And the winners are... 9th edition of the Hospitality Awards
For the 9th consecutive year, the Hospitality Awards, organised by MKG Group, have recognized the best achievements and the best initiatives of individual hotels, brands and hotel groups in the world. With over 700 participants attending, operators and suppliers of the industry, the 2008 awards were presented last Tuesday, November 18, at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris. The ceremony was presided over by Arne Sorenson, Executive Vice President et Chief Financial Officer of Marriott International. The rules and the various categories have been decided by the Advisory Board, a group of more than twenty leaders of the world hotel industry. It was presided over by Richard Gomel, President Hospitality Division of Groupe du Louvre (1).
In a rapidly changing and challenging context for the hotel industry, the Hospitality Awards serve as a platform to praise new ideas, new concepts, new talents to sustain the development of a more than ever innovative, efficient and responsible industry. The international jury of 2008 was co-chaired by Clara Gaymard, president and CEO of General Electric Western Europe, and by Stanislas de Quercize, CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Kurt Ritter, Rezidor Hotel Group Swiss hotelier’s son, Kurt Ritter has followed a single and fruitful course of development. A graduate of the Lausanne Hotel School, backed by experience at the Ramada group, Kurt Ritter took the helm of SAS Lulea in Sweden in 1976. It is the beginning of a shared adventure. GM of SAS Kuwait, manager Middle East, with an experience in Singapore: the hotelier gradually became the general manager of SAS International Hotel in 1989. 1994 marks a turning point: Kurt Ritter is behind the signature of a master franchise agreement with Radisson Hotels. A very productive one since the EMEA region is now one of the most dynamic in the brand’s development. And its affirmed upscale positioning makes it a flagship for the brand worldwide. In 2002 Carlson Hotels expanded its agreement to Country Inn, Park Inn as well as to the luxury brand Regent. Another initiative Kurt Ritter took in 2005: the addition of a lifestyle hotel chain to its brand portfolio, the group – which took the name Rezidor SAS Hospitality – partnered with the luxury brand Missoni. The fruits of this alliance will open next year in Kuwait and Edinburgh. November 2006 marks yet another stage: Rezidor’s listing on the Stock Exchange. Today the group has more than 350 hotels that are operational or being developed, with many projects in Russia and the Middle East. Married and father of three, Kurt Ritter was confirmed last September in his functions as president and CEO and will continue to lead the Rezidor group until 2012.
The Grand Prize of the Jury was presented to Global Hyatt. The period 2007-2008 was particularly busy for Global Hyatt. The Chicago group, which had 720 hotels with nearly 140,000 rooms, led several frontline worksites. In terms of marketing, Hyatt’s many initiatives included the launch of Yatt It, the animated 2.0 website for Gold Passport members. At the end of 2007, Andaz went to the baptismal fonts in London. This brand advocates relaxed luxury, and 3 openings are expected in 2009 in Texas, Los Angeles and New York. The group has also converted the ex-Amerisuites properties into Hyatt Place. This lifestyle chain is one of the major players in the very competitive midscale select service range. This system is rapidly approaching a total of 200 hotels with the opening of newly built hotels. New constructions are also in the works for the extended stay brand Summerfield Suites: thanks to this new prototype, Hyatt foresees doubling the brand’s supply to achieve 50 properties. Hyatt Regency is in the process of being renovated in North America thanks to a 1.3 billion dollar revitalization program. The expansion of Park Hyatt continues with several emblematic openings, such as Beijing and Shanghai. This private group– a rarity among the world leaders – owned by the Pritzker clan received backing in 2007 from Goldman Sachs and the Walton family, which owns the Walmart group, in the form of a shared investment of 1 billion dollars.
Finalist:
- Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (Toronto - Singapore)
- Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts (Germany)
1 – Best Communication Campaign from an upscale brand
Winner: Pullman Hotels & Resorts “Get Closer” (France)
Finalists:
- Club Med: “Les bonheurs du monde” (France)
- Westin Hotels & Resort: “Sudoku Sanctuary” (Belgium)
2- Best Communication Campaign from a economy brand
Winner: Campanile (Bed In) (France)
Finalists:
- Holiday Inn Express "Express Start®Breakfast Bar" (United States)
- All Seasons (France)
3 – Best Initiative in Sustainable Development
Winner: Six Senses Hotels & Spas (Thailand)
Finalists:
- Groupo Puntacana (Dominican Republic)
- Manotel (Switzerland)
4 – Best Strategy in eCommerce
Winner: Suitehotel (France)
Finalists:
- Marriott International (United States)
- Sofitel Hotels & Resorts (France)
5 – Best Professional Career Development Programme
Winner: NH Hoteles (Spain)
Finalists:
- Club Méditerranée (France)
- Plaza Athénée - Dorchester Collection (France)
6 - Best Education Initiative coming from an hotel school
Winner: hotel school L'Occitanie Toulouse and the Clés d'Or (France)
Finalists:
- Essec Hotel Management Programme (Paris-Singapore)
- Vatel Institute Los Angeles (United States)
7 – Best Innovative Concept in Economy Brands
Winner: Kyriad Hotels (France)
Finalists:
- Carré d'Etoiles (France)
- Hampton by Hilton (United States)
8 - Best Innovative Concept in Midscale Brands
Winner: Alt Hotel (Canada)
Finalists:
- Abilmo (France)
- Xanterra Hotels & Resorts (United States)
9 - Best Innovative Concept in Luxury Brands
Winnert: Pullman Hotels & Resorts (France)
Finalists:
- Capsis - Out of the Blue (Greece)
- Seeko'o (France)
10) Best General Manager
Lauréat : Primo Munoz - Hilton Barcelona (Spain)
Finalists:
- Serge Ethuin - Rome Cavalieri Waldorf=Astoria Collection (Italy)
- Aiden McCauley - Swissotel The Stamford Singapore (Singapore)
- Véronique Timsonnet - Hospes Palacio del Bailio (Spain)
Over 130 entries have been registered in all the various categories. All the dossiers – Pdf format – are accessible by searching the website of
Pictures of the ceremony and individual pictures of the different categories are available by request: [email protected]. They can also be viewed on:
Bruno Courtin
+33 (0)1 56 56 87 77
Hospitality ON
