Hotel & Motel Management - June 16, 2008 - (Page 4) 4 News H&MM June 16, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Hospitality industries join to promote tourism J.W. Marriott Jr., Barry Sternlicht and Jonathan Gray each predicted the current softening to continue for some time during New York University’s International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. Marriott projected lower 2008 revenue than what was expected previously and all said the success of the lodging industry is directly correlated to the state of the economy. Wyndham Worldwide will acquire U.S. Franchise Systems and its Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites brands, bringing Wyndham’s property base to nearly 7,000. Microtel has been ranked No. 1 in guest satisfaction in its segment by J.D. Power and Associates for the past six years. Hilton Hotels Corp. hired Ross Klein and Amar Lalvani, both formerly with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, to lead the company’s lifestyle and luxury initiatives. Klein will become Hilton’s global head of luxury & lifestyle brands and Lalvani will become global head of luxury & lifestyle brand development. By Stephanie Ricca EDITOR IN CHIEF DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES–Hoteliers and tourism and travel sector leaders from around the world gathered in Dubai in May at the eighth annual Global Travel & Tourism Summit to prioritize common goals relating to the overlapping hospitality industries. The consensus: Consider the environmental, economic and political impacts of all facets of tourism because consumers ONLINE EXTRA! For more on the Summit, visit www.HotelMotel. com and look for “WTTC Coverage.” See Hospitality industry | page 47 Spas growing ‘at a breakneck pace’ By Harvey Chipkin Katherine Johnston, senior economist with SRI International, said one challenge of studying spas is defining how they are measured. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR NEW YORK–The total size of the global spa economy is $225 billion, according to a recent study released at the second Global Spa Summit. The Global Spa Summit debuted in 2007 as an effort to bring together the industry’s executive leaders, according to Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder. The study was conducted by economic researchers SRI International. Ophelia Yeung, director of the economics program, and Katherine Johnston, senior economist with SRI International, told delegates that producing the study meant facing several SPAFINDER challenges, among them the fact that, as Young said, “there is a colossal dearth of data on the spa industry.” Also, the very definition of a spa has become blurred, Johnston said. “There were definitional challenges to what is a spa,” Yeung said. “Should it be water-based or not? Would we go by the number of services it offers or the number of rooms? Should spas be exclusive only or mass market? It is a similar situation to tourism, where there is debate over whether a trip must include an overnight stay, or whether it has to be more than 50 miles from home. “This is a young industry freSee Global Spa Summit | page 48 The first aloft, Starwood’s newest lifestyle brand, has opened at the Montreal Airport. Virgin Group has started preliminary planning for the launch of its “urban” hotel brand that Sir Richard Branson said he hopes will compete with Starwood’s W. Virgin representatives said a development team is in place. For updated breaking news, visit www.HotelMotel.com. Waldorf=Astoria continues expansion plans As HOTEL & MOTEL MANAGEMENT reported first in 2006, Hilton Hotels Corp. is expanding the Waldorf=Astoria’s brand name. In addition to the creation of a Waldorf=Astoria Collection of properties that will maintain their own names, Hilton is building new Waldorf=Astoria hotels beyond the Big Apple. Here’s an update on the status of the new construction projects. While the Orlando, Fla., Waldorf=Astoria [shown] won’t open for another year, Hilton executives already have plans for additional new-build properties around the U.S. and abroad. By Christine Blank CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ORLANDO, FLA.–Even with another year to go on construction of one of the first Waldorf=Astoria properties outside New York, Hil- See Waldorf | page 48 SHAD BOOKOUT ton executives are looking to expand the brand in the U.S. and abroad. “We’re looking both in the U.S. and globally. There is more WTTC want that commitment. “Responsible” was the buzzword as speakers refined their ideas of how to build global travel and tourism while encouraging travelers to pay special attention to their ecological, social and economic footprints. J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and c.e.o. of Marriott International, set the scene for the conference with his openings remarks: “Although globalization evokes different feelings, the mark of a true global economy is a symbol of freedom,” he said. “The bottom line? Travel is trade.” While Marriott gave a nod to the fact that the U.S. increasingly attracts fewer tourists, the mood of his speech and the J.W. Marriott Jr. told attendees that his company just signed a deal to be a part of Dubai Festival City. Marriott International opened its first Dubai property in 1993. http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com
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