Russia needs to ensure it has the right policies in place to make the most of the Travel & Tourism legacy presented by the Sochi Olympic Games. That is according to David Scowsill, the CEO and President of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the authority on the economic and social impact of the global Travel & Tourism industry.
Preferred Hotel Group today announced the promotion of Lindsey Ueberroth to Chief Executive Officer. She will continue to serve in her role as President. The move is part of a carefully planned and anticipated succession of leadership as the company enters its 10th year of private ownership by the Ueberroth Family. The announcement was made by John Ueberroth, who will continue to serve as Chairman.
A private investor group led by Peak Hotels & Resorts Group Ltd. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Amanresorts, the world’s premier international luxury hotel group, from DLF Global Hospitality Ltd. Under the terms of the transaction, Aman Resorts Group Ltd., a joint venture between Peak Hotels & Resorts and Amanresorts founder Adrian Zecha, has acquired 100% of the equity of Silverlink Resorts Ltd., the owner of Amanresorts, for an enterprise value of approximately US $358 million. Zecha will continue as Chairman of Amanresorts.
Groupon announced a significant expansion of its Groupon Getaways marketplace with the addition of approximately 20,000 new hotels in all of the most popular destinations around the world. With the addition of these new properties to Getaways’ already popular up-to-60-percent-off Flash Deals, travelers can now find a hotel through Groupon for every major travel destination providing consumers with even more opportunities to save money when they travel. Plus, anyone who makes a reservation at one of the approximately 20,000 new properties receives 5 percent back in the form of Groupon Bucks to use toward a future Groupon purchase.
A study published today in the Cornell Hospitality Report identifies a substantial increase in spend and stay frequency after a guest enrolled in Stash Hotel Rewards, a loyalty program for upscale and luxury independent hotels. The researchers found that after guests enrolled in Stash, they returned to a hotel nearly 50% more often and increased their annual spend by a similar amount. That shift translated into incremental annual per guest revenue of $405 – $780.
HSMAI Europe reveals the first-time “Best in Class Marketing Awards” for the Top 20 extraordinary minds in sales, marketing and technology in Europe. Nominations are to be awaited until Thursday, January 23rd, 2014, 11:59pm.
HSMAI Europe is delighted to announce a roster of high-level speakers at the 4th Annual Revenue Management conference on February 6th, 2014 in London. Ingunn Hofseth, President of HSMAI Europe, said: “This conference is fast becoming an annual must-attend event for revenue managers, distribution and marketing executives from across Europe. It is testimony to the editorial direction of the HSMAI Europe Revenue Management Advisory Board that the conference is recognized by chief executives, and leaders from across the hospitality industry as the forum to discuss and resolve key issues facing the industry today.”
The beaming winner comes from the St. Regis Singapore: Gwendolyn Chia is the ”AICR International Receptionist of the Year 2014” and winner of the coveted Bucherer David Campbell Trophy. Gwendolyn sat down in a thrilling final against 13 other candidates in the international edition of the AICR competition at the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany. The prestigious competition “David Campbell Receptionist of the Year Trophy” sponsored by Bucherer is awarded annually by the AICR (Amicale Internationale des Sous Directeurs et Chefs de Réception des Grand Hôtels / The International Association for Deputy Managers and Front Office Managers of Luxury Hotels). In 2015, the next international Congress of the front office managers of the top hotels around the world will be held in Singapore.
London – 14 January 2014 – Travellers are increasingly turning to smarphones and tablets to book hotel rooms, acounting for 7% of all bookings in 2013 and this trend will grow by another 20% this year, reveals eRevMax in its recent study on “Online Hotel Distribution 2014”.
(New York, USA – 01 January 2014) American Express Travel recently surveyed a panel of experts – nearly 200 of its Travel Counselors – on top destinations and travel trends they are seeing from their customers for 2014. According to the findings, heading abroad will be popular: 52% of the Travel Counselors surveyed indicated travelers are planning international getaways, and 45% of respondents reported many jetsetters are planning both domestic and international trips next year.
New York City – 14 December 2013 – Hilton Worldwide opened for trading on December 12 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “HLT” after its initial public offering. Barclays is the Designated Market Maker (DMM) for the company’s stock.
TripAdvisor today announced the results of the TripBarometer Truth in Travel Survey1, which reveals the hotel amenities and services U.S. travelers find most and least important.
Guests of Starwood’s more than 1,150 hotels capture and share an average of 40,000 images per month on Instagram, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced an industry-leading integration with Instagram on all of its websites worldwide. New Guest Galleries from Instagram showcase the explosion of social sharing through Instagram photos and videos geo-tagged by Starwood’s digitally-savvy guests. From unique hotel amenities to eye-catching local sites, the enhanced Guest Galleries from Instagram offer a fun, new way for travelers to explore their next Starwood destination – all from the perspective of fellow guests.
As host of Travel Channel’s popular series “Hotel Impossible,” “hotel fixer” Anthony Melchiorri is relentless when it comes to getting struggling hotels all over the world back on their feet and on the path to success. His no-nonsense approach may put some owners off, but his advice can transform even the most down-and-out properties. Yet it’s ultimately up to the hotel owners to implement and maintain his changes. On “Hotel Impossible Undercover,” a series of six half-hour specials premiering Monday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. ET/PT with back-to-back episodes, Melchiorri returns to check up on six properties he previously overhauled on past seasons of “Hotel Impossible.” Following the run of specials, a compelling new fourth season of “Hotel Impossible” premieres on Monday, January 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. With thirteen hour-long episodes, Melchiorri’s management skills, emotions and patience are put to the test once again.
Hard Rock International has terminated its franchise relationship with Operadora DB Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Hard Rock Cafe franchisee in Mexico, after several years of disputes relating to non-compliance with franchise standards and franchise payment obligations. The termination follows the successful outcome of arbitrations in Mexico and final adjudication by Mexican arbitrators under the oversight of the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) in Paris.
In the past five years, online travel sales have grown from $93-Billion to over $160-Billion, with hotel reservations accounting for almost 40% of this total volume. Online Travel Agency (OTA) websites are responsible for one-third of the online hotel bookings, indicating their importance in the distribution and reservation chain.
New York – 12 September 2013 – The world’s leading sustainable tourism awards, The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, have been updated and revised, with two new categories added in time for the call for entries, now open for 2014.
Toronto, Canada – 9 September 2013 – FRHI, the parent company of luxury and upper upscale hotel brands Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts, today announced several appointments to its senior leadership team. The management changes, which include executive appointments and newly created roles in the areas of operations, sales and marketing and human resources, are also aligned with the company’s move to a new divisional structure.
New York – 5 September 2013 – Business travelers are taking to the skies just as much as in previous years, but they are increasingly taking time out for themselves, according to new research released today by American Express Global Business Travel. The survey, which analyzed the habits of business travelers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, found that U.S. business travelers are traveling just as often, and some more frequently, than they did in 2012, but are increasingly taking time out for themselves while on the road.
Romain Roulleau has joined Accor beginning of August as Senior Vice President e-Commerce in charge of the Group’s direct web sales. He reports to Jean-Luc Chrétien, Executive Vice-President Distribution, Sales and Loyalty.
New research from Timetric suggests that despite the challenging economic times, European business travellers are choosing upscale or midscale hotels during business trips. Overall, 46% of the survey respondents indicated that they expect to visit midscale hotels over the next 12 months, while 31% will choose upscale hotels.
