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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: August 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 29, 2008What's In the Stars? (Russian 5-star hotels don’t compensate better than their 4-star counterparts)What is the best way to start a career in the hospitality industry in Russia? After comparing the line staff salary data for 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels across Russia in 2008, we have drawn a few surprising conclusions. By Tatiana Veller and Ekaterina Gil More... [1347 views] How to beat jet lagInterrupted sleep, irritability, disorientation, lack of motivation-these are only a few of jet lag's symptoms, and even the most seasoned travelers experience them to some degree when venturing across time zones. By Jennifer Murphy More... [1412 views] STR Global Hotel Performance for July 2008The global hotel industry recorded positive growth in average daily rate and revenue per available room for the month of July 2008, according to data from STR and STR Global. July occupancies fell in all but one world region. Data for the survey was gathered from more than 36,150 hotels comprising 4.93 million guestrooms worldwide. More... [763 views] BOOK: Exploring best practices in the hospitality industry in AsiaThe lodging industry across Asia has contributed to a book on best practices cases authored by Judy A. Siguaw and Wee Beng Geok. This book is the first exploration into best practices in the Asian hospitality industry, and includes trends in nominated best practices, common themes observed and suggestions for future research. Over 460 nominations of best practices were received for this study, with only 112 short-listed for further exploration. From these 112 nominations, 43 cases were included in the book titled, "Exploring Best Practices in the Hospitality Industry in Asia." The outcome is a series of short cases designed to bring out the salient features of each best practice with the aim of fostering knowledge sharing and continuous learning among practitioners in the industry in Asia. More... [1320 views] Safemark systems creates XL desk drawer safe to accommodate today's larger laptopsWith laptop computers evolving at a furious pace, so too must the products that business travelers rely on to protect those valuable machines. In fact, the recent introduction of 17-inch monitors that make laptop computers more user-friendly has actually created a problem for the many hotels and resorts that provide in-room safes: The new laptops are simply too big to fit inside presently-installed units. More... [1270 views] Travel sites not catering to international usersTravel sites do not cater to their international users. This was the finding of the Oban Multilingual short documentary on international travel search behaviour. By Kaila Krayewski More... [936 views] Mövenpick Hotel Saigon invests in employeesAs tourism to Vietnam continues to surge and more projects of every type are developed to accommodate the influx of visitors, one hotel management company has implemented an aggressive initiative it hopes will facilitate repeat business, sow the fields for major expansion, and raise the bar on the quality of hospitality country wide. More... [850 views] Brad Wilson named chief operating officer at Denihan hospitality groupBrad Wilson has been named chief operating officer of the New York-based Denihan Hospitality Group (DHG), which operates Affinia Hotels, The Benjamin and The James hotel brands. As DHG's first-ever COO, Wilson is charged with developing new infrastructures at the corporate level, and orchestrating an integrated effort to ensure the continued growth of the brands. In this new position, Wilson will also continue to direct the day-to-day operations of DHG and its portfolio of 12 hotels in New York, Chicago, and Washington DC, ensuring the seamless delivery of standards for each brand. More... [577 views] Landmark Australian tourism portfolio to attract global investor interestA portfolio of some of the world's leading resorts, including the 791 room Ayers Rock Resort near Uluru and Queensland's award winning Lizard and Bedarra Islands, are to be offered for sale through Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. David Gibson, CEO Asia Pacific and Craig Collins, Managing Director, have been retained exclusively by The GPT Group to market for sale the Voyages Hotels & Resorts portfolio in one line. More... [626 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 28, 2008Lessons from the field: 10 hotel sales mistakes to avoid in today’s competitive marketplaceMistakes do happen - that is human, understandable and part of our professional learning cycle. What we need to remember is to improve and learn from those mistakes by not repeating them needlessly. Here are ten mistakes to avoid. By Dr. John Hogan, More... [3986 views] Summer events boost London hotelsHotels in the capital experienced a very healthy July with significant growth in both room rate and occupancy, according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Hotels across the rest of the country maintained steady growth. More... [604 views] Beijing expects tourism boomChina needs to take training and recruitment measures in advance of the forecast post-Olympics surge in tourism, a human resource report said. By Xin Dingding More... [718 views] IHG to add close to 1,000 InterContinental and Holiday Inn hotel rooms and suites in South KoreaIHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed an agreement with Gwangwondo Development Corporation (GDC) to manage two Resorts and Suites under the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Suites brands. This adds another close to 1,000 rooms to IHG's pipeline in Korea and doubles the number of IHG hotels in this market. More... [616 views] Competition mystery shoppingRevenue Source One announced that the company would begin providing Competition Mystery Shopping in September. More... [764 views] Going abroad - A foreigner’s outlook on Indian hotel investmentDespite global economic woes Indian hotel development has remained a strong investment but certain dynamics must be understood and appreciated before investors branch out." By Michael Pajak More... [886 views] Virtuoso announces 2008 achievement award winnersLeading luxury travel network, Virtuoso, announced the winners of its annual Virtuoso Performance Awards on Thursday, August 21, at the network's 20th Anniversary Awards Gala held during the 2008 Travel Mart in Las Vegas, August 17-22, 2008. Honorees included outstanding travel specialists, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, specialty services and tour operators from North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Australia/New Zealand. Judging was based on an 18-month reporting period, with certain minimum production requirements, while peer-to-peer awards were decided by network participants. More... [826 views] Booking.com offers smaller hotels and guesthouses an affordable, direct online tool to drive bookingsThrough the launch of its new Booking Button, Booking.com now allows hotels of all sizes to offer direct bookings through their own websites. Neither a set-up fee nor an annual fee is charged for this service. More... [1717 views] Nakheel showcases Trump Tower Dubai in LANakheel and the Trump Organisation launched the Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai on the Palm Jumeirah at a star-studded event in Los Angeles. More... [789 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 27, 2008You know when you know.How often over the years have you gone against Gut feeling , Intuition, "A feeling" , whether changing jobs, locations or matters of the heart, I have not heard of too many success stories. In fact I haven't heard of one. That's the way the universe works. Intuition is a powerful thing. It just took me many years for this to actually hit me. By Stuart Mullins More... [1536 views] America’s cheesiest restaurantsIt's really rather odd. Ten years ago, finding a restaurant in America serving a selection of fine cheeses was about as easy as finding good Chinese food in Italy. Except at a few old-line French restaurants serving a rudimentary plate of Brie, Camembert and Roquefort-and rarely in very good condition-American restaurateurs saw little profit in appealing to guests who either opted for dessert over cheese or never even thought of the idea of cheese after the main course. More... [1297 views] Wannabe travelers worry not! Expedia busts myths about vacationing in today's economyExpedia®, the world's leading online travel company, today released the new issue of the quarterly Expedia Travel Trendwatch®, focused on the current summer travel season and the upcoming fall travel season. In a shift from past reports that provided general travel trend overviews, this issue of the Trendwatch® aims to debunk negative rumors about Americans' vacation habits and to provide tips for finding worthwhile travel values in a fluctuating economy. The report also highlights top summer destinations and some of the fastest growing vacation spots of 2008. More... [758 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for July 2008The U.S. hotel industry posted increases in the key performance measurements of average daily rate and revenue per available room during the month of July, according to data from STR. More... [607 views] Fiji hotels retain most earningsFiji's tourism industry retains around 60 percent to 64 per cent of every tourism dollar, says local hotelier Tony Whitton. More... [584 views] Wyndham hotel group announces Ramada Encore deal for South KoreaWyndham Hotel Group today announced an exclusive agreement with a South Korean company to develop 20 Ramada® Encore hotels in that country during the next six years, nearly tripling the brand's presence there. More... [634 views] Word of mouse made simpleStarting in June at the prestigious HITEC show in Austin, Avalon Report Corporation kicked off a series of enlightening seminars designed to simplify the most visible component of Web 2.0, (online guest) or customer reviews and ratings, now being read by over 40% of the traveling public. The hour-long education sessions have been so well received through out the summer that the company has opened the invitation-only seminars to the industry at large. More... [646 views] Holiday Inn brand family growing strong with new lookThe Holiday Inn brand family is a growth engine for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [Lon: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] in the Americas and around the world. During the first half of 2008, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express signed a combined 203 hotels (24,327 rooms) globally - continuing the momentum from a record year in 2007 when the brands signed a combined 524 deals (63,431 rooms). The great majority of these signings will be new build properties. The Holiday Inn brand family increased its combined global development pipeline to more than 133,000 rooms (1,121 hotels). More... [1088 views] Genares worldwide reservation services announces partnership with Shilo InnsGenares Worldwide Reservation ServicesSM Ltd., the hotel industry's newest and fastest-growing global representation and reservations company, today announced a new partnership with Shilo Inns to provide the hotel chain a full range of global hotel reservations services. More... [544 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 26, 2008Finally, a destination development plan which delivers on the promise - The Oregon “Q care program”Slap some ideas on the wall, vote for those which slide the slowest, invest tightly budgeted dollars for ephemeral marketing, get the slogans and promises out to the public, and await the results. They will come, you assure your Stakeholders. Perhaps they will, loaded with expectations you have created. By John Hendrie, More... [901 views] Hospitality executives in Asia are wiser, smarter and more driven than 10 years agoParticipants at the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management' s recent Professional Development Program (PDP) were observed by an American faculty member, Mr. Robert Perry, to be hardworking, demanding of the lecturers and fellow participants and determined to "get their money's worth". Perry says that hospitality professionals today are highly inquisitive in comparison to ten years ago, when participants came reluctantly and because their employers required it of them. Furthermore, Perry noted that "hospitality executives these days are very driven and want to learn how to practically apply theory". Indeed, participants who attended the July PDP courses say that they came to learn the latest management theory as well as to find solutions for operational issues that they are challenged with. More... [851 views] Ten top-earning celebrity chefsSay what you will about Rachael Ray, but the jaunty chef-next-door knows how to build a brand. By Chaniga Vorasarun More... [1600 views] Thirty-eight people make reservations for space hotelThirty eight travelers have made reservations to be the first guests on the Galactic Suite space hotel. The four day vacation will take passengers to a distance of 300 miles (450 kilometers) from the earth at a cost of €3 million (USD$4.46 million). More... [963 views] Home is where the art isA Turkish mansion becomes both hotel and gallery, By Jo Baker. More... [625 views] London profit heads skywards thanks to Farnborough AirshowThe Farnborough Airshow contributed to strong profit growth for London's chain hotels during July, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting. More... [779 views] Middle East enjoys highest hotel occupancy in the world for first half 2008The global hotel market got off to a good start in 2008, driven by strong average room rate growth. Analysis by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu shows that for the first six months of the year, North America was the only region not to record double-digit revenue per available room (revPAR) growth (in US dollars). By Maria Karam, More... [1005 views] British holidaymakers spend nearly £40,000 each ‘lifetime value of a British traveller’ is identifiedRCI, the world's largest timeshare exchange company, today revealed the lifetime value of the British traveller. According to new research commissioned by RCI in conjunction with Mintel, on average Britons spend 840 days holidaying abroad and pay £39,900 on accommodations alone over the course of their lifetime.* More... [656 views] Macau casinos' shares fall on fears China will curb travelMajor casino operators have prospered in Macau's fast-growing gambling market. But uncertainty over Beijing's policies is showing the flip side to that success. More... [746 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 25, 2008Lessons from the Field: Ways to identify and build repeat guestsThere are only two ways to get a new customer: More... [2233 views] Do You Speak Hotel Language?With so many acronyms and hotel terminology flying around the hotel industry it can become very confusing for the average customer. Hotel price comparison website HotelsCombined.com has collated the top industry terms customers query. More... [3621 views] Vintage sailing vesselsHop aboard these spectacular olden ships It's possible to travel the seven seas on all kinds of vessels, many of them as luxurious as you can imagine, and many of them born yesterday. But some of the best are haunted by history-in a good way. By Carla Davidson More... [573 views] Strategies for managing lodging demand in a slowing economySales professionals attending the Second Annual HSMAI Hotel Sales Strategy Conference will receive a special white paper addressing the impact of increased transportation costs and the slowing economy on lodging sectors. More... [1250 views] AccuBar loads new features into latest versionNotice from your hotel room in Seattle that your Atlanta bar is missing a case of Jack Daniels? Check. See on your iPhone that your nightclub stocked out of a popular beer? Check. Print a wine list in 2 minutes that only includes what you have in stock? Check. More... [584 views] Wyndham hotel group signs agreement to open nine hotels in JapanWyndham Hotel Group today said it has signed a non-exclusive agreement with Green Hospitality Management Co. LTD of Tokyo to open nine hotels in Japan during the next five years under the Ramada® and Days Inn® lodging brands. More... [592 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 16 August 2008The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in the key performance measurements of occupancy and revenue per available room during the week of 10 -16 August 2008, according to data from STR. More... [465 views] Are hotel bookings falling short of expectations in Beijing during Olympic Games?For their part, hotels, too, have acknowledged that the number of visitors has been below expectations. "We are not getting as many guests during this Olympic period as everyone expected," reportedly said Mary Ma, sales and marketing department manager, Red Hotel Beijing. "Maybe it is because more hotels have opened; maybe it's because hotels have greatly increased their room rates." More... [1382 views] Americans pumped up about fall travelTripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel community, today announced the results of its annual fall travel survey of more than 1,900 travelers worldwide. Eighty-two percent of U.S. respondents plan to travel for leisure this autumn, up from 70 percent who said they took pleasure trips last fall. Twenty-six percent of U.S. respondents said they will travel more this autumn than last, while 49 percent intend to travel the same amount as one year ago. Fifty-eight percent of travelers said they plan to fly this autumn for their leisure travel, while 48 percent plan to drive. More... [1138 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 22, 2008One-size-fits-all travel sites do not fit allResearch from international web marketing company Oban Multilingual shows that travel site preferences differ according to users' travel destinations, as well as reflecting their culturally-distinct search behaviours. More... [1123 views] Hoteliers need to work hard to nurture happy customers and avoid negative postingsIt's common knowledge that the Internet has certainly changed how travel consumers perceive the credibility of information. Any discrepancy between "official" and "unofficial" content should be dealt with immediately. More... [1519 views] New survey reveals unique habits and preferences of next generation travelersTechnological change has reinvented the manner in which travel service suppliers bring their products and services to the marketplace in recent years, and a new survey now reveals that emerging technology has had an equally profound effect on the behavior of those who use it. The NEXTgen TravelerTM survey of 2,559 adults-co-authored by PhoCusWright and Ypartnership -was conducted in March 2008. Respondents were "active users" of the latest computer, entertainment or consumer technology, and took at least one overnight trip requiring the use of commercial accommodations during the previous 12 months. More... [1122 views] Oberoi Group to open 10 more hotels by 2011Leading hospitality chain Oberoi Group is planning to set up 10 more hotels in India and abroad by the end of 2011 and adding 2,300 rooms. More... [984 views] HRG highlights emerging trendsAs challenging economic conditions continue to dominate news headlines and financial constraints have greater influence on travel policy and decision making, international corporate travel services company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is highlighting key trends emerging across the business travel industry. More... [1102 views] Rezidor announces 3 new hotels in RussiaThe Rezidor Hotel Group once again increases its portfolio in Russia and announces 3 new hotels with a total of 969 rooms: The Park Inn Volgograd (173 rooms) is scheduled to open in Q2 2010, followed by the Park Inn Kaliningrad (276 rooms) in Q1 2011 and the Radisson Grand Hotel Rostov-on-Don (520 rooms) in Q3 2011. More... [526 views] U.S. hotel deals down 81% in H1 2008, reports Jones Lang LaSalle HotelsJones Lang LaSalle Hotels announced today that the volume of U.S. hotel transactions for the first six months of 2008 declined 81% from the same period in 2007, reaching $6.0 billion. According to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' proprietary database, which tracks transactions $10 million and above, first quarter 2008 transaction volume was relatively stronger at $3.4 billion, whereas the second quarter saw $2.6 billion in deal closings. More... [449 views] Lake Lanier islands resort unveils first phase of multimillion expansion, transformationThe first phase of a 10 year, multimillion dollar expansion is complete at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. The Atlanta-area destination has unveiled the transformed Legacy Lodge & Conference Center, formerly known as Emerald Pointe Hotel & Conference Center, along with six new executive villas. More... [676 views] Government of Dominica supports eco-lodge project proposed by Distinguished International Hotels, Residences and ResortsDistinguished International® Hotels, Residences and Resorts is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with the Carib Council to develop the first ever Eco-Lodge Resort and Conference Centre in the Carib Territory of Dominica. More... [550 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 21, 2008Lessons from the Field Principles for success as a manager Part fiveConclusion to the five part series; maintaining relationships throughout the organization By Dr. John Hogan More... [1789 views] Consistency - the key to successOK, let's get down to the bottom of this. Please stand up and raise your hand if you've been "WOW-ed" lately. At the supermarket, dry cleaner, health club or hotel. Where have you had your socks knocked off...and then cleaned, pressed, folded and put away? By Rob Rush More... [1999 views] UAE may have 30 theme parks in next four yearsThe total investments in UAE theme parks is projected to exceed Dh228 billion ($62 billion) by 2012, according to a Press release issued here on Monday. More... [836 views] U.S. travel buyers looking for more when booking a hotel for leisure,Despite increased rates and increasing economic pressures last year, hotel was the top component purchased by online travel shoppers in the U.S., beating out airline tickets, according to a recent report. More... [603 views] Russia is rapidly catching up with Internet and web-payment technologyThe online travel market in Russia currently accounts only for a small share of the total travel e-commerce pie but it is one segment, which is being tipped to grow aggressively in the time to come. The potential is definitely there but the market needs to overcome quite a few challenges in order to have a substantial share of the total e-commerce pie. More... [532 views] Bushmans Kloof extends sponsorship to protect endangered cape mountain leopardBushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat is a major sponsor of the Cape Leopard Trust. Since its inception in 2005, this project has been dedicated to the preservation of the endangered Cape Mountain Leopard in the Cederberg region (Western Cape). More... [532 views] Biggest meeting industry trend is increasing use of technologyThe Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® National and Event Technology Expo™ pre-show survey revealed that planners are noticing an increase in the amount of technology used for meetings, big and small. More... [2035 views] Penta launches in the UK and aims to blur the lines between business and leisure hotelWatch out, because Penta has reached UK shores with plans to inject some fun back into the hotel market with the opening of its first property in Reading, England. The company has recently rebranded the former Renaissance Hotel and a multi million pound refurbishment will kick off in autumn 2008. More... [619 views] Casino city releases 2008-2009 Indian gaming industry report: modest growth in 2007Casino City Press today announced the release of the 2008-2009 edition of the Indian Gaming Industry Report - the most comprehensive, up-to-date study of Indian gaming available - authored by Dr. Alan Meister, an economist with Analysis Group, Inc., who has done extensive research and analysis on Indian gaming issues. More... [651 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 20, 2008Best practices on monitoring hotel review sitesHoteliers often ask HeBS how they can monitor the Internet chatter surrounding their hotels and whether or not they should pay for services that offer this type of monitoring. What hotel review websites should you monitor? How often should you check for reviews about your hotel on these websites? Should you provide a rebuttal for reviews? These are just a few of the questions hoteliers ponder on this subject. This article offers a free, quick, and easily implemented action plan for monitoring reviews about your hotel. By Max Starkov and Mariana Mechoso More... [2381 views] Downturn creates 'less is more' opportunities for hotels and travel agentsA new consumer mindset centred on deeper values will transform the tourism marketplace and create lasting opportunities for hotels and the travel trade. More... [990 views] Would you like fries with that?Fairmont Scottsdale launches new program that converts kitchen grease to low-emission alternative fuel More... [638 views] TravelCLICK’s rapid growth continues with two new additions to its executive teamTravelCLICK, Inc., the leading provider of ecommerce solutions for the global hotel industry, today announced the addition of two recognized executives to its senior leadership team. More... [655 views] Travellers were delaying trips until after the Beijing Olympics: CtripCtrip.com International, Ltd. has posted a 35 percent rise in its second-quarter net income. The online travel agency shared that its net income was RMB119 million (US$17 million), representing a 35 percent increase from the same period in 2007, and a 21 percent increase from the previous quarter. Net revenues were RMB375 million (US$55 million), up 30 percent year-on-year. More... [594 views] Hilton hotels inks deal for first worldwide resort in TurkeyHilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) has today announced that its subsidiary has entered into a franchise agreement with Gocay Tourism, Management, Investment, Transportation & Trade Inc to open a new Hilton Worldwide Resort in Dalaman, on the south west coast of Turkey. Scheduled to open mid 2009, Hilton Dalaman Golf Resort & Spa will be the company's first resort property to debut in the country. More... [635 views] Revenue idol awards honor hospitality industry professionalsIn its inaugural year, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Revenue Idol Award, designed to promote excellence and advance the Revenue Management profession in the hospitality industry, produced steep competition. The 2008 HSMAI Revenue Idol Award winner was Angie Belknap, director of revenue management, Radisson Ft. McDowell Resort & Casino and Radisson Poco Diablo Resort. Christine Kramer, director of revenue management, Omni Hotel San Diego, was a finalist. The awards are sponsored by TravelCLICK and were presented at the HSMAI Revenue Management Strategy Conference in Austin, Texas. More... [1079 views] Kiwi Collection Launches New Kiwi Jetsetter BlogKiwi Collection, the world's largest and most comprehensive luxury hotel and resort collection, has launched their much-anticipated interactive travel blog, aptly called Kiwi JetSetter in honor of the teams' frequent jaunts and unparalleled travel expertise. A continuously updated, in-depth forum, the new Kiwi JetSetter will grant travelers direct access to the inner-workings of the Kiwi Collection "think tank" via a series of informative postings on the personal preferences of today's industry insiders. More... [985 views] America’s best value inn adds 34 new properties in June, JulyAmericas Best Value Inn continued its record-setting growth by adding 34 new properties with 2,161 rooms in June and July. Of those properties, 21 were conversions from other brands, 11 were independents, and two were new construction. The brand expanded its presence in 18 states, with Texas experiencing the highest growth with nine new members. These additional properties bring the total number of new ABVI members to 86 so far this year. More... [412 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 19, 2008Delivering world-class service: function vs. purposeWhat is the difference between the doorman opening the hotel's door and the doorman providing a welcoming experience? Or what is the difference between the housekeeper changing the bed sheets and the housekeeper ensuring that the guest has a clean, comfortable bed to sleep in? Some people may say they are actually the same thing, but others would say that one drives the other. One is the function and the other is the purpose. It is one of the simplest, yet most powerful ways to explain service excellence and how to deliver exceptional service at the same time. Understanding the purpose affects "how" the function is performed. By Bryan K. Williams More... [5247 views] Lessons from the Field Principles for success as a manager Part fourCommunicating with clarity and candor By Dr. John Hogan, More... [1485 views] Washington power restaurantsInside the Beltway, politicians seem to agree on very little, but there is consensus around the old saw: "An empty stomach is a poor advisor." To wit, the grilling of pollsters by politicians, the courting of media by lobbyists and the glad-handing of everyone by lawyers happens at a few select D.C. restaurants. Whether the table is set at a Capitol classic or a casual newcomer, networking takes plates. By Kate Gibbs More... [586 views] All about lunch breaks in FranceTime is money: Only 33 percent of the working population in France have lunch in full service restaurants. Over 60 percent of the employees and worker prefer prepared meals in advance and the daily foodservice in canteen and cafeterias. This is result of a study* of CHD Expert Group, the leading market research company for the Away-from-Home Market in Europe and North America. For the survey a representative sample of 2,000 French women and men has been interviewed in May this year. More... [712 views] 69th Skål World Congress to be held in TaipeiThe 69th Skål World Congress will commence in Taipei, Taiwan on 12 October 2007 with a spectacular Get-together party at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall which includes the Chiang Kai Shek Museum. More... [469 views] CNI briefing: the Capella Singapore – ultra- luxury hotel brandThe Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management and the West Paces Hotel Group Asia will hold an exclusive presentation, "Exclusivity, Loyalty, Experience and Legacy-Hallmarks of an Ultra-Luxury Hotel: Introducing Capella Singapore", on the 23 rd of August (Saturday) at 1.30pm at the Singapore Marriott Hotel. More... [1677 views] STR reports U.S. hotel Pipeline for July 2008The U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 5,943 hotels with 660,928 rooms according to the July STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. This represents a 0.5-percent decrease in rooms over June and an 18.1-percent increase over July 2007. Of the total pipeline, 200,604 rooms are not currently affiliated with a brand or chain. More... [508 views] First green world travel awardsWorld Travel Awards European and Green Awards Ceremony takes place in one of the greenest places on earth - AquaCity, the luxurious Slovakian resort in Poprad, which is almost completely self-powered. Using geothermal water and energy from the sun, AquaCity is to host the ceremony on October 16, 2008. More... [609 views] Beijing hotel market's strong Olympic performanceThe Beijing hotel market has put in a strong performance for the opening days of the 2008 Beijing Games, seeing off a pre-Olympics lull according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [1529 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 18, 2008Is this the summer of our hospitality discontent?It has been tough, folks, and we do not need to beat the drums about the obvious, particularly in the United States. But, there are always silver linings, admiration for those Hospitality companies which have hunkered down and navigated the economic trough, as well as those who understand the cyclical nature of the business and have planned forward. By John R. Hendrie More... [894 views] The top 10 hotel projects in GermanyThe German hotel market growth continues. 410 new hotel construction and renovation projects are currently in progress. The largest hotel projects with more than 1,000 rooms are both located in the state of Brandenburg in Eastern Germany. The largest city hotel project is the Scandic Hotel Berlin with 572 rooms. According to tophotelprojects.com® approx. 66,000 hotel rooms will be constructed or renovated in Germany within the next five years. More... [1641 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 09 August 2008The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in the key performance metrics of occupancy and revenue per available room during the week of 03 - 09 August, according to data from STR. More... [549 views] Declining U.S. traveller Sentiment index™ reflects concern about rising cost of travelThe U.S. Traveler Sentiment IndexTM (TSI), a general measure of future travel intentions that derives from measures of six specific consumer sentiments, displayed its second consecutive quarterly decline in July 2008, dropping to 78.3 from 82.4 in April 2008 (March 2007 base = 100), according to the closely-watched travelhorizonsTM survey. The decline was due primarily to significant decreases in both the perceived "affordability of travel" and "money available for travel." The perceived "safety of travel" was the only one of the six TSI measures to increase since April 2008. More... [562 views] Dan hotels' culinary academy hosts chefs for peaceThe Dan Gourmet, the Haifa-based culinary school under the auspices of the Dan Hotels Israel hotel group, hosted a reception earlier this month for Chefs for Peace, a group formed in 2001 to foster mutual understanding and partnership between culinary professionals of Jewish, Muslim and Christian heritage. More... [575 views] Outsourcing in revenue managementMany enterprises within the industry have been doing it for a long time, even newspapers are not afraid of it any more: They outsource specified tasks into the hands of external service providers. Outsourcing in the hotel industry at the moment limits itself to e.g. stewarding or housekeeping areas. In the strategic adjustments of the hotels it still happens very seldom, to put the trust into the experts from outside. As Christine Sauer from the company Revway knows, this can bring however, numerous advantages to the hotel. By Christine Sauer, More... [1066 views] 1st CHART restaurant and hotel training professionals’ silent auction raises over $14,000 for Share Our Strength (SOS)The first silent auction by the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) raised more than $14,000 for Share Our Strength (SOS), the nation's leading organization working to end childhood hunger in America. The auction was part of CHART's 76th Semi-annual Hospitality Training Conference, held August 9-12, 2008 at the Gaylord National, just outside of Washington, DC. The auction took place on Monday, August 11 during the Commitment to People Awards Gala, where Billy Shore, Founder and Executive Director of SOS, gave a keynote address to over 300 in attendance. More... [422 views] Choice hotels opens 60 new hotels in JulyChoice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) continues to grow with the announcement of 60 newly-opened franchised properties during the month of July. The openings include hotels in 27 states and three countries, adding more than 4,800 rooms to the company's existing 460,000-plus rooms. More... [667 views] IHG ANZSP Head named hotelier of the yearAustralian and New Zealand hotel industry leaders have voted Keith Barr, Regional Chief Operating Officer of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), HM Magazine Hotelier of the Year at the 2008 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, announced in Sydney,(Australia) last night. More... [723 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 15, 2008Profit optimization is everyone’s jobRegardless of whether RevPAR and bottom-line profits are trending upwards or downwards in your hotel's market, there's no better time than the precious present to make profit optimization everyone's job. Unfortunately too many hotels still think of profit optimization as being primarily the job function of a revenue manager, versus a process that virtually every associate can embrace every day. By Doug Kennedy More... [1644 views] Why Google continually fails to win over the huge Chinese marketOban Multilingual and EyeforTravel have rounded up the results from their online travel competition survey and found some interesting trends emerging in online Chinese search behaviour. Results showed that Chinese internet users don't use Google very often. In fact, none of the Chinese respondents chose Google as their favoured travel search portal. More... [1352 views] Hotels win gold at the Beijing OlympicsHotel prices have soared in Beijing since the start of the Olympics as hoteliers benefit from a huge increase in visitors. A review of hotel performance by Deloitte, the business advisory firm, shows that on the opening night of the Olympic Games, revenue per available room (revPAR) in the city's hotels increased 546% to US$390. Occupancy reached 86.3% while average room rates increased 421% to US$451 (up US$364 on the same day of the year in 2007). The following two nights also saw strong growth in occupancy and average room rates and no doubt more days like this are expected during the remainder of the event. More... [933 views] Keynote speakers announced for 2008 British association of hospitality accountants (BAHA) annual conference and IT exhibitionThree of the hospitality industry's most influential and successful leaders have agreed to be the keynote speakers at the 3rd British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA) Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition to be held on 5 and 6 November 2008 at the brand new Sofitel London Heathrow at Terminal 5. More... [533 views] PNG hotel industry plans $2.4 million academyPapua New Guinea's hotel industry is set for a major boost when the country's first hotel academy gets off the ground next year. More... [577 views] Relais & Châteaux sponsors international internships for aspiring CambodiansRelais & Châteaux, the exclusive collection of some of the world's finest luxury small hotels and gourmet restaurants, is sponsoring a Cambodian Hospitality and Tourism school with international scholarships for promising graduates. More... [520 views] Hyatt grants $500,000 to support ASAE & the center’s diversity and inclusion initiativeASAE & The Center for Association Leadership have recently received a $500,000 grant from Global Hyatt Corporation to assist with the launch of their Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. Over the next three years Hyatt's contribution will directly support ASAE & The Center's efforts to build their organizational capacity, as well as the learning and knowledge resources needed to support diversity and inclusion in associations and nonprofit organizations. More... [602 views] Dan hotels goes international with new India propertiesIn its first foray into international hotel development, the legendary Dan Hotels Israel has announced it will expand its luxury hotel operations with new properties to open in India. More... [720 views] Executive leadership appointments announced for The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.Mr. Jean-Jacques Gauer, chairman of the executive committee of The Leading Hotels of the World, has announced that Paul M. McManus, president and chief executive officer of the organistion, will assume the position of vice chairman of Leading Ventures, effective 1 September 2008. In this capacity, Mr. McManus will oversee the development of new business opportunities for the company, while continuing to serve as an active member of the board of The Leading Hotels of the World. More... [1167 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 14, 2008Lessons from the Field Principles for success as a manager Part threeAs a manager the important thing is not what happens when you are there, but what happens when you are not there. ~ Ken Blanchard, Author, Consultant, Educator More... [1815 views] The AH&LA and Tom Corcoran talk with Hospitality Lawyer about the 3 most pressing issues facing the industry todayFormed in 1910 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Hotel & Lodging Association is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry. For almost 100 years, AH&LA has been the leading voice for the hotel industry, providing national advocacy on Capitol Hill -- a comprehensive federal governmental affairs program covering legislative and regulatory issues for the lodging industry. By Jim Butler More... [696 views] Slowdown fails to halt Intercontinental Hotels growthThe credit crisis shows no signs of slowing growth at Intercontinental Hotels after the world's biggest hotelier said it was adding two new hotels a day and had hit its new room target six months ahead of schedule. By Jonathan Sibun More... [763 views] Sarovar bets big on budget hotelsSarovar Hotels and amp; Resorts, a privately held hospitality company operating 35 hotels in India and abroad is venturing into the budget hotels business in a big way. The company has announced plans to set up 10 new budget hotels including three in the National Capital Region within next 18 months. More... [571 views] Asias online travel Sales to grow 90% in 10 yearsTech-savvy ITB Asia exhibitors say China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Vietnam will lead the way More... [568 views] HVS Washington, D.C. publishes the HVS employment-hotel growth indexLed by David Fuller (MAI), a team of professional hotel and commercial real estate appraisers at HVS Washington, D.C. has devised a revolutionary index for use in accurately forecasting future hotel demand based on employment growth in a metropolitan market. More... [494 views] UK hoteliers continue to hold ownUK hoteliers had another steady month in June with most reporting increased rooms yields, according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services More... [573 views] More Chinese mergers and acquisitions in early 2009The continuing fillip to consumer power, reduction in technology costs and easing of entry barriers are some of the global trends paving way for new business models including ones in online travel distribution. More... [559 views] Microtel inns & suites economy lodging brand opens 300th hotelThe Microtel Inns & Suites brand, an all-new construction economy lodging chain recently acquired by Wyndham Hotel Group, celebrated a milestone this week with the opening of its 300th hotel in Delphos, Ohio. More... [491 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 13, 2008Lessons from the Field Principles for success as a manager Part twoMotivating the team, By Dr. John Hogan, More... [1942 views] Rufli to retire, Henley to helmAfter 36 years of continuous service with Amari Hotels & Resorts, Mr Kurt Rufli is retiring as its managing director, effective November 1. His successor will be Mr Peter Henley, who has served companies such as Holiday Inn Worldwide Asia-Pacific, Raffles Holdings and Morgan Stanley Properties. Mr Henley will start on October 6 as president and CEO. More... [869 views] Anatomy of an internet-savvy hotel managerIt's 1:20 am and the hotel manager is reviewing last month's profit & loss statement; room revenue is below planned budget and expenses were higher than ideal. That's not great news, but the really bad news is that forecasted revenue looks weak for the next several months. Something has to be done quickly. By: Neil Salerno More... [2684 views] The top ten decisions you need to make on hotel business sale agreementsThinking of buying or selling a hotel? There's a lot of work required to organize or participate in a successful sale process and plenty of thought required as to how you should structure the transaction. Here are a few lessons we have learned. By David Jones, Roy Melick, Caroline Ho More... [1806 views] Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ : America is on sale! understanding the exchange rate impact on hospitality.Industry insights from JMBM's Hospitality Lawyers. Some of the most popular articles here are the industry updates, like the ones posted after NYU and the NABHOOD Conference a few weeks ago, with many of the industry experts' top slides.One of the most popular slides from Jan Freitag of Smith Travel Research posted on www.HotelLawBlog.com triggered quite a few questions about the impact of currency exchange rates on our industry, so I thought I would offer a little more detail to those who are intrigued by America being on sale because of the fall of dollar against most of the world's major currencies. By Jim Butler, More... [915 views] WOW.TRAVEL’S seven sensational rooftop terraces
wow.travel (the online magazine of kiwicollection.com) edited by Mary Gostelow, introduces Seven Sensational Rooftop Terraces. More... [982 views] Dusit Thani Pattaya joins city government in its environmental efforts in honor of His Majesty the KingIn its dedication towards environmental conservation, Dusit Thani Pattaya recently joined Pattaya City government in its tree planting project on Koh Larn, also known as Coral Island in honor of His Majesty the King. More... [554 views] If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.I have recently read a number of articles written by hotel sales and marketing experts extolling the virtues of knowing your competition better during these depressed economic times. While I agree with this thought, it has also been my experience that hotels must know themselves as well or better than they know their competition. Of even greater importance, hotels must embrace the idea that the competition is their enemy. By Jay Delerno More... [959 views] Mike Dimond HSMAI foundation scholarship fund continues legacy of industry giantThe HSMAI Foundation announces the creation of the Mike Dimond HSMAI Foundation Scholarship Fund, in memory of the hospitality industry leader who passed away last month at the age of 67. More... [717 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 12, 2008After Evil Erik, what can be worse : Evil Eve ?Evil Erik is, finally, in deep trouble and he is now, as a temporary arrangement before his contract ends, placed in an in-active posting and not allowed in the hotel anymore. And as a " thank you " for the patience of the owners, he is now taking legal action against them to get compensation for all the free days he never took over the last 2 years ........ By Bert van Walbeek More... [2425 views] Lessons from the Field: Principles for success as a manager Part 1Understanding the Organization By Dr. John Hogan More... [2012 views] Bottling up the hotel’s responsibilityDubai may have a reputation for being a ‘party city', but hoteliers need to be careful of the consequences of this image. By Chris Jackson More... [888 views] Astronaut Brian Binnie confirmed as speaker at Orion congress at AtlantisMr Brian Binnie, the test pilot of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipOne has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the 5th Annual ORION Congress to be held at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai on Saturday 11 October 2008. The one-day Congress which is predictive in nature, will focus on a theme What's Next? Innovation in the tourism and hospitality industry. More... [721 views] Melbourne Marriott hotel introduces revolutionary Envirocane hand towelDid you also know that thousands of trees are cut down every year to produce wood products? And that millions of tonnes of wood pulp are used in hygiene paper products alone! Whether they are from controlled harvest plantation or remaining rain forest, they all contribute to the slow death of our nature. Green house emissions, deforestation are but some of the symptoms, but here at the Melbourne Marriott Hotel we are looking to reduce our carbon footprint by working to combat against this problem. More... [2323 views] Good news as SA hotel industry achieves further positive growthHaving over the past five years facilitated well in excess of R3.5 billion in investment in the hospitality industry, Pam Golding Hospitality - a member of the Pam Golding Property group - is ideally positioned to capitalise on future growth on the industry in Southern Africa. More... [547 views] New general manager for award-winning Conrad BangkokConrad Hotels & Resorts, the global contemporary luxury hotel Brand, today welcomes Manfred Pieper as the new General Manager of the Conrad Bangkok. Manfred will be responsible for the overall operations of the hotel and the Conrad Bangkok Residences, ensuring they remain a top choice amongst business and leisure travellers in the region. More... [1166 views] New survey reveals "staycations" planned by fewer than one in ten American travellersA new survey of 2,231 U.S. adults reveals only 9 percent are planning a "staycation," or home-based vacation, as an alternative to a vacation they otherwise would have taken out of town during the next six months. This represents a significantly lower percentage than expected by industry analysts. More... [598 views] Starbucks brings back memories of James FixJames Fixx wrote the The Complete Book of Running. It was the #1 best seller on the New York Times book list. When I was younger it became my bible as I embraced a regular running regime culminating in running marathons. And then one morning, on his regular run, James Fixx died of a heart attack. I was shattered. By Max Hitchins More... [646 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 11, 2008Deloitte study: global hotel performance remains in positive territory despite economic uncertaintiesThe global hotel market got off to a good start in 2008, driven by strong average room rate growth. Analysis by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu shows that for the first six months of the year, North America was the only region not to record double-digit revenue per available room (revPAR) growth (in US$). More... [2093 views] CNI interactive distribution report identifies key trends in ASIAThe Cornell Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management has released the ‘Thought Leaders in Interactive Distribution Roundtable Report' report. This report is based on discussions between hotel industry professionals, travel distribution companies and academicians at the inaugural Thought Leaders in Interactive Distribution Roundtable held in Singapore in January 2008. More... [1158 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 02 August 2008The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in two key performance measurements during the week of 27 July - 02 August 2008, according to data from STR. More... [526 views] The Costa Rica mixed-use resort pipeline: Sustainability and changing market conditionsCosta Rica's Pacific coast has been a target for tourism investment. This article examines status of the development pipeline in light of sustainability considerations, and explores how sustainability will be incorporated in feasibility analysis. By Andrew Cohan More... [628 views] Economic uncertainty and high fuel prices are affecting the broad travel marketOnline travel agency priceline.com's second-quarter net income rose to $54.1 million, from $34.6 million in the year ago period. More... [682 views] Educators to participate in hotel association programOver 200 of the nation's educators will spend a week in the tourism industry this month learning about the vast opportunities available in tourism and getting a better understanding of how to prepare young people to take advantage of those opportunities as part of the Bahamas Hotel Association's 5th Annual Summer Educa-tor Internship Program. More... [456 views] Hilton Hotels Corporation announces two general manager appointments for Abu Dhabi propertiesHilton Hotels Corporation (HHC), the world's leading hotel company, has announced two new senior appointments for its Abu Dhabi properties. More... [1567 views] ‘Food for kids’ initiative launched by Irish HotelsThe Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has launched its new children's healthy eating initiative for hotels and guesthouses across Ireland. ‘Food for Kids' encourages participating hotels to provide healthier menu options for children and is the first nationally co-ordinated campaign of its kind in Europe. More... [802 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 8, 2008Lessons from the field: Factors for successful interviewing potential hotel sales candidatesIt is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. More... [1942 views] Chinese hotel industry looks for Olympic boostThe Chinese hotel industry has experienced nationwide declines in RevPAR (room yield) through the first six months of 2008, according to STR Global's monthly survey of 528 internationally branded Chinese hotel properties. Several major markets have experienced occupancy declines as new hotel openings have stretched demand. With the world watching China for the 2008 Olympic Games in August, expectations are high for second half performance. More... [1183 views] Your customers have become ultra-sensitive to menu prices. What should you do? And what does this have to do with meatballs?We all that know consumers are pinched in the pocketbook! But there's a way around this difficult state of affairs: Change the subject! Instead of playing with pricing and portions, we're telling our clients instead to appeal to their customers' emotions. Tug at their heartstrings. Talk about their feelings. More... [1453 views] HVS Publishes Two Reports Detailing Major and Mid-Market U.S. Hotel Transactions as of Mid-Year 2008HVS, a leading hospitality consulting and appraisal firm, announces the publication of two reports documenting hotel transactions occurring in the first two quarters of 2008. The HVS 2008 Mid-Year Survey of Major U.S. Hotel Transactions covers hotel sales of $10 million and above. The HVS 2008 Mid-Year Survey of Mid-Market U.S. Hotel Transactions covers hotel sales between $3.0 and $9.99 million. More... [527 views] SAS acquires software firm IDeaSSAS, the leader in business intelligence and analytics, has acquired IDeaS Revenue Optimization, the premier provider of advanced revenue-management software for the hospitality industry. More... [1192 views] New device cuts meetings’ Carbon Footprint by 85%Faced with increasingly environmentally aware customers, a growing number of meeting venues are losing business because they are not addressing their carbon footprint. But there are very few options open to venues: either fundamentally re-fit their building with low energy solutions, or look at the carbon footprint of their meetings. More... [835 views] These shoes were made for…donatingFairmont kicks off New Year by inviting guests to join in supporting Soles4Souls, with special incentive from adidas More... [1446 views] The Rezidor hotel group celebrates responsible business action month for the 5th year The Rezidor Hotel Group celebrates its Responsible Business Action Month for the 5th year: In September 2008, all 239 operating hotels of the company in 44 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa are encouraged to organize social and environmental activities - engaging with employees, guests and the local community, raising awareness for Responsible Business and raising funds to support Rezidor's corporate charity organization World Childhood Foundation or local causes. "Responsible Business is an integral part of our business - day by day and all year long", says Catherine Rubbens, Director Responsible Business of Rezidor. "However, we use the month of September in particular to highlight our engagement, to pool our resources, and to arrange a variety of events which are good for us and for the planet." More... [498 views] Casino hotel operators wield strategies and technology to tame a softening marketSavvy revenue managers increase ‘cash' customers, leverage revenue optimization technology to minimize the downturn's effect.
More... [872 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 7, 2008Lessons from the field: Finding business leads can be easier than you thinkIt certainly seems the cost of travel is going up these days. The cost of gas for our vehicles, of fuel for the airlines and even of food for a variety of global reasons are affecting the asking prices facing travelers. With a US Presidential election just around the corner as well, the advertising rates in certain mediums are likely to be rising as well. By Dr. John Hogan, CHA MHS CHE More... [1489 views] Driving online sales by using destination-focused packaging and marketing creativityJoin us for a free one hour Webinar about creating and promoting packages on your web site. We will discuss the advantages of packaging hotels with a "reason" to visit your destination. Packaging is not just for hotels in resort areas; unique area events, spas and recreation, festivals, holiday events, sports arena activities, and more are all "reasons" to visit your area. By Neil Salerno More... [1853 views] Traditional package tours are making way for ‘experience' travel and the offline market is declining in favour of online salesThe focus in Europe is on ‘travel experiences' and an increasing demand for dynamic packages and more niche travel products. The traditional European package tour across Europe seems to be stagnating at an estimated EUR 46.5 billion according to the European Online Travel Report 2008 recently published by EyeforTravel. An exception can be noted for Eastern Europe where all in one packages are seeing signs of growth. The Germans currently consume the highest volume of package tours in Europe, though spending less per person. Eastern Europe has seen a CAGR of 10% over the last 5 years, but the UK for example is losing ground with a negative CAGR of 6% (EyeforTravel 2008). The stagnation in the market is strongly due to the erosion of offline sales. More... [837 views] Deputy CEO of MDA, De Bure join investor panel, deadline for “Start-Up Pitch” extendedThe Deputy CEO of Singapore's Media Development Authority and the managing director, South-east Asia, for eBay have joined the panel of investor judges for WIT-Web In Travel's "The Start-Up Pitch". More... [429 views] Accor builds local talent pipelineAccor, Vietnam's most dynamic international and leading hotel group kicked off its major recruitment efforts with Accor Career Fair 2008 on 13th July 2008 at Sofitel Plaza Hanoi. This career fair witnessed participation of students from 12 universities based in Hanoi. During the first hour, the fair attracted 900 walk-ins. More... [1478 views] TMS hatches highly ‘egg-fective’ online ‘Lucky Duck’ industry incentive challengeLove a duck - travel and hospitality recruitment specialist TMS Asia-Pacific is offering industry personnel a really simple opportunity to win the accessory that just about everyone wants these days - a state of the art Apple iPhone. More... [487 views] WORLDHOTELS welcomes 28 new hotels in the first half of 2008In the first half of 2008, WORLDHOTELS added 28 new properties to its unique portfolio of almost 500 hotels around the globe. The new additions to the group are comprised of 13 hotels in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), four in the Americas and 11 in Asia-Pacific. In order to be part of WORLDHOTELS' portfolio, the hotels must meet the group's high quality standards. In addition, applicants have to fit the strategic objectives of WORLDHOTELS. More... [967 views] Lexington hotels is 2008 gold winner of prestigious Hermes Creative AwardThe Lexington Collection of fine Hotels, Plaza Hotels, and Resorts worldwide was awarded this month by the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals as one of the 2008 gold winners of the Hermes Creative Award for its pro bono work for Plan USA, one of the oldest and largest children's charities in the world. The Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies. More... [430 views] The largest Marriott hotel outside of USA opens in BeijingMarriott International (NYSE:MAR) announced the opening of the 1,312-room Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall in the capital of the People's Republic of China. This is the largest Marriott hotel outside of USA. More... [1030 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 6, 2008Are you ready for the downturn?Key markets, world wide have experience unprecedented occupancies, average rates, and RevPAR for over a decade. New York City and London in particular have experienced average occupancies well over 80% for the past several years, driving record average rates and RevPARs. By Brenda Fields More... [2128 views] The HVS employment-hotel growth index: a new tool for projecting hotel room night demandBy use of a revolutionary index, we demonstrate what employment trends in a given market mean for area hotels, providing stakeholders with a more accurate forecast of future demand. By David Fuller, Greg Otten, & Caitlin McKenna More... [1620 views] HSMAI Asia Pacific and Cornell Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management release report on emerging trends and insightsIn June 2008, senior hospitality executives convened to discuss changes in the travel and hospitality landscape at the Second Annual Thought Leaders in Marketing Roundtable in Singapore and the outcomes and insights from the discussion are now available in a report released by HSMAI Asia Pacific and the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management. More... [801 views] PolyU report focuses tourism forecasts for Mainland China and TaiwanPolyU recently released the second issue of the Hong Kong Tourism Forecasting Report reviewing forecasts of the demand for Hong Kong tourism from Mainland China and Taiwan. The Report presents the forecasts from the Tourism Demand Forecasting System for Hong Kong. This sophisticated web-based system was jointly developed by PolyU's Public Research Institute and School of Hotel and Tourism Management and was officially launched on March 4, 2008. More... [496 views] Women-friendly hotel floors return, with modern twistsWomen-only floors in hotels are palatable once again — after a roughly 25-year drought. More... [1281 views] China’s elite to speak at 4th annual distribution eventChina's top local brands are all lining up to present alongside their international peers, at this year's 4th annual Travel Distribution and Sales China (TDS China) conference in Beijing (24-25th September). More... [916 views] Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA) and Angela Gonzalez-Rowe talk with Hospitality Lawyer about HHOA's exciting developmentsHHOA talks with Hospitality Lawyer - A compelling demographic of opportunity for all and the next big wave of hotel investment. By Jim Butler More... [1098 views] PATA Travel mart 2008 hits double bull’s eyeThe Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has selected the final two sellers from the 2008 PATA Travel Mart's waiting list to fill the last available booths at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in India next month, while the number of registered qualified buyers has soared past the targeted 350 to 374. More... [460 views] Rezidor announces 50th hotel in the UK: Park Inn PrestonThe Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, reaches a further milestone in its history: By announcing the Park Inn Preston (118 rooms, opening in November 2008) the group now features 50 hotels in operation and under development in the UK - representing almost 9,000 rooms. "This is a solid portfolio which will be developed further", says Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. "The UK is an important home market for us; offering good growth opportunities especially for the young, dynamic and colorful Park Inn brand". Rezidor's Park Inn portfolio in the country today comprises 34 properties with 5,619 rooms - EMEA wide the company has more than 100 Park Inn hotels with almost 22,000 rooms in operation and under development. More... [497 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 5, 2008Hotel Management Agreements 201 by Hospitality Lawyer - Indemnification ProvisionsHow to survive some of the custom and "lore" of Hotel Management Agreement Indemnification Provisions. While we have a very deep bench of hospitality lawyers -- particularly in hotel management agreements -- my partner, Bob Braun, is one of the most experienced on our team, with several hundred management contracts to his credit, and a dozen or more on his current work schedule at any point in time. By Jim Butler & Robert E. Braun More... [1608 views] Double-digit revPAR growth for Asia Pacific hoteliersHotels in Asia Pacific continued their good fortune during the first six months of 2008, with revenue per available room (revPAR) up 13.2%, outperforming the 12% growth achieved in 2007. Analysis by Deloitte, the business advisory firm, shows that revPAR broke the US$100 milestone to reach US$103. Improvements were driven by double-digit increases in average room rates, which now stand at US$151. More... [1410 views] The European online travel market rising to over EUR 50 billion this yearThe relatively steady growth of the overall European travel market since 2002 masks a true explosion in online sales. According to a recently published EyeforTravel Research report, the steady growth over the past 5 years is in fact fully accounted for by its online channels, as offline sales neither increased or decreased, with a CAGR of 0%. EyeforTravel reports the online market to have grown at a 41% CAGR in the 2002-2007 review period. Online market expenditure on travel products approached an estimated Euro 50 billion in 2007, a more than five fold increase from just under EUR 10 billion in 2002, representing a substantial CAGR of 41%. Online sales now account for a fifth (20%) of all travel sales, coming from under a twentieth (4%) in 2002. Offline travel expenditure still accounts for the vast majority of sales, but remained relatively stable in 2007, at around EUR 205 billion. The online travel market is closing in on the offline market in Europe but there still remains much room for growth in the online marketplace. More... [1255 views] The search is on for the top 25 minds in hospitality and travel sales and marketingThe Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has announced a call for nominations for its sixth annual "hot list" of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing. The list, which recognizes the best sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries, is presented in conjunction with HSMAI's annual Adrian Awards. More... [1601 views] Swiss-Belhotel International is not for saleDespite being approached by many interested parties, The Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, Mr Gavin M Faull, denies that the company is on the open market for sale. More... [1000 views] Design Hotels™ member properties in Bali support rural communitiesTwo member properties of Design Hotels™, Alila Ubud and Alila Manggis, set exemplary standards in social responsibility by supporting a local community in need. More... [1002 views] Starwood Hotels & Resorts announces its 100th hotel in ChinaStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) marks a milestone in its aggressive growth in Greater China announcing its 100th hotel there, with the signing of the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel. As the first international hotel chain to enter China when the historic Great Wall Beijing Sheraton Hotel opened in 1985, Starwood today is the largest international upscale hotel company in China and continues to grow its footprint there with the expansion of its brands including Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and W hotels in established and emerging cities as well as resort destinations. More... [750 views] Slowing Singapore labour market indicators not all bad news TMS calls on employers to look at the positivesWith Singapore business analysts pointing towards a softening job market following the release of the latest Manpower Ministry unemployment figures last week, hospitality and tourism recruitment specialist TMS Asia-Pacific has been quick to point out there is a positive side to the forecast gloom and doom. More... [878 views] IHG ANA hotels group Japan appoints new General ManagersIHG ANA Hotels Group Japan has announced the appointments of general managers for three of its hotels in Tokyo metropolitan area. Fergus Stewart has been appointed as the general manager of ANA InterContinental Tokyo, Eric Weinmann as the general manager of The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo and Kent Breeze is the general manager of ANA Crowne Plaza Narita. More... [1063 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 4, 2008On the Move - July 2008Hospitality Executive Movements worldwide is provided by Spectrum International Hospitality Services which specializes in executive recruitment for the hospitality industry exclusively. More... [3199 views] The mental shift to “Y”The hospitality market is ever evolving, but hoteliers seem to struggle to adapt to recent changes in the work environment. Can they beat the constant labour shortage by embracing the values of the latest generation of hotel school graduates? By Christopher Mumford & Thomas Mielke More... [1515 views] Global hotel sales decline 76%Notwithstanding the continued uncertainty of the financial markets, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels reported that $13.9 billion worth of hotels have traded globally in the first half of 2008. More... [1358 views] Top supermodel getawaysHeidi in Mexico, Gisele in Brazil, Kate in Spain. In the world of supermodels, no last name is required for complete recognition-and no getaway is too decadent or exclusive. Travelers clamoring for a glimpse of these uber-svelte beauty queens will find them at hotspots like Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, where Claudia Schiffer has been a guest. The chic mountain resort is located in the southern part of the Swiss Alps and provides a healthy dose of Champagne-sipping starlets. Badrutt's has seven restaurants, four bars and deluxe suites that cost up to $19,200 a night in peak season. Liz Hurley and Kate Moss are known to frequent the King's Club, a star-studded nightspot owned by the hotel. By Jennifer Murphy More... [717 views] Global Internet Innovators Speaking at Africa's First International E Tourism Conference - JohannesburgJohannesburg... Some of the world's leading online experts will be speaking at Southern Africa's first e-tourism conference. Global online giants such as Microsoft, Expedia and Google will be giving presentations at the two day conference on the 1-2 September, on how Southern Africa's tourism sector can harness the potential of the web, especially in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. More... [466 views] Future Forum 2008DESIGN HOTELSTM is pleased to announce Future Forum 2008, being held in Berlin, October 15th-17th. More... [971 views] Banyan Tree Bintan conservation lab shines with a PATA Gold Award & first turtle hatchingOfficially launched in September 2007, Banyan Tree Bintan Conservation Lab has recently won the 2008 PATA Gold Award in the Ecotourism Project category. This annual event recognises exceptional achievements in various hospitality categories and seeks to highlight the best Asia Pacific's travel industry has to offer. More... [888 views] Hilton Cebu's simple water saving project helps recycle the planet's natural resourceA small, simple invention that reuses the water used to cool ice machine compressors has allowed Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa to recycle hundreds of thousands of litres of water each year and created huge savings on the hotel's water bill. More... [1277 views] Epoque Hotels expands its collection with chic hotels in India, China & EuropeEpoque Hotels announces that it has added several hotels to its already extensive collection in exotic and popular destinations, including India, China and Europe. More... [654 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 1, 2008STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 26 July 2008The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in two key performance measurements during the week of 20 - 26 July 2008, according to data from STR. More... [904 views] Intelligent Spas Publishes New Spa Research for China & Hong KongIntelligent Spas' new research on the spa industry in Mainland China and Hong Kong identified total revenue and employment have grown by over 1,000% since 2002. Revenue generated in 2007 was over USD185 million and spas employed more than 6,000 people. More... [1360 views] Atlantis, The Palm Dubai named as venue for 5th Annual ORION CongressThe future of the hotel and tourism industry to be addressed by industry leaders and academics at the 5th Annual ORION Congress. More... [926 views] Address Hotels to hire 1,800 professionalsThe Address Hotels and Resorts, Emaar Hospitality Group's own five-star brand, has plans to recruit 1,800 professionals over the next five months. The hotel brand has an aggressive recruitment strategy for The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai; The Address, Dubai Mall; and The Address, Dubai Marina. More... [1120 views] PhoCusWright launches new conference in IndiaThe last three years witnessed an unprecedented and fundamental shift in the supply side dynamics of the travel industry in India, according to preliminary findings from PhoCusWright's soon to be published India Online Travel Overview Second Edition report. PhoCusWright projects the online portion of the marketplace alone will surpass US$5.7 billion by 2010. More... [497 views] New Zealand journalist wins PATA HonourVeteran New Zealand travel writer Nigel Coventry has been named this year's 'PATA Travel Journalist of the Year'. More... [497 views] Learn how to maximise integrated marketing at HSMAI's Event Technology Expo™ Affordable Meetings® NationalSuccessful marketing and public relations are essential to promoting attendance, sponsorships, exhibit sales, and overall industry awareness for meetings and events. Susan McPherson, vice president of global trade show services for PR Newswire, will present an educational session addressing ways technological tools and methods can enhance events at HSMAI's Event Technology Expo™@ Affordable Meetings®National, September 10-11, 2008 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. More... [426 views] Virtuoso CEO & Virgin Galactic "Founder," Matthew D. Upchurch, attends Virgins Galactic's roll out of mothership "Eve"Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan, on Tuesday, July 29, pulled back the hangar doors on the new WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts, science packages and payload on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space experience. The rollout represents another major milestone in Virgin Galactic's quest to launch the world's first private, environmentally benign, space access system for people, payload and science. More... [1221 views] IIPT calls for World Travel and Tourism Industry support of Olympic truceIIPT Founder and President, Louis D'Amore has called for the World Travel and Tourism Industry to join in solidarity with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations in a call for a cessation of conflict and all acts of violence in an observance of the Olympic Truce. More... 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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: August 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 29, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 28, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 27, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 26, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 25, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 22, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 21, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 20, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 19, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 18, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 15, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 14, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 13, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 12, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 11, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 8, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 7, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 6, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 5, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 4, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 1, 2008
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