Commenting on performance of the London hotel market since the successful bid to host the Games was announced, Liz Hall, head of hospitality and leisure research at PwC, said: "London is a city at the top of its game and the considerable investment in new hotels and improving existing ones will leave a powerful legacy for 2012 and beyond.
London will continue to far outpace the rest of the European hotel market as the city readies itself for the Olympics and Paralympics taking place during July, August and September, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. In the first five months of 2012, the London hotel market added 2,000 rooms to its available supply, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) improved by 3.1 percent compared to the same period in 2011,
Horst Schulze is one of the most important hoteliers of our time. The German descent business man represents the principles of the luxury hospitality like no one else. Heading the Ritz-Carlton group for many years in the past he has created the widely known principle "We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen". Today Schulze runs one of the most prestigious international hotel groups with his Capella Hotels. According to TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the leading data research service for international hotel construction projects, he is currently developing five further top hotels and resorts.
Magnuson Hotels, the world's largest independent hotel group, announced today their expansion into Hungary with the addition of the Villa Medici Hotel and Restaurant in Veszprém, a superb tourist destination approximately 15 km (9 mi) north of the Lake Balaton.
Apartment hotels are certainly not a new concept in Spain, writes María Rosa Barcia of Horwath HTL’s Barcelona office. Condo-hotels, on the other hand, most definitely are. She filed this report on how this new industry segment will be presenting interesting opportunities in 2012 in Spain, one of the world’s top tourist destinations.
Paphos, Cyprus: Magnuson Hotels, the world's largest independent hotel group, announced today their expansion into Cyprus, with the addition of the Corallia Beach Hotel in Paphos, one of the most exciting destinations on the Mediterranean coast.
The British Hospitality Association is working with the CSSC (Community Safety & Security Communication) project to help inform the hospitality industry and our members of issues regarding public safety & security particularly during the Olympic games period with a legacy for the future.
'The Resilience to Fraud of the UK Hotel Sector' survey – the most comprehensive study of its type ever undertaken – looks at how well the industry protects itself against fraud, highlighting where it is getting it right and identifying areas for improvement.
A snapshot survey of the UK hotel industry conducted with the readers of hotel-industry.co.uk throughout December has revealed that the industry is feeling overwhelmingly positive about doing business in 2012. More than 65% of respondents agreed that they felt positive about doing business in 2012, despite the gloomy financial climate.
At the end of 2011 the share of the Dutch hotel supply that is chain related is 61%: of all Dutch hotel rooms only 39% still is independent of hotel chains. This is the result of new research by Horwath HTL. The chain rate of 61% is considerably higher than the European average. Moreover, compared to the chain rate of 35% some 10 years ago it means an extraordinary fast advance of hotel chains. Of all hotel chains Van der Valk Hotels en Restaurants, the oldest Dutch hotel chain, has the largest market share by far. Also the international NH Hoteles takes a leading position in the Dutch hotel market.
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and the market leader in Europe, is set to realise its ambition to increase the UK network to 300 hotels by 2015 with the signing of a franchise agreement with Jupiter Hotels Ltd, the new owners of the former Jarvis hotels. This is a landmark deal for the UK hotel industry in 2011.
Great Britain’s largest group of independent hotels, Best Western, has today announced a change to the structure of its 276 hotels. Today Richard Lewis, newly appointed CEO of Best Western, launched three hotel tiers; Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier, in a move that sees the company embark upon a nationwide brand enhancement strategy.
A hotel in orbit, lunar sightseeing flights and luxury rides into the cosmos -- all are part of Russia's vision to ensure it is not left behind in the growing space tourism industry. Russian firms unveiled their plans at the country's premiere air show this week at Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, saying the race was on to build a new craft to take people into space following the retirement of NASA's space shuttle in April.
With one year to go until the start of the Games, hoteliers in the capital have begun taking advantage of an anticipated influx in visitors from home and abroad. Although the majority of hotels have not yet released their rates for the period covering the Games – July 27-August 12 – those which have are quoting prices well in excess of what they would usually be at that time of year.
France granted a few top hotels the right to call themselves a "palace" on Thursday, a label which distinguishes them from rivals and is designed to boost the country's profile as a luxury destination. The eight winners of the accolade include Paris hotels Meurice and Plaza-Athenee, both owned by the Sultan of Brunei, as well as the Bristol hotel, owned by Germany's Oetker family.
Check Safety First has joined forces with Diversey -- a leading supplier of hygiene and cleaning systems -- with the aim of supporting the Portuguese hotel industry in managing the issue of health and safety. Diversey has licensed Check Safety First's risk management audit system, E-Cristal, and will target hotels with this solution.
The prestigious Wyndham Grand, London Chelsea Harbour has implemented health and safety expert, Check Safety First's online E-Cristal health and safety risk management system to ensure the wellbeing of its guests.
The British government is pulling back its support of a hotel star rating system, but that doesn’t mean the program is going anywhere. The Independent reported the British government favors a consumer-led system. But VisitEngland, one of the organizers of the national star rating system, said the existing program will be updated and not dissolved. John Penrose, the British minister of tourism, wrote in a 1 February blog that consumer-driven websites are increasingly important, and he advised travelers not to “take any one source as gospel.”
VingCard Elsafe, the global leader in hospitality security and part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, recently completed installation of its Signature RFID by VingCard contactless electronic door locks with NFC cell phone compatibility at the Kyriad Marseille Centre-Rabatou in Marseille, France. Located a few steps from the Congress Palace and the city's Stadium, the 88-room Louvre Hotels property is conveniently located close to the city's main attractions, public transportation stops and superb beaches, making it an attractive location for both leisure and business travelers.
The first Swissôtel Living, a new, exclusive residence concept by Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts, was recently unveiled at Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul. Sixty-three elegant apartments in a range of sizes, from studios to 1 – 3 bedrooms, offer the ultimate in style and luxury, and allow guests to enjoy the full range of hotel services within the comfort of their own four walls. More Swissôtel Living residences will follow in the future in other Swissôtel destinations.