Best Holiday Lettings

Category: News

  • Free trial offer as Ecompter announces compatibility with HCMI

    Ecompter’s Sustainability Service for hotels, that comes with continuous CO2 management reporting and a web CO2 calculator for the hotel guests, is the 1st service to be in response to the recent hotel industry agreed common method for measuring and communicating carbon emissions – the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI 1.0).

    The HCMI 1.0 methodology was developed by the sector Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Tourism Partnership (ITP), in consultation with 23 leading hotel groups and KPMG.  Ecompter was among the companies consulted at the methodology during its second phase of development.

    To support the adoption of the HCMI standard and to enable the hotel community to start with a uniform way of CO2 reporting, Ecompter is offering a brand new free 6 month trial of the service.

    Ecompter’s sustainability service also features a simple-to-digest summary of the hotel’s environmental initiatives and results, plus an interactive image of the hotel room to turn guests how they could cut their energy use during their stay (eg simply by the room’s shower in place of bath).

    Mr. Ville Valorinta, Managing Director of Ecompter says; ”Through Ecompter we wish to help raise awareness and understanding of ways unbiased and standardized CO2 reporting and inter-active communication may be used to control and monitor the environmental initiatives and have interaction both staff and guests to concentrate on the consumption.”

    Fran Hughes, Head of Programmes at ITP say; “We are working hard to embed the methodology and accomplish maximum soak up. We are hoping to extend the ‘supply’ of data by reaching out to other hotel groups about HCMI, in addition to to travel management companies and global distribution systems to make sure they’re aware that carbon footprint information is on the market and guaranteeing it usually is provided to the shopper within the simplest format.”

  • News: New chief executive for South African Airways

    South African Airways has announced Monwabisi Kalawe will take over as chief executive officer.

    This comes after the deputy prime minister’s challenge to the SAA board of directors to continue to highlight improving SAA’s governance.

    “The board worked tirelessly to search out an appropriate leader who will lead by example and stabilise the interior environment while practising ensuring good corporate governance in the airline,” said Dudu Myeni, acting chairperson of the SAA board of directors.

    “Kalawe also will lead SAA, as a strategic national asset, towards contributing to the socio-economic development of the rustic and the continent.”

    Kalawe began his career at state owned company, Eskom, before joining Nestle South Africa for many years after which returning to Eskom for 3 years.

    No stranger to the aviation industry, Kalawe also worked at Airports Company South Africa for 6 years before leading Total Facilities Management Company as chief operating officer and Denel as chief executive.

    After concluding his role as country managing director of Compass Group for 5 years and more recently as Executive Chairperson, Mr. Kalawe will join SAA within the following few weeks.

  • News: Being wins FAA popularity of Dreamliner fix

    Aircraft regulators within the Usa have approved a revamped battery design for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

    The decision paves the style for the fleet to go back to the skies, after problems grounded it for months.

    The Federal Aviation Administration said airlines had to replace the batteries to go back to service.

    Boeing chairman Jim McNerney said: “FAA approval clears the style for us and the airlines to start the method of returning the 787 to flight with continued confidence within the safety and reliability of this game-changing new airplane.”

    Planes will now must be fitted with a “containment and venting” system for both the lithium-ion batteries.

    That encompasses a stainless-steel enclosure to avoid heat, fumes or fire from spreading if a battery overheats in flight, said the FAA.

    There are presently 50 Boeing Dreamliners in service all over the world.

  • Hilton Worldwide celebrates 100th property in Asia Pacific

    Hilton Worldwide has celebrated a key milestone in Asia Pacific, with the hole of DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, its 100th property within the region.

    Hilton also has greater than 170 hotels with greater than 50,000 rooms in its pipeline and expects to triple its current portfolio within the next five years.

    “Asia Pacific is a high-priority marketplace for Hilton Worldwide, and the outlet of our 100th property and our extensive pipeline are clear signs of our strong commitment to this area,” said Christopher Nassetta, president, Hilton Worldwide. 

    “Our history in Asia Pacific has deep roots and dates back greater than a half century. At the side of the local expertise of our hotel owners and team members, Hilton Worldwide uniquely understands the distinct heritages and cultures of our many locations on this diverse region.”

    In 2012, Hilton Worldwide signed a complete of 55 new properties in key Asia Pacific markets including Greater China, Australia, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

    With these new signings, over 14,600 rooms can be included into the company’s portfolio across six brands – Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton. 

    image[1] align=’right’ border=’0′ style=’padding-left:10px;’ alt=” border=0 >
    Views over DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok

    “Asia Pacific is a significant growth engine on the planet, and our powerful portfolio of brands allows us to serve a variety of guests across this dynamic and exciting region,” said Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.

    “Our in-depth knowledge of every of the nineteen countries where we operate enables us to spot the best growth opportunities while working closely with and supporting the local communities and delivering the most effective experiences for our guests.”

    In the 1st quarter of 2013, Hilton Worldwide announced a key signing of the primary internationally-branded hotel in Yangon, Myanmar.

    The 300-room Hilton Yangon is scheduled to open in 2014. It also announced the introduction of its luxury brand Conrad Hotels & Resorts within the Philippines with the signing of the 350-room Conrad Manila, scheduled to open in 2015.

    Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi, the award-winning, mid-market brand’s first property in Southeast Asia also opened its doors on April 2, 2013 in Vietnam.

    In India, the corporate opened the original leisure property Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, within the serene and unspoiled landscape of the Sahyadri mountain range inside the Western Ghats, and Hilton Garden Inn Gurgaon Baani Square, the second one Hilton Garden Inn-branded hotel within the country. 

    With that opening, Hilton Worldwide now manages seven hotels in Delhi National Capital Region alone.

  • News: Laurus Corporation completes $2.7m hotel renovation and rebranding

    Laurus Corporation, a U.S.-based private real estate investment and development firm, announced that it has completed the $2.7 million renovation of the Ramada Suites Hotel at New Orleans Airport and branded the power as a vacation Inn Express.  The renovation included a whole overhaul of the guestrooms, public areas, exterior facade and landscaping. Additionally, a brand new management agreement was signed with a neighborhood management company to enhance overall guest satisfaction and function.

    Laurus Corporation acquired the 130-room lodging establishment in March 2012. Situated on the entrance of James Business Park, an upscale, 200-acre business park offering greater than two million square feet of business space, the hotel is straight away adjacent to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which serves approximately 9.7 million passengers per year, the majority of them non-connecting travelers.

    “In 2012, the choice of visitors statewide was projected to succeed in 24.8 million individuals with total visitor spending estimated at $9.1 billion,” said Philip Cyburt, Chief Executive Officer of Laurus Corporation. “The hotel’s proximity to a bustling airport and its location in a vigorously recovering market will make it a major destination for visitors.”

    “The extensive renovation program will enhance the hotel’s brand in a well-performing marketplace in addition to increase the asset’s performing value,” said Austin Khan, Chief Investment Officer of Laurus Corporation.

    Exterior renovations include a brand new pool deck, courtyard deck and fountain, landscaping surrounding the valuables and a brand new paint job.  The lobby, breakfast area and conference rooms feature new flooring, lighting fixtures, window treatments, furniture and televisions. Guestrooms will showcase new flooring, furniture, lighting and window treatments, and upgraded fixtures within the guest bathrooms.

    The hotel features 3,000 square feet of meeting space, two on-site restaurants, a 189-car parking zone, and the most efficient valuable fitness and business centers among its competitors.