tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10519881727669327002024-03-05T01:19:08.965-08:00Executive Traveller MagazineOpinions and business insight into issues affecting travelLNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-11226789445680072652016-05-19T14:50:00.002-07:002016-05-31T14:44:24.770-07:00Face to Face with Federico J Gonzalez Tejera, CEO of the NH Hotels Group - A Transformation Affair<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lyssiemay Annoh chats to the </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">Madrileño making radical changes at the <a href="http://www.nh-hotels.com/" target="_blank">NH Hotels Group</a> </span></i></span></h4>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #2c3643;">Madrileño </span><span lang="EN-US">Federico J
Gonzalez Tejera, CEO of NH Hotel Group had a lot to “grin” about as he officially
launched the NH Collection in Germany on 12 May 2016. He comes to the NH Hotels Group with a
personal vision a goal for the company.
Ultimately, he wants every traveller to seek an NH Hotel first before settling for any other hotel at any destination that they travel to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">After 16 years with Procter and Gamble, 8 years at Disney,
Federico J. Gonzalez Tejera switched to the NH Hotel Group where, as Chief
Executive Officer, he manages all areas of the company with the responsibility
of complying with the strategic five-year business plan*, expanding and
developing the different areas as well as consolidating NH brands. These are exciting times for the <span style="background: white; color: #2c3643;">Madrileño, who since 2015 has been a
member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">Lyssiemay Annoh, Editor-in-Chief
of<a href="http://executivetraveller.net/" target="_blank"> Executive Traveller Magazine</a> met with Federico J Gonzalez Tejera in Berlin on 12 May 2016 in a bid to discover the real person behind the NH
Group transformation.</span></i></h4>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From a multinational consumer company to Disneyland
and now you are leading the NH Hotels Group, how does it feel?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It feels good because I joined the company at an
exciting time of transformation. I am
here to see the transformation through, add value and have fun while doing so
and this is really happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Who is the man behind Federico J Gonzalez Tejera?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">He is a curious man who is trying to do well. I like finding interesting projects to
challenge myself but above all, I like to have fun while implementing them.</span></div>
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What drives you?<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I have grown in my career, I am conscious of how many people I affect in my life. Leading a hotel business with a community with a diverse workforce of almost 19,000 employees of 141 different nationalities, nearly 15% of which work in countries other than their home nations, who work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, makes me proud; because every day, these people go through experiences and I share these experiences with them.</span></div>
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I envisage opportunities, and then I want to get it done quickly because I want to increase the Group’s hotel assets and this makes me ambitiously impatient. My philosophy is that if you envisage something positive, why wait?<div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What personal achievement or legacy do you want to
leave with the NH Hotels Group?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I am revitalizing a company with over 18 million
employees all full of pride and very passionate about their jobs. I have been fortunate to manage a transformation
that has provided adequate financial tools to enable us to create a picture of
the future. At the end of it all, <b>my ambition is that when
anyone travels for leisure or business, they will always ask themselves if
there is an NH Hotel in the area first before going for a second option.</b> This goal summarizes my ambition from the
beginning of the process and the employees agree with me and this makes them
happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What is the rationale behind the VIP Level at the NH
Collection hotels?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We created the VIP Level because for me, luxury is
subjective to the user. Our VIP status
is a matter of segmentation to the user.
By this I mean that a 3-star hotel could be luxury to someone who
usually uses 1-star hotels. Many of our
NH hotels especially the NH Collection could be classified as a five-star hotel
but businesses today do not want to be seen as using five-star properties
especially as they are conscious of sending the wrong messages by allowing
employees to stay in five-star properties for business purposes. For this reason, and in order not to lose our
business clientele, we created a VIP status to offer them a little more. It is all a matter of expectations and the
service is available at all our NH Collection hotels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you seek to surprise your guests?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Yes, all the time.
I have an obsession to excel with our basics so as to achieve the
surprise element. We do this very well with our showers for example where we
provide large shower heads in most rooms or rain showers in some of the rooms. We also use symbols on the telephone to facilitate
dialing the reception desk for example.
There is also an element of surprise with the lighting and
televisions. As a matter of fact, I tend
to surprise myself by trying some of the products we have developed in the
hotel in my own home to see how it feels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Finally, if you
had to change anything at all in the world, what would it be?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It will have to be starvation. I don’t have a plan yet, but I will work on
it. I am also happy to work with anyone
who has a plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">*</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Under
the NH Hotel Group five-year plan drawn in 2014, CEO Federico J Gonzalez Tejera
will concentrate particularly on:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Clear
segmentation of the hotel portfolio under the new overall brand</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Promotion
of customer satisfaction through high quality products and services</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Increase
in brand recognition though enhanced communication activities in the context of
a comprehensive advertising campaign for NH hotels</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Optimization
regarding technical equipment</span></li>
</ul>
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LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-75752181928759626992015-11-25T06:56:00.001-08:002015-11-25T06:56:53.496-08:00African Food & Drink: Patti Sloley - The Best Kept Secret of Ghanaian Cuisine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em>Lyssiemay
Annoh chats to Ghanaian Chef, Author and Tutor Patti Sloley</em></h3>
<em></em><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0_4YbTz75LusLtX4-r6dRHAYI0qEISMqB-9OXL4Kr6Y7pXrQzhbP7KZfuyI_F6TW99ehtAhS0QvGAvepDQLa6sblqepXoEFi7iV1GKxzq2l4fSdx1HRNbq47pLhktgDE1W98bl8WFprl/s1600/Patti-Sloley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0_4YbTz75LusLtX4-r6dRHAYI0qEISMqB-9OXL4Kr6Y7pXrQzhbP7KZfuyI_F6TW99ehtAhS0QvGAvepDQLa6sblqepXoEFi7iV1GKxzq2l4fSdx1HRNbq47pLhktgDE1W98bl8WFprl/s1600/Patti-Sloley.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Patti Sloley was born,
raised and educated in Ghana; the Land of many bountiful resources; gold, oil, diamond,
bauxite (aluminium), timber, lush forests, beautiful people, rich culture and
good food. Ghana has abundant seafood because of its coastal location and good
game and wildlife from hinterland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fruits and vegetables are always fresh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Patti </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">has spent the last 23 years living with
her family in the UK and is </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ghana’s best
export in the food and drink sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
works as Front of House and a resident Chef at the Novelli Academy and runs an
African dining course titled ‘A Plate in the Sun’ at the Academy.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jean-Christophe
Novelli’s Queen of Spice and culinary spiritual sister is something
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting aside her youthful
refreshing looks and excellent physique, Patti is definitely getting something
right with her Ghanaian cuisine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like most African cuisine, Ghanaian cuisine is
very varied and tasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choices are endless
and sometimes challenging to prepare by the non-Ghanaian because of all the
fuss created by tradition during preparation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A Ghanaian with true
spirit, Patti makes this challenge achievable through preparation alongside her
unique way of teaching at the African dining course she provides at the Academy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her enthusiasm is hard to beat! She is passionate
about the things she loves and is clearly on a mission to introduce the world
to her truly delicious Ghanaian and indeed African cuisine through her fusion-inspired
cookbooks ‘A Plate in the Sun’ and ‘A Date with Plantain’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNKQcZ7VOeXG2DQQpPFPu8yfdVeee2l8qOVtm1UyqRfSO2KxiA6coUn56CbEHJHRJOGxA4L_8KprtPSRKShaMjKx889UxEBRKkm3fCu5D3IHkajwPqK2JniY_8cDND-owe4tM9upLs-UQ/s1600/A-Date-with-Plantain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNKQcZ7VOeXG2DQQpPFPu8yfdVeee2l8qOVtm1UyqRfSO2KxiA6coUn56CbEHJHRJOGxA4L_8KprtPSRKShaMjKx889UxEBRKkm3fCu5D3IHkajwPqK2JniY_8cDND-owe4tM9upLs-UQ/s200/A-Date-with-Plantain.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Patti sees food as a
great communicator that can bring diversity and enjoyment to your table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her bubbly personality adds a fun factor to
cooking and her creative style shows African foods in a light you may not have
seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was keen to find out more
when I caught up with the Chef making waves with Ghanaian cuisine in the UK.</span></div>
</span>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">How
did it all start?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I've always loved
good food but never imagined that I would express it this way. Halfway
through writing my first cookbook 'A Plate in the Sun,' I met a charming lady
in a nail bar. In conversation I mentioned I was writing a cookbook. She
happened to be Jean-Christophe Novelli's fiancée, Michelle, and that's how my
work with the Novelli Academy in Hertfordshire began. They say 'Life, is
what happens to you when you're busy making plans'. Perhaps it was meant
to be and I feel very lucky to be able to express my passion for food.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What inspires you most about cooking?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Eating! My earliest
inspiration comes from my mum's fantastic home-cooking. I'm inspired by the
adventure in flavours, inviting aromas, experimenting with new ingredients,
creating and innovating. I love seeing the happiness on people's faces
when they enjoy my cooking and want the recipe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What's the secret behind the delicate
Ghanaian dishes that you create?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There's no secret
really. Cooking, I believe, is a form of art and food is all about the senses.
I've always enjoyed fashion and interior decor and feel that I'm able to draw
on these when it comes to creating and presenting my dishes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How does Ghanaian cuisine compete with
other international cuisines?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Call me biased, but
Ghanaian cuisine for me is probably one of the culinary world's best kept
secrets. I have often been asked to describe it in three words and it's always
flavour, flavour, flavour. With our great combination of ingredients and aromatic
spices, it's exciting to see the interest it's generating and I'm delighted
that it's finally starting to get the recognition it deserves.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Would you say that anyone who reads one
your cookbooks can successfully create a beautiful Ghanaian dish?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I'm thrilled at the
number of people who have cooked dishes from both books and have proudly
commented or posted pictures about of their efforts on Facebook. I use
readily available ingredients and the recipes are easy to follow. Whether
you're vegan, vegetarian, meat-eating or gluten-free, there's something for
everyone. Some of my dishes are becoming part of their weekly repertoire and
that excites me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is your favourite past-time?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is a difficult
one as I have lots of interests. I enjoy a great laugh with friends and family
around a table with good food of course, before or after a good movie.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you had to do it all again, what
would you change?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Change? I don't
think I'd change anything. I'm loving what I do and feel lucky to be able to
indulge my passion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What's your favourite destination?<br />
</b>I love going home to Ghana, for the glorious sun and spending precious time
with family and friends, but outside Ghana, I have to say Manhattan. It has a
buzz and energy I love.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Try these two
recipes below and follow Patti <a href="http://www.twitter.com/PattiSloley" target="_blank">@PattiSloley</a> She enjoys demonstrating at food
festivals and shares her exciting menus at exclusive private dinners and pop-up
suppers in a local Harpenden wine cellar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She
regularly uses African ingredients and has the cultural credibility and skills
to speak with authority on her recipes and techniques. She is lively with a
pleasant personality, very enthusiastic and passionate about the things she
loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Ghanaian with a truly
international perspective.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC0sRY9tl9fLIQn2eXZFgUCQL2Tx1ODrdVOQb9jpjdbAChQKF5jWKTdRRAm46DMuvjLIc9d4Z2Vt9chUl1gwoYlxncPXVe-n6W_3tJFL7shKXDSA5Id4Ob9W_sI_Wotwj7tgovCHfIWe5/s1600/agusi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC0sRY9tl9fLIQn2eXZFgUCQL2Tx1ODrdVOQb9jpjdbAChQKF5jWKTdRRAm46DMuvjLIc9d4Z2Vt9chUl1gwoYlxncPXVe-n6W_3tJFL7shKXDSA5Id4Ob9W_sI_Wotwj7tgovCHfIWe5/s1600/agusi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC0sRY9tl9fLIQn2eXZFgUCQL2Tx1ODrdVOQb9jpjdbAChQKF5jWKTdRRAm46DMuvjLIc9d4Z2Vt9chUl1gwoYlxncPXVe-n6W_3tJFL7shKXDSA5Id4Ob9W_sI_Wotwj7tgovCHfIWe5/s200/agusi.jpg" width="200" /><span style="color: black;">
</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Agushi - Palaver Sauce</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another classic West African dish,
based on ground melon seeds and spinach, it is typically cooked with palm fruit
oil although vegetable oil works equally well. In Ghana it’s also known as
aketsua frowee or palaver sauce (palaver - a West African word for trouble -
because of the arguments over how to cook it). I like to use both breasts and
stewing lamb. I occasionally use other meats and with fish I use firm white
varieties like cassava fish or monkfish with smoked or salted fish to add
depth. Agushi is a delicious eating experience and I’m sure, like Oliver Twist,
you will ask for more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Serves 4 – 6</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">700g/24oz lamb breasts, chopped</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">700g/24oz stewing lamb, bone-in, chopped </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 onion, chopped</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 8pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: -8pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 garlic cloves, chopped</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2cm/1 inch ginger, sliced</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 8pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: -8pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 scotch bonnet chilli, pierced</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 guinea peppers, optional</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">salt to season</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 8pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: -8pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">small handful of basil or thyme</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 8pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: -8pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1ltr/36floz Maa’s Tomato Sauce (page 33)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 8pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: -8pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">200g/7oz agushi (ground melon seeds)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">600g/21oz baby or chopped spinach<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. Place all the ingredients, except the Maa’s
Tomato Sauce, agushi and spinach into a saucepan. Stir, cover and leave to
simmer and steam in its own juices until the juices run clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Add enough water to just cover the meat and form
a stock, bring to the boil, and skim any froth that rises to the surface.
Reduce the heat and simmer until the meat is tender and the stock reduced.
Remove from the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. Simmer the Maa’s Tomato Sauce in a large pan.
Sprinkle in the agushi, stirring until the texture resembles fine scrambled
eggs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4. Add the meat and stock and stir in the spinach.
Gently simmer until the spinach has wilted and combined.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyB2ZRSrp4-H042tq-6ZxydKWtEpb_qJodX31lO3Piki3UQIxi_zOg68_W8-lf3JXkqiJq4J325JUvePfes2gaEVdqoOaZrrYAsqyqsjIGMuWRmubnk_Uiovb563HKj-UOFydQnkpT9Fvs/s1600/Stuffed-dates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyB2ZRSrp4-H042tq-6ZxydKWtEpb_qJodX31lO3Piki3UQIxi_zOg68_W8-lf3JXkqiJq4J325JUvePfes2gaEVdqoOaZrrYAsqyqsjIGMuWRmubnk_Uiovb563HKj-UOFydQnkpT9Fvs/s200/Stuffed-dates.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Stuffed Medjool Dates</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;">Serves 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;">½ plantain - ripe - yellow skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">12 medjool dates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">50g/2oz cream cheese</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1.
Cut off and discard the plantain ends. Slice in half crossways and then
lengthways. Discard the skin. Steam for 5-8 minutes and allow to cool.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2.
Slice the dates lengthways to make room for the filling. Be sure not to cut
right through. Discard the stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">3.
Mash the plantain and mix in the cream cheese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">4.
Stuff each date with some of the mix and gently squeeze the date back to almost
its original shape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br /></div>
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LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-77107904105244361742015-11-16T07:27:00.000-08:002015-11-16T07:27:35.705-08:00Great Names Behind Hotels – A Designer’s Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<em>One-on-One with Jan Wilson, Founder and
Owner of RPW Design<o:p></o:p></em></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You walk into a
beautiful luxury hotel and you are greeted by a well-appointed lobby, check
into your room and are so delighted by the way it has been set up and
above-all, how functional it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do
you do next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidently, you begin to
wonder about the person who created something so alluring and want to know
more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2je4PbgW_n05L0C5DEPQdDu-kqhWkmxiikSGU2H5GP_rfqOXII-x90jBUWd_JzOBrRuLIsjCLHmf1RnSszUeShbu4VSBkm_LNvbeok-adK5S2i84aIv_O5iMZbF7q3VMyYkHiZJfXzGWR/s1600/Jan-Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2je4PbgW_n05L0C5DEPQdDu-kqhWkmxiikSGU2H5GP_rfqOXII-x90jBUWd_JzOBrRuLIsjCLHmf1RnSszUeShbu4VSBkm_LNvbeok-adK5S2i84aIv_O5iMZbF7q3VMyYkHiZJfXzGWR/s320/Jan-Wilson.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ladies and Gentlemen,
meet Jan Wilson a great name behind hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Australian born Jan Wilson founded RPW Design to do what she loves best
– creating beautiful interiors for luxury hotels. Jan is widely recognised as
an innovative designer with a unique understanding of the operational and
commercial issues fundamental to client satisfaction and the successful outcome
of any design project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been
pivotal to RPW’s Development and collaborated with some of the big names in the
industry to create a </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">variety of projects of great artistic
and historic value.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jan’s RPW Design
counts some of the World’s most luxurious hotels among their clients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They include the Dorchester, Hyatt, Mandarin
Oriental, JW Marriott, Kempinski, Fairmont Raffles, Ritz Carlton, Okura,
Waldorf Astoria, and InterContinental among many other luxury brands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Jan, it is all
about property owners giving her pleasure of using their money to improve their
assets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The objective is to add-value
and enjoy the process while doing so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jan has travelled the
world and worked on a variety of projects which have all turned out to be very
successful. She likes hotel rooms so much so that she designed a whole suite
for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say that even
using the loo at Jan’s is an experience!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How did it all start?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I trained and
qualified as an architect in Australia in 1976, got married a year after and
then moved to London to take my career to the next level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After ten years working with one of the big
names in the hospitality and design business, RPW Design was born.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What makes a good designer?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Any designer who has
taste knows how to ask the right questions and by asking the right questions
you can understand what the client is hoping to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ethos is to ask the intelligent questions
and have a prominent eye for detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
have to understand the people you are working for and their guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should also not confuse impressing people
with real comfort.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A good designer will also
collaborate well with other design specialists such as lighting and security
for example to achieve their goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
must also know who to call on to assist with a project.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are some of the things that you consider when designing
a hotel?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b> </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAo3LWE1kXbiaoK0Qdd9cedoBBbo2VEqtXSVJTAMYW4qgXBEd_e-0Rxs8n2cOctELvYk_qLmIN9R1dpTq7lMNXSy6VgP03fR-KsPIXNTGnL2D12RJFNjp0ZH9i5XCjf1LrMfgQuk8SuU3/s1600/Langhamsuitebath1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAo3LWE1kXbiaoK0Qdd9cedoBBbo2VEqtXSVJTAMYW4qgXBEd_e-0Rxs8n2cOctELvYk_qLmIN9R1dpTq7lMNXSy6VgP03fR-KsPIXNTGnL2D12RJFNjp0ZH9i5XCjf1LrMfgQuk8SuU3/s1600/Langhamsuitebath1.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, the locality
is very important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hotel has to
reflect its location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like someone who
understands the locality to be involved in the room design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to meet the local craftsmen, artists,
visit the local markets to get a feel of the location and select beautiful
artefacts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I especially want to
be surprised when I walk into a hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whenever I walk into a hotel, it is always the visionary memory that has
delighted me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that the visual memory
should be particular, I would like to think that everyone who stayed in a hotel
that I designed would come back to request or inquire about my work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And for hotel bedrooms?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We design rooms to
increase room rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guests who stay in
hotel rooms do not want to be frustrated during their stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sit with the client to understand what
they want to achieve and then advise them on how to achieve their vision.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMWccLW7EZQ9rXe55_k-63lhSsmeYD6VBFCQbZt0kTWYZ9fe2kOr0bLM33NLSLQt473OApIBtPpusyfCGmGblh5h4hXpuxDNg6icekPDE8bdhP1-l_hYxqd6H1oNOzkCnQLtRkbIxgMJA/s1600/mandarin+oriental+london_royal-suite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMWccLW7EZQ9rXe55_k-63lhSsmeYD6VBFCQbZt0kTWYZ9fe2kOr0bLM33NLSLQt473OApIBtPpusyfCGmGblh5h4hXpuxDNg6icekPDE8bdhP1-l_hYxqd6H1oNOzkCnQLtRkbIxgMJA/s400/mandarin+oriental+london_royal-suite.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some cultures only
want to impress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, travelling is
hard work so simplicity must come before comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s luxury is not about space but
volume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First things guests do when they
arrive in a room is walk to the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Switches
need to be in the right place; corridors must not be noisy, there should be
mobile phone charging stations by the bed for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would you say that a beautiful design is the answer to any
hotelier’s business dream?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However beautiful the design concept, I would
say that service is key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guests are
immediately awed with the opulent design when they walk into a hotel and
naturally expect the same quality of service to follow and quite right
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the Claridges model for
example, the hotel exudes grandeur and service is paramount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An excellent service must always be delivered
to compliment a beautiful design, right acoustics, good smell and feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything they do at the Claridges has the
same goal of excellence; from how you are received, to attention to
detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great service comes naturally,
you do not have to ask for it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What would you say is the perfect hotel lobby?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It all depends on the
hotel and its operations however, I would say the Oberoi Mauritius with its
warm “meet and greet” on arrival without the infrastructure sets a good
example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlNyfp1GxMXaOAMSt4J4_2SBi7nSe3fAiJOFqwrbbdsxs8ha_0czM6ORwe9jQLvue5EAdZON8YUvHkA3aJyWS2kmuC_V5JAGUb7WbahUZg6_jnKwfv9_JLREz5wBsNNAA9PKs3iILYskk/s1600/EntranceLobbyMarriottParklane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlNyfp1GxMXaOAMSt4J4_2SBi7nSe3fAiJOFqwrbbdsxs8ha_0czM6ORwe9jQLvue5EAdZON8YUvHkA3aJyWS2kmuC_V5JAGUb7WbahUZg6_jnKwfv9_JLREz5wBsNNAA9PKs3iILYskk/s400/EntranceLobbyMarriottParklane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who buys the artworks and ornaments?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I buy most of the
pieces to make sure that they are different from competitors. I search for
interesting pieces and propose them to my clients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually they like them. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What is your favourite destination?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">London makes a great
destination but I like Mauritius.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What keeps you motivated? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have got the most
exciting job in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My clients
give me an opportunity to enjoy my hobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They give me the pleasure of using their money to improve their
assets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a job where I
can work with creative people and when people like my work, it is my
satisfaction.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-56692741390296762602015-06-06T13:54:00.001-07:002015-06-06T13:54:57.027-07:00The Luxury Branding Expert Certified Indigenous: One-on-one with Meredith Dichter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxWWBKfv3bnqDOxEEFiF4q_JizYsQjvRUVf-iI5eLY78iPJE_MLCrM4Tu0mGqoAZlwfM9w84K7Pzq5G1X05J2SRWKrA-5vHza973BzQOFTLt7Yj3einNW-JSnTU2ydRL2NDAsgEbHPuXd/s1600/Meredith+Dichterpp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxWWBKfv3bnqDOxEEFiF4q_JizYsQjvRUVf-iI5eLY78iPJE_MLCrM4Tu0mGqoAZlwfM9w84K7Pzq5G1X05J2SRWKrA-5vHza973BzQOFTLt7Yj3einNW-JSnTU2ydRL2NDAsgEbHPuXd/s1600/Meredith+Dichterpp.jpg" /></a></div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meredith
manages <a href="http://luxurycollectiondestinations.com/" target="_blank">The Luxury Collection</a> brand; a glittering ensemble of 90 one-of-a-kind
hotels and resorts providing unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting,
treasured memories designed for the global explorer.</span> </span></span></i></h4>
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></h3>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Hello
Meredith, how long have you worked in luxury branding</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">? </span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">After more than fifteen years in luxury marketing working for brands such as Gucci and Boucheron, I have now spent over ten years working on brands under the Starwood Hotels & Resorts umbrella. In 2008, I became the company's Director of Global Brand Marketing </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">developing its Luxury Collection.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">What is the brand</span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"> “Meredith Dichter”?</i></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">I<i> </i>was born
and raised in New York and I am very well-travelled.
I have always loved and have been fascinated by the luxury culture. I love and believe in what I do; that is why
I enjoy it.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">What makes a good luxury brand?</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">I would
say authenticity; it is important
to remain true to your identity. Above
all, service delivery should be personalized and tangible.</span><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What
is "</span></span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The Luxury
Collection"</span></i><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> and who
created it?</span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">The Luxury
Collection</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"> brand began when ITT Sheraton purchased a
controlling interest in CIGA (Compagnia Italiana Grandi Alberghi, or Italian
Grand Hotels Company), an Italian hotel chain, in 1994. Those hotels, as well
as a number of top-tier Sheraton Hotels, were then marketed as ITT Sheraton
Luxury Hotels. After Starwood bought Sheraton, they established a separate
brand identity for The Luxury Collection and expanded it.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What
would make a property qualify to be branded as a </span></span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Luxury Collection</span></i><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">?</span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">The Luxury Collection is
strictly controlled, the process of joining is fast and simple for most
established independent luxury hotels. The requirements </span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">vary
but they are mostly o</span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">ne-of-a-kind
properties</span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">.</span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">
Some are </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">palaces, others range from remote retreats to
timeless modern classics.</span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">There are also
some basics requirements to follow such as bathroom amenities, room size,
quality of linen service, branding of toiletries etc.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Would you say that the </span></span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">luxury collection</span></i><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US"> is standing tall on its own?</span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Yes and we are continuing
to develop and welcome new properties. </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">There
are for example new openings like the </span><span class="contentpanediv2" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Milan</span><span lang="EN-US"> owned by Katara Hospitality, the unique Augustine in Prague and
the Porto Piccolo in Trieste, Italy. </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Starwood understands the allure of uncompromising style as well as their unique operational requisites.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What
is the concept behind the book "</span></span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Certified
Indigenous".</span></i></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAam3kPZaiOTFCpyVNPKWJJN_yl5dkSBB-4N_jFZfj1B1Zr4esgSl4z1XTAce28CWEM1eH1kbGwLKrwdiAUP0NUeypdB_2e_inpyxTqCTQfeeyPD050Es5fHm7c6NfByMqTGq3QqDwvX-f/s1600/LCCI_3D+Coverpp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAam3kPZaiOTFCpyVNPKWJJN_yl5dkSBB-4N_jFZfj1B1Zr4esgSl4z1XTAce28CWEM1eH1kbGwLKrwdiAUP0NUeypdB_2e_inpyxTqCTQfeeyPD050Es5fHm7c6NfByMqTGq3QqDwvX-f/s200/LCCI_3D+Coverpp.jpg" width="139" /></a><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><i>Certified Indigenous</i> was created to
celebrate the concierges of the luxury collection and the wonderful service
that they provide to guests. </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">It
showcases how guests can spend 24 hours usefully at a destination.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">What do you say about </span></span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Service </span></i><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">versus </span></span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Fabric?</span></i></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">It is a combination and they go
hand-in-hand. </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">Guests are usually looking
for a home away from home so they are looking for appealing surroundings
together with an excellent service to match.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">What are some of the things to avoid
when luxury branding?</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">Avoid
appealing too much to the trend; be true to your identity and do not “insult”
the consumer’s intelligence.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">What are some of the “must haves” in
luxury branding?</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">Authenticity,
core values of the brand, know your guest because “<i>one size doesn’t fit all</i>”</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
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LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-3227768088847145572015-04-13T13:47:00.000-07:002015-04-13T14:28:14.616-07:00Great Names Behind Hotels: One-on-One with Deepak Ohri, CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Lyssiemay Annoh chats to Deepak Ohri, CEO
of lebua Hotels & Resorts over a bottle of Vintage Blanc de Blanc</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNtcKk0iR1cDyR91-BVUnfA4tYhpXuVNpd5auQBr9b2bD6NejYqyh1JKTOc_iYL4jO9Qq-zQRT7dz9sfm3_S0b7nRvlklnYOVlVfxiBaqX_od3bVrMwK1tKVy33SalfH-gWYa6nf3cJHz/s1600/CEO+Deepak+Ohrilores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNtcKk0iR1cDyR91-BVUnfA4tYhpXuVNpd5auQBr9b2bD6NejYqyh1JKTOc_iYL4jO9Qq-zQRT7dz9sfm3_S0b7nRvlklnYOVlVfxiBaqX_od3bVrMwK1tKVy33SalfH-gWYa6nf3cJHz/s1600/CEO+Deepak+Ohrilores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNtcKk0iR1cDyR91-BVUnfA4tYhpXuVNpd5auQBr9b2bD6NejYqyh1JKTOc_iYL4jO9Qq-zQRT7dz9sfm3_S0b7nRvlklnYOVlVfxiBaqX_od3bVrMwK1tKVy33SalfH-gWYa6nf3cJHz/s1600/CEO+Deepak+Ohrilores.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">I crave to meet with anyone who really knows about luxury so I simply could not pass on the opportunity of
conversing with the luxury experience guru behind lebua Hotels and Resorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Award-winning Deepak Ohri </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">is
the Chief Executive Officer of </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.lebua.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">lebua Hotels & Resorts</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, an
international luxury hospitality company. Lebua has a collection of 5-Star
hotels and fine restaurants in Thailand, New Zealand and India, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">His</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> contribution to the hospitality industry has been recognized by
most of the big wigs of the industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Deepak
joined lebua at its inception in 2003 and has brought the vision of the brand
to reality as well as expand it across continents with several of the world’s
finest five-star hotels, restaurants and bars.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 54.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He introduced The Dome at lebua, Bangkok’s preeminent culinary
destination, which includes Sirocco (the world's highest open air restaurant),
Sky Bar (named "the most stunning rooftop bar you’ll ever see" by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New
York Times</i> in 2013), Breeze (highlighted by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">USA Today</i> as one of the world’s “10 most cutting-edge restaurants”
in 2014); and Mezzaluna (honoured as a ‘Foodie Top 100’ fine-dining mecca in
2013).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b> </div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Our meeting</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deepak
Ohri greets me with a very warm smile at first sight then orders a bottle of
Blanc de Blanc an organic commercial vintage from <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Champagne Salon</span>, a small producer of critically acclaimed<sup> </sup>Champagne
made in the Blanc de Blanc style. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
impressed – that was certainly a man who knows a thing or two about my
favourite drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salon, along with
Delamotte, has been part of the Lauren-Perrier group since 1989. It is regarded
as one of the greatest Champagnes on the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was definitely meeting the man renowned
with the term “luxury experience”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">The conversation:<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">How did you get into the industry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got
into the industry by default.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
youngster, I needed to work to pay my way through education as well as for
sheer survival and since the hospitality industry is that largest employer it
became the obvious choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nevertheless,
I love to talk, meet and understand people so I knew that it was an industry
that I wanted to work in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fulfilled my
dreams when I formally entered the industry after graduation and 28 years on I
am still enjoying my biggest hobby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Where did you start?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a
youth I was a dishwasher for 3 years, then after graduation, I became a trainee
manager.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Education versus training - What is your
view on this?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most
companies think that one is more important than the other but I think
both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a young “dishwasher” employee
in a hotel, I saw first-hand how junior employees were treated and made a vow to
myself that when I entered a managerial position in the industry, I would
ensure all my employees are treated the same, irrespective of their career
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At lebua,
all employees benefit from the private health scheme and enjoy the same amount
of holidays.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With
regards to education, we outsource to English Business schools in Bangkok and offer
our managers the unique opportunity of studying the worldwide renowned INSEAD
MBA graduate programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also
important to ensure that all our staff receives adequate on the job training.</span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Lebua appears to take its F&B
businesses very seriously – what is the notion behind the concept of a Restaurant
before a Hotel?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food and
Beverage makes better investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food
and beverage dictates the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
you arrive at any destination and visit a McDonald’s, you can judge the economy
or standard of living of that destination by the cost of the “Big Mac”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 54.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">The lebua
F&B businesses have been very successful. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">The Dome at lebua is
Bangkok’s preeminent culinary destination, which includes Sirocco, the world's
highest open air restaurant, Sky Bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
also has Breeze and Mezzaluna.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 54.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">We know our
trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have studied our markets and
know the</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> most important things that can go wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One must not fail to fully develop a
compelling value proposition for their guests. Know whom you want and whom you
do not: you cannot be all things to all people. A second major cause of failure
is "cut and paste."<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>No two
locations are the same, no two managers are the same and no two clients are the
same. A third common cause of failure is interior designers. This is a
critically important part of any restaurant and getting the interior ambience
wrong is deadly.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Create a
successful restaurant and then follow it up with a complete luxury experience
for the guest in a place to stay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">What would you say to any young person who
wants to enter the industry?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clear the
difference, create a difference, appreciate that hospitality changes all the
time and understand that service has no barriers; it is one hospitality, one
world.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Above
all, remember that hospitality means having an emotional connection with the
consumer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Where do you see lebua in the future?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 54.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am now focusing on expanding the lebua brand
globally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">We are</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> expanding our <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">dining concepts to Europe through a strategic
partnership with Steigenberger Hotel Group, starting with the 2015 launch of
the Breeze restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">However,
it is not all about Food and Drink with lebua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For Deepak, </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">luxury</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">
is about experience and rarity, not necessarily the “excess”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not about a price tag. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">I believe that hospitality has an emotional
connection with the consumer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
regard I want to ensure that lebua hotels connect emotionally with all its
guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my visionary future, check-in
desks will be a thing of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
will not be the first thing that greets a guest when they arrive at the
hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guests will be greeted by a guest
relations manager who will be subtly aware of all the guest’s needs and will
fulfil them without the bother of a check-in desk.</span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">How do you feel when you stay in other
hotels?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is
something to learn from every property and I use the opportunity of staying
elsewhere to see what I can improve in our hotels because everyone is doing
very well.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When it comes to luxury brands’
value to the consumer, and their ultimate success, I think the key is staying
humble. We all have a lot to learn and we should stay close to the customer so that
we can learn properly. Things will inevitably go wrong but only true luxury
brands will do what it takes to make it right.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Deepak join lebua as its
first employee and created Bangkok’s best culinary destination – The Dome at
lebua in 2004. The Dome houses a collection of stunningly beautiful restaurants
& Bars such as </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.lebua.com/en/the-dome-dining/sirocco-restaurant/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sirocco</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">,
Mezzaluna, Breeze, Distil and Sky Bar which are of
international culinary acclaim and have won countless awards.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the success of The
Dome, Mr. Ohri rechristened the Meritus hotel as lebua, an all-suite luxury
hotel in 2006. Then, he launched lebua Hotels and Resorts as a luxury hotel
chain that includes exclusive properties in Thailand, an ultra-luxury lodge in
New Zealand and India. He launched a new level of luxury hotel, Tower Club at
lebua in 2008. The suites are located on the top floors (51st to 59th)
featuring exclusive privileges; such as complimentary soft drinks and high
speed Internet, Acca Kappa amenities as well as access to Tower Club Lounge.
With Mr Ohri’s leadership, lebua & The Dome have won over 60 world awards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-70290988155982836662015-03-09T16:20:00.000-07:002015-03-09T16:20:23.006-07:00London’s South Bank celebrates Year of Mexico in the UK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Between Wednesday 25<sup>th</sup>
February and 11 March 2015,<i> 2015 </i>Mexico
is launching an interactive and immersive exhibition displayed at London’s
Potters Fields Park where visitors will be able to discover the inspiring story
of Mexico, as part of the official Year of Mexico in the UK celebrations. The
pop-up which comes in the form of a stunning white dome is h</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">oused adjacent to London’s Tower Bridge alongside the
River Thames. The exhibition is open to
visitors of all ages </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">from 10.00am – 20.00pm.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This “must-see” captivating experience features
state-of-the-art innovation that tell Mexico’s story, using cutting-edge modern
technology. The dome has travelled from
Madrid and Beijing. Visitors</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> travel on a fascinating journey to
this incredible country, beyond imagination. They feel the rush of riding rapids, soar over
Mexico City by hot air balloon and be transported into some of Mexico’s world
famous sites and bustling cities, through interactive 360 degree tours and
augmented reality.<b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also featured within the dome is
one of the world’s most unique pieces of art - The "Vochol" – a
Volkswagen Beetle decorated with more than two million beads - a feat that took
8 artists over 9,000 hours of work to design and decorate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphcsrGpFViHZ2Rt-mSGD77mVTAJ0Y0hgGUbA5SW6OxXfp9ya3rrtZX726C6Xj8nITJe_9OqXDJyWcUSGeqDFg3QeWOASmYax8ob-cqM7Vo8RJrxcykKIfwVSMwd5pbJrqxnUq1YLvhakZ/s1600/Mexico-Vochol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphcsrGpFViHZ2Rt-mSGD77mVTAJ0Y0hgGUbA5SW6OxXfp9ya3rrtZX726C6Xj8nITJe_9OqXDJyWcUSGeqDFg3QeWOASmYax8ob-cqM7Vo8RJrxcykKIfwVSMwd5pbJrqxnUq1YLvhakZ/s1600/Mexico-Vochol.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mexico, the only nation to have
its cuisine designated by UNESCO as of Intangible Heritage of Humanity, is no
doubt very proud of its rich culinary heritage.
Visitors can sample authentic Mexican cuisine outside the exhibition,
with fresh market food prepared by acclaimed Mexican restaurant, Wahaca. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Other exciting elements of the exhibition will include: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Interactive touch screens which display Mexican art through
advanced 3D technology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A virtual dressing room, where visitors can virtually try on the
latest in Mexican fashion or traditional dress <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amazing visual displays and audio storytelling, using touch
screens, to explore a variety of tourism offerings: Culture, Sun and Beach,
Adventure and Nature, Business and Luxury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A virtual 360 degree tour of the country’s 32 states, that include
archeological sites, bustling cities and world heritage sites, nature zones,
and magical towns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo opportunities where visitors can select up to three
backdrops: Chichen Itza, City of Campeche and Paseo de la Reforma to share with
friends via social media<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A visual introduction to Mexico with a selection of 11 videos on a
range of topics that include aerospace, automotive, creativity, sustainability,
gastronomy, economy and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An interactive table
that visually highlights Mexico’s accomplishments in agriculture, automotive,
silver and creative industries, to name a few</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More than 15 of
Mexico’s famous pre-Hispanic artifacts on display, through the power of
holographic imaging</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-66435666247518997272015-01-25T08:45:00.001-08:002015-01-25T08:58:56.866-08:00Business Travel – Is Flying Economy really worth the saving?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Franc Jeffrey, CEO of EQ Travel says that it is important to research
all aspects when considering business travel options</i></h2>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Most business owners are
acutely aware that every penny they spend on what might be considered
non-essentials is a penny that’s not being invested back in their business,
whether it’s flying three executives from London to New York to meet with a
prospect, or flying 100 executives from Manchester to Frankfurt to attend a
major conference or event.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
There’s a lot of time and
energy spent on financially planning these all-important trips. But there’s one
cost-saving measure that you should simply skip. And that's flying anything less than business
class is not only a strategic mistake, but could hurt a potential deal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Companies should be asking the
question – if we expect our executive to win a major piece of business, how can
we expect this if they are being asked to make a presentation if they are
exhausted after getting up a 4am or within a few hours of landing of a
transatlantic flight?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Franc Jeffrey, CEO of EQ
Travel commented “it is important to research all aspects when considering
business travel options – particularly when business travel remains the third
highest expense for most organisations.
A short haul flight averaging four hours can easily equate to an eight
hour working day, when you consider travelling to and from the airport,
check-in, security and immigration queues.
“At all times, the purpose of the trip must be taken into account to
ensure employees can perform to their best ability. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
“You may find that pivotal
business results – such as winning that crucial contract - are not being
achieved due to inefficient travel policies, which could have a serious
financial impact on the business.” It
seems quite clear that companies should consider more than simply the cost when
it comes to booking travel for their employees. Businesses instead should be
making travel plans that are based around what the executive or company wants
to achieve from the trip, and understand that important contracts can be lost
as a result of staff arriving fatigued by their travel experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
The majority of those deciding
on business travel policy, whether it is HR, finance or procurement personnel
tend to base policy on their own science, but almost exclusively base that
decision from a cost perspective.
However, to ensure that the process of travel is efficient, effective
and safe, a much wider focus is required.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Travel is a tiring experience
for the employee and particularly so when travelling economy. Work productivity
in economy is limited, due to lack of space, facilities and distractions. With
long haul destinations, economy flights can have an even greater negative
impact upon the performance and well-being of the employee.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Those in charge of booking
travel should consider a higher class of cabin with flat or partially flat beds
to ensure the employee is comfortable and well rested. And a number of airlines
have been doing their part to see that top executives and other business
travellers arrive at their meeting at the top of their game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Lufthansa Airlines offers
first-class passengers a dedicated lounge featuring beds, showers, office
space, and special security screening and chauffeured limousines directly to
the aircraft.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Don Buckenburg, Lufthansa's
managing director for sales, North America, says that many airlines offer a suite
of enclosed space with a door, creating a passenger's “own little cabin."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
"When we developed first
class, we asked customers what they wanted, and our customers responded that
they like open space, but they also like privacy,” says Buckenburg. "So now
you have a seat, but a wall that separates you. You press a button, and a wall
comes up." The retractable wall allows couples or fellow travellers to
decide whether to be connected or separated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
In addition, according to
Buckenburg, flight attendants are specially trained to serve first class,
knowing how to “read” the passenger differently and knowing the wine and menus
with precision.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Bountiful food, sparkling
champagne, walls that go up and down, are all very nice. But ask business
travellers what they want most on their flight and the overwhelming majority
will respond in unison—“More legroom.”
Bottom line: Nobody wants to limp into an important business meeting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Flying economy tends to be
uncomfortable for anyone of larger than average height or weight. The legroom
is limited, so your knees might be cramped against the seat in front of you,
and you might find your shoulders are pressed against your neighbour. Plus-size
passengers might also find that the armrests are too close together to sit comfortably
in one seat. And sleeping is hard for
some, because the seats only recline a few inches in economy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Airlines such as British
Airways short haul business class services now have a central console table in
the middle seats (B and E) providing Club customers with improved functional
space. The table provides additional
space for drinks, snacks and personal devices, freeing up the main table for
work or a meal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-40521312023268611142015-01-09T05:45:00.004-08:002015-01-09T05:46:22.543-08:00Events Highlights in Cape Town - South Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kirstenbosch
Summer Sunset Concerts, every Sunday 1January </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">April 2015</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">An experience not to be missed on a Cape Town holiday, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the concert series offers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a scintillating smorgasbord of Sunday sunset
live music performances in the century-old Kirstenbosch Gardens, one of the
most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Grab your picnic baskets, lather on that sunscreen, throw on those
forgotten sandals and enjoy a vast and varied line-up of both local and
international artists that will appeal to all music lovers. Cape Grace offers
complimentary transfers in the hotel’s luxury BMW to Kirstenbosch so that
guests can thoroughly enjoy the concert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.capetowncarnival.com/" target="_blank">Cape Town Carnival</a></span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 14 March 2015</span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A must-see
annual event on the international tourism calendar, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the Cape Town Carnival is a
glamorous celebration of African identity, diverse communities and cultures,
and the transformative power of creativity. Over 2000 dazzling costumed
performers and musicians entertain viewers with magical floats and vibrant
dance routines. The first annual Cape Town Carnival was held in 2010 amidst the
electrifying festivities that characterised South Africa’s hosting of the
Soccer World Cup tournament. Close on 11 000 people enjoyed this spectacle and,
since then, spectator crowds at the Carnival event have swelled to over 50 000.
The carnival takes place within a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">15 minutes’
walk from the Cape Grace so it is definitely worth seeing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.capetownfashionweek.com/" target="_blank">Cape Town Fashion Week</a></span></b><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">, 24 – 26 July 2015 </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Rub shoulders with stylish celebs and local designers at the annual
Mercedes Benz Cape Town Fashion Week at the Cape Town International Convention
Centre. Get a preview of what to expect on the fashion front, and treat
yourself to a sneak peek of Mzansi’s most renowned and hottest up-and-coming
designers’ 2015 spring/summer collections. Budding fashionistas can also look
forward to informative seminars and a showcase by interns associated
with African Fashion International (AFI).</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://executivetraveller.net/destinations/destination5.html" target="_blank"><b>Other South African destinations</b></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-7932315859088462592013-01-02T13:36:00.000-08:002013-01-02T13:36:42.585-08:00Travelling by Eurostar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since its creation in 1994, the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Avignon and the French Alps has been one big success story.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />The train company saw a surge in bookings from the UK with over 160,000 passengers expected to travel for a winter getaway. Friday 21 and Saturday 22 December 2012 were the busiest days for departures as Eurostar's French and Swiss ski services commenced.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://executivetraveller.net/" target="_blank">Executive Traveller</a> is keen to know about your experiences with Eurostar. Are you a frequent traveller on Eurostar and if so, whch class do you usually travel on? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Eurostar promises business travellers a whole list of services including:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Uninterrupted work</li>
<li>Travel direct from city-centre to city-centre</li>
<li>Reach your destination fast</li>
<li>A seamless travel experience</li>
<li>Frequent traveller programme</li>
<li>Relaxing hassle-free journeys</li>
<li>Peaceful and comfortable on-board surroundings</li>
<li>Travel when it suits you with up to 19 trains running daily between London and Paris, 10 between London and Brussels and 18 between London and Lille.</li>
<li>Get there on time</li>
<li>Greener business travel</li>
</ul>
Do you think that you are getting value for money? Executive Traveller would like to know your views on your Eurostar experience whichever class you travel in. </div>
LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073346 -0.1276831000000129351.1912266 -0.77313010000001292 51.8234426 0.51776389999998707tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-44801730277217675132012-01-07T06:15:00.000-08:002012-01-07T09:04:19.602-08:00Travel Security Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<strong>China, Hong Kong: Significant travel congestion expected during Lunar New Year holiday period</strong><br />
The annual Lunar New Year (Spring Festival, locally known as ‘Chunyun') public holiday period will fall between 22 and 28 January, with the Lunar New Year itself on 23 January. The holiday travel period is expected to commence on 8 January and last until 16 February, with peak periods between 15 and 19 January; 27 January and 4 February; and 7 and 10 February.<br />
<br />
Travellers to China can expect increased demand for accommodation but also look our for<br />
• Difficulty to purchase tickets on intercity routes, whether by rail, bus or air. <br />
• Delays (which may sometimes be severe) as a consequence of the large volume of prospective passengers in airports and at train stations in all major cities.<br />
• Furthermore, independent overland travel is likely to be hampered significantly during the peak periods due to exceptionally congested highways. <br />
• It will be impractical to conduct most business activity during the official public holidays, when government offices, companies and banks all close,<br />
• Heightened congestion and demand for transport,<br />
• The potential for bouts of severe wintry conditions could worsen the situation. <br />
• Those who choose to travel by train or bus and who manage to secure a ticket during this period can also anticipate overcrowding and an associated increased risk of exposure to petty and opportunistic crime<br />
<strong>Travel Advice</strong><br />
• Allow plenty of time to complete independent overland journeys during the Lunar New Year holiday period due to heightened congestion and delays on various transport networks.<br />
• If you are scheduled to travel to, from and within the country please reconfirm flight and train schedules before setting out.<br />
<br />
• Travellers seeking to embark on domestic journeys during the peak season should book tickets, accommodation and other essential services as far in advance as possible.<br />
<br /> </div>LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-33602237475805785212011-08-09T14:21:00.000-07:002011-08-09T14:21:04.731-07:00Had an encounter with Traveller’s Diarrhoea? Talk to Dr. Richard Dawood, travel medicine specialist<i>Cancelled meetings, Reduced productivity and Lost Opportunities: the invisible impact of Travellers’ Diarrhoea</i><br />
Every year, 80 million people travel from developed to developing countries: it is estimated that up to half these contract travellers’ diarrhoea (TD), making this by far the most common illness affecting travellers1,2. There is a broad perception that TD is a trivial problem, but the reality is different: 30% of sufferers are confined to bed, forced to abandon their travel plans2. The impact upon leisure travellers and holidaymakers can be bad enough, but for business travellers the practical and economic consequences are insufficiently recognised: it can be a deal-breaker, and in terms of lost productivity alone, the cost exceeds €448 million per year in the EU – with €207 million spent on post-travel medical costs1.<br />
<br />
Compared with leisure travellers, business travellers are often at higher risk. There’s a misguided perception that business travel is a uniformly luxurious experience, from sitting at the front of the plane to enjoying lavish suites at five-star hotels. But the majority of people who travel for work experience something rather different: last-minute trips with little opportunity to prepare for them; a tough schedule of meetings and long journeys; having to cope with jetlag, hot or cold temperatures, disorientation, isolation and language difficulties; and eating and drinking in a setting that other people have chosen, in circumstances where it is often hard to refuse meals that seem unappetising or unsafe.<br />
<br />
A WIDELY PREVALENT PROBLEM<br />
<br />
A recent report by the Health Protection Agency (HPA)3 calls for much wider awareness of food hygiene precautions and preventive measures, and a much higher awareness of the scale of the problem amongst travellers, health professionals and the travel industry. Perhaps we need to focus our attention on the highly likely risk of TD as well as the far less likely, more exotic diseases that might grab the headlines. TD is a very common, very unpleasant and potentially dangerous problem yet is highly amenable to prevention and treatment. <br />
<br />
The report also makes interesting reading from a geographical perspective, highlighting Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia as posing the highest risk for contracting travellers’ diarrhoea. But as the HPA itself points out, the reported data exposes only the tip of a much larger and more alarming iceberg. The data only hints at the true number of travellers who become ill abroad but do not seek help, or the numbers of travellers who receive treatment without having tests. Recent research4 on over 1,000,000 travellers on UK package holidays revealed some insight in to the countries most at risk. Egypt topped the list of all destinations with an estimated incidence of over 45%, putting the risk of shark attacks at Sharm-el-Sheikh into perspective. Closely following Egypt in the rankings were Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cuba and the Bahamas. Closer to home, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus and Spain were also revealed to be areas of risk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmUHaPSchIyP5J0sEl2QBFzrUIf7289JJZ9R_qEquFHds7OJ0G_P4RbrIjfLeiYp37C0Vum_31TGOMbIWpjVumCA_IFO5GDx7Ju8vefBXLQiRDAaRmM8Z6SAFv7Jul1-QzUZrjYAFWrhL/s1600/TD+high+risk+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmUHaPSchIyP5J0sEl2QBFzrUIf7289JJZ9R_qEquFHds7OJ0G_P4RbrIjfLeiYp37C0Vum_31TGOMbIWpjVumCA_IFO5GDx7Ju8vefBXLQiRDAaRmM8Z6SAFv7Jul1-QzUZrjYAFWrhL/s320/TD+high+risk+map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Risk Zones For Travellers' Diarrhoea</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Research shows that only half of people travelling to a high-risk country seek medical advice prior to the trip1. The situation with business travellers may be even worse – familiarity with a destination, and the sense of security engendered by big-name hotel chains can breed complacency. At luxury hotels, the risk may be even higher – with food that is more likely to be prepared by hand, leading to an increased risk of contamination2. <br />
<br />
The main cause of travellers’ diarrhoea is bacterial infection from contaminated food or drink caused by poor food standards of personal hygiene. The most common cause of travellers’ diarrhoea is infection with a particular strain of E. coli bacteria.5 Particularly risky foods include undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, raw fruits and vegetables. Tap water, ice, and unpasteurised milk and dairy products are also associated with increased risk. In the UK, we drink water straight from the tap and rarely consider that the water may be the source of disease but when the cleanliness of a water supply is in doubt, it is much safer to stick to bottled water. <br />
<br />
Prevention and treatment<br />
There are two approaches to combating TD that should always go hand in hand. The first is a cautious approach to food hygiene in high-risk countries – and indeed, almost everywhere outside your home environment when you are dependent on meals prepared by someone else. Basic precautions such as frequent hand washing, sticking to bottled water and avoiding ice in drinks, are well known. The challenge is to apply these precautions in practice: for example, when we are tired, hungry, or tempted by a delicious-looking array of delicacies. <br />
<br />
The second approach is for every traveller to seek pre-travel advice so they have a clear idea of what to do if symptoms of travellers’ diarrhoea appear. That includes: being able to treat fluid losses by using oral rehydration; using over-the-counter medication to control diarrhoea symptoms; and where necessary, using a standby treatment from your GP or travel clinic. <br />
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ADVICE TO BUSINESS TRAVELLERS <br />
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1. Speak with your GP, specialist travel clinic or your company’s health provider before you travel and get their advice – especially if you’re travelling to a resource-poor country because as well as the risk of diarrhoea, you may be at risk of other illnesses such as malaria<br />
2. Wash hands with soap and warm water as frequently as possible – before meals and after lavatory trips, or use alcohol gel or hand sanitiser. Don’t touch your mouth unless you’re sure your hands are clean<br />
3. Don’t consume tap water or ice unless it’s made with bottled water<br />
4. When hygiene is poor, the following options are most likely to be safe:<br />
• Freshly, thoroughly cooked food, served hot (i.e. heat sterilized)<br />
• Fruit easily peeled or sliced open without contamination (bananas, papayas)<br />
• Freshly baked bread<br />
• Packaged or canned food (take emergency supplies)<br />
• Bottled drinks opened in your presence - safest carbonated<br />
• If there's nothing safe on the menu, ask for chips, omelettes, or any dish that must be cooked to order<br />
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Travellers’ diarrhoea FACT FILE<br />
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• Usually involves 3 or more unformed stools per 24 hours during / shortly after foreign travel with or without at least one symptom of cramps, nausea, fever or vomiting<br />
• Symptoms last 3-4 days (average), typically causing incapacitation for ½ to 1 day<br />
• Longer term complications may also occur – research shows around 10% of travellers who have had an episode of travellers’ diarrhoea may go on to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which can persist for years6<br />
• High risk regions are South America, Africa, Southern Asia <br />
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References:<br />
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1. Wang M, Szecs TD, Steffen R. Economic aspects of travellers’ diarrhoea. J Travel Med. 2008; 15(2): 110-118<br />
2. Steffen R. Epidemiology of Traveler’s Diarrhea. CID 2005: 41 (Suppl 8): S536-40<br />
3. Health Protection Agency UK - Foreign travel-associated illness: A focus on travellers’ diarrhoea: 2010 Report: National Travel Health Network & Centre; 2010<br />
4. Incidence of self-reported subjective travellers’ diarrhoea on UK package holidays during winter months 2008-2010 based on a sample of 1,033,131 travellers (Professor Rodney Cartwright, Royal Society of Public Health)<br />
5. Shah N, et al. Global Etiology of Travelers’ Diarrhoea: Systematic Review from 1973 to the Present Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009;80(4):609-614<br />
6. Du Pont HL. Systematic review : prevention of travellers’ diarrhoea. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2008;27:741-751LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-87563232294056654152010-07-29T17:13:00.000-07:002011-08-09T14:22:57.549-07:00It is Joint Venture Time for British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia.Almost every competitor who wanted the stop them have tried and failed. The Europe and the U.S governments couldn't either. After 14 years in the making, British Airways and American Airlines have finally been given the long-sought anti-trust immunity that will permit the carriers to coordinate schedules, fares and marketing. <br />
British Airways and American Airlines argue that it is all about staying competitive with airlines in other alliances that already enjoy the privileges of joint ventures. Routes between the U.S. and London's Heathrow, the two airlines' biggest strengths had become the largest source of contention among other airlines and regulators. Before receiving approval to move forward from EU regulators, the two airlines had promised to relinquish a few pairs of slots (take-off and landing rights) between the U.S. and Heathrow. This concession was received positively by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as it issued its final approval of the joint venture this week. The granting of anti-trust immunity also covers Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian, all members of the oneworld® Alliance. <br />
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In a press release, British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh stated: "We're pleased that the DOT and EU have worked together to ensure that there is consistency in the number of slots that the three airlines have to give up to our competitors to use on services from Heathrow to the U.S. We made the pragmatic decision to give up these slot pairs so that we can start operating the joint business as soon as possible." Iberia's Chairman Antonio Vazquez added: "A new kind of collaboration among our three airlines will lead to better service levels for our customers. This means that our customers will have more destinations to choose from around the world, better scheduled travel times, better connections, and more competitive fares." <br />
Do you agree?LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-77348464252335436962010-07-29T17:09:00.001-07:002010-07-29T17:09:39.042-07:00One more step to marital bliss for the United Airlines and Continental Airlies – The EU gives them its unconditional blessing.United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) and Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) received unconditional clearance from the European Commission on the airlines’ proposed merger. The Commission noted its investigation found the proposed transaction would not raise any specific concerns in Europe or the trans-Atlantic.<br />
Like every groom to be, UAL Corporation chairman, president and CEO, Glenn Tilton says “we are pleased to have received this clearance from the European Union, a significant market for our combined new company, and we continue to work cooperatively with the U.S Department of Justice toward an expeditious completion of our merger, which will benefit our customers, our people, our shareholders and the communities we serve,” how sweet.<br />
Jeff Smisek, Continental’s chairman, president and CEO had to assure everyone that he was not tagging along for the ride; he says “approval from the European Commission is another important step toward completing our merger with United. The combination of United and Continental brings together the two most complementary networks of any U.S. carriers, with minimal domestic and no international route overlaps. Together we will offer customers unparalleled global access.”<br />
The companies announced their plans for an all-stock merger of equals in May and expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2010…bless them. As passengers, we are definitely looking forward to seeing all the promised benefits.LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-9402421091659015552010-07-29T17:05:00.001-07:002010-07-29T17:05:48.162-07:00The Game is up for Budget AirlinesAirline companies in Europe and North America have been getting away with offering one price and charging a different one for quite some time. As budget airlines continue to get away with it in Europe, the American government has decided to react.<br />
I always knew that budget airline will have their ‘comeuppance’ when I tried to board Ryanair for the first time and had to race to find myself a seat and discovered that despite my best efforts, I was still not the first person in the aircraft. How did the other get there before me? The emergence of budget airlines seemed to have been a blessing from heaven. It meant that traveling to sunny destinations did not have to cost half a year’s savings and more money could be spent on accommodation and food. However, now when we have become used to such rates, traveling with budget airlines has become a nuisance because of annoying ways of arguing at airports and haggling over cash. We continue to have the beginnings of our holidays ruined in Europe through arguing about extra charges, now the American government has decided to call an end to such deception.<br />
In the aftermath of a report by the Government Accountability Office, whereby it was discovered that airlines made $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010 just on luggage and other extra charges, the government has demanded that airlines display the real price of tickets. Ancillary fees have grown by less than 1%, as the profit is in the add-ons. Passengers say that they would not mind tickets being more expensive if they could save the stress at the airport worrying if they have to fork out for fuel surcharges and other details such as forgetting to fill in passport details. Fuel surcharges and taxes must now be included in all advertised prices of tickets.<br />
The line is drawn whereby certain services are unavoidable. Passengers do not have a problem with paying extra for window seats, tea and coffee, oversize luggage or an extra pillow. These are luxury items. However, is it moral to charge people for things they cannot avoid? The American government wants to ban charges for checking in, fuel and booking online. Do you think that the British Government will be brave enough to follow suit?LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-62483738334677309812010-07-29T16:55:00.001-07:002010-07-29T16:55:57.205-07:00Thrifty days ahead for Business TravellersAn Orbitz for Business survey claims that although the amount of people going on business trips and the amount of trips themselves are increasing, the trend nowadays is to spend less. It appears that the global trend is growing and the style of business travel is changing a lot.<br />
So what is the trend now?<br />
It used to be the case that business travellers were the ‘darlings’ of travel service providers; throwing around money that was not theirs and always going for the most expensive options merely to maintain a desired image. According to the survey, gone are the days when cruising in economy class with a suit and tie were not a business traveller thing. Today, it appears that they will even throw in a wave for cash back incentive from their employer. Tougher schedules have led to business people returning earlier than before from trips and the economic climate has led to companies saving every cent they can, sometimes even offering their employees a financial incentive to do this.<br />
The Orbitz survey of 850 travellers revealed a lot about the changes in the habits of business people. 70% claimed that saving money was at the forefront of their interests and most of these people claimed that they were financially motivated to do so. If the employee saves and the company saves, then the hotels and restaurants clearly lose out. Business travel has increased since 2008 yet with the new trends and behavioural patterns, it means very little to service providers.<br />
Apart from cutting back on hotel stays and flight tickets, many business people have been using their own cars to get about. This is a huge saver and companies were clearly getting tired of paying hire fees and insurance. Another important factor is that business people tend to book their own trips nowadays; in fact 91% claimed that this was the case. This means that they are directly responsible for saving money, which is reflected in their behaviour.LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-55801191119694614282010-07-02T03:48:00.000-07:002010-07-02T03:57:07.856-07:00Taking holidays is a human right<em>"As Commissioner for Transport I successfully defended passengers’ rights. The next step is to safeguard their right to be tourists."</em> <strong>Antonio Tajani</strong><br />In his opening address at the European Tourism Stakeholders’ Conference in Madrid, Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for industry and entrepreneurship declared taking holidays as a right. He said that as the person responsible for Europe’s policies in this economic sector, it is his firm belief that the way in which we spend our holidays is an excellent indicator of our quality of life. He insisted that unrivalled tourism resources must become fully accessible to those for whom travelling is difficult: the elderly and persons with reduced mobility. The sector’s operators are aware that ensuring (and facilitating) travel and holidays for tens of millions of persons with reduced mobility nowadays represents a challenge within a challenge.<br />In addition to accessibility, attention must also be paid to young persons and families at a disadvantage who – for various reasons – also face difficulties in exercising their full right to tourism.<br />It quite clear that tourism plays a key role in promoting development and social and economic integration in rural, outlying or slow-growing regions but one not underestimate the extent to which tourism – developed sustainably – provides local economies with a lasting source of income and stable employment while enabling them to safeguard and capitalise on landscape, cultural, historical and environmental resources.<br />Challenges facing tourism now and later<br />• the capacity of tourism businesses to innovate and adopt new technologies;<br />• the difficulties in access to funding;<br />• the pressures to guarantee sustainable yet competitive development;<br />• climate change;<br />• and, finally, increasing international competition.<br />Solutions<br />• stimulating competitiveness and innovation in the tourism industry in the European Union;<br />• promoting sustainable and responsible tourism in the EU and in the emerging and developing countries;<br />• reinforcing the image and profile of Europe as a set of sustainable and high-quality destinations among European and third-country citizens;<br />• finally, integrating tourism into the financial policies and instruments of the EU.<br />Examples to be used:<br />1 - Stimulating competitiveness and innovation in the tourism industry in the EU<br />Improvement of the socio-economic knowledge base of tourism and of the related activities, in particular by means of studies, surveys and statistics to be produced in close cooperation with international organisations such as the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).<br />2- Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism in the EU and in the emerging and developing countries <br />Recognition and guaranteed respect for the “five pillars” of the sustainability of European tourism:<br />• economic,<br />• social,<br />• territorial,<br />• environmental<br />• and cultural sustainability.<br />3- Consolidating the image of Europe as a set of sustainable and high-quality destinations among European and third-country citizens<br />Enhance the image and perception of Europe as a set of sustainable and high-quality tourist destinations.<br />4 – Integrating tourism into EU policies and financial instruments<br />Integration of the interests of the European tourism industry into the other Community policies.<br />Key areas for development<br />• cultural tourism,<br />• wine and food tourism,<br />• religious and monastery tourism,<br />• sporting tourism,<br />• conference tourism,<br />• eco-tourism,<br />• health tourism, particularly spa tourism.<br />He ended his speech by quoting St Augustine, in his capacity as a great philosopher referring to the topic of “travel” “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page”.LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-49738354436830588342010-05-22T16:00:00.000-07:002010-05-22T16:02:24.000-07:00Is British Airways the General Motors of British aviation?British Airways has recorded a substantial loss, has been over-ruled by the Appeal Court and is facing a series of three strikes lasting five days each starting from 24th May through to June. There has been a lot of “to-ing and fro-ing” from the Courts throughout BA’s negotiations with the union. In over-ruling the latest ban on strike, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said “it seems curious that BA should use a law introduced to protect union members from irresponsible and undemocratic actions by union leaders to circumvent the democratic wishes of the workers.”<br />So, what next for BA?<br />Joseph Lampel, Professor of Strategy at Cass Business School, London, gives his reaction to the announcement of £531m of losses for the year to the end of March:<br />"I am not surprised by today's announcement of huge losses by BA, but it is likely that the underlying company assets may be strong enough to withstand the company going into insolvency. At this point, and into the near future, It's all about confidence - BA's investors and customers must believe it is possible for Willie Walsh to turn the company around.<br />"He has to make a lot of unpopular and difficult strategic changes because, if he doesn't, BA will have no future. You only have to look at the likes of Sabena, Swissair, Alitalia and other national airlines that became effectively insolvent for the same reason: high costs and inflexible labour practices.<br />"Willie Walsh must tackle the underlying cost factor in order for BA to survive. The company has been hit hard by the economic situation, and other cyclical factors, but this potentially reversible. The question is: Can BA survive until this comes to pass?<br />"There is an unfortunate resemblance between British Airways and General Motors. GM dominated the American car industry, just as BA dominates British aviation. GM made several "comebacks" only to be pulled down by high costs, truculent unions, and consumer disaffection, when economic conditions took its sales below survival volume. The response of the US government to this perfect storm was to bail out GM. BA faces a similar combination of adverse factors. Will creditors continue to fund the company in the light of recent losses? As in the US, this may become political issues, now that some of the large creditors are owned or partly owned by the government."LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-41623441888323704842010-03-31T16:17:00.001-07:002010-03-31T16:17:06.136-07:00EU and US Open Skies now a reality<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Gill Sans MT'>Negotiators from both ends of the Atlantic have now struck a deal make permanent the 2007 open skies deal that expands the liberalization of the skies across the EU and U.S. - a pact once thought to be threatened over ownership rules. <br/>Talks over the next phase of the three-year-old open skies agreement between the United States and the European Union were expected to be contentious primarily because of the reluctance by the U.S. to relax foreign ownership rules. Prior to the latest round of talks, Europeans had warned that the entire agreement could unravel if progress were not made on this particular issue. It appears that progress has been made, but one can hardly call it a promise by the U.S. to liberalize its airline ownership policy. Because changing such laws requires an act of Congress, U.S. negotiators could only commit to working toward some reform without giving a specific timeframe. Some airlines are disappointed that this latest agreement does not go far enough in this regard. The EU allows 49.9% foreign ownership of its airlines; the U.S. only permits 25%. What <em>is</em> new is that, under the new agreement, European carriers will be able to attract U.S. government business and U.S. airlines will be able to expand on their access to EU markets. <br/><br/>The current EU-U.S. opens skies agreement permits any carrier from the U.S. to fly to any EU city and beyond. EU carriers are allowed similar access to any U.S. city but do not have rights to operate between U.S. cities. The new accord promises future action by both parties to balance the access to each other's' markets and to cooperate on environmental and regulatory issues. One such issue is night curfews at EU airports that often restrict the operations of cargo carriers such as FedEx. If the EU lifts some of these restrictions, the U.S. is willing to allow EU carriers the rights to fly from the U.S. to third countries in the future. <br/><br/>In essence the two sides have agreed to make permanent the 2007 open skies deal as they work toward greater cooperation on various issues such as security, safety and ease of travel. EU and U.S. regulators have to approve these measures independently before anything becomes official. Though both sides touted the progress made, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) thought the agreement could have done more. "The agreement was not a step backwards, but it did not move us forward," claimed IATA director general, Giovanni Bisignani. – a pact once thought to be threatened over ownership rules. To paraphrase a famous quote attributed to Mark Twain, reports of the death of open skies have been greatly exaggerated. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Gill Sans MT; font-size:8pt'>Source: IAPA</span></p></span>LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051988172766932700.post-39190933836495272232010-03-03T16:41:00.000-08:002010-03-03T16:42:19.093-08:00The Executive Traveller Economist<em>Why we should worry about travel services and fees as we slowly emerge from the recession. </em> <br />Travellers have to pay attention to what airlines are offering before they book their flights. Those were the days when airlines will move heaven and earth to ensure that you enjoy your flight with them. Once debts start straying into the economic growth of airlines, economic growth tends to slump and then airlines start finding ways to charge for almost anything. <br />There is something particularly compelling about charging for almost everything that services providers like hotels and airlines put at our disposal as soon as supply exceeds demand because of high debt and recession so much so that so that they likely consequences is shrewdness on the part of the traveller.<br />Competition is only indirectly relevant. The question is how responsive an airline or hotel’s customers are to price – this is to say their own price elasticity of demand. The thing is when elasticity if low, airlines can increase prices without losing many customers. Naturally, this affects the price they charge and one explanation for elastic demand and low prices is that customers could easily shift to another airline. <br />Is it any wonder therefore that American Airlines has decided to charge fees for blankets and pillows? According to IAPA, the airline passengers association, American Airlines will begin charging for pillows and blankets in economy class – US$8 to be exact. It appears that the airline business has gone fees crazy. You never know what next they will be charging fees for. American isn't the first to charge for creature comforts such as blankets and pillows, and it won't be the last. The airline will continue to offer them for free in first and business class, and on long international flights in all classes. In the U.S., JetBlue, US Airways and now American charge for pillows and blankets. As with their policy of not charging for the first two checked bags, Southwest Airlines has taken the opposite approach. They've gotten rid of all pillows and blankets. The airline says it's not to cut costs, but for health reasons – I suppose that is a clever way of explaining the economics. <br />Perhaps it is about time we carried our own pillows and dressed appropriately. Cabin air temperatures can vary between 18ºC - 29ºC (65ºF and 85ºF) and the low end of that range can leave some passengers feeling too cold for comfort. <br />American Airlines is also keeping it simple by only accepting credit and debit cards on board for payment of items like duty free and alcoholic beverages. American Airlines flight attendants carry onboard secure handheld devices to ensure your payments with credit and debit cards are recorded safely. A receipt for any in-flight purchases will be available on request. Most major credit and debit cards are accepted. American Eagle and American Connection flights will however, continue to accept cash only for payment.LNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656459196092217812noreply@blogger.com0