6th Annual Resort Management Conference | 19 - 21 March 2006 | Pinehurst Golf Resort NC
FEATURED ARTICLE
HSMAI Annual Adrian Awards Show Honors Marketing Excellence In Travel And Hospitality
NEW YORK, NY | Marketing excellence in travel and hospitality was on display when the 49th Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards for Advertising, Public Relations and Web Marketing were handed out in New York City last evening at a gala black-tie event, hosted by TV host, writer and comedian, Ross Shafer.
ECONOMIC INSIGHTS
CWT Business Travel Indicator Reveals Optimism About Business Travel Growth Around The Globe In 2006
27 January 2006 | PARIS | Whether you are a business traveler from New York City, Rio de Janeiro, London, or Beijing, you have more in common than not with your flying brethren across the globe. Security lines and flight delays top the list as the events that most negatively affect travel. And, the majority of business travelers do not want cell phone use allowed in-flight.
International Tourism Up by 5.5% to 808 Million Arrivals in 2005 | UNWTO Reports
25 January 2006 | MADRID | In 2005 international tourism sustained the sharp upturn that began in 2004 in spite of the various tragic events it had to contend. According to preliminary results presented today by the United Nations specialized agency, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) the number of international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide grew by 5.5% and exceeded 800 million for the first time ever.
Ernst & Young Report Sees Further Expansion for U.S. Lodging Market in 2006; Report Points to Top Markets for Investment over Next 12 Months
26 January 2006 | LOS ANGELES | The U.S. lodging market is set for another year of expansion, thanks to solid fundamentals, increased capital flows into the sector, and the opening of more foreign markets, according to a report by Ernst & Young LLP. In its 2006 U.S.
Smith Travel Research | December 2005 | USA Monthly Performance Report
24 January 2006 | Smith Travel Research (STR) is the recognized leader in providing accurate, actionable information and analysis to the lodging industry. Since 1985, the company has served the industry operating on the key principals of integrity, confidentiality and customer service. STR provides timely information and analysis to all major North American hotel chains and a growing number of chains in Europe and Asia.
Ernst & Young | Hospitality Industry Top Ten Thoughts for 2006
27 January 2006 | Favorable lodging industry fundamentals, a low interest rate environment, and attractive pricing among the publicly traded lodging stocks combined to create another exceptional year for the capital markets.
HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS & OPENINGS
Fairmont Announces Agreement To Be Acquired By Kingdom Hotels And Colony Capital
30 January 2006 | TORONTO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. ("Fairmont" or the "Company") (TSX/NYSE: FHR) today announced that it has entered into an Acquisition Agreement whereby a Canadian company owned by Kingdom Hotels International ("Kingdom") and Colony Capital ("Colony") will acquire all of Fairmont's outstanding common shares at a price of US$45.00 per share in cash.
Hilton Hotels Corporation Announces Groundbreaking of Hilton San Diego Convention Center
30 January 2006 | SAN DIEGO | Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) announced today the groundbreaking of the Hilton San Diego Convention Center, a 30-story, 1,190-room hotel on the edge of the San Diego Bay that will connect directly with the San Diego Convention Center. Hilton Hotels Corporation has formed a joint venture with ING Clarion Partners, a leading real estate investment advisory firm to own and operate the hotel.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Las Vegas Sands Corp. Finalize Cotai™ Strip Management Deal
18 January 2006 | LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (TSX: FSH.SV; NYSE: FS) announced today that the two companies have reached an agreement in which Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts will manage a 400-room hotel being built by Las Vegas Sands Corp. on the Cotai Strip in the People's Republic of China Special Administrative Region of Macao.
Choice Hotels International Increases Focus on Hotel Openings
17 January 2006 | Silver Spring, Md. | Choice Hotels International, Inc. choicehotels.com (NYSE: CHH) today announced the creation of an improved Hotel Openings support function focused on ensuring that new construction and conversion properties joining the Choice system meet standards, enter the system more quickly and receive an even higher level of service and support.
FEATURED MULTIMEDIA
IH&RA Annual Congress 2005 | Meeting Human Resources Challenges in the Hospitality Industry
Scene-setting presentation by Prof Kaye Chon, Chair Professor & Head, School of HTM, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Lack of trained people is the major problem facing the industry internationally – in Asia and in the various world regions generally. What is the current and forecast scope of the skills shortage around the world? How can organisations like IH&RA help promote international worker mobility? How do the international brands respond to the challenge of human resource management in rapidly developing markets? How are Chinese companies responding to this challenge?
INTERNATIONAL
UK Chain Hotels Market Review - December 2005 | Profit Growth Lags Sales Rise | TRi Hospitality Consulting
27 January 2006 | The profitability of chain hotels in the UK increased more slowly than the overall rise in sales during 2005, according to full-year figures from TRI Hospitality Consulting’s monthly HotStats survey. Total revenue per available room, an industry standard measure of sales which includes non-room turnover such as food and beverage, rose by 3.6 per cent for the 530 hotels in the survey for the full 12 months of 2005.
Scotland Outperforms England And Wales Hotel Industry | Deloitte Reports
27 January 2006 | Hotels in Scotland outperformed both Wales and England in 2005, generating the highest percentage increase in revenue per available room (revPAR), up by 7.1% on 2004 figures according to the HotelBenchmark™ Survey by Deloitte. Occupancy in Scottish hotels remained steady, gaining 1.4% and the average room rate increased from £65 to £68 (5.6%). Aberdeen performed particularly well recording 17.5% growth in revPAR.
In A Still Uncertain International Context, The Individual Business Customers Segment Boosts The Northern European Hotel Industry | MKG Reports
19 January 2006 | The year 2005 appears positive in the majority of the large European countries with performance indicators generally on the rise. However the context of the year 2005 was not always most favorable. The economic growth is moderate, the organization of elections in Germany could have generated the wait-and-see policy of the economic players, and London was struck by bombings.
Middle East Hotels Retain Pole Position During 2005 | Deloitte Reports
17 January 2006 | First global hotel performance data for the full year 2005 from the HotelBenchmark™ Survey by Deloitte shows that across all regions of the world – Europe, Asia and the Middle East – revenue per available room (revPAR) continued to record positive growth throughout the year.
TRAVEL INTERNET MARKETING FOCUS
Kayak.com Becomes First Meta-search Site To Launch Fare Watch And Instant Messenger Functionality
30 January 2006 | NORWALK, CT | Continuing to push the travel search envelope by developing the latest technology and convenience for consumers, Kayak.com, the comprehensive travel search site, today introduced Fare Watch and KayakBot. Kayak.com's Fare Watch allows users to track an unlimited number of trip itineraries and receive email notification when the fare meets or beats a traveler's specified price.
Donald J. Trump Boards $80 Billion Online Travel Industry with the Launch of GoTrump.com
24 January 2006 | Donald J. Trump announces his biggest venture to date in the $80 billion online travel industry in a press conference today at Trump Tower. He affirmed the launch of GoTrump.com, and in conjunction with the creation of the website Trump established his first-ever email address MrTrump@GoTrump.com where he will offer travel tips and advice. GoTrump.com is powered by Travelocity and will feature over 60,000 hotels worldwide.
Travelocity Acquires Full Ownership Of ZUJI Continuing Its Global Expansion
24 January 2006 | SOUTHLAKE, Texas | In a move that further strengthens its global presence and positions it for additional growth in the Asia-Pacific region, Travelocity has acquired complete ownership of ZUJI, the leading online travel company in the Asia-Pacific region. ZUJI includes operations in Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.
TripAdvisor Announces 2005 Travelers' Choice Award Winners
18 January 2006 | NEEDHAM, Mass., TripAdvisor, the largest global travel information and advice destination on the web, today announced its 2005 Travelers' Choice award winners.
Expedia Kicks Off Industry-Leading Branding Campaign With Three Consumer-Centric Initiatives, Including Best Price Guarantee and Personal Trip Guide for Travelers
17 January 2006 | BELLEVUE, Wash., Expedia.com(R), the world's leading online travel site, is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative that sets a new industry standard for empowering consumers in booking travel. The effort builds on Expedia's extensive service offerings, original content and technology to deliver tremendous value to consumers on top of the company's transactional abilities for booking airfare, hotels or other trip components.
FEATURED DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD
Branding with History| Historic Hotels Find Ways to Build a Competitive Advantage
In a time of increasingly sophisticated hotel design, strong demand exists for select properties with a unique feature that new-builds aren't able to draw into blueprints: a past. Owners and operators of historic properties have become more creative in their efforts to develop and maintain log-lasting competitive advantages for their properties. No single asset may have more marketing value to a historic hotel than its history. The graphs included in this document present historical average rate, occupancy, and RevPAR data from January 2000 through October 2005 for US Hotels nationwide versus data from the same period for a selection of historic hotels, also located in the United States.
REVENUE MANAGEMENT FOCUS
Fundamentals Of Revenue Management Will Be Revealed In A Special Report Commissioned By HSMAI Special Interest Group
24 January 2006 | MCLEAN, VA | The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Revenue Management Special Interest Group has taken on an ambitious project to produce the first-ever comprehensive “Fundamentals of Revenue Management” special report.
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts Appoints Alka Kapoor As Corporate Director of Revenue Management
17 January 2006 | Singapore, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts recently announced the appointment of Alka Kapoor as its Corporate Director of Revenue Management. Armed with thirteen years in the hotel industry, Alka has held a variety of responsibilities at both the property and corporate level. She first began her career in the Front Office departments at leading hotels in Singapore since 1990.
RESORT MARKETING FOCUS
Riu Hotels Investing (US) $208 million On Three New Resorts in the Caribbean
27 January 2006 | A new hotel in Mexico, the ClubHotel Riu Vallarta, is to join the projects for the Riu Palace Riviera Maya and Riu Palace Punta Cana. The Spanish holiday hotel chain RIU Hotels & Resorts is to inaugurate three new resorts in the Caribbean in 2006, which will bring the year to a close with a total of 30 hotels in one of the world’s major resort areas.
Six Senses Gallery Goes On-line With A Range Of Specialty Items From Resort Boutiques
16 January 2006 | Bangkok | The innovative gift boutiques located at Soneva Resorts, Evason Hideaways and Evason Resorts, operated by Six Senses Gallery, have gone on-line at www.sixsensesgallery.com. The on-line Gallery presents a selection of the most popular merchandise at these established outlets.
Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa Now Fully Operational
17 January 2006 | Le Meridien Cancun Resort and Spa is up and running once again following structural damage suffered in Hurrican Wilma in October. The hotel has been accepting reservations since November 16, 2005 and is now running 100% in readiness for the new year ahead.
Westin Hotel to Be the Centerpiece of Le Paradis, St. Lucia's New Luxury Development
25 January 2006 | PRASLIN BAY, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT - News) and DCG Properties, Ltd., announce plans for a major Westin hotel as the centerpiece of Le Paradis, a new luxury development on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Lucia. This luxury condominium resort will feature 232 guest rooms, as well as an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course managed by Troon, an international spa with 26 treatment rooms.
COLUMNS
Hotel Hunting via Air Google | By Naseem Javed
28 January 2006 | Giving consumers the tools for aerial scanning and three-dimensional mapping of the world -- allowing them to fly by their neighborhoods or make a detailed inspection of far away places -- is radical.
Recognizing the Moments of Truth for Your Hotel Guests | by Rick Hendrie
27 January 2006 | One of the essential elements in every business is to recognize where the Moments of Truth are for your guest. One could make a case that every moment is a crucible which may tip the consumer up or down the Raving Fandom Ladder, which looks something like this:
Does Google’s Jagger Update have anything to do with Mick Jagger?
26 January 2006 | I have been optimizing websites for the past six years, and all of a sudden last fall I began hearing about Google’s Jagger update. Now being a “Chick” I like to keep things pretty simple and wondered why Google named it Jagger. (At first that seemed more important to me than what effect the update would have!)
Healthcare Can Learn From The Hospitality Industry | By John R. Hendrie
25 January 2006 | We understand that the Visitor Experience in a Destination area is based upon the performance of the Destination components – not only the Hospitality related businesses but also the other contributors, such as Taxis, Police, even street vendors. Another, often forgotten player, is our community Hospital or Medical Center, which although meeting unbelievable standards and sanctions, often misses the mark when it comes to Customer Service.
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