Copyright 1995-2008 Hsyndicate.com http://www.hospitalitynet.org/ Top Stories - Latest Hospitality and Hotel Industry News en-us Wed, 14 May 2008 16:00:16 content@hsyndicate.com davy@hsyndicate.com Hsyndicate RSS FeedGenerator 5 http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035904.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035904.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:36:17 Interest in shopping as a leisure activity has emerged as a result of consumers’ affluence, the economic dominance of the retail industry and the emergence of consumption by women. Shopping centres have become destinations in themselves, whether Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Dubai or Minnesota which are all examples of conspicuous consumption where themed environments act as attractors, catering for the adult, bourgeois Disneyfication of destinations. Shopping has become a symbol of luxury, of play and of pleasure, all associated with lifestyle and consumerism. In order to attract high-spending shoppers, destinations have added value to the experience they offer by providing exclusivity and/or pleasure. Vegas is all about pleasure, whereas Dubai is about exclusivity and luxury embodied by the designer transformations and experiences throughout the world. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035921.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035921.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:29:23 With its Art Deco buildings, bikini-clad women and late-night party scene, experts say South Beach is becoming a hot tourist destination for young travelers looking to spend less money on where they are going to sleep and more on sightseeing. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035920.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035920.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:26:19 Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, fueled by a recently closed $246 million hotel acquisition fund, is poised to become a bigger player in corporate hotel negotiations, said Kimpton CEO Mike Depatie. The San Francisco-based boutique hotel company now has 42 properties open throughout the United States and Canada, with the Hotel Palomar Arlington near Washington, D.C., which opened in November, among the most recent, Depatie said. More soon will open in Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Florida and Virginia. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035919.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035919.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:24:44 While other Asian metropolises such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Beijing all boast cutting-edge new buildings recognisable around the world, one would be pushed to name a famous modern building in Bangkok. Duangrit Bunnag scans the murky white high-rises that sketch Bangkok's haphazard skyline, despairing of the drab view from his architecture firm's clean and minimalist office. "The question I am always asked is which building do you like? And then I look around, and even though I live on the 28th floor, I look around and cannot find one building that I like. It is a very unfortunate thing," he says. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035918.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035918.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:22:40 London Visitors to the Olympics in 2012 will be staying in some hotels made in China. Travelodge is planning to build several “modular” hotels in the capital in time for the Games. The 120-room structures, pre-built in metal containers in factories near Shenzhen, can be quickly dismantled and relocated for large events. A company spokesman said yesterday that no specific sites had been identified yet. The prefab approach cuts building time by a quarter and costs by 10 per cent, allowing savings to be passed on in the form of cheaper room rates. London Visitors to the Olympics in 2012 will be staying in some hotels made in China. Travelodge is planning to build several “modular” hotels in the capital in time for the Games. The 120-room structures, pre-built in metal containers in factories near Shenzhen, can be quickly dismantled and relocated for large events. A company spokesman said yesterday that no specific sites had been identified yet. The prefab approach cuts building time by a quarter and costs by 10 per cent, allowing savings to be passed on in the form of cheaper room rates. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035917.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035917.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:19:16 ‘Managing to Sustain Future Profitability’ is the title of the 3rd British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA) Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition to be held on 5 and 6 November 2008 at the brand new Sofitel London Heathrow at Terminal 5, due to open on 30 June. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035916.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035916.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:13:08 TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel community, today announced the results of its annual summer travel survey of more than 4,000 travelers worldwide. Ninety-one percent of global respondents and 90 percent of Americans are planning leisure travel this summer. Fifty-two percent of U.S. respondents plan to take at least half of their annual vacation this summer, down from 56 percent in 2007. Twenty-three percent of Americans plan to take more vacation this summer than last, while 56 percent expect to take the same amount. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035915.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035915.html Wed, 14 May 2008 14:02:18 Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts has announced that the Caribbean island of Roatan is the latest location chosen to become home to an ultra-exclusive Nikki Beach Resort & Spa. Scheduled to open in fall 2010, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Roatan, located in Honduras’ stunning Bay Islands, will deliver over-the-top luxury and the brand’s signature Nikki style with more than 100 luxury suites, penthouses and ocean view villas; a lavish spa; a mega-yacht marina and an 11-acre interactive nature park and reserve. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035914.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035914.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:59:13 Affiliates of Global Hyatt Corporation and Lanco Hills Technology Park Private Limited, a part of the Lanco Group, today announced the signing of a definitive management agreement for the 400-room Grand Hyatt Hyderabad, due to open in Hyderabad, India in early 2011. The hotel will be Hyatt’s second hotel in Hyderabad, following Park Hyatt Hyderabad, which is scheduled to open in early 2010. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035913.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035913.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:56:59 Adding even more depth to its rapidly expanding portfolio in Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced an agreement with Metacap Empire Square Pty. Ltd. to open a new-build Westin hotel and residences in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will offer 306 rooms and a sophisticated, refreshing atmosphere in a convenient downtown location. The new Westin hotel will share a 66-story tower with The Residences at The Westin Brisbane Empire Square – the first internationally branded residential development in Australia. Both the hotel and residences will open in early 2012, marking the return of the Westin brand to this dynamic Australian city. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035909.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035909.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:53:45 Wyndham Hotel Group today announced the appointment of lodging industry veteran Tom Monahan as executive vice president, international development. Based in the company’s Hong Kong offices and reporting to Steven A. Rudnitsky, president and chief executive officer, Monahan will lead an international team charged with developing the Wyndham®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Howard Johnson® and Super 8® brands in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific regions. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035912.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035912.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:51:03 Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) continues to grow with the announcement of 47 newly-opened franchised properties during the month of April. The openings include hotels in 23 states and four countries, adding more than 3,000 rooms to the company’s existing 455,000-plus rooms. Select properties that opened in April include: http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035911.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035911.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:46:37 The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) now offers hoteliers the option of taking the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and Certified Lodging Manager (CLM) exam online. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035910.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035910.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:43:18 Gary Budge has been appointed general manager of the historic 174-room Algonquin Hotel. Budge, a 38-year hospitality veteran, will be responsible for the supervision of the hotel’s employees, all service standards and the management of hotel operations. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035908.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035908.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:38:42 The forecasts for this summer are mixed but all agree on one thing – hotels will not be driving close to double digit REVPAR growth in summer 2008! However, wherever there is gloom there are also opportunities for those able to identify them! According to Travelocity, there are no big indicators of shrinking demand for travel. Travelers are looking for savings by booking packaged trips, looking for drive destinations, and even taking cruises that they can drive to, rather than fly. (Dallas Morning News, May 6, 2008) http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035907.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035907.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:28:22 http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035906.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035906.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:22:27 NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS, provider of the Maestro™ Enterprise Property Management Suite of hotel software and reservation management solutions for high touch single and multi-property operations, has concluded its successful five-day Maestro Users Conference. Attendees explored the new Maestro ‘Web Connection’ suite for increasing online revenue and guest self-service, attended hands-on training labs to increase operator revenue and productivity, and learned best practices to drive greater operating efficiency. The event, titled Guest Connections, was held at Vintage Hotels in Niagara-on-The-Lake, Ontario Canada and attended by operators from over 50 Maestro client properties. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035905.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035905.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:17:17 The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), members of the HSMAI Dubai Organizing Committee and other invited guests will convene in Dubai on May 22 for an educational session on “HSMAI in 3D: Demystifying Distribution in Dubai” at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035903.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035903.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:04:00 Knowland, the leader in hotel group intelligence products and services, broke its own sales records when it welcomed 122 new clients in the month of April alone. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035902.html http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4035902.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:00:48 The St. Regis Shanghai today announces the appointment of Amanda Elder as General Manager. Ms. Elder previously worked in Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Australia and Thailand, as well as opening the first Starwood property in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Most recently Ms. Elder held the position of Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, Pacific. This role, based in Sheraton on The Park Sydney – voted “Best Luxury Hotel in New South Wales, Australia”, assisted in the strategic direction of its 16 Hotels covering four Starwood brands.