Four Seasons Reveals $18 Million Website

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts just unveiled its new and improved website—that cost a jaw dropping $18 million to develop.

Why the change? The luxury hotel chain’s makeover is an effort to increase its online revenue. While the website attracts 30 million visitors every year, online bookings only represent 12% of the Four Seasons’ total revenue—only a 2% increase within the last five years.

The new website includes big, bright photography; a new booking process; social media integration; and personal profile technology, giving users the ability to set preferences and also giving the Four Seasons an opportunity to create a more targeted online experience.

The new look was designed to cater to the findings of the 2012 Four Seasons Luxury Trends Report, which concentrates on digital technology and shows the likes of luxury travelers. A vital factor in their findings was the need for constant mobile access. Four Seasons customers are regularly traveling with their smartphones and tablets, and in 2011, the company experienced a 200% increase in bookings completedon tablet device. The Four Seasons’ goal is to give its users the best possible mobile experience when booking a hotel, providing a scaled-down site for mobile phones that include videos, images and room rates.

Check out some of the other findings on the 2012 Four Seasons Luxury Trends Report and the new Four Seasons million-dollar website!

Hotel Rooms Get Healthy

It’s still pretty early in the new year, and you’re trying your best to keep up with your resolution of losing weight. But if you’re constantly traveling, it’s easy to give in to the hotel mini-bar snacks and letting your workout clothes never leave your suitcase.

It’s true—a steady, healthy diet and exercise isn’t quite the easiest task for travelers. But the Omni hotels are helping their guests stay on a healthy track by offering  “Get Fit Rooms.” The hotel room will come accommodated with a treadmill, two-pound dumbbells, an exercise mat, stretch cords, a canvas bag, a chilled bottle of water, a hand towel and a mini radio handset. New to working out? Guest services will also provide an informative booklet of helpful exercises to get you in healthy shape.

There are no more excuses to be “gym-shy,” because the only member of this gym is you. Keep that resolution alive, and make 2012 your year to stay healthy … even on the go!

Find out more about “Get Fit Rooms” today.

Fast Food, Room Service or Both?

Your business meeting is in an hour. You still have to make yourself look presentable, have the hotel hail you a cab and grab a quick bite to eat. Well, there’s no need to make that extra stop at the fast-food joint next door anymore—hotels like The Four Seasons and Public Chicago are catering their new fast-food room service to the fast-pace travelers and those who love instant gratification and convenience.

When you’re on the go, you don’t have time to enjoy the beautiful flower garnishing your plate. Some hotels offer the food bagged and ready for the travelers racing to their destination. The service is so fast, guests might not even see the delivery man or woman! In a short 15 to 20 minutes, the special delivery is dropped off outside their door.

But just because the room service is designed like a pizza delivery or drive-through, the food is far from pizza and cheeseburgers. Who says travelers can’t enjoy a tequila-lime chicken wrap or a beef brisket and crispy onion panini on the go?

Menus vary depending on location. Click here to check out meal options from the Four Season’s Fast and Fresh 15-Minute Room Service.

Tablet-based Concierge Programs Have Arrived

Aloft Hotels, part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide brand, is piloting a tablet-based concierge program that allows guests to research local dining options, entertainment activities and so much more.

No longer will guests have to talk with a real-life concierge to get directions or restaurant recommendations. They can check flight status and print boarding passes with just a few simple taps on an iPad screen. Hotels will be equipped with two concierge stations near the front desk lobby.

Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood, stated “our guests tend to be independent and tech-savvy so the tablet-based concierge program allows them to conveniently plan their schedules in a familiar way that enhances their overall experience.”

Aloft now joins various other hotel groups that are digitizing service. Some hotels have even made the move to put and iPad in all guest rooms, charging them if they choose to take the iPad with them.

Sounds like a pretty good deal, right? To find out more information on how hotels are integrating tablets check out travel.usatoday.com.

Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Chicago

Michael Jordan recently visited his new steakhouse in Chicago, along with his V.I.P guests and former teammates, located inside the InterContinental Hotel on the world-famous Magnificent Mile. Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse opened its doors in August and has enjoyed great success.

Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse is described with the phrase “excellence served daily”, a motto that certainly matches the goals of the former Chicago Bulls star. The restaurant serves prime, dry-aged, hand-cut beef that is savory and second-to-none. The environment is warm and welcoming, yet sophisticated, and places an emphasis on superior customer service and creating a memorable dining experience.

Michael Jordan also owns: Michael Jordan’s The Steakhouse N.Y.C., one sixtyblue in Chicago, Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT, Michael Jordan’s 23.Sportscafe in Ucansville, CT, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse at Mohegan Sun in Ucansville, CT and Sol Toro Tequila Grill in Montville, CT.

Michael Jordan has a long and storied history as a Chicago icon and as the acclaimed greatest basketball player of all time.

For more information about Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, visit the official site.

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Ritz-Carlton to Double Presence in Japan

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C. recently put plans in motion to double their hotel presence in Japan from two locations to four. The Ritz-Carlton currently has locations in Osaka and Tokyo, but development will soon occur with Kanehide in Okinawa, and with Sekisui House in Kyoto.

Kyoto and Okinawa are diverse, culturally rich and virtually untapped for the luxury hotel market. The Ritz-Carlton has enjoyed great success thus far in Japan, and is anticipating their expansion to further cement the perception of Japan as a luxury destination.

The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa (opening in April 2012) is also blazing a new trail for management in Japan. They will appoint their first Japanese General Manager to captain the Okinawa location. The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa will be situated on the grounds of The Kise Country Club, and will offer 97 opulent guest rooms along with an 18-hole Championship course with views of the East China Sea.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto will offer 136 of the largest and most luxurious rooms in the city. It offers the chance to enjoy a stay in a unique cultural location. The resort is close to Kyoto’s popular downtown and located along the Kamogawa River, offering breath-taking views of the river and Higashiyama Mountains.

Japan is currently a prime market for luxury hotels, and this move will establish The Ritz-Carlton’s position as a luxury leader in Japan’s expanding resort industry.

To find out more, check out The Ritz-Carlton expansion plan today!

Hotel Vitale one of the best in San Fran

Hotel Vitale was recently named one of the top hotels in San Francisco by U.S. News. Of the 363 hotels ranked, the Joie de Vivre property came in at #6.

U.S. News.com includes a number of best hotels lists under their travel guides section, for various markets across the United States and abroad. Their rankings take into account multiple factors including guest reviews, editor rankings and class i.e. how many stars or diamonds the hotel averages.

Located on the Embarcadero waterfront, near San Francisco’s financial district, Hotel Vitale boasts exceptional views of the San Francisco bay and offers a premium spa experience. It also features the in-house Americano restaurant.

U.S. news also mentioned some other awards Hotel Vitale has earned including AAA/CAAA Four Diamond Lodgings 2011, Concierge.com Editor’s Pick , Conde Nast Reader’s Choice List in 2010 and  Frommer’s Very Highly recommended .

Congratulations to our friends at the Hotel Vitale for being recognized as one of the top hotels in San Francisco.

Joie De Vivre pushes east (again)

 

A few  weeks ago we posted a story about Joie De Vivre Hotels taking their first step outside of California with the opening of the Drinkwater in Arizona.

Well, JDV has continued down that expansionary path and will soon open their second, out of California, property.

The Hotel Lincoln in Chicago, a 12 story building with 184 rooms, is projected to open in February of 2012. As reported by Hotel Chatter.com, the hotel has a great location and impressive features to get excited about.

“Rooftop bar, killer lake views and a hot restaurant downstairs and in-room? What’s not to love about this hotel announcement?”

The “Hot restaurant” Hotel Chatter refers to is the Perennial Virant, and in regards to the lake views, JDV says that 60 percent of the rooms will have views of Lake Michigan.

Besides the great features of the hotel itself , the Hotel Lincoln has some major implications for JDV as a company. Expanding outside of Califronia to a nearby western state was one thing, but moving to the heart of the Midwest is a pretty significant move for a hotel chain based in California.

Is JDV going to spread nationally?  Or is Hotel Lincoln just a fluke ? With only two hotels outside of California it’s hard to tell what JDV’s intentions are, but fans of the premium hotels can still cross their fingers and hope they’ll see a JDV hotel coming to a city nearby.

Deck 33 Gets glowing review

 

 

 

Deck 33 was recently featured on Urbandaddy.com ,listed under the Food Section of the Los Angeles centric website.The restaurant, located in Custom Hotel in Los Angeles, was praised for specifically remedying the poor variety of  dining choices near LAX.

“From LAX, you can get… anywhere in the world.

But on the way… you aren’t exactly overwhelmed with options for exotic poolside feasts.”

Sleek and modern architecture and furniture are matched with brief injections of bamboo in this unique restaurant. So if you’re simply near LAX or as the article  suggests “ you’ve got a few hours to kill before your flight overseas”, check out Deck 33 for some culinary satisfaction

Congratulations to our friends over at Deck 33 and Custom hotel for making such a great impression on Urbandaddy.com

Hospitality Wins at Women’s World Cup

 

Though the Women’s World Cup 2011 is still a sore subject for most of us here in the U.S. Some positive Hospitality news has just come out of Germany.

World Football Insider reported this week that commercial hospitality packages reached new sales records for the 2011 Women’s World cup. 28,000 commercial packages were sold, making the 2011 Tournament the most successful hospitality campaign in women’s soccer history.

MATCH Hospitality, “worldwide exclusive rights holder of the FIFA hospitality program”, had a specific marketing strategy that probably played a key role in the record numbers.  MATCH used an approach that “ focused on a more feminine look and feel”, they also specifically tried to identify new markets to sell to and began sales way back in 2009. It’s also interesting to note that 50% of packages were purchased by women.

So clearly there are lessons to be learned from MATCH about how best to capitalize from sporting events in order to maximize hospitality bookings. What exactly made their approach so effective? Was it the precise targeting to women, the early sales, or their identification of new markets? It’s difficult to say but companies in the future should learn from MATCH’s example and follow a similar strategy when marketing hospitality around an event.

For more details and the entire article head over to World Football Insider