News from Starwood, the Taj Mahal and More

Openings, Re-Openings and Rebrandings:

Starwood Bets Big on Puerto Rico

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is gearing up for the November opening of The St. Regis Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico, the island’s first luxury project since 1997. Underscoring the recovery in luxury hospitality, the $172 million resort, with 139 guest rooms and 26 estate home residences, is nearly sold out for the December holidays. The St. Regis comes on the heels of two other key Starwood hotel openings in Puerto Rico: W Vieques, the first W Retreat & Spa in North America, and Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino – the first new full-service hotel and casino built in San Juan in more than a decade. The Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino is also scheduled to become the first LEED Certified hotel in the Caribbean. The addition of these three new hotels has doubled Starwood’s portfolio in Puerto Rico in just one year. (www.starwood.com)

Hyatt Regency Phoenix Completes Renovation

The 693-room Hyatt Regency Phoenix recently completed a $15 million transformation of its property. This included all 693 guestrooms, lobby and front desk, updated and expanded StayFit fitness center, 37,000 square feet of meeting space, and the hotel’s rooftop revolving restaurant- Compass Arizona Grill. The meeting space includes 32 meeting rooms and a 10,200 square foot ballroom that has been re-carpeted along with installation of new air wall coverings and lighting to create a fresh look and new ambiance. (www.hyattregencyphoenix.com)

The Taj Mahal Palace Reopens

As the country rings in India’s 64th Independence Day, the Taj Mahal Palace has re-opened its doors to the restored Palace wing in Mumbai. The reinvigorated Palace wing features personalized “Palace Butler Service”. The Palace Lounge is designed to be a private retreat; exclusively for residents of the Palace wing. High end technology and a “customized bath experience” are included.  In addition, Taj Club rooms and suites come with chauffeur-driven luxurious Jaguar transfers. (www.tajhotels.com)

IHG Opens New Long Island Hotel

Hotel Indigo, IHG’s (InterContinental Hotels Group) upscale boutique brand, has announced the opening of Hotel Indigo East End in Riverhead, New York.  Conveniently situated near the Hamptons and vineyards of Eastern Long Island, the 100-room conversion property is located on eight private acres and is close to dining, entertainment and shopping venues. The hotel includes Bistro 72 that features locally grown, organic ingredients and regional wines, along with a fitness center, business center and two meeting rooms totaling 8,000 square feet. (www.intercontinental.com)

CHI to Operate Second Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Multi-brand hotel operator CHI Hotels & Resorts has announced that as from 1st October of this year, it will be operating its second hotel in the highly popular Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt – the 254-room Ramada Plaza – Naama Bay – Sharm El Sheikh. Previously known as the Royal Plaza Hotel since its opening in 2004, the hotel is located  just three minutes from the town center and close to the seafront promenade. It also has its own private beach at Sharm El Maya, which can be reached by hotel minibus. (www.corinthia.com)

Embassy Suites Expands Footprint in Latin America

Embassy Suites Hotels today announced the opening of its second location in Venezuela, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Valencia-Downtown.  The upscale, all-suites brand, known for its complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfasts and evening Manager’s Reception, also has a location in the country’s capital of Caracas which opened in December 2000.The new property features 203 suites and a prime location in “El Viñedo,” a cosmopolitan area in the heart of the financial and commercial center of North Valencia. The Valencia-Downtown hotel joins the brand’s Latin American portfolio, which includes hotels in Bogotá, Colombia; Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic;  Mexico City, Mexico; Dorado and San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Caracas. (www.embassysuites.com)

ME Cancun to Become All-Inclusive

ME Hotels, a collection of “experience-based” urban hotels and contemporary resorts operated by Sol Melia, announced today that the brand’s Cancun property, the 419-room ME Cancun, will shift to an all-inclusive business model as of January 1, 2011. ME Cancun will embrace the brand’s first “Complete ME” concept, which will break the mold of traditional all-inclusive resorts where non-guests are prohibited access to the property grounds and amenities. In addition to welcoming hotel guests, this industry-first business approach will embrace non-guests and local movers and shakers, allowing them to enjoy the property’s a la carte culinary offerings. (www.me-by-melia.com)

Green:

Caribbean Aiming for Green

Planners with clients seeking green meetings may wish to consider the Caribbean. In 2010, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) has partnered with Green Globe Certification to provide all Caribbean travel and tourism businesses a combined membership that will greatly assist the delivery of sustainable business practices; environmental training; energy auditing and saving; and the delivery of corporate, social responsibility initiatives; among many other programs to be announced throughout the year. Green Globe Certification is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally-accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is the only certification brand to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and a member of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) governing council. (www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/CASTenvironment.php)

Accolades:

Business Travelers Pick Hyatt Meeting Promise as Top Innovation

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and The Wall Street Journal have announced Hyatt Hotels & Resorts as a winner for “Meetings & Conventions Innovation” in the first-ever Business Travel Innovation Awards. The award recognizes the Hyatt Meeting Promise as the best solution to optimize event success for corporate planners and their attendees. In early 2010, Hyatt launched the Hyatt Meeting Promise. The promise is that if any detail of a meeting is less than great, that Hyatt hotel will take immediate steps to make it right – and if it does not, that part will be free at the next meeting as well. (www.HyattMeetings.com)

Destinations:

China MICE Guide 2010-2011 Guide Released
 
SinoMedia’s China MICE Guide 2011-2012 is being marketed as the most comprehensive hotel listing and event planning resource in China. This book has been designed as a guide for event organizers, travel agents, travel planners and ordinary travelers. It has listings for thousands of the best hotels in China, all four- and five-star establishments, in hundreds of cities across the country. All entries are indexed alphabetically by location to allow for convenient use. Hundreds of listings for hotel groups, exhibitions centers, event planners and serviced apartments are also included in this full-color 1,000+ page guide. The cost is 44 Euros, which is approximately $56 USD. For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/75ac1f/china_mice_guide_2.

Industry Events:

Search for Meeting Industry Leaders of Tomorrow
 
Highlighting their continued commitment to finding industry ‘leaders of tomorrow’, EIBTM and ICCA are undertaking their annual search for young talent to join them in the annual Forum for Young Professionals at this year’s EIBTM in Barcelona.  The two organizations are on the lookout for 20 industry professionals, under the age of 30, to join them from Saturday 27 November to Tuesday 30 November. Selection to the Forum is based on country of origin, current employment and a short essay on either the challenges faced by the industry, social networking or sustainability. The deadline for applications September 10, 2010. For full information about the program and how to apply go to www.iccaworld.com/dbs/fyp.

Specials:

Plan Early for Brasstown Valley Resort Winter Package Savings

Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in North Georgia is offering its Take Two Winter Meeting Package priced from $119 per guest room for single or double occupancy during select dates from November 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. This special meeting value includes a choice of two complimentary amenities or activities, and is available for groups booking a minimum of 25 guestrooms. In addition to traditional lodge guestroom accommodations, meeting and reunion planners can pick two amenities or services. Packages and rates are based on availability and are valid for new bookings only.

The 134-room Brasstown Valley Resort offers 14,298 square feet of state-of-the-art conference space and event venues that can accommodate up to 330 guests. Amenities include GlobalMeeting high-speed wireless Internet, the Trackrock Amphitheater, catering, conference service managers, and events such as moonlight hayrides, and leadership building exercises. The Resort is less than two hours from Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Asheville. (www.BrasstownValley.com)