Hotel Management International : All Issues

Thierry W Despont discusses the inspiration behind his luxurious interiors for 45 Park Lane, fostering a sense of place and the delicate balance between innovation and lasting appeal.

CEO of Choice Hotels Steve Joyce is looking to transport the company’s asset-light model and aggressive approach across the Atlantic. He talks strategies with Rod James. We also travel to Rome for a sit-down with Amy McPherson, the president and managing director of Marriott’s European division.

Also in this issue, Jennifer Sharp meets top chefs, restaurateurs and hotel executives to investigate why fine dining need no longer owe its allegiances to Escoffier, and we talk to Hilton Worldwide’s president of global operations Ian Carter and Starwood executives Michael Wale and Brian McGuinness.

Back in early November we hosted the European Hospitality Awards 2011. Winners on the night included the St Pancras Renaissance, the Dorchester Collection and Melia Hotels founder Gabriel Escarrer Julià. We include a full report.

They say it can be lonely at the top,” observes Kurt Ritter in our exclusive profile commemorating his 35 years with Rezidor. If that is indeed the case, he must enjoy his own company. To have spent so long at a single organisation would be impressive in any industry, but to do so within hospitality is quite a feat.

Factor in that Ritter has been CEO since 1989 and one comes to appreciate quite
how remarkable an anniversary this is. But despite the years spent in the boardroom,
he remains an hotelier at heart. Will Ritter be around to celebrate a 40th anniversary? Don’t bet against it. View Issue

Hotel Management International travels to Marrakech for meetings with hoteliers, developers and analysts in an effort to find out why Morocco's Red City is becoming so attractive to luxury operators that even the king is getting in on the act.

From Red City to Red Book and a meeting with Michelin director Christian Delhaye to discuss the guide's ongoing relevance in an increasingly information-saturated era, star ratings in an age of austerity and plans for future expansion.

Elsewhere in this issue, we cross the Atlantic for a one-to-one with André Balazs, owner of the hippest hotel portfolio in North America; Design Hotels' Claus Sendlinger and Six Senses' Sonu Shivdasani debate sustainability's role in delivering a luxury experience; our special report profiles the rise of the baby brand; and dentist-turned-medical spa pioneer Paulo Malo argues that there's no reason hotels shouldn't offer diagnostic testing, outpatient surgery and full health
checks.

Two-starred Michelin chef Marcus Wareing talks to Phin Foster about rewarding talent, creating a buzz and why a chance to be a part of the St Pancras Renaissance presented too good an opportunity to turn down.

The first of Brian Williams' Chapter hotels opened earlier this year to a warm reception from Swire Hotels' fans, British tourists and Cheltenham residents alike. We meet Williams, and Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects, to discuss home-grown interiors, the challenges of combining old and new styles, and the need for pared-down luxury post-recession.

Irish-born, London-based designer David Collins has created some of the most gorgeous hotel interiors of the last ten years, from the Connaught Bar to Limewood in Hampshire. I visit his Fulham studio to talk about his former incarnation as an architect, and his broad range of influences.

"If you want to get people to follow you, it is all about being authentic, trustworthy and transparent. It simply comes down to those in your company saying: 'I believe her'," says new Four Seasons CEO Katie Taylor, who talks about her new role.

Living in a tough neighbourhood has done nothing to dent the warmth and enthusiasm for Syria and Lebanon. Hoteliers discuss what these destinations have to offer travellers looking for somewhere special.

Following its success in Mexico, Grupo Habita has set its sights further afield with the opening of Hotel Americano in Manhattan. Carlos Couturier reveals the secret of creating unique experiences. Meanwhile, Mark O'Flaherty looks at the super-luxurious properties that have heralded a hospitality renaissance in New York.

Following The Savoy's gargantuan restoration, interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and general manager Kiaran MacDonald reveal how to recreate a classic for a new generation.

Sustainability has become the new 'black' of the hospitality industry as hotel groups find new ways to minimise their environmental impact. "Any building that doesn't consider sustainability its number one agenda is in serious danger of becoming an unviable product within a very short period of time," Chris Sanderson, strategy and insight director of trend forecaster The Future Laboratory, tells us.

Ian Schrager, the legendary founder of the Morgans Hotel Group and Studio 54, has collaborated with Marriott International on the new Edition range of lifestyle hotels that debut in October 2010 in Hawaii. We examine this unlikely pairing.

Appointed as CEO of global hospitality giant Starwood with no experience of the hotel sector whatsoever, the last three years have provided a steep learning curve for Frits van Paasschen. He tells Phin Foster why both he and the company have emerged all the stronger for the experience.

In this issue, we acknowledge the best in European hospitality for 2010 in our inaugural European Hospitality Awards with judges Johanna Fragano, Claus Sendlinger, Patrick Reardon and Ted Teng.

Accor's Gilles Pélisson discusses the changes he has implemented since he took over as CEO and we celebrate the Goring hotel's 100^th birthday by meeting two generations of Gorings to discuss how maintaining an independent spirit comes with keeping it in the family.

We also talk to Pierre Koffmann about his triumphant return after a six-year hiatus and look at how management agreements have changed following the economic slowdown.

French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have carved out a reputation as one of Europe's leading design teams. They tell us about their first hotel project in Berlin, the challenges of working together, and the freedom of working outside the constraints of industry expectations.

In the Spring edition of Hotel Management International, Starwood's Oliver Bonke, and Rezidor's Olivier Jacquin and Richard Biggs discuss their strategies for the year ahead and Andy Cosslett, CEO of InterContinental Hotel Group, explains why IHG is perfectly positioned to take full advantage of a recovering market.

Our annual European Hotel Survey reveals a few surprises and anticipates conservative growth over the next year, and we pick the finest luxury hotel spas of 2010 that dazzle guests with exciting new treatments, unique designs and a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

A reminder about Hotel Management International's inaugural European Hospitality Awards 2010. Our esteemed panel of judges, Johanna Fragano, Claus Sendlinger, Franka Holtmann, Patrick Reardon, Ted Teng and Herbert Ypma, are waiting to receiving your entries. We are celebrating the best in European hospitality and I am eagerly looking forward to the results.

Following the troubles of 2009, 2010 is a pivotal year and the first quarter will likely give us all enough foresight to determine just when the recovery will begin.

As Mark Wynne Smith tells Andrea Ashfield, cities such as London will play a crucial role. A study by Deloitte and STR Global revealed RevPAR in November for London hotels rose by 10% compared to the same month in 2008.

For our cover story I visited Berlin to talk to Europe’s most progressive architect, Jürgen Mayer, and ask him about his first completed hotel project, the SOF Park Inn in Krakow.

Chef Marcus Wareing talks to Phin Foster about the management disputes that threatened his career and stymied his creativity, and how he found solace in his commitment to cuisine.

June 2010 sees the inaugural Hotel Management International European Hospitality Awards 2010. Go to www.hotelmanagement–network.com/awards for more information and to submit your entries.

As signs of economic recovery appear, it is heartening to see new openings inject sparkle into the industry. I talk to Hotel Missoni creative director Rosita Missoni. 'We care about the way we entertain and making people comfortable. All these virtues have been realised in a hotel,' she tells me. On the other side of the Atlantic, a new breed of hotelier is making waves. I meet Alex Calderwood of Ace Hotel to talk about the boutique chain. As markets pick up we find out what is on the cards for EMEA with Rezidor’s Puneet Chhatwal, Starwood's Bart Carnahan and IHG's Andrew Gill. Operators are also unveiling new strategies. We sit down with Apo Demirtas from Jumeirah Group and Claus Sendlinger of Design Hotels to see what is on the horizon. We interview Alain Ducasse, who tells us why it's not fame he's interested in, just food. 'Being conventional is not an option,' he tells us. Wise words for a new era.

The global economy remains in a state of flux. CEOs are focused on recalibrating their strategies for the time when the markets recover. We've brought together some of the world’s leading hoteliers to debate what sort of hospitality business is likely to emerge from this period. Industry leaders including InterContinental’s Andy Cosslett, Starwood’s Frits van Paasschen and Kurt Ritter from Rezidor provide some stark truths. But hotels continue to set standards. We cover the Rocco Forte Collection's most ambitious project yet and also spend a night at the new Park Hyatt Hotel. Significant numbers of luxury brands are moving into Europe but how will new hotels fare in a competitive marketplace? We examine the projects that are going to make a splash. In an exclusive interview, designer and style icon Andrée Putman discusses her career: 'To be happy one just needs to find something to be passionate about.' Simple advice for uncertain times.

'Changing Gears' was the theme of the International
Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin. Chief economist Roger Bootle
set the tone for the conference with his observation that the
situation will get worse before it gets better. At a roundtable
afterwards with IHG chief Andy Cosslett, Starwood’s Frits
van Paaschen and Accor’s Giles Pélisson, the message
was that the industry must stay focused. Hilton’s Chris
Nassetta described the trading situation as 'uniformly bad
around the world'. No one was bold enough to set a time frame
for how long the downturn will last. The lack of credit means
transactions have dried up, as Arthur de Haast told me. He did
say there was evidence that wealthy individuals are considering
acquisitions of distressed properties. But progress will be slow.
With guest numbers down and hotels working harder to attract
those that remain, design must come to the fore to meet the
travellers' expectations.

‘Who says that great style and design have to be reserved for rich people?’ demands Ian Schrager. In a rare interview, the design guru looks back at an extraordinary career that has defined many zeitgeists.

What does the economic situation mean for the hotel industry in the next year? While no one can predict the future, our panel of experts tells us who’s likely be hardest hit.

‘I wanted a challenge, and 2008 has provided that,’ Starwood’s new CEO Frits van Paasschen tells us. Where many of his contemporaries see doom and gloom, van Paasschen recognises the opportunity to transform the company into a megabrand.

With boundaries between business and budget travellers dissolving, citizenM has arrived at the right time. We talk to CEO Michael Levie about the lifestyle needs of the modern guest. We also have an exclusive interview with citizenM project architect Jeroen Vester from Concrete.

"Luxury does not compromise", Reto Wittwer tells us in the latest edition of Hotel Management International. The Kempinski CEO knows a thing or two about luxury and he discusses his successful business philosophy with us, providing guidance in a time of financial turbulence.

Adaptability is a key characteristic for success in any industry. In recent years some of the biggest brands in the hospitality business have revealed fast-paced expansion plans. Despite these companies having clear advantages over their independent rivals, the brands face their own self-imposed set of challenges. They must respond to guests looking for a unique experience, as we discover when we talk to Starwood Capital Europe and The Rocco Forte Collection.

The need for healthier cuisine is a demand that the industry can’t ignore. The responsibility of fine dining restaurants to provide it is a matter of hungry debate among chefs, and food and beverage directors.

Often described as one of the hospitality industry's most astute trend setters, Claus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design Hotels, talks to Hotel Management International about his predictions for the future.

In the midst of an economic slowdown, Yann Caillère, CEO of Sofitel, tells us why he is about to launch a double-pronged brand into the premium end of the international hotel market.

Scandinavia has a complicated hospitality market, yet the region is showing healthy growth. Low-cost flights, a thriving conference market and a growing ecotourism segment are all helping to attract the major hotel players.

With a hundred years spent in the Brazilian restaurant trade, the Fasano family’s expansion nearly five years ago into the hotel industry was always going to be worth watching. Hotel Management International visits the group’s latest offering – the Hotel Fasano, a stone’s throw from Rio de Janeiro’s legendary

Often described as one of the hospitality industry's most astute trend setters, Claus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design Hotels, talks to Hotel Management International about his predictions for the future.

In the midst of an economic slowdown, Yann Caillère, CEO of Sofitel, tells us why he is about to launch a double-pronged brand into the premium end of the international hotel market.

Scandinavia has a complicated hospitality market, yet the region is showing healthy growth. Low-cost flights, a thriving conference market and a growing ecotourism segment are all helping to attract the major hotel players.

With a hundred years spent in the Brazilian restaurant trade, the Fasano family's expansion nearly five years ago into the hotel industry was always going to be worth watching. Hotel Management International visits the group's latest offering - the Hotel Fasano, a stone's throw from Rio de Janeiro's legendary Ipanema beach.

In the latest edition, we talk to four managers at the top of their game, Michael Gray, Jean-Louis Leimbacher, Michel Nader and Luc Delafosse, who discuss the challenges for the year ahead.

Elsewhere, Mark Wynne Smith, European CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, tells us that the European hospitality market looks set for turbulent times. We also talk to Jumeirah Executive Chairman Gerald Lawless, who plans to open 57 hotels in just three years. Award-winning sommelier Enrico Bernardo and Jean-Luc Naret, the director of Michelin Guides, discuss the latest trends in food and wine pairing and why establishing a good wine cellar is vital.

In the latest edition, we examine how Italian hotels are polarising into two groups: design-led newcomers and traditional 'grande dames'. With the emergence of the 'seven-star' rating, hotels are having to re-evaluate themselves. We ask whether this signals the beginning of the end of the rating system.

Elsewhere, Mark Wynne Smith, European CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, tells us that the European hospitality market looks set for turbulent times. We also talk to top Italian hotel designer Marco Piva, who discusses his new projects and enthusiasm for intelligent technology.

In the Summer issue, we examine how to create the perfect hotel bar. Concept consultant Robbie Bargh, the Hemmingway Bar's Colin Field and Polly Vernon explain what makes the perfect blend.

Rocco Forte reflects on the evolution of the Rocco Forte Hotels Group, outlining some of his plans for the future, and we travel to Russia, where international hotel chains are moving in to take advantage of an anticipated boom in travel to Moscow and St Petersburg.

Elsewhere we look at a revolution in design in the form of the Yotel capsule hotel. We also discover the appeal of Madrid, with the latest data from Deloitte's HotelBenchmark™ Survey.

The spring edition of Hotel Management International includes our fourth annual Top 50 European Hotel Group Survey.

We chart the rise of super hotels, looking at how these new hotels have influenced hospitality and the impact they will have on the design of future hotels. We also speak to Dorchester Group’s Global Development Director Ricci Obertelli to discuss the group’s recent repositioning and find out if it will change the group`s traditional key values of comfort, charm, elegance and service.

Elsewhere terrorism has become a major worry for hotel groups, and the industry needs to consider its security options in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the guest.