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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wyndham takes a stand against commercial sexual exploitation of children
NEW YORK, New York - ECPAT-USA announced that Wyndham Worldwide has become the latest major hospitality company to take a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code). While The Code has been signed by more than 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, is only the fifth US company to sign.
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tourist attack kills British man in Sri Lanka thought to be isolated incident
An attack which killed a British man on holiday in Sri Lanka is being treated as an isolated incident.
Sri Lankan tour operators are awaiting more information after the death of Red Cross worker Khuram Shaikh, 32, from Manchester on Christmas Day in the tourist resort of Tangalle.
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The Hilton Concord Hotel’s Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Infuses Smart Upgrades to Provide a Sustainable Experience
The Hilton Concord Hotel, located in the East Bay of San Francisco, is incorporating environmental and sustainable systems into its multi-million dollar hotel renovation anticipated to be fully completed in early 2012. The hotel is owned and operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the largest U.S.-based global management company. “Reinvesting in a leading hotel such as the Hilton Concord ideally positions the Company to take full advantage of the anticipated recovery in the lodging segment,” said Jim Abrahamson, CEO of Interstate.
India : Hotels feel the pinch as companies cut expenses
Hoteliers are grappling with the global economic slowdown as corporate houses tighten their purse strings, forcing them not to hike tariffs this year. Excess capacity has also cast a shadow over the hospitality industry and hotels in major metros failed to cash in during the peak season.
Sanjeev Sekhar, GM, Marine Plaza said, “There has been no change in our tariff rates and it remains the same as last year. But our occupancy levels are at around 80-90 per cent.”
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New Year will ring in name changes at 3 Centara hotels
Three of Thailand’s best-known hotels will change their names as the bells ring in the New Year 2012.
Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok will become Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok, Sofitel Centara Grand Resort&Villas Hua Hin will become Centara Grand Beach Resort&Villas Hua Hin, and Novotel Hat Yai Centara will become Centara Hotel Hat Yai.
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
International tourism strategist and author takes center stage in Asia tourism inspiration
As the world continues to work through one of the most paralyzing periods of economic crisis, one economic sector is actually gaining wide-scale appreciation for its ability to generate employment, revenues, and investment and unity: the global tourism sector. Fueling growth of the sector is the growing hunger for travel within, and to, the BRICS nations (Brasil, Russia, China, India, South Africa).
India, one of the world’s largest out-bound travel nations and most exciting inbound destinations, continues to fuel worldwide travel activity. Under this premise, and with the poignant theme, “Addressing Change – Rebrand, Reposition, Reinvent,” the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) held its annual convention in Macao, China, from November 22-25, 2011. The convention was a calling together of over 1,200 of India’s travel business leaders and agency owners from Air India and Kingfisher Airlines to Nomad Tours and Cox and Kings. With an agenda focused on essential strategies and tools for business growth, including the role of the agent, business development strategies and partnerships, adoption of technology, evolving media, and CRM, the 2011 TAFI Convention was undoubtedly one of India’s most important travel conventions of 2011.
Exclusive: Accor aims to draw the curtain on unsustainable hotels
Would you be upset if you walked into a hotel room to find that the curtains were drawn, the TV was silent, and the staff were keen not to wash your towels each day?
These are some of the questions hospitality giant Accor has been seeking to answer as it prepares a major new sustainability strategy designed to slash environmental impacts and curb energy use across its 42,000 properties.
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Hospitality Preview 2012: Hotels
Everything in moderation.
That seems to be the mantra of hotel industry analysts for 2012 after better-than-expected hotel demand this year appeared to put a brutal 2009 out of memory.
Analysts say revenue per available room among U.S. hotels will advance by about 5% or so, down from about 8% this year, as continuing questions about the global economy and tougher year-over-year comparisons will slow occupancy growth to a crawl.