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Hydropolis Underwater Hotel – A Float In Bliss Of The Ocean

Seen in "Hotel & Resort Insider", Sept 27, 2007

The gigantic Hydropolis Hotel is on its way to explore the underwater ecstasies of the Arabian Gulf, off the Jumeirah Beach coastline in Dubai. The unique £300 million underwater hotel is all set to realize its dreams of surfacing under the Arabian Gulf by 2007 end. The luxurious Hydropolis hotel is supposed to be the first luxury sub-marine hotel in the world, consisting a land station, a connecting tunnel and the exclusive 220 suites. These three will embody the entire hotel with the land station welcoming the guests, and the connecting tunnel, transporting them to the prime location of the hotel.

The Hydropolis Land station is supposed to be the first step towards embarking upon the journey to the surreal underwater arena. The guests would first have to move into this 120 meter woven, semi-circular cylinder to begin their trip to the actual destination. From there, they can board a sound proof train to reach Hydropolis. Along with these functional features, the land station also holds a luxurious restaurant for the welcoming guests, as well as, a high-tech cinema hall to educate the people about the whereabouts of the marine world.

Built on one of the precious beach properties of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Hydropolis Underwater Hotel extends over 260 hectares. Joachim Hauser, the developer and designer of the hotel, is the master-brain behind the innovation of such a unique form of architecture. His incessant quest for marine and underwater sphere has actually motivated him towards the idea of the construction.

The Hydropolis will represent the human physiology through its exclusive architectural form. A figure eight inscribed in a circle will best define its geometrical structure. The exquisite restaurants along with bars, the meeting rooms and the beautifully-themed suites shall be placed on the functional areas around the interiors of the hotel. They are more like the motor functions and the nervous and cardiovascular systems of human body, all connecting and running the pulse of the system. On the other hand, the ball room located on this nerve centre will actually get connected to the different storeys of the building.

Hauser has incorporated in the architecture of the hotel with all the magical varieties of the ocean life. From the food to the cinemas that will come on air on board the hotel, he has made it a point to retain all the exquisites and exclusives of the sea culture. According to him, even those who do not enjoy swimming or diving across the sea can take the exuberant pleasure of the sea diversity through the hotel's unique construction and exotic ambiance. In a way, he tries to remind human souls of the various dangers and problems that might lead to with the rapid destruction of the marine life.

However, it must be acknowledged that a dream can never see the face of success without the aid of proper funds and sponsors. Initially it was a hard time finding an investor for the project, with no one seeming to risk their organization on the never-heard plan of an under water hotel. However, at last, with the official assistance of the Dubai Development & Investment Authority (DDIA), the project took off its flight on summer 2005.

Amongst the key players of the project include the Crescent Hydropolis Holdings LLC, the original intellectual property rights developer and project developer; the  SIBC Industrial Building Consultants being the global project managers; the Q3A+D Limited as architecture and design consultants; the OSTSEE-KONTOR GmbH, providing the marine and naval surveying services; and Siemens I&S IS Facility & Systems Engineering as the  technical engineering consultants; the  3-Deluxe System Modern GmbH providing with the architecture, design, and interior scenery of the entire hotel; and DCN Duik Combinatie Nederland B.V making the  underwater foundation, tunnel and access way to the hotel.

Marriott's bold growth in China

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 27, 2007

A forward thinking complex China Central Place includes: More than 230,000 square meters of high-end office space; eight residential towers; 160,000 square meters of luxury-brand retail shops such as Ferragamo and Gucci; and spacious green areas and a sports center.

The luxurious 23-story, 588-room JW Marriott Hotel Beijing is the company's "3,000th" property.

By the opening of the 2008 Olympics, Marriott expects to operate 11 hotels in Beijing to help accommodate the two million visitors expected to visit the city. Another 20 Marriott International-branded hotels are scheduled to open in China through the year 2010.

"With 18 brands globally, we have the broadest lodging and timeshare portfolio in the world, and by year-end 2009, we expect to reach a total of nearly 600,000 rooms, including 120,000 outside the U.S.," said Mr. Marriott.

"Achieving this milestone would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our associates, investors, owners and franchisees. Most importantly, we thank the millions of guests around the world who choose Marriott every day."

The JW Marriott Hotel Beijing is owned by Hua Mao Surapan Hotel Development Company, Ltd. and will open in November, along with the 305-room The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing. Located in the heart of the capital city, the two hotels anchor Beijing's newest and most prestigious luxury address, China Central Place.

"During my visit, I have been very impressed with the city's drive, energy and focus as it prepares for next summer's Olympic Games," Mr. Marriott said. "We are thrilled to be part of these exciting times for China and Beijing and look forward to doing our part to help host a historic and memorable experience for all of our guests."

Marriott's growth story in China is part of a global expansion that also includes repositioning the company's core brands and adding new brands to attract emerging customer segments.

This spring, the company launched two brands: a partnership with Nickelodeon and Miller Global Properties, LLC to co-develop a breakthrough concept for families, Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott, as well as a partnership with boutique pioneer Ian Schrager to develop a new boutique lifestyle hotel brand for the growing lifestyle-conscious guest.

A series of bold innovations, exciting designs and new guest services have also been introduced across many of the company's brands. For its full-service Marriott and Renaissance hotels, the company launched the "great room," a revolutionary transformation of public space designed for today's travelers, who smoothly transition between work and play.

In addition, both brands offer the cutting-edge "plug-in" connectivity panel that allows guests to turn in-room 32-inch flat-screen TVs into personal entertainment centers.

The JW Marriott Hotel Beijing will have five restaurants and lounges for dining and entertainment. A popular feature of the hotel will be the award-winning, luxurious Quan Spa.

Respecting the traditional meaning of spas as providing for "health through water," the Quan Spa will offer Vichy rain shower treatments, private hot tubs and products from Thalgo, which use ingredients from the ocean.

The spa's signature treatment will be an Indoceane Ritual that will combine an exotic beauty elixir for the skin with a relaxing sensorial journey consisting of four steps -- Mediterranean, Egyptian, Indian and Chinese.

Marriott's global growth is unprecedented in its 80-year history, adding more than 100 hotels through the first half of 2007.

Hilton Hotels corporation announces major European development deal

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 26, 2007

Hilton Hotels Corporation announced that the company has signed a Letter of Understanding with Belgravia Asset Management Limited  (Belgravia) to introduce 25 new hotels (comprising 3,000 rooms) across Russia - one of the company's key strategic development markets - as well as other Central and Eastern European markets.

Over the next five years, the agreement is expected to result in the introduction of both Hampton by HiltonT and Hilton Garden InnT, all of which Hilton will manage. The first property is likely to be a Hampton by Hilton hotel in St Petersburg, which is expected to open during the second quarter of 2008.

This represents the second major Russian hotel development announcement with a leading property partner this year, as the company concentrates on multi-unit deals in key emerging markets.  In June this year Hilton announced a deal with London  & Regional Properties Limited to develop 25 new hotels, encompassing selected brands within the Hilton Family of Hotels, including Conrad®, Hilton®, Doubletree by HiltonT, Hilton Garden InnT and Hampton by HiltonT hotels.

Over the next ten years, Hilton anticipates it will  open 70 Hilton Family hotels across Russia, not only focussing on Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also actively looking at opportunities in key regional cities.

Separate to today's announcement, Hilton's first hotel in Russia will be the 275-room Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya, which is scheduled to open early next year.

"With the limited number of internationally branded properties in Russia, this alliance with Belgravia will help us accelerate our growth plans and make a significant impact on the Russian hotel market in a relatively short space of time, said Ian Carter, Chief Executive of Hilton's International Operations. "The introduction of additional brands from the Hilton Family of Hotels will also enable us to meet rising demands for quality accommodation, as well as providing a hotel product to suit all sectors and budgets."

Duncan Hickman, Belgravia Chairman said:  "As a result of extensive research Belgravia have confirmed that the Russian economy hotel sector offers tremendous growth opportunities. The choice of partner for this sector was critical and the global presence and respect for Hilton sealed our choice of partner; giving us the confidence to be sure that this alliance will be a huge success."

Carter added: "We believe that Russia represents some of the greatest potential for hotel growth in the world at the present time and are delighted to be partnering with Belgravia to capitalise on this potential."

Over the next five years, Hilton will offer travellers to Russia a choice of accommodation ranging from its well known hotel brand Hilton, which will be joined by Doubletree by Hilton in catering to demands for upscale accommodation. Today's announcement means that in the near future travellers will now be able to stay in Hilton Garden Inn properties, the company's ever-popular mid-market brand, as well as Hampton by Hilton, which is targeted at budget conscious travellers.

Whilst initial projects will be in Russia, it is likely that this agreement will also provide Hilton with further opportunities to introduce its Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton product in other Eastern and Central European countries where Belgravia currently has a significant number of projects underway.

London hotels get mega facelift

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 26, 2007

By Roger Bray   

London: The view of the Thames from the Savoy is more cluttered than it was when Monet painted there. It is not just the modern additions to the cityscape, such as the London Eye.   

Soon after the great French impressionist stayed at the hotel at the turn of the 19th century, the balconies were removed from the suites where he worked. Bathrooms and toilets were installed, narrowing guests' perspective. Now, more than a century later, the internal clutter is to be shifted, allowing the installation of wider, more panoramic windows, as part of a facelift that will see the 263-room hotel closed from mid-December until May 2009 and is planned to cost about £100 million.   

The Savoy is not alone. Its makeover is one of a clutch of London refurbishments that include some of the costliest in hotel industry history. At least as much is being spent at the Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane, which has remained open during the first root-and-branch makeover since it opened in 1929. A recently completed upgrade at its near neighbour, the Park Lane InterContinental cost £76 million. Renovating the Connaught - due to reopen in December - cost more than £50 million while £24 million has been spent on the 170-year-old Brown's Hotel. All this investment will make life more comfortable for business travellers.      

Prices
But it is bad news for those who control business travel budgets. Demand for luxury accommodation in London is high - and five-star rooms in short supply - which enables hotels to raise their prices.   

Despite its fascinating history, the Savoy is in a bind. Guests have been attracted by stories of Hemingway and WC Fields drinking in the American bar, Churchill hosting private dinners, Noel Coward during the Blitz, stubbornly continuing to perform as a bomb fell nearby. Occasionally, theatregoers would return at night to find Sinatra at the piano.   

But, lately, the hotel has become too jaded to command the kind of rates charged by the capital's top luxury properties. "The luxury market in London is currently anywhere between £500 and £600 a night," says general manager Kieran MacDonald. "We hope to add a couple of hundred pounds. Our typical corporate rate at busy times is now around £350 and we see that rising to £550." Chip Stuckmeyer, sales and marketing director at the Grosvenor House, says: "The renovation will allow us to charge rates in accordance with a booming market." The InterContinental says revamping its Park Lane property has had "a very positive effect on demand and rates".   

Brown's, now part of the Rocco Forte stable, says it was able to increase rates "significantly" after its recent refurbishment. MacDonald, who says London has become a very expensive destination, accepts that as the hotel's rates rise, it will be used less by the rank and file of business travellers. "We recognise that when we have repositioned, many corporate clients won't use us for their general needs. They will use the hotel for senior executive and board meetings, for example. We will still offer corporate accounts, but we may need more, smaller agreements. Companies will be more selective. Requirements for 300- to 400-room nights will come down to between 50 and 100." One London hotel executive says: "I think about 10 per cent of luxury rooms in London are out of service for refurbishment - which means the other 90 per cent are making hay because there's even less supply than usual."   

Jamie Talmage, business analyst for the capital's tourist board, Visit London, says current development plans indicate London's supply of about 100,000 rooms in all categories will increase by 2.7 per cent this year, 3.25 per cent next year and just under 2.7 per cent in 2009. The number of business and leisure visitors to the capital is predicted to rise by slightly more than that. Only about 12 per cent of rooms currently available are in five-star hotels, compared with 44 per cent in four-star properties.      

Budget rooms
Of the extra rooms opening this year, 70 per cent are in the budget category. They include the Renaissance London St Pancras, due to open in 2009 and a 195-room Shangri-La that will occupy 34 floors of architect Renzo Piano's London Bridge Tower, better known as The Shard of Glass, to be built south of the Thames. Other new or planned hotels include three described as "four-star deluxe".   

Source: gulfnews.com

Hotel chains sale on hold

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 25, 2007

By Jim Pickard

Richard Balfour-Lynn, the property entrepreneur, has suffered another setback with the cancellation of his attempted sale of the £700m Malmaison and Hotel du Vin chains of hotels.   

Mr Balfour-Lynn, chief executive of Marylebone Warwick Balfour, blamed the credit squeeze for the failure to find a firm buyer for the 19-hotel portfolio. It is understood that the hotels had attracted interest from the likes of Quinlan Private, Robert Tchenguiz, Permira and Prem Group, a private company run by Paddy Kelly.   

A shortlist had been drawn up but with debt markets in effect closed, MWB failed to secure a deal. In a terse one-sentence statement it said it had "delayed" the sale.   

The company decided to sell the assets earlier in the summer after the failed listing of Vector Hospitality, which would have been the UK's first hotel Reit (real estate investment trust).   

Vector had more than £2bn of assets. They included a £1.1bn portfolio of hotels owned by Royal Bank of Scotland, among which were London's Waldorf Hilton and the Park Inn at Heathrow.   

The flotation failed - in spite of a last-minute cut in pricing - after institutional investors expressed concerns about the structure of the vehicle.   

Both of Vector's backers subsequently tried to sell their hotels on the open market, hoping they would appeal to leveraged investors in asset-backed companies.   

A buyer was found for the RBS hotels in the form of Robson Asset Management, a new group run by Jeremy Robson, former head of principal finance at RBS.   

External source: To read complete article: Click Here

Source: FT.com

Good times set to roll on for hotel sector

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 25, 2007

By Hui Ching-hoo

The outlook is rosy for the hotel market in Beijing and Shanghai in the next two years, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai World Expo just around the corner, according to consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

Andreas Flaig, executive vice-president of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, expects the number of rooms at internationally branded hotels in Shanghai to grow 76 percent to 33,000 by 2010, while Beijing's total will more than double to 27,000 by 2009.   

"The international brands are in a race against time to be ready for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 World Expo," Flaig said. He expects foreign operators to considerably boost their presence on the mainland.

   

About 27,000 branded hotel rooms will be rolled out in Shanghai this year, 8,240 of which will be new, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels research.

   

Many world-class hotels are in the pipeline for the two cities. A 190-room Four Seasons hotel will be opened in Shanghai's Pudong District next year, while a Mandarin Oriental hotel with 203 rooms is also scheduled to open in 2008 in Beijing's Chaoyang District.

   

Flaig said the vibrant economy and tourism industry of the two cities is creating strong demand for the hospitality sector that could be sustained well into the next decade.

   

"The mainland has the largest domestic tourism market in the world. With growing affluence and better internal travel networks, the domestic traveler will become a key source of demand for a variety of hotel categories - from budget to luxury hotels," he said.

   

Between 1997 and 2006, international tourist arrivals to Beijing increased at a CAAG (compound average annual growth) rate of 8.1 percent and 13.5 percent for Shanghai. The number of inbound tourists to both Beijing and Shanghai reached a new high last year.

   

Luxury hotels in Shanghai and Beijing are also seeing strong revenue growth.

   

The ADR (average daily rate) of five-star hotels in Shanghai surpassed the 1,700-yuan mark for the first time in 2006. The city's ADR tops other mainland cities, and is 33 percent higher than Beijing's.

   

Flaig predicted ADR growth in Shanghai of 5 percent for 2007, while the occupancy rates of the five-star hotels is expected to pick up moderately.

   

Last year, Beijing's five-star hotels achieved the highest RevPAR (revenue per available room) since 1994. RevPAR for the first six months of the year has outperformed the same period in 2006. A similar pattern was observed in the four-star segment.

   

Source: CHINA daily

133 hotel projects are in pipeline in South India, to be completed by 2010

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 25, 2007

As many as 133 hotel projects are in the pipeline in South India, of which 30 are planned in Karnataka in the 3-star and 5-star categories, 61 in Kerala, 20 in Andhra Pradesh in the 3-star category, 18 in Tamil Nadu primarily in the 2-star and 3-star categories and four in Pondycherry in the heritage category.

These would involve an investment of Rs 5,000 crore and are expected to add about 4,000 rooms. Chennai alone is expected to reach 2,700 rooms from 1,200 rooms in the 5-star category during the same period.

In view of the continuing boom in the hospitality sector, the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) has asked the Tamil Nadu government for grant of industry status. Benefits from industry status include 50 percent allowance in construction and 50 percent capital subsidy, Secretary General of SIHRA R Rangachari told media persons on Saturday.

Justifying the demand, he said land prices had skyrocketed and high cost of acquisition was making hotel projects unviable.

SIHRA president P Purushothaman said that while Andhra Pradesh was auctioning land and Pondycherry was granting subsidy to hoteliers, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka offered no such benefits.

Highlighting the industry's problems, he explained that while hospitality was a large consumer of power, under the commercial status it was paying Rs 6.10 per unit while industry was paying a lower Rs 2.85 per unit. He also called for revamping of legislation for administration of liquor in hotel bars.

Purshothaman said that the average occupancy in South Indian hotels ranged between 80 and 85 percent, primarily occupied by business travellers with the peak period being Monday to Friday.

Source: newindpress.com

Increasing interest in South Africa among global hotel operators

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 25, 2007

Major hotel operators around the globe are showing increasing interest in South Africa, says Joop Demes, MD of Golding Hotel Investment Consultants (GHIC), a member of the Pam Golding Property group and leading facilitators in the hospitality and leisure industry.

Demes will be addressing delegates at Africa's first Hospitality Investment Conference for Africa (HICA) which takes place from 30 September to 2 October 2007 at Cape Town's Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, as an initiative of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and of which the Pam Golding Property group is a co-host and sponsor.

Says Demes: "With South Africa increasingly in the international spotlight, there is no doubt that the forthcoming 2010 Soccer World Cup has provided a strong incentive for global hotel operators to have a presence in South Africa. In the past eight months and in Cape Town alone, GHIC has facilitated transactions with predominantly international hotel operators for projects in excess of R1.25 billion.

"However, it's extremely positive to see that we are experiencing a significant boom in all major hotel categories across the country. The Deloitte Hotel Benchmark Study reveals that Revpar (revenue per available room) for the seven months for the year to date (January to July 2007) reflects an increase of over 17 percent compared with the same period in 2006 – well ahead of inflation.

"Not only are we seeing increased investment, as the hotel industry is labour intensive we are very much aware how important further such investment is in creating much needed labour opportunities in the country. This forthcoming conference, which we are proud to co-host and facilitate, provides an important networking platform for new and existing investors in the hospitality and tourism industry, profiling Africa as a viable investment destination," he adds.

The conference will be officially opened by the Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka. In addition to the Deputy President, other leading local and international speakers include Mmatsatsi Marobe, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Carlos Romero of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Jean Claude Baumgarten of the World Tourism and Travel Council, David Clifton of Interval International, Richard Stockton from Morgan Stanley, James Wilson CEO of Istithmar Real Estate, and Southern Sun's Deon Viljoen.

Topics of focus include Unique Selling Propositions for Africa, Investment Trends and Vehicles in Africa, Financing, Condominium Hotels, Fractional Ownership & Private Residence Clubs, Aviation Attractiveness, Moving Beyond the Legacy, Regional Investment Trends and Global Trends.

During the conference the TBCSA will introduce the Tourism Investment Awards which strive to recognise and reward companies and individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to lifting the profile of the tourism industry through promoting growth, investment, innovation and excellence across all tourism sectors. These awards will be in four categories: Project of Excellence and Innovation, Investment of the Year, Journalist of the Year; and Lifetime Achiever – the latter to be presented by Mrs Pam Golding, chairman of the PGP group at the gala dinner on 1 October.

For further information regarding the Hospitality Investment Conference for Africa visit www.hica.co.za. Joop Demes of GHIC can be reached on email jdemes@goldinghotels.co.za.

Berlin: Two new hotel projects in the city center

Seen on Thomas-Daily.de, Sept 25, 2007

Two new hotels are emerging in the vicinity of the Alexanderplatz. The former office building of the federal police between Otto-Braun-Strasse and Georgenkirchstrasse will be converted to a three- to four-star "Hotel at the Königstor." Until the end of 2008, 350 rooms will emerge there. The hotel will be operated by the Israeli Fattal Group, which already runs the "Excelsior" in the center of Berlin. Furthermore, the cornerstone for an Etap Hotel, part of the "Königstadt-Carrée" office project, will be laid at 31 Mollstrasse in the middle of October. The one-star building, with 159 rooms, shall open at the beginning of 2009 and will be operated by the Accor Group.

20 Largest Hotels in the World

Seen on ehotelier.com, Sept 25, 2007

Las Vegas is famous for many items!  Besides gambling, wedding, conventions, destination resorts, Las Vegas is famous for the size of the hotels.  

Below we have listed the 20 largest hotels in the world, 15 of the 20 are located within a two-mile radius within Las Vegas.  

Ranked number one, the First World Hotel has topped the list.  It is not located in Las Vegas, but in Malaysia.  Pictured on the right, this multicolor structure is a real eye catcher.   

The MGM Grand is also picked to the right, it reigned as the number one largest hotel for years, now taking the number two seat.

                  

Size

Hotel

Location

Rooms

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

1.	First World Hotel	Malaysia	6,118
2.	MGM Grand	Las Vegas	5,690
3.	Ambassador City Jomtlen	Thailand	4,631
4.	Luxor	Las Vegas	4,408
5.	Mandalay Bay (Inc. TheHotel)        3,223 & 1118	Las Vegas	4,341
6.	The Venetian	Las Vegas	4,027
7.	Excalibur	Las Vegas	4,008
8.	Bellagio	Las Vegas	3,993
9.	Circus Circus	Las Vegas	3,774
10.	Flamingo Las Vegas	Las Vegas	3,565
11.	Hilton Hawaiian Village	Honolulu	3,386
12.	Caesar's Palace	Las Vegas	3,349
13.	Mirage	Las Vegas	3,044
14.	Monte Carlo	Las Vegas	3,002
15.	Las Vegas Hilton	Las Vegas	2,956
16.	Paris	Las Vegas	2,916
17.	Treasure Island	Las Vegas	2,885
18.	Gaylord Opryland	Nashville	2,883
19.	Disney's Pop  Century	Florida	2,880
20.	Bally's	Las Vegas	2,814
Honorable  Mention
21.	Wynn Las Vegas	Las Vegas	2,716
22.	Imperial Palace	Las Vegas	2,635

 

• Under construction is the Asia Asia Hotel in Dubai.  It is scheduled for completion in 2010, and is expected to have 6,500 rooms.
• Under construction is The CityCenter Casino in Las Vegas, expected to open in January 2009 with 4,100 rooms.  Owned by MGM Grand.
• Under construction is Palazzo Casino in Las Vegas, expected to open in April 2007 with 3,025 rooms.  Owned by Las Vegas Sands (Venetian Casino).

Source: Insider Viewpoint of Las Vegas