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Archive for November, 2009

The Levante Parliament, the Modernist Boutique Hotel in Vienna

The Levante Parliament is now a member of the Epoque Hotels Collection fitting perfectly, with its cutting-edge design approach, in the Avantgarde Line.
The hotel is situated in a central location, behind the Parliament and the Viennese City Hall and offers 70 rooms and suites.
The house, built in 1908 in the classical modernist “Bauhaus” style, is today protected by a preservation order. The most distinctive features of the imposing architecture are the lineal forms on which a century later the design of today’s hotel has been based. All furnishings and fittings used remain true to this innovative architecture.

The use of the elements of life – fire (light and transparency), earth (natural materials), air (all rooms have a height of 3.30m) and water (movement and fluidity) are combined with all the modern comforts of a first class hotel. The “element” glass is used in large glass walls dividing the bathroom and living area, the bathroom doors and the shower. Indirect lighting throughout the hotel creates not only a spectacular effect but a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The Levante Parliament functions as a gallery and offers our guests an exclusive exhibition of glass works by the international artist Ioan Nemtoi, as well as a collection of unusual and breathtaking photographs of the ballet dancers of the Vienna State Opera. The Glass Designer Ioan Nemtoi was also the inspiration for the Hotel’s Restaurant “Nemtoi”. He designed the four fire frames and the unique glass bar.
They are the eye-catcher and the optical center of the restaurant.A wonderful garden of 400 m2 in the inner court creates not only light in all the rooms but also offers guests an area to relax – cosy lounges and Mediterranean garden atmosphere. The hotel also offers for sportive guest a fully equipped fitness room.

Epoque Hotels is a collection of 300 avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels in over 100 destinations worldwide. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Miami, Florida the company also has sales offices in Italy, The United Kingdom, Spain and China. For reservations or more information visit www.EpoqueHotels.com
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The Specifics of Hotel Management

Resident or hotel managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the property. In larger properties, more than one of these managers may assist the general manager, frequently dividing responsibilities between the food and beverage operations and the rooms or lodging services. At least one manager, either the general manager or a hotel manager, is on call 24 hours a day to resolve problems or emergencies.
Assistant managers help run the day-to-day operations of the hotel. In large hotels, they may be responsible for activities such as personnel, accounting, office administration, marketing and sales, purchasing, security, maintenance, and pool, spa, or recreational facilities. In smaller hotels, these duties may be combined into one position. Assistant managers may adjust charges on a hotel guest’s bill when a manager is unavailable.
Lodging managers are responsible for keeping their establishments efficient and profitable. In a small establishment with a limited staff, the manager may oversee all aspects of operations. However, large hotels may employ hundreds of workers, and the general manager usually is aided by a number of assistant managers assigned to the various departments of the operation. In hotels of every size, managerial duties vary significantly by job title.
General managers have overall responsibility for the operation of the hotel. Within guidelines established by the owners of the hotel or executives of the hotel chain, the general manager sets room rates, allocates funds to departments, approves expenditures, and ensures expected standards for guest service, decor, housekeeping, food quality, and banquet operations. Managers who work for chains also may organize and staff a newly built hotel, refurbish an older hotel, or reorganize a hotel or motel that is not operating successfully. In order to fill entry-level service and clerical jobs in hotels, some managers attend career fairs.
Because hotels are open around the clock, night and weekend work is common. Many lodging managers work more than 40 hours per week, and may be called back to work at any time. Some managers of resort properties or other hotels where much of the business is seasonal have other duties on the property during the off-season or find work at other hotels or in other areas.
Lodging managers experience the pressures of coordinating a wide range of activities. At larger hotels, they also carry the burden of managing a large staff and finding a way to satisfy guest needs while maintaining positive attitudes and employee morale. Conventions and large groups of tourists may present unusual problems or require extended work hours. Moreover, dealing with irate guests can be stressful. The job can be particularly hectic for front office managers during check-in and check-out times. Computer failures can further complicate processing and add to frustration levels.

Hotels increasingly emphasize specialized training. Postsecondary training in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management is preferred for most hotel management positions; however, a college liberal arts degree may be sufficient when coupled with related hotel experience or business education. Internships or part-time or summer work experience in a hotel are an asset to students seeking a career in hotel management. The experience gained and the contacts made with employers can greatly benefit students after graduation. Most degree programs include work-study opportunities.
Community colleges, junior colleges, and many universities offer certificate or degree programs in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management leading to an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree. Technical institutes, vocational and trade schools, and other academic institutions also offer courses leading to formal recognition in hospitality management. In total, more than 800 educational facilities provide academic training for would-be lodging managers. Hotel management programs include instruction in hotel administration, accounting, economics, marketing, housekeeping, food service management and catering, and hotel maintenance engineering. Computer training also is an integral part of hotel management training, due to the widespread use of computers in reservations, billing, and housekeeping management.
More than 450 high schools in 45 States offer the Lodging Management Program created by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. This two-year program offered to high school juniors and seniors teaches management principles and leads to a professional certification called the “Certified Rooms Division Specialist.” Many colleges and universities grant participants credit towards a post-secondary degree in hotel management.
Lodging managers must be able to get along with many different types of people, even in stressful situations. They must be able to solve problems and concentrate on details. Initiative, self-discipline, effective communication skills, and the ability to organize and direct the work of others also are essential for managers at all levels.
Persons wishing to make a career in the hospitality industry may be promoted into a management trainee position sponsored by the hotel or a hotel chain’s corporate parent. Typically, trainees work as assistant managers and may rotate assignments among the hotel’s departments—front office, housekeeping, or food and beverage—to gain a wide range of experiences. Relocation to another property may be required to help round out the experience and to help grow a trainee into the position.
Work experience in the hospitality industry at any level or in any segment, including summer jobs or part-time work in a hotel or restaurant, is good background for entering hotel management. Most employers require a bachelor’s degree with some education in business and computer literacy, while some prefer a master’s degree for hotel management positions. However, employees who demonstrate leadership potential and possess sufficient length or breadth of experience may be invited to participate in a management training program and advance to hotel management positions without the education beyond high school.
Large hotel and motel chains may offer better opportunities for advancement than small, independently owned establishments, but relocation every several years often is necessary for advancement. The large chains have more extensive career ladder programs and offer managers the opportunity to transfer to another hotel or motel in the chain or to the central office. Career advancement can be accelerated by the completion of certification programs offered by various associations. These programs usually require a combination of course work, examinations, and experience. For example, outstanding lodging managers may advance to higher level manager positions.
Renewed business travel and domestic and foreign tourism will drive employment growth of lodging managers in full-service hotels. The numbers of economy-class rooms and extended-stay hotels also are expected to increase to accommodate leisure travelers and bargain-conscious guests. An increasing range of lodging accommodations is available to travelers, from economy hotels which offer clean, comfortable rooms and front desk services without costly extras such as restaurants and room service, to luxury and boutique inns that offer sumptuous furnishings and personal services. The accommodation industry is expected to continue to consolidate as lodging chains acquire independently owned establishments or undertake their operation on a contract basis. The increasing number of extended-stay hotels will moderate growth of manager jobs because these properties usually have fewer departments and require fewer managers. Also, these establishments often do not require a manager to be available 24 hours a day, instead assigning front desk clerks on duty at night some of the responsibilities previously reserved for managers.
Additional demands for managers is expected in suite hotels, because some guests—especially business customers—are willing to pay higher prices for rooms with kitchens and suites that provide the space needed to conduct small meetings. In addition, large full-service hotels—offering restaurants, fitness centers, large meeting rooms, and play areas for children, among other amenities—will continue to provide many trainee and managerial opportunities.

Freelance writer for over eleven years.
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Epoque Hotels is a collection of 300 avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels in over 100 destinations worldwide. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Miami, Florida the company also has sales offices in Italy, The United Kingdom, Spain and China. For reservations or more information visit www.EpoqueHotels.comGesundheit hat ein Zuhause – Praevention

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Epoque Hotels Proudly Announces Partnership With Dream Hotel Bangkok

Miami, FL October 1st, 2007 – Epoque Hotels is proud to announce its partnership with the eclectic hotel Dream in Bangkok, Thailand. This trendy hotel is part of a fashionable, fresh line: Avantgarde Hotels. Dream, Bangkok is a sister hotel to one bearing the same name and concept in New York, USA. Both properties allow its guests tranquil, neon-sophisticate experiences in their respecting cities.
Located on the fashionable Sukhumvit Road, this brilliantly designed contemporary hotel encapsulates Bangkok with its 100 rooms. Each room here is like a translation of a dream, all outfitted with the latest in hotel technology, including complimentary WiFi connectivity, huge plasma TVs, iPod player and digital sound, and ethereal lighting—even a glowing, under-bed light. Available amenities are like cherries-on-top to each stay, especially the soft 300 count Egyptian bed linens and comfy bathrobes.
A hospitable staff welcomes Dream’s guests with first-rate service and smiley multilingual staff, who assures any need is fulfilled during stays, from giving tips on what to do and where to be in the city to childcare services. They will even gladly allow, upon request, a mobile phone as a convenience to guests.
Exquisite meals at the hotel’s restaurants, lounge and bars are very ‘Flava’ful. Flava Restaurant and Lounge allows its guests to contemporary Thai cuisine. The divine tastiness even extends to the rooms, with 24 hour room service, and a homemade cookie plate in each room made fresh every afternoon. For cigar connoisseurs, the Pipe Dreams cigar bar features some of finest cigars.
For a unique spa experience, the Dream’s Avatar Spa is an extraordinary setting, where treatments are so exceptional that they are often prolonged. Its gym is even equipped with high quality equipment for the fitness minded, and an indoor pool and sauna to fulfill a vacationing swimmer. Also for those traveling for business or conference matters, two well equipped meeting rooms are available.

About Epoque Hotels:
Epoque Hotels is a collection of worldwide avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels based in over 100 destinations. With its 300 + hotels in its portfolio, divided in two lines: Avantgarde Line and Epoque Classic, it is rapidly establishing itself as the leading reference in the segment of boutique hotels. Headquartered in Miami, the Company has also sales offices in Italy, UK and France.
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France’s New Hotel Classification

Article by Mon “Hotel” New hotel classification in France

A reform of the hotel classification has been on the news since more than a year: Indeed until now there were no five stars hotels in France, but since the beginning of 2009 the change is on: Hotels that volunteer will be rated from one to five stars for a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years. The evaluation will be done, at the expense of the volunteers. Moreover the ratings will have to be approved by the French government
The point of this new classification system is simply to mix different point of views related to norms and understand and respond better to the clients’ needs by responding better to the comfort criteria that are a “must have” and other criteria that can please the clients.
The move was of course orchestrated by the French government whose goal is to place tourism “at the heart of the economical growth “ by defining a new political plan concerning tourism: “destination France 2020 “the matter was discussed this summer at the “Assises nationale du tourisme” that took place this summer.
The challenge is to support tourism which is the first industry of France: With the globalisation and the client’s changing needs France has to be competitive with other destinations concerning the clients’ behaviours and needs. (Not having a five star rating is a serious handicap considering that the client doesn’t always know the fact that France’s highest class of hotel is “four star luxe”).
Objectively what is going to be different about this new classification? Firstly it is interesting to know that it is the first time in twenty two years that the classification grid is being changed: And indeed clients needs have changed a lot in twenty two years!.
The new classification is bringing major changes to satisfy the clients: - no star hotels will disappear: The hotels that volunteer will all be classified one star consequently a fifth star has been added to replace the “four star luxe” appellation. This is useful to hotel owners; it will allow French hotels to be competitive compared to hotel in competing countries. - The new classification system promises to be more exigent : let’s do a little comparison with the old classification
Old classification New classification For a first star rating 30 criteria were needed First star rating:61 criteria needed For a two star rating 30 criteria were needed two star rating:68 criteria needed For a three star rating 30 criteria were needed three star rating:75 criteria needed For a four star rating 33 criteria were needed Four star rating:94 criteria needed For a four star luxe rating 33 criteria were needed Five star rating:124 criteria needed
The classification will also comprise of optional points: Every hotels that volunteer to get reclassified will have the chance to have optional points, these optional criteria will give establishments the chance to differentiate themselves from their competitors and to show the client the diversity of French hostelry (These optional criteria will not be imposed, hotel managers will choose them). Let’s take a moment to summarise and understand this new classification: To be rated hotels will have to respond to the following exigencies: - they will have to be compliant to a number of obligatory criteria (See above page) - they will have to be compliant to a number of optional criteria
These criteria will give hotels points, and it will be the points that will be taken into account for the ratings:
Note: hotels will be given a 5% flexibility margin: if they can not comply to all the points needed to be rated in one category they can make up for these criteria by adding optional points ,but optional points and obligatory points do not have the same value: One obligatory point is equal to three optional points. The heart of this new classification is the client: While the previous classification paid particular attention to surfaces and equipments the new classification pays particular attention to services proposed to the client (in addition to paying attention to the equipment and surfaces.) In addition to that the client will be informed about the new classification and can be solicited to make suggestions about it. Note: hotels will be given a 5% flexibility margin: if they can not comply to all the points needed to be rated in one category they can make up for these criteria by adding optional points ,but optional points and obligatory points do not have the same value: One obligatory point is equal to three optional points.
The heart of this new classification is the client: While the previous classification paid particular attention to surfaces and equipments the new classification pays particular attention to services proposed to the client (in addition to paying attention to the equipment and surfaces.) In addition to that the client will be informed about the new classification and can be solicited to make suggestions about it. monhotel.fr
In terms of competitive positioning a change was inevitable: The hotels of the world’s first tourism destination could no longer afford to avoid comparisons with their international competitors! Indeed the creation or more appropriately the adoption of the fifth star will change this fact.
What exactly does the fifth star represent? It will represent the best of French hostelry, the fifth star will be the distinction of excellence and it will of course offer a better readability to international clients. What exactly does the fifth star represent? It will represent the best of French hostelry, the fifth star will be the distinction of excellence and it will of course offer a better readability to international clients.
monhotel.fr
A new classification procedure: If the new classification is supposed to make French hotels compliant to international standards the attributions of stars would also be made according to the techniques used by our international competitors. The evaluation will be done by specialised audit firms which will visit hotels regularly and will be more or less exigent (depending on the rating of the hotel), moreover surprise visit will be made to hotels rated four stars and above
Every five years the classification will be subjected to changes (according to the progress or regression of the establishments). The “Agence de developpement touristique” or Tourism development agency in English will have to support the procedure and animate it. Transition phase: Given the time that hotels will need to adopt the classification the new and the old classification will co exist during three years strating from the publication of the “Loi Tourisme” or tourism law (which I will present later in this article). After three years the old classification will cease to exist.
A point on investments: As I said earlier the point of this classification is mostly to modernize French Hotels and it will ssdetermine new economical parameters on which establishments will build their new economical system, and to build a new economical system one needs funds. Two organisms will help hotels to find funds: -OSEO -caisse des depots The Loi Tourisme This law will modernize the regulations for professionals working in the travel business to allow them to be more competitive in the international sector.
This law’s aim is to make easy the sales of tickets for travel agencies: -this law will suppress the four steps that one had to pass to have authorisation to sell trips – Every operator wanting to sale trip formulas will have to declare his activity to a national register managed by the future “Agence de developpement Touristique”. The law will be according to reports constituted of thirteen articles. an article by “Mon Hotel” Don’t forget to visit our website: monhotel.fr

Mon HOtel wants to make you readers discover and understand the world of hostelry
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