06/17/2011  CARLSON EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH LRA WORLDWIDE

    Global hospitality and travel company, Carlson, has expanded its partnership with LRA Worldwide, Inc., a leading consultant in Guest Experience Management, to provide customized brand-assurance programs for Carlson Hotels' branded properties around the world. Over the past four years, the partnership has grown from 21 percent of all Carlson hotels participating to cover more than 96 percent of Carlson's hotels worldwide by the end of 2011.

06/16/2011  U.S. HOTEL INVESTORS BUY INTENTIONS AT SIX-YEAR HIGH

    The U.S. hotel transaction volume topped $4.5 billion through May of this year triple the volume recorded during the first five months of 2010. Just as importantly, the number of hotel investors indicating intent to buy over the next six months is at its highest level in six years.

06/16/2011  STARWOOD EXECUTIVES DECAMP TO CHINA FOR EXTENDED STAY

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is taking its commitment to growth in China seriously: The U.S.-based company will move its senior leadership team to Shanghai for one month, beginning June 8, where president and CEO Frits van Paasschen and seven of the company's top executives will conduct business on a 12-hour time difference with their headquarters in White Plains, New York.

06/16/2011  LE ANGKOR, CAMBODIA EMBARKING ON CHARITABLE CAUSE

    The closest luxury hotel to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Le Angkor aims to increase awareness of The Angkor Hospital for Childrens mission and raise enough funds for the open heart surgery of local 3-year old girl, Di Sreihi. To bring attention to this cause, Gregory Andreson, Le Angkors General Manager, will embark on a 460km bicycle solo journey through the Cambodian countryside beginning on June 12, 2011 and concluding in Bangkok.     Di Sreihi was born 40 kilometres away from Cambodias most important tourist attraction, Angkor Wat; unfortunately, she has a congenital heart disease called Ventricular Septal Defect; without surgical intervention she is unlikely to survive. Her family makes a living through farming, just like 80 percent of Cambodias population, and subsists on less than USD 3-5 per day and is, thus, not able to afford little Sreihis surgery. Think Yes! Fortunately, the Angkor Hospital for Children has secured a Singaporean team of surgeons who are ready to assist their Cambodian counterparts with the procedure. As the volunteer surgical teams are generously donating their time and experience, the cost of performing these life enhancing procedures at AHC has been greatly reduced to only the hospital costs of USD 3,500.

06/15/2011  THE SIX HOTELS OPENING THIS YEAR ARE

. The 295-key Shanghai Marriott Luwan, opening this month on the Huangpu River in the popular Luwan district. . The 364-key Jaipur Marriott Hotel, opening this month as Marriott International's debut in the Rajasthan capital. . The 720-key Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre, opening this summer in the heart of downtown. . The 319-key Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe, opening this fall in the Tianhe district of China's third largest city. . The 199-key Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, opening in late fall in an emerging international leisure destination situated on the Gulf of Thailand. . The 392-key Haikou Marriott Resort and Spa, opening in late fall as part of the new Hainan International Conference & Exhibition Center.

06/15/2011  MARRIOTT UNVEILS EXTENSIVE GLOBAL PIPELINE FOR ITS FLAGSHIP BRAND

    Marriott flagship brand’s global pipeline stands at 49, half in Asia Pacific, scheduled to open in the next four years.Hotels under development will be mostly in emerging destinations, with 24 hotels in the Asia Pacific region, nine in the Middle East and Africa, four in Europe and 12 in the Americas.

06/15/2011  GOLDEN TULIP BRUSSELS AIRPORT OPENS

    The newly renovated and redecorated Golden Tulip Brussels Airport is now open for business. Formerly the Sofitel Brussels Airport, the four-star property features 120 rooms and five suites. It also offers a new contemporary restaurant "Chez Daniel," "Harry's Bar," a pool, whirlpool, sauna, workout room, and banquet facilities that can accommodate up to 450 for a seated dinner. Complimentary shuttle service to Brussels Airport and surrounding office complexes is also available. Although only recently opened, the hotel was awarded with the prestigious 2011 Green Planet Award for it's environmental efforts. Brussels is the largest city in Belgium. It is home to the European Union (EU) and Parliament. Business and leisure travelers will find the property perfectly situated -- directly across from NATO headquarters and nearby to corporate headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies. Grand Place, the old medieval city center of Brussels, is 15 minutes away.