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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: November 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 30, 2009Taj Mahal Hotel: A Time to HealWhen the top brass of the Tata group met the employees of Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel on Thursday evening, the sole thought that went through everybody's mind was to look at tomorrow. "Let's live, look forward and move ahead. We made a commitment to rebuild this building brick-by-brick and stone-by-stone and this commitment still stands. They tried to knock us down, but they could not kill us. The attack did not scare us, but it made us stronger. We have risen again stronger with greater spirit," chairman Ratan Tata told the solemn gathering. By Lijee Philip More... [709 views] What will Tourism look like in 2023?The Tourism 2023 project report has been launched and is now available online to help the UK outbound travel and tourism industry understand the challenges it faces and plan for a sustainable future. By Valere Tjolle More... [1312 views] Tourism Accused of Human Rights AbusesTourism Concern claims tourism developments often exploit tribal people, force locals from their homes and damage the environment. The campaigning charity's latest report, Putting Tourism to Rights, calls on the UK government and tourism industry to tackle poverty by protecting the rights of local people. More... [404 views] Intra-regional Destinations Gain Popularity with Asia Pacific and Middle East Travellers in MasterCard SurveyIntra-regional destinations have become more popular than destinations further afield, according to travellers in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. That's the key finding from the latest MasterCard survey, where travellers were asked about their travel priorities for the next six months. By Martin Moodie More... [509 views] Collapse of Budget Travel Leaves Over 700 Stranded AbroadOver 700 holidaymakers have been left stranded following the sudden collapse of Ireland's largest tour operator, Budget Travel. By Breda Heffernan and Tim Healy More... [689 views] Relais & Châteaux Trophies 2010 - Rewarding ExcellenceIn exclusive partnership with prestigious brands Relais & Châteaux has just revealed the list of the winners of the Relais & Châteaux trophies which are awarded every year in recognition of expertise and excellence in the art of hospitality and fine dining. More... [784 views] Tools for Understanding the China Outbound TourismTwo leading research and consulting organizations for the Chinese tourism markets have agreed to join forces during the CITM, held in Kunming from November 19-22, 2009. CITM in Kunming is the major tourism event for tourism trade organized by Chinese government officials provides the ideal venue for the start of our cooperation. More... [780 views] 25% of Hotel Candidates Lie about QualificationIn the wake of 26/11, increasing number of hotels found to be taking professional help to conduct background screenings of prospective employees. Find that many even use fake identities and provide false addresses. More... [843 views] Weather Updates Top Hotel Guests’ In-RoomViewing Wish-listAs well as watching entertainment, most Britons would like to use their hotel room TV to access information on local weather, tourist attractions, restaurants and bars. By Becky Paskin More... [513 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 27, 2009Seasonal Safety and Security RemindersBecause hospitality establishments have a certain amount of cash on hand, agents and cashiers face the danger of robberies. While it may seem simple to advise these staff associates to remain calm, the abundance of mixed messages from the mass media (movies, television and even video games) relating to how to best address this situation can be confusing. By Dr. John Hogan More... [626 views] 'Year of Reckoning' Predicted by Supranational Hotels; Five Key Influences for Next 12 MonthsOnly hotels that have adapted to current and predictable trends will survive 2010, a probable 'year of reckoning' for the sector. This view, that of Niels Pedersen, managing director of the 1200-member Supranational Hotels consortium, envisages 'flat or falling tariffs, continued severe cost cutting, and more managers and owners opting to leave the profession'. By Niels Pedersen More... [1074 views] 'Austerity Chic' Is The New 'Bling Fling'According to villa holiday specialist CV Travel's latest research on the Villa Holiday Market, when it comes to the British choosing holidays ‘Conspicuous consumption has given way to personal fulfillment' and `the words ‘luxury' and ‘luxury travel' have become almost meaningless' as UK holidaymakers increasingly have high expectations of good service, and value for money, whatever their budget. The company concurs that the future of the villa holiday is not ‘bling fling' but ‘austerity chic'. More... [483 views] What if You Reduced Your Hotel Room Rates and Nobody Noticed?It's no secret that the hospitality industry has faced unprecedented challenges in recent months. A just-released year-to-year comparative report by Smith Travel Research (STR) cited the following statistics: Hotel occupancy was down six percent to end the week at 52.6 percent. Average daily rate (ADR) dropped 9.9 percent to finish the week at $95.86. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) decreased 15.7 percent to finish at $50.47. Furthermore, a recent Maritz telephone survey of 1,000 Americans indicated holiday travel is projected to experience its first significant decline in a decade, accounting for a reduction of $4.05 billion of travel revenue. The decline was attributed to a combination of financial concerns and fears surrounding the H1N1 virus. By Rick Garlick More... [766 views] Global Releases Global Hotel Performance Results for Asia/Pacific Region for October 2009Hotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced decreases when reported in U.S. dollars for all three key performance metrics for October 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. In year-over-year measurements, the Asia/Pacific region's occupancy fell 0.6 percent to 67.1 percent; average daily rate declined 2.5 percent to US$128.09; and revenue per available room fell 3.1 percent to US$85.89. More... [590 views] Headlines and Heroes from The PhoCusWright Conference 2009The PhoCusWright Conference concluded last Thursday with a champagne toast announcing Amadeus IT Group as the PhoCusWright Travel Innovation Summit Winner. Amadeus Affinity Shopper and three other finalists came out on top of 34 innovative companies that demonstrated their technology solutions to an audience of travel executives and an expert panel of judges. These companies are proof that innovation in online travel is indeed alive and well, with a whole range of exciting new tools and services being introduced that promise to bring useful benefits to the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. More... [850 views] The Leading Hotels of the World Announces Award WinnersThe Leading Hotels of the World recently announced the winners of a series of prestigious awards during its 2009 Annual Convention, held in Venice, Italy last week, from 19 to 22 November 2009. More... [1383 views] Redefining the 'Suite Spot'With the rising use of nontraditional hotel settings to entertain and host gatherings, designers are viewing suites as more than private havens for discriminating travelers. Rather they see them as entertaining spaces that add an aura of exclusivity to business and special functions. Hospitality design architects Hnedak Bobo Group look at trends in suite design that are redefining accommodations to suit a greater variety of business and leisure travelers. More... [464 views] Red Carnation Founder Beatrice Tollman's 'A Life in Food'Beatrice Tollman, President and Founder of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a luxury collection of five and four-star family run boutique properties, has recently published a cookbook that is her memoir of "A Life in Food", all proceeds of which will be going to her two favourite UK charities, the Starlight Children's Foundation and The Tick Tock Club. More... [2021 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 26, 2009Some Rediscover the Benefits of Business TravelWhen the economy collapsed last fall, many companies had to make some quick decisions about travel, typically one of the first areas they trim when finances are tight. Should they cut back as most of their competitors were, continue business as usual or spend even more to get a leg up? By Tanya Mohn More... [630 views] The Pegasus View Oct. 2009: Report Shows Bookings and Net Revenue Figures Climbing Back to 2008 LevelsPegasus Solutions has issued The Pegasus View for October 2009, which draws from booking data for more than 90,000 hotels worldwide during the month. Overall, the report shows bookings and net revenue figures climbing back to 2008 levels, with positive movement in North America. The region's corporate bookings jumped +3.5% in volume in October 2009 compared to October 2008, and +21% in leisure bookings volume for the same period. More... [609 views] Success Smells Sweet – the Right Aroma Can Boost Brainpower at Your ConferenceManaging Director Mandip Gill explains: "Uniquely, we offer our own specially-created room scents in the conference rooms which can change throughout the day to stimulate delegates' creativity and input. For example, our citrus scents both calm and energise participants during morning sessions and again during the immediate post-lunch period. These organic aromas are almost imperceptible in use and feedback from clients so far has been very positive. Another option is our special ‘energy food' menu based only fresh and light ingredients such as fruit and fish, which is carefully balanced to provide ideal nutrition released throughout the day." More... [661 views] Hotelkeeping Tips in Tough TimesDespite Americans' love affair with hitting the roadways and airways, the past year's events have put a halt to many Americans' travel plans. A recent Maritz telephone survey, conducted in October 2009, showed that holiday travel will be down significantly for the first time in a decade. The combination of financial concerns and the H1N1 virus has induced many frequent holiday travelers to stay home. Furthermore, spending is projected to be down as well. By Rick Garlick, Ph.D. More... [450 views] The K Club Has Retained its Prestigious AA 5 Red StarExclusive Irish golf and spa resort, The K Club, has retained its prestigious AA ‘5 Red Star' accolade for the 14th consecutive year. Awarded to hotels which offer the highest standards of service and attention to detail, The K Club is amongst only a handful of Irish hotels to receive the award, considered to be the ultimate accolade within the hotel industry. More... [391 views] Global Releases Global Hotel Performance Results for Europe for October 2009The European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for October 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. Figures for occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room ranged from double-digit losses to double-digit gains, depending on the market and the currency used for comparison. More... [651 views] More Hotels Reward Staff for Good ServiceMore hotels are recognising their staff for going the extra mile for their guests. A record 2,204 hotel staff won the Excellent Service Award this year, the highest number in the 15 years that the award has been given out. By Evelyn Choo More... [534 views] Signature Aims to Have 57 Hotels by World CupSignature Life Hotel Group is spending more than R1 billion building 17 new hotels in southern Africa that will all be ready before the 2010 World Cup. These hotels will increase the group's rooms to 4 100 by September next year. By Slindile Khanyile More... [756 views] Amadeus IT Group Named the PhoCusWright Travel Innovation Summit WinnerPhoCusWright, the travel industry research authority, named Amadeus IT Group the Travel Innovation Summit Winner at the close of The PhoCusWright Conference held November 17 - 19, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. More... [833 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 25, 2009Need PR and Marketing Help? Ask Away! Q & A with Jennifer Rodrigues of TravelInk’dToday's question: I've been doing my own PR campaign for the last three months and I haven't gotten any responses from the media. What am I doing wrong? By Jennifer Rodrigues More... [1272 views] Revenue Management : Back to BasicsOver the next months Ehotelier will be publishing a series of revenue management articles from the Xotel Hotelier Blog. They are all chapters from their revenue management book ‘Leadership in Revenue Management'. The Xotels revenue management articles are almost a manual to hotel and hospitality revenue management. In each article they will highlight a topic. This revenue management for dummies contains best practices ideas and tips. By Patrick Landman More... [3276 views] India Assesses Lessons Learned from Mumbai Terror AttacksA year after the terrorist attacks that killed 165 people in Mumbai, India is assessing its measures to keep a similar attack from occurring again. By Raymond Thibodeaux More... [442 views] First Good News Forecast from STR Since 2007As part of its monthly forecast program, STR is projecting the U.S. hotel industry will report increases in all three key metrics in 2011. More... [631 views] Hong Kong’s Bright Future from China’s Exploding Travel MarketA new study by leading market information company TNS, which probed the travel preferences of mainland Chinese businessmen and holidaymakers from tier 1 and 2 cities across the country, suggests that the explosive growth in the outbound Chinese travel market is set to continue. 90% of both business and leisure travelers claim they are travelling more (or at least the same), in 2009 as they did in 2008, and the indications are that this trend will continue in 2010. More... [466 views] Hotels Losing Employees to Big Boys Coming to TownWithin the span of one month, Sally (not her real name) saw five of her colleagues pack up and leave for "greener pastures". "All of them told me they're going to work in the integrated resorts (IRs) because the pay there is higher," said the Chinese national who works as a chambermaid in one of the hotels along the Orchard shopping belt. More... [795 views] Plea to Cut VAT Rates on TourismAccountants and business advisers PKF, want to see more pressure on the Government to reduce the VAT rate on holiday accommodation and leisure attractions in the UK. More... [514 views] Amidst Recession, TIG Global Develops Philanthropy Task ForceIn response to the tough economic climate, TIG Global, the leader in online marketing for hospitality and travel, recently developed a philanthropy task force and completed over 1,000 hours of community service. Thriving in the growing Internet marketing industry, TIG Global executives spearheaded the initiative to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate organizations and individuals that have been more deeply affected by the tough economic times. By Chevy Chase, MD More... [526 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 24, 2009Where is your desk? Another “High Touch” Lesson for Hospitality ManagersStorytelling is a marvelous way to communicate a message in a very personal way and I am introducing the message of managerial effectiveness via one of the best stories to date on the hospitality industry. By Dr. John Hogan More... [2005 views] Hotelier of the Week: Marcus van der WalMarcus van der Wal is general manager of the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus which he describes as the Grand Dame of Budapest hotels. He tells ABTN about working in this beautiful city. By Stanley Slaughter. More... [831 views] BMIHMS Wins Gold at the NSW Tourism AwardsTourism and hospitality leaders, together with the New South Wales Minister for Tourism, came together at the Sydney Convention Centre on November 19 to recognise those businesses and individuals who are at the forefront of the industry. More... [394 views] Taking Off with Online Distribution in a Big Way: Hilton Hotel’s Strategy in ChinaBearish sentiments have gripped the travel industry globally for quite a while now. But despite the global recession, the online travel marketplace in China is growing rapidly. Chinese travel companies including online intermediaries are seeing early signs of recovery in the economy. Although there might be some uncertainties in the near-term, from a long-term perspective, it is largely believed that the fundamentals are healthy for the growth of the Chinese economy. PhoCusWright recently affirms such belief. The firm projects that online travel revenue will increase by 19% this year. By Hriday Malik More... [885 views] The 'Amateur-Expert Traveller' Will Help Reshape the Travel IndustryAmadeus, a leading provider of technology and distribution solutions to the travel and tourism industry, has identified the Amateur-Expert Traveller - who is more knowledgeable, more adventurous and more likely to live in an emerging economy than ever before - and whose rise coincides with innovations in the trip experience and the growth of niche travel in the post-recessionary environment. More... [401 views] Macau Hotel Purchases Jacko 'Moonwalk' Glove for DisplayA hotel in the glitzy Asian gambling haven of Macau will display Michael Jackson's rhinestone-encrusted glove after paying 350,000 dollars for the piece of pop history at auction, the hotel said Sunday. By Peter Brieger More... [461 views] Swisscom First to Offer Smartphone WiFi Service and Mobile Communication Solutions in HotelsTravellers increasingly depend on their Smartphones to connect into their own environments in favour of using their laptops. During meetings or waiting times in hotel lobbies, guests stream their news or communicate over applications such as Skype® on their handhelds. As a network operator, Swisscom has seen bandwidth consumed through WiFi mobile phones rise constantly. Although download volumes are traditionally lower than those for laptops, the gap is closing very quickly. The average volume per handheld session recorded at Swisscom partner hotels is currently at 86MB, with many users going over 1GB. The average length of session is 14 hours. More... [1873 views] Cruise Ships Will Not be Used for Olympic LodgingAn Olympic accommodation plan in which thousands of visitors would have stayed on cruise ships has been called off because of the rough economy. As many as seven ships would have been used for fans and sponsors as part of the multimillion-dollar plan proposed by the DEAP Group. More... [543 views] Early Morning Call: IHG Exec Greets Commuters in ‘Refreshing’ StyleInterContinental Hotel Group's Jolyon Bulley provided a unique wake up call to commuters in Singapore's Central Business District this morning. More... [1675 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 23, 2009Now is the time for Hotels to Outsource!Whenever we use the word outsourcing in the hotel industry we get a bit of a strange reaction. Too many hoteliers there is a kind of negative feeling or aversion towards this word. Why? What is wrong with it? Why is it scary? Let's look at it from the other side, what advantages come along with outsourcing. By Patrick Landman More... [1617 views] Judge Rules against Women-Only HolidaysA single-sex travel company for women who want to avoid boozy, bed-hopping mixed tour groups has been grounded. By Norrie Ross More... [808 views] Germany Aiming to Cut Hotel TaxBusiness trips to Germany could soon become less expensive if the government gets its way. It wants to help the beleaguered accommodation industry by cutting the rate of VAT on hotel rooms from 19% to just 7% from January 1 next year. By Alex McWhirter More... [635 views] Four Seasons Employs the Latest Recyclable: HeatUp on the roof at the Four Seasons Hotel, behind latticework meant to keep things pretty, three turbines are humming away, transforming the way the luxury hotel produces - and saves - energy. They're taking a waste product - heat - and reharnessing it as a resource. By Sandy Bauers More... [1124 views] Mumbai's Taj Hotel Picks Up PiecesThe general manager of Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, Karambir Singh Kang, still works at the place where his wife and two children were killed. By Phil Hazlewood More... [871 views] British Tourism Showing Signs of GrowthBritain's tourism industry looks to have reached a turning point during the key summer months according to new provisional figures from the International Passenger Survey. VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, commented that the trend we have seen in the summer with increasing numbers of overseas residents choosing to explore Britain is likely to continue to the end of the year, driven by a favourable exchange rate with the euro. VisitBritain forecasts that inbound tourism will help lead Britain's economic recovery during the coming months with modest growth expected in 2010. More... [564 views] World Hotels Reports Business Success Despite Recession and Plans ahead for 2010One of the world's leading groups of independent hotels, WORLDHOTELS, is proud to report the results of several successful initiatives which have helped the company to combat the economic downturn this year. More... [1076 views] Media & the Online Travel Story - why doesn't it sell as well?Yeoh Siew Hoon attends an Amadeus media event in Bangkok and, talking with fellow journalists, her mind harks back to what former ZUJI boss, Scott Blume, said at WIT. More... [420 views] Accor Announces New Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing Asia PacificRay Stone is retiring as Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing of Accor Asia Pacific after 13 years in senior executive roles for the company. His role will be taken over by Graham Wilson, who is currently Vice President Marketing for Accor Asia Pacific, at the start of 2010. Mr Stone will continue his involvement with Accor in 2010 as Senior Advisor, where he will be responsible for major partnerships and Accor's involvement in trade shows. More... [1430 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 20, 2009Penn Makes $50M Offer for $3B FontainebleauPenn National Gaming made its formal "stalking horse" bid this week for the unfinished Fontainebleau hotel, resort and casino here, setting the stage for a bankruptcy auction in January, according to an SEC filing Tuesday morning. The Wyomissing, PA-based casino operator, which has been looking for a way into the local gaming market, says it offered $50 million for the estimated $3-billion development that sits 70% complete at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. By Brian K. Miller More... [344 views] Heavy Petting at France's Human Hamster HotelA new gîte in Nantes offers guests the chance to live as a rodent for the night - complete with fur costumes and a romantic hamster wheel for two. More... [6730 views] Study Reveals Most Visible Holiday OperatorsGreenlight, the UK's leading independent search marketing agency has released its first quarterly integrated research report for the holiday sector. Each report consists of both natural and paid search data, to offer a fully integrated analysis. The report determines the most visible holiday operators and aggregators in Google natural and paid search results for Q3 2009. More... [519 views] 2009 European Business Travel BarometerAmerican Express Business Travel today announced the results of its 2009 European Barometer, during its 19th Espace Voyages Professionnels (EVP) in Paris, the leading business travel event in Europe. The Barometer highlights the impact the global economic crisis has had on business travel expenditure, revealing an 18% fall in budgets reported on average. Sixty-six percent of companies report a reduction (-31%) of their travel budgets, 23% have witnessed no change and a mere 11% have noted an increase (of +23%). More... [710 views] Insights into Leisure Travellers who still Spend Freely Despite DownturnLeisure travelers who spend on extras beyond meals and basic shopping hold great potential for travel marketers, who can gain insights into these consumers through a new study released today by Acxiom® Corporation (Nasdaq: ACXM). More... [531 views] Industry Comes Together to Maximise Opportunity from the 2012 GamesVisitBritain, Visit London, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and UKinbound have agreed to set up a joint working party to develop a strategy that will encourage visits to Britain and London throughout 2012 and beyond as London hosts the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. More... [420 views] ALH Group Achieves Good Business Results During Year of CrisisAt a meeting held Monday at the Grand Hotel Bonavia in Rijeka, the Supervisory Board of GSHR Holdings Ltd (the parent company of Adriatic Luxury Hotels Group) and Management Board of ALH concluded that during the first nine months of 2009 ALH Group hotels achieved good performance, particularly considering the very difficult market conditions caused by the global financial crisis. More... [752 views] Women-Only Hotels Surfacing in Middle EastAn emerging trend in the Middle East: women-only hotels. So says World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2009. A major reason: hoteliers are trying to capitalize on a growing young female population. By David Wilkening More... [684 views] Who is Designing Your Christmas Tree? The Claridge’s Christmas Tree Designed by John Galliano for DiorClaridge's, London's iconic Mayfair hotel, has announced that this year The Claridge's Christmas Tree will be designed by John Galliano for Dior. The tree will feature sparkling leaves and orchids in silver, white and blue, as well as crystal, giving the impression of the tree being frozen. The tree will be unveiled in the lobby of the art deco- designed hotel on 1st December 2009. More... [815 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 19, 2009Four Post Recession Shifts in the Hotel Sales Environment 'What You Need to Know for Success in 2010'The recovery is coming - not a huge surge in demand but a slow manageable increase in demand. Rates are another story. There are four subtle but important changes in the sales environment that evolved during the recession and that impact hotel sales processes. Hotel sales offices and marketing departments need to understand these subtle paradigm shifts in order to maximize the opportunities in the fragile recovery ahead. By Carol Verret More... [1553 views] Required Changes for Hotel and Hospitality Marketing in an Uncertain EconomyAre you like me? Do you miss the easier days when an entire "strategic" marketing direction hinged on the Ad campaign using stock photography and a catchy tagline? People shaking hands to depicted "teamwork," and happy people behind a podium showcasing that "we have meeting space to host your next event?" My personal favorite is the scantily clad couple, fondling each other in the elevator. Nothing says, "Stay with Us" like the depiction of wild sexual encounters or cliché photos. By Greg Salsburg More... [927 views] Vancouver's Hotel Shortage Sets off an Olympic ScrambleIt doesn't take a gold medal in arithmetic to see that the numbers didn't add up. About 250,000 spectators are expected to pour into Vancouver, B.C., for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February. Yet according to the city's Olympic committee, only a paltry 10,000 hotel rooms were available to them. With three months to go before the Opening Ceremonies, the pool of rooms at hotels in and around Vancouver 'from highway HoJos to the Four Seasons' has essentially dried up. By Remy Scalza More... [661 views] Latin America Hotel Construction Pipeline SummaryAs of the end of Q3 2009, the Latin America Construction Pipeline has a total of 482 projects and 83,291 guest rooms. After 6 consecutive quarters of declines, the Pipeline is at the lowest level yet for the current cycle and is expected to trend even lower. Developer sentiment continues to be weighed down by the lackluster global economy, causing a fall off in leisure travel. More... [789 views] HIP Shows Small GainEconomic research firm e-forecasting.com, in conjunction with Smith Travel Research, has announced the Hotel Industry's Pulse index edged back up in October after hitting a snag the previous month. More... [349 views] Recession Creates ‘Solidays’ Trendebookers.com has coined the term ‘solidays' following research showing one in six Britons are travelling alone as a result of the economic downturn. The survey of 4,000 UK adults shows 15% of holidaymakers have holidayed alone in the last 12 months because recession-hit friends and family haven't been able to afford to join them. More... [407 views] RevPAR Down 19.2% but the Worst Should be Over for European HoteliersA report produced quarterly by Deloitte, the business advisory firm, has found that year-to-September hotel performance fell across Europe. Revenue per available room (revPAR) performance in European hotels was down 19.2% to €58. This decline was driven by a 12.3% drop in average room rates to €108, while occupancy levels fell to 61.6%. More... [1300 views] Pop-Up Hotels are ‘The Future'Pop-up hotels, in which pre-built units are incorporated into a steel frame that can easily be demolished, could be the future for UK tourism, a travel trends report said today. More... [676 views] Superstructure of Ferrari World Theme Park CompletedAldar Properties has announced the completion of the external structure of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. More... [1132 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 18, 2009Service Ambassadors: The Key to Providing World-Class ServiceIt's amazing who some business owners and managers allow to represent their company. On a recent trip, I stopped at a sandwich shop to order some lunch. After the employee told me they ran out, I asked for her favorite choice; to which she promptly replied "None of the sandwiches here"! Wow. Perhaps it did not occur to her that by suggesting one of her company's sandwiches, I may actually enjoy it, return, and potentially refer others...all of which translate into additional revenue (plus more job security). By Bryan K. Williams More... [1099 views] Effectively Manage Your Hotel’s Reputation in the 21st CenturyLong gone are the days of private complaints from guests. The birth of web 2.0 media has taken visitors' complaints into the public forum of the internet, meaning that a hotel's reputation is under scrutiny by all prospective guests. Guest comments and ratings are now openly accessible, yet countless hoteliers are not tracking what is being said. Published negative reviews can have a detrimental effect on your reservation levels because customers are able to apply a more thorough set of criteria and gain (what they believe to be) a truer picture of a hotel as it is based on past experiences. The 21st century traveller is savvy and far more driven to comparison shop. Review sites such as TripAdvisor provide visible quality measurements and yet a majority of hoteliers are missing out on the value these insights provide - to learn from these reviews and to respond effectively to them. By Samantha Hasler More... [1347 views] Getting Social - Why Travel Professionals Need to Use Social MediaAs a cardinal rule, it is important to remember that involvement in (and success with) social media takes time and commitment. Your efforts will not come to fruition overnight. Social media must become a habit and extension of all other marketing activities. The objective is to be able to prove to past and potential visitors that you are listening and you care, which goes a long way in building consumer trust. More... [1179 views] Largest Hotelier Group Takes Stance against Last-Room AvailabilityThe Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the world's largest association of hotel owners, achieved a new milestone by registering more than 10,000 members who own 22,000 hotels, which is forty percent of all hotels in the United States. Recognized as the voice of hotel owners in the hospitality industry, AAHOA continues to stand firm for its members, and has taken a strong stance on important issues involving the online travel agencies (OTAs) that provide booking services for the industry. More... [675 views] Tiger Gets Tourism out of a BunkerMelbourne's hotels last week enjoyed their best week of 2009, thanks to a Tiger Woods led tourism boom. Accor, the largest hotel operator in Melbourne (operating Sofitel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, All Seasons and Formule 1 hotels), reported that its 11 central business district hotels were all full from Thursday night through to Sunday, and even Accor's suburban hotels in Glen Waverley and Caroline Springs were at capacity on a couple of the nights. More... [450 views] Starwood Becomes Senior Partner for Cornell School of Hotel Administration’s Leadership Development ProgramStarwood to participate in the program's seminar series, conduct in-hotel student training sessions and host educational programs at its corporate office. More... [714 views] Singapore Brothers Drive US Chain's Success in ChinaAll-American hotel chain Days Inn is making it big in China, thanks to three brothers from Singapore. Twins Harry and David Tan, and younger half brother Ted Fang, have transformed the brand into the fastest growing hospitality name in China. More... [604 views] Winners of the AsiaSpa Awards 2009The winners of the fifth AsiaSpa Awards, presented by AsiaSpa magazine, the region's most recognised spa and wellness publication, were announced and honoured at a glittering evening in Hong Kong. Celebrating the best in innovation and quality in spas around the region, the 27 categories voted on by 28 independent judges were won by spas, spa personalities, associations and resorts that have set the benchmarks for quality and service in the region. More... [540 views] Red Carnation Managing Director named 2009 Hotelier of the YearJonathan Raggett, Managing Director of Red Carnation Hotels, has just been voted 2009 Hotelier of the Year at the Hotel Cateys Awards. Red Carnation's Director of Human Resources and Training, Liz McGivern, received the Human Resources Manager of the Year Award. More... [462 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 17, 2009Upgrades in a DownturnLower occupancy and rates and more competitive building contractor prices may lead some hotel owners and operators to take the opportunity to refurbish and reposition their hotels. In negotiating contracts, hotel owners and asset managers should take account of the risk of builder insolvency and its potential disruptive impact on the time, cost and quality of time-critical refurbishment projects. By Tina Wyhoon and Alex Hartmann More... [865 views] Hotelier of the Week: Wayne TopleyAs general manager at the Barceló Hinckley Island Hotel, one of the largest conference hotels in the UK, Wayne Topley knows what can make or break an event. Stanley Slaughter finds out more... More... [628 views] Industry Leaders Expound on 2010 Challenges, StrategiesOn day one of the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, during the Hospitality Leadership Forum, Jim Abrahamson, president of InterContinental Hotels Group, joked that his company "canceled the rest of 2009" in order to shift focus to 2010. And even though most of the hoteliers in attendance at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show laughed, everyone surely hoped it was possible. By Chris Crowell More... [509 views] Fontainebleau Hotel's Glitzy Rebirth Tarnished by DebtsThe Fontainebleau hotel's grand launch 'with fancy parties and lingerie models' is a dim memory as financial challenges mount a year later. By Douglas Hanks More... [1185 views] Five Hotels Set to Open on Palm Jumeirah by 2011Nakheel is committed to opening at least five hotels on the Palm Jumeirah by 2011, Emirates Business can reveal. Globally, many major hotel chains have suffered a delay in their projects, but none of the 30 hotels due to open on Palm Jumeirah have been cancelled. By Shweta Jain More... [1541 views] Tired of “Oblications” – This Holiday Season Travellers Want to Reclaim Vacation Time from In-LawsTravelocity's most recent poll of North Americans revealed that though 93 percent of travelers use at least some of their vacation time for out-of-town obligations, there are occasions when they'd rather be doing something else. The Urban Dictionary defines the oblication as "taking valuable vacation time and dollars for obligatory family or friend visits," and while many respondents enjoy spending time with family, there are certain trips the majority would prefer to avoid; instead taking a vacation, visiting friends, or just staying home. Visiting in-laws (14 percent) topped the list of unpopular oblications, with weddings, milestone events (graduations, anniversaries, reunions, etc.) and visiting family each closely behind at approximately nine percent. More... [596 views] Ten New Budgeting Steps For 2010The budget presentation season is upon us and the outlook is as uncertain as ever. Many owners/investors are not able to pay their debt service and face foreclosure, default and or bankruptcy. The 2010 budget should provide asset managers, owners and lenders with a path, or several paths forward to meeting their objectives. By Alphy L. Johnson More... [789 views] A Brand New Tourism Marketing Campaign for IrelandTourism Ireland marked the official launch of a brand new strategy at the international travel trade show, World Travel Market, at London's ExCel today, which aims to increase the number of visitors from Great Britain to Ireland in 2010. More... [560 views] Airport Curfews Hurt TourismAirport curfews are continuing to hurt tourism in Australia. That's the message from the hotel industry following last night's diversion to Canberra of a flight which was about to land in Adelaide. More... [569 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 16, 2009Your recipe on ehotelier's hompage!ehotelier would like to send a special THANK YOU to the F&B forum contributors for the great support and contributions you have given the forum in 2009. More... [603 views] Choice and Expedia Sign Three-Year AgreementChoice Hotels International and Expedia have signed a new three-year agreement to include Choice Hotels International properties on more than 80 Expedia and Hotels.com-branded sites. More... [973 views] Staying on TopIn a tough market, the hotels that are surviving have become creative - not desperate. By Beth Kormanik More... [766 views] F & B Research Points to What Drinks Diners WantCarbonated sodas, drip coffees and Cabernets won't be departing from drink menus anytime soon, but for foodservice operators, getting ahead of the competition calls for devising beverage lineups that reach beyond the standard playbook. By Allison Perlik More... [886 views] Guests Get Busy in the Kitchen at Element HotelsStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and its new eco-chic brand, Element Hotels, announced a partnership with Nintendo to provide Nintendo DSTM systems pre-loaded with Personal TrainerTM: Cooking software to hotel guests. More... [699 views] STR reports US Hotel Pipeline for October 2009The total active U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 4,089 projects comprising 435,265 rooms, according to the October 2009 STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. This represents a 32.7-percent decrease in the number of rooms in the total active pipeline compared to October 2008. The total active pipeline data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages, but does not include projects in the Pre Planning stage. More... [416 views] Hotel And Cruise Expansion Planned For EgyptA series of new hotels and Nile cruisers are to be added by a leading hotel company in Egypt in response to the country attracting more holidaymakers. By Phil Davies More... [521 views] Holiday Inn Las Vegas Hotel Announces Anti-Resolutions PromoThe brand-new Holiday Inn Las Vegas Hotel has just rolled out a unique New Year's Eve promotion. Guests are invited to submit five New Year's "Anti-Resolutions" for a special discount and welcome amenity for their New Year's Eve stay at this Las Vegas hotel near the Strip. More... [499 views] Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Quest Apartments Chairman Paul ConstantinouThe Chairman of Australasian accommodation group Quest Serviced Apartments was last night awarded the Ernst & Young 2009 Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year® award for Services. More... [521 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 13, 2009Hotel Franchise Model is DeadMany hoteliers that are part of a hotel franchise complain about their representation company. The fees and costs are astronomically high, there are many rules to adhere to, and not enough freedom for own marketing initiatives. More and more hotels resort to outsourcing to experts in hotel distribution and marketing to fill their rooms and other alternatives, achieving astonishing results. Hence the franchise model as we know it is dead. By Patrick Landman More... [2458 views] Post-Recession Trends in the Global MarketThe 2009 World Travel Market Global Trends report was launched on November 9th at World Travel Market 2009, a year after the biggest financial turmoil to ever hit the travel and tourism industry. The report by leading global market intelligence firm, Euromonitor International, reflects on the impact the recession has had on the industry and highlights key trends emerging worldwide. More... [1012 views] Affluent Consumers Use Social Media TooThe Affluence Collaborative, a research partnership from AgencySacks and Chadwick Martin Bailey, has released results from its survey of how the affluent live online. The Affluence Collaborative offers companies who focus on the affluent consumer a unique resource combining insights, thought leadership and community. More... [842 views] Female Hotel Workers Injured More Than MenA new study of workers at 50 hotels in the United States found that women were 50 percent more likely to be injured than men, and that Hispanic women had an injury rate two-thirds higher than their white female counterparts. By Steven Greenhouse More... [507 views] Big Savings in Southern European CitiesAverage European hotel prices are thirteen percent less in November in comparison to October 2009. Weekend breaks to Venice, Rome and Madrid are particularly favourable this November. These are the findings of the trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI) which is published monthly by the hotel price comparison site trivago. More... [387 views] AsiaSpa Magazine Announces Nominations for AsiaSpa AwardsLaunched in 2005 to give recognition to exceptional spas in the Asia region, the AsiaSpa Awards are the industry's most anticipated annual event. More... [702 views] Las Vegas Sands to Restart Macau ProjectsThe stalled casino-and-hotel building boom on Macau's once-barren Cotai area is back on track, bringing closer to reality the dream of recreating the Las Vegas Strip in mainland China's backyard. By Jonathan Cheng. More... [886 views] InterContinental Hotels & Resorts named World's Leading Hotel Brand at World Travel Awards 2009InterContinental Hotels & Resorts had a successful night at the World Travel Awards 2009 - the most prestigious and sought after awards programme in the global travel and tourism industry, receiving awards for World's Leading Hotel Brand, World's Leading New Hotel, as well as 11 other leading hotel categories across different parts of the globe. More... [909 views] A Green Marketplace for HotelsEcoGreenHotel, Inc announced today the official launch of it's new online store www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. EcoGreenHotel Store is a one-stop marketplace of over 1000 products and services for the green hospitality industry. More... [794 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 12, 2009A High Touch Lessons for Managers: Understanding Body LanguageLike many other industries, the everyday environment of hospitality includes some very useful high tech tools that help project revenues, identify the level of sales booking pace, manage inventory, monitor payroll and more. It remains essential though in our world of welcoming people to our establishments that we retain a solid focus on the "high touch" side of the every-day interactions with people. Understanding body language is a talent that can increase your successes in life. By Dr. John Hogan More... [2284 views] Guests of London Hotels Least Satisfied in Europe2.7 million hotel reviews have determined that hotels in Dresden have the best reputation among travelers and hotels in London the worst. More... [749 views] Through the Eyes of a Hotel Butler: Navigating Guest PreferencesWe all agree that the Hotel market moves on and evolves day by day. Today it is not only enough to promote and sell products or services to keep up and differentiate. It has been demonstrated that the Hotels which strategy is aimed to design positive integrative experiences for the guests, are reaping ever more remarkable success. By Osvaldo Torres Cruz More... [1401 views] Hospitality Firms Waste £6b a Year through ‘Resource Inefficiency’Hospitality businesses are wasting more than £6.4b per year by overlooking simple money-saving actions, according to a new campaign launched today by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). By Janie Stamford More... [582 views] A Perfect 10? One & Only Will Open Their New Resort in Dubai on 10-10-10So how will this One & Only try to make it seem like it is the one and only luxury resort on The Palm? More... [828 views] Wynn Resorts is Proud to Announce 2010 AAA and Forbes Travel Guide Awards and DistinctionsWynn Las Vegas and Encore continue to set the bar for luxury and excellence in Las Vegas, earning top honors from the 2010 Forbes Travel Guide Star awards (formerly Mobil Travel Guide Star awards) and the 2010 American Automobile Association (AAA) Diamond Awards. More... [460 views] Business Still Challenging, Says IHGInterContinental Hotels Group is reporting signs of occupancy stablising, although rates still remain under considerable pressure. More... [630 views] Gulf Hospitality Sector Still Struggling to Find its FootingDubai The hospitality industry in the Gulf region is still reeling under the impact of the downturn and has suffered declines in all the four key measurements in year-over-year results for September, top industry experts said. By Naushad K. Cherrayil More... [571 views] Amanfayun to Open in Hangzhou Early 2010Amanresorts has announced the January 2010 opening of Amanfayun, its 24th property worldwide and second resort in China. More... [571 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 11, 2009Marketing Q&A with Jennifer RodriguesQ & A with Jennifer Rodrigues of TravelInk'd. More... [1070 views] The Chocolate Cake Theory of PricingI'll admit-I've struggled with understanding the rate debate. Considering industry-wide average daily rate is down $10 from last year as experts preach about holding rate, I don't think I'm alone. I've come to terms with how falling ADR hurts the industry as a whole. And I get how long it will take rate to recover from any slashing that's going on currently. And I completely buy the evidence that discounting does not create demand. By Jason Q. Freed More... [1530 views] Appetite Grows for Mobile Travel ServicesTravelers young and old are increasingly using mobile devices for flight notification, check in, and seat selection, and are also willing to accept advertising with free travel applications. These findings and more were revealed in a global mobile survey of travelers, conducted by Sabre Travel Network(R), the world's leading provider of high-performance solutions for the travel industry. More... [516 views] A New Model for European Tourism is NeededThe 2nd European Tourism Conference entitled "Travel & Tourism: The Day After - Turning Crisis into Growth" organized by HELEXPO and Europress Media Group (EMG) met with great success and significant outcomes for the future of the tourism product. More... [628 views] Consultants Predict 13 Top Restaurant and Hotel Food Trends for 2009The global economic meltdown is forcing profound changes in the hotel and restaurant world. Costly frills are out. With wanton indulgence now bad manners, here are 13 major trends plus a flock of buzzwords to look for in 2009. By Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman More... [1663 views] Bartering for Advertising within the Travel IndustryBarter Media Solutions (BMS) announces a $200 million economic stimulus plan for the hotel industry designed to help cash-strapped hotel companies and resorts to substantially expand their advertising and increase their occupancy rate. More... [615 views] Sands China Puts Chips on the Table with $3.4 Billion IPOThe spin-off from Las Vegas Sands sets its price range at a slight discount to Wynn Macau's current valuation. By Anette Jönsso More... [606 views] Sheraton® Hotels & Resorts Becomes First in the Industry to Use Facebook ConnectSheraton Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of the new sheraton.com, the first hotel industry website to feature Facebook Connect and allow visitors to interact with their friends and family by sharing their travel experiences through today's most popular social networking site. More... [1192 views] Exhilarating Adventures Open New Series of Inside Luxury TravelInside Luxury Travel's exciting new series starts on 8 December 2009 with the Western Cape of South Africa followed by British Columbia, Ireland (Dublin and County Clare), San Diego, Santa Barbara, Singapore, New Zealand (North and South Islands), Chicago, New York, Oman and Thailand. In addition to the highlights show, this series will also include a food and wine special featuring some of the greatest chefs in the world including Chicago-based Charlie Trotter and Andrew Fairlie of Gleneagles, Scotland. More... [456 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 10, 2009Maintaining Overall Price Parity with OTAsImpact of adherence to price integrity without knowing a realistic picture. More... [1138 views] Hotelier of the Week: Stephan KaminskiStephan Kaminski has returned as general manager to the grand hotel in Munich where he started his career more than 30 years ago. He talks about his life as a hotelier. By Stanley Slaughter More... [1560 views] Tourism Marketers Gather in Kuching, SarawakConferences on tourism markleting are hardly novel, but the International Forum on Tourism Marketing which was organised by the Egnatia Academy in Kuching was special simply because it cooked up a bubbling cauldron of marketing ideas from every segment of the toursim and hospitality industry. The speakers included senior executives from desination managment, global distribution systems, hotels, convention and event organisers, airlines, tour operators, travel writers and academics. By David Beirman More... [757 views] Malaysia a Big Asian Region Winner at World Travel AwardsMalaysia swept seven Asian awards at the prestigious World Travel Awards 2009's regional finals in London on Saturday. By Choi Tuck Wo More... [591 views] U.S. Travel Industry to Add 90,000 American Jobs in 2010The U.S. Travel Association announced that projected modest 2010 increases in leisure, business and international inbound travel will enable the industry to add nearly 90,000 American jobs. Leisure travel is expected to rise 2.0 percent, business travel is projected to increase by 2.5 percent and international inbound travel will increase by 3.0 percent. These job gains come on the heels of 400,000 combined travel industry job losses in 2008 and 2009. More... [529 views] What Trends Will Emerge over the Next 30 Years of Travel?World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is this year celebrating its 30th event. The industry has changed dramatically since World Travel Market first opened its doors way back in 1980, and its set to evolve at an even quicker pace over the next 30 years. More... [1647 views] Mixed Long-Range Forecast for Luxury Travel MarketA new trend report provides predictions for the luxury travel market through 2010. More... [1086 views] HICA Highlights Optimism in Africa's HospitalityOptimism was the main theme during the second day of the Hospitality Investment Conference Africa 2009, as speakers explored future prospects for the continent's hospitality sector amid the current economic climate. The conference was held at the Sandton Sun hotel. More... [460 views] Mobil Travel Guide Becomes Forbes Travel GuideThe Mobil Travel Guide, publishers of the world's most prestigious star ratings systems for hotels, will now become Forbes Travel Guide after a licensing agreement between Mobil Travel Guide and Forbes Media LLC. An exclusive licensing agreement between the two industry leaders, with more than 140 years' combined experience, transfers the hospitality industry's premier star rating and travel guide brand from ExxonMobil to Forbes. More... [901 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 9, 2009On the Move - October 2009Global Staff Movements for October 2009 provided by Spectrum International. More... [2701 views] A Hidden Gem or Lame – Online Travel Reviewers to Watch Out ForIn my last post I wrote about online travel reviews from a hotelier's perspective. This time I take off my hotelier's hat to poke some fun at online reviews from a traveler's perspective. By Daniel Edward Craig More... [1924 views] Closing the Circle in Measuring Performance – Understanding 360° FeedbackMy last two columns have addressed the evaluation and measuring performance process for hotel staff and I appreciate reader comments, questions and the opportunity to support hospitality and hotel companies. Those reader questions and inquiries caused me to reflect on the need to complete or "close" the circle of evaluation, which is providing useful and meaningful feedback to senior management. By Dr. John Hogan More... [690 views] Last-Room Availability Not the Norm... YetProviding online travel agents with last-room availability, reportedly one of the big sticking points in the ongoing feud between Choice Hotels International and Expedia Inc., is hardly standard operating procedure in the hotel industry, a survey by HotelMarketing.com confirms. However, the self-reported survey of more than 500 hoteliers hints that the controversial practice is becoming increasingly prevalent. More... [789 views] Grand Hyatt: Union Job Action “UnreasonableThe Grand Hyatt San Francisco is extremely disappointed by the decision of Unite Here Local 2 to stage an unwarranted job action at the hotel. More... [723 views] GTMC Questions 'Green Shoots' OptimismFigures from the Guild of Travel Management Companies suggest recovery for the UK economy is still some way off. More... [427 views] Results of HSMAI Marketing Executive RoundtableThe Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) hosted its first Hotel Management Company Marketing Executive Roundtable this October in Washington, D.C. The group discussed the latest industry trends and top challenges, as identified in a pre-roundtable attendee survey, and shared case studies and best practices for moving forward in 2010. More... [405 views] Starwood Hotel's Denise Coll Inducted into the Massachusetts Lodging Association Hall of FameStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(NYSE:HOT) is honored to announce that Denise M. Coll, President of Starwood's North America Division, was selected by the Massachusetts Lodging Association (MLA) to be inducted into the MLA Hall of Fame for her contributions to the lodging industry of Massachusetts during her 30 year career. The award was presented last week at The Sheraton Boston Hotel during the 2009 MLA Hall of Fame Award Ceremony. More... [792 views] Travel Verticals Successfully Fight GoogleMore and more online-booking engines are choosing vertical-websites over Google Adwords when spending their marketing budgets. Verticals (also referred to as "metasearchers") such as the popular travel sites of kayak, hotelscombined and trivago, combine real-time data (such as availability and rates) from numerous online-booking engines to show comparative results to their users. More... [1039 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 6, 2009Occupancy Tax Update on Internet Hotel Booking: More lawsuits against Expedia and Online Travel Companies (OTCs) over Lost Bed Taxes -- Why hotels should care about the transient occupancy tax (TOT) battleThe transient occupancy tax litigation by cities and local governments continues to mushroom By Jim Butler and Jim Abrams More... [1011 views] Is Thailand Really the Right Solution?A top holiday in a first-class, internationally renowned SPA-resort with a unique high-quality standard in terms of facilities and services: This is the least most people expect when they book a flight to Asia. How can it be that Europe, as the most popular holiday region in the world, is so under-developed when it comes to catering to the needs of people with such expectations? By Berno-H. Feuring More... [780 views] As Hotel Room Prices Sink, Quality of Casino Guests also Takes DiveCheap room prices at Las Vegas hotels are attracting a different clientele. Not to sound too snobbish, but a source from a locals casino said one sign is the increasing amount of room damage. By Jane Ann Morrison More... [725 views] F&B Trends, Buzzwords For 2010Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co. create high-profile restaurants around the world for hotels, restaurant companies, major museums and other consumer destinations. Here are their predictions for the F&B trends and Buzzwords of 2010. More... [1885 views] Rockwell Group Europe to Design the New W Paris-OperaW Hotel makes its debut in Paris with a unique design concept blending the energy of New York with the luminosity of Paris. More... [837 views] Travel XRay Claims Loyalty Schemes are ‘Unimaginative’ and ‘Samey’Loyalty schemes have been branded ‘unimaginative' and ‘samey' by market research specialist Travel XRay. More... [380 views] Global Customer Appreciation Week 2009The Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, Bahrain starts its "Global Customer Appreciation Week 2009" (GCAW 2009) celebrating the Spirit to Serve Our Customers and thanking them for their continuous business. From 2 - 6 November 2009, more than 3,200 Marriott properties in 71 countries will be taking part in the annual event. More... [1134 views] Visiting Leader Bruce Lange Shares Words of WisdomBruce Lange (BA '78), managing director of The Westin Kierland Resort, Spa & Villas in Scottsdale, AZ came to The School of Hospitality Business to speak to students in Adjunct Instructor Joel Heberlein's HB 237 - Management of Lodging Systems - course. More... [529 views] Green T. House: A New Style of Accommodation in ChinaA unique venue in Beijing with inspiring design, art and performances alongside innovative "T" and "New China" cuisine by JinR - musician, tea connoisseur and trendsetter. More... [570 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 5, 2009No Honey, No Money, No GuestsEvil Erik, already realizing through personal experience that the lack of money is the root of all evil, now has crowned himself with the " Master of Disaster" title and not just because wherever he shows up and intervenes he creates a crisis...... By Bert van Walbeek More... [1559 views] Positioning Your Hotel for the 2010 MarketplaceMarketing Is Not The Primary Thing...It's The Only Thing We suspect that 2010 will show some signs of recovery mixed with continued hardship for many hotels. We all know what happens when revenue levels are constricted; fewer dollars in, fewer dollars to spend. At this point, careful consideration should be made for every dollar spent to develop business. By Neil Salerno - Hotel Marketing Coach More... [1226 views] Major cities still hit by hotel profit slumpMajor European cities are still being hit by a fall in profit per available room, according to TRI Hospitality Consulting. By Stanley Slaughter More... [629 views] Egencia Survey Gives Hope for 2010Figures from Egencia show travel managers have become more stringent in attempts to save money in the recession. More... [379 views] Fairmont & BMW Team Up To Transport Guests in StyleCommitted to providing anticipative service and a personalized luxury experience that its guests have come to know and expect, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has expanded its partnership with BMW to offer members of the brand's guest loyalty program, Fairmont President's Club, complimentary access to BMW X5 xDrive 35d Sport Activity Vehicles during their stay. More... [1226 views] FastBooking Launches Collection-Hotels.com for Luxury PropertiesFastBooking, a leading provider of advanced Internet booking systems and e-marketing services for the hospitality industry, announces the launch of Collection-Hotels.com, an exciting new booking website for luxury hotel properties. More... [534 views] Legoland Receives Approval to Build HotelThe Carlsbad, Calif., City Council approves a plan for a 254-room Lego-themed hotel outside the park entrance. The California Coastal Commission also must approve the proposal. By Hugo Martín More... [659 views] Luxe Hotels Continues Worldwide Brand ExpansionThe Luxe Hotels worldwide brand expansion has come to metro Los Angeles, it was announced today by Efrem Harkham, CEO and Founder of Luxe Hotels, an L.A.-based upscale hospitality company. By Ozgur Tore More... [622 views] Monkey Business at an Edinburgh HotelPerhaps he had been hoping his final destination would be a land flowing with nuts and bananas. So being tranquillised on the rooftop of an Edinburgh hotel was probably not the ending this escapee monkey was hoping for when he made his break for freedom. By Claire Gardner More... [635 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 4, 2009Not That and Do ThisDo not embrace the "New Normal" and increase your RevPAR in 2010. By Jay Delerno More... [808 views] Hotel Occupancy Tax Alert: online travel company suits over transient occupancy taxes - 5 things every hotel owner and operator needs to knowUntil now, most of the press has focused on the lawsuits brought by more than 200 local governments against Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and the other third party internet hotel booking companies. As many of these lawsuits now reach final resolution, some cities have announced that if they don't win against the OTCs, they will take aggressive action to collect these lost bed taxes from the hotels themselves. And OTCs have said that if they lose, they may come back against the hotels. By Jim Butler and Jim Abrams More... [824 views] Hyatt: Occupancy Stabilizing, Trend to ContinueHotel occupancy rates are finally stabilizing, a soon-to-be public Hyatt Hotels Corp. told potential investors Monday, offering more welcome signs to an industry that's been battered by the recession. More... [695 views] The Accidental Call Centre ManagerSomehow, it snuck up on you. Customers were buying, and business was good. People would sometimes telephone your office with a sales or support question. Before too long, the phone was ringing so often it became necessary to hire someone just to take care of it. That one person became two, then five, then 10, then more. And now you seem to be running a call centre. By Pete Cooper More... [517 views] TripAdvisor Expands Chinese OperationsExpedia-owned TripAdvisor is to acquire China's second biggest online travel-related website, Kuxun.cn, for an undisclosed sum. More... [428 views] Communicating a Specific Message to a Specific AudienceOodles.com's founder Steve Sherlock on prioritising marketing initiatives. More... [741 views] Medallia Releases Industry’s First iPhone App for Putting Enterprise Feedback Management into the Palm of Your HandMedallia, the maker of SaaS customer experience and enterprise feedback management, today announced the first ever iPhone application for the enterprise feedback management ("EFM") industry, Medallia for iPhone. The newly released mobile application allows Medallia customers to access, monitor, and respond to real-time customer feedback on the go More... [361 views] Music Concierge in Maldives Strikes the Right NoteDetermined to provide an experience for the senses, Per AQUUM commissioned award-winning music consultancy, Music Concierge, to design and curate bespoke playlists for Huvafen Fushi. With painstaking attention to detail, the Music Concierge team hand-selected each and every track to create Huvafen Fushi's own, utterly unique, signature sound. Tailored minutely to each different area of the island, Music Concierge sourced music from across the globe to design an out-of-the-ordinary music experience which perfectly complements the property's innovative design. More... [498 views] Prince Named 'Hotel of the Year' by Marco Polo HotelsA Prince was named Hotel of the Year at the recently concluded Marco Polo Annual Awards by Marco Polo Hotels, one of the fastest-growing hotel companies in Asia. More... [683 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 3, 2009Hotelier of the Week: Heiko FiggeAfter working for Thistle Hotels in the 1980s, Heiko Figge has "come home" as the chain's new chief operating officer. By Tom Otley More... [1010 views] Breakfast with Henning ReichelGood morning, dear Henning, and thanks for your time. We are sitting at the Falkenstein Grand in the city Koenigstein, overlooking the skyline of Frankfurt. Koenigstein is almost 1000 years old, with the ruins of the historical castles of Koenigstein and Falkenstein. To give our readers a better understanding of the location: we have a very rich background in the true case of the word: the city of Koenigstein, at the doorstep of Frankfurt, has the greatest density of millionaires in all of Germany. By Andreas Augustin More... [1072 views] Short- and Long-term Implications of Discounting Hotel Room RatesWhen it comes to profits, the benefits of rate discounting for hotels are illusory, and the negative effects are both immediate and far-reaching. By Amber Cheung and Mark Brady More... [1852 views] Glass Half Empty? On the State of Restaurant Wine Sales in the RecessionWhen times are tight, we see the trappings of luxury drop one by one off of restaurant menus. Whether it's an extra shaving of white truffle, a forgotten amuse bouche, or the organic, local microgreens that used to dress a fillet of halibut, certain elements of the composed dish will fall prey first to the necessity of belt-tightening. But what happens to the wine list? When diners are forced to guard their wallets and curb their culinary spending, how do they change their wine buying habits? And should the industry follow suit? By Emily Bell More... [664 views] Las Vegas Sands Loses US$123M In Q3Casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Thursday it lost more in the third quarter this year than last as gambling markets continued struggling and the company pressed ahead on developing a resort in Singapore. By Oskar Garcia More... [567 views] hotels4u Quits ABTA over Bedbank ResolutionThomas Cook-owned bedbanks hotels4u.com and medhotels.com have resigned from ABTA after a change in rules regarding consumer protection. More... [516 views] Exhibition Leaders Review Global State of the IndustryEighteen exhibition industry leaders gathered in Zagreb (Croatia) on October 28, for the third "UFI CEO Think Tank". UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, includes the world's leading show organisers and exhibition centres in 83 nations. More... [371 views] The High-tech Hotel: Check-in, Choose Bed, Unlock your Door - and Pay - Using your Cell PhoneWhat will the future hotel look like? We know that it will have plenty of high-tech features - beyond the Apple iPhone booking apps that many chains are scrambling to develop right now. But what will the next-wave tech functions do for hotel guests? More... [816 views] First Hotel in Space On -Schedule, to Open in 2012The company behind plans to open the first hotel in space says they are still on target to accept the first paying guests in 2012. More... [1290 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 2, 2009Demand For Your BrandHow to create customer insistence through internal employee brand engagement! By Carol Chapman More... [1290 views] Last Room Availability, When Deep Discounts Are Not EnoughIf the feedback of the majority of readers is any indication, last room availability is far from being a standard in online hotel distribution today. But it is clearly on its way in, and that may not be such a bad thing. By Markus Busch More... [1171 views] The Billboard Effect: Online Travel Agent Impact on Non-OTA Reservation VolumeHotels that are listed on third-party distributors' websites, commonly known as online travel agents (OTA), gain a reservation benefit in addition to direct sales. That benefit, often called the billboard effect, involves a boost in reservations through the hotel's own distribution channels (including its website), due to the hotel's being listed on the OTA website. By Chris Anderson More... [869 views] Dynamic Pricing Across the Accommodation IndustryFor the last 12 months the GFC has forced travel operators to offer more competitive pricing, but in the wake of a recovering economy, one leading industry player says consumers should brace themselves for price hikes once more. More... [748 views] Blackstone Said to Be Seeking to Reduce Hilton Debt LoadAccording to a Financial News story, citing unnamed sources, private equity firm Blackstone Group has begun talks with lenders to cut up to $5 billion from the $20 billion debt load carried by Hilton Worldwide. More... [907 views] Hyatt’s Corporate Structure Criticized in ReportHyatt Hotels Corp. is likely to see "outsized profit growth" over the next decade, but the Pritzker family's tightfisted control over the underachieving hotel chain should make investors wary of its initial public offering, a prominent real estate stock research firm said Wednesday. By Thomas A. Corfman More... [991 views] Hotel Operators Tap New Profitability Strategies that Work in the Current EconomyAs we enter year two of our challenging hospitality industry environment, creative hotel management teams are leveraging skill and experience to deploy effective new business strategies. Innovative management strategies, tech tools, and Business Intelligence (BI) are helping hotel companies save money, operate more efficiently, and increase profitability in the current economy. More... [588 views] New Product Reduces Number of Device Purchases for HotelsBittel Electronics, Ltd. has unveiled its new UNO product line, which combines a full-featured hotel room phone, an alarm clock/radio, and an iPod/iPhone/mp3 player audio interface. More... [556 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: November 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 30, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 27, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 26, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 25, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 24, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 23, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 20, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 19, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 18, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 17, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 16, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 13, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 12, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 11, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 10, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 9, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 6, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 5, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 4, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 3, 2009Global Hospitality Newsletter: November 2, 2009
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