Jetsettersblog

Budget hotels remain recession resilient; Ishraq Gulf Real Estate, easyGroup, Accor and Premier Inn in timely debate

Fifth Arabian Hotel Investment Conference
AHIC 2009
Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
May 2-4 2009
www.arabianconference.com

Dubai, April 2009: Arabia continues to remain a favourite among investors and operators in the tourism and hospitality sector, in particular those in the budget segment, according to Jonathan Worsley, co-organiser of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference.

Worsley, co-organiser the event, now in its fifth year, said that industry figures show that the region is still considered a hot-spot, although 10 and 20 per cent of the 500-plus planned hotel projects in GCC have been put on hold.

“Recent numbers issued by Jones Lang LaSalle estimates that 680,000 new hotel rooms will enter the market next year in the greater Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) – compared to an original prediction of more than 800,000. It seems that many are jumping on the budget hotel bandwagon that is sweeping through the GCC.

“Indeed, the case for low-cost hotels and the buoyant entry of new brands into the region is high among the key topics under discussion during the three-day event (May 2-4),” he said.

Worsley suggested that budget hotels are set to revolutionise the scale of choice for the consumer and open up new market categories for business and leisure travel.

He noted that Emirates and Whitbread Hotels have entered into a joint venture, with the Premier Inn brand and plan to operate three hotels in Dubai later this year.

Darroch Crawford, Managing Director Premier Inn, said that the launch had been well received. “The limited-service hotel sector presents the best opportunity in the hospitality sector in these times as even more individuals, and certainly most businesses, look for value for money. We are offering guaranteed consistency at a low price that will be in big demand.

“Lower operating costs allow budget hotels to make excellent returns, even at modest occupancy levels. There are good investment opportunities, particularly as land and construction costs are returning to more realistic levels. The best opportunities lie in GCC capital cities where the limited-service sector currently has little or no representation.”

Crawford’s view is echoed by Sami A Ansari, CEO of Ishraq Gulf Real Estate, the developer behind Holiday Inn Express. Ansari said that his hotels in Dubai have outperformed the market occupancy average in the city by as much as 15 percent in the past four months.

“Budget hotels have historically been shown to be recession resilient. The model continues to generate targeted profits for investors, as they operate on much lower margins than their full service rivals,” he said.

“We will continue our development of the Holiday Inn Express brand in the region at full speed. We are opening of our fourth property near Dubai airport this summer. Construction is at full speed in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Fujairah and Doha.”

Other low cost brands announced for the region include Hilton’s Garden Inn in Saudi Arabia, easyHotels in Dubai and Rotana’s Centro in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“Despite the spread of budget and mid-market hotels, top names are still being attracted to the region to plant their flag,” said Worsley.

“We have seen names such as W debut in Doha. Radisson’s Missoni will open one of its first two hotels in Kuwait and has recently announced a second resort in Oman, while Langham and Taj both have projects in Doha.

“Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi will have Anantara, Angsana, Conrad, Dusit, Rocco Forte, Hard Rock, Le Bristol, Oberoi, Regent, St Regis, Westin, Wyndham, yotel and Hilton’s new brand Denizen to name a few.”

Another new player, The Address Hotels & Resorts from Emaar, is looking both in the GCC and in North Africa in its initial expansion phase. According to CEO, Marc Dardenne, brand distinction will be an imperative for survival for all existing and new players in the hospitality sector.

Mr. Dardenne said, “The key challenge for any new entrant is the ability to create a unique brand differentiated by positioning the property correctly in a crowded market,” he said.

“The region has varied drivers including leisure and business tourism. The MICE sector will contribute immensely in the coming months. All new players must identify their niche and create properties that are focused on specific sectors.”

He said the hospitality sector in the Middle East was emerging from a state of flux and is carving a strong identity but warned that service standards need to be redefined.

In addition, the 2009 conference includes a half-day summit on Saudi Arabia. The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference is organised by Bench Events and MEED Events. Details can be found on www.arabianconference.com

Industry Bites

• The hospitality sector has scaled back its Middle East ambitions with planned construction down 10 percent since the financial crisis hit and more declines ahead, according to a new report by Lodging Econometrics.

• A new report from Business 24/7 claims that around 20 per cent of hotel room supply in the MENA region, particularly the GCC, proposed for completion by 2010 will not be ready.

• The delay rate for projects earmarked for completion by 2015 could be as high as 40 per cent, according to an industry report by global hotel investment services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Hotel.

Estonia Opens Its Doors

The Estonian Golf & Country Club is looking to attract UK golfers with some fantastic golfing deals this summer.

Estonia, just a two-and-a-half hour flight from the UK, is still a relatively unknown quantity for UK golfers but offers some first-class facilities.

The Estonian Golf & Country Club, situated only 25 minutes from the medieval capital city Tallinn, is one of seven courses in the country, and the only PGA European Tour course in Eastern Europe, sitting it alongside the likes of Quinta do Lago, in Portugal, and the PGA Golf de Catalunya, Spain.

The club offers 27 holes of golf located within a beautiful natural setting: the 18-hole Sea Course and the nine-hole Stone Course.
Both layouts have been constructed in full compliance with United States Golf Association (USGA) requirements and were designed by the respected Finnish course designer Lassi Pekka Tilander.

UK golfers can take advantage of some outstanding spring and summer savings with packages starting from £106 per person, and three nights’ city-centre accommodation, three rounds of golf and transfers available from £310.

In addition, guests staying at The Estonian Golf & Country Club can have additional rounds of golf arranged at other courses near Tallinn if requested when booking.

Exeter International has become the general sales agent (GSA) for the Russia-based Volga Dream in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America and Australia. Exeter International has worked with the Volga Dream since its maiden voyage in June 2007.

For more information, visit www.exeterinternational.com

From the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Dubai, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the signing of a hotel within The Luxury Collection brand in Ajman, United Arab Emirates.

The new-build, 207-room property is expected to open in 2012, and is illustrative of Starwood’s market leading growth in the region and around the world. Starwood remains on track to increase its global portfolio by 40 percent over the next five years and is set to open its 1000th hotel worldwide this year. The Middle East plays a key role in the global expansion, with plans to open nearly 20 new hotels in the region by 2012.

Of these hotels, 75 percent are in the Gulf, which is a priority market for the future growth of Starwood.

Best Western announced is making all of its North American and Caribbean hotel locations available for download to GPS devices from the www.bestwestern.com  website, courtesy of leading GPS and online mapping site POIfriend.com. Through bestwestern.com and POIfriend.com, users can download an official listing of all North American and Caribbean Best Western hotel locations to the majority of GPS-enabled navigation devices. Best Western’s official hotel location listing can be downloaded to GPS devices by visiting www.bestwestern.com

The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has unveiled the crowning touch to its $28 million renovation at the oceanfront Kealohilani Tower — the Queen Liliuokalani Suite.

The hotel redesigned and renamed the one-bedroom presidential suite in honor of Hawaii’s beloved monarch.

 Located on the 25th floor, the suite offers views of Waikiki Beach and provides 1,880 square feet of flexible interior living space and a 520-square-foot lanai.

The Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center donated a portrait of the queen taken during her reign, which is displayed in the suite foyer.

The queen loved music and attended Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, for which she composed “The Queen’s Jubilee.” In tribute, the music sheets to this song are also displayed in the suite. The queen composed more than 150 songs.

The suite blends splashes of contemporary accents reminiscent of the 18th and 19th centuries and the Victorian Era. Highlights include a fuchsia-printed daybed and two leafy vine-printed slipper chairs; a foliage-printed carpet inspired by the queen’s love of flowers and plants; natural teak wood furnishings on the lanai; yellow window coverings that represent the color of the queen’s reign; dark-stained mahogany furniture; granite-top buffet tables and television console with a remote jack pack to easily connect digital technology; a 42-inch television with high-definition signal recessed into the living room wall; a seven-inch wood wall base that conjures design elements from the 18th century; and a frameless glass shower door and Kohler bathroom fixtures.

For more information, call 800-848-8110 or visit www.marriottwaikiki.com

Since the automotive industry executives thrashing for not jet-pooling to the bailout hearings in Washington, D.C., private fliers everywhere are seeking a way to maintain the high productivity associated with private jets in a way that is more environmentally, socially and fiscally responsible.

Greenjets’ shared-ride private jet service offers the solution. Greenjets offers two easy ways to access its shared-ride jet service to major markets across the U.S.

Clients can simply visit the website and book a seat on a private jet through the easy online booking system, or call the company’s 800 number to book through a live concierge.

All requests are followed up by dedicated Travel Specialists who arrange flights according to clients’ needs.

Greenjets also offers the Greenjetcard program, where discounts are available for Blue, Silver, Gold and Black card members. With Greenjetcard limited special offers, membership starts as low as $1,400 for a year, and trip prices from N.Y.-Florida can be as low as $1,800 per person with a Black card.

Free trips and free companions are available with some memberships as well. Greenjetcard memberships require no money on account, so clients pay as they go and avoid the risk and cost associated with tying up capital in a jet-card account.

The Greenjetcard provides the most cost effective private jet travel solution available today.

Greenjets service between N.Y. and Florida will begin in June 2009, with booking available immediately. Greenjets service will be available for travel for New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Atlanta and South Florida markets in 2009.

Throughout 2010 and 2011, 27 markets including Dallas and Houston, Los Angeles, Los Vegas and Phoenix will form part of the Greenjets Shared-Ride Network. Greenjetcard members enjoy concierge charter service anywhere including destinations outside the shared-ride network at cost plus 8 percent with complete transparency as to cost, equipment and charter operator.

Greenjets only uses ARG/US Platinum or Gold rated operators, and already has over 40 jets in the preferred operator network.

For more information, call 800-916-JETS or visit www.flygreenjets.com

Over 30 years, the legendary One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius has been celebrated as the most distinguished luxury resort in the Indian Ocean.

Today it continues to set uncompromising standards for style, service and glamour as the favoured hideaway of royalty and world leaders, Hollywood stars & celebrities – and the ultimate summer escape.

New refurbishments and sublime delights such as One&Only Spa, KidsOnly Club, Gary Player golf course and the Peter Burwash tennis centre keep the exclusive retreat constantly fresh and exciting.

Alain Ducasse’s first restaurant outside France could not have found a more prestigious setting than One&Only Le Saint Géran, set on its own private peninsula in a lush 60-acre estate.

With young Chef Romain Meder at the helm, ‘Spoon des Iles’ blends French, American, Asian, Latin and Indian Ocean flavours – including the native Creole cuisine.

“I like this cuisine, tasteful and true, of market gardens and fishermen,” he says. “I find in it something of the Mediterranean atmosphere which is so precious to me.”

Table settings are of Jaune de Chrome porcelain and even the cutlery is a cultural mix; guests can choose between Cloisonné Christofle and simple palm-wood chopsticks.

A magnificent wine cellar also features the finest vintages of both the Old and New Worlds.

It is complimented by Rasoï by Vineet, a beachside restaurant by Michelin starred chef Vineet Bhatia.

The newly-refurbished One&Only Spa features the very latest in English ESPA products and is a haven for the senses drawing on the many modalities of wellbeing, including: Holistic spa treatments, comprehensive fitness programmes, hairstyling and pedicure excellence with world famous French podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez. The resort spa is nestled amongst a lush tropical landscape and incorporates a unique outdoor spa pavilion suspended over water amidst the tropical gardens.

The highly-trained butlers are the stuff of legend, mentioned in publications and television programmes all over the world, not just for their sunglasses-polishing skills, but for their discreet demeanor, 24-hour availability and friendly attitude towards all guests.

KidsOnly has meanwhile opened its doors to young adventurers aged from 4 to 11 years old. Children under four years must be accompanied by an adult or baby-sitter, who are available at a nominal charge. The clubhouse created by professionals who understand that happy kids mean happy parents is literally a treasure chest of entertainment and fun – complete with chests filled with gold coins, a map showing the whereabouts of hidden treasures, ropes and pulleys and sea shells galore.

The clubhouse in KidsOnly was inspired by Bernardin de St Pierre’s legend of Paul et Virginie, who were tragic lovers immortalised in a romantic novel about “Le Saint Géran”, a doomed ship which sank off the coastline of Mauritius.

The action packed KidsOnly activity programme provides something for children of all ages and tastes. Each day of the week sees a different theme of activities for various age groups, all fully supervised by highly trained, multilingual staff.

For the creative, there is also plenty to learn, from mosaic making and Mauritian Sega dancing to kite making and cookery classes – where little chefs are kitted out in personalised chefs’ uniforms. Night time treasure hunts and banana-boating are ideal for little adventurers while budding actors take part in stage productions.

For golfers, the 9-hole One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf Course designed by Gary Player is beautifully landscaped, dog-legging alongside the beach — with complimentary green fees for guests.

The Peter Burwash International Tennis Academy provides five free courts – surfaced with artificial grass – and beginners’ tuition, as well as one-to-one coaching with the pro, a weekly over-16s tournament and free-hitting evenings, when guests can just turn up and play.

About One&Only Resorts (“One&Only”)

Created exclusively for the luxury resort market, One&Only Resorts are conceived as hallmarks of excellence. Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, each award-winning resort offers guests a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture, a genuine hospitality and a lively energy that is unrivalled. These properties include One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas and One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. One&Only Cape Town, South Africa recently opened on 3 April 2009 and a further two One&Only Resorts are in the planning stages in Cacique, Costa Rica and at Muyuni Beach in Zanzibar.

One&Only Le Saint Géran
Pointe de Flacq
Mauritius
Tel: +230 401 1688
Fax: +230 401 1777
Email: reservations@oneandonlylesaintgeran.com
Website: www.oneandonlyresorts.com

As Chosen By TrekAmerica

It is 40 years since Easy Rider hit the silver screen, capturing the spirit of American counterculture and inspiring a new generation of road trip movies.

Marking this anniversary, road trip specialist TrekAmerica has selected its top five cult road trips – both fictional and real – with details on how travellers can follow in their tyre tracks.

1. Easy Rider

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper play two bikers who set off from Los Angeles to reach New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras, stopping along the way to spend a few days in a commune.

Travellers can swap the Harley Davidsons for a minibus and follow the bikers’ route on TrekAmerica’s Cross Country BLT trip, which passes through many locations used to film Easy Rider.

These include Los Angeles, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, New Orleans and Taos, New Mexico, which will be marking Easy Rider’s anniversary in its Summer of Love this year from May to September.

This annual festival is inspired by the ethos of the film with some events fronted by part-time resident of Taos, Dennis Hopper.

The 21-day Cross Country BLT starts from £1,479 per person excluding flights. See www.trekamerica.co.uk or telephone 0845 863 8214.

2. On the Road

Jack Kerouac’s semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of Sal Paradise who travels across the USA from the east to the west coast during the late 1940s. The novel, published in 1957, became a definitive work of the Beat Generation and a film version is currently in pre-production.

Sal Paradise’s cross-country route begins in New York and travels west through the northern USA states towards Los Angeles. Travellers on TrekAmerica’s Northern Trail will find themselves on a similar route to Sal, stopping in Chicago then passing through Iowa, Wyoming and Nevada before travelling south through California from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The 21-day Northern Trail starts from £1,199 per person excluding flights. See www.trekamerica.co.uk  or telephone 0845 863 8214.

3. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp and Guy Pearce play three drag queens driving across the Australian outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a bus nicknamed Priscilla. The film had its debut at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and has now been transformed into a successful musical, opening in London in March 2009.

TrekAmerica’s sister company OzXposure offers bus and van tours across the whole of Australia. Southern Xposure is a 15-day trip following the Priscilla route in reverse, beginning with the incredible outback landscapes of Kings Canyon, Uluru and Coober Pedy and ending with the iconic sights of Sydney Harbour. High heels and feathered head-dresses are optional.

The 15-day Southern Xposure tour costs from £938 per person excluding flights. See www.OzXposure.co.uk or telephone 0845 863 0510.

4. The Motorcycle Diaries

2004 film The Motorcycle Diaries is based on the journals of Che Guevara, recounting a road trip he took with his friend Alberto Granado across South America in the early 1950s.

Finding eight spare months to travel as Che did will be difficult for most, but Footloose’s South American Adventure captures the essence of the expedition, touring four countries in 25 days. The trip takes a horseshoe route from Santiago in Chile to Buenos Aires in Argentina, via Bolivia and Brazil.

Footloose’s trip includes a few days exploring the Atacama Desert as Che himself did.

Footloose’s 25-day South American Adventure costs from £1,699 per person excluding flights. See www.Footloose.com  or telephone 0845 863 9402.

5. Thelma and Louise

Two Arkansas women break free from their lives to take a weekend road trip, but after killing a man, they find themselves in a bid to reach Mexico. Reluctant to drive through Texas, their route takes them west through Oklahoma and eventually to the Grand Canyon.

TrekAmerica’s Americana Road Trip follows the route of the female fugitives, stopping for a dip in Hot Springs, Arkansas, before crossing into Oklahoma where Route 66 was born. The canyon landscapes of Utah and Nevada are another highlight of this trip, although TrekAmerica’s van will be parked safely away from the Grand Canyon rim.

The 21-day Americana Road Trip costs from £1,439 per person excluding flights. See www.trekamerica.co.uk  or telephone 0845 863 8214.

Good news for dive fans – the Vandenberg, a decommissioned US Air Force missile-tracking ship, is finally headed to Key West with the last steps of a 13-year process to create the newest artificial reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, nearing completion.

On Easter Sunday [12 April], tugboats eased the 523-foot-long retired Air Force missile tracking ship down the Elizabeth River into Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia, USA.

From there, a single 90-foot-long ocean-going tugboat, the Elsbeth III, led the 66-year-old vessel on its final Atlantic coastal voyage.

The 1,100-mile voyage to Key West, undertaken at about 6 mph, should take about a week, according to Captain Latham Smith, owner of Smith Towing.

Following the Vandenberg’s arrival in Key West, at least a month will be required to complete necessary work before the ship can be sunk six miles south of the island in about 140 feet of water.

Once sunk, it should provide new habitat for marine life, a recreational venue for divers and fishermen and an “underwater classroom” for marine science students.

Project organizers anticipate the scuttling should take place between May 20 and June 1, 2009, but won’t project an exact date until after the ship arrives in Key West.

Seventy percent of the $8.6 million project’s funding resources and some 75,000 man-hours were required to rid the vessel of contaminants, according to Jeff Dey of Reefmakers.

The removals and additional ship cleansing were required to receive the necessary federal and state permits to sink the ship in the sanctuary without risking environmental impact to the marine ecosystem.

Project organisers say the prime attraction of the Vandenberg is its huge size and diversified structure that should appeal to divers of all skill levels. While some sections of the ship are expected to rise to within 40 feet of the surface, other areas should appeal to divers with advanced certification to dive in deep environments beneath overhead structures.

“There is simply nothing else like the Vandenberg for divers,” said Joe Weatherby, who founded Artificial Reefs of the Keys and began efforts to get the Vandenberg to Key West. “There are a dozen dive points that will come within 40 to 50 feet of the surface, while deeper areas will provide opportunities for advanced divers.

“At about 100 feet, the properly trained and equipped technical diver will be able swim a full 475 feet along the starboard section of Deck 1,” he said.

The ship first saw duty as a U.S. Army troop transport named the General Harry Taylor. It became the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 1963 and tracked Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space launches off Cape Canaveral. It was retired in 1983, but received its most public exposure when cast as a Russian science ship in “Virus,” a 1999 motion picture starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Sutherland.

When scuttled, the Vandenberg will become the second largest ship in the world ever to be intentionally sunk to be an artificial reef. Currently, the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo is the second largest and it is to drop a notch to number three.

“It’s the final piece of the Florida Keys ‘Wreck Trek’ puzzle, said Bob Holston, president of the Keys Association of Dive Operators.

“We’ll have two major shipwrecks at either end of the Keys.”

Project officials say the Vandenberg reef is expected to generate $80 million in tourism-related sales during the next 10 years, and point out environmental benefits including alleviating recreational diving pressure on natural coral reefs.

For more information, dive in to www.bigshipwrecks.com