Hotels & Culinary ASIA

July-August 2015

The B-2-B Magazine on Hotels, Food, Travel & Lifestyle

Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel to Open in

Bangkok

Top 50 Meeting Destinations in the United States

Hotel Expo 2015 set to capture hospitality’s growing demand in Asia –Pacific

Dream weddings come true at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

Why Resorts Need to Fight Back Against Airbnb - How to Win?

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Why Resorts Need to Fight Back Against Airbnb - How to Win

By Babs S. Harrison, Managing director of Phoenix based Babs Harrison and Partners

By now just about every hotelier has awakened to the news that the sharing economy - namely Airbnb, with HomeAway also on the march - has taken a big bite out of certain kinds of business accommodation bookings. More employers are opening their systems to permit expensed Airbnb bookings (Uber too of course).

But that, mainly, is big city travel. So many resort managers insist that the Airbnb revolution is a big yawn for them.

Annual Subscription: India: Rs.2000 | Overseas: US$250 They say the first bite is taken with the eye, and here’s an appetizer of what’s in store. Hotels & Culinary Asia (HCA) is a B2B magazine for the ever-growing Hotel, Food, Travel and Lifestyle Industries.

HCA, through print and online magazine is real time information network that connects you with latest information of the above industries, at the forefront of all the action and as the key media partner to the major industry events around the world, you can trust HCA to serve you with what you need.

A quick glance through our pages will lead you into the world of the now in-demand technologies, services and events and much more.

Our aim is to update you with the most happenings in the world of hotel, food, travel and lifestyle industries. Dive in, read, explore through our pages and we shall serve you to the best of our abilities and honour our commitment towards excellence.

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Asian hospitality players to level up through technology adoption 70 percent of travellers never use hotel minibars: survey NEW YORK CITY’S MUSIC SCENE IS HOT THIS SUMMER WITH A VARIETY OF CONCERTS Diavolezza, St. Moritz brings you a gastronomic delight at 3066 meter Experience fun activities at One&Only Le Saint Geran, Mauritius Dream weddings come true at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai Panamera S E-Hybrid Porsche at your disposal NYC & COMPANY INVITES VISITORS TO SAIL AWAY TO STATEN ISLAND’S ST. GEORGE Asia Pacific Hotel Development Pipeline Increases 6.3% YOY in July 2015 Hotel Expo 2015 set to capture hospitality’s growing demand in Asia –Pacific AHLEI Adds Kitchen Cook Training and Certification to START Program Starwood Element Brand Increases Presence in Greater China with Signing of Three Hotels Kennedy Training Network Announces Alliance With TRACK Pulse Call And Lead Tracking System HOSPA’s cutting-edge Annual Conference and Exhibition Top 50 Meeting Destinations in the United States for 2015 Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel to Open in Bangkok HYBRID At Delhi’s heart A 3 in1 Dining Concept Café|Restaurant | Nightclub Hotels need to provide a gifting platform for products and services Jin Jiang to acquire 80% of Vienna Hotels for US$289 million Armenia’s Second Hyatt-branded Hotel Fully Equipped With ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Solutions

I am here to say that is a wrong and dangerous complacency. I also have proposed remedies that will keep your business yours. But, first, understand this harsh truth: the biggest threat of Airbnb and HomeAway may well be to resorts. Do the math. A family vacationing at a luxury resort in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado or New England will often pay $800, possibly $1000, for a couple of connected hotel rooms.

That same amount often will buy a whole, well-furnished house in a good location in Santa Fe, Taos, Sedona, Telluride.

The house has a kitchen. Maybe three or four bedrooms. A family that had looked at cramped quarters in a hotel now can spread out. You have also seen the research that suggests that in many families it now is the children who are doing the vacation planning. If a 13-year old has a choice between no privacy in a hotel room and a lot of privacy in a spacious house, which do you think he/she will choose?

And that is a very wrong result for resort operators. What can a hotelier do to fight back - and keep those bookings? It’s easier than you may fear. Just four steps will put you in the winner’s circle.

Step 1: Double down on service. An Airbnb home may be spacious but what it lacks is professional hospitality service.

Hire - and train - staff, from porters through housekeepers, and - in your marketing/PR materials - celebrate your staff.

Now may well be a great time to highlight line employees of the month and what they do to wow guests.

Step 2: Meet Airbnb on its own turf and beat it. Sharing economy proponents like to talk about how their hosts can be local guides. That’s a great idea. But a savvy resort can in fact do that better. Be sure you have trained, engaging staff to lead appropriate activities (from surfing to hiking and mountain biking, even art walks in some towns). And get the word out about that staff. Create custom content about the activities, and post photos on Facebook and Instagram that illustrate the activities.

Step 3: Create a well-stocked custom content guide to your community and make sure guests know about it. What are they interested in? You should know - so get articles written and posted. Cover everything from local dive bars to art galleries. Become a rich, reliable information resource. Local should be yours to own. Seize it, celebrate it.

Step 4: Take a hard look at your F&B program. Here is where you can knock it out of the park. Sure, the Airbnb home has a kitchen - but you have a fully-staffed dining operation, along with a bar.

How many guests use your facilities? How many locals? You want to be there for just about all guests and if you aren’t seeing a lot of locals you are missing an opportunity. Again, use custom content and social media to celebrate your F&B. Hungry and thirsty guests will know you are the place to stay.

How are you faring on Yelp and TripAdvisor? If the answer is you don’t want to talk about it, change that. Guests will use these services to decide where to eat and drink and you have to be winning raves to get them in the door. But this is a key fight. Few really want to cook on vacation. Celebrate the convenient culinary comfort you offer.

Add it up and, yes, resorts generally lose on a price per square foot measure - but you should win on just about every other front. Tell the world. That’s how to stay competitive amid the rise of the sharing economy.

BABS HARRISON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PHOENIX BASED BABS HARRISON AND PARTNERS Babs Harrison is managing director of Phoenix based Babs Harrison and Partners, a boutique public relations/marketing consultancy for select luxury resorts, hotels, and spas. Harrison has 25 years of experience in hospitality and has worked with leading brands in the US and internationally .

EDITORIAL: Reny, Sarvjit, Vishwapreet & Amrita (India), Anna (Sweden), Mike (UK), Liza (Singapore), Upi (Indonesia), Ying & Adrian (China), Arvi (Australia). Columnist: Carolyn Childs, (MyTravelResearch.com); Doug Kennedy (Kennedy Network Training) Public Relations Director: Winnie. Advisor: Rajiv Sanghavi. Design, Art & Web Development: Diamond Infomedia. Publisher: Milinia Inc. Founded by: Late Mr N.S. Kanwar.

B-2-B Group Publications: PRINTING REVIEW, Medical Device ASIA, autoASIA, Plastics & Rubber Review, Electronics & Electrical ASIA, Beauty & Fashion World. Contacts: To advertise: advertise@hotelsandculinaryasia. com, to submit a press release: editorial@hotelsandculinaryasia.com, to subscribe: subscribe@hotelsandculinaryasia.com.

Published, printed, & owned by Vishwapreet Kaur on behalf of Milinia Inc. at , D-182, PR House, Anand Vihar, 110092, New Delhi, India and printed by her at Technical Press, D-182/C, Anand Vihar, 110092, New Delhi, India.

Views expressed in this magazine are of the contributors, authors and companies and not necessarily of the publisher and/or editors’ and they do not take any responsibility for the errors and/or accuracy of the information published in this publication. No part or design of this magazine can be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher, who reserves the right to use the information published in this magazine in any manner whatsoever.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 3

THE INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY EVENT

Asian hospitality players to level up through technology adoption Check in your flight online? Click! Check into the hotel through your mobile device? Click! Enter your room or order room service with your mobile device? These actions are now a click or tap away, as the hospitality sector moves to embrace technological advances and look into ways to engage their customers before, during and after their stay.

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n a report on the fast-rising adoption of technology among travellers and companies in the hospitality sector, trends in mobility and social media in particular are creating opportunities for the sector. Embracing technology has also enabled companies such as hoteliers to level up guest engagement and operational efficiencies. t

Mr. Harbans Singh, founder of UbiQ and returning exhibitor at the HospitalityTechnology exhibition at FHA2016 (Food&HotelAsia2016) gave his take on technological trends in Asia and their impact on hospitality players in Asia.

Quick and nimble wins the race Two technological trends that are catching on in Asia are mobility and cloud computing. Asia has the largest number of mobile users in the world, hence, the move to mobility is more rapid here than in other parts of the world. Consumers are being trained daily by different business to be able to use their mobile devices to transact online and hence, the role of 4 | July-August 2015 | Hotels & Culinary ASIA

the device is evolving from one which just makes calls to one today, which allows you to run your entire business as well. This trend is growing even more rapidly and all businesses are racing to catch up with this phenomenon.

Hotels need to address the need for mobility and the ability for their guests to operate their mobile devices, which include laptops, tablets, mobile phones within the hotel premises. Good Wi-Fi is of importance in most guest buying decisions today as a result of this.

Today many software applications are being deployed in the cloud.

This essentially means that the software is no longer installed on computers within the premise but instead, is located in a remote third party data centre and accessed via the web. This enables users to access from anywhere and also enhances collaboration within the organisation. Hotels would subscribe to this service at a lower monthly cost and this helps hotels to reduce their capex investments for infrastructure and hardware. At the same time, when the demands for capacity and bandwidth increase within the hotel, cloud systems are able scale easily at minimal additional costs.

Hence, hotels need to be aware that this trend is significant and future technology buying decisions should weigh applications that can be hosted on the cloud.

Hospitality = technology + service Asian hoteliers need to understand the needs of their guests better! It is no longer like the old days where hospitality was purely dependent on service. Today, hospitality is a combination of technology and service.

Many travel reports have highlighted the needs of today’s traveller, both the leisure and business segments. One of the key requirements in most guest buying decisions today is the availability of good Wi-Fi within the hotel.

This is because today’s traveller is highly dependent on being able to connect to the world from their own mobile devices when they are traveling, which can be a computer or the mobile phone, tablet, etc.

Hence, apart from normal guest service, the technology offerings in a hotel today add to the Guest Experience factor! Guests today want to have a seamless technology experience which there are used to at home or other environments and which continues when they check into a hotel.

Hence, hotels need to be able to evaluate the technologies which make a difference for their customers and this also includes the in-room experience, such as TV and entertainment, door lock security, telephone, etc. Other technologies also come into play

in being able to address the stress points in hospitality service for the guest and being able to offer services which allow for enhanced guest experience. This includes the ease of making a booking, being able to check-in and check-out, the in-house stay experience and so on. There are many hospitality software solutions which address these needs but the hoteliers must firstly be willing to learn and understand the new trends and secondly, be willing to invest in these technologies which enable enhanced guest experience.

Working with technology, not against it The hospitality sector is undergoing dynamic changes, especially with the increasing mobility among people, who are guests or working in the industry. I don’t believe that there is a differentiation between the different levels of hotels when it comes to applying the technology.

In fact, smaller hotels are more technology aggressive in order to cut manpower costs compared to bigger hotels. On the other hand, bigger hotels have more money to spend on technology.

The key factor is the ability of the management to recognise this trend and do something about it.

In many cases, we still have old dinosaur management in place which is the biggest obstacle in implementing this.

Expanding UbiQ’s reach in Asia UbiQ focuses on Next Generation Solutions which allow our customers to ‘Enhance their Guest Experience’. We focus on providing a holistic approach to the guest experience touch points, using technology which is subtle and yet, friendly. All of these new technologies have been developed by UbiQ over the last five years and we have started deploying in various customer sites

across the Asian region. For 2015 and 2016, UbiQ is expanding its operations further across Asia and also in other regions in the world as a result of the response which we have had for our new technologies.

Building market presence through FHA UbiQ has always participated in trade events in order to create a market presence and also to reach the customers. This has worked well for us in many countries.

In Singapore for instance, FHA, through its HospitalityTechnology exhibition, has always had a strong tech presence for many years. This is because all the major vendors recognised the importance of the show in reaching their clients. There is also a growing awareness amongst the tech vendor community in regard to FHA and the ability to reach new and potential customers by participating in the business event.

Showcase of technology at FHA The HospitalityTechnology exhibition, a sold-out since June this year, has surpassed its borders at FHA2016 to meet demands for booth space from companies serving the hospitality sector.

Besides UbiQ, companies such as Bartech Automatic Systems, EPoint Systems, Epson Singapore, Quicklabel Systems and many more have confirmed their participation.

Asia’s largest international food and hospitality trade exhibition and conference, FHA is a high quality platform for trade attendees to network and share their knowledge. The event offers a holistic experience with activities and an extensive conference held alongside the exhibition. FHA2016 is co-located with ProWine Asia 2016, the newest ProWein satellite event for Southeast Asia.

Events at a glance: FHA2016 (Food&HotelAsia2016) Encompassing: Bakery&Pastry, FoodAsia, HotelAsia, HospitalityStyleAsia, HospitalityTechnology and SpecialityCoffee&Tea (co-located with ProWine Asia 2016) Date:

12 – 15 April 2016 (Tuesday – Friday)

Venue:

Singapore Expo, Halls 1 – 9

Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (12 – 14 April 2016, Tuesday – Thursday) 10am – 4pm (15 April 2016, Friday) Admission:

Business and trade professionals

Website:

www.foodnhotelasia.com

ProWine Asia 2016 Date:

12 – 15 April 2016 (Tuesday – Friday)

Venue:

Singapore Expo, Hall 10

Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (12 – 14 April 2016, Tuesday – Thursday) 10am – 4pm (15 April 2016, Friday) Admission:

Business and trade professionals

Website:

www.prowineasia.com Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 5

70 percent of travellers never use hotel minibars: survey More than 70 percent of travelers say they never use hotel mini-bars according to a survey conducted jointly by GO Airport Express, and The GO Group, LLC, an international ground transportation service provider.

Just fewer than four percent said they always raid the mini-fridges, while 20 percent said they do so sometimes or occasionally.

Several of the more than 733 survey respondents had comments, noting they think the food and beverage offerings are too expensive, or they use the mini-fridges to store their snacks bought elsewhere.

Of those who did purchase from the hotel mini-bars, men were more likely to purchase alcoholic beverages, at 27 percent, compared with 14 percent of women. Women bought more bottled water (47 percent) compared with men (35 percent). Women also purchase healthier snacks such as nuts and granola bars, than men, at 14 percent and seven percent respectively.

“Today’s travelers are more savvy, health and budget conscious,” says John McCarthy, president of GO Airport Express. “Successful hotels are starting to respond by catering to the changing preferences of their guests.”

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Stars dance with BlackTrax thanks to Prolight® First ever deployment of real-time motion tracking for lighting and media projection in Poland

The very first deployment of BlackTrax real-time motion tracking solution in Poland was achieved with Dancing with the Stars by specialist events supplier Prolight® Sp. z o. o. The prime time celebrity ballroom dance contest was broadcast live on Polsat TV. “Lighting is the very first thing that viewers see,” said Radoslaw Zacheja, Chief Technology Officer at Prolight. “It’s a challenge for broadcasters to change contestants, lighting, audio, judging and cameras and we’ve solved this by using BlackTrax to automate this process on stage and screen.”

Working with Lighting Designer, Artur Szyman, Prolight attached discreet BTBeacons to performers and using BlackTrax’s user friendly interface and integrated them with a media server and lighting console. For light tracking they used ClayPaky Supersharpy, Sharpy and Robe Lighting LEDWash fixtures.

“All production staff were really impressed with the set up time and accurate tracking provided by BlackTrax,” adds Zacheja.

BlackTrax precisely tracks movements, giving contestants freedom to perfect their on-screen performances. At the same time, production staff 8 | July-August 2015 | Hotels & Culinary ASIA

benefit from precise tracking and increased operator efficiency due to the automated tracking process.

Igor Silva, Marketing Director says: “BlackTrax is a rock-solid platform and we’re delighted to see Prolight use it to its full capacity to create spectacular performances that amaze and inspire millions of viewers.”

About prolight Prolight is a value-added distributor of leading lighting and AV brands, providing complex solutions for professional entertainment and architainment projects, focused on the best technologies and services for different groups of customers. prolight.com.pl About CAST Since 1994, CAST has delivered award-winning solutions to and for the entertainment production industry and the special events meeting industry. Based in Toronto Canada, CAST delivers to the world!

CAST’s BlackTrax is a ‘complete solution’, which means that either CAST or a BTExpert will ensure it is properly installed and trained, to deliver optimal results, as well as provide ongoing support and all new software updates.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 9

NEW YORK CITY’S MUSIC SCENE IS HOT THIS SUMMER WITH A VARIETY OF CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS FOR MUSIC FANS OF ALL AGES – Outdoor Festivals, Classic Performances and World-Class Performers Headline Summertime Concerts Throughout the Five Boroughs –

NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, invites music lovers to enjoy the diverse and elite concerts, performances and festivals taking place throughout the City this summer. From children’s music and Broadway tunes to EDM and jazz, the music scene is as vibrant as the City itself, with something for everyone’s taste.

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“There’s no experience that compares to listening to your favorite artists perform at locations like the lawn at Bryant Park or at the Music Hall of Williamsburg,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “Each summer, music enthusiasts come to New York City to experience firsthand the premier talent and world-class venues found throughout the five

boroughs. This summer offers countless opportunities for fans of all ages and interests to enjoy New York City’s exciting music scene.”

Among the music highlights taking place across New York City this summer are: • The largest free performing arts festival in New York City, SummerStage, is back

this year to celebrate its 30th season with more than 20 free shows in Central Park and free shows in 16 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.

• Early risers can enjoy Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series every Friday through September 4 at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Some of this year’s performers include Mika, Walk the Moon, Nicki Minaj, Hozier, Luke Bryan, 5 Seconds of Summer and Florida Georgia Line. The Today show is also hosting its Summer Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza every Friday through September 4, featuring Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Carly Rae Jepsen and more.

• Spend an evening with They Might Be Giants at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 26 and enjoy music from the band’s breakthrough album Lincoln, their 2015 Dial-A-Song project and more.

• The historic St. George Theatre will host a Beatles tribute concert on July 29 featuring local Staten Island musicians on the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ film Help!

• Visit Forest Hill Stadium in Queens on August 6 to see Broadway star Sutton Foster join the New York Pops, the largest independent pop orchestra in the United States.

• Jazz lives on. From August 21–23, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival honors the legendary saxophonist. This year’s performers include Oliver Lake Big Band, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joe Lovano at Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park. The 92nd Street Y will also be holding the 31st Annual Jazz in July Festival from July 21–30, with performances by Dick Hyman, Bill Charlap, Marcus Roberts, Jeb Patton and more!

• Get your EDM fix at Electric Zoo on Randall’s Island September 4–6. This year’s lineup

includes world-renowned DJs such as David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren and Kaskade.

• Children in Brooklyn can head over to Albee Square for its Kids Block Party on the first Thursday of every month for live music.

• Madison Square Park is hosting its Madison Square Kids Concert Series on the Farragut Lawn every Thursday morning through July 30 at 10:30am. For adults, Madison Square Park’s Oval Lawn Series is held on Wednesday evenings and features nationally touring acts in an eclectic mix of genres.

• Fans of accordions, bandoneons and concertinas can squeeze into Bryant Park for

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its Accordions Around the World series, every Wednesday from 6–8pm through August 28.

• Now in its 110th year, the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts take place on select Tuesday nights through August 4 at 30pm at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.

• Enjoy long-standing favorites and discover something new when Lincoln Center Out of Doors brings three jam-packed weeks of world-class music, dance and spoken word to the plazas of Lincoln Center, from July 22–August 9.

• The BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival is back at MetroTech Commons this summer with performances every Thursday at noon through August 6.

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• Bargemusic, New York City’s floating concert hall in Brooklyn, presents “Music in Motion,” a neighborhood family concert, Saturdays at 4pm through August 29.

• Celebrate Brooklyn!, one of New York City’s longestrunning free outdoor performing arts festivals, hosts a lineup of free concerts through August 12 at the Prospect Park Bandshell.

• The Metropolitan Opera’s 201 Summer HD Festival will offer 10 free screenings of Met performances on Lincoln Center Plaza August 2 through September .

• At 6pm on July 23 and August 6, the Hudson RiverRocks Concert Series features established and breaking artists performing at

Pier 4 on the Hudson River.

• MoMA is hosting a Sunday summer concert series of jazz and classical music, Summergarden New Music for New York, through July 26 at pm.

For a complete list of other upcoming festivals, performances and musical events taking place this summer, visit nycgo.com/concerts.

About NYC & Company: NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

Diavolezza, St. Moritz brings you a gastronomic delight at 3066 meter St. Moritz offers some of the most unique and exquisite gastronomic experiences for visitors. Take your family or your partner to the Europe’s highest barbecue site at Diavolezza or enjoy a glass of bubbly on a full moon night.

Equipped with picnic basket, wood, meat and anything else you could wish for at a barbecue situated just above the clouds. Book our Magical Fire pack and let us arrange the perfect “BBQ experience” for your total enjoyment.

Package for two starting CHF 150 comprises of: • 1 picnic basket with contents • Wood and igniter - Aperitif • BBQ meat (beef haunch steak, pork steak, chicken breast, sausage, cervelat) • Mixed salad, tomatoes – Mozzarella • Sauces (garlic & curry) • Fruit•Bread • Dessert •Transport with the aerial cable car The package is valid till 16. October 2015 if weather permits For guests staying with Berghaus Diavolezza, we promise you the most stunning ambience and culinary delights in the Ballroom of the Alps. Let the glaciers and the Piz Bernina peak, work their magic while you enjoy the local specialties with your partner; a perfect way to express your love.

Exclusively for overnight guests at the Berghaus Diavolezza: • Transport with the Diavolezza aerial cable car • 4-course Summer Full Moon menu • Glass of champagne under the stars •Resort tax Price starting CHF 292 for a two bedroom classic room Dates of the Full Moon Night at 19:30 hrs : 29 August 2015, 12 September, 26 September, 9 October For further information please log onto: http://www.diavolezza.ch/en/ aktivitaeten/aktuelle/details/id.summer-full-moon-diavolezza/

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MOMENTS OF RECOGNITION Steve McCurry has captured a series of photographs for IHG® Rewards Club to celebrate the launch of its new top membership level Spire Elite, introduced to recognise and reward its most loyal members IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) recently announced the name of IHG Rewards Club’s new top membership level, Spire Elite, introduced to recognise and reward its most loyal members.

To celebrate the launch, world renowned travel photographer Steve McCurry – who is best known for his 1984 photographic portrait ‘Afghan Girl’ has joined forces with the world’s biggest hotel loyalty programme to capture how a moment of recognition is brought to life through three poignant photographs. Each photograph depicts that unique and treasured moment at which one person recognises another.

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Starting this week, IHG Rewards Club will better reward its most loyal members, with the most relevant benefits, through the launch of Spire Elite. This comes following extensive research into what IHG Rewards Club members want from their loyalty programme, which identified the importance of recognition to members who want to feel rewarded for their loyalty.

The introduction of Spire Elite now establishes recognition at the heart of the relationship IHG Rewards Club has with its members.

Commenting on the photographs he created for IHG Rewards Club, Steve McCurry said: “Photography is about searching for little

moments that happen in the blink of an eye but can last a lifetime.

Each one of these photographs captures how a moment of recognition can do just this. Like a photograph, recognition does not need translation or adaptation; its prominence is understood by everyone, everywhere”.

Susanna Freer Epstein, SVP Customer Loyalty, IHG, added: “The feeling that you’re recognised for being special is what IHG Rewards Club aims to deliver to with the launch of Spire Elite. It’s our way of saying thank you to our most loyal members, who from today will benefit from ability to earn 100% extra bonus points on all qualifying

stays across the IHG hotel portfolio – an industry first.

This is just the start of a series of exciting enhancements we will be introducing to continue recognising and building rewarding relationships with our members.”

The global research revealed that the key ways in which IHG Rewards Club members expect hospitality brands to show them recognition, are: • Providing the chance to feel part of a special “club” • Identifying a guest as someone unique, who is “not just a number” • Remembering something about the individual; their likes, dislikes and preferences • Providing a reward, a “thank you” for achieving something Spire Elite membership can be reached by earning 75,000 qualifying reward points or staying at an IHG hotel for 75 qualifying nights, over the course of a calendar year. Including the ability to earn 100% extra bonus points on qualifying stays, Spire Elite members will also be able to choose between receiving 25,000 points, or upgrading a friend or family member to Platinum.

The qualification requirements for all IHG Rewards Club membership levels have also been restructured to make it easier for members to be rewarded for their loyalty.

From July, Club members will need to earn just 10,000 qualifying points or stay for 10 qualifying nights to be eligible for Gold membership. Gold members will need

to earn 40,000 qualifying points or stay for 40 qualifying nights to reach Platinum membership.

As part of the launch of Spire Elite, IHG Rewards Club has relaunched its Rewarding Experiences Digital Hub (ihgrewardsclub. com/rewardingexperiences) to showcase the experiences available to IHG Rewards Club members all over the world and across all four IHG Rewards Club membership tiers.

Visit the Rewarding Experiences Digital Hub to find out more about Steve McCurry’s exclusive photographs for IHG Rewards Club, more information about Spire Elite, and using IHG Rewards Club points to obtain rewards. Visit www. ihg.com for more information on the latest enhancements to the programme and to join the IHG Rewards Club.

About Steve McCurry

Born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Steve McCurry studied film at Pennsylvania State University, before going on to

work for a local newspaper. After several years of freelance work, McCurry made his first of what would become many trips to India. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and another of film, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the country with his camera.

It was after several months of travel that he found himself crossing the border into Pakistan. There, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan, who smuggled him across the border into their country, just as the Russian Invasion was closing the country to all western journalists. Emerging in traditional dress, with full beard and weather-worn features after weeks embedded with the Mujahedeen, McCurry brought the world the first images of the conflict in Afghanistan, putting a human face to the issue on every masthead.

Since then, McCurry has gone on to create stunning images over six continents and countless countries.

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His work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary culture alike - yet always retains the human element that made his celebrated image of the Afghan Girl such a powerful image.

McCurry has been recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Award, and an unprecedented four first prize awards from the World Press Photo contest. The Minister of French Culture has also appointed McCurry a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters and most recently, the Royal Photographic Society in London awarded McCurry the Centenary Medal for Lifetime Achievement.

About the Spire Elite

‘Spire’ is derived from the old English word ‘spir’ - a shoot or a stalk of grass standing out amongst the others. It is awe inspiring, exceptional and a symbol of prestige. It conveys a sense of dedication and an aspirational attitude: going above and beyond; the sky is the limit. The name connotes a strong sense of prestige, elevated stature, and worthiness of admiration, along with a sense of dedication and an aspirational attitude, which is in line with how IHG Rewards Club sees its most loyal members who would qualify for this tier.

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About IHG IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN™ Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with nearly 86 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 4,900 hotels and 720,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline. Over 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www. ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook. com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

Experience fun activities at One&Only Le Saint Geran, Mauritius A morning scuba dive, putting with the golf pro on the Gary Player designed golf course, honing skills on the tennis courts, express core classes and yoga to beach volleyball and water-skiing, One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius offers a wide array of activities available.

One&Only Le Saint Géran is near the site of the legendary Le Saint Géran shipwreck immortalized in Bernardin de Saint Pierre’s novel. The clear waters around Mauritius make this a superb dive destination, while the protection afforded by the reef makes the ideal condition for novices.

Diving lessons are conducted within the PADI standards and can be booked a few days in advance throughout the year at a nominal fee.

The combination of a dedicated fitness team and exquisite training environment makes the fitness and wellbeing experience at One&Only Le Saint Géran truly special.

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he lush Gary Player 9-hole, par-33 course, complete with its own clubhouse and One&Only Golf Academy, offers complimentary green fees for guests. Instruction for players of any level is available at the One&Only Golf Academy, from intensive training with video analysis, to fine-tuning game play on the practice range followed by 9 holes with the pro, to a fun day on the greens with the whole family.

The fitness environment includes a Fitness Centre fully equipped with Technogym® Excite and Personal Selection ranges (including Kinesis™, Flexability™ and the Wellness System™), a mind/body pavilion and an 18m lap pool. For reservations and further information, please visit www. oneandonlyresorts.com

With the calm waters of the cove, One&Only Le Saint Géran provide the ideal conditions for water sports adventure. Complimentary water sports abound at One&Only Le Saint Géran, with the calm water of the lagoon providing the ideal conditions for kayaks, pedal boats, stand up paddle, water-skiing, water bikes and the coral-sea lagoon on the ocean side offering exceptional snorkeling, windsurfing, Hobie Cats, a mono-hull lasers.

The vast white sand beach and the challenging reef waves make the resort one of the prime kite surfing destination on the island. One&Only Le Saint Géran is a paradise for water-lovers, for beginners private waterskiing or kite surfing lessons with an IKO approved instructor is Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 19

Dream weddings come true at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai Choose Atlantis, The Palm and make your wedding as magical as you always dreamt it would be.

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fall in love with our spectacular venues, whether it is the 1.4 kilometres of beaches, the incredible Asateer, our ballrooms, Dolphin Bay or The Lost Chambers Honeymoon and wedding all in one: the dream holiday and wedding wrapped under one roof – that is what won over many couples looking for value for money and a bespoke quality experience

Since its opening in 2008, Atlantis has helped create many special memories for guests, none more so than for brides and grooms that choose to have their special day on the resort.

Planning your wedding Atlantis, The Palm’s Director of Weddings, Saida Massmoudi, believes a dream wedding is one which turns into a beautiful memory. Planning your wedding or blessing is all part of the magical experience, and with our dedicated wedding planners and expert team, Atlantis will make sure it’s as easy as it is exciting.

Cuisine from every continent Atlantis culinary teams are highly skilled and chosen from 40 countries around the world. This means you can expect authentic and exceptional wedding dishes from your native country and others of your choice. From an incredible Indian vegetarian menu, featuring live Pav Bhaji station and various Chaat dishes to traditional Arabic fare with Falafel Gunkan Nigiri Labneh and Tahini fountains, the team will make dishes to please all your family and friends. The culinary team ensures that they understand your style of wedding, and that the menu reflects all your requirements and budget. From buffet spreads, canapés or lavish three course meals for 700 guests, the team will tailor the selection as you require.

The favourite part for many at a wedding is the delicious cake. The pastry team at Atlantis is world-renowned for their creative creations, and this includes their wedding cakes. The largest cake made by the team was 400kg, but equally, the team is known for their exquisite level of detail on more delicate pastry fares.

Variety for every venue Atlantis offers many different locations for different styles of weddings, and this also means different food options. From a BBQ at Nasimi Beach, to three course fine dining in Asateer, or cocktail style celebrations in Ossiano or at The Lost Chambers Aquarium, the Atlantis culinary team make sure your guests enjoy the right fare for the style of wedding.

Atlantis has a choice of wedding packages to suit every couple’s requirements and ensures every reception is created around the couple’s own style.

We asked some of the newlyweds this year as to why they chose to have their wedding at Atlantis: Spectacular venue: most couples

Packages: Another common reason to choose Atlantis was the package options. With the team’s experience, the packages have been built to reflect all the key elements to make the day unforgettable, from exquisite cuisines to personalized elements and a team for support.

To find out more about Atlantis weddings, contact the Atlantis Weddings Team on +971 4 426 0376 or email atlantisevents@ atlantisthepalm.com. Visit our website for more information.

About Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai Atlantis, The Palm is the first entertainment resort destination in the region and located at the centre of the crescent of The Palm in Dubai. Opened in September 2008, the unique oceanthemed resort features a variety of marine and entertainment attractions, as well as 17 hectares of waterscape amusement at Aquaventure Waterpark, all within a 46 hectare site. It is home to one of the largest open-air marine habitats in the world, with over 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays including The Lost Chambers Aquarium, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis.

Aquaventure features 18 million litres of fresh water used to power thrilling waterslides, a 2.3 kilometre river ride with tidal waves and pools, water rapids and white water chargers. Dolphin Bay, the unparalleled dolphin conservation and education habitat, was created to provide guests a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more about one of nature’s most graceful mammals. Atlantis, The Palm is also known as the culinary destination in the region with a collection of world-renowned restaurants including Nobu and Ronda Locatelli. The resort boasts an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops as well as extensive meeting and convention facilities.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 21

Panamera S E-Hybrid Porsche at your disposal with a Luxurious stay at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva

Mandarin Oriental, Geneva is offering the ultimate luxury accommodation package for sports car enthusiasts. With the Lake Geneva Dream Drive package, guests enjoy two nights relaxing stay in one of the hotel’s glamorous suites and a full day driving the latest Panamera S E-Hybrid Porsche.

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uests booking Lake Geneva Dream Drive will enjoy a private limousine transfer from Geneva International Airport and be welcomed with Champagne in their suite, which has panoramic views over the city and mountains. The following morning, the hotel’s Concierge will give them keys for their Panamera S E-Hybrid Porsche and a specially created itinerary for their drive around Lake Geneva and surrounding Alps, based on what sights they want to see. For lunch, guests are given a gourmet picnic basket to take with them and enjoy at their leisure during the drive.

After their fabulous car excursion around the legendary, natural wonders of Switzerland, guests return to the hotel to enjoy a gastronomic dinner at its renowned, Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, Rasoi by Vineet.

Valid from 15 July to 15 October 2015, the Lake Geneva

Dream Drive package at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva is priced from CHF 1’950 per night and includes: · Luxurious accommodation in a Junior Terrace Suite, Corner Suite or Deluxe Suite · Daily buffet breakfast for two at Café Calla or in the privacy of your Suite · Perrier-Jouët Champagne and Swiss-chocolate delicacy upon arrival · Private round-trip limousine transfers from and to international airport · A Panamera S E-Hybrid Porsche at the guests’ disposal for one day including insurance and one full tank · A gourmet picnic basket for two · A three-course dinner for two at Rasoi by Vineet Reservations can be made by contacting the reservations office at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva on +41 22 909 00 01 / mogva-reservations@mohg.com or by visiting the hotel’s website www.mandarinoriental.com/ geneva. Rooms are subject to availability, and terms and conditions apply. Offer is valid for a minimum stay of two nights. Owing to closing days of Rasoi by Vineet, the offer is not available on Sunday and Monday, and from 11 July to 3 August 2015 inclusive.

About Mandarin Oriental, Geneva A living example of Swiss hotel tradition at its very best, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva has a superb location on the River Rhône, located within the heart of the city’s shopping, historic and business districts. Following an extensive refurbishment completed in March 2013, the hotel features 189 elegant and spacious rooms and

suites, with many suites enjoying private terraces with supreme views of the river, Old Town and snow-capped mountains. Michelin starred dining; unparalleled service and luxury make it the ideal choice for discerning travellers.

About Porsche and Geneva Porsche Centre For more than 65 years, Porsche’s history has been made of great successes. Two Porsche 919 Hybrids coming first and second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year is more proof of our ability to build sporty and efficient sports cars, high performing on both track and road.

Since 2011, the Geneva Porsche Centre’s team ensures that these top quality sports cars benefit from top quality services. Our philosophy is simple: driving a Porsche means to make the dream come true. Both our staff and clients are part of the same family, gathered around the same values and passion. We make sure that the cars of yesterday continue to share the history tomorrow. We want today’s achievements to be part of forthcoming legends. The Geneva

Porsche Centre is not only a dealership, but also a destination – a destination made of stories to be told, and emotions to be shared. www.porsche-geneve.ch About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the awardwinning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences.

Having grown from a well-respected Asian hotel company into a global brand, the Group now operates, or has under development, 45 hotels representing almost 11,000 rooms in 24 countries, with 21 hotels in Asia, nine in The Americas and 15 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates or has under development, 15 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.

Visit Destination MO(http://www. mandarinoriental.com/destination-mo/), the online version of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s bespoke publication, MO. News about our award-winning hotels, the best dining experiences, spa treatments, travel retreats and interviews with the Group’s celebrity fans is now just a click away. Further information is also available on our Social Media channels.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 23

NYC & COMPANY INVITES VISITORS TO SAIL AWAY TO STATEN ISLAND’S ST. GEORGE —NYCGO Insider Guide Documentary-Style Short Film Highlights Local Favorites and Must-Dos—

As the summer travel season continues to heat up, NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced Staten Island’s St. George as the next neighborhood featured in its NYCGO Insider Guides. The latest Insider Guide was unveiled today in Toronto as part of NYC & Company’s global ‘new’ New York media mission. A 25-minute ferry ride from Lower Manhattan, St. George is a historically rich and charming neighborhood with cultural institutions, authentic restaurants and outdoor activities. As part of the neighborhood promotion, a short documentary film is available online that features local insiders who highlight and recommend the must-see attractions of St. George. To view the documentary and neighborhood highlights, visitnycgo.com/ insiderguides.

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From the northern edge of the Bronx to the far Rockaways, New York City is rich in history, culture and entertainment,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “NYCGO Insider Guides give visitors to our great city a slice of the true New York, and Staten Island’s bustling neighborhood of St. George is the latest to top that list.

Accessible for all New Yorkers via the free Staten Island Ferry, St. George is a repository of summer fun for New York families and visitors alike.”

“NYC & Company has been a tremendous partner in marketing Staten Island as a ‘must visit’ for tourists coming to the city,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo.“Beginning with St. George is ideal, as the vast majority of visitors we get arrive via the Staten Island Ferry. Just off the ferry, we have many cultural attractions, restaurants and a brewery to welcome our guests.”

“The friendly neighborhood of St. George offers plenty of cultural institutions and attractions for visitors to plan their day exploring Staten Island,” said Marty Markowitz, NYC & Company’s vice president of Borough Promotion and Engagement. “Summer is the perfect time to see this beautiful waterfront enclave—from Italian dining to a new museum, we invite everyone to hop aboard the free and famed Staten Island Ferry.”

Experience St. George Like a Local · Attractions: Along the St. George Promenade, the Postcards September 11th Memorial pays tribute to borough residents lost on 9/11. Nearby, baseball fans can enjoy

affordable family fun at a Staten Island Yankees game, the Single A minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.

The newly-opened National Lighthouse Museum, built in the original home of the US Lighthouse Services General Depot, educates visitors about lighthouses and their keepers. · Shopping: Located across from the ferry, Hypno-Tronic Comics offers rare finds for comic book collectors. · Dining: Visitors can sample home cooking prepared by a rotating series of head chef “nonnas” from Italy, Asia and the Middle East at Enoteca Maria, savor the bold flavors of fine Spanish fare at Beso, feast on a freshly seared steak on an open-air rooftop patio at Ruddy & Dean, or enjoy thin-crust pizza and specialty pies at Pier 76. · Arts & Entertainment: Cultural enthusiasts can learn about the connections between natural science, art and the history of the borough at the Staten Island Museum, which will be opening an extension September 19 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Randall Manor. The St. George Theatre, which opened in 1929, features a variety of music, dance, comedy and theatrical performances year-round; the venue’s past performers include Donny Osmond and Carol Burnett, with upcoming appearances by Tony Bennett and Whoopi Goldberg. Socially engaging exhibits at the Staten Island Arts’ Culture Lounge, as well as a rotating collection of local artists at the Art at Bay Gallery,

sponsored by the Staten Island Creative Community, add to the borough’s vibrant arts scene. · Nightlife: Throughout the week, visitors can head to120 Bay Café or Steiny’s Pub, for live music or karaoke, food and a lively bar scene. Hops enthusiasts can learn about the art of craft beer at Flagship Brewing Company. · Looking Forward: New attractions, shopping and dining developments coming to the area are all part of Destination St. George, which includes Empire Outlets, New York City’s first shopping outlet destination with a planned 2016 opening; the 630-foot-tall New York Wheel, expected to open in 2017, which will be taller than the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer; and Lighthouse Point, which will be home to a new hotel, retail shops and restaurants by late 2019.

Those looking to spend more time in Staten Island will find several hotels that provide complimentary

transportation to and from the St. George Ferry Terminal, including the Comfort Inn Staten Island, Hampton Inn & Suites Staten Island, Hilton Garden Inn New York/Staten Island and Holiday Inn Express Staten Island West. For the best available rates, visit nycgo.com/hotels and reserve through NYC & Company’s exclusive hotel booking partner, Booking.com.

NYCGO Insider Guides: Get to know our neighborhoods New York City is made up of five distinct boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Formerly Neighborhood x Neighborhood, NYCGO Insider Guides, which debuted in March, spotlight a new neighborhood each month. The video documentary series and editorial content take New Yorkers and visitors behind the scenes to introduce them to the character and characters that define some of New York City’s most fascinating neighborhoods.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 25

ICONIC ONE&ONLY REETHI RAH, MALDIVES CELEBRATES TEN YEARS One&Only Reethi Rah, the ultra-luxury all-villa resort in the Maldives, marks a momentous milestone as it celebrates its tenth anniversary. The spacious and utterly private resort has remained committed to consistently enhancing its offering over the last ten years through constant innovation, ensuring past guests can find what they have come to love about the resort, whilst discovering brand new and unique experiences. To commemorate ten years, the resort has curated ten months of extraordinary celebrations including exceptional culinary and spa offerings, a series of globally recognised visiting experts, innovative new fitness activities and an exciting fashion collaboration with esteemed fashion designer Camilla Franks.

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We opened our beautiful island resort ten years ago to provide a private retreat and playground for guests around the world,” commented Mark DeCocinis, President/Chief Operating Officer, One&Only Resorts. “One&Only Reethi Rah has become one of the world’s most exclusive escapes and we are looking forward to commemorating our anniversary over the next ten months with an array of incredible celebrations.”

“One&Only Reethi Rah becomes a special place in the hearts of anyone who has visited. The fact that we are one of the largest islands in North Malé Atoll means we have created the most discrete, spacious and private paradise and added innovative and memorable activities for guests,” say General Manager Jean-Luc Naret. “In honour of our anniversary, we have invited some of the world’s most renowned chefs, winemakers, health and wellness practitioners, fitness gurus, fashion designers and we have a some exciting surprises planned for the festive season, and for 2016. In addition, we will also be expanding the NEO boutiques, refreshing our Beach Villas and adding a new pool at ClubOne.” Celebrations for gourmands From the over-water Japanese restaurant, Tapasake and fusion cuisine at Reethi Restaurant to romantic beachside dining, the resort is also an epicurean haven with more than eight exclusive dining experiences. Gourmands will also be treated during One&Only Reethi Rah’s tenth anniversary celebrations with visits by globally recognised Michelin-star chefs.

Oliver Glowig from Restaurant Aldrovandi Villa Borghese will visit the resort in October. This master of haute cuisine combines his German heritage with Italian creativity. In early November, resort guests can savour the work of Giorgio Locatelli, celebrated for his Michelin star restaurant, Locanda Locatelli in London and sophisticated delicate food inspired by Italian traditions.

For more private tailored dining experiences the resort is also offering incredible luxury sandbank dining where guests can dine surrounded by candlelight on an exquisite sandy outcrop, surrounded by the softly lapping ocean. Under the expert guidance of new General Manager JeanLuc Naret, One&Only Reethi Rah will continue to inspire guests, pioneering a new level of ultraluxury.

Celebrations for oenophiles One&Only Reethi Rah is well-loved for its exceptional wine reserve of over 10,000 bottles. In celebration of the resort’s tenth anniversary, oenophiles can now enjoy a series of exceptional wine dinners with leading winemakers. The pioneering New Zealand Cloudy Bay creators will share their passion and knowledge with One&Only Reethi Rah guests in October. The wines of Antinori are renowned for maintaining respect for traditions and have been family owned for six centuries. In December, the Marchesi Antinori team will share their favourite vintages paired with spectacular cuisine. In addition, champagne lovers will be able to compare vintages with visits from the world’s best champagne houses including Krug and Dom Pérignon.

Celebrations for fashion lovers

From November 2015 to April 2016, One&Only Reethi Rah guests can browse through a stunning pop-up store at NEO Beach

by Australian designer Camilla Franks. Camilla is well-known for her colourful, vibrant and lively collections which combine intricate craftsmanship, prints and detail to create truly individualistic designs.

The 2015 season has already seen One&Only launch its own fashion label, partner with the world renowned fashion house Missoni to release a bespoke capsule collection and launch a Melissa Odabash pop-up store at One&Only Reethi Rah. A breathtaking aquamarine Issa dress will also be available at exclusively One&Only resorts including One&Only Reethi Rah this year.

Celebrations for spa lovers In celebration of One&Only Reethi Rah’s tenth anniversary, the tranquil award-winning spa is celebrating some former favourite treatments, adding modern techniques to make them truly memorable. For example, the ‘sun ritual’ is being reintroduced which entails a soothing foot ritual, sea salt exfoliation, full body massage and express facial.

New for this summer, guests can also indulge in the ESPA Wellness Package for an in-depth wellness experience, including a back, face and scalp treatment with hot

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stones followed by a signature tea ritual and complimentary ESPA gift. This year, One&Only Reethi Rah also unveiled a comprehensive new spa boutique; a collection of exquisite, must-have lifestyle products, from skin care products, perfumes and beauty gadgets to scented candles and books, redefining the luxury wellbeing retail experience in The Maldives.

During the anniversary celebrations, the spa will also host a schedule of world-leading wellness specialists, fitness gurus and spa and beauty practitioners. Guests can choose a bespoke wellness journey whether that is relaxation, rejuvenation or fitness from experts such as traditional Ayurvedic methodologies from Dr Gopal Govindasamy and integrated therapeutic treatment based on traditional Chinese medicine from Dr Buathon Thiernarrom. Spa devotees can enjoy superb foot treatments during a visit from the internationally renowned Bastien Gonzalez.

Active guests One&Only Reethi Rah has had many firsts for The Maldives over the past ten years, including a long standing Bodyism partnership with James Duigan, to building an outdoor climbing wall, ROCK. One&Only Reethi Rah completely refurbished the Fitness Centre this year which almost doubled in size and boasts a new outdoor training area with exquisite views across the lagoon.

Further additions this year include aerial yoga at the new Fitness Centre, the latest fitness experience which uses devices for suspension. The resort has also introduced the Flyboard - a brand new water sport which allows guests to ‘fly’ over the 28 | July-August 2015 | Hotels & Culinary ASIA

water. Back on dry land, guests can play football on the FIFA approved full-size synthetic football field, or practice their golf swing on the beach out towards the new holein-one platform using an Ecobioball – the first ever ecological and biodegradable golf ball whose internal core containing fish food that is released into the water within days of being submerged.

The Maldives is one of the world’s top scuba destinations and the resort is also blessed with dozens of excellent dive sites nearby and offers a full PADI education programme. Guests can also enjoy jet-skis, parasailing, canoes, kayaks, pedaloes, and windsurfing, banana and tube rides, water-skiing, paragliding and deep-sea fishing.

Celebration packages Sleek and sophisticated, with unprecedented privacy, One&Only Reethi Rah offers the ultimate holiday experience for those seeking the pinnacle of

tropical luxury. The resort features 128 private villas discreetly located across the island with 96 villas across pristine beaches surrounded by lush greenery. There are also 32 villas, spaciously set apart above the clear, protected waters of the Indian Ocean lagoon.

The three-bedroom Grand Sunset Residences have their own 2,000 square metre beach, 50 square metre pool and private villa buggies. When booking a sevennight consecutive stay, the resort is currently offering guests two of those nights on a complimentary basis. This offer includes half board and return shared yacht transfers for two people on a complimentary basis and is valid until 18 December 2015. Guests can also enjoy one complimentary night when staying four nights.

This offer is also valid until 18 December 2015.

For reservations or for more information on One&Only Resorts, visit oneandonlyresorts.com

Asia Pacific Hotel Development Pipeline Increases 6.3% YOY in July 2015

Among the Chain Scale segments, the Upscale segment accounted for the largest portion of rooms Under Contract at 29.2% (162,938 rooms).

Upper Upscale followed in rooms Under Contract at 24.6% (136,918 rooms).

There are 2,379 hotels totalling 557,133 rooms Under Contract in the Asia Pacific region, according to the July 2015 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report. This represents a 6.3% increase in rooms Under Contract compared with July 2014, and a 0.8% year-over-year decrease in rooms under construction. The Under Contract data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages but does not include projects in the Unconfirmed stage.

The region reported 257,049 rooms in 1,019 hotels under construction for the month.

Among the Chain Scale segments, the Upscale segment accounted for the largest portion of rooms Under Contract at 29.2% (162,938 rooms).

Upper Upscale followed in rooms Under Contract at 24.6% (136,918 rooms).

The Upscale segment also accounted for the largest portion of rooms In Construction (29.9% with 76,879 rooms), followed by Upper Upscale (25.4% with 65,399 rooms).

About STR Global STR Global provides clients—including hotel operators, developers, financiers, analysts and suppliers to the hotel industry—access to hotel research with regular and custom reports covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and South America. STR Global provides a single source of global hotel data covering daily and monthly performance data, forecasts, annual profitability, pipeline and census information. STR Global is part of the STR family of companies and is proudly associated with STR, STR Analytics, and Hotel News Now. For more information, please visit www.strglobal.com.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 29

Best Branding Opportunity for Boundless Business Expansion

Hotel Expo 2015 – Your Optimum Stage

HOTEL EXPO 2015 – the 11th edition of this one of the most influential exhibitions for hotel & hospitality industry in Macau – will be on stage over the period of November 25-27 this year at Cotai Strip® Cotai ExpoTM (The Venetian Macao).

Hotel Expo, greatly supported by Asia Hotel Industry League (AHIL), provides visitors and exhibitors a one-stop trading & sourcing platform. It receives tremendous support from China Hotel Association, Thai Hotels Association, Malaysian Association of Hotels, Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines, Korea Hotels Association, as well as key industry players from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau regions. AHIL strives to stimulate interaction and corporation between the Asian hotel industries.

Hotel Expo covers a wide spectrum of sectors from cutting-edge hotel equipment, food & beverage to hospitality technology and sustainable smart hotel. The variety of this year’s Expo will even be enhanced.

To associate with the global market trend of ‘Go Green’, “Green & Sustainable Hotels & Buildings” will specially be featured in this year’s Hotel Expo. Not only the key operators of hotels, resorts, casinos will attend the exhibition, architects, project managers, facility managers, green building consultants, developers, sustainability coordinators, landscape architects, technical managers, energy engineers, consultants, real estate developers, property & club management operators are also this year’s key visitors.

What’s more? A list of influential exhibition activities includes: - The 9th Asian Hotel General Managers Forum - The 8th Seminar on Co-operation between Hotels & SMEs incorporating Business Matching - The 2nd Asia Culinary Contest - Spa & Wellness Forum 30 | July-August 2015 | Hotels & Culinary ASIA

- Coffee Culture Workshop - Different award presentations (for green product & service providers, star-graded hotels, furniture suppliers…etc) For all industry suppliers, do grab this brand building and business network expansion opportunity in Macau, Hong Kong, P.R. China, as well as the whole Asia Pacific Region. Book your booth now!

Should you have any queries, please contact the Organizer, Coastal International Exhibition Co., Ltd., at (852) 2827 6766 or general@coastal. com.hk.

NYC & COMPANY ENCOURAGES SUMMER TRAVEL TO NYC WITH LAUNCH OFNEW SUMMER PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN • Approximately 15 Million Visitors Expected to Visit NYC During Summer Months • New, Only-in-NYC and Affordable Experiences as well as Dining and Theater Deals Make Summer a Perfect Time for a New York City Vacation

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ecently NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, launched its summer initiative, Hello Summer, to encourage visitors to book summer travel to New York City, take advantage of affordable summer activities and enjoy restaurant and theater savings. The new promotional effort highlights the attractiveness of visiting NYC during the summer season by spotlighting not only outdoor and free activities, but also new and only-in-NYC attractions that make the City a must-visit destination.

The announcement coincides with U.S. Travel Rally Day as part of National Travel Tourism Week. For more information about summer in New York City, visit nycgo.com/ hellosummer.

“With so many new attractions in New York City including the Whitney Museum, One World Observatory and Brookfield Place, this summer is shaping up to be a blockbuster season,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC

& Company. “We invite visitors to celebrate everything new and exciting NYC has to offer this summer.”

NYC & Company predicts the City will welcome an estimated 15 million visitors this summer during the months of June, July and August.

There is always something new to discover in New York City, and this summer marks the opening of several attractions and hotels. On May 1, the Whitney Museum of American Art opened at its new location in the Meatpacking District with approximately double the exhibition space. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration will open to the public on May 20 with new major exhibitions.

The One World Observatory will debut on May 29, providing guests with panoramic views of New York City from atop One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. In March, Brookfield Place, a retail and dining destination, opened

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in Lower Manhattan with 300,000 square feet of retail space, a 30,000-square-foot dining terrace, a 25,000-square-foot Frenchinspired marketplace called Le District and six critically acclaimed restaurants. Also in Lower Manhattan, Pier A Harbor House, a dining and drinks spot at the 127-year old, landmarked Pier A debuted in March. Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point was unveiled in April in the Bronx as New York City’s only tournament-quality golf course.

New hotel launches in New York City include the recently opened Baccarat Hotel & Residences in Midtown, the Hilton Garden Inn Long Island City in Queens and the soon-to-open The New York EDITION in the Flatiron District.

Summertime visitors to NYC can also take advantage of NYC & Company’s signature dining and theater promotions. Now in its 24th year, NYC Restaurant Week returns July 20–August 14 with reservations opening on July 13.

The first and largest dining program of its kind, NYC Restaurant Week offers New Yorkers and visitors three-course prix-fixe lunches for $25 and three-course prixfixe dinners for $38 (excluding

beverages, gratuities and taxes). During Broadway Week (September 7–20; tickets on sale August 19) and Off-Broadway Week (September 21–October 4; tickets on sale September) visitors and New Yorkers can enjoy twofor-one tickets to a selection of the best shows in town.

Free and low-cost outdoor activities and offerings during the summer months add to the attractiveness of visiting New York City. For highlights on the best free activities New York City has to offer, visit NYC & Company’s newly relaunched free guide atnycgo. com/free.

Visitors who come to New York City this summer will encounter a diversity of hotel offerings, giving travelers more opportunity to not only visit, but stay in the many vibrant neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs. With more than 102,000 rooms to choose from at every budget and style, travelers can stay longer and explore more during the warmer travel months. For the best available rates, visit nycgo.com/hotels and reserve through NYC & Company’s exclusive hotel booking engine, Booking.com.

AHLEI Adds Kitchen Cook Training and Certification to START Program

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he American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has added training and certification for Kitchen Cook to its START and quickSTART for Individual Positions, which provides flexible training and certification modules in multiple formats to meet the needs of schools, workforce agencies, and properties.

START for Individual Positions and quickSTART for Individual Positions provide resources for training new or prospective employees in general hospitality knowledge, soft skills, and position-specific knowledge, combined with the opportunity to earn professional certification.

In addition to the Kitchen Cook module, training and certification is available for the following positions: front desk representative, guestroom attendant, restaurant server, and maintenance employee.

Position-specific knowledge for Kitchen Cook includes safety guidelines; sanitation rules; culinary terms; standard recipe development; plate presentation; and how to handle special requests, substitutions, and complaints from guests.

All of the programs are available in print and online versions, with an instructor’s guide and participant study guide, as well as access to the certification exam. The main difference between the START and quickSTART programs is that, for START, job breakdowns are taught in a classroom setting, while for quickSTART, those tasks are taught on the job and validated by a supervisor or trainer. Each of the programs is available in English, Spanish, or Simplified Chinese.

For more information, visit www.ahlei.org Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 33

Starwood Element Brand Increases Presence in Greater China with Signing of Three Hotels Debut of Asia Pacific’s Flagship Element® Hotel, the Award-Winning Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town, Paves Way for Brand Growth in the Region Element Chongli (2017) —

Situated in Zhangjiakou, co-host city of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Chongli County, Hebei Province, the hotel has an ideal setting in Sitaizui Village, a vibrant ski area surrounded by mountains. The 150-room hotel is a 30-minute drive from Chongli County Center and just 90 minutes from Zhangjiakou Ningyuan Airport (ZQZ).

Element Sanya Haitang Bay (2018) — Surrounded by

mountains with breathtaking beach views, Element Sanya Haitang Bay will be located in the Haitang Bay District in the southern part of Hainan Island, known as the Hawaii of the East. The 204-room hotel is a 40-minute drive from Sanya’s city center and just 50 minutes from Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX).

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced three more Element hotels set to open in Greater China in the next four years, following the recent opening of the Element brand’s Asia Pacific flagship Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town in Suzhou, China. With the increasing trend of guests seeking eco-conscious alternatives and a growing importance of sustainable development led by the Chinese government’s commitment to environmental protection, Element is wellpositioned to meet growing demand with its sustainable programming and nature-inspired room offerings, designed to fuel a life of balance while on the road.

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“

Element is experiencing tremendous growth momentum, fueled by strong demand from consumers who are increasingly interested in environmentally-friendly practices and sustainable living,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “As we continue to expand our portfolio, we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to redefine the traditional hotel experience.”

Going Global: Element Expands Across Greater China

Element Hotels set to open in Greater China by 2019 include:

Element Tianjin Beichen (2019) — The 200 room hotel

will overlook the Northern Canal of the Hai River, with sites such as the Tianjin Eye, a 120-meter Ferris wheel, and the 336-meter Tianjin Tower, and a skyscraper with an observation deck. Located just 30 minutes away from Tianjin’s city center, the hotel is less than 45 minutes from Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) and the city’s major train stations.

Smart and Sustainable Living: Element Finds a Home in the Eco-City of Suzhou

Known as the Venice of the East with UNESCO World Heritage-listed Classical Gardens, Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town is

located in the heart of Suzhou National New & Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (SND). Prior to opening its doors in June 2015, Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town was voted the “Most Anticipated Green Hotel of China” at the 10th China Hotel Starlight Awards 2015. Other accolades include the Asia Pacific Property Awards for 5-Star Best Hotel Architecture and, as the highest scoring winner in its category, the hotel will also represent Asia Pacific to compete against other winning projects from around the world at the year-end prestigious International Property Awards.

Element hotels, Starwood’s eco innovation lab, are built green from the ground up using sustainable products and practices wherever possible. The brand’s core sustainable design components across include low flow rainfall and showerheads, 100% no PVC flooring, energy efficient LED lighting, electric-vehicle charging stations, filtered water, green materials such as low-VOC paints and recycled-content carpeting and guestroom designs that incorporate sustainable features.

managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, element® and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. The Company boasts one of the industry”s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), allowing members

to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates.

Starwood recently announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands, into a standalone public company by the end of 2015. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels. com.

ABOUT STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in some 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 35

GuestHouse Inn Converting to Americas Best Value Inn Sauk Centre, MN location to open under ABVI flag in September

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hange is coming to Sauk Centre, MN. This September, the 2-Diamond AAA, 38-room GuestHouse Inn will be flying the Americas Best Value Inn® flag when it joins Vantage Hospitality Group, a top 10 global hotel company with over 1,200 properties and 71,000 rooms worldwide.

“We have been very fortunate to have many owners of GuestHouse and other limited-service brands join the Vantage family and, like the others who now have the comprehensive resources Vantage offers, I have no doubt this property will see an immediate and positive impact to its business,” said Patrick Mullinix, group president of Vantage’s Value Brands.

“Americas Best Value Inn is the ideal brand for owners looking to make the move from brands like GuestHouse and other brands that have limited resources. As part of Vantage Hospitality, ABVI has the budget and ability to offer so much more in distribution, marketing, sales and revenuegenerating resources. Plus, we have the most affordable fees of any major hotel brand in the industry, allowing owners the opportunity to grow their bottom line and put more of their profits back into their hotels,” continued Mullinix.

The hotel is centrally located between St. Cloud and Alexandria, MN, and offers guests free Wi-Fi, deluxe continental breakfast, an indoor pool, executive suites, and meeting rooms. An onsite, full-service restaurant, JT’s, is a local favorite and offers delicious sandwiches, pizzas and salads.

For more information about Americas Best Value Inn or Vantage’s other Value Brands (Signature Inn® and Country Hearth Inns & Suites®), please visit JoinVantageHospitality.com.

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ABOUT VANTAGE HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc., has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing hotel companies in the history of the lodging industry, and is the only hotel company to be ranked among the Inc. 500/5000 List of America”s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for eight consecutive years. Supported by the resources of a franchise and the freedom of a membership organization, hotel owners around the globe have embraced Vantage”s philosophy that puts control back in their hands, allowing them to be “In Business for Themselves, Not by Themselves.” Vantage is among the top 10 hotel franchisors based on the number of hotels in its system, with over 1,200 properties worldwide. Whether a property is a member of Vantage”s legacy brands, the award-winning Americas Best Value Inn brand (with its sister brands, Canadas Best Value Inn and Value Inn Worldwide) and the ground-breaking Lexington

by Vantage, or a member of Vantage”s recently acquired brands, Jameson Inns & Suites, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, America”s Best Inns & Suites, 3 Palms Hotels & Resorts, and Signature Inn, all Vantage brand members enjoy the opportunity to maximize their revenue and asset value through Vantage”s low fees and reasonable contract terms; flexible, straightforward agreements; A Voice and A Votesm in major brand initiatives; the most comprehensive resources, support and CRS in the industry; sensible PIPs, and a culture that is centered on educating, not mandating. Membership in Vantage brands will be offered soon through Vantage Franchising, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. For more information, visit www.JoinVantageHospitality.com.

Kennedy Training Network Announces Alliance With TRACK Pulse Call And Lead Tracking System KTN To help promote new system for tracking incoming reservations calls and enabling pro-active lead management follow-up

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TN announced a marketing alliance partnership with the TRACK Pulse call and lead tracking system. “TRACK Pulse is the easiest to use and most reasonably priced resource for helping lodging companies to convert more incoming reservations calls into confirmed bookings,” said Doug Kennedy, President of KTN. “So far there has only been one legacy system that I know of, and I am excited to help get the word out on what I think is a much better and definitely more affordable solution,” added Kennedy.

TRACK Pulse is especially appealing to higher end hotels, resorts and vacation rental companies that have higher ADR’s and longer average stays, and thus a higher “revenue per booking” opportunity than an average standard hotel might. It allows for hotels to track all inbound call activity on a “by campaign” and “by agent” basis, and to measure true call conversion as agents can categorize the calls they receive. The system also records all calls, allowing managers to listen to and score real-world calls according to their own in-house criteria. When repeat callers dial back, their contact record pops up on the agent’s screen including all notes and previous correspondence. Best of all, it allows agents to turn calls into leads by sending follow-up emails and then putting a note on their task list to follow-up.

“We seek to help our diversity of lodging industry clients find the most effective software solutions,” said Kennedy, “By partnering with the TRACK Pulse system our training can help clients close more incoming reservations, better manage outbound phone leads, and ultimately increase revenues.”

“Our strategic partnership with Doug Kennedy and the Kennedy Training Network will help bring our TRACK Pulse Revenue Optimization Software across the globe,” said Matt Renner, VP of Sales. “We’re also excited that access to KTN’s Reservations Sales quest training resources, including their new eLearning library, is available at no cost to our clients and that Doug is presenting a private, live webinar series for them too.”

ABOUT KENNEDY TRAINING NETWORK Kennedy Training Network (KTN) is the lodging industry”s best source for customized hotel training workshops, conference presentations, and private individual hotel team webinars. KTN specializes in reservations sales, hospitality and guest service excellence, hotel sales training, and front desk upselling and profit optimization. KTN is also a leading provider of hotel telephone mystery shopping for hotel brands, management companies, and individual hotels from all market segments. Contact KTN at info@kennedytrainingnetwork.com or call (866) 922.4662 or visit www.KennedyTrainingNetwork.com Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 37

HOSPA’s cutting-edge Annual Conference and Exhibition for

hospitality finance, revenue management, IT & commercial professionals taking place Thursday, 26 November Date: 26th November 2015 Venue: Sofitel London Heathrow, Terminal 5, Booking: Bookings@hospa.org ; Updated Information: www.hospace.org

Early bird pricing available until 7 September 2015 HOSPACE is a one-day annual conference and exhibition hosted by HOSPA which is the UK’s leading educational organisation for Professionals involved in Financial Management, Revenue Management and IT within the hospitality industry.

HOSPACE 2015 will enable UK and international delegates to get

an informed and cutting-edge view from an international line-up of inspirational experts – all icons in their own field – about the latest key financial, revenue and IT management issues and developments; as well as the commercial aspects that connect these together to maximise profitability and create value.

Highlights include: ‘A Leaders’ Panel’ comprising a line-up of some of the UK hospitality industry’s most influential executives who will be looking at present issues, trends and developments affecting all hospitality professionals; two major HOSPA Spotlight Panel Sessions that will examine in detail key topics of the day that affect all our Members and delegates; and a programme of industry specific educational workshops – all led by top specialists in their subjects.

As in past years, HOSPACE will be supported by a growing and increasingly influential exhibition of hospitality technology solutions – providing delegates with a ‘one stop shop’ to view and interact with the latest and ‘best in class’ technologies – covering all eventualities for any hospitality business, whether they be start-up, established independent, or multi chain-owned, operations.

ABOUT HOSPA HOSPA (Hospitality Professionals Association for Finance, Revenue Management and IT) is a non-profit educational organisation which has evolved from BAHA (British Association of Hospitality Accountants) which was formed in 1969. The aim of HOSPA is to bring together those hospitality industry professionals involved in Financial Management, Revenue Management and IT. Whereas BAHA has been recognised as the UK”s authoritative voice in the hospitality industry on financial management, technical accounting issues, taxation, and hotel valuation, HOSPA now is additionally the leading arena for debate on hotel systems and Revenue Management topics through their annual Conference and meetings programmes. The membership has expanded to nearly 1,100 members. HOSPA – which has provided an industry specific, hospitality focused programme in Financial Management for over 23 years – has recently introduced a similar programme for Revenue Management. For more information, visit: www.hospa.org 38 | July-August 2015 | Hotels & Culinary ASIA

Cvent Reveals

Top 50 Meeting Destinations in the United States for 2015 Cvent, Inc. (NYSE: CVT), a leading cloud-based enterprise event management platform, today revealed its annual list of the top 50 cities for meetings and events in the United States according to meeting and event booking activity through the Cvent Supplier Network. Cvent sourced more than $8 billion in meetings and events through its marketplace in 2014.

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rlando reclaimed the top spot on the 2015 list, a position the city last held in 2013. Las Vegas climbed one spot on the ranking compared to last year, while Chicago dropped two places from number one in 2014 to round out the top three.

Cvent evaluated more than 5,000 U.S. cities featured on the Cvent Supplier Network to compile the fourth annual list. Activity was tracked from July 2014 to June 2015 and the ranking was then determined by a set of qualifying criteria consisting of:

The top 10 cities for 2015 are:

• Unique Request For Proposals Received • Total Room Nights •Awarded Request For Proposals •Awarded Room Nights • Percentage of Qualified Meeting • Venues • Number of Profile Views

• Orlando, FL • Las Vegas, NV • Chicago, IL • San Diego, CA • Atlanta, GA • Washington, D.C. • New York, NY • Dallas, TX • Nashville, TN • Phoenix, AZ (For all 50 cities, please visit: www.cvent.com) “Competition for meetings and conventions business continues to be very heated between destinations that are eager to attract events to boost their local economies,” said Bharet Malhotra, senior vice president of sales for the Cvent Supplier Network. “This year we witnessed several cities vying for a position in the top 50 list, with significant movement within the ranks. One of the interesting trends this year has been the rise of smaller cities moving ahead of and even displacing destinations that are near large metro areas but not downtown.”

Smaller cities have been actively investing in and expanding their infrastructure and attractions, and benefiting from property renovations in their markets. Many of these locations are winning significant new business by serving as interesting regional alternatives to major destinations.

Additionally, many smaller cities are on planners’ rotations designed to vary destinations from one year to the next, and many of these events have been growing, bringing more attendees and budget.

Several smaller cities have emerged on the 2015 list such as Pittsburgh, PA; Jacksonville, FL; Tucson, AZ and Charleston, SC, which displaced Carlsbad, CA; Newport Beach, CA; Chandler, AZ and Alexandria, VA in the Top 50. Within the list, cities including Austin, TX; Charlotte, NC and Tampa, FL climbed to higher positions, while markets near major cities like Fort Worth, TX and Coronado, CA slipped in the ranking.

Featuring more than 235,000 hotels, resorts and special event venues, the Cvent Supplier Network is one of the world’s largest and most accurate databases of detailed venue information. It contains listings of hotels and other venues in more than 175 countries that can be searched and filtered based on approximately 200 characteristics and data fields. The Cvent Supplier Network is part of the Cvent Hospitality Cloud which provides hotels, CVBs, and other event venue owners a combination of event management software and marketing solutions to more effectively generate qualified demand for meetings and events, manage that demand more efficiently, and measure group business performance.

About Cvent Cvent, Inc.(NYSE: CVT) is a leading cloud-based enterprise event management platform, with more than 14,000 customers worldwide. Cvent offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, e-mail marketing and web surveys. Cvent provides hoteliers with an integrated platform, enabling properties to increase group business demand through targeted advertising and improve conversion through proprietary demand management and business intelligence solutions.

Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage hundreds of thousands of meetings and events. For more information, please visit www.cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 39

Hotel Opening Thailand

Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel to Open in Bangkok Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2015, the new Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel will be strategically located close to a series of key business, leisure and MICE destinations. international cuisine at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, relax with a drink at the lobby lounge, or unwind in the swimming pool & fitness center.

For the corporate and events markets, Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel will also provide eight function rooms, including a vast 1,014m² banqueting hall.

“Bangkok is a global city and Best Western is delighted to be expanding the number of accommodation options for all types of traveler to the city,” Mr. Berrivin added.

Best Western Best Western International announced plans to open its first hotel in the up-and-coming area of North Bangkok.

Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2015, the new Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel will be strategically located close to a series of key business, leisure and MICE destinations.

These include the Central Chaeng Wattana shopping mall, IMPACT Mueang Thong Thani exhibition center, and the Thai government complex at Chaeng Wattana. The upscale hotel will also few hundred meters from the World Medical Center, allowing it to embrace all different types of traveler.

Located close to the city’s expressway network, it will also be easy for guests to travel to and from Bangkok’s two international airports, and across the city.

“I am delighted to reveal the new Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel, marking Best Western’s entry into one of Bangkok’s most exciting districts,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western International’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“We expect that this stylish upscale hotel will become a magnet for corporate travelers, due to its proximity to local businesses, government offices and IMPACT – Thailand’s biggest conference and events facility.”

Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel will provide 183 contemporary

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rooms and suites, including a range from superior to two-bedroom suite options, making it ideal for extended stay guests. All rooms will come equipped with a selection of upscale amenities, including flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, mini-bars and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy excellent Thai and

“The opening of the Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel will mark a significant milestone in our development, and I look forward to welcoming our first guests to this excellent new upscale hotel later this year,” he concluded.

With the addition of the Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel, Best Western will offer a collection of seven hotels in Bangkok, covering three of its brands: classic BEST WESTERN, upscale Best Western Plus and luxury BEST WESTERN PREMIER.

Mövenpick to Manage Sol Marina Resort in the Philippines

Located

in the north west of the island on idyllic Punta Bunga Beach, famed for its white powdery sand and aquamarine waters and considered one of Asia’s luxury resort hotspots, the upscale 333-key property will start welcoming guests in December 2015.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal to manage the Sol Marina Resort, which will soon be renamed Mövenpick Resort Boracay, in the Philippines. Located in the north west of the island on idyllic Punta Bunga Beach, famed for its white powdery sand and aquamarine waters and considered one of Asia’s luxury resort hotspots, the upscale 333-key property will start welcoming guests in December 2015.

The property will not only shore up Mövenpick’s presence in the Philippines, where it already manages Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, but also bolster the hospitality firm’s portfolio of resort properties in top Asian locations. In Thailand the company operates two resorts in Phuket and one on Koh Samui, while construction is underway on properties in leisure destinations such as Pattaya, Thailand, Quy Nhon, Vietnam and Bali, Indonesia.

“Signing a property in Boracay is a significant development for Mövenpick, as it cements our presence in one of Asia’s most established resort destinations,” explains Andreas Mattmüller, Chief Operating Officer, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Middle East and Asia. “Punta Bunga Beach,

with its crystal-clear waters and soft white sand, is unspoiled and truly idyllic, attracting discerning travellers from all over the world from both the upscale leisure and corporate meetings segments.” Mattmüller also notes how the Filipino culture marries well with Mövenpick’s ‘We make moments’ guest promise, which guides the hospitality firm’s service ethics world over. “The Filipinos have a happy attitude towards life; in the Philippines you will always receive a warm welcome,” he adds.

Mövenpick Resort Boracay will comprise a cluster of three buildings nestled around the lagoon pool with most of the resort’s rooms and suites boasting sea views. Designed to give guests the ultimate luxury experience, the Presidential Suite will be housed in a stand-alone villa, featuring two bedrooms and a private pool. Key resort features will include family rooms; a kids club for young children and a games area for teens; and several dining outlets including Italian, Japanese and Korean restaurants plus a lobby lounge, beach club and swim-up pool bar.

Meetings and events facilities will span a ballroom that can accommodate up to 450 guests for a seated dinner, three multi-function rooms and a boardroom.

The property’s owner, Ambassador Alfredo Yao, who is also the founder and owner of the Philippines’ largest beverage producer, Zest-O and a partner in AirAsia Zest, Philippines, says signing the management agreement with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts marks the start of a “new exciting era” for the resort.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 41

HYBRID At Delhi’s heart A 3 in1 Dining Concept Café|Restaurant|Nightclub

Restaurateur.

Hybrid reflects an old charm industrial décor that is showcased by exposed brick walls adorned fascinating artifacts, wooden tables and chairs and leather upholstery that gives the whole place an easy going, urban approach. The big wall size clocks serves, as the windows across the restaurant, installed with the theme of Time Travelling. The indoor metal Hybrid signage, remind its guests, of the famous ‘the tramp working on the giant machine’ movie scene from Charlie Chaplin’s successful work, ‘Modern Times’. The seating area inside is divided into two arrangements; one at ground level and other slightly elevated surface to break the monotony as per the Hybrid’s theme.

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ybrid, a newly launched 3 in 1 dining concept, located in the heart of Delhi at Tolstoy Lane in Connaught Place, is yet another creation by the serial restaurateur Priyank Sukhija. An unusual concept in itself, the space starts with an open air café to view Delhi’s skyline, as the afternoon approaches it transforms into a restaurant and as the sun sets the place transforms into a nightclub all within the space of 8000 sq. ft.

Hybrid is the first new restaurant in CP to come up with its own deconstructed menu. Hybrid offers four different kinds of menu to its patrons which include Focaccia and Sandwiches, Burgers and Hotdogs, Fries etc. from the American fare, classic Kebabs from the North Indian, all time favorite Pastas, Pizzas, etc. from the Italian menu and Dimsums, Thai Corn cakes from the traditional Pan Asian cooking. The deconstructed food menu at Hybrid serves dishes in a unique and innovative way. These deconstructed dishes takes the ingredients that are normally combined in the dish, change their forms, and then plate them together in a different way.

It’s not just about taking the dish apart, but putting all the elements back together which makes this concept distinctive in its own way. However, the elements have to be as carefully balanced as the components of the said dish.

“The idea behind opening a one stop destination like this was to serve the audience in different ways

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possible. I feel that Hybrid has its own air of luxury. Whether to have a working lunch with colleagues, a fine dine dinner with family/ friends or to have drinks during the night - Hybrid is the go to place for everything” says, Priyank Sukhija

Besides delicious delicacies and enticing ambiance, Hybrid is the destination for live music and gigs by famous bands and artists from across India. With fine alcohol, great food, foot tapping music, Hybrid is the fresh concept known to serve everyone at any time of the day.

Happy Suite Diamonds – Unveiling The Mastery Behind High-End Jewellery By Chopard At Mandarin Oriental, Geneva

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andarin Oriental, Geneva and Swiss luxury jeweller Chopard are offering suite accommodation with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes private atelier visit. The Happy Suite Diamonds package is an ideal break for those looking to relax in one of the hotel’s stunning suites and indulge in the ultimate luxury of fine jewellery.

On arriving at the hotel by private limousine from Geneva International Airport, guests will be welcomed with Champagne in-Suite where they can enjoy panoramic views over the city and mountains, before being driven to the nearby Chopard atelier. Here a master jeweller will welcome them for a bespoke, private two-hour tour of the workshop during which they will discover the secrets behind some of the world’s most modern and luxurious jewellery masterpieces. For example, the mastery behind the making of an exquisite diamond creation or putting final touches to a tailormade wedding band will be

revealed. The tour also includes a visit to Chopard’s newly opened private museum.

The Happy Suite Diamonds package includes: • Luxurious accommodation in a Junior Terrace Suite, Corner Suite or Deluxe Suite • Daily buffet breakfast for two at Café Calla or in the privacy of your Suite • Champagne and special amenity by the hotel’s Pastry Chef • Private Round-trip Limousine transfers from international airport and private transfers to Chopard atelier (located 15 minutes from the hotel) • Private two-hour guided tour of Chopard atelier and museum (available Mon-Fri from 10am to noon) • An exclusive Chopard Signature book Valid until 31 December 2015.

Priced from CHF 1,950 per night.

Reservations can be made by contacting the reservations office at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva on +41 22 909 00 01 / mogva-

reservations@mohg.com or by visiting the hotel’s website www. mandarinoriental.com/geneva.

Rooms are subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.

Offer is valid for a minimum stay of two nights from Sunday to Thursday. Owing to summer holidays, the private guided tour of Chopard atelier is not available from 25 July to 16 August 2015.

About Mandarin Oriental, Geneva A living example of Swiss hotel tradition at its very best, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva has a superb location on the River Rhône, located within the heart of the city’s shopping, historic and business districts. Following an extensive refurbishment completed in March 2013, the hotel features 189 elegant and spacious rooms and suites, with many suites enjoying private terraces with supreme views of the river, Old Town and snow-capped mountains. Michelin starred dining; unparalleled service and luxury make it the ideal choice for discerning travellers.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the awardwinning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences.

Having grown from a well-respected Asian hotel company into a global brand, the Group now operates, or has under development, 43 hotels representing almost 11,000 rooms in 24 countries, with 20 hotels in Asia, nine in The Americas and 14 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

In addition, the Group operates or has under development, 15 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 43

‘Summer House’ Festival @ Caffe 9

with spicy salsa

- Caffe 9 Health Club

Three tier sandwich in whole wheat bread with assorted veggies, olives, parmesan & feta cheese

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- Kansas Grilled Lamb ummer is the perfect time when one wants to dig great food and drinks to cool-off. Eating and drinking right to combat this weather healthily becomes very important.

Caffe 9 located at the heart of the capital city of India, New Delhi, has come up with a special summer menu for you to savor. The summer menu for food & drink specially crafted for these months is surely the way to make merry like never before.

The Summer House festival menu includes soups, sandwiches, choice of breads, desserts & beverages.

To name a few :-

• Chilled Mango Soup • Cold Pumpkin Soup • Vegetable mexicana Three different peppers, corn kernels, tomatoes, sautéed onion rings

Grilled grounded lamb & mushrooms

- Papaya Boat - Water Melon Fizz

Fresh water melon, cranberry juice, mint frozen & topped with soda

- Razia Imli Fresh tamarind, green pepper, fresh lime, kala khatta & soda and many more to binge on....

“This festival would offer something unique that would please even the most discerning foodie in the city.

Where: Caffe 9, P-15, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 1 Timings: 12 noon - 1 a.m Date: 9th May - 5th June For Reservations: +91 9555177277, +91 9811859324

About Caffe 9 Continuing with the tradition of serving guests with Limitless Hospitality, The team of Caffe 9 at CP serves guests with multiple dining options. They offer a host of world class restaurant, pastry shop and lounge services with delectable cuisines from around the world - From the Indian subcontinent to Pan-Asian... From American continent to contemporary European & Mediterranean food!

In addition, their world class lounge serves the best variety of wines, beers, scotches, vodkas and champagnes. Aperitifs & cocktails from all across the world!

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Hotels need to provide a gifting platform for products and services One of the facilities that customers want today is to be able to share an experience that they enjoyed with their loved ones – and it’s especially true for hotel guests. For example, if someone enjoyed a spa session in a hotel, they might want their loved ones to experience the same and they want to be able to gift it to them somehow.

A gift experience is typically any experience or service that a hotel provides and which one can gift to someone or buy for themselves in form of a voucher. It can be an overnight stay, a meal in a restaurant, an afternoon tea, a spa treatment, a round of golf or a combo package.

No matter how big or small a hotel is, a gift voucher service fills a need for the hotel’s customers. For the hotel itself, it can drive sales and increase revenue by just offering the property’s existing products and services as gifts.

With an emerging demand for gift vouchers, companies like Enjovia have started providing specialised online systems that enable hotels to retail and manage their gift voucher module. These gift voucher

websites link to the hotel’s main website and are branded to look like the hotel’s website, so customers feel they are buying directly from the hotel which gives them confidence about the services they are buying.

Customers can choose from a customised range of products, the content for which is managed by the hotel. Customers pay securely online or using cash/cheque in case they are buying from the hotel premises with money going to hotel’s bank and/or PayPal account. Customers send the gift vouchers to themselves or their loved ones via email, via a variety of postage and packaging options, or they can collect it from the hotel itself.

These systems also take care of the redemption side when the recipient brings their vouchers in.

What an advantage for the hotel – it’s an online system that lets people buy gift vouchers for their loved ones and even for themselves – plus it puts money straight to the hotel’s bank account upfront! The system gives the hotel more customers, more sales and builds brand awareness.

Customers who come to the hotel to redeem their gift vouchers also end up spending more on food and drinks etc. and if they like their experience, they will most likely buy the same experience for someone else. Furthermore, 5-10% of these vouchers are never redeemed, which means free money for the hotel.

For a small amount of money for these fully managed gift voucher systems, hotels can open a new revenue stream without actually adding any new services.

If all of the above makes good sense, one thing to bear in mind is not just ticking the box by getting any gift voucher system, but getting the best system in the market that will last for a while. Having a system that allows

transactions to simply go through the website isn’t enough. If you are familiar with the terms ‘user experience’ and ‘predictive data analytics’, then it’s not very hard to understand that if you want to be ahead in the game, you need to provide your customers with a flawless user experience and also use the power of machine learning and rich analytics to see patterns like what are people buying. A systems is needed that will clarify what products are selling and what are not. Also, considering that more people today like to shop on their mobile phones and tablets, the voucher system should look good on all devices so that the hotel doesn’t lose out on sales when mobile devices are being used.

For example, the prestigious Celtic Manor Resort’ in Wales (which was the host to the NATO Summit 2014) uses a gift voucher system.

It produced more than £1.4 million worth of gift voucher sales in 2014. They have a huge range of products and services, a good voucher system (and most likely superheroes in their marketing team), but it definitely shows the impact of gift vouchers can have to sales revenue.

The Celtic Manor’s gift experience website powered by Enjovia.

View it by going to Celtic Manor Resort’s website and clicking on Gift Experiences.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 45

Fifth Interpets closed its doors with tremendous success More than 22,000 visitors and their pets filled the venue

Interpets – the four-day International Fair for a Better Life with Pets – concluded on 5 April at Tokyo Big Sight. 233 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions (Domestic: 185, Overseas: 48) welcomed 22,039 visitors and their pets (Trade: 8,824, Public: 13,215, Pets: 7,095), as the fair cemented its position as a key platform for the industry.

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he number of international exhibitors increased this year (2014: 31), including the debut of pavilions from Indonesia and Thailand.

Interpets again conducted a business matching programme for international exhibitors on the first day, inviting decision-making buyers from the pet industry in Japan. Ms. Pannee Suwantupinton, Trade Representative from Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, commented: “We decided to organise the Thai pavilion at Interpets as the fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt Group, one of the leading international fair organisers. As we expected, the quality of the show was pretty high. Thai manufacturers had been targeting the Japanese volume market but their businesses had stagnated because of the price competition with other Asian countries.

This time we selected 11 manufacturers of high-quality and high-design products as exhibitors to try the Japanese high-end market. The responses from both trade and public visitors were very positive. We feel that the Japanese pet market is very competitive, but as the size of the market is huge, we believe we should keep on trying.”

Reflecting pet owners’ higher health consciousness on their pets, more exhibitors showcased healthy pet food, supplements and healthcare products this year than ever before. Mr. George R. Godoy, President and CEO from K.K. Nihon Tecnimed, Japan, said: “Our product is a non-contact thermometer for pets, and this is our debut at a pet related fair. Interpets was the right place for us as it introduced not only pet products but also everything needed for a better life with pets. We felt visitors of this show are real pet lovers who are looking for a wider range of products they cannot find at any other pet fair. Our thermometer can take pets’ temperature without giving them any stress, so that owners can monitor their health very easily. We were surprised that so many trade and 46 | July-August 2015 | Hotels & Culinary ASIA

public visitors were interested in our product although it is rather expensive compared with normal thermometers. We will come back next year with double the space.”

Since its launch in 2011, Interpets has welcomed exhibitors from major automotive brands and promoted how to enjoy a safe driving experience with pets, which attracted many visitors. Volkswagen Group Japan K.K. joined the fair for the first time this year, followed

by Honda Access Corp. and Mercedes-Benz Japan Co., Ltd. which already participated at the last edition. Mr. Hiroshi Ikehata, Specialist, Communications of Volkswagen commented: “We are so happy that we could participate at Interpets. Our primary goal was to build bigger brand awareness among dog owners and we are very satisfied with the positive results. We have communicated with many new and existing clients and received valuable feedback from them that we could make full use of for further product development. Of course, we are planning to participate again next year.”

Alongside the latest products and services presented by exhibitors, various inspiring events and seminars were held. A showroom that was set up with the concept

of “comfortable and stylish living with pets” attracted many visitors, while photo shooting seminars gathered a lot of visitors who were eager to gain knowledge and skills to take good photos of their pets.

A diverse range of informative seminars and lectures were held at a special stage, providing the latest information surrounding pets on various aspects such as legal, health, therapeutic and lifestyle fields.

The next edition of Interpets will take place from 31 March – 3 April, 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight, concurrently again with “FCI Japan International Dog Show” organised

by Japan Kennel Club and “Japan Pet Fair”, organised by the Japan Pet Products Manufacturers Association under the title “AJPET (ALL JAPAN PET EXPO in TOKYO).”

Together, these fairs are expected to attract more visitors who are seeking a wide range of products and information, which shall further contribute to the growth of the pet industry.

Interpets will open exclusively to trade visitors on the first day, and then to both trade and public visitors from the second day onwards.

For further information, please visit: www.interpets.jp/en/

Executive Chef Brings Life Lessons To Organic Menu At Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

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xecutive Chef Uwe Opocensky is introducing healthy lessons from his personal life into the menu at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong this season, mixing local organic produce with progressive gastronomy at Michelin-starred Mandarin Grill + Bar. Chef Uwe’s move towards featuring more locally grown vegetables is a result of years of shaping healthy meals for his own family.

“My family and I don’t consume gluten. We eat an organic, low-sugar, vegetable-rich diet,” says Chef Uwe. “I have adopted the knowledge from my home test kitchen and am bringing the results to our guests who want clean, local food that is grown naturally.”

In search of the right partner over the last few years, Chef Uwe sought out locally farmed ingredients and learned of a local forager and an organic farm on Cheung Chau, Hong Kong’s first island settlement, which is only a 40-minute ferry ride from the hotel. It was during a visit to the farm that he met Mr. Lam, a retired postal worker who runs his organic family farm with his wife, a descendant of the island’s original Huang clan. The 20,000-square-feet farm is located in an idyllic and weather-protected part of the island with a natural water well sustaining it, growing vegetables and fruits that are suitable to the climate of Hong Kong, and in the right season.

As Chef Uwe learned of the Lams’ pesticide and chemical-free farming techniques, he also recognised a shared pride in producing rich-tasting vegetables and fruits that would enhance dishes and aid in improving his guests’ healthy lifestyles. Presently, Mandarin Grill + Bar imports ingredients from the fields of Cheung Chau and gradually incorporates them into new menu options, creating the possibility of an “island farm to table” route.

“We are still in the early stages of incorporating local organic ingredients into our dishes,” says Chef Uwe. “However, we are progressing quickly, discovering new flavours to excite our guests’ palates and heal their ills.

By sourcing local ingredients, I am able to change our menu continuously, depending on what is readily available and on what the earth naturally produces. This also goes hand in hand with our efforts to become more sustainable, socially responsible, and support the local community.”

Dishes incorporating the new produce in Mandarin Grill + Bar’s menu are

as follows: • Flower Pot • Organic, Soil, Cress, Salad, Tea • Tree • Organic, Spring, Pea, Ham, Truffle • Sea Bass • French, Line Caught, Lettuce, Asparagus, Caviar • Amadai • Japanese, Line Caught, “Fish & Chips”, Peas, Broad Beans, Caviar • Chicken • Welsh, Rhug Estate, Organic, Roast, “Chips”, Ketchup, Salad

About Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

The iconic Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is the epitome of contemporary luxury combined with Oriental heritage. Having delighted guests with award-winning services and impressive facilities for over 50 years, it is a much-loved address for those seeking an exclusive sanctuary in the heart of this exciting city. The hotel’s spacious rooms and suites offer magnificent views of the famous Victoria Harbour and the city’s skyline. A collection of 10 outstanding restaurants and bars, including three with Michelin stars, a Shanghainese-inspired holistic spa, an indoor pool and a 24-hour fitness centre, make Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong the quintessential “home away from home” for discerning leisure and business travellers alike.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences. Having grown from a well-respected Asian hotel company into a global brand, the Group now operates, or has under development, 43 hotels representing almost 11,000 rooms in 24 countries, with 20 hotels in Asia, nine in The Americas and 14 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates or has under development, 15 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 47

Breaking News: Jin Jiang to acquire 80% of Vienna Hotels for US$289 million Chinese hotel group Jin Jiang Hotels Group has invested RMB1.8 billion on August 6 for an 80% stake in the mid-range the Vienna Hotel Group and its restaurants.

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hinaTravelNews has learned from an exclusive source that major Chinese hotel group Jin Jiang Hotels Group has invested RMB1.8 billion (approx: US$289.8 million) on August 6 for an 80% stake in the mid-range the Vienna Hotel Group and its restaurants.

formed Jin Jiang-Plateno merger will emerge as the largest hotel group in China with a total of 4,585 hotels with 475,000 rooms, 1.5 times larger than the current top ranking hotel group Homeinns, according to the China Hotel Association’s 2014 data.

Jin Jiang outbids rivals for Vienna Hotel Group acquisition

Taking into account its 50% stake in IHG and full ownership of Louvre Hotels Group, Jin Jiang Hotels has

Jin Jiang Hotels outbid major competitor HNA Hospitality Group and property developer giant Sino-Ocean in the acquisition bid.

Following hard on the heels of Jin Jiang Hotels’s historic tie-up with Plateno Group, the ambitious acquisition to put Vienna Hotels into the Jin Jiang Hotels camp is on a scale that surprised observers and a major coup for the latter.

A mega hotel triumvirate Jin Jiang Hotels has suspended trading since July and has been quietly going making a flurry of M&A negotiations.

On July 10, Jin Jiang Hotels hinted at a possible merger with Plateno Group, and ChinaTravelNews has since learned that negotiations between the two major hotel groups have been proceeding at a feverish pace.

Once completed, the newly

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2,800 hotels and 340,000 rooms and is the seventh largest hotel group globally. Combined with Plateno Group’s portfolio, the newly merged entity will overtake IHG to become the third largest globally, based on Hotelmag’s 2014 global hotel ranking.

The acquisition of Vienna Hotels Group, ranked 10th in the 2014 Chinese Hotel Groups, will add an additional 479 hotels with 60,000 rooms to Jin Jiang Hotels’s portfolio.

From a market positioning perspective, if the Jin Jiang Hotels, Plateno and Vienna Hotel Group merger materializes, their operations would fully encompass the high-end, mid-range and budget market sectors.

Mid-range Vienna Hotel Group pioneers select business hotels Shenzhen-based Vienna Hotel Group was established in 1993 and now boasts over 40 million registered users and 500 hotels (including those under construction) of three- to five-star ranking in over 100 cities across China under six brands – including the Vienna Hotel, Venus Royal Hotel and Vienna Apartment Hotel.

Vienna Hotel’s neoclassical pastiche at a bargain makes it a hit with Chinese businessmen Vienna Hotel Group is widely recognized as a pioneer of select business hotel brands in China’s hotel industry and has branded itself “China’s largest mid-range hotel

group”.

It claims to offer a sense of opulence at a reasonable price and promotes a “deep sleep” wellness concept.

Thriving restaurant businesses come with the deal Our source also revealed that Vienna Hotel Group’s Wudaoxiang Restaurant Chain will also be included in the acquisition deal.

Like Vienna Hotel Group, Wudaoxiang Restaurant chain was also opened in 1993 and based in Shenzhen and shares the same owner, Deman Huang. Its website says it is a strategic partner of Vienna Hotel Group and the two companies have a number of shared assets.

Wudaoxiang Restaurant chain has over 40 restaurants under four brands with over 2,000 employees. It enjoys extremely profitable operations and a strong presence in southern China.

Vienna Hotel Group’s restaurant businesses will supplement Jin Jiang Hotels’s own extensive restaurant operations that include dining brands such as Shanghai KFC, Shanghai Yoshinoya and Shanghai Xinya Mooncake, managed by Shanghai Jin Jiang International Restaurant Investment Management.

Vienna Hotel Group attracts investors Vienna Hotel Group raised US$15 million in 2007 from Softbank Asia Infrastructure Fund (SAIF) that gave the latter a 23% stake in an A Series financing round, and then received US$20 million from US private fund Mount Kellett Capital Management in the B Series financing round in 2010.

In February, Vienna Hotel Group announced it planned to raise around RMB300 million (approx: US$48.3 million) in a C Series financing round and was preparing to reform its share structure as part of its plans for a domestic IPO in 2017.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 49

HSMAI Accepting Nominations for Lifetime Achievement, Top 25 Extraordinary Minds Awards The nomination period is open for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Lifetime Achievement Awards and its Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing and Revenue Optimization.

“With our Top 25 list, we are looking to honor those whose recent work has really made a difference and raised the bar for the industry,” Gilbert said.

The 2014 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds were:

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he Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing and the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Public Relations awards recognize individuals who have spent a major portion of their careers in the hospitality and travel profession and have contributed to the betterment of the industry in a significant and lasting way, over an extended period of time.

Nominations for awards can be made at http://www.adrianawards. com/gala/lifetime.asp. The HSMAI Lifetime Awards Committee, which is comprised of previous recipients, will review all nominations and select this year’s winners.

Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton Worldwide, was last year’s Albert E. Koehl Award winner. Geoffrey Weill, president of WEILL, was the 2014 recipient of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Winthrop W. Grice Award.

“Our Lifetime Achievement awards honor the careers of our industry’s leaders whose contributions have had a great impact on hospitality,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president & CEO of HSMAI. Each year, HSMAI honors The HSMAI Top 25: Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization. This list recognizes leaders in sales and marketing of hospitality, travel and tourism organizations for their accomplishments in the preceding 18 months.

Nominations can be made athttp://www.adrianawards.com/competition/ top25.asp.

• Greg Adams: Vice President, eCommerce, Best Western International • Jason Antony: Assistant Vice President of Digital Engagement, Viceroy Hotel Group • Shaun Aukland: Senior Account Executive, Google • Michael Bertetto: Director of Advertising & Public Relations, SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino • Gayle Conran: President, ConranPR • Susannah Costello: Vice President, Global Brand, VISIT FLORIDA • Craig Eister: Senior Vice President, Global Revenue Management & Systems, IHG • H. Stuart Foster: Vice President, Global Marketing, Hilton Worldwide • Peter Frantz: Marketing Director, Vantage Hospitality & JCF Marketing • Monte Gardiner: Director, Marketing Programs, Best Western International • Maura Gast: Executive Director, Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau • Kathy Halpern: Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Palace Resorts • Sara Harper: Director of Marketing, Hotel Del Coronado • Michael Innocentin: Executive Director, Digital Marketing, FRHI Hotels & Resorts • Andrew Kauffman: Vice President, Digital Marketing & Marriott.com, Marriott International • Chris Kenney: Vice President, Field Sales & Marketing, Destination Hotels & Resorts • Vince LaRuffa: Vice President, Resort Sales & Marketing, Universal Orlando Resort • Diana Plazas: Director, Global Brand Marketing, DoubleTree, Hilton Worldwide • John Ricks: Associate Director, Colorado Tourism Office • Evan Saunders: CEO & Co-Founder, Attract China LLC • Laurence David Tolpin: President, Chief Creative & Innovation Officer, Paradise Advertising, Digital and Entertainment • Vic Walia: Senior Director of Brand Marketing, Expedia, Inc. • John Washko, Vice President, Group Marketing and Sales, Atlantis Paradise Island • Jack Wert: Executive Director, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB • Holly Zoba: Senior Vice President of Sales, Signature Worldwide Recipients will be honored during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Dinner Reception & Gala on Feb. 16, 2016 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Known as the world’s most-renowned and prestigious travel advertising, public relations and digital marketing competition, the HSMAI Adrian Awards is celebrating its 59th year honoring breakthrough campaigns focused on hospitality, travel and tourism industries. For more information on the Adrian Awards competition, Top 25 and Lifetime Awards, please contact Ellen Wilson at ewilson@hsmai.org, email adrianawards@hsmai. org, visithttp://www.adrianawards.com, or follow Adrian Awards news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adrianawards. For information on becoming an Adrian Awards partner, contact Nora Cloherty, ncloherty@hsmai.org.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 51

Dusit Strengthens Presence in Middle East with New Joint Venture Company pilgrims, affiliated with over 60 agents from the Far East, Africa, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. It is also one of only 48 companies authorised by the Ministry of Hajj to issue Religious Tourism visas.

Outbound tourism from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also significant. Nearly 30% of yearly arrivals to Dubai, where Dusit has been operating for over 14 years, hail from Saudi Arabia—over 1.5 million travellers.

Executives of Dusit International and Dyar Hotels and Resorts - Starting Second from left - Mr. Andrew Shaw - Director of Development - Europe, Middle East and Africa, Dusit International; Mr. Chanin Donavanik - Chief Executive Officer, Dusit International ; Mr. Khalid Al Hattami - CEO Dar Al Salam Holding Group, Dyar Hotels & Resorts; Mr. Fahad Abdul Latif Al Hammadi - Government Sales Manager, Dusit Thani Dubai; Mr. Thierry Douin, Vice President Operations, Dusit International

After more than a decade operating hotels in the Middle East, leading Asian hospitality group Dusit International further solidifies its presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by entering into a joint venture hotel management agreement with a local partner in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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usit International and regional hoteliers Dyar Hotels and Resorts recently held a signing ceremony to formally establish a joint venture hospitality management company. Dyar has over 30 years of experience owning and operating hotels throughout the GCC and their local knowledge and expertise, coupled with Dusit’s international experience accumulated over 65 years, will offer truly distinctive products managed in a Shariah compliant manner to the growing Middle Eastern hospitality market.

The new company is already off to a solid start, with three projects confirmed in the pipeline. One will be

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located in Jeddah under the Dusit Thani label, the company’s original hotel brand most well known for providing gracious hospitality to guests worldwide. The other two projects, to be located in both Jeddah and Doha, will come under the company’s chic and contemporary “next generation” dusitD2 brand, whose newest hotel recently celebrated its Grand Opening in Nairobi, Kenya.

A further five properties are currently under negotiation in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah, which together form the largest tourism market within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2014 alone, the Holy Cities collectively welcomed 18 million visitors and this number is expected to surge to 23 million by 2020. This exceptional market is amply catered for by Dyar’s sister company Nebras for Tourism Development, an established, tourism company providing an integrated services for visitors and

With major infrastructure projects currently underway, such as the expansion of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport to accommodate 80 million guests by 2035, the Haramain High Speed Railway linking Jeddah to Makkah, and over 30,000 hotel rooms set to come to market over the coming years, the Saudi Arabian hospitality and tourism market is simply booming.

“We have been looking for a way to work within the Kingdom for some time,” remarked Mr. Chanin Donavanik, Managing Director and CEO of Dusit International. “We are proud to partner now with Dyar Hotels and Resorts—their local expertise and decades of experience will be invaluable to the success of Dusit within Saudi Arabia, and we are confident the alliance of an international hotel chain with the knowledge, relationships and distribution channels of a regional operator will provide Owners with a compelling proposition.”

“Being family businesses, Dusit and Dyar share a similar owner-operator mindset, as well as one vision, now we are united under the joint venture,” said Khalid Al-Hattami CEO, Dyar Hotels and Resorts. “This will ensure the companies deliver excellent products to the market, combining the very best of Asian and Middle Eastern hospitality traditions to create something new, unique and unmatched here within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Armenia’s Second Hyatt-branded Hotel Fully Equipped With ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Solutions

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Newly opened Hyatt Place Jermuk features VingCard Signature RFID locks, Elsafe electronic safes, PolarBar minibars and Vision System Software VingCard Elsafe Takes the Family Name to Become ASSA ABLOY Hospitality

SSA ABLOY Hospitality has implemented a full range of its industry leading product solutions at the second Hyatt-branded hotel in Armenia, the Hyatt Place Jermuk. Centered in a mountain resort town known for its thermal water spas and hot springs, the new Hyatt Place Jermuk provides guests with hospitality in a smartly designed, high-tech and contemporary environment, focusing on blending guests’ personal and professional lives while traveling.

today’s traveler in mind,” said Peter Fulton, group president for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southwest Asia, Hyatt. “As the company continues to grow the brand strategically and thoughtfully in key markets around the world, Hyatt Place Jermuk will offer a new choice to future and existing Hyatt guests.”

The landmark project includes the implementation of the VingCard Vision system by ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, a flexible locking-system management software platform with touch-screen technology, as well as VingCard Signature RFID contactless electronic door locks, which provide Hyatt Place Jermuk guests with the highest standard in guestroom security and convenience.

With the advantages of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology becoming increasingly apparent to hoteliers and guests alike, the Hyatt Place Jermuk has equipped their 92 guest rooms in Jermuk’s city center with ASSA ABLOY Hospitality’s VingCard Signature Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) locks, offering state-of-the-art design for userfriendly, intuitive guest interaction along with anti-cloning technology that provides extra protection against keycard cloning.

In addition, the property’s rooms feature the ultra-secure Sentinel 41 digital safes. Adding to guest convenience, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality’s PolarBar minibars have also been installed. These advanced and stylish minibars are built with low energy consumption and silent absorption technology, making them not only guestfriendly, but also cost-effective and energy efficient. Elevators at the Hyatt Place Jermuk are equipped with Multi-Output Controller (MOC) RFID, which is designed to fit into elevator panels and can be operated off or online through Vision. This further increases guest security by limiting access to the upper floors to registered guests.

“We have designed every aspect of the Hyatt Place brand with

Armenia’s Second Hyattbranded Hotel Fully Equipped With ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Solutions

The Vision system combines power and flexibility, utilizing a Windows®-based software platform to provide flexible access management control that is far more powerful than the fixed hierarchical structures of many other hotel lock systems, allowing management to control access to every door on the property.

The Vision system offers a range of possibilities to choose from, including the ability to integrate with existing PMS workstations and servers, a specially designed Vision touchscreen workstation, or any other Windows®based workstation. For more information, please visit www. assaabloyhospitality.com.

Hotels & Culinary ASIA | July-August 2015 | 53

Pan Pacific Singapore appoints Annie Choy as new Director of Marketing Communications

Dorsett announces new General Managers at four properties Dorsett Hospitality International is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Au as the General Manager of Dorsett Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.

Gary, formerly the General Manager of Dorsett Mongkok brings along with him well over 25 years’ working experience in the hospitality industry and incredible achievements in sales & marketing area. Before joining Dorsett Hospitality International, he held senior roles at Imperial Hotel, Best Western Hotel Harbour View and Regal Hotels International; all in Hong Kong.

The group is also pleased to announce the promotion of Barry Lo, the Resident Manager of Silka Seaview and Silka West Kowloon as the General Manager for both hotels in Hong Kong. Barry has been

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with the Group since March 2004

an Pacific Singapore is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Annie Choy as Director, Marketing Communications. In this role, Annie will be leading her team in managing the Media Relations, Marketing, Advertising, Promotions and the Pan Pacific Privileges loyalty dining program of the flagship 790-room hotel.

and was part of the pre-opening team for Silka West Kowloon and Silka Far East Hotel. Prior to his promotion, Barry was assisting Richard Kwong, Cluster General Manager of

With over 20 years of hospitality experience, including 11 years in luxury hospitality, the Singaporean brings with her substantial experience garnered from three top hotels in Singapore, namely Raffles Hotel Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore and The Westin Stamford & Westin Plaza.

Silka Seaview and Silka West Kowloon. In his new position, Barry will be responsible for the overall day-to-day operation and profitability of both hotels, reporting directly to Richard Kwong; who now heads the Silka Hotels brand in Hong Kong and with an expanded role in the operations of Dorsett Wuhan and Lushan Resort, both located in Mainland China.

“Having previously worked with Annie, I am confident that her wide ranging experience and close working relationships with key industry partners stands her in good stead to further strengthen Pan Pacific Singapore’s presence with the local, regional and international audience.

This appointment also reflects the hotel’s commitment and belief in nurturing home-grown talent to contribute towards the growth of Singapore’s hospitality industry, and we warmly welcome Annie to the team,” says Mr Gino Tan, General Manager of Pan Pacific Singapore.

A landmark hotel at the heart of the downtown Marina Bay entertainment and business district, Pan Pacific Singapore underwent a S$80million transformation which saw it strengthen its competitive positioning amongst other luxury and business hotels in the city. The 28-year-old property has consistently been regarded as one of the best hotels in Singapore and has received numerous accolades from CondeNastTraveler, Travel + Leisure, World Travel Awards and TripAdvisor.

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Over in Malaysia, the Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Susan Carlos as the General Manager of Dorsett Grand Labuan. Susan takes over the leading role from Alfred Paulsen who have moved over to the soon-toopen Dorsett Putrajaya, Malaysia.

An experienced hotelier with a strong sales and marketing background, Susan was most recently the Executive Assistant Manager for Dorsett Grand Labuan. Prior to this, Susan was heading the Sales & Marketing Division of Dorsett Grand Subang. Susan has been with the Group since 2007.

Government of India Regn. (RNI) NO.: DELENG/2014/56299