Hotel Industry News In Brief
Apr 13, 12 | 12:09 am
Some current conversation starters…
Only Resort in Manila Takes Luxury Living to New Heights
Sofitel Philippine Plaza’s Imperial Residence ‘like nothing else’ in the country
A space that former Philippine first couple Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos dreamed up to accommodate friends with money and people with fame has been re-imagined as Manila’s most opulent and versatile digs. At 6,200 square feet and with panoramic views of the sea and city, The Imperial Residence on the 11th floor of Sofitel Philippine Plaza is as much a mansion in the sky as it is the hotel's newest addition. Among the exclusive dwelling's more magnificent features are a 10-seat formal dining room, fully equipped kitchen with Meile ovens, spacious living room with 72-inch flat-screen TV and wrap-around balcony overlooking Manila and its bay. But the residence's most appealing facet could be its collection of five spacious suites, which guests can book separately or as a whole. The latter choice comes with the option to have any room converted into a customized special-purpose area, such as a gym, office or spa. Or yoga studio. Or video-game den. Or whatever the guest’s heart desires. “We tried to envisage the most chic, most coveted, most remarkable residence we could,” said Goran Aleks, Sofitel Philippine Plaza's general manager. “The kind of place you dream about long after you’ve finished sleeping in it. This is what we came up with.” For more information about Sofitel Philippine Plaza or The Imperial Residence, visit www.sofitelmanila.com.
‘Best Resort Hotel’ and ‘Best Destination for Relaxation’ for Maldives
The luxury playground of W Retreat & Spa – Maldives and the destination Maldives has won accolades of Lonely Planet reader’s choice awards. In the results of the Lonely Planet Magazine India’s Travel Awards 2012 which was announced recently, W Retreat & Spa – Maldives was voted as the ‘Best Resort Hotel’ (International), while the destination Maldives was voted as the ‘Best Destination for Relaxation’ (International). This year, both Maldives and W Retreat & Spa – Maldives have been tipped for a number of international accolades; having been nominated in multiple categories at the World Travel Awards 2012 as well. By Theodore Koumelis in TravelDailyNews.
Key Appointments in the Industry
Congratulations to these new appointments…
Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Bambi Bryant as director of leisure sales for Turtle Bay Resort, the landmark property located on the North Shore of Oahu. Turtle Bay Resort is part of Benchmark Hospitality’s new collection of Personal Luxury Resorts & HotelsSM. Danna Holck, Benchmark’s general manager at the resort, made the announcement.
Wyndham Hotel Group appointed Frank Trampert as managing director of the Asia Pacific region. Trampert will oversee operations, development and the execution of cross-functional brand initiatives in Asia Pacific He will be based in Hong Kong and report directly to Robert Loewen, EVP/CFO. Source: HotelBusiness.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s largest hotel companies has appointed former McDonald’s Chief Marketing Officer, Larry Light, as Global Chief Brands Officer. Reporting directly to CEO Richard Solomons, the hiring of Light builds on the company’s strategy of developing and nurturing a powerful portfolio of preferred brands including; Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Larry Light is one of the world’s leading brand consultants and author of the book ‘Six Rules for Brand Revitalisation’. He served as Global Chief Marketing Officer for McDonald’s during 2002-2005, crucial years in the brand’s marketing turnaround and as CEO of Arcature LLC, a brand management consultancy, Larry has also worked with other high profile organisations including Mars, Nissan, 3M and IBM. Source: IHG.
The Latest in Hotel Openings
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) today unveiled the world’s largest Holiday Inn, the 1,224-room Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central, with the opening of Sands Cotai Central, the latest Sands China Ltd. integrated resort on Macao’s Cotai Strip. “Holiday Inn is proud to offer a truly unique experience in Macao,” said Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer of IHG Greater China. “With three people checking into a Holiday Inn every second globally, we’ve established ourselves as one of the world’s most well-known hotel brands, and have the expertise to provide business and leisure guests with an unforgettable experience, and the comfort to sit back, relax and be themselves, at Sands Cotai Central.” Source: IHG.
Sofitel Luxury Hotels announces the opening of the Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea and Spa, a new reference in thalassotherapy and well-being in Morocco. This new establishment is only a 3-hour flight away from the main European capitals and is the ideal place for a relaxing and revitalising break. The Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea & Spa is the brand’s second hotel in the bay of Agadir alongside the Sofitel Agadir Royal Bay resort. "I am delighted to welcome this new flagship hotel to our network of Sofitel Thalassa Sea and Spa establishments. The Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea and Spa offers the best of today’s thalassotherapy offer paired with Sofitel’s inimitable standards and is incontestably the new well-being reference in Morocco’ explains Robert Gaymer Jones, CEO of Sofitel Worldwide.
