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  • HPL Hotels & Resorts takes over at Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

    HPL Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Hotel Properties and operator of hospitality establishments during the Asia-Pacific region, has confirmed it has taken over management of Soneva Gili, Maldives.

    Assuring fans of the resort will probably be “business as usual”, HPL was quick to emphasize its plans for the resort are restricted to re-branding it as Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives and minor enhancements going forward.

    “Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives will complement the present HPL portfolio of hotels,” said Stephen Lau, chairman, HPL Hotels & Resorts.

    “We intend to maintain the spirit of the resort accordingly; guests booked after the change in management could be assured that the terms and prerequisites in their reservations will remain unchanged.

    “And the Gili Lankanfushi team looks forward to welcoming them to our island paradise within the Maldives.”

    Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives is positioned as an upmarket boutique resort that stands on the forefront of the eco-luxury sector and acts as a benchmark for luxury resorts.

    The environmentally-sensitive resort is hidden away on Lankanfushi Island, in a lagoon at the North Malé Atoll. All of its 45 over-water villas, crafted in a standard style from natural materials, reflect the harmony of life by the water’s edge.

    For ultimate privacy, guests can stay in a single of the seven Crusoe Residences or the non-public Reserve, accessible only by personal boat. All villas at this luxurious island resort offer a non-public water garden, outdoor bathroom, and roof-top terrace and over-water sundecks.

    The interiors recreate a natural habitat, using sustainable woods, natural materials and standard fabrics, while still offering the entire modern amenities and providing the relief of true luxury.

    “As an eco-sensitive resort, we’re committed to the foundations of environmental sustainability, which plays a huge part in Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives corporate philosophy,” said Iain McCormack, general manager of Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

    “We’ve tailored the operations of the resort around this philosophy.”

    McCormack added: “We have on staff a marine biologist, who’s accountable for several ecological conservation programmes with regards to the sea.

    We also maintain our own organic herb and vegetable garden, which supplies fresh and native ingredients utilized in the resort’s kitchens. An active recycling program of using waste for building materials is practiced.”

    Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives’ corporate responsibility extends beyond the resort’s perimeter in addition, with several programs currently active and may be continued following the name change.

    Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives marks the parent company – Hotel Properties – fifth property inside the Maldives. The opposite properties in the group are Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru; Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma; and Rihiveli Beach Resort.

    More Information

    Headquartered in Singapore, HPL Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality management company, operated and wholly-owned by Hotel Properties, a Singapore main-board listed company.

    HPL Hotels & Resorts manages the activities of twelve hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

    These include Concorde Hotel Singapore, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Concorde Hotel Shah Alam, Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Casa del Mar – Langkawi, The Lakehouse – Cameron Highlands, Casa del Rio – Melaka, Rihiveli Beach Resort Maldives and Gili Lankanfushi Maldives.

    For additional information visit the official website.

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  • News: JW Marriott Pune opens in India after conversion

    A brand that epitomises the hospitality favourite of lifestyle and business travelers, Pune Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre forayed right into a new chapter because it converted to JW Marriott Hotel Pune.

    This historic business hotel in Pune is not just the primary JW Marriott within the city and the 3rd inside the country, but in addition the primary Marriott property within the Asia Pacific region to undergo a conversion. Nestled within the heart of town, JW Marriott Hotel Pune opened doors to its patrons welcoming them to comprehend and be part of the emblem change.

    The spectacular conversion launch saw the presence of Mr.Rajeev Menon, Area Vice chairman, South Asia. “We are happy to announce the conversion of Pune Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre to a JW Marriott property,” said Menon. “The property always reflected luxury with world-class amenities and style which might be significant to a JW Marriott brand. The hotel, which was the 500th Marriott property, was a HALO hotel under the Marriott portfolio. Throughout the 2.5 years of its functioning the hotel has managed to effortlessly seam its well beyond the MHRS brand guidelines, thus proving to be a befitting choice for a JW conversion. This alteration will see Marriott International come together in order for we surpass the hotels hospitality touchpoints making it more luxury driven, promising and opulent.”

    General Manager of JW Marriott Pune Jatin Khanna said, “JW Marriott Pune celebrates constant innovation and could continue to supply to town of Pune a lifetime of elegance. The hotel that could be a wedding, lifestyle and F&B destination will see the introduction of assorted luxury touchpoints over the following year. The spa and restaurants will see gradual changes to their overall hospitality and dining experience.”

    The unveiling of the intense Griffin marked the highlight of the launch evening, a musical Broadway themed event. An extravagant party that saw the glitterati of town in attendance followed the revealing. The development marked a milestone inside the hotel’s success story, with the likes of Chairman and MD Panchsil, and Owner of JW Marriott Pune, Mr. Atul Chordia and his wife Varsha Chordia in attendance.

    World-renowned dancer, singer and choreographer Shiamak Davar and his troupe presented the guests with a Broadway musical that left the audience captivated.

    As the crown to the city’s skyline, this JW Marriott 5 star hotel in Pune will aim at providing its patrons with relaxed elegance and effortless luxury. It’s here that luxury could be experienced during the richness of authenticity, discovered within the fantastic thing about craftsmanship and delivered with an intuitive response to private expectation.

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  • AHIF organiser welcomes pro-tourism government in Kenya

    Organisers of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum and other leaders of the hotel investment community have welcomed the recent pro-tourism administration in Kenya, hot at the heels of the announcement by the president of several ministerial candidates.

    The new government stood for election with tourism highlighted in its manifesto and because Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration, commitments has been made to extend the intensity of Kenya’s tourism marketing activity, to double the variety of tourists to 3 million a year and to supply incentives to encourage investment in tourist accommodation.

    According to the realm Travel & Tourism Council, the entire contribution of tourism to Kenya’s GDP in 2012 was KES448.4bn, 12.5 per cent of the whole.

    The figure is forecast to rise by 2.2 per cent in 2013 and to rise by 4.5 per cent every year over a better decade to KES714.8bn in 2023.

    Phyllis Jepkosgei Kandie have been nominated because the new cabinet secretary for commerce and tourism, with useful experience to attract on from a career that has embraced banking and enterprise promotion.

    She also has academic qualifications in business and economics.

    Improved transport infrastructure can also be high at the new government’s agenda.

    Michael Kamau, a prominent civil engineer and a key architect of the infrastructure upgrade within the last ten years, have been proposed because the cabinet secretary accountable for constructing a sequence of commuter railway networks in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, including a link to Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

    One gathering with a view to have a touching on the velocity of tourism growth might be AHIF 2013, which happens in Nairobi on September 24th-25th.

    It brings together the leading international hotel investors in Africa with local operators, ministers, government officials and industry experts, who will discuss all aspects of hotel investment and operation in Africa.

    In 2012, the development attracted 426 delegates from 38 countries who represented 310 organisations. Several networking contacts made at AHIF have since led to promising new business relationships and the development attracted considerable media attention, with around 100 reports appearing inside the Kenyan media and world wide.

    Jonathan Worsley, chairman of AHIF organiser Bench Events, said: “The pro-tourism stance of the recent Kenyan government is evidently increasing the country’s investment appeal and the proactive nature of the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation is an element too.

    “Even though there has been pressure to stage AHIF 2013 in another African city this year, it made a powerful and successful case to maintain the development in Nairobi.”

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  • News: ILTM Asia profiles luxury travel trends for 2014

    Luxury travel buyers and agents from around the Asia Pacific will meet on the 7th edition of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Asia in Shanghai in June to view almost 500 of the newest travel experiences from 70 countries internationally and exclusively identify next year’s travel trends for his or her clients.

    The World Tourism Organisation recently reported that Asia still leads the realm in global tourism. China has also revealed double-digit growth in outbound travel in 2012 creating a record 83 million trips abroad, 20 percent greater than in 2011. Additionally they spent more abroad with a 42 percent increase from 2011 and a 5-fold increase from a decade earlier.

    Alison Gilmore, ILTM Asia Exhibition Director commented: “ILTM events are trade-only hubs created exclusively to develop the business of bespoke luxury travel. Agents and buyers attending ILTM Asia from around the region could have the chance to verify they’re prior to the sport in meeting their clients’ increasing demands during 3 days of face-to-face pre-scheduled appointments, educational seminars, and business networking.”

    The demand for a better choice in elite travel from across Asia has encouraged a various range of international exhibitors at ILTM Asia 2013. Cruise continues to grow in representation on the event with niche specialists equivalent to Poseidon Expeditions offering exclusive icebreaker cruises within the North Pole and South East Asia Exotic Cruise’s Indonesian cruise joining established experts Silversea Cruises, Orion Expeditions, Sea Dream Yacht Club, and Aqua Expeditions.

    Expanding their Asia profile, Orient Express announced last year that it’ll launch a second new river cruiser in Myanmar, to commence cruising in July 2013. The 50-guest ship Orcaella, will offer a set of cruises giving passengers access to the very heart of this beguiling country.

    Ms. Gilmore continued: “There is an increased presence of both boutique and family-orientated hotels across Asia and beyond at this year’s ILTM Asia. Aiming to draw a younger generation of high-net-worth travelers, these hotels are usually situated in areas of wealthy historical or architectural interest, with a high level of personalized service.“

    Small Luxury Hotels will profile Sheng He Club Nantong, Wu Zhen Club House, and Tengchong Hot Spring – all located in 2nd or 3rd tier cities within China, in addition to the Hotel Eclat Beijng, which opened in March. Other examples include Aman Resorts’ Hangzhou Amanfayun has sections dating back to the 1800s and is surrounded by tea fields and bamboo groves and the hot 69-room Capella Washington within the US.

    Within the Four Seasons portfolio, the George V in Paris is likely one of the city’s most prestigious landmark hotels and is increasingly recognized for its commitment to families. A dedicated recreation manager is out there to arrange child-friendly experiences inclusive of “biscuit baking” with the chef and behind the curtain tours.

    Founded on a strict qualification process for both buyers and exhibitors, the invitation-only ILTM Asia 2013 hosts buyers from across Asia including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, and Australia. Business appointments are pre-scheduled, matching mutual requests from buyers and exhibitors alike to fulfill on a strict one-to-one ratio to construct relationships and business communities.

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  • News: Cruise Line cocktails go world class

    Diageo Global Travel and Middle East(GTME) today announced a brand new 2013 partnership with Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to deliver an on-board cocktail training program, as portion of one in all world’s most prestigious mixology competitions – DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS.

    Over 400 cruise line bartenders can be trained in progressive cocktail trends and pitted against one another, in a chain of heats. A cruise line finalist will then go forward to participate within the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year final, competing alongside bar tenders from the four corners of the globe.

    Bartenders could be trained in innovative cocktail-making trends along with ‘Retro Chic,’ ‘Tropical Journey,’ and ‘Hollywood Bollywood Hong Kong,’ balancing a spirit of old skool glamour with concoctions along with the ‘Casino Royale.’ They are going to even be coached to develop creativity and showmanship in DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS, the drinks industry’s largest and most credible investment in luxury drinking experiences.

    Launched in 2009, DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS operates in 50 countries and has inspired and educated over 15,000 bartenders from world wide, using the best spirits from the Diageo Reserve collection. This year’s global final can be held aboard a boutique cruise liner within the Mediterranean Sea[1] – highlighting the increasing importance of the cruise channel in cocktail culture.
    Following a successful pioneering partnership with Princess Cruises last year, Norwegian Cruise Lines is welcomed to this system for 2013, placing both on the forefront of mixology trends.

    Philip Duff , expert mixologist at Liquid Solutions is leading the educational: “We are thrilled to be working with Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to immerse their bartenders in innovative cocktail trends. By equipping the ships’ bartenders with these progressive skills we’re all helping to bring a special fine drinking environment to cruise passengers internationally.”

    Louise Higgins , Marketing Director, GTME Americas, said: “We are delighted to be investing in and expanding this system this year to welcome Norwegian Cruise Line on-board. Last year Princess Cruises was our first partner in WORLD CLASS. Both are renowned for his or her best-in-class bartenders. By participating in what’s one of many world’s most credible cocktail competitions, these bartenders will take their cocktail making skills to new levels and hone their excellent customer support skills – all to the good thing about guests who will enjoy their innovative creations within the luxury setting of the cruise liners.”

    Peter Tobler , Vp, Food and Beverage Operations, Princess Cruises said: “Based at the huge success of worldwide CLASS last year, we’re delighted to be back for a second year. Certainly one of our bartenders reached the worldwide final last year in Rio de Janeiro and we hope to recreate this success in 2013. We believe this partnership with Diageo GTME will further excite our cruise passengers and make their fine drinking experience on-board our ships much more memorable. WORLD CLASS isn’t just about showcasing the world’s best bartenders, it’s about inspiring them to be pioneers within the innovative and ever-changing cocktail arena. We’re delighted that we’ll have the ability to treat our passengers to a winning combination of the world’s finest luxury spirits and the newest trends in mixology.”

    Wesley Cort , Director of Restaurant & Beverage Development and Operations for Norwegian Cruise Line, said: “Introducing our bartending talent to DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS will take the standard of our guest service to new levels of excellence. Our guests are searhing for luxury experiences and the best spirits while on vacation. This program may also help our bar team to augment those experiences with expanded knowledge of premium spirits, fresh ideas for cocktails and a capability to entertain our guests.”

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