NEW YORK — New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved plans to make the penthouse roof smaller on Robert De Niro's Manhattan hotel.
The commission originally approved plans in 2008 for the Greenwich Hotel in Manhattan. The roof was not part of that design. It was built anyway, and now has to be changed.
De Niro's architect came back with a modified plan, which was approved on Tuesday.
The actor was present for the vote, but did not speak.
No deadline was set for making the change.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
HFTP Installs 2010-2011 Global Executive Committee
Thomas G. Smith, CHAE Installed as HFTP Global President
Smith, of Pewaukee, Wis., is chief financial officer for the Westmoor Country Club in Brookfield, Wis. Smith has been a member of HFTP since 1989 and currently serves on the HITEC Advisory Council. He has previously served on the HFTP Global Board of Directors, Education, ProLinks Education and Leadership Summit Advisory Councils, as well as the Club Committee and Chapter of the Year Award Task Force. Smith is an active member of the HFTP Greater Milwaukee Chapter and has served as its president twice.
“Throughout the years, HFTP members have encouraged me to take leadership roles within the association and now it's led me to being the Global President," said Smith. "This year I plan to give back to the association by encouraging other members to become more involved, as well as focusing on increasing the number of international club members.”
Lisa Funk, CHAE Installed as HFTP Global Vice President
Funk is the controller at Alexis Hotel in Seattle, Wash. Funk has been a member of HFTP since 1997 and currently serves on the Leadership Summit Advisory Council and Chapter of the Year Award Task Force. She is the former co-chair of the HFTP Education Advisory Council and has served on the HFTP Global Board of Directors, as well as the Hospitality Controllers Finance & Technology Task Force. She is active with the HFTP Greater Puget Sound Chapter, where she held various leadership positions, and was previously a member of the HFTP Greater Houston Chapter.
“HFTP has given me many opportunities in my hospitality career including: education, leadership opportunities and a network of colleagues and friends that crosses the globe," said Funk. "Serving as an officer on the Global Board of Directors is my way of giving back to our association and the members.”
Raman P. Rama, CHA, CHTP, CHAE, Installed as HFTP Global Treasurer
Rama is vice president and CTO/CIO of JHM Hotels in Greenville, S.C. Rama has been a member of HFTP since 1991 and currently serves on the PCI Compliance Task Force. He previously served two terms on the HFTP Global board. He also served on the Membership Marketing, HITEC and Education Advisory Councils, as well as various other committees. Rama is an active member of the HFTP South Carolina Chapter, having served numerous leadership roles in the chapter. He has also been a driving force in educating hospitality university students about the benefits of HFTP by creating and supporting the University of South Carolina and the Coastal Carolina Student Chapters.
“The HFTP benefits and educational resources I've accessed as a longtime member have been invaluable to me for developing a successful hospitality company,” said Rama. "After gaining so much from HFTP professionally, I am honored to give back to the association and help bring fresh ideas as HFTP continues to grow worldwide."
Jerry Trieber, CPA, CHAE, CFE, CFF, Installed as HFTP Global Secretary
Trieber is director of field accounting for Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. in Fairfax, Va. He joined HFTP in 1997. He currently serves on HFTP's Education Advisory Council, where he previously served as co-chair of the council. He also previously served on the HFTP Global Board, Leadership Summit Advisory Council, Nominating Committee and Chapter Awards Task Force. Trieber is a frequent speaker at HFTP educational conferences, where he educates the industry on internal controls, fraud prevention, Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, and PCI compliance. He is an active member of the Greater Washington, DC Hotel Chapter and has served various leadership roles in the North Texas Chapter and the Greater Washington, DC Hotel Chapter.
“Being new to the industry when I joined HFTP, I was happy to meet and network with others who shared the same profession as I did," said Trieber. "Since that time, my passions for the industry and HFTP have grown, and I have found HFTP to be a wonderful place where hospitality professionals can network with peers and learn about issues and trends they encounter on a daily basis. I am proud to be part of an association whose educational and networking opportunities benefit the industry and its members.”
Terry L. Price, CHAE, CHTP, CPA, Installed as HFTP Global Immediate Past President
Price is the chief information officer at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, N.C. Price has been a member of HFTP since 1997. He is a frequent speaker at HFTP educational conferences, presenting his popular "I.T. Boot Camp" and "Be the You, You Want to Be" sessions. While serving as the ProLinks committee chair, he helped develop HFTP's ProLinks online communities, which provides online topic-based discussions, as well as education sessions.
Price currently serves on the HITEC Advisory Council, Paragon Award Selection and Nominating Committees. He has previously served as a director on the HFTP board, as well as on the GUESTROOM 20X, Education and Web Content Advisory Councils. In addition, Price is a frequent contributor to HFTP's The Bottomline magazine.
Smith, of Pewaukee, Wis., is chief financial officer for the Westmoor Country Club in Brookfield, Wis. Smith has been a member of HFTP since 1989 and currently serves on the HITEC Advisory Council. He has previously served on the HFTP Global Board of Directors, Education, ProLinks Education and Leadership Summit Advisory Councils, as well as the Club Committee and Chapter of the Year Award Task Force. Smith is an active member of the HFTP Greater Milwaukee Chapter and has served as its president twice.
“Throughout the years, HFTP members have encouraged me to take leadership roles within the association and now it's led me to being the Global President," said Smith. "This year I plan to give back to the association by encouraging other members to become more involved, as well as focusing on increasing the number of international club members.”
Lisa Funk, CHAE Installed as HFTP Global Vice President
Funk is the controller at Alexis Hotel in Seattle, Wash. Funk has been a member of HFTP since 1997 and currently serves on the Leadership Summit Advisory Council and Chapter of the Year Award Task Force. She is the former co-chair of the HFTP Education Advisory Council and has served on the HFTP Global Board of Directors, as well as the Hospitality Controllers Finance & Technology Task Force. She is active with the HFTP Greater Puget Sound Chapter, where she held various leadership positions, and was previously a member of the HFTP Greater Houston Chapter.
“HFTP has given me many opportunities in my hospitality career including: education, leadership opportunities and a network of colleagues and friends that crosses the globe," said Funk. "Serving as an officer on the Global Board of Directors is my way of giving back to our association and the members.”
Raman P. Rama, CHA, CHTP, CHAE, Installed as HFTP Global Treasurer
Rama is vice president and CTO/CIO of JHM Hotels in Greenville, S.C. Rama has been a member of HFTP since 1991 and currently serves on the PCI Compliance Task Force. He previously served two terms on the HFTP Global board. He also served on the Membership Marketing, HITEC and Education Advisory Councils, as well as various other committees. Rama is an active member of the HFTP South Carolina Chapter, having served numerous leadership roles in the chapter. He has also been a driving force in educating hospitality university students about the benefits of HFTP by creating and supporting the University of South Carolina and the Coastal Carolina Student Chapters.
“The HFTP benefits and educational resources I've accessed as a longtime member have been invaluable to me for developing a successful hospitality company,” said Rama. "After gaining so much from HFTP professionally, I am honored to give back to the association and help bring fresh ideas as HFTP continues to grow worldwide."
Jerry Trieber, CPA, CHAE, CFE, CFF, Installed as HFTP Global Secretary
Trieber is director of field accounting for Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. in Fairfax, Va. He joined HFTP in 1997. He currently serves on HFTP's Education Advisory Council, where he previously served as co-chair of the council. He also previously served on the HFTP Global Board, Leadership Summit Advisory Council, Nominating Committee and Chapter Awards Task Force. Trieber is a frequent speaker at HFTP educational conferences, where he educates the industry on internal controls, fraud prevention, Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, and PCI compliance. He is an active member of the Greater Washington, DC Hotel Chapter and has served various leadership roles in the North Texas Chapter and the Greater Washington, DC Hotel Chapter.
“Being new to the industry when I joined HFTP, I was happy to meet and network with others who shared the same profession as I did," said Trieber. "Since that time, my passions for the industry and HFTP have grown, and I have found HFTP to be a wonderful place where hospitality professionals can network with peers and learn about issues and trends they encounter on a daily basis. I am proud to be part of an association whose educational and networking opportunities benefit the industry and its members.”
Terry L. Price, CHAE, CHTP, CPA, Installed as HFTP Global Immediate Past President
Price is the chief information officer at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, N.C. Price has been a member of HFTP since 1997. He is a frequent speaker at HFTP educational conferences, presenting his popular "I.T. Boot Camp" and "Be the You, You Want to Be" sessions. While serving as the ProLinks committee chair, he helped develop HFTP's ProLinks online communities, which provides online topic-based discussions, as well as education sessions.
Price currently serves on the HITEC Advisory Council, Paragon Award Selection and Nominating Committees. He has previously served as a director on the HFTP board, as well as on the GUESTROOM 20X, Education and Web Content Advisory Councils. In addition, Price is a frequent contributor to HFTP's The Bottomline magazine.
Leading Hotels of the World add seven properties
After a couple of years of shedding luxury hotels that didn't quite fit its image, Leading Hotels of the World this week announced seven additional properties - with just one in the USA.
The seven properties range from a newly constructed hotels in New York City that just opened to tiny, luxury camp in South Africa for wealthy safari fans.
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The seven properties range from a newly constructed hotels in New York City that just opened to tiny, luxury camp in South Africa for wealthy safari fans.
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Even most loyal road warriors could switch hotels in bad economy
A new survey of 1,000 business travelers suggests that their fierce loyalty towards hotel chains is being tested by this new economy.
A whopping 30% of business travelers surveyed recently on behalf of consulting firm Deloitte LLP say that their hotel brand - Hilton, Marriott or Hyatt, for instance - is so important to them, that they'll stay at that specific hotel even when it's not the most convenient location.
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A whopping 30% of business travelers surveyed recently on behalf of consulting firm Deloitte LLP say that their hotel brand - Hilton, Marriott or Hyatt, for instance - is so important to them, that they'll stay at that specific hotel even when it's not the most convenient location.
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Luxury hotel group thinks 'Mini' for new hotel limousines
The luxurious Peninsula Hotels in New York and Chicago are thinking "mini" when it comes to hotel limousine service.
This week, the hotels will introduce chauffer-driven Mini Cooper cars fully decked for the hotels - just in time for the holiday shopping season.
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This week, the hotels will introduce chauffer-driven Mini Cooper cars fully decked for the hotels - just in time for the holiday shopping season.
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Sunday, November 14, 2010
Hotel to be built Debt Free in New York City
The new hostelry is being developed with financial backing from Brack Capital Real Estate, which was behind the recently opened James New York Hotel in SoHo. The project is being funded with $50 million in equity coming directly from Brack Capital, as well as from private investors. There will be no debt used.
Brack recently purchased 218-222 W. 50th St. for an undisclosed price and entered into a 99-year ground lease with a partner—a company that has developed several hotels in Europe and wishes to remain unnamed—to develop the 78,000-square-foot hotel. The site is currently occupied by a parking garage.
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Brack recently purchased 218-222 W. 50th St. for an undisclosed price and entered into a 99-year ground lease with a partner—a company that has developed several hotels in Europe and wishes to remain unnamed—to develop the 78,000-square-foot hotel. The site is currently occupied by a parking garage.
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Travelodge Signs GBP24 Million Deal
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- U.K. hotel chain Travelodge said Sunday that it signed exchange of contracts worth GBP24 million for two new hotels next to the MEN arena in Manchester and the NEC in Birmingham, and the company plans further expansion near major venues and stadiums.
The announcement Sunday follows recent deals near London Excel, the Liverpool Echo Arena and the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
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The announcement Sunday follows recent deals near London Excel, the Liverpool Echo Arena and the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
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McDonald's and PepsiCo to help write UK health policy
 |
for the Guardian |
The Department of Health is putting the fast food companies McDonald's and KFC and processed food and drink manufacturers such as PepsiCo, Kellogg's, Unilever, Mars and Diageo at the heart of writing government policy on obesity, alcohol and diet-related disease, the Guardian has learned.
In an overhaul of public health, said by campaign groups to be the equivalent of handing smoking policy over to the tobacco industry, health secretary Andrew Lansley has set up five "responsibility deal" networks with business, co-chaired by ministers, to come up with policies. Some of these are expected to be used in the public health white paper due in the next month.Read More:
Sahara to buy London's Grosvenor House Hotel for 470 mn pounds
According to the Sunday Times, Royal Bank of Scotland, which took control of the property in 2001 when it paid 1.2 billion pounds for 12 Le Meridien hotels as part of a sale- and-leaseback deal, has agreed to sell Grosvenor House Hotel to Subrata Roy for a knock-down price.
The five-star hotel will be sold for about 470 million pounds, the report said.
Sahara is believed to be taking advice from consultants DTZ and Blandford Goldsmith on the real estate deal.
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The five-star hotel will be sold for about 470 million pounds, the report said.
Sahara is believed to be taking advice from consultants DTZ and Blandford Goldsmith on the real estate deal.
Read More:
Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai opens
Dubai. UAE, 14h November 2010 - Citymax Hotel, the hospitality arm of the Landmark Group, announces the opening of their second property, Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai.
Having only entered the hospitality market earlier this year with the launch of Citymax Hotel Al Barsha, the Citymax brand is quickly becoming a major market player.
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Having only entered the hospitality market earlier this year with the launch of Citymax Hotel Al Barsha, the Citymax brand is quickly becoming a major market player.
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Qataris in talks on £1 billion hotels bid
Harrods owner Qatar Holding is in talks to add another clutch of trophy assets to its portfolio with a £1billion deal to buy the hotel group behind The Connaught, The Berkeley and Claridge's.
The investment arm of the Qatari royal family has appointed global real estate adviser DTZ to help handle the talks with the Maybourne Hotel Group's board. Negotiations are believed to be at an early stage.
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The investment arm of the Qatari royal family has appointed global real estate adviser DTZ to help handle the talks with the Maybourne Hotel Group's board. Negotiations are believed to be at an early stage.
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