"Hip" Hotels Successful Despite Struggling Economy

            Over the past year, hotel companies have been some of the hardest hit businesses by the recent economic recession. However, despite the struggling economy, hotel companies have been competing to create a new generation of hotels, known as “lifestyle” or “boutique” hotels. The idea for these hotels is to create a more hip and urban environment to attract affluent travelers that want a more unique and trendy experience. The race to create these new hotels seems to have stemmed from the success of Starwood Inc.’s new W brand hotels, which have grown to forty hotels around the world in the past ten years. These hotels include lavishly decorated lobbies, stylish bars, and top restaurants, which have been reported to attract more outside customers than hotel guests. Hoteliers have noticed that these hotels have been more profitable than traditional hotels, even though they cost more to build than a standard chain hotel, because the atmosphere alone piques the customers' interest much more. As a result, many large hotel companies have jumped on the bandwagon in an effort to create a larger profit. 

             I believe that this is a really great strategy for large hotel companies because the only way to gain customer interest is to cater to their tastes and create a fresh, new look that will make customers want to stay at their hotels. The only problem I see with these hotels, which was mentioned in the article, is that if large companies continue to create more and more of these boutique hotels, the hotels will lose their "unique-ness" and won't be anything special to go to. Overall, I feel this is the right move for hotel companies and a great strategy to use to make money in these tough times.

          


For more info, check out: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703803904576152830316968572.html?KEYWORDS=hip+hotels

Conrad Nicholson Hilton

Hilton Hotels are one of the biggest brand Hotels in the world. The founder of the Hilton Hotels was Conrad Nicholson Hilton who was born in December of 1887 and died in January of 1979.

From his very early age, Conrad started having entrepreneurial skills as he used to work with his father in New Mexico. His first hotel was built in 1919 in Texas. His first attempt was not really successful and in 1925 he built the Dallas Hilton, which was the beginning of his success.  The Dallas Hilton followed the Abilene Hilton in 1927, the Waco Hilton in 1928 and El Paso Hilton in 1930. His first Hotel outside Texas was built in 1939 in New Mexico known as Andaluz Hotel. During the Great Depression Hilton faced some important problems in his career path. Many of his Hotels went bankrupt and he had to sell them. After a while, he achieved to get back his lost hotels. During 1946 and 1948 Hilton formed the Hilton Hotel Corporation and the Hilton International Company. Hilton’s Hotels were the world’s first international hotel chain.

During the 1950s’ and 1960s’ Hilton Hotels were built all over the world facilitating both tourists and business corporations. Hilton had built 188 Hotels in 38 different states in the United States.  

POSTED BY: KATERINA ARGYROU 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Hilton#Career

UK Alcohol Giant Acquires Turkish Spirits Company

Diageo PLC, a global alcoholic beverage company headquartered in London, England, stated that it will buy the Turkish spirits company Mey Içki Sanayi ve Ticaret AS for $2.1 billion. For the past six years, foreign liquor companies have been in disputes with Turkey because liquor importers have been asked to pay more customs tax on their imports. This dispute is finally approaching a resolution, and it seems to have helped convince Diageo to go ahead with the deal. Buying Mey will help Diageo expand its influence in the Turkish market, mainly because Mey has access to over 50,000 retail stores in the country and an 80% share of the Turkish market for raki, the national Turkish drink. Diageo hasn't made a major acquisition in about 10 years, but lately they have been showing an interest in expanding in developing markets, such as the ones in China and Vietnam. I feel this is a very wise and strategic move for Diageo because they will not only be expanding their company, but they will also be acquiring a strong presence in a country that has a growing market with a strong GDP. I also like the fact that they are focusing on making investments in markets with a fast-growing middle class because I feel that this is where they sell most of their product and can make the biggest profit.


For more info, check out:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704271104576156612353607144.html?mod=WSJ_FoodAndTobacco_leftHeadlines#articleTabs%3Darticle

Disney World Hotels advantages

Disney World Strategies

Disney World Hotel offers to customer lots of advantages that make customers happy and satisfied.

For example, free shuttle service to and from the airport. Furthermore, Disney is well known for having professionally trained staff and service is impeccable.

they first concern is to service customers and answer customer’s question and concerns. Also, they offer Magic hours to customers, which allow customers to enter to the park one hour before customers outside the hotel.

Besides, people can enjoy Disney Hotels variety, themes and feel the magic of Disney. Is more thematic, makes people get into the mood, specially when they are on family’s trip.

Disney World are often more expensive than regular hotel but it worth it. People that have been there have good commentaries about it.

That's way hotel's staff prepare everything and plan methods to make you enjoy your trip and your stay there.

How did the crisis affect the hotel business in Greece this year?

     For sure, during the crisis, Greek hotels as almost every hotel in the world faced some difficulties. To

be honest people thought that the crisis would have huge consequences in Greek hotels. Apparently,

the situation was not as bad as expected to be. It Is true that hotel revenues have much decreased as

hoteliers have tried to keep their prices on the best price level (which is definitely much less than it

was) so that people have an initiative to travel and stay in hotels. Although hoteliers had to plan their

 steps, they tried to fire as much fewer employees as possible telling them that as soon as the crisis is

over and hotels starting to operate normally, they will have a position offered to them.

     It is hard for employees to stay calm but research have shown that in 2011 hotels will start to

operate as before and that prices will start increasing again. Hotels and tourism in general is expected

to start increasing.    

Posted by Katerina Argyros
http://www.grreporter.info/en/luxury_hotels_are_least_damaged_crisis/3635#

Fast-Food in the Persian Gulf

A major part of an industry’s revenue growth is the amount of consumers a company can reach with their product or service. If one is limited by lack of infrastructure, capital, or client base, then it is vey difficult to raise profits. The best way for a company to grow is to access the enormous international market that has been increasingly expanding with globalization. Recently, Tim Hortons Inc. signed a license agreement with Dubai-based Apparel Group to open up to 120 multi-format restaurants in Persian Gulf markets. The restaurants will be quick order, specializing in coffee and donuts in an effort to reach the growing commuter population. The area targeted includes Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Quatar, and Bahrain since the company has previous success when investing in the area. Since the announcement THI’s shares were up 0.2% to $41.74.

Oscar Jacob

Chinese New Year, Vegas Style

The three most popular times of the year for Las Vegas resorts are New Year's Eve, the Superbowl, and (can you believe it?), Chinese New Year. This past year, over 100,000 Chinese tourists came to Vegas to try their New Year's luck at the entertainment capital of the world. With the proliferation of gaming in China, these hotels earn some major revenue during the first quarter, mainly because these three events take place within three or four weeks of each other. The Chinese New Year is about two weeks long, which means there is plenty of time for Chinese tourists to come and enjoy the city. And, these hotels have figured out exactly how to "wine and dine" their Chinese tourists so that they keep them coming back every year. From importing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of authentic Chinese cuisine, to holding massive galas and shows featuring Chinese dancers, singers, and musicians, Vegas resorts have fine tuned the art of Chinese celebration. All that work has paid off, and its partially thanks to the enormous influx of gaming in Macau, China; the only city on the mainland where gambling is legal. In 2010, profit soared 58% and now, the highest-rolling players in China want to come where it all started; Vegas. As for the Las Vegas resorts and hotels, their Chinese friends are welcomed with open arms.

For more info, visit http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110206/ts_alt_afp/lifestyleuschinaholidaygambling and http://blogs.wsj.com/exchange/2011/01/03/theres-just-no-stopping-macau/?KEYWORDS=china+casinos

"Chipotle" food quality

CHIPOTLE : FAST FOOD WITH INTEGRITY

The mexican-food chain, explains menu and how it is natural as it tastes.

One of Steve Ells (founder and chief executive) is to run the hottest fast food chain and the other one is based on what is said about “food integrity”.

One of Ells techniques is to use only natural ingredients rather than buy ready made sauces. The flavor is better when uses natural ingredient because it doesn’t have artificial flavors.

All the pork Chipotle sells today,is raised naturally on family farms without any hormone nor antibiotic.

Even thought, we know it is not the healthier food in town but it is really quality food.

Coral I

Starwood Hotels

Starwood Hotels are one of the bigger hotel companies in the world; include resorts, spas, and residences. As almost every hotel, Starwood Hotels faced a huge recession during the crisis. Their profits decreased dramatically and clients stopped traveling. Stock prices fell and as profits decreased costs seemed to be even higher. In general hotel industries had to deal with “the most dramatic declines in history”.

Recently, Starwood hotels after their effort not to shut down started facing a recovery. From last year, demand for hotel rooms stated increasing again and more and more clients were willing and able to travel. Even these are good news; hotels need a lot of time to overcome all the loss they had. Manager’s next step is to push up prices again as during the recession prices were cut. As read in the WSJ, Starwood Hotels now had earnings of $339 million compared to the $107 million loss they had a year earlier.        

Posted by: Katerina Argyros

From: Wall Street Journal, Marketplace, p. B12, Friday February 4, 2011