Best Holiday Lettings

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  • Starwood Hotels concludes month-long immersion in Dubai

    Marking the realization of Starwood’s month-long relocation to Dubai, Frits van Paasschen, President & CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has shared highlights and insights from the company’s immersion within the Middle East.

    Throughout the month of March, van Paasschen and members of Starwood’s Senior Leadership Team met with 3,000 associates, conducted nearly 50 owner meetings and visited all 14 Starwood hotels in Dubai, that’s the company’s second largest hotel market behind only Ny city. The team also took benefit of Dubai’s strategic location to travel to 19 cities across 12 countries, meeting with government officials and potential development partners in fast-growing markets, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and India. Through the five-week relocation, the team travelled 61,000 kilometres (38,000 miles) – the equivalent of circling the globe one and half times.

    Over the process the month, greater than 200 of Starwood’s senior leaders and General Managers travelled to Dubai because the company ran day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and an eight-hour time zone difference clear of the company’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

    During the relocation, Starwood executives also met with greater than 150 corporate and leisure customers who drive business to hotels globally. The center East is an increasingly important outbound travel market, and regional membership in Starwood Preferred Guest, the company’s loyalty program, has increased 140% during the last five years.

    “It is tough to overstate the potential of our business on this region of the sector. By bringing our executives here and spending time with our partners and native teams, we’re uniquely positioned to use this once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity,” said van Paasschen. “I haven’t any doubt that our time spent here will drive future hotel contracts within the region, accelerate Starwood’s position because the most global high-end hotel company and additional define our culture.”

    Last month Starwood announced that it’ll increase its Middle East and Africa (MEA) portfolio by greater than 60 percent with nearly 50 new hotels set to open over a better five years, adding greater than 14,000 guest rooms to the region and creating thousands of local employment opportunities. With 82 operating hotels and over 20 hotels expected to open by the tip of 2015, Starwood is heading in the right direction to arrive a milestone 100 hotels across MEA.

    “With 80 percent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it’s important for us to stay on the forefront of latest travel demands and changing travel patterns,” said Simon Turner, President of worldwide Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “The Middle East is experiencing rapid economic growth, a growing middle class and ever greater global connectivity, and the Dubai relocation may help us expand all of our brands across this crucial region.”

    The company also announced a comprehensive renovation strategy for its Le Méridien brand, for which Starwood and its ownership groups will invest greater than $200 million within the renovations of 13 hotels and resorts within the MEA region over the following 3 years.

    Following the company’s successful relocation to China in June 2011, this second leadership move reflects Starwood’s innovative management method to cultivating a more global culture by understanding, appreciating and leveraging different societal and associate perspectives and approaches to business and hospitality.

  • News: Steigenberger Cruise Ships launched

    The Steigenberger Omar El Khayam is the jewel within the crown of Steigenberger’s new fleet of cruise ships. It has no fewer than 80 cabins, including 68 double cabins, four Royal Suites and 8 Grand Suites. Accommodation sizes are 24 m², 35 m², 25 m² or 70 m² dependent on category. All cabins are equipped with their very own balcony and have large panoramic sliding windows offering views out over the Nile. Passengers also benefit from the use of bogs with both bathtub and shower and video channels broadcast by the ship’s own satellite reception system. Individually adjustable aircon systems has been installed in all of the rooms. The cabins and suites are decorated in bright shades of cream and beige brown whilst dark wood fixtures and deep red colour details combine to create an opulent atmosphere. The primary restaurant on board, “Abu Nawas”, serves up first-class gourmet cuisine. Guests might also relax inside the lounge bars “Bashawat” and “Mamlouk”. The sun terrace of the six-storey ship has a swimming pool, a whirlpool and a pool bar. an additional whirlpool are available within the on-board Cleopatra Spa, which also incorporates a modern gym and 3 separate massage rooms.

    The Steigenberger Legacy and Steigenberger Minerva are both new Nile cruise ships within the fleet. Both extend over five storeys and feature two luxury suites in addition to offering 74 and 75 double cabins respectively. Accommodation is arranged around the lower four decks of the liners. Room decorations feature the identical cream and beige hues, deep red colour highlights and dark woods found at the Omar El Khayam, the latter two aspects reflecting the average oriental flair of Egypt. All cabins have individually adjustable aircon, satellite reception, on-board video channels, a minibar, a secure and personal bathrooms. The Steigenberger Legacy and the Steigenberger Minerva also are capable of fulfil any culinary requirement passengers may need. The menus typically restaurants on both vessels include everything from regional dishes to international specialities and offer something for everybody. There are fresh water pools, these being located at the top decks of the ships at the side of a pool bar and a sun terrace relating to both liners.

    The Steigenberger Minerva and the Steigenberger Legacy travel the River Nile between Luxor and Aswan and offer trips with a decision of 3, four or seven overnight stays. The Steigenberger Omar El Khayam operates on Lake Nasser between Aswan and Abu Simbel and might be reserved for cruises of 3 or four nights’ duration.

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  • News: Aegean Airlines to sell ancillaries through Sabre

    Sabre has extended its relationship with Aegean Airlines so the carrier can sell pre-paid baggage through Sabre-connected travel agencies.

    Agents should be in a position to view the discounted pre-paid baggage option at both the shopping and pricing stage of a fare search.

    The two companies have already got a multi-year distribution agreement in place that offers agents access to the airline’s fares, schedules and inventory.

    Dimitris Gerogiannis, managing director of Aegean Airlines, said: “It is critical that modern airlines maximize revenues generated by the sale of ancillary services.

    “Sabre’s global reach into the travel industry community allows us to take action by putting our fares and the pre-paid baggage option on agency desktops all over.”

    David Gross, senior vp of Sabre Supplier Distribution, said: “Aegean Airlines recognizes the price of having the ability to market and sell products, including ancillaries, to millions of travellers worldwide.

    “We’re seeing more carriers turn to ancillary products to enhance their revenues, and decide to sell through Sabre’s high-yield marketplace.

    “It’s a local within which we’ve made significant investments so airlines can market and sell their products, and so agents can improve efficiency and repair by booking and fulfilling tickets and ancillaries together, while capturing data for his or her corporate customers.”

    Aegean has chosen to sell its ancillaries through Sabre using industry technology standards developed by ATPCo and IATA. The electronic miscellaneous document (EMD) allows an agent to efficiently purchase an airline’s ancillary products on behalf of shoppers within the same way they’d a base airfare.

    Sabre provides both the airline and the agency a straightforward and efficient strategy to manage the sale and buy of recent airline ancillary products, while also providing travellers with complete transparency as they may be able to see the whole cost of the fare and extras. 

    Aegean joins a listing of world airlines, including Alitalia, Air New Zealand, Finnair and US Airways already selling ancillary products through Sabre.

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  • China – the hot number 1 tourism source market on this planet

    China’s expenditure on travel abroad reached US$102 billion in 2012, making it the primary tourism source market on earth when it comes to spending. Other emerging markets in addition to most conventional tourism source markets also showed positive ends in 2012.

    Over the past decade China was, and still is, by far the fastest-growing tourism source market on this planet. Owing to rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes and relaxation of restrictions on foreign travel, the quantity of international trips by Chinese travelers has grown from 10 million in 2000 to 83 million in 2012. Expenditure by Chinese tourists abroad has also increased almost eightfold since 2000. Boosted by an appreciating Chinese currency, Chinese travelers spent a record US$102 billion in international tourism in 2012, a 40% jump from 2011 when it amounted to US$73 billion.

    With this sustained growth, China has become the most important spender in international tourism globally in 2012. In 2005, China ranked seventh in international tourism expenditure, and has since successively overtaken Italy, Japan, France, and the uk. With the 2012 surge, China leaped to first place, surpassing both top spender Germany and second largest spender Usa (both with reference to US$84 billion in 2012).

    Some of the opposite emerging markets have also increased their share of worldwide tourism spending during the last decade. Many of the world’s top 10 source markets by expenditure, the Russian Federation saw a rise of 32% in 2012, to US$43 billion, bringing it from the 7th to 5th place within the ranking of international tourism spending. Worth mentioning beyond the pinnacle 10 is Brazil, with an expenditure of US$22 billion in 2012, moving to 12th place up from 29th place in 2005.

    “Emerging economies continue to guide growth in tourism demand,” said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai. “The impressive growth of tourism expenditure from China and Russia reflects the entry into the tourism market of a growing middle class from these countries, surely continue to vary the map of worldwide tourism,” he added.

    Although the very best growth rates in expenditure abroad came from emerging economies, key traditional source markets, usually growing at a slower pace, also posted positive results. Spending on travel abroad from Germany and america grew by 6% each. Spending from the united kingdom (US$52 billion) grew by 4% and the rustic retained its 4th place within the list of major source markets. Expenditure by Canada grew by 7%, while both Australia and Japan grew by 3%. Then again, France (-6%) and Italy (-1%) were the only real markets inside the top 10 to record a decline in international tourism spending.

    Full data on international tourism expenditure and receipts could be published within the forthcoming issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, to be released end of April.

  • Vail Resorts announces record capital plan for 2013

    Vail Resorts, today announced its calendar 2013 capital expenditure plan.  The Company’s 2013 capital plan features a high-impact new lift, significant terrain expansion, a brand new restaurant and the fourth generation of EpicMix, in addition to $25 million in spending for the primary phase of its new summer operations and nearly $10 million in upgrades for every of the recently acquired Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton, leading to the most important choice of planned improvements inside the Company’s history.  The corporate currently anticipates it is going to spend approximately $130 million to $140 million in resort capital expenditures in calendar year 2013, including approximately $47 million to $52 million in maintenance capital, that’s essential to maintain the looks and level of service appropriate to resort operations, including routine replacement of snow grooming equipment and rental fleet equipment.  The entire proposed capital projects are subject to applicable regulatory approvals, including U.S. Forest Service approval.

    Highlights of the calendar year 2013 capital expenditure plan include:
    Epic Discovery – This primary phase of Epic Discovery, the Company’s summer mountain activity plan, includes approximately $25 million to radically change the summer experience at six of its mountain resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Northstar).  Plans for every mountain, include a diffusion of zip lines, ropes courses, signature climbing walls, Forest FlyersTM, summer tubing, expanded hiking and mountain biking trails and education centers.  Each of those new activities will capitalize at the existing summer visitation at each resort and leverage existing infrastructure, creating the chance for top-impact and high-return projects.  The corporate expects these activities, in total, to generate approximately $7 million of incremental Mountain Reported EBITDA of their first full summer of operation.

    Improvements at Afton Alps & Mt Brighton – The corporate is planning major enhancements and upgrades to the newly acquired Afton Alps near Minneapolis, Minn., and Mt. Brighton near Detroit, Mich.  The corporate plans to take a position nearly $10 million at each resort to bring a wholly new ski experience to those markets, that are home to greater than 450,000 skiers and riders.  The Company’s plans include dramatic improvements in snowmaking to increase the season and supply a more consistent and quality snow surface, the creation of state-of-the-art terrain parks with extensive new features, animation and dedicated lifts; upgrades to base area facilities; the addition of EpicMix, EpicMix Racing and raise ticket scanning to personalize the guest experience and higher promote the Company’s western resorts to those skiers; and enhancements to guest safety and quality around the ski areas.  These improvements are being announced inclusive of new season pass plans for the resorts and a more dedicated sales effort in those markets to drive a more robust connection between those guests and the Company’s Colorado and Tahoe resorts.  The corporate believes that following these plans, future capital spending at each resort shall be more limited in scope.

    Peak 6 terrain expansion at Breckenridge – The height 6 terrain expansion includes two new chairlifts and 543 acres of recent terrain, a 23 percent expansion to the resorts skiable acreage.  Peak 6 will offer an intermediate “bowl” skiing experience, with the chance for a wide selection of guests to ski this new high alpine area that sits above tree line.  Peak 6 becomes another iconic feature of Breckenridge, and can better disperse skiers and improve the guest experience around the resort, that is perennially the #1 or #2 most visited mountain resort within the America.

    New Red Tail Camp restaurant at Beaver Creek – Just before the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships, the corporate is building a brand new 500 seat restaurant at Red Tail Camp, located on the finish of the men’s and women’s downhill courses, which greater than doubles the present restaurant’s capacity.  Red Tail Camp will offer gourmet dining options in an upscale cafeteria setting and should add a second top quality and high capacity dining venue for Beaver Creek, better positioning the resort for continued growth in visitation.  The brand new restaurant will follow at the success the corporate has had with the Tamarack Lodge at Heavenly, the Zephyr Lodge at Northstar and The 10th at Vail. 

    Replacing Vail’s Chair 4 (Mountain Top Express) with a high speed, six-person chairlift – Vail’s Mountain Top Express (#4) is among the most recognized and highly utilized chairlifts in North America- serving both a critical skiing pod for the mountain and an incredible transportation lift from Lionshead and Vail Village to the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin.  The hot six-person chairlift increases capacity by 33 percent, dramatically reducing lift lines and building in this year’s success of the newly built Gondola One.  The recent chair will continue to construct upon Vail’s preeminent position in delivering the most efficient valuable experience within the ski industry worldwide.

    EpicMix Academy – EpicMix Academy stands out as the fourth generation of the groundbreaking and award-winning EpicMix application, following the introductions of EpicMix Photo and EpicMix Racing.  With EpicMix Academy, the Company’s ski school instructors could be capable of certify the attainment of certain skills and ski levels for any of the scholars of their classes.  Children and adults in both group and personal ski lessons may be capable of earn permanent recognition and review their accomplishments online.  Parents might be ready to track the progress in their kids and the Company’s ski schools will immediately know the facility level of each student before the beginning of every lesson.  EpicMix Academy will offer special certified digital pins, which might be easily shared through Facebook and Twitter along side pins for vertical feet, photos and racing medals.

    The Company has historically invested significant profit capital expenditures for resort operations and believes the calendar 2013 capital plan maintains the high-quality standards for which Vail Resorts is famous and invests in improvements around the Company’s resorts and new growth opportunities.  All discretionary capital improvements are evaluated in accordance with an expected level of return on investment. The corporate plans to make use of cash accessible, borrowings available under its Credit Agreement and/or cash flow generated from future operations to supply the money essential to execute its capital plans.

    Commenting at the resort capital expenditure announcement, Rob Katz , chief executive officer, said, “The 2013 capital plan is unprecedented in its size and underscores our operating philosophy of regularly reinvesting in our resorts to provide absolutely the most beneficial experience to our guests and highlights several of our unique growth opportunities in Epic Discovery and newly acquired resorts.  Our commitment to repeatedly investing in our resorts to improve the guest experience grows our season pass programs that create customer loyalty, supports our premium pricing strategy, drives new visitation, and increases guest spending.  This year’s plan represents the culmination of a few years of exertions with recent regulatory approvals making an allowance for projects including Epic Discovery and the height 6 terrain expansion at Breckenridge, in addition to a focused acquisition strategy that permits for a much better connection to skiers and riders in Minneapolis and Detroit.”

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