Snippets

Agoda inks distribution partnerships

Agoda Company, an independent online travel company that specialises in securing the lowest hotel prices in Asia and around the world, announced a strategic distribution agreement with all 119 Barcelo Hotels & Resorts around the world, representing Barcelo's first distribution partnership in Asia. Agoda has also signed a distribution agreement with China-based Jin Jiang Hotels - part of the larger Jin Jiang International Holdings, a leading tourism conglomerate in China. Jin Jiang Hotels owns or manages over 310 hotels and inns in China with more than 58,000 rooms/suites.

Keane awarded by HYSEA

Keane, a global services firm that specialises in enabling transformation of its clients' business and IT functions, has received two awards from the Hyderabad Software Exporters Association (HYSEA) at HYSEA's 15th annual awards day in Hyderabad. It was named 'Best Established Offshore Development Centre' based on its IT export revenue and number of years in operations. It was also given HYSEA's 'highest certification' award in information security for achieving ISO 27001 status.

Hilton CEO to receive lifetime achievement award

Stephen F Bollenbach, co-chairman and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), to be held in October 10-12, 2007, at the InterContinental Hong Kong. Potential recipients are nominated and voted on each year by a special committee, with the award presented to an hotel industry leader who has made a considerable difference in the industry in the Asia Pacific region and in the world through positive actions and significant contributions.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts partners Asia Miles

Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a member of the Preferred Hotel Group family of brands, has joined Asia Miles - one of Asia's leading travel reward programmes. Preferred Hotels & Resorts is a luxury collection of over 165 independent hotels worldwide and, through its new partnership, Asia Miles members can now earn miles at hotels such as The Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills in the USA, Palazzo Sasso in Italy, The Landmark London in the UK and The Imperial New Delhi in India. Preferred Hotels & Resorts has joined the more than 140 properties within Summit Hotels & Resorts, another Preferred Hotel group brand, to offer 500 Asia Miles for every stay.

HGR to bring young talent to Banyan Tree group

Hospitality Graduate Recruitment (HGR) has signed a one-year partnership with Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts to help the luxury Asian chain attract the best of a new generation of hospitality graduates. The partnership, which came into effect last month, gives senior management at all of Banyan Tree's 23 resorts in 10 countries unlimited access to profiles of undergraduates, graduates and alumni from over 100 hotel schools and hospitality universities globally.

HD Asia returns to HK this October

This year's Hospitality Design Asia Exhibition & Conference (HD Asia), an event that focuses solely on the hospitality industry, returns to Hong Kong from October 8-9, 2007. Now in its third year at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, HD Asia is expected to attract over 3,000 designers, architects, owners, developers, manufacturers, facility managers and other hospitality professionals from Asia Pacific.

Residency Foods enters foods business

The Tata group, private sector conglomerate announced its foray into the processed foods business with the acquisition of majority stake in Innovative Foods (IFL) from the Amalgam group. The acquisition has been made through Residency Foods & Beverages (RFBL), a subsidiary of Indian Hotels Company (IHCL).

As part of its plans to diversify into the various sub-segments in the foods business, RFBL has entered into an exclusive agreement with Jasper Aqua Exports, a seafood company based out of Vizag.

Soneva Fushi aims to be carbon free by 2010

The flagship resort of Six Senses Resorts & Spas - Soneva Fushi in the Maldives - is the first of the group's properties to implement a programme to offset its guests' flight emissions. The first step will make Soneva Fushi carbon neutral by 2008, and then ramp up to the next step which will result in Soneva Fushi being carbon free by 2010.

Additional custom duties on wine scrapped

The finance ministry has finally withdrawn all additional customs duties on imported spirit, wine and beer, following ongoing complaints from the EU and US on the high duties levied by India. A European Commission study had reported that the combination of duties and taxes in some states in India was as high as 550 per cent on imported spirits and 264 per cent on wines.

While the basic customs duty on wines has now risen from 100 to 150 per cent (which is also the WTO bound rate), all imported spirits and liquors will continue to attract the same basic customs duty of 150 per cent. There will be no additional duties levied on these items, reducing their prices in the retail market.

The Park Hotels chooses ITG as UK partner

The Park Hotels has appointed ITG Sales & Marketing to handle its sales, marketing and representation in the UK. This partnership is specifically aimed at increasing the number of visitors from the corporate, leisure and MICE markets to India. This is the hotel group's second marketing tie-up in the UK, after the Design Hotels that has been marketing The Park Hotels in Europe and UK for over past four years now. The Park Hotels in Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi are its members.

Taj consolidates its position in Kolkata

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has entered into a management contract with Jalan Intercontinental Hotels for a Gateway Hotel in Kolkata. This new hotel will be a part of Taj Business Hotels portfolio. The Gateway Hotel will be a 200 hundred room mid-market hotel strategically located at the junction of Rashbehari Connector and is close to the IT hub of the city near Salt Lake.

The hotel will also be located in the vicinity of major areas of economic development such as Salt Lake Sector V, the emerging IT hub in Rajarhat/New Town and the proposed IT development in Nonadanga.

Cushman & Wakefield launches hospitality group

Cushman & Wakefield has launched Cushman & Wakefield Hospitality, Asia Pacific following the acquisition of two leading specialist hotel consultancies. It has acquired Atrium Hospitality Solutions, managed by Rutger Smits and Ron de Wit and formerly operating as HVS International, and Hospitality Strategies Asia Pacific. With a long successful working partnership, the two firms each bring a full team of qualified hospitality professionals with extensive experience across the region. Rutger Smits has been appointed as managing director for Cushman & Wakefield Hospitality, Asia Pacific.

AIRDA becomes member of ARDA

The All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) has secured membership of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), an industry organisation looking after the interests of the vacation ownership (timeshare) and allied businesses in the US which has a significant market share of the global business.

AIRDA has worked with the ministry of tourism for securing guidelines to enable classification (star rating) of vacation ownership (timeshare) resorts in India. AIRDA is also conducting the capacity building for service providers (CBSP) training schemes of the ministry of tourism for increasing awareness in tourism for the unskilled service providers. These schemes are being conducted jointly with the offices of India Tourism.