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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: March 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 31, 2009World-Class Service: What if every employee served like a concierge?Employees often feel constrained by their job titles. Doormen should mainly open doors, massage therapists should mainly give massage treatments, and room attendants should mainly clean rooms. This type of constraint can inhibit the potential creativity and zeal that employees experience in their jobs. By Bryan K. Williams More... [3263 views] Meet Quincy, the one-price playerYeoh Siew Hoon checks out the newest hotel in Singapore which goes by the name of Quincy and which is daring to go where no hotels have gone in the city - an-all in pricing. More... [1029 views] European chain hotels market review – February 2009There was a mixed performance in February across Europe's key city hotel markets, according to the latest European HotStats survey by TRI Hospitality Consulting. The Hamburg chain hotel market remained stable in February, reporting a 2.3 percentage point increase in average occupancy to 68.1 per cent, contributing to a slight uplift in RevPAR to €74.05. Demand was fueled by a successful edition of Reisen Hamburg, the international tourism and caravaning trade fair, which was attended by more than 71,000 visitors. More... [982 views] STR Global posts February 2009 results for Asia/Pacific regionHotels in the Asia/Pacific region reported double-digit decreases when reported in U.S. dollars for all three key performance metrics for February 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [717 views] STR Global posts February 2009 results for the AmericasThe Americas region reported declines in all three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for February 2009, according to data compiled by STR and STR Global. More... [496 views] STR Global posts February 2009 results for EuropeThe European hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for February 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [668 views] STR Global posts February 2009 results for the Middle East/AfricaThe Middle East/Africa region reported mixed year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars for February 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [555 views] Caterers, event planners say that public criticism hurts the industry, economyIn a survey conducted by the National Association of Catering Executives, caterers and event planners across the country say that criticism of companies that host conferences and travel-related meetings is hurting the industry and the overall economy. More... [524 views] Lean and Green: Control HVAC costs with demand-controlled ventilationEver feel like you're coming down with a cold after attending an event in a hotel meeting room? That's because most hotels don't effectively use demand-controlled ventilation, a technique that ensures that ventilation air contains enough fresh air. By John Scaggs More... [433 views] Revenue managers feel the pressure to reduce price to maintain market shareWith the recent economic downturn, many hotel revenue managers have been struggling with how best to manage declining demand and the pressures to reduce rate. In order to gauge how revenue management has changed during these times of economic uncertainty, Sherri Kimes, STB Distinguished Professor of Asian Hospitality Management, Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management, conducted an online survey of hotel RM professionals throughout the world. The survey, conducted in partnership with EyeforTravel, was completed by the end of March. More... [2285 views] Hotel room of the future unveiledI've seen the hotel room of the future and it's number 1014 Pullman Paris Bercy. First the door lock. Ahmed Chekir, the manager on duty at the hotel, uses a special hotel key card with a radio frequency microchip to open it. This technology is available in Samsung mobile phones, which Accor Hotels says in the next 18 months to three years, will be extended to all mobile phones worldwide. More... [1189 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 30, 2009Hotel reservations sales training tips – Circa 2009For veteran hoteliers who are experiencing our industry's fourth economic down-turn in the last twenty years, it is interesting to see how consumers are reacting to the latest media-driven "fire sale" stories that "hotel discounts are there for the asking." In past down-cycles, such as in the early 1990's after the savings and loan crisis, again after 9-11, and once more in spring of 2003 when we were facing the treat of the Iraq war and SARS virus, guests increasingly turned to the Internet to find what they perceived as the absolute-best available rates. By Doug Kennedy More... [1898 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for February 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in three key performance measurements during the month of February, according to data from STR. More... [479 views] Falling hotel prices make dream destinations feasibleThe Hotel Price Index, which looks at hotel prices* for October to December 2008 compared to the same period the year before, revealed that hotel prices globally fell 12 per cent in 2008. On average hotel prices today are only one percent higher than they were five years ago, when the Hotel Price Index first began. More... [599 views] Turning lookers into bookersHow an effective online presence can improve your conversation rates and revenues. By Rob Käll More... [1209 views] Julian Van Den Bogaerde appointed regional Vice-President, China for Swissôtel Hotels & resortsSwissôtel Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Julian van den Bogaerde as Regional Vice-President, China. This appointment is in addition to his current role as General Manager of Swissôtel Grand, Shanghai, a position he assumed in October 2008. More... [657 views] Demand in the past four weeks has strengthenedThomas Cook has shared that bookings have improved significantly over the last month, with Europe shaping up as a top destination. More... [557 views] Travelers most willing to pay extra for experiencing different culturesExperiencing other cultures or receiving quality customer service are high on travelers' lists when on holiday and they are willing to pay extra for it according to the Visa and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) ‘Determining Travel Preferences in 2009 and Beyond' survey. More... [687 views] Waldeck Capital launches global hospitality recovery fundWaldeck Capital has launched a Global Hospitality Recovery Fund to raise up to €500 million in order to acquire luxury hotels and is now actively seeking investment from both institutions and individuals. To minimise risk, the Fund is raising capital in a number of currencies and will create a balanced portfolio of assets in currencies, markets and countries. More... [461 views] Fairmont family expands with new destinations and productsFairmont Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its brand presence globally, with a number of exciting hotel and mixed-use projects in its development pipeline. Located throughout the world, these properties will be introduced over the course of the next few years and include hotels in Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Vancouver, Zimbali and Shanghai. More... [1771 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 27, 2009Global Hospitality Industry participates in Earth Hour 2009This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world's first global election, between Earth and global warming. Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm. Hotels around the world are joining the Earth Hour campaign tomorrow. More... [1443 views] Executive compensation run amok. Does hospitality share the shame?It is all over the news: AIG, Merrill Lynch - why repeat the litany of culprits. Sadly, far too many companies fall into the category of inflated, arrogant Executives, chasing the quick buck and delivering disastrous results and institutional calamity. Where did all this bonus and contractual mayhem come from? It came from your high priced Organizational Consultants, your Compensation Committees, your short sighted Boards of Directors and timid stockholders... By Ragsdale Hendrie More... [820 views] 2009 Top Ten Meeting TrendsBenchmark Hospitality International, a leading hospitality management company which operates 30 award-winning conference hotels, resorts, and conference centers in locations coast-to-coast and in Asia, announces its "Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2009," as observed by its properties. More... [1752 views] Hotel investment activity in Canada witnesses significant decline according to Colliers International Hotels’ annual reportThe global credit crunch and the recession that followed have hit the Canadian hotel real estate sector, which experienced a 77 per cent decline in investment activity, falling to $1.1 billion over the past year, according to Colliers International Hotel's 2009 Canadian Hotel Investment Report released today. The report also found the average price per room fell by 25 per cent to $116,500 in 2008 from $154,200 the previous year. More... [408 views] Hotel Attorneys and CMBS special servicers look to have a big (and free!) part of the solution to the liquidity crisis, depressed real estate, and hotel values as well as a better way to dispose of toxic assets.Last week I had a conversation with one of the country's top CMBS special loan servicers, who happens to also be a friend as well as a good client. We were talking about dealing with some of his company's increasing volume of assets under "special servicing" and the difficulties presented by REMIC regulations. By Jim Butler More... [378 views] TMS poised to launch ‘TMS Academy’TMS Asia-Pacific has announced its plans to launch into the executive training arena with the launch of its first ‘TMS Academy' concept in Singapore. More... [422 views] National green hospitality experts to speak at upcoming global summitOrganizers of the 1st Annual Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit have announced that several of the country's top leaders in the green hospitality industry have accepted invitations to speak and participate in discussion panels at the upcoming three-day event. More... [531 views] Langham hotels announces new Regional Vice PresidentLangham Hotels International (LHI) has promoted hospitality veteran, Katie Benson, to the newly created position of Regional Vice President - Europe and North America. More... [644 views] Business travel market puts more accommodation partners to bedBusiness Travel Market, the new event for the business travel industry taking place from 17-18 June 2009 at London's ExCeL Exhibition Centre, has announced more confirmed accommodation exhibitors. More... [425 views] Spas lend a helping handIt's easy to get wrapped up in the doom and gloom of the economy. You can't turn on the TV or open a newspaper without reading about the stock market tanking, home foreclosure rates rising and increased unemployment. The International SPA Association is giving you permission to put the negative aside and take in the good that spas, both big and small, are doing across the country, and how they're strengthening their communities by giving back. More... [472 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 26, 2009Lessons from the field: Reflections: Mentors and FriendsThis is a slight departure from my normal writing and I appreciate readers allowing me to take a different approach in a message aimed more on the personal side. Hospitality and tourism arguably make up the world's largest industry, although some internet searches conflict in interpretation. Hospitality and tourism play a major role in the world economy and contribute significant revenues and net wealth to many countries. When we think about it, we recognize that many components of hospitality are based heavily on the personal, "high touch" side of life. By Dr. John Hogan More... [897 views] How restaurant customers view online reservationsRestaurant customers appreciate the convenience of being able to make restaurant reservations online, but they also like the personal touch of telephone reservations. A study of 696 restaurant customers found that nearly one-third had made an online reservation. By: Sheryl E. Kimes Ph.D. More... [779 views] ASIA Pacific Q4 2008 construction pipeline summaryAfter a 1-2 quarter lag, the economic turbulence being experienced in the rest of the world has now reached the Asia Pacific region in full force. Heavily reliant on their manufacturing and exporting industries, Asian economies are seeing sizable, even historic, contraction, as global demand for goods produced in the region has plummeted. Several countries, including Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, reported negative GDP growth in Q4 2008. The blockbuster economies of China and India still expect positive GDP growth this year, however the rate of growth will be significantly slower, falling to rates not seen since earlier in the decade. LE expects the macroeconomic indicators to continue trending downwardinto 2010. More... [1240 views] Looking for a way to significantly increase your hotel's cash flow... NOW? Here's one of the most overlooked approaches. "TINSTAFL" suspended?Hotel attorneys know that times are tough and getting tougher. Moody's Economy.com and PKF are now projecting a deeper and more extended downturn and a more delayed recovery. Hotel Lawyer with new data from Moody's Economy.com and deteriorating projections for the lodging industry. and Jim Butler quote in USA today More hotels are facing foreclosure, bankruptcy. So here is a rock-solid tip that could instantly boost cash flow for savvy borrowers and lenders who qualify. This will be particularly valuable to hotels bought or built in the last 5 to 10 years . . . or maybe longer. By Jim Butler More... [787 views] Kendall College’s School of Culinary Arts named cooking school of the yearThe School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College has won the Academy of the Culinary Arts Cordon d' Or - Gold Ribbon Cooking School of the Year Culinary Academy Award for 2008. More... [811 views] UK chain hotels market review – February 2009The profitability of London chain hotels fell by 16.9 per cent in February, according to the latest HotStats survey by TRI Hospitality Consulting. London hotels generated daily profit - expressed as income before fixed charges (IBFC) - of £47.75 per available room compared to £57.46 the same month a year earlier. More... [430 views] Change is in the air for Australia’s major hotel ownersAccording to the results of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' annual Top Owner Survey, Australia's top ten hotel owners saw little change in their portfolio holdings in 2008, accounting for a combined 12.9% of Australia's total room supply, compared to 12.4% in 2007. More... [913 views] Crescent Hotels & Resorts anounces plans for record growth in 2009 on heels of record 2008Officials of Crescent Hotels & Resorts announced plans to continue its record pace of growth in 2009, on the heels of a record 2008. More... [456 views] Hotels spoil plan on low-cost tourismThe bottom threatens to fall out of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT)'s strategy to create low-cost tours amid the economic downturn as hotels fail to honour their commitments to reduce prices. More... [436 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 25, 2009'Have a nice day' ...or not!I remember shopping for shoes in Edinburgh, Scotland one year. As I concluded my purchase, the sales clerk laughed knowingly with his co-worker when he said "have a nice day!" We had developed some rapport during our purchase so I asked him why he laughed. He commented that it seemed like that was a required statement for anyone in America at the conclusion of a sale or service experience, whether the person saying the statement understood it , felt it or truly wished it. By Roberta Nedry - President, Hospitality Excellence, Inc. More... [2499 views] Hilton sticks to target although some partners have softenedHILTON Hotels Corporation (HHC) is sticking to its expansion targets even though the financial crisis is causing some of its partners, including RREEF (the real estate and infrastructure investment management arm of the Deutsche Bank Group) in China, and DLF in India, to re-evaluate their development goals. By Raini Hamdi, TTG Asia group editor More... [871 views] Hotel Lawyer with new data from Moody's Economy.com and deteriorating projections for the lodging industryHotel bankruptcies, restructurings, and receiverships are likely to increase substantially before things get better. That's the conclusion the hotel lawyers at JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® reach with new data released by Moody's Economy.com and new projections from PKF Research. Here are the headlines: By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® More... [450 views] Water, wealth, Madoff, Citibank, Al Waleed, the butterfly effect, you and meBenoit Gateau-Cumin, Chief Recruiting Officer at The Boutique Search Firm gives you what appears to be miscellaneous and seemingly unrelated thoughts about our current economy (or lack thereof). More... [1048 views] Solid forecast for Supranational Hotels following ‘best year since 1974'We expect to remain in the black throughout downturn' - Pedersen - ‘survival of the nastiest' is formula for hotel bosses. More... [733 views] Role for Marriott's family guy growsEleven years ago, Arne Sorenson received a mysterious phone call from Bill Marriott. It was a Saturday morning. Could he come over to the house? Sorenson was a rising young executive at Marriott International, but the situation was perplexing. By Michael S. Rosenwald. More... [1469 views] HSMAI Foundation partners with PhoCusWright and Sustainable Travel to release results of new study on business impact of green travelTravel industry professionals understand that green initiatives are good for the environment, but may find themselves wondering, especially in the current economic climate, is green good for business? The recently released study Going Green: The Business Impact of Environmental Awareness on Travel, from PhoCusWright, with industry partners The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation and Sustainable Travel International, evaluates U.S. consumer values and attitudes surrounding green travel to help companies understand how best to design their initiatives and communications to match consumer expectations. More... [387 views] Swiss slow travel concept wins global awardPilgrims go in search of a new spirituality Following in the footsteps of the tortoise that beat the hare, a Swiss institution has won an international award for its innovative approach to slow travel. At the annual Alpine Convention conference held in Evian, France, last week, Cultural Routes of Switzerland was recognised for its outstanding contribution to sustainable tourism. The Swiss tourism programme is a project of ViaStoria, the Center of Transport History. By Susan Vogel-Misicka More... [566 views] Jacques Stern appointed Senior Executive Vice President of the Accor groupOn the recommendation of Gilles Pelisson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Accor Group, the Board of Directors has accepted the nomination of Jacques Stern as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in charge of Finance, Strategy, Hotel Business Development and IT (Information Technology). More... [797 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 24, 2009PKF says worsening economy extends U.S. lodging recovery timelinePKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) announced that, according to its March 2009 edition of Hotel HorizonsSM, the current decline in the U.S. lodging industry will be deeper and last longer than the company had previously predicted. RevPAR is now expected to drop 13.7 percent in 2009, and a quarter-over-quarter gain in sales is not anticipated until the first quarter of 2011. The revised lodging forecast is based on worsening economic projections from Moody's Economy.com. More... [721 views] Hotelier of the Week: Ross KleinRoss Klein is global head, luxury & lifestyle brands, Hilton Family of Hotels. This month, he launched Hilton's newest hotel brand - Denizen. By Tom Otley More... [2119 views] How will the Stimulus Bill help tribal governments finance hotel projects in Indian Country?On March 15, Hotel Attorney, Catherine Holmes, sat down with our good friend, Valerie Red-Horse of Red-Horse Financial Group, to talk about how the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help tribal governments finance new hotel developments on tribal land. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® More... [465 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 14 March 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in three key performance measurements during the week of 8-14 March 2009, according to data from STR. More... [469 views] Germany's budget ice hotelIt's a swinger's dream. I'm sleeping with two young German couples. We met hours earlier over a white wine and now we have a waterbed, a sheepskin rug and moody lighting. The perfect Euro-trash scenario, you might think, except that our waterbed is frozen solid and the sheepskin is for insulation, not an aphrodisiac. Oh, yes, we're also zipped into supersized sleeping bags - a row of goose-down mummies in a sub-zero sarcophagus. By Ian Belcher More... [902 views] Times Online's top 100 travel websites 2009Once again, Times Online has crawled, clicked and crashed their way around the world of internet travel to bring you our top 100 travel websites in 2009. By Ginny McGrath More... [1119 views] Sodexo is hospitality assured in ScotlandSodexo, a leading food and facilities management services provider, has been awarded the Institute of Hospitality's Hospitality Assured (HA) accreditation for all of its sites and services in Scotland. More... [462 views] The Greenbrier files chapter 11, signs agreement with Marriott Hotel Services, Inc.The Greenbrier Hotel Corporation (GHC), owner of The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, announced that it has sought Chapter 11 protection to help ensure the viability of the resort. More... [523 views] Hilton to expand offerings in the MaldivesHilton Hotels Corporation has announced that its subsidiary has entered into an agreement with Sun Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd, to manage the Hilton Maldives/Iru Fushi Resort & Spa. A conversion hotel project, the property currently known as the Irufushi Beach & Spa Resort is scheduled to open as a Hilton Worldwide Resort in July 2009. More... [489 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 23, 2009New star rating system for hotels in Italy. What does it mean?
Many travelers refer to the AAA or Mobil ratings for hotels and restaurants for reliable information about the quality of an establishment. As most folks know, AAA uses the diamond rating system and Mobil uses the star rating system. While these tried and true rating systems are unlikely to be replaced anytime soon, I was fascinated to receive a recent message from a lawyer friend in Italy. It talked about the new star rating system recently promulgated by the Italian government on February 11, 2009. Here's the scoop ... By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® More... [2143 views] CEO pay by the numbersCEO pay continues to be a highly scrutinized topic, especially in today's economic environment. We argue that when compensation programming is done correctly, a CEO's pay should be based on performance relative to his or her peers. On November 17, 2008, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, announced that Goldman executives were giving up their bonuses. In the days following, many troubled financial firms including Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and UBS declared the same. Will the same hold true for the hospitality industries (hotel, gaming, and restaurant)? By Keith Kefgen & Becca Ickowicz, HVS More... [667 views] Tough Love. We're all in this togetherTough times call for tough love and Yeoh Siew Hoon is struck anew by the dedication and sacrifices of the working masses to help their companies through tough times. Now if only tough love was evenly spread ... More... [738 views] Dennis Melka launches CNI's 'Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series'Dennis Melka of East Pacific Capital Pte Ltd, a venture capitalist based in Singapore, gave an inspiring lecture on 13th March which launched the Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series at the Cornell Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management (CNI). The audience comprised of the Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) students, MBA and undergraduate students at the Nanyang Business School; the general public is also invited to participate in future lectures. Please visit our website to register for the lectures. More... [730 views] Economic impact report demonstrates the strength of the European cruise industryThe European cruise industry continues to experience significant growth and in 2007 accounted for nearly €13 billion in direct expenditure, a 22% increase over the previous year. The industry was responsible for more than 280,000 jobs, up 25% on 2006, and nearly 19 million visits were made to European ports. The results, released by the European Cruise Council (ECC) at the Seatrade convention in Miami, show the importance to Europe of the rapidly expanding cruise industry in terms of jobs, wealth and tourism, particularly during challenging economic times. More... [504 views] Club Med appoints two Asian-Pacific General ManagersTwo new General Managers have been appointed by Club Med and their appointments certainly mark a significant milestone in Club Med history as one is from Singapore, the other from New Zealand - and they are amongst the first in Club Med history to be appointed from the Asia Pacific region. More... [1607 views] HRG publishes hotel survey updateInternational corporate travel services company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) has published an update to its 2008 Hotel Survey (released 27 January 2009). The data which covers the first nine weeks of 2009 further illustrates what an unusual trading period the hotel market is currently facing. More... [828 views] Summer, sun, the Adriatic: Precise Hotel Collection opens a holiday retreat in MontenegroThe opening of a holiday hotel by the Mediterranean Sea represents the Precise Hotel Collection's first venture abroad. Following the acquisition of nine hotels in Germany, the new Precise Club Hotel Riviera Montenegro in Herceg Novi is the first of the Group's properties to cater exclusively to holidaymakers. "We're opening on 1 June," says Ron Ben-Haim, founder and owner of the hotel company, whose headquarters are located in Berlin. More... [473 views] Amanresorts launches unprecedented new wine and spirits programAmanresorts, known for its luxury resorts throughout the world, has launched a new Wine and Spirits Program that makes available some of the world's most coveted wines and spirits.
More... [1024 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 20, 2009Lessons from the Field: A common sense approach to success in the hospitality industryRevenue and net profits can often depend on how one of the most fundamental practices in sales- how incoming phone calls are handled. By Dr. John Hogan, CHE CHA MHS More... [1651 views] Narrowing the financing gapConventional financing may not allow most hotel projects to be funded in today's economic conditions. Several alternatives exist that can help to narrow a project's financing gap. By Jared Muenks, HVS. More... [634 views] Al Farooj Restaurant invests Dhs8 million into UAE expansionAl Farooj Fresh, a restaurant chain owned by Al Islami Foods Hospitality, today announced setting up of seven new branches across the UAE to meet the growing demand. With an estimated investment of Dhs 8 million, Al Farooj has now been expanded to total of 17 branches that include: 14 in UAE, 2 in Lebanon and 1 in Oman - offering fresh shawerma sandwiches and chicken meals. More... [718 views] eRevMax unveils competitive channel management product for hotel chainseRevMax newly announced the availability of RTCorp, a tool that is designed to help hotel groups and chains to monitor and control group-wide online distribution activities, performance and benchmarking. More... [638 views] UNWTO calls on tourism stakeholders to join Roadmap for Recovery Berlin, Germany, 11 March 2009In opening this year's ITB Travel Trade Show (11-15 March, Berlin), Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General ad interim, underscored that "tourism means trade, jobs, development, cultural sustainability, peace and the fulfilment of human aspirations. If ever there was a time to get this message out loud and clear, it is now, as we meet at a time of overriding global uncertainty, but also of immense possibilities", Mr. Rifai said. He urged the G-20 leaders to take note of this message and to include tourism as a key component of their economic stimulus programmes and the Green New Deal. His keynote speech addressed the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector in a time of global economic challenge. More... [313 views] European cruise industry reports record figuresThe number of Europeans taking a cruise holiday reached an all time high in 2008 with the UK continuing to top the list with the greatest number of cruise passengers. Figures released by the European Cruise Council (ECC) at the Seatrade convention in Miami show a 10% increase in the number of passengers to a record 4.4 million. More... [424 views] Choice Hotels International opens 43 New hotels in FebruaryChoice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) continues to grow with the announcement of 43 newly-opened franchised properties during the month of February. The openings include hotels in 24 states and six countries, adding more than 4,000 rooms to the company's existing 470,000-plus rooms. Select properties that opened in February include: More... [867 views] The HOTUSA group recorded a five per cent increase in business in 2008The different companies and business areas that comprise the Hotusa Group generated a business turnover of over 748.8 million euros in 2008, representing an increase of 5% compared to the 714.2 million euros registered the year previously. The company estimates it will close the financial year with a similar increase in profits. More... [577 views] EMCVenues announces spring webinars for meeting & event plannersEMCVenues has announced its next wave of complimentary Internet-based educational sessions designed to benefit meeting planners - the Spring Webinar Season. EMCVenues, the global meetings resource company specializing in education events, supplier tradeshows, training workshops, and online registration support, is a one-stop marketplace for meeting & event planners and venues globally. More... [511 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 19, 2009Hotel management and marketing in a recession - Insights and suggestions to thrive, not just surviveRevenues are down, or flat at best, and you're now looking for ways to cut expenses. For some reason, this is where the minds of hoteliers turn from driving profit to basic survival. Having been there, I understand how difficult it is to operate a hotel in times like this. Making those decisions, what to cut, what to keep, is one of the hardest parts of your job. By: Neil Salerno - Hotel Marketing Coach More... [3231 views] ITB Berlin 2009 - stronger than ever"More market players visited the leading platform of the international travel industry than ever before. In times of rapid structural changes and highly competitive markets they focused on gaining a comprehensive market overview and on new business approaches. Thus, unlike many other industries, the travel sector is actively responding to the challenges. Trade visitor attendance remained high, proof of ITB Berlin's resilience even in economically difficult times. We are delighted that there was an increase in visitors from abroad. Once again, ITB Berlin re-established itself as the world's leading travel trade show", said Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin. More... [952 views] A Starwood product story: New brands and new ideasHVS has worked on hundreds of consulting and valuation assignments for proposed and existing hotels flying under the various flags of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. This experience gives us the tools to chart, statistically and anecdotally, the effects of Starwood's new spin on their select-service, extended-stay, and full-service hotels. Starwood's innovative branding practices and creative transformations involve realigning traditional hotel standards and segmentations with new technology and market strategies. In a two-part series we'll take a closer look at what this means, beginning with the launch of the element and aloft hotel brands. By Desiree Flanary and Amanda Repert, HVS. More... [2402 views] STR reports U.S. hotel Pipeline for February 2009The U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 5,390 hotels with 575,202 rooms, according to the February STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. This represents a 2.5-percent decrease in rooms from the development pipeline in January and an 11.4-percent drop from the development pipeline in February 2008. The total active pipeline data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages, but does not include projects in the Pre-Planning stage. More... [360 views] Spanish business leader Sebastián Escarrer selected as Chairman of the Wharton School executive council for Europe, Africa and the Middle EastThe Wharton Business School, part of the University of Pennsylvania and renowned worldwide for its intellectual leadership and vocation for innovation in business education, has announced organisational adjustments which include the appointment of Sebastián Escarrer, Co-Vice Chairman of the leading Spanish hotel company Sol Meliá, to lead the organisation in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. More... [427 views] UK cruise industry announces another record yearThe Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) has announced another record year for the UK cruise industry with nearly 1.5 million passengers taking a cruise in 2008 - an 11% increase on 2007. The latest statistics reveal a 23% increase in the number of people joining their cruise in a UK port while the number of fly-cruise passengers increased by 4%. More... [391 views] Vantage hospitality's growth remains strong in 2009Vantage Hospitality Group continued its strong start to 2009 with the addition of 10 Americas Best Value Inns and two Canadas Best Value Inn properties during the month of February. With its innovative Freestyle Brand Affiliation model, Vantage is attracting more and more hoteliers seeking an affordable alternative to franchising. More... [315 views] HSMAI to present first-ever Resort Marketer of the Year Award at Ninth Annual Resort ConferenceThe Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), along with presenting sponsor Fareed Zapala Koepke, has created a new award to honor individual leadership and achievement in the field of resort marketing. The inaugural HSMAI Resort Marketer of the Year Award will be announced at the Ninth Annual Resort Conference at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., May 3 - 5, 2009. More... [367 views] Wyndham brand adds experienced sales and operations leadersIn a focused strategy to expand the global reach of the Wyndham brand and exceed customer satisfaction goals, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® announced the expansion of its sales and operations teams with the addition of industry veterans Bill Scanlon, senior vice president of sales; Tim Rector, vice president of resort sales; Wayne Susser, vice president of brand operations; John Green, regional vice president of operations; and Kevin Regan, regional vice president of operations. More... [835 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 18, 2009Mastering internet marketing in 2009: Results of the 3rd Benchmark Survey on hotel internet marketingIn the tough year that 2009 is turning out to be for hoteliers, it is crucial to know where every marketing dollar is being spent. When reevaluating marketing plans - as most of you have had to do this year - hoteliers also need to consider whether or not they should shift marketing dollars from offline to the more measurable online initiatives, what their peers are doing, and how they can evolve with the industry without wasting valuable dollars on unproven tactics. By Max Starkov, Jason Price, Mariana Mechoso and Evan Rosenblum. More... [2609 views] Hotel Lawyer: Latest legislation affecting hospitalityWhat happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in California spreads like wildfire. That's why the lodging industry tends to pay such close attention to what is brewing in the California legislature. So, "heads up!" The California legislature is back in session. A number of new laws have already taken effect and a lot of bills are in the hopper. The City of Anaheim (home of Disneyland) has hit Internet travel providers with a whopping TOT bill.This article by Jim Abrams will tell www.HotelLawBlog.com readers about these and other developments facing the lodging industry in California and quite probably beyond the state's boundaries. More... [1585 views] WOW.Travel's seven sensational airport terminalswow.travel (the online magazine of kiwicollection.com) edited by Mary Gostelow, introduces Seven Sensational Airport Terminals.
More... [892 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 7 March 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in three key performance measurements during the week of March 1-7, 2009, according to data from STR. More... [494 views] TMS slots home final piece of global jigsaw with North American M.O.U.Further extending its international reach and gaining a significant entry into the North American hospitality and tourism recruitment sector, TMS Asia-Pacific has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Toronto-based Lecours Wolfson Hospitality Management & Chef Recruitment. More... [349 views] Design Hotels™ Reveals the essence of its brandClaus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design HotelsTM, is on a mission! To reinforce a simple but essential core message: the human factor - the essence of Design HotelsTM and its member properties. More... [1095 views] Leading group sales launches leading connectionsJoining Leading Group Sales in this new endeavor are Air Partner, the world's leading aircraft charter company with offices spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia; and The DMC Group, representing a collection of international destination management companies. Leading Connections also has affiliations with a broad network of independent destination management companies, all specializing in incentives, meetings, conventions and events. More... [712 views] Dusit International launches the first Dusit Princess hotel outside ThailandExtending its influence in Dubai, Dusit International proudly announces that the company has entered into an agreement with the Sharaf Group, a business house in the U.A.E encompassing businesses in diverse fields of shipping, industrial, electronics, retail, logistics, information technology and the travel and tourism business; for a Dusit Princess hotel in City Centre Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. More... [926 views] Hydrotherapy - What is it and why aren't we doing it?The word "spa" translates from the Latin phrase Salude Per Aqua and means "healing through water." Since ancient times water treatments, or hydrotherapy, has been common place in Europe but never really caught on in the United States. The International SPA Association, working with Research International, just released the inaugural ISPA 2008 Global Consumer Study, which compares consumer trends in 15 countries. More... [754 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 17, 2009Gird your loins, hospitality, here comes the perfect storm!Talk about a confluence of events, which leaves our Industry wide-open for Union organizing activities. The timing could be no better. We had some good "Fat Cat" years, but that ride is over. Businesses are being shuttered. Employees are being laid off or short shifted. Services are cut back; traffic is slower and lower. Immigration round-ups loom. We are the Service Sector, and we cannot move our operations offshore. By Ragsdale Hendrie More... [1328 views] Keep your pants on, folks or maybe notYeoh Siew Hoon gauges the mood of the first day of ITB Berlin and reckons that whoever wins, will win pants down. More... [1392 views] Hotel Lawyer: Stimulate this! The lighter side of political commentary from the centuriesI started this blog with some thoughts from Bloomberg about how retail sales were down in February, developing nations were $700 billion short on being able to pay for their imports and debt, implications of the soaring unemployment that now exceeds the job creation targeted by Obama's program, but then my friend Carl Lambert sent me an email with some terse thoughts that rang true and made me smile. By Jim Butler More... [473 views] WTTC results show no time for rhetoricThe World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today revealed the results of its 2009 Economic Impact Research at its annual ITB Berlin press conference in the presence of industry leaders from different sectors of Travel & Tourism - high-level government representatives, and its research partner Oxford Economics. More... [653 views] Luxury hospitality chains continue to select The Private Label Company for highly innovative distribution, sales and marketing solutionsOn the heels of signing such prestigious clients as Rocco Forte Collection and Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, The Private Label Company ("The PLC") continues its expansion with seven new hotel groups joining its portfolio. A company of consummate professionals with broad-ranging expertise in private label sales and marketing, voice services, consultation, reservation and distribution technology, as well as eMarketing solutions, The PLC is proving to be the ultimate resource for visionary hoteliers who want to achieve greater revenue and profitability. More... [873 views] Why travel companies are unable to incorporate web 2.0/Social Media strategy effectivelyLack of resources and confidence to think holistically are cited as two of the main reasons behind travel companies being unable to incorporate web 2.0/Social Media into their Internet marketing and distribution strategy effectively. More... [611 views] IHG to turn off the lights in all 50 hotels across anzsp for earth hour 2009At 7:30 pm on 28 March, guests of the 50 InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts across Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific will be encouraged to turn off the lights in more than 11,000 rooms, as part of the WWF's (World Wildlife Fund) Earth Hour 2009. More... [829 views] Practical guide to group travel available for tourism providersThe West Yorkshire Tourism Partnership has launched a free advisory ‘toolkit' to help tourism businesses increase the number of group travellers visiting the region and grab a share of the estimated £64.5 million* generated annually by group visitors. More... [389 views] Andrew faces up to PATA awardAndrew Nihopara is the 2009 PATA Face of the Future. Andrew, Marketing Manager for the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, based in Suva, Fiji Islands, leads a team that embraces 13 national tourism offices in the South Pacific. More... [768 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 16, 2009Europe, Middle East & Africa Q4 2008 construction pipeline summaryEurope has the largest Pipeline in EMEA with 971 projects/161,236 rooms at the end of Q4 2008. The Middle East's Total Pipeline has 503 projects/147,488 rooms. Africa's totals 171 projects/35,267 rooms. As in other parts of the world, the Pipelines in these regions are heavily weighted for the near-term. More... [1795 views] What lies ahead? What's the bailout cost $700 billion? $3 trillion? $20 trillion? What does Dr. Doom mean by an L-shaped Depression?As many recent articles referenced below recount, and as we all know from the headlines, we are in "interesting times". We talk about the $700 billion bailout bill and the possibility of doubling the amount to get out of the scary situation we are in. But is that really the cost, and is it going to do the job? By Jim Butler More... [1574 views] Paving the road to maximizing employee retention and development20|20 AssessmentTM and its partner, Dry Creek Rancheria recognize the value of investing in people even during a downturn. Developing an employee's potential leads to a greater awareness of strengths and opportunities and thus improved performance. By Alan Keith and Sheila Hanley More... [695 views] Modest growth in 2008 - but Q4 arrivals numbers take tumbleThere are some small crumbs of comfort for the travel industry in the latest PATA Quarterly Tourism Monitor. Although figures just released for Q4 2008 covering 37 destinations show a year-on-year drop of 2.8 percent in international arrivals, the dip was not sufficient to drag the annual growth figure into negative territory. More... [438 views] Marriott International marks 25th anniversary of its JW Marriott brand by announcing 3 hotelsThe three additions in Peru, Libya and Phuerto Rico will bolster the JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand pipeline to 25 properties opening now through 2013, bringing the luxury hotel portfolio to 68 locations in 26 countries. More... [866 views] Langham Hotels International appoints first CEOThe appointment and promotion of Mr Brett Butcher to Chief Executive Officer will propel luxury hotel operator, Langham Hotels International (LHI), to the next stage of its already impressive growth cycle. More... [816 views] Ninth annual resort conference focuses on driving revenue and ROI in hard economic timesResort industry executives will come together May 3 - 5, 2009 for the Ninth Annual Resort Conference at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. to discuss ways to maximize ROI in resort operations and marketing by connecting to the consumer. More... [507 views] IHG and Crocus group sign deal to build the biggest Holiday Inn in the worldIHG and Crocus Group have signed a deal to build the world's biggest Holiday Inn hotel in Moscow, with an investment of more that $100m from Crocus Group. Under the historic 20 year management contract, construction is scheduled to start on the 1,000 bedroom hotel in 2011 with the hotel set to open in 2014. It will be located in Crocus City in the rapidly developing Krasnogorsk area of Moscow. More... [515 views] Eureka Funds Management to sell Holiday Inn hotels in Melbourne and PerthEureka Funds Management has announced plans to sell Holiday Inn hotels in Perth and Melbourne amid continued demand for strategically located hotel investment opportunities. CB Richard Ellis Directors Rob Cross and George Nicholas have been appointed to manage the Expressions of Interest campaign, which closes April 21, 2009 More... [1117 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 13, 2009Wachtveitl: In transitThe hotel was his life. Kurt Wachtveitl shares with Raini Hamdi, TTG Asia group editor, his thoughts on retirement. More... [2021 views] Getting the most out of your hotel franchise investment: Part 3 of 3This being the final portion of this series we will be addressing additional marketplace challenges with examples of how to work with your franchisor in positive and proactive ways. By Dr. John Hogan CHE CHA MHS More... [652 views] TravelCLICK: Hotels build connections through “friends” and “fans” on social networksWith the increasing number of social media and consumer-generated content (CGC) sites, people are spending their time online differently. Today it's about conversations-interactions that go beyond the one-on-one to one-to-many through a series of networked relationships that connect us to people, places and events like never before. To avoid being left behind, hotels need to consider being on the sites where consumers now spend their online hours. According to Jerome Wise, vice president of eCommerce for TravelCLICK International, the challenge for hoteliers is to understand these evolving channels and how they can be used to reach new markets. More... [764 views] IHG creates unrivalled hotel sales force in one dayIHG brought on what potentially is the largest hotels sales force ever. Almost overnight, IHG introduced an innovative "Friends and Family" programme that harnesses its over 330,000 staff strength to promote hotel bookings to their social networks. More... [1320 views] Hotel Lawyer: Luxury hotel success story! (and philosophy). Ali Kasikci and Montage Beverly HillsWe attended the gala opening party for Montage Beverly Hills in early December, and it was one of the best opening parties we have been to. And now that the hotel has settled in to providing wonderful luxury experiences for hotel guests, we thought it would be a good time to catch up with one of our favorite hoteliers in the world, Ali Kasikci, Managing Director of Montage Beverly Hills. By Jim Butler More... [1030 views] Boston's real-life 'Cheers' bartender is laid offEddie Doyle was the guy who really did know everybody's name, at least when he started working at the tavern that inspired the television show "Cheers." More... [690 views] AA hotel services announces the winner of housekeeper of the year 2009AA Hotel Services, celebrating the best in hospitality for over 100 years, has announced the winner and runners up of the Housekeeper of the Year Awards 2009. Rachael Park, head housekeeper at Rudding Park Hotel & Golf in Harrogate, was named the winner of Housekeeper of the Year 2009, after competing with over 60 other nominees for the title. More... [459 views] Economic Recovery Stimulus Act provides opportunitiesThe Economic Recovery Stimulus Package contains extensive opportunities for hotel sales departments to stimulate revenue in a year when leading industry analysts are predicting negative occupancies and ADRs. By Carol Verret More... [869 views] Top tips to improve online traffic and bookingsIn the current economic climate, it has never been more important to invest in online marketing. It may seem like an easy cut-back to make in the short-term, but doing so can have the potential to harm your business in the long-term. More... [1027 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 12, 2009Hotel Lawyer: Stimulus bill and financial recovery -- summary of selected tax provisionsThe landmark Stimulus Bill has commanded a lot of attention for the TARP and TALF provisions, but our dauntless tax attorneys have naturally focused on the $288 billion of stimulus that is projected to come from tax breaks. Here is a summary of the most important provisions and what they do. More... [559 views] Brand power: InterContinental Hotels GroupIHG's success owes much to creative brand positioning in markets worldwide. By Michael Brophy More... [1960 views] STR Global launches Hotel Market ForecastSTR Global announced today the launch of the Hotel Market Forecast. The report will be presented at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin this week. STR Global has partnered with e-forecasting.com, an economic consulting company based in the US, to provide two years of forecast data for 42 European markets and sub-markets. More... [709 views] Groups & meetings: Enough is enoughThe groups and meetings market is taking a beating. Just pick up the newspaper or listen to an elected official in Washington D.C. and one might be inclined to assume every corporate meeting is but a boondoggle, an exercise in corporate excess. By Douglas Quinby More... [1304 views] CNI presents the dean’s distinguished lecture series 2009From this Friday, through to the 8th of May, 2009, the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management will host a series of lectures presented by hospitality industry leaders. Open to the public, the Dean's Distinguished Lecture series aims to promote excellence and dedication to success through the teachings of the hospitality industry's most seasoned leaders and young rising stars. The distinguished speakers will share their views about successful management styles, possible career paths, critical industry-related issues, and qualities conducive to successful business leadership. More... [744 views] Kid-friendly travel perksWith an increase in family travel, hotels and airlines are offering a range of child-friendly amenities. By Lauren Sherman More... [893 views] New brand designed to appeal to globally-conscious modern travelersHilton Hotels Corporation (Hilton) announced today the addition of Denizen Hotels, a global lifestyle brand, to the Hilton Family of Brands. Appearing throughout the world in international social epicenters, Denizen Hotels will cater to globally-conscious modern travelers of the world. More... [557 views] Green your gray matterDon't get pinched. This St. Patrick's Day, don't just wear green. Go green. This year the holiday where everyone is a little Irish happens to fall in the middle of Green Lodging Education Week (aka Green Week). The 2nd Annual Green Week will be observed March 16-23, 2009. More... [721 views] The Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore is best eco-friendly five-star hotel in IndiaThe Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore has been recognised as the Best Eco-Friendly Five-Star Deluxe Hotel in India. The Union Home Minister, Mr Chidambaram, and the Minister for Tourism, Ambika Soni, presented the National Tourism Award (2007-08) on behalf of the Indian Government to Rajiv Kaul, Senior Vice President of The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts at a ceremony in New Delhi last month. More... [698 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 11, 2009Those that thrive and those that wiltWhen the going gets tough, the tough go selling. These are the ones that thrive in crisis, says Yeoh Siew Hoon. More... [1123 views] TravelCLICK: Hotels that withhold commissions are losing travel agent businessToday, the GDS still drives over 25% of global hotel bookings, or almost $20 billion in hotel revenue. It is a proven channel that allows hotels to target qualified consumers with specific travel requirements. Yet the industry is plagued by a poor track record for travel agent commission payments. What many hoteliers don't understand is that not paying commissions can negatively affect their travel agency relationships-and ultimately reduce GDS bookings. More... [1063 views] Medical tourism: Vaccinated against the recession?A forecast by Deloitte Consulting published in August 2008 projected that medical tourism originating from the US alone could jump by a factor of ten over the next decade. By Lorenza Alessie More... [616 views] How does one measure “engagement”?Some advocates of social media marketing mention that success in this space must be measured by whatever metrics already drive your business - e-commerce sites should increase sales, media sites should increase page views etc. More... [680 views] ITB Asia offers 15% early bird discount until 20 MarchMesse Berlin (Singapore) is offering a 15% early bird discount on exhibition space at ITB Asia 2009. The offer is valid for all completed applications received until 20 March. ITB Asia will take place at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre, 21-23 October this year. More... [817 views] 26 bn Euro turnover of restaurants in Germany, Austria and SwitzerlandThe restaurant market in the German-speaking markets is prospering. The turnover of all restaurants, bars and cafes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland rose in the last year by average 0.6% (Germany) or 2.5% (Austria/Switzerland). In 2008 the turnover of German serviced gastronomy has been approximately 18.3 billion Euro, in Austria 3.5 bn Euro and in Switzerland 4.2 bn Euro. More... [754 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 28 February 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during the week of 22-28 February 2009, according to data from STR. More... [488 views] Crashing the party: we like our meta with moxieIt wasn't that long ago-OK, almost 10 years ago (ancient times in online travel)-when a handful of metasearch engines (Farechase, Qixo, SideStep, etc.) burst uninvited into the online travel party. No sooner did they arrive when cease-and-desists started flying. Online travel agencies (OTAs) were the ball of the bash, and it seemed somebody popped a downer in their big party cups. By Douglas Quinby More... [872 views] Marriott announces global green golf initiativeOn the heels of the successful 2008 environmental program, whereby 24 Marriott Golf managed properties in North America and one signature property in the Caribbean became Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries, Marriott Golf, one of the world's premier golf operators, today announced that the program will be expanded internationally, requiring 17 international golf properties to become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries by the end of 2009. More... [767 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 10, 2009How many good decision makers have you fired lately?The art and science of decision making...the quality of our decisions, the role of intuition, the results we achieve and the rewards we enjoy (or perhaps penalties we endure). By Jitendra Jain (JJ) More... [2135 views] Accor Super Sale: The making of, and what it did for revenuesIn putting together the Accor Super Sale, Accor Asia Pacific risked upsetting traditional partners and branding purists. But the February 24-26 sale of one million rooms across its Asia Pacific network at one common rate across all brands (with the exception of Sofitel) will go down in the company's history as one of the most successful online promotions ever. Yeoh Siew Hoon talks to Graham Wilson, Vice President Marketing, Accor Asia Pacific, about the bold online promotion that's got marketers talking. More... [1632 views] Getting the most out of your hotel franchise investment: Part 2 of 3Part Two outlines a series of questions that should be asked and identifies a number of considerations that should be evaluated in the review and analysis period. By Dr. John Hogan More... [727 views] Yield management in 2009: How to keep your hotel up and running in a downturnYield management has always been a good idea for hotels, but one that recessed with years of record demand and record profits. Now that the downturn has many hotels fighting for survival, we need to bring yield management back to the foreground. By Shannon Sampson More... [1938 views] Europe and the Middle East lead global hotel performanceMajor cities in Europe and the Middle East lead global hotel performance, taking seven spots each in the world's top 20 revenue per available room (revPAR) rankings, revealed in a report produced annually by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. More... [1095 views] Hotelier of the week: Arushi RavalArushi Raval, chief green officer, department of environmental sustainability at Starwood Hotels, talks about how green solutions can bring a pay back By Tom Otley More... [1474 views] Yang Sing’s loss becomes Blue Rainbow’s gainThe Yang Sing Oriental Hotel shocked staff, guests and local residents this Monday by announcing it's closure with immediate effect. Open only for eight months, the Manchester hotel had gained rave reviews on an international level for its individually designed boutique rooms and great customer service. The 30 strong team were made redundant at a moments notice and left without employment during the worst financial crisis the UK has ever seen. More... [654 views] Australia’s first major hotel transaction for 2009Following the recent acquisition of the Hyatt Hotel Canberra on Christmas Eve 2008, Thailand based TCC Land has purchased the Hyatt Regency Adelaide. Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' Executive Vice President Investment Sales, Mr Mark Durran and Asia Pacific CEO, Mr David Gibson negotiated the sale on behalf of Grand Hotel Group (GHG). More... [937 views] 2009 budget travel trendsNot surprisingly, the 2009 Annual Hostelword.com Conference was filled with discussion, debate and analysis about how the current economic downturn will affect the hostelling industry. Contrary to what most industries are experiencing, the hostelling and budget travel industries have remained strong, with positive short and long term future outlooks. More... [605 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 9, 2009ADA Compliance is no longer an option. There is a "new sheriff" in town, and problem prevention costs a fraction of defense and compliance under a microscope.The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is an important federal law applicable to all hotels in the United States because they are places of "public accommodation." And just as the federal Civil Rights Act became a powerful instrument to prevent discrimination by hotels, the ADA is now assuming commanding importance in eliminating "barriers" to the use and enjoyment of hotels, restaurants and other facilities governed by the act. By Jim Butler More... [1121 views] The life of a hotel doctor: how many tablets in the bottle…?A hotel guest who wants a Demerol injection or Oxycontin pills must behave more or less like someone in pain. If he becomes too demanding, reckless, or reluctant to pay, even a generous doctor might wash his hand of him. Referring a disagreeable patient to another doctor is considered bad manners, but it happens. By Mike Oppenheim More... [552 views] Bangkok, Oriental: The great WachtveitlKurt Wachtveitl will retire after 42 years as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. For over four decades German born Kurt Wachtveitl had set new standards for the global hotel industry. By Andreas Augustin More... [1847 views] STR Global posts Americas performance results for January 2009The Americas region reported declines in all three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for January 2009, according to data compiled from STR and STR Global. More... [516 views] STR Global posts January 2009 results for Asia/Pacific regionHotels in the Asia/Pacific region reported double-digit decreases when reported in US dollars for all three key performance metrics for January 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [695 views] STR Global posts January 2009 results for EuropeThe European hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for January 2009, according to data compiled from STR Global. More... [683 views] STR Global posts Middle East/Africa January 2009 resultsThe Middle East/Africa region reported mixed year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars for January 2009, according to data compiled from STR Global. More... [611 views] Accor gives Thai tourism a “vote of confidence” with 4 more hotel developmentsThai tourism crisis - what crisis? Well, at least Accor - the largest international hotel operator in Thailand - is convinced about Thailand's long term tourism potential, announcing the development of four more hotels in Thailand in partnership with the Fico group. The hotels are Novotel Bangkok Fenix Ploenchit, Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom, Mercure Samui Fenix and Hotel Muse - a member of the MGallery Collection. More... [1176 views] Through the eyes of a Hotel Butler: Guest satisfactionThe level of satisfaction experienced by the guest is closely related to his/her personal criteria regarding the services provided; therefore, getting to know the guest's needs, requirements and expectations, as well as his/her reaction to and appraisal of the solutions offered in connection with them, will contribute to providing customized services that guarantee total satisfaction. By Osvaldo Torres Cruz More... [1661 views] Tourism confronting the economic downturnThe tourism industry can play a relevant post-crisis role. The sector has been negatively affected by the economic downturn and in all likelihood will continue to be in the short to medium term. This is not however the first time that tourism has suffered a setback and, if handled correctly, it looks set to bounce back stronger than before. This is one of the conclusions of the first meeting of the UNWTO Resilience Committee (TRC), which set guidelines for the tourism sector to overcome the current situation. More... [707 views] Moving with the times - TMS evolves serviceTMS Asia-Pacific has introduced a full suite of recruitment services to provide HR practitioners with access to a series of modular options designed to assist them in better actioning their most pressing recruitment needs. More... [654 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 6, 2009The hotel challenge to manage marketing expenses what to cut; what to keepThis year, there are few things that are certain, but one thing is for sure; the travel business pie is shrinking. To compound the problem, so many people, in the business and public news media, are talking doom and gloom. I wish they would slow down their rhetoric, so we eternal optimists can take a long relaxing breath. I'm just concerned that too much talk of pending doom and gloom can become its own self-fulfilling prophesy. By: Neil Salerno More... [1512 views] New hotel data and revised predictions for 2009. Increased hotel loan stress, falling NOI and slumping values.As we have been reporting, the data coming in from the field continues to show deteriorating economic results in the hotel industry. Here's the latest on how 2008 ended up, and how 2009 and 2010 are shaping up now, including a special report on the hotel industry from Moody's. By Jim Butler More... [898 views] Employees “staying on the job” make newsHow times have changed! Fifty years ago, working for the same company for 20 years or more was the norm. Today, in this age of layoffs and cutbacks, organizations that recognize longevity and reward tenure are extremely rare and deserve the spotlight as real newsmakers. More... [968 views] Revenue management: the hotel stimulus packageSo how can hotels compete in this weak economy, looking beyond discounts? Is it possible to flourish, even during such a travel slowdown? More... [1506 views] Recruitment- Managing future human resources-managing the Stars of the futureAcademic qualifications, professional skills, a track record in leading change to increase shareholder value and business profits; those and more are now the keywords when looking for a high end Executive to manage a 5 star property in the major business centre or resort destinations of the world. More... [883 views] STR launches Hotel Data ConferenceSmith Travel Research announces the inaugural Hotel Data Conference scheduled for August 4-5, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. The two-day conference will include presentations from the industry's leading data providers and will cover issues affecting the industry while providing important hotel market data and useful performance benchmarking. More... [449 views] Mansbach tapped as co-president North America of HVS Executive SearchDavid Mansbach has rejoined HVS Executive Search and will serve as Co-President North America, effective March 10, 2009. Mansbach, with 20 years of hospitality experience will oversee the executive search and compensation consulting platform specializing in the hotel, restaurant, gaming and retail industries. More... [455 views] Asia’s first truly independent restaurant guide gears up for second editionThe selection and judging of Asia's finest restaurants for the 2009/2010 edition of The Miele Guide will soon be underway even as the inaugural edition of the guide launched last October continues to generate extensive discussion among foodies, travellers and food and beverage professionals around the world. More... [451 views] Sheraton Brussels Hotel, sold by CBRE HotelsThe 511 bedroom hotel was offered to the market on behalf of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Located in the North Area of Brussels, the Hotel is currently operating as the largest hotel in Brussels and is part of the Manhattan Centre. More... [1153 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 5, 2009Kurt Wachtveitl to retire as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, BangkokMandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that Kurt Wachtveitl will retire after 41 years as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok effective 31 May 2009. More... [3804 views] Back to hotel sales basics: The basics have changed big time!9/11 precipitated the last severe recession and was a watershed moment in the hotel sales prospecting process. Prior to this cataclysmic event it was possible to send legions of sales people on the road armed with business cards and tell them to walk into every door of every building and at least leave their card in the hope of locating new prospects. As a wise person once said, ‘hope is not a strategy.' By Carol Verret More... [2662 views] Ibis, resilient and growingThe first ibis has opened in Singapore and a second has been signed. Yeoh Siew Hoon reports on a brand whose time may finally have come. More... [832 views] Getting the most out of your hotel franchise investment: Part 1 of 3In 2009, franchising and branding continue to be integral parts of the hotel and hospitality landscape, with an estimated 28,200 of the 49,500 hotels (roughly 56%) in the US belonging to a branded or franchised organization. Another calculation projects that an estimated 68%+ of the more than 4,600,000 US hotel rooms ( or 3.1 million) are somehow brand affiliated, when management agreements and brand owned and operated hotels are included. More... [658 views] European chain hotels market review – January 2009The trend of falling occupancy, revenue and profit across key European hotel markets continued during January, according to the latest HotStats survey by TRI Hospitality Consulting. More... [1050 views] European mixed-use resort development in 2009How to create a lasting mixed use resort that meets the needs of tomorrow? Who are the customers and investors of tomorrow? What are the trends in legal structures? Do you have the Right Stuff for a successful mixed use resort development? By Philip Bacon More... [515 views] Why not just touch the screen of your mobile?Browse the list, find a hotel, read interesting keywords about it, find its location on the map, reserve a table for lunch or book a room. All computers, mobiles and PDAs can download our catalogue of famoushotels, providing a charming mix of valuable information and a direct link to the hotel's reservation machineries. This is the long desired short cut between customer and hotel. More... [550 views] Best welcome in the world – in WellingtonEve Stacey of InterContinental Wellington was this week named International Receptionist of the Year 2009 in Cannes, Southern France. More... [895 views] Wyndham hotel group announces executive appointmentsWyndham Hotel Group today announced several leadership appointments and promotions as part of its ongoing effort to be the company of choice for franchisees and guests. More... [1584 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 4, 2009Employability tips during recessionary timesThere is considerable coverage globally about the pressures that the global recession is placing upon (hospitality) organisations generally, but what is the impact of this downturn specifically upon the hospitality job seeker at this moment in time? The obvious observation is that times are tough. That is to say competition from other job seekers is now considerably stiffer, and of course there are currently fewer jobs on the market. Matters are unlikely to improve significantly over the next couple of months realistically. By Jeff N Ross More... [1664 views] The route beyond survival in a recessionary economy is through Innovation"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new." ~ Nicolo Machiavelli 1469 - 1527, By Ted Jagusztyn More... [913 views] Uh Oh! Now they are using the "D" wordOn Friday, the US Commerce Department revised its estimate of the economy's performance for the last quarter of 2008. Instead of an "abysmal" 3.8% contraction estimated earlier, the revised figures say that our Gross Domestic Product or GDP declined at a scary 6.2% rate. And yesterday was also the first time I have seen the New York Times describe the mess we are in with the "D" word . . . By Jim Butler More... [750 views] Two different pictures in the UAERecent data from STR Global shows the differing effects of the economic slowdown on two major destinations in the United Arab Emirates, with some dramatic effects in January 2009 as the crisis deepens. The region has experienced unprecedented buoyancy over recent years as the supply of hotel rooms has been insufficient to meet demand. This means the market is falling from a fairly high base, which somewhat cushions the blow even if this is of little comfort to operators and owners. More... [932 views] Cities scramble as business travel declinesGone are the days, it seems, when executives can comfortably lounge poolside, expensing meetings and meals along with margaritas and massages. More... [689 views] Banyan Tree 4th Quarter operating profit down 79%Banyan Tree announced its 4th quarter result which shows a 79% decrease in operating profit to S$10.9 million due to political turmoil in Thailand and slow down in world economy following the financial crisis. However, operating profit for the full year 2008 was more muted at 23% below last year to S$93.8 million, shored largely by a good first half year for the Group. More... [941 views] Sol Meliá achieves net profits of 51.2 million euros in 2008Sol Meliá announced results for the 2008 financial year which reflect the negative impact the global economic crisis is having on the travel industry and which are also affected by their comparison with the record results achieved in 2007. The Majorcan hotel company remains confident with regard to the outlook for the future thanks to the sensible management in recent years of company debt, the enhancement of brand equity, a rigorous cost optimisation programme, and the contention of investment, all of which will allow the company to deliver on its commitments and maintain its market leadership throughout this period of uncertainty. More... [439 views] Edinburgh's George hotel supports food and farming campaignEdinburgh's famous George Hotel has this week announced its support for NFU Scotland's food and farming campaign entitled What's On Your Plate? More... [368 views] Spectrum International Hospitality Recruitment services launches Hospitality Executives on Contract™In these unprecedented economic times, when many hotels, resorts and apartments have to be creative, Spectrum has partnered with highly experienced, senior corporate hospitality executives to provide contractual project or short term assignment solutions. More... [711 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 3, 2009On the Move - February 09Global Staff Movements for February 09 provided by Spectrum Internalional. More... [4946 views] I'm not unemployed - I’m a consultantSome consultants are like the bottom half of a double boiler, they get all heated up but don't know what's cooking........By Bert van Walbee More... [2532 views] You say I-bis, I say Ee-bisThe ibis has landed in Singapore and everyone's all tied up in knots over the name, as Yeoh Siew Hoon shares. More... [1174 views] Huatulco – Mexico’s next hot spot?Enticing beaches, tropical forests, and a laid-back atmosphere make Huatulco a paradise, but one where hotel occupancy has been only modest. Improvements to access by land, sea, and air aim to make it easier for tourists to arrive. By Jane Rogers More... [1176 views] Banyan Tree Maldives marine lab looks ahead after five years of environmental workBanyan Tree's in-house Marine Lab at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru celebrated its fifth anniversary in January, making it the longest running resort-based marine research facility in the Maldives. More... [919 views] Hotelier of the Week: Bill WalsheBill Walshe is chief executive of The Doyle Collection. Formerly marketing director of Jumeirah, the Dubai based luxury hospitality group, he is currently leading The Doyle Collection portfolio through a comprehensive, upscale repositioning. This involves the renovation of the hotels, the creation of a new brand platform and service approach and the launch of a new sales and distribution infrastructure. By Tom Otley More... [1536 views] STR reports U.S. hotel performance for the week ending 21 February 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance metrics during the week of 15-21 February 2009, according to data from STR. More... [410 views] Scandic took the year’s best environmental initiativeThe Grand Travel Awards are given to the travel and tourism industry's leading players, with the winners voted for by almost 600 Swedish travel agency staff. This year, at the 17th annual awards, Scandic was the proud winner of the award for "Environmental Initiative of the Year" for its work on replacing bottled water with water dispensed at the hotels. More... [468 views] Pegasus 8,000 properties upgraded RezView® NGMarking the 20th anniversary of its 1989 introduction of the hotel switch, Pegasus Solutions, Inc. announced 8,000 properties in 2008 upgraded to RezView NG, its next generation central reservation system. One of many events that highlighted Pegasus' success last year, the ongoing RezView® NG migration has positioned the company again at the forefront of technological innovation for the hospitality industry. More... [1019 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 2, 2009Don’t eat in bed: Tips for making the most of room service, the costliest way to enjoy a mealFor weary travelers, there's nothing more appealing than having a hot, scrumptious meal delivered to our hotel room. Room service brings out the kid in us. We get to do things we can't do at home: eat in bed, watch TV, and leave our dirty dishes in the hallway. Yet the experience rarely lives up to expectations. Meals take forever to arrive, food is cold and soggy, and prices mysteriously double after we place the order. By Daniel Edward Craig More... [2576 views] What issues are affecting the online travel industry’s approach to payments?The travel industry likes a clear ROI and this is why taking payments online more effectively (and potentially more cheaply) is so vital for the continued growth of online travel sales. More... [665 views] Searching for new customers in the recessionIt makes sense when you think about it. As tough times force many customers to buy less-and to be pickier about what they do buy-search is becoming ever more important to marketers. More... [1278 views] Le Bristol Paris to manage Abu Dhabi hotelHotel Le Bristol Paris will manage a new ultra-deluxe hotel in Abu Dhabi owned by the National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCTH). More... [842 views] Life-saving heart devices absent from many hotels
You're much more likely to find a 24-hour concierge, room service and a fully stocked minibar during your next hotel stay than an automated external defibrillator. AEDs, used to restart a faltering heart and estimated by doctors to dramatically increase the chances of surviving a heart attack, are hard to find in a place where people are likely to need them the most: hotels. More... [599 views] UNWTO activities at ITB 2009UNWTO will advance its Roadmap for Recovery for the tourism sector in the current global economic crisis. Measures around the resilience, stimulus, and the move towards the green economy must be undertaken coherently with long-term commitments to climate and development. This will be the underlying theme of several UNWTO events and other activities at ITB 2009 (11-15 March, Berlin, Germany) and beyond. More... [404 views] Another door opens for Plaza Hotel's longest-serving doormanNew York's iconic Plaza Hotel will lose a figure nearly as synonymous with it as Eloise when its longest-serving doorman retires Thursday after 46 years on the job. More... [804 views] Culinary convergence benefits FIU School of HospitalityWhen the greatest names in the restaurant industry converged for the 2009 South Beach Wine & Food Festival, February 19 - 22, 2009 it was not only for good food and good fun, it was also for a good cause: Florida International University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. More... [550 views] Credit crunch takes a bite out of Scottish hospitality wagesEmployees across Scotland's catering and hospitality industry are the latest to feel the squeeze with almost half (47%) reporting a decrease in their tips. As Scotland's diners increasingly give less, it is the staff who suffer, as for many the tips are used to bring them up to the minimum wage. More... [348 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: March 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 31, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 30, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 27, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 26, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 25, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 24, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 23, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 20, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 19, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 18, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 17, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 16, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 13, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 12, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 11, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 10, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 9, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 6, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 5, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 4, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 3, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: March 2, 2009
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