Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Free wireless internet is a make or break deal for business guests in UK hotels
Even though most will be able to claim any expenses from their employers, business travellers are highly averse to the idea of paying for wireless internet access in a hotel.
Indeed, according to new research, not only is the way in which some hotels in London and elsewhere in the world continue to charge their guests to get online an irritant to corporate guests, it can make or break a deal.
That is, while in the past free wireless may have been viewed as a nice extra, it is now regarded by a majority of both business and leisure travellers as a right, up there with complimentary tea and coffee and towels and, as such, consumers are starting to vote with their feet by boycotting establishments that have the nerve to charge them for internet use.
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That is, while in the past free wireless may have been viewed as a nice extra, it is now regarded by a majority of both business and leisure travellers as a right, up there with complimentary tea and coffee and towels and, as such, consumers are starting to vote with their feet by boycotting establishments that have the nerve to charge them for internet use.
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Mumbai braces for follow-up terrorist attack
A MANHUNT was under way in Mumbai yesterday for four alleged members of the same Islamist group that attacked the city in 2008, amid warnings of a strike on foreign targets over Christmas and the new year.
Roads were closed in and around the luxury Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - focus of the deadly siege two years ago that killed 166 - while armed police were out in force at high-profile sites, including overseas consulates.
Mumbai police warned on Friday that four operatives of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit were preparing a ''violent attack'' during the festive season and called for residents to be vigilant.
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Roads were closed in and around the luxury Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - focus of the deadly siege two years ago that killed 166 - while armed police were out in force at high-profile sites, including overseas consulates.
Mumbai police warned on Friday that four operatives of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit were preparing a ''violent attack'' during the festive season and called for residents to be vigilant.
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Hardrock cancels Rehab Reality show
The truTV reality show “Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel” won’t be returning for a fourth season, attorneys have disclosed.
The disclosure was made last week in court papers by attorneys for the Las Vegas Hard Rock hotel-casino, which hosts Rehab day parties during the summer and was hit with a trademark lawsuit over the TV show in September by the owner of the international Hard Rock brand.
Hard Rock Cafe International charged in the September lawsuit that the TV show about the Las Vegas parties was tarnishing the Hard Rock brand by portraying “drunken debauchery, acts of vandalism, sexual harassment, violence and criminality.”
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The disclosure was made last week in court papers by attorneys for the Las Vegas Hard Rock hotel-casino, which hosts Rehab day parties during the summer and was hit with a trademark lawsuit over the TV show in September by the owner of the international Hard Rock brand.
Hard Rock Cafe International charged in the September lawsuit that the TV show about the Las Vegas parties was tarnishing the Hard Rock brand by portraying “drunken debauchery, acts of vandalism, sexual harassment, violence and criminality.”
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Friday, December 24, 2010
How Profitable Will Your RevPAR Be In 2011?
(Hospitality Business News) As 2010 comes to a close, hotel owners and operators start to focus on the upcoming year and ask the question, “How much money will we make in 2011?” Based on the December 2010 edition of Hotel Horizons®, Colliers PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) is forecasting occupancy for the overall U.S. U.S.
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NFS Launches New iPhone App for Aloha Point of Sale
(Hospitality Business News) HERTFORD, UK - 23 December, 2010: NFS, provider of the world-class Aloha point of sale software suite, announced the launch of TIM - an exciting new iPhone app for the Aloha Point of Sale solution.
TIM allows the user to do everything the Aloha Point of Sale system can do - and more. Unlike other mobile solutions, a server using TIM can work an entire shift without having to resort to an actual Point of Sale terminal, meaning more time on the floor serving guests.
This no-nonsense application will run on any iPhone / iPad and has a user interface designed to allow servers to work quickly and efficiently, optimising customer service. All a restaurant needs to gain the full benefits from the TIM app is a good Wi-Fi infrastructure with the correct security measurements in place. There is no need for additional storage and no training is required.
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Morgans Hotel Extends CEO Tenure
Morgans Hotel Group Co. is extending the period of service of its chief executive officer (CEO) Fred Kleisner by 3 months. Kleisner was supposed to resign upon the completion of his tenure on December 31.
The New York-based company began the hunt for its new CEO in late summer or early fall. The company also appointed the executive search firm Spencer Stuart to speed up the pursuit. Although Morgans Hotel has not yet been able to find an appropriate candidate, management expects to find the replacement by March 2011.
We believe it will be quite challenging for the company to find a suitable replacement for Fred Kleisner, as he boasts four decades of experience in the hotel industry. Moreover, his dedicated service has helped the company scale new heights.
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The New York-based company began the hunt for its new CEO in late summer or early fall. The company also appointed the executive search firm Spencer Stuart to speed up the pursuit. Although Morgans Hotel has not yet been able to find an appropriate candidate, management expects to find the replacement by March 2011.
We believe it will be quite challenging for the company to find a suitable replacement for Fred Kleisner, as he boasts four decades of experience in the hotel industry. Moreover, his dedicated service has helped the company scale new heights.
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Robbing a restaurant? There isn't an app for that
NEW LONDON, Conn. — An accused would-be restaurant robber had a change of heart Wednesday, after cooks at the establishment grabbed knives to defend themselves.
Police said Jerome Taylor, 20, wore a mask as he entered the Northern Indian restaurant on State Street Wednesday afternoon.
He pulled what the cooks thought was a gun and demanded money, according to police. But the cooks grabbed knives and said they weren't handing anything over.
At that point, Taylor became apologetic and told the cooks he was only kidding and that he needed money for his child, police said.
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Kathmandu Govt still seeking Rs 193 million from five casinos
KATHMANDU: The government still has to recover Rs 193.59 million from five casinos.
Finance minister Surendra Pandey at the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) today informed that the government still has to recover revenue from Casino Anna‚ Casino Royal‚ Casino Shangrilla‚ Casino Nepal and Casino Fulbari.
“The government has been able to recover Rs 77.36 million from the casinos recently‚” Pandey informed‚ adding that the government is in the process to recover the remaining sum.
“If the casnos don’t pay‚ the hotels are laible to pay tax as the casino license is issued to the hotels only‚” he added.
Nepal’s casino industry is considered the oldest in South Asia but lately it has been in news for all the wrong reasons like tax evasion and entertaining Nepalis.
When Casino Nepal — the first casino in Asia — was started in 1968‚ it was open only to foreigners but the casinos lately are blamed of entertaining the Nepalis against the law.
See previous story -
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Finance minister Surendra Pandey at the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) today informed that the government still has to recover revenue from Casino Anna‚ Casino Royal‚ Casino Shangrilla‚ Casino Nepal and Casino Fulbari.
“The government has been able to recover Rs 77.36 million from the casinos recently‚” Pandey informed‚ adding that the government is in the process to recover the remaining sum.
“If the casnos don’t pay‚ the hotels are laible to pay tax as the casino license is issued to the hotels only‚” he added.
Nepal’s casino industry is considered the oldest in South Asia but lately it has been in news for all the wrong reasons like tax evasion and entertaining Nepalis.
When Casino Nepal — the first casino in Asia — was started in 1968‚ it was open only to foreigners but the casinos lately are blamed of entertaining the Nepalis against the law.
See previous story -
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Famous Sussex hotel up for sale following administration
An East Sussex-based country house hotel with a famous past is on the market following its administration.
The Shelleys in Lewes, which was once owned by the family of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, was placed into administration due to a downturn in trade. The 4-star, 16th Century, grade II listed country house hotel, which also boasts a one AA rosette-ranked restaurant, is currently still trading despite its administration.
Partners at insolvency specialists FRP Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators of The Shelleys and are currently carrying out 'extensive marketing' in a bid to find a buyer for the property.
Jason Baker and Chris Stevens of FRP Advisory, confirmed, "Trading is on-going and the ho
tel and restaurant are continuing to welcome guests as usual. Meanwhile, a purchaser is being sought for the business."
Baker and Stevens said that The Shelleys had been affected by the fact that several of its key corporate clients had moved away and no longer needed hotel accommodation in Lewes.
The hotel, which can sleep 37 guests, boasts 10 bedrooms, a large dining room, bar and two conference rooms, plus traditional English country garden and parking.
Its current owners, Carlo Fernando and John Rudich Fernando, bought the hotel in 2007 when it had a guide price of £2.5 million attached. The hotel had also been previously sold earlier that year.
The Shelleys in Lewes, which was once owned by the family of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, was placed into administration due to a downturn in trade. The 4-star, 16th Century, grade II listed country house hotel, which also boasts a one AA rosette-ranked restaurant, is currently still trading despite its administration.
Partners at insolvency specialists FRP Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators of The Shelleys and are currently carrying out 'extensive marketing' in a bid to find a buyer for the property.
Jason Baker and Chris Stevens of FRP Advisory, confirmed, "Trading is on-going and the ho
tel and restaurant are continuing to welcome guests as usual. Meanwhile, a purchaser is being sought for the business."
Baker and Stevens said that The Shelleys had been affected by the fact that several of its key corporate clients had moved away and no longer needed hotel accommodation in Lewes.
The hotel, which can sleep 37 guests, boasts 10 bedrooms, a large dining room, bar and two conference rooms, plus traditional English country garden and parking.
Its current owners, Carlo Fernando and John Rudich Fernando, bought the hotel in 2007 when it had a guide price of £2.5 million attached. The hotel had also been previously sold earlier that year.
Irish Weather results in 70% drop in Christmas week trade for hotels
HOTELS IN snow-affected parts of the country have lost up to 70 per cent of their Christmas week business, according to the Irish Hotels Federation – even though thousands of people trapped by weather booked hotel rooms in the past week.
The IHF says the ground-floor business of hotels – such as bars and restaurants – has “gone” this week and any uplift from cancelled flights and disrupted travel plans has been slight.
Christmas week is normally a bonanza for the hotel sector, with turnover up to three times that of a normal week. However, because of the big freeze, many establishments have lost out on the cash flow that normally sustained them through January, according to IHF president, Paul Gallagher.
“Ireland effectively shut down because of the weather and, as a result, business was devastated on three of the busiest weekends in the year,” he said.
Mr Gallagher acknowledged that some hotels, particularly those near airports, had picked up business because of the air travel turmoil caused by snow in Ireland and throughout northern Europe.
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The IHF says the ground-floor business of hotels – such as bars and restaurants – has “gone” this week and any uplift from cancelled flights and disrupted travel plans has been slight.
Christmas week is normally a bonanza for the hotel sector, with turnover up to three times that of a normal week. However, because of the big freeze, many establishments have lost out on the cash flow that normally sustained them through January, according to IHF president, Paul Gallagher.
“Ireland effectively shut down because of the weather and, as a result, business was devastated on three of the busiest weekends in the year,” he said.
Mr Gallagher acknowledged that some hotels, particularly those near airports, had picked up business because of the air travel turmoil caused by snow in Ireland and throughout northern Europe.
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Sale pending for Edmonton Sutton Place
Downtown Edmonton's iconic Sutton Place Hotel is about to be sold, with a deal near completion.
"I am hoping whoever buys us realizes the value of this hotel, in terms of people and the contributions we have made over the past seven years," general manager Richard Wong said.
The 313-room luxury hotel has been a supporter of many events, and Wong, who is president of the Downtown Farmers' Market, board chair of the Pilgrims Hospice Society and president of the Hong Kong Business Association (Edmonton), said he hopes the hotel will continue to play a role in the community.
"I am hoping whoever buys us realizes the value of this hotel, in terms of people and the contributions we have made over the past seven years," general manager Richard Wong said.
The 313-room luxury hotel has been a supporter of many events, and Wong, who is president of the Downtown Farmers' Market, board chair of the Pilgrims Hospice Society and president of the Hong Kong Business Association (Edmonton), said he hopes the hotel will continue to play a role in the community.
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Investor wants to foreclose on two Baltimore hotel sites
A private investment group is looking to foreclose on and sell two historic downtown Baltimore buildings, both of which were being converted into hotels when their owner halted the projects.
A group calling itself RL BB Financial LLC asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Dec. 13 for permission to sell the buildings — 207 E. Redwood St. and 101 N. Charles St. — to collect on about $28.7 million in unpaid mortgage debt.
RL BB Financial claims selling the properties is the only solution since neither structure is generating income.
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A group calling itself RL BB Financial LLC asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Dec. 13 for permission to sell the buildings — 207 E. Redwood St. and 101 N. Charles St. — to collect on about $28.7 million in unpaid mortgage debt.
RL BB Financial claims selling the properties is the only solution since neither structure is generating income.
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Investors flip two S.F. hotels
Newly arrived hotel investor Haiyi has snapped up two more San Francisco inns after a frenetic 14 days that saw the properties change hands twice.
The hotels were two of Personality Hotels’ three foreclosed properties in San Francisco, the Hotel Metropolis and Hotel Vertigo. They were sold, along with Personality’s Hotel Frank, to Aspen Capital Management and its capital partner, AEW Capital Management, for an undisclosed price on Dec. 1.
On Dec. 15, just before San Francisco’s transfer tax increased, Aspen sold the Metropolis and Vertigo to Haiyi, a San Francisco-based hotel division of Portland, Ore.’s American Pacific International Capital.
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The hotels were two of Personality Hotels’ three foreclosed properties in San Francisco, the Hotel Metropolis and Hotel Vertigo. They were sold, along with Personality’s Hotel Frank, to Aspen Capital Management and its capital partner, AEW Capital Management, for an undisclosed price on Dec. 1.
On Dec. 15, just before San Francisco’s transfer tax increased, Aspen sold the Metropolis and Vertigo to Haiyi, a San Francisco-based hotel division of Portland, Ore.’s American Pacific International Capital.
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