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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: November 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 28, 2008Commandos tackle besieged Mumbai hotelsIndian security forces appear to be gaining control of the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi attacked by terrorists in a wave of violence that has lasted more than 24 hours. More... [1388 views] UK chain hotels market review – October 2008The UK chain hotel market reported a 9 per cent fall in profit this October, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting. The amount of profit generated per available room - expressed as income before fixed charges (IBFC) - fell to a daily figure of £49.76 compared to £54.70 the same month a year earlier. More... [642 views] Spa business strategies for economic downturnPreliminary findings of Intelligent Spas' current round of Spa Benchmark Surveys have identified the majority of spa owners and managers are forecasting positive growth in both revenue and spa visits for calendar years 2008 and 2009. By Julie Garrow More... [1728 views] Thailand's 10 best hotelsWe profile 10 of Thailand's best hotels, as gathered from the Forbes Traveler 400 list of the world's greatest luxury hotels. By Joe Yogerst More... [1452 views] UNWTO future vision: tourism towards 2030UNWTO launches its new long-term research programme UNWTO Future Vision: Tourism Towards 2030. The study will forecast international tourism growth through the year 2030 and identify key actual and future trends and their impact on tourism development. It will combine industry data with the views of UNWTO members, tourism practitioners, trends experts and academics around the world. This initiative will update the previous Tourism 2020 Vision, which has become the definitive global reference on the future of tourism. More... [921 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for October 2008The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during October, including the first year-over-year decline in average daily rate in more than five years, according to data from STR. More... [548 views] PATA questions UK government policy on air departure taxesThe UK government's decision to raise departure taxes from British airports is short-sighted and self-defeating. That's the view of Brian Deeson, interim President and CEO of PATA, the Pacific Asia Travel Association. More... [515 views] IHG signs agreement with Seba properties to develop InterContinental Fujairah resort in the UAEInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of an agreement with Abu Dhabi-based Seba Properties for the development of the InterContinental Fujairah Resort, a new beachfront property in one of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) most attractive tourist destinations. More... [565 views] 91% of Brits surveyed say they still plan to travel this yearA recent survey conducted by boo.com found that 91 percent of British people still plan to travel this year despite the financial crisis. However, with 67 percent saying they have modified their travel arrangements, they will be looking for more creative ways to save money. More... [658 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 27, 2008Army storms Mumbai hotels Indian troops have reportedly stormed Mumbai's luxury Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace hotels after coordinated terrorist attacks which left scores of people dead and Westerners taken hostage. At least 78 people have been killed and more than 200 injured after terrorists armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades carried out the attacks across India's financial capital this morning. - ABC News More... [2072 views] Slow October for UK hoteliersHotels across the UK mostly experienced a slow October in terms of both occupancy and rooms yield, according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Room rate increased in some cities and both Liverpool and Leeds bucked the downward trend. More... [774 views] The "Great De-leveraging," a "financial panic" and unprecedented opportunities coming our way. Do you see them? Are you ready?Many of my friends in the hotel industry are in denial. Others are consumed with the daily drama of the unfolding financial panic. I am excited that we are about to see some of the greatest financial opportunities of our lifetime. Here are some thoughts that I presented yesterday as keynote speaker at the 6th Annual Bay Area Income Property Lending Conference. By Jim Butler More... [925 views] Vantage Point - Australian hotel market perspectiveThese are uncertain times for the tourism industry in Australia. To many casual observers, it must appear that this industry stumbles from one ‘crisis' to another, and one ‘external shock' to the next, somehow managing to stay alive - but only just. Yet the outlook is not all doom-and-gloom as this edition of Vantage Point will explain. More... [1073 views] Italy’s hotel data shows steep declines in OctoberThe latest hotel performance data available from STR Global shows Italian revenue per available room dropping 20 percent to €99 for October. Italian hoteliers have seen declines in RevPAR since May 2008, and October was no different as Turin was the lone major city to report RevPAR growth-it was up 18 percent. More... [654 views] Top European hotel board 2007Our second study of board practices and performance at European-listed hotel companies included 23 companies with InterContinental Hotels Group taking top honours. By Christopher Mumford and Kai Schukowski More... [624 views] HSMAI University four-part webinar series focuses on leading through the economic crisisThe travel industry is beginning to feel the impact of the economic crisis, and 2009 travel forecasts predict both leisure travel and business travel will decline. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) University will lead a four-part strategy webinar series, "Leading Through the Economic Crisis and Preparing for Recovery," on Tuesday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 3 to help professionals prepare for and combat the economic challenges being faced by the industry. More... [522 views] Richmond International wins prestigious design award for Le Trianon Palace, VersaillesRichmond International, the London-based hotel interior design consultancy, won the ‘Best Lobby and Public Areas' award at the recent European Hotel Design Awards for Le Trianon Palace Hotel in Versaille. Richmond was also shortlisted in the Best Restaurant category for the hotel's restaurant - ‘Gordon Ramsay au Trianon'. More... [825 views] Company institutes a smoke-free workforce to aid associates' healthRosen Hotels & Resorts announced today, on the day of the American Cancer Society's 33rd Annual Great American Smokeout, that its associates are officially a smoke-free workforce. More... [694 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 26, 2008"Speed bumps" in the road to bankruptcy for hotels and resorts. Part 2Turnarounds, workouts, receiverships, bankruptcies and deeds in lieu for troubled and defaulted hotel mortgage loans. As the bad news continues from the Global Financial Crisis, and as the recession bites deeper, the hotel industry is starting to feel the pain. By Jim Butler More... [2002 views] Consultants predict 14 top restaurant and hotel food trends for 2009The global economic meltdown is forcing profound changes in the hotel and restaurant world. Costly frills are out. Wanton indulgence is now bad manners. Here are 14 major trends plus a flock of buzzwords to look for in the year ahead. By Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman More... [2251 views] U.S. hotels report double-digit RevPAR drop for the week ending 15 November 2008In year-over-year measurements, the industry's revenue per available room fell 13.2 percent to end the week at US$59.78-down from US$68.86 during the comparable week in 2007. The U.S. hotel industry's year-over-year occupancy rate fell 11.6 percent to finish the week at 56.3 percent (63.7 percent in 2007). Average daily rate dropped 1.7 percent to end the week at US$106.26 (US$108.15 in 2007). More... [601 views] The 800th Ibis hotel opens in ShanghaiIbis, the worldwide economy hotel brand of the Accor group, has opened its 800th hotel, the ibis Shanghai Lianyang in the People's Republic of China. It will be followed by the opening next month in Sydney of the ibis King Street Wharf. In 2007, ibis dramatically accelerated its worldwide development, with an objective of a network of 1100 hotels and 150,000 rooms in more than 70 countries by 2010. Between 2008 and 2010, one to two new ibis hotels will open globally each week. More... [734 views] Competition heats up in Abu DhabiThe chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, announced plans to more than double the city states hotel inventory to 26,000 rooms by 2012. He also added that the corporate segment would be key to this growth. By Lindi More... [839 views] Luxury hotel offers sustainability without compromising the guest experienceThe Talbott Hotel, a luxury boutique in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast, has been bestowed the distinction of being one of the first Green Seal Certified hotels in the United States. Striving to meet the city of Chicago's Green Hotels Initiative, the hotel worked diligently for months and at great expense to meet the environmental lodging standard, which brings with it requirements in waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste water management and green procurement. More... [926 views] Choice Hotels International named among top 50 franchises for minoritiesChoice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) is proud to announce that for the second time, it has been named by National Minority Franchising Initiative (NMFI) as one of the top 50 franchises for minorities. According to the NMFI, Choice was selected as a direct result of their commitment to the recruitment and advancement of minorities within the Choice Hotels system. More... [491 views] Announcing Travdex™ - the trade show for travel technologyTRAVDEXTM, the first one-stop shopping trade show for travel technology products, solutions and professional services targeting the global travel, tourism and hospitality industry, will debut in Atlanta in September, 2009, its organizers announced today. More... [1019 views] PhoCusWright names travel industry's most innovative applicationInteractive Mobile @dvertising LLC was honored as the force behind the travel industry's most innovative application at The PhoCusWright Conference, held in Hollywood on November 17 - 20. Interactive Mobile @dvertising LLC's product, iM@ (pronounced "I'm at") is a geo-intelligent mobile content management platform providing travelers with on-demand access to destination-specific information on accommodation, transportation and entertainment. More... [1002 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 25, 2008'Hotel Lawyer -- Making a bigger pie for everyone in defaulted Hotel Loan mortgage loan turnarounds, restructurings and bankruptciesSpeed bumps' in the road to bankruptcy for hotels and resorts. Part 1Hospitality Lawyer: Turnarounds, workouts, receiverships, bankruptcies and deeds in lieu for troubled and defaulted hotel mortgage loans. As we all fasten our seat belts for a rough ride in the Global Financial Crisis, commercial real estate has begun to feel the pain. Hotels will share the fate of the economy, commercial real estate, the airlines and consumer confidence. It does not look pretty. By Jim Butler More... [2111 views] LE's construction pipeline overview at mid-year 2008The Total Global Construction Pipeline stands at a record high of 10,781 projects and 1,819,486 rooms. It's an astonishing 28% year-over-year (YoY) increase. More... [578 views] Six most promising travel innovations revealedPhoCusWright, the travel industry research authority, announced today the six highest scoring demonstrations from the three categories of Monday's Travel Innovation Summit at The PhoCusWright Conference in Hollywood. They six winners are Home&Abroad, Interactive Mobile @dvertising LLC, TripIt, Triporati, Wandrian Inc. and Yapta.com. More... [958 views] Relais & Châteaux trophies 2009: Recognise, reward and promote Art de VivreIn exclusive partnership with numerous prestigious brands, Relais & Châteaux has just revealed the list of the winners of the Relais & Châteaux Trophies which are awarded every year in recognition of expertise and excellence in the art of hospitality and fine dining. More... [637 views] Economy has strong impact on end-of-year-travelOnline travel agent ZUJI Australia has released the top destinations booked online for travel this Christmas period, as well as shared traveller insights into how the economy is impacting traveller intent to travel in December, and early 2009. More... [701 views] Rixos Premium Khao Lak appoints William Schillinger as opening general managerLuxury hospitality group Rixos Hotels has appointed William Schillinger as the opening General Manager of the 298-room Rixos Premium Khao Lak, which will be launched the soft opening in December 2008. More... [769 views] Next step in European expansion – Scandic enters PolandScandic is taking over two existing hotels in Poland, one with 164 rooms in Wroclaw and one with 143 rooms in Gdansk. Both hotels will become part of Scandic in the New Year. These two will be Scandic's first venture in Poland and an important step in the company's continued growth strategy, which focuses in part on Eastern Europe. More... [501 views] G Hotel emerged as the winner for hotel developmentG HOTEL's unique positioning as a city hotel has paid off, earning the hotel the coveted Malaysia Property Award 2008 under the hotel category from the Federation Internationales des Administrateurs de Bien-Conselis Immobiliers (FIABCI) award. More... [1353 views] The Leading Hotels of the World, LTD. releases 2009 directoryIn keeping with the organization's long-term development strategy, which is shaped to respond to, and to anticipate, the desires and demands of its customers, the company has expanded its portfolio to include additional hotels in Eastern Europe - in Hungary, Russia and Slovakia; the Middle East - in Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; Asia - in Malaysia and Myanmar; and the first-ever Leading Hotel in Uganda. More... [995 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 24, 2008Softening job market beginning to free up ‘best talent seen in years’TMS Asia-Pacific has advised those industry employers placing a moratorium on staff hire that now is in fact the perfect time for companies to be stocking up on quality staff in anticipation of the global business upturn predicted next year. More... [1703 views] Miami's 15 hottest hotelsFrom private yacht marinas and "vibe managers" on hand to personally tailor moods, to showerheads that spout from crystal chandeliers, unfettered hedonism is the mantra at Miami's most buzzy hotels. By Terry Ward More... [991 views] HSMAI names 2008 sales & marketing top 25The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has selected the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing" for 2008. The sixth annual list recognizes the "best of the best" minds in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries. The recipients will be honored at HSMAI's annual Adrian Awards Gala on Jan. 26, 2009, at the New York Marriott Marquis. More... [898 views] WTTC announces panel of international experts for 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow AwardsThe World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced the Judges for the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, WTTC's high-profile sustainable tourism accolade, in association with Travelport and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation. More... [461 views] Pattaya's 'host with the most'Steve Thompson of thaiasiatoday.com talks with Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Thani Pattaya, about the MICE market's importance and how the city has successfully worked to reshape its image. More... [846 views] Eastern Europe shoots up chart of hot destination for driving holidaysForget luxury long-haul holidays - Romania is now the holiday destination of choice for British drivers. As the credit crunch drives resourceful Brits to swap expensive destinations for cheaper places, international car rental company easyCar.com reports a whopping +540 per cent growth in car rentals in the Eastern European country over the past year. More... [627 views] Michelin guide Tokyo 2009 awards Conrad Tokyo restaurants two Michelin starsThe Conrad Tokyo's reputation as an exceptional dining destination has today been acknowledged by the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2009, with the presentation of one Michelin star each for its Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo and China Blue restaurants. The Guide also placed the Conrad Tokyo in the highest hotel award category recognising its sophisticated and spacious rooms, excellent access for business or sightseeing and for its role at the forefront of the latest trends. More... [852 views] Spas unite to fight global diabetes epidemic on world diabetes dayOn November 14, World Diabetes Day, over 50 spas brought the diabetes crisis to light, offering blue-themed spa treatments as part of BlueBeauty. Spa4Diabetes partnered with the United Nations' International Diabetes Federation to create this campaign, garnering awareness that 80% of diabetes cases can be prevented by lifestyle change and to encourage pre-diabetes testing. More... [545 views] Abu Dhabi’s first nature-based tourism destination opens on Sir Bani Yas IslandDesert Islands - the new nature-based destination offshore Abu Dhabi's Al Gharbia (Western Region) - has arrived on the international tourism scene with the opening of Sir Bani Yas Island. By Valere Tjolle More... [763 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 21, 2008The weight of the wait... time is money!How many times does the guest feel like they are the one waiting versus the wait staff waiting on them? What are the timing issues that make or break a service encounter? How does timing impact the overall guest experience as a service factor? Consider making time to analyze ‘time' with employees who have "time" with guests. The ‘weight' of the wait in the world of service delivery should not be underweight or overweight! By Roberta Nedry More... [1233 views] Lessons from the field: Hoteliers must remember the lessons of reasonable care!
The Concept of Reasonable Care by definition is "satisfying a legal duty to act as an ordinary, prudent, reasonable person not to do something that will cause injury to guests, customers, or invitees, or fail to do what will prevent such injury." There are many resources available to hoteliers today, including their insurance carriers and hotel attorneys. The following Bakers Dozen of "Reasonable Care" points are offered as reminders for how hoteliers in every segment of the industry should consider in their every day planning and training. By Dr. John Hogan More... [906 views] MICE & Hospitality madnessEvil Erik has found a new job in another hotel and, as soon as that property will open, history will repeat itself. The GM presently thinks he has made a great catch but soon he too will start discovering that he brought a " Trojan horse " in his organization. By Bert van Walbeek More... [1350 views] Dolce hotels and resorts names Steven A. Rudnitsky president and CEOIn a move to build upon its achievements and further accelerate growth , Dolce Hotels and Resorts, a meetings-focused hospitality company based here that manages 23 hotels, resorts and meetings centers in the United States, Canada and Europe, has appointed industry veteran Steven A. Rudnitsky as president and chief executive officer, effective Dec. 8. More... [710 views] Hotel industry’s first integrated social media optimization planMilestone Internet Marketing announced today the launch of its cutting edge Social Media Optimization Product - GravitiTM, targeted at the hospitality and travel segments. Social Media continues to grow in importance as the search engines take these sites into consideration for the SERP's (Search Engine Result Pages). Hotels that take advantage of this trend are seeing significant benefits in terms of online placement and revenue. More... [647 views] Joie De Vivre promotes Ingrid Summerfield to presidentJoie de Vivre, California's largest boutique hotel collection, has promoted Ingrid Summerfield to president. Summerfield reports directly to Joie de Vivre Founder and Chief Executive Officer Chip Conley. More... [654 views] ILTM launches future forumThe International Luxury Travel Market is launching its first Future Forum with an exceptional line up of high profile speakers and experts from the world of luxury travel. More... [520 views] Hilton Garden Inn opens two new hotels in ItalyHilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) today announced the opening of two new Hilton Garden Inn properties in Italy. These two additions, located in Milan Malpensa and Bologna San Lazzaro boost the Hilton Garden Inn brand's presence in Italy to five hotels. More... [642 views] AsiaSpa awards 2008 presented at the Grand Hyatt Hong KongLast night the winners of the fourth year of the AsiaSpa Awards, presented by AsiaSpa magazine, the region's most recognised spa and wellness publication, were announced at a glittering evening in Hong Kong. Celebrating the best in terms of innovation and quality that Asia's spa the 26 categories, voted on by 29 independent judges, were won by the spas, spa personalities, events, associations and resorts that set the benchmarks in the region. More... [893 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 20, 2008Social media for hotels…What you can do in this economyThe uniqueness of social media is that it features user-generated content, but, therein lays its fallacy. This means no one can manage or impact its content. Now, don't get me wrong. I think the whole Web 2.0 movement is very exciting, but I have yet to see a practical program for individual hotels with the one exception of using travel-focused social media sites, like TripAdvisor. By Neil Salerno More... [1249 views] How to address the “guest experience” with your staff!We are all Consumers, and your Staff, no matter the type of Hospitality business - lodgings, restaurants, attractions, entertainment or retail - understand authenticity, appeal to the senses and the role of expectations in framing and delivering on the Guest Experience. But, sometimes, you, the Manager, must synthesize and bring it home to your establishment and recommit your Team to your message and business. By John Hendrie More... [1953 views] Pisa forum confirms that the recovery could start within 12 months"Our challenge is to see through the pressures of today and prepare for a different world," said Rolf Freitag, President & CEO of IPK International in his summing up at the close of IPK's annual World Travel Monitor Forum held on 6-7 November in San Giuliano Terme near Pisa, Italy. "But predicting the timing of the end of the current global economic crisis and the start of the recovery remains an even bigger challenge," he added, "although we have every confidence in tourism's longer-term resilience." More... [597 views] Hotel sales and revenue management book 2.0Carol Verret announces the release of the first hotel sales and revenue book that takes into consideration the impact of Web 2.0. In this economy, it is imperative that hotel sales and revenue managers understand and can apply the processes of Web 2.0 in the execution of solid strategies. By Carol Verret More... [1636 views] Hotelier named 2008 Telstra NSW business woman of the yearRachel Argaman, Chief Executive Officer of Toga Hospitality Group, was today named the 2008 Telstra New South Wales Business Woman of the Year at the annual Awards presentation in Sydney. More... [531 views] UNWTO launches energy efficiency projectUNWTO launches a new project leading to at least 20% overall energy savings and increasing renewable energy use by 10% in hotels. It targets particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which represent the vast majority of hotel rooms in the accommodation sector and who can benefit from best practice trends and technology advances. The project brings together partners from the hotel, environment and renewable energy communities and is supported by the European Union (EU). More... [495 views] Benjamin Rafter named President and CEO of Aqua hotels & resortsMike Paulin, owner and Chairman of Aqua Hotels & Resorts, announced the appointment of Benjamin Rafter as President and CEO of the Waikiki-based hotel company which operates 12 hotels under the Aqua Boutique and Aqua Lite brands. In this position, Rafter is charged with advancing the company's global growth strategy. More... [604 views] Online travel guide tripwolf now offers hotel price comparisonUsers of social travel guide www.tripwolf.com can now find the lowest rates available for hotels in any destination on the planet. The newly integrated hotel search engine, powered by HotelsCombined.com, allows tripwolf users to find and compare hotel rates across 30 leading booking sites such as hotels.com and priceline.com. More... [602 views] Opodo.co.uk survey shows how ski-mad Brits are coping with the economic troublesSki enthusiasts are defying the credit crunch and continuing with their holiday plans for the coming year, a recent survey of customers by Opodo.co.uk has found. Ninety-seven per cent (97%) of skiers said that they are still planning holidays on the slopes in 2009 despite the economic gloom. More... [554 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 19, 2008Cornell Hotel real estate investment funds study finds anomaly in REIT dividend patternsAn analysis of so-called "nontraded REITs" finds that their structure puts long-term investors at a disadvantage, according to a new report about hotel real estate investment funds issued by Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research. The report, "Nontraded REITs: Considerations for Hotel Investors," finds that REITs - short for real estate investment trusts - can be an attractive buy-and-hold investment for income-oriented investors because of their high dividend payouts. However, the analysis by authors John B. (Jack) Corgel and Scott Gibson reveals that those payouts are diminished for long-term holders. More... [929 views] Did 300 Japanese die at Raffles Hotel?Browsing the internet recently, I was dismayed to find evidence of sloppy journalism that could wrongly harm the reputation of one of the world's greatest hotels. Various websites have started to propagate the ‘historical fact' that 300 Japanese officers committed suicide at Raffles Hotel in Singapore by blowing themselves up with hand grenades, following the surrender of the Japanese army to the Allied Forces in 1945. By Andreas Augustin More... [1881 views] APAC will reach tipping point within 5 yearsMembers of the travel industry who attended the recent WIT-Web In Travel 2008 conference felt that the online travel market in Asia Pacific would truly come into its own in the next five years. That's when they feel travel booked online as a percentage of total travel bookings would cross the 50% mark. Currently, according to PhoCusWright research, the figure stands at between 15 and 20%. More... [499 views] STR reports U.S. hotel Pipeline for October 2008The active U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 5,917 hotels with 647,136 guestrooms, according to the October 2008 STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. This represents an 11.2-percent increase in the number of guestrooms in the active pipeline over October 2007. More... [559 views] Forte days, Forte nights & Rocco Forte has revived the family businessSince taking over his father's ailing hotel chain, Rocco Forte has revived the family business, expanding across Europe and putting the emphasis firmly on luxury. By Ruth Walker More... [965 views] Top hotels fight the crunchHotels around the country are trying to hang on to guests, as a fall-off in occupancy rates means that an average four out of every ten hotel rooms now lie empty. In some cases, luxury hotels that were charging over €300 per room per night are now offering rates of almost half that. By Nicola Cooke More... [1068 views] WTTC announces Florianopolis, Brazil as the venue for its 2009 Global Travel & Tourism SummitThe World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced its agreement with the Government of Santa Catarina and the Government of Brazil to hold its forthcoming Global Travel&Tourism Summit in Florianopolis (the capital of Santa Catarina) from May 15-16, 2009. More... [431 views] Housekeeping Olympics to be held on Saturday 17th January 2009The Professional Housekeepers Association of NSW is delighted to announce the upcoming Housekeeping Olympics to be held on Saturday 17th January 2009 from 2.00pm - 5.00pm at the King George V Recreation Centre, Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney NSW. More... [1383 views] New Bogner cosmetics for the hotel bathroom"The Spirit of Sports and Style" now takes European designer Bogner into hotel bathrooms with his latest body care line. More... [1250 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 18, 2008Cornell University offers new sustainability course with hospitality industry focusCornell University's School of Hotel Administration and the Johnson Graduate School of Management have joined forces with HEI Hotels & Resorts to create a course in which students will work with hospitality industry leaders to devise innovative and more cost-effective solutions to social and environmental issues. More... [1299 views] WOW.TRAVEL’s seven sensational places for new yearswow.travel (the online magazine of kiwicollection.com) edited by Mary Gostelow, introduces Seven Sensational Places for New Years. More... [930 views] Six new signings for Hilton Hotels CorporationHilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) continues its dynamic expansion of its Family of Hotels across Europe following the signing of six new properties (comprising over 1,000 rooms) across its Family of Hotels. The deals, representing a combination of franchise and management agreements, include four new mid-market Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Turkey, an upscale Doubletree by Hilton conversion project near Lecce, Italy and a flagship Hilton property in Wroclaw, Poland. More... [886 views] Nakheel hotels eyes Asia, ME marketsEven as Nakheel Hotels was upbeat after launching the Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort recently, the company has decided to move away from US hotel investments and target markets in Asia and the Middle East in future, a report said. More... [783 views] A time for tough choicesJust as companies have to make tough choices about what to cut, we consumers also have to draw the line between what's discretionary and necessary, that is, until human emotion comes into play, says Yeoh Siew Hoon. More... [1417 views] RevPAR takes fall in the UKResults from STR Global show a sharp drop in revenue per available room (RevPAR) for London and Regional UK from October through the beginning of November. The exception was Liverpool, which benefited from its European Capital of Culture 2008 status. More... [787 views] Bahrain to host International Food & Hospitality Expo 2009Bahrain Exhibition&Convention Authority (BECA) will stage the first Food&Hospitality Expo 2009 (The Gulf's International Food and Hospitality Exhibition). This event will be held under the patronage of H.H Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Kingdom of Bahrain. More... [512 views] Responding to economic downtown, UNWTO launches "Tourism Resilience CommitteeA new UNWTO Resilience Committee was announced at a Tourism Ministers Summit held to consider how to respond to the turbulent economy and stay on course with the climate and poverty agenda. More... [603 views] Can evolution of Chinese travelers change the face of distribution in China?The global GDS players have failed to leverage their expertise in China as the market is not deregulated yet. More... [715 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 17, 2008How much will online travel slow?Online travel bookings will total $98.2 billion in 2008, up just 9% over 2007, according to PhoCusWright. The company said that some online travel providers would fare better than others, with rail sales growing by 28%, while hotel bookings would rise only 8%. More... [1308 views] Individual hotels in many cases are not even aware of latest technologiesWhile there is no denying that online intermediaries can extend the reach of suppliers' brands and give access to a customer that has not made the brand choice, the suppliers even in relatively new or emerging markets now strongly believe in strengthening their brands on the web. More... [868 views] Key figures fall during week ending 08 November 2008The U.S. hotel industry suffered dramatic year-over-year drop-offs in each of the three key performance measurements during the week of 02-08 November, according to data from STR. More... [705 views] Technology task force releases “Design for great technology”The International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) has advanced its leadership position in the area of technology with the publication of a new reference document-"Design for Great Technology"-and historic changes to its Universal Criteria and Recommended Guidelines. More... [550 views] CBRE Hotels establish Moroccan presenceCBRE Hotels have created a team of hospitality consultants to focus on the booming Moroccan hotel market. More... [965 views] Hospitality eBusiness Strategies wins six W3 awardsHospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS), the industry's leading full-service Internet marketing services and strategies consulting firm for the hospitality and travel verticals, today announced receipt of six W3 Awards for outstanding achievement in website development. The W3 Awards are sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, consisting of top-tier professionals from media, advertising and marketing firms. The W3 Awards honor superior creativity on the web and recognize the individuals behind award winning web sites, web advertising and web marketing programs. More... [890 views] Downturn dilemmaThese days, everyone is talking about cost cutting contingencies. The fear of a softening market creates a lot of pressure to reduce costs wherever possible and training is often one of the first things to be eliminated or reduced. What if there was a way to significantly reduce training costs, but improve performance? More... [876 views] Voilŕ Hotel Rewards wins 2008 Adrian award recognitionVOILÀ Hotel Rewards, the world's first, points-based frequent guest programme created for independent hotel groups, was honored this month with a Silver Adrian Award for excellence in Web Marketing by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). More... [658 views] Cypress to introduce MicroCotton® Green Earth™ towels at 2008 ISPA conference & expoThe conference is being held at The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas from November 10-13, 2008. Free samples of a specially developed Cypress Green Earth spa treatment towel will be available at booth #833 while quantities last. More... [535 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 14, 2008Customer experience: if at first impression you don't succeed … You better try againTo begin with, please excuse my mangling of the time-honored maxim "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" in the headline. I fear I have taken what once were innocent words of encouragement to 19th-Century schoolchildren and turned them into some vague threat. The potential menace in my message, however, pales in comparison to that posed by disregarding it. Ignore the first "touch" you have with your customers at your own peril. By Rob Rush More... [1759 views] Spa sustainability strategies for the environment, guests and your businessGoing green is not a trend... it has a life of its own that continues to grow and gain momentum. This phenomenon is becoming so prevalent that people are moving away from the term "green" and have embraced the larger concept of "sustainability" because it better describes the long-term and on-going evolution and revolution of personal, cultural, economic, environmental and global well-being. As more and more individuals and corporations are engaging in the sustainability culture, it is important to see how well-aligned this is with the spa revolution of the past 10 - 15 years. By Judith L. Singer More... [1633 views] KTN announces private reservations webinar series for individual hotels/call centersKennedy Training Network (KTN) announced the launch of a new series of private reservations webinars delivered directly to hotel or call center reservations sales teams. By Doug Kennedy More... [536 views] TravelCLICK wins 10 W3 awards for creative excellence in website designTravelCLICK, the leader in hotel ecommerce solutions, has won 10 awards for website design excellence in the 2008 W3 Awards competition, honoring creative excellence on the Web. Sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA), this year's competition received over 3,000 entries from around the world. More... [669 views] Gone to the Dogs...Pet-friendly accommodations: Revenue producer or marketing farce?Gone to the Dogs...Pet-friendly accommodations: Revenue producer or marketing farce? By Amanda Repert More... [790 views] Market failures and policy barriers threaten growth of visitor economyThe report, jointly commissioned by VisitBritain and the Tourism Alliance, shows the vital role that the Visitor Economy plays in Britain. But it also shows that while the sector has the potential to continue to grow strongly, it faces a series of short-term and longer-term challenges as international competition increases and the world economy deteriorates. It highlights a number of areas where public sector policy failures may also be harming the industry. More... [494 views] Peter Gowers, Gerald lawless and Lim Kok Thay join CNI’s joint advisory boardPeter Gowers, Gerald Lawless and Lim Kok Thay, leading hospitality industry stalwarts have recently become members of the Cornell Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management's (CNI) Joint Advisory Board. The Joint Advisory Board provides advice to the Deans of CNI, Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and Nanyang technological University's Business School. Gowers, Lawless and Lim will convene with other members of the Joint Advisory Board twice a year to review and evaluate the Master of Management in Hospitality program, Executive Education programs and helps secure fundraising support for CNI. More... [586 views] InterContinental Hotels Group PLC third quarter results to 30 September 2008Andrew Cosslett, Chief Executive of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, Comments on the third quarter results and trading of IHG up to September 30, 2008. More... [776 views] Milestone internet marketing wins W3 silver award for hotel website design and promotionThe International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA) has awarded Milestone Internet Marketing, Inc. a Silver Award in its 2008 W3 Awards Competition for the design and online marketing strategy of Sheraton Philadelphia's website under the Hotel and Lodging category. More... [588 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 13, 2008The million dollar hotel marketing idea that’s been staring us in the faceI've been racking my brain for the last few weeks over what to write about. The interesting thing is that it's not lack of choice that's been the trouble...it's too much of it! From the excitement caused by US underdog Barack Obama's win and the promise of a brighter political future... to CNN's Wolf Blitzer causing a buzz with his first-ever "holographic" interviews in the newsroom, there's been plenty going on to keep techies and armchair futurists abuzz. And while CNN's holograms weren't really holograms when you cut to the chase...one development is very real...the advancing global recession that we're slowly coming to grips with. By Jitendra Jain More... [1440 views] Does your hotel website really produce sales? Can revenue management make a difference?I think it's time to slow-down, sit-down, and evaluate the impact of the Internet on hotel sales. For the past several years, hotels have been scrambling to have a meaningful presence on the Net, but few hoteliers appear satisfied with the results. For many hoteliers, it's been a challenge to measure sales results from their websites. Many have not been able to establish benchmarks to determine what success on the Net looks or feels like. By Neil Salerno More... [2504 views] Hotel and Timeshare Lawyer insights on special implications of "the downturn" for Vacation OwnershipThis article is the second in a series that will discuss Timeshare, Fractional Interest, Private Residence Club, and Vacation Club properties (sometimes collectively known as "Vacation Ownership" or "Shared Vacation Ownership" properties). This article talks about the special implications of the Financial Crisis on the industry. By David Sudeck & Jim Butler More... [689 views] The World's top hotel countriesThe Forbes Traveler 400 board of luxury travel experts rated nearly 800 of the world's finest hotels on their rooms, service, decor, cuisine, public areas, recreational options and location. A country-by-country tally was then made to determine the world's top hotel countries. By Bob Harris More... [1077 views] Simon F. Cooper, President and Chief Ritz-Carlton named “Corporate hotelier of the World” By Hotels magazineSimon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has been named 2008 "Corporate Hotelier of the World" by HOTELS magazine. The award, determined by votes cast by more than 60,000 readers in 170 countries, was presented during a November 10 ceremony at The Marriott Marquis in New York City attended by hoteliers from around the globe. More... [895 views] Choice hotels international opens 48 new hotels in OctoberChoice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) continues to grow with the announcement of 48 newly-opened franchised properties during the month of October. The openings include hotels in 22 states and 6 countries, adding more than 3,800 rooms to the company's existing 465,000-plus rooms. More... [867 views] Sol Meliá registers a net profit of 80 million Euros to SeptemberThe international economic situation, the unremarkable tourist traffic in Spain, the absence of asset rotation activity and exchange rate fluctuations lead to a 41.7% decrease in net profits. The company faces the future in optimum financial health and with a number of measures which will allow it to maintain its solidity in line with the 350 million euro debt reduction achieved over the period 2004-2007. More... [556 views] IHG opens two Holiday Inn Express hotels in Taiwan within six monthsMerely six months after launching the Holiday Inn Express brand to Taiwan, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has doubled the number of hotels under the brand. Today, it opened the Holiday Inn Express Taichung Park in the island's third largest city. More... [569 views] Utell® hotels realize year-on-year revenue increaseUtell Hotels & Resorts has reported strong year-on-year revenue increases for its top global hotels, with some top customers reporting gains as high as 68%. More... [689 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 12, 2008Lessons from the field: Enthusiastic and sincere attitudes will pay off for hotel salespeopleHaving an enthusiastic attitude is important in being successful in any line of work. While there's nothing new about that maxim, it certainly bears repeating especially when you're talking about sales. Combining enthusiasm with sincerity is obvious. A lack of enthusiasm reflects a poor attitude. If a hotel salesperson or any staff members are not enthusiastic about his company, the hotel and its management and staff, and if he's not excited about meeting the needs of his customers, then there's a good chance he won't make the sale. By Dr. John Hogan More... [1732 views] Mexico's growing trend: Master-planned resort-residential communitiesMexico's tourism industry has been at the forefront of international lodging trends, and the country is once again reinventing its coastlines and interior colonial towns with the proliferation of master-planned resort-residential communities. By Luigi Major More... [934 views] World's weirdest hotel guest complaintsA star footballer complained his ocean-view hotel room overlooking Sydney's Manly beach was unsuitable because the sound of the sea kept him awake. More... [2438 views] Pipeline highlights at H1 2008The Total Global Construction Pipeline is at a record high in H1 2008, with 10,781 projects and 1,819,486 rooms, up 28% year-over-year (YoY). More... [633 views] Italy's 25 best hotelsWe profile 25 of Italy's best hotels, as gathered from the Forbes Traveler 400 list of the world's greatest luxury hotels. By Bob Harris More... [997 views] International jury awards Dutch hotel group citizenM as most innovative hotel of the year 2008!The European Hotel Design Awards, presented by Sleeper Magazine on Thursday, 6 November 2008, is the premier celebration of outstanding innovations in the hospitality industry and hotel design in Europe. More... [674 views] Travel sentiments across Asia Pacific are 'down but not out'Slightly less than half of the 185 travel agents surveyed felt that travel bookings will fall in the next six months and only 44 percent felt that prospects for business travel will shrink. More... [620 views] TMS launches 2008 Australian travel & hospitality industry salary surveyTMS Asia-Pacific has this week started collating data for its third annual Australian Travel and Hospitality Industry Salary Survey against the backdrop of the toughest economic environment seen in years. More... [514 views] Canada jumps 10 spots to become world’s No. 2 ranked country brand as CTC launches new global marketing strategyIn just two short years, Canada has jumped from the world's 12th most respected country brand to No. 2. The ranking comes from the Country Brand Index by FutureBrand of New York, NY. The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) will be present at the official announcement tomorrow in London, England at the World Travel Market (WTM), one of the world's largest travel, trade and media showcases. More... [722 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 11, 2008The life of a hotel doctor: Getting helpHotel doctors need other doctors to cover for them. For years, I relied on a colleague, Dr. Harrell. He was an excellent physician, but that meant his practice was growing steadily busier. In an effort to attract someone else, I placed several ads in the Los Angeles County Medical Journal. If hotel doctoring seems romantic to you, it has the same effect on the medical profession, so these produced an avalanche of responses. By Mike Oppenheim More... [939 views] Quantum of hopeYeoh Siew Hoon watched the acceptance speech of Barack Obama and, as far away as she was, even she was moved by the promise and hope of a new day for America. More... [693 views] America's best NEW hotelsWe profile America's best new hotels, as chosen by the Forbes Traveler 400 expert panelists. By Jeff Koyen More... [1257 views] Courtyard redefines the “business traveler’s hotel”At 25 years young, Courtyard by Marriott is redefining itself and the business travelers' hotel. J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO, Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) marked the milestone by showing off the brand's modern and stylish look to VIPs and media at the newly opened Courtyard Newport News Airport hotel in Virginia, which is owned and operated by LTD Management Company of Chesapeake, Virginia. The global power brand will reach 800 hotels in 2009 and is undergoing a $500 million make-over by its owners and franchisees over the next two and a half years. More... [1607 views] Revolutionary new guide for enhancing international hotel accountingA new guide that will add significant value to hotel management accounting by providing an industry standard for the implementation of Customer Profitability Analysis (CPA) in the international hotel sector, was published and launched this week at the 3rd British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA) Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition, held at the Sofitel London Heathrow at Terminal 5. More... [1018 views] Milestone founder interview with Matt Cutts of GoogleThe head of Google's Web Spam team, Matt Cutts, sat down with Benu Aggarwal, President of Milestone Internet, to tackle poignant questions about websites, online presence, search engine optimization and how hotels can drive revenue. Playfully called the "Google Guy," Matt shares his thoughts and insights on how businesses can harness the power of internet marketing, smart strategies and analytics for improving performance on the Web and how to create a website that stands out and makes a difference! More... [639 views] Survey shows demand for leisure travel remains stable
New survey reveals demand for leisure travel services likely to remain stable despite turbulent economy but consumers shift focus on better value. More... [793 views] STR reports two key measurements drop during the week ending 1 November 2008In year-over-year measurements, the industry's average daily rate for the week rose 0.7 percent to end the week at US$106.45-up from US$105.67 a year ago. Occupancy dropped 7.3 percent to finish the week at 55.9 percent (60.3 percent last year). Revenue per available room for the week decreased 6.6 percent to end the week at US$59.53 (down from US$63.72 in 2007). More... [445 views] Trust International and Kiwi Collection partner for luxury hotel rate distribution and reservations
More... [1129 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 10, 2008Five conditions to get through the crisis without too much damageHousehold's consumption and spending of are mixed in this difficult period of time and many retail businesses are experiencing a decline in their customers visit frequency. But what can make some brands or outlets resist better than others? In terms of marketing, sales and customer service there are five conditions to fulfill and they all relate to fundamental and adaptability of the band or the outlet, not to its size. By Thierry Poupard More... [2500 views] Orient-Express signs five-continent deal with TravelCLICK to use its suite of commerce and market intelligence solutionsOrient-Express Hotels, the world-renowned hotel and travel company focused on the luxury end of the leisure market, has signed a global agreement with TravelCLICK, the leader in hotel ecommerce solutions, to offer an integrated suite of hotel distribution management, market intelligence, and GDS media solutions to its 41 hotels worldwide. As part of the agreement, Orient-Express hotels can select from a range of TravelCLICK competitive benchmarking reports providing information on pricing and booking performance. At the same time, hotels will have access to TravelCLICK's exclusive online marketing solutions, enabling them to target promotional messages to specific travel agents and Internet consumers when they are booking travel. More... [953 views] World's 50 best new hotelsWe profile 50 of the world's best new hotels, as chosen by the Forbes Traveler 400 expert panelists. By Alexander Zaitchik More... [1572 views] Responding to a turbulent economy and a changing climate - Middle East and Mediterranean regionFaced with growing economic uncertainty UNWTO is examining how the tourism sector can respond effectively, while building new frameworks to adapt to climate change and development imperatives. This will be the focus of the Global Ministers' Summit at World Travel Market (London, UK, 11 November). A series of conferences focusing on the regional impacts and response will follow, starting in the Middle East. More... [600 views] Priciest U.S. restaurantsGourmands with a reservation at New York's Tom: Tuesday Dinner can expect an intimate meal planned and prepared by the host of Bravo's Top Chef and the mind behind Manhattan's "Craft" restaurants. On opening night, last month, that included grilled stuffed squid in a squid-ink risotto made with cocoa nibs. By Pascale Le Draoulec More... [819 views] Westin hotels & resorts continues record breaking growth in ASIA Pacific, adding new hotel in Sendai, JapanSlated to open in 2010, the Westin hotel Sendai will refresh and renew visitors in a prime downtown location near businesses, shopping and dining More... [618 views] Preferred hotel group™ announces partnership with Tristar hotels in IndiaPreferred Hotel Group is pleased to announce its partnership with Tristar Hotels Private Limited and to welcome its first hotel - Svelte Hotel & Personal Suites. The hotel is a member of the Sterling HotelsTM collection of more than 60 hotels with character and inimitable flair known as Sterling Personality. More... [829 views] “Take off in a new direction”: International career expo for hotel schools"We welcome back the exhibitors who have supported us in the past and several new exhibitors as our Expo continues to grow, attracting more international interest and increasing the opportunities for our students," says Ms Isabella Conde, Chair of the Association of Australian Hotel Schools (AAHS), comprising ten of Australia's leading hotel and tourism management schools, which held its seventh annual National Hospitality Careers Expo at Australian Technology Park, Redfern on 28th October. More... [656 views] DOCOMO interTouch to unveil world’s first mobile phone control prototype for hotelsDOCOMO interTouch, one of the world's largest technology providers for the hospitality industry, will unveil its latest innovative breakthrough "hYspace" at the upcoming global hospitality exhibition Equip'Hotel in Paris. hYspace is a software prototype that is set to enable hotel guests in future to use their mobile touch screen phones to perform multiple functions including controlling the room lighting, temperature and television channels. More... [1242 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 7, 2008Radical departure from destination marketing normsBuild it, and they will come! Skies the limit! Growing Budgets, glowing prospects, good times for all. Now, the Hospitality landscape for DMO's and Hotel CMO's has changed dramatically. Let's consider some realities: By John Hendrie More... [995 views] Lessons from the Field: Unleash the potential!The economic uncertainties facing the hospitality industry in 2009 are very real, but there have been cycles of reduced demand before and the industry has addressed them successfully in the past. Not all hotels have staff totally dedicated to sales, but every hotel has motivated and concerned staff that care about the success of their employer. By Dr. John Hogan More... [822 views] The world's 20 best sky barsThe perfect way to get perspective on a city? From on high. With a well-made cocktail in hand. By Nick Redman More... [1687 views] European RevPAR declines in OctoberEuropean hotel performance data showed a sharp slowdown in the sector during October, according to preliminary data from STR Global. STR Global collects daily data from about 3,500 hotels in Europe. More... [1299 views] PhoCusWright forecasts online travel growth at lowest levels, but still outperforming overall market through 2010With the economic situation deteriorating throughout fall 2008, most U.S. travel companies are now grappling with declining demand and uncertainty for the future. The latest market forecasts in the new PhoCusWright's U.S. Online Travel Overview Eighth Edition reflect these lower expectations for travel companies' performance. More... [903 views] Research key to travel industry tie-upsResearch is a key driver to improved partnerships between all stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry including, amongst others, airlines, hotels, tour operators, and national tourism authorities. More... [469 views] Boo.com research shows online reviews tip the trust scales over family and friendsAccording to the second annual travel trust index report release by boo.com, online travel review and booking sites continue to gain the public's trust. In fact, online travel resources are strongly preferred over more traditional options such as travel agencies, travel brochures and even friends and family. More... [444 views] AsiaSpa magazine is proud to announce nominees for the 4th AsiaSpa AwardsLaunched in 2005 to give recognition to exceptional spas in the Asia region, the AsiaSpa Awards have become a highly anticipated annual event. Shining a spotlight on the outstanding efforts of individuals and companies within the industry, they are a reflection of Asia's increasingly sophisticated spa culture. More... [1269 views] Rixos Premium Khao Lak opening to boost group's global expansion strategyLuxury hospitality group, Rixos Hotels, continues its global expansion with the launch of its first hotel in Thailand.The 298-room Rixos Premium Khao Lak opens on December 16, the Rixos Group's initial hotel in Asia as it expands outside its European base for the first time. More... [521 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 6, 2008Alluring descriptions are key to converting reservationsDespite the advances in training methodology that have been made in recent years, it still amazes me how many hotels still end up with a highly transactional reservations sales process. Few agents these days go beyond asking the "mandatory" or "inventory search" questions and then giving very basic room descriptions, usually based on the bedding and view. By Doug Kennedy More... [2562 views] Hotel jobs in crunch?The credit crunch is affecting every region to a different extent. There will be many losers but also some winners- those with liquidity. HVS explores these topics in an attempt to identify future hospitality recruitment trends. By Lorenza Alessie More... [1572 views] Workouts and special servicing for hotel mortgage loans: What is so different about TROUBLED HOTEL LOANS?JMBM's bankruptcy lawyers say that they have not been this busy in 20 years. JMBM's troubled loan team veterans have dealt with more than 1,000 receiverships over the years and handled some of the biggest real estate, timeshare and hotel assets for banks and the U.S. Government (both the FDIC and the RTC in the last great meltdown). As they swing into action again, they have dusted off and updated all their checklists, polished their troubled asset technology and are providing decades of experience that has been largely lost by most institutional players from too many prosperous years. By Jim Butler More... [562 views] Looking ahead to 2009 - predictions for a recessionary yearInternational hotelier Niels Pedersen is offering a dozen predictions for 2009 for the hospitality sector as the basis for action now to offset the difficult recessionary year ahead. He is managing director of the London-based Supranational Hotels consortium that is represented in over 70 countries. His forecasts are: More... [2381 views] M. Scott Parisi announced as President of EcoGreenHotel.comEcoGreenHotel.com announces M. Scott Parisi as President. The mission of EcoGreenHotel.com is to help reduce the environmental footprint of the hotel industry by Supporting Hospitality Sustainability. EcoGreenHotel.com was launched early in 2008 and is planning for considerable growth in 2009. The planned growth will be with vendor partners that target the hospitality industry, sustainable hotel partners and a consulting arm that will be working with both new build and existing properties. More... [654 views] CEE is closing on the gap in online bookingsIt is widely acknowledged that the online behaviour in Europe is not coherent across the region and even within one market there are different levels of "experiences" with using the Internet or buying online. More... [1039 views] Low carbon system for better meetings goes liveA revolutionary new system to improve the effectiveness of meetings, while cutting the CO2 emissions, has been installed at its first venue. More... [1085 views] The Miele guide awards culinary scholarships to two young Asian talentsThe Miele Guide-At-Sunrice scholarships were awarded to two young aspiring chefs, Lai Kit Yee and Malcolm Lee Seow Meng yesterday in the presence of some of Asia's most celebrated chefs and restaurateurs plus regional and international food critics and journalists. More... [1210 views] Lebanon back on the international tourism map with AWTTE 2008The Arab World Travel and Tourism Exchange (AWTTE) was held on October 16-19, 2008 after 2 years of absence, putting Lebanon back on the international tourism map both as a tourism and MICE destination. Over 6,300 from 39 countries attended AWTTE 2008. Trade visitors registered 40 percent of the total number of visitors with 20 percent coming from international destinations. More... [480 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 5, 2008On the Move - October 08Hospitality Executive Movements worldwide is provided by Spectrum International Hospitality Services which specializes in executive recruitment for the hospitality industry exclusively. More... [3152 views] ‘Selling into’ a bad economy – Overcoming fear and stealing shareTough times require creative solutions not just business as usual! Not only are hotels being buffeted by the economy but also by the new competitive hotels have come online and/or are coming online in the near future. Make no mistake; there will be winners and losers in this environment --- some hotels that will prosper and those that will capitulate! By Carol Verret More... [1455 views] Lodging Econometrics to release the first ever global pipelineLodging Econometrics (LE), the Global Authority for Hotel Real Estate, announced that it will introduce its inaugural issue of the Global Construction Pipeline Report at the annual meeting of the American Hotel and Lodging Association to be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City November 7-8, 2008. More... [542 views] Smart cost control optimises hotel profitsThe impact of the current global economic crisis has reached the tourism industry, which is starting to feel the pressure as growth begins to slow. Once again, hotel managers and owners at a corporate and hotel level are looking for opportunities to tighten the belt in their operations. But after so many years of various crises and smart operational management, are there any further improvements that can be quickly applied in order to tighten the belts and maintain profit levels without affecting their hotels' core business? More... [1160 views] America's 50 best hotelsForbes Traveler profiles 50 of the U.S. best hotels, as gathered from the Forbes Traveler 400 list of the world's greatest luxury hotels. By Bob Harris More... [1503 views] Why Scottish hospitality needs a Swiss role modelIt was Orson Welles in The Third Man movie who declared that, after 500 years of democracy and peace, all Switzerland had managed to produce was the cuckoo clock. Not wholly accurate. The Swiss also gave the world the hospitality school. They're big on hospitality, the Swiss, and finishing schools. Short on natural resources and ethnically bi-polar, they learnt to serve, to smooth the global table-cloth. The French have the cuisine and the Germans the technology; but the Swiss have the tiny complimentary bottles of shampoo and the folded peak on the end of their toilet rolls. More... [756 views] From the cutting-edge to the iconic, Music Concierge tailors music to the world's finest hotelsIt has been a year of remarkable achievement for Music Concierge. The fledgling consultancy has gone from strength to strength, bringing unrivalled music knowledge and expertise to the task of creating utterly bespoke audio identities for luxury and boutique hotels across the globe. After just one year, the award-winning music consultancy has exceeded all expectations with both the size and prestige of its client list. More... [663 views] Hospitality design group’s Michelle Finn to receive inaugural industry innovator honor from NEWH greater New York chapterRecognizing the indelible mark she has made on innovation in the hospitality industry, Michelle Finn, vice president of the Hospitality Design Group, will be presented with the inaugural Industry Innovator honor by the Greater New York Chapter of NEWH, Inc. - The Hospitality Industry Network at Light Up the City!, a unique scholarship fundraiser. The special event will be held on Friday, November 7, 2008 from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m. at the Edison Ballroom (247 West 47th St.) in New York City, following the evening's Hospitality Design Owner's Roundtable session. More... [699 views] The Referral Power of Concierges and ReceptionistsAre you working in the front office department? Do you make recommendations and referrals to your guests? You can benefit by developing an online referral tool and winning an I-Pod Shuffle. Please fill in this 8 minute survey. I ensure the confidentiality of your personal information. The results are used for statistical analysis. Reports will only present anonymised and aggregated data. By Torsten Sabel More... [678 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 4, 2008A hoteliers how-to guide to online advertising and media buyingWith over 50% of all travel bookings taking place online this year (PhoCusWright 2008), it is increasingly imperative to properly position your hotel online to capture your customers' attention. Online media buying is one of the most effective methods for driving highly qualified traffic directly to your website. This form of advertising serves to secure the most Internet real estate, while reaching out to potential guests at nearly every level of the consumer purchase cycle. More... [1495 views] UK hotels experience slowdown in SeptemberUK hoteliers saw visitor numbers decline in September and, as a result of some softening in demand, room rates have declined as the fallout from the turmoil in the markets affected business travel, according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. The decreases were relatively small so fundamental occupancy levels still remain strong across the majority of the country. More... [621 views] China's 10 best hotelsMuch like the Chinese team and their medal haul at the recent Beijing Olympics, the country's hotel scene has also gone from strength to strength in recent years, emerging from the self-imposed dark age of hospitality that marked the hardcore communist era into a dynamic new world of incredible places to sleep. By Joe Yogerst More... [1477 views] Utell® and Rate Tiger team to make hotels more competitiveRate Tiger, a leading provider of online hotel distribution management tools has joined forces with Utell Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel representation service, to introduce Market Insight. The new suite of business intelligence tools will help Utell's member hotels compete on a global level, offering more options for distribution, benchmarking, inventory and rate management. More... [763 views] PATA partners with STCRC and EC3 Global to build tourism sustainabilityThe Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has partnered with the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) and its subsidiary arm EC3 Global in the drive to encourage sustainable tourism and increase awareness about climate change. More... [785 views] Pure solutions launches the 1st online resource for travellers to seek and book "allergy-friendly" hotel roomsPURE Solutions website now offers the ability to book a PURE room in over 50 hotels worldwide. This website is a leading resource for allergy sufferers and travelers alike to learn about this cutting edge purification system that can dramatically improve air quality, provide a better sleep and enhance the hotel experience. More... [584 views] Expedia, Inc. reports third quarter 2008 resultsExpedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008. "Yes, it's a difficult environment, but that's everyone's news, and for travel any predictions about its depth or duration would be foolish," said Barry Diller, Expedia, Inc.'s Chairman and Senior Executive. "What is important for shareholders of Expedia to know is that the Company is well capitalized, focused only on operating its sole travel services business, with no distractions, and a conviction that it will emerge stronger in every line of its business. More... [510 views] Hoteliers seek new options for profitability in economic downturnHotel executives and travelers alike have seen the negative effects the economy has had on the travel industry. These effects have prompted hoteliers to scramble for ways to evaluate the market and examine new alternatives to promote their property. Hoteliers and marketers agree that innovative new options will prove to be the answer to effectively outperforming the competition. More... [1060 views] ISPA invests in the future of the spa industryThe International SPA Association continues to be the leading source for spa industry research, business tools and curriculum. As the voice of the industry, ISPA is ensuring the sustainability of the spa industry by investing again in its members and providing complimentary resources to its membership. Beginning at the 2008 ISPA Conference & Expo held Nov. 10-13 in Las Vegas digital copies of existing and future research studies will be available for ISPA members at no cost. More... [563 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 3, 2008PKF revises forecast to reflect acceleration of economic downturnThe downward gravitational pull on the national economy resulting from extraordinary financial events currently playing out on Wall Street and in Washington has prompted PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) to revise downward its hotel industry forecast for 2009 issued September 2008. The company is now expecting RevPAR and profit declines of 4.3 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, for U.S. hoteliers in 2009, according to its updated forecast. More... [1358 views] Forty hours doesn't work for everyone: Examining employee preferences for work hoursCurrent economic conditions have caused many employers to reduce employees' work hours-a trend that will likely continue if the economy worsens. Yet research on work hours is limited, as most studies in this area have focused on the effects of employees' working in excess of a 40-hour work week. This report seeks to specifically examine the effect of "hours misfit," which is defined as the mismatch between the number of hours the employee desires to work and the actual number of hours worked. By: Lindsey A. Zahn and Michael C. Sturman Ph.D. More... [1051 views] TravelCLICK hosts Webinar on "Third Quarter 2008 Global Hotel Performance"TravelCLICK, the leader in hotel ecommerce and business intelligence, will host a complimentary webinar titled "Third Quarter 2008 Global Hotel Performance: Lessons Learned, Preparing for 2009." The webinar will reveal the third quarter 2008 results based on TravelCLICK's proprietary eMonitor and eTrak market performance reports. More... [598 views] 10 amazing hotel perksSingapore's 40-room Naumi Hotel devotes an entire floor to female travelers. Some Four Seasons properties stock a fridge with guests' preferred treats. New Zealand's Treetops plants a tree in their honor. Here's a primer on what ten hotels are doing to offer guests perks they won't forget. More... [2687 views] Economic downturn proving to be a mixed blessing for online travel companiesAccording to Hitwise, UK online traffic to budget travel companies increased by 5.3 percent in September compared with the previous year. The websites of cruise companies experienced an 8.2 percent increase in traffic over the same period. More... [681 views] STR reports three key measurements drop during the week ending 25 October 2008In year-over-year measurements, the industry's average daily rate for the week fell 0.4 percent to end the week at US$108.92-down from US$109.37 a year ago. Occupancy dropped 6.6 percent to finish the week at 63.1 percent (67.6 percent last year). Revenue per available room for the week decreased 7.0 percent to end the week at US$68.76 (down from US$73.95 in 2007). More... [558 views] Spain's the rage for hip hotelsA NEW hotel hybrid - hip hostelries that match the bigger four-star brands - is taking Spain by storm with its offer of value and style. But things are changing and a new hybrid of hostel-hotel is sweeping Spain; hip little hostelries that match the bigger four-star hotels in style and amenities, but where double rooms hover about the €100 ($195) mark. By Suzanne Wales More... [836 views] Travel, leisure are all ears: Where do McCain, Obama stand on tourism-related issues?It's been called the tourism lobby's Holy Grail: a national advertising campaign paid for by the federal government. The "Travel Promotion Act" is currently before Congress. It would allow the federal government to charge travelers from certain overseas countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, a $10 fee. The money collected -- an estimated $100 million a year -- would be spent on marketing to lure international travelers to the U.S. By Jason Garcia More... [600 views] Cyprus tourism needs state support for 2009 - hoteliersCyprus's tourism industry needs state support to weather the knock-on effects of the global financial crisis in 2009, the head of the country's hoteliers' association said on Monday. More... [528 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: November 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 28, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 27, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 26, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 25, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 24, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 21, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 20, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 19, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 18, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 17, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 14, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 13, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 12, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 11, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 10, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 7, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 6, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 5, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 4, 2008Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 3, 2008
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