The InterContinental Hotel Group's China strategy came in for a fair bit of criticism and scrutiny last year after opening a luxury hotel in Tibet. However, its latest Chinese venture is far less controversial. The company's chief executive Richard Solomons told our Shanghai correspondent John Sudworth about his plan to open 100 specifically "made-for-China" hotels, under an entirely new brand name; Hualuxe.
Recently appointed as general manger of Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, Zahn will be responsible for all aspects of the hotel’s operations, enhancing employee development and guest satisfaction, strategic planning and brand recognition.
Taking over from John Kockan at Pan Pacific Xiamen is Eric Kee, who joins the Group from his role as Hotel Manager of the expansive 884-room The Excelsior in Hong Kong. A seasoned Malaysian hotelier, Eric has close to two decades of Rooms, Front Office, Operations and general management experience in Greater China and Malaysia at luxury hotels such as The Westin Kuala Lumpur, Mandarin Oriental Macau, Wynn Resort Macau, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing and The Regent Beijing.
Leading Asian hospitality provider, ONYX Hospitality Group has announced two new management contracts to operate properties in China, culminating in seven new properties to be completed on the mainland by 2018 in addition to the 11 existing properties.
Langham Hospitality Group announces an agreement with Anhui Land Investment Company to develop and manage The Langham hotel in Hefei, capital city of Anhui province. Primarily located in the city's new administration and culture centre, just five minutes' walk from the municipal government building, the luxury hotel is seated in a landmark complex comprised of offices and service residences. The Langham, Hefei is scheduled to open in 2016. "We are very pleased to introduce The Langham brand to Hefei, an important city in the East China region," said Robert Warman, chief executive officer of Langham Hospitality Group. "The Langham, Hefei will be a strategic addition to our group's portfolio and will introduce an element of luxury in the market, together with its namesakes located in key destinations across four continents." With the interiors designed by the Bilkey Llinas Design (BLD,) The Langham, Hefei will offer a total of 338 guestrooms and suites. Located on the 31st to 43rd floors of the landmark building, the hotel rooms and suites will all have expansive views of the city landscape and greenery. For guests who appreciate a spacious living space with gracious settings, the hotel has 36 well-appointed one- and two-bedroom suites that range from 72 to 290 square meters (775 to 3,122 square feet.) For 150 years, afternoon tea has been part of The Langham legacy. Palm Court at The Langham, London is famed as the birthplace of the afternoon tea tradition in 1865, an indulgent ritual that continues today. Inspired by the elegant private clubs of the Victoria era, a two-storey domed Palm Court will overlook a wedding pavilion surrounded by trees and the signature Langham pink roses. Designed to become one of the city's social centres for dining, The Langham, Hefei will offer guests a wide variety of innovative restaurants and bars. Experience the best of the world's cuisine all in one place is the all-day dining restaurant, featuring an international buffet and a la carte selections. There will be a specialty bar to enjoy pre-dinner drinks or evening cocktails. And the signature restaurant, T'ang Court, which offers authentic Cantonese culinary masterpieces, reminiscent of its two Michelin-starred namesake at The Langham, Hong Kong, is an ideal choice for family and friends gatherings and entertaining business clients. The Langham, Hefei will also be ideally equipped for meetings and events. Offering nine meeting rooms ranging from 60 to 1,450 square metres (646 to 15,608 square feet,) with state-of-the-art audio, visual and lighting system and equipment, all venues are distinguished by spacious pillar-free design, soaring ceilings and natural lighting. The hotel's largest ballroom is 1,450 square metres with 125 square metres pre-function space, designed to cater for big corporate meetings, conventions, trade shows, or glamorous weddings, gala dinners and cocktail receptions. A separate event lobby and reception desk with direct access through a grand elliptical staircase offers easy access to the event venues, allow for private group check-ins and comfortable break-out sessions. For memorable occasions and high powered meetings, a 236-square metre (2,540-square feet) Star Room on the top floor offers panoramic city views. For an unrivalled retreat of relaxation, the group's signature award-winning Chuan Spa will debut in Hefei. Chuan Spa will have six treatment rooms and offer therapies based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ) using the five elemental forces of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Other recreational facilities include an exercise studio equipped with the latest workout equipment, and an indoor heated free form swimming pool with natural light and an underwater sound system.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has promoted George Wee to regional vice president and general manager, Fairmont Peace Hotel. With this expanded role, Wee will continue to be responsible for the overall operations, performance and strategic directions for the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, but will now also have oversight of Fairmont hotels in China. Wee has over 30 years of experience and joined the company in 2013.
On 8 May 2015 international luxury hotel brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will open the doors to its newest property in the Haigang District of Qinhuangdao, a small seaside city renowned for its blue waters and golden beach. As one of China's more popular summer destinations, Shangri-La Hotel, Qinhuangdao naturally takes prime position along Bohai Bay and is a 15-minute drive to the train station that shuttles travellers via high-speed links to Tianjin and Beijing in under two hours.Qinhuangdao in Hebei province is where history, dating back more than 2,000 years, and the present day meet. The city bears the first Emperor of China's name, Qin Shi Huang, and remnants of the former ruler's Ming Great Wall. Next to the hotel are attractions such as the Olympic Centre, National Forest Park and Xin'ao Marine World. Shanhaiguan Airport is 35 minutes away by car. The Golden Dream Bay, the city's finest address and latest residential and entertainment zone, is home to the 23-storey hotel – a new glass building offering spectacular views all around. Inside the light-filled spaces delicate plum blossoms, found naturally in Qinhuangdao, artistically bloom and the fragrant flowers can be seen as art and intricate light installations, woven in to carpet patterns and embellishing headboards in the guestrooms.
Jean-Jacques Reibel, Managing Director of InterContinental Hong Kong, is pleased to announce the promotion of Danny Tse, currently Executive Assistant Manager – Rooms, to Executive Assistant Manager at InterContinental Hong Kong.
The GBTA Foundation – the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association – announced today that Star Alliance has joined the "Gift of Knowledge" as a Gold Partner. Through the initiative, GBTA will be utilizing funds raised to create and deliver an innovative and comprehensive program to further develop the travel management profession in China.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a management agreement with Syncept Investment Group Co., Ltd for Embassy by Hilton Bo'ao, marking the entry of its Embassy by Hilton brand in China. It will also be the first Embassy by Hilton to be signed in Asia Pacific. Located in Hainan province, China, at Binhai Avenue in the north of Bo'ao, the 300-room hotel is scheduled to open in 2019 and will compete in the upper- upscale, five-star segment catering to domestic and international travelers to Bo'ao, one of Hainan's most popular MICE and leisure destinations.
Susie Sun has extensive Sales and Marketing management experience in hospitality industry and her career has deepen her thoughts through an extensive and impressive list of hotels, both resort and city properties, including Hyatt Recency Jinan, Sofitel Silver Plaza Jinan, Sofitel Boao ,
Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts, the Chinese joint venture hotel management company of Bangkok-based Dusit International, proudly announces it has secured two new hotel projects in China's financial capital.
Regal Hotels has announced the signing of a new project, Regal Kangbo Hotel & Residence, in Dezhou of Shandong Province, China.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced its Asia Pacific (APAC) operation has won a series of prestigious workplace awards within the first four months in 2015, including being named 2015 China Top Employer by Top Employers Institute, one of the Best Workplaces in Asia by Great Place to Workâ and the two Regional Best Employer Awards by Aon Hewitt for Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific respectively.
Jean-Jacques Reibel, Managing Director, InterContinental Hong Kong is pleased to announce that Bryan Chiu, currently Executive Assistant Manager, will replace Charis Yim as of April 20, 2015 as the new Executive Director of Events.
The Chinese Millennial Traveller report, the third in WYSE Travel Confederation's Millennial Traveller series, provides a unique insight into the habits, spending, satisfaction levels and travel styles of Chinese travellers born between the early 1980s and 2000s.
Ultratravel Collection, a joint venture between Travel Leaders Group, Global Hotel Alliance ("GHA") and Ultratravel, today announced that the first hotel of new luxury brand, Niccolo by Marco Polo, namely Niccolo Chengdu, is to become a member of the Ultratravel Collection.
Sales of US hotels to the Chinese have soared since 2009 as they mop up trophy assets in primary destinations. One of the most recent transactions was China’s Anbang Insurance Group’s purchase last October of the prestigious Waldorf Astoria in New York for £1.31bn, which set a new record for a single hotel deal in the US. It followed a loosening of controls on outbound investment by China’s Ministry of Commerce. Deals above £67.4m now no longer require its approval.
Michael Brooks has been appointed as General Manager at Alila Anji, Zhejiang, China. Born and brought up in colonial Africa, Michael is truly a global citizen having lived in eleven countries. He is a professional hotelier with over 40 years of experience in the industry. He qualified from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland and went on to work in Europe, Africa, Australia and China in hotel operations. He was a management consultant for 14 years before returning to hotel operations in 2001, as General Manager of Palazzo Versace, the first fashion-branded hotel in the world on the Gold Coast, Australia. In 2004, he moved to The World as General Manager, a private floating community of 169 islands in Dubai. Michael will now be tasked with opening Alila's first property in China, located in a place of natural beauty, surrounded by bamboo groves and tea plantations which is also the setting of the film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Asian hospitality has long been a highly desirable attribute in the travel industry. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways have well-earned reputations for great service, while hotel groups such as Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Peninsula Hotels have successfully moved beyond their regional roots into global players. Of New York City’s seven Forbes Five-Star rated hotels, three are managed by players from the East. At the same time, China has not necessarily benefited from the same halo. In fact, Michael Holtz, CEO of New York- based travel agency SmartFlyer, said, “I can’t think of a single true Chinese luxury brand.” Owner Beijing Tourism Group (BTG) is hoping to change that with NUO Hotels, a brand they say will “celebrate the depth and richness of Chinese culture” developed in conjunction with Geneva-based Kempinski Hotels.