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  • Rezidor announces the Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo Airport Hotel, Moscow

    The Rezidor Hotel Group, among the many fastest growing hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, announces the Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo Airport Hotel, Moscow. The primary Class property featuring 379 rooms is scheduled to open in Q2 2014. It’s Rezidor’s second hotel at Sheremetyevo – the crowd already successfully operates a mid market Park Inn by Radisson hotel on the airport.

    The new First-class hotel is owned by the Norwegian company Wenaasgruppen; certainly one of Rezidor’s most vital multi unit owners: In Russia alone, Wenaasgruppen owns 9 hotels with a complete of four,000 rooms operated by Rezidor.

    “This agreement further strengthens our position as among the leading airport hotel operators in Europe. It also confirms our commitment to the Russian market where we’re the leading international hotel operator” said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. The crowd currently has 45 hotels with 11,600 rooms in operation in Russia/CIS & Baltics, and 29 hotels with 6,700 rooms under development. In and around Russia’s Capital City Moscow Rezidor’s portfolio comprises 6 properties with greater than 1,700 rooms.

    The Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo Airport Hotel would be the only hotel featuring a right away walkway link to the international terminals. Besides 379 rooms with Radisson Blu signature services similar to free high speed internet access the valuables will offer two restaurants and two bars including a 600m² bar at the 11th floor with a wide ranging view over the airport. Additional services will comprise greater than 43 meeting rooms including a 200m² multifunctional hall, a crew lounge, gym and sauna areas.

    The recently renovated Sheremetyevo Airport is the hub of Russia’s national carrier Aeroflot providing the perfect transit point for international, regional and domestic travellers. The hot AeroExpress train connects the terminals and downtown Moscow in only 35 minutes. Sheremetyevo serves greater than 22 million passengers annually, and is about to grow further because it now has the most important capacity of any airport in Moscow or Russia.

  • News: Hilton continues Egypt growth

    Hilton Worldwide is adding to its programme of growth in Egypt following a massive joint announcement with prominent investor, Saudi Egyptian Real Estate Development, to introduce the company’s sixth property to Cairo.

    The 257-room Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi may be strategically located within the upscale residential and diplomatic district of Maadi and luxuriate in direct access to the well-liked Corniche El Nile. The 23-storey property, that’s forecast to open early 2016, can even boast views of the legendary River Nile in addition to Egypt’s world famous ancient heritage sites, museums and popular tourist attractions.

    Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa said: “As the longest serving and most recognised hospitality brand in Egypt, we’re committed to offering tangible and sustainable hospitality to the country’s business and leisure industry.

    “Our Egyptian expansion strategy and determined pipeline growth reflects our unwavering faith within the viability of Egypt, it’s people, business and community as we continue the tradition of providing hospitality and luxury to discerning travellers.” Jagersbacher added.

    Designed to attract both the leisure and business traveller, Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi will feature a business centre, a 400-square-metre function room, two boardrooms and 3 meeting rooms. Leisure facilities will include a enormous state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, an out of doors swimming pool, two restaurants, including speciality dining, a lobby lounge and an executive lounge.

    Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts said: “Hilton Hotels & Resorts is immensely pleased with its heritage and primary class reputation in Egypt and we’re delighted to bring another quality property to our growing portfolio of excellence.”

    Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi is a noteworthy addition to Hilton Worldwide’s growing development programme for Egypt and joins a property pipeline such as the 635-room Hilton Heliopolis; the 660-room Hilton Makadi Resort; the 390-room Hilton Giza Pyramids and for Egypt’s second city of Alexandria, the 158-room Hilton Alexandria Corniche and the 195-room Hilton King’s Ranch Resort.

    As the pre-eminent hospitality provider, Hilton Worldwide’s properties in Egypt incorporate many styles and offerings but all share the well-defined, distinctive company hallmarks of high quality facilities and high standards of service. A popular portfolio, Hilton Worldwide properties offer urban luxury and class in cities which include Cairo and Alexandria to stunning resorts and spas in relaxing holiday areas of Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba, Marsa Alam in addition to the traditional city of Luxor.

    Engineer Darwish Ahmed Hassnin, Chief Executive Officer from owners Saudi Egyptian Real Estate Development said: “Hilton Worldwide is a recognised hospitality leader with extensive knowledge and experience of Egypt.

    “Together, we’re committed to making an international-class property with outstanding and alluring facilities and repair.

    “This property is the 1st hotel in Egypt owned by both the Egyptian and Saudi governments and is anticipated to become one of the vital flagships of the joint investments between both countries.” Hassnin concluded.

  • Record year for VISIT FLORIDA Spending

    Today, during a gathering of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott announced that in accordance with preliminary estimates released by VISIT FLORIDA, visitors to the light State spent a record $71.8 billion, a rise of 6.8 percent over 2011. This represents a record year of spending in 2012 by tourists in Florida, exceeding the former highs of $67.2 billion in 2011 and $65.5 billion in 2007.

    Governor Scott said, “Today’s news from VISIT FLORIDA demonstrates ‘It’s Working.’ Travelers to Florida spent a different $4.6 billion in 2012, marking the second one consecutive record year for visitor spending within the Sunshine State. Florida’s tourism industry is significant to Florida families because it serves as a necessary income to the state and a key driver of employment – and that’s why ourFlorida Families First Budget commits $75 million to go to FLORIDA, as a way to better grow jobs and opportunities for Florida families.”

    As the state’s official destination marketing organisation, VISIT FLORIDA is chargeable for serving the citizens of Florida throughout the growth and development of the tourism industry. VISIT FLORIDA creates innovative cooperative marketing programs that enhance the industry’s ability to successfully promote the Florida tourism product around the U.S. and worldwide.

    “Last year, visitors spent over 500 million vacation nights and nearly $72 billion within the Sunshine State,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “While it’s still very early in 2013, all indications are that VISIT FLORIDA is definitely positioned to construct at the previous two years’ momentum as we try to make Florida the No. 1 travel destination on the earth.”

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  • News: Qantas director steps down

    Qantas Chairman, Leigh Clifford, said that he has accepted the resignation of Corinne Namblard as a director of Qantas Airways Limited.

    Ms Namblard informed Mr Clifford that, in light of the hot media reports concerning Italian court proceedings by which she is involved, Ms Namblard believes that it’s within the best interests of both Qantas and herself that she resigns from the Qantas Board.

    “Ms Namblard was especially concerned in order for the ongoing media concentrate on the present Italian proceedings didn’t distract Qantas from implementing its strategic imperatives nor detract from the achievements that Qantas has had in meeting the challenges to its business. The Qantas Board appreciates those sentiments”, Mr Clifford said.

    “It may be apt to notice that Ms Namblard strenuously denies any wrongdoing with regards to the matters that are the topic of the Italian proceedings, and the Qantas Board has no reason whatsoever to doubt that position.

    “Since joining the Qantas Board in 2011, Ms Namblard has brought her considerable qualifications and experience to bear for the good thing about Qantas, and has demonstrated integrity in her method of Board matters. The Board wishes Ms Namblard the most effective for the longer term,” added Mr Clifford.

  • News: Pegasus reports surge in corporate bookings

    Corporations welcomed the brand new year by booking more travel, in step with Pegasus Solutions, the one largest processor of electronic hotel transactions. After holding steady at 2011 levels in December 2012, January 2013 surged ahead with booking gains of nearly +8% for the worldwide corporate market, a performance that was exceeded within the leisure sector.

    Accompanying global growth in reservations, rates paid by corporate travelers increased by +2.1% over prior year. In North America, corporate bookings climbed +5.4% over 2012 as rates grew slightly more by +2.3%. However, business travel showed probably the most significant improvement over prior year outside North America, where growth was fueled by Asia. Reservations for all other regions combined surpassed 2012 by +11.2%, as rates inched +1.0%.

    “We began 2012 heralding a climb in global corporate and leisure rates, despite a lull in booking volumes for both channels,” said David Millili, chief executive officer of Pegasus Solutions.

    “But in 2013, we’ve seen growth in bookings and rates for both corporate and leisure segments. Companies were anxious to get to business in January, while some consumers rallied for brand new Year’s, and others made the foremost of more cost-effective off-peak travel. The important question was which hotels positioned rates to harvest probably the most make the most of those bookings that came through a various range of channels.” Added David.

    Leisure bookings, that are those made predominantly through online channels, including mobile, also delivered a slight rate increase of +1.8% over 2012 in January. North America saw volumes grow significantly by +9.8% as rates delivered gains of +4.6%. Elsewhere, bookings moved from a dramatic drop of -10.8% in December 2012 to coming within -2.7% of prior year in January. Rates also narrowed the distance against prior year from -6.4% in December 2012 to within -2.5% of last year in January.

    Looking forward, global corporate bookings are expected to continue strong growth over 2012 into May, though at more moderate margins for many months. These bookings show rates will deliver marginal growth through March, potentially softening in April and can against prior year. Leisure bookings will likely sustain January’s momentum through March, perhaps easing in April but possibly approaching gains of +10% over prior year in May.

    Data reported by Pegasus Solutions comes from billions of transactions processed monthly for almost 100,000 hotels, facilitating greater than $16 billion a year. The Pegasus View, produced quarterly, is the only real industry report back to reflect data drawn from both GDS and ADS transactions, representing the business and leisure markets respectively. Pegasus’ recently introduced PegasusView Market Performance business intelligence is a monthly reporting product augmenting the worldwide data provided quarterly within the Pegasus View.