ivanka trump

During last week’s Cvent Connect conference held at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, keynote speaker Ivanka Trump spoke about her personal secrets to professional success. Alongside her family, Trump oversees Trump Hotel Collection, which has a luxury portfolio of 16 properties worldwide.

Trump currently stars on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice with her father, Donald J. Trump, and she is also founder of her namesake lifestyle and apparel brand. At the five-day event, Trump shared her perspective on hospitality trends and the Trump ethos behind her family’s business. These include:

-Retain a family feel as your business grows. She pointed out that the Trump Organization operates as a family business, which has enabled it to achieve high success.

-Stay present and focus on the details. Trump told the audience that she regularly visits construction sites of new properties to ensure Trump brand quality is implemented from the beginning.

-Customize the attendee experience. Trump Attache service is an example of the brand’s personalized VIP treatment. It offers pre-arranged transportation, site-seeing suggestions and reservations, use of house cars and nanny services.

-Add local flavor to meeting spaces and events. This adds a dimension of uniqueness that will keep clients returning.

-Integrate health and wellness into events, venues and meetings. Exercise facilities, programs, meditation and other wellness initiatives help attendees pause, recharge and associate relaxation with a brand or event.

-Build business only in places you want to be. Trump says her family carefully chooses locations for new hotels based on their passion and interest in the place.

-Take on undesirable work. Trump urges emerging professionals to take on tasks and projects other colleagues avoid. She also encourages younger employees to ask questions to prevent making mistakes.

-Have big goals. Trump told event planners and hoteliers to dream big. She gave her father’s political ambitions as an example. The Trump Organization also dreams big by opening new properties and redesigning others.

Airbus JetsIn another move to further enhance its rapidly expanding travel industry, China is negotiating a deal of up to $16 billion to purchase 50 to 70 Airbus jets.

The deal is expected to include standard A330-300 wide-body, long-haul jets and a Regional version optimized for domestic and short regional flights.

Negotiations began some 18 months ago, and are part of plans to create a cabin-completion plant in Tianjin alongside its current assembly plant for smaller A320 jets. The deal could be finalized on July 1, when Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visits Toulouse, France. China often completes airline purchases during diplomatic visits, but deals sometimes are postponed at the last minute.

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Airbus and Boeing have been competing to sell jets to the Chinese market. The A330 Regional is identical to the main model, but has a specially adapted engine maintenance package and a restricted maximum take-off weight that enable Airbus to sell it at increased discounts to help increase the number of sales.

Airbus had hoped to sell up to 200 of the Regional jets to China, but the deal would guarantee nearly a full year of production of the A330, which was introduced in 1995. It is one of Airbus’ most profitable aircraft, and recently was boosted by delays in delivering the Boeing 707. Sales have fallen as new lightweight passenger jets have entered the market, however.

Airbus has seen tremendous growth in the nation, with more than 1,100 of the company’s aircraft in operation with Chinese airlines. The in-service Airbus fleet in China has expanded by 50 times in less than two decades.

China also boasts a growing number of Airbus manufacturing and support operations, including the A320 assembly plant in Tianjin, the company’s first outside of Europe. The plant began operations during September 2008 as a joint venture involving Airbus and a Chinese consortium of Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corporation.

Darren Lawsmart moves

Benchmark Hospitality International named Darren Law as general manager of Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort Curacao. He held the same position for The Regent Palms Resort and The Sands Resort of Turks and Caicos Islands in British West Indies.  Most recently, Law was group general manager for Nofa Equestrian Resort in Riyadh, and before that he served at Amber Dune Resort & Spa in Dominican Republic. Law is a graduate of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

“It is with great pleasure that I formally welcome Darren to Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort,” said Todd Felsen, senior vice president of Benchmark Resorts & Hotels. “He comes to our property with important experience managing luxury resorts in remarkable destinations.  Darren is a welcome addition to our leadership team in Curaçao.”

Sergio Boccismart moves

Sergio Bocci was hired as general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Mission Valley. Bocci will oversee operations of the 300 room hotel. He brings with him three decades of hospitality experience with Hilton Worldwide hotels. Bocci most recently served as hotel manager of Hilton Aneheim, where he led a $13 million renovation. He has also worked at The Beverly Hilton, La Quinta Resort and Club, Waldorf Astoria Resorts and Hilton Los Cabos. While Bocci was executive assistant manager of Hilton Los Cabos, the hotel received the Connie Award for two consecutive years.

“Sergio not only brings his years of extensive operations experience, he also adds the attitude of our philosophy of creating a rewarding experience for our team members and guests alike,” says J Peter Lynn, regional general manager of Hilton Worldwide.

Trine Ackelmansmart moves

Trine Ackelman was named the new director of sales and marketing at The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. Previously, she served as the director of sales and marketing at St. Regis New York and as the director of sales and marketing for Omni Berkshire Place. She has also been the complex director of group sales for W Hotels New York and the director of sales for Palace Hotel, Luxury Collection in San Francisco.

“We are delighted to welcome Trine aboard and know she will be a great asset to our hotel team,” said Mike Hall, general manager of The Westin. “Her experience will be invaluable to us in re-launching the Westin South Coast Plaza following our major renovation.”

Among her accolades, Ackelman was named “rising star” by San Francisco Hotel Council in 2004 and “sales leader of the year” by Starwood in 2007. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in communications and public relations at Hawaii Pacific University. She also attended Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland. Ackelman is fluent in Swedish, English, Danish and German.

Chris Whitesmart moves

Chris White is the new area director of sales and marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. White will oversee luxury properties along the coast of Southern California, including a multi-million dollar renovation of St. Regis Monarch Beach. He will also manage all sales, marketing and public relations for U.S Grant Hotel, W San Diego, Westin Gaslamp Quarter, Westin Mission Hills, Westin South Coast Plaza and Sheraton San Diego.

White previously served as director of marketing at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and director of sales and marketing at St. Regis Princeville Resort in Kauai. Prior to that he held directorial and managerial roles in sales and marketing at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Hyatt Regency Calgary, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa and at Hyatt Regency Vancouver. White graduated from University of Guelph, Ontario with a degree in marketing.

“Chris’ branding expertise in the hospitality industry, specifically with positioning and connecting to the luxury consumer, gives us an edge as we look ahead to the exciting renovations we are making at the resort,” said Ian Pullan, general manager at St. Regis Monarch Beach. “His experience developing teams with strong guest-oriented culture is sure to deliver growth and success for all the Starwood properties.”

Julie Sevillasmart moves

Julie Sevilla has joined L.E. Hotels as its new global director or marketing. In her position, Sevilla will lead teams in their marketing and revenue generation strategies. She will also develop brand awareness, drive customer engagement and oversee strategic partnerships.

Before joining L.E. Hotels, Sevilla served as director of marketing for Island Spa Catalina, a Santa Catalina Island company. Prior to that, she was the associate director of marketing at Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes and marketing manager at The Vox Group.

“Julie has a proven track record for developing cohesive brand platforms for multiple hotel properties, restaurants and spas,” said L.E. Hotels Founder and Chairman, Efrem Harkham. “As the L.E. Hotel’s brand continues to grow, I am confident that she will make a valuable addition to the marketing team.”

 

hotel-room-of-the-futureCourtesy of Starwood – Starwood Four Points properties are developing Smart Mirrors, digital mirrors with touch screen capabilities.

Designers predict that the hotel room of the future will feature much more than the requisite bed, TV and nightstand.  In an article published in Business Insider, Sophie-Claire Hoeller offers a glimpse of what we might expect:

Bigger Bathrooms

Experts predict that bathrooms will grow larger—up to 50% or more of the total hotel room—and become more spa-like. Rain showerheads and expanded counter space will become standard features. Even bathrooms at three-star hotels will be more luxurious.

Smaller Guest Rooms

Pod hotels, which are popular in Japan, feature tiny, minimalistic rooms. This concept may expand to other locales as much of the furniture traditionally found in hotels is deemed unnecessary. For example, flat screen televisions eliminate the need for bulky armoires, and desks in guest rooms can be replaced by communal work spaces in the lobby. Since people rarely unpack their belongings and store them in dressers, a growing number of brands are ditching dressers in favor of wire shelving, which is more flexible and offers a more open feel.

Tech

Technology is having a huge influence on the hotel guest room. At a growing number of properties, guests now use their smartphones as room keys. Some hotels are rethinking the entire concept of phones in guest rooms, since most travelers carry their own devices with them. They are giving guests access to hotel services through their mobile devices; special apps allow occupants to control the room’s lights, blinds and air-conditioning. Many properties are also scrapping the idea of in-room movies; some are collaborating with Netflix to provide entertainment options.

It goes without saying that outlets and charging stations will be increasingly important in hotel rooms in the future. Guests are demanding easy and convenient access to them. LED technology offers sophisticated lighting options, especially in bathrooms where lights can be adjusted to be more flattering. Special bathroom mirrors with touch screen capabilities can provide digital readouts of the weather or daily headlines.

Neutral Décor; Quality Bedding

Perceptions about cleanliness will cause duvet covers and curtains to become relics of the past. Instead, hotels are focusing on quality bedding. There will be a lot of white and neutral shades, with pops of color. Since light colors are unforgiving when it comes to stains and dirt, an increasing number of hotels will embrace light-colored carpets, or wood or tiled floors. Hotels will also integrate more natural elements and materials in their designs. It is predicted that indoor and outdoor boundaries will become increasingly blurred.

Multi-Purpose Lobbies

Staid lobbies with a static front desk are being phased out in favor of multi-use public spaces with bars, restaurants, lounges and business centers. This enables guests to work and socialize anywhere in the hotel. With strong WiFi signals and an assortment of seating options, groups can assemble anywhere for impromptu meetings or social gatherings.

In terms of design, hotels of the future will feature regional art, food and brands to give guests a taste of the local flavor. Architects will increasingly take the local surroundings into consideration when designing.

Social Media’s Impact on Hotel Design

It is no longer enough for hotels today to simply maintain a Facebook page or Twitter account. They need to consider how they come across on social media. In order to encourage guests to take pictures and share them on social media channels, hotels need to create ‘wow’ environments. Infinity pools, rooftop bars and unique ‘selfie spaces’ will become increasingly important.

A Focus on Fitness

Workout rooms used to be dark, windowless spaces with some meager equipment. In the future, hotels will invest considerable money in their fitness centers. Some will put treadmills into the guest rooms so guests can work out privately. Others will offer comprehensive wellness programs that target meditation, physical fitness and healthy food options.

Emphasis on Locally-Sourced Food

Many hotel guests express a desire for organic, locally-sourced food. Hotels are responding with farm-to-table menus. A growing number of resorts are launching urban farms, rooftop beehives and herb gardens. In many cases, traditional vending machines will be retrofitted to dispense healthy snacks, handcrafted salads and sandwiches.

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Meeting Room at The Great Wolf Lodge

Consider one of the thirteen Great Wolf Lodge locations around North America for your next meeting or event. Many locations are conveniently located near major metro areas, or in some cases, established tourism destinations. They offer flexible meeting space, exceptional cuisine and first-class accommodations for your attendees. Most importantly, they collaborate with you on every detail to orchestrate your ideal event.

Great Wolf Lodges’ professional function space demonstrates their commitment to delivering extraordinary meetings and events. Many locations feature full conference centers, complete with a dedicated entrance and pre-function space. No matter the location, flexible room configuration and setup are standard, as are fully-integrated audio visual systems with real-time support. Complimentary high speed wireless internet access is available throughout the resorts.

From a simple continental breakfast to a formal dinner, their chefs and banquet staff take immense pride in providing you and your attendees a creative and exceptional dining experience. Their team works with you to tailor a menu designed to delight, while adhering to your budget.

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At the end of a day of productive meetings, take comfort knowing your attendees are retiring to a spacious and well-appointed suite. Several guest suites feature a semi-private sitting area with a sofa, offering a great place to unwind or even get caught up on work. Each suite is also outfitted with an in-room refrigerator, microwave oven and granite countertops throughout. On-premise, discover the various dining and entertainment options, including a day spa, restaurants and bars, fitness center and retail options.

At Great Wolf Lodge, they believe their people are their competitive advantage. From the initial planning to the closing remarks, feel confident knowing you are supported by an entire team of meeting professionals fully-vested in your success.

Start the conversation by contacting group sales at 608.662.4741 or via email at [email protected].

Greatwolf.com/meetings

 

Meeting Professionals International Meeting Industry Leaders(MPI) released the names of its annual RISE (Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence) Awards today. The recipients will be honored at a luncheon on Aug. 3 during MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) in San Francisco.

David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel Company, will receive the RISE Award for Meeting Industry Leadership for his global impact on the meeting and event industry. The co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition has worked to unite the industry in order to show the value of meetings.

Peckinpaugh (pictured) has been at the forefront in the fight to end human trafficking, and as a result, Maritz Travel became one of the first travel companies to partner with ECPAT International, signing ECPAT-USA’s Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct. He currently serves on the board and executive committee for the US Travel Association, and is an advisory board member for Tourism Vancouver, Delta Airlines, Taj Hotels, Social Tables, Saint Louis University’s Hospitality Program and the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).

Other meeting industry leaders who will be honored include Kinga Socko of Poland, who will receive the Young Professional award for her significant role in the development of the Poland Meetings and Events Industry Report, which is used to prepare national and city budgets and influences business tourism in Poland. She also played a key part in the country’s DMAI accreditation process, which has resulted in Poland becoming one of only three European destinations that is fully accredited. Socko is a member of the MPI Poland Club and most recently served as a project manager for the 2015 MPI European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) organizing committee.

Tara Liaschenko, CMM, of St. Petersburg, Florida, will receive the Member of the Year award for her volunteer leadership with the MPI Tampa Bay Area Chapter as well as other MPI chapters. She previously served as chapter president and currently serves as a member on the global MPI WEC Proposal Review Task Force. She promotes future growth of the industry, providing internships to local students and those from her alma mater, Stephens College, as well as by underwriting scholarships for two students to become MPI members each year.

The RISE Award for Community Achievement in Knowledge and Ideas will be presented to the Meeting Industry Council of Colorado (MIC) for its MIC Educational Conference and Tradeshow. The event is instrumental in creating a unified marketplace for the Rocky Mountain region. MIC also helped to inspire Meetings Week in the Rocky Mountain area, which is held the week of the conference, bringing together additional industry events throughout the region.

The award for Community Achievement in Marketplace Excellence will be presented to the MPI Potomac Chapter for its annual Flipped Marketplace program, which is held at their Mid-Atlantic Conference and Expo (MACE). The program utilizes the reverse tradeshow format to match planners to the appropriate meeting suppliers and helps create additional membership opportunities generating engagement from non-members throughout the region.

The award for Organizational Achievement will be presented to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities for its meetings and events strategy. The Builders Association of the Twin Cities has reduced the number of member events by 85 percent, while increasing overall attendance and the perceived value of sponsorship as well as instilled a deeper sense of unity among members.

“On behalf of the global MPI community, I would like to express our sincerest congratulations to this year’s group of RISE Awards recipients,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “These leaders represent the best and brightest of our industry and are selected for their outstanding achievements and measurable contributions. It will truly be an honor to recognize each recipient during the annual awards presentation at WEC 2015 in San Francisco this August.”

This year’s RISE Award luncheon and presentations will take place at 1 p.m. on Aug. 3 as part of MPI’s WEC event at Moscone Center in San Francisco. For more information on the convention, visit www.mpiweb.org/wec15.

Mexico CityThe Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City is undergoing a $14 million renovation that is dramatically updating many areas of the property in an effort to attract more young clients.

Located in the center of the Mexico City’s historic Paseo de la Reforma, Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, D.F., offers 240 deluxe rooms and luxury suites in a colonial-style building. It was Mexico’s first luxury hotel when it opened in 1995, but started to feel a bit dated.

So, the property embarked on the major renovation project; some components, including the hacienda architecture and peaceful central courtyard, will remain intact, but some other features already have been changed. For one thing, Mexican details such as lamps suspended from ropes have been added in many guest rooms. The remainder of the rooms will be similarly renovated by early next year.

The huge lobby area has been transformed into several intimate salons with Mexican art and fireplaces, and the pink marble there was replaced with a contemporary design featuring large, hand-drawn crayon murals inspired by Aztec iconography.

New additions include Il Becco, offering a luxurious Italian fine dining experience and Pan Dulce, a bake shop featuring montaditos and French pastries with a Mexican touch (as well as Dom Perignon, from 5–6 p.m. only). The property’s other restaurant, Reforma 500, which offers Latin cuisine, is becoming trendier to attract a younger crowd.

All renovations and additions are slated to be completed by the end of 2016.

The property—which is just steps from Chapultepec Park and cool restaurants, bars and boutique shops—also offers some 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, divided among 13 function rooms, including a 4,230-square-foot ballroom.

Other hotel amenities include a full-service spa with Mexican-inspired treatments, an outdoor pool and health club, and a high-tech business center with a multilingual concierge.

tripadvisor

TripAdvisor’s stock spiked this week after the travel website company announced a strategic partnership with Marriott International Inc., that will enable users to book Marriott hotel rooms through its Instant Booking platform starting later this summer.

The new agreement adds Marriott’s 4,200 hotels in 80 countries to travel company’s existing room inventory from Best Western, Accor and Choice Hotels.

“TripAdvisor has created a new distribution model that changes the game in the travel industry by addressing key concerns of hotel suppliers,” said Shafiq Khan, senior vice president of channel strategy and distribution at Marriott International Inc.

In a statement, Kahn said the deal with TripAdvisor will allow Marriott to better control displayed rates and inventory. Customers who book through the travel website will not be eligible for Marriott Rewards points.

TripAdvisor’s emergence as an online travel agency could potentially drive business away from OTA heavyweights such as Expedia and Priceline, who demand higher commissions that average between 15 to 20 percent.

The Newton, Massachusetts-based company first launched its Instant Booking platform in June 2014. A gradual roll-out to international markets is expected over time.

Travelers can book rooms by clicking on a “Book on TripAdvisor” button to make a reservation. Throughout the process, the website directs travelers to contact the hotel for all customer support inquiries.

Bloomberg reported that TripAdvisor’s shares climbed by 15 percent to close at $87.65—the highest jump in four months. TripAdvisor’s net income increased 10 percent last year to $226 million. The company’s sales rose 32 percent to $1.25 billion. Marriott’s shares increased less than 1 percent to close at $77.02.

TripAdvisor is one of the largest travel websites that provides planning features and booking tools for travel. Its branded websites pull in 340 million monthly visitors and offer more than 225 million reviews for almost 5 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions in 45 countries.

Top 10 Culinary Destinations in the World

From Asian hawker stalls to seaside Mediterranean locales, traveling foodies have chosen their favorite places for the best eats. Based on an open Facebook poll, CNN recently released the top 10 culinary destinations around the world. Travel with an appetite to these countries, which offer exotic flavors and passion for their food.

1) Taiwan took in the most votes for their stinky tofu and beef noodle soups. The capital city, Taipei, has around 20 streets devoted to eating where hungry travelers can find oyster omelets, braised pork rice and gua bao steamed sandwiches. The country’s culinary heritage spans from Min Nan, Teochew and Hokkien Chinese communities to Japanese cuisine

2) The mix between Asian and Hispanic flavor has made the Philippines the second most popular foodie stop. The tropical country of 7,000 islands offers such delicacies as balut (duck embryo) and mole crickets for the adventurous. For a traditional Filipino dish try adobo, made with meat cooked in vinegar, salt, garlic, pepper, soy sauce and other spices.

3) Italian food has enamored Americans for ages. Head to the homeland for fresh-made pasta, zesty tomato sauces and delicious creaminess, with variations across each region. Sicily offers crunchy seafood arancini, Naples has some of the world’s best pizza and Modena is known for its Parmigiano-Reggiano.

4) Be it red, green or yellow, Thailand knows how to do curry. Influenced by Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian and Burmese cooking, Thai cuisine is filled with herbs and spices. Spicy, sour, salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy and slippery can often be found in a single dish. For something different than the usual pad Thai or cashew chicken, try som tom (spicy papaya salad) larb moo (minced pork with lime juice, fish sauce, mint and chili) or ko moo yang (grilled pork neck).

5) Japan’s diverse seafood palette is known around the world for its delicate precision and simplicity. Divert from the standard California roll to sample sliced sea urchin roe, abalone, octopus or blowfish, which adds a side of danger to your plate. Aside from sushi and sashimi, other culinary delights include multi-course kaiseki meals and kyodo ryori, a series of regional dishes unique to each city.

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6) Malaysia’s ethnic melting pot makes for some of the most flavorful food in Southeast Asia. If your stomach can handle it, try a plate of mie goring (fried noodles) from the bustling hawker stalls sending up smoke from the back alleyways. Roti canai is a national favorite, made with fried Indian-style bread and tender curried chicken. In Malaysia, Indonesian, Chinese and Indian flavors cross over for some of the most delicious cuisine around.

7) Heavily influenced by Cantonese food, Hong Kong could be considered dim sum capital of the world. Cart-style dumplings and rice noodle rolls dominate the lunch-time menu. But this cosmopolitan city with an international population also has a number of standout fusion dishes. Street stalls offer everything from Peking duck pancakes and sweet egg waffles to spicy Chongqing noodles and skewered curry fishballs.

8) Spice is king in Indian cuisine, which should be considered in a category of its own. With the help of saffron, cumin, cardamom and cloves, to name a few, the flavor spectrum runs the gamut. Try Hyderabad’s fragrant mutton biryani, a rice dish made with slow-cooked meat. For seafood, head east to Goa, a former Portuguese colony that left its traces behind in dishes like vindaloo. India also has some of the best vegetarian cuisine, as many citizens do not consume meat for religious purposes.

9) Colorful salads and roasted meats are the hallmark of Greece’s gastronomy. This Mediterranean country has a bountiful supply of lemons, tangy feta cheese and Kalamata olives to thank for its rustic flavor. Sample some well-known dishes such as moussaka with layered meats and cheese, grape leaf-wrapped dolmades or sweet and sticky baklava.

10) Vietnam’s cuisine made the list for its unique, French-inspired local dishes. Perhaps the most widely-recognized dish is pho, a steamy broth of aromatic herbs, noodles, sprouts and meat. Try the open-air markets and single-dish food stalls for more specialties like rice paper-thin ban cuon rolls, barbecued pork cutlets or banh mi, a cold-cut and veggie in a French baguette—not your average sandwich.