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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: June 2010Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 30, 2010Market Analysis and Sales Office Audit – Look Beyond the Obvious in Turnaround SituationsOne of the first targets for analyzing the potential for a distressed hotel to ‘turn around' is the sales department and the related market reports. While this is absolutely correct, it is important to look beyond the conclusions to the basis of the data to ensure that it is not skewing the performance of the hotel and the sales department. By Carol Verret More... [736 views] Why Hotels Should Avoid Social MediaIf The Wall Street Journal is to be believed-and as a former contributor I've no reason to doubt it-the best way to get decent hotel service these days is to tweet about how bad it is. By Jeremy Wagstaff More... [3183 views] Hotel Management Agreement Performance Standards and Why they MatterHotel Lawyer with some practical tips on hotel management contract performance standards. Interest has recently spiked in getting new hotel management agreements (HMAs) or re-negotiating existing ones. It seems that some investors buying distressed properties are looking to rebrand and get new hotel operators. By Jim Butler and Robert E. Braun More... [1342 views] Top 10 Hostels in EuropeStaying at a hostel doesn't always mean having to sacrifice quality and comfort; there are many hostels across Europe whose service and standards easily rival the conditions of a four star hotel. More... [1122 views] Abu Dhabi Hotel Guests Numbers on the Rise May-to-May Comparison Up 14%Abu Dhabi emirate recorded a 14% increase on guest numbers across its 116 licensed hotels and hotel apartments last month compared to May 2009, accordingly to newly released Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority figures. More... [468 views] Langham Place Hotel + iPad = True Love for AllSupped-up technology hotel - Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong - is now offering a free roaming iPad service for guests. More... [595 views] UK Chain Hotels Market ReviewProfitability in London grew by 10.7% in May as overseas tourists flocked to the capital to go shopping, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting. More... [408 views] Luxury Pet Hotel to Open at Walt Disney WorldPets are soon to get their own hotel alongside their owners' at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. More... [613 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 29, 2010Hotelier of the week: Paul JamesSara Turner speaks to Paul James, vice president of Starwood's St Regis and The Luxury Collection brands, about a spate of new openings, future plans afoot and what makes a luxury hotel. More... [876 views] About That Item You Left in Your Hotel Room...A recent story about a hotel housekeeper in Miami who found in $6,000 in cash in a guestroom got me to thinking about items guests leave behind. As travelers, we've all experienced that sensation upon arriving at the airport that our luggage feels pleasantly lighter - only to realize we left half our belongings in the closet. By Daniel Edward Craig More... [2170 views] International Tourism Security Conference Highlights Hotel SecurityThe International Tourism Seciurity and Safety Summit held in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia between 14-17 June included some outstanding presentations which focussed on hotel security issues. The conference, organised by the Malaysian based Egnatia Academy covered a comprehensive range of security issues and approaches which apply to all sectors of the tourism and hospitality industries. By David Beirman More... [961 views] Safety First Employer Mentality Developing into Panic as War for Talent Re-eruptsTMS Asia-Pacific has stressed hospitality and tourism industry employees need to be on their toes as echoes of the ‘war for talent' dogging so many of them in pre-GFC days once again begin to impact on the sector. More... [660 views] EU Hotel Performance Results for May 2010The European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-over-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for May 2010, according to data compiled by STR Global. More... [720 views] Elisabetta Gucci Sued by Gucci over Dubai HotelElisabetta Gucci's plan to open a hotel in Dubai as part of a global chain of hotels under her name could be scuppered by the luxury goods company founded by her great-grandfather, according to a report by Bloomberg. More... [720 views] What People Miss and Enjoy About Being AwayFree toiletries, clean robes and being able to find the loo in the dark - all rated highly in Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts' new survey on what people miss and enjoy about being away. More... [694 views] Revealed: The Sydney Hotels Wooing Celebs with Lavish RoomsSydney's top end hotels are fighting it out to attract star guests by offering everything from round-the-clock butlers to baby grand pianos and catering to their every whim. By Angela Saurine More... [594 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 28, 2010An Outsider’s View Inside a Hotel’s Marketing Department: It’s Still about Rate and Customers but the Tools Have ChangedTo be a director of marketing in a hotel today is far more overwhelming than it was even two years ago. Marketing challenges still include rate and attracting customers, but the tools have changed. By Leora H Lanz and Eydie Shapiro More... [1341 views] 700-Plus Credit Cards Stolen from HotelComputer hackers targeting travelers at luxury hotels across the country made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars during the past three months by breaking into the computer system of a national hotel chain and stealing the guests' credit card information, Texas police officials told ABC News. By Scott Mayerowitz More... [972 views] Ways to Create Spiritual HospitalityThe guest experience in the future will be created by applying the knowledge of how everything is made of vibrating energy, and of how to change the vibration and energy of the body's energy field. Because you can create such beautiful, heart-warming feelings in the guests and employees that will redefine the meaning of "truly memorable experiences" by using the discoveries of energy science, hotel groups that refuse to let go of the SOP-Customer Satisfaction concept will surely become extinct. By Peter McAlpine More... [1359 views] Hotel Industry Leading Indicator Shows Signs of LifeThe U.S. Hotel Industry Leading indicator, or HIL, went up 1.5 percent during May, the fourth monthly increase after a slight dip in January's reading, according to economic research firm e-forecasting.com in conjunction with STR. More... [434 views] Hotel Lending: Why Hotel Lending is Different. . . and Some Things you Should Know…Hotel lending is different from any other kind of real estate lending . . . because hotels are different from every other class of real estate. These differences are key to understanding why hotel lending is different than lending on any other class of real estate. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers More... [1249 views] Hostelworld.com Reveals Emerging Travel Hotspots and Summer Travel TrendsHostelworld, the leading provider of online reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market has today announced the biggest growth markets in the travel industry during the past year. The region that experienced the greatest rise in bookings was South America, with several destinations reporting an impressive three figure increases in booking numbers. Continuing a trend from recent years, South East Asia also experienced rapid growth with Thailand, Taiwan and Cambodia performing particularly well. More... [424 views] How Can Hotels Increase Revenue Via Their Own Websites?Search marketing specialist Vizergy, in partnership with HSMAI, devised and conducted an online survey to identify and understand how hotel marketing professionals are using the Internet to market their hotels and increase their ROI. More... [1071 views] Ritz 'Plotter' Blew Cash on 'a Good Time'A man accused of fraudulently attempting to sell the Ritz Hotel for £250m told a court yesterday that he blew his share of a £1m payment on having a good time. By Wesley Johnson More... [603 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 25, 2010Hospitality Conversations – The Changing Landscape in Global Hospitality Education and TrainingThe economic forecasts remain mixed, but the overall message shared in many publications, news stories and online services implies a more optimistic outlook in hospitality and the hotel industry in the foreseeable future. This positive upswing will mean the need for both additional staff and increased training in evolving markets. By Dr. John Hogan More... [836 views] Do Your Hotel Guests Suffer from Buyers' Remorse?So you've got the booking. All you do now is wait for your guests to arrive. Right? By Caroline Cooper More... [1014 views] How to Make Frequent Guest Programs Work for YouHospitality research highlights ten principles that can improve loyalty program performance. More... [735 views] The Secret Life of HotelsIt'S not just mini-bars and fluffy towels. A hotel offers privacy for amorous trysts and discretion from the staff. As the writer and philosopher George Bernard Shaw once observed: "The great advantage of a grand hotel is that it is a refuge from home life." By Adam Edwards More... [859 views] 'I Hate My Room,' the Traveler Tweeted. Ka-Boom! An Upgrade!You might think that the only ones following your online musings are your mom and college pals. But if they include a gripe about a hotel, the front-desk clerk at the offending property may be listening, too. By Sarah Nassauer More... [960 views] Weekly Hotels Top Five of Five - DenmarkNext week sees the start of the Roskilde Music festival in Denmark, one of Europe's biggest music festivals. Denmark is a popular tourist destination, particularly with people from nearby Holland, Germany and Sweden, who visit for the sandy beaches and busy nightlife in Copenhagen. More... [360 views] Pig's Blood Cakes, Luxury Hotels Set For Sales Boost From YuanChen-Hsu Liyu, who sells pig's blood cakes from a suitcase-sized steamer in Taipei's Monga Night Market, expects to profit from China's decision to relax the yuan's peg to the dollar. By Chinmei Sung More... [336 views] Casting Call (Smile!) for a New Hotel in HarlemThe scene was 125th Street, but a very different sort of "Showtime at the Apollo" played out on Wednesday morning. Harlem is about to get its first new hotel in decades, and 75 or so applicants hoping to land a job there mingled on a soundstage at the Apollo Theater wearing brightly colored leis, sang along to Michael Jackson videos and introduced themselves with nicknames like Amazing Ashton and Phenomenal Patti. By Diane Cardwell More... [346 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 24, 2010How Much Bandwidth Do Hotels Really Need?Anne Edwards, Editor in Chief of ehotelier.com Talks Wi-Fi with Jeff Thompson, CEO of Towerstream, a leading wireless service provider utilising 4G Technology to deliver advanced, high-speed Internet access to businesses. More... [1501 views] It's Time for Hoteliers to Sharpen the SawIn 1989, Stephan Covey published a book entitled "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". If you haven't read this book, I strongly suggest that you do. For me, it has made a significant impact on my life, both personally and professionally. Habit number seven, Sharpen The Saw, is one of my favorites. By Neil Salerno More... [1372 views] How to Stay Fit on the RoadMatthias Morel, an airport marketing consultant who travels a lot for work, likes to stay in shape. So Morel doesn't care to check into a hotel only to discover that the gym is in a converted guest room crammed with out-of-date equipment, or in a windowless basement cell with no air-conditioning. Hoping to spare other travellers that experience, Morel, 27, and three partners have started HotelGymReview.com, where users can review their hotel gym experiences and find the best hotel gyms when they are travelling. More... [601 views] Chinese Research Travel Plans on Social NetworksA study conducted by the independent research team The Futures Company has revealed that business travellers in China are most likely to research their travel plans on social networking sites. More... [758 views] 'Gen Stress’: Global Survey Reveals Younger Workers are Holiday DeprivedYounger working Australians have been revealed to be more holiday deprived and fearful of taking all their annual leave than their older compatriots, according to the latest annual global Vacation Deprivation® survey from Expedia®, the world's largest online travel company. More... [763 views] 100% Smoke-Free Hotels Discuss Non-Smoking TrendsWe all understand the health concerns connected to smoking. But how effective are smoking bans at combating second-hand smoke? Well, recent research from the Harvard School of Public Health notes children who live in nonsmoking homes are less likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke if their communities have smoking bans. By Ray Burger & Dave Janicke More... [887 views] Inside London's Grandest HotelsThey may lack New World swank but, for many, London's stately old hotels offer a once-in-a-lifetime peek into the lives of the privileged, writes Paul Edwards. More... [911 views] Aussies Lapping up Japanese Love HotelsOf all the places you would expect to find a former Australian public servant, running a network of love hotels in Japan is one of the last that comes to mind. By Rick Wallace More... [638 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 23, 2010Need PR and Marketing Help? Ask Away! Q& A with Jennifer Rodrigues of TravelInk’dAfter my last column about loyalty, I received another question specifically about loyalty programs. Because I think this is such an important question (and topic), I have made it the entire focus of my column this week. By Jennifer Rodrigues More... [594 views] Prostitute Sting in China Closes Hilton HotelThe Hilton Hotel chain was hit by scandal in China on Monday as a branch was shut down by police investigating a prostitution ring. More... [2331 views] Signs of Recovery for Many UK Hoteliers in MayHoteliers across the UK experienced a mostly solid month of recovery in May with occupancy, room rate and rooms yield largely positive,according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. More... [530 views] Hotel Lending: "NOW" Could be the Best Time for Hotel Lending in 20 YearsHaving recently assisted 3 major lenders design their hotel lending programs and hotel loan documentation, the hotel lawyers in JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® believe that now is the best time for hotel lending in 20 years. My partner, Guy Maisnik, and I thought you might like to know why we believe this is true. So, here's why. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers More... [426 views] STR Global Releases Middle East/Africa Hotel Pipeline for May 2010The Middle East/Africa hotel development pipeline comprises 468 hotels totalling 127,938 rooms, according to the May 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. More... [597 views] Monday is the Busiest Day for BookingsThe first day of the working week has emerged as the one to generate the most online bookings. According to the Expedia Travel Bookings Report, 16% of people book a holiday on a Monday, with the busiest times between 7pm and 9pm. More... [596 views] JAL Hotels Partners with TVtrip.com to Film All PropertiesJAL Hotels Co., Ltd., one of Asia's largest hospitality companies and TVtrip, the travel website where travelers can view videos of hotels before making reservations, announced today that they have entered an agreement to film 58 hotels in more than ten countries over the next six months. The agreement will cover all JAL Hotels brands, which are Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City. More... [369 views] Seven Strategies for Hotel UpgradesJust because you booked a standard room, doesn't mean you have to stay in one. Travel + Leisure gives you seven ways to sleep better. More... [1276 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 22, 2010Hotelier of the Week: Steve JonesSara Turner talks dragon boats, dragonflies and biodiversity with the Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars hotel's general manager, Steve Jones. More... [451 views] Business Travellers Filling Philadelphia Hotels Back UpBusiness travelers, the kind who fill hotel rooms and airplanes midweek and don't mind paying full price, have returned in a big way, an unofficial leading indicator of improving economic times. Hotel operators in major cities across the United States say they are seeing a significant increase in the numbers from a year ago. By Suzette Parmley More... [360 views] Youngsters Say No to Kids’ ClubsMost children don't want to be packed off to a kids' club when they're on holiday, according to research. More... [758 views] Five Tips for Luxury Travel Providers when Choosing Affiliate PartnersFor luxury travel providers, an affiliate program can sink or buoy your business and your brand. In the efforts of successfully navigating the dark seas of the Internet, we've put together five simple commandments for selecting successful affiliate partners. More... [957 views] Brazilian Hotel Market OverviewThe information presented here is based on the commercial performance of 21 ,300 hotel rooms. The sample utilized is the same each year, except when there are new openings or significant changes in segmentation. By Gustavo Moura, Renato Moraes, Pedro Cypriano and Tadeu Avallone More... [589 views] STR Global Releases EU Hotel Pipeline for May 2010The Europe hotel development pipeline comprises 679 hotels totalling 117,996 rooms, according to the May 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. The region reported 322 projects in the In Construction phase with 58,617 rooms. More... [676 views] The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Introduces Environmentally-Friendly Water BottlesAs part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has taken an important next step-the offering of environmentally-friendly water bottles at its North American hotels and select properties in the Caribbean. More... [1086 views] High Tea RevivalWhile Melbourne is known for its restaurants and cafes, its growing afternoon tea scene is starting to cause quite a stir. By Saeed Saeed More... [798 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 21, 2010When All You Have Left Is All You Have Left, Don’t Say “All I Have Left Is…”With Both STR and PKF updating their recent forecasts to reflect increases in both occupancy and ADR, as thus are seeing increases in RevPAR and profits, many hotels and resorts will find unexpectedly high demand for the remainder of the calendar year. By Doug Kennedy More... [779 views] Court Asks Hilton to Drop BrandConrad Hilton may have set up the first Hilton Hotel in 1925, but a Rajasthan court has barred the US hotel group with business in 80 countries from operating in India under that brand, holding that it was deceptively similar to Sirohi-based Hilltone Hotel. More... [1872 views] STR Global Releases Asia/Pacific Hotel Development Pipeline Report for May 2010The Asia/Pacific hotel development pipeline comprises 1,004 hotels totalling 253,815 rooms, according to the May 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. More... [757 views] Why do you love to travel?Being taken out of their comfort zone. “It humbles me”. The concept of parallel universes, To soothe the restless spirit. “Immigration queues, airline food, being fingerprinted at Seattle airport, sitting in economy class next to people with excitable elbows. I ‘d miss all this if I stopped traveling.” By Yeoh Siew Hoon More... [1189 views] Return on Investment 'Crucial', as Buying Business Travel Becomes More ComplexCost, convenience and comfort top the agenda for business travel buyers, claims Andrew Waller, executive VP UK and Ireland for Carlson Wagonlit. Waller was speaking this morning at a briefing hosted by Business Travel Market 2010 and e-tid.com, which focused on the challenges, opportunities and change facing the business travel sector. More... [315 views] TripAdvisor gets Friendly with FacebookTripAdvisor launched the travel industry's first major implementation of the Facebook Open Graph. TripAdvisor's Trip Friends feature allows travelers to tap into their social network to find friends that can offer advice about a destination. More... [812 views] Wrapping a Hotel in Practical Style"AMAZING," UTTERED A little sweet voice on the other end of the phone. It was last Friday morning in Los Angeles, and Antonia, the 10-year-old granddaughter of acclaimed fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg seemed to have chosen the right word when prompted to describe her iconic grandmother. By Isis Almeida More... [359 views] The Savoy to ReopenThe Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, will reopen its doors on Sunday, October 10, 2010. One of this year's most eagerly anticipated openings, The Savoy has been undergoing the most ambitious restoration in British history. The hotel closed in December 2007 for a restoration that encompasses the entire building from the iconic entrance and the American Bar to Savoy Grill and the 268 guestrooms and suites. More... [725 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 18, 2010Building Customer Loyalty: Ten Principles for Designing an Effective Customer Reward ProgramReward programs are incentives designed to create loyalty among customers and to provide the best rewards to the "best" customers. These programs have proliferated in the hospitality industry for nearly three decades, with little direct evidence that they actually build either attitudinal or behavioral loyalty. By Michael McCall & Roger Calantone More... [1682 views] Starwood May Pursue Hilton Trade Secret Theft CaseHilton Worldwide lost its bid to dismiss a lawsuit by rival hotel operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT.N) that accused it and two former Starwood executives of stealing trade secrets. More... [990 views] New White Paper Focusing on Implementing Social Media Tools for MarketingAccording to a survey commissioned by Forrester Research, 86 percent of marketers believe that social media usage will increase more than any other marketing tool during the next three years. More... [628 views] Hilton Worldwide Announces Money Back Guarantee for Guests Staying at Its Gulf Coast PropertiesHilton Worldwide today announced that guests visiting any Hilton Worldwide property in the region of the recent oil spill can cancel their reservations and receive a 100 percent refund. The "Beach Satisfaction Guarantee". More... [363 views] AH&LA Stars of the Industry AwardsThe Chancellor Hotel on Union Square in San Francisco was recognized with a Stars of the Industry Award for a Special Event and Wade Heath, Parking Lead at Disneyland Hotel was also recognized as an Outstanding Employee of the Year at the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Stars of the Industry awards competition announced during the AH&LA Summer Summit held at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. More... [383 views] Starwood Calls for Significant Reductions in Energy and Water Use at Properties WorldwideExpanding on its company-wide commitment to conservation and sustainable operations, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) plans to significantly reduce energy and water consumption at every one of its 1,000 hotels within the decade. More... [541 views] Food & Beverage -What Customers Fear: Turning Anxiety into SalesThe more you answer questions upfront, the more you build trust. It's also a useful check on the strength of your service and systems. By Ken Burgin More... [617 views] No Rush on Stockholm Hotel Rooms ahead of Royal WeddingSwedish flags inundate the streets of Stockholm and local media are abuzz with wedding fever, but Crown Princess Victoria's wedding on Saturday has so far failed to fuel an expected tourist boom to the Nordic capital. More... [393 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 17, 2010Smaller Independent Hotels Should Think "Big"For many years, small independent hotels suffered from a tilted marketing playing field, which was dominated by their big budget competition. During the recession, they had to contend with larger franchised hotels, many of which had lowered rates, placing further sales pressure on smaller hotels... By Neil Salerno More... [1014 views] How Easy is it to Book your Hotel? Or Do you Give Consumers a Price Jigsaw Puzzle Nightmare…In the articles from our revenue management book we emphasize on the fact that you need to offer a wide range of prices and products to be able to sell to various consumers with different needs and price sensitivity. But some hotels overdo it. By Patrick Landman More... [821 views] Lessons in Revenue Management from the Stock MarketPerhaps it is the very longevity of the hotel industry that keeps it stuck in old-fashioned practices, particularly as it applies to revenue management. By Jean Francois Mourier More... [1786 views] BP Oil Spill Lawsuits Spread to States Beyond Gulf CoastBP Plc faces more than 225 lawsuits in 11 states as litigation from businesses, individuals and investors continues to increase almost two months after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded. By Laurel Brubaker Calkins and Margaret Cronin Fisk More... [563 views] EU Reaches 5.2 Million RoomsEuropean Union hotel supply has recorded a similar growth to last year to now reach 147,000 hotels and 5.2 million rooms. More... [801 views] Hilton Hotels and Marriott Tie for First Place in Customer SatisfactionThe American Customer Satisfaction Index released its report on hotels on Tuesday showing that Hilton Hotels and Marriott tied for the lead in customer satisfaction. By Steve Schulman More... [901 views] IPerceptions Releases Hospitality & Tourism Industry Report Q1 2010iPerceptions Inc. a leading provider of web-focused Voice of Customer analytics, released its Hospitality & Tourism Industry Report for Q1 2010. The report analyzes real-time feedback from more than 180,000 people visiting nearly 300 hospitality and tourism sites to identify the most important issues and trends facing this unique industry. More... [362 views] NY Hotel Owner Sheds Brands, Attempts Solo RideAt a time when many hotels are vying to be part of a major brand, one lodging company has chosen to go at it alone. By Deepa Seetharaman More... [793 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 16, 2010REVPAR GURU Predicts the Future of Revenue ManagementThe formal practice of revenue management, in the big scheme of things, hasn't been around all that long. It was only in the late 1980's that hotels (and hotel schools) began to consider the science of yield management in terms of hotel room inventory, and even less time ago than that that hotels began to implement policies and systems specifically for the purpose of managing revenue. By Jean Francois Mourier More... [1423 views] From Hotel Rivals to AlliesAmid signs that their industry has finally turned a corner after two dark years, hotel executives have begun to plot strategies for better times ahead. But those strategies differ, depending on whether they are running a big chain or independent hotel. By Susan Stellin More... [434 views] Hotelier of the Week: Richard MillardRichard Millard, CEO of hotel management company Tecton Hospitality, talks to ABTN about his life in the business, how the US hotel industry is coping, and the eternal question - to brand or not to brand? By Sara Turner More... [500 views] Hurun Luxury Living Index 2010 Indicates Bounce Back after Financial CrisisHurun Report, best known for compiling the China Rich List, released the Hurun Luxury Living Index for the fourth year on 12 June. The Hurun Luxury Living Index compares the retail price changes of a basket of 58 luxury products from 1 June 2009 to 1 June 2010. The Luxury Living Index grew to 11.3% in June year on year, up from a low of 4.6% last year, and nine percentage points higher than the CPI (consumer price index), which grew 3.1% year on year in May. More... [616 views] Visa Data Shows Reasons for Optimism for South Africa Tourism: Strong First Quarter Growth and 2010 FIFA World CupSouth Africa saw a 34 percent increase in inbound tourism spending during the first quarter of 2010, and anticipates additional growth opportunities around the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, according to Tourism Outlook: South Africa, an annual report released today by Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) that analyzes Visa cardholder spending for the past two years. More... [381 views] Latest Tourism Figures Show Financial Opportunity for Businesses that Improve AccessibilityNew figures for 2009 released today by VisitEngland from the UK Tourism Survey show that overnight trips made by people who either have or are accompanied by someone with a health condition or impairment contributed almost £2bn to the English domestic visitor economy in 2009. This highlights the economic importance of this travelling sector to the tourism industry. More... [447 views] Best of the Best Compete for Top AwardAfter an intense round of culinary competition, the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence Young Chef and Young Waiter national finalists have been whittled down by half to the best of the best. The final 14 will now go on to compete for top honours. More... [341 views] 'Zero star' Hotel Targets Commercial ExpansionSwitzerland may be the land of luxury, but one unique no-frills hotel concept plans to occupy the niche budget sector with eye-catching venues and a butler service. By Matthew Allen More... [597 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 15, 2010Brussels, Top European City of Association ConferencesBrussels has risen not only to first place in Europe but also to second in the world according to the UIA criteria, which take into account meetings of at least 300 participants of 5 different nationalities for a minimum of 5 days. According to these same criteria, at least 40 per cent of the participants must come from abroad. More... [557 views] “Upgrade” Your Yield Practices to Increase REVPAR and Guest Satisfaction!Hoteliers that become better at improving yield from each customer have a considerable competitive advantage. You can now apply new "Upgrade" driven yield improvement practices and generate important incremental revenues that increase REVPAR significantly. Begin with a three-step process and finish with a last look that guarantees success. By Drake Beil More... [1855 views] HVS Leadership Awards for Best Peforming Board of Directors & Best Performing CEO of the Year. And the Winners are…Keith Kefgen, CEO of HVS Executive Search, and Steve Rushmore, President & Founder of HVS, presented the annual HVS Hospitality Leadership Awards during the 32nd Annual New York University International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, Monday, June 7th 2010 at the New York Marriott Marquis. More... [592 views] How Struggling Hotels can be Managed through the Downturn: The Irish ExampleOver-supply of rooms, reduced corporate demand and the downturn in consumer spending has brought the hotel industry in Ireland to its knees. More... [1041 views] U.S. Commerce Department Forecasts Rebound in International Travel to the United States in 2010-2014The U.S. Department of Commerce projects international travel to the United States to return to a growth mode in 2010. Visitor volume is expected to increase five percent followed by five to seven percent annual increases through 2014. More... [342 views] Cape Town Welcomes the World to the 2010 FIFA World CupWith shiny new hotels, a vastly improved public transport infrastructure, a revamped world-class airport and a curvaceous stadium perched between mountain and sea; Cape Town is looking better than ever. By Tatiana Rokou More... [350 views] Not Even Sand and Sea Are Luring Usual Crowds to GreeceFaliraki, a resort in this island's northeast known for its long sandy coastline and raucous night life, is a picture of calm these days as summer begins. The pristine beaches are sparsely populated, the bars are all but empty and Vassilis Minaidis's gleaming new five-star hotel is distressingly quiet. By Niki Kitsantonis More... [608 views] Expedia Partners with Google to Launch Expedia Hotel ViewExpedia, which is the leading online travel booking site in the UK, has teamed up with Google to provide a street view of the hotels on their website. Using Google Street View technology incorporated into the Expedia UK website, consumers can now see a hotel as if they are standing in front of it on the street, which the company is calling Expedia Hotel View. More... [673 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 14, 2010Managing Hotel Revenue and Everything that Drives it - Five Considerations Worth RepeatingI first started writing about revenue management in 2001 and, frankly, I haven't seen overall business conditions change too much since then; markets are highly competitive and many hotels are still openly discounting rates to drive business. By Neil Salerno More... [1275 views] How to Maintain a Happy and Motivated TeamHaving a happy, motivated and productive team is key to customer service, maintaining sales and controlling costs. Conversely unenthusiastic or discontented staff will not only affect the quality of service, your sales and the day-to-day running of the operation, but will also rub off on everyone else, and ultimately lead to high labour turnover. By Caroline Cooper More... [2086 views] First Drop of Hotel Prices in 2010Hotel prices in Europe have dropped for the first time since the beginning of the year. This seems to mark the beginning of a price stabilisation, following an uninterrupted five month rise in prices since January 2010. In the UK, similar price reductions are to be found, with key cities like London and Birmingham falling 12% and 19%. These are the findings of the trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI). More... [552 views] World Cup Boost Expected for South African HoteliersSouth Africa will welcome the world when the FIFA World Cup kicks off 11 June 2010. Data from STR Global, the leading provider of market information to the global hotel industry, shows that prior to the start of the tournament and in-line with many other parts of the world, the country's revenue per available room (RevPAR) has begun to trend upward during 2010. More... [345 views] The Sorrows and Pleasures of Being in the LongtailEverytime I attend events such as the Mekong Tourism Forum, I leave with two main thoughts. I wish I had more time to travel to experience all the wonderful things I learnt about and how does one, as a traveller, find all these products in the crowded, cluttered, confusing web? By Yeoh Siew Hoon More... [464 views] Dubai Leads the Way in Hotel Occupancy and RevPARDubai's tourism sector continues to flourish as the emirate records the highest occupancy figures and revenues worldwide for the first four months of 2010, compared to the same period last year. More... [573 views] Haggle for Lower Hotel PricesNeed a hotel for your summer vacation or next long weekend? There are great deals to be had -- but you're going to have to work for them. More... [473 views] Heartbreak HotelToday there are divorce condolence cards, CDs, books, websites and soon a lavish hotel package to ease the pain of a bitter bust-up. More... [747 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 11, 2010Pricing Beyond the CompsetPricing Beyond the Compset and other new pricing strategies that really work. By Jean Francois Mourier More... [1303 views] Act Now to Secure Your Future, Hotels Told in New Industry ReportGuest experience, globalization, brand value and speed to market are the four key drivers transforming the future of hotels according to a report commissioned by Amadeus. More... [596 views] Hotel Growth Continues WorldwideDespite global economic challenges, hotel developments continue to progress, with 432,000 new rooms injected into global supply by both independent hotels and groups. More... [1132 views] Weekly Hotels Top Five of Five - South Africa (World Cup Special)The 2010 FIFA World Cup begins in South Africa this week, with thousands of tourists expected to fly in to see their teams at the tournament. More... [364 views] Hyatt Workers Want Better Pay as Economy ReboundsHyatt Hotels Corp (H.N) is trying to lock its workers into recession-era wages despite an economic uptick that has helped bolster shares about 40 percent since Hyatt's initial public offering in November, a union spokeswoman said on Wednesday. By Kyle Peterson More... [472 views] Groundbreaking iPhone® App for General Managers Unveiled at HITEC 2010Alloso Technologies, a software development and consulting company specializing in portfolio management and performance improvement, will unveil a business intelligence iPhone app at the upcoming HITEC Conference. The app is the first of its kind, designed specifically for the hospitality industry. More... [995 views] Swiss Town Launches "Bike Hotel" Certification SchemeA Swiss town has launched a "Bike Hotel" certification scheme to cater for cycling-mad tourists visiting the region. More... [449 views] Edition: The Next Generation Lifestyle HotelEDITION Hotels marks the next chapter in the lifestyle hotel story. The new Brand was conceived by Ian Schrager in a partnership with Marriott International. It will combine the personal, intimate, individualised and unique lodging experience that Ian Schrager is known for, with the global reach, operational expertise and scale of Marriott. More... [742 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 10, 2010Hotel Deals Pick Up as Tide Begins to TurnIn December, hotel-industry veteran Jon Bortz raised $405 million from investors to buy hotels at distressed prices. By Kris Hudson More... [582 views] STR Releases Brighter Forecast for 2010, 2011The U.S. hotel industry is projected to end 2010 with increases in two of the three key performance measurements, according to STR's monthly forecast update. STR projects 2010 occupancy to increase 3.6 percent to 56.7 percent, ADR is expected to end the year virtually flat with a 0.6-percent decrease to US$97.26, and revenue per available room is forecast to rise 3.0 percent to US$55.13. More... [419 views] Top Five U.S. Dining Trends for 2010Benchmark Hospitality International, the leading, privately-held hospitality management company in the United States, has just released its Five Top Dining Trends for 2010. The trends were observed by its 30 properties coast to coast and off shore, and were announced by Giorgi Di Lemis, vice president of food & beverage. More... [1254 views] Hotels are Ready for Shared Technology ServicesThe emergence of cloud computing and reliable networks has led to an opportunity to dramatically alter the cost/performance landscape for the hospitality industry through the sharing of many technology services across multiple hotel companies. But many questions exist about the model. Are hoteliers willing to give up enough control to make the model work? How could the hospitality industry use a shared services model to generate greater operating efficiencies? What are the opportunities for vendors in this space? More... [530 views] Gucci's Dubai Hotel will be first of 40 WorldwideLuxury hotelier Elisabetta Gucci is planning to open 40 hotels in the next 15 years in the Middle East, Far East and South America, an executive told the Reuters Global Luxury Summit this week. More... [716 views] Florida Hotels Offer Few Deals Despite Oil Spill FearsLeaking BP oil is already hitting beaches in Pensacola and could reach other parts of Florida. But don't expect extra discounts on hotels across the Sunshine State any time soon. While the tourism industry has raised alarms about a big drop in business, few areas have been directly hurt so far. In fact, many hotel operators say they're not giving extra oil spill discounts now. They cite several reasons. By Doreen Hemlock More... [277 views] Scam to Sell Ritz Hotel Comes UndoneA plot to sell the Ritz Hotel in London was a "simple but well-targeted and ambitious scam", a court has heard. More... [743 views] Skyscanner Spotlights Real Value ResortsCheap flight comparison site Skyscanner asked 1500 people in the UK to participate in a survey in order to determine which of the world's popular vacation destinations they considered to be the most expensive. More... [414 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 9, 2010Winners of the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow AwardsThe four winners of the World Travel & Tourism Council's 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards were announced during the 10th Global Travel & Tourism Summit at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China. More... [825 views] “Green is for Go”: Greening Your Hotel Meetings and ConferencesDoes your hotel offer meeting and/or conference space? Have you noticed a trend in the RFP's you receive from groups, asking about your "green" or "sustainable" initiatives? All signs are pointing in the direction of a widespread increase in this trend. By Diana Driscoll More... [1146 views] Thai Tourism Steadies, Readies Itself for Bounce-BackTwo weeks after a sense of calm and normalcy replaced political tensions on the streets of Bangkok, the Thai travel and tourism industry is pursuing a measured renewal of Asia's most vigorous tourist market. More... [502 views] Marriott Feels Bullish about Luxury SectorThere is still huge opportunity for growth in the luxury hotel market with JW Marriott and other high-end brands becoming the fastest-growing unit of Marriott International, executives from the group say. By Rebecca Bundhun More... [620 views] LE's Q1 2010 Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline SummaryWith a total of 1,846 projects/457,944 rooms, the Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline is at a 5-quarter high by projects and 6-quarter high by rooms in Q1. This is the second quarter in a row that the region has surpassed the United States for Total Pipeline rooms. Most global brands consider Asia Pacific to be the most attractive growth area for lodging development, mainly in the rapidly growing countries of China and India. Both weathered the global economic crises with limited impact, bounced back quickly, and are have returned to pre-recessionary growth rates, with further aggressive GDP growth projected through mid-decade. Lodging operations in both countries are also showing a quick and definitive rebound, with double-digit growth in both occupancy and RevPAR. More... [450 views] Gucci to Launch Hotel Chain in DubaiAfter Giorgio Armani's venture into hotel business, another Italian fashion icon, Gucci, has chosen glitzy Dubai to launch its own hotel chain. More... [800 views] Rezidor Gives the Red Card to Child ExploitationHotel group reiterates commitment to the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct in South Africa. More... [428 views] Sydney Restaurant Replaces Menus with iPadsTHE iPad is already a tasty product among gadget lovers, but a North Sydney restaurant has become the first in Australia to replace their printed menus with Apple's new touch screen device. By Stephen Fenech More... [1325 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 8, 2010Results from Grant Thornton’s Vietnam Hotel Survey 2010Grant Thornton Vietnam today released the results of their annual Vietnam Hotel Survey 2010. More... [965 views] Need PR and Marketing Help? Ask Away! Q & A with Jennifer Rodrigues of TravelInk’dQ: Since the recession began and demand dropped out of the hotel market, my hotel has had to make tough decisions regarding PR and marketing spend. What is the value of marketing to loyal and repeat customers, who by definition are already exposed to our property and brand? By Jennifer Rodrigues More... [1079 views] Hotel Lawyers: Public-Private Financing Still Works for Hotel DevelopmentsHotel lawyers with insights on how some development deals are still getting done: Public-Private Financing for Hotel Developments. By Jim Butler More... [597 views] Hotelier of the Week: Suzie MillsABTN speaks to Suzie Mills, general manager of Trump International Hotel and Tower, about the New York property's $30 million renovation and the brand's expansion. By Tom Otley More... [539 views] High-tech, high-touch works for Mercury TravelsAs someone who's worked in the travel industry for about three decades, Ashwini Kakkar, vice chairman of Mercury Travels, India and chairman of Via, has seen the industry through the ups and downs, and all the changes. By Yeoh Siew Hoon More... [390 views] TripAdvisor Upgrades Business Listings with 'Special Offers' CapabilityProperty managers can extend offers in minutes to world's largest travel community. More... [693 views] Hotel Wars: Corporate Drama And Intrigue Behind The Hospitality TradeWhen Ross Klein arrived at Hilton Worldwide's Beverly Hills headquarters to create a new luxury chain, he was the "it" guy in the hottest segment of the lodging business. By Nathaniel Popper More... [608 views] Retrofitting Manhattan’s Grande DameAs any hotelier will tell you, bringing an existing structure in-line with current sustainability requirements is the ultimate recycling project. The energy embedded in an existing building can be as much as 39 per cent of the embedded energy of maintenance and operations for the entire life of the building. So what do you do when your asset is a heritage one? We take a look at The Pierre New York to find out... More... [438 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 7, 2010‘Russell Rules –TEAMS WIN Adapting Leadership Lessons from the 20th Century's Greatest Team Winner’The title of this column also represents a new 2010 workshop as well, and it addresses a fundamental approach to achieving success. By Dr. John Hogan More... [562 views] Timeshare Lawyer: What's happening with Vacation Ownership -- fractionals, timeshares and clubs? Expert perspectives and insights on investor and hotel-owner benefitsTimeshare lawyer, David Sudeck, organized a great panel of vacation ownership experts who met earlier this month to discuss developments and opportunities for profit within the vacation ownership industry. David Sudeck, a senior member of our Global Hospitality Group® who focuses on vacation ownership issues, writes extensively on issues in this area. By Jim Butler More... [1072 views] A New Way to OutsourceUniversity of Tennessee researchers attempt to tackle an inherent conflict in the current system. By Kate Vitasek More... [1225 views] Connections, Not Costs, the Driver behind ‘Landmark’ Interline AgreementIt's being called a "landmark" interline agreement - the one signed between Air France KLM and the Jetstar Group yesterday in Singapore. By Yeoh Siew Hoon More... [358 views] Israeli Travellers Wipe Turkey off Their Summer MapsIn wake of naval raid, tourism professionals encourage switch to local vacations; ‘Princess' cruise ship cancels stop at Ashdod. By Ron Friedman More... [652 views] Thinking beyond the BookingHow could interactive marketing create more and different ways to grow revenue, increase loyalty and satisfy customers? More... [582 views] Considerate Hoteliers Award Winners 2009/10 AnnouncedSpecial Lifetime Achievement Award for Jenny Lock, Proprietor, Greenbanks Country Hotel, Wendling, Norfolk; and first ever ‘Considerate Good Egg of the Year Award 2009/10' to Raymond Blanc OBE. More... [539 views] Travelocity Makes It Easier Than Ever To Choose Eco-Friendly Options in EnglandThanks to a new relationship with the Green Tourism Business Scheme, Travelocity has now flagged hundreds of green hotels in the United Kingdom. More... [647 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 4, 2010Service Superstars Part 2: Treat Them Like They Own It!"The trouble with having employees is that eventually you have to pay them." By Dr. Bryan K. Williams More... [1123 views] Customer Reviews and Google’s Local Business ListingsGoogle's Business Listings is a popular tool that helps consumers find local businesses. For businesses in certain industries, a favorable ranking in the LBL will go a long way in driving qualified traffic to your website. In this article, we discuss how the LBL works and how customer reviews effect ranking within the system. By Geoff Agnew & Stephen Saugestad More... [776 views] A Tale of Two StrategiesContrasting boutique and chain hotel revenue management approaches. By Jean Francois Mourier More... [1650 views] 10 Top Hotel Deals in Luxury DestinationsThe hotel price comparison trivago has put together a list of ten top hotel deals in some of the world's most expensive holiday cities. More... [947 views] Microsoft Launches Expedia Version of Internet Explorer 8Microsoft has joined forces with travel website Expedia to launch a version of Internet Explorer 8 aimed at web users looking for holiday bargains online. By Carrie-ann Skinner More... [697 views] Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Theme Park Project on TrackConstruction on Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, an amusement park being built on Yas Island as a key tourist attraction, is on schedule. By Haseeb Haider More... [775 views] iBAHN Forums visit Paris, June 10thiBAHN, the worldwide leader in digital entertainment and Internet solutions for the hospitality and meeting industries, announces its Paris Forum, which continues the latest series of EMEA forums focused on educating hotels in new technologies. More... [288 views] Hospitality Business Models Confront the Future of MeetingsThe Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) announced the availability of a new report entitled, "Hospitality Business Models Confront the Future of Meetings," written by Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), the company's global consultancy. More... [529 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 3, 2010Train Your Hospitality Team to Say “YES!” To Guest ComplaintsWith the continued growth of online guest reviews, social media postings, and videos of customer rants on YouTube, it is obvious that a hotel's level of guest service is increasingly transparent to the outside world. This is why in today's world it is more important than ever to train your hotel hospitality staff to not only welcome guest complaints, but to actually encourage them. By Doug Kennedy More... [2264 views] Hotel Rate Inaccuracy AboundsDespite travel buyer and hotelier efforts this year, the accuracy of the hotel rates loaded into the global distribution systems has only slightly improved. Meanwhile, another chronic problem, the dropping of those negotiated rates, has grown increasingly troublesome in a buyer's hotel market. By Michael B. Baker More... [527 views] Business Travellers Favour Hotel Experience Over Home ComfortsEighty-six per cent of business travellers would prefer to spend a night in a hotel rather than stay at home before an early meeting, according to an independent survey of over 1,000 business people. More... [397 views] HIL Continues To Grow, But Slower Pace in AprilEconomic research firm e-forecasting.com in conjunction with STR announced that their U.S. Hotel Industry Leading Indicator, or HIL, went up 0.3 percent during April, the third consecutive monthly increase after a slight dip in January's reading. More... [287 views] Hotelscombined.Com Confirms Room Prices Got Smashed In Weeks Leading Up To The 2010 FIFA World CupFor the first time, the highly anticipated 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament is failing to boost inbound tourism and failing to meet its 16% quota of South Africa's US$11B revenue target. More... [455 views] Through the Eyes of a Hotel Butler: Home Away from Home Experiences, Five Levels to Reach ItWe are about to close the first decade of the 21st century during which Hospitality Industry has grown and expanded so that its related offers have considerable increased. As a result, hotels nowadays are focused in a great battle to conquer the most important trophy the guest carries along: his power of choice. By Osvaldo Torres Cruz More... [871 views] ICCA: Most Popular Meeting Destinations AnnouncedThe ICCA has recently announced the most popular meeting destinations. The results threw up few surprises as the US and Germany came out in the leading positions once again. More... [503 views] Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Opens As Largest Hilton Property in ASIA PacificHilton Worldwide announced the opening of its largest hotel in Asia Pacific, the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk. Featuring 1,052 guest rooms and more than 6,000 square meters of event space, the hotel is the brand's first property in Fukuoka, a major gateway to China and Korea. More... [597 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 2, 2010The Pros and Cons of a Hotel Blog: A RetrospectiveIn a recent article about social media for hotels, I argued that it doesn't make sense for most hotels to start a blog. Blogs are time-consuming and challenging to maintain, often starting in a flurry of enthusiasm and then fading over time. An abandoned blog is like frayed carpet in a hotel lobby: it speaks of apathy and neglect and can be off-putting when stumbled upon. By Daniel Edward Craig More... [952 views] Hotelier of the week: Mark WillisMark Willis is regional director of Radisson Blu in the UK. He talks to ABTN about getting through a recession and a rebranding at the same time, and why opening hotels is addictive. By Tom Otley More... [503 views] Six Ways to Spy on the CompetitionEvenly matched with your rivals? Good intelligence can make the difference. Here's how to get it. By Christopher Steiner More... [1602 views] Refinancing Hotels in today’s MarketAs owners who are looking at refinancing their properties, I believe we have to go back and look at the fundamentals as to where we are today and what is going to drive tomorrow. By Mike Scully More... [513 views] New Immigration Policy to Affect Hospitality IndustryFollowing the coalition government's announcement to cap immigration from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Hospitality has called on the Government not to neglect the issue of skills shortages in the hospitality sector. More... [1179 views] World Cup Fans Face 300 Per Cent Hike in Hotel Room RatesAfrican think-tank report blames Fifa and an agency that was allowed by officials to corner the market. By Andrew Johnson More... [599 views] Town@HouseStreet a New Social Project for HotelsTown@housestreet develops new urban spaces and turns the owners of the shops into hotelliers. The metropolitan spaces renovation project, conceived by Alessandro Rosso and signed by the Architect Simone Micheli, was born in Milan but is intended for the major metropolis all over the world. More... [380 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: June 1, 2010Hotel Price Changes in Past Cycles—Part I: The Early ‘80sThe future for hotel prices remains hazy, but past cycles of recession and revival reveal some enlightening trends. Part I in a series examining the dynamics of hotel prices over the past 30 years. By Rodney G. Clough and Lizzette Casarin More... [733 views] A New Yield Improvement Direction: Upgrade to UpgradingConsider "Upgrading" your current ‘upselling' programs to improve service and increase yield simultaneously! A new focus on "Upgrading" improves service quality and has a major positive impact on yield and REVPAR. Most important, "Upgrading" creates higher-performing associates. By Drake Beil More... [1579 views] Does Your Customer Feel Like a Guest or a Nuisance?Many companies use terms like 'guest' and 'partner' to convey the intimacy they have with their customers but the reality is that most employees, when given the opportunity, do not behave as though they are serving a valued guest. By Steve Curtin More... [834 views] Tourism Fiji typhoid advisoryTourism Fiji has advised there is no cause for alarm following the report of some cases of typhoid in five villages in the remote Navosa Province on the big island of Viti Levu. More... [385 views] STR reports US hotel performance for week ending 22 May 2010The U.S. hotel industry reported mostly positive results in the three key performance measurements during the week of 16-22 May 2010, according to data from STR. More... [318 views] Hotel Toiletries - The New Green BattlegroundHotel amenity kits are quickly becoming the latest battleground for hotels looking to assert their green credentials. More... [851 views] Multi-Million-Dollar Restoration of Cairo's Treasured Gezira Palace at the Marriott Downtown Cairo HotelCairo's famed Gezira Palace, located in the heart of the Cairo Marriott Hotel, is set to undergo a meticulous, multi-million-dollar, two-year restoration designed to reclaim its resplendent brilliance while reimagining its long-held traditions of hospitality. More... [385 views] HVS Releases the 2010 India Salary ReportThe 2010 India Salary Report presented by HVS Executive Search India provides the most comprehensive and current guide to compensation trends in the hotel industry. More... [1173 views] |
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