TAIWAN: Sheraton Zhonghe Hotel Dissolves Contract With Marriott International After Listing As China

The owner of a Starwood-branded hotel in Taiwan said Thursday it will terminate its contract with Marriott International, in protest over the US group caving into Beijing pressure to list the island as part of China.

Marriott was strongly criticised by Chinese authorities in January for listing Taiwan along with Tibet and Hong Kong as separate countries, all regions which Beijing claims under its authority.

After the Chinese government shut down Marriott’s local website for a week, the hotel chain apologised and changed the listing to Taiwan, China.

But the Four Points by Sheraton in Zhonghe, a district of the capital Taipei, announced in a front page advertisement in local newspaper the Liberty Times,it will terminate its franchise agreement with the parent group.

We are sternly protesting against Marriott International unilaterally listing our hotel as Taiwan, China on the simplified Chinese version of a booking website for members, the advert read, adding it would dissolve its contract.

Simplified Chinese is used in mainland China. A more complicated traditional version is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and on that version of the website the island is still listed as Taiwan.

Four Points by Sheraton is a brand of business hotels under the Starwood brand, which was bought by Marriott in 2016.

Lily Cheng, a spokeswoman for the Zhonghe hotel, said its name will now be changed and it will no longer take reservations from Marriott’s booking system.

Of course it will cause some impact, but our main customers are corporates, and Taiwanese people, and other booking websites, she said.

Marriott did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China is swift to condemn any moves that could be interpreted as de facto diplomatic recognition of the government in Taiwan.

It has taken a number of airlines, hotels and other companies to task in recent months for listing Taiwan as a separate country on their websites.

The foreign ministry lodged an official protest with the US for allowing Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen to transit in Los Angeles en route to Paraguay this week, during which she gave a rare public speech by a Taiwanese leader on US soil.


Tourism Observer

USA: Hilton Offers Bonus Points

A day after Marriott/Starwood came out with a winter bonus points plan, Hilton has unveiled its own bonus earning program for Honors members.

Honors members register to participate.

For every stay during the promotion period, registered Honors members will get 2,000 bonus points.

Those who complete five stays during the period will earn an additional 10,000 bonus points, or a total of 20,000.

Members who travel a lot can keep racking up the extra points for additional stays during the January-April period.

There’s no cap on the number of points that can be earned, no minimum stay requirement, and no weekday/weekend differential.

The bonus offer applies for stays at all Hilton brands and locations except Hampton by Hilton Hotels in mainland China a total of more than 5,000 participating hotels worldwide.

Reservations already booked for stays during the promotion period also qualify, as long as the member is registered for Points Unlimited.

Hilton has published a page of frequently asked questions about the promotion on the Honors website.


Tourism Observer

Starwood & Marriott Merger Approved Without Any Conditions

Chinese regulators granted antitrust approval to Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood, the last remaining hurdle to closing the merger.

The chains said they expect the deal to close before the market opens in New York.

The approval follows Chinese authorities’ decision, which the companies announced Aug. 8, to take an extended look at the merger for up to 60 more days. The regulators made their decision before the Oct. 8 deadline expired.

There was some suspicion that the extension may have been motivated by the Chinese government and/or regulators’ desires to extract divestitures or other assets from either Marriott or Starwood during the approval process. However, a Marriott spokesperson said, “The transaction was approved without any conditions.”

Marriott and Starwood had said all along that they expected the $12.2 billion deal to go through even as it had sailed through all other regulatory approvals.

The deal, when it closes later this week, will create the largest hotel chain in the world with 1.1 million rooms, spread out over nearly 30 brands.

The road to closing this transaction, which Marriott and Starwood initially announced in November 2015, has taken numerous twists and turns, including an unexpected bidding war with China’s Anbang Insurance Group and its consortium in March 2016. Anbang eventually dropped out.

The extended antitrust review by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China was the latest and last hurdle.

Regulators in dozens of other countries and jurisdictions around the world, including the U.S., the European Union, Saudi Arabia and Mexico, had previously decided not to stand in the way of the mega merger.

QATAR: Qatar In Talks For St Regis NYC, San Francisco Hotels

The Qatar Investment Authority is in advanced talks to buy the luxury St Regis hotels in New York and San Francisco from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., according to people with knowledge of the discussions.

The properties may be worth as much as $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion), though they could sell for less, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The St. Regis New York, a Beaux Arts landmark on 55th Street off Fifth Avenue, has 238 rooms. The California property, across the street from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, has 260 rooms.

Starwood has been trying to sell its remaining real estate as it prepares to be acquired by Marriott International Inc. next quarter, a deal that will create the world’s biggest hotel operator. Starwood is seeking to sell five hotels in the US, including the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta and the Tremont Chicago Hotel at Magnificent Mile. It is also trying to sell the leasehold on a sixth property, the W New York — Times Square.

David Henderson, a spokesman for the Qatar Investment Authority, and Carrie Bloom, a spokeswoman for Starwood, declined to comment. Starwood’s five owned hotels don’t include two properties that are scheduled to be sold to Interval Leisure Group in connection with the pending spin-off of Starwood’s timeshare business.

Middle Eastern and Chinese buyers have been buying hotels around the world as they seek to diversify their holdings and capitalise on the growth of the travel business. China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. made a surprise $14 billion bid for Starwood in March before walking away three weeks later, leaving Marriott to proceed with its takeover.

The Qatar Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign-wealth fund, was set up in 2005, with a real estate division established in 2009. It has invested about $38 billion in property around the world, with $21.7 billion in office transactions and $7.5 billion for hotels, including the 2014 purchase of the St. Regis Rome, according to Real Capital Analytics Inc.

The wealth fund earlier this year teamed with Douglas Emmett Inc., a real estate investment trust, to purchase four Los Angeles office buildings for $1.34 billion. In 2015, Qatar was the second-biggest foreign purchaser of US offices, following its investment in Brookfield Property Partners LP’s $8.6 billion Manhattan West project. The wealth fund and Brookfield also acquired London’s Canary Wharf Group and parent Songbird Estates Plc.

The Doha-based fund opened a New York office in September to better access deals in the US and to manage its growing US investment portfolio. Qatar said at the time it plans to invest $35 billion in the US over the next five years to diversify its holdings.

USA: Starwood Signs Deal To Renovate And Run Three Cuban Hotels

Starwood signed a deal on Saturday to renovate and run three Cuban hotels, returning U.S. chains to the island more than 50 years after American hotels were taken over by Fidel Castro's socialist revolution.

All Cuban hotels are state-owned so the deal puts a major U.S. corporation directly into business with the Communist government under a special license that pushes the U.S. administration's legal dismantling of the trade embargo on Cuba further than ever before. In a once-unimaginable arrangement, a hotel owned by the tourism arm of the Cuban military will become a Sheraton Four Points.

The deal comes on the eve of President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba, which opens a new era between the former Cold War foes that has American travelers and businesses eagerly eyeing opportunities on the island nation 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Florida.

Starwood's chief of Latin America operations, Jorge Giannattasio, said the company will invest millions to renovate and rebrand the Quinta Avenida, Santa Isabel and Inglaterra hotels, train and hire new staff and reopen the hotels by the end of the year. The Quinta Avenida is owned by Gaviota, a military-run tourism conglomerate. The Santa Isabel and Inglaterra, which are run by other state agencies, will be operated as part of Starwood's Luxury Collection brand.

It's unclear, however, how long Starwood can be called an American company. On Friday, Starwood called off a $12.2 billion buyout agreement with Marriott in favor of an offer from a group of investors led by the Chinese insurance company Anbang.

NETHERLANDS: W Makes Its Debut In The Netherlands

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(NYSE:HOT), today debuted in the Netherlands with the highly anticipated opening of W Amsterdam. Owned by Europe Hotels | Private Collection, the hotel brings the W brand’s distinctive New York energy, Whatever/Whenever® service mentality and upbeat programming to the Dutch capital. Just steps away from the vibrant Dam Square and the Royal Palace, the hotel introduces WET DECK®, the city’s first rooftop pool, and electrifying culinary venues, such as THE DUCHESS and MR PORTER.

“The long awaited and much anticipated opening of W Amsterdam brings a distinctive new take on hospitality to the heart of the city,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader of W Hotels Worldwide. “Amsterdam has emerged as a world leader in design, music and fashion, all of which have long been passions of W Hotels and our global travelers. As one of Europe’s most popular destinations, we are excited to welcome guests and locals alike to an energetic space full of unexpected moments.”

Located in the epicentre of Amsterdam’s vibrant social scene, the 238-room hotel spans two iconic buildings, one of which used to house the former Telephone Exchange (‘Exchange’) and the other was previously home toKAS Bank (‘Bank’). W Amsterdam was designed by Office WINHOV and Baranowitz Kronenberg Architects, who collaborated with local designers to refresh the historic buildings with contemporary features inspired by their storied past.

“Amsterdam’s progressive spirit is a perfect match for W Hotels. We are thrilled to introduce a new style of modern hospitality to the Netherlands in partnership with Europe Hotels | Private Collection and its owner, Liran Wizman, who share our vision for W Hotels,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “W Amsterdam is our first W Hotel in the country and reinforces Starwood’s commitment to grow our presence in this important European market.”

Connect and Exchange in the Heart of Amsterdam
The Exchange building features 172 stylish guest rooms, while the 66 rooms in the Bank will open early next year. The hotel will have a total of 21 suites, three WOW suites and two lavish Extreme WOW suites – the W brand’s take on the Presidential suite. Boasting an impressive 183 square metres of innovative design, an open plan bathroom complete with a hot tub, walk-in wardrobe and large round bed with extraordinary views of the Royal Palace, the Extreme WOW Suite is the city’s most glamourous crash pad. W Amsterdam features SPG Keyless, the hospitality industry’s first keyless entry system enabling guests to use their smartphone or wearable device as a room key.

Guests arrive in style when they check in at the rooftop W Lounge, the W brand’s re-interpretation of the traditional hotel lobby, on the sixth floor of the Exchange building. With four outdoor terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows, guests can enjoy spectacular 360-degree views over canal houses and heritage sites. Looking out to the Royal Palace and lively historic centre, WET DECK is Amsterdam’s first rooftop pool. Spanning 22 metres and heated in winter, WET DECK is where Amsterdam’s style-savvy locals mix it up over open air cocktails and city scape views. Also located on the rooftop, MR PORTER blends qualities of a modern steakhouse with the sophisticated ambiance of a chic, high-energy lounge.

Across the street in the Bank building, THE DUCHESS opened in June to rave reviews, combining an eclectic taste of London and Viennese grandeur. The building also houses FIT® state-of-the-art fitness centre; a spa located amid the original bank vaults; and XBANK, a 700 square metre exhibition gallery and immersive creative incubator concept space that connects local design, fashion and music talents – all of which will be unveiled in early 2016 together with the remaining guest rooms.

W Amsterdam will offer 414 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, including a Great Roomwhich can be divided into three smaller meeting rooms.

“The opening of W Amsterdam marks the pinnacle of Amsterdam’s rapid growth as one of Europe’s most popular destinations for jet setting travellers,” said Liran Wizman, owner of W Amsterdam and Europe Hotels | Private Collection. “With its innovative lifestyle programming and two distinctive restaurants set to shake-up the capitals hospitality scene, W Amsterdam will bring something new and exciting to the hotel industry in the Dutch capital.”

Starwood in the Netherlands
With the opening of W Amsterdam, Starwood now has three hotels in the Netherlands – including Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel Schiphol and Hotel Des Indes, a Luxury Collection Hotel, The Hague. The company will continue to expand its Dutch portfolio with the debut of Element Amsterdam in early 2016.

MALDIVES: Maldives Presents Spectacular Road Show In Dubai

The Maldives Roadshow was a great success in Dubai, and targeted the Middle Eastern travel trade of 4 major cities - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Doha. The Roadshows took place on August 23, 24, 26, and 27 respectively. The main objective of the Roadshow was to penetrate the Middle Eastern market and increase market share from the Middle East.

Organized by the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC), 14 representative partners from the tourism industry of Maldives participated at the Roadshow together with MMPRC. They were Adaaran Resorts, Villa Hotels & Resorts, Sun Siyam Resorts, Akquasun Canopus Maldives, Loama Resorts Maldives, Reollo Travel, Anantara Kihavah, Crown Tours, Lets Go Maldives, Per Aquam Huvafen Fushi, Trav Maldives, Splendid Asia, and Starwood Maldives.

The Roadshow offered a platform for the Maldives to establish direct contact with the Middle Eastern travel trade. It was also an opportunity for the Middle Eastern travel trade to receive the latest updates of Maldives as well as directly meet the representatives from some of the Maldives’ most popular hotels and resorts and travel agents who participated at the Roadshow.

The first event in Dubai saw an overwhelming 130 participants at the event. The attendees included tour wholesalers, travel agents, and media from Dubai. Over 80 participants in each of the other cities as well were interested in the destination.

Referring to the success of the first event in Dubai, Mr. Abdulla Ziyath, Managing Director of MMPRC, stated that “we have planned more activities in the Middle East to aggressively promote the destination to help achieve the targets for the year and for upcoming Visit Maldives Year 2016.” Maldives received 19,004 tourists from the Middle East from January to June 2015, which is a 6.8% increase compared to the same period in 2014. Hosting of the Roadshow will help boost arrivals from the Middle East.