Global Hospitality News - ARCHIVE 2002

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News Archive for November, 2002

November  1- 15, 2002

November 1, 2002

Bali: "You name your price"

Online player Indo.com, and 200 hotels in its network, today launched a special promotion whereby international and domestic travelers to Bali name their own price.  

For details,Click Here

TUI to restart Bali programme

Major German tour operator, TUI, will re-start its programme to Bali on November 1, Luzi Matzig, group managing director of Asian Trails, which handles TUI.

For details,Click Here

How secure is your hotel?

Online Hotel Security Survey launched - AN extensive online Hotel Security Survey has been launched by trade magazine HOTEL Asia Pacific and hospitality IT specialists Pertlink in the wake of the Bali bombing.

For details and to participate in the survey,Click Here

Hawaii Visitor's Arrivals on rebound

Visitor arrivals in September rebounded from last year's terrorist attacks, but did not reach levels set in 2000 or 1999. A total of 462,139 visitors came to the state last month, up 28 percent from 360,116 in September 2001 but down from 533,849 in 2000 and 528,769 in 1999, according to a monthly report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. The bounce over last year was apparent in all markets, and on all islands.  

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Terror concerns fail to dent Singapore's tourism forecast

Despite concerns that the Bali bomb blasts may keep tourists away, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) was optimistic that the industry will pick up in three to six months.  

For details,Click Here

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Takes Top Honours as Number One Hotel Chain in the U.S. in 2003 Zagat Survey

The results are in - Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is, once again, the top choice for travelers in the United States. In the 2003 Zagat Survey of Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas, released today, the company was awarded the number one hotel chain and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, Hawaii, was named top resort.  

For details,Click Here

Hotel investment potential in China bound in red tape: report

International investors looking to pump money into China's rapidly growing hotel sector are finding few opportunities, according to a property industry report Tuesday.

For details,Click Here

German travel advisory does not single out Malaysia

The travel advice for Germans planning to visit Malaysia and other countries in the region has been adjusted to inform them of the risks, said a German Embassy official here. "The German Government's current travel advice does not single out Malaysia in the region. Nor does it tell them to avoid Malaysia as a destination. Malaysia has always been and remains a major partner for Germany in the region," the official was reported as saying.  

For details,Click Here

Hilton and Grupo Hotelero Azteca Sign Agreement to Build Five New Hilton Garden Inn Hotels in Mexico

Hilton Inns, Inc., the franchising subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation, and Grupo Hotelero Azteca, S.A. de C. V. have signed an agreement for the construction and operation of five new Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Mexico. The new franchise hotels will join the three existing Hilton Garden Inn properties in Mexico located in the cities of Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo.  

For details,Click Here

Starwood Scheduled to Open Major Managed Hotels and Resorts During Fourth Quarter 2002

From Shanghai to San Diego, Starwood Opens a Selection of New Managed Properties In Choice Global Destinations - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) will open 12 key hotels and resorts in choice destinations around the world by the end of the year.

For details,Click Here

Internet tops industry poll as recruitment tool

Caterer.com  -  The Internet is now the main method used by the hospitality industry when looking for a job, says recruitment company Chess Partnership. According to research by Chess, 84% of managers in the industry now use the Web as the key medium when looking for a new job.

For details,Click Here

Singapore's Hotel Plaza Ltd acquires  Parkroyal brand for hotel properties in Asia

Plaza Hotels and Resorts, the hotel management arm of United Overseas Land, has acquired the Parkroyal brand for Asia. For a start, it has added the Parkroyal brand to two of its three hotels in Singapore, and will spend some S$ 35 million to refurbish its Malaysian properties next year.  

For details,Click Here

November 4, 2002

Hotels slash rates to lure travelers

Deals include free Sundays, airline miles, free food for kids.  The bad news in the travel industry is spawning a new round of hotel price cuts for leisure travelers.In recent weeks, the major chains - desperate to fill empty beds - have rolled out incentives including free Sundays for weekend guests, bonus airline miles, and free food for kids. 

For detailed report,Click Here

PATA hosting Bali Village gathering at WTM

The PATA UK Chapter will hold a get-together at the Bali Village Stand (AS4370) in the World Travel Market on November 11 at 16.00-18.00. The meeting will be attended by Indonesia Minister for Culture and Tourism, Mr I Gede Ardika, and the Indonesia Culture and Tourism Board chairman, Mr Setyanto Santosa.

For details,Click Here

East Africa Plots for Marketing Tourism

Marketing East Africa as a single tourist destination! This is what stakeholders in the sector did Tuesday morning at Hotel Africana when they converge to discuss strategies on how to market Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania's invisible export as a block.  

For details,Click Here

2002 Colorado Tourism Conference Draws Record Crowd

The Governor's 2002 Colorado Tourism Conference, held Oct. 23-25, in Grand Junction, saw a record-breaking turnout with more than 400 people in attendance. The conference theme, "Stopping for Directions: Designing a Roadmap for Colorado's Future," was woven into each presentation and breakout session. Gov. Bill Owens spoke at the Thursday luncheon and praised the state's tourism industry.

For details,Click Here

Hotel conference launches in Monte Carlo

Chicago-based Lodging Unlimited Inc. is launching the first International Hotel Conference, to be held Sept. 17-19, 2003, at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco. 

For details,Click Here

Questions Are Raised on Finances of Marriott Hotel Unit

New York Times report -  Some investors are raising questions about Marriott International and are focusing on the financial state of an off-balance-sheet entity that contributes a significant part of its profits to the hotel-management company.  

For further details,Click Here

PKF UK: London hotel market failed to see full effect of expected bounce back a year after 9/11

The London hotel market failed to see the full effect of the expected bounce back a year on the from the 11 September terrorist attacks, according to PKF's preliminary figures released today.  

For detailed report,Click Here

World Class Hoteliers join board of directors of Corinthia Hotels International

French national Raymond Capdevila, 53, a former CEO Asia for the hotel giant Accor, and Swiss national Pierre Boppe, 55, a former CEO of the Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotel Group, have joined the Board of Directors of Corinthia Hotels International, the Corinthia Group's hotel management company.

For details,Click Here

Glitch multiplies hotel bills 100 times

As many as 26,000 people who recently stayed at Holiday Inns and their sister hotels were charged 100 times what they owed because of a credit processing error.

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Millennium UN Plaza, Singapore Tourism Board to promote Singapore flavour in New York

The Millennium UN Plaza Hotel New York and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), together with Violet Oon, will host a food festival, from November 6 through November 29 in New York City.

For details,Click Here

Hotel Owner FelCor Cuts Outlook

No. 2 U.S. hotel owner FelCor Lodging Trust Inc. on Wednesday posted quarterly results at the bottom end of its lowered expectations, blaming slow travel, the weak economy and a looming war with Iraq, and slashed its fourth-quarter outlook. "We keep pushing back the so-called recovery," President and Chief Executive Tom Corcoran said in an interview after the results were released.  

For details,Click Here

World Travel Market participation up

Already up on last year's post-911 performance, the World Travel Market trade show will be about 12 percent larger this year.  

For details,Click Here

Hilton Brands Post Strong Third Quarter Development Activity

Hilton(R) Brands Account for Nearly 21 Percent of New U.S. Hotel Development Pipelin e   - Hilton Hotels Corporation today announced that its brands opened 38 hotels in the 2002 third quarter, almost exclusively through franchise agreements and management contracts, accounting for 21 percent of the 176 U.S. hotels(a) opened during the period. 

For details,Click Here

Southeast Asia fights back to revive battered tourism industry

Southeast Asia's tourism industry, a pillar of regional economies, is undergoing its worst crisis in years following the bloody terrorist attack on its most famous beach paradise Bali. The October 12 blast on Indonesia's "Island of the Gods," which killed more than 190 people, dealt a blow to the multi-billion-dollar tourism sector just as it was rebounding from the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the US.  

For details,Click Here

Thai Tourism Industry Acts Swiftly to Reassure Safety of Foreign Visitors

Thailand's tourism industry has reacted swiftly to allay fears that the country's resorts are not safe following the October 12 terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia. The move comes after several, mostly Western, countries issued travel warnings covering Southeast Asia and named Thai tourist spots, including the popular tourist destination of Phuket.

For details,Click Here

November 5, 2002

Haunted Hotels host permanent guests

From London to Texas to Canada, ghostly legends abound

There are good hotel rooms and bad ones, vacant ones and occupied ones. But at Halloween, it's time to celebrate the very special rooms that are always occupied. I'm talking about the hotels, resorts, and special rooms inhabited by spirits, ghosts, apparitions and other friendly and some not-so-friendly guests.

For details,Click Here

Jarvis Hotels shareholders approve sale/leaseback deal, proposed tender offer

Jarvis Hotels PLC said shareholders at today's extraordinary general meeting approved the ?150 million sale and leaseback of nine of the company's hotel properties as well as the proposed tender offer which will return around ?85 million to shareholders. Jarvis Hotel said it expects the sale and leaseback will complete on Nov 7. The tender offer will remain open until Nov 8 and the result of the offer will be announced on Nov 11.

Tourism in crisis

Already hurt by Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, world's largest industry reeling in aftermath of bombings in Bali .  Just as the $476 billion global tourism industry was struggling to recover from Sept. 11, 2001, came Oct. 12.  

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Prague: Hotels welcome prestige

Prague hoteliers, who will have to provide lodging for 2,500 to 3,000 delegates and about as many media representatives, are understandably gearing up for this November's NATO summit. 

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Cresta Hotel group plans to expand to Malawi

Cresta, a subsidiary of diversified TA Holdings Limited, presently runs 13 hotel resorts and lodges in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, where it began operating two years ago. "The expansion will see three more hotels being opened during the first and second quarter of 2003 in Ghana, Malawi and Zambia," the company said in statement.

For details,Click Here

Britons avoid USA

Caterer.com  - The number of British tourists holidaying in the USA fell by more than one-third this summer, according to figures released by the travel industry this week. Bookings to destinations worldwide dropped by 9%.

For details,Click Here

Houston Market Update

Written By: Gretchen Hazel  HVS International

During the first seven months of 2002, Houston has noted declining levels in hotel occupancy and minimal growth in average rate, influenced primarily by the lack of weather-related demand which was present in 2001, the downturn in the energy trading sector, and continued supply increases.   

For detailed report,Click Here

Singapore September  arrivals  up slightly on Sept 2001

Arrivals to Singapore in September rose a slight 0.6 percent on September 2001, a month which saw the September 11 bombings.  

For details,Click Here

CTO and CIO - What's The Difference?

Written By:  Stephen Goebel & Michael J. Wurster HVS International

As consultants to the gaming, and hospitality industry, we have spent the last years encouraging our clients to evaluate the quality of their information systems, and technologies in general, in relationship to other industries who represent the cutting edge in these fields. We are firm believers that modern business can achieve intimacy with their clients through technology.  

For detailed report,Click Here

Australian Hotels Preparing for Impact of 2003  Rugby World Cup; Will It Be a Case of Unsold  Hotel Rooms Returned at the Last Minute

 In general, major sporting events held recently across the world have had a positive impact on the hotel markets of the host cities.  This bodes well for the performance of Australia's hotel markets during the Rugby World Cup (RWC) to be held in 2003. 

For details,Click Here

Biggest decline in overseas visits to UK in 20 years, says survey

Caterer.com  -  The number of overseas visitors coming to the UK has fallen by the biggest margin in 20 years, according to statistics released by the Office for National Statistics today. National Statistics' Travel Trends survey reveals a 9% drop in incoming visitors to the UK in 2001 to 22.8 million visits.

For details,Click Here

Prague seeks to attract the conference crowd

While expert forecast promising development for Prague's convention tourism, the Prague Congress Center (KCP), where the main part of the NATO summit will be held, is considered by many experts to be the black hole of state investments in Prague. Two years ago the city borrowed nearly CZK 3 billion for refurbishing the KCP in the leadup to the World Bank and IMF meeting, and last November the Prague city council threw in another CZK 500 million. 

For details,Click Here

November 6, 2002

"The Tourism Industry is Failing to Give Visitors the Caring Service They Want;" Horst Schulze

The tourism industry is failing to give visitors the caring service they want, which is the most crucial part of the business, a worldwide hotel leader said.  Giving tourists a visit with no mistakes and timely service with a smile will lead to satisfied customers who not only return, but recommend the hotel to their friends, said Horst Schulze, former president of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. But too many companies don't ask customers what they want or fix the problems that turn them off, he said.   

For details,Click Here

Thistle takes Orb to court over ?14m shortfall, Orb tipped for ?50m counter claim

e-Tid.com  -  Thistle Hotels and Orb Estates are squaring up in court, despite Orb's confirmation that it is considering a move for the 21 Thistle properties not included in its ?600m sale-and-leaseback deal struck this March.

For details,Click Here

News@PATA

FIND OUT ABOUT CONFERENCE AND MART AT WTM   -  PATA Managing Director-Events, Ms. Sheila Leong, will attend WTM in London, November 11-14, to respond to queries about the 2003 PATA Annual Conference and the 2003 PATA Travel Mart. Conference will bring together 46 distinguished speakers from 15 countries in Bali, April 13-17. 

For the rest of this week's PATA news and update,Click Here

Shanghai:  Alarm rings over hotel surplus

Chinese and overseas businesses have been rushing into Shanghai's hotel industry, attracted by the city's rosy economic prospects, but local tourism officials and industry insiders warned of a "surplus."  

For detailed report,Click Here

Asian nations outraged by travel advisories

A tropical beach with nobody on it may be the stuff of travelers' dreams, but it's a nightmare for many Asian nations after the Bali bombings stirred fears of more terrorist attacks in paradise. Asian countries, which consider tourism a major source of cash and jobs, say wealthy Western nations are making the situation worse by issuing advisories that scare people away from safe destinations.  

For details,Click Here

Asia-Pacific tourism facing tough times after Bali bombing: survey

A survey shows travellers are increasingly nervous about visiting the Asia-Pacific region following the Bali bombings and industry experts warn rebuilding confidence will be a slow and expensive process.

For details,Click Here

Dubai expects 25 percent increase in tourists to 4.5 million by end-2002

The Gulf leisure hub of Dubai expects to register a 25 percent increase in the number of tourists to 4.5 million by the end of 2002, the emirate's top tourism official said in comments published Monday.  

For details,Click Here

Hotel expert predicts a buoyant future for Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector

Returning to Abu Dhabi for his third stint in the hotel industry here, Francesco Borrello, general manager of the Abu Dhabi Grand hotel,  is optimistic that the UAE capital is well positioned to play a major role in further developing commerce and tourism sectors as the city's infrastructure continues a rapid pace of development.  

For details,Click Here

Dubai chapter of SKAL launched to support burgeoning tourism sector

The Dubai chapter of Skal, the international organisation of tourism leaders, was  launched in the emirate with the support of Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM).  

For details,Click Here

The Peninsula Chicago named Top Hotel in The United States

In the 2003 Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas Survey, covering 870 leading properties across the nation just released by Zagat Survey, The Peninsula Chicago was named the Top Hotel in the United States.  

For details, Click Here

Survival of Tourism in the Age of Terrorism

By Ted Silverman and Rodney Sanders
There is a basic and complete understanding that tourism and terrorism are diametrically opposed both in the conceptual as well as the practical sense. They simply can't exist side by side. It is therefore no small wonder that terrorism seeks to destroy one of the major benefits of the free and economically successful developed world. Tourism is our soft underbelly and goes to the heart of what we all love to do. 

For full report,Click Here

November 7, 2002

Accor Q3 sales 1.817 billion euro vs 1.897 billion, sees FY pretax profit 700 million euro

Accor SA said third quarter sales came in at 1.817 billion euro, a decrease of 4.2% compared to 1.897 billion over the same period last year. For the first nine months of the year, sales came in at 5.402 billion euro compared to 5.497 last year.

For details,Click Here

On view, showstopping hotels

Anyone who has spent a night at a hip luxury hotel knows that architecture, amenities and attitude, the so-called three As, are the new benchmarks. Whether these attributes are welcome in a hotel room is up to the guest. But as elements for a museum exhibition, they seem irresistible.

For details,Click Here

Four Seasons announces preliminary third quarter results

Four Seasons Hotels Inc.  announced that it expects earnings for the third and fourth quarter of 2002 to be lower than the guidance provided by the Company at the end of the second quarter. As indicated following the end of the second quarter, there was at that time, and remains, significant uncertainty regarding the timing, extent and pace of the economic recovery, making it particularly difficult to develop forward-looking information with confidence. 

For further details,Click Here

China proposes Lancang-Mekong tourism zone

The government of southwestern China's Yunnan province has proposed the creation of a tourism zone along the Lancang-Mekong rivers in collaboration with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

For details,Click Here

Interstate Hotels Posts Narrower Loss

Interstate Hotels & Resorts , the company formed from the July merger of Interstate Hotels Corp. and Meristar Hotels & Resorts, said on Monday its third-quarter operating loss narrowed as it increased occupancy and cut costs.

For details, Click Here

Dubai chosen for International Spa Association 2004 Annual Congress

Dubai has been selected as 'first choice venue' to host the Annual Spa Congress 2004 of the International Spa Association (ISPA), the global industry body committed to raising world-wide awareness of the spa leisure sector. 

For details,Click Here

ASEAN Tourism Pact to be signed at Phnom Penh Summit

Heads of state of the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries are to sign the region's first tourism cooperation and promotion agreement at their 8th Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, between November 4-7, 2002. 

For details,Click Here

Vietnam anticipates tourism boost in the wake of Bali attack

Vietnam expects to welcome more international tourists in the wake of the devastating bomb blasts on Indonesia's resort island of Bali that rocked South-East Asia.

For details,Click Here

Vietnam's hotel industry records leap in foreign investment

Vietnam's hospitality industry is picking up after a long slump. So far this year, there has been 13 foreign-invested projects worth nearly US$ 48 million licensed in the hotel sector.

For details,Click Here

European Tour Operator's Association survey launched at WTM shows Europe lost 1 M visitors & Euro 5M in revenue in 2002

Proposed EU Tax Rules Could Also Cost EURO 2 Billion Of Business And Force Operators Off-Shore Tour operators in Europe lost over one million customers in the year to October 2002 according to a new survey launched at World Travel Market by the European Tour Operators' Association.

For details,Click Here

CHIP Hospitality wins Health and Safety Award

CHIP Hospitality is the BC winner of the 2002 North American Occupational Health and Safety Week award in the tourism and hospitality category. Presented at the 2002 Safety Forum and Awards Luncheon in Richmond, BC on October 23, 2002, the award came as a result of CHIP's participation in Occupational Health and Safety Week last May.  

For details,Click Here

November 8, 2002

Accor's expansion plans in Asia unaffected by Bali bombing

French hotel and leisure company Accor said Wednesday it still plans to double the number of its properties in the Asia-Pacific region over the next five years despite last month's terrorist attack on the Indonesian island of Bali.  

For details,Click Here

Management Changes Take Place at MeriStar Hospitality and Interstate Hotels & Resorts

MeriStar Hospitality Corporation and Interstate Hotels & Resorts today provided details to previously announced plans to split the management responsibilities of the two companies.  

For full details of the announcement,Click Here

Thailand hotel cancellations: Tourismindustry in crisis

The October 12 terrorist attacks in Bali and warnings against travel in Southeast Asia by the governments of many countries are damaging tourism in Thailand, an industry report confirmed yesterday. The Thai Hotels Association (THA) reported that cancellations of 32,000 hotel room-nights were expected to cost the industry at least Bt120 million.  

For details,Click Here

Bangalore hotels bloom riding on BPO boom..

Business travellers are driving up occupancies in Bangalore's five-star hotels, with occupancy rates climbing up to cent per cent in some properties, outstripping traditional 'bookings leaders' such as New Delhi and Mumbai.  

For details,Click Here

Tourism to Indonesia will be cut by 20% following Bali bombing: World Bank

The precedent of a tourist massacre in Egypt in 1997 suggests Indonesia will suffer a 20 percent drop in foreign visitors following last month's deadly bombing on the resort island of Bali, the World Bank said in a report published Wednesday.

For details,Click Here

Nearly 3,000 Travel Industry Leaders Attend 72nd World ASTA Travel Congress

Nearly 3,000 travel agents and other travel industry professionals have already registered, with more expected to register on-site during the 5-day event. The 2002 ASTA World Travel Congress is being held at the Honolulu Convention Center on Nov. 3-8. In year's past, cities hosting an ASTA World Travel Congress have seen considerable and immediate economic benefits. 

For details,Click Here

Pattaya peachy after winning SKAL congress bid

The Thai resort of Pattaya has been picked to host the much-coveted 2006 SKAL World Congress, after a landslide victory against second favourite venue London.

For details,Click Here

Starwood launches annual expo in Singapore as part of business and leisure tourism drive

Following the success of the Annual Sales Expo in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong, Starwood Hotels & Resorts will launch it's Singapore Expo from November 6th to 8th, 2002. More than 26   hotels and resorts  from 9  countries in Asia Pacific will participate in this year's sales mission that will be held in Sheraton Towers Singapore.  

For details,Click Here

Pertlink & Infotel join hands to deliver winning IT solutions to the hospitality industry of Vietnam

Pertlink Limited headquartered in Hong Kong, has today signed an Memorandum of Understanding "MOU" with Phuc An Company Limited (INFOTEL) headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to deliver innovative Information Technology ("IT") solutions to the hospitality of Vietnam.

For details,Click Here

November 11, 2002

Global Staffmovements: Who's where and doing what:

Edited by by Benoit Gateau-Cumin    The Boutique Search Firm

For the latest update on Global Staff MovementClick Here

Kurt Ritter Named "Corporate Hotelier of the World 2002"
by HOTELS Magazine

Kurt Ritter, president & CEO of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, has been named "Corporate Hotelier of the World 2002" in this year's Hoteliers of the World Awards organized by HOTELS, the magazine for the worldwide hotel industry.

For details,Click Here

Tony Troy quits Le Meridien

eTid.com - The Times reports that Tony Troy, UK and Ireland MD of Nomura-controlled hotel chain Le Meridien, has resigned.

No other details are reported, other than that his departure was 'completely amicable' and that he would stay in place until a successor was appointed

Europe Fared Best In Gloomy Year For Hotels - PKF Country Trends 2002 report

Hotels in eastern Europe outperformed the rest of the Continent in the financial year to 31 March, with profitability rising 12.8% to €23,706 per available room, while Europe as a whole fared better than the Middle East, South Asia and Africa in a year of global political and economic turmoil, according to PKF's Country Trends 2002.  

For details,Click Here

Taj Hotels, Preserving India's  Heritage One Hotel at a Time

Taj Hotels, India and South Asia's leading luxury hotel group, has long proved its commitment to preserving India's historic palaces and hotels.  Now it has taken this dedication two steps further with the addition of two historical properties.  

For details,Click Here

Improvements For UK Hotel Sector But Still A Long Way To Go As London Tourism Slump And Uncertain International Economic Environment Cloud Recovery - PwC Reports

A new forecast issued for the UK Hotel Sector, by the PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality and Leisure Group, shows corporate and leisure travel markets remain depressed, with little evidence that the much hoped-for recovery gained momentum during the second half of 2002. In London the travel slump (particularly the dearth of US tourists) continues to hit the hotel sector hard.

For detailed report,Click Here

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts voted China's "Best Hotel Group"

TravelWeekly China readers throughout mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau were asked to vote for organisations based on the following criteria: Innovation in marketing or services; professionalism; and trade-friendliness.  

For details,Click Here

TravelCLICK Issues Third Quarter eMonitor

Electronic Bookings for Worldwide Hotel Industry Show Improvement - TravelCLICK's eMonitor results for the third quarter of 2002 show that for the first time in over a year, worldwide hotel room nights and revenue booked electronically through the Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) increased versus the same period last year.  

For detailed report,Click Here

Two Weeks To Plan A Trip - No Problem

According to the latest Travel Poll from the Travel Industry Association of America's (TIA), 64 percent of past-year leisure travelers planned at least one of their trips at the last minute, that is, within two weeks of taking their trip. This translates to 83.1 million U.S. adults. Among these last-minute travelers, 26 percent planned all of their past-year leisure trips at the last minute.

For detailed survey,Click Here

MICROS Launches MYFIDELIO.net, its Next Generation HOTEL INDUSTRY PORTAL

MICROS Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRS) , a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality industry, has launched its next generation hotel industry portal called Myfidelio.net to complement and enhance its suite of hotel applications and services. Myfidelio.net is the successor product to hotelBANK, MICROS's predecessor hotel reservation portal.

For details,Click Here

Award winners of the third annual Hermes Awards for the Worldwide Hospitality Industry

Organized by MKG Consulting and HTR Magazine for the third consecutive year, the Hermes Awards ceremony took place on Monday, November 4th at the Paris Eiffel Tower Hilton Hotel in the presence of the Secretary of State of Tourism, L?on Bertrand, and presided over by Frantz Taittinger, President of the Envergure Group.

For further details,Click Here

South Korea expects record number of tourists

The number of foreign tourists to South Korea is expected to post a record high of 5.35 million this year, helped by this summer's World Cup event, the Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) said on Thursday.

For details,Click Here

Bathroom Is Barometer of Hotel Cleanliness According to New Survey

A Clean Room and Bathroom Is the Top Wish for 50 Percent of Travelers and Bathroom Is the First Place Most Guests Go After Checking In - How do guests gauge a hotel's cleanliness? By its bathrooms, according to a national survey released today.  

For details,Click Here

November 12, 2002

Thistle Hotels plans disposals, asset writedowns - report

Thistle Hotels PLC is weighing up buyout or disposal options and discussing an up to ?90 million writedown of its assets, The Independent on Sunday newspaper reported, citing sources.

For details,Click Here

Rezidor Gets More Brands

US-based Carlson Hotels has turned over brand development in Europe, Mideast, and Africa, to the current franchiser of one of its brands, Rezidor SAS. Rezidor, 100% owned by SAS Scandinavian Airlines, has had the Radissson franchise for most of Europe since 1994, and has expanded this selectively to parts of the Middle East and South Africa. The new agreement, however, covers Europe, and all of Africa and the Middle East - making Rezidor the master franchiser for the four Carlson prime brands, but not a sub-set of one of those brands, see in article.

For details,Click Here

Hilton - what the weekend papers say

e-Tid.com  -  Hilton gets bumper column inches in the broadsheets this weekend in advance of a trading update out this Thursday. The Times (London)  Monday suggests that Hilton is about to enter the inclusive resort sector in deal with Dominican Republic-based Coral Hotels & Resorts. 'Coral by Hilton' would develop as a brand in the Caribbean with Egypt and Asia Pacific also in line. 

For details,Click Here

Web Marketing - Hotel Friend or Foe?

Just over a year ago, when the hospitality industry was losing strength compared to previous years, hotel sales teams finally began to embrace Internet marketing tools.  With the downturn in international travel that occurred after September 11, 2001, many hotel marketers formed new friendships with travel web sites such as Expedia.com and the newly formed Hotels.com.  

For details of this HVS International report,Click Here

Cardiff tops UK for hotel profit growth: London fares poorly compared with other European cities

Cardiff's hotel industry has proved more robust than that of any other UK city, according to a Deloitte & Touche report. The HotelBenchmark profitability survey, which covers over 2,000 hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, reveals that in 2001 Cardiff was the only UK city to show a rise in hotel profitability*, with profits up 15 percent on 2000. London fared the worst, with profits declining by 15 percent, followed by Birmingham and Glasgow, which both dropped four percent in profitability. 

For detailed report,Click Here

Web tops hotel room wish list

Hotel items like trouser presses and shower caps are outdated and useless, according to a survey that says they should be substituted for Internet access and laptop chargers. Web site travel company Expedia interviewed more than 500 business travellers in the United Kingdom for its survey of the things people wanted and did not want in their hotel room.  

For details,Click Here

Hotels: Dig In

Skip the pool and head to the garden and get your hands dirty on your next out of town trip -  All hotels have spas now, but farms? Along the California coast, hoteliers are taking advantage of the year-round good weather, planting their own fruit, vegetable and herb gardens-all organic, of course. 

For details,Click Here

Thailand drowns in its own success

WTM REPORT - It never rains but it pours and it's especially true for Thailand, writes Yeoh Siew Hoon - TravelWeeklyEast.com 

For details,Click Here

Koh Samui set to become even more luxurious

The third largest island in Thailand and a tourism gold mine, Koh Samui can be described with just one word - paradise. Development however can often come at a price, but the local government, TAT, and local tourism operators have gone out of their way to ensure that Koh Samui remains what it has always been, an idyllic island.  

For details,Click Here

HPL launches Island Explorer floating hotel

Singapore based HPL Properties Limited (HPL) has invested nearly US$6 million in a state-of-the-art luxury yacht based in the Maldives which will serve as a floating hotel.

For details,Click Here

November 13, 2002

WTM :  Smoke without fire: There're lots in London

Travel advisories are a joke, says TravelWeeklyEast's  Yeoh Siew Hoon as she wonders who should be placing travel advisories on whom. November 8, Friday. "Chaos poison gas terror alert". November 9, Saturday. "Fears of terrorist attacks hit peak". These were the headlines in The Times  that greeted her when she arrived in London for World Travel Market.  

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WTTC Forecasts Strong Fourth Quarter 2002 and Solid Growth in 2003 For Travel & Tourism

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released a series of new economic reports today with research produced by Oxford Economic Forecasting (OEF) that shows a modest increase in Travel & Tourism activity for 2002 compared to forecasts released in March of this year, and solid expectations for growth in Travel & Tourism in 2003.

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News@PATA

GOLD AWARDS DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15, 2002 -  December 15, 2002 is the entry deadline for the 2003 PATA Gold Awards -- the premier awards programme that recognises excellence and innovation in the Pacific Asia travel industry. Award recipients will be honoured during a gala luncheon at the 52nd PATA Annual Conference in Bali, Indonesia. 

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WTM:  Hold your fire, suppliers told

The Far East must strive to protect its market share or risk losing business to the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. Chris May of Hayes & Jarvis said the Caribbean and Indian Ocean were the big winners in the current crisis.  

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Technology Issues In Restaurants -  Summary Of FS/TEC 2002 Presentation

Technology can impact restaurant profitability and value.  To understand how technology can generate and impact income first requires an understanding of the unidirectional flow in a restaurant.  

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Tourist arrivals decrease as Nepal's tourist season begins

The number of international visitors to Nepal in October, the start of the Himalayan kingdom's main tourist season, declined nearly by 18 percent compared with the same period last year. According to the statistics by Nepal Tourism Board, this October saw 27,172 tourists visiting Nepal, while the figure in October last year stood at 33,037. During the first 10 months of this year, Nepal received 177,605 tourists, down 31.3 percent from 258,605 in the corresponding period last year.  

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Beijing rides away with theme park

It's not Shanghai, it's but Beijing. Contrary to months of rumours, US-based Universal Studios has quickly reached an agreement in principle with Beijing to construct the Chinese mainland's first world-class theme park.  

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Taiwan offers China tourism incentive

Taiwan will relax restrictions on Chinese tourists if Beijing adds the island to its list of overseas sites which mainland sightseers are allowed to visit. The China Times newspaper reports the relaxation, aimed at attracting more mainland visitors, is expected to be discussed between tourist delegations from the two sides at a Shanghai travel fair opening on Thursday.

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November 14, 2002

Orient-Express Hotels Reports Improved Third Quarter Results

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., luxury hotel, restaurant, tourist train and river cruise ship operator  ( www.orient-express.com ) announced its results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2002. Net earnings for the quarter were $9.1 million ($0.30 per common share) up 21% from $7.5 million ($0.24 per common share) in the third quarter of 2001. Revenue increased 22% from $68 million in the third quarter of 2001 to $83 million in the third quarter of 2002.  

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WTM, a healing process

WTM Report:  Every tragic event needs a healing process and for South-East Asia's travel trade, still reeling from the horror of October 12 and grappling with the potential repercussions, World Travel Market proved to be it.  

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Accor, Jin Jiang seal distribution partnership

Accor and Jin Jiang (China) announced a new sales and distribution network joint venture (JV), known as "Accor-Jin Jiang Hotel Distribution Co.Ltd.", last night. The JV, formed just ahead of this week's China International Travel Mart (CITM), will see the two companies sell domestic hotels in China.  

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Hotelier's island dream turns sour

In what one French newspaper called "a cataclysm in the world of tourism", hotel chain Accor has summarily quit its operations in the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

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That's Ritz! Groups agree marketing deal

Don't get the idea that the Ritz is the Ritz wherever you go. Like many brands, it's split. The Ritz in London is owned by the reclusive Barclay twins, distinguished only in that one parts his hair on the left, the other on the right. Ritz-Carlton, however, is a worldwide chain of similarly luxurious hotels ultimately owned by Marriott International. Yesterday they got together in a marketing deal which sees the London establishment take advantage of Ritz-Carlton's global reservation system. In return, the US chain can book its guests into the Ritz London in an apparently seamless transition.

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India launches drive to build global brand identity for tourists

Inspired by the success of international tourism advertisement campaigns including "Surprising Singapore," and "Amazing Thailand," India's tourism ministry has decided to give the country a global brand identity. According to the official website of the ministry, "Incredible India" has been chosen as a brand name to market India as one of the best locations globally.  

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IHF 2002 a success

The IHF 2002 (International Hospitality Forum 2002) in Amman/Jordan, closed its doors on October 17 after a record breaking three-day show resulted in an outstanding number of business transactions.More than 4,000 trade representatives visited IHF 2002.  

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Indonesia : Finding new synergy to restore tourists' confidence

Is Indonesian tourism heading toward its nadir? Well, quite a number of people would not readily agree with this assumption. However, no one would dispute the fact that the recent Bali bombing has severely tarnished the image of tourism in Indonesia. 

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Newspapers at the press of a button

InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong is leading the way providing guests with World News, through their partnership with NewspaperDirect. The newly implemented guest service forms part of the Six Continents Hotels reshaping initiative known as "Global Connections - World News".   

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A Terrorist Target? A Frantic Thailand Protests

No country has honed its image with more care than Thailand and one result has been a windfall: nearly $7 billion a year in tourism revenue. Enchanting, delightful, charming, gentle, magical - an entire vocabulary has been created to describe the country that calls itself the Land of Smiles. That leaves little room for bombs.  

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Marriott names four executives in top posts

Marriott International Inc. on Tuesday named Linda Bartlett as executive vice president of mergers and acquisitions and Carl Berquist as executive vice president of financial information and enterprise risk.  

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November 15, 2002

Trade leaves WTM in strong spirits

By Yeoh Siew Hoon TravelWeeklyEast.com  -  Against the odds, the tourism industry has gathered at WTM in bigger numbers and with stronger spirit to fight on. The mood is one of cautious optimism but the dark clouds have by no means lifted. Yeoh Siew Hoon reports on the last day of WTM.

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Hilton  Sets Sights on  Steigenberger Chain

Hilton Group, which is set to issue a mixed trading statement this week, is believed to be considering two expansion opportunities in Germany as it seeks to boost its operations on the Continent.  The company is targeting private hotel chain Steigenberger and is also in talks with Queens Moat Houses about a franchising deal in Germany.   

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Travelers Surveyed Expect to Spend More on 2003 Vacations;

Vacations Now Booked Closer to Departure, Reveals Survey of Tour Operators and Travelers  -   More than seven out of ten (73%) travelers surveyed expect to spend more on their 2003 vacations than they did in 2002, reveals a Travel Holiday magazine survey. That's good news for members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), where a majority of members surveyed (53%) expect slight increases in tour and vacation package prices for the coming year. 

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WTM  -  The World Under One Roof

The move to spacious new state-of-the-art venue at ExCel has coincided with the largest World Travel Market ever in its 23-year history. This is just one of the many changes at play at this year's WTM among many other things. Exhibition space has also increased to a soaring 36,850 square meters, which is up 12% compared to last year. Also a milestone is the representation of almost every region in the world with the addition of 17 new countries exhibiting for the first time.

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French Caribbean Economy Hit By Accor  Pull

One of the world's largest hotel chains, Accor, surprised many people this week when it announced it would pull out of the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique. The decision underscores the serious economic problems facing the two Caribbean islands.  

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Continued rapid growth predicted for China's tourism industry

A green paper issued here on Wednesday has forecasted an annual growth rate of about 10 percent for the next few years for China's tourism industry, in spite of the global downturn in the industry.  

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Serbia's Tourism Bounces Back

Addressing a roomful of attendees at the World Travel Market on Monday were representatives from the National Tourism Organization of Serbia (NTOS). Evident from the presentation is the drive to spearhead an aggressive marketing campaign targeting both the European nations' travel trade and media. With a new slogan "Fall in Love Again with Serbia" the NTOS hopes to reestablish Serbia as a prominent European tourist destination.  

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Has 9/11 had an affect on  New York Compensation?

Written By:   Keith Kefgen  HVS International

Having experienced the 9/11 terrorist attacks first hand and a number of anniversary tributes, I wondered about the impact on hotel compensation. With the completion of our 2002 HCE Lodging Property Report?, I compared New York City compensation levels in 2002 and 2000. The analysis is concentrated in the upscale segment, where the potential impact would have been the greatest. 

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Design Giant Hirsch Bedner Associates is Named  Top Hospitality Design Firm for Fourth Consecutive Year

HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates earns acclaim as "#1 Hospitality Design Firm" for the 12th year in the past 14 years, fourth year consecutively by Interior Design magazine (October 2002).   

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