NEW HOTELS
57 New Hotels Seek Partnership with WORLDHOTELS in 2007
WORLDHOTELS increased its membership of independent hotels by 57 in 2007. These hotels join a portfolio of over 500 hotels in more than 300 destinations and 70 countries worldwide.
Sixteen were brand new hotels looking to benefit from WORLDHOTELS global expertise in sales, marketing, distribution, training, and e-commerce. They also benefit from partnership agreements with 18 airlines, with access to 240 million frequent flyers collecting miles at any member hotels.
Claridges Hotels & Resorts
Three hotels in India’s exclusive luxury hospitality group, Claridges Hotels & Resorts became the first properties in India to join WORDHOTELS.
Joining the Deluxe Collection, The Claridges, New Delhi, is an elegantly refurbished historical art deco landmark renowned as New Delhi’s premier luxury boutique hotel. The two other Claridges hotels that have joined WORLDHOTELS are located side-by-side in the upcoming commercial area of South Delhi close to historic Tughlakabad Fort. The Atrium Hotel & Conferencing, Surajkund is a four-star business hotel and joined the First Class Collection. Still under construction next door, The Claridges, Surajkund, a contemporary 204-room luxury hotel, joins as a Deluxe Collection member when it opens in 2008.
Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur
Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur, a 5-star international hotel near the famous Petronas Twin Towers, joined the Deluxe Collection in 2007. The 608-room hotel neighbouring Bintang Walk entertainment hub and KL’s newest Pavillion Shopping Mall is a leading meeting, conference and banqueting venue with 448 stylish guest rooms and suites, along with 160 serviced apartments.
The hotels unusually strong service culture is enshrined in a dedicated programme called ‘Delighting at Prince’ ensuring that the guest experience is second to none, and is a key element of the hotels success.
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WORLDHOTELS members predict future tourism trends
The owners and general managers of some of the world’s most exclusive hotels revealed their predictions for the future of tourism. WORLDHOTELS asked key representatives of its 500 plus member properties all over the globe to take part in a survey and to indicate their expectations on new trends in key areas such as business growth, environment, customer expectation, customers’ booking behaviour, internet booking and customer relationship management (CRM). A total of 116 questionnaires were returned and the results showed an upbeat mood amongst the hoteliers who expect revenue to continue to increase in the next few years. Key outcomes from the survey included;
· 84% of the owners and managers of the WORLDHOTELS portfolio surveyed believe that the current positive trading conditions will continue for at least the next three years.
· 88% expect their REVPAR to be higher in 2008, due to factors such as improved yield management, advanced revenue strategies or increased demand.
· 92% anticipate the addressing of environmental factors to improve business
· 86% think that in the next three years consumers will use hotel websites in preference to online travel agents.
· 57% believe that control over rates inventory will shift to the hotel industry during the next three years
Hoteliers discuss trends at WORLDHOTELS Leadership Forum
Over 100 member hotel owners, management companies and senior general managers attended the WORLDHOTELS 2007 Leadership Forum at the Grand Hotel De La Minerve and the Hotel St. George Roma in Rome, two WORLDHOTELS Deluxe Collection properties.
Speakers included key industry experts such as Michael Ryan, Co-founder of Ryanair; Ian McCaig, CEO of Lastminute.com; Russell Kett, Managing Director of HVS International; Dr. David Viner, Principal Specialist Climate Change Natural England and David Thorp, Director of Research and Information for The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
WORLDHOTELS also used the Leadership forum to award the hotels that best performed in its Performance Excellence Programme (PEP) in the past 12 months. The winning hotels were: Best Result in APAC 2007: The Eton Hotel, Shanghai; Best Result Global and in the EMEA region for 2007: Marina Hotel, Kuwait; Best Result in the Americas 2007: Graves|601 Hotel, Minneapolis.
WORLDHOTELS’ Loong Palace Hotel & Resort Hosts 2nd World Tourism Marketing Summit in Beijing
WORLDHOTELS’ Deluxe collection property Loong Palace Hotel & Resort hosted the 2nd World Tourism Marketing Summit in Beijing, China from October 28-30, 2007.
Co-hosted by the Beijing Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China, the summit brought together more than 400 leading tourism executives, marketing experts and top operational managers from over 50 countries, as well as from over 150 major cities of 30 provinces in China.
World Tourism Marketing Summit provides an opportunity to network, explore joint ventures and learn strategies to enhance cooperation between the international tourism industry and one of the world’s largest tourist markets.
Loong Palace Hotel & Resort sprawls over a spacious low-rise complex in an oasis of water fountains and gardens in the rapidly developing northern area of Beijing, just 30 minutes from both Beijing’s Capital International Airport and the Great Wall of China.
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WORLDHOTELS and Abacus launch ‘Rewarding you with more’ competition
WORLDHOTELS and Asia Pacific’s leading GDS Abacus launched a competition to reward agents utilising the Abacus systems to book WORLDHOTELS member hotels with the chance to win fabulous prizes. Agents making BAR bookings for WORLDHOTELS properties between 6th September 2007 and 31st December 2007 for materialization between 7th September and 31st December 2007 were automatically entered into the grand lucky draw with 10 prizes to be won.
WORLDHOTELS and Abacus are committed to supporting the Best Available Rates program which assures travel agents that when they book, they are offering the lowest unrestricted rate available at that time to their customers. If the travel agent or their customer can find the same room with the same conditions and amenities at a lower rate on any other website within 24 hours of making the booking, WORLDHOTELS will match that rate.
NEW STAFF APPOINTMENTS
Appointments support Asia-Pacific growth
Eri Kosuga joined as Sales Manager for Japan, based in Tokyo. She began her career at the Conrad Centennial in Singapore, followed by the Grand Hyatt, Singapore and the Sedona, Hanoi.
Karen Goh joined as Regional Sales Manager, Asia, based in Singapore to focus on Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan. Karen previously worked for Novotel Apollo, Hotel New Otani, Meritus Negara and most recently Raffles the Plaza in Singapore.
May Lee joined as Director of Business Development, Asia, based in Singapore, concentrating on Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. She previously worked for Hyatt Regency and New World Renaissance Hotel in Hong Kong, and Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts and Millennium & Copthorne International in Singapore and London.
Francesco Wong joined as Director of Sales, Hong Kong and South China. A graduate of ‘Les Roches’ Hotel Management School in Switzerland, he started his career in Hong Kong at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel, Grand Hyatt, Grand Stanford Intercontinental and the Ritz Carlton, broadening his experience at the Hyatt Regency Macau and Hyatt Regency Dongguan.
