InterContinental comes to KL - 1 February 2011

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its first InterContinental brand hotel in Malaysia.

IHG is replacing the management of the hotel owned by MTJ Development Sdn Bhd. Japan's Nikko Hotel operated the hotel for 15 years.

The hotel will undergo enhancements that will see it transformed by the end of this year.

General manager Adam McDonald, in an interview with Business Times, said Nikko was already a great product to start with and IHG will now build on that foundation.
As a luxury brand, The InterContinental will initiate some makeovers that will create the feel of the brand and work on providing service standards associated with the hotel.

While admitting that it will be challenge to change the work culture of 400-odd employees who have been under another brand, McDonald was quick to point out that the task was not an impossible one.

"It's all about walking in the guests shoes," he said, explaining how the staff will be trained.

McDonald plans to adapt some of the service culture initiatives that were seen in his previous position as the resort manager of InterContinental Bali.

This will include him interacting more with the hotel guests as he did at the resort in Bali as he hopes the current city hotel will have a good balance of corporate and leisure business.

McDonald also would like to implement changes in the hotel atmosphere right from lighting to staff uniform that changes from day to night.

As the hotel was renovated only four years ago, this time around some 180 rooms from its 473-room inventory and public area will be upgraded.

Rooms will be enhanced with InterContinental toiletries and amenities and improved in terms of touch and feel, McDonald said.

The lobby will also be upgraded to improve the arrival experience where the doorman will set the tone. The lobby will provide a feeling of safe, comfort and a sense of being looked after.

The InterContinental hotel's concierge service keeps its guests in the know by facilitating authentic and enriching experiences beyond the usual attractions.

"The concierge can get you in a restaurant, which is usually not easy to get in," McDonald said.

The Japanese and Chinese restaurants will also undergo a makeover.

IHG has signed a 15-year management contract with the owners.

In terms of performance, McDonald said that one of the measures it uses is to compare itself among its competitive set. In Kuala Lumpur, it compares itself to Mandarin Oriental, The Westin, Shangri-La, Hilton and Sheraton.

And within this competitive set, InterContinental will work on getting its share of the market.

In Malaysia, other IHG hotels include Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur, Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie, Holiday Inn Resort Penang and Holiday Inn Malacca. A Holiday Inn Express is also scheduled to open in Kota Kinabalu.

Source : Business Times
 [tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

InterContinental may be Nikko's new management

THE management of Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur may change hands after 15 years, sources say.

Japan-based Nikko Hotels International's management of the hotel in Jalan Ampang may not be extended when the management contract comes to an end in February next year.

Instead, it is understood that owner MTJ Development Sdn Bhd may bring in InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) - which operates brands like InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn - to operate the hotel.

A source told Business Times that the new brand is likely to be the five-star InterContinental.

According to sources, hotel staff were briefed on August 27 by the owner's representative. They were assured that they would be able to keep their jobs when InterContinental comes on board.

It is learnt that the hotel has some 400 employees.

Nikko general manager Michael Borostyan, when contacted, said: "Hotel Nikko will be undergoing changes in 2011. However, at this point in time, the board members have not officially signed a new management company agreement for the hotel."

A quick check with Japan Airlines' (JAL) Hotels Co Ltd website for Hotel Nikko showed that there were no more rooms available for booking from March 1 next year.

IHG vice-president of communications for Asia Pacific, Eric Lee, responding to questions on whether IHG will manage the hotel from next year, said that it did not have any news to announce at this time.

However, there is talk in the market that InterContinental has started to conduct interviews for placements at the hotel.

The 473-room five-star hotel has been managed by Nikko since July 1995.

Early last month, JAL announced the sale of a 79.6 per cent stake in JAL hotels to Hotel Okura.

The Japanese airline, however, was planning to retain an 11.1 per cent stake in the hotels as well as the brand names of the hotel chain it owns, including Hotel Nikko.

IHG hotels in Malaysia currently include Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur (563 rooms), Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie (260 rooms), Holiday Inn Melaka (275 rooms) and Holiday Inn Resort Penang (358 rooms).

Source : BTimes

[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Oops! Venice for a penny: Hotel offers 1-cent romantic weekend by mistake

A four-star hotel near Venice mistakenly offered the ultimate low-cost vacation _ a romantic weekend in the Italian lagoon city for 1 euro cent.

Not surprisingly, the Crowne Plaza in Quarto D'Altino, 15.5 miles (25 kilometres) from Venice, received bookings for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights on the night the rate was posted on its Web site, the hotel chain acknowledged. And it seems those bookings may be valid.

The hotel first thought the offer was posted by a hacker, sales manager Fulvio Danesin said Friday. But it turned out to be human error at the Atlanta, Georgia, offices of Intercontinental Hotels Group, the hotel's mother company, he said.

The offer was supposed to be for a two-night stay at half price. A night at the 151-room hotel normally costs between C90 ($128) and C150 ($214).

The 1-cent rate was up only Sunday night, but that was long enough for travellers to book dates running from October through 2010, Danesin said. The hotel stands to lose C90,000 ($129,000), he said.

Monica Smith, media relations manager for the hotel group in the U.S. , said Friday that some 228 guests made reservations for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights while the error was on the Web site and that the reservations would be honoured.

''Although a pricing error, IHG is committed to honouring the 1-cent rate for guests who have a valid confirmation,'' Smith said. She added that rooms booked at the low rate ''are nontransferable.'''

Source : HotelsMag
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

InterContinental profit rises 29% in first half

The world’s largest hotelier InterContinental Hotels Plc reported yesterday a 29% rise in first-half operating profit, but said growth had slowed in the second quarter, particularly in the United States.

The British group, which operates InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels, posted first-half operating profit from continuing operations of US$284mil, in line with analysts’ range of US$281mil — US$290mil and a mean forecast of US$285mil.

The hotelier, which earns nearly 70% of its profit in the United States, said revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key industry measure, grew 4% in the first half, but then slowed to 3.4% in July and only 1.5% in the United States.

“Generally, RevPAR growth slowed through the second quarter, and market conditions have become more challenging, particularly in the US,” said chief executive Andrew Cosslett in a results statement.

The InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane in London - Reuters

Last month, US-based hoteliers warned of soft US demand in 2008 and into 2009 with Marriott International and Sheraton-owned Starwood seeing a slowing US economy leading to US weakness in the second quarter.

InterContinental, which operates just over 4,000 hotels around the world, said it had exceeded its three-year rooms growth target six months ahead of schedule with 60,490 rooms added since June 2005.

Its half-year dividend rose 6% to 12.2 US cents.


Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

InterContienental to introduce Free Wireless Anywhere at Staybridge Suites

With thinking "outside the guestroom" Staybridge is the first hotel brand in category, to offer free wireless internet access anywhere on its properties.

IHG announces today that its upscale extended-stay hotel brand, Staybridge Suites is offering free wireless Internet access, available anywhere on its hotels' premises at locations across the U.S. and Canada. For guests who choose to connect via wired high-speed Internet access, this complimentary amenity available since the brand launched in 1998 remains unchanged.

"We want our guests to be comfortable wherever they choose to access the Internet during their stay," said Robert Radomski, vice president, Brand Management, Staybridge Suites. "Many of our guests enjoy wireless Internet access at home, so why should they be limited at their home-away-from-home? Whether they choose to do this by the pool, in the hotel's 'great room', or the traditional way in their guest suite or the hotel's business center, we feel its important to offer conveniences to our guests while meeting the demands of the marketplace," he added.

The first in the upscale extended-stay category to offer free "wireless anywhere," Staybridge Suites recently opened its 100^th hotel and expects to double its size in the next few years, offering this amenity at nearly 200 hotels across the Americas by year-end 2009.

One of five Staybridge Suites hotels open in the greater Chicago area, the Staybridge Suites Oakbrook Terrace expects this amenity will contribute to the hotel's community-like environment.

"Nearly all of our guests stay with us for business, and ‘wireless anywhere' will allow them to work or access the Internet in other areas of the hotel without being confined to their suite," said Destini Williams-Best, general manager, Staybridge Suites Chicago-Oakbrook Terrace. "This is especially important to most of our guests who stay with us for weeks on end and want to work in an environment similar to what they would have back home."

Keane Bell, regional director of operations for the Mid-Atlantic Staybridge Suites hotels adds, "The freedom and comfort of working in a large open space, such as the Staybridge Suites' great room, or even outdoors, can be rewarding and relaxing, especially when it's a complimentary service offered by the hotel."

Source : 4Hotelier
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