Google continues its quest to make the world...and its wealth of information searchable and accessible to the masses. Another cool beta that caught my eye today is the Google Patent Search engine, which allows users to search from over 7 million patents in the US. This promises to be a great tool...and even a pasttime if one is bored!

World's Fastest Growing Luxury Hotel Brand's Second Property in Dubai, and Third in the Middle East, to be Developed and Owned by Al Sharq Investment

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 2006--In its continued demand to select only the best in world class destinations around the globe, W(R) Hotels Worldwide announced today plans for a new hotel on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Scheduled to open in late 2009, W(R) Dubai-The Palm is W's second hotel in Dubai and the third hotel in the Middle East following W Dubai-Festival City and W Doha.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 2006--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and Special Olympics announced today the launch of a three year, global partnership naming Starwood Hotels as the exclusive hotel sponsor of Special Olympics and the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. The sponsorship includes financial and in-kind support from Starwood. In addition, Starwood will broadcast Special Olympics public service announcements on its internal television channel in its hotels.

Le Méridien Illuminates its New Brand Vision in the World’s Most Electric and Vibrant City with Large Scale Light Installation

SHANGHAI – On December 1st 2006, in an extraordinary installation of light and art, Le Royal Méridien Shanghai will officially open with a First NightSM celebration entitled “The Sky is the Limit”. The internationally acclaimed artist Thierry Dreyfus will re-imagine the Shanghai cityscape, unveiling a permanent and contemporary light installation that will enrich the electric Shanghai skyline. Five powerful “light cannons” will beam red light vertically into the sky and gently pulse, creating a beating effect that will establish Le Royal Méridien Shanghai as the “heart of Shanghai”. Inside the hotel at 789 Nanjing Lu Bar, located on the top 64th, 65th and 66th floors of the hotel, guests will literally see Shanghai in a new light through a unique one-of-a-kind art installation of multi-colored filters on the expansive windows, providing a new perspective onto the city of Shanghai.

Experience - Westin Sights and Sounds on MSN

Escape From Your Day with a Five Minute Virtual Vacation or Explore the Hidden Treasures of the World's Greatest Destinations

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2006--Westin Hotels & Resorts has teamed up with the MSN Branded Entertainment and Experiences Team to launch a new and unique experiential online destination. Designed to provide a virtual sensory experience, www.renewal.msn.com allows visitors to experience the essence of Westin online, enabling them to "Escape" into a world of personal renewal and relaxation, and the opportunity to "Explore" the sights and sounds of select destinations. Visitors can escape the stress of their day with a five minute virtual vacation or take a carefully choreographed auditory and visual tour based on their mood. Void of any advertising, the content driven site showcases the Westin guest experience with interactive components and sensory elements that promote relaxation and tranquility.

Emirates airlines is now offering hotel bookings through the Lastminute.com engine on their official website.

Google is in the process of launching Audio advertising through the Google AdWords system. While the official site http://audioads.google.com currently appears on seach results, the site is not live yet. Interested parties can find information on the Beta here though.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Travelport Ltd. has agreed to purchase GDS Worldspan...and the New York Times reports that equity firms are in discussion for the purchase of GDS Sabre.

"Travelport Ltd., the owner of online travel agencies Orbitz and CheapTickets, agreed to purchase Worldspan for $1.4 billion in cash to acquire technology and new customers.

Worldspan provides electronic ticketing for travel agencies and runs the reservation systems for airlines including Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. The combined company would have $3.5 billion in sales, Travelport spokesman Elliot Bloom said Thursday."

Came across this old TV Commercial / Advert from Sheraton Hotels & Resorts...the resolution is pretty grainy and the sound a little distorted but an interesting peek nevertheless into the world of hospitality advertising in the 80's!

Someone sent us this email - if this pertains as a response to the same series of ads, Bentley certainly knows how to put out a tongue-in-cheek response!

BMW Ad congratulating Audi

This ad has been doing the rounds on the Internet for quite a while now...but when someone sent this to us by email today, we just couldn't resist posting a tribute...to inspiration and true creativity.

FORBES has just released the Forbes Traveler 400, a list of top-ranked hotels around the world, picked by travel experts and reviewed by expert writers. The list includes well-known properties from all continents and include famous names from Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE to the Governers Camp set in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in sunny Kenya.

To view the entire list,

Kim Gordon lays out the top 10 Marketing trends to watch out for in 2007:

Consumer Trends
1. College Grads
2. Affluent Working Women
3. Asian Population Growth
4. Word-Of-Mouth
Trends in Traditional Media
5. Yellow Pages
6. Simultaneous Media Usage
7. Newspapers
Hot Online Trends
8. Web Conferencing
9. Online Research
10. Local Search

Read the full article HERE

An interesting article with the New York Times that outlines the rapid growth of online ad spend, esp in Britain.

Online advertising is racing ahead in Britain, growing at a roughly 40 percent annual rate, and is expected to account for as much as 14 percent of overall ad spending this year, according to media buying agencies. That is the highest level in the world, and more than double the percentage in the United States.

Read the article HERE

In keeping with the lifestyle marketing approach and following up on the 'Breathe' and White Tea Scent campaigns, Westin Hotels & Resorts is now launching "5 Minute Vactions" online. This ad campaign, created by MSN implores visitors to take a break and enjoy soothing music and visuals of nature, cityscapes, etc.

"The program, called Westin Sights & Sounds, was created by MSN. Consumers who visit MSN's network will see ads imploring them to take some time out to relax. The idea, said Sue Brush, svp-Westin Hotels, is to provide an experience that consumers will link to the brand. "They might say, 'Maybe the next time I travel, I'll consider Westin," said Brush. The company will determine from incremental online bookings and other measurements, how well the campaign is working, she added."