Ref: P102 - Cottage in Yukon Canada
Ref: P102 - Cottage in Yukon CanadaLook Who's Finally Realized that Budget Travelers Like a Bit of Style
Dec 13, 06 1:59 am
Big hoteliers are courting people like us with a wave of artful projects, some tastefully modern and some bizarrely futuristic.
Blame it on Wal-Mart. Thanks to the discount-store revolution, consumers now expect a lot more for their money. Or consider it a repercussion of 9/11 on the travel industry, which, through markdowns on empty four-star rooms, gave budget travelers a taste for luxury. Whatever the cause, major investors have gone to the drawing boards to craft showroom-quality lodging for the value-conscious, and their first experiments are debuting around the world.
Australia: "It looks like a million dollars," says Graeme Warring, CEO of Base Backpackers. "It should. It cost 10!" He's referring to what may be the fanciest hostel ever--four stories, sheathed in red glass, with a two-story atrium, a 59-foot-long aquarium embedded in the floor, a bar called RedEye, and an Asian restaurant. It ope-ned last May in St. Kilda, a beach suburb four miles from downtown Melbourne. There are 21 double rooms with Egyptian-cotton duvets, and 40 dormitory-style rooms, usually shared by six to eight beds, which have their own bathrooms. The Base brand, started by one of the world's largest hotel groups, Accor (Sofitel, Ibis), has already expanded to nine locations in Australia and New Zealand. All of the hostels include Sanctuary, a women-only area where a $1.40 premium buys privacy and extra comforts such as hairdryers, Aveda products, feather pillows, and fluffy towels.
United Kingdom: Because it's 12 miles northeast of Nottingham, England, the Dakota hotel, which opened last June, won't draw many Americans. But the next links in the chain will: By fall 2005 there will be a Dakota in Edinburgh, Scotland, and 20 more are slated for other parts of the U.K. by 2007. The men responsible are Ken McCulloch, father of the Malmaison luxury hotel group, and Scottish race-car driver David Coulthard. Behind the first Dakota's monolithic black-granite exterior, there's a warm look, including an open fireplace in the lobby, exposed brick, and hardwood floors. King-size beds and 32-inch LCD TVs are standard in the 92 rooms. "We strip out all the things travelers don't want to pay for," says general manager Bruce Robertson. "You won't find a chocolate on your pillow."
In London, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the entrepreneur behind the low-fare airline EasyJet, is squeezing 34 prefabricated fiberglass chambers into what was a 20-room Kensington hotel. EasyHotel, opening late this year, will rent bright-orange rooms, many windowless, for as little as $9 per night. The compartments--housekeeping could literally hose them down, although that's not the plan--are outfitted with a toilet and a shower, but no TV and no phone. Next up for Haji-Ioannou: a budget cruise line. Launching in 2005, it'll use the same prefab rooms as cabins.
Improbably, someone else in London is plotting a honeycombed pod hotel: Simon Woodroffe, best known for the European restaurant chain Yo! Sushi (once famous for having waist-high robots that dispensed beverages). Last month, after nearly three years, his Yotel prototype, inspired by the smart way first-class airline seats use space, debuted at a London design expo. From $91 a night, you'll get a pod that measures 10 square meters (107 square feet). Each has a double bed, bathroom with shower, pull-down desk, flat-screen TV--plus Wi-Fi and downloadable audio. Woodroffe plans to open a London location by next year. If it takes off, he'll franchise the idea to the next logical place: airports.
United States: Next month, InterContinental Hotels Group--owner of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza--introduces Hotel Indigo in Atlanta. The new brand is designed to be easily refreshed: hardwood floors with area rugs, easy chairs with slipcovers, and beds piled with duvets. All targeted, says Jim Anhut, InterContinental's V.P. of development management, at guests willing to pay "a dollar for coffee at Starbucks rather than 50 cents at Dunkin' Donuts." A Chicago site will open in the spring, followed by 250 more locations.
Ref: P78 - Bed & breakfast in Toronto, Hamilton and Peterborough Canada
Ref: P78 - Bed & breakfast in Toronto, Hamilton and Peterborough CanadaLook Who's Finally Realized that Budget Travelers Like a Bit of Style
Dec 13, 06 1:59 am
Big hoteliers are courting people like us with a wave of artful projects, some tastefully modern and some bizarrely futuristic.
Blame it on Wal-Mart. Thanks to the discount-store revolution, consumers now expect a lot more for their money. Or consider it a repercussion of 9/11 on the travel industry, which, through markdowns on empty four-star rooms, gave budget travelers a taste for luxury. Whatever the cause, major investors have gone to the drawing boards to craft showroom-quality lodging for the value-conscious, and their first experiments are debuting around the world.
Australia: "It looks like a million dollars," says Graeme Warring, CEO of Base Backpackers. "It should. It cost 10!" He's referring to what may be the fanciest hostel ever--four stories, sheathed in red glass, with a two-story atrium, a 59-foot-long aquarium embedded in the floor, a bar called RedEye, and an Asian restaurant. It ope-ned last May in St. Kilda, a beach suburb four miles from downtown Melbourne. There are 21 double rooms with Egyptian-cotton duvets, and 40 dormitory-style rooms, usually shared by six to eight beds, which have their own bathrooms. The Base brand, started by one of the world's largest hotel groups, Accor (Sofitel, Ibis), has already expanded to nine locations in Australia and New Zealand. All of the hostels include Sanctuary, a women-only area where a $1.40 premium buys privacy and extra comforts such as hairdryers, Aveda products, feather pillows, and fluffy towels.
United Kingdom: Because it's 12 miles northeast of Nottingham, England, the Dakota hotel, which opened last June, won't draw many Americans. But the next links in the chain will: By fall 2005 there will be a Dakota in Edinburgh, Scotland, and 20 more are slated for other parts of the U.K. by 2007. The men responsible are Ken McCulloch, father of the Malmaison luxury hotel group, and Scottish race-car driver David Coulthard. Behind the first Dakota's monolithic black-granite exterior, there's a warm look, including an open fireplace in the lobby, exposed brick, and hardwood floors. King-size beds and 32-inch LCD TVs are standard in the 92 rooms. "We strip out all the things travelers don't want to pay for," says general manager Bruce Robertson. "You won't find a chocolate on your pillow."
In London, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the entrepreneur behind the low-fare airline EasyJet, is squeezing 34 prefabricated fiberglass chambers into what was a 20-room Kensington hotel. EasyHotel, opening late this year, will rent bright-orange rooms, many windowless, for as little as $9 per night. The compartments--housekeeping could literally hose them down, although that's not the plan--are outfitted with a toilet and a shower, but no TV and no phone. Next up for Haji-Ioannou: a budget cruise line. Launching in 2005, it'll use the same prefab rooms as cabins.
Improbably, someone else in London is plotting a honeycombed pod hotel: Simon Woodroffe, best known for the European restaurant chain Yo! Sushi (once famous for having waist-high robots that dispensed beverages). Last month, after nearly three years, his Yotel prototype, inspired by the smart way first-class airline seats use space, debuted at a London design expo. From $91 a night, you'll get a pod that measures 10 square meters (107 square feet). Each has a double bed, bathroom with shower, pull-down desk, flat-screen TV--plus Wi-Fi and downloadable audio. Woodroffe plans to open a London location by next year. If it takes off, he'll franchise the idea to the next logical place: airports.
United States: Next month, InterContinental Hotels Group--owner of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza--introduces Hotel Indigo in Atlanta. The new brand is designed to be easily refreshed: hardwood floors with area rugs, easy chairs with slipcovers, and beds piled with duvets. All targeted, says Jim Anhut, InterContinental's V.P. of development management, at guests willing to pay "a dollar for coffee at Starbucks rather than 50 cents at Dunkin' Donuts." A Chicago site will open in the spring, followed by 250 more locations.
Ref: P95 - Cottage in Eastern Ontario / Ottawa Canada
Ref: P95 - Cottage in Eastern Ontario / Ottawa CanadaConsumer Generated Media, a Threat or an Opportunity?
Dec 13, 06 1:59 am
By Max Starkov and Jason Price
Consumer generated media (CGM) — blogs, discussion boards, review sites, social network sites, etc., has remained a prevalent subject in hotel marketing discussions in the past year. How can hotel and travel marketers use this new medium to their advantage? Should CGM be considered an opportunity to promote the hotel product and be part of the marketing strategy, or is it a threat that needs to be contained? Can a CGM initiative help hoteliers differentiate their services and de-commoditize their product? The ideas discussed in this article could help hoteliers to benefit from the opportunities presented by CGM, and build CGM into the overall Internet marketing strategy.
Background
Consumer Generated Media (CGM) is online content created primarily by Internet users themselves—anyone other than professional writers, publishers or journalists, and made available to other Internet users via interactive technology applications. This includes discussion boards, blogs, social network sites such as MySpace and LinkedIn, trip planners (Yahoo Trip Planner, IgoUgo), customer review sites like TripAdvisor, experience or photo sharing, and any other opportunity for the consumer to share their knowledge and familiarity with a product or experience. CGM is available in various formats, including text, images, videos, podcasts, and voting/ranking.
As it relates to hospitality a common question asked is, how does CGM become part of the multi-channel Marketing Model?
What is the role of CGM in the Hotelier’s Direct Internet Marketing Strategy?
In 2007 nearly one-third of all reservations in hospitality in North America will be generated from the Internet (29% in 2005). By 2010 over 45% of all travel reservations in the U.S. will be done via the Internet (Merrill Lynch, HeBS). Next year over 60% of these Internet reservations will be via hotel-branded websites, though some major hotel brands already enjoy a very healthy 85:15 direct vs. indirect online distribution ratio.
In our view hoteliers should consider CGM initiatives only as part of a comprehensive Direct Internet marketing strategy, together with other important aspects such as search marketing, email marketing, website optimization, strategic linking and link popularity, online sponsorships and display ads. CGM initiatives like blogs should become a line item in the overall hotel marketing budget.
On the other hand Hospitality eBusiness Strategies considers CGM a vital part of the comprehensive de-commoditization strategy of the hotel, a potent tool to provide a unique value proposition to its customers. A well-developed CGM strategy could provide visibility to unique aspects of the hotel product and destination, and a differentiated approach to reach key customer segments.
Is Consumer Generated Media a Threat or an Opportunity in Hospitality?
In November 2006 we conducted a CGM survey via the HeBs blog (www.HospitalityeBusiness.blogs.com) and asked hoteliers if they thought consumer generated media (i.e. blogs, hotel review sites) is a threat or an opportunity? 81% of survey respondents said they viewed CGM as an opportunity. In our view there are three ways hospitality and travel marketers can use CGM to their benefit. First, use CGM to listen to what consumers are saying. Hotel marketers gain unfiltered insights into the customer experience, something that in the past could only be achieved through surveys and comment cards. By monitoring sites that contain reviews and comments about your property, you can immediately address any issues and act appropriately.
Second, hoteliers can establish interactive relationships with the customer via corporate-sponsored CGM initiatives. Examples of such corporate-sponsored initiatives are the pioneering Starwood effort with their blog theLobby.com and Sheraton’s new consumer experience and photo sharing CGM functionality.
And third, hotel marketers can utilize the various types and formats of CGM to promote their products and services. For example, HotelChatter.com and TripAdvisor now accept display ads, and many discussion boards accept sponsorships and advertising. In sum, hotel and travel marketers should review the use of CGM in the overall context of their Internet advertising budget.
Is there a Right Time to Launch a CGM Strategy?
As discussed above, a CGM strategy is best served after hoteliers have already launched a robust direct online distribution strategy. Aspects include a competitive, fully-optimized hotel website that is user-friendly, search engine-friendly, booker-friendly and interactive customer relationship-friendly. A successful website is one that presents the hotel product, addresses all key customer segments and provides fresh, up-to-date content that both online consumers and search engine bots like. Copy on the website must have high keyword-density to boost the search engine-friendliness and be updated on a regular basis with new content and rich media.
The hotel should be participating in local, vertical, organic and paid search marketing, email marketing, strategic linking initiatives, email and online sponsorships, and many other strategies to draw in customers seeking a hotel in your destination. Having a robust Direct Internet marketing strategy in place and generating substantial revenues from your online efforts is fundamental and paramount before investing time and resources into CGM.
Steps for Building the Corporate CGM Strategy
There are three approaches to building the CGM strategy. Which approach to use depends on your situation and needs. If the goal is to protect and monitor the ‘chatter’ on the web about your hotel for whatever reason, then a Brand Defensive Strategy should be entertained first. If the goal is to leverage the expert knowledge that currently exists at your property out there on the web then consider a corporate sponsored CGM initiative. Lastly, if the goal is to simply communicate to readers on high traffic CGM sites then you can advertise on them.
I. As a Brand Defensive Strategy:
- Identify CGM sites that cover your industry and segment e.g. HotelChatter
- Monitor the CGM Universe for CGM postings about your company (e.g. via technorati.com, blogpulse.com, etc.)
- Nurture satisfied customers to “express themselves” via popular CGM sites
- Implement CGM suggestions, address criticism, and contact critical CGM-ers to discuss improvements and results
II. Corporate- Sponsored CGM Initiatives:
- Determine if your company needs a CGM initiative in the first place
- Identify the type of CGM that best suits your organization e.g.
- Corporate-sponsored blog, customer reviews, customer trip planning and advice, experience sharing, etc.
- Leverage the internal, in-house “expert knowledge” from spa gurus, golf pros, famous chefs, fitness pros, wedding planners, etc.
- Clearly delegate responsibility and ownership of the blog
- Budget for the new corporate-sponsored CGM initiative
III. CGM as an Advertising & Marketing Medium in Hospitality
- Many high-trafficked CGM sites (e.g. review sites, blog search engines) now accept display ads and sponsorships, cover your industry and segment e.g. HotelChatter
- Identify all CGM sites and initiatives that matter
- Advertise only on CGM sites that are highly relevant to your product/services and the destinations you serve, e.g. regional golf or spa blogs, destination CGM initiatives, etc.
Conclusion:
A robust Internet marketing strategy is comprised of many tactics designed to grow the direct online channel. Website optimization, customer segmentation, strategic linking, keyword rich density copy, email and online sponsorship strategies, and search marketing strategies are fundamental to growing the online channel. Only when these are satisfied does it make sense to delve into CGM. CGM is a tool that can give marketers unfiltered insights into the customer experience, helps establish interactive relationships with customers, and provides a new medium to promote services and products. CGM is also a vital part of the comprehensive de-commoditization strategy of the hotel, a potent tool to provide a unique value proposition to its customers.
An experienced Internet marketing hospitality consultant firm can help you navigate your CGM strategy as part of the overall Internet marketing strategy.
Ref: P43 - Cottage in Cape Breton Island Canada
Ref: P43 - Cottage in Cape Breton Island CanadaRestaurant Consultants issue Ten Top Dining Trends for 2007
Dec 13, 06 2:02 am
Restaurant consultants Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co. have forecast ten major dining trends that impact how Americans will eat in the year ahead.Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co. creates high-profile restaurants around the world for hotels, restaurant companies, major museums and other consumer destinations. Their projects include the late Windows on the World, the Rainbow Room and five three-star restaurants in New York.They predict that: Tropical superfruits, chef-driven steakhouses, Peruvian cuisine, ethical eating, exotic salts, wildly flavored chocolates, and molecular gastronomy are on the menu for the year ahead.Their ten trends (and buzzwords) for 2007:#1. HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOP THE MENU : As baby boomers accept their collective aging, dietary issues gain momentum not just forthemselves but for their children. Look for:• Rain forest “superfruits” and their extracts – açaí, cupuaçu, goji berries, coffee berry extracts, guava, guyabana, guarana, mangosteen, among others – that are loaded with antioxidants. These will appear in shakes, smoothies, ice creams and other desserts.• Fruit- and vegetable-crammed chips will grab market share from typical fatty-salty potato chips as manufacturers try sidesteppingattacks on their obesity-causing mass market snacks. You’ll findthese on platters next to your upscale hamburgers, too.• Better-for-you ice creams spiked with immune-boosting green tea, extra vitamins and minerals.• Next-generation yogurts enhanced with fiber and protein that fool you into feeling full; and yogurts that claim to improve your complexion.• Sodas with green tea, ginger and caffeine that theoretically make you lose weight, and vitamin-enhanced beers.• Even Disney is cutting the fat and calories of munch-food in its theme parks (and cutting portions, as well).• Wal-Mart’s muscling into organic food will force mass-market restaurant chains to follow.• Increasingly extravagant health claims on food packages.#2. THE ‘NEXT’ CUISINE: Most pundits point to India . But we say that Indian food is too complicated for home cooks and too obscure for most restaurant goers. So our vote goes to Peru. Why? Its government is promoting the cuisine, which is a fabulous fusion of Italian, Japanese,Indian, Spanish and indigenous cookery; it is part of the next wave of specific regional cookery; Nobu came from there; its hot, spicy, creativeflavors resonate with Americans; it has a growing cadre of “new cuisine”chefs, some coming to the US, who are updating old fashioned dishes.Most importantly: There are big enough clusters of Peruvian immigrants to make their restaurants and ingredients more visible. You can nowbuy frozen guinea pig, an Andean delicacy, in Houston, and Inka Cola is sold on aptly named Amazon.com.#3. CHOCOLATE – HEALTH AND EXOTICA: America’s going nuts for chocolate. Manufacturers are touting health benefits of the cacao bean (not mentioning the calories) -- from lowering blood pressure to elevating your mood to pumping you full of anti-oxidants (Google ‘chocolate andhealth’ and you get more than seven million citations!). Luxurychocolates seasoned with oddities like paprika, saffron, curry power, wasabi and even cheese are enlivening menus and retail shops. Bitter, rich drinking chocolates are the rage among people who years ago abandoned those packages of powdered cocoa. Look for restaurants to add shots of scotch, brandy or liqueurs to hot chocolate; for upscale foodshops to feature high-priced nibs and chunks for easy melting; and for supermarkets to double their baking-chocolate selections as brands like Hershey's, Nestlé, Ghirardelli’s, Scharffen Berger increase the cacao content of baking bars and trumpet their contents on the label. Next:Chocolate sommeliers.#4. SENSORY DECEPTION: Last year’s chef’s labored to bring out the pure flavors of top-notch ingredients. Next year’s chefs are dismantlingthe molecular structure of these same ingredients --whirling them in laboratory equipment with frightening sounding chemicals, dippingthem in liquid nitrogen, inflating them with vacuum cleaners, fabricating cantaloupe caviar, deep-frying mayonnaise, turning sauces into powders,and spraying the air with flavors to suggest that what you’re looking at isn’t what you’re about to eat. It is equivalent to a gastronomic IQ test in which typical diners are all below average. Next time you eat a chocolatebonbon for dessert and find that it’s a blob of olive oil, you’ll know you’ve been ambushed by a Molecular Gastronomer.#5. BELLIES ARE BIG: Relentlessly searching for new things to serve, chefs are focusing on the nether regions of fish and animals. Pork belly,commonly called bacon, landed on menus all over the country last year, and savvy sushi chefs have long offered costly tuna belly, known as toro,to customers craving its prized fattiness. Next year menus will feature veal, salmon, swordfish and lamb bellies – all rich with fatty flavor, all (not coincidentally) cheap cuts that used to be trimmed away. They’ll generally be braised, and sometimes braised and grilled. This definitely is restaurant food, so don’t look for this stuff in your supermarket.#6. ETHICAL EATING: “Fair trade” and “sustainable” are terms gaining traction with restaurant chefs and American consumers. People aspire tofeel ethically comfortable about the food they buy: they want uncaged chickens and their eggs, humanely raised and slaughtered pork and beef,and environmentally friendly packaging. They’re looking for locally grown products that reduce the global warming impact of moving food around the world. They don’t want fisheries depleted for the sake of tuna steak on their plates. “Food miles” has entered the mainstreamvocabulary. Starbucks’ battle with Ethiopian coffee farmers has raised consumers’ consciousness. There’ll be more fair trade coffee andchocolate, more compassionately raised meats, more organic chickens and vegetables listed on menus and sold in food shops than probablyexist in the world.#7. THE IZAKAYAS ARE COMING: Move over tapas – make room for Japanese small plates. Venturesome restaurateurs are openingJapanese taverns, called izakaya, all over the world. These are homey places emphasizing modestly priced Japanese hors d’oeuvres washed down with oversized bottles of beer and overfilled glasses of sake. Someof the food may be unfamiliar but people are willing to risk $5 or $6 to experiment. You’ll find izakayas in London, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, LA (where, predictably, they’ve morphed into fusion menus), Omaha,Coral Gables and New York. The mavens behind P. F. Chang have opened a more Americanized version in Scottsdale, hoping to launchanother chain.#8. CHEF-DRIVEN STEAKHOUSES: Celebrity chefs are hanging their names on reinvented steakhouses. Wolfgang Puck, Bradley Ogden,Michael Mina, David Burke, among others, have launched newfangled beeferies that marry elements of serious cooking with simple but upscalegrilling. More chefs are following this exercise in “brand extension.” When you get “sautéed snapper with edamame dumplings in a ragout of mussels” in a steakhouse, you know that the category is being redefined.Behind it: Hotels, casinos and shopping centers laying big money on these chefs because they’re competitively desperate to draw crowds.#9. BURGERS WITH PEDIGREES: Rachel Ray is planning a hamburger restaurant. Laurent Tourandel has launched BLTBurger. Joe Bastianich, partner of Mario Batali, plans one serving sustainable beef. And several other famous chefs are toying with the notion. Perhaps they’re inspired by Hubert Keller’s Burger Bar in Las Vegaswhere, in addition to a standard hamburger, you blow your winnings on a $60 Rossini Burger of Kobe beef, foie gras and truffles. Also watch formore Kobe or wagyu burgers (and hot dogs) than there are Kobe or wagyu cattle.#10. SALT: Cardiologists aside, people are rediscovering what salt is all about. Not the powdery stuff in round cardboard boxes; we’re talkinginstead about crunchy, flakey, tinted crystals from out-of-the-way places that have migrated from restaurant kitchens to dinner tables at home. Pink salt mined in the Peruvian Andes, black lava salt from Cyprus,ruddy Alaea salt from Hawaii, gray sea salt, smoked salts (a big seller at Dean & Deluca), herb-flavored salts, Tahitian vanilla sea salt, even truffle-flavored salt. More restaurants will identify these on their menus– and upcharge accordingly. Salted caramel has become the rage amongupscale pastry chefs.BUZZWORDS: Marcona almonds, sweet potato vinegar, aji peppers, potatoes bravas, flavored salts, party-colored beets and other baby rootvegetables, house-cured meats and fish, fresh curd cheese, slow-poached eggs, Spanish hams and sausages, humanely raised cattle, American caviar, pastel hued cauliflower, molecular gastronomy, yuzu, bahn mi Vietnamese sandwiches, gnudi, savory ice creams, wildly decorativecupcakes, slow cooking at home, matcha green tea powder.
Ref: P224 - Self-catering house in Pennsylvania USA
Ref: P224 - Self-catering house in Pennsylvania USAAn early look at the Hotel of Tomorrow
Dec 04, 06 2:02 am
Welcome to the room of the future — just don’t lose your keyBy Rob Lovitt, MSNBC
Travel enough and even the latest and greatest amenity will eventually go from hip to humdrum. In-room iPod dock? Yawn. Wall-to-wall WiFi? I should hope so. Flat-screen TV? Yeah, been there, watched that.
No, real innovation comes from imagining amenities that haven’t been invented yet. At least that’s the idea behind the Hotel of Tomorrow (HOT) project, an industry-spanning initiative put together by Hospitality Design (HD) magazine and Gettys, a Chicago-based design firm. Unveiling their ideas earlier this fall, the group effort offered intriguing ideas on everything from checking in to conking out.
A touch-screen unit that lets you pick hotel rooms the way you choose airline seats. Nano-painted walls that provide on-demand electricity without cords or cables. Biometric monitors that adjust lighting, temperature, and humidity based on your health needs and personal preferences. Given the rate of technological change these days — dial-up, anyone? — they’re not as far-fetched as they sound.
In fact, the project participants based their ideas on developments already underway. Looking at both the latest macrotrends (nanotechnology, connectivity, etc.) and guest demographics (neo-greens to Gen Y teens), they came up with an array of amenities designed to boost consumer choice and a more personalized experience.
That’s a great thing, although I can see a potential problem, i.e., living through the learning curve that always comes with new technology. As a guy who can get flummoxed by the extra buttons on his new TV remote, I’m not exactly a technophobe, but I can sure be technofeeble at times, and I suspect there may be a few bumps along the way to this brave new world.
Check it outAnyone who has used a touch screen to pre-select an airline seat will appreciate a similar service for choosing hotel rooms. Bring up an image of a hotel (online or in the lobby), touch a particular room, and voilà, you can see a picture, list of amenities, perhaps even the view out the window.
Imagine the detail, the flexibility, the mind-boggling potential to be completely paralyzed by the wealth of choices. If you’ve ever circled a parking lot bypassing empty spots in pursuit of a better one, you know exactly what I mean. I can already hear my wife muttering, “Just…pick…one…wouldja?”
Or, how about a handheld unit that works as a room key, mobile phone, and control unit for lights, window blinds, and air conditioning? Pretty cool, huh? Add in a video screen and more software, and suddenly, you’ve got a combination PDA, GPS unit, and direct link to the hotel concierge.
Ref: P278 - Hostel in Washington USA
Ref: P278 - Hostel in Washington USAThailand Arrivals Soar.
Dec 05, 06 1:57 am
In the latest figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, arrivals at the International Airport from January to October 2006 soared +15.97% over last year, to 7.92 million arrivals.
The top 6 countries to visit Thailand Jan-Oct 2006 were:
1. Japan
2. China
3. Korea
4. UK
5. USA
6. Singapore
The top three positions remain unchanged from last year. The largest European market for visitors to Thailand still continues to be the UK recording 540,401 visitors, an increase of +7.96%. Sixth place Singapore actually saw arrivals fall by -4.36% over last year, perhaps as a result of fallout from the “Thaksin Effect” and the sale of Shin Telecom to Singaporean company Temasek Holdings in a controversial deal that lead to demonstrations both in Bangkok and overseas.
Russia saw the largest increase of any country, rising to 99,247 arrivals in the first 10 months, a healthy 108% increase over the same period last year.
The southern unrest does not appear to have affected cross border traffic with Malaysia, with arrivals surging +16.35%.
Thailand is becoming more popular not only with Europeans, but also with visitors from the Middle East. They are no longer keen to travel to the USA / UK in great numbers and feel more welcome in Asia. The arrival figures from the Middle East rising +33.43%, with Saudi Arabia showing an increase of +86.47% and Egypt increasing +48.60%.
Andrew J Wood
Skal International Councillor- Thailand.
Ref: P62 - Cottage in Toronto, Hamilton and Peterborough Canada
Ref: P62 - Cottage in Toronto, Hamilton and Peterborough CanadaWaterfront cottages in the heart of the 30,000 islands!We offer the perfect get-away for fishing trips, family vacations and corporate adventure packages. All cottages are waterfront and you have the option to self-cater or have a meal plan. We offer day trips & Guided Tours, canoeing, paddle boats, boat & motor rentals, nature walks, swimming and Fishing. We are directly across from the Massassauga Provincial Park for canoe or kayak trips and located right on Georgian Bay for excellent Pike, Bass, Lake Trout, Salmon, Muskie & Pickerel fishing. Cottages:Our bright spacious 2 & 3 bedroom cottagesare self-contained with full size fridge and stove, microwave, coffee machine, toaster, crockery, pots, cutlery, glassware, 3-4 piece bath,hydro and hot water. All cottages have a screened porch, privatewaterfront sitting areas, gas BBQ, picnic table and lounge chair. Four cottages have a private fire pit and two cottages share one fire pit.Bedding is provided, but please bring towels and dish cloths.With 2000 feet of waterfront and 700 feet of shallow sandy beach (safe for children) there is excellent swimming. We have a licensed on-site restaurant/lodge with stone fireplace, pool table, dart board, video game, satellite t.v., video and board games. The small general store offers some basics, ice, munchies, ice-cream cones, and bait.Fishing:Excellent fishing for Northern Pike, Bass, Muskie, Walley, Lake Trout and Salmon. We are in trophy class waters for Muskie (54' min.) and classified as a world class Lake Trout Fishery. Just 15 minutes by boat from Parry Sound and another 10 minutes past our point to the open water, we offer over eight miles of sheltered bays, channels and islands for great fishing. Everything from rocky shoals, shallow weedy bays, deep under water points, and depths up to and over 100 ft. for downrigging.Location:Located two hours north of Toronto, minutes by boat from Parry Sound on McLaren Island, Seven Mile Narrows.'Quality Service at Affordable Prices'
Ref: P25 - Bed & breakfast in Calgary and Surrounding Canada
Ref: P25 - Bed & breakfast in Calgary and Surrounding CanadaEnjoy the view of downtown Calgary from our newly built, custom designed, Victorian executive style home. This spacious, contemporary, smoke-free home was built with the bed and breakfast guest in mind. Spacious, comfortable unique guest rooms, come with queen-size bed, down duvets, private ensuite bath and sitting area. Perfect for both the business and leisure traveller, Knobhill 'Room With A View' B & B is close to downtown Calgary, all major sights and attractions including the Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Airline Saddle Dome.ROOMS:The Sunrise Room...Spacious and bright, the Sunrise Room offers a panoramic view of downtown Calgary and magnificent sunrises. Keep yourself cozy and warm under a feather-light duvet on a comfortable queen-size bed. Make yourself at home in your private sitting area and ensuite bath. The Hide Away Room...This cozy bright room is perfect for those who enjoy a quiet and private setting. You'll find everything you need - a comfortable queen-size bed, cozy duvet comforter, a private ensuite bath with a walk-in shower, and a private sitting area with TV, VCR, and phone. Sit down to a scrumptious breakfast in our elegant dining room, relax, converse and make new friends while enjoying the view of downtown Calgary and the Bow River Valley. On fine mornings, breakfast in the serenity and beauty of our secluded and sunny Rock Garden Patio with the sound of it's waterfall in the background. After your busy day the spacious and comfortable Great Room is a the place to unwind. Join your hosts and relax in front of the fireplace while looking out onto the Rock Garden Patio. Our goal is to make our guests feel as comfortable as possible in our home. Featured in Builder/Architect Magazine, March 1999 Calgary Edition.
Ref: P34 - Villa in Vancouver Island and coast Canada
Ref: P34 - Villa in Vancouver Island and coast CanadaA Luxurious & Romantic All Inclusive Resort Getaway for Discerning Couples.A Vista Villa Bed, BBQ and Spa Resort in Kelowna, British Columbia offers affordable upscale all-inclusive accommodations for romantic getaways, spa holidays, honeymoons, anniversaries and special occasions. Our Kelowna, BC, Canada All-Inclusive Spa Resort offers the ultimate in pampering in our luxuriously appointed fireplace Jacuzzi suites. Our attention to detail and impeccable service is sure to please the most discerning of guests.A completely carefree vacation - private breakfast, complimentary dinner, dessert & wine all included!The Villa is located high on the hill in prestigious Golfview Estates in the heart of wine country. The breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains, lake, city and golf course can be viewed from the suites as well as the pool & common areas, & panoramic dining terrace.Relax in the pool or spoil yourself with a facial or massage in our new Day Spa. Favour us with your reservation, then get ready to be pampered!Jacuzzi Guest Suites:Each of our 4 luxury guest suites is swathed with its own exclusive colour scheme. All suites share elegant commonalties like jetted tubs, goose down duvets, fireplaces, candles and hidden bar fridges where the morning?s breakfast goodies are housed. The 'Majestic' - A touch of class - features a custom made bed with European linens and an 'Ultra-Bath' air jet massaging tub. Suite steps out to shaded gazebo and pool deck.The 'Royal' - Stunning king sized suite featuring a double lounging Jacuzzi tub, a huge double headed walk-in shower, and electric fireplace. View ensuite on home page. Perfect for your wedding night, anniversary or honeymoon. Comes complete with a private eating area, foaming bath oils, candles galore and a boudoir for the blushing bride! The 'Regal' - Cupids and angels abound in this panoramic view suite which is truly fit for a king & queen. A stunning 2-way gas fireplace can be viewed from either the 'Ultra-Bath' air jet massaging tub, or your custom king bed. Lounge in your robes while enjoy morning coffee on your private deck. Later, enjoy a pampering treatment in our Day Spa.The 'Imperial' - Experience a whole lot of romance in our largest self-contained suite. Perfect for honeymoons and longer escapes. Has a dining and kitchenette area with a TV and electric fireplace in the sitting area. The bedroom has a second electric fireplace which faces the double soaker Jacuzzi tub and the Queen sized bed. Suite steps out onto the south exposed pool deck and has a panoramic view. Complimentary Dinner:A complimentary dinner is served in the panoramic dining room nightly, accompanied by decadent desserts and wine. The stunning view encompasses the mountains and lake bordered by the twinkling lights of the city below.Breakfast:An intimate breakfast can be enjoyed in your comfy robes and slippers in the privacy of your suite. You?ll find your bar fridge stocked with muffins, yogurt, juices, coffee, tea, granola bars and fresh fruit. Featured in 'Spa Life' Magazine as a 'Sanctuary in the heart of the sunny Okanagan.'
Ref: P30 - Cottage in Vancouver Island and coast Canada
Ref: P30 - Cottage in Vancouver Island and coast CanadaCome stay with us. Come play with us. Go wild with us.Discriminating wanderlusts from all over the world indulge in our two ultra-luxurious properties and spa near Tofino on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Snugged up against the shore at Quait Bay is our beautiful 16-room floating resort. On shore sits the new Healing Grounds Spa and a cedar longhouse/conference facility. The 21st-century-safari style Wilderness Outpost is situated in the Bedwell River Valley. Embraced by vast tracts of old-growth forest in one of the world's only remaining temperate rainforests, our wilderness playground includes two private lakes, a natural waterfall-fed pool, horse stables, conference and banquet facilities, a full-service spa and two sprawling resort properties. Natural amenities are ancient forest cathedrals, magnificent stands of 1,000 year-old cedars, miles of walking and riding trails, moss-carpeted thickets, pristine lakes, miles of majestic coastline, a breathtaking river estuary, abundant wildlife, and water so clear you can see tomorrow. Quait BayQuait Bay's Great Room, flanked by an open-kitchen, beverage bar and fireside lounge, is a hub of gentle activity all day long. And here - the days go on forever.Guestrooms offer peace and quiet refuge. Magnificent views, down duvets, private decks, morning coffee service, aromatherapeutic amenities, fluffy towels, terry robes, and turndown, are standard offerings.The OutpostBordering Strathcona Provincial Park just nine kilometres by boat from Quait Bay is our new Wilderness Outpost on the gorgeous Bedwell River.Visit this 21st-century-safari style enclave of ten ultra luxurious sleeping, dining, lounge and massage tents. The Outpost sleeps up to 24 guests.Guest quarters are roomy prospector style white canvas tents on raised wooden platforms, complete with remote-controlled propane woodstoves, a/c power, Adirondack queen or twin beds with down duvets, antique furnishings and accessories, oil lamps and opulent rugs. Generous porches overlook the river. Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts was attracted to the area in 1997 by its remote and pristine nature, and is committed to exist in Clayoquot Sound in an environmentally sustainable manner. The resorts employ local men and women, and through various education-based naturalist and recreational offerings, contribute to the enhancement and global understanding of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve. Remote. Refined. Remarkable.
Canada is gold
New appointment for Accor Hotels in UK & Ireland
Nov 06, 06 1:57 am
Accor appoints Andrew Shaw as Development Director for Accor Hotels in the UK & Ireland. Andrew graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a B.Sc in Hotel and Catering Management. He joined the Regional Management Training Programme for Forte Hotels in 1984 which provided an excellent foundation for his career in the hotel industry. He soon became Director of TRI Hospitality Consulting, a niche management consultancy practice specializing in providing advice to the hotel and leisure sectors. In Nov 2002 Andrew was appointed Executive Director of the M&S Pub Co. He played an incremental role in increasing the number of properties in the group whilst extending its geographic representation. He then joined Knight Frank Hotels where he successfully managed and launched a specialist hotels service line covering central England and Wales. Andrew has recently been appointed as Development Director for Accor Hotels in the UK & Ireland, with Accor’s ambitious expansion plans this will prove a challenging and exciting role. Andrew says, "This is an excellent time to be joining the development team of Accor. We have a very focused development strategy for all our brands, with an emphasis on Etap, Ibis, Novotel and Mercure. The role of development director presents me with an excellent opportunity to be part of a very dynamic and driven hotel company with a clear strategy for the future development of its limited service Etap through to luxury Sofitel brands."
http://www.holidayhomescanada.com/properties/
Political Agendas from within....
Hotels go after young business travelers
Aug 25, 06 1:58 am
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY Move over Marriott Courtyard and Hilton Garden Inn. Other hoteliers are ramping up to steal a piece of the $135-a-night market that attracts mostly business travelers.
With more than 700 Courtyards, Marriott has dominated the category for more than 20 years. Hilton, with about 280 Garden Inns, has been a strong second. But now, Starwood , Hyatt and others are rushing to develop their own versions, motivated by a chance to tap the next generation of business travelers.
With chains planning about 1,500 new hotels over the next five years or so, consumers will start seeing new hotel brands over the next several months.
Travel marketer Peter Yesawich of YPB&R sees a common thread in the chains: "voltage in the lobby."
The new competitors say professionals in their 20s and 30s look for a midprice business hotel designed for them instead of their parents. That means edgy design, stylish decor, fun hangouts outside the guest rooms and flat-screen TVs.
http://www.holidayhomescanada.com/rentals/British_Columbia-Holidays/
Wow I love camping.
André Joulian is new GM at Skyway Landis Hotel Shanghai
Aug 28, 06 1:57 am
Landis Hotels & Resorts Group has appointed Mr. A. André Joulian as General Manager for the Pre-opening Office of Skyway Landis Hotel Shanghai. Mr. Joulian will oversee the 666 room hotel, with its extensive Food & Beverage operations, meeting and conference facilities.
Mr. Stanley C. Yen, President of the Landis Group, reputed as the “Guru” of the hospitality industry in Taiwan, said “We see Skyway Landis Hotel Shanghai as a very important business unit to Landis Group because it marks the entry of Landis into mainland China, paving the way for our future expansion in major cities.
“Mr. Joulian is the perfect person to be the General Manager of this hotel.” Yen added, “He brings his rich experience to Skyway Landis where he will build upon the great work that has established Landis as one of the leading ultra five-star hotel brands in Taiwan.”
Landis Group whose hallmark is ‘The touch of personalized service, even better than home’, is one of the founders of the Asian Hotels Alliance (AHA). Attracted by the Landis culture, Mr. Joulian joined the Landis Group in 1981. Since then he has been General Manager of Ritz Taipei, now the Landis Hotel Taipei, ranking as one of the “Leading Hotels of The World” for its personalized service. As a previous President of the Landis Group, he was responsible for strategy planning and the development of the new properties.
Mr. Andre Joulian has been actively involved in the hospitality industry for over 35 years. Before joining Landis, he was with the Hilton Group. A French national, Mr. Andre Joulian has nearly 30 years experience in hotel management in Asia, working in Hongkong, Indonedia and Singapore. Because of his outstanding contributions to the hotel industry, he was recently awarded the Knight of Merit Medal. This is the highest honor the French Government confers on those who make unique contributions to agriculture related industry.
Designed with the unique concept or “luxury boutique mansions within a hotel”, Skyway Landis Shanghai features three distinctive styles of guest accommodation where you will enjoy classic 5-star luxury, superior facilities, contemporary and traditional décor in elegant stylish comfort. The guestrooms are the largest in Shanghai, all featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is aimed to open during the fall of this year.
http://www.holidayhomeseuro.com/rentals/Spain-Holidays/
Holiday Camping Tips
Campgrounds
Deciding where to go camping is lots of fun. Your whole family can share in the decision. Everyone, young and old, can suggest ideas and desires about where to go, what to see, and what to do on the trip.Divide up the tasks and have everyone check out websites for camping in national parks, scenic parks, campgrounds, museums, fairs and other attractions. Then get together and go over what you found. Great forum for a family meeting - no TV!We hope to collect more info on great places to camp. So if you find a great campground, please let us know so we can post your recommendations for others to share in.
http://www.holidayhomescanada.com/regions/British_Columbia-Holidays/
Holiday Camping Grounds in Canada
Car camping check lists cover all types of trips where you will be next to, or only a short distance from, your car.Add this page to your "favorites" list so you can return often while you are planning your trips.I suggest you print out this list. You can then add, delete or modify some items in order to customize a list just for your family, or for each specific trip.Have fun!
Personal Gear Check List
Sleeping BagMattress Pad or CotPillowHiking BootsSneakersShower SandalsShortsWarm PantsT-ShirtsLong Sleeve ShirtsHatSocksThermal UnderwearPajamasBandanaHandkerchiefsBathing SuitBeach TowelWash TowelFace ClothDirty Clothes BagClothes DetergentPocket KnifeSheath KnifePin-on CompassOrienteering Style CompassWaterproof Matches Toilet Paper WadSierra CupWater BottleFlashlightSpare Batteries and BulbPersonal First Aid KitToilet Kit/ToothbrushInsect RepellantWatchPersonal MedicineSunglassesSunscreenWhistleRainwearFishing GearCamera gearReading MaterialNotebookBinocularsBug NetMapsAlarm ClockFacial TissuesDuffel Bag or PackDay PackField Survival Kit
Base Camp Gear Check List
Tent(s)Tent Poles, Stakes and LinesRain FlyRain Fly Poles, Stakes and LinesFolding TableChairs or Camp StoolsFolding SawAxeLanternFolding ShovelHot Water PotFire GlovesWater PailGroup Size First Aid KitSpare Stove PartsSpare Lantern PartsTent Repair KitSewing KitToilet PaperFly sprayFlashlightSpare Batteries and BulbWhisk BroomRubber MalletSunshowerFirewood
Cooking Gear Check List
Ice ChestStoveFuelFuel FunnelGriddleFire GridBBQ GrillCharcoalFire Starter/lighter FluidPotsFrying PanBaking PansPlatesBowlsCupsSilverwareSteak KnivesSpatulaServing SpoonLadleKitchen KnifeCan OpenerCork ScrewBottle OpenerTongsPot Gripper PliersPot holdersMeasuring CupCutting BoardReflector OvenBaking OvenDutch OvenCoffee PotWash TubDish TowelPaper TowelsDish SoapScouring PadsSpongeMatches (strike anywhere)Stove IgniterAluminum FoilTrash BagsStove StandTable ClothCollapsible Water JugsWater Purifying TabletsWater Filtering Pump
http://www.holidayhomescanada.com/properties/
