Marriott International Notifies Guests of Property System Incident

Hotels operated and franchised under Marriott’s brands use an application to help provide services to guests at hotels. At the end of February 2020, the company identified that an unexpected amount of guest information may have been accessed using the login credentials of two employees at a franchise property. The company believes that this activity started in mid-January 2020. Upon discovery, the company confirmed that the login credentials were disabled, immediately began an investigation, implemented heightened monitoring, and arranged resources to inform and assist guests. Marriott also notified relevant authorities and is supporting their investigations.

Although Marriott’s investigation is ongoing, the company currently has no reason to believe that the information involved included Marriott Bonvoy account passwords or PINs, payment card information, passport information, national IDs, or driver’s license numbers.

At this point, the company believes that the following information may have been involved for up to approximately 5.2 million guests, although not all of this information was present for every guest involved:

• contact details (e.g., name, mailing address, email address, and phone number)

• loyalty account information (e.g., account number and points balance, but not passwords)

• additional personal details (e.g., company, gender, and birthday day and month)

• partnerships and affiliations (e.g., linked airline loyalty programs and numbers)

• preferences (e.g., stay/room preferences and language preference)

  Marriott is sending emails to guests involved. Marriott has also set up a dedicated website (www.mysupport.marriott.com) and call center resources with additional information for guests. The call center resources can be reached by calling the numbers listed on the dedicated website. The email sent to guests and the website also contain a list of steps guests involved can consider taking and information about enrolling in a personal information monitoring service that Marriott is providing.

Radisson Hotel Group continues to expand in China’s most dynamic destinations with new signing

Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town is a striking new upper-upscale hotel being developed in Nanjing South New Town, a rapidly emerging commercial area that will become the city’s new CBD.

Scheduled to open its doors in 2024, Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town will feature 300 contemporary rooms and suites. The property is being developed by Nanjing South New Town Exhibition Centre Development Co., Ltd.

“Nanjing has always been one of China’s most important cities; its name literally means ‘Southern Capital,’ which reflects its historical influence. Today, Nanjing remains one of China’s 21st century most vibrant destinations and the rise of Nanjing South New Town will further enhance its development

With its world-class accommodation, facilities and conference space, Radisson Blu Hotel Nanjing South New Town will be a central landmark in this exciting new district

Live Survey Reveals 50 Percent of Hotels Not Planning to Close Properties Due to COVID-19

Knowland, the leader in group hospitality analytics for hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, conference centers and other meeting venues, announced the results of a live survey of more than 700 hoteliers conducted during its informative webinar “COVID-19 Preparing Today for Success Tomorrow.” Knowland’s VP of product management, Kristi White provided insight and guidance during a webinar held on March 25, 2020 

Throughout the webinar, hoteliers were eager to respond to a series of questions about how they were handling the COVID-19 crisis. Questions such as “Is your hotel closed?” and “What percentage of cancellations have you received for the next 90-120 days” were asked in order to gain insight into the current situation.

• Survey reveals “stay the course” mentality – While 70 percent have had 75 percent plus cancellations over the next 90-120 days, 50 percent of participants indicated that they are not planning to close their hotels and were “staying the course” during this time. This may be due to the fact that many hoteliers are hoping the new CARES Act stimulus bill will help keep them from shutting their doors and their teams capable of prospecting business over the next 60-75 days, however approximately 23% of attendees reported that closing their hotel was “under consideration.”

• Pivot and train your sales teams – White advised attendees to evaluate sales team members to determine those that are best qualified to conduct outreach based on compassion and assistance, as opposed to “making the sale.”

• Identify and cater to local market opportunities – The survey also revealed that 50 percent of participants conducted local sales outreach earlier this year, compared to 38% in 2019. Corporate, government and local catering, as well as smaller and regional events and local drive market will bounce back first. Knowland provides key profile indicators such as what businesses have held local events, the history of their performance (such as what they did during the 2008 recession) to help sales teams better identify potential local customers.

Radisson Hotel Group Expands Its Presence in Brazil

“Our partnership with Atlantica Hotels allows us to bring the bright, inviting and balanced feel of the Radisson brand into vibrant cities like Anápolis, Brazil,” said Frances Gonzalez, vice president of Operations for Radisson Hotel Group in Latin America. “We believe every modern traveler should have a hospitality experience that allows them to find more harmony in both their work and leisure lives, and we are excited to continue creating these experiences in destinations around Latin America.”

Atlantica Hotels is a licensee for Radisson Hotel Group’s brands in Brazil, including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED and Park Inn by Radisson.

Kimpton Charlotte Square (UK) has announced the appointment of Kieran Quinn as General Manager

Kimpton Charlotte Square, has announced the appointment of Kieran Quinn as General Manager. Kieran will oversee the 199 room property located in the heart of Edinburgh and brings over 20 years of experience

He began his career in hospitality in his teenage years in his native Donegal in Ireland. He then qualified with distinction from Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland

His most recent position was General Manager for Crowne Plaza Edinburgh Royal Terrace where he was instrumental in completing the hotel’s renovation, increasing average rate and achieving record revenues for the hotel

Commenting on his new position as Hotel General Manager, He said: “The Kimpton ethos is one I'm incredibly passionate about. We believe that heartfelt human connections can really make a difference to people's lives. This goes for the team as well as our guests. It's the authentic personal touches that we deliver day in day out here at the hotel that make a real difference to our guests' experience.

A Mexican Chef Makes History As The First Mexican Woman To Win A Michelin Star

The 36-year-old leads the team at the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura restaurant in Florence, Italy. She’s also the sole female to be named in the 2020 Michelin Guide Italy.

 Michelin’s review of her restaurant: “The cuisine of theatrical chef Massimo Bottura has arrived in Florence, demonstrating openness to the rest of the world, with influences and reinterpretations of dishes from other countries, as well as Italy and Modena in particular. A visit to the Gucci Garden, an elegant museum on the upper floors dedicated to the famous fashion house, is highly recommended.” We love how the review includes that López is including perhaps Mexican influences in her Italian creations

For more info please visit below mention link:

https://wearemitu.com/culture/karime-lopez-chef-michelin-star/#brid_cp_Brid_12348598

Hilton Partners with Leading Companies to Find Temporary Jobs for Displaced Hotel Team Members

As the hospitality industry responds to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Hilton is partnering with leading companies to connect workers from temporarily suspended hotels with hundreds of thousands of short-term jobs created by the global pandemic.

Hilton Team Members, and others in the industry seeking employment, will be given direct access and in some cases expedited access to temporary jobs on the Hilton Workforce Resource Center at companies such as Albertsons, Amazon, CVS, Lidl, Sunrise Senior Living and Walgreens.

These partners recognize the power of a service culture and the value of hospitality skills training Hilton Team Members are known to receive. With a diverse range of experience reflected in the eligible candidate pool, these Team Members are an ideal fit to quickly step in and assist organizations in temporary assignments.

Hilton hopes to expand the program globally and plans to welcome these Team Members back when travel resumes.

Russia Closes State-Run Hotels, Resorts Over Rising Coronavirus Cases

Russia ordered its vast network of state-run hotels, resorts and recreational facilities to shut down from March 28 until June 1, as its number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose past 1,000.

The official tally of confirmed cases jumped by a record daily amount for the third day in a row on Friday, bringing Russia’s total to 1,036 a day after it moved to suspend all international flights. Four people have died.

Russia’s mass domestic tourism and recreation sector is still dominated by the state, a legacy from Soviet times. Millions of Russians still holiday each year at vast state-run hotels, resorts, health spas and children’s camps.

An opinion poll by the Moscow-based Levada Centre showed the majority of Russians, some 59 percent, do not believe the official figures. Twenty-four percent said they “absolutely” did not believe them and 35 percent said they only partially believed them, the poll showed.

Talented chefs are affected by restaurant closure due to COVID-19 crisis; You can now book an Online Class with them!

We love the idea!

We haven’t had the chance to take a session yet, but this seems like a good idea at a time when both, the learner and the teacher have time on their hands.

see more at - https://learnfromachef.org/

President Trump weighs cruise line bailout: Would they need to come home to the U.S.?

President Donald Trump said he likes the idea of major cruise ship companies shifting their corporate registrations to the U.S. as a possible requirement in order to qualify for aid under the federal stimulus bill.

He also voiced support for the notion of the government taking ownership stakes in airlines in exchange for loans to keep them afloat as vital businesses.

The comments came as industries assess how they fared after the Senate passed the $2 trillion stimulus bill,which now goes to the House. Trump has repeatedly voiced support for airlines and cruise ship companies, saying they are great businesses that deserve to be kept afloat despite being devastated by the business downturn in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump noted that the cruise lines order a lot of goods in the U.S and have thousands of employees, including many who work on U.S. soil. He hinted that perhaps there may still be a lifeline for the industry by the time the final version of the stimulus hits his desk for a signature

Chefs Offer Online Cooking Demos During Coronavirus Pandemic

As people stay home to #flattenthecurve and prevent the spread of coronavirus, several chefs and industry professionals have found a way to engage with social-distancing viewers via virtual classes.

Some, like Massimo Bottura and Antoni Porowski, have been posting videos with guided cooking demonstrations and helpful tips for viewers looking to make the most of pantry ingredients. Some of the demos will cost you, but for a good cause—Sean Brock is offering paid virtual classes so he can continue to support his staff as restaurants are forced to close.

The Queer Eye star and cookbook author has started a mini-series of lessons called “Quar Eye: Cooking Lessons in Quarantine” on his Instagram page. The idea is based on “preparing good food that’s good for us, and that makes us feel good,” using ingredients that you likely already have. In the first episode, Porowski talks about how he wanted to make huevos rancheros, but couldn't get all of the ingredients—so he pivoted and made an omelet served with black bean salsa. Other meals demo’d so far have been "zoodles" with meat sauce and spinach, salmon and squash, chicken strips, and more.

Kwame Onwuachi

The Food & Wine Best New Chef is starting a series of live demos on Instagram called "Eat Clean While Quarantined." He'll post a recipe—the first is a chorizo and white bean stew with charred shrimp—with the ingredients listed, and then, viewers can follow along on Instagram live.

Lena Sareini

As people stay home to #flattenthecurve and prevent the spread of coronavirus, several chefs and industry professionals have found a way to engage with social-distancing viewers via virtual classes.

Some, like Massimo Bottura and Antoni Porowski, have been posting videos with guided cooking demonstrations and helpful tips for viewers looking to make the most of pantry ingredients. Some of the demos will cost you, but for a good cause—Sean Brock is offering paid virtual classes so he can continue to support his staff as restaurants are forced to close.

If you're spending more time than usual in the kitchen, check out these short cooking demos and get cooking.

Antoni Porowski

The Queer Eye star and cookbook author has started a mini-series of lessons called “Quar Eye: Cooking Lessons in Quarantine” on his Instagram page. The idea is based on “preparing good food that’s good for us, and that makes us feel good,” using ingredients that you likely already have. In the first episode, Porowski talks about how he wanted to make huevos rancheros, but couldn't get all of the ingredients—so he pivoted and made an omelet served with black bean salsa. Other meals demo’d so far have been "zoodles" with meat sauce and spinach, salmon and squash, chicken strips, and more.

Giada De Laurentiis, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Valerie Bertinelli

Giada De Laurentiis, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Valerie Bertinelli hosted a "progressive dinner party" on Instagram, where they each filmed a demo cooking a different dish. De Laurentiis made aglio e olio pasta with bacon, Guarnaschelli made chicken thighs with peppered carrots and onions, and Bertinelli made a warm kale caesar.

Jewish Food Society

Last week, the Jewish Food Society announced “Tradish,” a series of pantry-forward cooking demos, step-by-step videos, new recipes, and more in the hopes of providing comfort during unsettling times. So far, the Society’s culinary director, Arielle Nir Mamiye, has signed on to demo her family’s recipe for Moroccan harira soup, and program director Amanda Dell highlighted paprika potatoes. Baker and pastry chef Zoe Kanan also walked viewers through her go-to challah recipe. You can find the stories saved on the Jewish Food Society’s profile. The Society encourages viewers to reach out to older relatives and ask them what they ate growing up.

“Our goal is that Jewish Food Society can be a place where our community can sparkle and be a beacon of hope and understanding. We look forward to staying connected and hearing all about your #Tradish,” the post says.

Kwame Onwuachi

The Food & Wine Best New Chef is starting a series of live demos on Instagram called "Eat Clean While Quarantined." He'll post a recipe—the first is a chorizo and white bean stew with charred shrimp—with the ingredients listed, and then, viewers can follow along on Instagram live.

Lena Sareini

Lena Sareini, pastry chef at Selden Standard in Detroit, has shared a tutorial for easy homemade sourdough on YouTube, as well as guide for making cultured butter.In both, she's joined by her brother, Ali.

For more information please visit below mention link:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B91vbU8l68Z/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B90Oo5lHxYv/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-GFvZXHSTM/?utm_source=ig_embed

Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of the Radisson Resort Dubai Palm Jumeira

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of the Radisson Resort Dubai Palm Jumeirah, its first beach resort in Dubai and third Radisson hotel in the United Arab Emirates, bringing its UAE portfolio to 23 hotels in operation and under development.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said:“Radisson is a very compelling brand to all stakeholders, blending real estate efficiencies with guest relevance. We are excited to enter this new partnership and look forward to a successful journey with our partners based on trust and responsibility.”

Home to some of Dubai's top resorts, the Palm Jumeirah is built from reclaimed land in a series of artificial archipelagos and shaped like a palm tree when viewed from above

Inside the hotel’s 389 upscale rooms and suites, guests will discover the renowned hospitality and modern amenities

.The hotel will also be home to three meeting rooms; the ideal space to host any leisure or business function.

Vaishali Shahi appointed as Human Resources Manager at Hyatt Regency, Chennai

Hyatt Regency Chennai recently announced the appointment of Vaishali Shahi as the Human Resources Manager. She brings with herself 12 years of experience in human resources and will be seen overlooking strategic planning, recruitment policy, design & implementation, talent management, and associate engagement.

 Having a strong background in the hospitality industry, Shahi gained immense knowledge working with eminent brands such as, IBIS Bengaluru, Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre, and JW Marriott Pune. In her tenure, she coordinated with senior managers to ensure that smooth activities are completed and issues are addressed to reinforce an assertive outlook of the organisation, championed communication with necessary use of compensation systems, tools, programs and policies, facilitated learning and development sessions and other key strategies.

Brand overview: Pullman to grow portfolio by 40 hotels with strong APAC focus

Growth in the coming years

According to the TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION database, Pullman Hotels & Resorts has 15 hotels in its pipeline for 2020, which will bring the company 4,410 new rooms

9 properties are planned for 2021 and things pick up again in 2022 with 12 scheduled openings. 4 more hotels are on the books for 2023 with more likely to be added by then.

Pullman’s main regional focus

Of Pullman’s 40 new hotels, 31 will launch in the APAC region, adding 8,732 rooms to this area. Africa comes in a very distant second place with 4 projects and 1,074 rooms followed by the Middle East with 3 openings. South America and Europe will each see one hotel launch.

China leads the pack with 17 projects and 4,833 new rooms. Despite the coronavirus wreaking havoc in the local hotel industry, investors are still keen on new projects there since they expect everything to go back to normal in the near future.

Vietnam and Indonesia share second place with 3 hotels each, followed by New Zealand and Australia which will get two new hotels each.

Noteworthy Pullman hotel projects around the world

The largest project currently in Pullman’s pipeline is the Pullman Doha Bridge Towers (West Bay) with 468 rooms. The hotel will open in late 2020 and offer guests easy access to Doha’s West Bay business district.

Visitors to Thailand’s serene islands will look forward to the late 2020 opening of the Pullman Khao Lak Resort. The 251-room property set on a stretch of gently sloping beach is the ideal family getaway thanks to its large kids’ club and family-friendly facilities. Couples can avail of the private villas to have their peace and quiet or go for a dip in the adult-only infinity pool overlooking the sparkling Andaman Sea.

Set within Accra’s Airport City enclave, the Pullman Accra Airport City will become a hub for business travellers visiting the city. Slated to open in early 2021, the 214-room property is anticipated to become a major venue for conferences and events thanks to its seven meeting rooms and banqueting facilities as well as its convenient location just a few minutes from Kotoka International Airport.

Coronavirus: Chef Floyd Cardoz, co-owner of Bombay Canteen, dies of Covid-19 in New Jersey

 He was the co-owner of two popular restaurants in Mumbai – the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro. He had recently launched his third venture, the Bombay Sweet Shop.

The Mumbai-raised chef had been in Mumbai until March 8. In an Instagram post on March 18, he said that had admitted himself to hospital in New Jersey, where he lived, since he was feeling feverish

The Hunger Inc, the company that runs the restaurants, later put out a statement confirming that the restaurateur-chef had tested positive for the virus in New York, Mid-Day reported. “As a precautionary measure we have informed the Health Department in Mumbai about the same,” it said. “We are also reaching out personally to people who have interacted with him during his visit to India, so they can take necessary medical advice should they indicate any symptoms [fever, cough, shortness of breath] and or [put themselves in] self-quarantine.”

“Floyd tested positive for Covid 19, in USA, on March 18th and on March 25, 2020 he passed away  in New Jersey, USA,

Oyo sees signs of recovery in China after coronavirus outbreak

 Oyo Hotels and Homes has started to see a recovery in bookings in China, its second-largest market, as the coronavirus outbreak eases up in some parts of the country, the Indian hospitality startup’s Chief Executive Ritesh Agarwal

 A rise in imported coronavirus cases and the lifting of restrictions on movement in some cities in China have raised the prospect of a second wave of infections that could thwart the country’s economic recovery

Oyo, which is backed by Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp , has cut thousands of jobs this year, including in China, as the company focuses on becoming profitable and grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.

Oyo would offer free accommodation at its roughly 300 U.S. hotels to doctors, nurses and other medical first responders who are helping to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Radisson Hotel Group Names Jim Alderman CEO of The Americas

Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has announced the appointment of Jim Alderman as Chief Executive Officer for the Americas. Alderman will be based in the company’s U.S. headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn. and will be responsible for the corporate offices and more than 680 hotels in the company’s portfolio throughout the Americas. He will report to Federico J. González, Chairman, Global Steering Committee for Radisson Hotel Group, as the representative of the company’s Board of Directors.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves daily, Jim will immediately begin to provide guidance and support for addressing the needs of the business in the Americas while continuing to deploy appropriate resources to help maintain a healthy environment for our customers and team members,” added González.

Prior to joining ESA, Alderman held various senior leadership positions with Kimpton Hotels, Wyndham, Starwood Capital, IHG and Ernst & Young. With more than 34 years of experience in hospitality, Alderman has an extensive background in hotel and restaurant development, private equity fund investment, management contracts, franchises, public/private partnerships and investor relations

Kimpton Lands in the Conch Republic

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announces the opening of Winslow’s Bungalows, the first hotel in the new five-hotel Kimpton Key West collection. This marks the sixth outpost for the boutique hospitality company in the Sunshine State and its first in the Florida Keys. Across all five of the hotels, spread across six blocks in Key West’s historic Old Town, no two rooms in the collection’s 219 total keys are the same. A complete reimagining of the Historic Inns of Key West, accommodations span everything from estate-like guesthouses to charming bungalows and original conch houses, each with its own distinct story and stay experience, blending timeless architecture with an eclectic, bohemian style only found in Key West.  

The collection’s largest property at 85 rooms.Featuring an eclectic array of signature Key West architecture.

Rosewood Hotel Group Continues Sustained Path Of Expansion

Rosewood Hotel Group and its inspiring brands – Rosewood Hotels & Resorts®, New World Hotels & Resorts™, and KHOS™ – continues on a steady path of growth with new signings and openings in the world’s most evocative destinations and a curated pipeline of projects that invite discovery and originality

Rosewood Hotel Group signed 10 new hotel transactions in 2019, including breakthrough deals in high-profile destinations globally. The Group’s pipeline is at its strongest in history, with 32 projects under development, including 21 for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, five for KHOS and six for New World Hotels & Resorts.

Further expansion of the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts collection is underway with future openings planned for Greater China in Chengdu (2023), Shenzhen (2023), Taipei (2024), Ningbo (2024); and for Southeast Asia in Hoi An, Vietnam (2023) and Hermana Mayor, Philippines (2024). The coming months will see the launch of the Group’s first incubator hotels in China for the innovative KHOS brand and the New World Hotels & Resorts is also expanding into India, with a planned opening in Jaipur (2023) and soon announcing a second opening in the Rajasthan region. This momentum has generated exceptional interest in the Group from development partners across the continent. Further growth will be announced for Shanghai, North Asia and the Pacific in the coming months.

The growth impetus in Europe has extended into the Middle East, where a regional flagship Rosewood Doha hotel and branded residences property was signed in 2019

In early 2021, Rosewood São Paulo will open, marking the brand’s debut in South America with a hotel that will set a new standard for luxury accommodation on the continent.

MGM Resorts International Announces Appointment Of Bill Hornbuckle As Acting Chief Executive Officer

MGM Resorts International has announced that Chief Operating Officer and President Bill Hornbuckle, has been named acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President, replacing outgoing Chairman and CEO Jim Murren.

Replacing Murren as the Chair of the Board of Directors will be Paul Salem, who currently is a member of the MGM Resorts Board of Directors and Chair of the real estate committee of MGM Resorts, which is in the process of executing the asset light strategy.

"The nation is facing an unprecedented crisis, causing the travel and hospitality industry to grind to a near halt. It is clear that once the threat to the public health has subsided and we are ready to reopen our resorts and casinos, it will take an incredible effort to ramp back up," said Paul Salem, Chairman of the MGM Resorts Board of Directors. "We believe continued steady, skilled leadership is needed in this time of great upheaval and uncertainty. Bill is one of the most experienced operators in the business and we have confidence in his ability to bring this company back online. Jim Murren is an outstanding leader who transformed MGM Resorts during his 22 years. Since Jim announced his stepping down from MGM Resorts, we felt that now more than ever, continuity of leadership was of vital importance."