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  • 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.

  • Multi-Destination Tourism to be discussed at sustainable tourism meeting

    The issue of Multi-Destination Tourism (MDT) is certainly one of regional importance that might be addressed on the upcoming 24th Meeting of the Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

    For over five years, the ACS, through its Directorate of Sustainable Tourism, have been engaged within the development of a Multi-Destination Tourism Program which seeks to facilitate dialogue and cooperation some of the regional stakeholders within the tourism and transport sectors. The target is to maintain the “Caribbean” destination market share in extra-regional markets and increase intra-regional tourist flows.

    In this regard, the Directorate will inform of advances made within the organising of Aviation Day Caribbean, pursuant to outreach to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA). Aviation Day Caribbean will gather the Regional Tourism and Transport Authorities with the airline executives, to facilitate collaboration, networking, and dialogue. This high-level forum is scheduled for November 13, 2013 in Cancun, Mexico, and the ACS can be partnering with both the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and ALTA for the hosting of this event.

    This initiative responds to calls from various regional governments in advocating for the region to explore incentives and methods to reinforce regional carriers; enhance intra-regional travel; and thru joint airlift agreements, increase linkages between regional- and international-based airlines as section of a broad-based technique to boost tourist arrivals.

    The advances and way forward on issues inclusive of regional collaboration within the area of sustainable tourism is another topic that occupies equal importance at the agenda. Emphasis should be put on achieving consensus at the way forward within the project to determine the Sustainable Tourism Zone of Greater Caribbean (STZC). The Directorate was collaborating with the Regional Council of Martinique for the conceptualisation of a regional cooperation mechanism for dialogue, interaction, and engagement of the participating destinations, and Regional Tourism Authorities, in addition to to facilitate consultation with regional cooperation and funding agencies for integrated planning among STZC stakeholders.

    This project will facilitate the growth of the Sustainability Indicators Project to incorporate a minimum of one destination in all of the ACS Member States. Additionally, a domain shall be developed to operate as a data, marketing, and resource tool, to support the establishment and promotion of the STZC and the Greater Caribbean Region in international tourism markets. Along with showcasing the region’s destinations, the web site could be equipped with tools for the sustainable management of tourism destinations and data conducive to adopting sustainable tourism practices for destination mangers, regional governments, and the general public at large.

    The ACS acknowledges that increasing cooperation one of many countries of the Greater Caribbean Region is important in positioning the region as ONE Greater Caribbean Destination. With its proposed initiatives, the ACS has sought to tap into existing and potential synergies by increasing collaboration in crosscutting problems with mutual interest, which might be achieved through a strategy of knowledge exchange, alliances, and partnerships for horizontal cooperation.

    The Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism meetings held annually shall be chaired by the President of the Martinique Committee on Sustainable Tourism, Mrs. Karine Roy-Camille. High-level officials in attendance include the Minister of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honorable Stephen Cadiz; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Juliana Johan-Boodram; and Acting CEO of the Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC), Ms. Yolande Selman. Besides participating inside the meeting, the Ministry of Tourism and the TDC are collaborating closely with the ACS in hosting the meeting.

    Other high-level delegations from ACS Member and Associate Member Countries, in addition to representatives from regional organisations, also are expected to be in attendance because the region seeks to pursue a collaborative approach within the advancement of the ACS Sustainable Tourism Work Program.

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  • 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.

  • News: ATA announces new dates for 38th Annual World Congress in Cameroon

    The Africa Travel Association (ATA) announced today that new dates has been set for the 38th annual ATA World Congress in Cameroon. The development shall be held from Wednesday, October 16, to Monday, October 21, 2013.

    After discussions between the Cameroonian Minister of Tourism and Leisure, the Local Organising Congress Committee and ATA’s International Board of Directors, it was agreed to switch the dates of the congress.

    “The key stakeholders decided that it might allow further time for the host country [Cameroon] to deal with the logistics of the sizable event,” said Edward Bergman, ATA’s Executive Director. “Shifting the once a year congress faraway from its historical date in May to October would even be a easier time at the travel industry calendar to host such an incredible industry event.”

    Arik Air would be the official U.S. congress carrier and should offer discounted rates to Douala for delegates attending the 2013 ATA Congress in Cameroon.

  • Germany scores – with excellent value for money

    Whether you’re a tender couple, a family or just a passionate traveller – price always matters. But if it involves accommodation visitors to Germany can’t only depend on excellent value for money, they will even be assured of excellent facilities and repair.

    Comparing accommodation within Europe, German hotel prices score well below the common, in line with the German Hotel Association (IHA). This may increasingly account for the truth that overnight stays in Germany have risen again in 2012 and 3 years in succession. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office reports 68.8 million overnight stays in 2012 – an extra increase of 8.1% in comparison to the former year.

    “Due to the commonly prevailing economic troubles, price sensibility amongst travellers has increased in just about all European countries,” states Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). “Attractive competitive prices make a difference when choosing a travel destination – it is where Germany will always score highly.”

    Room rates within Europe have risen in 2012 by 4.7% to 104 Euro, whereas in Germany they’ve got only risen by 3.4% and a standard rate of 94 Euro. Especially in Germany’s popular cities hotel rates are far below other European destinations.

    Overall, visitor satisfaction can also be high – within the result of GNTO/ERV’s quality monitor 2011/2012 Germany’s value for money ratio was given excellent scores by holiday makers and business travellers alike.