Hotels & Resorts
Driving The Market
According to the latest survey of hotels by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), hotel room rate rises around the world are being led by "supercities" rather than national trends. The survey notes that historically, where average room rates (ARR) have tended to be affected on a national basis, this is no longer the case, with individual "supercities" -- destinations popular for both business and leisure visitors -- becoming bigger players in a shrinking world. According to HRG, room rates in the top 55 global cities showed mixed results, with 26 moving up the rankings, 25 down and four remaining...
Paradise On Offer
Sunquest has put six Paradisus and Melia resorts up for sale, offering savings of up to $400 per couple. The operator's "Paradisus Instant Rebate Offer" is valid from now to Feb. 21, 2014 on all new Sunquest package bookings from any gateway, on any departure date, and for any duration at the following six Paradisus and Melia resorts: Cancun & the Riviera Maya Paradisus Cancun Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla Punta Cana Paradisus Palma Real Paradisus Punta Cana Melia Tropical (æLevelÆ category only) Both Melia...
Robustly Optimistic
When it comes to business travel, there's a lot of optimism out there. That feeling was certainly apparent at the 2014 Best Western Business Travel Summit held in Toronto yesterday (Feb. 18). Now in its eighth year, this year's panel featured Best Western's senior vice-president sales & marketing, Dorothy Dowling; Vision Travel's COO, Brian Robertson; Hotel Association of Canada president, Tony Pollard; and was moderate by Bryson Forbes. Robust seemed to be the operative adjective used to describe the current business travel climate, with Best Western's Dowling telling her...
Spring Has Sprung!
Okay, so there's still snow on the ground in most places in Canada right now, but don't despair, Aston Hotels & Resorts is coming to the rescue with special spring romance packages. The special packages are being offered at two of Aston's Waikiki hotels -- the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel and Aston's newest Waikiki destination, the designer boutique Hotel Renew by Aston. Aston's "Suite Deal" package is for vacationers booking an Aloha Suite at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. By doing that, they'll receive a $100 gift card to the hotel's Tiki's Grill & Bar. As well, valet parking...
Accommodating Option
The Four Points by Sheraton Waterloo-Kitchener Hotel & Suites is now open in Waterloo, Ontario. The hotel completed an extensive renovation becoming the newest addition of the Four Points by Sheraton portfolio. The newly renovated hotel features 104 comfortable and stylish guest rooms, with 52á tower suites, meeting facilities, on-site restaurant, lobby bar and 24-hour fitness centre. Four Points brand will reach its 200th hotel milestone in 2014 fueled by increasing demand in key markets around the world. There are currently 27 Four Points in Canada, representing Starwood's...
Expert Addition
Pegasus Solutions has named Linda Kent senior vice-president, distribution strategy. In the new role, Kent will help define and shape innovative distribution services and features to bolster Pegasus' position as the world's single largest processor of electronic hotel transactions. David Millili, chief executive officer of Pegasus Solutions, said: "Linda is a well-known and highly regarded professional with deep experience in hospitality distribution. She has a keen understanding of global distribution and connectivity solutions, which she knows how to leverage for increased hotel...
Reviewing The Situation
Monarc.ca has released its 2013 rankings by Canadian travellers of the most popular hotels in sun destinations. Dan Langevin, vice-president sales and marketing explained that: "Now in its 5th year, the site http://www.monarc.ca contains well over 100 000 travellers' reviews and comments coming from all Canadian provinces." In the 2013 rankings, he continued: "You will find the most popular hotels based on specific criteria such as overall impression of the establishment, the restaurants, the beaches, value for your money, as a family vacation or a couples destination. Monarc.ca...
Sandals Hits 250,000 Facebook Likes
If anyone was wondering how far Adam Stewart would go for Sandals Resorts, wonder no more. The CEO has fulfilled his promise to zipline through a ring of fire after his Oct. 2013 challenge to Facebook fans to encourage their friends and family to "like" Sandals page and help it reach its goal of 250,000 Facebook Likes. Well, that milestone was achieved in less than 2 months and true to his word, the 33-year old Stewart -- with the help of David Waine, the special effects expert behind Hollywood blockbusters Mission Impossible and the hit franchise Fast and Furious -- fulfilled his...