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  • News: IHIF: Leisure investment growing in importance for UK banks

    The UK hotels and leisure sector has become the third-largest lending marketplace for NatWest and RBS under the Funding for Lending Scheme, with the bank offering cost-effective FLS loans of over £200m to the field to this point.

    NatWest and RBS is forecasting continued, strong demand for lending from this key client base in 2013 because the sector invests for growth.

    NatWest and RBS’s commercial banking division, which caters for business with an annual turnover of under £25m, launched FLS facilities in August 2012 and, as in the beginning of 2013, had allocated over £2.26bn across 15,000 SMEs inside the UK.

    On a sector-by-sector basis, hotels and leisure is now the third biggest recipient of FLS loans, finishing behind healthcare and agriculture.

    Andrew Taylor, head of leisure for commercial banking at NatWest and RBS, said: “I’m delighted at how successful we’ve been in helping clients within the hotels and leisure sector access cost-effective funds – we’re committed to working with businesses of all sizes.

    “Under the FLS, we believe we’ve made a genuine difference to this business base, making a choice of bespoke finance packages for lots firms inside the UK.

    The specialist Hotels and Leisure Team incorporates people in the bank’s vast network with coverage around the UK, meaning we can draw on a broad range of expertise including the industrial and business banking teams.”

    NatWest and RBS formed its dedicated Hotels and Leisure Team in September 2011 and regards the hotels, restaurants, pubs and leisure sectors as some of the key lending targets across commercial banking.

    The team includes greater than 80 managers and directors around the RBS network. The bank operates across all aspects of the leisure market, splitting the field into seven sub-sectors – with hotels receiving the best percentage of fund allocation.

    In 2012, total lending from the Leisure Team was up eight per cent against 2011, and is anticipated to extend again for the year ahead.

    Andrew Taylor, head of leisure for NatWest and RBS, concluded: “We take a lot of pride in both sector expertise, in addition our ability to hear each business to achieve an in depth understanding in their specific needs. The united kingdom has fantastic businesses operating within the leisure sector.

    The diversity of our skill set is something that we believe stands us aside from the contest.

    “Our team commits to no less than two full days a year devoted to all of the businesses on our books, and we maintain a robust want to understand and appreciate every client on both a radical business, and private level. We realise, however, that the work is much from over, and we will be able to remain committed to helping hotels, restaurants and the numerous other businesses operating inside the sector to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions.”

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  • News: New Hotel INvestment Tool from AECOM

    AECOM has launched a brand new interactive tool called HINT (Hotel INvestment Tool).

    HINT allows users to check whether a possible hotel development idea may be economically viable at a really early stage.

    The easy-to-use tool allows users to determine the possible value, cost and return on investment by entering quite a lot of variables, similar to location, hotel typology and revenue assumptions.

    The tool works by combining AECOM’s operational knowledge with cost data from Davis Langdon, an AECOM company.

    This will provide clients with an early check on their idea with no need to pay for massive studies too early within the process.

    “What makes this tool unique is the way in which that it brings together intelligence from two disciplines (cost consultancy and economic feasibility) that traditionally was commissioned separately,” commented Kevin Underwood, AECOM’s global head of leisure + culture.

    “We are excited to share HINT with our clients and hotel operator contacts who’ve expressed a keen interest in using a device corresponding to this that gives an early indication of a hotel project’s economic viability.”

    AECOM can be demonstrating the tool at stand 28 on the IHIF in Berlin, which runs from the March 4th-6th 2013.

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  • Miami set for record visitors in 2012

    Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME announced today that overnight visitors to larger Miami and the Beaches increased +3.5% to a record-breaking 13.9 million overnight visitors in 2012, fueled by a +5.2% increase to a record 6.8 million international visitors and a rise of +1.8% to a record 7.1 million domestic visitors. 

    This marks the third consecutive year of record overnight visitors to the destination.         

    A record $21.8 billion in visitor expenditures was generated in 2012, a rise of +5.1% over the former year with international expenditures representing 70% of the entire vs domestic. 2012 marked the fourth consecutive year of records on records for visitor spending. 

    “For the third year in a row, the strength of the Miami brand continued to draw record overnight visitors, generating record employment within the leisure and hospitality industry,” says Steven Haas, Chairman of the GMCVB Board of Directors. 

    “With a brand new record high of 112,300 industry jobs in 2012, Travel and Tourism continued to set the pace for the community’s recovery from the recession with three consecutive years of increased employment.”     

    In July 2012, the GMCVB unveiled its new branding campaign to capture its evolution by launching the “It’s So Miami” program in top global markets, including Big apple, Brazil and Germany. 

    The new tagline and eye-catching imagery showcases contrasting visuals of iconic destination scenes juxtaposed with people cashing in on cultural attractions.  The brand new campaign captures the vibe and diversity of lifestyle in Greater Miami and The Beaches.  “

    The Bureau’s aggressive marketing and expansion of the preferred summer and shoulder season promotions, including Miami Museum Month, Miami Romance Month, Miami Spice Restaurant Month, Miami Spa Month, Miami Attractions Month and Miami Live Music Month were enjoyed by more visitors and residents than ever in 2012,” says Talbert.       

    During 2012, the GMCVB continued its international expansion to 40 locations in 30 countries, which included extensive expansion within the Brazil market.  Cities/countries added to the worldwide network in 2012 included The big apple, San Francisco, Jamaica, Bahamas and extra cities in Brazil. 

    Among the pinnacle 25 hotel markets within the U.S., Greater Miami and the Beaches’ ranked #4 for revenue per available room (RevPar), a rise of +7.9% in 2012 to a record $124.92.  Hotel room occupancy also ranked #4 with a rise of +1.3% to a record annual average of 76.4%, and average daily room rate (ADR) ranked #4 with a rise of +6.6% to an all time high of $163.59. 

    A record 13.4 million hotel room nights were sold in 2012, representing a +2.5% increase over the former year.  These sales generated a record $60.4 million in Convention Development Tax (CDT), a +8.5% increase over 2011 CDT collections.

    A record 19.8 million passengers were welcomed on the new Miami International Airport (MIA) in 2012, a +3.0% increase over 2011, which incorporates a record 9.8 million international passengers up +5.3% over 2011 and a record 10 million domestic passengers up +0.9% over 2011. 

    With 96%of overnight visitors to bigger Miami and the Beaches arriving by air in 2012, Miami International Airport is very important to the success and growth of the travel and tourism industry.

    “Both MIA and the PortMiami are pillars of our travel and tourism industry,” states Talbert.  Inside the last quarter of 2012, PortMiami welcomed an unprecedented seven new cruise ships in eight weeks further solidifying the port’s ranking as Cruise Capital of the area.

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  • 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 inside the upscale residential and diplomatic district of Maadi and revel in direct access to the favored Corniche El Nile. The 23-storey property, that is forecast to open early 2016, may also 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 entice 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 massive cutting-edge gymnasium and spa, an outside 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 inclusive of 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 favorite portfolio, Hilton Worldwide properties offer urban luxury and class in cities equivalent to 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 a global-class property with outstanding and welcoming facilities and repair.

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

  • News: IHIF: Akkeron signs UK treat Choice Hotels

    Choice Hotels International has announced a strategic relationship with Akkeron Hotels Group, a well-known regional hotel operator within the Uk.

    The deal will initially lead to nine Akkeron hotels operating under Choice Hotels franchise agreements inside the UK, representing a virtually 25 per cent increase within the Choice Hotels UK hotel portfolio and an extra 611 rooms.

    This agreement forms a critical portion of Choice Hotels’ growth solution to offer financial support to raise development in key international markets, which includes Europe, via the company’s capital as a targeted incentive to hotel developers and operators to go into into franchise agreements located in strategic locations and markets.

    Under the agreement, five Akkeron hotels in Bristol, Bury St. Edmunds, Colchester,
    Peterborough and Kings Lynn may be rebranded under the standard brand and another four hotels located in Winchester, Darlington, Ringwood and Stevenage will operate under the Clarion Collection brand.

    The newly branded Choice hotels, Quality Hotel Bury St. Edmunds, Quality Hotel Peterborough and Clarion Collection Cromwell Stevenage, are anticipated to return online throughout the Choice Hotels Europe system by the tip of February.

    The remaining Quality and Clarion Collection brand hotels are expected to come back online throughout 2013.

    “We are delighted to have entered into this relationship with Akkeron Hotels Group.

    “Akkeron is a sturdy hotel operator and an amazing company for Choice Hotels Europe to work with and grow its presence inside the UK. The agreement initially will talk about rebranding nine hotels with the chance to debate rebranding further Akkeron hotels at some point,” commented Duncan Berry, UK chief executive, Choice Hotels Europe.

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