LeisureTracker.com / Jan 18, 2007

As per XinHua, Chinese press agency, China had exactly 12,930 star-ranked tourist hotels nation wide by the end of 2006, 5,572 more than in 2001, according to statistics released by the National Tourism Administration (NTA). According to the newly issued evaluation standard of hotels, there are 288 five-star hotels, 1,307 four-star hotels, 4,747 three-star hotels, and more than 6,500 one-and two-star hotels in China. Versus 2001 it is an increase of 75%. China's tourist industry has developed rapidly since the implementation of reform and opening up policy in 1978. China received 103.6 million overseas visits in the first ten months of 2006, up 3.4 percent from the same period in 2005, and 60 times more than in 1978, said Wang Jun, vice chairman with the China Tourism Association. China is now ranked fourth in the world in terms of overseas tourist arrivals. The World Tourism Organization has predicted that China will become the No. 1 tourist destination and the fourth largest source of tourists by 2020.

LeisureTracker.com / Jan 05, 2007

The AAA Five Diamond art-deco inspired 298-room Hotel Ritz-Carlton New York - Battery Park suggests a very unique way to spend this 2006 average wall Street bonus. As per BusinessWeek, the average Wall Street bonus in 2006 is $137,580.
By then The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park presents a package to be enjoyed friends or family and that includes the following amenities for 30 guests of your choosing: Overnight accommodations in The Ritz-Carlton Presidential Suite (2000 square feet) with spectacular panoramic views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. 15 Executive Suites for your closest family and friends with views of the city skyline or New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Limousine round-trip transportation from home or airport for every guest. A 10-minute fireworks display specially designed by the famous Bay Fireworks Company. Experience the fireworks from the privacy of your Presidential Suite set to the music of your choice. Helicopter tours over New York City for all of your guests. Five-course dinner including gourmet delicacies such as foie gras, Kobe steak, lobster, and white truffle risotto. Finest wines from around the world paired with each course in the private level of the hotel’s 2 West restaurant. Dom Perignon and strawberries in every guest’s room upon arrival. 60-minute massage treatments for all guests. Each guest receives a Ritz-Carlton robe embroidered with his/her initials.
The so-called “FRIENDS WITH MONEY” package is priced at $137,580 including taxes and gratuities. This price is based on 32 guests including 15 Executive Suites and The Ritz-Carlton Presidential Suite. This package is based on availability and subject to change. By the way, a 14-day non-refundable advance payment is required….normal !

LeisureTracker.com / Dec. 28, 2006

The other awards go to independent hotels. In Italy, Verona, Byblos Art Villa Amista wins 2 awards "Best graphic identity of a hotel in Europe" and "Best hotel architecture in a hotel in Europe". In the heart of the Austrian Alps, the Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Telfs-Buchen gets the very demanded award “Best Spa in a Hotel in Europe”. Nearby the Mediterranean sea, the Director of Le Mas Candille (a Relais & Châteaux affiliated hotel) in Mougins-France, Mr Anthony Torkington, gets the “Best hotel management in Europe” award. (This new award rewards innovation in hotel management and hotel teams incentives). At last, the Anassa, immense resort in Cyprus (Thanos Hotels) gets the grand prix « Best Resort in Europe », its owner Mr Thanos Michaelides created many envious as he left the ceremony in a superb Bentley car offered by swiss group Elite Rent sponsor of the Villegiature Awards.
See all the links and informations on www.prix-villegiature.com .

LeisureTracker.com / Nov. 2, 2006

The best available, unrestricted rates of more than 360 Leading Hotels in 74 countries are now available to all Galileo-connected travel agents. Participants in the Galileo BAR programme represent nearly 50 percent of Galileo’s hotel booking traffic worldwide. The Galileo BAR programme enables major hotel chains to provide travel agents with access to the best available published, non-restricted rates either online or over the phone via the hotel chain’s reservation line. Galileo introduced the Best Available Rate concept back in August 2004, and we’ve seen our content grow to include nearly 30,000 hotel properties worldwide,” said Louise Meyer, senior director, Hospitality Supply and Distribution for Galileo. “As a result, we are in a clear position of leadership in the hotel content arena, and we are particularly pleased to welcome The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., the largest international luxury hotel brand, to this very successful programme.”

LeisureTracker.com / Oct. 23, 2006

Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna, has won 'Africa’s Leading Spa Resort' and 'South Africa’s Leading Spa Resort' at the 13th World Travel Awards. A total of 165 000 travel agencies and professionals in over 140 countries worldwide were asked to vote for their leading travel destinations, airlines, hotels and companies around the world. Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, which opened in February 2005, has also captured the attention of the world’s luxury travel media and has received a number of accolades in the past few months. With 78 suites, the resort, is located near Knysna on the Garden Route coast surrounded by sweeping fynbos landscapes and ancient indigenous forests and has panoramic views of the Pezula Championship Golf Course, the Indian Ocean, the Outeniqua Mountains and the Knysna Lagoon.

LeisureTracker.com / Oct. 4, 2006

The Brown's Hotel, London, offers during all this November the so-called “FOOTJITO” treatment . THE Pudicure potion is composed of a hot milk, cinnamon and brandy foot soak). This treatment is followed by a complimentary mojito Cuban cocktail in the hotel's Donovan Bar, named for society and fashion photographer Terence Donovan.The 117-room Leading Hotel of the World, now part of Rocco Forte Hotels, is named for Lord Byron's valet, James Brown, who originally built it in 1837 - it reopened a year ago after a complete make-over by designer Olga Polizzi. General Manager is Stuart Johnson.

LeisureTracker.com / Sept. 16, 2006

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai based luxury hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has recently announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Zenneck in the newly created position of Vice President Development for Europe and North Africa. Zenneck, who is American born, will be based in Jumeirah’s office in London and will focus primarily on hotel acquisitions and management contracts in Europe and North Africa. In his new role, Peter Zenneck will drive Jumeirah’s ambitious development plans to growing its portfolio to 40 luxury hotels and resorts in cities and resort locations worldwide. He joins Jumeirah Group with over twenty years of international hospitality and real estate experience having worked in Europe, Asia and the United States. Prior to joining Jumeirah Group, he worked with Meridien Hotels and Resorts as Worldwide Director of Development and as Vice President Development Asia/Pacific.

LeisureTracker.com / August 17, 2006

In most international airports, passengers flying out of their nation's airports to the United States or to U.K are barred from taking liquids and gels on board after the revelation this Thursday of a plot to blow up aircraft departing from London. Airline companies are warning travelers to arrive at the airport early to allow for longer security checks for hand baggage.The impact on the Duty-Free operators sales is expected to be dramatic as liquors, cosmetics and perfumes do represent a large part of their global business. This Duty-Free economy employs tens of thousands of employees worldwide and major operators like DFS or Nuance who pay hefty rights to get from local airport authorities large selling spaces are very surely extremely nervous these days. They all gather at TFWA exhibition in Cannes – France end of October. If they were not sure to find serious subjects to talk about, now no doubt they‘ll get one.

LeisureTracker.com / August 11, 2006

A fortnight's holiday for two? That will be £220,000. The sum has been paid recently by holidaymakers displaying what Kuoni, Britain's biggest long-haul tour operator, calls "the insatiable desire of the wealthy traveller to get away from it all". As per Telegraph newspaper dated July 15, Kuoni, which this year is celebrating its centenary in the trade with a superb brochure nominated at the Villegiature Awards 2006, this week reported that sales of "world class" holidays - its most expensive - have risen 20 per cent in the past year. The Barbados booking was exceptional, but there have been several at £160,000 and "up to £50,000 is quite common". Kuoni is not the only tour operator noting a tendency to ever bigger spending, which has been fuelled partly by huge bonuses in London City. Aspire, part of the Excel Airways Group, which was launched to sell "boutique" luxury holidays only a year ago, says bookings are four times what they were in 2005. They include a stay for four at one of the top suites in Forte Village in Sardinia (popular with footballers) - £30,000 for a week.

LeisureTracker.com / July16, 2006

Kempinski Group of Hotels confirms its interest for the Istrian peninsula in Croatia. This is to acknowledge the arrival in 2009 of the 250-room Kempinski Hotel Porto Mariccio, which will be part of a 128-hectare resort development. The Kempinski Hotel Porto Mariccio will be situated on the west coast of Istria, opposite the Brioni Islands. Istria's popularity both as a holiday and as a business destination has been growing steadily, and the region is well served with five airports, all under two hour's drive away; Venice and Trieste in Italy; Ljubljana in Slovenia; Pula and Rijeka (during high season) in Croatia. The first entry by Kempinski is for the 111-room Hotel Adriatic, which is due to open in Alberi in spring 2008.

LeisureTracker.com / June15, 2006

This 2006 edition is geographically a very well-balanced edition with some steady leaders but also modernity not to say joyful extravanganza ! The well-known jury members of the Villegiature Awards 2006 (V.A 2006) selected 5 to 7 nominees per category out of a total record of 482 applications this year.
Nominated hotels and resorts cover most European capitals and regions . Several are part of major hotel chains: Club Med, Dorchester Hotels Group, Four Seasons, Rocco Forte, Meridien, Marmara, Sofitel, Silken and Thanos Hotels but many also are independant or "boutique hotels" with very specifc and diversified concepts. Most of them are affiliated to The Leading Hotels of The World, Relais & Chateaux, Design Hotels, The Charming Hotels, Hotels & Preference, or G.L.A International. 2006 winners will be elected by the end of September and results announced on next Oct. 16, 2006 .Winner of the Best Resort in Europe leaves is offered a brand new Bentley Flying Spur. A thrilling time for the nominees ...!
LeisureTracker.com / May 29, 2006

The Middle East leisure market for inbound/outbound luxury private jet travel with brands like Dassault Falcon Jets or GulfStream jets is growing strongly, based on the evidence of interest at the ATM 2006 and the latest statistics from Executive Flight Services at Dubai International Airport.
According to Dubai-based business jet operator, Elite Jets, the number of private jet movements in and out of Dubai International Airport increased by 57 per cent in 2005 (6,216), compared to 2004 (3,940) and movements in the first quarter of 2006 were 24 per cent ahead of the first quarter of 2005. As the number of luxury hotel and residential developments in Dubai increases alongside the high level of business activity, private air travel is set for strong growth in the leisure sector

LeisureTracker.com / May 22, 2006

The most stylish and unique travel experiences from around the world are set to be revealed at 1st edition of The Luxury Travel Fair with Condé Nast Traveller in partnership with British Airways, Olympia, London. From the perfect boutique hotel break in Milan to sailing the Caribbean in style, escaping to a private island in the Maldives or snow-covered chalets in the Alps. Be inspired by passionate travel experts and celebrity guests including BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson and eco-adventurer David de Rothschild. Whet your appetite with demonstrations and tips from culinary genius Jean Christophe Novelli, and sommelier Matt Skinner.

LeisureTracker.com / May 16, 2006

A crew member has died on the Queen Mary 2, world's biggest luxury cruise liner, after a fight with a colleague on the ship as it sailed Southampton and Bergen in Norway. The fight broke out last Friday May 12. Four detectives from Hampshire police yesterday flew to Bergen. The £422m luxury liner is on a voyage around the Norwegian fjords and is due back in Southampton on Wednesday. The vessel can carry up to 2,600 passengers, who are looked after by a crew of 1,250.

Crimes aboard cruise liners have been observed these last months by the International Cruise Victims Organisation, which is listing several horror stories on the high seas. Figures from the International Council of Cruise Lines show that between 2003 and 2005 there were 206 complaints from passengers and crew, including 178 sexual assault, four robberies and 24 missing persons. Meanwhile, more than 31 million people sailed on cruise ships during the period which makes the ratio of security problems very low at 1 / 155 000 passenger….

LeisureTracker.com / May 14, 2006

40 grands to spend for a night ? Check world most expensive hotel rooms!

On today’s Forbes edition, Sophia Banay mentions a hot list of some of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world. Here comes the list (price per night):

1/ France : Penthouse Suite at Cannes Hotel Martinez: $37,200
2/ Switzerland : Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva President Wilson Hotel: $35,000
3/ Greece : The Royal Villa at Athens Grand Resort Lagonissi : $34,088
4/ Italy Presidential Suite at Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Esmeralda: $27,277
5/ Bahamas: Bridge Suite at Atlantis , Paradise Islands: $25,000
6/ Greece : Palace Suite Elounda Beach Hotel and Resort in Crete : $21,030
7/ France Royal Suite at Paris Plaza Athenée: $17,494
8/ Anguilla : African Sapphire Villa at Altamer : $11,428
9/ Hong-Kong: Presidential Suite at the Intercontinental, Hong Kong: $11,183
10/ U.A.E : Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab, Dubai with only… $10,900

LeisureTracker.com / May 2, 2006

Franka Holtmann who had been named two years ago as General Manager of Paris Hotel de Crillon is on the leave and Dominique Borri General Manager at The Meurice left also. Before the Crillon, Holtmann was previously Hotel Manager at the Plaza-Athénée in Paris under the control of Dorchester Group Director Francois Delahaye. So, in Paris small world of Palaces, while Holtmann is expected at the head of The Meurice .... and then why not Borri at Le Crillon ?! French call this situation “jeu de chaises musicales” nice words to qualify subtle lobbying at top level positions. But for Borri nothing is confirmed and LeisureTracker expects some official confirmations from US latest owner of the Crillon, Starwood Capital...

LeisureTracker.com / April 27, 2006

LeisureTracker.com / April 10, 2006

(Kyodo News International (Tokyo) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 27--TOKYO -- Seibu Holdings Inc., holder of the Seibu group, will spend a total of 140 million Euros in fiscal 2006 and 2007 to renovate the Prince Hotels chain, President Takashi Goto said last March 24. The investment program will include 21 million Euros to refurbish the Hakone Prince Hotel in Kanagawa Prefecture and 28 million Euros to build spa facilities and improve cottages in the Karuizawa Prince Hotel in Nagano Prefecture, Goto said. Meeting reporters at Seibu Holdings' head office in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, Goto also said the holding company will improve its earnings structure by terminating unprofitable operations in a bid to get listed again within three to four years. The closure of unprofitable ski resorts will be moved forward to fiscal 2006 as far as possible, he added.
Seibu Holdings, which owns Seibu Railway Co. and Prince Hotels Inc., was established in February to launch the reconstruction of the transportation and resort development group, which was shaken by the railway operator's false financial statements. Seibu Railway was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in late 2004 as a result of a major financial scandal in Japan.

LeisureTracker.com / March 31, 2006

Yesterday, March 16, in Paris at 18h00 at grand opening of its brand new Bisazza Showroom located in the heart of Paris design and art district in the 6th arrondissement, Rossella Bisazza and its French agent Didier Roux were a bit nervous, indeed their impressive new boutique is also located at view sight of the Rue de Rennes where French students were leading, precisely this opening day, their very aggressive demonstrations against.... French government .
But Bisazza fears nothing, it produces extremely solid and fashionable mosaics as Dolce & Cabanna produces high fashion with new materials and new technologies that give astonishing visual results. The company which Mediobanca lists as one of the 27 most dynamic Italian companies is an entrepreneurial adventure which started in 1956 with Renato Bisazza, in the province of Vicenza, with the serial production of so-called vetricolor. Many top designers work with the italian company like, as we are in Paris, Andrée Putman at the Pershing Hall. Today, the company is headed by Piero Bisazza along with charming sister Rossella, it has 900 employees, five other single-brand showrooms (in Milano, Berlin, Moscow, New York and London) and four production centers. It has nine branch offices (in France, Germany, Russia, Spain, UK,USA, Australia, China and India) and a network of over 4000 distributors.

LeisureTracker.com / March 17, 2006

In New-York nothing is too much for the rich and famous : take Bill Fischer, travel agent owner of very discreet and exclusive Fischer Travel, he charges his very exclusive clientele no less than a $50,000 "initiation fee". Fischer Travel is known to plan unique, exceptional and…secret vacations for finance tycoons like ex-Citigroup Chairman Sanford Weill. When Oprah Winfrey called him after seeing an article about Fischer in The New York Times, he put on an annoyed voice and asked, "How did you get this number?" But of course he was delighted to add her as a client.
For the most ignorant of this clients, Bill can arrange once-in-a-lifetime experience like meals cooked personally by a celebrity Italian or French chef in an African resort or golf lessons with a mega-star Pro. Anyway be sure that if his client does not forget to pay also the $5,000 annual retainer, every detail of the trip will be scripted, down to stocking the mini-bar with the exact brand of water expected like a Chateldon in a Bombay resort…!!! What happens if his client who paid such hefty sums finds a vulgar Evian...? Is Bill crucified ?

LeisureTracker.com / March 13, 2006

After weeks of suspense, Emaar Properties Chairman, Mr Mohamed Ali Alabbar, has personally announced the appointment of Robert Riley as the new CEO of Emaar Hotels & Resorts. He will drive the ambitious development of Armani branded hotels and resorts that will open around the world. During his ten years as CEO of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Riley drove the expansion of the company internationally and doubled the size of the company. For the past two years, Robert Riley has been at the helm of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts and has successfully completed the task of restructuring the organization with today's Starwood control.
Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and EMAAR Hotels & Resorts LLC announced in May, 2005 the formal contractual agreement between the two companies for the development of a unique international collection of Armani Hotels and Resorts. Emaar is currently planning to triple its original plans to develop up to 30 hotels and resorts with an investment budget of US$3 billion...

LeisureTracker.com / March 7, 2006

After Airbus mega jet A380, a revolutionary new type of air vehicle is currently discreetly being launched. In the world of private aviation, the so called “Aeroscraft” stands alone. Target : offering security, comfort and satisfaction at or exceeding the highest standards of excellence in the aviation industry. The Aeroscraft could be the most luxurious and reliable way to travel. Passengers in helicopters and aircrafts do enjoy comparable views but they can not experience the gentle paces of the Aeroscraft, nor its spaciousness. Flight characteristics are smooth and unlikely to upset the most delicate of stomachs. Another crucial point is the sound, or rather the lack of it. The Aeros ML offers cruising speeds of over 150knots (280km/h) and engines can be cut for gentle and smooth ballooning over special scenic locations. Luxury cruising was the exclusive pursuit of the rich and the comfortable not half a century ago. Here is the promise of the Aeroscraft cruise liner – an airship like those only imagined more than a century ago by adventure writers like H. G. Wells and Jules Verne but one updated with the safe technologies of today – visiting remote corners of the world in shipboard luxury that are unreachable by roads and feature no airports. From party cruises that last a day to worldwide voyaging that lasts a month or more, the Aeroscraft cruise liners could well rewrite the book on adventure travel.

LeisureTracker.com / Feb 28, 2006

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Paris Royal Monceau Hotel had announced in mid 2004 their “marriage” in order to boost activity and performance of a hotel that has been long time recognized as one of the grand palace hotels in Paris. The property is currently completing a significant renovation with Interior Designer Jacques Garcia. The works have obviously lasted much more time than Mandarin Oriental Group expected, and today LeisureTracker learned that the partnership between the Chinese group and the Palace hotel is over. Royal Monceau, as well as few other France based luxury hotels, is a group owned by Syrian business mogul Dr Hosmane Aïdi. Group daily operations are headed by his nephew Noumane Aïdi. Hotel Royal Monceau enjoys a highly exclusive location in Paris, just a short distance from the Champs Elysées and the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of the business, haute couture fashion and shopping districts of the city. Positioned on the south side of Avenue Hoche, it is a short stroll from the Arc de Triomphe and the Parc Monceau. By then, Mandarin Oriental Group still has no hotel nor resort available in France, but it remains active in Europe through its hotels in Geneva, London and Munich.

LeisureTracker.com / Feb 3, 2006