“Marriot, W Hotels to Add Rooms in Taiwan on China Travel Boom” plus 3 more

Marriot, W Hotels to Add Rooms in Taiwan on China Travel Boom
Breckenridge lodging tax increase likely headed for Nov. election ballot
Taiwan Hotels Target Chinese Tourists
Booming Rodd Hotels & Resorts Hosts ‘Live with Regis and Kelly Show,’ Builds Success on Personal Service; Loyalty Club ...

Marriot, W Hotels to Add Rooms in Taiwan on China Travel Boom

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 09:51 PM PDT

August 12, 2010, 9:45 PM EDT

By Chinmei Sung

(Updates with comment from China tourism official from 15th paragraph.)

Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Marriott International Inc., the largest U.S. lodging chain, and other groups including Le Meridien and W Hotels, plan to open their first hotels in Taiwan as they compete to cater for rising numbers of Chinese tourists.

Marriott is working with Taiwanese businessman B. V. Riu, owner of Taipei-based luxury hotel Sherwood, on a NT$6.2 billion ($195 million), 352-room lodging franchise agreement, Victor Chou, president of Sherwood, said. Le Meridien and W Hotels, both owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., also plan to open premises in the city this year.

Visitors from China may surpass those from Japan to become Taiwan's No. 1 source of arrivals this year, as relaxed rules spur travel to an island that has been off limits to mainland Chinese for 60 years. International hotel chains and local developers in Taiwan plan to invest NT$83 billion building 45 hotels and resorts, adding 10,865 rooms, in the next three years, the island's tourism bureau said on its website.

"There is plenty of room for Chinese tourism to grow," Ma Tieying, a Singapore-based economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. said by phone. "Direct flights between China and Taiwan will also boost cross-strait business traffic, and these businessmen and corporate clients will also trigger demand for hotel rooms."

China overtook France last year as the world's fourth- largest source of travel expenditure, according to the United Nation's World Tourism Organization. Germany was the biggest, followed by the U.S. and the U.K. About 54 million Chinese may travel abroad this year, the China National Tourism Administration forecast.

Increased Spending

Travelers from mainland China -- excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau -- increased their spending 21 percent to $43.7 billion last year as worldwide tourism expenditure fell 9.6 percent to $852 billion, the UN agency said.

"We are going to build a comprehensive complex for leisure, convention and exhibitions," Chou said in an interview from Taipei this week. "We want to be there for the cross-strait travel boom." The developer will break ground on the hotel on Sept. 9, Chou said.

Le Meridien is working with Shin Kong Financial Holding Co.'s life insurance arm on its Taipei property, said Christina Yeh, section chief at the Taiwan tourism bureau's hotel division. The 160-room hotel, located near the Taipei 101, the world's second-tallest building, is scheduled to start operating on Nov. 1, according to Starwood's website.

W Hotels is working with Uni-President Group, which owns the operator of 7-Eleven and Starbucks in Taiwan. The hotel will have 403 rooms and is expected to open in December, Yeh said.

Starwood didn't immediately reply to e-mails seeking comments.

Japanese Toppled

Taiwan dropped a ban on Chinese tourists in July 2008, two months after President Ma Ying-jeou took office and abandoned his predecessor's pro-independence stance.

The island will receive 1.2 million tourists and businesspeople from China, exceeding the forecast 1.13 million Japanese, in 2010, Yuan Kai-zhi, who works at the tourism bureau's international division in Taipei, said in April. Japan, which ruled Taiwan for 50 years until its defeat in World War II, has been the No. 1 source of visitors since records began in 1964.

Taiwan plans to ease restrictions and let individual Chinese visit Taiwan from January, Taiwan's top negotiator with China Chiang Pin-kung said in an interview last month. Taiwan issues visas for Chinese tourist groups, not individuals.

Shao Qiwei, China's tourism director, said the nation will study a plan to allow individual tourists to visit Taiwan. The announcement came in Taipei in May when Shao opened the mainland's first official tourism office on the island.

High-Profile Campaign

China will "actively" push to allow individual Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan, Man Hongwei, secretary-general of the Beijing-based Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits, said at a press briefing in Taipei this week.

Chinese tourists in Taiwan reached 707,400 in the first seven months and are expected to exceed one million this year, Man said.

Ma's Nationalist Party severed transportation ties with the mainland when its leaders fled to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedong's communists. China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has more than 1,000 missiles pointed at the island and has warned it may use force to stave off any moves toward formal independence.

The island spent a record amount in 2009 on a global campaign to boost its international profile as a tourist destination amid the economy's deepest recession, said Christine Lai, deputy director at the tourism bureau's international affairs division, declining to specify the figure. That included advertisements on CNN and British Broadcasting Corp. channels, targeting businesspeople and professionals.

--Editors: Mark McCord, Andreea Papuc

To contact the reporter on this story: Chinmei Sung in Taipei at csung4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Anstey in Tokyo at canstey@bloomberg.net

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Breckenridge lodging tax increase likely headed for Nov. election ballot

Posted: 13 Aug 2010 08:18 PM PDT

BRECKENRIDGE — Town residents will likely vote this Election Day on a 1 percent lodging tax increase — from 2.4 percent to 3.4 percent — strictly to support marketing.

Each year Breckenridge Town Council pulls an increasing amount of money from other sources to make its marketing fund competitive, and the anticipated tax increase would help efforts toward creating a sustainable revenue stream.

Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a three-ordinance package intended to achieve that goal. It includes compromises to maintain support of local lodging businesses.

"It makes a lot of sense the way we have it structured," said Bruce Horii, sales and marketing director with Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center.

Final vote on the ordinances — a ballot item, a five-year commitment from town coffers to marketing and creation of a special marketing committee — is slated for the council's Aug. 24 meeting. Public hearings are to occur at that time as well.

The increased tax on hotels, motels and other accommodations is not to increase any direct costs to residents.

"I support it," Councilman Mark Burke said of the package Wednesday. "A critical point for me was to make sure the lodging community supported it; they did, and because of that I support it."

The existing lodging tax allocates 2 percent to the excise fund (a major town revenue stream fund) and 0.4 percent to marketing (totaling 2.4 percent).

If voters approve the lodging tax increase, then 1.5 percent would go to the excise fund and 1.9 percent would go to marketing (totaling 3.4 percent).

The town ordinance to supplement marketing with 0.5 percent from town coffers would be effective if November's ballot item passes, and it would exist for five years.

Burke said he aims for council to "find either cost reductions in the budget or additional revenue sources" to fund marketing without taking money from the excise fund.

Crunching the numbers

For 2010, the town marketing budget is $1.8 million. This includes finances from three set streams (parts of lodging tax and sales tax, and all of business license tax) and a $773,000 boost from the excise fund, said town financial manager Brian Waldes.

Town council has transferred similar boosts to marketing for several years, and current council members want to get away from doing so. In a time of significant budget cuts and salary freezes, the council is especially focused on finding a way to fund marketing without taking potential finances away from town services.

About $1.68 million of the marketing budget goes to the Breckenridge Resort Chamber. The remaining finances are for grants to local nonprofits including the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, which "bring people to town," Waldes said.

The current projection for lodging tax revenue this year is $1.7 million. If those revenues remain flat in 2011, the new tax would potentially bring in about $2.5 million.

From that revenue, the town's marketing fund ordinance would result in an additional $367,647 going to marketing — for a total of roughly $1.4 million — rather than the excise fund. The amount taken from the excise fund, which helps finance town services, would be less than half what it is today.

Councilman Mike Dudick said Wednesday that increased marketing will help preserve quality of life in Breckenridge.

"We can have things like recreations centers and golf courses and ice rinks," he said. "We need the tourist tax dollars to pay for those things. We're trying to create a win-win for the citizens of Breckenridge."

Luring the right visitors

With the new tax increase and today's' projections, the town could be looking at a $2.25 million marketing budget in 2011.

Horii said that even if the proposal is approved, Breckenridge will remain short of the $3 million marketing budget he envisions (Aspen, South Lake Tahoe and Park City all budget more than $4 million; Steamboat Springs budgets $3 million).

"I still don't think it's enough to be competitive with some of the other ski resorts," he said. "The closer we can get to that $3 million mark, the better."

He also said the tax increase could lead to lodging businesses booking fewer groups and conventions.

"They really scrutinize more than the average customer," he said.

Dudick said he wants the town's new marketing approach — which will include a seven-member committee, three members of which would be from the lodging industry — to focus more on groups and "well-heeled" visitors from outside of Colorado.

"This is about destination travelers who set their sights on Breckenridge," he said.

Taiwan Hotels Target Chinese Tourists

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 10:05 PM PDT

August 12, 2010, 9:45 PM EDT

By Chinmei Sung

(Updates with comment from China tourism official from 15th paragraph.)

Increased Spending

W Hotels is working with Uni-President Group, which owns the operator of 7-Eleven and Starbucks in Taiwan. The hotel will have 403 rooms and is expected to open in December, Yeh said.

Starwood didn't immediately reply to e-mails seeking comments.

Japanese Toppled

Taiwan dropped a ban on Chinese tourists in July 2008, two months after President Ma Ying-jeou took office and abandoned his predecessor's pro-independence stance.

High-Profile Campaign

Chinese tourists in Taiwan reached 707,400 in the first seven months and are expected to exceed one million this year, Man said.

--Editors: Mark McCord, Andreea Papuc

To contact the reporter on this story: Chinmei Sung in Taipei at csung4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Anstey in Tokyo at canstey@bloomberg.net

Booming Rodd Hotels & Resorts Hosts ‘Live with Regis and Kelly Show,’ Builds Success on Personal Service; Loyalty Club ...

Posted: 13 Aug 2010 05:21 AM PDT

13 August 2010

Expanding 9-Property Premier Resort Operator Centralizes Guest Preferences, Cross-sells Properties and Maximizes Revenue with Maestro PMS Complete Integrated Solution

Rodd Hotels & Resorts, based in Prince Edward Island, Canada is a family business success story. In 1935 Wally and Sally Rodd noticed an increasing number of out-of-province cars passing their farm. Rodd, a true entrepreneur, built several cottages near their home hoping to attract 'tourists' to stay by offering hospitality. As the Maritime coast increased in popularity, guests came and stayed.

Today, Rodd Hotel & Resorts operates nine signature resorts with five golf courses on Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, including the Five-Star Rodd Crowbush Golf & Beach Resort. The Rodd family still runs the business and built its success on hospitality and personal service. One tool Rodd's team uses to manage its enterprise is Maestro™ Multi-Property Management hotel software from NORTHWIND that records each guest's personal preferences and account information at its headquarters. This centralized system enables all Rodd's team members to provide guests with personalized 360-degree service at all their properties.

Regis and Kelly experience world class service in Atlantic Canada "We have been in business for 80 years and our primary concern has always been guest happiness," said Mary Ellen Dougan, Rodd Hotels' director of sales and marketing. Rodd is respected across Atlantic Canada as a premier lodging company. Its reputation extends all the way to Hollywood. In June the 'Live with Regis and Kelly' show used the Rodd Crowbush on Prince Edward Island as its base of operations while the crew taped their popular morning television show on the island.

Rodd Hotels & Resorts has an amazing 18,000 members in its Equity Club loyalty program. Equity Club members enjoy benefits that include receiving the lowest published rates, free spouse accommodations, and invitations to golf tournaments and company parties.

"Rodd operates properties in downtown Charlottetown and Yarmouth, ocean front resorts in New Brunswick, and luxury golf resorts on Prince Edward Island," Dougan explained. "Service is the common element at all our properties. Guests who stay at our Yarmouth business hotel receive the same service as at our Five-Star Crowbush Golf Resort." The company maintains a centralized guest database within its Maestro system that enables Rodd's front office staff to track each of their Equity Club members to ensure they are always recognized and honored. Rodd's centralized Maestro PMS automation extends to its central reservation office (CRO) on Prince Edward Island.

Rodd's system enables it to book all resorts to the last room to maximize revenue. "Our CRO team takes call-in reservations and manages inventories for all our properties on the Maestro reservation software system," Dougan said. "Since our properties' rooms are controlled on one database, we can cross-sell adjacent properties and book-up all our resorts to the last room to maximize revenue." Many of Rodd's properties offer packages that combine room, food and beverages, and other amenities that visitors value. The Maestro property management system enables Rodd's reservation team to easily reserve guest packages and even customize them for each guest's unique needs.

Maestro remote access helps its management run the business in real-time from anywhere. Another advantage of Rodd's centralization strategy includes the ability for Rodd's management to remotely access property activity and monitor operations. "Mark Rodd handles our revenue management and uses Maestro's remote management access capability to continually check the pickup for our hotels while he moves from property to property," Dougan said. "He uses the web to access Maestro's Yield Management system's single image database regardless of where he is. He is a hands-on operator who understands how to use systems to run the business. Regardless of our advanced technology, guest happiness is still the most important thing at Rodd Hotels & Resorts."

At the IHMRS show in New York, visit NORTHWIND-Maestro at booth #3056

For a free demo of Maestro PMS, please call 1-888-667-8488 or email info@maestropms.com.

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About Rodd Hotels & Resorts
Rodd Hotels & Resorts is Atlantic Canada's largest privately-owned hotel chain with 10 properties throughout the Maritimes. For more information, go to http://roddhotelsandresorts.com.

Maestro Property Management Solution | Enhance guest service, improve efficiency, and maximize online and offline revenue with Maestro PMS, the industry's most robust and flexible resort software and boutique hotel software solution empowering leading full-service hotels, luxury resorts, multi-property groups, conference centers, condominiums, and timeshare properties. Solutions include Front Office (PMS), Accounts Receivable, Analytics and Business Intelligence, Sales and Catering, Multi-Property Management, Condo & Timeshare Owner Management with Web Functionality, Spa and Activities, Web Booking Engine, Real-Time Yield Management, Dynamic Packaging Golf, CRM, Guest Experience Measurement, CRO, GDS Two-Way XML Connectivity or Integration, Membership, Work Orders, Fine Dining and Retail POS, Online Table Reservations with Web Booking, Concierge, and Guest Experience Measurement. The Maestro PMS is database independent (ODBC Compliant) and may be deployed via Windows, UNIX, Linux, Terminal Services, hosted, and Web platforms.

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