Three 
Months Ended                                             Year Ended
December 31,                                             December 31,
-------------                                            -------------
 2002   2001                                              2002   2001
------ ------                                            ------ ------
                    Income (loss) from continuing 
$  45  $   (2)       operations excluding special items $  201 $  205
------ -------                                         ------- ------
$0.22  $(0.01)      EPS excluding special items         $ 0.98 $ 1.00
------ -------                                         ------- ------

                     Special Items:

                    Restructuring and other  
     2(a)  (47)(b)   special credits (charges), net        7(a)(50)(b)

                    Gain (loss) on asset 
     1(c)  (57)(d)   dispositions and impairments, net     3(c)(57)(d)

                    Foreign exchange gain 
    --      24       from Argentina(e)                      30     24

    (1)     --      Debt extinguishment costs(f)           (30)    (9)

                    Costs associated with  
    (3)     --       construction remediation (g)           (8)    --

                    Reversal of interest on tax 
    11      --       deficiencies reserve (h)               11     --
------ -------                                         ------- ------
    10     (80)     Total special items - pretax            13    (92)
    (4)     28      Income tax benefit (expense) (i)        (7)    32

                    Favorable settlement of federal 
    35      --       and state liabilities(j)               39     --
------ -------                                         ------- ------
    41     (52)     Total special items - after-tax         45    (60)
------ -------                                         ------- ------

                    Income (loss) from 
$   86  $  (54)      continuing operations             $   246 $  145
------ -------                                         ------- ------
$ 0.42  $(0.28)     EPS including special items        $  1.20 $ 0.70
------ -------                                         ------- ------


    (a) During 2002, the Company sold its investments in certain
        e-business ventures previously deemed impaired and collected
        receivables which were previously deemed uncollectible.
        Accordingly, the previously recorded impairment reserves
        associated with these assets were reversed.
    (b) During the first quarter of 2001, the Company wrote-down its
        investments in various e-business ventures by approximately
        $19 million based on the market conditions for the technology
        sector at the time and that management's assessment of the
        impairment of these investments was other-than-temporary; this
        charge was offset by the reversal of a $20 million bad debt
        restructuring charge taken in 1998 relating to a note
        receivable which is now fully performing. During the third and
        fourth quarters of 2001, the Company recorded $51 million of
        charges primarily related to impairments of investments and
        other assets, bad debt expense and severance and other
        retention costs as a result of the Company's immediate cost
        containment and asset impairment analysis efforts after the
        September 11 attacks.
    (c) Primarily represents a gain on sale recorded in the fourth
        quarter of 2002 in connection with Starwood's share of gains
        from the sale of two hotels in which the Company held minority
        interests. On a full year basis, this balance includes a $6
        million gain on sale of the Company's investment in Interval
        International, offset, in part, by an impairment charge
        recorded in the first quarter of 2002 to reduce the carrying
        value of a hotel to its fair market value, which was sold in
        the second quarter of 2002.
    (d) Balance is primarily comprised of asset impairments recorded
        in the fourth quarter of 2001.
    (e) Amount is reflected in selling, general, administrative and
        other expenses and represents foreign exchange losses and
        gains resulting from the initial devaluation of the Argentine
        Peso and subsequent rate volatility.
    (f) Balance is reflected in interest expense due to the Company's
        early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
        No. 145 and represents costs related to the early
        extinguishment of debt in 2001 and 2002 and the unwinding of
        associated interest-rate swaps for 2002.
    (g) Amount is reflected as a reduction to other hotel and leisure
        revenues and represents the Company's estimated share of costs
        for construction remediation efforts at a property owned by an
        unconsolidated joint venture.
    (h) Reversal relates to accrued interest on estimated tax audit
        liabilities dating back to 1993 that were successfully settled
        during 2002 (see (j) below).
    (i) All special items are taxed at an incremental federal and
        state tax rate with the exception of the construction
        remediation charge, which is not tax-effected because the
        joint venture is in a tax-exempt jurisdiction, and state tax
        refunds, which are only taxed at the federal rate of 35%.
    (j) Reversals relate to various federal and state tax audit
        liabilities that were successfully settled during 2002 and
        state tax refunds received.

Recovery on the horizon

2002 hotel data suggests that the international hotel industry in recovery, whilst the US industry remains under pressure

Yesterday at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) Deloitte & Touche and Smith Travel Research shared the platform to reveal year-end performance data for the global hotel industry.  US data was presented by Randy Smith, CEO of Smith Travel Research, whilst international data was presented by Marvin Rust, partner for HotelBenchmark at Deloitte & Touche.

The data reveals that whilst US hotels experienced a decline in revPAR of 2.5% during 2002, hotels across the rest of the world reported positive growth in revPAR compared to 2001 when measured in US dollars. The best performing region was Asia Pacific where revPAR increased by 3.8%, followed closely by Europe where revPAR rose 3.4%.  RevPAR increased by just 0.4% in the Middle East.  Part of the reason for the impressive performance of these regions is linked to the relative weakness of the US dollar against other global currencies, in particular the euro. When measured in euros, revPAR actually fell across Europe by 3.5%.

Widely differing pricing tactics have emerged across the various regions. In the US, both occupancy and average room rate came under pressure with hotels reporting a 1.0% fall in occupancy combined with a 1.5% decline in average room rate.  In Europe however, the 1.7% drop in occupancy was compensated for by a 5.3% improvement in average room rate.  Across Asia Pacific average room rates held stable and growth was achieved through a 3.7% increase in demand.  In order alleviate some fears that  consumers may have had about travelling to the Middle East,  hotels in that region discounted their average room rates by 4.6% .  This helped boost demand by 5.2% over 2001 levels.  

Marvin Rust, partner for HotelBenchmark at Deloitte & Touche said: “We are encouraged by the positive signs that the international hotel industry may have reached the bottom of the cycle, and absent of a protracted confrontation in Iraq, we are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the industry in 2003.”

Commenting on the outlook for the US market, Randy Smith, CEO Smith Travel Research added: “Assuming the current economic and political environment remains fairly stable, room demand should gradually improve and when combined with low supply growth, both occupancy and room rates should show modest improvement in 2003.”

Performance of Global Hotel Industry 2002

Source: International data HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte & Touche; US data STR

The HotelBenchmark Survey contains the largest independent source of hotel performance data outside of North America and tracks the performance of over 6,000 hotels and 1.1 million rooms every month.  Four regional monthly rate and occupancy reports are produced covering Asia Pacific, Caribbean and Latin America, Europe and the Middle East & Africa.  These are supplemented by country reports for Australia, Belgium & the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and a city survey for London.  Annual profitability surveys are run across all regions of the world, whilst in Germany and London monthly profitability surveys are conducted.  For further information on how to purchase data or details on how to join the survey please visit us www.HotelBenchmark.com or contact Lorna Clarke on +44 207 438 2870.

Deloitte & Touche is the UK’s fastest growing major professional services firm.  It is based in 23 locations, has over 10,000 staff nationwide and fee income of £713.6 million in 2001/2002.  Deloitte & Touche is the UK practice of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a global leader in professional services with over 98,000 people in 140 countries and fee income of $12.5 billion for the year ended 31 May 2002.

Authorised by the Financial Services Authority in respect of regulated activities.  The information contained in this article is correct at the time of going to press. For further information on Deloitte & Touche, you can access our website on www.deloitte.co.uk.

Hotel industry sees better '03, but concerns remain

USA TODAY  - The worst may be over for hotels, industry analysts say, but consumers will still find deals in 2003 as hotels try to counter concerns about the economy, war threat and air travel.

"Travel for this year is still going to be sensitive," says Chase Burritt, Ernst & Young's national lodging director.

In its 2003 lodging outlook to be released today, Ernst & Young predicts the average daily rate for U.S. hotels will increase about 2% and catch up to 2000's $85. The industry's average occupancy rate and revenue per available room are projected to top 2002 levels but remain below 2000 levels.

The outlook varies by city.

Rates are projected to rise in 17 of the top 23 lodging markets and drop in three: Salt Lake City, New Orleans and Philadelphia, which has fewer conventions scheduled this year.

"All the hotels are looking at every angle to get business," says Anthony Del Gaudio, marketing director for the 583-room Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The hotel isn't discounting, he says, but it has added sales positions and increased advertising spending.

Last year was the worst in 20 years for hotels in almost every market, Burritt says, noting that hotels took extreme steps — slashing prices and costs — to withstand the poor demand.

About 60% of hotels eliminated positions or shifts and cut hours for food and beverage service, room service, gyms and business centers, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study.

A significant rebound isn't expected until 2004, with the hoped-for resolution of war and a new outlook on travel spending. A recent survey of corporate travel managers by the National Business Travel Association reveals continued pessimism:

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed expect their company's hotel spending will remain flat or fall this year.

51% say they plan to use lower-end hotels.

38% say they will reduce their travel budget from 2002.

Many companies are still trying to keep hotel costs down by negotiating better discounts from hotels they use.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, for instance, now does business with about half as many hotels as in 2002 and won rate cuts from those, says corporate travel manager Mark Williams.

Because some companies are using upscale hotels less than last year, it may be easier to find deals at those hotels. Hotels.com says it's seeing more upscale hotels seeking to sell rooms on its Web site.

Geography is a big factor. Rates are supposed to rise slightly in cities such as New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with Orlando expected to see the greatest rise of nearly 5%.

Rates in New York and San Francisco may never catch up to where they were in 2000, because some analysts think they were too high then.

European Hotel Ownership Landscape Undergoes Change
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Europe

According to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ latest Hotel Topics Report  - Changing Ownership Structures - the broadening of hotel property ownership in Europe in recent years has been marked by the growth of more investor-friendly operating structures such as guarantees and turnover leases. These are playing an increasingly important role in attracting non-specialist hotel investors by providing a more secure and balanced investment product.

Nick Marsh, CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Europe said: “Although some markets have been under pressure recently, over the last five years hotel property has become more widely accepted as a key element to a balanced real estate portfolio by a broader cross section of investors. Reasons for this include; more hotels being offered for sale as operating companies sell down real estate; operators offering lease and other structures that suits institutional capital; greater interest in the hotel sector from high net worth capital; robust debt markets and relative supply stability in many markets.”

Changing Ownership Structures highlights:

• Continued activity from German funds: In order to comply with the strict regulatory framework that requires German open-ended funds to invest part of their collected capital into real estate, it is likely that they will continue to invest part of their portfolio in hotels.  For these institutions, leased hotels (which are commonly leased for a period of 20–30 years) offer a long-term and secure income and, unlike many office buildings, are 100% let for the full duration of the lease.  Based on this year’s expectations of cash inflow, German funds have a potential €17 billion of equity to invest in the real estate sector in the coming year. Using previous years as a guideline for investment, between 8% and 12% of this allocation is likely to be invested in hotels. This will not only be a significant source of capital for the European hotel market but also for global hotel markets, given the funds’ recent shift overseas.

• Branding: The need for the larger hotel chains to drive demand, room rate and profitability has led to a growth in branding across Europe. Branded hotels currently account for a mere 19% of the total room stock across Europe (compared with about 70% in the USA), which suggests that the potential for future branding and consequently the increase in hotel investment opportunities in Europe is considerable.

• The Rise of Specialist Hotel Investment Vehicles: In Europe, the development of specialist hotel vehicles has been both rapid and recent, but most are still small and localised in their investment outlook particularly when compared to larger hotel investment companies in the US.  This suggests that there is considerable scope for the growth of pure hotel investment vehicles in Europe.

• Management contracts:  Despite the rise in popularity of leases, management contracts will remain popular with specialist hotel investors and experienced owners (including high net-worth investors), who have the knowledge and expertise to profit from the greater risk/reward profile of a management contract.

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Hotel Topics is a free quarterly research publication, based on topical issues.  The recent edition focuses on changing ownership structures.  Hotel Topics is available on-line via: www.joneslanglasallehotels.com

Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) is the world’s leading real estate services and investment management firm, operating across more than 100 key markets on five continents. www.joneslanglasallehotels.com 

Bahrain tourists to Jordan up 

Trade Arabia  - Bahrain accounts for the second largest number of visitors to Jordan from the Gulf, behind Saudi Arabia, it was revealed.

Jordan is emerging as a favourite family vacation for Bahrain tourists, said a Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) official.

A record 56,884 Bahrainis visited Jordan in 2001, compared to 37,874 in 2000, according to statistics provided by the board.

The figure does not include expatriate visitors from Bahrain.

Jordan is one of the top year-round destinations for Bahrainis, many of whom treat it as a home away from home.

"It is a favourite family vacation destination because it offers practically everything," said JTB public relations co-ordinator Lana Hamarneh.

"We have mountains, canyons, deserts, streams, lakes, the ocean, and even forests."

Korea Aims to Attract 700,000 Chinese Tourists This Year

eTurbo.com  -  The Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) aims to attract at least 700,000 tourists from China this year, up 29.6 percent from about 540,000 last year, KNTO president Cho Hong-kyu said yesterday. South Korea attracted a total of 5.35 million foreign travelers last year _ the largest number ever _ on the back of an increase in the number of Chinese travelers from the previous year, during which the 5 million mark was first passed, the KNTO said.

The KNTO announced its 10 annual objectives at the beginning of this year, including the targets of more than 5.45 million foreign visitors and tourism revenue of $6.1 billion. "As the Chinese economy is developing at a rapid pace, the Chinese tourism sector as well as the number of Chinese travelers is expected to grow steadily," Cho said. "More than 100 million Chinese are expected to travel abroad every year by 2020 according to a report by the World Trade Organization, and even if South Korea takes up only 10 percent of that, that will mean over 10 million travelers from China alone," Cho said in an exclusive interview with The Korea Times.

Since its foundation in 1962, the KNTO has built and run hotels and travel agencies, and even offered taxi services to help improve the travel environment in South Korea for both foreigners and local residents, he said. However, now efforts need to be focused on individual travel packages and places rather than on the entire country, Cho said. "Current President Kim Dae-jung appeared on a television commercial in 1997 shortly after his inauguration to invite foreign visitors to South Korea.

And though it was as sensational and refreshing as it could be back then, simple ``Visit Korea' rhetoric won't do anymore," Cho argued. "The new president now needs to say ``Play Golf in South Korea' or ``Visit South Korea to Shop in Dongdaemun' instead of just saying ``Come visit Korea' in a commercial _ if he decides to be in one," Cho said. In terms of foreign exchange earnings ratio, the tourism industry topped the rank with 85.2 percent, which means for every $100 a foreign visitor spent in South Korea, $85.2 was pure profit, while the trade industry only turned up a 63.7 percent earnings ratio in 2002, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

In addition to currency profits, the tourism industry offers various other benefits to a country, such as employment opportunities and a better image of the country, the KNTO said.

"In 2002, 9.3 percent or 1.86 million employees from the country's labor pool found employment with the tourism industry while the amount of profit earned from tourism equaled that from of exporting 1 million cars," Cho said. South Korea sold 1.5 million cars abroad last year, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. However, Cho found other elements of tourism more important than the cash benefits or the number of jobs gained. "The government can only do so much. It is entirely up to the people to become travel agents and tour guides to accommodate a growing number of foreign visitors and their needs," Cho said. Cho argued it would be impossible for the KNTO and a few travel agencies to accommodate the growing number of foreign travelers and their language needs alone.  

The true improvement of tourism, he argued, can only come from changes in the education system to make a more practical and stable society, steady growth of economy, and improvements in about every area of life one can think of. Although South Korea's tourism has been improving, if we can not yet make further preparation for the upcoming increase in Chinese travelers, South Korea will be left behind forever, Cho said

STB's new strategy to boost tourism receipts

It projects growth of minus 1 to 3%

The Business Times -  With  tourism receipts falling in recent years, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) yesterday announced a new strategy to devote more resources to growth markets such as Asean, China and India, and explore possible new offices in the region.

Unveiling its new strategy to cover the markets, STB also projected growth for tourist arrivals and tourism receipts of between 3 per cent and minus 1 per cent. Last year, Singapore saw 7.57 million visitors, up 0.6 per cent, which is within the STB's own projections of minus 1 to 1 per cent growth.

Seven Strategic Tourism Units (STUs) have been set up to boost Singapore's appeal as a leisure and business destination. These comprise business and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, sightseeing and attractions, tourism shopping, events, cruise, healthcare services, and education services.

Apart from rejuvenating the declining segments like shopping and sightseeing, the STUs will develop emerging segments like healthcare and education services.

STB's Deputy Chairman Lim Neo Chian said: 'I'm a little disappointed that tourism receipts have not risen in tandem with arrival figures. Our flash estimates for 2002 indicate that tourism receipts declined by about 5 per cent to $9 billion.'

This decline has been mainly in the leisure segment. It began in the mid-1990s and was further aggravated by the Asian financial crisis and the Sept 11 terrorist attacks. Growth in the business, education, and healthcare sectors were insufficient to offset the overall drop.

Mr Lim, also STB's chief executive officer, attributes this decline to under-investment in the tourism sector.

'Our competitors, like Malaysia and Thailand, have done more to attract people. We haven't kept up,' he noted.

Mr Lim also emphasised the need to boost tourism in the region by working with other Asian countries.

Marriott bets on growth in China

/Bloomberg/ -Marriott International, Inc, the largest US hotel group, is planning its biggest Asian expansion, adding six properties in China as analysts warn a looming oversupply may force five-star hotels to slash rates.

Marriott, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc -- which runs the Sheraton and Westin hotels -- Shangri-La Asia Ltd and other companies are expanding in China, betting increasing tourism, the country's entry into the WTO and the 2008 Olympic Games will boost visitor arrivals.

Since 1997, the number of five-star hotels in China has risen to 282 from 57, while four-star hotels have doubled to 386, according to the China National Tourism Administration, the country's tourism authority. Analysts say that's crimping profits as it forces companies to cut rates.

"There is probably an oversupply at the top end of the market, mostly the four and five-star hotels," said Nigel Summers, director of hotel industry consultant Horwath Asia Pacific. "It forces those properties down into the lower tier."

Travelers can already get rooms in five-star hotels for as little as US$50 per night in secondary cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming and Guilin, according to analysts.

Marriott -- which operates the Renaissance, Marriott and Ramada chains -- opened its 32nd hotel in China last week and plans to add more properties in the country to the 2,600 it runs worldwide within two years.

"China is our No. 1 focus in the region," said Paul Foskey, senior vice president of Marriott's Asia Pacific hotel development. "We have 19 projects in the pipelines, and about a third of them are in China."

The company plans to open three hotels in Shanghai, two in Dalian and one in Wuhan within the next two years, its fastest pace of expansion in China in the past five years.

There may be an oversupply "in some markets, certainly, but there are markets that have been extremely successful in the past few years like Shanghai and Beijing," Foskey said.

Marriott, which first started operating hotels in China in 1997, isn't alone.

Starwood plans to triple its presence in China to about 45 hotels during the next three years. This week, the world's biggest hotel group plans to open a Sheraton on Hainan Island, its 16th in the region.

Six Continents Plc -- the biggest international hotel group in China with its Holiday Inn and Inter-Continental chains -- plans to add another six hotels to its 39.

Asian hoteliers are also moving into China.

Raffles Holdings Ltd, which owns the 115-year-old Raffles Hotel in Singapore, said it wants to replicate that flagship property in Shanghai, Hong Kong and other cities. And Shangri-La Asia Ltd said it will spend US$400 million to expand its chain to 50 from 38 by 2005.

``You'll see oversupply and price competition among hotel operators,'' said Natalie Chow, an analyst at Daiwa Institute of Research. ``There will be a speed-up in consolidation.''

While the five-star occupancy rate in Beijing and Shanghai has been hovering at 70 percent, among the highest in the region, this may fall as more and more hotels open, analysts said.

Sofitel expands in Cambodia

Sofitel Royal Phnom Penh to open December 2004

Accor's five-star Sofitel brand willopen in the Cambodian capital next year with the completion of theSofitel Royal Phnom Penn, joining Accor's current regional network of 19 Sofitel hotels in Asia.

Construction of the new seven-storey luxury hotel begins in April and the hotel is scheduled to open in December 2004. Located just 20 minutes from the airport on Somdech Sothearos Boulevard near the banks for the Bassac River, the Sofitel Royal Phnom Penh will be ideally suited for both corporate travellers and leisure tourists.

The hotel's extensive facilities will include a fully equipped Business Centre with high-speed Internet access, 25-metre swimming pool, golf driving range, two tennis courts, children's playground, Sofitel Library and an extensive and modern Spa facility.

Each of the spacious 188 guest rooms and suites will measure 38 sqm or more, blending colonial interior design and traditional Cambodian motifs. This includes 54 junior suites offering an extra dimension of comfort, in addition to 32 deluxe studios - each with a small kitchen and surrounded by lush gardens and ponds.

Meetings, incentives and conferences of every description will be perfectly hosted at Sofitel Royal Phnom Penh, where an exotic setting is complemented by outstanding facilities. Principle among the hotel's meeting capacity will be a 1,250 sqm Grande Ballroom, the largest hotel facility in Phnom Penh, with an 800 sqm pre-function area.

The 320 sqm Bassac Room, which can be divided into three separate rooms (107 sqm each) as needs require, should prove popular for smaller meetings and corporate events.

The hotel will feature culinary delights from around the globe, including an Italian speciality restaurant and a Coffee Shop, with the later featuring a mix of traditional Cambodian dishes and

International fare. A Lobby Lounge Bar will offer an ideal rendezvous spot for evening cocktails.

Accor Deputy Chairman - Asia Pacific, Jochen Dobel, said the Sofitel Royal Phnom Penh would be an outstanding complement to Accor's growing portfolio of Sofitel hotels around the region.

"The goal of Sofitel is to have a presence in all Asian capital cities and Sofitel Royal Phnom Penh will be an excellent addition to  the regional network. With the Sofitel branding and our global

reservation and sales network, we are confident that the hotel will attract a wider international audience to the Cambodian capital.

"We are delighted to increase our relationship with the hotel owners, Thai Nakorn Patana Co Ltd, our partners in the Sofitel Royal Angkor in Siem Reap. These two hotels are a fantastic addition to Cambodia's dynamic tourism industry," Mr Dobel, added.

Thai Nakorn Patana Co Ltd Deputy Managing Director, Supachai Verapuchong, said the company was pleased to expand its co-operation with Accor, working together to promote tourism and business travel to Cambodia.

"We are confident that Sofitel Royal Phnom Penh will quickly become known as the preferred address in the Cambodian capital for travellers looking for luxury and comfort.

"Together with the Sofitel Royal Angkor we will be able to offer two exclusive hotels in one of Asia's most fascinating tourist destinations," Mr Supachai, said.

U.N. agency expects low tourism until '05

/AP/ - Political turmoil, the global economic downturn and travel jitters have put an estimated 6.6 million people out of work in the tourist industry worldwide, and there is little sign of recovery before 2005, the United Nations labor agency said Tuesday.

The U.N. International Labor Organization said one of every 12 workers in the tourism sector had lost their jobs in 2001-02.

Terrorist targeting of tourists - such as December's attack on a hotel in the Kenyan resort of Mombasa and the bombings in the Indonesian island of Bali - and fears about a war in Iraq dampened hopes for a revival, its report said.

"Patterns such as 'sea, sand and sun,' and particularly the desire of many tourists to travel to faraway exotic destinations, are likely going out of fashion," it said, adding that there was a growing tendency to stay closer to home.

North America, along with the Middle East, has suffered the worst losses in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In the United States international tourist arrivals were down 30 percent compared with the year before the terrorist attacks, the U.N. agency said. Although total travel spending was expected to recover to $555.6 million this year, it would still be below the 2000 level.

Australia and Egypt also suffered a big decline, as did European countries like Switzerland, Germany and Austria, which were traditionally popular with American visitors.

Some countries, including Croatia, Cyprus, Slovenia, Turkey and Vietnam, saw higher numbers of tourists from neighboring countries, while in China there was a big increase in domestic tourism, the report said.

Overall, in 2001, receipts from cross-border tourism fell by 5.1 percent in dollar prices and the number of international tourist arrivals was off 0.6 percent

Rutger E. L. Verschuren appointed Corporate Director of Operations Dusit Hotels & Resorts

AsiaTravelTips.com  -  Mr. Khampi Suwanarat, Chief Operating Officer of Dusit Hotels & Resorts, announced the appointment of Mr. Rutger E. L. Verschuren as Corporate Director of Operations of Dusit Hotels & Resorts, to support the daily hotel operations of the total 21 Dusit and Royal Princess hotels and resorts in the Dusit Group, as well as representing the group's interests in new overseas ventures such as most recently the takeover of Dusit Inya Lake Resort in Yangon Myanmar.

Immediately prior to his present Dusit key executive position, Mr. Verschuren held previous posts as General Manager of Holiday Inn Manila, Philippines in 2000-2001, and GM in charge of the opening of Holiday Inn Resort Benoa, Bali, Indonesia, in January 2000 on behalf of Six Continents Hotels, for which he also worked as GM of Holiday Inn Resort Balihai, Bali in 1998-1999. He also worked previously in Thailand as GM of Thavorn Palm Beach and Thavorn Beach Village resorts in Phuket in 1990-1997.

He began his early training and management posts for the Steigenberger group in his native country, The Netherlands. Other experiences include management training at The Oriental, Bangkok (1985), and the position of Director of F&B for The Montien, Thailand (1988-90).

He holds a Certified Hotel Administrator (C.H.A.) degree from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association, and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University for Hotel Management, The Hague, The Netherlands. Among the honors he has received were those of President of Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines and Vice President and Founding Member of the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines, both in the same year, 2001. He was also Vice President of the Thai Hotel Association Southern Chapter (1994-97). He is married and has one son.

Le Meridien's UAE hotels make waves in Fujairah

AME Info  - Management from seven Le Meridien hotels in the UAE paid a new year visit to the Fujairah business community recently with news of their combined facilities for leisure, business, and meetings and receptions.

More than 100 companies were visited, from free zone operators to banks, trading companies and the maritime sector, according to the ‘Hello Fujairah' team leader, Rajesh Arab, director of sales and marketing at the group's newest property in the Emirates, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.

Arab explained: “As well as promoting corporate facilities, the exercise was also designed to cross-sell the Le Meridien properties in the UAE, a process that we have earmarked as essential for growth in the short- and long-term.”


Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, a 218-room beach hotel, is a joint venture between Emirates airline and the Hotel & Resort Investment Company, managed by Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts. It is the first international brand hotel to open in the emerging leisure destination of Fujairah for more than two decades.

Le Méridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of over 140 luxury and upscale hotels (38,000 rooms) in 55 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. The company also enjoys a strategic alliance with JAL-owned Nikko Hotels, providing loyal guests access to an additional 43 properties around the world. Headquartered in London, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts Group was formed and financed by the Principal Finance Group of Nomura International plc. The Principal Finance Group has since become independent and is now known as Terra Firma. The Terra Firma Group manages Le Meridien for Nomura International plc. Details from www.lemeridien.com

Westin Hotels & Resorts marks its entry into Malaysia with lighting up of the City skyline in Kuala Lumpur

Lighting up of Westin "Sky Sign" heralds opening of The Westin Kuala Lumpur in May 2003

The Westin Kuala Lumpur marked a milestone today in its development as the newest hotel in Kuala Lumpur when the city's Lord Mayor, Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, YBhg Datuk Mohmad

Shaid bin Mohd Taufek, turned on the lights for the hotel's 'Sky Sign', 38 Storeys above ground level.

The Westin Sky Sign marks the latest landmark, representing the Top Upper Upscale Hotel Brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, to the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur.  Westin Hotels & Resorts features a global collection of more than 110 upscale hotels in 25 countries, including 29 of the world's finest resorts.  Located in the major business centers and resort destinations of

the world, each Westin hotel is distinctive in its architecture and setting, yet all are consistent in quality and service.  Well-known as a hotel industry innovator, Westin Hotels & Resorts will introduce several innovations, including its famous Heavenly Bed®, to the city with the opening of The Westin Kuala Lumpur.

Westin Hotels & Resorts is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the world's leading hotel and leisure companies.   Bringing together the world's best names in hotels and resorts, Starwood properties include Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels.

Located on Jalan Bukit Bintang, the 5-Star Deluxe Westin Kuala Lumpur will boast 384 rooms and 68 executive residences when it soft-opens in May 2003.

Mr. Tim Steckbeck, the General Manager of The Westin Kuala Lumpur said, "This property will be the first Westin hotel in Malaysia and with its advent, will join over 110 of the finest Westin hotels and resorts in the world."  Maintaining Westin's highly reputable innovative products and services, The Westin Kuala Lumpur will also adopt the signature 'Modern Luxury' concept which will be fully integrated into the hotel, from design right through to execution.

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