Best Holiday Lettings

Category: News

  • News: London Overground stations offer Wi-Fi

    Arriva’s three way partnership rail business LOROL is providing passengers with Wi-Fi access at 50 stations at the London Overground network.

    The service, from Wi-Fi provider The Cloud, is free for the 1st 60 minutes at each station and enables passengers to make use of their mobile devices to browse the net, use social networks and get free, real-time travel information from Transport for London (TfL).

    The final seven stations at the London Overground network may be connected by the tip of June.

    Peter Austin, managing director of LOROL, which delivers London Overground services on behalf of TfL, signed the contract with The Cloud.

    Peter said: “We are always searching for tips on how to make the London Overground much more convenient than it already is and believe the introduction of free Wi-Fi can only improve and enhance our passenger journeys.

    “It complements the trendy commuting railway service we already offer and can be fitting for what’s among the finest performing railways within the UK.”

    Vince Russell, managing director on the Cloud, said: “London Overground stations are a hive of activity for folk travelling inside and outside of London.

    “This is mainly true of workers commuting into town.

    “For these people, the power to examine emails or even access work documents at the go is very important.

    ‘Relying on 3G or 4G connection in locations where network traffic is available in peaks signifies that passengers are often left frustrated at slow connection times during busier periods.

    “We’re delighted to be working with London Overground to present this service in order to offer a quick, reliable internet connection to people as they anticipate their trains.”

    Howard Smith, chief rail operating officer for TfL London Rail, which manages the London Overground service, said: “We have modernised many areas of London Overground – the train fleet, the stations and the signalling. It’s now the best performing railways within the UK.

    “TfL supports the introduction of this new facility as we see direct communications between passengers as perfectly complementing our own information services.

    “In recent years the cost of passenger-to-passenger communication during service disruptions have been well demonstrated and we’re happy to further enable and support that phenomenon as an enhancement to our modern, 21st century railway within the capital.”

    London Overground passengers may have 60 minutes free internet access daily, at each station, through a one-time registration process.

    Major stations at the network now Wi-Fi-enabled include:

    • North London: Willesden Junction and West Hampstead
    • South London: New Cross Gate, Forest Hill, West Croydon and Norwood Junction
    • East London: Surrey Quays, Dalston, Wapping and Hackney Central
    • West London: Kensington Olympia and Shepherd’s Bush

  • IHIF: International Hotel Investment Forum returns to Berlin

    Delegates have begun arriving on the International Hotel Investment Forum, this year hosted by the InterContinental Hotel Berlin.

    Returning for its 16th year, leading delegates from the hospitality sector were welcomed to the development by Kerry Gumas, chief executive, Questex Media Group, and Jonathan Worsley, chairman, Bench Events.

    The conference programme this year includes interviews with leading hoteliers, forecasts from top economists, and panel discussions at the latest developments, trends and best practice inside the hotel and investment industry.


    Kerry Gumas, chief executive, Questex Media Group, left, joins Bench chairman Worlsey on stage

    Also at the agenda are a variety of inspirational keynote speakers, with greater than 180 scheduled to seem over the 3-day event, all leaders of their field, making for a captivating and various programme.

    They will address the 1,924 delegates expected to wait event, whom have travelled from 71 countries. 

    image[2] align=’right’ border=’0′ style=’padding-left:10px;’ alt=” border=0 >
    Jumeirah chief executive Gerald Lawless, left, debates with Leading Hotels of the arena president Ted Teng during IHIF 2013

    More details about the development at the official website.

  • News: UNWTO activities at ITB 2013

    UNWTO events at ITB Travel Trade exhibition 2013 include the 3rd Silk Road Ministers’ meeting, a session on consumer protection, and a gathering of the sector Tourism Network on Child Protection, in addition to the primary UNWTO meeting exclusively devoted to “Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage,” among others from March 6-10, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

    3RD SILK ROAD MINISTERS’ MEETING
    March 6, 1100-1300 hours, Hall 7.3 Berlin Room

    How destinations can join forces to elevate the profile of the Silk Road while safeguarding its exceptional heritage sites to be enjoyed by generations to return often is the focus of the third meeting of the Tourism Ministers of the Silk Road.

    PRESENTATION OF THE UNWTO PROJECT ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN PANGANDARAN (INDONESIA)
    March 6, 1315-1400 hours, Hall 7.1a, Auditorium Ny 1

    Climate change response inside the tourism sector needs local action and new thinking. The project “Sustainable Tourism through Energy Efficiency with Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Pangandaran” (STREAM), implemented by UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism and artistic Economy of Indonesia (MTCE), serves as a case study on how you can confront climate change on the local level and create a pilot model to be transferred to other destinations.

    2ND TOUR OPERATORS’ FORUM AT THE SILK ROAD
    March 7, 1100-1300 hours, Palais West

    To share knowledge, experience, and perspectives on key topics on the subject of tourism development at the Silk Road is the target of the second one edition of this forum – a collaborative method to create a wiser business environment for growth around the Silk Road.

    TOURISM AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: A WIMMING PARTNERSHIP
    March 8, 1000-1200 hours, ICC, Hall 7

    This first UNWTO event focused exclusively in this subject will address integrate the living heritage into tourism development while fostering the responsible use of intangible assets to foster sustainable socio-economic development. The development will feature the launch of the UNWTO report on “Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage,” followed by a panel presenting case studies and good practices by different tourism stakeholders.

    28TH MEETING OF THE REALM TOURISM NETWORK ON CHILD PROTECTION
    March 8, 1400-1730 hours, ICC, Hall 7

    “Information and Communication Technologies: Protection of kids in Tourism” would be on the center of the meeting of the arena Tourism Network on Child Protection. The development will feature the participation of quite a number actors representing governments, international organizations, the non-public sector, NGOs, and media.

  • IHIF: yoo Hotels launches design-led hotel brands

    yoo Hotels has unveiled two intricately crafted design-led hotel brands for travellers who seek handcrafted luxury: yoo 2 and yoo Collection. 

    yoo, the worldwide design company founded by international property entrepreneur John Hitchcox and renowned designer Philippe Starck, brings an entire hotel offering to the market.

    The brand was offering luxury hotels and high-end residences for over 14 years and has delivered to fruition the visions of creative directors Anouska Hempel, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger and Kelly Hoppen.

    Headed by industry expert Marco Nijhof, yoo Hotels will create an enhanced hotel experience through delivery of original design and primary rate hotel management services.

    Tapping into yoo’s unique talent bank of worldwide renowned designers in addition to its own yoo Studio, yoo Hotels offers an unparalleled breadth of design talent and heritage.

    The culture of every location is vital for both the yoo Collection and yoo 2 hotels, and here’s interpreted throughout the world class designed interiors.

    Electric and luxurious dining and entertainment experiences are joined with flawless service, delivered by yoo Hotel Management, making a feeling of Human Luxury – the yoo Hotels philosophy of unfailingly satisfying every whim a guest could conceive at any moment.

    yoo Collection

    The yoo Collection offers guests a premium, five star luxury stay within truly inspirational spaces. 

    Each yoo Collection luxury hotel may have a definite sense of place and personality, created by yoo’s renowned designer base, all of whom are skilled at creating instant destinations with an understanding of local cultures.

    The local soul of a yoo Collection hotel is combined with seamless service and refined luxury, with the intention to satisfy one of the most sophisticated high net-worth business and leisure traveller, making each moment a party.

    yoo 2

    The yoo 2 brand is geared toward the design and tech-savvy traveller who’s searching for an exceptional stay and a feeling of affordable luxury, whether travelling for business or leisure.

    yoo 2 hotels can have a buzzing social feel and a full of life atmosphere within the public spaces, with warm and alluring service delivered by like-minded people.

    Restaurants and bars will entice the local crowds too, fusing fun with great hospitality and creating hot-spot destinations in each city.

    The yoo 2 brand will offer spaces that afford everyone the experience of dwelling in exceptional and mindful design, even just for the night.

    yoo Hotel Management

    The yoo Hotel Management team benefits from a combined 107 years of expertise in hotel management, leasing, franchising, and operations.

    Together, they have got transacted a combined £15 billion in single asset, portfolio and hotel opportunities.

    With design, branding, marketing and hotel management in one offering, it’s the synergy of the entire yoo Hotels offering which makes it truly unique.

    It implies that resources are maximised and there are significant cost savings when put next to standard segmented hotel teams.

    yoo Hotel Management acts as a guardian of luxury, ensuring the hotelier’s investment return is maximised while maintaining the unique DNA of the emblem vision and philosophy.

    The service delivered is unwavering, creating unforgettable experiences that keep guests smiling.

    yoo Hotel Management provides an uncompromising commitment to the posh and vision of the hotel ensuring repeat guest satisfaction. Any investment entrusted to yoo Hotel Management turns into a ‘trophy asset’. 

    Key metrics can be provided via performance reporting indicating penetration, rates, RevPar, shares and property valuation.

    While guest satisfaction will establish yoo Hotels because the leader amongst the competitive set, it’s the satisfaction of our hoteliers so one can determine the fibre of the yoo Hotels fabric.

  • News: Westin Hotels to open 200th hotel in 2013

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that its Westin brand expects to open its 200th hotel in 2013, driven by robust international demand and the outstanding success of the brand’s distinct wellbeing positioning. Westin will open 11 new hotels this year, the overwhelming majority outside america in fast-growing markets including China, India, Singapore and Panama.

    In line with global growth trends, the Westin brand is experiencing a surge in new hotel openings across Asia Pacific. Seven new Westin hotels will open in Asia Pacific in 2013, increasing the brand’s portfolio to just about 50 hotels inside the region by year’s end. Fuelling the brand’s growth inside the region is the rapid economic growth in China’s second and third-tier cities. New Westin hotel openings in China this year include The Westin Haikou, The Westin Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square and The Westin Qingdao.  Westin may even make its return to Singapore with the hole of The Westin Singapore Marina Bay in late 2013.

    Demand for brand new Westin hotels in Latin America may be heating up. In exactly the past 18 months, Westin has grown its footprint in Latin America by nearly 50% as portion of the brand’s strategic expansion within the region’s fastest growing markets. This year’s opening of The Westin Panama increases the Westin portfolio in Latin America to 11 hotels, spanning five countries including Panama, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

    In North America, the Westin brand will add four new hotels to its portfolio this year.  As well as the outlet of The Westin Birmingham, Westin may be attracting a growing share of conversion opportunities in cities around the USA, with The Westin Houston Downtown, The Westin Sacramento and The Westin San Jose all opening in 2013, following renovations.