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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: July 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 31, 2009The Only Differentiator Left in the Guest Experience is ServiceNothing like a world-wide recession to expose our Brand vulnerabilities. Our advantages have been shed, slashed and even trashed. Everything has been discounted to leverage some type of parity and attractiveness. Now, value is seen as two-for-ones, 50% off, good through October, meals for two under $10, children and pets fly for free, upgrades in suites, cars and Loyalty points. What an uphill battle we face, when the economy does turn, as we try to reclaim our market posture. Some will never succeed; others will simply fall by the wayside. By Ragsdale Hendrie More... [1591 views] To Make Hotel Training Work, Make It Fun!experts in adult learning theory will tell you, it's much more challenging to train adults in a workplace setting then it is even students in a University. Perhaps the problem lies not with the participants becoming close-minded after graduating from high school or college and moving into the workplace; but rather with trainers who don't understand how to engage and involve adult participants in an active learning experience. By Doug Kennedy More... [1424 views] Through the eyes of a Hotel Butler: Guests That Attract Other Guests: Priceless Hotel AlliesThere is a marketing principle that states that a company cannot survive in the market without its clients. Consequently, significant resources are destined to the design of innovative promotion strategies aimed at attracting new clients. By Osvaldo Torres Cruz More... [1134 views] Some Twitter truthsJust got your act together with Twitter and feeling pleased with yourself? Well, the bad news is that new research carried out by a social media specialist company finds almost one third of brands on the micro-blogging site are completely ignored. More... [770 views] Strength in NumbersAs the most comprehensive on-line directory of smoke-free lodging properties in the world, it's fitting that FreshStay.com gets to celebrate a major milestone by blowing out the candles right in its own hometown. By Ray Burger and Dave Janicke More... [455 views] Dubai Gets Back To BasicsDubai's future domestic economy must focus heavily on expats and foreign companies, says leading UAE property developer. More... [734 views] IHG poster boy no moreWhen he was picked two years ago to replace Patrick Imbardelli as InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)'s head in Asia-Pacific, IHG chief Andy Cosslett praised Gowers to the moon. By Raini Hamdi More... [2352 views] It’s not Extravagant If It Produces ResultsLuxury hotel chain Ritz-Carlton is tackling the perception that businesses should shun upmarket properties in the recession. With the slogan ‘It's Not Extravagant If It Produces Results', the chain is wooing corporates and MICE organisers with a new ‘Meetings Within Reach' initiative. It echoes a campaign earlier this year by the US Travel Association against the ‘political demonisation' of business meetings and events. USTA's ‘Meetings Mean Business' initiative followed the cancellation of thousands of meetings and events by companies worried about a political backlash even if they had not not received US taxpayer bailouts. Lavish conferences fell from favour with US corporations, especially following a comment by President Barack Obama about bailed-out bankers taking trips to the gambling resort of Las Vegas. More... [718 views] Exclusive Creative Retreat in Brazil for International Jet SetAsia's jet-set can escape to the ultimate retreat for re-charging creative batteries at a rustic haven opened on Brazil's idyllic Bahia coast. More... [560 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 30, 2009The 'Amazing Relationship' Between GDP and Hotel Room Demand. When the Recovery Comes, What Will it Look Like for the Hotel Industry?Hospitality Lawyer with some insights on the "amazing relationship" between GDP and hotel room demand. What does it mean for the lodging industry when the "recovery" finally comes? By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hospitality Lawyers More... [1306 views] Despite Industry Downturn, Satisfaction with Hotels Increases as Guests Seek Comfort and ValueEven though reduced demand has caused hotel properties to slash operating costs and reduce staff, hotel guest satisfaction has improved in 2009, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM . Now in its 13th year, the study measures overall hotel guest satisfaction across six hotel segments: luxury, upscale, mid-scale full service, mid-scale limited service, economy/budget and extended stay. Seven key measures are examined within each segment to determine overall satisfaction: reservations; check-in/check-out; guest room; food and beverage; hotel services; hotel facilities; and costs and fees. More... [645 views] Online Travel Preview: Expecting a Strong Performance in 2Q09The travel environment remains surprisingly difficult across the globe, but we expect online travel to be a bright spot. The main online travel agencies should benefit from the ongoing secular shift in transactions from traditional points of purchase toward the Internet, a better-than-expected domestic summer leisure travel season and share gains relative to supplier-direct Web Sites. By Jake Fuller More... [466 views] Talent for HireIn a decidedly grim employment picture, some hotel companies look to add talent. Here's why. By Eugene Gilligan More... [969 views] Stars For HistoryOver 170 years after Karl Baedeker had invented the star rating system, Austria, Germany and Switzerland are making history by agreeing on one similar rating system. By Andreas Augustin More... [652 views] Double-Digit Decreases for Hotels in the Asia/Pacific Region - STR GlobalHotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced double-digit decreases when reported in U.S. dollars for all three key performance metrics for June 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [1078 views] Hoteliers across UK See Decline in First Half of 2009Hoteliers across the UK experienced a difficult first six months of the year with declines in occupancy, room rate and rooms yield, according to preliminary monthly figures released by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Preliminary figures for June show that occupancy levels in London began to increase again, but the regions continue to suffer. More... [751 views] UAE Construction Sector Still ‘Active’ by Global StandardsDespite the global slowdown, the UAE continues to be one of the most active construction markets in the world with more than 750 active projects in construction and 450 recently completed, according to a new report* by Dubai-based research house Proleads Global. More... [464 views] Emirates' First Luxury Conservation-Based Resort Outside Dubai is Reaching CompletionThe construction of Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Emirates' first luxury conservation-based resort outside Dubai, in the heart of Australia's Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, is reaching completion. More... [620 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 29, 2009How Highly-Effective Hotel Managers CommunicateIf someone were to ask me the most important quality of an effective hotel manager, it would be the ability to communicate clearly with hotel staff, superiors, peers, and guests. I believe that being a good communicator is an under-rated quality that needs to be emphasized in this new age of electronic communication. By Neil Salerno More... [2345 views] 'Specialise, Build Customer Loyalty and Train to Cut Cost of Error'How to sell travel in a weak economy - experts share some tips in a webinar organised by IATA and TravelMole recently. More... [1143 views] Recognizing There is Not Only One Approach to Ongoing Success in Building RevenuesThis is the fourth economic crisis I have had to address with in my career. These crises have run the gamut from gas shortages to high inflation and unemployment, to the savings and loan equity/credit debacle to 911 to the current global economic meltdown. Each was painful at the time and both failure and success were part of the solutions for us all. With that recognition, I am revisiting the discussion on discounting and rate strategies by sharing some industry recognized leaders' comments and opinions. By Dr. John Hogan More... [645 views] Lodging Econometrics’ First Forecast for New Hotel Openings for 2011For the first time, Lodging Econometrics (LE) has compiled and announced its forecast for New Hotel Openings for 2011. New hotel openings are projected at 759 hotels/74,493 rooms. LE has also adjusted its forecasts for 2009 and 2010. The 2009 forecast has been reduced to 1,425 new hotels/156,653 rooms, down by 5,036 rooms, a decrease of 3%. The 2010 forecast has been adjusted to 1,073 projects/124,439 rooms, down 21,277 rooms or 15%. More... [822 views] New Technology Enhances Advertising to Travel Agents Who Book $8 Billion in Hotel RevenueTools by TravelCLICK and DoubleClick/Google enable dynamic rate update and measure the true reach of online ads targeted to travel agents. More... [846 views] Starwood Reports Steep Rate Drops and Quarterly EarningsStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide reported annual average rate drops of nearly 20 percent and revenue per available room drops of nearly 30 percent for the second quarter of 2009, though cost-cutting and an Italian tax incentive still helped the company boost profits year-over-year. More... [722 views] UK Chain Hotels Market Review – June 2009Hotel occupancy in June proved relatively robust, according to the latest HotStats survey by industry experts, TRI Hospitality Consulting. More... [524 views] London Biggest New Hotel to be SuperGreenThe final beam of the £350 million Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel was bolted into place by Mayor Boris Johnson at a "topping out" ceremony last week. Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London will be London's biggest ever hotel in a generation, boasting 1,021 guest rooms in at the southern end of Westminster Bridge and it's to endeavour to be ‘SuperGreen'. More... [955 views] Check-in, Rock-out!Ever had the urge to channel Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page or Slash? Ever wanted to brag that you "played at one of Chicago's most prestigious and intimate venues?" Now The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is giving you the chance to debut your inner rock star in the privacy of your hotel room - without the worry of disturbing any of your fellow hotel guests in the process! On the eve of the ever-popular Lollapalloza Music Festival (August 7-9, 2009), The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is teaming up with the biggest name in guitars - Gibson - to launch its exclusive "Check-In, Rock Out!TM" program in the Windy City. More... [561 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 28, 2009Recession, Identity and the art of warA recession is here again....and as with every economic downturn, echoes of despair and quick fixes permeate the wires. That's all well, of course, except for the fact that this is no ordinary downturn...this one's big, real big. By Jitendra Jain More... [1061 views] Welcome, would you like Internet or breakfast?Yeoh Siew Hoon wishes hotels would give customers the choices that meet their needs, rather than the other way round. More... [1646 views] Global business travel spend projected to exceed $986 billion by 2013; China to outpace U.S. in growthThe National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and EgenciaTM, the corporate travel arm of Expedia Inc., released a sample of findings from a landmark study that quantifies global business travel spend and projects business travel growth through 2013. More... [528 views] Hotelier of the Week: Rheinhold WeiseRheinhold Weise explains why a new name for one of Munich's biggest and best known hotels was the right thing to do. By Stanley Slaughter More... [788 views] The Golden Rs of Heritage hotels in IndiaThis article discusses five common denominators for the mainstay of Heritage Hotels, each of which starts with the letter R - Restoration and Re-creation, Recreation, Rooms, Repast and Remembrances. By Avantika Singh More... [559 views] youtravel breaks even as turnover soarsBedbank youtravel doubled passenger numbers in its second year to 500,000 and claims to be heading for ‘a significant profit' in its third year. More... [469 views] STR reports US performance for June 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during June, according to data from STR. More... [429 views] Holiday Inn relaunches 1000th hotelNew Holiday Inn Express in Times Square, New York, opens as part of the biggest relaunch in hospitality history. More... [721 views] Distribution costs must be built into the fare structureTAAI's point of view on commission structure in India. More... [473 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 27, 2009There’s no recession on guest expectationsTo succeed, businesses need to be face-to-face with prospects and customers, so I don't question whether a vibrant travel economy will return. It will. I'm more concerned by the damage some brands are doing to their customers and their reputation during this downturn, which brands will emerge in a better position...and which will be left in the dust. By Rob Rush More... [1917 views] Hospitality Lawyer: National implications from the latest hotel industry SurveyHospitality Lawyer with the Atlas Hospitality mid-2009 Survey, and some observations on its broader implications for the hotel industry on a national basis. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hospitality Lawyers More... [1292 views] SEO: Increasing your hotel’s website position on Google does not have to break the bankThe term "search engine optimisation" often strikes fear into the hearts of hoteliers and can be especially daunting for the independent hotel that has no marketing or PR department to charge these activities with. But SEO doesn't need to be scary or costly if you break it down into segments and allocate time to each. This article will focus on 3 areas of search engine optimisation; content, link building and social media. Each plays a vital role in increasing your hotel's website positioning in Google for your chosen keywords. By Samantha Hasler More... [1687 views] 'Hold the front page' – oh, that’s so yesterdaySome words have disappeared forever in our tweet new world, reminisces Yeoh Siew Hoon. More... [1410 views] Meeting destinations: Perception versus realityA July 22nd Wall Street Journal article revealed that some U.S. government agencies are putting cities like Orlando, Las Vegas and Reno on informal blacklists as meetings destinations. Apparently, these are too vacation- and spa-like, and some government planners instead are being directed to more "buttoned-down" cities that meet three criteria -- those that are in a travel hub, are low in cost and are in a non-resort location, according to the story. By Kevin Iwamoto More... [537 views] Joie de Vivre’s Hotel Carlton – San Francisco’s first LEED-EB O&M gold certified Eco HotelHotel Carlton, has just become San Francisco's first LEED-EB O&M Gold Certified hotel, and the first in the country to earn certification under the US Green Building Council's newly-revamped rating system designed to address the needs of existing buildings. More... [490 views] Downward sloping curves' characterise new china hotel industry reportSteeply downward sloping charts splashed across the 2009 Hotel Intelligence Report by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels China come as no real surprise - 2008 and 2009 have been uncommon years all round for China's hospitality industry. By Amy Fabris-Shi More... [671 views] Travel Site Voyij.com introduces first ever customized 'deal alerts'"Deal Alerts" Notifies You of Travel Sales & Deals that Meet your Specific Criteria the Moment They're Available. More... [439 views] 16th Asian games will use scientific measures to eliminate rainThe 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia will use cloud seeding and other scientific measures to eliminate rain during next year's Opening and Closing Ceremonies. More... [435 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 24, 2009Guest service and Customer experience managementIn the hospitality industry, problems will happen - it's inevitable. Guests will be unhappy or discontent - that's unavoidable. What doesn't have to be inevitable and what can be avoidable is the wrong staff reaction and the resulting damage or loss. By Roberta Nedry More... [2615 views] Understanding that the same things do motivate not all of us: A new look at awards and recognitionIt seems that many of us miss the opportunity to recognize our most important asset much of the time. There are dozens of ways to accomplish this and many of them need not cost much in money, but they do need the "cost" of attention and managerial/owner time. By Dr. John Hogan More... [1116 views] Weighing-in on hotel's use of the TripAdvisor toolsRecently, I read an article discouraging hoteliers from posting a website link to TripAdvisor or posting TripAdvisor reviews via the TripAdvisor widget on their website. In my opinion, making broad statements like this, is absolutely absurd and demonstrates a lack of understanding how and why people choose a hotel online. By Neil Salerno More... [1003 views] TIG Global launches new series of reports on destination eMarketing best practicesTIG Global is pleased to announce the launch of an innovative series of Internet marketing reports specifically written for destination marketing professionals. More... [431 views] How search is key to booking travel plansKnowing how consumers research and gather information as they make plans to travel for business and pleasure can help marketers plan campaigns better. The study, "The Traveler's Road to Decision," released Tuesday from Google and OTX, reveals consumer research and buying habits across the Internet. By Laurie Sullivan More... [607 views] Hotel profits down 25% in 2008Irish hotel turnover decreased by 8 per cent last year, as occupancy rates dropped to their lowest level in 15 years, an industry survey has found. By Steven Carroll More... [485 views] Watergate hotel fails to attract buyersThe Watergate Hotel in the U.S. capital, part of a complex made famous by a political scandal which brought down former U.S. President Richard Nixon, has failed to attract bidders at auction. More... [448 views] Canada's tallest hotel tower changes Niagara Falls' skyline foreverAfter months of construction and anticipation, Canada's tallest hotel tower has opened its doors and forever changed the skyline in Niagara Falls, Canada. With the best views, the new Hilton Hotel & Suites Niagara Falls - Fallsview rises 500 meters (more than 5 football fields) over the thundering Falls. More... [743 views] Luxury London hotel falls into administrationUnfinished development, situated on The Strand in London and designed by Lord Foster's architecture firm, falls into administration. By Rebecca O'Connor More... [1185 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 23, 2009Filling rooms at any cost is not the answer to our problems. So what is?This week's news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts is slashing rates by up to 50% at nearly 600 of its global properties has put the many challenges facing hoteliers into a stark realization. We find it very troubling that such a large and brand-heavy operator would resort to extreme, across-the-board rate cutting in an effort to shore up slack occupancy. But we're not alone: Starwood's action has sparked an intra-industry debate over whether such overt price-slashing is actually good for business. By Jean Francois Mourier More... [4062 views] New national travel MONITOR℠ survey reveals shifting accommodation preferencesThe current economic environment is apparently influencing consumers' interest in certain types of lodging accommodations as revealed in the just-released Ypartnership/Yankelovich 2009 National Travel MONITOR℠. Compared to last year, preference for independently operated hotels and resorts is up, while preference for chain-affiliated properties is declining. More... [463 views] Online merchandising: What is it and how can you use it to your advantage?Find out the six simple ways you can use online merchandising to inspire, motivate and get the travel shopper to book at your hotel over your competition. By Paolo Boni More... [702 views] World’s worst cultural mistakesDon't let blowing your nose or sipping your vodka land you in hot water when you travel. By Sallie Brady More... [1488 views] Pent-up travel demand increasingWhilst the global financial crisis did not have the negative affect on Chinese traveling outbound in the first quarter of 2009 as anticipated, H1N1 has severely decimated the outbound travel industry since April. In light of this travel industry executives across China are now unanimous that pent-up demand for international travel is growing, according to current research into the Chinese travel industry by the Shanghai based tourism consultancy Asia Tourism Relations (ATR). More... [515 views] hotelicopter launches hotel ratings through Facebook® connecthotelicopter, the new hotel search engine that helps online travelers book hotels, vacations, and travel deals, today launched a revolutionary new hotel search experience that publishes a user's hotel ratings to their news feed on the Facebook Platform while directly integrating hotel recommendations from a user's friends within their hotel search results. More... [850 views] Hotels, airlines offer treats to lure customersWith many people staying put during these tough times, the travel industry is going to great lengths to woo people back on the road with promotions that range from the creative to borderline kooky. By Charisse Jones More... [549 views] New hotel defies recession1,000-room Park Plaza Westminster Bridge to open despite drop in UK tourism and difficulties for hotel companies. By Rebecca Smithers More... [592 views] Breakfast club for the hospitality industryIn the current tough economic climate, a hearty breakfast could be just what's needed to keep your business on track. By Andy Potts More... [702 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 22, 20095-Star employees - Part 1One of my previous articles was about "5-star leaders", and those types of leaders are committed to only one standard: Excellence. They expect nothing less from themselves or from their team. While it is important to describe excellent leadership, it is also important to describe another key piece of the service excellence puzzle...the "5-star employee". By Bryan K. Williams More... [4623 views] Reposition for success: 5 strategies for resort propertiesThe downturn is changing how business and vacations travelers are making decisions. With economic uncertainty, cautious consumers, and strained personal finances driving leisure choices, owners and operators of small or older resort destinations need to establish a clear competitive position. Travelers might not go as far or as often but they want value for their time and money -- competition is keener than ever. More... [1062 views] Hotelier of the Week: Jason DombrowerJason Dombrower talks about his award winning hotel which thrives on special services to its business traveller. By Tom Otley More... [647 views] It's been hard for hotels, but relief is on the way
IT'S been a tough 18 months for the hotel sector with sharp declines in tourism, but the latest figures for the March quarter show businesses have weathered the decline. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the accommodation sector continued to perform steadily, even though hotel occupancy levels eased. By Carolyn Cummins More... [583 views] Is it a bird or a plane? No, it's a Super HotelConverted 1960s airplane is 'now boarding' guests for a luxury stay. By Alaena Hostetter More... [1107 views] Update to the HVS employment-Hotel growth indexWe've updated our research on the correlation between a metropolitan market's employment levels, office space absorbtion, and hotel performance with some context from the recession. By David Fuller More... [481 views] The new reality of hotels' group ratesHotel prices for groups versus everyday travelers are upside down. But in Orlando, that may be the norm. By Sara K. Clarke More... [590 views] STR Global reports Central and South America hotel pipeline for June 2009The Central/South America hotel development pipeline includes 147 projects with 21,539 rooms, according to the June 2009 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released last week. More... [449 views] A private sommelier service launches to offer extraordinary personal wine experiencesMonday, saw the launch of a fresh and unique private sommelier service, Sarment. Bringing together some of the industry's finest award-winning sommeliers from the world's top restaurants. More... [907 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 21, 2009Fortune can favour the brave as hotels’ recovery beckonsThe uncertainty among operators, owners and investors is pushing the sector back towards quality, brand and location basics. The demise of some gives opportunities for others. But for those who can restructure or find funding, now is a perfect time to grow and gain market share. By Jeremy Hill More... [699 views] Luxury hotel chains make a play for business travelersThe drop in business and group travel because of the recession has dealt a body blow to airlines and hotels. Part of that drop came after critics, including President Obama, lashed out at companies that rewarded executives with expensive junkets after accepting government bailout money. And now airlines and hotels are fighting back with a slew of new campaigns to boost business travel. More... [951 views] Lender survey - 2nd Quarter 2009HVS conducted a confidential survey of 373 influential lenders from around the world to gather their input about the current conditions of lending in the hospitality sector. By Jimmy Bae and Hans Detlefsen More... [599 views] STR Global reports Europe hotel pipeline for June 2009The Europe hotel development pipeline includes 596 hotels with 94,695 rooms, according to the June 2009 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released last week. More... [480 views] If you can't beat 'em, join 'emNestled in the rolling countryside, Halswell House is the sort of quintessentially English retreat that would make an ideal backdrop for a romantic period drama. It is also a perfect venue if you happen to be a member of a shady European party circle which indulges in the very un-English pastimes of...By Jerome Taylor More... [582 views] Time for cheer or should we still be “extremely cautiously optimistic”?Singapore is out of recession. Goldman Sachs reports a profit. Abacus sees hotel bookings increase. Should we jump for joy? Yeoh Siew Hoon shares some predictions. More... [676 views] 1300 Chinese VIPs come to see that Britain is the businessBritain is the prize for 1300 employees from Perfect China, a major manufacturer headquartered in Guangdong province. Every year they send their successful direct sales representatives on an international trip as a reward for their achievements and have chosen Britain for 2009. It is further evidence that Britain remains a world-class destination - not just for holidays, but also for business travel - despite recent figures showing a 12% decline in inbound visits to the UK in the first five months of the year. More... [390 views] Chicagoland’s hotel Arista launches “My Arista” tech optionEco-Chic hotel invites guests to choose their own amenities for the ultimate in personalized service. More... [474 views] Watergate hotel up for grabsThe Watergate Hotel lost its lustre years ago, its marble floors, rich colours and grand interiors dusted over with age. Its 251 rooms have stood empty since 2007, and for a year its debt-ridden owners have been trying to unload it. On Tuesday, the American landmark may find its suitor. By Lisa Rein and Martin Richard More... [794 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 20, 2009InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and National Geographic extend partnership to include global geotourism initiativesInterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world's first truly global hotel brand, and the National Geographic Society have extended their partnership to include global geotourism initiatives that enrich the understanding of environmental and cultural responsibility among InterContinental associates and guests worldwide. More... [833 views] Fairmont says “grease is the word” with innovative recycling initiativeAs the search for alternative fuel sets some of the world's largest companies on new business paths, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a leader in responsible travel and longstanding environmental steward, is proud to provide its own take on the topic: recycling kitchen oils, rather than discarding them. Expert food preparation requires the use of oils, creating waste, which is unavoidable in the hotel industry - so what to do with all that leftover cooking oil? More... [1090 views] Business travel defies financial downturnBusiness travel in Australia is defying the economic downturn, according to a new survey. More... [570 views] Le Meridien introduces new member to LM100™ Family: World Barista Champion Fritz StormLaunched in 2007, LM100 is a group of international creators of mixed generations and interdisciplinary artistic fields, chosen from the worlds of art, architecture, and cuisine, who use their creativity to develop original and interactive programs for Le Méridien, transforming the guest experience. In his LM100 role, Storm will use his experience in the art of coffee making to further implement Coffee Culture into Le Méridien hotels globally. More... [629 views] PhoCusWright’s financial edition: short-term pain, long-term gainThe global recession has squeezed travel demand, and it is hard to pin down when recovery will come. The near-term outlook remains relatively bleak, with demand still weak and pricing down across the travel sector. However, PhoCusWright does find optimism in the long-term travel outlook. More... [481 views] Is Russia still the investment community’s sweetheart?In the current times of economic turmoil, does the once lucrative market still present an attractive proposition for international hotel brands and investors? HVS Executive Search investigates further. By Tatiana Veller More... [497 views] Chinese hoteliers to receive new revenue management support through IDeaS expanded offeringIDeaS expansion will assist locally Chinese owned and managed hotels by making it easier to access industry leading revenue management technology and consulting services to help local hoteliers apply best practice revenue management and pricing to maximize Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) performance. More... [1117 views] Look who’s coming to WIT 2009From CEO's of multi-national and regional businesses, to start ups, to those on the fringes of the industry and those who are hands on involved in the everyday business of marketing travel or hospitality services, you will meet them at WIT-Web In Travel 2009. More... [1077 views] KTN reaching out to the hotel industry in Russia and CIS through alliance partnershipKennedy Training Network (KTN) USA, and Big Tree Hospitality Training Company, announced today the official signing of an alliance partnership agreement to develop and market training services in the Russian & the CIS Markets. More... [548 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 17, 2009Hotel common sense – using business networks productively or recovering lost customers after a renovationThis particular column focuses on a different aspect of capital investment and it came from a discussion group at LinkedIn. Jeff Keeley, an experienced hospitality professional with previous GM positions with Embassy Suites, Hilton and Radisson had accepted an assignment as the General Manager at the Crowne Plaza Oklahoma City. He posed the following question... By Dr. John Hogan More... [972 views] A second homeWith more than 150 stays at the Hotel Phoenicia, Michael and Mary Hirst give a new meaning to ‘repeat visitors'. This year, they celebrate 50 years since their first visit. More... [686 views] Global work, Global travel often means Global hasslesVyoma Nair, co-founder of Nair & Co., a leading global integrated solutions provider helping companies expand internationally, summarizes immigrations requirements, in some key countries, for short-term business travel. More... [438 views] Tour operators have steadily lost market share to online travel agenciesBut do not count them out! More... [2498 views] Online marketing given a jump start as Twitter jumps to top 5 positions in social network listIf companies now want to learn more about their clients they can just ask them, or encourage feedback. Rather than pester people with direct emails, they collect legions of followers who hang on their every word. More... [787 views] Victims of cruise crimes applaud congressional leaders as cruise ship safety bill moves forwardThe International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV), applauded Congressional action to move the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 through Committee and for Congressional consideration. More... [475 views] ZUJI Beans campaign awarded Lions in CannesZUJI Australia's 'Helping holidays happen' campaign has won three prestigious Cannes Lion Awards - the global meeting place for professionals in the communications industry honouring creative excellence and innovation. More... [834 views] ChildAid to be first event held at Resorts World at SentosaMark your diaries for 19 to 21 December 2009! That is when ChildAid will be the first event to be staged at Resorts World at Sentosa. More... [874 views] TravelCLICK to share keys for boosting electronic revenue at HEDNA’s annual ASPAC meetingPaul Southey, TravelCLICK's Vice President of Asia Pacific, will present strategies hotels have used to outperform the market by 34% in the region. More... [530 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 16, 2009High occupancy provides opportunity for London hoteliersHotels in both London and the regions have held up exceptionally well in the global economic downturn with revPAR down by only 11.1%. More... [1082 views] Treating foreigners – Part 3Excuse me if I disturb you, Doctor Oppenheim. I have a question. Do you go to Anaheim? By Mike Oppenheim, M.D More... [700 views] Failaka...a General Manager's Story - Chapter 10So what of the future and where in this rotating world will we end up next? I wish I could relate this to you. By Christopher J Hartley FIH, FCFA(SG) More... [799 views] Heathrow and Gatwick express launch environmentally friendly door-to-door airport service with carbon voyageHeathrow and Gatwick Express have launched the first ever environmentally friendly door-to-door service to and from the airport with Carbon Voyage. Travellers can book a pick up from either their home or office in a Carbon Voyage car and travel to Paddington or Victoria Stations where they will board the express train service to Heathrow or Gatwick Airports. More... [598 views] Israel tourism ministry allocates $38 million to attract tourism from the USAMinister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov and Ministry Director-General Noaz Bar Nir will leave Thursday, July 16 for a working visit to North America, accompanied by representatives from the ministry. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen Jewish tourism, as well as promoting Christian-Evangelical tourism from the USA to Israel, while positioning Israel as a preferred tourism destination. More... [483 views] Quarantined for seven days in a hotelIt all started with a positive test on one single man. A timely reaction and over 270 people from many different nationalities charting a whole new experience - A quarantined existence in Hong Kong. By Nimish V Dwivedi More... [747 views] Arkansas jury awards West Memphis man's company $25M in fraud suit over Texas hotelInterContinental Hotels Group, owners of Holiday Inn Worldwide, has been ordered by a court to pay $25 million in damages to an Arkansas franchisee for fraud involving a hotel in Texas. More... [1587 views] Does your hotel key card contain your credit card info?The claim, which has been making the rounds in e-mail messages in recent weeks, carries the warning that there is enough data embedded in the key card for others to use the data to go on a shopping spree. By Rachel Chan More... [1026 views] Kenya: Hotels re-open ahead of high tourist seasonDozens of hotels at the Coast have reopened to welcome holidaymakers from Europe and local tourists ahead of the school holidays next month. By Mathias Ringa More... [544 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 15, 2009If travel had a face, it would look like Ritz-Carlton's Paco SaldanaGuest services director promotes his hotel and the travel industry. By Maggie Day More... [917 views] Hotelier of the Week: Priya PaulPriya Paul, chair of The Park Hotels, India, talks about the growth of her design-led properties. By Tom Otley More... [889 views] Best Agers: Force behind the future expansion of the tourism industryBy 2020 every second vacationer will be over 50 years of age, according to the researchers at ADAC Reisemonitor - New markets for best agers offer fresh opportunities for the travel sector. More... [1019 views] Hospitality Lawyers: Conditions for hotel industry 'RESET' may be coming into alignmentHospitality Lawyers with some perspective on recent developments. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hospitality Lawyers More... [451 views] Britons asked to be guides for an interactive tourism tour of the edge of BritainNational tourism agency is backing an interactive tourism tour that will use multimedia techniques and social media channels to bring to life destinations around the coastline of Britain. South African Scott Ramsay began his tour of the ‘Edge of Britain' tour on Sunday 12 July, heading ‘off the beaten track' until 14 August and showing other international visitors that there's more to Britain than just London and other city destinations. More... [398 views] London's airport hotels suffer with traffic fallsAs both passenger numbers and flights fall, what is the effect on airport hotels? More... [608 views] Hospitality hot as global financial crisis continuesIn previous economic downturns, hospitality was seen as a filler option for out-of-work bankers or lawyers. Today, thanks to shows like MasterChef, Welcome to the Parker and First Class all the Way, and the success of young hoteliers such as Sydney legend Justin Hemmes, hospitality is HOT and is the first choice for ambitious people seeking a career path with global opportunities. More... [2083 views] Hotel's top-class training facilities attract Real MadridTHE REAL Madrid soccer team arrive at Dublin airport tonight and will proceed immediately to the luxurious Carton House hotel in Co Kildare. There they will train at what hotel manager David Webster says is set to be one of the leading training facilities in Europe. More... [595 views] Stunning Auriga spa crowned “Best Destination Spa” in EuropeThe exclusive indulge-sanctuary at the Schloss Velden, a Capella hotel, in Velden, Austria, was crowned "Best Destination Spa in Europe", by the Agency for Health and Wellness during the "European Health & Spa Awards". More... [747 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 14, 2009Road to a better worldNews Sense salutes three travel industry projects that are all about doing good. More... [568 views] A key component to asset management - the sales & marketing assessmentAs part of the overall asset management strategy for a hotel asset, owners should certainly ask, "How can our sales and marketing efforts be more focused? Made more efficient and effective?" By Leora Lanz, Mark Lynn and Eydie Shapiro More... [1940 views] Who built Raffles Hotel?Books and newspaper articles have routinely attributed the building of the historical Raffles Hotel in Singapore to the Armenian Sarkies brothers. But now a descendent of the prominent Alsagoff family has come out to say that the records are wrong. More... [1052 views] Hotels.com founders introduce ‘reverse opaque rates’ and point to hotels.com shortcomingsI wrote a post the other day about how Bob Diener and Dave Litman, the founders of HRN (a.k.a. hotels.com), have launched getaroom.com, and indeed they intend to shake things up. Diener, who owns getaroom.com 50-50 with Litman, described the site's introduction of "reverse opaque rates" for hotel sales. More... [1737 views] Bargain hotel deals in Tokyo? They should get a medalThe capital city is bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games, and some hotels are vying for the title of best deal. Forget $600 a night. Try around $100. By Charlie Amter More... [562 views] Bees swarm to top London hotelHives housing half a million bees are set to be installed on the Hyde Park hotel's roof on July 13 and will be tended by a four-strong 'bee team' made up of staff from the hotel. By Valere Tjolle More... [1034 views] World Cup hotel bed shortfall expectedMore than $600 million of new hotel rooms and serviced apartments are expected to be built in time for the Rugby World Cup but it still won't be enough to cater for all the visitors, according to tourism consultants Horwarth. By Tamsyn Parker More... [635 views] EMC to acquire data domainEMC Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Data Domain, Inc. (NASDAQ: DDUP), a leading provider of deduplication storage solutions, under which EMC will acquire Data Domain in a cash tender offer for $33.50 per share. The transaction is expected to have a total enterprise value of approximately $2.1 billion, net of Data Domain's cash. More... [341 views] Marriott workers keep benefits despite cutsMarriott International yesterday said it will allow full-time workers relegated to part-time status to keep their health benefits, a move aimed at easing the pain for employees affected by the recession. By V. Dion Haynes More... [706 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 13, 2009Lessons on Brands and Discounting...with a touch of humorThis is a slightly unusual approach to my regular columns, but it addresses two topics that seem to be getting increasing attention in the past 12 months or so. Those topics are brands and discounting. By Dr. John Hogan More... [1455 views] The Global Hotels and Motels industry generated total revenues of $484.3 billion in 2008 according to the "Leisure: Global Industry Guide"Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Leisure:Global Industry Guide" report to their offering. More... [515 views] Top companies weigh in at our global leadership symposiumLast month I posted a few items about StarCite's Global Leadership Symposium held in Phoenix, Arizona, which attracted a great deal of execs from our client base and partners. With clients large and small coming together from a broad base of industries, we thought it'd be a perfect opportunity to issue a survey and really gain perspective as to what today's leading companies are seeing in the meetings industry. By Kevin Iwamoto More... [410 views] Environmentally friendly hotel list launchedResponsible Hotels of the World collection features 40 CSR focused properties. More... [959 views] Are you a lodging laggard or a leader?Strategies for managing your lodging business through today's economic downturn - successfully. More... [548 views] Premier international wine fair indicates buoyant prospects for wine & spirits marketHong Kong and China account for the world's third-largest turnout of wine buyers at Vinexpo Bordeaux 2009. More... [410 views] Shanghai to build a theme park modelled on Michael Jackson's Neverland RanchChina is reportedly planning to build its own version of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on an island near Shanghai. More... [890 views] Canadian hotel investment market expected to recover in 2010 according to Colliers International Hotels and HLT AdvisoryAccording to a survey conducted by Colliers International Hotels and HLT Advisory, the economic recovery is unlikely to benefit the Canadian hotel industry until 2010. The survey of 325 hotel owners, managers and advisors found that 59 per cent of respondents anticipate seeing clear signs of economic recovery in 2010, with only one-fifth (19%) of respondents expecting a recovery this year. More... [377 views] Hotel pricing hasn't hit bottom yetWhile talk of a bottom in the economy and the travel industry is certainly encouraging, there are continued signs of erosion in the hotel pricing environment. Occupancy declines may have leveled out in recent months, but a broad survey of rate quotes through the end of June suggests that pricing pressure has yet to abate. Look for accelerating rate declines in 2Q. By Jake Fuller More... [1342 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 10, 2009Lifestyle hotels: Gotta have soulNow that luxury is a bad word, hotels everywhere are scrambling to find ways to reinvent themselves without spending a whack of money. The quick fix? Simply delete all references to "luxury" in marketing materials and replace them with "lifestyle". Magically, the hotel's image transforms from visions of champagne baths and gold-plated toilet seats to a holistic experience involving discovery, connecting and environmental responsibility. By Daniel Edward Craig More... [1366 views] For the real bucks, SEM’s still the way to goDespite the rise in the popularity of social media, Jos Weesjes believes SEM still reigns when it comes to direct revenue generation. More... [1291 views] Europe’s top five are all GermanBeing the least worst is never a high accolade, but in the face of a very tough market the performance of Germany's main cities is commendable. The May 2009 edition of the European Hotel Review, published by STR Global, the leading provider of market information to the world's hotel industry, shows German cities taking the top five positions for annual change in revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the year-to-May 2009. More... [1390 views] The TripAdvisor review widget on the hotel website: a good or bad move?We at HeBS are often asked about the pros and cons of creating a link on the hotel website to the customer reviews page of the hotel on TripAdvisor, and displaying TripAdvisor reviews directly on the hotel website via the TripAdvisor Review Widget. We have always recommended against both of these options. Here is why... More... [2183 views] “No Idea is a Bad Idea in this Economy” Hilton Hotels on incremental business and price integrityHotel revenue managers have been struggling with how best to manage declining demand and the pressures to reduce rate. Revenue managers need to identify pockets of opportunity to maintain or improve revenues. More... [1103 views] TravelCLICK ranks 35 on Crain’s fast fiftyTravelCLICK Inc. has placed 35th in Crain's 2009 Fast Fifty list, published in Crain's Chicago Business. This is the third consecutive year Crain's has ranked TravelCLICK on its list, which highlights the Chicago region's best and most innovative public and private companies. More... [469 views] RateTiger introduces RTSuite for synergy and flexibilityRateTiger announced the release of RTSuite. The brand new consolidated product that will improve efficiency in online benchmarking, channel management, alerts and booking reporting allowing a flexible a-la carte subscription with multiple application options. More... [449 views] The Goring in London wins ‘Hotel of the Year – Independent’ at the 2009 Catey awardsOn the eve of its Centenary in 2010, The Goring was one of the big winners at last night's Cateys, picking up the Hotel of the Year - Independent award at the hospitality industry Oscars in London. More... [720 views] The Sheraton Incheon Hotel will soon be unveiled in Korea’s newest major development, Incheon – Songdo CityOn 1 August, Sheraton Incheon Hotel will be unveiled in Songdo, one of the three ambitiously planned new international business districts in Incheon Free Economic Zone. It will be the long-awaited second Sheraton hotel in Korea in almost three decades and the first international deluxe five-star hotel in Songdo. More... [604 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 9, 2009Death of the travel brandsRam Badrinathan, General Manager-Asia of PhoCusWright Inc writes about the move from brand value to intrinsic value. More... [1095 views] LRA Worldwide launches the guest experience “Emotional Audit” ™LRA Worldwide, Inc. has introduced its proprietary Emotional AuditTM offering to the lodging industry, providing properties and brands alike with a data-driven view of how the hotel experience makes a guest "feel." More... [1536 views] VIRTUOSO® announces nominees for prestigious annual “Best of the Best” hotel awardsLeading luxury travel network, Virtuoso®, is pleased to announce nominations for their third annual Virtuoso "Best of the Best" Hotel Awards. More... [2022 views] Failaka...a General Manager's Story - Chapter 9So here we are....almost up to date; once again we were busy for the last half of 2008. The beach was upgraded and the Palace of Sheikh 'Abdullah had a huge facelift. Denise was also very busy we had received a vis-z-vis carriage a year early and now she had just recived the horse to pull it with. By Christopher J Hartley More... [1405 views] Twitter comes to the rescueAs hotels, airlines and other travel companies line up on Twitter to promote their brands, customers who voice their grievances in the form of tweets are getting surprisingly fast responses for everything from bad airplane seats to poor room service. By Michelle Higgins More... [976 views] IDeaS extends multi-year scholarship for professional development opportunitiesIDeaS Revenue Optimization, the leading provider of pricing, forecasting and optimization solutions and services, and the Cornell School of Hotel Administration announced the IDeaS Cornell Revenue Management Scholarship Program. This first of its kind scholarship program offers hospitality professionals' access to a certification and a professional development opportunity in revenue management. More... [1004 views] Internet marketing seminars help UK hoteliers navigate a complex environmentTravelCLICK educates hoteliers on how to attract and convert online shoppers in today's economy. More... [874 views] HSMAI announces 2009 Adrian awards call for entriesEntry sSubmission opens July 15 in competition honoring Travel Marketing Excellence. More... [678 views] Wyndham rewards enhances offerings with PAYBACK program and promotionWyndham Rewards, the world's largest lodging loyalty program based on the number of participating hotels, has announced the launch of a "stay twice and earn a free night" promotion for members in the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. It also announced that it has added PAYBACK, the leading German loyalty program, to its network. More... [673 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 8, 2009Quick, turn the radio onWelcome to the IATA/Travelmole webinar, moderated by Yeoh Siew Hoon, logging in live from the wilds of Borneo... More... [490 views] Front desk hospitality training can generate future businessWhen it comes to creating positive first impressions, the job of front desk associate is arguably the most important of any hotel staffer. For guests booking online or via third parties, the front desk literally is their first impression. Even for those who have spoken with the reservations team by phone prior to arrival, their front desk arrival experience will set the tone for their entire stay. By Doug Kennedy More... [2887 views] When the going gets tough, the tough get loyalNew research highlights the power of loyalty programmes as travellers admit to being increasingly brand loyal despite the economic downturn. More... [760 views] Capital Club Dubai donates funds to STARTThe Capital Club, Dubai's premier private business club, recently donated the proceeds of its first anniversary party, which was held in April 2009, to START, a non-profit organisation that links child development with arts education. More... [397 views] European hotel prices plummetTravellers can currently find cheap hotel deals in the major Spanish and Italian tourist destinations. In top European cities prices have decreased up to 25 percent in comparison to the previous year. More... [610 views] Claridge’s and Dior celebrate the return of the Glamorous Dressing Table to LondonClaridge's, London's beloved Mayfair landmark, is partnering with legendary fashion and fragrance house Christian Dior to create an exclusive dressing table service, offering guests all of the beauty essentials en suite necessary for a glamorous night out. More... [743 views] Park Plaza Hotels reached an agreement with the City of Amsterdam to develop an art’otelPark Plaza Hotels has reached an agreement with the City of Amsterdam to develop an art'otel in the city's iconic former ‘Kadaster' office. More... [532 views] Marriott International renews long term agreement with Pegasus Solutions for global agent commission processingMarriott International has committed to Pegasus Solutions until 2014 to provide hotel reservation payments for travel agents through Pegasus' leading Global Commission Processing service. More... [631 views] HSMAI’s revenue management & internet marketing strategy conference focuses on driving demandRevenue management and internet marketing professionals from across the hospitality industry convened at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Revenue Management & Internet Marketing Strategy Conference in Anaheim, Calif., for a day of in-depth discussions about how the two disciplines can work together to generate demand. More... [508 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 7, 2009On the Move - June 2009Global Staff Movements for June 2009 provided by Spectrum International. More... [4056 views] A corporate guide for social mediaWhether you call it Web 2.0, the social Web or any other neologism, the new network economy is about communities, collaboration, peer production and user-generated content. It is a place where business reputations are defined by customer opinions and ratings, where press is delivered by independent bloggers, and product development and insight is driven by customers. As digital natives--those who have grown up with the Internet--flood the workplace, your employees will expect to be part of the social Web and they'll have a lot to contribute. Does this sound like business as usual? It shouldn't. Social technologies turn many corporate policies upside down. By Joshua-Michéle Ross More... [1125 views] The ugly face of social mediaYeoh Siew Hoon wonders if we could end up with unsocial media with the way things are going. More... [1088 views] Study: Recession no damper on vacation plansThe recession is apparently not deflecting consumers' vacation travel plans this year, according to findings from a national study conducted recently by a research team led by Nancy McGehee, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business. More... [512 views] Top hotel companies mark development milestonesWhile the world's 10 largest hotel companies remain the same in HOTELS' ranking of the top 300 worldwide for the third year in a row, a few of these top 10 hotel giants marked significant milestones in 2008 and the first half of 2009. By Derek Gale More... [917 views] Privately held businesses globally still willing to introduce 'green' practicesDespite the global downturn, plenty of privately held businesses (PHBs) are still prepared to introduce 'green' practices, according to latest research from the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) - even if those green practices have a negative effect on the bottom line. More... [426 views] Hotels in China offer swimming companionsAs the summer holidays approach, hotels in China have come up with novel ways to entice travellers to stay with them. More... [966 views] IACC global convenes to navigate the perfect storm of meetings industry"Navigating the Perfect Storm" is the theme of the International Association of Conference Centre's second European Conference, August 20-23, 2009 at Comwell Kolding in Denmark. More... [360 views] New carbon calculator for event industry to be launched at international event management summitA brand new carbon calculator, tailored specifically to the unique needs of event producers and organisers, will be launched at the International Event Management Summit run by the Australian Centre for Event Management (ACEM) in Queensland next week. More... [475 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 6, 2009Social media for the savvy hotel sales managerIn this economy, hotel sellers need to use every possible tool in the shed to drive business results. Here are some ideas for using social media to help make your booking goals. By Susan Deluzain Barry More... [2600 views] NetBenefit hosts rapidly growing HotelVoucherShop.comNetBenefit, one of the UK's most experienced managed hosting providers, announces it is hosting the recently launched website HotelVoucherShop.com. The easy to use website is one of the largest voucher sites of its kind in the UK and offers gift vouchers for over 70,000 hotels in 5,000 locations worldwide. More... [446 views] Two leading industry publications announce partnership with the Australian Event AwardsWith less than a month until entries close, the Australian Event Awards has joined forces with industry magazines CIM and Spice in partnerships to raise the media profile of award winners and reach out to the entire Australian Events industry. More... [337 views] Great hotels organisation launches corporate travel directoryThe latest edition of the directory is aimed at the corporate travel market and includes a collection of over 250 hotels with 60 key corporate hotels featured. More... [446 views] Strato hotel consultants launchedIn today's dynamic world of hospitality, many forward-thinking hotel owners are learning that working with a creative team of consultants with credentials in every aspect of hotel disciplines, is an opportunity to increase sales and revenue, while keeping overhead low. As such, many small and independent hotel owners are tapping into the innovative and strategic solutions that an experienced team can offer, and Strato Hotel Consultants is being launched to help hotel owners achieve excellence in every facet of their properties. More... [610 views] Germany forecasts make tough readingForecasts from the May 2009 Hotel Market Forecast report from STR Global, the leading provider of market information to the world's hotel industry, indicate that average daily rate declines during the next 24 months across Germany's major cities will be the main cause of the industry's sluggish performance. More... [593 views] Twitter for sale: popularity up for grabsFirst it was popularity on social bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon that was being sold and now Twitter is in the sights of those looking to have their fame and status artificially increased. More... [621 views] City of dreams welcomes its one millionth guestMelco Crown Entertainment Limited (Nasdaq: MPEL), a developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities focused on the Macau market, announced that City of Dreams welcomed its one millionth guest on Saturday, June 27, 2009, just 27 days after its opening on June 1. More... [602 views] Green Globe International and Green Seal partner to promote global sustainabilityGreen Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced a preliminary agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding with Green Seal, Inc., the premier independent ecolabel in the United States, under which the two brands will explore opportunities to collaborate to promote sustainability on a global scale. More... [467 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 3, 2009A common sense review process for capital investmentsIn this time of global uncertainty, there is a hesitancy to spend capital dollars without having a clear sense of the timing of the ROI (return on investment). That concern is reasonable, but it may also cause some hoteliers to delay needed updates or improvements at a time when lower occupancy allows for both availability of space and potentially lower costs from those providing the products or physical improvements. This delay could also allow new competitors to more quickly enter markets when the cycle does improve if existing hotels are not competitive or not meeting the current needs of evolving clientele. By Dr. John Hogan More... [1330 views] Through the eyes of a hotel butler: small details: big degree of differenceA lot is being discussed of the experience as key differential element in the hotel market. The present trend is no longer competing with the product but what the guest experienced during his stay. That is to say, although all hotels offer rooms, restaurants, spas, business centers, bars, etc. the difference is established by the way the guest perceives and feels the services rendered.A lot is being discussed of the experience as key differential element in the hotel market. The present trend is no longer competing with the product but what the guest experienced during his stay. That is to say, although all hotels offer rooms, restaurants, spas, business centers, bars, etc. the difference is established by the way the guest perceives and feels the services rendered. By Osvaldo Torres Cruz More... [943 views] Targeting global travelers: A guide for international website optimizationTechnology and customer utilization of the Internet has made it easy for customers worldwide to quickly learn about your hotel or destination. In fact, global broadband penetration has advanced so rapidly in foreign markets that Asia and Europe top the charts with the most broadband users, far outpacing the US and Canada. As hotels and destinations compete for these international travelers and foreign customers, it is more important than ever that your hotel is accessible to everyone and anyone on the Internet. More... [501 views] General Manager cock of the muck heap or lion of the team?Evil Erik is at it again, once more he convinced an owner that all his previous employers were " idiots " and that he can be the knight in shining armor in difficult times. By Bert van Walbeek More... [1391 views] Travelzoo surpasses 16 million subscribersTravelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global Internet media company, announced it has surpassed 16 million subscribers to its global publications, growing by more than one million subscribers during the past three months. More... [525 views] Keep it cheap: with economy sagging, Las Vegas hotels and casinos offer bargains despite claims that 'the worst is behind us'Two years ago Gary Hamm and his wife gambled $200 at the Bellagio. About two months ago it paid off. By Benjamin Spillman More... [543 views] Rezidor launches ‘The Rezidor learning network’As part of its ‘Rezidor 5-STEP People Development Programme', The Rezidor Hotel Group is launching a group-wide "Rezidor Learning Network (RLN)", a unique Learning Management System based on a virtual electronic platform to deliver global training and education in new initiatives and brand management strategies. More... [488 views] IHG announces regional restructuring and cost saving programmeIHG has experienced rapid growth in the Asia Pacific region in recent years, in particular in the Greater China region where IHG is the largest international hotel company, with 115 hotels open and 127 in the development pipeline. Consistent investment in its core operations has grown IHG's leadership position in the region. More... [896 views] Wyndham rewards finds 1-in-5 couldn’t vacation without travel loyalty pointsTwenty percent of Americans polled in a survey commissioned by the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program said they would be unable to take their next vacation without cashing in rewards points, indicating that the current economic climate has increased the importance of travel rewards points in vacation planning. More... [524 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 2, 2009Building a team of "Living It" employeesEvery team has three types of employees...those who are hearing it, believing it, and living it. My hope is that by the end of this article, you will have a firm grasp on which group of employees has the greatest potential to help the team reach its goal of being world-class. By Bryan K. Williams More... [3295 views] Failaka...a General Manager's Story - Chapter 82007 was extremely busy and we expected it to be busier in 2008, we therefore renovated and refurnished the Salha Lbnaya House, extended the kitchen in the Oasis Center to supply food to Qa'at Al Khair and created a new village square Sa'ha Al Qariya where... By Christopher J Hartley More... [1079 views] Five things that players in the hotel industry can do until the recoveryMuch ink has been spilled lately about how bad conditions have become in the hotel industry. No one seems ready to say that the bottom has been reached, perhaps remembering the grave-robbing scene in Young Frankenstein where Marty Feldman tries to console Gene Wilder by saying "it could be worse...it could be raining," right before a downpour drenched the both of them. While waiting for the rain to end, however, players in the hotel industry could... By Ken MacKenzie More... [1161 views] Hospitality Lawyer: Hotel foreclosures on track to set new records in California and elsewhereHospitality Lawyer with new data indicating hotel foreclosures will set new records. On June 26, 2009, Atlas Hospitality released the results of its study on foreclosures in California We think these results have much broader implications for the hotel industry on a national basis. Here is the latest. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hospitality Lawyers More... [474 views] How to ask better questionsOne of your direct reports walks into your office looking for help: the rollout of the new line of Web-based products she is managing is falling behind schedule. All the prototypes have been created and beta tested, but she is having trouble getting final sign-off from the VP of IT. Deadlines have come and gone, and no amount of reminding or cajoling will get him to focus on her project. As her manager, what should you do? If your first instinct is to suggest a solution, think again. By Judith Ross More... [792 views] Luxury hotel announces rooms auction planA luxury hotel in Dubai is to give people the chance to bid for rooms in an online auction, it emerged on Sunday. By Andy Sambidge More... [878 views] Hospitality sector should forget recession and embrace ‘culture change’For smart hoteliers the challenge of a recession has been superseded by the shock of culture change, and the need permanently to respond to unfamiliar values in an unrecognisable market. This view, expressed by Niels Pedersen, managing director of the 1200-member Supranational Hotels consortium, argues that ‘the downturn ends once owners and general managers realise that the old times are gone forever'. More... [1119 views] Hotel technology moving into the cloudA cloud is rolling in on the hospitality industry. But fortunately this cloud isn't symbolic of the future the health of the lodging business. No, this cloud is all about taking computer power out of the hotel and shifting to a third party. By Glenn Haussman More... [702 views] Last week to register for International summit on green eventsFrom environmental experts and public festival organisers, to government leaders and event academics, the world's event professionals will come together in Surfer's Paradise next week for the 5th Biannual International Event Management Summit, from 6-8th July. More... [418 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 1, 2009Beating negative hotel reviews: An action plan for proactive reputation managementA negative online reputation can severely limit a hotel's ability to succeed today. With more and more people using the internet to make their travel plans, reviews by other travelers are playing an increasingly large role. By Josiah Mackenzie More... [3759 views] Hotel projects back on track as liquidity easesWork on some hotel projects that have been put on hold is likely to resume as liquidity improves in the third and fourth quarters of this year, according to a senior real estate research analyst. By Nina Varghese More... [737 views] Once we get there - then what?Many industry commentators have now agreed that Dubai will soon start to see the green shoots of recovery. During a recent Cityscape Connect forum, a panel covering the industry spectrum from investors to real estate agents agreed that Dubai's property market would start to sprout green shoots sometime between January and June next year. More... [497 views] A brand new world of solutions: Hotel Hospitality + Design launches in 2010The first of its kind in Australia, Hotel Hospitality + Design - the largest, most comprehensive event targeting the hotel and hospitality industries - will launch at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, 24-26 May 2010. More... [524 views] Brand building made more difficultWith the power shifting to the consumers, how do companies balance the courage of their own conviction with the wisdom of the crowd? Yeoh Siew Hoon gets stuck into the branding debate. By Yeoh Siew Hoon. More... [709 views] Baker & McKenzie's observations from the field: The impact of the global financial crisis on hotel managementIn the last 18 months, the hotel industry has moved from an environment where there was a frenetic desire by both owners and operators to sign up new management agreements to one where new signings are comparatively rare. We are being told that attention is switching to how to make the agreement provisions work to maximize operating performance and hotel saleability. Although in more instances than we would like to see, this is really code for "survival". More... [1028 views] Microsoft books Hyatt for Verizon Mobile ad campaignMicrosoft Corp. signed a deal with Global Hyatt Corp. to put hotel ads on Verizon Wireless phones, part of a bid to turn around its shrinking advertising business by expanding beyond personal computers. By Dina Bass More... [441 views] Global Green Certification can’t work says responsible travel bossIn a major swipe at global sustainable tourism criteria and, in particular Green Globe, Justin Francis, boss of Responsible Travel today put his cards on the table. More... [590 views] Asia Luxury Travel Market 2009 (ALTM) hailed as "The Best Yet"Asia Luxury Travel Market, the region's leading event exclusively for the luxury travel industry, took place in Shanghai from 15th - 18th June for the third consecutive year, with exhibitors describing it as "the best yet". More... [559 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: July 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 31, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 30, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 29, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 28, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 27, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 24, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 23, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 22, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 21, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 20, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 17, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 16, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 15, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 14, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 13, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 10, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 9, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 8, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 7, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 6, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 3, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 2, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: July 1, 2009
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