Timeshare Management

Vacation ownership is becoming a mainstream travel product. Continued growth based on number of units sold and an increasing number of international brands has placed this segment in a very strong position. As the market continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for clear and engaging sources of information on the key issues and components of vacation ownership, from both hospitality management students and the public. This book updates hospitality students in this vacation sector, provides the key background information, explanation of the growth, the components to vacation ownership management and an overview of opportunities in vacation ownership management. Timeshare Management provides the understanding of the financing, marketing, sales, management, and human resource issues surrounding the subject vital to any hospitality and tourism student.

New US sanctions target Russian hotel in Crimea acknowledged as world’s best

The latest US sanctions against Russia have hit four Crimean hotels, including Mriya Resort & Spa that is ranked as the world’s best holiday hotel and resort by the prestigious World Travel Awards.  On Thursday, US Treasury department broadened the list of previously introduced Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia. The new list includes two Ukrainians, a Russian officer, and nine entities. The punitive measures were initially introduced in response to the reunification of the Crimean peninsula with Russia after a regional referendum in 2014. Washington had also accused Moscow of meddling with Ukrainian internal policy and fueling the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s Mriya Resort & Spa is located 25 kilometers from the Crimean city of Yalta. The complex was built with the financial support of Russia’s state-controlled lender Sberbank and is used to host the Yalta International Economic Forum. Russia’s Mriya Resort & Spa in #Crimea named the best holiday hotel  The hotel was named the best holiday hotel and resort by the World Travel Awards in 2017. The year before, jury of the travel industry's most prestigious awards programme recognized Mriya Resort & Spa as Europe’s leading leisure resort. In 2015, Mriya won the title of Europe’s leading new resort. Established in 1923, World Travel aims to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. The awards are decided by an open vote and have been described as 'the Oscars of the travel industry'. Earlier this month, the World Spa Awards ranked the Russian hotel third among the best spa resorts across the world. Mriya was topped only by the Dubai-based Armani SPA and the Iridium Spa located in the Maldives. Apart from Mriya Resort & Spa the US sanctions target the Ai-Petri health resort, the Dulber holiday resort, and the Resort Complex Miskhor – all located in Crimea and established by the companies working in the peninsula.

World Travel Market (WTM) enables the growth and development of the global travel industry.

World Travel Market London will be held at ExCeL London between 5 - 7 November 2018. ExCeL London is an exhibitions and international convention centre located on the northern quay of the Royal Victoria Dock in London Docklands, between Canary Wharf and London City Airport. ExCeL London 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock London Docklands, E16 1XL Telephone: +44 (0)20 7069 4000 Website: www.excel-london.co.uk Monday 5 November 10:00 - 19:00  Admission to registered Exhibitors, Exhibitor Invitees, Ministers, Speakers and International Media only. Tuesday 6 November 10:00 - 18:00 Admission to all badged attendees and students registered for Tuesday.

Social Media Marketing in Tourism and Hospitality

 This book describes ongoing developments in social media within the tourism and hospitality sector, highlighting impacts on both the demand and the supply side. It offers a combination of theory and practice, with discussion of real-life business experiences. The book is divided into three parts, the first of which provides an overview of recent trends in social media and user-generated content, clarifies concepts that are often used in an overlapping way and examines the “digitization of word of mouth” via online networks. The second part analyzes the impacts that social media can have on traveler behavior for each step in the travel process and also on suppliers, highlighting opportunities, threats and strategies. In the third part of the book, future potential trends deriving from the mobile marketing technologies are explored and possible methods for social monitoring by means of key performance indicators are examined. It is considered how engaging customers and prospects by means of social media might increase customer loyalty, foster electronic word-of-mouth communication, and consequently have important effects on corporate sales and revenues. The discussion encompasses methods to measure company performance on each of the social media in order to understand the optimal mix that will support and improve business strategies. Social Media Marketing in Tourism and Hospitality Code: iranhotelnews.com

International Property & Travel magazine

 International Property & Travel magazine focuses on the finest homes, resorts, interiors, travel, fashion and cars in the world – in fact, everything that signifies a highly desirable lifestyle. Features are both informative and interesting, offering advice from leading property experts on current market conditions around the word as well as specific information on each destination. The editor also selects the very best examples of properties for sale in each particular area and these are showcased within the different articles. The ‘First Class’ lifestyle section within every issue includes interviews with leading interior designers and gives an insight into varying trends around the globe. Top fashion designers also discuss their latest collections and offer advice on styling and accessories. Superior homes demand a vehicle of similar standing in the driveway and so we indulge car lovers’ passion with pages dedicated to the drives of their dreams. International Property & Travel has a valued readership of high net worth individuals and can be found in-flight and in the business class lounges of British Airways, Emirates, American Airlines and many more leading flight operators. The magazine is also a media partner of the International Property Awards. While great care has been taken in the receipt and handling of material, production and accuracy of content in this magazine, the publishers will not accept any responsibility for any errors, loss or omissions which may occur. The publishers would like to thank all those companies and individuals who took part in the magazine and wish them every success. International Property & Travel  Code: iranhotelnews.com

New Little Havana boutique hotel lets visitors live like locals — at a value price

When it opens Dec. 28, Life House Little Havana will be the neighborhood’s first boutique hotel. The launch is also the first for Life House, a start-up lodging brand based in New York and backed by California and London investors. The 33-room hotel — which offers private rooms and a handful of group rooms — will cater to “mature millennials” looking for more than fun in the sun at accessible prices. “It’s for people who are seeking substantial experiences,” said Life House co-founder and CEO Rami Zeidan. The brand, which offers affordable lodging with stylish amenities, is designed to connect people with the community around them.  Life House has raised $70 million in funding from Silicon Valley-venture capital firms Global Founders Capital, Comcast Ventures and Trinity Ventures, and London-based real estate firm Henley Investments. They’re betting that young travelers will gravitate toward the company’s tech-savvy, upscale, design-focused and local approach to travel.  It’s a niche that’s gaining traction. In 2013, Freehand opened an upscale hostel on Miami Beach. Just last month, the European hotel-hostel brand Generator opened in Miami Beach, with a mix of shared dorms and private rooms with large, comfortable common areas. Just a 15-minute walk from Life House Little Havana is the newly remodeled Tower Hotel Project, a 52-room hotel slated to open in February. (Construction delays pushed the opening back from its original September 2018 date.)  For travelers drawn to these lodgings, “What’s most important to you is value, value, value,” said Deanna Ting, Senior Hospitality Editor for Skift, a travel trade publication that monitors trends. “It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. They’re not skimping on everything, it’s not bare bones. But they’re being really careful about what they curate.”  Life House embodies other key trends identified by Travel Market Report, a hospitality trade publication: connecting guests with the local community and making sure hotels tell stories.  Unique to Life House is proprietary software that allows travelers to manage their trips though an app if they choose. Guests can reserve rooms, check in and out, get to know each other before arrival, and chat with a concierge throughout their stay. Forums on wellness, nature, food and nightlife allow guests to check out local happenings. And no more waiting in line — guests can stroll right to their room and use the app as a key

Keeping identity documents in hotels is totally against the rules

 Hotel News - Keeping identity documents in hotels has been prohibited since two years ago. Nevertheless, hotels throughout the country insist on acting against this rule using different excuses. In July, 2016, the Cultural Heritage, Handcraft and Tourism Organization of the Republic of Iran reformed the executive rules of storage and cancellation of rooms in hotels considering the regulation of the reservation system, protecting consumer rights and informing tourists, travelers and travel agencies. In the article10, this rule explicitly states: In case of sufficient payment for guests to settle, the accommodation units (hotels and other kinds) do not have the right to hold the provided identity documents and they must return it to the owner after seeing and authenticating it. Also it is stated in the note to this article: The financial guarantees required to compensate for the losses incurred by domestic or foreign guests should be provided by travel and tourism offices. The head of the Society of Iranian hoteliers said: "According to this rule, keeping identity documents in hotels is illegal and the hotel owner will have to hand over identity documents as soon as the identity of the traveler confirmed. "Jamshid Hamzezadeh" said that the holding of identity documents is not related to Police surveillance performances at all. He added that if it is felt necessary to maintain the identity of the passenger, a copy can be obtained and the original document will be returned.Most hotels are worried about paying for customers, but this problem has been solved all over the world in the form of a customer deposit.

16-story hotel is built in downtown Tucson

A 16-story hotel development coming to downtown Tucson will tower over the Rialto Theatre, temporarily displacing the nearly 100-year-old performance and concert venue. Element Hotel and Moxy Hotel, which are both Marriott brands, will share a new building on the south lot of the Rialto Theatre block on the corner of South Fifth Avenue and East Broadway. The Dabdoub and Stiteler families, who built the AC Marriott, which opened last year across the street, are again teaming up on this $88 million project. The 16-story building will house both hotels, with 109 rooms in the Moxy, a millennial-focused brand, and 140 rooms in Element, an extended-stay hotel for business travelers. During construction, which is expected to begin next year and last about two years, the Rialto Theatre will move to the historic Corbett Building on South Sixth Avenue and East Seventh Street. Developer Scott Stiteler, who bought the Corbett Building in 1999, said Rialto at the Corbett will “retain the soul of a Tucson story.” “Anywhere we could have been and still continue to work would have been satisfactory, but wow, that’s perfect location-wise,” said Curtis McCray, executive director of the Rialto Theatre. “It’s definitely going to be a big adjustment and we’re going to be displaced and that’s never easy.” Improvements to the existing theatre will include increased seating and viewing capacity; new concessions, dressing and green rooms; and bus parking. In a letter to donors of the Rialto’s capital campaign, McCray stressed that the Rialto Theatre Foundation will continue to operate autonomously when the upgrades are completed. “In important respects, the combined project will function as a partnership that will integrate certain functions of both properties in interesting ways,” the letter reads. “Performers will want to stay at the hotel. Event planners and organizations will want to rent newly reconfigured spaces in the theatre. Visitors will want to dine, enjoy libations, maybe play some basketball. Everyone will want to share in the fun, and that is our collective aim.” Source: tucson.com 

Emlyn Brown Appointed Vice President, Wellbeing for AccorHotels’ Luxury Brands

 AccorHotels is pleased to announce the appointment of  Emlyn Brown as Vice President, Wellbeing for AccorHotels’ Luxury & Upper Upscale brands . Emlyn joins AccorHotels from Resense Spas S.A, where he most recently held the position of Global Design Director and was responsible for managing corporate strategies, wellbeing concepts and related design services.   “We are delighted to have Emlyn join our team; his experience, skill set and leadership traits position him well for future success within the Group,”  said Rick Harvey Lam, Senior Vice-President, AccorHotels Luxury Brands, Global Brand Marketing.  “Emlyn will direct our global strategy in the pivotal area of wellbeing, enhancing our global luxury wellness offering through transformative guest experiences integrated with our leading spa and wellness standards.”   Emlyn brings over 20 years of international experience to this role, beginning his wellness career in 1996. Since then, Emlyn has held several progressive management positions throughout Europe, The Middle East and Asia. Over his career, Emlyn has led group operations of several leading luxury spa and fitness operators. During his time at Resense Spas S.A he also held the position of Managing Director of Asia, accountable for the management and growth of the portfolio in China and South East Asia. Prior to that, Emlyn was the Director at GOGO Hospitality, and also held senior positions at Six Senses Resorts & Spas where he was the Regional Director for Europe and later the Operations Director for Asia. Prior to working within luxury hospitality, Emlyn held senior operating roles with Holmes Place Lifestyle clubs in Switzerland and Germany.   “It is an honor and a privilege to join AccorHotels, to work with its prestigious luxury brands and among the highly respected professionals of its global wellness and marketing teams,”  said Brown.  “Our discerning and affluent clientele are well-travelled individuals and they are increasingly motivated by the opportunity to maintain and even improve their approach to health and wellbeing along their journeys. From designs and concepts to facilities and programs, my goal is to continue to surpass the expectations of our guests and infuse their entire hotel experience with opportunities for transformative, innovative and extraordinary moments of wellness and wellbeing.” Source: hotel-online

Raj Patel Hospitality to Open Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Tyler, Texas

  The 88-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Tyler, Texas is set to open on Monday, October 22, 2018 with a new décor that  provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at 309 West Heritage Drive, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Tyler South will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Raj Patel Hospitality and managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta, Georgia. General Manager Peter Wagner and Director of Sales Heather Trammell lead the management team at the property. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Tyler South offers guests convenient access to The Village at Cumberland Park, Kiepersol Winery and Faulkner Park Sports Facility. “Delivering both function and comfort, our new design and décor elevate the Fairfield brand, setting a new standard in the moderate tier category,” said Callette Nielsen, vice president and global brand manager, Fairfield Inn & Suites. “At Fairfield Inn & Suites, we provide an easy, positive and productive travel experience, as well as the promise of consistent and reliable service at an exceptional value. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Tyler South is a truly stunning example of the brand’s contemporary look and feel, and we are pleased to introduce Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in the Tyler area.” The new décor package is warm, timeless, forward-thinking, and inviting with simple nods back to the brand’s heritage. Specific elements meant to evoke feelings from the Fairfield Farm include a farmhouse table in the lobby for gathering and connecting, photography from the Fairfield Farm serving as artwork in the lobby and guest rooms, natural materials and unique textures featured throughout, and a history  wall in every property showcasing the brand’s roots. The new guestroom design is impactful, unique and addresses the functional needs of the Fairfield guest for a seamless experience. The room was designed with the modern traveler’s needs to stay productive on the road in mind without overcomplicating the guestroom. Each room features a modern lounge chair, serving as both functional and comfortable to either work or relax in. The artwork in the room takes center stage with the window treatment acting as a focal point, displaying photography taken at the Fairfield Farm. The material is sheer and allows light to pass through the photography, warming up the room and creating a comfortable environment. The guestrooms also feature a mobile desk, a comfortable couch, refrigerator, coffeemaker and microwave. Source:  hotel-online

Orbis will manage a new ibis Styles hotel in Bucharest, scheduled to open in 2020

  Orbis Hotel Group, leading hotel operator in Eastern Europe and strategic partner of AccorHotels, further strengthens its  leading position in the Romanian capital by signing a management contract for a new ibis Styles hotel in the city center.   “Eastern Europe offers new, exciting destinations for both – corporate and leisure travelers from around the globe. On top of it, economies of countries in this part of the world are on the rise along with the domestic purchasing power. Definitely, we see the potential and that is why we are dynamically expanding our network of hotels in this region under AccorHotels’ brands. We offer currently 129 hotels in 12 countries and have more than 40 projects secured, ” Gilles Clavie, president of the management board & CEO of Orbis, commented.   The newly-built ibis Styles Bucharest City Center, expected to be open in Q 1 2020, is developed in partnership with Romanian owner and investor – Dentotal Hospitality, and will be managed by Orbis. “With 11 hotels today and another 10 in the pipeline, Romania is a key market for us and we’re proud that in partnership with Dentotal Hospitality, we are further strengthening our leading position by opening ibis Styles City Center that will be one of the most upbeat and stylish hotels in Bucharest. We do not hide that we actively continue to look for further developing opportunities on the market, having a strong potential for hotels under AccorHotels’ world leading brands, ”adds Frank Reul, head of Development of Orbis & AccorHotels Eastern Europe Source :  Business Review

News Hotel Interview with Mr. Reza Alvand CEO of Tech Travel