Kempinski Hotels and The Stafford London Terminate Management Agreement
Kempinski Hotels and The Stafford Hotel Ltd. have announced that they have mutually and amicably agreed to end the management agreement for The Stafford London by Kempinski.
News
VI Hotels assumes management of Marriott Hotel Minsk
Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG (VI), the biggest Austrian hotel operator, is acting as management partner for the 5-star Marriott Hotel Minsk. The opening of the high-end property is planned for the beginning of 2015.
Why a UK verdict on OTA hotel pricing could be a game changer | bighospitality.co.uk
Skyscanner’s appeal on the Competition and Markets Authority’s decision to cut short an investigation of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)’ hotel pricing practices could lead to a rebalancing of the hotel-OTA relationship.
Oxford School of Hospitality Management awards Honorary Doctorate to David Levin
David Levin, one of the UK's most distinguished hoteliers, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Oxford School of Hospitality Management (Oxford Brookes University) at a graduation ceremony on June 19th 2014. Levin is Proprietor of the Capital Group Ltd, which has a portfolio that includes the Capital and Levin Hotels, both in Knightsbridge; the London Bakery; and the Levin Winery in the Loire Valley in France. Over the years David Levin has nurtured the talents of many young professionals who have gone on to become some of the most influential players in UK hospitality.
"Welcome award" : The “Oscar” of Hospitality for Swiss Hotels
"Welcome" is the title of a small statue representing the famous "man with the golden keys", the hotel concierge, who ensures that the needs of hotel guests are always met.
VI Hotels & Resorts continues to expand in Germany
The Austrian hotel operator VI Hotels & Resort is taking over two further hotels effective 1 April 2014. With the Arcadia hotels in Landsberg am Lech and in Bad Oeynhausen, the group's portfolio now includes 12 hotels in Germany.
Bournemouth University student hospitality management team wins first international ‘Passion4Hospitality Business Management Game 2014’
Hospitality management students from Bournemouth University's School of Tourism have won the very first international 'Passion4Hospitality Management Business Game 2014'. In the final – held last week at University College Birmingham – the Bournemouth University team beat off the fierce challenge of hospitality management student teams from runner-up Lucerne-based IMI University Centre Switzerland; and joint third-placed University College Birmingham and Ipswich-based University Campus Suffolk.
Bournemouth University Hospitality students ‘do the double’ at Passion 4 Hospitality
Hospitality management students were given a flying start to their careers as their talents for public speaking and decision making were put to the test at Passion 4 Hospitality (P4H), the annual debating competition and careers forum organised by the Institute of Hospitality. Bournemouth University emerged as the winners not only of the live debating competition but also of the virtual hotel business simulation competition run by HOTS and arena4finance.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts Announces Management Contracts For Ibis Budget Hotels In Derby And Leicester
Interstate Hotels & Resorts – the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company – announces new UK management contracts for ibis budget Hotel Derby and ibis budget Hotel Leicester. The new hotels increase Interstate's rapidly expanding UK portfolio by 154 guestrooms and cements its position as the premier hotel management company in the UK, raising its collection to 49 hotels managed and signed.
Hilton Lands At Munich Airport; Rebrands Kempinski Munich Airport Hotel
Hilton Worldwide has signed an agreement which will see it rebrand a 389-key hotel within Munich Airport under its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. The property is the only hotel with a direct link to the main terminal building and is the latest addition to the company's expanding portfolio of hotels at European transport hubs.
Eternal rival
Old England did a successful publicity stunt. London is strutting about on the radio waves and in the gazettes boasting first place as world tourism capital with 16 million international visitors, ahead of Paris, Bangkok and New York. TYPO3SEARCH_begin CONTENT ELEMENT, uid:72857/text [begin] Text: [begin]
By Georges Panayotis, President & Founder of MKG Group & Hospitality ON, Hospitality ON
Steigenberger Hotel Group looks back to a successful year 2013
A number of new hotels were opened or joined the Steigenberger family in Germany under the brand name Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts (in Bremen and Braunschweig); internationally, new hotels were opened in Brussels (Belgium) and Madinat Makadi (Egypt). At Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof in Frankfurt/Main the guest rooms were refurbished and a large SPA was added, and Steigenberger Parkhotel in Düsseldorf was improved with new terraces, restaurants and guest rooms, following extensive modernisation work to provide contemporary comfort of the highest quality. Steigenberger Inselhotel in Constance re-opened in renewed splendour, in Switzerland, Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère re-opened in Davos, and Steigenberger Alpenhotel and Spa in Gstaad-Saanen. Steigenberger Hotel and Spa in Krems re-opened in Austria. In 2013 the Steigenberger Hotel Group also opened new, highly attractive InterCityHotels in Leipzig and Berlin, and refurbished five more in various German cities. The Steigenberger Hotel Group is to maintain its expansion course in 2014. It has exciting new openings coming up for the Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts brand. The first of these will be in Beijing with "Hotel Maximilian" managed by Steigenberger, within the "Audi World" complex with Training Center and Showroom. That will be followed by another Steigenberger in Berlin, that is Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt (next to the Chancellery), and in Hurghada (Egypt). The InterCityHotel brand is also growing, with new hotels opening in 2014 in Hamburg, Ingolstadt and Duisburg, and in Enschede (Netherlands). There will be plenty more new openings in the coming years, most of them abroad. Many of the contracts have already been signed. The Supervisory Board also decided in its meeting to enlarge the Management Board, appointing Michel Novatin as Management Board member with responsibility for Operations, Sales and Marketing, from 1 January 2014. He comes from France/Alsace and was trained at the Hotel and Management School in Strasbourg and INSEAD Paris; he then gained practical experience in numerous international hotel companies, including positions at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Le Méridien Hotels, SBM Monte Carlo and Kempinski Hotels. The enlargement of the Management Board will enable Chief Executive Officer Puneet Chhatwal to concentrate more on international expansion of this heritage hotel company, alongside his responsibility for Communications and Strategy. Matthias Heck will continue to be responsible for Human Resources, Finance, Accounting and Construction. "I am delighted that we can now enlarge the Board of the Steigenberger Hotels AG to include Mr Novatin. He will be a great enrichment, particularly in this phase of expansion, thanks to his many years of experience – he has a strong track record which is both international and exceptional," said Dr Ralf Corsten, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Oxford School of Hospitality Management ranked top in United Kingdom
The Oxford School of Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University has again been ranked the top provider of hospitality management education in the United Kingdom.
Vienna International Hotels taking over sixth Arcadia Hotel in Germany
The expansion of Vienna International Hotels & Resorts (VI) in Germany continues unabated with the acquisition of the 3-star Arcadia Hotel in Neckarsulm effective 14 December 2013. The Austrian hotel operator now manages nine hotels in Germany.
Sofitel to Manage Hotel Concorde Berlin in Germany; To Rebrand as the Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm
Sofitel has signed a management contract for the Hotel Concorde Berlin which, as of February 1st 2014, will be operated under its new name, the Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® to Manage Hôtel de Crillon
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® has been appointed to manage the legendary Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. Rosewood is widely regarded as a leading ultra-luxury hotel company whose portfolio includes both contemporary classics and historic properties such as Rosewood London and The Carlyle, the quintessential New York hotel. Hôtel de Crillon is currently closed while it undergoes a complete restoration lasting two years and will reopen in 2015.
World Ski Awards winners revealed in Kitzbühel, Austria
World Ski Awards has recognised the very best in the global ski tourism industry during its inaugural Gala Ceremony at A-ROSA Kitzbühel this evening. The event, attended by 200 handpicked guests, saw the title of World's Best Ski Resort go to Val Thorens (France), while Bighorn, Revelstoke (Canada) took World's Best Ski Chalet, Aurelio Lech (Austria) won World's Best Ski Boutique Hotel and World's Best Ski Hotel went to The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (USA). In a special presentation at the end of the evening, the WSA Academy presented a unique trophy for Outstanding Services to Ski Tourism to Dr Josef Burger, chief executive of the Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel. Taking place over the weekend of November 15th-17th in Austria's legendary winter sports destination, guests are taking part in a three day programme of unrivalled networking events, dinners, and exclusive ski experience activities. Ski tourism figureheads and market leaders from North America, Europe Asia, South America and Australasia were in attendance as the World Ski Awards winners were unveiled this evening. Sion Rapson, managing director, World Ski Awards, said: "The reaction to this – our inaugural event – has been phenomenal. Hundreds of thousands travel professionals and skiers across the globe have voted for their favourite resorts, chalets and hotels. Tonight's winners can take enormous pride – they have been voted the finest in class." "On behalf of World Ski Awards, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the ski tourism figureheads and market leaders who have joined us this weekend. From here in Austria all the way to Japan, Australia and Canada, our winners represent the best in ski from every corner of the globe." "And what better place to celebrate than right here at A-ROSA Kitzbühel. Home to the legendary Hahnenkamm Race, this historic medieval town is synonymous with ski tourism and one of the world's most iconic winter sports destinations." World Ski Awards is the sister organisation of World Travel Awards, which is heralded as "the Oscars of the travel industry". Uwe Schramm, general manager of the A-Rosa Resort Kitzbühel said: "We are happy to have been the hosts of the first annual World Ski Awards ever. Welcoming the international players of the ski tourism industry in Kitzbühel and celebrating our achievements together is a great honour for us." "I want to personally congratulate all winners from so many different places of the world such as Australia, Japan, Canada, Finland an the Unites States and many more, who all came to Kitzbühel, an incredible location to experience a charismatic mix of endearing tradition and glamorous cosmopolitan atmosphere." "Winning an award as 'Austria's Best Ski Hotel' ourselves was definitely the cherry topping of this thrilling evening."
The UK's best and worst hotel chains | theguardian.com
With thousands of bedrooms in as many locations, it's easy to imagine that chain hotels all offer the same bland, basic experience. However a new survey by Which? reveals they may not be as homogenous as you think, with a huge difference in quality between the best and worst brands.
Dorchester Collection to Manage Rome’s Iconic Hotel Eden
Dorchester Group Limited has acquired the 121-room Hotel Eden from Starman Hotels. Effective from 18 September 2013, Dorchester Collection will manage the hotel and continue to work closely together with the previous management company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, to ensure a smooth transition for hotel guests, partners and employees.
trivago Reputation Ranking: Greece Tops Mediterranean Destinations
With the summer holidays drawing close, hotel comparison website www.trivago.co.uk has ranked Mediterranean beach destinations according to the reputation of their hotels. The reputation percentage is calculated from over 34 million user ratings and reviews compiled from over 160 booking sites. Included in the ranking are destinations with over 5000 aggregated reviews.