By BW Hotelier MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL has opened its M Live Asia Pacific real-time marketing and brand newsroom Command Center in Hong Kong, which becomes the company’s epicentre of real-time marketing to customers in the region. Marriott first unveiled the M Live concept at its U.S. headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland earlier this year with plans for a global network. The studio brings together all marketing disciplines to track conversations, trends, global performance, marketing campaign performance and brand reputation on social media, while also proactively creating original content based on what is trending or anticipated to trend on social media. With full-time staff able to monitor data displayed on multiple screens within the M Live Asia Pacific real-time marketing and brand newsroom Command Center, Marriott will authentically engage customers as relevant social conversations trend. In addition to responding to social conversations, M Live has created a calendar of topics expected to trend, such as Chinese New Year, the Seoul Marathon, the Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong, and the India Premier Cricket League.- By anticipating what will trend, M Live is able to strategically plan its creative and content strategy with the other marketing and brand disciplines within Marriott International. ’The changing consumer is at the centre of everything we do at Marriott,’ said Anka Twum-Baah, Vice President, Customer Loyalty & Content, Asia Pacific at Marriott International (see photo). ’M Live is another example of how we are putting our marketing in the context of next generation travellers’ lives that is immediate, relevant and authentic. With the opening of the Hong Kong M Live studio and the building out of a network, M Live will help make our new approach to marketing become truly global.’ M Live allows Marriott to not only seize more chances to engage with consumers quickly, but also identify opportunities by brand, by discipline, by market and by channel to create memorable and shareable experiences. To date, M Live has created a number of successful real-time marketing efforts.- For example, capitalizing on the buzz surrounding Dorothy’s stolen ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz, Marriott Rewards and our Marriott Hotels brand offered one million Marriott Rewards points for information leading to the return of the missing slippers. The team also utilized the New York Marriott Marquis’ Times Square billboard, placed a story in newsweek.com and amplified the content and creative on Marriott Hotels and Marriott Rewards social media channels. The campaign reached 4.5 million people on Twitter and many more on Facebook and Instagram. The M Live Asia Pacific is the first to come on board outside the US. M Live Europe, MidEast and Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America all have planned launches in 2016.- Marriott chose Asia Pacific as the second location because Asia, with 4.4 billion people and approximately 500 million in the emerging middle classes will provide substantial opportunities for tourism growth. And the region’s next generation travellers are among the fastest growing customer segment within the hospitality industry.
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By BW Hotelier SINCLAIRS HOTELS and Resorts announced their half yearly results for the period ended 30th-September, 2015, Sinclairs Hotels’ Total Income increased by 39 per cent to Rs.1,739.54 lakhs (Rs.1,251.67 lakhs).- The Company’s EBIDTA from operations for the half year period increased by 68 per cent to Rs.724.17 lakhs (Rs.430.49 lakhs). The Net Profit for the half year period stood at Rs.327.26 lakhs (Rs.309.94 lakhs) while the Earnings per Share for the period stood at Rs.5.88 (Rs.5.56). Sinclairs Hotels continues to make good progress.- Its 6th-property in Kalimpong, is showing healthy increase in occupancy.- The Company has recently commissioned the 7th-property in its chain, Sinclairs Tourist Resort, Burdwan, which is the only property of its kind in Burdwan, an important destination in West Bengal. Speaking on the occasion, Navin Suchanti, Managing Director, Sinclairs Hotels Ltd (see photo) said, ’In an environment where most hotel companies are struggling with high debts and consequent high interest costs, Sinclairs Hotels performance stands out. It owns and operates seven properties and continues to remain debt free. The half year revenue growth is a reflection of the strong- performance during the year. ’ The company has strong fundamentals and its reserves (excluding revaluation reserves) as at 31st-March, 2015 stood at Rs.6,187.95 lakhs on an equity share capital of Rs.557 lakhs last year.- The Company continues to be debt free.
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By BW Hotelier DUSIT DEVARANA New Delhi, has been awarded the prestigious ’Favourite International Hotel or Resort’ award by Cond- Nast Traveler Magazine, Middle East. Cond- Nast Traveller announced the winners at the 28th Cond- Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards, Middle East 2015 recently at a dazzling ceremony in Dubai which was attended by the who’s who of the Travel and hospitality industry worldwide. Readers of Cond- Nast Traveller, Middle East voted for their preferred destinations, airlines, hotels, spas and airports based on their personal experiences. Considered as the most prestigious recognition in the travel and hospitality industry, the Cond- Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards is regarded as one of the most popular and prestigious seal of approval in excellence. It provides an excellent boost to the credibility of the winning brand amongst its customers and competitors alike.
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By BW Hotelier THOMAS COOK (India) Ltd, India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial Services Company has announced a strategic partnership with OYO Rooms, India's largest branded network of hotels offering access to over 3200 hotels, spread across over 140 cities pan India. The agreement, the first of its kind between a travel services company and OYO, offers India’s leisure and business travellers a unique standardised stay experience. According to Thomas Cook India’s research and analytics, India’s travellers today present a high potential market for standardised and value driven accommodation options. The Company’s data highlights a significant and increasing appetite from not merely leisure travellers (family and ad hoc groups), but clearly also from India’s business segment- the SME and corporate traveller. With clear customer demand for elements like complimentary breakfast, WiFi and AC rooms, Thomas Cook India’s partnership with OYO Rooms aims at addressing this untapped market and with 3 fold benefits- wide range of standardised stay options, optimal locations (both business and leisure areas) and maximised savings. Commenting on the partnership, Abraham Alapatt, Chief Innovation Officer and Head -Marketing & Service Quality, Thomas Cook India (see photo) said ’Domestic Indian travellers today are demanding better value in the form of good quality, conveniently located, standardised accommodation and access to this, is in woefully short supply. Data also indicates, that the number of middle class Indian households is expected to grow exponentially- from 8.8 million in 2015 to 43.6 million in 2025 - in turn, driving this need further. Our partnership with OYO Rooms, offers us a wonderful platform to tap this need & opportunity.’ He added, ’Our pilot offering via this partnership, has seen a very positive response from across the corporate, leisure and business-cum-leisure segments, reinforcing our belief.’ Kavikrut, Chief Growth Officer, OYO Rooms said, ’We are absolutely thrilled to join hands with one of the leading tour and travel operators in the country. We have seen a large number of corporate and leisure travellers choosing to travel with reputed partners like Thomas Cook, and through this partnership we hope to bring to them a great hotel experience which is predictable, affordable and easily accessible. At OYO Rooms, we are always looking for ways to enhance the travelling experience of customers, and our partnership with Thomas Cook is another step in that direction.’
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Dear Starwood Owner, We are reaching out to you to share some exciting news. Today, Starwood and Marriott International announced plans to join together to create the world’s largest hotel company. This combination is designed to drive value to you and our shareholders. Together, our combined guest and customer base, loyalty program and powerful global platform is expected to deliver more business to your hotels, increase efficiency to lower your costs, and enable increased investment in revenue-generating technology and innovation. This marks the conclusion of the review of strategic and financial alternatives that Starwood’s Board of Directors began in April, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. Combining Starwood’s passion for innovation with Marriott’s excellence in execution will create not only the biggest but also the world’s best hotel company. Joining forces, our new company will have 1.1 million rooms, across 30 brands and 5,500 hotels in over 100 countries on six continents. It will be the biggest, global hotel company in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Africa & the Middle East, as well as the world leader in luxury, upper upscale and upscale, offering unrivaled choices and experiences that will translate into greater share of wallet and more business to your hotels. Both Starwood and Marriott are acutely aware that our ability to succeed greatly depends on our ability to serve you and your hotels. This combination better positions us to effectively and efficiently drive profitability at your properties. We know you have choices when it comes to selecting a partner and hope you will continue to trust us and our brands as we take this bold step forward. We do expect this deal to close by mid-year 2016. Until then, Starwood and Marriott will continue to operate business as usual as two separate companies. Our General Managers and hotel associates will remain focused on what matters most, taking great care of our guests and delivering strong returns for you. Today is the first day of long journey and there is still much to sort out. We are in communication with your General Managers and will continue to keep you updated as our plans progress. Please feel free to reach out to our team with any questions. Thank you for your continued partnership’you have been and will continue to be critically important to our success. Sincerely, Adam Aron Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis
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Dear Starwood Associates, Hello. I want to introduce myself and say how excited I am that we will be joining forces. You are part of a top-notch team. Your innovation in the lifestyle category and ability to attract discerning, loyal customers are achievements that we at Marriott International have long admired. I know it’s strange that we will go from competitors to teammates. I believe strongly that we share similar goals and our partnership will be a natural one. You may already know a fair amount about our company, but I want to be sure that you know that the well-being of associates has been and will always be our first priority. ’Putting People First’ began with the founding of our company in 1927, when J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott opened an A&W Root Beer stand in Washington, D.C. The Marriotts believed that if you take care of your associates, they will take care of the customers and those customers will come back. This has been a hallmark of our culture and central to how we have operated for nearly 90 years ’ through the best of times and through challenging ones, as well. We understand that you will have many questions today and in the days ahead. We will provide the answers we have, and share all other information as it becomes available. We expect a merger of this scale to take several months for reviews and approvals before it is finalized. We were attracted to Starwood because of your strong portfolio of brands, your innovative loyalty program, your international footprint, and, of course, your excellent associates. Once the deal is closed, Marriott and Starwood combined will become the world’s largest hotel company with a unique ability to meet the varied needs of travelers whatever their purpose and wherever they are in the world. Delighting our guests is the priority, and we don’t anticipate the integration having an impact at the hotel level worldwide. There will be some support areas where we overlap and we’ll address those in time as we look to more efficiently run our combined organization. A big part of our people-first culture is treating people with respect and transparency. You’ll experience both as we work through this process. Today is the start of an incredible journey for our two companies. I know we will do great things together. Thank you, Arne Sorenson President and CEO Marriott International, Inc.
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MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL announced Monday that was buying Starwood for $12.2 billion, making the new entity-the largest hotelier in the world with a global footprint with 5,500 properties in 100 countries, reaching an expansive traveler base. In a letter to Marriott employees, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson speaks about what the deal will mean for-for shareholders, consumers, and employees. Hello Marriott International Associates, We just announced some exciting news and I wanted to make sure you were personally notified. Our company has agreed to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts through a merger of both companies to create an exciting new Marriott International. Today’s announcement is a transformational moment for our company. It is a culmination of the inspired work of associates, like you, who have built Marriott International into a diverse, strong company that can make a merger of this scale possible. Marriott and Starwood, combined, will become the world’s largest hotel company with a unique ability to meet the varied needs of travelers, whatever their purpose and wherever they are in the world. This union will also generate tremendous growth: growing value for shareholders, growing choices and benefits for consumers, growing economic advantages for our owners and franchisees, and growing opportunities for associates. This integration will require a significant amount of work, but while the scale is much larger, we have successfully completed integrations before. We have always emerged stronger, and better positioned, to compete in a rapidly changing marketplace. The team will guide the Starwood integration and ensure that it succeeds with minimal disruption to our business. We’ve appointed Peter Cole, currently Americas Chief Financial Officer, to the role of Managing Director, Business Integration. Peter is an accomplished Marriott International veteran with a successful track record of leading large and complex projects. Peter will head a cross-functional team addressing all aspects of the integration including systems, finance, benefits and sales. We understand that you may have questions. We will answer what we know honestly and quickly. However, we do not have all of the answers right now. But I will commit to you that we will share information as it becomes available. One thing we do know is that it will take several months for this deal to be completed, and it is subject to Marriott and Starwood shareholder approval and regulatory approvals. We’ll provide regular updates on the status of the merger and more information about engagement with Starwood between now and when the deal is closed. Today is a day of celebration and pride for all of us. Thank you for all the incredible work you do to bring Marriott’s core value of putting people first to life. Thank you, Arne Sorenson President and CEO Marriott International, Inc.
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By BW Hotelier ANANDA IN the Himalayas-has been accredited with the-Spafinder Wellness 365 Best for Mind & Spirit, Best for Yoga and Best for Healthy Cuisine, announced at the 2015 Wellness Travel Awards press event held at the World Travel MARKET in London, last week. This title was awarded to Ananda in the Himalayas, by a panel of 33 wellness travel editors and experts, who nominated 504 properties for consideration before narrowing the field to finalists in 53 countries and regions. Over 10,000 consumers and travel agents voted for their favorite locations across 20 categories and selected Ananda in the Himalayas to be recognized for its excellence in wellness travel. ’We are honored to recognize the best in wellness travel from all corners of the globe,’ said Mia Kyricos, chief brand officer of Spafinder Wellness Inc. ’Our objective is to help travelers identify options for their ideal wellness vacations, while also recognizing the excellence and innovation that exists in this rapidly growing sector of the travel industry." Inaugurated in 2014, the Wellness Travel Awards recognize the demand for healthier travel options and honor hotels, resorts, destination spas and retreats worldwide offering the best wellness vacations and experiences.
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