Newsletter - February 11, 2002

CHINESE NEW YEAR PREDICTIONS

To all our Chinese friends and colleagues around the world,  
GONG XI FA CAI  from all of us at Ehotelier.com.

For the Chinese community worldwide, Chinese New Year is mainly direction Home, to be with family, wherever they may be.

In a life of constant change, this is one that is cherished – this predictable journey home, year after year, repeated like the migration of the Egyptian geese.

The trans-migration of Chinese worldwide  started days ago  and will reach its peak today, Monday to make that vital New Year’s Eve reunion dinner.

The movement will be most intense between places like Singapore and Malaysia and Hong Kong and China whose Chinese people have common roots.

This is the time of year when the population of people and cars on Malaysia’s  island of Penang almost doubles as Penangites return from far and wide and foreign travellers take the chance of the holiday break to visit the island.

Each year, it is the same pattern – intense, frenetic activity for about a week when the island’s roads, restaurants, bars, temples will be jammed and, after that, back to normal.

Each year, most  have the same complaints – too much traffic, too many people, too hot (it is one of the hottest periods of the year in Penang for some reason). This is also the time of year when prices shoot up everywhere as traders take advantage of the festive season to rake in profits.

The Chinese can never be without their food so no matter the inflation, they will continue buying. That is another reassuring (to the economists) constant in the world of change.

So on February 12, the snake will give way to the horse, a fire horse at that. What does the snake hold for all of us?

If you believe in the Chinese almanac, you would probably have read this up through various sources.

We got the  quick forecasts through from yet another reassuring constant at this time of year – the colourful and creative Hong Kong Tourism Board calendar.

Read on for what the horse holds for each of the 12 animal signs in the Chinese zodiac.

Just don’t hold us to it though.

Ox
Creativity will bring splendid achievements and a productive year. Try to be humble and cautious in your handling of personal affairs.

Tiger
Good progress from your business is expected, but keep a low profile at all times. "Easy does it" will be the recipe for happiness in the affairs of the heart this year.

Rat

Putting things right at work will pay off. Fate moves in unusual directions towards resounding success by 2003.

Rabbit
A productive and prosperous year and a fortuitous time to go after new prospects. You will become creative and innovative at work.

Snake
A sincere partner will help your business. Keep a low profile at work, and put the past behind you. Life is changing for the better.

Dragon
Although you may encounter problem in business and your personal life, these can be overcome with the help of two "lucky stars". By standing firm and never giving up, your successes will be great.

Goat
Goats will have a fortunate and productive year. By making the most of your courage and wit, by year-end, you will achieve great things.

Horse
Horses will have the lucky "Star of Commander" to help them overcome most of the difficulties and challenges they will face in 2002. Your financial fortunes will be reasonable and income steady.

Monkey
A capable and energetic partner will have a positive influence on your business. Take good care of your health and the health of elderly family members.

Rooster
Seek counsel from experienced advisors to avoid business traps. You will have a very romantic year, finding either true love or a happy marriage.

Pig
New opportunities will arise this year and you are advised to proceed without hesitation. You will get a nice surprise from your love in return for your tenderness and care.

Dog
Working hard will pay off. Dogs can expect good fortune in their financial affairs and investments.

Article Source:  TravelWeeklyEast.com

NH HOTELES SELL 4 HOTELS FOR 91.4 MILLION EURO TO FINANCE EUROPEAN GROWTH

NH Hoteles SA said it has sold four hotels for 91.4 million euro to the property group Pontegadea Inmobiliaria.

In a statement, NH Hoteles said the operation is a "sale and lease-back" deal, noting that it will continue to manage the hotels under the NH brand name.

The hotels, with a total of 643 rooms, are located in various Spanish cities, the company added.

It said the sale is the result of several months of studying offers for the hotels, adding that it plans to use the funds from the operation to finance future acquisitions in Central Europe.

HONG KONG EXPECTS 50% INCREASE IN FEBRUARY ARRIVALS FROM CHINA

Hong Kong has enjoyed good growth in mainland Chinese arrivals over the past several months, and the Lunar New Year is expected to boost arrival figures for the month of February by as much as 50 percent.

"This year, with the week-long holiday and the relaxation of tour quotas, we believe the figure could rise as much as 50 percent," said Donna Mongan, HKTB public relations manager.

Effective January this year, a quota system that had restricted entry to 1,500 mainland tourists per day, was abolished.

During last year’s Lunar New Year period that fell in January, total mainland arrivals reached 370,500, an increase of 20 percent over January 2000, a non-Lunar New Year month.

The HKTB predicts mainland arrivals into Hong Kong during the Lunar New Year month of February will reach 415,000.

For the first time, HKTB has formed a team of 27 "Meet and Greet" ambassadors to be stationed at the Lowu crossing and China Hong Kong Ferry Terminal throughout the Lunar New Year period. These ambassadors will distribute brochures highlighting Hong Kong’s shopping, dining and other tourist tips to travellers crossing the border into Hong Kong between February 7 and 20.

In addition to the annual Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade and fireworks display, Hong Kong plays host to a number of other Lunar New Year events such as Chinese New Year Fiesta, highlighting other areas of Hong Kong: the flower market and traditional New Year haunts including Wong Tai Sin, Che Kung and the wishing trees in Tai Po. The Carlsberg International Football Tournament will also be held at the Hong Kong Stadium on February 12 and 15.

ZIMBABWE TOURISM EARNINGS PLUNGE 42%

Africa News  -  ZIMBABWE earned US$ 43.4 million ($ 2.38 billion) from tourism during the first half of last year but the receipts were drastically lower than the corresponding period in 2000 despite the influx of visitors who came for the solar eclipse.

Statistics released this week by the central Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) revealed that the tourism receipts declined more than 42 percent during the first six months of last year compared to the corresponding period in 2000.

The country raked in US$ 75.8 million ($ 4.17 billion) from tourism during the period between January and June 2000.

Final figures on total tourism earnings for last year are still being compiled but available statistics show that receipts from the sector have been declining since 1999 when the country raked in US$ 201.6 million.

Total earnings for 2000 were US$ 124.7 million or 38 percent lower than the previous year.

But despite the decline in earnings, the sector performed better last year compared to 2000 in terms of the number of visitors as well as room and bed occupancy at hotels.

According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), about 1.8 million tourists visited Zimbabwe between January and September 2001 compared to just 1.3 million visitors in the first nine months of 2000.

Total arrivals for 2000 were 1.87 million, which was 10 percent lower than the peak of 2.09 million visitors who came to the country in 1999.

The ZTA said average room and bed occupancies for 2000 were 40 and 29 percent respectively compared to 41 and 30 percent respectively for last year.

Industry players attributed the increase in hotel occupancy to a surge in the number of domestic tourists.

"Most of the establishments have reported an increase in domestic tourism over the past year mostly due to the discounts offered," said Zimbabwe Council for Tourism president Pedia Moyo.

Zimbabwe's tourism industry, once regarded as the fastest growing economic sector, has paid dearly for the country's bad-boy image during the past year as safety and security fears kept most foreign tourists away.

The sector, which used to contribute about eight percent to Zimbabwe's annual gross domestic product, has been severely affected by a barrage of negative publicity on the country's economic and socio-political climate.

The main threat to the industry has been the orgy of violence perpetrated by self-styled independence war veterans who have attacked tourists and other perceived sympathisers of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Economist John Robertson this week warned that it would be difficult to restore the glitter of Zimbabwe's tourism sector under the current volatile political and economic climate, dramatised by political violence and shortages of fuel and foreign currency.

"There is not much future for the industry under the current conditions unless the authorities take drastic action to restore confidence and correct the negative perceptions about the country," he said.

M&C PLANS TO REOPEN HOTEL CAUGHT IN WTC ATTACKS

A New York hotel that faced demolition after the terrorist attacks on the city last September may reopen later this year.

Initial reports said the Millenium Hilton, which stands on the next block to the World Trade Center (WTC) site was so badly damaged in the attacks that it would have to come down.

Hundreds of its windows facing the WTC complex were blown out and its reception, which looks out on to the site, was coated in several inches of the brown dust that smothered much of downtown New York after the explosions.

But Paul Underhill, Millennium & Copthorne's president for the Americas, said exhaustive checks on the building in Church Street have shown it still to be "structurally sound."

He said he hoped the hotel would reopen later this year.

The hotel is still sealed off as part of the designated "crime scene" around the WTC and is manned only by security staff.

Refurbishment cannot begin until the police investigations around Ground Zero have been completed, but Underhill was hopeful that restoration work could start soon.

The only people to use the hotel since 11 September have been police, firefighters and paramedics taking breaks during the rescue work.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine   Caterer.com

 
FIVE-PRONGED REVIVAL STRATEGY FOR THAILAND’S TOURISM GETS APPROVAL

Bangkok Post  -  A five-pronged approach to revitalise the country's tourism industry won Cabinet approval yesterday.

The new strategy appears to address long-running problems that have hindered the growth of the largest contributor to Thailand's GDP.

It forms part of the tourism master plan from 2002 to 2004 which aims to develop more tourism products, differentiate Thailand from nearby countries and focus more on the top-end tourist market, particularly tourists with higher purchasing power.

This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects it would earn 307 billion baht from foreign exchange, up 15 percent from last year.

The TAT also expects to generate 200 billion to 300 billion baht from domestic tourism.

The new strategy is being pushed forward by Somkid Jatusripitak, a deputy prime minister, who had been entrusted by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with the task of implementing new tourism policies. The five approaches are:

--widening the tourism boundaries to neighbouring countries with Thailand as the regional hub;

--focusing more on quality tourists who have higher purchasing power;

--increasing the participation of local communities to create sustainable tourism and preserve the environment;

--restructuring the job definition with the government acting as the director rather than the regulator;

--increasing co-operation among related government agencies to work closely together to boost the industry.

At the Cabinet meeting yesterday, it was suggested that a Tourism Law and Thailand Tourism Development Corporation be established to regulate the industry.

Mr Thaksin stressed that all the state agencies involved in the process should give the TAT their full co-operation.

Specific duties were also delegated to each ministry. For example, the TAT and the Transport and Communications Ministry and Foreign Ministry, would assume responsibility for matters affecting the tourism industry.

The Education Ministry, for example, would be responsible for training the head of local communities to improve human resources.

The budget for the master plan has not been revealed and Mr Somkid has asked the TAT to submit an action plan to the Cabinet.

Juthamas Siriwan, the acting governor of the TAT, said Thailand should be able to gain tourism benefits from its position as a regional hub. 

THISTLE HOTELS CHAIN COMPLETES Ukpound 180 MILLION RENOVATION, INTRODUCES NEW ROOM TYPE

Evening Standard  -  Thistle Hotels has emerged from a three-year, UKpound 180 million revamp, which has seen its three- and four-star portfolio in Britain shrink from 90 to 56 hotels. 

Some 30 hotels have been sold to concentrate only on city centre and business district locations, but Thistle is now the largest operator in London, with 24 hotels. 

The refurbishment has seen the installation of spas, new restaurant concepts, reconfigured meeting space and new technology in guest bedrooms. 

A new room type, Premier Executive, has been introduced with business travellers in mind. By paying from UKpound 20 extra, guests stay in a larger room and get a hands-free phone with modem point, and have a clothes press, iron, fruit, mineral water, bathrobe, slippers and a duvet rather than sheets. There are 103 such rooms across seven hotels. 

Meeting rooms have been upgraded and in more than half, a product called Meeting Plan -- with air conditioning, eight-hour chairs, cordless phones, a fridge and flip charts, is available. 

Otium health clubs, comprising pool, jacuzzi, sauna, gym and steam room, have been installed in 15 properties while a further five have an air-conditioned gym only. 

New restaurants have opened, such as the minimalist-looking Christopher's -- based on the grand steak houses on the eastern seaboard of America -- in London's Thistle Victoria, and TV chef Gary Rhodes's A Touch of Rhodes in Thistle Manchester. 

The new hotel directory, listing all name changes, is published next month and a new ad campaign, "This is Thistle", will shout about all the group's changes, instigated by chief executive Ian Burke. 

He joined in 1998 from Bass-owned Holiday Hospitality, where he was managing director. 

UKpound preceding a numeral refers to the United Kingdom's pound sterling.