June 2008
Fuel price rises put global prosperity at risk
Global economies will be at risk if airlines are forced to dramatically reduce their operations and close important routes due to record high fuel costs, PATA warned.
The warning came as major carriers -- including PATA members United Airlines and Qantas Airways -- announced plans to cut back on routes, ground aircraft and reduce jobs. Destinations such as Hawaii could face a 25% drop in scheduled air capacity due to a combination of higher fuel prices and airline closures, according to PATA member, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.
PATA President and CEO Peter de Jong said airlines are not only the lifeblood of global commerce and industry, but an essential part of our society. "We only need to look back five years to recall the catastrophic effects when people stopped flying due to concerns over SARS," he said.
Many hotel rooms still vacant for Beijing Olympics
There are still plenty of hotel rooms available for the Beijing Olympics.
The crunch that was predicted doesn't seem to be happening, said Zhang Huiguang, the director of Beijing's Tourism Bureau. She said Wednesday that about 500,000 foreigners were expected for the games, a figure Beijing officials have long been predicting.
Only 77 percent of capacity at Beijing's five-star hotels have been booked during the Aug. 8-24 Olympic Games, and the four-star hotel rate is only 44 percent, she said. And it's even lower for three- and two-stars, she added.
One reason could be China's crack down on visa procedures, targeting students and others on short-term stays who might be activists intent on protesting during the Olympics.
Second, prices are rising, Zhang said. Five-star prices are up 2.6 times on a year ago, and four-star hotels have risen 3.6 times. She said the average five-star hotel ranged between 3,840-7,910 yuan (US$553-US$1,139; euro352-euro724).
She said the average for four-star hotels was 2,226 yuan (US$320; euro204).
"The hotel price is rising, the transportation fee is rising, so many will not choose to come during this period," she acknowledged.
Zhang was confident those who did come would find Beijing to be safe.
"This year so many things have happened in China," she said. "But I can assure you that Chinese authorities can guarantee the safety of the tourists, of the city and of the games. Beijingers will enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists."
" But for terrorists and troublemakers, " she added. "We'll unite and fight against them."
Hilton Hotels’ Koos Klein named Asia Pacific Hotelier of 2007
Koos Klein, President, Hilton Hotels - Asia Pacific, has been named "Asia Pacific Hotelier of the Year 2007" at the 11th Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference, organised and hosted by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.
The ninth recipient to receive the prestigious award, Mr Klein has spent an illustrious 16 years of his 27-year career in Asia Pacific. Since his appointment as President, Hilton Hotels - Asia Pacific in 1997, Mr Klein has spearheaded dynamic growth of the world's most famous hotel brand, from 25 hotels to 60 today. He was responsible for realigning the Hilton portfolio, and did this by setting the bar high for new Hilton hotels and evaluating existing hotels against stringent brand standards. He has also overseen the company's strong financial performance with Hilton's revenue in Asia Pacific having doubled and profits quadrupled over the past decade.
Handing the Award to Mr Klein, Mr Peter Barge, Global Chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels commented, "This annual award is dedicated to recognising the true capabilities of leading hoteliers in Asia Pacific. I am delighted to honour Mr Klein's contribution to the industry. Throughout his career, his commitment to developing new talent and growing the business has not faltered, and neither has his passion for hospitality."
IHG launches the world’s first ‘green’ hotel
This could be the world's first ever 100 per cent ecologically-friendly hotel - and its 'green' credentials will set the benchmark for hoteliers around the world.
The solar powered 'Innovation Hotel' - which is the brainchild of the InterContinental Hotels Group - outlines the latest technology in energy and water conservation and recycling.
Among the 'green' features of the futuristic hotel:
* The forwarding of all unused non-perishable food to charities or food banks
* Solar panels on the roof to heat water
* A rainwater harvesting system to supply water to toilets
* A roof garden rich in shrubbery to provide extra insulation
* Windpower to generate electricity for the hotel
* Recycled glass windows
* Furniture and fittings made entirely from recycled materials
* And household waste to provide heat and power
Hotel chiefs say the Innovation Hotel's features could be earmarked as standard across all IHG brands within the next few years. The virtual property has been put on the company website to get guests views on its features.
David Jerome of IHG, who were also the first hotel chain to introduce a set of 'green' guidelines for hotels in 1991, said:
''People who do their bit for the environment when they're at home are likely to be interested in doing the same when they're staying in a hotel.
Marriott International to add 9 more properties to its China portfolio through 2012
Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) will expand its China portfolio with 18 new hotels now through 2012, nine of which are being announced today.
When all 18 hotels are opened, the Marriott International portfolio in China will encompass 59 hotels providing a total 22,489 rooms, spanning six lodging brands-JW Marriott in the luxury tier, Marriott and Renaissance in the upscale segment, Courtyard by Marriott for the upper-moderate segment and Marriott Executive Apartments for upscale extended stay travelers. All properties operate under long-term management contracts.
"We are thrilled by the continued growth of our hotel portfolio in China," said Ed Fuller, president & managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. "In just 11 short years, we have been able to significantly grow our presence in mainland China in primary urban centers and now we are expanding our reach into secondary markets and territories throughout the country. Thanks to our diverse brands portfolio, we are providing consumers with a wide choice in accommodations in terms of the type of hotel travel experience selected and the price paid."
Announced today are nine properties which will open in Nanjing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Huizhou, Suzhou and Beijing. Additional hotels are under construction in the following Chineses cities and territories: Shenzhen, Beijing, Hangzhou, Macao, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
Marriott International's global pipeline of hotels in development or under construction stands at just over 130,000. Of those, 55,000 are already under construction; over 60 percent of the company's pipeline of full-service rooms is located outside of North America.
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Marriott International has appointed Adam Sherer Vice President of Marriott ExecuStay. He has been with the company since 1996, overseeing various areas including new product development, brand acquisitions and the development of Marriott’s temporary housing franchise program.
Ronen Nissenbaum has been promoted to Regional Vice President Operations North America for InterContinental Hotels Group. He moves up from his position with the company as Regional Vice President Operations, South Central Region and General Manager of the InterContinental Buckhead.
James Sherwin has been appointed General Manager of the Mark in New York, slated for a late summer 2008 re-opening. He previously served in various executive roles for the Carlyle in New York and the Savoy Group in London.
Tim Herman has taken over from Tom Klein as General Manager of the Swissôtel Chicago. A move up for Herman, after three years at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle as Hotel Manager. His first exposure to Fairmont was at New York’s Plaza, where he was the Director of Food and Beverage. As for Tom Klein, he is now the General Manager (and Regional Vice President) of the Fairmont San Francisco.
Matt Maddox has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Wynn Resorts. He was most recently the Senior Vice President of Development and Treasurer for the company. He also served as Chief Financial Officer for Wynn Macau and as Vice President of Finance at Caesars Las Vegas.
Esteban Orosco has rejoined the Four Seasons Punta Mita as Director of Finance. He has been with the company since 1999, starting out at the Four Seasons Carmelo. He served as Assistant Director of Finance for the Punta Mita resort before transferring to the Four Seasons Costa Rica as Director of Finance.
Alexander Schnoeller has been promoted to Director of Food and Beverage at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C. after joining the hotel in 2005 as Assistant Food and Beverage Manager. He previously held various restaurant management positions for the Mandarin Oriental Manila, the Kahala Mandarin Oriental and the Mandarin Oriental London.
Eric Chopin, previously with Ritz-Carlton for fourteen years, has left to join Rosewood at the Mansion on Peachtree in Atlanta as Executive Chef. For the past seven years, he had been the Executive Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. He previously held the title of Executive Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Tyson’s Corner and Executive Sous Chef at the (former) Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena.
Didier Virot has joined the recently re-opened Plaza Hotel in New York as Executive Chef. He was most recently serving as Executive Chef/Owner at FR.OG in Soho. A former Executive Chef with Jean-Georges Vongerichten at JoJo then at Jean Georges, Virot also had his own restaurant on the Upper West Side, dubbed Aix.
Bruno Brazier has been appointed Executive Chef of the Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina and Spa, due to open in the Summer of 2008. Born in Paris in a well-known Chef family, he worked under Maurice Brazier at the Two-Michelin-starred Clos Longchamp at the Méridien Paris, prior to following the company to Syria, Guadeloupe and California.
Olivier Kozel has joined the Bern Hotel and Resort in Panama as Executive Chef /Head Chef Instructor for the new Panama International Hotel School opening in April. He previously served as Executive Sous Chef at Cap Juluca in Anguilla and the InterContinental Houston.
Luc Delafosse is moving back to London to oversee the development of a 180-room, Five-Star hotel due to open in two years in the “City”. This is a return to London after serving for seven years as Managing Director of the Ritz London, before heading to Dubai in his most recent position as General Manager of the Burj al Arab. Delafosse also previously served as General Manager of the Hotel Mirabeau in Monaco, Le Grand Hotel in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and the Vista Palace.
Stefan Buchs has returned to Prague as General Manager of the Corinthia Hotel Prague and Vice President of Western and Central Europe for Corinthia Hotels. He was previously the General Manager of the Radisson SAS Prague before moving to London to serve as General Manager of the Portman Hotel and, most recently, the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair.
French Michelin-starred Chef Hélène Darroze will be in charge of the restaurants at London’s Connaught, taking over from Gordon Ramsay protégée Angela Hartnett (who has her hands full with her restaurant Cielo at Blackstone’s Boca Raton Resort and Club).
Hélène Darroze at the Connaught is due to launch in June 2008. Her namesake Parisian restaurant is rated Two-Michelin stars.
At Taj International, Yannick Poupon has been promoted from General Manager of the Taj Mahal New Delhi, to Chief Operating Officer of Taj Luxury India. Poupon had originally joined Taj in Dubai.
Charlie Dang has been appointed to the newly created position of Area Managing Director, Northern China, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. He will continue to retain his current role of General Manager at the Westin Beijing Financial Street. Before opening the hotel, he served as opening General Manager of the Sheraton Dongguan and the Sheraton Xian.
Laurent Voivenel is Area Manager Pakistan and General Manager of the Sheraton Karachi Hotel and Towers. He was most recently the General Manager of the Sheraton Ryiadh. Voivenel previously served as Area Vice President and Director of Operations for Starwood Hotels and Resorts French Polynesia.
Dirk De Cuyper has been named General Manager of the Conrad Shanghai. Since 2005, he has held the position of General Manager at the Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa and has been with Hilton for the past fifteen years.
Didier Jardin has been appointed Resort Manager at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. He joined the company in 1994 as Assistant Manager, Food and Beverage at the Four Seasons Maui, and has held various food and beverage roles at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, the Four Seasons Santa Barbara, the Four Seasons New York and, most recently, the Four Seasons Hualalai.
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