Centara Hotels signs for three new properties in Laos

Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed management agreements for three new properties with Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole. The latter is a well-established enterprise in Laos.  In the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang, Centara plans to open an upper upscale Centara Grand Luang Prabang and a midscale Centra by Centara property, both near the town centre. The third property will be under Centara’s new lifestyle brand, Cosi, catering to the growing segment of connected, freedom-loving travellers. It will represent a unique offering in Vientiane, the Laotian capital. The management agreement comes as Laos launches ambitious new plans to promote tourism. In recent years, the government of the Lao PDR has come to regard tourism as a priority sector for driving socio-economic development. It hopes to attract five million visitors in 2018 and increasing numbers in the years ahead with a Visit Laos campaign under the slogan Simply Beautiful. The country’s picturesque mountains, atmospheric towns, and humble friendliness are being discovered by Thai, Chinese and Western visitors. And it has one factor particularly in its favour: superb value. According to a new report from the Swiss-based World Economic Forum, Laos ranks 14th among 136 countries in price competitiveness. “This partnership with AIDC is a great opportunity to expand our footprint into a distinctive country,” said Centara chief executive Thirayuth Chirathivat. “Laos is on the list of more and more travellers to this region, and we want to serve them with the distinct and varied accommodation options to match the travel experience they are seeking.” Luang Prabang is the well-preserved, old spiritual city at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong rivers. Although well-served by direct flights to its airport and modern amenities, it lives up to its World Heritage status with beautiful temples and traditional riverside life. Bicycles outnumber cars. Delicious baguettes, croissants, cafés and French restaurants hint at the French colonial history in both Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Pheutsapha Phoummasak, president of AIDC Laos said: “We are excited to partner with Centara to bring their trusted brands to these great cities and further promote the tourism potential of Laos. “Luang Prabang and Vientiane are very popular destinations for both Thai and international travellers thanks to their perfect blend of history, beautiful scenery and charming character.”

A report on a special hotel which is under construction and belongs to the Tabriz Tractor Football Club

criticisms of the Executive Director of the Iranian Hoteliers Community on how the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran works against hoteliers

The manager of the Iranian Hoteliers Community, in a report on Hotel Directors' emphasis on “two rates for hotels”, said: despite many adversaries even in the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, hotel management has become an enduring and challenging job due to increased and abnormal costs. On the other hand, the hotel's pricing is not free in Iran, and it is totally within the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran’ discretion. Referring to the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran’ instructions on the issue of room rates for foreigners which can be in foreign currencies, Abbas Bidgoli said: "Visitors should pay attention to the Nima system for foreign currencies, which is a significantly different in exchange rate with the free market in Iran. They should be aware of all people who offer them hotel discounts instead of exchanging currencies for them! He argued that the only offer by the Iranian hoteliers’ community to the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran is to make a rule for hotels to receive room rates at foreign currencies. If this offer is not applicable, at least they should let hotels be free to change the currencies themselves based on free market and out of NIMA system. He continued: "The costs of goods and energy carriers, including water, electricity and gas have been multiplied in hotels, but hoteliers do not want to compensate this increase by increasing rates.

Food Service Equipment Reports

Foodservice Equipment Reports  is a FER Media LLC publication. FER delivers these benefits: A highly targeted operator circulation reaching the critical equipment and supplies decision makers. In-depth coverage of distribution and specification channels. A revolutionary product-oriented editorial format centered on fair and balanced evaluations of foodservice equipment and supplies. An annual buyers guide—available in print and Internet versions—that reaches an additional 10,000 big operator and distributor buyers outside the U.S. for a total circulation of 38,000 worldwide. Ad rates that allow impact advertising in an equipment and supplies-only environment. The most experienced and credible editorial, publishing and sales staff in the foodservice equipment and supplies field. Food Service Equipment Reports Code:  iranhotelnews.com

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

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

Managing Tourism and Hospitality Services

This book aims to enhance theoretical and practical understanding of quality management in tourism and hospitality. Part I (chapters 1-5) deals with the core issue of managing customer satisfaction. Part II (chapters 6-8) focuses on structural issues, particularly competition and collaboration, both of which are strongly characteristic of the industry. Part III (chapters 9-14) builds on the understanding of customer satisfaction and the functioning of industry relationships by reporting and critically analysing examples of improvements to specific tourism and hospitality services. Part IV (chapters 15-20) focuses on the experiences of those who work in the industry, their interactions with clients, and ways of managing them more effectively. Part V (chapters 21-27) focuses on methods in researching tourism and hospitality service management. Part VI (chapter 28) concludes the book. There is a subject index. Managing Tourism and Hospitality Services Code:  iranhotelnews.com

Opening of the first fully smart hotel in Shahmirzad

 Hotel News - Opening of the first fully smart hotel in Shahmirzad The hotel Community chairman of Semnan announced the opening of the first fully smart hotel in the city of Shimizad, the model city of tourism, in the near future. "Mohammad Mehdi Kordan," in an interview with the hotel news described the following as the main features and benefits of this smart hotel; Energy saving Equipment performance Increase Promotion of the safety and well-being of guests Service quality Improvement for guests Flexibility and ease of control in the hotel management system Reduce human resources and related costs Online connection of each room with reception and other departments of the hotel Recognition of the presence or absence of guests in the hotel by reception Record of all reports of guests automatically

IRINN's report from the the First National conference of the hoteliers Association in Iran

Al-Alam News Network's report from the the First National conference of the hoteliers Association in Iran

Al-Kawthar News Network's report from the the First National conference of the hoteliers Association in Iran

News conference of the first Hotel Exhibition in Iran

News conference of “The First hotel Exhibition of Iran” was held on April 19, 2018 with the participation of reporters, media representatives and members of the policy council at “Melal” Hall at Howeyzeh, Iran. 

Rosewood recognized by Condé Nast Traveler 2018

 Condé Nast Traveler announced the results of its 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards, recognizing sixteen of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ properties with top honors in each of their respective categories.   This year, the awarded properties include Rosewood Phnom Penh (Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel (Paris, France), The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York, NY), Rosewood CordeValle (San Martin, CA), Rosewood Sand Hill (Menlo Park, CA), Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi (Santa Fe, NM), Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (Dallas, TX), Rosewood London (London, UK), Rosewood Hotel Georgia (Vancouver, BC), Rosewood San Miguel de Allende (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico), Rosewood Beijing (Beijing, China), Rosewood Mayakoba (Riviera Maya, Mexico), Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort (Los Cabos, Mexico), Rosewood Bermuda (Bermuda), Rosewood Phuket (Phuket, Thailand), and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco (Tuscany, Italy). Rosewood properties had an outstanding performance this year with Rosewood CordeValle ranking first in the “Top Resorts in Northern California” category for the second year in a row, and an additional nine properties ranking fifth in their respective categories. Rosewood San Miguel de Allende placed third in the “Top Hotels in Mexico” list, while both Rosewood Mayakoba and Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi ranked fourth in the “Top Resorts in Eastern Mexico” and “Top Hotels in the Southwest U.S.” categories, respectively. Six properties received a fifth-place ranking in their categories, including Rosewood Hotel Georgia in the “Top Hotels in Canada” category, Rosewood Beijing in the “Top Hotels in China” category, Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in the “Top Hotels in Paris” category, Rosewood Sand Hill in the “Top Hotels in Northern California” category, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in the “Top Resorts in Europe” category, and Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in the “Top Reports in Western Mexico” category.   Source : Rosewood Hotels & Resorts