hotels articles

THE ACHIEVEMENTS of Asia’s leading business hotels will once again be in the spotlight this year, with the Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards (BBHIA) kicking off for 2002.

The Awards, now in their fifth year, have become widely recognised as the leading event in the industry calendar, with hotels around the region praising the Awards concept. This year’s gala Awards ceremony will be held on 3 September in the luxurious confines of last year’s winner of the Best Business Hotel in Asia category — The Portman Ritz Carlton, Shanghai.

General manager of the Portman Ritz Carlton Mark DeCocinis describes the BBHIA awards as the “Oscars of the hotel industry”.

“This is a significant recognition of our business, to be voted the best by the viewers of Bloomberg TV, readers of Business Asia and most importantly our loyal business travellers in Asia,” he said.

DeCocinis says winning the 2001 Award has contributed to the hotel’s success, with revenues and profit exceeding the previous year by over 20 per cent.

His sentiments are echoed by 2001 Best Business Hotel in Thailand winner Le Royal Meridien, Bangkok, whose director of marketing and sales Greg Anderson says awards that reflect consumer endorsement are very important.

“They allow hotels to better understand if they’re meeting consumer sentiment and expectation,” he said.

Anderson said this recognition by consumers offered credibility, proved by the fact that many new customers cited the award as the reason for switching from other hotels. Last year, more than 10,000 votes were lodged and more are expected this year.

Helmut Gaisberger, general manager of the Mandarin Oriental, Manila, says that winning the Best Business Hotel in the Philippines for two years running has been a great motivational force for employees.

“Because the awards generally reflect the quality of service rendered by the hotel staff, it represents a tangible and valuable recognition which speaks well of them and the work they do. It also serves to inspire them to live up to the guests’ expectations and therefore contributes towards maintaining, if not elevating the standard of service,” says Gaisberger. Anderson agrees, saying employee pride is a valuable asset for any hotel.

Silicon Valley’s first boutique hotel has opened to cater to the dotcom business traveler. Hotel Avante (860 El Camino Real; 800-538-1600; ) in Mountain View, California. has 91 guest rooms and suites with high-speed Internet access, an executive toy box (a Slinky, an Etch-A-Sketch, a Rubik’s Cube), three hi-fi lounges, and a CD and DVD library. Rates are $235 nightly during the week and $125 nightly on the weekends. * The 26th Annual Bermuda Festival 441-292-8572: www.bermudafestival.com), January 11-February 24, is packed with music, drama, and dance events, including a tribute to Paul Robeson. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students 18 and under. * Learn the history of the Seminole tribe, which includes many black Indians, at the Annual Tribal Festival and Powwow in Hollywood, Florida, February 8-11. For venue and ticket info, call 954-966-6300. * Visit the private island of Cayo Espanto in Belize. There are only five oceanfront villas (complete with a full-time butler) on the island. Vacationers can golf on a nearby island or fish or scuba dive on the second largest barrier reef in the world, which is only 15 minutes away. Rates are $695-$2,250 per night. You can even rent the entire island.

Dallas-based hotel operator Wyndham International, Inc. recently sold its Mayfair Hotel in St. Louis to a Black-owned enterprise led by St. Louis businessmen Michael V. Roberts and Steven C. Roberts.

Under the purchase agreement, the Mayfair will remain in Wyndham’s portfolio through a 10-year management contract with the new owner, Roberts Mayfair Hotel, LLC. The deal marks Wyndham’s first partnership with a minority owner.

Located in downtown St. Louis, the 182-room Mayfair has more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space and features a swimming pool, a fitness center and restaurant. The hotel, which opened in 1925, unveiled the first rooftop swimming pool in 1961.

Founded by Michael V. Roberts and Steven C. Roberts, the Roberts Companies, a multi-faceted enterprise, is regarded as one of the top Black-owned businesses in the United States. The Roberts Companies comprises an aviation company, television broadcasting properties, a wireless communications company, real estate development entities, a construction management firm and most recently, Roberts Hotels, LLC, which will be the managing member of Roberts Mayfair Hotel, LLC.

Linked to the prestigious Starhill Centre, the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, is minutes away from internationally acclaimed retail stores. The hotel itself offers 518 guest rooms and 13 flexible meeting room options. These include the Mayangsari Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1200 people. Supporting the meeting facilities is a business centre which offers a full range of secretarial services. Five food and beverage outlets are available, including the only Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that specialises in Shanghainese cuisine. For relaxing, a fitness centre and spa are on hand.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Enjoying a prime location in the heart of the city, the Mandarin Oriental is close to both leisure and business in Kuala Lumpur. Aimed at providing a residential feel, the 643 guestrooms feature all the expected luxuries, as well as in-room technology required by the business traveller. In terms of events, the hotel boasts the largest pillar-less ballroom in the city, which can accommodate up to 1800 guests for a sit down dinner. 16 function rooms are also available, as well as a fully equipped business centre.
Situated 10 minutes from the Petronas Twin Towers, the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur is a club-like boutique hotel with 219 guest rooms and 29 suites. The rooms are large and decorated in traditional Ritz-Carlton style, including 19th and early 20th century genre artwork. Meetings, conferences and intimate events can take place in one of three meeting rooms, or one of three restaurants, with a maximum capacity of 120 persons. Support services are available to assist with such events, including a business centre, technology butler, security services and entertainment. A comprehensive health club and 24-hour gym is available for those who need time out from the work environment.

So you know you’re going on vacation. You know you need to find a good hotel that isn’t going to break the bank. You figure that you can use the internet to find that perfect hotel choice, but what’s the best way to go about finding it online? Read on for some tips for making your online research most profitable.

In the first place, I am assuming you’ve chosen a destination for your vacation. Unless the price of the hotel will be one of the factors that will help you choose between two vacation alternatives, you’ll most likely know where you are going. With this information, you’ll want to start your search at one of the main search engines online. Your choices will be either Google, Yahoo or MSN.

The most basic hotel search you could do would be to enter your destination along with either the keyword hotel or motel. So if you are going to Orlando, Florida, you’d enter a search like ‘Orlando Florida Hotel’. This kind of search will give you a list of websites that either are hotels or are listing hotels worth checking out.

When making a search, it is important to be creative with your keyword selections. Instead of simply typing in something like ‘Orlando Florida Hotel’, you will want to try other combinations. One good way to get a quality list of hotels is to type in the name of some of the attractions you plan on visiting in the city you’ve chosen. To continue with our example of Orlando, you could use ‘Universal Studios Orlando Hotel’. This will help you to find listings that are near Universal Studios.

Don’t be afraid of using Hotel directories to help you scope out a good potential match. For our example city, using an Orlando hotel directory could yield just the right hotel for your needs. Many of these directories include either reviews and maps on their site or easy to find links to these kinds of resources.

Finally, when doing searches with a search engine, try to think of different ways you can say the same thing. Don’t just search for Orlando hotel but search for Orlando motel, Orlando accommodation, Orlando vacation spot and so on. Substitute your intended city destination for Orlando in these example.

Using these techniques and a little time to explore the hotel websites, there is no reason that you can’t find that perfect hotel at the price you expect.

When it comes to choosing a hotel for your vacation, it often becomes an issue of low cost and convenient location. More often than not, particularly when traveling to major tourist areas with popular attractions, the closer the lodging is to the destination or attraction, the more expensive it will be. That is why the best way to save money on lodging is to stay in an outlying area.

Unfortunately, this might mean that you will spend more time driving to your destinations, which inevitably means more money spent on gasoline. It is important to asses all of the factors in order to make sure that staying in more distant hotel will really cost you less money.

There are several ways to save money on lodging without compromising the quality of your accommodations. For example, paying for a membership in AAA or a similar auto club also provides you with discounts on hotel rooms, as does being a member of the military or being a senior citizen. When booking a hotel room, make sure you ask about discounts that may be available.

Another tip for finding lower cost lodging is to try shopping early for your hotel room. Often, hotels will reserve a block of lower-priced rooms, available on a first come, first serve basis. Getting the best lodging deal is often based on timing and planning ahead.

Saving money on a hotel room means next to nothing if the place is a pigsty, or unsafe. Shopping for a budget hotel does not mean you have to settle for a hotel that is dirty, poorly run or in a dangerous area.

Fortunately, the Internet makes it so easy to find great deals on quality budget hotels. The Internet cuts the time it takes to research lodging down to a fraction of what it used to take. Most hotels, even budget properties, have websites and feature photos of the property, rooms, and the surrounding area. It has never been easier to research the lodging that you are considering, especially if you have never stayed there before.

Don’t forget to research the area in which the hotel is located also. Be sure to check out things like restaurants and attractions within walking distance of the hotel. Amenities, especially on vacation, are important.

On the Internet there are a number of review sites available where those who have stayed in various hotels can share their experiences and their opinions of the hotels. These review sites are invaluable for travelers, especially if you are going to a place for the first time.

In addition, the Internet hosts a number of travel web sites where travelers and tourists can locate and compare lodging based on their particular need, such as for their individual dates of stay and destinations. These web sites provide several ways to search, including distance from an attraction, price, and star level. The only thing that you need to bear in mind when using such a web site is that comparison web sites only showcase properties that pay a fee, so using a particular site does not necessarily ensure the best price for your trip. For locating the best deals online, it is best to refer to several web sites in order to get a real idea of the lowest prices available.

On January 16th 2006 the new Radisson SAS EU Hotel will open its doors in the heart of Brussels. Conveniently located in the heart of the European area, the newly built four-star Radisson SAS EU Hotel offers fantastic design and first class service throughout.Located immediately behind the European Parliament and Schumann area, the hotel is within walking distance of one of the main shopping districts, the exclusive “Avenue Louise” area.

The new Radisson SAS EU Hotel has 149 luxurious rooms and suites with three different room styles to suit all tastes. Designed by the renowned interior designer Matteo Thun, Fresh, Chic and Fashion range from warm, contemporary and classic to daring and unconventional – combined with an unforgettable, awe-inspiring panoramic view, there is a room to suit every guest. The trendy Willards Restaurant and Bar, named after the infamous diplomatic Willards restaurant in Washington DC, will serve international specialties alongside cocktails and unique selections of wine by the glass. Furthermore the hotel offers six fully equipped meeting rooms with capacity for up to 130 delegates. Guests will have access to the fitness club with sauna, and free broadband including high-speed and wireless Internet access, which is available throughout the hotel.

Nicolas Meylan, General Manager Radisson SAS EU Hotel comments: “Located in the heart of the European business area, during weekdays the Radisson SAS EU Hotel will mainly focus on European and corporate business travellers, whilst at weekends it will offer a pleasant and welcoming place to stay for tourists.”

Radisson SAS in Belgium

Today Rezidor SAS manages five hotels in Belgium under the Radisson SAS brand: the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Brussels, the Radisson SAS Park Lane Hotel in Antwerp, the Radisson SAS Balmoral Hotel and the Radisson SAS Palace Hotel, both in Spa en most recently opened, the new Radisson SAS Hotel in Hasselt.

Jurys Croke Park Hotel was officially opened on 21st November by Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The opening was a realisation of the Jurys Doyle Group’s aim to meet fully the needs of the business traveller while at the same time catering for a large leisure segment.Located in Dublin city the hotel has great new concepts, which are hugely attractive to both market segments, and its official opening signals a new dynamic in the Dublin hotel market.

“The new Croke Park Hotel will bridge the gap between home, office and work by providing exceptional bedrooms and bathrooms, fresh healthy food, lively bars and meetings that really work. – So says Niall Geoghegan, Director of Marketing and Sales, Jurys Doyle Hotel Group.

Upon entering the hotel its’ contemporary feel and visionary outlook is tangible as is the great atmosphere that any leisure property located in a city should provide. Jurys Croke Park Hotel’s long, and what some might consider extravagant, list of features quickly convey how this is achieved.

The bedrooms – standard and executive, carry the physicality of the Rejuvenate Brand, which was launched this year. This translates into very definite positives for guests.
Rejuvenate Bathrooms: include separate bath and power shower units, under floor heating, excellent lighting, the fluffy towels and Judith Jackson aromatherapy amenities.
Rejuvenate Bed: a particular formula, that includes duvets, equating to a great nights sleep.

Rejuvenate entertainment: includes broadband, a 25-inch wide screen TV with movies on demand; numerous channels, mini entertainment system with CD and remote control and an extensive CD library available from the front desk. The TV also acts as a check out facility.
Sound insulated windows: guests can enjoy a central location without the drawback of the additional noise.

Features, which are sure to be appreciated a little more by the business guest, include The Executive lounge & library Desk and chair designed with the two key concepts back-support and comfort.

Meeting Facilities: Business centre, three meeting rooms, a separate reception and break out area, state of the art technology and innovative refreshments – as well as express lunches.

Business Coach: available to deliver clients to business and industrial parks in the area.

Hotel Manager Edward Stevenson says this “Opening the hotel has been an invigorating experience. The additional thought and expenditure invested in the facilities has been really well received and commented on time and time again. Jurys Doyle Sales Managers themselves say they’ve had their best night sleep here - and they’re our biggest critic”.

The hotel enjoys an advantageous location next to Croke Park Stadium, which has impressive conference facilities. The atmosphere at the hotel increases ten fold on match days. Helped of course by a great bar area – The Sideline Bar, large screen and open fire which heats things up. The Sideline Bistro serves tempting food and is used by guests, local business and the community. The sumptuous food and open plan kitchen are two key talking points.

The opening of Jurys Croke Park Hotel signals the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one as it secures a key segment in the Dublin hotel market. Much of the growth will be organic with the hotels’ concepts and facilities meeting the demands of a large segment of the business and leisure market. The opening will surely make competitors sit up and review what is on offer.

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The UK travel sites HolidayDeals.com and LateRooms.com, which represents hotels and property owners worldwide, have signed a worldwide hotel deal.

Under the agreement Holiday Deals will offer over 250,000 discount, late availability rooms from LateRooms on its web site at http://www.holidaydeals.com. In addition Holiday Deals will promote LateRooms’ Holiday Properties service, featuring over 50,000 flats, villas and holiday apartments.

Fuelled by record visitor volume, a thriving economy and significant additions to the tourism product, New York City is adding nearly 5,000 new hotel rooms to its current inventory of 70,723 by the end of 2007.

Hoteliers are developing properties that represent exciting new trends in New York City’s hotel product, such as chic budget, sophisticated boutique and comfortable value-priced hotels.

Development patterns show the strength of downtown Manhattan, Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens as visitor destinations, with 18 properties slated for construction or renovation in these areas.

In addition to new properties from the Marriott, Hilton and Starwood brands, celebrity hoteliers including Andre Balazs (The Standard), Ian Schraeger (Gramercy Park Hotel), Jason Pomeranc (6 Columbus Circle and to be named Allen Street), Vikram Chatwal (The Night Hotel) and Robert De Niro (The Down town Hotel) are investing in New York’s tourism product.

The City is expected to close 2005 with an 87% occupancy rate and 22 million room nights booked, an increase of one million over 2004.

“Many of the new properties, in diverse locations such as Staten Island, TriBeCa, the Lower East Side, Queens and Harlem, will anchor the start of economic and business development in these exciting new neighborhood destinations and will introduce global visitors to new experiences in the Big Apple,” said Cristyne L. Nicholas, president and CEO of NYC & Company.

Tourism is a powerful economic engine for New York City that generates $21 billion in direct spending, $12 billion in wages and $5 billion in city, state and federal tax revenues. New York City welcomed nearly 40 million visitors in 2004, whose spending helped support over 300,000 jobs in all five boroughs.

Among the new hotels under development right now are the following properites:

Blue Moon Hotel, containing 22 suites at 100 Orchard St., will be Manhattan’s only kosher hotel. The property will be located in a beautifully restored tenement building and will open in 2005.

The Hampton Inn Manhattan/Seaport at 320 Pearl St. will contain 65 rooms and open in December of 2005.

Vikram Chatwal’s The Night Hotel will contain 72 rooms at 132 W. 45 th St. and will also open in December of this year.

The first New York Residence Inn by Marriott, at West 39th Street and Avenue of the Americas, will be an extended stay, 357-suite hotel and will be built as part of the Bryant Park Tower.

The Courtyard by Marriott, at 410 E. 92nd St., will contain 210 rooms and 16 suites and is scheduled to open in early 2006.