Hotels In Carolina|"Branded Hotels In Australian Cities"

Source             :    bloomberg.com
Category        :    Hotels In Carolina 
By                  :    Nichola Saminather
Posted By     :    Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Hotels In Carolina

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds, bought Australia’s largest owner of hotels, Tourism Asset Holdings Ltd., gaining ownership of 31 properties in major cities. A subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi fund has signed a conditional contract to buy the closely held hotel owner, the Sydney-based company said in an e-mailed statement without disclosing a value. The hotels will continue to be operated by Paris-based Accor SA (AC), Tourism Asset Holdings said.

Foreign investors seeking higher yields than in other markets are attracted to Australian hotel income returns, which beat the average for Australian commercial properties. South Korea’s Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. in August agreed to buy Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel for A$340 million ($316 million). “The mood particularly from offshore purchasers is strong for hotel assets,” said Rob Cross, regional director for hotels at CBRE Group Inc. “They are seeing Australia as a very transparent and secure property market. The operational side of hotels in Australia’s corporate market is very strong.” A unit of Abu Dhabi Investment authority is part of a consortium that in April agreed to pay A$5.07 billion to lease two Australian ports. The fund has about $627 billion of assets, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. “We chose to run a discrete, targeted sale process and we were very pleased with the response we received,” Tourism Asset Holdings Chief Executive Office Matthew Eady said in the statement. The company started in 1993, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1996 and was taken private in 2002.The transaction was valued at about A$800 million, the Australian newspaper and the Australian Financial Review newspapers reported today, without saying where they got the information.

Hotel sales in Australia are expected to reach about A$2 billion in 2013, surpassing the previous record set in 2007, an August report from Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.’s hotels unit said. Asian groups will continue to invest while investors from the United Arab Emirates will also become active, the broker forecast then. Australian hotels delivered an average income return of more than 8 percent as of June 30, compared with about 7 percent for retail and office properties, according to the Property Council/IPD Australia All Property Index. Capital values of hotels in Australian city centers are expected to rise 1.5 percent in the next 12 months and 2.7 percent over the next two years, a second-quarter survey of real estate professionals by National Australia Bank Ltd. showed. This will be the strongest performance of all commercial property classes in the country, according to the survey.

Source:bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-11/abu-dhabi-fund-buys-31-accor-branded-hotels-in-australian-cities.html

Beach Hotels In Carolina|"Hartford Hotels Robbed"

Source             :   courant.com
Category        :  Beach Hotels In Carolina 
By                  :   CHRISTINE DEMPSEY
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Beach Hotels In Carolina

Two early-morning hotel robberies in town might be connected to a similar holdup in Hartford, police said.

The description of the robber in the Hartford case is similar to that of the person who robbed hotels in East Windsor, Hartford police said Tuesday afternoon. No one was injured in any of the holdups. In the first East Windsor holdup, about 5 a.m., the robber approached a clerk at the Comfort Inn, 141 Prospect Hill Road, and implied that he had a gun, police said. The clerk handed over money and the robber left.About 5:10 a.m., police received another 911 call, this one from the Clarion Inn, 161 Bridge St., police said. A robber matching the description of the previous one had come into the hotel, acting as though he had a gun, and the clerk gave him an undisclosed amount of money.The Hartford holdup happened about 6 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 440 Asylum St., police said. The clerk told officers the robber came in the east entrance, approached the counter and demanded cash. He was manipulating something in his waistband, police said. The clerk complied, handing over about $275, and the robber left, they said. The robber was wearing dark clothes, including a black hooded sweatshirt, police said. Hartford police said he wore a black mask and black gloves. He was about 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9 and appeared to be in his 20s, East Windsor police said. The robber may have left at least one of the East Windsor scenes in a silver Chrysler sedan, possibly a Chrysler 300, police said.

Source:courant.com/community/east-windsor/hc-east-windsor-robbery-0911-20130910,0,328656.story

Beach Hotels In Carolina|"Hotels Tap Local Breweries For Bespoke Suds"

Source             :   abcnews.go.com
Category        :  Beach Hotels In Carolina 
By                  :   JOANNA PRISCO
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Beach Hotels In Carolina

After a long day of sightseeing, many travelers retire to their hotels for an evening refreshment before heading back out on the town. But the regional exploration doesn't have to pause there. More and more properties are responding to their guests' desire for local flavor by serving proprietary beers made in collaboration with area breweries. The Fearrington House Inn, a Relais-Chateaux property in Pittsboro, N.C., introduced their first collaboration with Durham-based brewery Fullsteam over the summer: an English IPA that used bronze fennel and lemon thyme grown in the Fearrington garden. Following the positive response to that creation, which has been sold out for weeks, a new autumn beer will be released to discerning sippers later this month with an outdoor dinner beneath the estate's pecan trees, an image that also decorates the craft beer's bottle labels.

"Fullsteam is super passionate about having beers express where they come from, much the same way that wines have terroir," said Maximilian Kast, Fearrington's wine director. "So every season we will make a new beer letting ourselves be guided by that philosophy." The new autumn beer is a Crabapple Berliner Weiss, a sour ale using Chatham County apples and crabapples from the Fearrington grounds that have been cooked down into a cordial in the restaurant's kitchen, then added to the beer during the fermentation process. "It's a tart, low-alcohol, refreshing beer," said Sean Lilly Wilson, owner of Fullsteam, who said he wanted to produce something "a little more special" than the ubiquitous pumpkin-flavored ales that so often appear during the fall. "We had a shared vision seeing the importance that sense of place and regional identity has in food and beer," he added. Fearrington "has a long history of celebrating local foodways and that's what we like to support."

That spirit is echoed across the country at Almanac Beer, a craft brewery based out of the Bay Area that collaborated with The Fairmont San Francisco to create a Honey Saison using rooftop honey harvested from the hotel beehives. "It's a Belgian farmhouse style, really rich and crisp ale with lots of lemony and peppery characteristics and a mild sweetness from the honey," said Damian Fagan, co-founder and CEO of Almanac. "But the honey flavors are less specifically from the sugars than the secondary characteristics like fennel, which is unique to this area. Honey from Napa would taste completely different and even have a different color." Meanwhile in the City of Brotherly Love, The Four Seasons Philadelphia has partnered with Dock Street Brewing Co., the oldest microbrewery in the city, to create signature suds for the last two years. Premium pints such as the O.P Yum! (combining oats and pomegranate) and the Crackle and Squeeze (made with meyer lemons and cracked pink and black peppers) are only available inside of the hotel's Lounge.

Later this month, the hotel will release its seventh seasonal ale with Dock Street Brewing Co., dubbed 1983 Beer of Excellence, a Belgian strong ale that has been slowly fermenting with 100% Champagne yeast for two months. "It's a really effervescent, bubbly, bubbly beer," said Marilyn Candeloro, VP of Operations at Dock Street Brewing Co. "In fact, certain guests will be greeted by a bottle when they arrive in their rooms. I think it's nice for them to see something specifically from Philadelphia that they might not have heard of otherwise."

Source : abcnews.go.com/Travel/hotels-tap-local-breweries-bespoke-suds/story?id=20205415

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach|"Forbes Travel Guide Names New Five Star Hotels"

Source             :   usatoday.com
Category         :  Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
By                   :   Nancy Trejos
Posted By       :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach

For the first time, Forbes Travel Guide is crowning a second batch of five-star hotels, restaurants and spas mid-year, offering travelers more up-to-date ratings. Forbes had named new five-star properties earlier this year. But today, it is adding three hotels, four restaurants, and one spa. The new five-star hotels include the first ever for Seattle and Vancouver and a new five-star hotel in London. Michael Cascone, president of Forbes Travel Guide, said the company decided to add the mid-year update "to provide even more, and more timely, information in a rapidly changing marketplace — to benefit travelers as well as the hotel community." "This enables us to rate and review hotels which were not available for inspection in the previous cycle — such as new properties or those under renovation, or those who have worked to improve their service levels since the previous ratings cycle," he said. "In a fast-paced, information-intensive environment, it's important that consumers have the most up-to-date information when making travel decisions, and its our goal to provide them with the most comprehensive and authoritative information in the market." Forbes will continue to name new five-star properties at the beginning of each year as well. Rosewood Hotels' Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver received five stars after an extensive renovation, making it the first hotel in Canada to receive the highest rating. The Sense Spa inside the Hotel Georgia also received five stars.

The latest installments bring the total number of Forbes Travel Guide five-star hotels to 83. California has the most of any state with 12. London and Hong Kong each has seven five-star hotels, making them the international destinations with the highest tally.Hotels get five-star status for "their virtually flawless service and the finest of amenities," Forbes said. "Staff is intuitive, engaging and passionate, and eagerly goes beyond expectations," the company said. At four-star properties "attention to detail is prominent throughout the property, from design concept to quality of products provided," the company said. "Staff is accommodating and takes pride in catering to your specific needs throughout your stay." Alan Campey, regional vice president of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, credited the Rosewood Hotel Georgia's five-star status on the property's " amazing team who have made our guest experience their ultimate goal by being committed to the highest standards, engaging our guests and delivering intuitive and refined service." "With this prestigious award, which marks the first hotel in Canada to receive the highest rating, Rosewood Hotel Georgia has set a benchmark as a global industry leader," Campey said.

Source : husatoday.com/story/dispatches/2013/09/09/forbes-travel-guide-five-star-properties/2780735/

Beach Hotels In Carolina|"Trip Advisor Allows Hotels To Wipe The Slate Clean "

Source             :   smh.com.au
Category         :  Beach Hotels In Carolina 
By                   :   Natalie Paris
Posted By       :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Beach Hotels In Carolina

Reservations have been raised regarding TripAdvisor's policy of erasing old reviews following a hotel's renovation. Hotel owners have often claimed that bad reviews on TripAdvisor can disproportionately affect their business. However, the website's renovations policy allows hoteliers to "wipe the slate clean" following an update, in effect giving them a second chance to improve their property's reputation. TripAdvisor said that the policy has been in place for at least two years and that it aims to ensure travellers "gain an accurate and useful picture". "Any business listed on TripAdvisor that has had a change in ownership or undergone a major renovation has the opportunity to have all reviews written prior to the changes removed," a spokesman told London's Telegraph. But a hotel risk management company has suggested that bad reviews should only be removed if the hotel can demonstrate it has resolved the issue complained about.

Steve Tate, chairman at CheckSafetyFirst, a website that works with hotels on issues such as room hygiene, pool safety and staff training, thought the TripAdvisor policy should be implemented sparingly, as bad reviews often relate to concerns a renovation cannot fix."Hotel groups may spend millions on renovations or brands may change, but this doesn't necessarily remove underlying problems at each property," he said. "Poor guest experience and negative reviews are usually the result of human error." Mr Tate said bad reviews based on "dirty rooms, unhelpful staff, poor food and dangerous pools" are all the result of poor management "which can't be forgotten about when a renovation is made". "TripAdvisor should only be publishing reviews highlighting poor standards when there is some factual and objective basis for the negative review," he added. "TripAdvisor should then only remove bad reviews if the hotel can demonstrate that it has taken steps to improve these areas. Before a review is removed the action taken must be substantive, it must address the issues and it must be able to be checked going forward."

TripAdvisor said its guidelines state that changes to a property must be structural in nature to qualify as a major renovation and that it asks for written evidence of this as proof. "Once this short process is complete and if the changes meet our guidelines, we allow properties that have new owners or are newly renovated to be given a clean slate on our site and will remove old reviews from their listing," the spokesman said. Reviews are only helpful if they have been written recently anyway, online investigation authentication service KwikChex argued this week. "KwikChex firmly believes that reviews over two years old on the TripAdvisor site serve no real consumer purpose," a spokesman told London's Telegraph. "A change of ownership should automatically wipe the slate clean." "In terms of extensive renovations, while not necessarily reflecting a change of management such a large investment does indicate that a considerable commitment is being made to quality - so it is fair to provide a fresh start in terms of reputation."

Source:smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/tripadvisor-allows-hotels-to-wipe-the-slate-clean-20130909-2tez2.html

Beach Hotels In Carolina|"Ministry Of Tourism Brings Out New"

Source             :   economictimes.indiatimes.com
Category         :  Beach Hotels In Carolina 
By                   :   Ravi Teja Sharma
Posted By       :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Beach Hotels In Carolina

Planning a five-star deluxe hotel in India? Just make sure there are enough hooks in the bathroom and a phone next to the toilet. The government, it appears, will let no feature go overlooked in its quest to ensure India's luxury hotels don't stint on anything, including hooks — three in the bathroom to allow guests to hang up their clothes. Oh, and the toilet has to be equipped with "modern water-based, post-toilet-paper hygiene facilities".The hotel industry is aghast at the minute details into which the government has gone in a directive issued on Friday listing new guidelines on the requirements of a five-star hotel. "The ministry of tourism should focus on reducing the number of licences required to set up a hotel, the time taken for permissions and work on visa-related issues so that more tourists visit the country rather than on such micro aspects," said Manav Thadani, chairman of hotel consultancy HVS India, which is working with several new hotels coming up across the country.Another hotel owner said such norms will only lead to harassment by ministry officials. "They are trying to create their own relevance here," he said. These rules include, apart from hooks, water sprays and blackout curtains, a "luminous LED wall clock with numerals of three inches or more" near the swimming pool. Also, "it will be desirable for all 5-star deluxe hotels to have air-conditioned porches." "How can a hotel have an air-conditioned porch?" wondered the hotelier cited above.

Hotels have two to eight years to adhere to the tourism ministry guidelines that aim to make them more "customer-oriented". A senior ministry of tourism official said the guidelines haven't been updated for a long time, hence they have been revised. "There hasn't been a revision in the classification guidelines for many years and one has to move with time," he said. "We do not want to compel hotel operators or force these guidelines on them by making them mandatory, but the hotels which will follow them will be recognised by the government and will benefit." The move is a "frivolous attempt by government to micromanage a sector" already battered by the slowdown in tourism and the gloomy business climate, said the hotelier cited above. Very few countries follow star rating systems. Their categorisation is based on the size of rooms, safety and security systems, number of restaurants etc.

For the big international brands that have entered India over the last decade, classification by the government and the benefits of that don't matter as they follow their own standards when building hotels. But many of them have to necessarily apply for classification because certain licences and permissions for hotels are linked to it in some states. Hoteliers are irked by the granular detail, especially since "brand standards are much higher than what the government is asking for", as Thadani put it. Classification by the government is required for licences, permissions and funding, but doesn't help the hotel in terms of positioning. "That is based on brand standards and consumer preferences," said KB Kachru, chairman, South Asia, Carlson Hotels. Travellers know what to expect from an international brand as well the recognised Indian ones, said Saeed Shervani, executive member of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India. He also runs a mid-sized hotel in Delhi. "Why do they need to get into the nitty-gritty of these things? This makes classification very problematic," he said.

Source:economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/ministry-of-tourism-brings-out-new-minute-guidelines-for-star-luxury-hotels/articleshow/22427830.cms

Carolina Beach Hotels|"Las Vegas Hotels"

Source             :   stuff.co.nz
Category         :  Carolina Beach Hotels
By                   :   BRIAN JOHNSTON
Posted By       :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels

Start with ancient history at the southern end of the Strip, where a Sphinx welcomes you to a 30-storey pyramid made of black glass, and into the world's largest lobby. Sadly, the super-kitsch theme of the original Luxor has been toned down, with many of the nodding stuffed camels removed, but huge pharaonic statues remain. One of the nightclubs is now inexplicably themed on London's Savile Row, but at least the buffet restaurant has archaeological decor, and the huge pool is framed in temple columns. Don't pass on the Margarita popsicles offered poolside - Cleopatra never had it this good.This must have the most striking exterior of any themed hotel, with a facade along the Strip that packs in scaled-down replicas of New York landmarks including the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and Statue of Liberty.

The roller coaster that swoops around them is one of the best adrenaline rides in town. The interior was also once extensively themed, but Central Park has now gone, though Greenwich Village remains, down to its fire hydrants and fake graffiti. In contrast, rooms are a bit bland and can be a long walk away; ask for one with windows well away from screaming roller-coaster fans.A half-size Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are eye-catchers on the hotel exterior, while the interior runs to cobbled streets, baguette-stuffed bakeries and Gallic fountains. But Paris really wins for its variety of themed eateries; even its buffet restaurant offers French regional specialties such as coq au vin and hearty bouillabaisse. At Mon Ami Gabi brasserie, you can (unusually for Vegas) sit outside and watch the passing parade as you tuck into mussels and frites.

Its Chateau nightclub has great views over the glittering Strip and fountains of the Bellagio. Book a newer Red Room on upper floors.The Bellagio's exterior is modelled on a Tuscan lakeside village but, once you get inside, you'll find more opulence than in any other themed hotel; mosaic floors, an art collection that runs to Renoirs, and designer duds in every store.

It's worth checking out the lobby ceiling, decorated with hand-blown glass flowers. If a hefty cover charge doesn't deter, The Bank is one of the best nightclubs in town: Cristal champagne flows, the bar is lined in gold crocodile leather, and artificial snow falls.But the financially challenged needn't despair, because the Bellagio's best show - its fabled dancing fountains - can be enjoyed free.Kudos to this hotel, which has even trained pigeons to flap around its piazza, just to add authenticity to surrounding landmarks such as the Doge's Palace and Rialto Bridge. The outside is gobsmacking, but the interior is extraordinary, too, with gondoliers floating down shop-lined canals, elaborate frescoes and sculptured figures copied in every detail from the real thing. It's like Disneyland for adults, featuring more luxury than kitsch, swimming pools set in Italian-style gardens, sophisticated Venetian food at Canaletto restaurant, and a lavish spa.

You might never stray outside: the world's largest resort has more than 7000 rooms and endless entertainment.Fans of old Hollywood movies will recognise the decor here, and expect Charlton Heston in a toga to be manning the concierge desk. Decadent, camp decor and statues abound, and subtlety is an unknown concept - staff even wear gladiator costumes. Somehow, you can't help being seduced anyway by the combination of 1960s kitsch and modern luxury. The ostentatious granite and marble swimming pools, modelled on Pompeii, are Vegas' best. In lieu of the Roman circus, there's plenty of entertainment for the masses, with top shows, the legendary Cleopatra's Barge for an evening cocktail, and a Bacchanal Buffet fit for a glutton.

Source : stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/usa/9129194/Six-of-the-best-Las-Vegas-hotels