Using Google Earthtechnology, Intercontinental Hotels Group’s guests can plan and book their travel anywhere in the world in just a few simple clicks. visit earth.ihg.com

Google Earth was a tool begging to be exploited. Thankfully someone has.

I never understood, why none of the leading chains put up their maps/directions using Google Earth. Even today most have written directions or worse no directions as at all.

The Taj Hotels website tajhotels.com has a map that is not to scale & really I've been to Delhi, that map is dificult.



The Oberoi Hotels website oberoihotels.com doesnt have maps. Check out Cecil shimla instructions at http://www.thececil.com/en-US/Hotel/TG_LocationAccess.aspx

Is your hotel using it? Let me know.







Search for Jobs with Intercontinental Hotels in Costa Rica> ‎

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We thank Upperdeck Resort in choosing to sponsor and advertise with us!
Patrons like Mr. Gupte, make this effort possible.

This has been a free service for our readers and we intend to keep it that way.
Thank you Upper Deck for contributing to the effort.

Readers: If you would like to advertise with us, please write to editor@hospemag.com

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I found an interesting site www.ifood.tv

It's a video food site; with recipes & other nik naks all in video.

On the face of it, seems like a nice idea. If you are going to have refrigerators that can order over the net based on what is left, maybe a site like this will be able to tell your fridge what's missing from the ingredients too!

For your career can this site help? sure.
Instructional videos are hard to come by in India and this just might be what the doctor ordered.

I am embedding one on how to open a wine bottle...let me know what you think!

Here is a sample video on how to open a Wine Bottle

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I have been inundated with requests for specific Jobs / Departments etc.

There are LABELS available on the blog that you can use to track these things, but now people want all this in their email...so here it is...

New Groups for your SPECIFIC NEED!

ENJOY!

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We did a story on Mumbai, Star hotels stirred up as season starts sometime back.

soumya said...

i like this type of informations thank you for all

i will like to know about the kolkata position

Soumya, I am happy to say we have been able to get Kolkata position from a senior hotelier based in Kolkata.

Here is what we were told...

Demand expected to grow by 20% this year and 25% the year after. No new supply in the city until early 2009, when Taj Gateway enters the city (hopefully) with 200 rooms.

The major supply addition will be in East Kolkata, with Marriott ( more, Jobs), Hilton, Taj and Holiday Inn, all coming up in that area.

However, Marriott and Taj have declared these properties will be in the economy range (courtyard by Marriott and Gateway by Taj).

Holiday Inn, would anyways position themselves as an economy hotel. Hence the five star deluxe market will really not see any major increase in Supply, with the big four continuing to be the major players. The Grand Great eastern is scheduled for opening third quarter next year and it remains to be seen how this would impact the city. There’s yet no news of their sales teams hitting the leisure market with rates for next winters.

Other Stories on Kolkata | See Jobs in Kolkata | Search for Jobs in Kolkata

Editor: If you could tell us anything about the city you are in, please do write to editor@hospemag.com

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Indian Hotels, said earlier this week it had paid $211.3 million for a 10 percent stake in Orient-Express Hotels.

Orient-Express Hotels: A name synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and service for over 25 years, Orient-Express owns and manages hotels, trains, cruises and restaurants in some of the most magical locations our planet has to offer.

Orient-Express encompasses a myriad of luxury travel experiences to suit all tastes, in settings as diverse as Peru, Botswana, Tahiti, Portugal and Australia.

Orient-Express Hotels has turned down a proposal from Indian Hotels Co Ltd for a strategic alliance.

Read the complete story, click here

Editor: I was mentioning to someone the other day, how Taj Hotels (IHCL) has been buying of individual properties and how they must be itching to buy out a running luxury operation. You cant fault the logic. The luxury market is all about brand name and perception and with Mr. Krishna Kumar (architect of the Tata Tea - Tetley deal) & Mr. Bickson (Internationally renowned hotelier) this was coming.

I do think, this will be taken forward. However how & when we'll keep you updated.
By the way, ITC owns 14.9% of Oberoi Hotels and according to them its only for investment purposes, nothing else....

Other stories on Taj Group | See Jobs with Taj Group| Search for Jobs with Taj Group

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Editor: I came across this article on hotel fraud.

Staying at a hotel should have a relaxing effect, rather than making you worried how and where you will be ripped off. Hotel fraud is a big industry and if you don't check your bill twice you may be charged for unwanted services with your permission. While these below rip-offs are not really dangerous to you and remain legal, they are certainly not ethical. Those participating in hotel fraud will try to squeeze every cent out of you.
see the complete article..click here

Personally, I am inclined to deny all this...but if I ask myself honestly whether this happens, then the answer is Yes! Not very long back, the phone charges for STD/ISD were stupendous in five star hotels, Hyatt Delhi has started charging for parking...

let me know what you think...

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I have been a strong proponent of the use of technology in every sphere of service. My personal grouse has been that we are just not moving fast enough.

Well, here is another view, and thankfully one that agrees with me. Leave your comments..

we stayed at the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue, where I’d found a cheap weekend rate using Hotels.com. I was amazed at what I found in the lobby: check-in kiosks!

There were about 400 people waiting in line for the Reception desk. But me, I just breezed up to the kiosk, fed it a credit card for I.D. purposes, and pocketed the card key that the machine spat out. The machine then printed a page that identified my room number, and even gave me directions on how to find the elevator! (“Cross the lobby,” etc.)

They’ve had check-in kiosks at airports for years now. But in my view, hotels need them far more desperately. What the heck took so long?

O.K., the concierge told me that this Hilton has actually had them for two years now. But still, you get my point: At most hotels, you get there, you stand in line, you’re tired from travel, and you just lean against the counter for—what, seven minutes?—as the reception agent taps away on the computer. What on earth is so complicated about checking somebody in?

Hate to say it, but the little kiosk machine completed the same transaction in under 30 seconds. Let the revolution begin!

source

while we are on that...here are some comments I found really interesting

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“Our employees can go out and say ‘Hey my company even allows me to keep a ponytail.
Editor: marketing. this is not for the staff its for the brand!

At Ginger Hotels, from housekeeping staff to general managers every one dresses up in black t-shirts and jeans
Editor: this is for cost. nothing else.

The hotel chain (Sarovar) is bringing in young travellers from Germany and other countries to work as front office staff for a period of six months.
Editor: free foreigners? come on we all know what trainees do in all hotels!!

A report from Economic Times on what hotels will do to retain you...here's my take..where's the money?

Do we need people to allow us pony tails? I think not.
The average salary could go up atleast 20% is money was not wasted on some of these so called 'extrasss'

The problem seems to be in comparing the facilities with those on offer in call centers. by all means I am for more facilities, but can you (owners, managers) do that after you start paying equivalent dough!!

read the whole article (eco).. click here

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Ask Naukri.com brings to you a team of experts in the area of work-life development to answer all your questions about your career – which career would suit you, how to go about it, how to land a great job and how to deal with life at work.

I have a joined and sent a query. Will post it here, if I get a revert...

Try it out....www.asknaukri.com

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A recent poll found Indians to be second worst travellers after the French.

Personally I dont think we are that bad, but some of the stuff mentioned in the poll, including the noise level, the togetherness and the need to bargain do give us away.

my fav piece of the article was

RUDE SERVICE: It's not just travellers. Hotels and airlines in India can also behave badly, says Sudhir Udaykanth. "Once I was checking in to a hotel in Bangalore and the lady at the counter was so rude. She didn't even have the courtesy to address me properly. If it was a white-skinned guest, she would not have done that."

Now how true is that!!

read the article..click here

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hi! First of all, my apologies for not posting anything for the last 4 (or is it 5?) days. I was away and my GPRS enabled handheld was not communicating all that well! Anyway, I'm back. AND there is loads to be put up. This is only to let you know that by the time you receive this there will be loads new on the blog....so please do pay a visit. www.myhospitalitycareer.com Or click here Rgds, Editor

Subscribe by Email Click Here | HOME | Jobs | Hospitality Coach | News | Hospitality Companies | Travel | New Builds & Development | Ideas & Innovation | Hospitality Entrepreneur | Education n Training | Hospitality Design

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This is part of our on-going series where we compare jobs availabe at the company's website Vs Job sites.

Here is RKHS. 0 positions on the official website Vs 60 on naukri.com

See it here..........

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Things are different here at the Trident Hilton.

This is not a place for raised voices, quick movements or complicated tasks. The staff here all know me by name, even the ones I have never met... see more..click here

Glowing tributes…

This is from a guest blog.

Are you tracking your hotel???

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In room toiletries - a manager's perspective

Further to In room toiletries - a guest perspective here is the Unit Manager, Gaurav Manhas' response to my query on the intiative.

Dear Prabhjot,

It was a pleasant surprise to all of us that a cost cutting measures which most of the hotels take these days has gone so well with a guest.Well, about my comment on this issue i would try to add up on what you have already mentioned.

Some Guests may Perceive the measures like tent cards about toiletries,Changing of bed linen and towels,switching Off Geysers and water Taps as cost saving ideas taken up by an hotel.This is absolutely right.But,at the same time it also helps us to reduce environmental pollution that comes out of the establishment.

This can be elaborated by taking into concern the amount of detergent and water waste that comes out of a hotel that has in house laundry by cleaning of Room linen and bathroom towels everyday.Also, as any good organisation it is our social responsibility to make sure that energy resources like electricity,diesel(used for pumps and generators), L.P.G(Cooking Gas) are used in a responsible manner as there is shortage of power resources are in our country.

Warm Regards,

Gaurav Manhas

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Editorial

Abhishek is an entrepreneur, a successful one at that!

why are we talking about him? His blog post on the Sarovar managed executive housing at ISB Hyderabad.

& of course, my take on it all!

read on....e

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Labels: job site review, monster.com

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The Top 10 Environmental Issues Facing the Hospitality Industry in 2007 - By Glenn Hasek

http://www.htrends.com/researcharticle25662.html

I don’t think there are top 10 issues, the issues are sub-divided to make the headline attention-worthy.

But the pertinent ones are: click here for more..

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This is a fantastic Idea!

I personally have flexible traveling plans, and I think this option of searching +/- 2 days is a very insightful innovation.

It’s also a great revenue management lever. You could play around with your availability & prices to generate demand on shoulder days just before or after a peak!

more...

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