The Beaches of Bali

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.

Sanur.
On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past.

Kuta and Legian
Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca.

Jimbaran
Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.

Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.

Soka Beach
Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach.

Medewi Beach
Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach.

Lovina Beach
Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.

My Bollywood Bride Honeymoons in Houston

HOUSTON — My Bollywood Bride, starring Jason Lewis, Kashmera Shah, Gulshan Grover, Sanjay Suri and Neha Dubey with music by Anu Malik, opens at Bollywood Cinema 6 on Friday, June 8.

A familiar romantic comedy with an Indian twist, My Bollywood Bride revisits the age-old romantic formula: Boy meets, loses, and hopes to find girl. In this case, he’s a hunky blond Californian (Jason Lewis); she’s India’s top movie star (Kashmera Shah). With Lewis popular with Sex and the City, and Brothers and Sisters fans, and Shah wellknown in India, this upbeat movie with plenty of desi humor in situation and dialogue, will keep the audiences entertained from the very start and throughout its 94 minute playing time.

“A rollicking entertaining ride” says Variety.

My Bollywood Bride is the story of adventure novelist Alex’s (Lewis) whirlwind romance with comely Indian tourist Reena (Shah) that is suddenly and inexplicably cut short. After having spent several glorious days with Alex, Reena must return to India to look after her ailing father. She also must submit to an arranged marriage with the powerful, intimidating Bollywood movie producer Shekhar (Gulshan Grover), although she left her heart in California.

Desperate for an explanation at least, Alex heads for Mumbai, where, despite knowing only Reena’s fist name, he discovers her face on a billboard and tracks her to a film set. When he confronts her, she insists there are things he can’t understand concerning her Indian background. Reena asks her close friend and fellow actor Bobby (Sanjay Suri) to look after Alex and keep him away from her nosy parents and possessive fiance. There are predictably entertaining moments involving Alex, Reena’s parents and Shekhar, and some fine screwball riffs when Reena tries to hide Alex in her hotel suite. This genial, spirited comedy has enough going for it to make it well worth seeing.

My Bollywood Bride was directed by Rajeev Manoj Virani and co-produced by Houston’s own charismatic businessman Ashok Rao (his first movie venture). More recently, this award winning duo premiered their latest movie, The Whisperers, at the WorldFest Houston — 2007 International Film Festival. The Whisperers bagged prestigious prizes, including those for Best Editing and Best Suspense Thriller, at this festival.

The Winners THK Tourism Awards Dikompetisikan ke Asia Pasifik

Bali Travel News, Media Pariwisata Grup Bali Post, sebagai penyelenggara kompetisi tahunan hotel ramah lingkungan dalam perspektif Tri Hita Karana (THK Tourism Awards) diberi kepercayaan oleh Departemen Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata RI memilih 10 hotel di Bali untuk diikutkan dalam kompetisi ASEAN Green Hotel Awards.
Salah satu persyaratan dan kriteria bagi Indonesia yang merupakan peserta aktif dalam ASEAN Task Force of Tourism Standards adalah hotel berwawasan lingkungan (green hotel standards). Dalam kaitan ini, setiap negera lingkup ASEAN maksimal bisa mengajukan 10 hotel untuk ikut kompetisi guna mendapatkan ASEAN Green Hotel Award.
Ketua Tim Penyelenggara THK Tourism Awards Berata Ashrama mengatakan bahwa pihaknya telah mengirim 10 hotel peserta aktif dan peraih THK Awards untuk ikut dalam kompetisi di tingkat ASEAN itu.
Untuk menentukan hotel-hotel di Bali yang layak diikutkan dalam kompetisi ASEAN Green Hotel Awards, menurut Pemimpin Umum Bali Travel News ini, adalah hotel yang secara berkesinambungan ikut dalam program THK Tourism Awards dan berhasil meraih penghargaan THK Awards.
Dengan diberikannya kepercayaan memilih 10 hotel di Bali untuk diikutkan dalam kompetisi di tingkat ASEAN menunjukkan semakin mantapnya pengakuan Pemerintah Pusat terhadap program Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards & Accreditations yang digelar tiap tahun di Bali sejak tahun 2000. Pengakuan serupa telah diterima juga dari Menteri Lingkungan Hidup RI, Ir, Rahmat Witoelar dan tokoh-tokoh nasional lainnya seperti Prof. Dr. Emil Salim. Bahkan pengakuan dari United Nation World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) dan PATA jauh sebelum itu sudah diberikan kepada THK Tourism Awards. Ini terbukti dengan kehadiran langsung Direktur UN-WTO Asia Pasifik Mr. Xu Jing dalam acara puncak penganugerahan THK Tourism Awards 2004 di Bali. “Kenyataan ini membuktikan bahwa kompetisi dan akreditasi tahunan THK Tourism Awards sudah mendunia”, kata Berata Ashrama, yang alumni pascasarjana Universitas Udayana dan Lemhanas RI itu.
Ketika ditanya pengakuan dan kontribusi Pemerintah Propinsi dan Kabupaten/Kota se-Bali, Berata Ashrama dengan nada kecewa berkata, “Pengakauan, kepercayaan, dan kontribusi itulah yang terus-menerus kami perjuangakan. Hasilnya ya, terus-terang masih jauh dari harapan. Apa boleh buat karena orang Bali memang agak meboyo (cenderung kurang mengagumi miliknya ketimbang milik orang lain)”, ujarnya.
Hotel-hotel mana saja yang diusulkan oleh tim THK ke ASEAN Green Hotel Awards? Mantan Redaktur Pelaksana Bali Post ini kelihatannya enggan membeberkannya. “Pokoknya hotel-hotel berbintang dan boutique resort yang memenuhi standardisasi Tri Hita Karana”, jawabnya singkat. (BTN/013)

Amadeus appoints VP for Corporate Marketing & Communications for Asia Pacific Region

Amadeus has appointed Mr Karun Budhraja as Vice President, Corporate Marketing & Communications for Asia Pacific.

Karun will be based in Bangkok and will take up this appointment in mid August 2007. He will be responsible for all communication and marketing activities for the region, including media and public relations activities, events, internal communications, advertising, and marketing programs.

With more than 17 years experience in marketing and corporate communications, Karun started his career in the travel industry with the GSA of Thai Airways in India. He subsequently worked for Air France (India) for 10 years in various positions, including that of Marketing & Corporate Communications Manager.

Karun joined Amadeus India in 2001 as the Senior Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Indian Subcontinent, based in Delhi. During this period, Karun successfully established the company as a market leader in media and public relations circles. His efforts received further recognition when he was awarded the Excellence Award in Marketing from Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in 2003.

Concurrently, Karun was also Head of Marketing Communication for all the business verticals of the Bird Group – parent company of Amadeus India. He was responsible for communications activities involving aviation, hospitality, education, IT enabled services and consulting, and for building the Bird Group brand in India.

David Brett, President, Amadeus Asia Pacific said, “Karun’s achievements in India and the subcontinent comprising Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been outstanding. Through his efforts, Karun successfully established Amadeus as an Industry leader with the media and key industry stakeholders. The marketing communication initiatives he introduced helped Amadeus to grow into a very successful brand in India, and we are confident that he will be able to further expand Amadeus’ presence in Asia Pacific.”

Hyatt International To Operate Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Hyatt International (EAME) LLC and Sozidanije LLC have announced that Hyatt has signed a preliminary agreement to operate the new 221-room Hyatt Regency Dushanbe. The hotel will be Hyatt's first property in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

Located in the city centre, on the grounds of City Park and adjacent to Lake Komsomol, Hyatt Regency Dushanbe has been designed by renowned architects NBBJ of Seattle in conjunction with HAS Architects Ltd. of Istanbul. In keeping with the Hyatt Regency concept and together with the internationally acclaimed Interior Designer BBGM (Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors), the hotel will reflect the city's flavour in the design of the 221 generously sized rooms and suites. In addition, all rooms will offer the latest contemporary requirements of modern business and leisure travellers. For added privacy the hotel will offer Regency Club accommodation, providing the executive traveller with private access to a boardroom and the Regency Club lounge.

Hyatt Regency Dushanbe will include over 1,400 square metres of conference and banqueting space, suitable for accommodating a large variety of meeting requirements, from discrete board meetings to large banquets and State functions. The hotel will also feature a variety of food & beverage outlets including one restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar. Other facilities will include an extensive Spa, Health and Fitness Centre, pool and car parking space.

Hotel Construction in the Asia Pacific Region is at a Torrid Pace

Lodging Econometrics (LE), the Global Authority for Hotel Real Estate, reported there are 962 hotels having 259,588 rooms in the Asia Pacific Pipeline at the end of 1Q ’07. Projects average 270 rooms in size.

Patrick Ford, President said, “Developers across the region are constructing new hotels at a torrid pace.” LE’s forecast for New Hotel Openings indicates that 209 hotels / 53,545 rooms will open in the last three quarters of ’07 to be followed by another 329 hotels / 84,544 rooms in ’08. A high 53% of all guestrooms currently in the Asia Pipeline will be open by year end 2008.

Ford said, “The Asian Pipeline has been in the making for a long time and is somewhat front end loaded as all Asia, and China in particular, readies for an enormous influx of tourists for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the World’s Fair in Shanghai in 2010 and the Asian Games in Guangzhou later in 2012.”

Ford continued, “Economies in the 24 countries throughout the region are participating in the global upswing and are generally very strong, particularly China and India which had estimated GDP growth rate of 10.4% and 9.2% respectively in ’06, two of the highest of all world economies. Development has been stimulated by a deluge of capital available for investment in all real estate sectors; the easy access to debt at historically attractive lending terms; high occupancies with surging room rates and RevPars; and guest room shortages in many markets. Although most economies are forecasted to moderate slightly in both ’07 and ’08 the declines are from such high economic levels that they are not likely to be of great significance as economies forge ahead.”

Development in China is Driving the Region

China has 496 projects having 170,417 rooms in the Pipeline. It represents 66% of all guestrooms in the regional Pipeline. It’s also the largest Pipeline in the world, second only to the U.S. LE forecasts that 96,839 rooms, or 70% of China’s Pipeline, will open by year end ’08. Some will be large iconic type hotels located in “new city areas.” Many will be located in world class mixed-use facilities designed by world famous “starchitects.”

Using the Olympic Games and World’s Fair as its platforms China will introduce itself to an influx of international tourists and to others around the world as a growing world power. It will be dazzling and truly impressive.

Three cities lead the way in China, Shanghai is China’s main international gateway city and is a booming logistics center and International port for the manufacturing centers in the Yangtze River Delta region. Shanghai is also a rejuvenated and booming financial center as it once was in the 1900’s, but is located this time in the new city of Pudong across the Huang Pu River from the historically famous Bund Financial District.

Shanghai has 57 projects in the Pipeline with 15,831 rooms. Shanghai’s schedule for New Openings will be proportionately spread over the next four years.

Beijing, the capital and host city for the Olympic Games, has 54 hotels / 17,634 rooms in the Pipeline. Most are on a fast track towards completion. 36 hotels / 11,303 rooms will open before year end ’08.

Macau, which already surpasses Las Vegas in monthly gaming revenues, has 33 actively pursued casino projects / 25,144 rooms in the Pipeline. Each casino hotel averages an incredible 760 rooms. Even though the Venetian will open this fall as the centerpiece project on the Cotai Strip, two thirds of all planned projects won’t come on line until ’09 and beyond.

India has the Second Largest Pipeline in Asia

India has 181 hotels / 31,319 rooms in the Pipeline averaging 173 rooms per project. There will be a flow of 4 and 5 Star projects in the major cities, but most of the future development opportunity is expected to be mid-market and economy construction located in the suburban “new cities” and office park developments that house so many of the call center and “back of the house” service operations that are driving India’s economy.

Bangalore with 27 hotels / 5,893 rooms has the largest concentration of development. Five other cities follow with between 13 and 19 projects each: Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, and Gurgaon.

India is an important strategic target for international hotel companies who have a roster of mid-market brands and may not have been able to participate in the wave of high end development in other Asian countries. These companies are aggressively seeking development and financing partners who might help them accelerate their brand distribution. Many international companies headquartered in the region who have experience in these markets are creating new labels to take advantage of the opportunity they see in the mid-market and economy sector.

For the Brands, Asian Development is a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity.

China and India are the fastest growing economies in the world and are expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Many international companies have had large operating and development teams in the region for sometime. Uniformly all companies are accelerating their activity. Those with mid-market and economy brands see this as the opportune time to begin their brand distribution programs as emphasis mounts for servicing the growing and newly prosperous middle class population in both countries, many of whom are accessing travel for the first time.

InterContinental already has a roster of both upscale and mid-market brands under development and has the largest Pipeline at 73 hotels / 23,884 rooms. Starwood, whose portfolio of brands is mostly upscale and luxury follows with 60 hotels / 20,937 rooms. Marriott International is next with 40 hotels / 13,015 rooms.

Hilton, after its merger with Hilton International, is concentrating on Hilton Garden Inns, Doubletree, and Hampton by Hilton, and their luxury brands Conrad and Waldorf Astoria. Hilton has already established two significant joint ventures with development and financing specialists, that should result in a rapid expansion for their brands in both China and India. Hyatt, Four Seasons and Kempinski are single branded companies that have solid Pipelines, have been active for years, and have already developed some of the most significant iconic properties in the region.

Shangri-La from Hong Kong and Taj Hotels from Mumbai are the significant international companies based in Asia. The luxury Shangri-La brand and their 4 star Traders brand have 32 hotels / 13,104 rooms in the Pipeline. Taj has 36 hotels / 4,581 rooms in the Pipeline, 7 of which are for Ginger Hotels, their new economy brand.

For economy brands, Jin Jiang, with Starwood Capital holding a significant ownership stake, plans to have 200 new hotels around China by 2011 and aspires to open a total of 1,000 new hotels in the years ahead. ACCOR is hoping for 50 Hotel Ibis by 2011. Choice has just announced a joint venture where they hope to quickly deliver 12,000 new rooms spread across four of their mid-market brands.

For 4 and 5 star brands Starwood hopes to add another 40 hotels in China by 2010, many of them their new aloft brand. Raffles, with new investors Prince Al Waleed bin Talal and Colony Capital, hopes to accelerate their growth in the region. So too with InterContinental, who just reflagged 13 ANA hotels with its flagship brand.

When Will There be too Much New Construction?

It’s hard to say just when. Development is driven by the availability of capital, which is plentiful. Each economy is booming in its own right. Occupancy, ADR’s and RevPars are at or near historic levels and there’s significant guest room shortages in many markets.

In a time of unprecedented economic growth, trying to predict future demand growth is nearly impossible. Finding the correct balance with supply growth is an equally impossible task. Because the pace of development is so fast it’s likely that some poor decisions will be made.

The availability of capital and strong industry performance indicates that developers are going to continue to build. Franchise companies see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity and are highly motivated to expand the distribution of their brands. These are terrific times. For now, there’s no end in sight.

Assuming there is no unforeseen exogenous event that short circuits the present development cycle we can only know about demand/supply balances by looking backwards into the rear view mirror: in Beijing, probably by ’09; in Macau in 2010; Shanghai in 2011 and across India, probably in 2011 as well.

Lodging Econometrics (LE) of Portsmouth, NH is the global authority for hotel real estate. LE conducts Supply Side research for all markets, developers and brands and companies in: U.S.; Canada; Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; Europe; Asia; Middle East; South America; and Africa.

LE provides:

Development Pipeline Reports for any important international market, country or region throughout the world. Reports contain Individual Project Records, which provide comprehensive contact information for the developer, the latest Start and Completion Dates, project size, location, and chain scale (star rating), plus detailed commentary about each project. Each Pipeline Report provides a Supply Side Forecast for the next three years and beyond and a development summary of the current Pipeline for each of the three

stages; Under Construction, Starts in the Next 12 Months and Early Planning.

• The Names of Owners and Management paired with the Census of Open and Operating Hotels perfect for

making acquisition/disposition decisions, soliciting management contracts and assessing development

opportunities.

• Sales Comps for the most Recent Real Estate Transactions. Reports can be customized sorted by

market, country or region, chain scale or by leading brands & companies.

To learn more about LE’s products and services or to inquire about ordering a customized report, please contact LE at +1 (603) 431-8740 ext. 25, or visit them online at www.lodging-econometrics.com.

Hilton Kuala Lumpur Named "Best Business Hotel Asia" At Ttg Asia's 16th Annual Travel Awards

14 October 2005, Singapore & Hot on the heels of its stellar first anniversary bash with the King of Soul, James Brown, Hilton Kuala Lumpur has been named Asia's Best Business Hotel according to the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Asia Media Group, publishers of Asia's leading travel trade newspaper TTG Asia.

Mr Paul P. Hutton, the hotel's new General Manager said of the win, "We are honoured to receive this highly-coveted award. To have our hard work, talents and accomplishments acknowledged and applauded by our guests and peers is both gratifying and humbling."

Hilton Kuala Lumpur was the clear choice by some 7,200 of TTG Asia's readers across 17 countries in Asia-Pacific, who voted over a two month period from mid July this year. The Awards were presented at the 16th Annual Travel Awards in Pattaya, Thailand, during the two-day Corporate Travel World industry convention and exhibition organized by TTG.

Accepting the award on behalf of Hilton Kuala Lumpur was the hotel's director for business development Mr Nils-Arne Schroeder. He said, "Apart from the excellent facilities and a comfortable atmosphere, the formula to our success is reflected in the serious commitment of every team member towards delivering the Hilton brand, customer services and hospitality to all our guests and customers alike. We've had a great year and we hope this is an indication of greater things to come."

In its first year of operations, Hilton Kuala Lumpur has won the 5-Star Diamond Award from the American Association of Hospitality Sciences, bagged five awards at the regional Asia Travel and Tourism Creative Awards also nominated as the Best Business Hotel at this year's World Travel Awards 2005 ceremony and now voted as the Best Business Hotel by voters of TTG Asia.

Notes to Editor:

Hilton International (HI), an operating division of the UK based Hilton Group plc, owns the rights to the Hilton brand name throughout the world, with the exception of the USA and Mexico, where the Hilton brand is owned and managed by Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC). Furthermore, Hilton International and Hilton Hotels Corporation share the Hilton brand within Canada. Hilton International operates 403 hotels, with some 261 branded Hilton and 142 under the mid-market Scandic brand. Under a joint venture agreement, Hilton International and the North American based Hilton Hotels Corporation share responsibility for the Conrad brand, which includes 17 hotels in 12 countries. A global marketing alliance between Hilton International and Hilton Hotels Corporation extends the number of hotels operated by both companies worldwide to over 2,700 over 500 of which are branded Hilton. Hilton International employs over 71,000 staff in 80 countries.

Committed to doing business in a responsible way, Hilton International's aim is to bring a positive benefit to the societies in which it operates through high quality services, economic growth, environmental protection, community involvement and employment.

For further information on Hilton International, please visit our corporate website, at: www.hiltongroup.com

High resolution Hilton images are available for the media to download free of charge on www.vismedia-online.com

Regional Press Office
Linda Fulford
Fulford Public Relations
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Email: lfulford@fulfordpr.com

Shorbani Roy
Fulford Public Relations
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InterContinental Jeddah Hotel deploys converged network from Nortel

The InterContinental Jeddah Hotel has deployed a converged network from Nortel to support advanced IP-based communications such as high-speed internet access, unified messaging and mobility.

The 360-room hotel's new voice and data network uses 64 wireless access points throughout the hotel to provide continuous mobile voice communications even in areas such as the basement, kitchen and garages where traditional cellular solutions often do not reach. The hotel now hopes to offer high-speed internet access in every room and wireless connectivity in its lounges. Personnel can also roam throughout the hotel premises and remain accessible to guests and colleagues through a single mobile device which replaces separate pagers, cordless phones or walkie talkies.

Nortel said that InterContinental Jeddah Hotel will benefit from the integration of a VoWLAN IP telephony solution from Nortel with the IP Nortel Communication Server (CS) 1000. The CS 1000 IP telephony system reportedly supports extensive hotel telephony features and applications such as the Hospitality Messaging Server 400 (HMS 400) for staff and guest messaging, automatic wake up calls and housekeeping room status management.

The data network consists of Nortel Ethernet Routing Switches (ERS) 5520, which deliver Power over Ethernet (PoE) to the Edge. The hotel's guest rooms and suites and other hotel areas are being equipped with colour touch screen Nortel IP phone i2007 that claims to provide a single portal to all guest services information and telephony services and delivers interactive guest services.

King inaugurates hotel school run by Salesians

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) – The king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihmoni, has inaugurated a hotel school animated by the Salesians in Sihanoukville. For the king, it was an opportunity to go for the first time to the city, a flourishing tourist centre, which bears his father’s name.

According to Eglises d’Asie, Fr Robert Panetto, who runs the hotel school, told the king that the institution has 50 students who are either orphans or who come from poor families. They join over 300 students of the Don Bosco technical school who study mechanics, electrical engineering, administration and tourism.

King Sihamoni told the boys to “work hard” and to “observe the principles of the school and respect the teachers, so they will get a formation that will be contribute to the development of the country.”

The hotel school is situated 2km away from the renowned Ochheuteal Beach and has 19 rooms that will be let to tourists for 30/35 dollars per night. Fr Panetto said this will be a way to support, at least partly, the costs of running the school, seeing that the students are not fee paying.

Great expectations for Indian hotels

BANGALORE - India's hospitality industry is set for dramatic growth in the next couple of years. There is a serious shortage of hotel rooms, and demand far outstrips supply. Hotel room rates are going through the roof, especially in the cities. But with the industry showing very bright prospects, investment in the sector is witnessing a sudden spurt.

For decades, India was a paradise for backpackers on a shoestring budget or "nirvana seekers" eager to escape the rat Great expectations for Indian hotels
By Sudha Ramachandran

BANGALORE - India's hospitality industry is set for dramatic growth in the next couple of years. There is a serious shortage of hotel rooms, and demand far outstrips supply. Hotel room rates are going through the roof, especially in the cities. But with the industry showing very bright prospects, investment in the sector is witnessing a sudden spurt.

For decades, India was a paradise for backpackers on a shoestring budget or "nirvana seekers" eager to escape the rat

race in Western societies. Much has changed since economic liberalization and the software boom. While curious backpackers keen to discover India continue to pour in, it is business travelers who constitute the bulk of visitors to the country in recent years. There are medical tourists, too - those who come to India for inexpensive but top-class medical treatment. A booming economy, growing affluence and cheap domestic flights have induced many Indians to travel as well.

But there aren't enough rooms in hotels to accommodate them all.
The scarcity of hotel accommodation is obvious from the fact that while all of India has about 110,000 hotel rooms (about the same as metropolitan New York), Shanghai alone has some 130,000 rooms. And only a quarter of India's 110,000 rooms are in the branded segment.

"India needs another 125,000 hotel rooms at least by 2010 to meet the surging demand, particularly in the upper and middle ranges," an official in the Ministry of Tourism told Asia Times Online.

"The demand for rooms has grown across the country. In towns like Agra, Goa and Khajuraho it is tourists - domestic and foreign - [who] are driving the demand. But it is business travelers [who] are pushing up demand for hotel rooms in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore," said.

Bangalore accounts for the bulk of foreign business travelers visiting India annually - 51% compared with 35% who go to Mumbai and 26% to Delhi. Ninety percent of the hotel clientele in Bangalore consists of foreign business travelers. The city's booming information technology (IT) sector is fueling the soaring demand for hotel rooms here.

Hotel rooms in Bangalore are booked months in advance. Rooms at the Taj West End, the Leela Palace Kempinski and the Park Hotel are all booked through March.

Until a few years ago, it was possible to get a room in a luxury hotel in Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata at about US$60 a night. Today, the average tariff for a single-occupancy room in a luxury hotel in India is about $325 a night.

A study conducted in 2005 by the travel consultancy Business Management International found that the average room tariff in Bangalore's hotels is the third-highest (after Moscow and Rome) in the world. The cheapest single-occupancy room at the Taj West End costs $400 per night (plus 12% taxes), while at the Leela Palace Kempinski the tariff for a standard single occupancy is $480 plus taxes.

Room rates in India's top 10 cities are said to have gone up by 30-55% in the past year. While hotel owners are in high spirits over the soaring tariffs, industry watchers are not too pleased with the trend. Manav Thadani, managing director of HVS International-India, a consulting firm for the hospitality industry, has said this will not be beneficial in the long run as it will turn away leisure traffic and the lucrative conference segment from India.

The scarcity of hotel rooms and the exorbitant tariffs of hotels in Bangalore have prompted some domestic business travelers to stay in Chennai, 320 kilometers to the east, and to fly in to Bangalore during the day to do business here. It is far more economical to book a flight between these two cities than to shell out for a room in a Bangalore hotel.

Indian software giants Wipro and Infosys are taking steps to provide their guests with accommodation. "Getting a room in Bangalore is next to impossible," said Mohandas Pai, director of human resources at Infosys. "We get about 40-50 visitors a day, apart from high-value overseas clients. If we manage to get any rooms at all, the transit time taken to commute between the hotel and the campus takes several hours."

This has prompted Infosys to set up an in-house 500-room hotel-like complex for its clients and other visitors coming to Bangalore. By this June, Infosys expects to have 15,000 company-owned rooms across India.

The hunger for hotel rooms is likely to grow further as the Indian economy expands in the coming years. In addition there are events such as the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and the finals of the Cricket World Cup in Mumbai in 2011 that will add to pressure.

The Indian government is beginning to see opportunity in the hospitality sector. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the hospitality sector, which has been growing at an annual rate of 8.8%, has the potential to earn $24 billion in annual foreign exchange by 2015.

The government has approved about 300 hotel projects. Most of these are likely to be completed in the next three years and are expected to increase capacity by about 75,000 rooms. It is also encouraging private individuals to start up bed-and-breakfast businesses in their homes.

In addition, it is allowing 100% foreign direct investment in hotels. Several international hotel chains are either entering the Indian market or expanding their presence here significantly. Leading the pack are such giants as Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham and Accor, which have announced different investment plans.

Hilton, for instance, has joined hands with Indian real-estate developer DLF to set up 75 hotels and serviced apartments over the next seven years. The joint venture is valued at $550 million. And Accor has formed a joint venture with Emaar MGF to bring Formula-1 budget hotels to India. Wyndham has teamed up with Bangalore-based Royal Orchid Hotels to develop 10 Ramada hotels that will have at least 1,000 rooms.

And Indian giants such as ITC and Taj Group are expanding too, adding rooms and facilities to their hotels or opening new hotels in prime locations.

The past year was an exciting one for India's hospitality sector. Hotel construction took a giant leap forward. Thirty-five five-star hotels began functioning during the year, and 155 more are being constructed. Some 112 new projects that will open up some 3,500 rooms were sanctioned in southern Indian cities, which are at the forefront of the IT and IT-enabled-services boom. In Bangalore alone work on 27 new hotels and serviced apartments was set in motion. That should add more than 6,100 rooms to accommodation facilities here in the coming years.

Full or near-full occupancy in hotels, soaring tariffs and booming profits over the past year have fueled great expectations of the future for the hospitality sector in India. And big business and private individuals are scrambling for a share in the cake.

Sudha Ramachandran is an independent journalist/researcher based in Bangalore.

IHG's Patrick Imbardelli named Asia Pacific Hotelier of 2006

A. Patrick Imbardelli, Chief Executive of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) Asia Pacific, has been named Hotelier of the Year 2006 at the 10th Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference, organised and hosted by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. The eighth recipient to receive the prestigious award, Mr. Imbardelli has been leading many high-profile developments for the group since he took on his role at IHG Asia Pacific in 2003.

IHG today has grown to 188 hotels in the region, with 105 more in the development pipeline. The company is now the largest international hotel group in Greater China, well on track to achieving its goal of having 125 hotels opened by 2008. The recently formed IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan - a joint venture with All Nippon Airways - makes IHG the biggest international hotel operator in Japan, the second largest hotel market in the world. IHG is also growing in India, another strategic business tourism market within the region.

IHG's family of brands have crossed major milestones in profitability and distribution growth under Mr. Imbardelli's leadership, delivering consistent value to hotel owners. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts is now the most recognised brand in China, while Crowne Plaza & Resorts is one of the fastest growing hotel brands in Asia Pacific. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts continues to build on its legacy as a leading premium brand, and the recent introduction of the franchise model for Holiday Inn Express in China is yet another strategic move in a key market for IHG.

A veteran hotelier, Mr Imbardelli has over 24 years of experience in the hotel and tourism industry. A member of the Young Presidents' Organisation, he has held key appointments in industry bodies and other advisory boards, including the Global Hoteliers Society. Both the Fred Hollows Foundation and the Variety Club International have recognized him for contributions to the disadvantaged and underprivileged children in Australia and Southeast Asia.

Each year, the Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference honours an Asia Pacific Hotelier who has had the greatest impact on the region's hospitality industry. The Hotelier of the Year award was first presented at the 3rd Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference in 2000. Mr. Imbardelli joins the list of past winners including:

* Mr. Kwek Leng Beng, Executive Chairman of Hong Leong Group

* Dr. Hari Harilela, Chairman of The Harilela Group

* Mr. Richard Hartman, Managing Director of InterContinental Hotels Group

* Mr. Gwee Liang Kheng, President and Chief Executive Officer of publicly listed company Hotel Plaza Limited, and also President and CEO of United Overseas Land

* Mr. David Baffsky, Chairman of ACCOR Asia Pacific

* Dr. Lo Ka Shui, GBS JP, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Great Eagle Holdings and Chairman of the Langham Hotels International Group

* Mr. Giovanni Angelini, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Held annually in Singapore, the Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference is widely recognized as the premier forum for the Asia Pacific hospitality industry. A 'By-Invitation Only' event, the conference brings together senior decision-makers of hotel owning and operating companies as well as investors. The 10th Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference has the sponsorship support of Accor Asia Pacific, Baker and McKenzie, Hilton International, IHG, Marriott International, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and The Registry Collection.

STP Bali : To Produce Reliable and Quality Human Resources

“Having the capability of competing at global level and not seizing the domestic cakes” is the aspiration of the Director of STP Bali, I Made Sudjana. With the vision of realizing his institution as the centre for tourism education, the Bali Tourism College (STP Bali) has a responsibility to produce reliable human resources in the tourism field. The institution, under the management of Department for Culture and Tourism runs the only one state tourism school in Bali.

Since its establishment, this school is targeted to supply the demand of human resources in tourism and hotel industries. Additionally, the school is also expected to have the capability of preparing professional and reliable tourism graduates. Founded in 1978 under the name P4B (Center for Hotel and Tourism Training in Bali), the institution underwent several name changes, however, it continues to produce graduates of good quality.
“To produce reliable output, we implement competence-based curriculum and always refer to the need of industry (link and match),” says Sudjana. With the composition of 70% practice and 30% theory, the graduates of STP Bali are automatically ready to work. STP Bali has also established a standard of curriculum for ASEAN countries, so working overseas in hotel and/or tourism industry would not pose problems for Balinese graduates”.In addition, 65% of its graduates search for job opportunities abroad. To meet this demand, the STP has cooperation with some institutions such as the La Rochelle University (France), University of Queensland (Australia), WELTEC (New Zealand), Hanoi Tourism College (Vietnam) and Nan Nyang Tourism Institute (Singapore). STP Bali also has similar cooperation with other world institutions like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Labour Organization (ILO), the British Council (BC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) and so forth.
To improve the quality of human resources produced, several educational facilities and infrastructures have been completed such as laboratory, hotel for practice, restaurant, kitchen, and so on. “This year, we will establish a sport stadium to support the extra-curricular activities of the students.”
STP Bali offers three programs, namely Tourism Management, Hotel Management and Tour, and Travel Management. Of these three programs, Hotel Management with Diploma IV for Hotel Administration has become the most favoured. Students having completed their studies are expected to become the chairman or top manager at hotel. However, such positions are not easily reached. They have to start their career from the lower level. “It has been proven. Many graduates of the STP Bali have occupied the position of general manager at 1, 2-star and even 5-star hotels both in Bali and outside Bali,” he adds.
This school, located at Bukit Kampial, Jalan Darmawangsa, Nusa Dua also organizes Grand Recruitment through Job Fair. “This activity gives an opportunity to job seekers to choose their workplace in accordance with the requirements of the tourism industry, either at home or overseas” said Sudjana, on the recently held13th Graduation day of the STP Bali.
The Graduation day was attended by the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik. 267 graduates from regular and extension program participated. On that occasion, Jero Wacik appealed to the graduates to move forward and work hard to pursue their development. “Do not hesitate to walk into the international arena and obtain as much experience as possible. On returning home, attempt to use this experience to build your country and continue to hold the principle of being proud of the Indonesian culture” the Minister reminded them. (BTN/008)

The sun, the sea and nothing else

It's the city of the riotous Carnaval; the home of Ipanema and Copacabana, two of the most famous stretches of sand in the world; of butt-floss bikini bottoms and seductive samba. But being neither a sun worshipper nor a heavy-duty reveller, I was immune to Rio de Janeiro’s allure until I hit the celebrated beaches myself.

Oh, there were enough buff and lithe bodies on display to pique anyone’s interest, but what struck me was not the pageant of gorgeous people, but the wizened senior citizens, their skin dark and leathery in their bikinis and swimming trunks, their hair bleached white from sun and age, letting it all just ... hang — cellulite and flaccid flesh be damned.

Almost brazenly, they shared the beach with welltoned volleyball players, sleek surfers and nubile lovelies as if it was their personal playground.

And why not? This sheer exuberance, this joie de vivre seems to be the Brazilian way of life, and it was highly liberating - and infectious.

Carpe diem, baby, and the more cleavage the better.

I, for one, wished I had brought my bikini, though by Brazilian standards of wearing two pieces with just enough cloth to cover one’s vital nubs, my swimming costume would positively be prudish.

Learning the Lingo English is not widely spoken in Brazil, so invest in a Portuguese phrasebook and familiarise yourself with the language before you go. Note that “r” is often pronounced like “h”, so “real”, the currency of Brazil, sounds like “he-ell”. Popular destinations, such as the ornate tea room Confeiteria Colombo, often have English speakers.

This bare-all streak, however, seems incongruous in a country that is the world’s largest Roman Catholic nation; and not all are comfortable with what they see as rising hedonism.

“I just talked to them about religion, about the Pope in Sao Paolo,” reported Solon Braga, an affable 60-something retiree and Rio resident who had offered to show two apprehensive travellers very far from home his city.

“They care about the sea and the sun - and nothing else,” he said dismissively, referring to a trio of statuesque beach loungers with whom he had struck up a conversation.

He unwittingly underscored Pope Benedict’s message to thousands of Brazilian faithful the day before. The Pontiff had decried sexual immorality and the culture of hedonism, and called for moral rectitude in his flock.

Yet, when it comes to Rio’s reputation for violent crime, Solon was first to defend his home.

The city is like New York, he said, or any other major world capital: There are neighbourhoods to avoid and if you keep a low profile, be watchful and don’t flaunt your wealth, you should be fine.

The trick is to be wary. “I have insurance,” Solon declared as he unlocked the heavy-duty clamp on his steering wheel. “Still, I don’t want to lose my car.”

In fact, he was eager to show us the favela — or slum quarter, one of approximately 750 that swarm Rio’s hillsides — beside his home, a lofty villa nestled in a leafy gated community in the Jacarepagua district in the city’s west zone, a 30-minute drive from the city centre.

A favela in Rio’s Jacarepagua district. Photo by Simon Tan.

Sure, the buildings in this favela are dilapidated and clumsily constructed, but on the surface, it looked like any underdeveloped village you’d find in Southeast Asia. Home to 20 per cent of Rio’s residents, the shantytowns reveal a side of Brazilian life that is, before the advent of favela tours, not normally seen by tourists.

“The streets are dirty, but the children are clean,” he pointed out for those who associate Rio’s slums with the violent Brazilian film City of God.

“I know people who have spent entire days here without mishap,” he said proudly.

For all its negative press, there are still many who gravitate towards Rio’s - and indeed Brazil’s — vivacity, laid-back rhythm and heady sex appeal. Every year, the city’s glitzy Carnaval attracts droves of tourists.

Rio’s Sugar Loaf, accessible by two cable cars, offers a spectacular view of the city. Photo by Simon Tan.

We met them when we took the tram up the 709m Corcovado (Hunchback) mountain to gawp at Rio’s iconic monument of Christ the Redeemer, a 30m-high sculpture that towers above the city.

As we jostled with scores of mostly American and European tourists to marvel at the panoramic view, we heard a familiar accent.

A tour guide had assembled her group in front of the monument and was about to snap the photo.

“Okay everybody, say’ ‘Malaysia boleh!’”

Not quite home, but close enough.

Virgin Blue calls for Urgent Aviation Sector Action on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey today called on the aviation sector and all organisations which emit green house gases to work actively to 'reduce and report' their efforts to offset and limit emissions as part of Australia's increasing effort to mitigate climate change.

Mr Godfrey delivered an address "Winds of Change" in Perth this morning as part of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Australian Tour. "Airlines and all businesses that emit high levels of greenhouse gas must accept accountability for their damaging by-products," Mr Godfrey said.

"My organisation and all other emitters including Australia's airlines need to ensure they become more efficient, in the interests of continuous improvement in limiting and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions relayed to their activities," he said.

"Importantly we also must encourage Governments to support the introduction of a national carbon trading scheme with clear targets as soon as possible. This is the clearest mechanism available to induce market driven investment in new energy sources. Additionally we need to determine measurable and achievable smaller targets to allow for intervention and correction along the way," Mr. Godfrey said.

"We also see an opportunity for business and Governments to work together on a solution which could offer tax credits and other fiscal incentives to unlock private enterprise in research and development," he said.

Mr Godfrey was invited to provide a business leader's perspective as one of three speakers supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama's "Spirituality and Sustainability Forum" in Perth conducted in partnership with The Australian Conservation Foundation.

"I am deeply honoured to be invited to participate on an issue which is uppermost in our mind as an airline company and should also be a key management issue for all Australian businesses including airline operators," he said.

The Spirituality and Sustainability Forum, was held between 9.00-11.00am at the Burswood Dome in Perth today, with around 17,000 people in attendance.

The program included presentations from His Holiness The Dalai Lama; Brett Godfrey, CEO Virgin Blue, Professor Ian Lowe, ACF President; and Anna Rose, founder of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is touring Australia between 5 and 16 June 2007, visiting Perth, Geelong, Melbourne, Bendigo, Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney

Ritz-Carlton, Bali Resort and Spa

Ritz – Carlton Bali Resort & Spa demikian nama yang disandang hotel yang berada ujung Barat daya pulau Bali tepatnya di Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera Jimabaran, sekitar 15 menit dari Bandara Internasional Ngurah Rai. Lokasinya unik. samudra Indian yang biru terbentang luas dengan kelap-kelip cahaya di siang hari dan sunset di sore hari. Dengan motto “We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen” hotel yang memiliki 1000 karyawan ini menyebutkan bahwa servis adalah missi utama mereka.
Tak diragukan memang, dalam penilaian Tri Hita Karana Tourism Award 2006, hotel ini berhasil memperoleh nilai teringgi dalam “pawongan” (hubungan manusia dengan manusia) dalam tiga kali perolehan emas sehingga berhasil menyebet Tropy Emerald tahun 2006. “Kunci sukses sebenarnya ada pada kerja keras, dukungan dan komitmen team kami yang solid,” ungkap David Colin Wilson, General Manager the Ritz Carlton Bali.
“Kami sangat konsisten dengan moto kerja yang kami buat. Saling menghargai yang dalam masyarakat Bali disebut tat wam asi (saya adalah kamu dan kamu adalah saya) menjadi pedoman kami,” ujar Prami Pratiwi Director of Public Relation Ritz-Carlton Bali. Bahkan setiap karyawan memegang suatu pedoman yang disebut dengan Credo card yang berisi visi dan misi hotel yang dibuat dari oleh dan untuk karyawan.
Bahkan demi menjaga keharmonisan hubungan antarkaryawan dan management hotel berbintang 5 dengan luas 77 hektar ini memiliki sebuah lembaga yang disebut dengan “fokus group”. “Fokus Group merupakan sebuah lembaga yang kami bentuk yang memiliki tujuan sebagai jembatan penghubung antarkaryawan dan management. Jadi setiap kritik dan saran akan disampaikan oleh semua chief departemen yang ada yang nantinya akan disampaikan kepada General Manager,” jelasnya.
Meskipun sebagian orang menggangap karyawan Bali sering libur karena banyak memiliki hari raya, namun hotel ini membantah. “Meskipun 90% karyawan berasal dari Bali, namun bukan suatu hambatan bagi kami karena kami memiliki 4 jam kerja. Malahan merupakan salah satu plus point utama hotel mengingat masyarakat Bali terkenal dengan keramah-tamahannya”.
Manariknya setiap akhir bulan hotel yang memiliki Thalasso & Spa terbesar di Asia ini setiap akhir bulan selalu mengadakan acara ulang tahun bagi karyawannya. “Pesta ulang tahun selalu kami lakukan bagi karyawan. Bahkan tak jarang Mr David (GM) yang langsung terjun untuk membuat masakan bagi karyawan yang sedang berHUT,” kata Prami.
Tak ada perbedaan yang diterapkan di hotel ini, tamu, karyawan dan managemen memilki derajat yang sama. Saling menghargai, toleransi, rendah hati, kebersamaan serta menjalankan komitment yang telah disepakati merupakan janji yang dipegang oleh karyawan. “open door policy”. Itulah prinsip yang dipegang mangement demi menjaga hubungan harmonis dengan karyawan sebagai penyedia servis.
(BTN/008)