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Monday, February 7, 2011
Why more Americans don't travel abroad
That's just too low for such an affluent country, said Bruce Bommarito, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the U.S. Travel Association.
"Americans are comfortable in their own environment," Bommarito said.
There were 61.5 million trips outside the United States in 2009, down 3% from 2008, according to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. About 50% of those trips were to either Mexico or Canada, destinations that didn't require a passport until 2007.
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"Americans are comfortable in their own environment," Bommarito said.
There were 61.5 million trips outside the United States in 2009, down 3% from 2008, according to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. About 50% of those trips were to either Mexico or Canada, destinations that didn't require a passport until 2007.
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Hotel project gone wrong, Russian billionaire flees to the U.S.
A wealthy Russian businessman has fled to the U.S. after receiving death threats when he launched a lawsuit against a close friend of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Ashot Egiazaryan, 45, said he was considering seeking asylum after accusing some of Russia's most influential people of swindling him in a real estate deal in Moscow.
He claims he was subjected to groundless police raids, personal smears and anonymous death threats for two years as he struggled to hold on to his $2billion stake in the Moskva hotel project.
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Ashot Egiazaryan, 45, said he was considering seeking asylum after accusing some of Russia's most influential people of swindling him in a real estate deal in Moscow.
He claims he was subjected to groundless police raids, personal smears and anonymous death threats for two years as he struggled to hold on to his $2billion stake in the Moskva hotel project.
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Kenya govt plans to dispose of 11 hotels
Investors in East Africa are keen on a fresh opportunity to invest millions of dollars in the privatisation of some of Kenya’s finest hotels in the coming months, as the country seeks to reduce its ballooning domestic debt.
Kenya plans to sell its stake in 11 hotels, among them the Intercontinental and Hilton Hotels — some of Kenya’s most profitable hotels and part of Nairobi’s architectural landmarks — through strategic partnerships or share issues.
The plan is also hoped to help the country spruce up its tourism sector, one of its leading hard currency earner.
Most of the government hotels managed by the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC) have been run down over the years and continue to struggle financially, prompting the government to restructure them through sale to investors.
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Chipotle targeted for immigration audits
All Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in Virginia and Washington, D.C., will be audited by federal immigration officials as part of a wider government crackdown on companies that hire undocumented workers.
The Denver-based burrito chain received “notices of inspections” from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement at about 60 restaurants, Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said. That follows a similar probe at all Chipotle locations in Minnesota last year that forced the company to fire some illegal workers. California, which has dozens of Chipotle locations, has not been affected by the probe, Arnold said.
Arnold warned that more employee dismissals may come.
“If they cannot provide legal documentation, then we cannot legally employ them,” Arnold said, declining to specify how many have already been fired.
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The Denver-based burrito chain received “notices of inspections” from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement at about 60 restaurants, Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said. That follows a similar probe at all Chipotle locations in Minnesota last year that forced the company to fire some illegal workers. California, which has dozens of Chipotle locations, has not been affected by the probe, Arnold said.
Arnold warned that more employee dismissals may come.
“If they cannot provide legal documentation, then we cannot legally employ them,” Arnold said, declining to specify how many have already been fired.
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Tim Hortons to expand in Middle East
Image via WikipediaOAKVILLE, ON, Feb 04, 2011 (Hospitality Business News) -- Tim Hortons (TSX: THI, NYSE: THI) today announced the next steps in its international development and has signed a Master License Agreement (MLA) with Apparel Group based in Dubai for up to 120 multi-format restaurants in markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This announcement follows a comprehensive assessment and due diligence process. Based on success in our initial market entry in the GCC region, our international growth strategy is designed to then evaluate potential additional regional market entries following the first few years of international development.
"Our top strategic priority is continuing to grow our Canadian and U.S. businesses which are the primary drivers of shareholder value. We also believe there is an opportunity over the long-term to explore international opportunities and seed the Tim Hortons brand in various markets outside of North America.
Our approach is prudent, targeted and will minimize capital requirements while still allowing us to pursue identified international growth opportunities," said Don Schroeder, president and CEO, Tim Hortons.
The MLA with Apparel Group for up to 120 restaurants includes both standard and non-traditional units.
Locations will be developed and operated by Apparel in the GCC markets of United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. In 2011, Apparel Group is committed to developing and operating five restaurants. The agreement with Apparel is typical of international MLA models, based primarily on a royalty model, and Apparel will leverage their deep local market knowledge and real estate capability to build and operate the new locations.
"The GCC is an attractive market that provides significant opportunity. Our due diligence has identified the GCC as an international development opportunity for the Tim Hortons brand based on our Always Fresh premium coffee and baked goods offering, value positioning and friendly, efficient in-store experience," said Schroeder. "Our partners at Apparel have considerable knowledge of the local markets and consumer expectations and have introduced world-leading brands to the GCC."
Apparel Group operates over 50 leading international brands and runs more than 600 stores in 14 countries. Apparel Group-operated brands include Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo, Aeropostale, Ninewest, and Cold Stone Creamery.
.Goldman Nears Deal for Applebee's Franchisee
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s private-equity arm is near a deal to buy closely held Apple American Group LLC, the largest franchisee of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants in the U.S., people familiar with the matter said.
GS Capital Partners is buying Apple American—which it once controlled—from Weston Presidio, which manages more than $3 billion and invests in late-stage-growth companies.
The exact terms of the proposed deal couldn't be learned, but people familiar with the matter said it was worth several hundred millions of dollars.
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GS Capital Partners is buying Apple American—which it once controlled—from Weston Presidio, which manages more than $3 billion and invests in late-stage-growth companies.
The exact terms of the proposed deal couldn't be learned, but people familiar with the matter said it was worth several hundred millions of dollars.
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2011 NEWH Leadership conference held in January
Orlando, Florida (Hospitality Business News)—Roughly 200 hospitality professionals attended the recent bi-annual NEWH Leadership
Conference in January at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort Hotel & Conference Center at Universal Orlando.
Dubbed “Catch the Wave,” the three-day event featured a tradeshow showcasing the best products in the
industry, a conference filled with veteran and leadership-inspiring speakers, and fun-filled networking events.
Highlights include the opening keynote speech by Raul Leal, who discussed the revolutionary vision
of the newly formed Virgin Hotels; an in-depth look at the branding and creation of the award-winning Iron
Horse Hotel in Milwaukee by owner Tim Dixon and Brigette Breitnebach;
magazine’s Owners Roundtable, where attendees speed-networked with 18 key senior hotel design and
purchasing executives from around the U.S.; “America’s small talk expert” Don Gabor’s amusing speech on
real-life networking techniques and skills; a special behind-the-scenes presentation by Universal’s Theirry
Coup on the creation and construction of the entire Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme area at
Universal; and a closing presentation by Adrienne Pumphrey on the new groundbreaking green-from-theground-up Adobo Eco Hotel & Suites concept. Other breakout sessions covered social media, personal
branding, sustainable purchasing and design, the sustainable impact on ecology, specification writing, and
running a volunteer organization like NEWH. “Thank you for putting together such a great program and
allowing me to be part of it,” says Ken Koneck, public affairs manager, Valley Forge Fabrics.
On Saturday night, attendees had the chance to tour and ride Universal’s Harry Potter Experience
and attend an awards dinner banquet at Rising Star at Universal’s CityWalk where Lynda Sullivan of JLF and David Mahood of Olive Designs were honored with the NEWH Award of Excellence for their dedication and service to the organization. Six of NEWH’s recent college scholarship recipients also shared how NEWH and its grants to students have changed both their student and professional lives.
The next NEWH Leadership Conference will take place in San Francisco in January of 2013.Hospitality Design (HD)
Bendigo publican jailed for $4.5m theft
The former publican of a Victorian hotel has been jailed for manipulating nearly $4.5 million from the TAB which he used as an "overdraft".
David John Keogh, 43, was the publican of the One Tree Hill Hotel in Spring Gully, near Bendigo, when the pub struck financial troubles.
In 2008, Keogh, a pub TAB licensee, issued more than 1000 TAB vouchers, each with amounts averaging about $5000, but did not pay for them, the Victorian County Court heard on Monday.
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David John Keogh, 43, was the publican of the One Tree Hill Hotel in Spring Gully, near Bendigo, when the pub struck financial troubles.
In 2008, Keogh, a pub TAB licensee, issued more than 1000 TAB vouchers, each with amounts averaging about $5000, but did not pay for them, the Victorian County Court heard on Monday.
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Marriott, Hilton against Disney, Universal in Expedia tax battle
Some of the biggest players within Florida’s $60 billion-a-year tourism industry are at odds in a battle over how online-travel companies such as Expedia Inc. and Orbitz Worldwide Inc. should be taxed.
One on side are hotel heavyweights such as Marriott International and Hilton Hotels & Resorts, which are out to eliminate what they contend is a competitive advantage the online companies have in selling hotel rooms.
Aligned with the Internet companies are theme-park giants Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, motivated at least in part by concerns that requiring Expedia, Orbitz and others to absorb higher taxes could jeopardize a tax advantage the resorts themselves now have when selling vacation packages.
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One on side are hotel heavyweights such as Marriott International and Hilton Hotels & Resorts, which are out to eliminate what they contend is a competitive advantage the online companies have in selling hotel rooms.
Aligned with the Internet companies are theme-park giants Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, motivated at least in part by concerns that requiring Expedia, Orbitz and others to absorb higher taxes could jeopardize a tax advantage the resorts themselves now have when selling vacation packages.
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Deal for Historic San Diego Hotel Adds Blackstone, Cashes Out KKR.
Image via WikipediaBlackstone Group LP is in and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. is out as part of a recapitalization of the Hotel Del Coronado that establishes the historic beachfront hotel’s value at 20% less than it was during the boom.The complex deal, which we first reported Jan. 28 and the owners formally outlined Monday, resolves the Del Coronado’s pressing matter of $630 million in debt that was to come due next week. As part of the deal, Blackstone has gained a 60% stake in the 787-room California property by contributing $100 million and converting into equity a small slice of the hotel’s mezzanine debt that it recently bought at a discount.
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