Hospitality Career E-Mag

Time - The New Luxury Frontier

2011-12-13T12:30:00.002+05:30

As Four Seasons promises 15-minute room service, expecttime to become the next battleground for luxury products.

Luxury has traditionally been equated with the time taken to produce something. The more time taken, the better the product. Or maybe that is too simplistic in approach. The more time taken, the higher the chances that the product will be considered luxury.

This still holds true for hand-made goods (suits, bags, shoes) and for a longtime food. The traditional recipes required (a lot of) time and this was considered gourmet. But what has now changed is how our online habits are spilling onto the offline world - sometimes when I am reading a printed report and something is underlined, I tend to think that is a link to more information!.

What Four Seasons has realized and seized upon, is this definitive change that has come about. We are no longer willing to wait for good things. What is special about this offer is also the promise of the time. A time promise is nothing new - Dominos has built a whole brand on it, McDonald's has made it part of internal processes - what is new is a luxury brand adding it to their food.

Most hospitality managers reading this would know that a good IRD operation always mentions the expected time taken for an order to be delivered. This is not an approx, but a promise. What can promises do? Plenty.

Marriott was one of the first to offer the 'promised room preference' or first night free. That made a big difference in the rooms business. Will the Four Seasons's offer change things for F&B?

Yes & No.

Expect more hotels to now offer guaranteed timings for menus and further still maybe offer more gourmet food in that fashion. Also expect hotels start looking at revenue streams outside of the traditional outlet model. Take-away makes sense and there is no reason a hotel cannot compete with the processed or packaged food industry.

No, because, expect Four Seasons to also announce (and very soon) a decadent 4-hour leisurely sunday brunch or a seven course meal. As more people becoming richer, the uber-rich will want to recreate experiences they have grown up believing to represent the rich lifestyle. They will want to wine, dine in what they perceived the rich to be doing when they themselves were still not so.

So what is all this then? Is it a trend, a marketing gimmick or something more profound?

Its Market Segmentation.

A hotel is no longer 'A' hotel. It is now motley collection of smaller hotels under the same roof, offering services and products to different set of people. Each hotel will have to create a very defined set of services and brand promises for each segment it wants to cater to and the ones who state it categorically will win the business.

What should you do?

The important bit is here (at the end!)

You have to find the top 3 market segments your hotel/unit serves. Once done, think like you are creating 3 different hotels with different brand name, logos, staff and processes. Then think about what you would do in each of those hotel if you only have to serve that segment.

That will make all the difference!

- Prabhjot Bedi
Editor

p.s. comments are very welcome. If you would like to discuss your particular hotel/unit/outlet write to me on mail@prabhjotbedi.com or call +91 9872000604

p.p.s for some more interesting studies on time, visit http://www.spring.org.uk/2011/06/10-ways-our-minds-warp-time.php

Hotel and spa trends for 2012

2011-11-16T17:13:00.001+05:30

Andrew Freeman & Co.’s predictions for hotels and spas run the gamut from high-tech apps to down-home turndown amenities. Here is the list of 10 top trends:

1. Warm front: Hotels are warming up by eliminating the formal front desk. Guests can enjoy a personal greeting at the door from a “welcome ambassador” and special gifts or treats in reward for repeat business.
2. Made to fit: Ultra-targeted personalized service includes not only catering to guests with special dietary requirements and providing culturally appropriate in-room amenities but also providing personal advice about off-beat galleries or avant-garde dining.
3. Classy vacations: Guests are seeking out experiential vacations and want to get involved with the likes of cooking classes, gardening opportunities, lessons on pickling or preserving and even massage instruction..
4. Phone home: Hotels should take advantage of smartphone technology that offers guests the comforts of home by providing downloadable custom apps to order room service, drinks, movies or even a local map.
5. Taking charge: Due to growing popularity, many hotels and resorts are offering electric-car charging stations for guest use.
6. Bedtime sweets: Customized turndown sweets recreating childhood favorites can include hot chocolate, Rice Krispy treats or cookies and a glass of milk.
7. Cleanse-ing diets: Eco-conscious guests are cutting down on cleaning — saving hotels labor, time and materials — with elective daily cleaning programs.
8. Shop and drop: New lobby bar/marketplaces offer enticing places to grab a quick drink, gourmet snack, espresso, light meal or edible souvenirs any time of the day.
9. The royal bedding: Sleep Number bedding, hypo-allergenic organic sheets and TempurPedic beds offer full customization.
10. Say spa-aaah: Spa goers will put a little more oomph in their relaxation regimen and undergo clinical treatments such as glycolic peels that focus on rejuvenation from an almost medical perspective.

Fairmont Zooms Past Mere "Local" Cuisine With New HyperLocal Menu Items

2011-09-28T23:05:00.003+05:30

Going local is so 2009. Upping the ante when it comes to sustainable food sourcing is Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, which has broadened the "go local" mantra by adopting local goats and chickens, allowed diners to catch their own dinner and gone out of its way to create homemade tofu.
Long an advocate of green, fresh and healthy cuisine, the brand's properties were some of the first to add onsite herb gardens and honeybee apiaries, and have pioneered myriad innovative projects that have brought farm and fork closer than ever.Across the portfolio, Fairmont's Green Cuisine program includes initiatives that cater to specific local and regional needs.

In Quebec City, Executive Chef Jean Soulard of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac recently added five hens, who are the newest neighbors of the hotel's resident honey bees. Chantecler hens, the only 100 percent Québec breed, have been carefully selected by Chef Soulard and have been placed in a coop equipped with a copper roof that matches the architecture of the hotel. Fed only organic grains, each hen produces about one egg per day with the collected eggs served up to guests dining within the hotel. Fairmont Newport Beach in California is constantly in pursuit of the best local produce, and the recent adoption of seven goats is the hotel's latest culinary initiative. In collaboration with Drake Farms Goat Dairy, where the female goats reside, the animals are cared for by dedicated farmers and staff and receive regular visits from the hotel's Executive Chef.

The farm uses the goats' milk to produce organic and sustainable goat cheese, which the chef picks up and brings back to use in dishes for the restaurant and lounge as well for in-room guest amenities. Fairmont Newport Beach follows in the footsteps of Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, which adopted two goats, affectionately named Blanche Neige (Snow White), in 2010. While living at the local Fromagerie du Vieux St-François, the goats produce cheese for the menu at The Beaver Club, as well as for sale at the Fairmont Store. At Fairmont Pittsburgh, Executive Chef Andrew Morrison of Habitat restaurant not only offers eggs from local heritage chickens, but has a side of grass-fed beef from Burns Angus Farm delivered each week so the culinary team can specially prepare every cut to their liking. The team butchers their own steaks, roasts and ground beef, utilizing every piece of the meat down to the bones, which are used to make stock. The hotel's signature house-made soap is made using the leftover tallow (rendered beef fat) along with coconut oil, lye and natural scents. Beef is a staple in Kenya, where Chef Hubert Des Marais continually seeks out the area's best to help support local farmers & serve sustainable cuisine. Chef Hubert recently debuted a special "platinum steak" from local Morendat Farm, which comes from selecting and breeding particular Angus/crossbred steers just for Fairmont's East Africa properties.

The cows have a specially crafted 180-day feeding program and are taken through a process of dry ageing for approximately 21 days, which further enhances the delectable flavor and texture of the cuts. Many of the brand's properties, from China to Washington, D.C., have added honeybees to their onsite herb gardens or partnered with local parks and organizations to source local honey for cocktails and menu items. Fairmont Yangcheng Lake in Kunshan, China has developed 200 acres as a private, organic herb and vegetable garden along the resort's namesake lake, and has recently added 10 beehives housing 2,500 honeybees, which produce around 40 kg of honey in spring. In Seattle, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel plans to install five rooftop hives, while in nearby Victoria, The Fairmont Empress has installed 10 hives in the hotel's Centennial Garden. With close to 20 active Fairmont bee programs in place around the world, new hives have also recently been installed at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda, Calgary's Fairmont Palliser and Fairmont Newport Beach in California. Toronto's Fairmont Royal York has cultivated rooftop beehives for a number of years, and has recently partnered with nearby Mill Street Brewery to create a unique honey beer, called "Royal Stinger".

To make the beer, brewers add the roof top honey at the end of the aging process, immediately before sealing it in kegs for distribution. But, Fairmont chefs are taking advantage of more than just local honey - in Vancouver, chefs at Fairmont Pacific Rim go the extra mile to make their very own tofu. Homemade tofu allows the guests to taste the nuances and flavor profile of the soy bean, and is used in a dish with braised daikon, gai lan and shiitake mushrooms. Some Fairmont properties have even taken their search for hyperlocal cuisine under the sea, such as Fairmont Battery Wharf, which offers access to the only lobster boat tour in Boston. Guests can arrange a private excursion with a Fairmont Chef aboard an authentic down-east style lobster boat to learn firsthand how to bait, drop, and haul in lobster traps. After a day at sea, guests return with their catch and stop in at the hotel's restaurant, Aragosta, where the Chef will prepare the lobster to their liking.

In Toronto, The Fairmont Royal York's EPIC Restaurant has recently introduced the new Thisfish lobster tagging program, which involves tagging and tracing lobster from ocean to plate. When fishermen land their catch, they tag individual fish or entire fish lots with a distinctive code. Information about the fish - who caught it, where, when, and how - is linked to the code and uploaded to www.thisfish.ca, where diners can retrieve details about how their lobster was handled and processed through the supply chain.

TRENDS | 10 boutique hotel buzzphrases

2011-07-16T22:31:00.000+05:30

Boutique Hotel Summit enjoyed a lively discussion about the future direction of the sector with a panel of leading industry figures sharing their 10 top trends for the boutique market.

Their 10 boutique hotel buzzphrases were:

Experience and integrity: Boutique hotel guests are looking for something different from the “cookie cutter” approach. It is essential to give them an experience they will remember fondly, and this is more important than getting obsessed with design details.
Clubs: Look out for a proliferation of members' clubs incorporated in to boutique hotels, particularly in key urban markets such as London and New York.
Caring for the environment: There is a small but growing band of environmentally aware travellers who are increasingly concerned with their carbon footprint. Boutique hotels can cater for them in a variety of ways from serving locally sourced, seasonal food to allowing guests to control their energy usage. It is also important not to be overly aggressive in promoting the green agenda.
Boutique goes budget: Until now boutique hotels have been operating at the upper end of the price scale, but there is huge scope for budget hotels to offer a more distinctive, less homogenised experience.
In-room technology: It's important for boutique hotels to offer technology that is at least as good as the guest would expect to have in their home, but it must be user friendly and practical. The technology must also sit comfortably if installed in heritage buildings, and not jar with its surroundings.
Authenticity: Boutique hotels are particularly suited to conversions of historic or interesting buildings. By doing this with sensitivity to the materials used and the original structure, they can be among the most sustainable and authentic hotels in terms of the built environment.
Variety: Boutiques can capitalise on their flexibility and independence by providing individually designed guestrooms rather than standardised offers.
Location, not brand: Boutique guests are looking to interact with the hotel itself, and the passionate people who drive it and provide great service, not a company or an international brand.
Boutique B&B: A significant trend towards offering B&B in distinctive, design-led properties with a range of added service and experiences available, such as visiting chefs, wine tastings etc.
Lifestyle hotels: While the multi-nationals will struggle to replicate the true boutique experience, they will increasingly focus on the lifestyle model of 100 to 200 room hotels, using their economies of scale and management experience.

$34 billion in hotel investment forecast for 2011

2011-07-14T14:56:00.001+05:30

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels released its second quarter analysis of the global hotel investment market on Wednesday showing that US$14.8 billion in hotel assets was traded in the first six months of this year.

Compared with the same period last year, the represents a 117% increase caused by easing levels of liquidity, improved hotel trading performance and bank's actions to speed up workout programs, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels says. The largest regional increase was in North America, which saw a 187% upsurge.

A total of US$4.7 billion in hotel transactions took place in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in the first half of 2011, marking an 84% increase on the same period last year. Activity accelerated as a result of a marked increase in the number of assets going into administration. In Asia Pacific, deal volume totalled US$2.6 billion, a 59% increase on the prior-year period.

JLLH expects hotel investment volumes across EMEA to rise to US$15.1 billion, a US$2 billion increase on our previous forecast, as significant product is expected to come to market in the second half of 2011.

In Australasia, deal volume totalled US$478 million with offshore capital sources featuring strongly in the country, accounting for 76% of transaction volumes. JLLH expects transaction volumes to reach US$1 billion in Australasia by year-end 2011, which is up from our previous forecast of US$800 million with cross border investment expected to continue,

"Despite various natural, economic and political crises witnessed globally in the first few months of 2011, hotel transactions continued gaining momentum and volumes for the full year are expected to exceed our previous forecast," Arthur de Haast, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels CEO said. "We anticipate full year numbers to reach US$34.8 billion globally, marking a 28% year-on-year increase."

The reason for the disparity in percentages between the first part of 2011 and the year as a whole is due to the fact that the volumes are being compared to a low basis. In the first half of 2010, transaction volumes were still bouncing along the bottom. At this time, hotel fundamentals were still declining in many markets across the globe, which hampered investor activity. In the U.S. hotel RevPAR declined in the first four months of 2010. Across the globe, hotel trades in terms of transaction volume picked up much more substantially in the second half of 2010.

PwC: 'Robust growth' for London hotels

2011-06-30T22:20:00.000+05:30

Latest figures published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have revealed an 11.4 per cent increase in RevPAR for London hoteliers during the first five months of the year.

Compared with the same period last year, "robust growth rates" in April and May ensured that the capital continues to outperform regional counterparts, where growth has slowed.

In the regional sector, RevPAR growth remained positive for the first five months, although average room rate fell in both April and May.

Liz Hall, head of hotel research at PwC, said: "A strong March, a sparkling April and a spectacular May suggest London's juggernaut run isn't ready to stop just yet."

Hotels flock to Saudi Arabia to meet increased demand

2011-06-30T16:24:00.000+05:30

A growing number of hotel companies are signing deals to open new properties in Saudi Arabia to meet the rising influx of pilgrims that travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as the kingdom's strong domestic tourism market.

Approximately six million pilgrims enter Saudi for Haj and Umrah pilgrimages each year, creating a huge demand driver for hotels in the kingdom. Hotels in the holy cities typically struggle to meet demand during the holy month of Ramadan, and this year will be no exception.

"The fact that Ramadan is falling in the middle of the summer holiday means there will be too much unmet demand," according to Nasser Al-Tayyar, Chairman of Saudi-based Al-Tayyar Travel and Tourism Company. "Most hotels in the holy cities are already fully booked with availability concentrated in the hotels located in the outskirts of the cities."

With demand outstripping supply during the holy month, hotels are able charge up to five times their normal rate, he noted.

Increase in domestic Saudi travel

Another factor boosting tourism is the rise of domestic travel within the kingdom, which is growing in tandem with an increase disposable income in the country. The rise in oil prices is expected to help the Saudi economy grow 7.5% this year, up from 3.5% in 2010, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Saudis will also benefit from the government's pledge to inject billions of dollars in investment on various projects throughout the kingdom in the wake of the protests in the region. Hotels in the kingdom have also benefitted from the Arab spring as it has prompted many locals to take their holidays within country rather than travel to some of the hotspots in the region.

Data from STR Global for the month of May showed that hotels in the kingdom enjoyed a 17.6% increase in room occupancy and a 25.3% rise in revenue per available room compared with the same month last year, and experts say this trend is likely to continue this summer.

"Saudis who normally travel to Egypt in summer will most likely turn to Abha, Baha, and Taif, the main summer resorts of KSA," Al-Tayyer told AMEInfo.com. "We expect that domestic travel will increase by 30% this year."

New York City hotels offer same-sex wedding packages

2011-06-30T00:34:00.000+05:30

NEW YORK CITY The state of New York legalized same-sex marriage last week, and several hotels have already begun promoting packages for gay and lesbian guests planning to tie the knot.
The Marriage Equality Act permits same-sex couples, even those who are not New York residents, to marry as of July 23.

NYC & Co., New York City's official tourism agency, is developing a global marketing campaign called "NYC I Do" to promote the Big Apple as the premier gay wedding destination in the United States. A 2007 study by city officials estimated that same-sex marriage would add US$142 million on a net basis to the city's economy during the first three years after the legislation was passed, most from the increased number of visitors who would travel either to get married or attend a wedding, Crain's New York Business reports. The study estimated that more than 56,000 couples would travel to New York from out of state to marry there.

The "Right to Unite" package from W Hotels includes car service to and from City Hall, a Flip video camera to document the nuptials, champagne, a custom wedding cake, suit press and shoe shine or a dress steaming, and, of course, a suite at one of the W Hotels in New York City. For couples desiring something more lavish, same-sex weddings held this year at W New York or W Union Square will include two free nights to honeymoon at W Retreat & Spa Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Le Parker Meridien New York is offering a pair of packages. The "Love Has No Boundaries" package includes an officiant and ceremony room, a one-hour cocktail reception with butler-passed hors d'oeuvres, a five-hour sit-down dinner, champagne toast, open bar and wedding cake, presidential suite, personalized monogram robes emblazoned with "Mr. and Mr." or "Mrs. And Mrs." The package costs US$25,000 for 100 people. Or, for US$125 per person, the "Born This Way" brunch package includesa 30-minute reception with butler-passed hors d'oeuvres; a 2.5-hour sit-down brunch, wedding cake, and a photo booth with costumes for take-away memorabilia.

Great Hotels of the World sees surge in corporate bookings

2011-06-28T17:28:00.000+05:30

John Clarke, director of sales and marketing at Great Hotels says, "Volumes have increased in key corporate cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon and Moscow which account for most of the growth we've seen. The value of each transaction has also seen an upturn to pre-recession levels.
This trend indicates the beginnings of a return to pre-recession levels for the corporate travel sector as well as the economy, with more companies investing in corporate travel. However there is always caution in the marketplace and our focus is to at least maintain current levels, if not top them."
Great Hotels has also noted additional improvements and trends to show that the business travel sector is pushing forward in 2011. The average transaction value of bookings made via Great Hotels' GW chain code has increased by 23% in 2011 in comparison to 2010, as well as the average length of stay increasing to 3.7 nights. This positive growth is expected to continue throughout beyond 2011.
Good customer service is being rated more highly with greater emphasis being placed on a real understanding of guest preferences. Travel buyers will aim to include more amenities and flexible terms in their negotiations and hoteliers need to be aware of this. Free access to the internet is the number-one rated amenity by travel buyers and most expect it to be included in the rate, along with breakfast, parking and access to a business centre.

John Clarke adds: "The successful RFP process for 2012 is just around the corner and hoteliers should expect to enter the next round of negotiations with an upper hand in pricing as ADR returns to pre-recession levels. As business travel makes a come-back, hoteliers are in a much better negotiating position than they were this time a couple of years ago. Dynamic pricing models are a great way to negotiate corporate rates as hoteliers can ensure they are not selling their corporate rate at an unacceptably low level. Hoteliers need to find a balance between the rate they charge and the amenities included in that rate."

Great Hotels of the World is exhibiting at this years' Business Travel Market in London 22-23 June, stand number 212.

Boutique Hotels Set To Grow As Investors and Operators Look To the Sector for Expansion

2011-06-28T00:54:00.000+05:30

Boutique hotels are an exciting segment of the market, particularly in London. There are new investors keen to get into the boutique sector and established operators are expanding and developing new boutique concepts, despite the high level of investment required for purchase and refurbishment."

This was the upbeat conclusion of HVS London director Tim Smith, speaking earlier today [14 June] at the inaugural Boutique Hotel Summit 2011, held at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

With a capacity audience of operators and investors, there was a lively debate on whether large hotel operators could successfully run boutique hotels. Smith argued that the large, global hotel operators could move into boutique hotels as long as they stayed true to the essence of the sector - great design, good service and individuality.

"Openings such as the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green by Singapore-based hotelier Peng Loh have created something so exciting in terms of design, the restaurant and the level of service that it has become a destination in its own right," said Smith. "Hotel Indigo near Paddington was previously an unbranded hotel that many operators tried, and failed, to convert successfully. But the boutique concept has lent itself to the building's various-sized rooms and split-levels. The hotel is now something extraordinary and is trading at a good average room rate. You would never know it was part of InterContinental."

Marriott is also expanding its boutique operations: the Berners Hotel in London's West End was bought by the company as part of its Edition Hotels brand, a joint venture with Ian Schrager. "The company has invested £60m in buying the property and a similar figure in redeveloping it. That clearly demonstrates Marriott believes in the brand, the location and the product," he said.

"The level of new entrants and investors coming into this sector shows the buoyancy of the market. It's a real shot in the arm for an industry that's had issues to overcome. These hotels represent serious investments - 10 Trinity Square cost KOP Properties an estimated £70m, £700,000 per room, while the St Ermin's cost a consortium lead by Amerimar Enterprises £60m and £30m to refurbish. These are exciting and significant purchases."

Smith's presentation concluded that the hotel market had polarised into one of large, corporate hotels and those offering something interesting and different. "Consumers are going back to demanding the level of service that the previous generation expected. We are moving back into an era of wanting quality service and the wow factor - and boutique hotels have that," he said.

"Perhaps the next generation will be boutique hotels that appeal more directly to families."

New Technology in Food & Beverage and Hospitality

2011-06-28T00:38:00.000+05:30

Technology these days is so advanced that one can do almost anything from a mobile phone, from handling banking transactions to browsing the internet. At the core of this technological revolution is the 'app', or application software. Apps are computer softwares designed to perform single tasks or multiple related specific tasks, and can be found on mobile phones such as the iPhone.

With technology the way it is, there is almost no reason for the food and beverage (F & B) and hospitality industries to fall behind. That being said, many hoteliers, restaurateurs and major airlines have stepped up and produced brilliant apps that combine form and function in simple, stylish and convenient packages.

Hoteliers lead the pack, with apps that allow guests additional comfort and convenience during their stay. Many hotels offer basic 'search and book' apps that allow users to book rooms directly from their phones. However, some have gone a step further to truly make their app an essential travel companion. The Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts Concierge app, for example, has a user-friendly interface that allows visitors to select a hotel and learn about the various activities in its city, as delivered by the hotel's concierge, including things like restaurants and daily itineraries.

Some hotels have even gone a step further, including new and unique functions and services on top of the standard features. The W Hotels app, for instance, allows guests to order room service straight from their mobile phones, as well as deliveries of other things, such as champagne, to any other W Hotel room in the world. The app also features a specially curated musical selection by the brand's Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L'Acqua, a first for a hotel brand.

Airlines are also keeping up with hotels, with some providing apps that go beyond allowing passengers to check-in and check their flight statuses. For one, Cathay Pacific has included comprehensive city guides in its app, featuring information about the sights, dining options, hotels and other useful tidbits about the traveler's city of choice. It is thus a really good travel guide, on top of being useful for flying. Other airlines, such as American Airlines and Continental, offer ways to book flights without leaving the apps themselves. Continental even includes airport maps and a currency converter in its app.

On the F&B side of things, many apps have been produced to help diners look for good restaurants in their vicinity or according to cuisine served. In Singapore, apps such as the Makansutra Eating Guide based on the popular local television series, HungryGoWhere (picutred, left) and BuUuk (pictured, right) allow users to quickly search for restaurants, and even read and submit their own reviews and ratings. These apps provide an up-to-date and convenient way for hungry diners to suss out their next delicious meal.

http://ehotelier.com/hospitality-news/item.php?id=P21152

Germ-FreeTelevision Remote Control Coming Soon

2011-06-28T00:36:00.000+05:30

DIRECTV, the world's largest pay-TV provider, is changing the way hotel guests experience their favorite movies, shows and news programs, all while removing the invisible germs usually found on TV remotes.

DIRECTV's innovative new Residential Experience for Hotels will transport the living room experience into the hotel room with more than 100 HD channels, an enhanced interactive program guide, the full residential programming lineup, and the first anti-microbial remote designed by DIRECTV specifically for the lodging and hospitality industry.

The DIRECTV Residential Experience for Hotels is currently testing in select properties across the country and will launch later this summer. The DIRECTV service delivers the programming to compact, easily hidden set-top boxes in each hotel room so that guests can enjoy the same great DIRECTV experience they get at home. Additional benefits of the system include:

Interactive program guide -- DIRECTV's co-branded interactive programming guide offers easy navigation and search functionality, just like at home. During testing, 96 percent of guests said it was easy to navigate the new DIRECTV Residential Experience guide.
Expanded HD channel offering -- Guests gain access to up to 10 times more of their favorite HD programming, with more than 100 HD channels including CNN, ESPN and HBO.
Simplified, germ-free remote -- Updated remote offers simple, intuitive design and the first anti-microbial remote designed by DIRECTV specifically for the lodging and hospitality industry.
No upfront equipment costs -- Cost-effective, scalable technology solutions to fit each property's unique needs.

"We understand consumers want the same programming diversity and ease-of-use they have at home while they're travelling, and DIRECTV's Residential Experience for Hotels will deliver those same features and benefits right into the hotel room," said Rod Keller, vice president of Commercial Sales for DIRECTV. "With approximately 20 percent of hotels currently offering HD service to their guests, we expect this new service to significantly expand the HD offering in this market with the added benefit of a sanitized remote."
DIRECTV's Residential Experience for Hotels will be introduced at the HITEC conference in Austin, Texas, which runs from June 20-23 at the Austin Convention Center. The service will be available to hoteliers across the country beginning later this summer.

DIRECTV's service for lodging and institutions provides guests with free-to-guest programming in hotels, motels, hospitals, dormitories and nursing homes with the choice of a package or an a la carte basis. DIRECTV's single-dish solution enables properties to install one mini-dish per rooftop, and if a property is already wired for video distribution, installation is that much easier. For more information on DIRECTV for hotels or other businesses, please visit directv.com/business.

About DIRECTV:

DIRECTV DTV +0.59% is the world's largest pay TV provider delivering the premiere video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to more than 29.4 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.4 million customers access to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for ten years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 10 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

http://ehotelier.com/hospitality-news/item.php?id=P21161

More Hotels Distribute iPads to Guests for Ordering Room Service and Amenities

2011-06-28T00:34:00.000+05:30

Hotel guests can now play Angry Birds and order room service without looking up from their iPad.
Hoping to generate more food and beverage sales and reduce the need for staffers, a growing number of hotels are providing the popular tablet computer to guests in their rooms.

An app, developed by Orlando-based Intelity and downloaded on the device, allows guests to order food, browse hotel amenities and local attractions, request wake-up calls, schedule housekeeping, message hotel staffers or other guests, and arrange car service. Flight information and 5-day weather are also shown, as are targeted ads based on guests' rates and preferences information.

The hotels that are providing iPads are usually upscale properties that have high-spending guests, including The Plaza in New York, Mondrian SoHo in New York, The Hilton Inn at Penn in Philadelphia and Royalton Hotel in New York.

Guests are charged for the device if they forget to return it. Some hotels have affixed the device to a desk surface to prevent theft.

Intelity has been selling the software for about two years and until now, it has been mostly delivered to smartphones (iPhone, Blackberry, Android phones) as a customized app for each hotel client. Some hotels, such as Wyndham Hotels, have installed the PC-version as the welcome page of their Wi-Fi service.
About 380 hotels nationwide currently use the software and more are coming, says David Adelson, CEO of Intelity. Wyndham has made it a brand standard, meaning all hotels are required to provide it for guests in the coming months. It's in 90% of all Wingate hotels, a Wyndham brand.

"It's a self-service vehicle," Adelson says. "Most travelers are used to self-service solutions in their daily lives and would rather prefer it."

http://ehotelier.com/hospitality-news/item.php?id=P21170

Upscale segment dominates global hotel development pipeline

2011-06-22T23:18:00.000+05:30

Most of the world's near-term hotel development is occurring in the upscale and upper-upscale chain segments, according to new pipeline data from STR Global.

In Asia Pacific, the upscale and upper-upscale segments are expected to open the most guestroom inventory during the remainder of the year, combining for 139 projects and about 38,000 guestrooms. The Luxury segment follows, with 51 projects and about 13,000 guestrooms.

Overall, the Asia Pacific hotel development pipeline comprises 1,227 hotels and 302,858 guestrooms, according to STR Global. Through April, 98 projects had opened in the region with 15,007 guestrooms. There are 324 more projects expected to open in the remainder of 2011, totaling 73,430 guestrooms. In 2012, 424 projects are planned to open with 112,060 guestrooms.

The upscale segment accounts for the largest portion of the total active pipeline in the Caribbean and Mexico, with more than a quarter of inventory in development. Three other segments make up more than 15% of the pipeline: upper-midscale (23.4%), luxury (19.9%) and unaffiliated (16.6%). During the remainder of 2011, the upscale segment is expected to have the largest added inventory in the Caribbean and Mexico, opening 2,028 guestrooms across eight projects.

Similarly, the upscale segment in Europe features the largest pipeline, with 22% of active projects. The unaffiliated and the upper-midscale segments each account for about 19%.

UK hotels see flat occupancy, higher ADR

2011-06-22T22:54:00.000+05:30

Challenging market conditions continue to affect UK provincial full-service hotels, leaving sales growth flat and profits down, while London sales and profit growth is being tempered after remarkable recovery in 2010.

"The UK provincial hotel market continues to face challenging conditions resulting in no revenue growth in 2011," says Jonathan Langston, managing director of London-based TRI Hospitality Consulting. "Combined with increasing costs, we forecast profit decline this year."

The UK provincial full-service hotel market is set for challenging market conditions as inflation and the VAT rise will continue to impact consumer spending through the rest of the year. TRI now forecasts zero growth in occupancy performance and only a marginal increase (1%) in ADR, resulting in 0.9% growth in RevPAR.
"Corporate and leisure clientele are on restricted and prudent budgets and are therefore seeking value for money," Langston says. "The growth of the budget sector combined with current market conditions has intensified competition, particularly in the midmarket sector in secondary and tertiary provincial locations. Whilst we forecast marginal growth in RevPAR performance, it is unlikely we will see a market average increase in total revenue performance for the provinces."

Tempered revenue performance combined with increasing operating costs is likely to result in continued gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) decline for full-year 2011. With many provincial hotels having already implemented cost saving efficiencies in 2009 and 2010, TRI forecasts a 4% decline in gross operating profit performance.
Nevertheless, London full-service hotels will continue to increase ADR to the leisure and commercial markets, projecting ADR growth of 3.4%, whilst occupancy will remain relatively stable given 2010's robust performance, with room for marginal growth in occupancy of 0.3 percentage points.

The continuing trend of increased commercial demand as a proportion of total market mix, and increased rate growth to all sectors, have led TRI to forecast further ADR growth of 3% in 2011 and overall RevPAR growth of 3.4%.

The timing of Ramadan in August this year is expected to affect summer demand from the Middle East. Although latest figures from Visit Britain indicate that leisure demand is forecast to remain robust as the strong growth in overseas visits from the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China, along with North America and recovering Europe countries, will sustain buoyant visitor levels to London. The continuing decline in the strength of the pound versus the euro will boost European inbound travel, but a weak U.S. dollar will temper Americans' tourism to London, even though U.S. inbound visitor levels increased by 5% in the first quarter.

Europe's average hotel rates fall in June

2011-06-22T22:25:00.000+05:30

EUROPE The hotel industry across Europe has seen room rates decline this month, with the average guestroom costing about £4 less in June than in May.

The average guestroom across Europe costs £113, according to discount OTA Trivago.com. Of the 50 markets surveyed by the OTA, 35 have seen overnight costs fall this month, and 11 of those have seen rates fall at least 10%.
Conversely, hotel prices in the UK are higher compared to last month, with several cities reaching their highest price in many months. Edinburgh, up 6% to £132, is at its highest point since August, when rates reached £178 per night. Cardiff (up 21% to £106) and Manchester (up 8% to £107) are also at their highest points since last year. Only three UK cities have experienced any significant pricing reductions in June: Liverpool (down 5% to £88), Newcastle (down 5% to £91) and Birmingham (down 7% to £73).
Europe's most expensive cities this month are Geneva (£273), Venice (£208), London (£181), Paris (£167) and Stockholm (£159).
Leisure travelers heading to major city destinations across Europe will find better deals than in previous months. In Brussels, ADR has fallen 14% to £112, while Barcelona's rates are down 10% to £123. In Istanbul, the cost of a standard double room is £126—8% less than in May.

Meet the 4 types of luxury travelers of 2012

2011-06-16T10:35:00.000+05:30

WORLDWIDE Personal relationships, value, simplicity and seamless service will be the key differentiators in the luxury travel market of the near future, according to a report commissioned by trade show organizer International Luxury Travel Market.

The report by consultancy Horwath HTL takes into consideration the impact of the global financial crisis and the rapid increase in demand for luxury from emerging markets. The report highlights four distinct profiles of luxury travelers for 2011 and 2012:
The Independent-Minded, seeking the authentic, active and personalized;
The Explorer, seeking incredible experiences at limitless budgets;
The Candidates to Luxury, seeking high quality and high service;
And the Streetwise Purchasers, who are younger and tend to be social media experts.
The emergence of demand changes indicate that today's international luxury travelers want to be entertained and stimulated rather than simply pampered. The Independent-Minded luxury traveler seeks authenticity, simplicity and a commitment to the local environment, paying greater interest in closer contact with local culture as an integral part of their travel experiences. The Explorer too is ready to pay a high price for an outstanding experience off the beaten tracks.
Emerging destinations are increasingly popular, satisfying the demand for the new and exclusive as well as reflecting local experiences. For Candidates to Luxury, time is tantamount and there is a need for all elements of their travel plans to work seamlessly. Equally important for all three of these groups is the development of the personal relationships between luxury buyers and their clients—knowledge is power, so to speak.
Streetwise Purchasers increasingly use social media in the decision-making process of travel, particularly for obtaining information and comparing rates. These travelers are seeking value for money as well as a return on their personal values.
"There is a continued recovery in and demand for luxury travel, as shown by increasing lead times and rates," says Debbie Joslin, exhibition director for International Luxury Travel Market. "The role of the luxury travel buyer and their relationship with suppliers has never been more important as the demand for high-level personalization continues to grow amongst luxury travelers."

http://www.hotelsmag.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=24207

RevPAR up 8% across Americas in April

2011-05-30T18:05:00.000+05:30

The Americas region has recorded positive results in all three key performance metrics for April, according to STR Global data.

Hotels in the Americas ended April with a 4.7% increase in occupancy to 61.2%, while ADR was up 3.3% to US$103.53 and RevPAR rose 8.1% to US$63.35.

Among the key markets in the region, Rio de Janeiro, achieved the largest occupancy increase, rising 13.1% to 77.4%, followed by Miami with a 9.5% increase to 79.8%. Two markets posted occupancy decreases of more than 5%: Toronto (down 8% to 63.4%) and Washington, D.C. (down 6% to 73.7%).

São Paulo jumped 28.4% in ADR to US$147.95, reporting the region’s largest increase in that metric. Rio de Janeiro (up 15.4% to US$207.33) and Miami (up 13.1% to US$170.73), also posted double-digit ADR increases. Washington, D.C. (down 2.9% to US$151.28) and Toronto (down 0.4% to US$138.37) reported the only ADR decreases for the month.

Three markets experienced RevPAR increases of more than 20%: São Paulo (34.4% to US$103.46), Rio de Janeiro (30.6% to US$160.48) and Miami (23.8% to US$136.25). Two markets posted RevPAR decreases: Washington, D.C (8.8% to US$111.55) and Toronto (8.4% to US$87.78).

U.S. hotel RevPAR up 8% in April

2011-05-25T23:27:00.005+05:30

The U.S. hotel industry posted increases in all three key performance measurements during April, according to data from STR.

In year-over-year measurements, the industry's occupancy was up 4.9% to 61.2%, while ADR ended the month with a 2.85 increase to US$100.55 and RevPAR rose 7.9% to US$61.51.

Though Easter—traditionally slow travel period—did have some affect on performance, the industry ended the month with positive movement. “As rates continue to rise, the gap between current levels and the peak levels of 2008 lessens, which in turn makes hoteliers more comfortable about the operating environment,” says STR President Amanda Hite. “With the summer travel season right around the corner, we expect to see even stronger performance gains across the board."

Among the top 25 U.S. markets, Houston experienced the largest occupancy increase, rising 14.8% to 64.1%. Four other markets posted occupancy increases of 10% or more: Nashville (11.2% to 65.4%), Norfolk-Virginia Beach (10.8% to 59.2%), Orlando (10.8% to 76.4%) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (10% to 64.1%). Washington, D.C., fell 6% in occupancy to 73.7%, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.

Two markets reported double-digit ADR increases: Miami (13.1% to US$170.73) and Oahu (12.2% to US$162.43). Washington, D.C., fell 2.9% in ADR to US$151.28, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.

Five markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 15%: Houston (26% to US$62.73), Miami (23.8% to US$136.25), Oahu (19.2% to US$120.20), Orlando (16.8% to US$78.08) and Nashville (16.2% to US$62.25). Washington, D.C., reported the only RevPAR decrease, falling 8.8% to US$111.55.

Global tourism up 4%, led by South America

2011-05-15T18:11:00.001+05:30

International tourist arrivals grew 4% during the first two months of 2011, consolidating the 7% rebound registered in 2010.

According to the UNWTO, growth was positive in all world subregions during January and February, with the exception of the Middle East and North Africa. South America and South Asia each posted 15% growth, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (13%) and Central and Eastern Europe (12%).

Worldwide, international tourist arrivals surpassed 124 million in the first two months of 2011, up from 119 million in the same period of 2010, with emerging economies continuing to grow at a faster pace than advanced ones, 6% compared to 4%.

Asia Pacific, the region with one of the fastest growth rates in 2010, saw its pace of growth slow to 6%. Results were better than expected for Europe (up 6%), boosted by the recovery of Central and Eastern Europe and the redistribution of travel to destinations in Southern and Mediterranean Europe due to developments in North Africa and the Middle East, which were down 9% and 10%, respectively. The Americas (up 5%) was in line with the world average, with strong results for South America and the Caribbean, but rather weaker growth in North and Central America.

“These results confirm that in spite of several challenges, the recovery of international tourism which was remarkably strong last year is consolidating,” says UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “News is especially positive for emerging economies and developing countries, particularly for Africa, where tourism is increasingly recognized as a driver of development, exports and jobs.”

According to the forecast prepared by UNWTO at the beginning of the year, international tourist arrivals are projected to increase by 4% to 5% in 2011. The impact of recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the tragic earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, are not expected to substantially affect this projected growth.

Results for Northeast Asia, North Africa and the Middle East are below initial forecasts, but destinations in Europe and South America are so far performing better than anticipated. On the whole, and as in previous similar situations, a temporary redistribution of traffic, together with an increase in intraregional travel as opposed to interregional, is likely to occur.

“Although recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East and the terrible events in Japan will affect the results of their respective regions, overall growth in international tourism should not be significantly impacted,” Rifai says. “Moreover, the fall in demand in Tunisia, Egypt and Japan is expected to have bottomed out, and the recovery of these important destinations will surely be consolidated during the year.”

US Fitness chain adds medical spa offer

2011-05-11T11:32:00.002+05:30

US-based heath and fitness chain Equinox has teamed up with medical treatment provider Spa 7 to expand the spa services at its clubs.
P> Equinox already offers a full-service destination spas at four of its clubs and the partnership with Spa 7 will see laser-based medical treatments being rolled out, beginning at its club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.

SPA 7's founder, Richard Penfil, said: "The convergence of the spa industry with the medical industry has resulted in the most effective medically approved and administered cosmetic services offered at spas."

TRENDS | Buyers check into hotel homes in Bangalore

2011-05-01T23:31:00.000+05:30

Praveen Gupta has a swanky address: 23rd floor, Four Seasons Private Residences, Bangalore. The 40-year old tech entrepreneur has booked a home that emulates the Four Seasons promise unmatched living experience.

The one-foot in and one-foot out Gupta has stayed in Four Season properties on his overseas stints. "I put the comfort of the brand as a priority before zeroing in on a branded home. I can access hotel-like services sitting at home," he said.

Gupta's hotel home comes with bespoke design features. The advantage of a living in a hotel branded residence gives him access to an array of services provided by the hotel including 24-hour concierge, valet parking and limousine and in-room dining service. Gupta will move in to his Rs 5 crore trophy home within two years.

Buyers are homing in on branded residences managed by big hospitality brands offering year round services associated with the hotel brand. Many Indians are shopping for branded residences after getting a taste of it in the US and Europe. After Trump Tower in Mumbai and Armani Residences in Delhi, Bangalore too will soon have branded homes backed by big hotel brands.

CityView, a joint venture of London-based developer Westcourt, Goldman Sachs and citybased Century Real Estate, has launched Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in North Bangalore. "Branded residences have become coveted in major world cities. The big difference is these residences are serviced by high quality operator. We undertook a comprehensive design process along with Four Seasons to create a tight integration between the Hotel and Private Residences," said Vinay Kapoor, CEO, Westcourt. The Rs 1,200 crore project will house 105 residences. These hotel homes measuring 4,000 to 6,500 sft costs anywhere from Rs 4 crore to upwards of Rs 10 crore.

Branded residences provide steady cash flows to developers from pre-sales. Since hotels take a few years to turn profitable, this is a good bet to meet the initial capital expenditure. "Branded residences as a product is sold on the strength of the associated brand and not that of the developer. It's not just hotel brands introducing branded residences; fashion brands like Armani have tied up with Lodha's for signature homes. At an individual level, renowned architect Norman Foster is planning to take up assignments in India to do such homes," said Anand Narayanan, national director, residential agency, of Knight Frank India.

In a first, Sotheby's International Realty, the real estate arm of the auction house, is marketing Four Seasons Private Residences. CityView is leveraging the equity of Sotheby's auction house to reach out to NRI buyers. "We are touring London, New York and San Francisco in June to market the property to Indians staying here. We are talking to customers visiting the auctions to market the property," said Philip Grant, project director, real estate sales and marketing, Sotheby's International Realty.

Prestige Estates Projects has tied up with Hilton Hotel to develop Hilton Residences that is expected to come in Ulsoor. The project will have 23 branded residences costing Rs 25,000 per sft, according to industry sources. Nitesh Estates is launching branded residences in Chennai, Kochi and Goa.

Endangered Hammour off the menu at Fujairah hotel

2011-05-01T23:01:00.000+05:30

Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort has removed endangered fish species such as Hammour and Kingfish from its menus in support of the Choose Wisely campaign for sustainable fishing.

The Fujairah-based resort aims to eventually remove all endangered species from its hotel menus and is actively educating its visitors about the consequences of overfishing prized species.

In addition to removing Hammour off the buffet and a la carte menu, the resort has discontinued serving other overfished fish such as the Kingfish, White Spotted Spinefoot and Sprangled Emperor. Instead, it will serve the more sustainable Orange Spotted Trevally, Two Bar Sea Bream, Pink Ear Emperor, Black Streaked Monocle Bream and Ehrenbergs Snapper.

“Choose Wisely is a great campaign that will hopefully be very popular and adopted by many,” said Pravin Bagali, executive chef at Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.

“According to recent studies, our oceans and seas will have no fish in 50 years’ time, but furthermore, certain species will disappear in the next few years," added Patrick Antaki, general manager at the resort. "It is our responsibility to future generations to ensure that we do not destroy the stock and help people become aware of this serious reversible situation.”
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Asia Pacific RevPAR up 10% despite falling occupancy

2011-05-01T21:17:00.002+05:30

Occupancy across Asia Pacific slipped during March year over year, but RevPAR is nevertheless higher thanks to a spike in ADR.

The region's occupancy fell 3.5% to 66.5% last month, while ADR jumped 13.8% to US$144.04 and RevPAR rose 9.9% to US$95.77, according to STR Global data.

For the first quarter, Asia Pacific reported a slight 0.2% drop in occupancy, to 64%. ADR rose 13.1% for the quarter to US$143.81, and RevPAR was up 12.8% to US$92.03.

"This month, we saw the impact of the earthquake, tsunami and its aftermaths on the Japanese hotel market," says Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. "Across Japan, occupancy declined 21% for the month, in addition to a slight drop in average rate. Cities in the southern parts of Japan performed better than cities closer to the affected northeastern area, as people moved farther away from the threat of radiation exposure.”

Tokyo's occupancy moved from 83% in March 2010 to 55% this year, and its ADR dropped 4%, more than the national average of down 0.1%, to ¥14,181. Osaka's occupancy dropped 2.8% to 81%, and its ADR increased 10% to ¥12,083. In the city of Sendai, where STR Global usually tracks the performance of nine hotels, three properties have closed and the March performance of six reporting hotels showed a decline of 23% in RevPAR.

Elsewhere in the region, Bangkok increased occupancy 10% to 67.8%, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Jakarta, with a 6% increase to 71.9%.

Five markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: Hong Kong (up 28.2% to HK$2,062.02), Jakarta (up 14.5% to 809,282.30 rupiah), Bali (up 12.8% to 1,092,414.91 rupiah), Beijing (up 10.3% to 698.32 yuan) and Seoul (up 10% to 193,755.16 won).

Hong Kong jumped 33.2% in RevPAR to HK$1,790.77, followed by Jakarta, with a 21.4% increase to 582,069.77 rupiah.

Chinese tourism set to become world's second-most influential

2011-04-30T23:15:00.000+05:30

China's massive - and rapidly growing - tourism market is expected to overtake Japan as the world's second-largest by 2013 and then account for 14 percent of the global market by 2020.

A report released this week by the Boston Consulting Group (http://www.bcg.com) estimates the Chinese domestic and international tourism market will grow by 14 percent annually and will be worth a staggering 5.5 trillion yuan (592 billion euro) by 2020.

Currently China accounts for around six percent of global tourism and, as visa access eases and the Chinese economy continues its expected growth, that figure is expected to grow considerably over the next decade.

Japan is expected to by 2010 account for six percent of the world tourism market while the United States will still account for an estimated 25 percent.

BCG estimates that China will contribute around 25 percent of all travelers heading to Japan and South Korea by 2020, while the nation will be responsible for more than half of "new arrivals" to Europe by then.

As it stands now, the majority of Chinese's estimated 55 million annual outbound tourists head to relatively close-by destinations such as Hong Kong (22.7 million Chinese visitors per year) but the growing trend sees Chinese looking further afield, according to BCG.

The report noted that Chinese travelers were more likely than Americans to take trips of six-plus days (45 percent compared to 23 percent) and more likely to travels in groups of five people or more (26 percent compared to 13 percent).

BCG quizzed more than 4,000 Chinese travelers - from the inbound, outbound, leisure and business market - across 15 cities in compiling their report, "Taking Off: Travel and Tourism in China and Beyond."

"There will be an average of 25 million first-time Chinese travelers every year, or 70,000 every day," for the next 10 years," BCG's Hong Kong-based partner Vincent Lui told the state-run China Daily newspaper.

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