Brands play a big role in our decision making and identification process.

Wikipedia clinically defines a Brand as “…a collection of images and ideas representing an economic producer; more specifically, it refers to the descriptive verbal attributes and concrete symbols such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme that convey the essence of a company, product or service."

But Brands in the Hotel industry today are more than just a name and the “concrete symbols” associated with them…today they represent a lifestyle choice and create a whole new meaning system. Hotel brand experts now aim for ‘loyalty beyond reason’ so clearly associated with international heavyweights like Coke, Nike, Apple, Starbucks and more.

Marriott Rewards®, Marriott International’s award-winning guest loyalty program, is granting wishes with its “Redeem for Anything” program. Members can now create their own personalized rewards and redeem points for anything they want. Flying lessons, tickets to the Olympics, custom built golf clubs, if members dream it Marriott Rewards delivers it. The options are limitless.

W Hotels Offers the Next Level of the Luxe Life with the Highly Anticipated Debut Of 'W The Card' The Ultimate Whatever/Whenever Experience(R). W brand's Exclusive, Invitation-Only "W"-IP Program Offers. Unparalleled Experiences, Insider Access and Indulgent Partner Perks. Unprecedented 24/7 W The Card Concierge Service Provides Round The Clock Access to the W Lifestyle Anywhere in the World



W Hotels is redefining what it means to be a VIP with the debut of "W The Card" - the W brand's all-access pass to a world of privilege. Marking the launch of one of the most exclusive hotel VIP services of its kind, W The Card offers a year full of fabulous experiences, irresistible partner perks, VIP treatments, and up-to-the-second updates on anything and everything happening in W hotel destinations around the globe. The ultimate Whatever/Whenever(R) experience, W The Card is the epitome of what it means to be an insider, including the opportunity to access the W brand's exclusive W The Card Concierge Service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week anywhere in world. This highly coveted card also holds the key to insider privileges with an enviable offering of shop-chic treats (perks offered by select high-end retailers, including 30% off purchases at W Hotels The Store); impossible reservations (at the W brand's most desirable dining experiences, including Todd English's Olives, Tom Collichio's Craft and Gerber Group bars); irresistible indulgences (benefits through Starwood's Preferred Guest Program), and so much more.

According to a fresh release yesterday, Starwood Hotels & Resorts have said that more than 300 Hotels belonging to the Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands in the U.S., Canada and Caribbean will Implement a 100% Smoke-Free Policy. This follows Westin's pioneering move to ban smoking in it's North American properties...a move replicated by various others chains in the industry.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2008--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that its Sheraton(R) and Four Points(R) by Sheraton hotel brands will implement a smoke-free policy at more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada. Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton have begun converting all smoking guestrooms to non-smoking in preparation for the new policy. In addition, all public areas will also be 100% smoke-free*.

Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Introduces Exciting New Offerings to Enhance the Guest Experience Guests of Sheraton(R) Hotels & Resorts are waking up to new comforts as the most recognized hotel brand in the world introduces several new signature room amenities. Sheraton properties throughout North America are rolling out new bath amenities, through an exclusive partnership with Bliss(R), and serving up Starbucks(R) products, both coffee and Tazo(R) teas. The guest room refresh is one component of a larger effort to revitalize the guest experience at Sheraton's 408 hotels across 75 countries, and is currently rolling out nationwide.

DTCM Director-General Khalid A bin Sulayem stated that the 10-year old system in place for the 5 star system of hotel ratings will soon be replaced (possibly in the first quarter of 2008) with a tougher system which will be mainly applied to all new hotels and hotel apartements.

The number of visitors to Dubai reached seven million last year, according to statistics from the department. The emirate’s hotels netted earnings of up to Dh11 billion in the first 10 months of 2007, compared with Dh8.7bn in 2006. Hotel occupancy in the emirate is the highest in the world. Last year, the rate stood between 70 per cent and 100 per cent in winter, and from 60 per cent to 90 per cent in summer,” said Bin Sulayem.

The new rating system would mean better quality standards and tougher control, ensuring that even self-service hotels apply for classification. This may be an important move in ensuring that Dubai's aim to become a premier tourist destination in the Middle East is boosted by the quality expected by visitors. With the number of hotels and hotel rooms in the market on a steady rise, service quality will become a crucial competitive factor that may decide if hotels fill up or not!

tags: dubai, hotels, hospitality, DTCM, classification, 5-star, ratings, rating-system, dubai-hotels

A new article titled “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Motels, Hotels, and Resorts” by Lindell K. Weaver, MD, and Kayla Deru, BA in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 32, Issue 7 (July 2007) states:
"Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills over 200 people every year in the United States...researchers found 68 incidents of CO poisoning occurring at hotels, motels, and resorts between 1989 and 2004. In these incidents, 711 guests, 41 employees or owners and 20 rescue personnel were accidentally poisoned. Of those poisoned, 27 died, 66 developed pathological conditions, and 6 had conditions resulting in a jury verdict....The number of reported incidents of poisoning per year has not decreased over this 15-year interval…While the risk of CO poisoning from a one-night stay to an individual guest is small, the accumulated lifetime risk to individuals who travel frequently would be higher. This risk could approach zero with effective CO prevention measures.”

It would be interesting to learn just how Carbon Monoxide poisoning commonly develops in hotels and if this issue has been considered outside the United States. The study mentions CO alarms and cheap detectors that can be used to measure CO levels...do we know of any hotels that actually use these? An interesting issue to be sure - though the risk of serious poisoning seems small in terms of overall numbers, this does seem to pose risks for frequent travellers, specially if hotels haven't really considered / planned to tackle this risk. Any thoughts / experiences / comments from anyone who's aware of this?

Grosvenor House, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort and Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel were clearly the best in class when they scooped most of the much sought after accolades at the dazzling 2007 MENA travel awards ceremony, held in Dubai recently.

Grosvenor House was named Best Corporate Hotel, taking the platinum award, while Retreat Health & Spa took the platinum award for Best Spa. Mezzanine was awarded gold for Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the UAE with Indego close behind, winning the silver award for Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the UAE

Dubai, UAE , May 2007 - Readers of Business Traveller Middle East magazine voted Sheraton as Best Business Hotel chain in the Middle East; and, for the fifth consecutive year, voted Starwood Preferred Guest as Best Hotel Loyalty Program during the magazine’s annual award ceremony held in Dubai on the eve of Arabian Travel Market on April 30th.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts shone at the MENA Travel Awards 2007, with hotels in the group scooping up titles in 7 categories. The hotels in Dubai in particular featured the strongest performance, with Grosvenor House in the limelight. A breakdown:

Best Spa
- Grosvenor House [Platinum]
- Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa Dubai [Gold]

Best 5 Star Leisure Hotel
- Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa Dubai [Platinum]

I’ve been away for a few days. Our destination was Norfolk in the east of England but as we live in the north of England we spent a night in the Scotch Corner Travelodge on the way south to Norfolk and a night at the Harrogate Travelodge on the way north again. The Travelodges cost a non refundable £15 per night for room only Supersaver rate, if you book at least 3 weeks in advance. The rooms were a good size, clean and simply furnished. The Travelodge in Harrogate is in the town centre, a great location the only drawback being lack of a free car park at the Travelodge.

I recently did some research about UK travel companies' online serivce for a guest blog on Travel Rants. I found the Transversal customer service study of top websites in the travel, banking, insurance, consumer goods and telecoms sectors, which can be downloaded if you register at Transversal.

I was amazed to read that 60% of emails to travel company websites did not receive a reply. Of the remaining 40% companies who did manage to respond, the average response time was 42 hours. The travel websites were asked ten pretty basic question e.g. can I fly from this airport to that airport, do I need a visa for that country, what is the duty free allowance? 80% of travel websites could only manage to answer 2 out of the 10 queries.

I read an article about the growth of no frills hotels in Asia. Tune Hotels will open a no frills hotel in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on March 1 2007. The rooms have no cupboards or expensive floor coverings. It is claimed that guests want a clean room, comfortable bed, good shower and a secure environment. Guests only want to pay for what they use. Prices of between 3 - 20 US dollars are quoted. However I read that towels and other basic amenities can be purchased and are then yours to keep. Would you want to carry a wet towel away with you in the your luggage next morning? I began to wonder if you would also have to buy sheets to use on the bed. I know that the price is low but what do you consider to be a frill? It also depends on what they charge you for the so called frills.

Beer Officer:Four Points' Newest Executive to Help Cultivate, Curate and Promote New Best Brews(SM) Program

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2006--Who says drinking beer won't get you anywhere? For those passionate for pilsners or crazy for crafts, your favorite pastime could earn you a fancy new title and a seat at the Board Room Table. In celebration of the simple pleasure of a perfectly poured glass of beer and the launch of its Best Brews program, Four Points by Sheraton hotels today officially kicked-off its Chief Beer Officer (CBO) executive search and began making room in the executive suite for its newest chief.

Marketing has a central and powerful role to play in guiding a business to success. Beyond the creation and execution of brand communication, it holds the responsibility to be a brand evangelist, offering a brand world view that serves as context to all that a company does.

In looking at the way the great companies hold their brand, I suggest embracing these principles to help you on your journey to preeminence.

• Determine a single brand personality and ‘blow it out’ across all channels and audiences
• Move from a discount based to an experience based brand
• Commit to a marketing world view focused on developing personal relationships to achieve company goals, rather than anonymous transactions