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Hospitality businesses to get music licence refunds

Hotels, restaurants and pubs who paid over the odds for music licences have been told they will get refunds after a tribunal decision found that tariffs had been set too high.

At a hearing for the Copyright Tribunal last week, the end of a long-running dispute between the industry and Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), who sets and collects fees for companies playing background music, the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the British Beer & Pub Association pressed for refunds to be given out.

Today the Tribunal agreed with the BHA and BBPA and told PPL to make interest-free refunds over £50 to all businesses due to them. However, PPL will appeal the decision in the High Court.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “It’s been a long struggle but worth it, given today's total victory.

“We will be doing everything we can to ensure that any appeal case is heard quickly, so that the matter of repayments can be settled as soon as possible."

The trade bodies estimate that since the fees changed in 2005, pubs, restaurants and hotels have paid up to £20m more than they should. This new ruling will save the industry up to £5m a year.

Venues playing background music saw their licence fees rise between 200 and 400 per cent in 2005 when PPL decided to limit the Copyright Tribunal’s jurisdiction to broadcast music only and have a separate Tribunal for non-broadcast music.

Under the Tribunal’s ruling, fees will now be cut by more than half with a hotel, pub or restaurant playing background music within an audible area of just under 400 square metres paying £110 this year compared to £464.80 under PPL’s raised tariff.

Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive, of the BHA added: "This successful result shows how much time and effort the industry needs to spend when it fights damaging decisions made by public monopolies."

Are GDS and IDS the right distribution channels for my hotel?

GlobRes provides complete hotel distribution and hotel Internet marketing services for hotels around the world.

By Samantha Hasler Published: 22/05/2009

Understanding GDS and IDS

The term GDS stands for Global Distribution Systems. Originally they were created for the airline industry as a tool for travel agents to make flight bookings. Over time more types of reservations have been added including hotel reservations. The term IDS stands for Internet Distribution Services, this simply refers to the Internet portals that offer hotel reservations. Representation for hotels on one or both of these channels can be highly beneficial when used appropriately for suitable hotels.

Over the past 3 years hotel bookings through both GDS and IDS channels have grown considerably attributing to around sixty percent of online room reservations. The increased number of hotels using GDS has resulted in greater choice for travel agents and greater visibility for hotels.

Is GDS relevant for your hotel?

Many hoteliers invest heavily in GDS connectivity and expect it to work with little effort on their part. This happens time and time again and is usually rooted in lack of understanding. GlobRes has established a few key common characteristics which make a hotel more suitable for the GDS. Central location or being located close to an airport are ideal attributes for successful GDS connectivity, room capacity of around 25 - 30 or more can also be beneficial. Hotels with some corporate lodgings and hotels that are not affected by changing seasons also tend to be more successful in terms of GDS. This is not a definitive list and there are exceptions, for example some smaller hotels flourish with GDS because of their location.

There are a number of ways to ensure you get the best out of your GDS connections and IDS connections. Choose an established provider which supplies you with a dedicated account manager. Hoteliers must be prepared to learn from and lean on their Account Manager. Always ask for training and if you need more ask again! Remember it is in the best interest of your Account Manager for you to be as successful as possible with your connections. You must participate to reap the rewards.

For suitable GDS and IDS hotels, there couldn’t be a better time to invest. GDS puts your hotel in front of over 650,000 Travel Agents. Travel agents can immediately see your hotel’s rates and availability together with photos and further information. Today, the majority of guests booking online are not loyal to one hotel; they may also have random booking patterns, booking from hotels that on that day are offering them the best deal. To combat such erratic behaviour hotels must maintain a presence across a host of distribution channels to ensure a sizable share of the online market.

Identify your distribution needs today with GlobRes. To find out more about how GlobRes Hotel Reservation and Marketing services can increase your hotel bookings today please complete our online contact form or visit www.globres.com for more information

About GlobRes

GlobRes provides complete hotel distribution and hotel Internet marketing services for hotels around the world. Connecting hotels with their guests through increased exposure via all channels including GDS, IDS, Digital Marketing and the hotel’s own website. GlobRes operates a fully serviced support centre, offering assistance to hotels in English, Italian, German, Spanish and French.

Editors Note: Please direct all press queries to Samantha Hasler. Tel +41 41 500 0111 or email marketing@globres.com

Egyptian hotel tycoon sentenced to death

Egypt’s billionaire developer and former member of the Egyptian Parliament, Hisham Talaat Mustafa was sentenced to death yesterday May 21st for ordering the murder of his ex-girlfriend/mistress, Lebanese pop singer Suzanne Tamim. She was slain in her apartment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The verdict against Mustafa, once a member of the ruling National Democratic Party, was the latest twist in a stunning drama that has offered a peek into the closely guarded realm of Egypt's politicians and businessmen. It shows that even big-time businessmen are no longer above the law.

The Egyptian billionaire, luxury hotel and real estate builder, senator and business kingpin was arrested September 2nd last year in Cairo, after he was accused of paying his security to kill his 33-year old Lebanese mistress who he had a three-year relationship with. Tamim was found dead July 28, 2008 in her apartment at the Dubai Marina. She was a beautiful pop singer who rose to fame in the Arab world after having won the top prize in the popular talent show on television Studio El Fan in 1996.

Hitman Mohsen Al Sukkari, a 39-year-old former policeman from Egypt, was hired for a sum of $2 million from his boss Mustafa. Al Sukkari slashed her throat after pretending to be the home owner’s representative, while entering her apartment. He, too, has been sentenced to death. For Mustafa, the $2 M was no issue to at all.

He is one of the richest in Egypt being the the chairman of Talaat Mustafa Group, the biggest developer of fine real estate properties in modern-day Egypt. Mustafa owns all three Four Seasons Hotels in Cairo, Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh and more.

As the CEO and managing director, Mustafa chaired the Alexandria Real Estate Investment (AREI) Company, spearheading ultra-progressive developments including Al Rehab, San Stefano, the Nile Plaza, Al Rabwa and the Mayfair that changed the face of Egypt. Together with Saudi Arabian Prince HRH Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, chairman of Kingdom Holding and one of the world’s wealthiest, Mustafa built the most stunning Four Seasons Hotel projects in Egypt, two of whom in Cairo’s premium areas, boasting high-end shopping malls, residential apartments, unrivalled restaurants and bars.

Mustafa and the Prince of Saudi gave Cairo an instant facelift across the busy, not-so-appealing Giza Zoo and the historic French attache’s office with the birth of the first Four Seasons Cairo First Residence in town. When Greater Cairo was short of five-star luxury hotels, the 2004 opening of the Four Seasons in the central district in Garden City made the Egyptian capital the only city in the Arab region with two of the most presigious chain hotels. Mustafa’s AREI projects with Kingdom Holding also included the construction of the San Stefano complex on Alexandria’s Corniche. The billion-dollar project is a redvelopment of the old San Stefano bought from the government by Mustafa in 1998. It includes the Four Seasons Hotel, a commercial center and parking lot near the beautification area along the Mediterranean coastline near Montazah in Alexandria. Furthermore, Mustafa built South Sinai’s Sharm el Sheikh Four Seasons much to the envy of neighboring hotels including the Ritz Carlton.

Not satisfied with his mega-million, glitzy, ritzy hotel empires, Mustafa thought for a while about the middle and upper-middle class, building them urban communities at Al Rehab. It was his largest project, the largest private sector project of its kind in Egypt. He wanted it to become a trend in the country after he received orders for 6000 accommodations after the first year of launch. Al Rehab was meant to cater to 8 M Egyptians who were to relocate from Cairo to ease the demographic pressures.

Al Rihab did not enjoy an issue-free development process. Christian residents of the New Cairo town of al-Rihab complained about the original town plan which promised to deliver a church and several mosques. Mustafa’s company failed its commitment to build the church citing the Ministry of Construction for approval considered to put up the church only outside the Rihab town boundary, making it serve the Christian community in the town and the neighboring areas as well; but the dwellers of which have no access to Rihab. The ministry assigned a plot of land no more than 100-meters away from Rehab as a site for a church to be built independent of any particular town. Christians revolted against Mustafa’s cunning, being the powerful man that he is.

In mid-February this year, Mustafa was stripped of his parliamentary immunity in order to face trial. Until his arrest, he was however dealing in contruction and functioned as the leading member of the ruling party’s highly influential Policies Committee chaired by Gamal Mubarak, the president’s son and heir apparent.

In court sitting in his caged defendant’s seat, Mustafa showed no emotions when his sentence was read. His family showed extreme remorse. The media and the rest of the crowd rushed to the cage, causing commotion in the court room, sort of showing that justice prevailed; and not even President Mubarak’s closest ally and Egypt’s wealthiest can obstruct the law.

A few months ago however, five Egyptian journalists were charged with breaching a gag order in his trial. They were ordered to pay hefty fines. During the hearing, the Sayyida Zainab Misdemeanors Court sentenced Magdi al-Galad, Yusri al-Badri, and Faruq al-Dissuqi, respectively the editor and reporters of the independent daily Al-Masry20Al-Youm, Abbas al-Tarabili, editor of the opposition daily Al-Wafd, and reporter Ibrahim Qaraa to a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (US$1,803) each. They were found guilty of violating a November 2008 court decision banning media coverage of the trial.

Yesterday’s trial was all over the press, making Egyptians aware of the fact that no hotel magnate escaped the murder charges he committed in Dubai

Fear of crime keeps Baja resort empty

It's a warm Saturday night in January as we head out for a stroll along the main drag of Rosarito Beach in Baja California Norte.

Most of the cafés are closed or empty, and nightclubs are shut down. Few stores are open, even though it's a holiday weekend in the United States, 20 miles to the north.

Baja has always been one of my favorite vacation spots, whether for an adventure trip to one of the stunning natural destinations or a quick lobster dinner near the border.

Great food, beautiful scenery, nice people, excellent beer, cheap shopping: It's a place to have a lot of fun without spending a lot of money.

And it should be cheaper than ever, with the exchange rate about 15 pesos to the dollar.

But now the Americans, who make up these resorts' main source of visitors, have largely vanished, scared away by drug cartel violence and crooked cops. The U.S. State Department has put a "travel alert" on the area, warning visitors to take extra precautions. The poor state of the economy doesn't help, either.

When my friend Rose Marie told me that she had to make a quick business trip, I decided to throw some clothes in a bag and come along. I'm a former cops reporter, and Rose Marie once rode around Uganda on the back of a motorbike. We figured we could handle Rosarito.

We tossed my 10-year-old daughter, Sandy, in the jump seat of Rose Marie's pickup and headed out Saturday morning of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Two hours later, we crossed the border into Mexico easily and headed south. The day was stunningly warm and sunny, and the air was unusually clear.

We took the toll road to Rosarito, transacted my friend's business, and then decided to check out a couple of hotels. I figured that the lodgings would be hurting financially so they might be offering some "incentive pricing" that would make a spur-of-the-moment overnight worthwhile.

First, we stopped at Los Pelicanos, a modest hotel on the north end of town that I've always liked. Last time it was about $50 a night. They wanted $68 a night, just for a regular room, with no ocean view. Ouch! No thanks; we passed.

Schiller International offers 15 scholarships to Caribbean students

chiller International University is partnering with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) to offer 15 scholarships to Caribbean hotel industry personnel and students pursuing hotel careers.

In a joint press release issued on February 23 from Puerto Rico, it was stated that Schiller offers US$45,000 annually in matching tuition funds to CHTAEF Scholars who are enrolled full-time. Students can move between campuses during their degree programme to grow their international exposure. Schiller also offers an on-line option whereby 2 semesters per academic year can be taken on-line and the summer semester on the Florida campus.

Kathy-Ann Bernard, Director of Recruitment, Caribbean, Schiller International University and a passionate Trinidadian said “I’m very excited by this partnership and really hope to welcome at least one national from every Caribbean country to Schiller in the coming years. Currently we have students from Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.”

She further noted that “Applications with CHTAEF is due March 16, 2009 and consideration will be given to applicants who have received an offer or an acceptance letter from Schiller International University”

Clive Barnes, Trustee CHTAEF commented “we are very happy to begin what promises to be a strong relationship with Schiller International University that offers great flexibility and international experiences to Caribbean students of International Tourism & Hospitality”

For more details one could visit the CHTAEF website  www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com click on EDUCATION FOUNDATION for full details, an Info-Sheet and an application form. Applicants may request info-sheet & application form by e-mailing foundation@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com or asking their National Hotel Association.  Absolute final date for receipt of applications is 16th March 2009.

Schiller International University proposes education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures to encourage active development of international understanding. Since 1964, Schiller has been providing students around the world with the opportunity to learn in a truly global environment. 

An independent American university, Schiller has campuses in Florida USA, London UK and Leysin Switzerland that offer International Hotel & Tourism Management degrees at Associates, Bachelors and Masters levels. Students study with faculty from all over the world, in an environment that encourages diversity, leadership and international understanding. Schiller’s student body is represented by over 100 nations.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Education Foundation (CHTAEF) was established in 1987 as a non-profit organisation, through which scholarships and special assistance would be made available for the education of Caribbean hotel industry personnel and students pursuing hotel careers.

As part of its mission, the Foundation provides people throughout the Caribbean region with an awareness of the industry’s varied career opportunities, as well as technical and professional development. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded close to US$1 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry. 

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) aims to facilitate the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.  CHTA was founded in 1962; it is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism.

Today, tourism is widely recognised as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region - and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshalling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions.  CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 800 member hotels and 750 allied members.