Creativity and distinction in the hotel business is essential to success. Hotel designers around the world have discovered the growing need for individuality in hotel spaces. Every day, hotel owners are ...
Industry news for the week of February 1, 2010
HIRINGS/PROMOTIONS/APPOINTMENTS:
Hard Rock International has hired Michael Shindler as its executive vice president of hotels and casinos. Shindler was previously president and ceo of Four Corners Advisors Inc., a Chicago-based hotel consulting and advisory firm.
Commonwealth Hotels Inc. has named Brian Fry vice president of business development, focusing on third-party management contracts, strategic acquisitions and joint-venture partnerships.
Erlend Heiberg has been appointed principle of the U.K. office of Horwath HTL, an international hospitality and leisure consulting firm.
Hilton New York has hired Richard Brown as its director of culinary. Brown was previously executive chef at The St. Regis New York.
David Fuller, managing director of HVS’ hotel consulting and valuation office in Washington, D.C., has been chosen to serve on the leadership council of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the International Institute of Tourism Studies at the School of Business at George Washington University.
Duralee vice president Amy Benjamin has earned LEED Green Associate status.
OPENINGS/RENOVATIONS:
The 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has opened its doors. The complex’s guest rooms feature custom-designed furniture and finishes that make use of hand-tooled leather, copper and ironwork.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has opened the Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, in Richmond, B.C. The 184-key property is owned and managed by Wall Financial Corp.
The 107-room Hampton Inn in Morgantown, W.Va., has completed an extensive renovation that included updates to its exterior, guest rooms, lobby, reception, breakfast area, business center and fitness center.
BUSINESS BRIEFS:
Marlite has been named the exclusive North American distributor of Solid Veneer Lumber (S|V|L), an engineered wood product for retail and commercial interiors by Woodtrade F. Hecht GmbH of Germany
Intersign Corp. has rebranded its Hospitality Sign Co. unit as HotelSigns.com to reflect the online ordering capabilities, instant customization and product previews available through its web site.
The Green Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Baltimore has received a Special Accomplishment Award from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Maryland Chapter.
COMPETITIONS:
Durkan, the hospitality brand of The Mohawk Group, has launched its first carpet design contest for design professionals and students. Supported by NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the D*scover competition aims to exhibit the talent of hospitality designers, while contributing toward the education of future designers. For complete rules and entry forms, go to www.durkan.com/dscover.
LG Hausys Surfaces and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. have put out a call for entries for the 2010 LG Hausys Surfaces Student Design Challenge with Aloft Hotels. The contest challenges students throughout North America to design solid surface innovations for the hospitality industry, capturing the theme, “Where life happens.” For more information, go to www.lgsurfaceschallenge.com.
HELPING OUT:
Accor has established the Yim Kids Foundation to initiate fund-raising activities and projects to help children in need throughout Thailand. (Yim is the Thai word for “smile.”) Accor has 43 hotels and resorts in Thailand. For more information, go to www.yimkids.com.
AWARDS:
Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, founder of Hampshire Hotels & Resorts, will be honored with the Padma Bhushan Award from Indian President Pratibha Patil later this year.