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Hotel News in Brief

Oct 17, 12 | 12:09 am

Some current conversation starters...

Dedicated golfers are still happy to spend money on their sport even in times of austerity, with three in four club members taking at least one golf break each year.

That's the findings of a recent poll carried out by HowDidiDo, Europe's largest golfing community. Almost 1,200 users of the website - all registered golf club members - responded to the poll asking how many golf breaks were taken each year and a staggering 77 per cent owned up to going away for a golf holiday each year. A whopping 47 per cent - almost one in two - book three or more packages a year, indicating that even when money is tight, dedicated golfers travel to enjoy their sport. When asked about the length of their holidays, 83 per cent of respondents' breaks - more than four in five - last three days or longer, with 37 per cent of the trips taken going to the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the most popular destination with one in five golf breaks heading for the sunshine. Scotland, the Home of Golf, was the second most popular destination with 18 per cent, and, perhaps not surprisingly, Spain came third with 17 per cent. Only 17 per cent of the breaks were to long-haul destinations, such as the USA or Thailand.

A bed and breakfast owner in the Outer Hebrides has won a landmark legal victory against review website TripAdvisor.

Richard Gollin, 64, launched a small claims action at Stornoway Sheriff Court over what he says are 'false and malicious' criticisms of his guesthouse in Lewis, which the site refused to take down after being posted by its users, reports the Daily Mail. He claimed that negative comments posted cost him valuable bookings of around £2,000. Until now, TripAdvisor, which is based in the US, has denied it was subject to UK laws and could therefore not be sued. It previously challenged the jurisdiction of the Scottish court claiming the firm is outside the remit of the Scottish legal system because it is based in Massachusetts. But Mr Gollin's lawyer, Duncan Burd, won a concession from the firm which has agreed it can be sued in Scotland. However, TripAdvisor won its request to hear the action in a higher court which would require Mr Gollin to hire a lawyer and be exposed to limitless expenses. The bed and breakfast owner has appealed and it is expected to be heard in Stornoway in two months. If it goes ahead, it is believed the case will pivot on the legal interpretation of TripAdvisor's website terms and under the basis of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977.

Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa's reputation continues to go from strength to strength after scooping another prestigious award and being named the top golf resort in Italy for 2012.

The luxurious Sicilian venue, which features a variety of first-class facilities including two championship golf courses and a five-star spa, beat off strong competition to receive the accolade from leading travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller. The award follows just a week after Donnafugata was included in the Rolex World Top 1,000 Golf Courses poll and is the second honour Condé Nast Traveller has bestowed on the resort in the last two years. The top travel publication named the venue as its Best Overseas Day Spa in 2010, while Donnafugata also received major recognition from the European Tour last year after being chosen to host the 2011 Sicilian Open. Pablo Rey Rodriguez, general manager at Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, said: "To be voted Italy's number one golf resort is quite an honour and something that we are all very proud of.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments...

Award-winning, renowned culinary talent, Marc Suennemann has been named Executive Chef of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. Originally from Hamburg Germany , Suennemann began his culinary career in 1989 with apprenticeships in a series of five-star hotels, resorts, and restaurants throughout Germany and Switzerland . He eventually went on to the College of Gastronomy and Food in Hamburg , where he graduated in 1992. Suennemann was recruited to the Unites States in 1996 by Chateau Elan, a prestigious winery and resort located in North Georgia . There he assumed management responsibilities of the dining operations for the resort and conference facilities while gradually moving up the ranks to become Resort Executive Chef in 2004. Perhaps ranking highest among Chef Suennemann's various accomplishments is his title as 2008 Copper Skillet World Champion. Earlier that year, Suennemann beat out other renowned American Chefs at the Copper Skillet United States Championship which brought him to the World Championship. Suennemann wowed the judges with his preparation of seared chicken medallions, seared red snapper, orzo pasta, and ratatouille which ultimately won him the top honors.

Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced today that Hong Kong native Lily Ng has been named President of Caesars Global Living Asia, the company's non-gaming luxury hotel-management division. Prior to joining Caesars Global Living, Ng was Executive Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, China, and led one of its fastest-growing advisory practices. Under her leadership, the practice was voted Best Consulting Organization by World Hotel Association (2008 & 2011) and Best Hospitality Service Institution of Asia by AHF Hotel International Hotel Investment Summit (2011). Her career spans hotel operations, advisory roles, investment assessments and underwriting for principal investors. She has held positions in Fortune 500 companies including Hilton Hotels Corporation, Security Capital Group (later acquired by GE Capital) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (Hong Kong).  She has been involved in more than USD 300 billion worth of hotel assets throughout China, Asia and the United States and serviced a wide spectrum of hotel investors and owners. In China alone, she has assessed more than 300 projects in over 60 cities across the country.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach has begun a $10 million renovation project of each of its 375 guestrooms, including 41 suites. Diego Gronda, managing and creative director of Rockwell Group Europe, and Linda Zarifi, a Miami-based interior designer, are leading the redesign. The refresh will take inspiration from the hotel's Art Deco history as well as South Beach itself. Features will include walkways adorned with platinum-glazed walls and aqua-colored carpets; beach-inspired textiles, bedding, upholstery and décor; a library of Taschen books; and contemporary artwork curated by The Diana Lowenstein Gallery. Artists who have been commissioned include Xawery Wolski and Cecilia Paredes.

The new Tryp By Wyndham Bogotá Embajada is now open, marking the brand's second entry into the Colombian market. The property's 250 guestrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel offers oversized family rooms with bunk beds for children and fitness rooms stocked with exercise equipment and workout gear. The Tryp by Wyndham Bogotá Embajada is located within the new Capital Towers complex, which also features retail shops, commercial space, and restaurants. The hotel is 15 minutes from El Dorado International Airport and is near the United States Embassy and the Corferias exhibition center.

W Hotels Worldwide announced the opening of the first W Hotel in Singapore with the debut of W Singapore-Sentosa Cove and The Residences at W Singapore-Sentosa Cove. Owned and developed by an affiliate of City Developments Limited, W Singapore is located on Sentosa, an island minutes away from downtown Singapore. Designed by London-based architects WATG and design firm Rockwell Group, W Singapore is said to have been inspired by the energy of the city set against Sentosa's natural surroundings to create a new scene in this international capital. Located minutes away from Singapore's Central Business District, shopping and iconic sights, Sentosa Island offers rainforests, sandy beaches, spas, residences, and a deep-water yachting marina. W Singapore and The Residences at W Singapore - Sentosa Cove are situated in the heart of Sentosa and adjacent to Quayside Isle, a specialty retail complex with waterfront restaurants and shops. Adjacent to the 228 W-branded residences, the hotel features 240 guestrooms and suites, two signature restaurants, a destination bar, the W Lounge experience, WET pool deck and bar, Away Spa and meeting and event space. The opening of W Singapore-Sentosa Cove marks the W brand's 43rd hotel worldwide, and the seventh W Hotel in Asia Pacific.