China to become 'No 1' for tourists within seven years

China has put tourism at the top of its priorities, designating the sector a "key strategic industry", as a part of its attempt to transform its economy away from low-end manufacturing.

Significant inward investment is expected, with Thomas Cook eyeing acquisitions to bolster its China business.

"We can expect to see China become the No 1 country both in terms of receiving tourists and also of sending tourists abroad," said Taleb Rifai, the head of the UNWTO, saying he expected this to happen within "five to seven years". "China is full of attractions, from sea to mountain, and it has a culture that is tangible, from its food to its ancient history," he added.

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Jamaica Government probes sale of Sandals Whitehouse Hotel

GORSTEW Limited has pledged to co-operate with the contractor general’s probe of the negotiations for the sale of the Sandals Whitehouse hotel in Westmoreland and has made public a 24-point statement of facts on the project.

In a statement published in today’s Sunday Observer, Gorstew, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s holding company, said it “welcomes and will co-operate with any investigation mounted by the contractor general in relation to the sale of Sandals Whitehouse”.

Gorstew’s statement comes amidst swirling controversy over the sale talks which the company has insisted are not secret, contrary to a Sunday Herald story a few weeks ago.

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• Jamaica Government to lend 'Butch' US$32.5m ... For Sandals Whitehouse acquisition (hospitalitybusinessnews.com)

Chinese bid for big stake in the Maybourne Hotel Group

The battle for control of Maybourne Hotel Group, which owns the Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught hotels in London, has taken a dramatic turn this weekend with a surprise bid from the Chinese government for the 37 per cent stake in the group.

Although owner Paddy McKillen, one of Ireland's most successful property developers, has said he did not want to sell, he is understood to be evaluating the offer.

The deal could scupper plans by the Barclay brothers, owners of the Ritz in London and Telegraph Media Group, to take a controlling stake in Maybourne after acquiring 25 per cent from the family of British billionaire Peter Green earlier this month.

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• Barclay Brothers Said to Gain Control of Maybourne Hotels' Owner (hospitalitybusinessnews.com)

Calgary man dead after fall from Banff Hotel balcony

A young man from Calgary is dead after falling from a third-floor balcony at a Banff hotel, say RCMP.
While police say they do not believe the man's death is suspicious, they don't know why the people he was partying with waited so long before calling 911.

RCMP say three people, including the man who died, were drinking in the hotel when he fell sometime overnight on Jan. 6, 2011.

"At approximately 10 a.m. (on the 7th) Banff RCMP were dispatched to a hotel in Banff. A 22-year-old Calgary man was found deceased as a result of a fall from a third floor balcony of the hotel," said Banff RCMP Const. Howard Cann. "Indications are that this incident is alcohol related and police do not suspect foul play."

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Saipan Senate expands to 30 percent hotel rooms, balconies where smoking may be allowed

By a vote of 9-0, the Senate passed on Friday its own bill expanding from 20 percent to 30 percent the number of rooms at each hotel that can be designated as smoking areas.

Sen. Luis Crisostimo's (D-Saipan) bill also allows smoking in the attached balconies of these hotel rooms.

The Senate, however, did not act on a House bill introduced by Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) that expands the number of hotel smoking rooms to 80 percent.

Current law allows up to 20 percent of rooms at hotels to be designated as smoking areas.

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FLorida Hotel Owner Plans On Suing TripAdvisor.com

Volusia County, Fla. -- A Volusia County hotel is threatening legal action after a website listed the hotel as one of the dirtiest in the country.

According to state officials the report by TripAdvisor.com paints an inaccurate picture of conditions at The Desert Inn Resort.

The owner Dennis Devlin showed WFTV his hotel which is located on Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach.

Devlin said he’s furious at the travel website, which advertises reviews from travelers.

“When they put someone on a list you think they’d at least do an onsite inspection to verify what they’re saying is true,” said Devlin.

Some of the reviews said the Desert Inn Resort has roaches; however, the hotel just passed a state inspection which looks for sanitation and safety violations.

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• "Daytona hotel ranks No. 3 on TripAdvisor's "dirtiest hotels" list" and related posts (blogs.orlandosentinel.com)
• TripAdvisors top 10 dirtiest hotels for 2011 (hospitalitybusinessnews.com)
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• Can you trust those online hotel reviews? (hospitalitybusinessnews.com)