06/21/2011  BRAZIL ADOPTS NEW HOTEL RATING SYSTEM

    In preparation for hosting the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympic Games and to gain a competitive edge in the international tourism market, Brazil has launched the Brazilian System for the Qualification of Accommodation Options (SBClass).



    This instrument will serve as a guide when booking accommodations for travel to Brazil. Developed by the Ministry of Tourism (MTur) in a partnership with the National Institute of Industrial Metrology and Quality (Inmetro), the system adopts stars as a symbol, varying from one to five, that identifies the categories for each type of accommodation.

06/21/2011  ONE QUARTER OF HOTELS NOT USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO BOOST OCCUPANCY & REVENUE

    Over the past five years, social media has revolutionized the global economy and become one of the most attractive and cost effective platforms to promote brands and stay competitive in the market.Yet according to a recent poll conducted by TravelClick (www.travelclick.com), the leading provider of revenue generating solutions for hoteliers across the globe, almost a quarter of hotels are not utilizing social media to increase occupancy and revenue per available room (RevPAR).

06/20/2011  VENICE ANNOUNCES NEW HOTEL BED TAX

    The Mayor of Venice, Giorgio Orsoni, has imposed a surprise accommodation tax on the city which will commence on July 1, 2011. The plans were announced after a meeting led by the Commune of Venice on Wednesday morning, which sees the city following in the footsteps of Florence, who also set a hotel bed tax last month due to begin at the same time.

06/20/2011  FOUR SEASONS' JIM FITZGIBBON, PRESIDENT WORLDWIDE HOTEL OPERATIONS, TO RETIRE

    Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced that, after an inspiring and dynamic career, Jim FitzGibbon, President Worldwide Hotel Operations, has decided to retire. Mr. FitzGibbon will continue to be involved with the Company in an advisory role as Four Seasons transitions to a new organizational structure. He will officially relinquish these transitional responsibilities at the end of 2012. We will all miss Jims leadership, business acumen, warmth and humour. All of us at Four Seasons have benefited enormously from the lasting contributions Jim has made to our organization and culture,said Katie Taylor, CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. In his distinguished 35 year career, Jim has mentored and stewarded many of the Companys current and future leaders, leaving behind a solid foundation for succession, and a lasting legacy of leadership and friendship. I am personally grateful for the tremendous support he has given me over our many years working together.â�� As Four Seasons transitions to a new generation of leadership, it is also transitioning to a new and elevated hotel operational structure. For some time now, the Company has been adding resources to each region, in recognition of the need to have on the ground expertise in areas such as finance, marketing communications and F&B. Four Seasons is now adding two regional Presidents of Hotel Operations for Asia Pacific and the Americas to its executive team. Antoine Corinthios already fulfills that role for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

06/20/2011  OVER HALF OF PEOPLE USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND REVIEWS BEFORE BOOKING A HOLIDAY

    According to research by www.sunshine.co.uk, 54% use sites such as Facebook and Twitter to ask opinions of people who have personal experience of certain resorts.



    The research was carried out among 1,102 holidaymakers who had been abroad in the past two years. Almost everybody (98%) said they did some research before going on their last holiday. When asked to select from a list of possible research tools, 62% said they used review websites; 49% said social media platforms; 33% said information from a travel agent; 26% said they use word of mouth; 19% said they use travel guides while 13% use other' tools.

06/17/2011  PARIS HOTELS REACH RECORD VALUE

    Shortage of available hotel stock in Paris is turning quality hotels in the French capital into trophy assets for international investment by private individuals and funds. This is likely to push the average value of rooms in the citys hotels, already the most expensive in the world, to a record 650,000 by 2015.According to a new report from consultancy HVS London, the high price of hotels in Paris has not deterred investors, prompting hotel rooms to gain in value more quickly than those in other European cities. France remains one of the most active hotel investment markets in the world with a hotel sales volume in 2010 of around 772 million, ahead of Spain at 680 million and Germany at nearly 200m. Only the UK (1.9 billion) and Scandinavia (1.2 billion) achieved a higher volume of sales transactions.

06/17/2011  IHG NAMES KIRK KINSELL PRESIDENT OF AMERICAS.

    Following the resignation of Jim Abrahamson, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has made a change at the top of its Americas unit, naming Kirk Kinsell, current president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as president of the region. Abrahamson has been named CEO of Interstate Hotels & Resorts, which manages 340 properties. Kinsell, a member of IHGs executive board since 2010m, will take his new post immediately, reporting to new IHG Chief Executive Richard Solomons. Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson, currently chief financial officer of the EMEA region and head of development for Europe will take over from Kinsell on an interim basis pending the appointment of a successor.