Mr Ulf Bremer, general manager of the deluxe harbour-front Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, is pleased to announce the appointment of Julian Wipper to the position of resident manager, effective 18 August 2014.
In Asia, where consumer trends are continuously shifting the way online travel brands build and market their product offerings, there is everything to play for. With votes now in from a recent EyeforTravel survey, which asked senior travel executives to share what they see as emerging opportunities in APAC, we outline five not-to -be-missed online marketing trends in travel right now.
The business tourism market is not homogenous, according to Professor Bob McKercher and Grace Ho of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in a recently published research paper. The "filtering effect" of distance influences the tourist profiles and behavioural patterns of business visitors from short- and long-haul source markets. Focusing on in-bound tourists to Hong Kong, the researchers reveal that despite general similarities, the two types of visitor have different profiles and travel, activity and expenditure patterns. Knowledge of these differences, they argue, will be beneficial to hospitality and tourism enterprises and the local destination marketing organisation.
As no travel experience should be the same, in continuing to providing quality accommodation for different travellers, Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong welcomes newly refashioned Superior Room and Premier Room in its collection with Both completely made over, Superior Room at this Hotel Causeway Bay Hong Kong is now presented with a serene design while Premier Room, is promised to help craft a refined travel memory.
Swissôtel Beijing, Hong Kong Macau Center has appointed Stephen Fewell as general manager. Fewell arrives back at Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts after holding the title of general manager for Langham Place Hotel, Beijing, China. Fewell started with Swissôtel in 2008 as the general manager of Swissôtel Kunshan and later moved to the Swissôtel in Sochi, where he and his team prepared for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Holding a bachelor degree in international business and information technology as well as a master degree in management, Mael has built his career within the Accor Group since 2006. Starting as a General Manager of three hotels under various Accor brands in London, he was then promoted to be Area General Manager of London. He moved to China in 2009 as General Manager of Ibis Beijing Sanyuan, followed by the position of Director Delegate to supervise 18 Ibis properties in Eastern China. Prior to joining ONYX Hospitality Group, Mael was the Resident Manager of the Ibis Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan Hotel. Mael will lead the operations team of OZO Wesley and report to Simon Dell – Vice President of Operations of ONYX’s North Asia division.
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) presented Christopher Hur with the 2014 inaugural Rising Star Award Asia Pacific. As the Vice President of Acquisitions & Development of Host Hotels & Resorts, Hur plays an important role in the investment decisions that Host makes in the Asia Pacific region. Hur has lived and worked in Asia for the past seven years and is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) presented Christopher Hur with the 2014 inaugural Rising Star Award Asia Pacific. As the Vice President of Acquisitions & Development of Host Hotels & Resorts, Hur plays an important role in the investment decisions that Host makes in the Asia Pacific region. Hur has lived and worked in Asia for the past seven years and is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
Metropark Hotels, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong China Travel which operates several hotels throughout the region, has released details of an upsurge in sales performance and guest satisfaction since initiating a sales training program by TSA Solutions, the industry's premier training and sales revenue enhancing specialist. Properties in Metropark's portfolio that have opted into the program include Metropark Lido Hotel Beijing, Grand Metropark Resort Sanya, Grand Metropark Hotel Suzhou, Grand Metropark Yuantong Hotel Beijing and Metropark Service Apartment Shanghai. Previously utilizing an internal training program, these hotels have since observed a considerable improvement in the reservation and suggestive sales ability of the team, measurably impacting property revenues.
Online customer reviews can provide crucial aid to hotel managers in understanding the drivers of customer satisfaction, argue Professor Rob Law of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors. In an article published recently, the researchers examine the content of online hotel reviews, identify the hotel features to which customers attach most importance, and highlight those features with which customers are most and least satisfied. The analysis, suggest the researchers, reveals a number of areas that hotel managers may wish to consider in the drive to "improve their hotels and satisfy more customers".
The Peninsula Hotels has been recognized by the Cannes Corporate and Media TV Awards for its brand heritage documentary, "Tradition Well Served," which received the top Golden Dolphin award.
Sara Kearney has been selected as Senior Vice President of Operations - Asia Pacific. During her 30-year career at Hyatt, Kearney has held a wide variety of operations, marketing and brand strategy roles. In this new position, Kearney will be responsible for the strategic planning of Hyatt’s direction in the region, overseeing operations and talent development. The selection follows the move of Pete Sears, a 27-year Hyatt veteran, from Asia Pacific to take on the position of Group President, Americas. - See more at: http://ehotelier.com/news/2014/10/09/5- senior-leadership-changes-at-hyatt-asia-pacific#sthash.hRAIAPFx.dpuf
Katie Carter has been selected as Vice President of Human Resources, Asia Pacific. Carter will focus on leadership and talent development, associate engagement and ensuring that Hyatt’s strong culture of empathy and innovation continues to drive preference among existing and prospective associates. Carter assumes the role from Sharon White, who after 30 years of dedicated service to Hyatt is set to retire by December 2014. - See more at: http://ehotelier.com/news/2014/10/09/5-senior-leadership-changes-at-hyatt-asia- pacific#sthash.hRAIAPFx.dpuf
Chorengel will support the driving and optimization of hotel revenue streams and devise strategy to enable the speedy ramp up of new hotels. She will also assist hotels with delivering experiences designed for each brand’s target customers. Having worked for Hyatt for 25 years, Chorengel’s previous role was VP of brands, Asia Pacific.
Phoebe Teo has been announced as JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s new senior vice president of strategic advisory. Relocating from Singapore to Hong Kong, Ms Teo marks JLL’s first appointment in the city. Phoebe joined the firm in Singapore in March 2001 and transferred to the Europe team in March 2004 and since then has been responsible for delivery of valuation and other reports and advice on a wide range of hotel properties, from budget to luxury hotels and has carried out assignments in locations including the UK, Northern Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, The Netherlands, Spain, Malta, Mauritius and Turkey.
Advertising expenditures lead to increased risk for publically listed firms in the US restaurant sector, argue Dr YongHee Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors in a published research paper. The researchers analyse the financial data of firms listed as 'retail-eating places' by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and find that contrary to intentions, advertising expenditure actually increases total and firm-specific risk. Restaurants, they argue, need to change the focus of their advertising from short-term promotion-related gains to the "unique benefits" they offer to "enjoy more stable cash flows".
Didi Chan has been appointed director of revenue at the Langham Hong Kong. Having worked in revenue management for nearly 10 years, Ms Chan has held senior positions at the Langham’s sister hotel in Hong Kong, Langham Place Mongkok, including director of revenue & director of e-business.
This week Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) opened the HFTP Asia Research Center in collaboration with the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The purpose of the new office is to expand HFTP's presence in the region by providing further education and professional development to hospitality practitioners in Asia. To facilitate this initiative HFTP has donated $100,000 USD and will establish a student exchange scholarship, a faculty research development fund and an applied research fund.
Mr. Rodrigues was the general manager of The Charterhouse Causeway Bay Hong Kong prior to joining New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel. He possesses more than 29 years hospitality experience across Asia having held hotel leadership positions for InterContinental Hotels, Dusit Hotels & Resorts, and Royal Princess Hotels and Resorts. In 2013, he graduated with an MBA in International Hospitality and Industry Service Management from the Glion Institute of Higher Education, Switzerland. Mr. Rodrigues started his hotel career with Marina Mandarin Singapore after graduating from SHATEC, Singapore and Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland.
Miramar Hotel & Investment Company, Ltd (Miramar Group) - owner of The Mira Hong Kong and recently opened Mira Moon Hotel will open its latest boutique hotel, Mira Cube in January 2015. Conceptualized with the motto of a "five star shower and first class sleep", Mira Cube will be offering stylish accommodation, state-of-the-art communications technology, convenient location at value driven prices for both business and leisure travellers.