All articles by chris cox
chris cox
The big interview: Gabriel Escarrer Jaume
As CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume is charged with consolidating and building upon a hospitality empire founded by his father more than 50 years ago. He sits down with Phin Foster to discuss family values, international growth and why he’s focusing on the premium space.
Continental drift: hotel sector expansion in Latin America
Despite a recent slow-down in some markets, international operators are sounding increasingly bullish when it comes to opportunities in Latin America. Phin Foster travels to Colombia and speaks to Carlson Rezidor’s Thorsten Kirschke, Arturo Gracia Rosa of HVS Global Hospitality Services, and Juan Carlos González of Proexport about the realities of hotel development in the region.
Euro vision: Hotel Investment Conference Europe 2014 report
With strong signs of improvement across the continent’s hospitality market, this year’s Hotel Investment Conference Europe was firmly focused on growth. Hotel Management International went down to the InterContinental London Park Lane to hear from the experts.
Tipping point: economic recovery for the hospitality sector
With transaction volumes rising around the world, 2013 was the year the hotel sector finally picked up steam. But with big portfolio deals dominating the market, what do the numbers really indicate? Philip Kleinfeld unpicks the data with Nick van Marken, global hospitality leader for Deloitte, Mark Wynne-Smith, CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, and Tim Helliwell, head of hotels at Barclays Bank.
Green card: sustainability in the hotel sector
Sustainability is now a serious consideration, with many operators placing environmental impact measurement at the very core of their business models. Natalie Healey talks to Kate Gibson, vice-president of corporate responsibility at InterContinental Hotels Group about the increasingly ambitious green targets groups are now setting in order to drive their businesses forward.
Plugged-in property management
Today’s most advanced property management systems can handle everything from check-in to accounting, and will soon be able to incorporate information from social media platforms − but are they being used to their best advantage? Elly Earls meets Hilary Murphy of Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Morgans’ Gustaf Burman, Marriott’s Kermit Littlefield and Mövenpick’s Roger MacFarlaine to find out.
Hospitality Security Europe 2013
Dr Ray Iunius from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne shared his insight and philosophy on the future of safety and security in the hospitality industry at Hotel Management International’s Hospitality Security Europe event.
Accor reveals new growth-boosting plan
French hospitality giant Accor has announced plans to split the business into two divisions, which will focus on the operation and ownership of hotels, respectively.
Shared values: Chris and Jeff Galvin
With seven restaurants dispersed throughout London and Edinburgh, including three at high-profile hotels, brothers Jeff and Chris Galvin are known for their easy-going attitude and a love of ‘fine dining with the edges knocked off’. They talk to Abi Millar about trophy restaurants, centenarian patrons and keeping it in the family.
Hilton Worldwide goes public with $2.35-billion share sale
Hilton Wordwide has raised $2.35 billion via a share sell, which will allow the group to pay down debt. The sale represents the second-largest listing in the US in 2013.