All articles by chris cox
chris cox
Billionaire set to buoy market
Wang Jianlin, China’s wealthiest man, is looking to buy hotel management companies in ten different cities including New York and London. The news gave a boost to shares in Marriot International and Starwood, which climbed 3.2% and 1.4% respectively.
Suite talk
Synonymous with presidents, oligarchs, royalty and rock stars, the luxury suite has long enabled hotel owners and designers to dream big and go large. Whether it’s installing helipads, private pools, bowling lanes or multimillion-pound art collections, the challenge is to exceed expectations and create unique experiences. Hotel Management International profiles five of the finest examples, all shortlisted for Best Hotel Suite at the European Hospitality Awards 2013.
Corporate rates on the rise
Average corporate hotel rates showed a year-on-year increase for the first half of 2013 in the majority of global markets, according to Hogg Robinson Group’s interim hotel survey.
Enrique Aranda Morilla: home fixture
Enrique Aranda Morilla likens his appointment as hotel manager at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona in May 2012 to being signed to the city’s all-conquering football club. Before joining Hilton, he held several management positions at Barceló Group, overseeing properties in Seville, Oviedo and San Sebastián, but now considers Barcelona his base.
Ritz-Carlton targets growth
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has announced a major development and expansion initiative that will increase its property portfolio to 100 resorts and hotels across the globe by 2016.
For the love of it: Jason Atherton interview
From Ramsay protégé to possessor of a rapidly expanding restaurant empire, Jason Atherton has travelled a long way in a short amount of time. As he gears up to open the flagship restaurant at Marriott’s London EDITION, Atherton talks to Joe Warwick about his approach to dining, the London restaurant boom and his love of Asia.
Hans Koch: my magic formula for success
As CEO of KKL Luzern Management and a seasoned hotelier with nearly 40 years of experience, European Hotel Managers Association president Hans Koch knows how to create memorable events and experiences. Here, he outlines how achieving guest satisfaction boils down to heeding two magic words: customer focus.
Open for business: hospitality and leisure in the Middle East
Recent years have seen the significant emergence of the hospitality and leisure sector in the Middle East. Systematic diversification into new tourism segments and investment into different subcontinental markets, and their robust supporting infrastructure, have provided growth and development with considerable momentum. Andrew Robinson, resident partner at KPMG, talks about transaction services, financial risk management and business performance services in the region.
Rezidor’s momentum for growth
Applied in 2011, The Rezidor Hotel Group’s Route 2015 plan represents a set of tenets to bolster its portfolio in the EMEA. Elie Younes, senior vice-president and head of group development, talks about how the ability to embrace change is helping the group attain this goal.
A conflicting picture
How has civil unrest changed the dynamics of the Middle East’s hotel market and where are the core growth areas moving forward? Philip Kleinfeld talks to Hala Matar Choufany, regional managing director at HVS, Filippo Sona, head of hotels and hospitality, MENA Region at Colliers International, and Olivier Granet, vice-president development Middle East at Accor, and discovers a future that’s brighter than what might be expected.