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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: September 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 30, 2009Will 2010 Be The Year Of (Missed) Opportunities?As Hotels are entering into the crucial stage of setting their strategies for 2010, one of the biggest dangers is the continuing uncertainty about the future state of the economy. By Klaus Kohlmayr More... [1844 views] The Most Important Words for the Workplace or ‘A short course in human relations’A famous athlete was being inducted to his sports' hall of fame earlier this year and in his remarks, he commented on the need and value for team work. He quoted the often used phrase "there is no I in team" but he added there is an I in "win". By Dr. John Hogan More... [2180 views] Tweak Your Content and Ensure Website Visitors Convert into Hotel ReservationsMarketing efforts are often perceived as required solely to generate traffic and reservations to hotels. But marketing should be playing an even bigger role in terms of website content. A good website is more than just flashy designs, layouts and pictures - it has to have substance. By Samantha Hasler More... [1315 views] STR Global Posts August 2009 Results for EuropeThe European hotel industry posted decreases in year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for August 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [466 views] Surviving The Meetings IndustrySandra Chipchase, CEO of the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) and a speaker at the upcoming Web In Travel conference said that to survive the meetings industry today, you have to be forward thinking and treat your business as a partnership, rather than a transaction. More... [751 views] Maths Teacher Finds a Way Through Baggage MazeA maths teacher in the US has designed a website to help air travellers avoid excess baggage fees. More... [798 views] Asia Medical Tourism Analysis 2008 – 2013Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Asia Medical Tourism Analysis (2008 - 2013)" report to their offering. More... [632 views] Business-led Design - instead of Design-led BusinessGood advice doesn't come cheap - but taking cheap advice can cost you a fortune. More... [986 views] WTM Bids to Improve Students’ Job ProspectsWorld Travel Market has teamed with the Institute for Travel Tourism and the Tourism Society to run the inaugural Future You conference for undergraduates. The event will be the successor to ASPIRE, which was launched by the ITT in 2004 and ran until 2007, aimed at both students and young professionals. More... [425 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 29, 2009Five Star Employees Part 3In two previous articles, I wrote about the influence that 5-star employees have on their guests, their team, and their company. These 5-star employees take immense pride in their jobs and refuse to settle for anything less than giving exceptional service. In part 1 of this series, I reviewed four commitments that 5-star employees have in common. Then in part 2, I wrote exclusively about the fifth commitment. In this article, we will review the remaining 3 commitments and conclude with the mantra of a 5-star employee. By Bryan K. Williams More... [2355 views] Resort Real Estate: Preparing for the RecoveryThe recession has changed resort real estate shoppers' purchasing power, values and behavior. Further, resort real estate and hotels may recover at differing paces. This article examines implications for developers, resort planners, and lenders. By Andrew Cohan More... [657 views] Investors Pledge €500m to Snap Up Distressed European HotelsA group of investors is pooling up to €500m to buy troubled European hotels in the belief that the hospitality market is poised for a rebound. Avingstone Financial has earmarked its intention to buy a series of four and five star hotels across European over the next two years. More... [770 views] STR Global Posts August 2009 Results For Asia/Pacific RegionHotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced decreases when reported in U.S. dollars for all three key performance metrics for August 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [613 views] UK Chain Hotels Market Review - August 2009Holiday makers boosted occupancy levels for provincial UK chain hotels in August 2009, according to the latest HotStats survey by industry experts TRI Hospitality Consulting. More... [600 views] Pegasus Data Confirms General Signs of RecoveryAccording to Pegasus' latest market report, the IDS channel shows particular signs of growth and North America as a whole, seems to see the volume of hotel bookings improving faster than other regions. GDS reservations, which had been in a sharp down-turn, have seen the percentage fall slow to single digit percentage decreases. More... [509 views] Strong Opportunities Exist For Vietnam Hotel Market, Despite Current ChallengesThe hotel market in Vietnam has faced considerable pressure since the onset of the global financial crisis, with declining occupancy levels and average daily rates forcing revenue per available room and profitability levels down. Despite the existing challenges in the hotel market, Vietnam has remained relatively more resilient than other regional competitors. More... [1249 views] PATA EGM Adopts New Association BylawsNew Bylaws regarded as vital in the Association's roadmap for change in its structure and governance have been adopted by voting members of the Pacific Asia Travel Association. At an Extraordinary General Meeting held in Hangzhou, China (PRC) on Saturday September 26th 2009. More... [355 views] U.S. Hotel Performance for Week Ending 19 September 2009The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during the week of 13-19 September 2009, according to data from STR. More... [449 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 28, 2009Cornell Research Study Says Look at ADR to Find Competing HotelsWhile some hotel managers might simply look out the window to see their competition, new hotel research from Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research finds that the real competition is hotels that are charging similar average rates. By Linda Canina, Ph.D. More... [1226 views] How to Turn the Recession to Your AdvantageSamsung Electronics Europe, the leader in flat panel televisions, has today announced the findings of a new research project1 looking at consumer spending habits in hotels across Europe. The research examines the factors that matter most to guests when booking a hotel room and demonstrates that the recession has led to a renewed focus on quality of experience as well as cost - making Europe's budget hotels ideally placed to prosper during the downturn. More... [697 views] Market on Rebound Australian Hoteliers ClaimThe worst is over - and it wasn't that bad after all - for Australia's accommodation industry, which looks to have dodged a bullet in the recession that never was. Just six months ago, many industry leaders were downbeat, forecasting a continued decline in room rates and occupancies ahead of recovery some time during 2010. By Martin Kelly More... [445 views] New Tool Tests Cultural Reactions to WebsitesA new product has just been released that could revolutionize how companies learn about cultural reactions to their websites. GlobalMaxer, a product two years in the making by international SEO specialists Oban Multilingual, is the next step in multivariate software, allowing its users to test how visitors from specific companies interact with their site. More... [722 views] Hotels Looking to their NABERing StarsSeveral years ago, I started noticing how many consumables in hotels and motels were preceded by the éco' prefix. First, there was eco-soap, then eco-shower caps all the way through to eco-traveller! Now, that's what I always wanted to be - an eco-traveller - idly circling the planet without leaving a trace that not even Sherlock Holmes would detect! Well, I'm not an eco-traveller, but I could easily be. By Peter Lovett More... [357 views] Largest 2009 Single Month Increase in Leisure BookingsPegasus Solutions has issued The Pegasus View for August 2009 based on booking data from more than 90,000 hotels worldwide during the month. Available online, the report indicates alternative distribution system (ADS) bookings experienced the largest single month increase this year with a 12.67 percent jump. Additionally, the data evidences a third straight month of gains in North America up 16.48 percent for the month, ahead of other global regions. More... [362 views] New All-in-one Hotel Key and Subway Pass in BangkokIn a joint initiative with the Chaophya Park Hotel, Bangkok, the All-in-One Day Pass and Room Key Card has been designed to be highly functional as an unlimited one day subway travel card and also a room key. More... [619 views] Only UK City Without Hotel Gets OneLisburn in Co Antrim lost one of its slightly bizarre claims to fame today - being the only city in the UK never to have a hotel. By Ian Graham More... [514 views] The Yas Hotel, Abu DhabiPRCo Dubai is delighted to advise that PRCo Dubai has been appointed the GCC public relations representatives for The Yas Hotel on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, opening in October 2009. More... [705 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 25, 2009An Unhappy Customer Used to Tell 3 Others - Now They Tell 3 MillionThe role of user-generated reviews is exploding. A new Market Metrix study reveals that one in five customers reads a review about a property before booking (more Le Meridian guests read reviews) and one in ten will write about their stay (more Waldorf Astoria guests write reviews). This research examines who writes reviews, who reads reviews and what you, as a hotel manager, should do about it. By Jonathan Barsky and Lenny Nash More... [2747 views] Tapping the Network Business Implications of Social MediaRespondents to a recent survey published by Beresford Research ranked social networking as more important than reading books or watching TV. It is no secret that social networking is a popular use of our time. Respondents spend an average of 22 hours per week on social networking sites. Yet, some still remain skeptical of social networking's value to commerce. More... [520 views] New Market Research Challenges CXO's to Think Differently about Insider RiskAccidental security incidents by company insiders happen more frequently and has the potential for greater negative impact than malicious insider attacks according to new IDC findings announced today by research sponsor RSA, The Security Division of EMC (NYSE: EMC). More... [458 views] Hilton Changes Name, LogoHilton Hotels Corp. has changed its name to Hilton Worldwide to reflect the company's rich heritage and current status as a global hotel company as well as its strategic objective of continuing to grow internationally going forward. By Derek Gale More... [1141 views] Lessons From Hyatt: Simple Ways to Damage Your BrandLooking for a sure-fire way to do a little damage to your brand? Follow these two simple steps... By Paul Michelman More... [2099 views] Starwood Opens 40 Hotels and Signs 25 New Deals in North AmericaQuality Growth through New-Build and Conversion Developments Further Extends Starwood's Leadership in Canada, the Caribbean and the U.S. More... [696 views] Hostelworld.com Figures Reveal 'Staycation' Summer Not a MythAs the nights draw in and the promise of a ‘barbeque summer' becomes a distant memory, the leading online provider of hostels and budget accommodation, Hostelworld.com, has released new figures showing exactly where people chose to travel to this summer. After all the predictions and hearsay the figures prove conclusively that this really was the summer of the ‘staycation'. More... [482 views] Fairmont Singapore Suits Up with F1-inspired Jersey Uniforms for its Frontline StaffImbued with the mission and passion to turn moments into fascinating and wonderful memories for every guest and diner, Fairmont Singapore suits up 451 of its frontline colleagues with its uniquely designed and customised F1 uniforms. More... [1190 views] Air New Zealand’s Matchmaking Flight Set for TakeoffLove is in the air and will take flight on October 13th, 2009, with singles looking for romance and adventure on Air New Zealand's Matchmaking Flight. The world-first singles cabin is close to capacity, with love-seeking travelers joining ABC's "The Bachelor" Jason Mesnick and girlfriend Molly Malaney on board the journey from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand. More... [430 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 24, 2009Top Five Social Media MythsSocial media holds great advantages, whether for improving internal collaboration, communication and social learning, or for building and enhancing trust through more responsive communications with key stakeholders and clients. Unfortunately, some organisations still hold onto a number of fears that hold them back from utilising these tool. By Matthew Hodgson More... [1012 views] An Upbeat Lessons From the FieldA message to general managers on creating successful sales management for 2010. By Dr. John Hogan More... [1343 views] How to Ensure a Smooth Website BuildYou've decided to have a new website constructed, and you've chosen a design firm to handle the project. You've got great intentions, a good budget, and a team of colleagues all set to support you. Flash forward five months and the end product, your new website, is a tad disorganized, a bit bloated in size, has an inconsistent voice, a muddy message, and is going live two months later than you hoped it would. Contracting a new website is a big job not to be underestimated. Wallop have some advice, comments and warnings that will help the build of your next website run much smoother than it might otherwise. By Aubyn Freybe-Smith More... [641 views] CEO Pay - The Hot PotatoHVS Executive Search names Jeffery H. Boyd President & Chief Executive Officer of priceline.com as the hotel industry's top-performing chief executive officer of 2008 in its 16th Annual CEO Survey. By Keith Kefgen More... [663 views] Wine Hotel Awards 2009ExperienciasyMas, has announced winners of the 2009 Wine Hotel Awards, given to the ten best wine hotels and wine cellar hotels in southern Europe. More... [539 views] Accor Sells 158 HotelF1 Properties in FranceIn line with its ongoing asset-right strategy, Accor announced a major real estate transaction in the budget segment in France, with the sale of 158 hotel F1 properties, representing a total of 12,300 rooms, for EUR272 million. More... [765 views] Social TV and the Hotel Industry - A Marriage Made in Heaven?Whilst the mainstream media players are quietly pushing their technology and innovation teams to the maximum across the world in a race to marry Social Media and TV, most of the public remains oblivious and left out of the loop, However, the Hotel and Hospitality sector is one of the earlier beneficiaries. By Richard Kastelein More... [428 views] Cruisers Can't Leave Home Without Them! New Survey Reveals Must Have Holiday ItemsResearch commissioned for National Cruise Week (20 - 27 September 2009) has highlighted some intriguing items that we British simply don't want to live without whilst cruising the ocean waves. More... [503 views] Why 2010 Will Be the Year of the Travel DealThe future holds great deals - here are 10 places to find them. By Christopher Elliot More... [827 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 23, 2009Hotel Management Strategies for Tough TimesIn spite of these tough times, some hotels are doing better than others and a few hotels are actually doing quite well. This anomaly sparked my curiosity; was this solely a result of local market variations or could it be a result of better management in some hotels? By Neil Salerno More... [1962 views] Understanding Your Competition’s Online Strategy is the First Step in Topping ItMany hoteliers, especially those new to online marketing, advertise and market blindly but are baffled when very little is achieved. A fatal mistake that many make, is to ignore the competition and consequently focus their attention in the wrong direction. In order to be successful, it is vital to know who your hotel's competitors are and what it is they do online. By Samantha Hasler More... [1335 views] Hotels Alerted to Guests who Behave BadlyTravellers beware: a system that automatically alerts hotels to troublesome guests has been launched for the first time by an Australian accommodation website. By Kate Schneider More... [985 views] Social Media & the Hospitality IndustryThe emergence of social networking websites means a new form of business-to-customer communication unlike any other before it. Compared to traditional advertising, there are new rules at play here: transparency, credibility, and an audience that primarily controls the message. If you work in the hospitality industry, there are specific websites you should know about and be active on, and methods of leveraging mounds of social media content. By Stephen Saugestad More... [9651 views] 20|20 Assessment™ Presents New HSMAI Survey ResultsThe 20|20 AssessmentTM team is pleased to present key findings from our recently analyzed survey conducted for the 20th Annual HSMAI's Affordable Meetings® National/ETE Conference & Exposition. By Jim Houran More... [1121 views] Irish Hotel Prices Drop 26% - Steepest Fall of all Major European CountriesThe average price of a hotel room in Ireland dropped 26% year-on-year in the first six months of 2009, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI). This price drop of 26% in Ireland is the steepest fall in hotel prices experienced by any European country for this period. Ireland is followed by Norway and Austria which experienced hotel price drops of 24% and 23% respectively in the first six months of 2009. More... [500 views] STR Global Releases Europe Hotel Pipeline for August 2009The European hotel development pipeline includes 585 hotels comprising 94,259 rooms, according to the August 2009 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. More... [464 views] An End to Check-In QueuesHow can you make sure that guests never wait for their rooms? Hotels worldwide have tried and failed in eliminating this aspect of hospitality. Optii Keeper lets your hotel achieve just that. More... [837 views] Soon, Alex and the Dinosaurs will Come out to PlayYeoh Siew Hoon gets a look-see at the resort that will change Singapore forever as a leisure and family destination. More... [536 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 22, 2009Brand Trust Is Your Trajectory to Marketplace RelevanceBusiness Week magazine in a recent article called Consumer Trust the most perishable of assets. Given the assault on our various Brands and our inability or choice not to respond to this market dynamic, we find ourselves at a loss of credibility in the public eye. We've pretty well shot ourselves in the foot, limping along with the projected economic recovery. We have let our Performance Standards lapse, our staff depart and product quality become minimized. We know the status, and our Customer knows it, as well. There is some rebuilding to do! By Ragsdale Hendrie More... [1014 views] The Awesomeness ManifestoInnovation: it's the ultimate source of advantage, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the economic ring. Innovation is what every organization should be ruthlessly pursuing, right? Wrong. By Umair Haque More... [551 views] Why Your Advertising Isn't WorkingThe vast majority of ads don't register with consumers. Here are seven straight-up reasons why your message probably isn't getting through. By Steve McKee More... [856 views] Shower Me with Love, Not DirtYeoh Siew Hoon longs for a time when things were what they seem, including shower heads. More... [644 views] Hilton Hotels Number One Hotel Brand In The Middle EastThe Hilton Hotels (Hilton) brand tops the 2009 Business Development Research Consultants' (BDRC) Middle East Hotel Business Guest Survey as the number one hotel brand in the Middle East. The BDRC survey, which tracks the performance of 80 international hotel brands across the Middle East, also named Hilton the ‘Leading Choice Hotel Brand' for the business traveller segment. More... [876 views] STR Global Releases Australia Performance ResultsThough not immune to the global economic recession, the Australian hotel industry is faring well in local currency terms (Australian Dollar), according to data compile by STR Global, the leading provider of market data to the world's hotel industry. More... [443 views] Are Brits Really Too Polite to Complain?Sunshine.co.uk, the UK's fastest growing independent online travel agent has issued a list of the most ludicrous complaints from the past 12 months, including the sky being too cloudy, the alcohol being too strong and shampoo leaking in suitcases. More... [811 views] Which Hotel Chain's Hosting A-listers at Fashion Week?To W Hotels' hip looking lounge inside the giant Bryant Park tent, of course. I stopped by W's lounge on Tuesday to check it out and interview a new W hire. Here's my report... By Barbara De Lollis More... [517 views] Marriott Introduces New Global “Love Travel Agents” Campaign to Recognise the Travel Agency CommunityThe comprehensive campaign launched at THETRADESHOW in Las Vegas, sponsored in part by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Love Travel Agents was created to help build knowledge among travel industry leaders and customers of the pivotal role travel agents play within the travel industry. More... [1057 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 21, 2009Best Western, ASTA Partner to Recruit Young Professionals to Travel IndustryASTA and Best Western have partnered to bolster social media efforts to recruit more young professionals into the travel industry. ASTA will launch its Interactive Agency Web Apps Forum (Apps Forum) later this year with sponsorship support from Best Western. The Apps Forum will allow ASTA member agents to view and recommend potential applications and plug-ins. Agents will be able to comment and discuss page content that may be used to generate user interactivity on their own sites. More... [688 views] New CMBS rule insights from Hotel Lawyer -- effective immediately. Panacea or placebo?On September 15, 2009, the United States Treasury changed the REMIC rules applicable to CMBS to give servicers greater flexibility to modify troubled commercial real estate loans. The changes are effective immediately and are implemented in final regulations under the tax code and a revenue procedure that is designed to provide guidance. In fact, the revenue procedure applies to loans modified after January 1, 2008. What does all this gobbledygook really mean? By Jim Butler, Jeff Steiner and the Global Hospitality Group® Hospitality Lawyers More... [392 views] No Recovery Yet for Meetings MarketBSI is warning demand for face-to-face meetings may never return to previous levels due to an increase in virtual solutions. More... [615 views] Holiday Inn Stacks a Full House to Celebrate 1,200 Relaunched Hotels GloballyIHG, today unveiled the Holiday Inn "Key Card Hotel," the first-ever hotel made of key cards in New York City, to mark the relaunch of 1,200 Holiday Inn hotels globally in September. More... [674 views] Survey Questions Value of Premium Hotel BrandsNew research has added more weight to the argument that budget hotels are faring best in the recession. More... [728 views] Ultimate Escapes Holdings Announces Completion of Acquisition of Private Escapes HoldingsSecure America Acquisition Corporation (NYSE Amex: HLD, HLD.U, HLD.WT) ("Secure America") and Ultimate Escapes Holdings, LLC ("Ultimate Escapes"), announced that Ultimate Escapes has completed the acquisition of certain assets from Private Escapes Holdings, LLC ("Private Escapes"), the third largest destination club. More... [472 views] FIFA World Cup Gives South Africa a Boost in TourismAs South Africa prepares for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, international travelers are already indicating a desire to visit the Republic. Both international arrivals and spending by international Visa cardholders were up last year compared with the year prior. In 2008, international arrivals increased 5.5 percent with 9.5 million visitors compared to 9.1 million in 2007.1 Today Visa Inc. (NYSE: V)issued its Tourism Outlook: South Africa, a new report highlighting international Visa cardholder spending in South Africa. More... [819 views] The Scarlet HotelEcochic living meets down-to-earth Cornish charm at Design HotelsTM' newest member, The Scarlet hotel in Cornwall. The just-opened seaside escape was created by three sisters who deliberately chose the unique environment they grew up in to create an eco-luxury hotel. More... [731 views] A Purpose Built Hybrid Electric Livery & Taxi VehicleRoyale a Cabot Coach Builders Company has embarked on a mission to offer the most energy conscious and environmentally friendly extended body Hybrid Taxi and Hybrid Livery sedans. The Hybrid Electric Livery VehicleTM (HELV) line was developed in conjunction with OEM's and major suppliers to insure quality of construction, safety and product longevity. More... [377 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 18, 2009Understanding the Facts for Effective Sales ManagementWhile many of us appreciate some forms of government support, we must take action ourselves in directed steps to tackle our particular challenges and begin to turn the situation around. Hotels have various levels of sophistication and changes in demand. I offer the following as a proven method to maximize revenues in any type of property... By Dr. John Hogan More... [1144 views] Dubai's Hotel Industry Sees Rebound in Q4Dubai's hotel industry will experience a significant boost in the fourth quarter or early 2010 after having suffered a sharp decline in average hotel room rates in the first half of this year, hotel industry executives ?said on Tuesday. By Abdul Basit More... [843 views] Cities Launch Joint Tourism InitiativeThe mayors of New York and London have announced a new tourism deal to boost travel between the two cities. The two-year deal will see the cities provide each other with outdoor media advertising space, and tourism bodies NYC & Company and Visit London sharing best practices and assisting each other with at least one publicity event in each city. More... [455 views] Gloomy Results for PragueResults for Prague were consistently gloomy for the year to date, as a general lack of demand and oversupply of hotels drove the market's key performance indicators deep into negative territory, according to data from STR Global, the leading provider of market data to the world's hotel industry. More... [454 views] The Cure for the Common HotelThe Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites is "The cure for the common hotel." One glance around the property and guests immediately see why it has achieved just such a billing. More... [583 views] Last Minute Rush for SunshineBritain's wet summer has led to fed-up Brits rushing to book a last minute holiday in the sun, new research has revealed. Of the estimated 20 million people who went on a staycation in the UK, or even skipped their annual holiday completely, because of the recession, 68 per cent are now desperate to get away. More... [554 views] Hilton Research Confirms Face to Face Meetings MatterAs it launches its new '1 in 5 go free' meetings promotion, Hilton Hotels has conducted research that shows face-to-face meetings are far more effective for business than the increasingly popular 'virtual alternatives.' More... [1456 views] Americas Best Value Inn is Celebrating its 10th AnniversaryTen years ago, Google and eBay had yet to be household names and Pluto was still a planet. But perhaps the most significant change that began in 1999 was when five partners, dissatisfied with the existing hotel franchise model, launched the membership brand Americas Best Value Inn and forever changed the landscape of the hospitality branding industry. More... [459 views] Ten New Pullman Hotels Signed in Asia in One MonthAsia's fastest growing 5 star hotel network announces an additional 5 hotels, taking development commitments for the month to 10 new hotels More... [1201 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 17, 2009Business Travel Shows 15 to 1 Return on InvestmentBusinesses can realize more than $15 in profits for every $1 spent on business travel, according to a study by IHS Global Insight. The groundbreaking research shows that companies are potentially losing out on nearly $200 billion in 2009 in additional gross profits because they are not optimizing their investments in strategic business travel. More... [678 views] Remote Lands Launches Luxury Bespoke Vacations in North Korea, Optionally by Private JetRemote Lands today announced their groundbreaking tailor-made holidays to North Korea, optionally by private jet. For the first time ever, clients have the opportunity to travel in style and comfort with private guides and transportation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). They will be able to experience this physically beautiful country that is largely closed off to outsiders, and will be amongst the very few to enter one of the world's most fascinating destinations. More... [464 views] Hotel Liability - Have you Checked your Parental Release Forms Lately?Florida Supreme Court invalidates parental release. Hotel Lawyers suggest fast action. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers More... [701 views] 'Going Green' Still a Top Issue for Hotels & Guests, But Not Without ChallengesDespite the upfront costs associated with going green, the lodging industry shows no signs of turning its back on its commitment to sustainability. Rather, many hotels are looking longer-term, recognizing the cost- and resource-saving benefits of going green, along with the good-will that it builds among guests. More... [971 views] Positive Signs Continue in September HIPThis morning economic research firm e-forecasting.com in conjunction with Smith Travel Research announced HIP continued to break its downward path for the second month in a row. Following 19 months of decline, HIP went up for the second month in a row, gaining 1.5 percent in August. HIP, the Hotel Industry's Pulse index, is composite indicator that gauges business activity in the US hotel industry. The latest increase brought the index to a reading of 82.0. The index is set to equal 100 in 2000. More... [322 views] Global Hotel Prices Drop 17%The average price of a hotel room around the world fell by 17% in the first six months of 2009, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index. More... [617 views] Jobs Fear Amid Drop in VisitorsVisitBritain has repeated its warning that UK jobs are at risk because of a fall in overseas visitors. More... [365 views] Extreme Hotels Launches New Australian Ad-venture Reservations for the New GenerationsExtreme Hotels, one of the world's most ground breaking hotel brands and Best Management Group, one of Australia's leading hotel management companies are very pleased to announce they are going to develop and roll out Extreme Hotels across Australia together. More... [565 views] US Pipeline for August 2009The total active U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 4,384 projects with 475,521 rooms, according to the August 2009 STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. More... [347 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 16, 2009Three Hotel Internet Marketing Tactics from Outside the BoxThere have been a torrent of articles and webinars extolling the virtues of social media for hotels. Social media is certainly applicable for hotel franchise brand-building, but this writer is still unconvinced about the marketing value of social media for individual hotels. By Neil Salerno More... [1233 views] Building a Case for the Future: Determining if Now is the Right Time to BuyHVS Hodges Ward Elliott has analyzed the major fundamentals of the hotel industry and current trends in other sectors of commercial real estate to determine how investors can capitalize on the current market. By Jordan Mendell More... [527 views] TIG Global Releases Second Report in Destination eMarketing Best Practices SeriesTIG Global, announces the release of its second eMarketing report specifically written for destination marketing professionals. The series is designed to serve as a collection of educational tools for DMO marketers that can be directly applied to their online marketing programs. Part II," is available for complimentary download now. More... [375 views] Disney to Expand Fantasyland at Walt Disney WorldMickey Mouse's house and his Toon Town world will make way next year for a vastly larger Fantasyland, in the biggest-ever expansion of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, Walt Disney Co said on Saturday. By Gina Keating More... [647 views] Social Media Tools Bump Porn Sites out of No.1 PositionEight out of 10 Australian internet users use social media tools, which have edged out pornography as the nations No.1 internet activity. More... [832 views] Value campaign pays off for VisitBritainVisitBritain claims its £6m campaign to highlight the destination's value for money generated over 160,000 additional bookings this year. The campaign, launched last year, was worth £1bn in media coverage and led to over 26m visits to the visitbritain.com website. More... [381 views] Korean and Chinese Travellers Top List of Duty Free Spenders in Asia PacificThe Visa Travel Smart Survey asked 2,226 travelers from across the Asia Pacific region on their travel spending habits and found that Korean and Chinese travelers spent the most on duty free items on their last trip with an average expenditure of US$358 and US$333 respectively. This was US$100 more than the regional average. More... [977 views] TravelCLICK partners with Hickory Travel Systems to provide desktop advertising to TAsHickory Travel Systems (HTS) and TravelCLICK announce an innovative new program that provides desktop advertising access to travel agents worldwide. More... [463 views] Luxury resort in Turks and Caicos ClosesThe Nikki Beach Resort in Providenciales, one of the Turks and Caicos Islands' most luxurious resorts, announced on Friday that it has closed after its owners went into receivership. By Kerry Harvey More... [696 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 15, 2009Hotelier of the Week: Asaad FaragAsaad Farag has spent most of his working life in New York. He tells how he left the city he regards as home to manage the biggest luxury hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia. By Stanley Slaughter More... [1460 views] Leading Hotel Brands in a Lagging EconomyWhile occupancy levels and revenues within the hotel industry have continued to sink through the first half of 2009, several hotel brands have been able to keep their heads above water. By Bradley Walker and Mark Brady More... [1059 views] Marketing Q&A with Jennifer RodriguesEhotelier is pleased to present a new fortnightly feature starring our Marketing expert Jennifer Rodrigues, answering your questions on anything from public relations to marketing to advertising. Write to Jennifer at jlr@travellinkd.com and your questions, however big or small, will be answered in her fortnightly column. By Jennifer Rodrigues More... [1084 views] Managing Renovations During A RecessionThe current economic environment raises a heightened need to properly manage construction risk and avoid claims on construction projects. Hotel owners and operators who are undertaking renovations should take a hard look at their internal contracting procedures and controls to ensure they have adequate measures in place to manage this risk. By Brian Fielden More... [572 views] Customers Demand Education from their VacationResearch company Mintel is predicting a downturn in fly-and-flop holidays in favour of people going overseas to improve their knowledge or learn a skill. Mintel claims 36% of adults believe educating themselves about the place they're visiting is an important part of the travel experience, while 20% enjoy learning new skills on holiday. More... [491 views] STR Global Releases Performance Results for SpainWith visitor numbers expected to drop 10 percent in 2009, the Spanish hotel market is suffering greater year-on-year declines in performance than some of its European neighbors. Visitors from major source markets such as Germany, the U.K. and France are in decline, with U.K. travelers further deterred by the 20-percent weakening of the sterling against the euro during the past 12 months and the increased competition from Turkey and Egypt. More... [496 views] Travel Marketers Coping with New TrendThe lingering recession has led to a movement that has to be considered by everyone in the business. It's commonly called "conscious consumption. This social shift in consumer behavior blends newfound frugality with sustainability and it has seeped into every industry -- from travel to automotive. By David Wilkening More... [486 views] Hotels and Fashion Websites Make New TeamsIn a new twist on online hotel discounts, some luxury properties have hooked up with fashion Web sites that offer limited-time reduced prices on high-end clothing and accessories. By Maya Meinert More... [481 views] Amin Taha's Luxury Spa Hotel MasterplanAmin Taha Architects has revealed the first images of its masterplan for a €115 million luxury spa hotel and housing development in Andalucia, Spain. By Anna Winston More... [681 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 14, 2009Are Travel Marketers Ready to Conquer the New Mobile Frontier?By 2012 more than 1.5 billion mobile devices will be accessing the Internet, presenting a new opportunity for marketing professionals to deliver information right to consumers' hands. More... [1079 views] Starwood in Wrangle over Hotel de CrillonIt is the grandest hotel in France, with suites costing up to €8,220 (£7,150) a night and a register signed by the likes of King George V, Sir Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin. But Hôtel de Crillon in Paris is in limbo - lacking a chef for its Michelin-starred restaurant and awaiting a renovation - amid a legal wrangle over its sale by its US owner Starwood Capital, the investment firm. By Adam Sage More... [1612 views] Top hotel spas for a pampered breakIf being pampered is your idea of the perfect vacation, an increasing number of hotels are catering for you. Online travel guide book publisher and hotel booking service LUXE City Guides Hotel & Villa Collection has compiled a list of their top best hotel spas. More... [703 views] W Hotels Hip to Global FashionW Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and leading industry innovator, today unveiled a unique, multi-layered strategy that links the W brand with the global fashion industry while bringing its passion for fashion to life in W Hotels globally. More... [785 views] Fifth Annual Survey of Finance ProfessionalsThe International Lodging Finance Council (ILFC) today released the findings of its 5th Annual Survey of Lodging Finance - a forward looking survey of domestic and international institutions together representing the majority of all hotel debt originations in the United States. More... [641 views] Dutch Hotel Market Suffering under CrisisThe Dutch hotel market has been hit hard by the economic crisis. The HOSTA 2009 report by consulting firm Horwath HTL shows that both occupancies and average room rates of the hotels have decreased. It is expected that the results for 2009 will be even lower than in 2008. More... [591 views] STR forecast: Projections hold steadyAlthough July performance results were better-than-expected, the year-end 2009 projections have not been adjusted, according to STR's monthly forecast. More... [583 views] Winners of IDeaS Cornell Revenue Management ScholarshipIDeaS Revenue Optimization, the leading provider of pricing, forecasting and optimization solutions and services, today announced that Alexandre Teixeira - revenue manager at Grand Hyatt São Paulo, Crystal Edwards - assistant revenue manager at Governor Hotel, and Fraser Pearce - revenue manager at Lord Elgin Hotel, have been awarded the IDeaS Cornell Revenue Management Scholarship. More... [685 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 11, 2009A Hotelier’s Self- Assessment QuizDo you feel that you and your hotel are well suited for the future, or have you given up and set yourself up for "non-success?" After taking this short self-assessment quiz and evaluating your score, you may feel encouraged or you may decide that you are not focusing on the right skills or markets. By Dr. John Hogan CHE CHA MHS More... [2496 views] Business Travel Cuts BottomingMany companies expect to increase travel spending next year from what is expected to remain a craterous 2009, but some industry players are convinced it will be a matter of years before they resume pre-recession levels, according to speakers at last month's National Business Travel Association International Convention in San Diego, conversations with industry buyers and suppliers and recent surveys of corporate travel managers. By Jay Boehmer More... [439 views] World's Top Hoteliers Address Issues at SummitIDeaS Revenue Optimization, today released results from a survey of hospitality industry revenue management professionals conducted at its recent IDeaS Client Summit 2009, held at the Maritim proArte Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Revenue management leaders from some of the world's most prestigious hotels attended the two day event. More... [603 views] STR Global releases performance results for GermanyThe German hotel industry has not experienced the steepest performance declines during the economic crisis, but actual occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room still remained low compared with Europe. More... [605 views] ebookers Improves Hotel Functionalityebookers.com has unveiled a number of new hotel booking tools. They include a slides and filter function, enabling users to change their accommodation search results, filtering them by different criteria, such as hotel star ratings and customer reviews. More... [449 views] New York Fights Off Tourism PlungeRecord attendance at the Museum of Modern Art and a "big summer" for out-of-towners at Nobu, where a plate of sashimi tacos costs $21, show New York City is fighting off forecasts of plunging tourism during the deepest U.S. recession in six decades. By Henry Goldman More... [477 views] 'Staycations' are Good News for Rural CommunitiesThe recession means more and more UK residents are choosing to take holidays and day trips in the UK this year. Domestic tourism is one of the few areas of the economy potentially to see an increase as people tighten their belts. This is good news for rural towns and villages that take the initiative to let potential visitors know about the fantastic landscape, wildlife and heritage on their doorstep. More... [322 views] Dusit Goes Green by 2010!Dusit International advances its commitment to protecting the environment by undertaking benchmarking under the Green Globe Company Standard as delivered by EC3 Global in order to receive independent and comprehensive proof of its environmental commitment and become Green Globe certified by 2010. More... [532 views] Historic 'Il Salviatino' Villa Re-opens as Italy's Hottest 5-Star RetreatItaly's hottest new 5-star hotel Il Salviatino is finally open following a breathtaking renovation of one of the country's finest Renaissance villas. More... [624 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 10, 2009Ten Most Profitable Hotel Marketing Tasks to OutsourceSome hotel marketing functions are best kept in-house. For others, it's more profitable to outsource them to an outside partner. Here are ten of the most profitable hotel internet marketing tasks to outsource and why. By Josiah Mackenzie More... [2057 views] Content: The Key to Online Hotel BookingsThe online travel planning process is one that often involves research on multiple websites and consideration of a number of factors. Learn why hotel content (primarily visual) plays a significant role in driving bookings. By John McAuliffe More... [828 views] Cornell Research Center Issues New Forecasting Tool to Assist Hotel Revenue ManagersHotel revenue management forecasts are made clearer with this spreadsheet-based program. More... [994 views] Smiles go a Long Way for Hotel Guest Services WorkerLatoya Skeete takes the motto of the hotel she works at seriously -- her job at the front desk, she said, is to make everyone feel at home. By Niala Boodhoo More... [697 views] European Hotel Prices Increase for the First Time Since MayAfter a steady decrease over the summer, average European hotel prices have increased by 18 percent in September in comparison to the previous month. Nearly all of the most popular European cities have seen an increase in hotel rates. Paris, Venice and Stockholm are at their highest rates this year. Spain is the only country where hotel prices continue to decrease. More... [511 views] Threats to Business TravellersBusiness travel comprises a major component of the travel and tourism industry. In a down economy business travel is even more important than in past years. Unfortunately business travel is not always easy. Often called "road warriors" these often weary men and women deal with long days and nights, exhaustion, poor service and travel hassles. More... [426 views] GHM Ceases Management of The Chedi PhuketGeneral Hotel Management Limited (GHM), a market leader in stylish luxury hotel development and management, has announced that it will discontinue management of The Chedi, Phuket under a mutual agreement with the owning company Surin Bay Company Limited, with effect from September 2009. More... [652 views] Cambodian Literacy Project calls on Tourism Industry for SupportThe newly established Cambodian Literacy Project has chosen World Literacy Day to call on the international travel industry to get behind its efforts to help eradicate illiteracy in Cambodia. More... [358 views] Zurich's Widder Hotel: Perfection In A Butcher's HouseA remarkable property blends old with very new, Never seen one like this before. On the outside, it looks like a simple establishment. On the inside, it is simply superb. From the polished floors to the polished staff, Zurich's Widder Hotel is likely to be remembered by guests long after their visits have finished. By Robert La Bur's More... [517 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 9, 2009Rambagh Palace Wins Best Hotel in Conde Nast Traveller Reader's Awards 2009Rambagh Palace, Jaipur has been voted the Best Hotel in the World by Conde Nast Traveller in the Readers Travel Awards for 2009 across travel and industry categories, in the World Top 100. More... [932 views] The General Manager: Shi(f)t happens!Evil Erik is laying low during the present crisis and tries to avoid any conflicts, internal or external, by shifting his attention from politics to policies. By Bert van Walbeek More... [1590 views] Are You Loyal or Just Plain Lazy?Time changes all things, even the idea of loyalty. Yeoh Siew Hoon compresses the subject into a bowl of noodles. More... [1470 views] North Korea's "Hotel of Doom" Gets a Face LiftA towering North Korean hotel which Esquire magazine once dubbed "the worst building in the history of mankind" has come back to life with a facade of shiny glass windows affixed to one side of the concrete monolith. More... [586 views] In Ageing Europe, "Greycationers" Seek Local ThrillsWhen the Iron Curtain fell, Edith Behrenstengel and Crista Schlatow leapt at the chance to go travelling across the globe. Now the two pensioners are just as likely to take a holiday in their native Germany. Close-to-home holidays dubbed "staycations" by trend-watchers have proliferated in the financial crisis, but now the travel industry is gearing to draw another crowd -- aging populations in countries like Germany whose spending power may outlast the downturn. By Brian Rohan More... [432 views] Accor Building Up Hotel Inventory In IndiaEuropean hotel company Accor yesterday detailed plans to increase its presence in India tenfold over the next three years. By Michael B. Baker More... [552 views] Local Luxury Hotels Frozen Amid RecessionEleven hotels planned for St. Petersburg have been put on hold as a result of the economic crisis. The frozen hotels would have provided at least 2,425 new rooms for St. Petersburg's guests. By Irina Titova More... [472 views] Colour-Coded SimplicityFarnek Avireal a leading UAE-based facilities management company, has created a novel colour-coded cleaning process using only sustainable chemicals and reusable cloths, which could save property owners millions of dollars as well as lowering their carbon emissions. More... [492 views] Quiz - How Well Do You Know Your Hotels?In 2006, the Most Famous Hotels in the World started building a quiz. They have expanded it from time to time, with new hotels being added. It puts the knowledge of travellers and hotel connoisseurs to the test, asking for a specific hotel and its city (location). So far (!!!) nobody was ever been able to answer all the questions (we reached 22 out of 25, at the max!) How many will get right? More... [1159 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 8, 2009On the Move - August 2009Global Staff Movements for August 2009 provided by Spectrum International. More... [4062 views] Hotelier of the Week: Richard HartmanRichard Hartman came out of retirement to become ceo for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, a company with 102 three-, four- and five-star hotels with more than 30,000 rooms in 19 countries worldwide. By Tom Otley More... [1814 views] The HR Perspective According to HVS Round Table EventHVS Executive Search London recently launched the first in a series of Round Table events at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. The discussion explored the Human Resources response to the current economic environment in the hotel industry. More... [516 views] LE's First Forecast of EMEA 2011 New OpeningsFor the first time, Lodging Econometrics (LE) has compiled and announced its 2011 Forecast for New Hotel Openings for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More... [685 views] The Traditional Guest Experience Will Disappear. Will You Change in Time?It doesn't matter if you like Change or not. When it blows, there is nothing you can do to stop it. You can pretend that it won't affect you and that you don't need to change because you are who you are or because you have been so successful for years, but Change will just laugh in your face and sweep you aside. You can ignore this, if you wish, but very significant changes are coming to the nature of the guest experience and how it will be created. Traditional hotel chains will not survive if they are intransigent to change. By Peter McAlpine More... [1713 views] Universities Partner to Help World Tourism Industry Improve CommunitiesThe tourism industry is the world's largest employer, and a new collaboration between Arizona State University and Clark University in Massachusetts is devoted to making it more responsible to communities. More... [438 views] Daring Diners: British Travellers Favour Local Fare over ‘Full English’The days of British holiday makers seeking full English breakfasts on their travels are waning, reveals a new survey by TripAdvisor®, the world's most popular and largest travel community - with Britons preferring instead to embrace local delicacies. More... [937 views] No Sex Please, We're Getting DivorcedSome people might argue that going on a holiday together might actually cause a couple to break up, but one Indian tour operator is hoping that his kind of holidays will keep couples together. More... [1293 views] Check little ones into Baby HotelRomantic weekends away, an uninterrupted film or a guilt-free late night at work are no longer indulgent dreams for South African parents, as a new Baby Hotel seeks to ease their burden. More... [743 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 7, 2009Business Travellers Give Up Amenities to Cut CostsAs the recession unfolds, a growing number of budget-minded business travelers are shifting to lower-price hotels, whether by choice or because their bosses are telling them to. By Martha C. White More... [883 views] Breakfast with Vijay WanchooI am having breakfast with VIJAY WANCHOO the General Manager of The Imperial New Delhi. The Imperial New Delhi is not only one of the oldest luxury hotels of India, it also received more awards over the past years than any other hotel on the subcontinent. By Andreas Augustin More... [1159 views] New Research Explores Link Between Business Travel and ProfitResearch conducted by IHS Global Insight and previewed during the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) International Convention & Exposition held last week in San Diego explores the link between changes in business travel and sales and profits. The research, commissioned by NBTA and American Express Business Travel, used data spanning ten years from 1998 to 2008 and across 15 industries and 9,500 U.S. companies. More... [426 views] Packages and All-inclusives in Demand for 2010TUI UK claims there is ‘considerable optimism' among holidaymakers planning trips for 2010. More... [686 views] Aloft Unveils First Adaptive Re-Use Hotel ProjectStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announces the debut of the Aloft® brand's first adaptive re-use project in the heart of downtown Dallas. Offering jet-setting style at a steal, Aloft Dallas Downtown opens in a historic railroad freight depot, now transformed into the city's newest destination sensation complete with 193 spacious, loft-like rooms, accessible technology and a hip, social atmosphere. More... [1349 views] Conde Nast Readers Name New Zealand as 'Top Five Destination'For the sixth year in a row, New Zealand has been ranked in the top five best destinations in the world by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine. More... [1178 views] Hotels in France Record RevPAR Decrease of 9.1% in August 2009According to MKG Hospitality's market monitor, incorporating 2,000 hotels in France and over 200,000 rooms in all categories and based on the first 25 days of the month, daily data collected somewhat diminished the optimism generated in July. More... [964 views] UNWTO prepares for Influenza Challenges AheadIn view of the current influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, UNWTO held a two-day review and preparation exercise on ‘Travel and Tourism under Pandemic Conditions' in Madrid 26-27 August. The workshop was convened to anticipate the challenges the virus will bring over the next few months and ensure that the travel and tourism sector is fully prepared for the evolving pandemic. More... [347 views] When In Need of an InterpreterTransatlantic Translations, a leading provider of translation services to organizations worldwide, launches LangCommLingo. An "on demand" Telephone Interpreting service designed with the traveler in mind. Transatlantic Translations, through its trading subsidiaries, has provided Telephone Interpreting services to commercial organizations across the world for some time. Now, with the launch of LangCommLingo, vacationers, student travelers, tourists and business travelers alike have 24/7 access to their network of interpreters previously only really available to companies and public sector organizations. More... [340 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 4, 2009Managing Revenue by Market Segment – The Recovery Challenge for Sales and Revenue ManagersA lot of mixed signals are being sent to revenue managers and sales departments. Lower rates -- don't lower rates but increase revenue - offer moderate but not deep discounts but how much and when -- discount but protect group blocks - the list goes on and on! By Carol Verret More... [1534 views] 'A Baker’s Dozen' of Strategies for Hotel Human Resource Managers & DirectorsWith the ongoing turbulence facing our industry and global economies, the responsibility to find the time to "think" has become even more critical. The regrettable propensity for knee jerk responses is evident if one watches the daily rise and fall of global stock market prices, as companies and industries are substantially devalued for reasons that have little to do with the actual company's quality or performance. By Dr. John Hogan More... [1855 views] The Hotel Owner's and Hotel Lender's Dilemma: Sell now or sell later? How long does it take to market a hotel today?Hotel Lawyer. As a hotel owner or lender with a distressed property in the worst business environment for more than 70 years, you have a decision to make. Do you sell the hotel now at a deep discount, or do you hold on for things to get better? How long does it take to market a property in this environment? By Jim Butler More... [918 views] Britain’s Great Res-capeebookers.com, one of Europe's leading online tour agents, has identified a new trend of traveller - the recession escaper, also known as the ‘Res-caper' following research which reveals that almost one in five Britons (19%) made redundant in the credit crunch are heading off on an extended holiday to get away from the recession and over a quarter (26%), are using their redundancy package to fund their Res-cape. More... [351 views] US Hotel Industry Recession Enters New Rate Erosion Phase2009 will likely rank as one of the worst years for the United States hospitality industry in modern history. The week of June 27, this drop off entered a dangerous new phase - when compared to the same week, year over year, the national hotel average room rate began to fall more rapidly on a percentage basis than the average hotel occupancy percentage. This trend has now continued over the past eight weeks. More... [491 views] Thailand Entices Couples with CompetitionThe Tourism Authority of Thailand is inviting applications from fun-loving and adventurous couples worldwide to participate in a social-networking competition that will see the top prize-winner get a cash reward of US$10,000, a holiday package to Thailand worth US$3,000, a Blackberry and a Handycam video camera. More... [513 views] IHG pledges $1million to Oxford UniversityIHG and the University of Oxford have joined forces to accelerate vital and innovative research into conservation, with IHG pledging up to $1million over a five year period to help Oxford increase its research capability. IHG will use this research to inform its future hotel design and operations. More... [455 views] Top 10 Hotels with Extraordinary PoolsThe hotel price comparison trivago has brought together the list of the most popular hotels around the world with the most amazing swimming pools. More... [5603 views] Bread Torque!Dazzling lights and tyre-burning speed will take centre stage as the nation celebrates Singapore's second night motor racing season. At Royal Plaza on Scotts (RP), it's BREAD TORQUE! as the hotel joins in the much anticipated event with a cornucopia of specially baked bread and a good deed. RP will be flagging off the occasion with a life-sized bread race car in its lobby, the first ever ‘dough-inspired' race car to be created in Asia. More... [355 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 3, 2009Hotels Cannot Afford to Lose Lucrative Bookings due to Online Booking IgnoranceIt is astounding that, despite the current climate, hoteliers are still missing fundamental requirements in terms of the usability and functionality of their website and website booking engine. Even more frighteningly, many hoteliers are missing the vital ingredient that promises to increase their reservations - the capacity for instant online sales! By Samantha Hasler More... [1671 views] Top Ten Most Popular WorldHotels PropertiesWORLDHOTELS has announced the top ten most popular hotels in terms of visitor numbers to its website, worldhotels.com. More... [2403 views] Finding a Way OutWith the dramatic downturn in the economy and the resulting cutback of all types of travel, hotels are suffering from significantly lower demand and rate cutting. By Steve Rushmore More... [511 views] Dynamic Hotel PricingThe current economic situation has thrown the hotel industry for a loop. After a boom period that saw a huge increase of the supply of hotel rooms in most major markets, the recession is now stripping the demand out of those same markets. This presents hotel operators with a difficult decision: offer deep discounts to draw in guests- and thus increase occupancy, at any cost- or try to maintain the right margins by keeping rates at budgeted levels and risk lower occupancy rates. By Jean Francois Mourier More... [2007 views] European revPAR Decline SlowsSix out of ten European hotel markets surveyed by TRI Hospitality Consulting saw July occupancy increase year-on-year. More... [521 views] Six Steps for Better Email DeliveryEmail marketing's effectiveness and ROI have been proven time and time again, but concerns about spam have left many marketers and business owners wary. Will my email messages get through to the inbox? How do I avoid being lumped in with spammers? By Jeremy Saibil More... [723 views] Holiday Inn® to Save Over $4 Million AnnuallyThe Holiday Inn brand is currently undergoing a $1 billion global relaunch-the largest in the hospitality industry with more than 3,200 hotels being updated to improve quality and drive consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world. More... [507 views] Mini Breaks Not Just For BridgetBrits are becoming more spontaneous when it comes to booking mini breaks, according to Visa Europe. More... [356 views] Speed Dating of Upscale TravelProof that the luxury travel industry is alive and kicking abounded at the recent Virtuoso Travel Mart. More... [876 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 2, 2009Surfing the World Wide Net – Some Tips on Exactly Who’s In the WaterThousands of websites offer the best travel deals and promote themselves as the one stop shop for a traveler. However, what is the role of internet in the tourism world really? Who books more online - men or women? Who is most likely to write a customer review online? More... [968 views] Paris, France - Upscale and Luxury Market SnapshotThis is the first in a series of articles that HVS will be producing every month on a series of key markets. In writing these articles we are combining the hotel market expertise of HVS with STR Global data for each key city. Our analysis is based on a customised sample of hotels as provided by STR Global. By Cristina Balekjian and Sophie Perret More... [709 views] Does "End of the Recession" mean "Recovery"? Not for luxury hotels!Hotel Lawyer with some bad news for the luxury hotel segment. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hospitality Lawyers More... [2231 views] Travel is Growing AgainFor some time now, we have all been awaiting stop signs for a travel industry in freefall. Based on recent analysis we have seen from Piper Jaffray and Citibank, it can now be said that perhaps travel - and more specifically, leisure travel - may be bottoming out. By Yen Lee More... [631 views] Customized Services and the Service Recovery in a HotelWhen analyzing the dossier of some guests, we find that they have suffered certain troubles during different stays and even so they keep choosing the same hotel. Interesting, isn't it? By Osvaldo Torres Cruz More... [1992 views] IH&RA Announces Launch of Emeraude Hotelier CertificationThe International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) announces the launch of its Emeraude Hotelier certification, recognizing hotels that successfully implement the stipulated guidelines to enhance sustainable tourism. More... [427 views] Ten Reasons You’ll Soon Spend More on SearchIf you have a successful, profitable online business or an offline business that gets its leads from online sources, I'm confident you'll be spending 25 percent more on paid search within the next year. Not every marketer will, but the stronger ones will. By Kevin Lee More... [484 views] Mouse Hotel Opens on Space StationA team of six intrepid mice is going where no rodents have gone before: The International Space Station. The small rodents are part of an Italian study investigating the effects of bone loss in space, and researchers have set the mice up in orbital style. "Basically, it's a little hotel," said Joe Delai, Discovery's payload manager, of the cages holding the space mice. "They have a room and a place to eat and sleep." By Tariq Malik More... [403 views] 'Man Over Machine' Mindset in Regards to Meetings and EventsAdvances in meetings technology can assist planners in executing affordable, yet impressive meetings and events. However, according to an HSMAI Affordable Meetings® National and Event Technology ExpoTM pre-conference survey, conducted by J. Spargo & Associates, Inc. and independently analyzed by 20|20 AssessmentTM - a service of HVS, many planners feel that certain elements of face-to-face conferences cannot be duplicated with today's technology. More... [799 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 1, 2009A Brand Devalued Struggles to Regain Its PrestigeWe continue to bemoan the obvious - the decline of Service and the devaluation of Product. We are what we say we are. Our Brand is verified by our Consumer, based upon how we delivered on the expectation(s). Their Experience is impacted by what they feel, how all their senses interacted, and how their perceptions turned into reality - the validation process. By Ragsdale Hendrie More... [1477 views] Hotelier of the Week: Stephan InterthalIt is among the most iconic hotels in the world and being its general manager is the job to which many in the industry aspire. ABTN speaks to Stephan Interthal, the current general manager of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin. By Stanley Slaughter More... [799 views] Forrester Research and Citigroup on Changes in the Travel IndustrySince the beginning of the year, the travel industry has been embroiled in a tough business environment. 2009 is expected to bring consolidation and restructuring for the travel industry. This will be driven by reduced enterprise valuations, limited access to capital, and lower expected future demand for the products and services being offered. In order to assess the current sentiments, EyeforTravel's Helen Raff spoke to Forrester Research's travel industry analyst Diane Clarkson and Citigroup Investment Research's director, Internet Research, Mark Mahaney. By Helen Raff More... [624 views] An Italian with a ColdI coasted slowly along a line of cars parked on 98th Street behind the Crowne Plaza. A few openings appeared, wide enough for a skilled driver to insert a Honda Civic, but I was a mediocre parker. The Crowne Plaza, near Los Angeles airport, was a regular, so... By Mike Oppenheim More... [1086 views] Mumbai - The Comeback CityMumbai has witnessed turbulent times again. However, the city keeps moving ahead. What makes Mumbai tick? This article talks about Mumbai's hospitality market and discusses the demand-supply equation in India's beloved Comeback City. By Achin Khanna More... [703 views] Is Email an Untapped Distribution Channel?By now most hotels have long recognized the potential of outbound e-mail as a proactive marketing and CRM tool and have used them in that area. However, too many hotels still overlook their e-mail inbox as being a distribution channel worthy of attention. While we might prefer that guests book online or contact us via telephone, websites can be confusing, phone lines sometimes ring busy and for whatever reason many guests prefer to just click over an e-mail to the info@ or sales@ address posted at your hotel's website, email blast, or printed in marketing collateral or advertisements. By Doug Kennedy More... [771 views] Asia Pacific tourism trends H1 2009Latest figures released August 28th 2009 by the Pacific Asia Travel Association indicate that the numbers of international visitor arrivals to Asia Pacific* fell by an estimated six percent in Jan-June 2009 compared to H1 2008. The extremely challenging operating environment continued to dampen tourism demand and the month of May confirmed the second major flu outbreak this decade. The travel and tourism sector in Asia Pacific immediately felt the impact with a steep 10 percent decline in visitor numbers. There was, however, a slight improvement in June. More... [1225 views] Hotel Rooms are Half EmptyThe number of guests staying in Czech hotels was down almost 9 percent in the first half of 2009 over last year, worrying hotel owners who are struggling after a second straight season of disappointing tourism numbers. By Andrea Holland More... [589 views] Tips on How to Pay Less at HotelsI recently stumbled onto a report I dubbed "Hotel Confidential: What Innkeepers Won't Tell You About Pricing." The report, in reality coaches hotel owners on how to weather the recession and keep most of us paying the highest room prices possible. For travelers, reading it is like sneaking behind enemy lines. By Jane Engle More... [1264 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: September 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 30, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 29, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 28, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 25, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 24, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 23, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 22, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 21, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 18, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 17, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 16, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 15, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 14, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 11, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 10, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 9, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 8, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 7, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 4, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 3, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 2, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: September 1, 2009
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