforts. Their tactics have been extremely aggressive. At a macro level, the unions have poured resources into political campaigns across the country and are not shy about calling in favors from those they help elect. And of course, in 2006, we saw the fruits of a huge effort to time union contract expirations to hit at the same time in order to maximize leverage. By Jim Butler, Hotel Lawyer More... [839 views] TravelCLICK Names Dhar Chief Information OfficerFormer Galileo Senior Technology Executive Joins Leadership Team. Abhinav (Abhi) Dhar has joined the TravelCLICK leadership team as Chief Info rmation Officer (CIO) to direct the company's pioneering technology strategy and the development of its integrated distribution and marketing applications for hoteliers worldwide. More... [595 views] The Delivering Group grows again through the launch of Delivering Australia in SydneyThe global expansion of independent hospitality sales and marketing organisation The Delivering Group is continuing with the launch of its Australian office. Established during 2001 in Hong Kong, The Delivering Group operates out of Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore, London, Los Angeles, New York and now Sydney. More... [650 views] General Manager movements for Accor Hotels in AsiaAccor announces 14 General Manager appointments within the Asia region.... More... [2295 views] Reopening of an iconic London Park Lane Hotel: a new flagship for InterContinentalOpening today after a £60 million investment, the newly renamed InterContinental London Park Lane will provide guests with a truly authentic and luxurious London experience. Through a designed opening, the first phase will unveil elegant guest rooms, complemented by a vibrant lobby, dedicated events and meetings floor and exciting new destination restaurant, Theo Randall at The InterContinental. More... [1057 views] Hilton Hotels Corporation opens first Hilton Garden Inn properties in Europe unveiling the brand in ItalyHilton Corporation opened its first mid market hotel in Italy on October 21, the Hilton Garden Inn® Florence Novoli, located at Via Sandro Pertini, 29 50127 in Florence, Italy, following the unveiling of the brand in Germany in September. The Florence opening is the second peg in the company’s strategy to expand its presence in Europe by developing new brands, including the Hilton Garden Inn the award-winning mid-priced brand, that are part of the Hilton Family of Hotels with locations throughout North America. More... [828 views] New appointment for Accor Hotels in UK & IrelandAccor appoints Andrew Shaw as Development Director for Accor Hotels in the UK & Ireland. Andrew graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a B.Sc in Hotel and Catering Management. He joined the Regional Management Training Programme for Forte Hotels in 1984 which provided an excellent foundation for his career in the hotel industry. More... [782 views] Hilton Hotels Corporation Signs First Doubletree(R) Hotel Management Agreement in ChinaHilton Hotels Corporation announced the latest milestone in its expansion effort for the upscale, full-service Doubletree hotel collection in the burgeoning China market. The Company has signed a multi-year agreement with Tianjin Automobile Industrial Group Company, one of China's largest automobile manufacturers, to manage an upscale, 360-room hotel in Tianjin, China's fourth largest city. More... [798 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 4, 2006Hanoi faces shortage of deluxe hotel roomsHanoi is facing a shortage of deluxe hotel rooms as all 3 to 5 star hotels in the capital city are fully booked until early 2007. More... [497 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 3, 2006To “snitch” or not to “snitch”, that is the question !The first question is relatively easy. What would you do if a manager is insubordinate by, for instance, not implementing agreed product changes, performs “ gross misconduct” by using the various company’s assets for private purposes, constantly breaks the rules of moderate alcohol use and, last but not least, terrorizes the staff with the F-word and regular characterizations like “ idiots ” and “ stupid ...holes “ ? Fire him ? That is probably a comparative easy decision, specifically if this was not the first posting where this executive had similar problems and your honest effort to give him a “ last chance “ in the resort you manage failed, unfortunately, miserably.But now comes the difficult question ! By Bert van Walbeek More... [1586 views] Wachtveitl and the serious business of giving pleasureAn interview with Kurt Wachtveitl of the Oriental Bangkok - winner of the HICAP Lifetime Achievement Award. He lived through two wars and turned his obsession with an old lady into a grand passion. Yeoh Siew Hoon of The Transit Café listened with rapt attention to Kurt Wachtveitl as he accepted the HICAP Lifetime Achievement Award. More... [923 views] Creating a Great First Impression by PhonePhone etiquette helps encourage clear lines of communication, build rapport, and avoid misunderstanding. It is an important part of customer service and influences the first impression that people form of your business. Here’s how to let callers know that they are dealing with a great company: By Denise Moretti, More... [2020 views] China emerges as fourth largest business travel market in the world after USCorporations in China spent US$7.41 billion on air travel in 2005, making China the fourth biggest business travel market in the world, according to the results of American Express Business Travel’s China Business Travel Survey (The Barometer). Released during the second American Express China Business Travel Forum (CBTF) in Shanghai, findings of the Barometer revealed that T&E has become the second largest controllable costs for organizations accounting for 24% of total controllable expenses. More... [763 views] Cornell Series Showcases Hospitality Industry ExpertiseSeries Launches with White Paper by Four Seasons Executive. “The Power of Personal Service – Why It Matters, What Makes It Possible, How It Creates Competitive Advantage” is the first white paper in a new series from Cornell University’s Center for Hospitality Research. The series will draw on the expertise of hospitality industry leaders for their insights on the issues that matter most to senior executives. More... [800 views] Renaissance ClubSport: The Concept Of The Upscale Hotel/Health Club UnificationThis article provides an introduction to the history, premise, and economic benefits of the Renaissance ClubSport concept. This groundbreaking concept combines the features of an upscale, boutique hotel with a luxurious fitness complex. First published in January 2006. By Kevin Patel, HVS International More... [700 views] Three million hours, 100,000 litres of water & 40,000 light bulbsThe challenge that faced InterContinental Hotels Group’s Director of Engineering at Dubai Festival City With the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza Festival City developments really starting to resemble the impressive statures they’ll become by summer 2007, the project’s Director of Engineering gives an insider’s view on what exactly goes into constructing world-class properties that will stand out even in five-star studded Dubai. More... [885 views] London hotels "most costly" for net accessLondon hotels are among the most expensive in Europe for guests who want access to the Internet, a survey has found. The survey, carried out by Internet company Webaroo, found that top hotels in the capital charge an average of 19.70 pounds for 24-hour access. The Hilton and Ritz for example charge 20 pounds, it said. More... [827 views] IH&RA Ushers in New Leadership for 2007 - Dr. Ghassan Aïdi Elected IH&RA PresidentThe International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) is honoured to announce a new slate of IH&RA Board of Directors effective 1 November 2006, following the Association’s Annual General Assembly held in Nice, France, on 28 October. Congratulations to new IH&RA President Dr. Ghassan Aïdi, President, Cham Palaces & Hotels. More... [554 views] Barbara Talbott & Yvonne Middleton To Receive HSMAI Lifetime Achievement AwardsRecognizing individuals who have made significant contributions and lasting impressions on the hospitality and travel industry, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces the recipients of its annual Albert E. Koehl Award for advertising and marketing and the Winthrop W. Grice Award for public relations excellence. More... [692 views] Soviet-era hotel fits a new marketUnlike other post-communist metropolises, Prague's hotel offerings includes one very unique item, Dejvice’s Hotel International, now known as Crowne Plaza – an exquisite example of Czech Stalinist era architecture that some visitors treat as a destination in itself. More... [722 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 2, 2006Benefits RockHVS looks at how hotel companies can reward their employees through a variety of benefits. By Christopher Mumford, More... [1260 views] Hilton appoint new Area President in the UK & IrelandHilton Hotels Corporation have announced the appointment of a new Area President in the company's UK & Ireland business. Simon Vincent, will join Hilton in early January 2007, replacing Howard Friedman who is returning to the United States following over 17 years service with Hilton. More... [953 views] Hotel guests revolting over wi-fiHotel managers take note: your customers are growing frustrated at the charges imposed for using the internet while they are a paying guest in a hotel. According to a silicon.com poll more than half of respondents believe hotels must stop charging paying guests altogether for internet access, branding it "a rip-off", and a staggering 98 per cent of respondents said charges are too high. By Will Sturgeon More... [2567 views] The Hotel Internet Access NightmareThree. That's the number of times in the past five months that I've been stuck in hotels with failed high-speed Internet connections. While I received polite apologies and "I'm sorry sir, we'll credit your bill," those responses are unacceptable. Simply put, hotels catering to business travelers need to seriously rethink the criticality of their Internet service levels. By George Spafford More... [2280 views] Mexico gets hotter as baby boomers approach retirementHotel mixed-use is catching on in developing markets—particularly Mexico, as I mentioned in a recent posting about Donald Trump building the $200 million Trump Ocean Resort in Baja, Mexico. Some recent statistics confirm that Trump is on to something. More and more Americans are buying or considering second-homes in Mexico, with important implications for the hotel industry. More... [791 views] Cornell study Demonstrates How to Boost Employees' PerformanceA study of the relationship between pay and performance finds that better pay can lead to better employee performance, but simply offering more money isn’t the answer. Rather, how you pay your employees is critical when designing a successful compensation system, according to Michael Sturman who conducted the study. Sturman, an associate professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, explains that he wanted to explore two related aspects of pay levels. More... [1263 views] Choice Hotels Reports Record Results for Third Quarter 2006Adjusted Diluted EPS Up 16%, New Domestic Hotel Franchise Contracts Up 24% Over Prior Year Domestic Hotel Pipeline Includes 736 Hotels, Representing More Than 57,000 Rooms More... [549 views] Global Hotel Alliance merges with Asian Hotels AllianceThe Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) partners Kempinski, Omni, Pan Pacific and Rydges are delighted to welcome three new Members to the GHA. From 1st January 2007, the Asian Hotels Alliance (AHA) will merge with GHA, immediately bringing Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Landis Hotels & Resorts and Marco Polo Hotels as new members of GHA, while Meritus Hotels & Resorts and New Otani Hotels have an option to join GHA during the next 12 months. GHA thus further consolidates its position as the world’s largest hotel alliance of independent and individual brands. More... [744 views] Cornell Hotel School’s “Conversations with Entrepreneurs” series features Randy Smith, CEO, Smith Travel ResearchThe Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration will welcome Randy Smith, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder, Smith Travel Research, as the featured speaker in its “Conversations with Entrepreneurs” series on Monday, November 6. Smith will present from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Room 565, Statler Hall. More... [611 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 1, 2006Kurt Wachtveitl, General Manager of The Oriental, Bangkok, receives distinctive HICAP Lifetime Achievement AwardKurt Wachtveitl, General Manager of The Oriental, Bangkok, received the highly distinctive Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong recently. The HICAP Lifetime Achievement award is presented to an outstanding leader in the hospitality industry for his or her accomplishments and contributions to the hotel industry. Recipients exemplify dedication, diligence, commitment and passion towards guest satisfaction. More... [769 views] Cirque Du SorbetFor riveting theater, forget Broadway. Try ringside seats with the top toque.
An epicurean drama is unfolding in the kitchen of Studio
, a rustic-chic restaurant at the Montage Resort
in Laguna Beach, Calif. Barbra Streisand's manager has called down from his suite, asking for a batch of chicken soup to soothe his cold. Dinner orders fly in from Studio's packed dining room, piquing a verbal volley from the line cooks. "Fire duck breast 26!" hollers one; another sets a filet of Miyazaki beef on fire with a blast of grape seed oil. Chef James Boyce
waves a menu aloft, having discovered an error. "What's the wild turbot doing on here?!" he demands, brow furrowed in disbelief. By Dirk Smillie
More... [711 views] Color Me GreenThe “Green” Bandwagon moves triumphantly through our communities. Where we used to be called “Tree Huggers” and fringe conservationists, many have grasped the essence, understanding that sustainable Hospitality is within reach, where we can be good stewards of the environment AND make money. The color of the greenback is good, and those who do not appreciate where the movement is heading should be envious of us, for the benefits now fully exceed what were seen as the deficits. Climb aboard, spread the news, and prosper. By John R. Hendrie More... [686 views] Hilton Reports Strong Third Quarter 2006 ResultsHilton Hotels Corporation today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006. Third quarter highlights compared to third quarter 2005 are as follows: Recurring diluted EPS of $.31 vs. $.22 in 2005, an increase of 41%. Total company Adjusted EBITDA of $440 million, up 58%. Pro forma worldwide comparable owned RevPAR increased 9.8% driven by strong rate increases and high demand in most major markets. Pro forma worldwide comparable owned margins improved 70 basis points..... More... [633 views] Hotel Investments: A Guide For Lenders And OwnersThis publication comes from the HVS library archive of timeless articles. We think you will enjoy reading about this important topic. Published first in November 2004. By Steve Rushmore, HVS More... [1059 views] Preferred Hotel Group’s Global Expansion Gains MomentumGlobal hospitality industry leader Preferred Hotel Group has added 24 hotels and resorts to its growing roster of international membership during the third quarter of 2006. Emerging as the world’s most sought-after collection of independent hotels and resorts, Preferred Hotel Group now counts 350 members among its family of brands. Aligned with the needs of today’s hoteliers and their guests, Preferred Hotel Group includes Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Boutique, Summit Hotels & Resorts, and Sterling Hotels. More... [737 views] Six Senses to Cease as Operator of Jumeirah's SpasAfter two successful and award winning years, Six Senses Spas and Jumeriah have agreed to pursue individual initiatives within the spa industry. More... [965 views] The Fairmont Olympic Hotel Receives 23rd Consecutive AAA Five Diamond AwardAAA announced that The Fairmont Olympic Hotel received its 23rd consecutive AAA Five Diamond award for 2007, recognizing the hotel for the best in luxurious service, décor and amenities. The Fairmont Olympic is the only hotel in the four-state Pacific Northwest to receive this prestigious award and is one of five elite hotels in the United States to make the AAA Five Diamond list for 23 or more consecutive years. More... [664 views] London hotel boom continues while it's back to business in the regionsThe London hotel boom continued throughout September; business visitors returned in force to major commercial centres such as Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool after the summer holidays; and the bands played on in Edinburgh after the Festival, according to the preliminary figures released today by PKF hotel consultancy services. More... [658 views] |
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