US$ 1 Billion investment in refurbished properties and new global services from InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

AsiaTravelTips.com  -  InterContinental Hotels & Resorts announced yesterday that it is seeing the benefit of an ongoing $1 billion investment to improve the quality of its hotels and establish the brand in even more key destinations around the globe. Complementing this investment, which will be complete in 2004, InterContinental is also launching a host of new service initiatives that will further strengthen the brand’s position as the premier hotel brand for today’s international business traveller.

Six Continents PLC, the parent company of InterContinental, is investing the $1 billion in refurbishing major InterContinental properties around the world, including those in New York, Miami, Vienna, Budapest, Madrid and San Francisco and in acquiring new hotels, such as the prominent Inter-Continental in Hong Kong, to add to Inter-Continental’s 140 hotel portfolio. . In conjunction with property improvements and the launch of new services, InterContinental’s 40,000 employees world wide have undergone extensive training to support the services being introduced for the international business traveller.

Thomas R. Oliver, chairman and chief executive officer of Six Continents Hotels said: “InterContinental has a long history of serving the needs of international travellers. When we purchased the InterContinental hotel family four years ago, we could have launched a big advertising campaign. But we didn’t. We wanted to get all the elements of the hotel brand back to the pioneering quality that made it famous. This investment reflects that effort. We’ve modernised properties, bought properties, and driven new service standards across the globe. We are particularly aware of the special needs of today’s business traveller and are also adapting many standard hotel services to ensure those needs are catered for as an utmost priority.

“Following extensive research in over 25 countries we’re introducing a host of new initiatives to meet and exceed our guests needs. We’ve substantially reduced check-in and check-out times, improved travellers’ ability to keep in touch from our hotels, and ensured that guests can get exactly what they need whenever they need it. We’ve also provided practical packs and advice so guests are guaranteed to get the best from their stay - whether that’s understanding local tipping customs or knowing the best places to shop. 

InterContinental knows what it takes to make today’s business traveller confident and comfortable. A series of initiatives are being introduced today at every InterContinental hotel around the globe to ensure consistently excellent service wherever guests go: 

Global Connections are designed to help travellers stay in touch with their office, home and local communities. InterContinental has developed WorldLink (patent pending), a device that allows travellers to connect a laptop without carrying special cables or adapters. In addition, guests will have access to their local newspaper or television station, selecting from a choice of over 150 publications and stations.

In An Instant initiatives improve the speed and efficiency of service from check-in to check-out. Priority Club Rewards guests can have their details pre-registered, saving almost three quarters of the time it would normally take to check-in and check-out. The “Instant Service” button – the twenty-first century equivalent of a butler – means that by pressing just one button, guests can access any hotel service required.

Around The Clock services keep the doors open 24 hours, so any time is the right time to call for room service, a valet, send a fax or visit the gym.

Little Things Make A Difference are exactly that: little things that help guests to feel prepared for the day ahead. Hotel concierges can provide InterContinental Insiders’ Guides to the City, Insiders’ Shopping Programmes, a Jet Lag Recovery Kit and a Currency Pack containing small change and advice on local tipping. Local currency can be added to the hotel bill, making expenses easier to reclaim.

Mr Oliver added, “Our guests work around the globe and occasionally around the clock, and we know that the better we do our job, the easier it will be to do theirs.” Our goal is to make InterContinental hotels the place to stay for international travellers who expect a high level of service that reflects the unique attributes of the 122 cities we serve.”

Last month, all InterContinental hotels were migrated to a new, advanced central reservations system – Holidex®Plus. This allows the hotels to mix and match room rates and room types to provide guests with a more personalised service and gives them greater flexibility in designing packages to meet guest requirements. It also ensures that all the InterContinental hotel inventories are available to travel bookers who are searching for a hotel in any of the company’s hotel brand websites.

The reshaping of the brand is supported by a global $25 million advertising and marketing campaign, which launches globally today.

Wyndham to sell 13 hotels worth $447 million

Furthering its strategy of becoming a proprietary-branded hotel operating company, Wyndham International, Inc. (NYSE:WYN) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Westbrook Hotel Partners IV, LLC to sell 13 hotel properties for approximately $447 million.  All 13 properties will be managed or asset managed by Sunstone Hotel Investors, LLC. Sunstone currently operates 61 properties throughout the United States. 

The agreement, which is expected to close within three to four months, outlines the sale of 12 non-proprietary assets and one Wyndham branded asset, which will remain a Wyndham pursuant to a ten-year franchise agreement. 

"Today's agreement provides hard evidence of Wyndham's ability to execute one of the key components of its strategic plan, which is to sell all non-strategic assets and use the proceeds to reduce our debt. As we accomplish this, we continue to grow the Wyndham brand through management and franchise agreements, and are pleased to add Westbrook/Sunstone to our growing list of franchisees," said Fred J. Kleisner, chairman and chief executive officer of Wyndham International. 

Furthermore, Wyndham is continuing to discuss with Westbrook and other parties the sale of additional non-strategic assets. Upon the transaction's closing, which is subject to customary closing conditions, all net proceeds will be used to pay down debt.

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are serving as financial advisors to Wyndham in connection with the transaction. 

Based in Dallas, Wyndham owns, leases, manages and franchises hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Sections 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including projections about future operating results. 

Swiss government bails out ailing tourist industry

(Xinhua) --The Swiss government has pledged 135 million Swiss Francs (90 million US dollars) to the tourist sector to lift it out of the doldrums, Swiss Radio International ( SRI) reported on Friday.

The bulk of the money will be provided in the form of a loan to the hotel industry, which reported a 6 percent fall in overnight stays in the first seven months.

The money will be paid out between 2003 and 2007.

Swiss Economics Minister Pascal Couchepin said 100 million Swiss Francs (67.08 million dollars) were destined for the hotel industry, but only "going concerns" would benefit.

The slump in the number of overnight stays in the country came after four consecutive years of increases.

Switzerland Tourism said foreign tourists had stayed away because of the general economic downturn following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

However, SRI reported that these factors do not appear to have deterred foreign guests from visiting neighboring Austria. Last year it recorded a 1.5 percent growth in overnight stays.

The strong Swiss franc and higher cost of living has made Switzerland about 30 to 40 percent more expensive than its European Union neighbors.

News @ PATA

PRODUCTIVE BOARD MEETING IN MANILA

One-hundred and thirty delegates joined the PATA Board of Directors meeting at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila, October 20-22. PATA President & CEO, Mr. Peter de Jong, said of the meeting: "It was very constructive, with a high degree of openness and participation. There was real acceptance of the proposal to get more involved in pressing travel issues such as visa liberalisation, sustainable tourism and dealing with travel advisories, for the full benefit Association members."

PRESIDENT ARROYO TAKES PRO-TOURISM STANCE

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hosted a welcome dinner for the PATA Board of Directors on September 20 at the Malacanang Palace. "President Arroyo made a very powerful address on the importance of tourism," said PATA President and CEO, Mr. Peter de Jong. "With her vision and the energetic and creative leadership of Philippine Tourism Secretary, Mr, Richard Gordon, who is PATA Chairman-Elect, the Philippines tourism sector deserves to do well indeed."

PATA ISSUES SPORTS WATCH AND POLO SHIRT

PATA has produced a sports watch and polo shirt. The PATA sports watch features Japanese quartz movement, a mineral crystal scratch-proof face and a polyurethane band. A PATA logo is located on the face of the watch which is water resistant and shock proof. It is US$29. The PATA polo shirt (65 percent cotton, 35 percent polyester), comes in heather grey. A small, embroidered PATA logo is featured on the left front. The shirt is available in unisex M, L, XL and XXL sizes. The price is US$19. Bulk rates are available for both items. For more information or to order, e-mail: merchandise@pata.th.com.

PATA’S NEW BANK DETAILS

Following the integration of the United California Bank into the Bank of the West, PATA’s bank account details have changed, effective September 16, 2002. The new information is as follows: Bank of the West, 505 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA  94111. New account no: 773003470; new ABA no: 121100782. For the next six months payments to the old account will be automatically transferred to the new account, but PATA recommends members start using the new account immediately. PATA also recommends members to include membership number, organisation name and purpose of payment on any wire transfer receipts, which should be backed up by an explanatory e-mail to PATA Manager-Accounting, Ms. Tes Yabut. E-mail: tes@pata.org.

PATA STRATEGIC INFORMATION CENTRE WORLDWATCH

** The just-released 2001 PATA Annual Statistical Report shows that arrivals to the Pacific Asia region held relatively steady at over 171.3 million during 2001, in spite of the various economic, political and social upheavals that beset the year generally. Within Pacific Asia, Northeast Asia posted an increase of three percent and Southeast Asia 5.2 percent. The most notable increase within Asia came from Malaysia where arrival figures soared 25 percent. Other main performers were Cambodia, China (PRC), Malaysia and Mongolia, which all saw percentage gains in excess of 10 percent in 2001. The report costs US$250 for PATA members and US$350 for chapters/non-members. To place an order please contact Ms. Patcharin Hongprapat. Tel: (66-2) 658-2000 ext. 121. Or fax: (66-2) 658-2010. E-mail: publications@pata.th.com.

** In December, the first 8.3 kilometres of a planned 62-kilometre commuter rail network is scheduled to open in New Delhi. The entire system is scheduled for completion by late 2005 including 11 kilometres of underground. Up to 2 million people are expected to use the system daily.

** Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is planning to develop a 30-seat passenger jet for the U.S. and Japanese markets. It would be the first Japanese passenger aircraft since the 64-seat propeller-driven YS-11 was developed in Japan in the 1960s.

** According to a new Zagat Survey, London restaurants are the most expensive in Europe, with the average cost of a meal up 4.2 percent from last year. Dining out in one of London's top spots will cost diners about US$95. The survey reported that the average price of dinner in the capital was US$49.69, compared with US$46.43 in Paris and US$31.12 in New York. Only the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Kyoto were more expensive, it said.

UK top for conferences in Europe

The UK was the most popular destination in Europe for hosting meetings in 2001 and second only to the US worldwide, according to figures released by the Union of International Associations.

The figures show the UK rose to second place with 6.64% of all international association meetings last year, overtaking France, which topped the European league in 2000.
Apart from the US, which hosted twice as many meetings as the UK, European countries filled the top seven places, with Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium behind France. Australia took eighth spot.

Paris was the most popular city for meetings, followed by London, Brussels, Vienna and Singapore.

The UK’s performance was welcomed by the British Tourist Authority (BTA). Adam Bates, head of BTA’s business tourism department, said: ‘These results endorse the superb range of facilities for meetings and conferences, from state-of-the-art purpose-build convention centres to unusual and inspiring venues such as country house hotels and castles, which sets Britain apart from its competitors.’

Business tourism currently accounts for 32% of visitors to Britain, with a spend of around £4bn.

China ranks fifth in world in tourism
 
(Xinhua) --China ranked fifth in overseas tourist arrivals in 2001, hitting 33.2 million, up 6.2 percent from 2000, according to the latest statistics released by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

The statistics also show that China's international tourism income reached 17.8 billion US dollars in 2001, up 9.7 percent from 2000.

China has, for the first time, surpassed Britain and Germany, ranking fifth in profits from tourism.

Meanwhile, China's domestic tourism has remained robust since the mid-1980's. By the end of 2001, the total number of domestic tourists reached 784 million, up 5.3 percent from the year before. And domestic tourism income exceeded 352.2 billion yuan (42.4 billion US dollars), up 10.9 percent from 2000.

China's outbound tourism also saw great progress. The year 2001 saw the number of outbound tourists reaching 12.13 million, up 15. 9 percent from 2000.

The State Council has approved 22 countries and regions to be tourism destinations for Chinese citizens, making China the biggest source of tourists in Asia.

The WTO predicts that by 2020, China will be the world's

number-one tourism destination and the fourth major source of tourists.

Sources from the National Tourism Administration said China boasts very rich tourism resources. This, coupled with the continued development of China's economy and the improvement in the Chinese standard of living, will render the country's tourism market even more prosperous and promising.

IH&RA Offers A Show of Spirit in New York

IH&RA 39th Annual Congress to be held in New York November 8-11, 2002
Co-Located with the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association’s 39th Annual Congress will take place November 8-11, 2002, in New York City alongside the 87th Annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) whose 2002 theme – “Global Marketplace” - underlines the first-ever concurrent positioning of the two events. Both events will be held at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and will attract and serve nearly 50,000 hotel and restaurant operators and suppliers from around the world. The overlap of the two events will also offer cross-market opportunities and provide international support for the hospitality industry.

The IH&RA and IH/M&RS are committed to the advancement and prosperity of the hospitality industry. By aligning the two events, hoteliers and restaurateurs from around the world will have a magnificent international hospitality industry event with countless opportunities to network and gain industry insight on a global level¨ said Eric E. Pfeffer, IH&RA President.

The presence of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association at the 2002 IH/M&RS promises to enhance the vitality of the show, making it one of the most memorable in the event’s 87-year history. On behalf of all New Yorkers, thank you for your display of solidarity ¡V as industry professionals and citizens of the world.
Our great City is committed to providing you the best possible environment to ensure that your visit is as productive, worthwhile and enjoyable as possible¨ offered Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City Mayor.

The IH&RA Congress Program

For the first time, Congress delegates will have unlimited access to the IH/M&RS and can pick and choose from a full Educational Program with more than 40 themes including a CEO Panel focusing on the Industry Recovery and Resiliency¨ as well as a Panel on “Tourism Safety and Security¨

IH&RA’s “International Day”  on Sunday, November 10, features several sessions including:

-  The Health & Heartbeat of the Hospitality Industry: Latest Trends
-  Secrets of 6-star Hotels: The Ultimate in Luxury
-  Global Branding: Maintaining Standards and Finding New Opportunities
-  Rising Stars in Hospitality Design: How They Increase the Bottom Line
-  Balancing Between Profitability and Service
-  Marketing Your Hotel in a Recovery Economy
-  The Hacker Hotel ¡V Security Issues as They Relate to Technology
-  Generational Chaos in Human Resources: Managing Multi-generational teams

High-Profile Social Events:

The IH&RA Congress Opening Cocktail Reception on Friday, November 8 will be among the highlights of the program. The IH&RA will inaugurate the 39th Annual Congress side-by-side with the AH&LA Opening Reception at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

On the following evening, hospitality professionals will gather at New York¡¦s Marriott Marquis for the International Hospitality Ball, a black-tie gala with a theme celebrating the international flavour of New York. An elegant reception, dinner, Broadway-style entertainment and dancing will take place from 7:30pm until midnight.

On Sunday, November 10, the AH&LA will host its Inaugural Gala. IH&RA Congress attendees will receive a special welcome at the event and will hear from the incoming AH&LA chairman and the incoming IH&RA President. This black-tie event will be held at the Regent Hotel in New York City and is sponsored by American Express.

Honour Excellence:

During the Congress the IH&RA will honour outstanding examples of environmental best practice by corporate and independent establishments with the ¡§IH&RA Environmental Award¡¨. Sponsored by American Express, this award is supported by the United Nations Environment Program, Green Globe 21, Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts and Siemens.

Invest in the Future:

IH&RA Congress Attendees can place their bids at IH&RA¡¦s Silent Auction and raise funds for summer scholarships awarded to promising young hospitality professionals.

The IH&RA is a network of international and national hotel and restaurant chains, and national hotel and restaurant associations and suppliers in more than 108 countries. Its mission is to protect, promote and inform the hospitality industry worldwide. Through its membership network, IH&RA represents over 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, which employ 60 million people and contribute US $950 billion annually to the global economy.

The IH/M&RS takes place November 9-12, 2002, and is sponsored by the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association ¡V all members of IH&RA - and is managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM). Held annually in New York City, the event features more than 1,750 hospitality industry suppliers and attracts approximately 48,000 in total trade attendance.

For more information regarding the IH&RA Congress, contact Beatrice Maraval, Director of Operations, IH&RA, 251, rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010 Paris, France. Telephone 33-(0)-1-44-89-94-06. Fax ¡V33-(0)-1-40-36-73-30. Email: maraval@ih-ra.com.

Jordanian tourism revenues up 7.9 percent

Middle East Times  -  Jordan's tourism revenues increased by 7.9 percent on the year in the first eight months of 2002 in the first rise in two years, according to central bank figures published on Tuesday.

The country earned $532 million from tourism in the first eight months of 2002, compared with $492 million during the same period last year, the central bank indicated.

The number of tourist arrivals also climbed by 2.8 percent, due primarily to a 16 percent increase in the number of Arab tourists visiting the kingdom.

However, the number of US and European tourists fell in 2002 due to the impact of the September 11 attacks and the Palestinian uprising.

The number of US arrivals fell by 13.6 percent, while the number of European tourists was down by 33.3 percent.

Tourism revenues for 2001 in Jordan stood at $700 million, or 10 percent of gross domestic product, while in 2000 Jordan earned more than $800 million from tourism.

Jordanian experts recently said tourism revenues would be dramatically cut in case of a US attack against Iraq.

Vietnam, Singapore committed to boosting tourism cooperation

AsiaPulse -  Vietnam and Singapore were committed to boosting cooperation in tourism at an annual meeting of the two countries' joint-committee on tourism cooperation held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on Sept. 20.

The two countries will promote investment in, and advertisement for, tourism and develop human resources for this sector.

The two sides discussed measures to implement cooperation programmes and projects under the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation signed between Vietnam and Singapore in 1994.

In 2001, a total of 32,110 Singaporean tourists arrived in Vietnam, accounting for 13 percent of all tourists from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The number of Singaporean arrivals in the first eight months of this year was 21,400.

The two sides have organised fact-finding tours for investors, travel agents and journalists from their countries to find investment opportunities and introduce their tourism potential.

Singapore has so far held 33 refresher courses for 1,900 Vietnamese tourist cadres. It has invested 1.2 billion US $ in 18 tourism projects, which are effectively operating in Vietnam.

A million Chinese set to visit Australia:  state leader 

AFP -  A million Chinese were expected to visit Australia each year from 2010, Chinese number two Li Peng was told here Friday at a reception in the north Queensland town of Cairns.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said talks were underway with two Chinese airlines for extra flights to Australia.

The state government was negotiating with China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, he said.

China was Australia's fastest-growing inbound tourist market.

"We also look forward to November when the newly-launched Australian Airlines will begin flying Chinese tourists into Cairns from Hong Kong," Beattie said.

Australia had become one of the first western nations to achieve Approved Destination Status in China.