Best Holiday Lettings

Category: News

  • IHIF: Worldhotels expands portfolio of branded hotels

    Worldhotels, a number one global group for independent upscale hotels, is growing its branded soft franchise solution because the ideal alternative to conventional franchising.

    The offer is terribly competitive, as costs to owners are based purely on brand performance in total net room revenue delivery.

    Since introducing the hot business model in 2011, Worldhotels has already branded 15 hotels and plans to feature another 20 by 2014.

    Ingo Guerges, vice chairman global hotel development at Worldhotels explained why the hot model was created:

    He said: “Hotels kept asking us for a better level of partnership – without the high operational interference of traditional upscale franchises.

    “So we prepare an answer that follows our motto of ‘If you own a hotel, it will feel such as you own a hotel.’”

    Worldhotels’ soft franchise solution focuses purely at the commercial side of the business, to generate and capture opportunities for room revenue growth from all segments and all distribution channels.

    The model doesn’t require any hardware standards, as Robert van der Graaf, Worldhotels’ newly appointed regional vp full licence Europe, Middle East and Africa, illustrates.

    “We’ve always said that standards don’t must mean standardisation,” he stated.

    “Our role is just to ensure the logo and supporting systems deliver the very best results for our hotels, without interfering inside the actual delivery of an authentic upscale hotel experience.”

    The model is built on over 40 years of successes of Worldhotels’ affiliation model and makes a speciality of three areas – to begin with full commercial support to maximize the hotel’s exposure under an international brand, secondly increase hotel market share through total brand performance, system delivery and at last distribution cost control to ultimately achieve a really healthy return on investment for hotel owners.

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  • News: London Marriott Hotel County Hall announces partnership with The Prince¹s Trust

    The 5* London Marriott Hotel County Hall today announces growth of its partnershipwith leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust, providing training and training opportunities for teenagers keen to develop a career within the hospitality industry.

    2012 saw youth unemployment reach a record high, over 1.2m inside the UK. The Prince’s Trust and Marriott hotels has been working together nationally, to offer opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters and the London Marriott Hotel County Hall hotel has recently taken on two employees from The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme.

    Located within the heart of Westminster the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has worked with The Prince’s Trust and its Fairbridge programme since 2011, supporting the ‘Employ Me’ course which offers disadvantaged youngsters the chance to realize an insight into the area of labor. The course concentrates on key employability skills for children who would not have access to education, employment or training with work experience opportunities in quite a number hospitality roles including front of house, housekeeping and food and beverage.

    The London Marriott Hotel County Hall ‘Housekeeping Challenge’ is a piece experience activity, enabling teens to place hospitality theory into practice. The hotel’s Executive Housekeeper Vince Castronovo briefs students at the features, facilities and steps all for preparing a room fit to the 5* standard for guests. The adolescents then give you the chance to go back a ‘distressed’ room back to its perfect state. Their efforts are filmed and evaluated by the manager Housekeeper before the gang is then offered the opportunity to undertake five hours of supervised work experience on the hotel in a department in their choice with a purpose to then securing a freelance of employment to further develop their careers. So far the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has held threeHousekeeping Challenges offering career, support and coaching to twenty youngsters with ambitions to double this support in 2013.

    Manuel da Costa and Jonathan Zepeda are two teens who’ve taken part within the ‘Employ Me’ programme on the London Marriott Hotel County Hall.

    Sixteen-year-old Manuel da Costa from Waterloo began with the Fairbridge Programme by joining the math and English courses. Manuel then joined the London Marriott HotelCounty Hall as component to the ‘Employ Me’ course working with a team of Marriott chefs to benefit more about careers inside the culinary and hospitality industries. Following the course Manuel now works part-time within the hotel’s kitchen under the guidance of Executive Chef Gareth Bowen whilst continuing his studies and has ambitions to 1 day open his own restaurant.

    Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Zepeda from Vauxhall is now employed on the hotel as a member of the Housekeeping team. Learning the best way to work as a team in addition to the most important elements of purchaser service and adhering to the hotels’ strict, 5* standards have enabled Jonathan to develop his self-confidence. He now has ambitions to develop his career to Housekeeping Supervisor and sooner or later work as a manager.

    Commenting at the partnership, Theresa Maw General Manager for the London Marriott Hotel County Hall said, “It is really inspiring to look youngsters realise their career ambitions with the guidance and support of both the team on the hotel and on the Prince’s Trust. As a Marriott hotel we’re committed to ‘give something back’ and dealing directly with the local people to support and develop the potential for those keen to develop a career within the hospitality industry.”

    Alex Dimsdale, Director of Human Resources for the London Marriott Hotel County Hall added: “We have partnered with The Prince’s Trust since 2011 and feature been overwhelmed with the passion, commitment and professionalism of the scholars that we’ve got worked with. The Housekeeping Challenge have been developed specifically to practically realise this commitment and we glance forward to developing opportunities foreven more students in 2013.”

    Dermot Finch, The Prince’s Trust Regional Director for the South added: “We are hugely grateful to the team on the London Marriott Hotel County Hall for the support and opportunities they’ve provided our teens.Working with an organization that has any such strong reputation means our kids have a chance to forge the beginning of a promising career with an industry leader.  We glance forward to growing and developing this chance toeven more students in 2013 and beyond.”

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  • News: Free currywurst on airberlin flights to the ITB

    All exhibition visitors travelling with airberlin to this year’s International Tourism Exchange (ITB) within the German capital have reason to celebrate: airberlin would be serving the well-liked curried sausage also known as Currywurst as a free snack on all domestic German flights to Berlin after 10:00 am from 5th to 8th March. Back in 2012, airberlin served around 20,000 portions of the delicious sausage by the emblem Sansibar for free on German domestic flights heading for the ITB.

    However, flight guests who’re not travelling to the ITB will after all even be ready to enjoy some Currywurst. airberlin remains to be the only real airline in Germany which offers guests in Economy Class the chance to buy hot meals without the necessity to pre-order in addition to offering free snacks and drinks. a spread of various Sansibar gourmet meals is obtainable on board all airberlin short and medium-haul flights of 90 minutes or longer. An excellent larger choice of Sansibar gourmet menus is additionally pre-ordered online at airberlin.com, in the course of the airberlin Service Center or via a travel agent for brief and medium-haul flights of 60 minutes or longer. Along with Currywurst and specialities from world wide, a range of vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan and lactose-free gourmet meals is obtainable.

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  • New hotel manager appointments at Madinat Jumeirah

    Azar Saliba have been appointed Hotel Manager of Jumeirah’s Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf hotels. The Lebanese national has over 18 years of expertise inside the hospitality industry, and seven years with the Jumeirah Group inside the UAE. Previous to this appointment he worked as hotel manager for Mina A’Salam, where his passion for facing guests and co-workers was quickly recognised. Saliba takes time to forge relationships with clients and improve customer satisfaction, in addition developing the commitment of team members to the delivery of “Stay Different” experiences through the Arabian resort. He’s one of many youngest hotel managers in the group today.

    Gisele Clark have been appointed Hotel Manager of Mina A’Salam. Before joining the Jumeirah Group in 2010, she worked for well-known groups comparable to Firmdale Hotels and Thistle Hotels in London, The Swiss Grand Hotel in Australia, and Marriott. Clark brings along with her an effective 22 years of expertise spanning 8 countries. Over the last 3 years as General Manager – Operations Support, she provided key support to Jumeirah’s properties within the Maldives, Azerbaijan, and Istanbul during their pre-opening phase, in addition to to new openings worldwide. In her role as interim General Manager for Jumeirah Maldives during 2012, Clark inspired teams to deliver Jumeirah’s hallmarks, and developed culturally connected experiences that gave back to the local people.

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  • News: Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary to satisfy in first Cunard royal rendezvous

    On 12 March 2013, Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth and the legendary Queen Mary will make history once they meet for the primary time in a Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach Harbor. This rare evening encounter can be open to the general public and should feature traditional whistle salutes between the ships and conclude with a fireworks display.

    Adding to the importance of this event, the Royal Rendezvous can be Queen Mary’s first encounter with a Queen Elizabeth since 1967 when Queen Mary, during her final Transatlantic Crossing in Cunard service, glided by the unique Queen Elizabeth at the morning of 25 September.
    “The Queen Mary is a cornerstone in our nearly 175-year history, and we’re more than happy to introduce our youngest Cunarder to this legendary ship in festive Royal Rendezvous fashion,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.

    “What a superior time this fusion of voyages past and present shall be for the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Cunard,” said Everette Hoard, commodore of the Queen Mary. “Those that witness this splendid day in history will undoubtedly carry the Queens of their hearts forever.”

    The best public viewing location of the Royal Rendezvous is at the Promenade Deck of the Queen Mary, on the aft (back) of the ship. Free access to the ship should be offered from 4:00-9:00pm; parking would be $15.00. A DJ shall be on deck providing musical entertainment while everyone eagerly awaits this historic meeting. Queen Elizabeth will sail into Long Beach Harbor at approximately 6:30pm, and the fireworks display will begin at 7:30pm.

    Joining these maritime icons high above often is the famed Goodyear blimp, the Spirit of America. The presence of a Goodyear blimp overhead lends a unique appeal at major sporting and red carpet events and should add to the historical significance of this Royal Rendezvous. For more info on Goodyear blimp, visit: http://www.goodyearblimp.com.

    During Cunard Line’s legendary history, the enduring Queen Mary epitomized the Golden Age of Ocean Travel and served as a Cunard liner for greater than 30 years. She also served as a British Royal Mail Ship (RMS) and as a troopship during World War II. Winston Churchill credited Cunard with ending the war three hundred and sixty five days early as a result troop transport that both the Queen Mary and the unique Queen Elizabeth provided.

    The Queen Mary’s influence lives on today, inspiring Cunard’s modern fleet; and she or he is still a favored tourist and maritime destination as a hotel and museum in Long Beach Harbor, located 40 kilometers south of la.

    The elegant Queen Elizabeth captured the area stage in 2010 when she was christened in a Royal Naming Ceremony by Her Majesty The Queen in Southampton, England, amongst greater than 1,500 guests, celebrities and dignitaries. The youngest in Cunard Line’s fleet, Queen Elizabeth recalls the wealthy heritage of the 1st Cunarder to bear the name, and contours many unique Cunard traditions linking her along with her sister ships and their predecessors, along with each of the today’s luxuries Cunard guests have come to expect. The ship’s adherence to liner traditions is most blatant through art deco touches, elegant double- and triple-height public rooms on a grand scale, luxuriously endowed with rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics, hand-woven carpets, gleaming chandeliers and funky marbles. Moreover, Queen Elizabeth reintroduced The Verandah Restaurant which was first conceived at the Queen Mary and pays homage to her predecessor with replicas of the legendary ship’s artwork.

    Key features of Queen Elizabeth which might be on display within the Grand Lobby include a specially commissioned portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, in addition to an 18.5 ft. marquetry piece of the unique Queen Elizabeth, expertly created by David Linley, the only real nephew of Her Majesty.

    Earlier within the day on 12 March, Queen Elizabeth could have returned from a 36-day roundtrip voyage from L. a. through New Zealand, and departs at 5:00pm that day, en path to The big apple via the Panama Canal.

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