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Hotel News in Brief

Jan 30, 13 | 12:00 am

Some current conversation starters...

The first Nobu Hotel, from celeb chef Nobu Matsuhisa and partners including actor Robert De Niro, is just about ready to welcome guests.

It's due to launch in the former Centurion Tower of Caesars Palace Feb. 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Feb. 4. Here's a sneak peek at the unusual room service menu, created by Matsuhisa for the upscale 181-room-and-suite property. The 24-hour Nobu Caesars Palace in-room menu is ambitious, and, as you might expect, pricey. Gussied-up pancakes (blueberry yuzu soba) are $22, according to Caesars. Expect treats with an Asian accent. (For instance, some dishes incorporate the yuzu fruit, which is unfamiliar to many Americans, but is used as a tangy, citrusy accent in Asian cuisine.) Breakfast options include green-tea waffles with banana, strawberries, yuzu whipped cream, pecans, miso butter and maple syrup. Lunch could be a bento box filled with sashimi salad, nigiri and maki sushi and spicy garlic vegetables. There will be sashimi tacos, green tea brûlée and the Nobu restaurants' signature fried rock shrimp with tangy sauce. But, yes, you can order up a burger or 24-ounce bone-in ribeye. Or dine at a Nobu restaurant in the hotel. The Nobu Hotel is part of a wave of hip new lodgings expected to make a splash in Vegas in the coming year or so. In the cards are offshoots of the Delano (a hot spot for celebs in Florida's South Beach) and the SLS (hipster havens in Beverly Hills, South Beach and NYC).

The recipient of the first ever special ‘HOSPA Paragon Award' - for outstanding and exemplary work in the field of Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management and IT - is Debra Adams, HOSPA's Head of Education Services.

She was honoured for her ground breaking achievements in Education for BAHA (British Association of Hospitality Accountants) then its successor HOSPA, and for the highly efficient and inspirational way she has managed the Association's membership services for the past seven years. Debra was presented with this very special honour by HOSPA Chairman Paul Dukes - also Chairman at Kew Green Hotels - and HOSPA Chief Executive Carl Weldon. Commenting on her award, Carl Weldon said: "The Oxford Dictionaries definition of a ‘Paragon' is a flawless diamond; and the title is used figuratively to denote a model of excellence or perfection. Debra Adams is - and has been - such an exemplary model for first BAHA then HOSPA. So it is with great pleasure that HOSPA - the UK's leading educational organisation for hospitality professionals involved in Financial Management, Revenue Management and IT - has chosen Debra to be the first recipient of this very special, prestigious award."

Modern luxury brand Celebrity Cruises has announced another illustration of how consumers can keep their New Year's resolution to stay fit while vacationing. The brand has expanded its already robust portfolio of fitness options by partnering with global lifestyle brand Zumba® Fitness to offer Celebrity guests a variety of its popular classes.

In addition to the original classes, Celebrity will offer guests a range of complimentary specialty classes that vary by ship, including Zumba Gold®, for active, older adults; Aqua Zumba®, the ultimate "pool party" workout, and Zumbatomic®, Zumba routines for kids. Each cruise will feature a licensed Zumba instructor who will lead the various classes. Celebrity also will add a Zumba fitness party to the brand's theme party lineup once per sailing. Led by Celebrity's licensed Zumba instructor, the party will be held in the ship's nightclub, where guests can learn the basic steps of Zumba, ultimately creating the most high-energy parties on the cruise. In the true essence of Zumba, the parties will be all about moving, enjoying the music and having fun.

Key Appointments in the Industry

Congratulations to these new appointments...

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. today announces the appointment of Struan B. Robertson as executive vice president, chief investment officer. Mr. Robertson will lead the company in its domestic and international acquisition efforts. He is based at Host's headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, and reports to W. Edward Walter, president and chief executive officer. Mr. Robertson brings more than 23 years of real estate investment banking experience to Host. Most recently, he was co-head of global real estate investment banking at Morgan Stanley where he co-managed global teams across as many as 14 offices in 13 countries. He was also involved with a variety of major hotel sector deals in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Prior to this position, he was in various roles at Morgan Stanley including head of European principal investment and investment banking and prior to that head of Asian real estate investment banking based in Tokyo, Japan.

Kristin Kurie, President of Charleston, SC-based Wilderman Group announced the appointment of Andrea Powers as General Manager at LeGrand Center, the new multi-use, 44,000 square-foot conference center in Shelby, NC. Powers recently held the position of Director at Richmond Hill City Center in Richmond Hill, GA which is managed by The Wilderman Group.  She also previously served as Director of Sales at Richmond Hill City Center.   Kurie noted that Andrea was an asset to the recent successes at RHCC that led to a contract renewal for The Wilderman Group with the city of Richmond Hill to continue to manage the facility.  According to Kurie, "Andrea is responsible for very a strong year at Richmond Hill City Center and her commitment and drive helped the property come in under budget for the year." Powers has more than ten years experience in hospitality and has worked in a variety of segments of hotel management including Guest Services, Catering, Conference Services, and Director of Sales.  Her experience includes positions with Wyndham, Holiday Inn, LaQuinta and several boutique hotels.  She also served as Hotel Manager for Clipper Cruise Lines where she was responsible for all hotel operations.

The Latest in Hotel Openings

Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts today announced a significant growth pipeline with nine new hotels expected to open within the next 12 months.  Since its 2005 acquisition by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, both Starwood and its hotel ownership groups have transformed Le Méridien into a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand.  Le Méridien, which at the time of its purchase offered a strong international complement to Starwood's then primarily North American holdings, continues to provide opportunities for new deal signings and conversions in both emerging and established markets, respectively.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has opened its first city hotel in China in this industrial city in the southern part of the country. The hotel, which features 233 guestrooms, 30 suites and 24 serviced apartments, is adjacent to Taikoo Hui, an upscale shopping mall, and connected to a major metro station. A high speed rail link to Hong Kong is nearby.

Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd. marked the grand opening of its first hotel residence, Capri by Fraser, Changi City/Singapore, and unveiled plans to take the Capri by Fraser brand into the global marketplace. The expansion includes the opening of two more Capri by Fraser properties this year: the 126-apartment Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City in March and the 240-apartment Capri by Fraser, Kuala Lumpur in November.

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its second European luxury hotel opening in recent months - the highly-anticipated Waldorf Astoria Berlin. Setting a new standard in luxury for Berlin and the wider German market, the hotel marries the timeless elegance of the legendary flagship, Waldorf Astoria New York, with a unique design inspired by Berlin's vibrant and contemporary personality. Featuring 232 luxury guestrooms and suites, the hotel sits within the spectacular new Zoofenster skyscraper, designed by renowned German architect, Professor Christoph Mackler. With a total of 32 floors and a height of 118 meters all crafted with stone and glass and the city's highest suite, the splendid presidential suite on the top floor, the Zoofenster and Waldorf Astoria Berlin are a truly magnificent addition to the skyline of Berlin's City West.