May 2019 – Page 2

Royals Put Malta Hotels Back On Map

Posted on May 19, 2019 by blogger

For a Mediterranean island with good year round weather, a friendly local English speaking population and facilities to rival that of any of her competitors, Malta is a suprisingly often forgotten island for many people planning a holiday in the Mediterranean.

Malta missed some of her own governments tourist targets in 2005, but a recent visit by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh resulted in four days of positive media coverage in the islands most important market the United Kingdom and also in over 50 other countries attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, including Canada and Australia.

The Queen began her official visit to Malta before she opened the meeting, and was warmly greeted by friendly islanders.

Malta was governed by the British for a hundred and fifty years, and became independent in 1964. But the island has retained many British characteristics, including driving on the left, and British visitors account for nearly half of the islands tourists.

The George Cross ranks with the Victoria Cross as Britains highest award for bravery and Malta was awarded the Cross in 1942 by King George VI for the islands resistance to German attempts to occupy the island, with Malta being under almost constant attack from June 1940.

As well as the challenge of drawing tourists away from other Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Menorca, Malta has had to face the additional challenge of new holiday destinations in the former Eastern Bloc opening up, such as Bulgaria and Croatia, which tend to be cheaper.

Brighter Future

But where the Maltese tourist board has singularly failed to market the islands appeal to the mass holiday market with any degree of success in recent years, the Queens visit has come at the right time for hotels and holiday companies hoping for a good 2006.

Tribune Properties, a British based company specialising in overseas properties including Malta comment:

Malta is not a high priority on the list of holiday destinations for many British people compared to the Spanish Costas, Canary and Balearic Islands. The visit of the Queen showed Malta in a very positive light, and hopefully the islands tourist officials will be able to capitalise on the trip and increase hotel and holiday bookings in the months ahead. Given Maltas past record of promotion though if 2006 sees an increase in visitors it will be despite of the official promotions, and not because of it..

More good news for the Malta holiday industry came in October with the announcement that low cost airlines had been been given the right to fly to the island.

This will help both the hotel and property industries in Malta add Tribune. With the cost of getting to the island coming down, Malta should see her share of the short stay European holiday market increase substantially, increasing employment locally and benefitting the economy overall.

Starwood Hotels To Open New Westin Resort For Punta Cana Holidays In 2013

Posted on May 15, 2019 by blogger

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide is planning to build a new resort in the Dominican Republic after it signed an agreement with development partner Grupo Punta Cana. The Westin Puntacana Resort is expected to open to tourists taking Dominican Republic holidays in late 2013 in the Playa Blanca area of the Puntacana Resort and Club complex.

The new resort will have 204 luxurious rooms including 16 suites, and guests going on holidays to the Dominican Republic can enjoy facilities such as a large swimming pool, full service spa, fitness centre, 24-hour business centre, meeting and wedding rooms, children’s club, walking trails, lobby bar and a poolside grill.

Brian Povinelli, the Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels and Resorts, commented: “The Westin Puntacana Resort is a highly anticipated addition to our growing resorts portfolio, offering travellers a refreshing, island retreat on one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean.

“The new resort will offer all of the Westin brand’s signature programs and amenities, designed to inspire wellbeing and send guests home feeling better than when they arrived.”

During holidays in the Dominican Republic, travellers staying at the new resort will also have access to first-class amenities at the Puntacana Resort and Club, such as championship golf course, nine gourmet restaurants, a Six Senses Spa, a 1,500-acre ecological reserve and three miles of pristine white sand beaches.

The resort is the first of two Dominican Republic hotels that Starwood Hotels and Resorts is planning to open over the year or so. The first property, Four Points by Sheraton Punta Cana Village, is due to open in October, 2012 and is also being developed by Grupo Punta Cana.

Punta Cana is situated on the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and travellers from all over the world head to the region every year to experience tropical Punta Cana holidays amid stunning natural scenery that is made up of white sand beaches, turquoise ocean waters, lush green landscapes.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Starwood Hotels and Resorts to be able to share the Puntacana experience with even more travellers as they visit the Dominican Republic,” stated Alberto Abreu, the Executive Director of Hospitality at Puntacana Resort and Club.

He added: “The Westin Puntacana Resort will allow even more visitors from around the globe to experience the one-of-a-kind beaches, weather, and activities available in our country, and at our resort. We look forward to welcoming more guests into the Puntacana family as we move forward with this project.”

Movenpick Adds Three Egypt Hotels And Five Nile Sailing Options To Portfolio

Posted on May 13, 2019 by blogger

Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has increased its collection of Egyptian properties with the addition of three new Egypt hotels in the country’s Red Sea coast, four cruisers and a sail boat.

The international hotel chain has increased its options for tourists planning Egypt holidays with new properties including Mvenpick Resort Hurghada, Mvenpick Resort Abu Soma and Mvenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh in Naama Bay.

We have a long and successful history in Egypt since 1975 and today managing 18 hotels, resorts and Nile boats, explained Roger Kacou, the Senior Vice President of Mvenpick Hotels & Resorts Africa.

This announcement signifies an important step in our dynamic expansion programme that demonstrates our commitment to and total confidence in Egypts tourism.

In addition to the three new Egypt hotels, the hotel group has added four new cruisers and a sail boat to its Egypt holiday choices on the River Nile, including the famous Misr, which was the private yacht of Egypts former King Farouk.

Travellers going on holidays to Sharm el Sheikh will be able to enjoy upscale facilities and accommodation at the new Mvenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh – Naama Bay from 8th April, 2012. The resort has 298 rooms and suites and four villas with a private swimming pool; all boasting views overlooking the resorts five private sandy beaches.

The propertys architecture reflects Arabian heritage with domes, arches and dark wood furniture.

The hotel group has added two properties in Hurghada: Mvenpick Resort Hurghada which opened on 5th March, 2012, and the Mvenpick Resort Abu Soma which is scheduled to open later this year.

Mvenpick Resort Hurghada is situated eight kilometres from Hurghada International Airport and has 252 spacious rooms and suites with Red Sea views. During holidays to Egypt, guests have access to luxurious facilities including a private beach, marina and freshwater pool, as well as activities such as desert safaris, snorkelling, scuba diving, horseback riding and excursions to Giftun Island.

Mvenpick Resort Abu Soma is situated close to several unspoilt golden beaches, 45 kilometres south of Hurghada, and it will have 424 upscale rooms.

Tourists looking for an alternative to hotels for their holidays in Egypt can stay onboard one of Mvenpicks luxury cruisers on the River Nile: the M/S Sun Ray, Darakum, Hamees and Feddya.

The vessels feature luxurious accommodation with modern amenities including air conditioning, satellite LCD TV, mini bar, safe and private bathroom with tub.

The Misr is the only steamship on the River Nile and it offers sophisticated accommodation made up of 16 cabins and eight suites, exquisite cuisine, and a high level of service for guests seeking opulence from a golden age during Egypt holidays.

Analyzing Hotel Guest Satisfaction Checklist

Posted on May 10, 2019 by blogger

Hotel entrepreneurs make it a point to check hotel guest satisfaction checklist to maintain the standards of excellence. Business travelers are vocal about their reviews on the hotels they stay in and this is exactly what the hotel guest satisfaction form is for. It is also one of the first things that travelers look at when they choose the hotels they stay in. They wish to be satisfied with the amenities that they get.

Hotels get cash from their guests for their stay. The least they can do is listen to what their customers would like. They work on the areas that need to be developed and they maintain the services that get the most positive reviews. Entrepreneurs make sure that their hotels continue to please the guests so that they can be recommended to other potential guests.

Hotel guest satisfaction form must cover the satisfaction rating that the guests provide. If there are areas that received the lowest score, then the hotel owners must check what the problems in these areas are. There are several factors that affect the score of the hotel guest satisfaction checklist. A good hotel management takes into consideration the hotel guest satisfaction guide and applies these on their hotel amenities. Once the guests see that these are the luxuries that they will get during their stay, it makes the hotel more appealing for them.

Here’s how most hotels do it. They look into the over-all evaluation of the hotel guest satisfaction form after each quarter. When they see that the customer satisfaction results decreased, they need to check the changes that occurred during that time and make the appropriate solutions. Then they check the results for the next quarter. Once they see that the hotel guest satisfaction form generates higher results, then they did the appropriate changes.

In order for hotels to come up with the necessary hotel guest satisfaction guide, the management converses with everyone in the hotel and take note of their comments on how to manage the hotel properly. Everyone, even the cleaning people, have a quick say on how the hotel can be properly evaluated by the guests. Various services such as constantly cleaning the room and being accurate in the hotel bill (after calculating the overall costs) are included in the hotel guest satisfaction form.

The hotels that are commonly frequented by business travelers are those that have received high recommendations. These are justified by the hotel guest satisfaction form that the management constantly reviews. If there are renovations that the hotel chain has to see, then they look at the customer satisfaction results again to determine if they need to do that change or not.

Management knows that they can push hotel guest satisfaction to a higher level. They also know the rates of the amenities that their competition provides so they base it on the over-all costs along with their competition. The whole business of hotel guest satisfaction checklist is meticulous but when the management knows exactly what to look for, then they can easily come up with the hotel guest satisfaction form that they make their customers answer.

Searching For Souks From Sharm El Sheikh And Dubai Hotels

Posted on May 9, 2019 by blogger

The colourful souks with their local tradespeople are an integral part of business in Sharm el Sheikh and Dubai and a big tourist attraction. People come to buy local produced goods and to experience haggling, maybe for the first time. From Sharm el Sheikh hotels, one is spoilt for choice. You can either visit the traditional souks in the Old town or travel to Naama Bay and visit the modern shopping malls with their gold and silver jewellers. The traditional souks are primarily aimed at the tourist market and sell a lot of goods which are souvenirs or mementos.

Things that represent good value at these souks are Egyptian cotton goods and perfume. As expected, Egyptian themed artefacts sell well. Pyramids and statues of the Egyptian gods and goddesses are popular and can be acquired for as little as 2 – 4 GBP. Most tourists go home with a papyrus with their name written on in hieroglyphics. The traditional Shishas or water pipes are best sellers. Some stalls specialise in gold and silver jewellery and this is quite cheap and well made. A more recent innovation in the souks is the replicating of designer goods such as handbags, purses etc. A lot of the stalls sell Turkish delight. Be sure to try before you buy as quality is variable. There is also a selection of the usual touristy things, like T shirts, incense holders and cuddly stuffed camels. One enterprising stall owner even sells belly dancing outfits.

Whatever you buy, you will have to indulge in haggling, unless you intend to pay over the odds for your purchases. Haggling has gone on for thousands of years and is expected. When you enquire the price of anything, the vendor will give you a vastly inflated price. It is up to you to knock him down to a price that you think is reasonable. If he wont budge, walk away. If he doesnt want your custom, he will let you leave. If he thinks he can make a trade, he will call you back for more negotiation.

The Dubai Gold Souk is internationally known and attracts a wealth of visitors from all over the world, to marvel at the gold jewellery and make a purchase at a very reasonable price. All hotels in Dubai will have information on the Gold Souk, opening times etc. Located in Deira, it is easily recognisable from the massive wooden gates that mark the entrance. As you pass through, you cant help but be amazed at the sight of all the gold glistening behind the windows.

If retail therapy is your thing, then you are well catered for in Dubai. Many of the hotels are located near shopping malls. Dubai shopping malls are a lot bigger than European ones. In fact, the Mall of The Emirates mall is the size of 73 football pitches and is the largest shopping mall outside of North America. It houses over 400 retail outlets and is remarkable in that it even has its own ski slope. Built around an Egyptian theme, The Wafi Mall, situated on the Garhoud Road, has three giant pyramids in the centre of the mall, covered in lights. Considered to be the most elegant of the Dubai malls, this giant shopping area contains over 350 outlets, many of them designer boutiques. Whilst you are shopping for couture, you can rest assured that the children are being well looked after in their own play area in the mall. Called the Encounter Zone it contains everything to amuse the kids.