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Hotel Industry News In Brief

Oct 11, 12 | 12:09 am

Some current conversation starters…

For the third consecutive year, Adare Manor, located near Limerick and Shannon International Airport, has received top regional placement in the annual World Travel Awards.

Adare Manor was once again named Ireland’s Leading Hotel. The exquisite five-star, castle-like property is set in an historic, 19th century manor house surrounded by meticulously manicured lawns, exquisite walled and formal gardens, and acres of parklands. Just beyond Adare Manor’s gates is Adare Village, originally part of the estate and today considered one of Ireland’s most charming and photogenic villages with its storied thatched roof houses. “It is truly an honor to be recognized for the third year by the World Travel Awards,” said Anita Higgins, general manager of Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort. “It is a tremendous privilege to serve our guests and provide them with the best hospitality experience possible, and to have this recognized in this way by our customers and our industry colleagues is especially meaningful.”

Marriott International is debuting a new advertising campaign designed to showcase the breadth of its brands and welcome all frequent business travelers, particularly the African-American, Hispanic and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The “For You, We’re Marriott” ads champion frequent business travelers, who “conquer their missions on the road without forgetting the important things in life.” They aim to illustrate that Marriott understands the needs of all business travelers and welcomes them across the global portfolio of the company’s hotels. The campaign, which is part of a US$5 million multicultural marketing effort by Marriott, launches this week with African-American and LGBT targeted placements in a range of print and online business and lifestyle media. The Hispanic campaign will launch at the end of October.

Jamaica has seen a sudden surge in bookings from Brits following sprinter Usain Bolt's success in the London Olympics, tourism minister Dr Wykeham McNeill told delegates attending the island's annual travel trade exhibition in the resort of Ocho Rios.

Travel from the UK to Jamaica was down 5% up to May this year, but Dr McNeill said bookings had been picking up since the Games. Virgin Holidays alone has seen an 8% increase for summer 2013, he said. Virgin Atlantic has now agreed to extend its new third weekly flight from Gatwick to Montego Bay, launching next month, into a year-round service. It was originally due to operate only during the peak winter period. TUI will also add a second fortnightly charter in November. Elizabeth Fox, Jamaica Tourist Board regional director for the UK & Ireland, said: "Athletics has put Jamaica on the map, bookings have suddenly picked up. Bolt's success in the Olympics has completely reversed the trend." She said one tour operator told her forward bookings for summer 2013 had gone from being 18% down year on year before London 2012 to 45% up since the Games.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments…

Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski Hotels, brings Manish Nambiar as Hotel Manager for its upcoming luxury property, Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi, to replicate the success he delivered in Africa, Asia and Middle East. Fluent in six languages including French and Arabic, Manish brings with him over 16 years of hospitality experience with a unique combination of conceptual and culinary knowledge, besides strong operations management, sales, product marketing, business development, and project management skills. A great believer in employee empowerment and talent development, Manish was the Hotel Manager at Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay, Egypt, where he ensured high rankings for the hotel on quality audits, customer ratings, employee satisfaction and revenues. Prior to this, he has also delivered success for Kempinski in the ME&A and East African regions including Bilila Lodge Serengeti, Kempinski Arusha, Kempinski Nile Cairo, Kempinski Stone Town Zanzibar, Kempinski Bahrain, Shaza Medina, Shaza Marakesh, Kilimanjaro Kempinski in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski. Manish has also contributed to the opening of Kempinski hotels in Chad and Djibouti.

The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is pleased to share that Rick Bethea has joined the sales team at the resort. In this role, he will handle association meeting business in Atlanta, Washington DC and Chicago for meetings following the resort’s $30 million renovation slated for this winter. A Certified Association Sales Executive, Bethea has over 20 years of association and destination sales experience. He was most recently with the Hilton Savannah DeSoto Hotel. Prior experience includes sales roles with the Harbor Court (now the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore), Renaissance Harborplace Baltimore, Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC, and National Account Director for the convention and visitors bureau in Savannah.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

World-acclaimed fashion designer, icon and philanthropist, Diane von Furstenberg, will unveil her personally designed DVF Penthouse on Hayman, Australia’s celebrated private island destination, on Saturday, 27 October 2012. The stunning two-bedroom penthouse is appointed with beautifully designed furniture pieces, all upholstered in DVF signature fabrics, and includes an American Oak four-poster bed. Throughout the space, contemporary furnishings provide a mix of vibrant colours and textures in both the fabrics and rugs. The penthouse is light and fresh, complementing its prime positioning in the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, and features a vast balcony which offers sweeping uninterrupted views over the tropical garden landscape, Hayman Beach and the sparkling Coral Sea waters which lap the island. The master en suite is luxurious with a free standing stone bathtub and neutral tones which create a relaxing environment that integrates with the natural palette of its surrounds. The DVF Penthouse will accommodate up to four adults and offer full Butler service, all meals and other special inclusions. “It was such a pleasure to work with Hayman. It is such a special destination and I hope my design will enhance the beauty of the island and give the people staying in the DVF Penthouse a memorable moment,” said Diane von Furstenberg.

Marriott International has opened its second hotel in Barcelona, the 357-room Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel. The hotel, which operates under a long-term franchise agreement with Hoteles Catalonia, was designed by leading French architect Jean Nouvel. The hotel, which consists of two towers, is located in close proximity to the city's business centre. The Renaissance brand's portfolio includes more than 150 hotels in 35 countries.

Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, with local operator Upper Eastside Hotel (Pty) Ltd. The hotel will be Hilton Worldwide’s fifth property in South Africa and its second in the ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town. The 183-room hotel, currently known as Upper Eastside, will make changes in the coming months to bring the hotel in line with DoubleTree brand standards and is expected to open as DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside in late 2012.