IHG Launches health and fitness-oriented hotel band
Feb 28th
NEW YORK – sometimes do you that it was easier to work, eat well and generally feel in good health while on the road from your hotel to service restricted?
Believing that there are millions of people who fit this description, parent of Holiday Inn IHG today launched a new brand – to be held in, for better or for worse, in a sea of hotel chains.
Called same hotels, mid-priced chain will focus on the well-being and fitness – in a sort of general public in a way.
Of course, it is a unique concept in the crowded category, mi-prix, Wi-Fi-included Hotel dominated by Courtyard by Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn.
Since the Hotel Check-In readers will be clearly a million questions and a good dose of skepticism about this new brand, I have sitting last night with IHG CEO Richard Solomons and Americas IHG Chief Kirk Kinsell to discuss the new chain and why they think, that they have a notion of home-run.
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One of my issues: they fear that the concept of a welfare Hotel might be perceived as punitive by some travellers since well-being can mean the absence of any not-necessarily-healthy-but-comforting as a juicy burger and bacon? The short answer: No.
This is not a chain aimed at the crowd hardened, low fat-body which has incredible discipline, they said. It is a consumer brand, therefore it offers “healthy” in a gentle way.
Still, Solomon told me that even is not intended for everyone, and that is the point.
“You do not create a mark which has been the sincere heart and target everyone,” he said at a healthy but tasty dinner at the restaurant of the Green Table of Chelsea market. “If you try to do so for everyone, it is for anyone.” Some of the most successful hotel brands are just bland. They are successful because they are compatible; you know what you get. »
An industry first
This giant of the extreme, no other hotel thought respond to this crowd, which include health-know shopping at Whole Foods, and (because they are aware of the value) target, at least occasionally and buy healthy sandwiches at subway.
IHG research suggests that there are 17 million people, or about one in four travellers – who believe that their stay in the Hotel do not adapt their lifestyle needs, said Solomon.
It can also tap into the growing interest in America to encourage their employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle, said Kinsell.
The name is designed to evoke the balance that guests can reach, even when food through always-jam-packed travel. (And can’t you imagine the marketing potential?) (“Even” better, “even” in better health, etc…..) Personally, I am not 100% sold on the name, but it is a subject that we can tackle another position.
What looks like a same hotel?
Hotels in same initials will be converted hotels that currently operate under a different brand, in part because it is the hot market now since little new hotels are built. Some construction will be be required, for example, move the “better than average” fitness Centre space, said Solomon.
When you walk in a same hotel, expect to be able to see the fitness center in the lobby, perhaps through a glass and find the low-impact (read: calm) work-out options in your House, like a carpet of yoga, an exercise ball, jump rope and pull bar. Rooms will feature a hypoallergenic, a powerful shower bedding and other keys appreciated by the crowd-loving wellness.
Seek not vending machines of bicarbonate of soda and potato chips, because you will find Kinsell told me.
However, discover a menu with options more healthy, coffee free and mini-smoothies in the morning, and free filtered water flavoured with bottles of glass, so you can fill a place and take to your room. Solomon said that the word “options” is key, because even the same client wishes to engage from time to time.
Interestingly, you may – or may not – find a swimming pool. IHG of requiring steps, said Kinsell. “He did not leave as a driver in the search,” Solomon Islands added. Search for IHG said that people who stay fit by swimming in General as a large swimming pool and is not something that most hotels offer because they are too expensive to maintain.
Where will find the same?
IHG does not yet have a first location, but plans to reveal a this spring.
Expect same pop up hotels in the largest markets of the IHG. Kinsell has told me that he would see no problem by opening a right to a Holiday Inn, in fact, because the marks to fight for the same client.
Its ambitious goal is to 100 hotels to even register in the next five years. IHG is committed to spend up to $ 150 million over the next three years to obtain the string and running.
Room rates
Top of range and luxury as Starwood Westin and Fairmont hotel chains focus on well-being through various initiatives, but similarly is not trying to compete with them.
Stay overnight in a hotel even costs about the same that you can pay at the Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott or Hyatt Place. Wi – Fi is included in the price, the theory being that it is one less point of stress for travellers on the road.
The launch of the mark comes at a time where IHG is busy with many other initiatives, including the reorganization of the chainwide chain Crowne Plaza, the continuation of its cure of successful youth Holiday Inn and the push to get the Hotel Indigo properties of ordinary-trendy more open.
Readers: what do you think? You would stay in same hotel?
Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today for hotel-tax vote
Feb 28th
Wichita voters began going to the polls this morning to decide whether a new downtown hotel should receive a public incitement of $ 2.25 million.
These same voters are right casting ballots states new voters ID photo. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7: 00 pm.
The single-point election will decide if the Ambassador Hotel developers can keep $ 2.25 million in tax revenue over the next 15 years. Thats 75% of approximately 3 million guest taxes expected to generate the 117-room hotel Douglas and Broadway.
Vote Yes means that developers can make money. No vote means that income is in the effort of recruitment of citys convention and tourism.
In September, the City Council voted to amend an order so that the city could give developers $ 22.5 million project 75 per cent of the tax on guests during the next 15 years. This grant was forced to an election by a fall petition drive led by Americans for prosperity, a group of free enterprise.
Developers will pay $ 50,000 of the special elections.
This will be the third election since the new election the photo ID law took effect, but it will involve the majority of the voters of the three by far. Cimarron and Johnson Countys Roeland Park elections earlier this year.
Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabetha Lehman has provided 15 percent of the 195 630 of citys registered voters will have voted. This would be higher than the 13.1% of the electors of Wichita who proved in the last election General city of springs.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach, the principal author of the Act adopted by the Legislative Assembly last year, is expected to be in Wichita to observe the process in the Office of elections and in some polling stations.
Responsible for polling stations will ask voters ID photo there are eight accepted forms of photo ID ID, including licensed drivers and nondrivers the others are hidden, a U.S. passport, a public employee ID badge, a U.S. military ID, a student issued by a University of Kansas and a ID. number assistance issued by the Government
Voters who have forgotten their photo ID can vote provisional. They will be then up to 10 hours on 5 March, when ballots solicitation is made, to take a photo identification to the Office of the election on the first floor of the historic courthouse, hand n. 510.
Voters will now sign a digital block rather than the poll book.
Four former polling stations will not be open for this election: First Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church of Eastminister, Christ the King Church and resource-independent living Centre of Kansas. Persons concerned had to be informed by e-mail.
Mauritius tourism estimate reductions. Hotel, fall of the shares of the airline
Feb 28th
Mauritius tourism estimate reductions. Hotel, airline shares Drop 28 February 2012, 4: 57 AM is
By Kamlesh Bhuckory
(Updated with comments of the Economist in fourth paragraph.)
February 28 (Bloomberg) — Maurice cut its forecasts for the arrival tourism this year, sending shares hotel and airline down, as the crisis of debt in Europe borders.
The estimate was reduced to 980 000 1.01 million, the Office of the official statistics based in Port-Louis, said on its website today. The country has attracted 964 642 visitors in 2011.
Tourism and textiles is the main sources of foreign currency for the Indian Ocean island nation, and almost two – thirds of visitors last year came from Europe. The European Commission provides a contraction of 0.3% in the euro area economy this year. Number of visitors decreased by a year earlier in December and January, two months of tourism of Maurice Pic.
“We should not be too optimistic, given the economic crisis in Europe,” Swadicq Nuthay, Economist at Axys Capital Management Ltd., in Port-Louis, who oversees the assets of 5 billion rupees ($173 million), said in a telephone interview. “Industry, unfortunately, has not been sufficiently proactive in its market diversification strategy.
New Mauritius Hotels Ltd., more large operator of leisure of the country by market value, fell by 2.1% to 70 rupees, the lowest since March 2009. Sun Resorts Ltd., the second largest centre of resort group, fell by 1.2% to 41 rupees. Air Mauritius Ltd., fourth largest company of Africa sub-Saharan, remote from 0.8% to 12 rupees.
“The atmosphere has been negative for some time,” said Bhavik Desai, a research analyst with the scholarship of Axys Ltd. “was a downward revision expected which should have already been taken into account in”.
The rupee has dropped as much as 1% against the euro and traded 0.5 percent less than the 38.7835 from 11 am to Port Louis.
-Editors: Ben Holland, Louis Meixler.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kamlesh Bhuckory of Port Louis at kbhuckory@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin to asguazzin@bloomberg.net
CISSY Houston “to visit Whitney hotel room”
Feb 28th
CISSY Houston plans would have on visits to the hotel room where her daughter Whitney Houston is dead.
78-Year-old singer wants to go to the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles for “closure”, TMZ says.
I Will always Love You star died on 11 February after having been insensitive in a bathtub in the Deluxe hotel and was buried next to his father in his hometown of Newark, in New Jersey, a week later.
CISSY has apparently wants to make a “spiritual connection” with his superstar daughter to help him cope with the sudden death of 48 years.
“[It] will not be in peace until it receives from closure,” the source said adding that Cissy wants “quiet and contemplative time” in the room.
“It is not known when Cissy is plans to return to the hotel room – but we have said that the visit will be soon.” “It is currently planning to logistics,” reported the site
Room 434 is already in circulation and the family apparently robbed the first room so that nothing of the now infamous suite could be sold or taken.
During this time, it is reported that the post-production on the final film of Whitney Sparkle is be pressed so that it can be finished as soon as possible.
Sources told TMZ that personal work “around the clock” to obtain the final assembly done and the building where the film is changing is surrounded security tight to prevent the scenes from the movie or music from the soundtrack of the film being a leak.
� media coverage
Hotel travel at your fingertips
Feb 28th
Samantha Page for the Wall Street Journal Fingi app in action at the Sukhumvit 11 Bangkok Aloft.
The new hotel 296-room Aloft Sukhumvit 11 Bangkok, some customers are not key to the room. Instead, specialized smartphones open doors, change TV channels, access service room and adjust air conditioning.
Given to guests staying in 50 rooms “Touch” of the hotel, smart phones use an application called Fingi, from a start-up based in New York of the same name that is at the forefront of mobile technology in the hotel industry.
With phones provided by the hotel, Fingi, �, whose name is a play on the idea of having any at hand, � is designed to address one of the biggest issues in international travel: connectivity.
In addition to ouvrir curtains, Fingi, � app loaded on a device Samsung Galaxy for Aloft, � provides guests with a local telephone number and calls international low-cost. It acts also as a mobile hotspot, which alone could be $15 per night supplement.
To learn more on the Asian scene.
Luxury hotels & Social Media: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Feb 28th
Christopher Parr
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We are in a new era in luxury hotel marketing. High level hotels are now using Twitter for concierge services, platforms of geo-location social to unlock free gifts, to the customer service Facebook and YouTube have unique properties. They are the audience new, broad and flexible throughout the social web. No doubt last luxury travel destination is online.
Still leads the in this recent wave of social media strategies innovative hotel? What are their methods and how they are successful? In our series “Luxury hotels & social media”, Pursuitist is interviewing the leaders of the page top luxury hotel (four seasons, peninsula, Waldorf Astoria and many others) to better understand in the strategies of elite industry online.
Interview today is with Mac Joseph, Senior Manager, Social Media Marketing, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Follow online at: http://twitter.com/#!/MO_HOTELS
Q. Why is important to social media for your business?
A. social media to connect with customers in a way that we could not before. Before the rise of these channels, we communicated regularly with our clients, for example through advertising and direct marketing, or we responded when people expressed an interest for a stay in one of our properties. Today, the points of contact occur several times per day, per an apparently infinite number of channels in real time. Our audiences welcomed us in their lives daily on Facebook, Twitter and others. With these new media, we have the opportunity to forge stronger bonds with the past, present and future guests and finally help to make their experiences with our brand even better.
In addition, these platforms to expand digital footprint of our brand. It can be much simpler to operate the presences on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others, we have made progress deliberate to develop a confluence network interconnected brand and the property of attendance on the sites. Today, this network is most obvious when you visit the page of our website social media on landing (www.mandarinoriental.com/social_media). There is also a strong aesthetic consistency through accounts that is all under the same umbrella while still highlighting the incredible originality of each account and the platform. For example, each page of Facebook through our group has a custom tab of landing with Visual effects and the content specific to this page. Users may begin the process of booking directly from the Facebook tab. We believe that these other initiatives and we will increase our reach through social media while maintaining a consistent presence to our brand.
Q. how many people manage your social media channels & what are the types of tools you use?
A. we have a small internal team of our activities of media management social brand-level, divided between our head office in New York and Hong Kong. We believe that our feet on both sides of the world grants we have better understand how different regions use social media. One of the most obvious examples is China, where social media emerged a parallel of the landscape as a. It is not an option to simply reproduce the popular activity of Twitter on Sina Weibo, microblogging platform of China. China landscape requires a unique understanding of each channel. At the level of the property, each of our 26 hotels and Resorts has a specialized colleague responsible for their unique account management and liaising with the team of our company.
Globally, we use various tools to assist in the management of our activities, including Twitter applications, analysis of Web site and a suite of robust travel report, brand Karma, but in many cases, I think that the most effective management tool can be social media website or the application itself.
Q. what has been the most effective content to users?
A. short, nothing other than a case of sale manifest. Social media users are there to communicate with your friends and family, to engage in their interests and passions and discover what is beyond their physical reach. As each brand, we are proud of our unique history and strive to share with our audience of social media. Visual content in the form of video and photography is often more effective to transcend the limitations of a smartphone or a laptop and to the user anywhere in the world with us. Beyond the sharing of our brand and the stories of individual property, we find there is much in demand for our audience to join in the conversation and tell their own stories to engage with our group of properties. By asking a simple question, such as “when you hear”Mandarin Oriental,”what comes to mind first”, it is surprising to see the incredible extent of responses. Our customers associate us with travel luxury and service, but also with more personal experiences as a spa treatment preferred, honeymoon and a home.
We also watched binge grow content more editorial and localized, which led in part to our recent launch of Destination MO (www.destinationmo.info), the version online of our print publication of long date, MB. On this site, visitors can find incredibly rich content of each of our worldwide destinations, including the characteristics of food and wine, spa and well-being and various cultural events. In the future, we look forward to the addition of new features to Destination MB, as a more active blog and a dedicated video section.
Q. what measurable results or success you’ve seen through social media?
A. we measure various aspects of our activity of social media, including levels of commitment, part of hearing, redirects of Web site and the applicable, direct revenue. Quantitative metrics, the most amazing results have been anecdotal. With these conversations in real time with our customers, we have been surprised by power and fun with custom and even welcome amenities turn sub-perfect experience occasionally in a sustainable, positive memory. In particular, customer service most of our customers are turning to Facebook and Twitter to ask for help. It is our responsibility to understand that social media landscape so that we can effectively expand our service to the customer-definition of mark through these channels as well.
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Hotel to become home for six
Feb 28th
A hotel in Oystermouth Road of Swansea sea will become a “accommodation of six” after a planning Inspector allowed an appeal.
Inspector Brian Dodd said that it is not felt that a change of use for The Sands Hotel would harm the tourism or quality of accommodation Swansea.
It is one of several hotels and B & Bs in Oystermouth Road, although it has not been used for this purpose for the years.
“” The town might have been once a location of choice for the tourist accommodation, obviously no longer the case,”said the Welsh Government Inspector.
“A recent report from marketing the appellant (Tim Evans) suggests that small hotels and establishments traditional bed & Breakfast are vulnerable to growth in large hotels that has characterized the recent development of Swansea hotel.”
The Council and a nearby hotel were concerned she would continue to be used as a House of multiple occupation or a hostel of the surety.
“The application is not for any of these uses and planning would be needed for them,” said Mr. Dodd.
Downtown Gardnerville Hotel gets new ownership
Feb 27th
The hostel of the historian, built in 2000, located in downtown Gardnerville, has new owners who intend to make their image of elegance casual this monument of the community.
Hospitality of the key, a host society whose headquarters is in Mammoth Lakes, CA, purchased the property in February 2012 has already begun the renovation of hotel rooms with historic artwork and artifacts, furniture specially designed and upgraded of beds and bedding. The hotel is currently open to guests, and a renovated official opening event is scheduled for late may highlight the property to the inhabitants.
In addition to 33 rooms, the hotel has also several meeting spaces at the forefront of the audiovisual technology and the small Salon, provides care of hair and nails. The market Café will open in the summer 2012 for breakfast, lunch, gifts and tasting of olive oil.
“We are very pleased to be part of the community,” said Deb Pierrel, co-owner of the hospitality of the key. We opened last year at the hotel Avalon to Stateline and the support of business owners and local residents was incredible. The people of this region really believe in working together to achieve mutual success. »
Within six months of opening, the Avalon Hotel was named “Best of Tahoe” by the Tahoe Daily Tribune. Ben Smith said that she and business partner Katy Donoghue has worked hard to create a quality visitor accommodation experience, as well as a dynamic company support the local economy. They plan to do the same in the County of Douglas with the hostel of the historian.
The historian Inn is located at 1427 route 395 North, Gardnerville, NV. For more information, including special opening rates, visit www.historianinn.com.
John Wayne Airport Hotel easy travel with the new Promotion
Feb 27th
The Marriott Irvine, located less than a mile from the John Wayne Airport, announces a new agreement of hotel for travellers on the road.
Irvine, CA (PRWEB) February 27, 2012
Travel has never been easier at the Irvine Marriott hotel. One of the most convenient hotels John Wayne Airport, this hotel in Irvine is located less than a mile from the airport and offers a convenient shuttle service. Beyond its location, the Irvine Marriott hotel also offers a new hotel designed agreement to travel without stress.
Park here, Fly There Deal invited offers in this John Wayne Airport hotel a convenient way to safely store their car while they are offshore trips. This hotel agreement, which starts at only $139 per night, free parking up to seven days. In addition, guests will be able to take advantage of the shuttle to the airport this hotel Irvine, which leaves every thirty minutes from the hotel from 5 am to 23 H daily.
Instead of use parking lots airport cost, guests can enjoy the hotel safe and secure parking. Stay one night at this hotel in Irvine, it will ensure that travellers always make their flight on time, without the rush of the race to the airport or the sake of oversleeping. Less than a mile from the John Wayne Airport, this hotel is a perfect choice for travellers.
Park here, Fly There Deal is valid seven days a week to December 15, 2012. Guests can book this hotel Irvine agreement using the promotional code PKF or calling 1-800-228-9290. For more information on this and other hotel Irvine transactions, visit www.irvinemarriott.com.
On the Irvine Marriott Hotel
In the heart of Southern California, the Irvine Marriott is a hotel in Orange County offering all services, located a few minutes from all the attractions the most popular including the beaches of County of Orange and first Class shopping at the Irvine Spectrum Center, South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island. The Irvine Marriott hotel offers a free shuttle service to John Wayne Airport, which in fact a selection practice for travellers. Guests and the local population can choose multiple options of room hotel to eat. Freshly renovated rooms feature luxurious new bedding Marriott, screen HD televisions flat and Internet wireless. For more information, visit www.IrvineMarriott.com.
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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebIrvine-Marriott-Hotel/New-Travel-Deal/prweb9226051.htm
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: an exercise in the performance of British desire
Feb 27th
The hotel Marigold best exotic, new comedy from John Madden on English in India retirees, begins with a seductive blend of the exotic and the familiar: Dame Judi is on the phone in his flat in London, speaking to someone in a call centre Indian who knows not how take account of the fact that her husband is dead. We have opportunity on Dame Maggie being wonderfully racist in his wheelchair. The public is encouraged to laugh at the absurdity, to consider how the times have changed and settle in their seats.
Britain does not work for these people, as collapse it their pot of retirement and their children and their partners to disappear on the horizon. How will they find an answer? It is a rich beginning with anticipation and the potential of son Crusaders, tension, redemption, the work complete.
But then the cast in India, and the bustling of the multiplicity of countries, the same characters suddenly totally seem self-involved. “In India, as life itself, is that you put into it,” said Dame Judi character, with heart-crushing banality. The country became an orientalist setting of personal growth for each character, the recent fashion of the Julia Roberts quasi-mystical vehicle Eat, Pray, Love.
Why should be the case, especially in a film of property of this nature? Director David Cronenberg has once said that “all the stereotypes is to reveal true.”. “It is a horrible thing on life.” But in the cinema, that more affecting global exports, such an attitude can feel particularly pernicious if it gets into the wrong hands. The problem with stereotypes is of course, that they who depend on is contemplation. They are not standard in all areas. And the Indians we encounter in this film are consistent with a particular kind: they are so compelling, in their simple ways, instead of give us a promised round tower “riot of colour and noise”, the film presents a form of culture anesthesia curiously démodése, colonial.
The Director of the hotel is a naive, Kipling-citing simpleton, who is extremely grateful to Dame Judi and Dame Maggie to intervene for his company and love life do not go into the pan because of his incompetence. His girlfriend works in a call centre, but, once again, need help of Dame Judi on how to talk to the British people on the phone – it is even very grateful for this service.
Even the Dalits serving woman back Dame Maggie to his slum and is subject to the power of his bigotry, is happy to be in his presence, once again back to the hotel.
Most confusing of all, Tom Wilkinson character is for the love of his life – the servant boy with whom he had a disastrous romantically when he was a child himself. Fifty years and the boy is now married, but his wife just keeps twitching of her sari, while men emote usefully, and together. It’s weird to look at.
Why none of them tell these British visitors where to go? Why did they not show hot emotions, disruptors, agressivitées that you expect to get out to these kinds of interventions? What is compliance continue? To return to Cronenberg, there is no truth to me in these stereotypes. But the galling thing is that apparently they represent a kind of truth for someone else. Or worse yet, a sort of fulfillment of desire. The film begins by turning derision desire even for a nostalgic return to the time of the Empire she then proceeded to do so. What is this for?
A cursory look at the type of material coming out of the India of the end reveals a country with a much more nuanced profile: dark comedy by writer-director Anusha Rizvi, Peepli Live shows poor farmers and their families consider the suicide of money. Beautiful Thing, by journalist Sonia Faleiro, illustrates the life of the table in Mumbai with precision dancers, empathy and the horror.
Even These Foolish Things, the spiritual book on which is based the film, presents a much more feasible basic idea: the hotel of retirement is not a decrepit desert Palace but a complex in silicon valley of the India, Bangalore, and the people who design and run the place are 50 years men on a mission – a contractor and a doctor – not a buffoon with low IQ who needs help to save the day. It is difficult to understand the benefits of the use of airbrushing of such persons and their replacement with this vision of universal recognition. The result is alarming strangely, a kind of lazy muzak for the soul.
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