Hong Kong-based Rosewood Hotel Group has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of Ms. Niamh O’Connell to the newly created position of group vice president of wellness development. In her role, Ms. O’Connell will lead and supervise the strategic, global development of spa, wellness and recreation operations for the group’s existing hotels and new projects.
Ms. Trish Luyckx has been appointed vice president of design and project services for Hong Kong-based Rosewood Hotel Group, to assist Mr. John Shamon, senior vice president of design and project services, to manage and oversee 27 new projects currently announced across the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts and pentahotels brands.
In partnership with the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) presented Nihat Ercan with this year's 2015 Rising Star Award Asia Pacific. During his 13 years with JLL, Ercan has conducted over USD4.5 billion in hospitality transactions including a number of landmark deals like the Grand Park Orchard Road Singapore and the InterContinental Hong Kong – two of the largest single hotel transactions ever recorded in Asia.
Hong Kong -- The Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, New York is delighted to announce the debut of its 42 restyled one- and two-bedroom suites, which feature panoramic views of Central Park, the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline. Through curated partnerships that blend elements of art, culture, fashion and gastronomy, the suite experience has been enhanced with an array of exclusive amenities and programs.
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) offers one-year MSc degrees in International Hospitality Management and Tourism and Convention Management to individuals who strive to extend the frontiers of their knowledge and fast track their careers.
Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong will be rebranded to Cordis, Hong Kong on 26 August 2015, making it the first of a new generation of curated upscale hotels by Langham Hospitality Group that is devoted to the guests' needs and well-being, catering to both business and leisure travellers. Announced globally earlier this year, Cordis derives its name from the Latin term meaning "heart." The brand's concept focuses on the core pillars of intuitive service, connectivity, sophistication and a sense of community. "The launch of Cordis, Hong Kong is a significant milestone in our long-term growth plan to introduce Cordis hotels and resorts across the region," says Robert Warman, chief executive officer of Langham Hospitality Group. "Each Cordis hotel will be individual in style, architecture and design, all of which will be reflective of its location and culture, and tailored to the requirements of our guests, from corporate travellers to honeymooners to multi-generational families. For example, Cordis, Hong Kong is vibrant, modern, and features family-friendly facilities and amenities that complement its bustling neighbourhood." Shaun Campbell, general manager of Cordis, Hong Kong, adds, "We pride ourselves in offering exciting restaurant concepts that are great for socialising, fun kids' programs, and tailored neighbourhood excursions for our guests to enjoy." As part of its new sensory identity, Cordis, Hong Kong also has created its own signature scent, Sparkling Mint - a new, contemporary ambient fragrance exclusively designed by Master Perfumer Christophe Laudamiel for the brand. The recently renovated Cordis, Hong Kong has 664 rooms and suites offering views of scenic vistas, with spacious marble bathrooms outfitted with oversized bathtubs. Stunning works of over 1,500 pieces of contemporary Chinese art valued at over HKD$35 million adorn the walls and public spaces of the hotel. With the hotel's recently refurbished private Club Lounge located on the 36th level, guests staying on the club floors and suites can enjoy panoramic views of Hong Kong over breakfast, tea, light meals, snacks and cocktails. Guests at Cordis, Hong Kong can expect to order their meals from a carefully planned food and beverage menu by a nutritionist. The hotel's bar and four restaurants include Ming Court, the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant; Alibi with its European-inspired shared plates restaurant and bar; The Place, home to one of the city's most popular buffet restaurants, and The Backyard, an eco-chic terrace lounge. To ensure guests are well connected, all guest rooms are equipped with a handy smartphone where guests get complimentary unlimited local and international IDD calls to Australia, China, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States, along with 3G data connectivity and wi-fi tethering anywhere in the city, making communication seamless and easy to stay connected to families, friends and businesses anytime. For business travellers and event planners, Cordis, Hong Kong offers extensive and innovative meeting and event facilities wired with state-of-the-art technology. There are 16 contemporary meeting and event spaces catering to conferences and meetings, private events, receptions and cocktails. Meeting facilities come with multiple new technology advancements including a super-sized 6.7 by 3.4-metre hi definition LED screen at the Ballroom, new Lumens Projectors and Portable Touch-Screens. After a day working or shopping, guests can relax to underwater music in the rooftop pool or burn off some energy in the 24-hour fitness centre. For those needing rejuvenation, Chuan Spa offers meditation and treatments that are based upon traditional Chinese medicine. Cordis, Hong Kong is also directly connected to the Langham Place Shopping Mall which houses over 200 shops. Within walking distance to many of Hong Kong's major attractions and an adjacent underground railway system, the hotel is just a 35-minute subway or taxi ride from Hong Kong's International Airport. In celebration of the launch of Cordis, Hong Kong, guests who book their accommodation with the best available rate between 26 August 2015 to 9 September 2015 for stays from 26 August to 30 December 2015 may enjoy the following exclusive privileges and benefits with their booking:•Complimentary bottle of Perrier Jouët Champagne•Late checkout at 3:00pm (subject to availability)•Complimentary 30 minutes extension upon any purchase of a 60-minute spa treatmentCordis, Hong Kong Factual Information: Hotel Facilities• 4 restaurants • rooftop swimming pool • Jacuzzi • Chuan Spa• 24 hour fitness studio • Cordis Service on call 24 hours Room Facilities • 664 guestrooms with a choice of 19 room-types ranging from a 26m² Superior Room to the 158m² Chairman Suite • mini-bar • flat-screen TV • iHome • complimentary wi-fi• coffeemaker • floor-to-ceiling windows • oversized bath & shower• handy smartphone with unlimited local & international calls to five countries, wi-fi & 3G Internet connection
Dorsett Hospitality International is pleased to announce the promotion of Barry Lo, the Resident Manager of Silka Seaview and Silka West Kowloon as the General Manager for both hotels in Hong Kong. Barry has been with the Group since March 2004 and was part of the pre-opening team for Silka West Kowloon and Silka Far East Hotel. Prior to his promotion, Barry was assisting Richard Kwong, Cluster General Manager of Silka Seaview and Silka West Kowloon. In his new position, Barry will be responsible for the overall day-to-day operation and profitability of both hotels, reporting directly to Richard Kwong; who now heads the Silka Hotels brand in Hong Kong and with an expanded role in the operations of Dorsett Wuhan and Lushan Resort, both located in Mainland China.
Dorsett Hospitality International is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Au as the General Manager of Dorsett Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.
Born in San Sebastian, Spain, Chef Samper is a seasoned culinary professional with over 20 years of experience.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announces that it has agreed to sell IHG's ownership interest in InterContinental Hong Kong (the "Hotel") to Supreme Key Limited, a consortium of investors advised and managed by Gaw Capital Partners (the "Buyer"), for a gross purchase price of US$938m. The Buyer has paid a cash deposit to IHG of $94m, with the remaining proceeds payable in cash on completion.
Mr. Kwek Leng Beng, Executive Chairman of the Hong Leong Group of Companies in Singapore, will be presented with the HICAP Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th annual HICAP being held 14-16 October 2015, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) released a report on the PolyU Tourist Satisfaction Index (PolyU TSI) and the Tourism Service Quality Index (PolyU TSQI), presenting both indices for Hong Kong in the year 2014. The 2014 PolyU TSI and PolyU TSQI stood at 74.50 and 74.51 respectively, both recording year-on-year drops.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin Bahn as Vice President of Global Sales for Asia Pacific. In this capacity, Benjamin is charged with overseeing all sales activities driven by the company’s dynamic team of 10 associates in seven offices across the region to ensure strategic engagement and retention of the company’s member hotels.“Benjamin’s appointment comes at a pivotal period of growth for Preferred Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific. His expertise and rich experience will prove instrumental in supporting our goal to continue the momentum our sales team has created in driving more incremental business and revenue to our member hotels across the region,” says Richard White, Senior Vice President of Global Sales.
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), in partnership with the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), has announced a call for nominations for the second annual Rising Star Award Asia Pacific. This is an important award, as both organizations recognize the importance of identifying and saluting future hospitality leaders in the Asia Pacific region.
Hotels in Hong Kong that are looking to implement environmentally friendly policies should consider the knowledge, awareness, attitudes and behaviour of their employees, according to the Drs Eric Chan, Alice Hon, Wilco Chan of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-researcher. Attempting to implement new policies with employees who are unwilling to change their behaviour could increase staff turnover and reduce the success of the programme. Selecting the right employees and providing in-depth training on environmental issues are thus important strategies for ecologically conscious hotels.
Marriott International Asia Pacific (APAC) announced today that Simon F. Cooper, President and Managing Director of Asia Pacific, will retire at the end of the month and Craig S. Smith, currently President of Marriott International Caribbean & Latin America (CALA), succeeded Mr. Cooper on June 1, 2015.
With his distinct culinary mastery, Chef Raymond Cheung joins Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui as the hotel’s Executive Chef.
Burba Hotel Network (BHN), Horwath HTL, and Stiles Capital Events, co-hosts and organizers of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), are pleased to announce that entries for the HICAP 2015 Sustainable Hotel Awards are now being accepted. The deadline for Awards submissions is 31 July 2015. The 26th annual HICAP will be held 14-16 October 2015, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
Professor Bob McKercher was elected President of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (IAST) in April 2015. Professor Bob McKercher is a Professor in Tourism in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has been a tourism academic since 1990, beginning his career at the Albury-Wodonga campus of Charles Sturt University. Prior to that, Professor McKercher worked in the Canadian tourism industry in a variety of advocacy and operational roles. He was also a ski instructor and back country guide. Professor McKercher spent four years as Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Outfitters Association, a trade association representing the wilderness fishing lodges in northern Canada. Professor McKercher has wide ranging research interests. He has published over 200 scholarly papers and research reports on a variety of cultural tourism, socio-cultural tourism, nature-based tourism, regional tourism development, tourism marketing and tourism education issues. He is the author of The Business of Nature-based Tourism (1998) and co-authored Cultural Tourism: The partnership between tourism and cultural heritage management (2002). He has also co-edited two other books. Professor McKercher is the member of the editorial board of 15 international tourism journals. He received his PhD from the University of Melbourne in Australia, a Masters degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada and his undergraduate degree from York University in Toronto, Canada. Professor McKercher is a member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, a Fellow of CAUTHE, the Council for Australian Tourism and Hospitality Education and is listed in Who’s Who Asia.
Ulf Bremer, general manager of Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alessandro Angelini to the position of chef at Angelini Italian Restaurant. With over 20 years of experience in the culinary industry, Rimini native Chef Alessandro has been exposed to the gourmet world spanning Europe, North America and Asia. Chef Alessandro is no stranger to the Shangri-La group, and not new to the Hong Kong dining scene either. He joins Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong from the Hong Kong-based Gaia Group, where he served as executive chef at Joia Restaurant for seven years. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Rosso Italian restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta. He has also worked as a chef for several sophisticated establishments, including Michelin-starred Italian restaurants in Ngapali Beach (Myanmar), Venice, London and Los Angeles. “We are thrilled to have Alessandro Angelini at Angelini to lead the culinary team in continuing to pamper the palate of our discerning guests,” said Mr Bremer.