Travel News | "Unregulated tourism is ravaging the Western Ghats"

By: Subir Ghosh
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com
Category: Travel News

Unbridled tourism in the Western Ghats will be a thing of the past if the Union government accepts the recommendations of an expert panel that was formed to look into the environmental aspects of the ecologically-fragile region.The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which submitted a comprehensive report to the government in August 2011, has noted that some of the environmental footprints relate to the uncontrolled growth of tourist establishments in the Western Ghats leading to habitat fragmentation and increasing human-animal conflict.

Unlike in the case of mining where it urged for a blanket ban in the more ecologically sensitive areas, the panel has called for the ecotourism policy of the Ministry of Environment and Forests to be refined by the proposed Western Ghats Ecological Authority to promote minimal impact tourism. It has also stressed on the need for strict regulation for waste management, traffic, and water use.

There are a number of causes for worry. The 14-member panel headed by eminent ecologist Prof Madhav Gadgil found that there has been a tremendous increase in garbage accumulation in the area which attracts various pest species and also causes an increase in pathogens and disease. Untreated water is discharged into the open and this impacts vegetation and groundwater. There is also an increased risk of fires.

On the socio-cultural front, the group noticed changes in traditional livelihoods. Agriculture has been adversely affected because of land use changes and labour shortages, besides loss of access by indigenous and local communities to their land and resources as well as sacred sites. The report remarked, “Despite ecotourism, arising as a concept to promote nature conservation, it is found that the way ecotourism is practiced in India, it is being perceived as becoming just another form of mass tourism.”

Tourism in the Western Ghats has been increasing steeply. The forms of tourism observed in the region include ecology and wildlife, religious, social, and business. Religious tourism has the highest share of tourism in the Western Ghats followed by nature-based, social and business; the largest share of tourists is from the domestic sector. Tourist flows have risen sharply to the protected areas in the Western Ghats – Periyar, Mudumalai, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Dandeli-Anshi since 2000.

Most of the tourism is unplanned and unregulated. The panel observed that even planned world class tourism projects, e.g Amby Valley and Lavasa, have considerable local impacts. Tourism is being promoted both by the Centre and states without proper environmental impact assessments or cumulative impact assessments.

Among other things that can be done to mitigate adverse effects of tourism, the panel said that smallscale tourism should be encouraged by adopting benefit-sharing measures with local communities. Tourism infrastructure, particularly accommodation, should be eco-friendly, with careful use of locally available materials.

The panel has recommended that erection of concrete structures around springs, lakes and other perennial water bodies should be discouraged. There should be site-specific control of tourism infrastructure in the buffer regions of protected areas. Rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory for all new large and medium tourist infrastructure in the Western Ghats.

The WGEEP also laid a roadmap on how to implement its recommendations. A special cell within the WGEA would need to be constituted to deal with tourism-related issues. Control of tourism developments and activities, including licensing and overall targets for and limits to the scale and type of tourism should be overseen by the WGEA, the panel recommended.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_unregulated-tourism-is-ravaging-the-western-ghats_1681318

Holiday News | "Apartments plan for sea front hotel rejected"

By: Press Release
Source: http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk
Category: Holiday News

PLANS to convert rooms at a vacant hotel in Clacton into self-catering holiday apartments have been turned down.The owners of the Parade Hotel, in Marine Parade East, have applied to convert 14 of the building’s 22 bedrooms into eight apartments. 

A report said the property has been “neglected and abused and requires extensive renovation”.Agent Brian White, in a design statement, said: “The hotel has not been operational for a few years due to its poor condition brought about by a move away from this type of holiday accommodation within the district and lack of investment, resulting in a low standard of facilities. 

“The cost of providing a catering service is prohibitive to the business, so the owner is removing this service, but providing rooms with tables and microwave ovens so that take-away food services can be used within rooms.”The plans were aimed at attracting families and groups and would also have seen improvements to common areas and facilities, along with disabled access and accommodation. 

The plans have been refused by Tendring Council planning officers by delegated decision.Planning officers said the hotel sits in a sea front location that is ideal for tourist accommodation and is protected by local planning policies, which seek to protect existing hotels and guest houses in the resort. 

A report said: “The conversion of a hotel with 22 bedrooms to a building with eight hotel bedrooms and nine apartments represents a significant loss in hotel rooms.”It added that the remaining hotel rooms, without restaurant facilities, maid service or reception, would not be suitable for tourism use. 

Source: http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/9670090.Apartments_plan_for_sea_front_hotel_rejected/

Travel News | "TripAdvisor Survey Reveals Air Travel On The Rise In 2012"

By: Press Release
Category: Travel News
Source: http://www.sacbee.com

Tripadvisor the world's largest travel site*, today announced the results of its annual air travel survey of more than 1,000 U.S. respondents. Americans are flocking to the skies this year as 91 percent of respondents said they plan to fly domestically in 2012, compared to 84 percent that did last year.  International flights are also on the rise, with 65 percent planning a flight out of the country, up from 55 percent in 2011.

Source:  http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4440626/tripadvisor-survey-reveals-air.html

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4440626/tripadvisor-survey-reveals-air.html#storylink=cpy

Travel News | "Travel Agents Make a Return Trip"

By: Kate Springer
Category: Travel News
Source: http://newsfeed.time.com

At their height in the mid-1990s, travel agencies boasted more than 34,000  locations in the U.S. Today, thanks to the economic uncertainty of the past decade and the boom in online travel sites, that number has been sliced in half. But don’t shed a tear for your neighborhood vacation expert just yet: brick-and-mortar agencies are making a comeback, reports the New York Times.

The rebound is thanks to an uptick in corporate and leisure travel, but it’s also due to growing frustration with the sheer amount of travel-related information on the web.  As discount travel portals and free-for-all recommendation sites have multiplied, more and more people are turning to experts to help make sense of it all. “I needed recommendations and someone to steer me in the right direction,” Jessica Griffin, who opted to work with an agent despite making her own reservations for years, told the Times. “I wanted somebody from a reputable agency who could say yes, you’ll enjoy this stay.”

Source: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/23/travel-agents-make-a-return-trip/

Event News | "Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts Announce New Partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival"

By: Press Release
Category: Event News
Source: http://www.hiltonglobalmediacenter.com

Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels & Resorts - two of Hilton Worldwide's market leading brands - announce a new three-year partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF). Both brands will serve as Official Hotel Partners of the Tribeca Film Festival, the international film festival that supports emerging and established filmmakers. The partnership comes as Conrad enters New York City with the opening of the Conrad New York, the luxury hotel brand's nineteenth property and one of six new properties expected to open this year and as both brands continue their involvement in entertainment and pop culture.

"All of us at Tribeca are delighted to partner with Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts, two leading brands with a deep commitment to the global film community," said Jon Patricof, president and chief operating officer of Tribeca Enterprises. "Given the origins and mission of the Tribeca Film Festival, it will be a wonderful moment for us to celebrate our Awards Night at the Conrad New York. That property and this new partnership offer a remarkable testament to the vitality of Lower Manhattan."

As Official Partners of the Tribeca Film Festival, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts will provide their signature hospitality to guests of Tribeca, serve as the destinations for key TFF events, and offer guests and film enthusiasts highly sought-after opportunities to attend film screenings and exclusive events. To celebrate the highly anticipated opening of the Conrad New York, a new 463 luxury, all-suite hotel in New York's Financial District, the property will host the Festival's 2012 Award Celebration. Hilton New York Fashion District, an upscale hotel on West 27^th street just off Seventh Avenue, will serve as a hub for filmmakers and industry attendees throughout the 2012 festival.

"At Conrad Hotels & Resorts, we believe the greatest luxury is the luxury of being yourself. This one-of-a-kind sophistication has now arrived in lower Manhattan with our newest property, the Conrad New York," said John Vanderslice, global head, luxury and lifestyle brands, Hilton Worldwide. "Our partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival is a celebration of individuality, style and the city of New York as a dynamic place for filmmaking."

Source: http://www.hiltonglobalmediacenter.com/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=1898&tl=en&mobile=0

Event News | "DoubleTree by Hilton Denver Tech Center Hotel Awarded Prestigious 2011 Hilton Pride Award "

By: Press Release
Category: Event News
Source: http://www.prweb.com

The DoubleTree by Hilton Denver Tech Center hotel has been awarded the 2011 Pride Award from Hilton Hotels. This award is given to a few DoubleTree hotels throughout the world for their outstanding commitment to guests, community and staff. Representing the highest quality of excellence throughout the DoubleTree brand, congratulations go out the entire DoubleTree by Hilton Denver Tech Center team. 

Discover Denver hotel beauty and unbelievable luxury and breathtaking views of the famous Rocky Mountains when you stay at DoubleTree Hotel Denver Tech hotel. Located in Greenwood Village in the heart of the Denver Tech Center, our South Denver hotel is an easy commute to the Meridian Office Complex, and the downtown Denver business district—making us an ideal destination for corporate travelers. With more than 300 guest rooms and suites, an indoor and outdoor pool, a wonderful restaurant and an amazing 20,000 square feet of event space, DoubleTree Hotel Denver Tech is the hotel of choice for anyone visiting the Denver area. The DoubleTree by Hilton Denver Tech hotel is proudly managed by Stonebridge Companies in Denver, Colorado.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/4/prweb9419292.htm

Travel And Leisure | "Petrol prices pump up fears for travel sector"

By: Rachel Cooper
Category: Travel And Leisure
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

“Rising oil and petrol prices lead us to take a more cautious stance on the prospects for the travel and leisure sector,” cautioned analysts at Panmure Gordon. “Record petrol prices have the potential to alter longer-term leisure habits, with consumers reassessing the need to travel meaningful distances to undertake regular out-of-the-home leisure activities.”

With mortgage rates also rising and inflation “stubbornly high”, the broker argued that this was “not a comfortable backdrop for a sector heavily reliant on discretionary income”.Given increasing petrol prices, Panmure was particularly anxious about the outlook for businesses with out-of-town locations and downgraded both Cineworld and Goals Soccer Centres to “hold”.They were also worried about The Restaurant Group – whose restaurants such as Frankie & Benny’s are often located in sites such as leisure complexes – and cut their rating to “hold”.Conversely, the broker turned a buyer of JD Wetherspoon, arguing that its pubs could benefit from being “community-based and may therefore show resilience in the face of record petrol prices”.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/marketreport/9168115/Petrol-prices-pump-up-fears-for-travel-sector.html

Travel News | "The Scripps-owned cable network has five new shows in the works for the 2012 programming slate"

By: Press Release
Category: Travel News
Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com


Travel Channel has greenlit three pilots and announced development of two new original series. Network GM Andy Singer discussed the plans on Thursday.

Among the pilots is Barn Finds, produced by BCII, which follows car expert Corky Coker on a roadtrip through the American south, looking for automotive bargains. Another auto-centric project, Power Trip with Jason Harper (Departure Films), has the host touring different countries behind the wheel of different famous (and pricey) cars. Kevin Michael Connolly Project, from Crazy Leg Productions, takes the titular thrill seeker and noted author and photographer, born without legs, around the globe.

In development, Travel is pursing Coffee Hunter and City Swappers. The first, from Nancy Glass Productions, takes a peek into the world of premium coffee peddlers, focusing on Philadelphia-based La Colombe Torrefaction. City Swappers comes from Stone Circle Films and explores what happens when two couples swap homes, cars, friends, etc. when they go on vacation.

"Our programming mission is to continue to provide a myriad of travel perspectives that not only entertain and inspire, but will take viewers beyond the guidebook," said Singer. “We’re excited about our new shows in development which feature a group of new talent who each weave their own personal experiences and stories through each show’s unique travel lens.”

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/travel-channel-pilots-development-313038

Travel News | "Travel Apps Targeted in Patent Infringement Lawsuits"

By: Michèle McDonald
Source: http://www.travelmarketreport.com
Category: Travel News

Mobile devices give agents exciting new opportunities for servicing customers, but creativity in the mobile channel could be stymied by a phenomenon known as the “patent troll.”A patent troll is a company that makes money primarily by suing other companies for patent infringement. Mobile technology is proving to be fertile ground for such companies – and travel companies are among the targets.

Travelocity, UAL, Hertz Are Sued

A Tulsa, Okla., company called Macrosolve has sued 59 companies, claiming infringement of a patent that it was awarded in October 2010. Among the defendants are some of the largest travel companies in the U.S.

American Airlines, Avis Rent A Car System, Continental Airlines, the Hertz Corp., Hipmunk Inc., Hotels.com, Priceline.com, Southwest Airlines, Travelocity.com and United Air Lines were sued on Dec. 21. They have since been joined by Marriott International, Intercontinental Hotel Group and Six Continents, IHG’s corporate predecessor.Macrosolve has not shied away from taking on other big names – including Facebook, Groupon, Dell and AT&T.

Patent for app transmissions

The patent that is the basis of its lawsuits gives MacroSolve the rights to a process that sends applications to mobile devices for downloading, collects information from users and sends it back to a central database.That covers any existing or future mobile app that sends data from the app user back to the makers or administrators of the app.

Any booking, purchase or request for information would fall into that category. That makes every transactional travel app a potential target for a lawsuit.

Tricky legal terrain

Patent infringement lawsuits are nothing new in the world of technology. Alexander Graham Bell was sued by several inventors after he produced the telephone. But software patents present some difficulties.

The U.S. Patent Office resisted awarding software patents for a long time, believing it was akin to awarding a copyright for language. You can copyright a book, but you can’t copyright an idea. But several court decisions in the 1990s forced it to change its stance.

The office was then deluged with applications, and according to M-CAM, a patent consultancy, patents for the same “invention” were often granted to different companies. In some cases, the language of the patent is mystifying even to the inventor.

‘Abysmal monument’

M-CAM chairman Dr. David E. Martin called MacroSolve’s patent “an abysmal monument to the complete failure of the patent system,” noting wryly that the patent hinges on keyword searches “with innovative terms like ‘survey,’ ‘poll,’ ‘collect’ and ‘gather.’”

Macrosolve does market some mobile applications and tools for restaurants, school safety and other categories under the Illume Mobile brand, but it has openly declared that “monetization” of the patent is a priority. It told investors that it has targeted an additional 250 companies for legal action.

Lucrative business

In Macrosolve’s most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it said it “has received 14 settlements in the form of non-exclusive, perpetual paid-up licenses for licensed products resulting in revenues of over $1 million in 2011, which represented approximately 63% of total revenue in 2011.”

Source: http://www.travelmarketreport.com/technology?articleID=7051&LP=1

Tourism News | "Campaign to attract new visitors pays off"

By: Adam Thomson
Source: http://www.ft.com
Category: Tourism news


For years, Ivan Ignatievich has been going on family holidays in and around his native Russia. But last year, he tried something different: an all-inclusive resort hotel south of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast.“Very nice,” he said in a thick accent as he sipped on a piña colada by the pool. “Very warm.”

Mr Ignatievich may not know it but he and his family are the new face of international tourism in Mexico. In the past two years, the number of visitors from the Bric (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries, has increased at rates above 50 per cent a year.

The surge is the result of the most aggressive campaign to promote tourism in Mexico’s history. During the past two years, Gloria Guevara, the tourism minister, has been travelling the world, seeking out markets and working to make things easier for non-traditional visitors to go to Mexico.

“It’s all about diversification and exploring new growth markets,” she told the FT last month. The aim, she says, is to turn Mexico into one of the world’s top five tourist destinations by 2018 from 10th place currently.One aspect of that work has been to streamline and simplify the visa-application process. As of May 2010, for example, any person holding a passport with a valid US visa can visit Mexico without further paperwork.

In the case of Russia and China, the time it takes to receive a Mexican visa has come down from 45 days to just three. That, says Ms Guevara, has helped prise open a market that did not exist before.“We realised that a lot of people were not coming because it was too difficult,” she says. “We have changed all of that.”

Gloria Guevara

The aim is to turn the country into one of the world’s top five tourist destinations by 2018 from 10th place, says Gloria Guevara


The broadening of Mexico’s customer base has not come a moment too soon. The country’s image as a tourism hub has faced challenges in recent years as Latin America’s second-largest economy finds itself in the midst of a battle against well-armed drugs cartels.

The violence has produced about 50,000 drug-related deaths since President Felipe Calderón of the National Action Party came to power at the end of 2006. Unsurprisingly, the news of decapitations, extortion and kidnappings has dominated much of the international press.

The recent travel advisory issued by the state of Texas warning residents to avoid travel to Mexico – a move heavily criticised by the Mexican government – has hardly helped.

At the same time, the number of US citizens travelling abroad declined10 per cent between 2008 and 2011 to 36m as the US financial crisis and ensuing global recession took hold. As the most popular foreign destination for Americans – US visitors account for about 60 per cent of total – Mexico has been particularly exposed.

To counteract the falling numbers, authorities in 2010 began a media campaign in the US to promote “the Mexico you thought you knew”. Put simply, the strategy consists of promoting Mexico’s cultural and geographical heritage beyond the traditional “sun and beach” profile.

Among the new offerings are more than a dozen themed tours, including cuisine in the state of Puebla, archaeological excursions in the Yucatán peninsula and, of course, the tequila tour in the state of Jalisco.

The idea, says Rodolfo López-Negrete, who heads the country’s Tourism Board, is to attract a new crowd of North American tourists by offering a wider range of holiday activities. “Mexico is so much more than beaches,” he said.

The tourism board is also about to launch a second advertising drive to reassure US citizens that Mexico is a safe destination in spite of the military-led offensive against the cartels. The campaign will consist of candid-camera interviews with people who have just returned home after spending their holidays in Mexico.

So far, the strategy seems to be working. According to figures from the country’s immigration authorities, 22.7m tourists visited Mexico last year – higher than the previous record in 2008. Meanwhile, Mexico’s market share of US tourists travelling abroad has increased from 14.6 per cent of the total in 2008 to 15.3 per cent.

For businessmen such as Carlos Berdegue, who owns the El Cid chain of hotels, the campaigns have helped build an average occupancy rate last year of 85 per cent – an 8 per cent increase over the previous year.“I’m happy,” he says. “Things are definitely improving.”

International hotel groups are also upbeat. InterContinental Hotels Group expects its franchise holders to invest US$550m in Mexico over the next five years. Gerardo Murray, the group’s vice-president of sales, says that the plan is to build 47 hotels around the country during that time.

With prospects for the US economy improving slightly this year, Ms Guevara believes that the combination of recovering numbers from North America and new visitors from non-traditional markets will bring in 25m foreign tourists this year. If she is right, it would be a record.




Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f638e72e-832c-11e1-9f9a-00144feab49a.html#axzz1sHA5ja6F

Holiday Package | "Off to London for Olympic Games"

By: Press Release
Category: Holiday Package
Source: http://www.thesundaily.my

Olympic Games this year? Holiday Tours have got just the deal for you.

The packages are priced according to the games ticket prices and each package offers a different combination of game events such as table tennis, boxing, ­tekwondo, athletics and ­volleyball, among others.

The Multiple Games ­Combination offers three packages (Package 2, 3 and 4) at prices between RM8,430 and RM10,400.Those who opt for ­Package 4 (six games tickets at RM7,470) will be able to catch the men’s bronze medal ­basketball match.

Holiday Tours is also offering a Badminton ­Highlights package at RM7,710 that comes with tickets to watch the quarter finals, semi-­finals and the gold-medal final of the badminton matches.

There are also standalone games tickets for popular events such as athletics, ­badminton, diving, ­synchronised swimming, basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics and football.Holiday Tours also offers packages for those who want to catch the grand opening and c­losing ceremonies.All packages come with­ ­accommodation at a city centre hotel with daily ­breakfast.

The ­regular ­packages such as the Multiple Games ­Combination and Badminton Highlights come with ­accommodation at the four-star Holiday Inn ­Kensington, which is a mere two-minute walk to the Gloucester Road tube ­station.

The Opening and Closing Ceremony packages spoil you with a luxurious stay at ­Cadogan, a five-star hotel ­located in the heart of ­Knightsbrige close to ­Buckingham Palace, Green Park and the Natural History Museum.All offers come bundled with a Travel Card as well as a London Pass.

The Pass allows you access to over 60 ­attractions in ­between the games you are set to catch. They include historic buildings and ­museums such as ­Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, National Maritime Museum and more.

Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/351752

Hotels News | "4 Hotels and 850 Rooms to Open in 500 Metres Before Olympics"

By: Press Release
Source: http://www.london-se1.co.uk
Category: Hotels News

The four new hotels are due to open their doors to guests this summer and are no more than 500 metres apart.

The first of the four to open is likely to be the clumsily named Premier Inn London Southwark (Tate Modern) at the corner of Great Suffolk Street and Lavington Street. This week the scaffolding has been removed from the building and Premier Inn signage has been installed. Its 180 rooms are now available for booking from 4 June.

The existing Premier Inn London Southwark at The Anchor Bankside has had "(Borough Market)" appended to its name to avoid confusion with the new venue.

At the opposite end of Lavington Street the new 191-room CitizenM hotel – made of a series of prefabricated pods – has also recently been cleared of scaffolding. The Dutch chain is hoping to open its first London hotel by the end of July.

Southwark councillors recently approved a scheme to improve Lavington Street for pedestrians which will be funded by cash from the two hotel developments.

Meanwhile on Blackfriars Road the last panels of cladding are being added to the new building which will house two hotels in the Accor Group: the 182-bedroom Novotel London Blackfriars and the lower-cost 297-room Ibis London Blackfriars.

Plans for a fifth hotel – an upmarket 280-room Hilton – to be built between Bear Lane and Great Suffolk Street are thought to be back on track after an ownership dispute was resolved.

The owners of the Holiday Inn Express London Southwark recently submitted an application to extend the hotel into the adjacent Dominion House office building adding an additional 48 rooms.

source: http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5939

Hilton Hotel News | "DoubleTree by Hilton Introduces Newest Hotel Destination in Gurgaon"

By: Press Release
Source: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com
Categoy: Hilton Hotel News


Hilton Worldwide announced the opening of a new DoubleTree by Hilton in India. Located in Gurgaon, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the DoubleTree by Hilton Gurgaon-New Delhi NCR offers a sophisticated, modern combination of guest services, amenities and technology in a refreshingly spirited and welcoming ambiance.
Conveniently located on the Golf Course Road, the hotel is within easy access of the business and commercial establishments in the dynamic business centre of Gurgaon and 18 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).  The 184-room hotel is only 7 km from the HUDA City Centre and IFFCO Chowk Metro stations, which can whisk travellers to many of New Delhi’s heritage attractions and Indian monuments such as Qutab Minar, Lord Mahavira’s statue at Ahinsa Sthal and the Bahai (Lotus temple).
Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide, said, “With the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Gurgaon-New Delhi NCR, Hilton Worldwide now operates six hotels in the Delhi National Capital Region.  We are expanding rapidly in India and anticipate increasing our presence to 14 hotels by the end of this year, following on from a great year of growth in 2011, when we opened six hotels”.
Guests at DoubleTree by Hilton Gurgaon-New Delhi NCR will experience the characteristic qualities found at more than 280 DoubleTree by Hilton hotels around the world, including the warm welcome of the brand’s legendary chocolate chip cookie presented to every guest at check-in; the rewards of the Hilton HHonors guest loyalty programme and a unique and caring team member commitment to guests, colleagues and the local community.
Rob Palleschi, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, said, “The opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Gurgaon-New Delhi NCR is another significant step in our brand’s growth strategy in India and strategic city centre locations around the world.  The hotel is an outstanding representation of the DoubleTree by Hilton brand, which is built on the vision of creating a rewarding travel experience by understanding and thoughtfully addressing the individual needs of today’s business and leisure travellers”.
Owned by the JMD Group and managed by Hilton Worldwide, DoubleTree by Hilton Gurgaon-New Delhi NCR features 45 Executive Rooms, 11 Junior Suites and two Terrace Suites.  All guestrooms and suites are equipped with wired and wireless internet access, remote printing, LCD satellite television, electronic safe, refrigerated private bar, in-room tea and coffee making service, a radio alarm clock with MP3 player connection and a refreshing collection of bath and body products.  Additional amenities include 24-hour in-room dining, laundry, concierge and travel desk services.
Guests in residence and visitors can enjoy an extensive selection of cuisines at the hotel’s four restaurants and bars. The Food Store, an all-day café and deli, serves freshly brewed coffee and tea, healthy juices, homemade breads and pastries and a wide selection of snacks and wholesome meals.  Asia Alive, the South East Asian specialty restaurant, takes diners on a theatrical culinary journey encompassing Malay, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Indian cuisines paired with wine from an extensive list.  At Spiritual, the gastro bar and lounge, guests can enjoy classic cocktails, and a fine selection of spirits and wines accompanied by Tapas platters and a range of pizzas straight from the wood-fired oven.  When Casablanca, the first Moroccan specialty restaurant in the city, opens in the second quarter of the year it will introduce guests to the diversity of Moroccan cuisine with Berber-Moorish, European and Mediterranean influences.
Appreciating the needs of today’s business travellers, the hotel features a 24-hour business centre that provides a range of essential services, and meeting rooms equipped with the latest audio-visual and communications technology.  The 9,500 sq. ft. (900 m2) of expansive conference and banqueting facilities at the hotel accommodates up to 300 persons in a variety of flexible settings ideal for business meetings, training seminars, banquets and social gatherings.  Recreational options at the hotel include an outdoor pool, a Fitness Centre by Precor and AristoRejuv, a foot spa.
Sunil Bedi, managing director, JMD Group, said, “We are delighted to be associated with the DoubleTree by Hilton brand in India, and we are confident this hotel will become the first choice of travellers in the region”.
Along with the DoubleTree by Hilton Gurgaon-New Delhi NCR, Hilton Worldwide currently operates the following hotels in India: Hilton New Delhi/Janakpuri, Hilton Mumbai International Airport, Hilton Chennai, Hilton New Delhi-Noida-Mayur Vihar, DoubleTree by Hilton New Delhi-Noida-Mayur Vihar, Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi/Saket, Eros Hotel-Managed by Hilton New Delhi/Nehru Place and Hampton by Hilton Vadodara-Alkapuri.

source: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/doubletree-by-hilton-introduces-newest-hotel-destination-in-gurgaon/

Hotel News | "Government’s push to promote tourism will help improve tourist arrivals and receipts"

By: ANGIE NG
Source: http://biz.thestar.com.my
Category: Hotel News

The local hospitality sector can look forward to a steady growth this year, given the number of initiatives to promote the tourism industry, property consultants said.Knight Frank in its Second-Half 2011 Real Estate Highlights report said the local hospitality sector remained optimistic that performance levels would show steady growth.It said this was despite analysts predicting moderating economic expansion ahead as a result of slowing external demand and continued uncertainties in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.“Moving forward, the Government will seek to enhance various sector-specific initiatives that focus on high-yield visitors, in particular business and medical tourism. The Budget 2012 announcement will keep the 4-star and 5-star hotel category at the forefront of development opportunities with the provided benefits in the form of tax exemption or allowances.“With concerted efforts from all parties, Malaysia will remain well positioned to retain its ranking among the global top 10 tourist arrivals and top 15 tourist receipts,” the report added.

Knight Frank said tourism contribution to gross national income was expected to almost triple the 2010 figure of RM34bil to RM94bil by 2020 (ranked the fifth-largest contributor to national economy in 2010).

The growth-centred Budget 2012, announced in October last year, is generally well received by the wider hospitality sector.

In the Budget, the Government has pledged to assist the private sector in developing more international standard accommodation to attract a higher number of tourists through a “pioneer status” income tax exemption of 70% or an investment tax allowance of 60% for five years for new 4-star and 5-star hotels in Peninsular Malaysia.

CB Richard Ellis Research, in its fourth quarter 2011 report on Kuala Lumpur's hospitality sector, said it hoped the various initiatives under the Economic Transformation Programme would be successful in stimulating demand, especially in raising tourist arrivals and average spending.

It also hopes that growing tourist arrivals from China, India and the Middle East would compensate for the likely continued decline from struggling Western economies.

“Tourism Malaysia is maintaining its target of 36 million annual visitors by 2020 with an estimated revenue of RM168bil, up from 24.6 million tourists with revenue totalling RM56.4bil in 2010,” the report added.

It said the hospitality market performed better in the last quarter of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010, led by improvements in overall occupancy rates for 3-star to 5-star hotels.

Although Kuala Lumpur had some of the lowest room rates for luxury hotels in the region, the announced redevelopments in the city centre would add to the growing quality of the city's hospitality market, it added.

The Knight Frank report said industry leaders had now fully recognised the importance of the MICE (meetings, incentive, convention and exhibition) industry as a major contributor to the economy.

The Tourism Ministry, which established MyCEB (Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau), plans to further strengthen the nation's tourism brand and grow the total number of conventions and exhibitions held on home soil.

The number of MICE visitors is expected to reach 1.3 million for 2011 with RM10.8bil in receipts (2010: 1.28 million visitors and RM10.6bil receipts).

It said the Government's concerted efforts to attract more arrivals from the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) through various measures, including a simplified and shortened visa application process, had shown excellent results with recently released figures showing the number of Chinese tourist arrivals increased by 57% between January and July 2011.

As at November 2011, there was a total stock figure of 17,862 hotel rooms in Kuala Lumpur. The supply figure of 4-star and 5-star hotel rooms in the city currently stands at 7,667 and 10,195 respectively.

During the review period, average occupancy rates for 4-star and 5-star hotels in the city registered increases to 72% (first half 2011: 69%) and 71% (first half 2011: 68%) respectively.

Both occupancy and average room rates (ARR) for 4-star and 5-star hotels have shown an improvement over the second half of 2011 review period to November.

The ARR for 4-star hotels was recorded at RM214 (first half 2011: RM209), reflecting a 2.39% increase, while the 5-star category saw a 1.18% increase to RM343 (first half 2011: RM339).

Knight Frank said that during the second half of 2011, Kuala Lumpur's hotel market maintained a reasonable performance with steady improvements in the tourism industry.

source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/16/business/11096929&sec=business

Patent News | Europe Opens Patent Investigations Into Motorola Mobility

By: James Kanter

source: http://www.nytimes.com

category: Patent News

The European Union’s competition office on Tuesday opened two antitrust cases against Motorola Mobility for possibly abusing its patents following complaints by two rivals, Microsoft and Apple.

The cases are the latest stage in what has become a full-blown battle over the ownership of essential technologies that help power mobile and gaming devices, a fight that has engulfed Google and virtually all the other major players in the industry.The European Commission opened two cases to look at separate allegations by Microsoft, which is concerned about access to video and wireless patents for its products including the Xbox, and by Apple, which is concerned about access to other wireless patents for the iPhone and iPad.Microsoft and Apple complained to the commission that they were victims of unfair licensing conditions and abusive litigation by Motorola Mobility.The investigation will look at whether “Motorola has failed to honor its irrevocable commitments made to standard-setting organizations” to license its technologies to other companies on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms, the commission said.Motorola Mobility said in a statement it was “confident that a thorough investigation” would show it had honored its “obligations and complied with antitrust laws.” It said it would “continue to work closely with the European Commission to resolve this matter as soon as practicable.”The cases could also have consequences for Google, which is seeking final regulatory approvals for its purchase of Motorola Mobility to compete directly with its archrival, Apple. Google’s deal, worth about $12.5 billion, cleared its biggest hurdles by winning regulatory approval in the United States and Europe in February.In a warning in February, Joaquín Almunia, the E.U. competition commissioner, said his decision to clear Google’s deal for Motorola Mobility would not exonerate any wrongdoing concerning patents “by Motorola in the past or all future action by Google.”News of the investigations came a day after Microsoft said it was moving its software distribution operations to the Netherlands from Germany because of concerns that an adverse decision in a patent dispute with Motorola Mobility could hamper crossborder shipments.Motorola filed a lawsuit against Microsoft in July last year asking for a royalty of 2.25 percent on the price of each product using video software on which Motorola holds some patents.Microsoft refused to pay, saying the demand by Motorola could lead other patent holders to make similar demands and make the costs of licensing technology unaffordable.Motorola then sued to stop sales and shipments in Germany of any product that uses Microsoft software with the video software.A ruling against Microsoft on April 17 by the Mannheim regional court could block the software giant from distributing Windows software and the Xbox gaming system in Germany.On Tuesday, Microsoft said there had been no previously existing royalty agreements concerning the video software before the dispute.Microsoft had a “great relationship” with its current distributor but “Motorola’s refusal to live up to its patent promises has left us no choice,” said Thomas Baumgärtner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany. “Unfortunately the risk of disruption from Motorola’s patent litigation is simply too high.”The commission can fine companies as much as 10 percent of their worldwide annual income if it finds them guilty of antitrust violations. But the way any such fines would be calculated would depend on which company owned Motorola Mobility at the time of the offenses. Determining which company would pay any such fines can often depend on the fine print of merger agreements. Motorola Mobility was split off from Motorola in January 2011.

The commission also has the power to require companies to change the way they do business. That, too, could have consequences for Google and its deal for Motorola Mobility.

“We haven’t finalized our acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but will work with the European Commission to answer any questions they might have,” said Al Verney, a spokesman for Google in Brussels. “We have longstanding concerns about patent abuses, including lawsuits and royalty demands targeting the Android ecosystem,” Mr. Verney added, referring to Google’s operating system for mobile devices.

But a prominent commentator on the issue, Florian Mueller, who also advises companies including Microsoft on patent issues, said in a blog entry that the decision Tuesday by Mr. Almunia to start a formal investigation into Motorola Mobility was a bad sign for Google.

“If and when Google closes the deal, it will effectively buy itself into two more E.U. antitrust investigations,” Mr. Mueller wrote.

“It’s time for some people in Mountain View to realize that a multi-front war against competition authorities, on three continents in parallel, is a war that they won’t be able to win,” he added, referring to Google’s headquarters in California.

The commission is already investigating Samsung for the way it used standard, essential patents and for the way it sought injunctions against its competitors in national courts.

Samsung, a South Korean company that relies on Android for many of its products, has been pursuing legal battles worldwide over the levels and fairness of fees it imposes on others for using patented technologies.

Travel sites vs. Google

TripAdvisor filed an antitrust complaint against Google with E.U. regulators Tuesday, adding a second case against the search-engine operator by online travel companies, Bloomberg News reported from Brussels.

TripAdvisor said the complaint addressed “anti-competitive and unfair practices by Google that harm the marketplace and consumer welfare.”

Expedia last week added its complaint to an E.U. investigation of claims that Google discriminated against other services in its search results and stopped some Web sites from accepting rival ads. Joaquín Almunia, the E.U.’s competition commissioner, has said he could decide this month whether to proceed with a case against Google.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/business/global/europe-opens-patent-investigations-into-motorola-mobility.html

Hotel | "Titanic's wealthiest passenger built NYC hotel"

By: MEGHAN BARR
source: http://www.fosters.com
Category:  Hotel

A century after the Titanic sank, the legacy of the ship's wealthiest and most famous passenger lives on quietly at the luxury hotel he built in New York City.John Jacob Astor IV, who was one of the richest men in America, went down with the ship in 1912 after helping his pregnant wife escape into the last lifeboat. But at the St. Regis, one of Manhattan's oldest luxury hotels, the aristocratic sensibilities of the Gilded Age remain intact. Butlers in white ties and black tailcoats still roam the hallways. The lobby, with its frescoed ceiling and elaborate marble staircase, has not been altered since Astor died. And the thousands of leather-bound books that he collected have been preserved on the same bookshelves for 100 years.This year, in tribute to Astor's memory, the hotel worked with a publisher to add a new book to those shelves. "A Survivor's Tale," which was released this month, is the first-person account of a passenger who survived the disaster by jumping overboard as the ship disappeared into the water.
This was his jewel," said Astor's granddaughter, Jackie Drexel, as she gazed around the hotel one recent morning. "My grandfather used to come and walk the stairs frequently first thing in the morning to make sure everything was running perfectly. He conceived of it with great pride."The copper moldings on the roof have turned green with age, but inside, the antique furniture and silk wall coverings hearken back to a more refined era. And the guests wandering its hallways are still the wealthiest of the wealthy: the hotel is a favorite among royal families and celebrities hoping to keep a low-profile and avoid the paparazzi.
The key element to everything in the hotel is the discretion," said Paul Nash, the general manager. "We have heads of state, royal families, entertainers, politicians."When Astor built the St. Regis in 1904, it overlooked Fifth Avenue's row of mansions and, at just 18 stories high, was one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. It was modeled after the extravagant hotels of Europe that had not yet become ubiquitous in the U.S.At that time, it was common for the very rich to live in luxurious hotels like the St. Regis for long stretches of time. According to Nash, that hasn't changed, either: The hotel's presidential suite, which costs a cool $21,000 per night, is routinely occupied by the same guests for three months straight.
They can walk around the hotel like it's their home, and nobody will disturb them," explained 25-year-old Jennifer Giacche, one of the hotel's butlers.While the uniform looks like it was plucked from the set of a period drama, the St. Regis butlers' job responsibilities have evolved over the years to meet the needs of 21st-century jetsetters. They still pour coffee and fluff pillows, but the butlers of today — a rarity at modern hotels — are really more like highly educated personal assistants who speak several languages, not the stuffy servants portrayed on TV's "Downton Abbey."Our guests may travel by private jet, but they're also probably wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt," Nash said.Using "e-butler," the hotel's personalized smartphone app, guests can start issuing instructions to their butler before they even check in, whether it's ordering a limousine or a bottle of champagne. Visitors preparing for an extended stay often want the furniture in their rooms completely rearranged. One of the most memorable requests came from a guest who wanted her bathtub filled with chlorinated pool water (which the butlers obliged without asking why).Like his guests, Astor enjoyed a pampered existence as a member of one of New York's most powerful families. But he was also a keen inventor — creating an early form of air conditioning by blowing cold air over the hotel's wall vents — and an avid bibliophile. With the help of Thornwillow Press, a small publisher of limited-edition books, the hotel is in the process of restoring and cataloguing the nearly 3,000 books that Astor left behind."If John Jacob Astor were to walk through the rooms, it would be entirely familiar to him," said Luke Ives Pontifell, Thornwillow's founder. "He would recognize the books on the shelves. It's a time capsule."On April 4, the St. Regis held a small dinner in the hotel library to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking. The guests, who included some of Astor's descendants, were dressed in fur and feathers as they perused his books and dined on food inspired by the last meal served aboard the ship. They also received copies of "A Survivor's Tale," which was written by Jack Thayer and is being published publicly for the first time with the permission of his family.Thayer, who was 17 years old then, recounted how his mother escaped in a lifeboat, but his father perished along with most of the men on board. Thayer survived by clinging to a lifeboat for hours in the freezing sea, listening to the wailing of the passengers who froze to death.
It sounded like locusts on a midsummer night, in the woods in Pennsylvania," he wrote.Astor was last spotted smoking a cigar on the deck. His body was later pulled out of the sea. His wife gave birth to a son weeks later."I think he stayed to the very end, putting people in lifeboats," said Drexel, his granddaughter. "He never tried to escape himself."Drexel believes he would have been pleased with the way his legacy has been preserved at the St. Regis. If he had survived the sinking, she believes he would have built many more hotels in his lifetime."It makes me proud to speak of him," she said. "I wish I'd known him. I wish my dad had known him. I think that's the saddest — that dad never had a chance to meet him."

source: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120412/GJLIFESTYLES/120419933/-1/FOSLIFESTYLES