Luxury Hotels Forum "Presidential Suite Lounge" -- All Welcome!!
Jun 2, 2015, 9:47 am
#871
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
I don't know why but I find the word "Belmond" just meh and nothing about it seems to conjure up images of luxury which perhaps it should, find it hard to believe that was the best that they could come up with. Perhaps subconsciously I think of the dreadful Vauxhall Belmont or the vulgar term Bell**d.
Here are some insights:
After a rigorous process, including the vetting of 650 potential new brand names and spearheaded by branding expert AgencySacks, Orient-Express Hotels chose Belmond, signifying “beautiful world,” as its new go-to-market global brand.
“Belmond is derived from Latin for beautiful and world and the stylized glow suggests the influence of our global reach and our world,” Ralph Aruzza, Orient-Express Hotels’ chief sale and marketing officer, said in a presentation this week about the rebranding.
“Belmond is derived from Latin for beautiful and world and the stylized glow suggests the influence of our global reach and our world,” Ralph Aruzza, Orient-Express Hotels’ chief sale and marketing officer, said in a presentation this week about the rebranding.
“Belmond? Sounds like a city [Belmar] on the Jersey Shore,” says Tom Botts, chief customer officer at Deniham Hospitality Group and former managing partner at Hudson Crossing.
Botts acknowledges that “Orient-Express was due for a change,” but he isn’t enamored with the new trademark.
“It is a train and I don’t think there is much cachet associated with trains, even a fabled train like the Orient-Express,” Botts says. “Northwest Orient gave way to Northwest Airlines a long time before merging with Delta, so the name itself was somewhat colonial and anything but cool. But Belmond?”
Botts acknowledges that “Orient-Express was due for a change,” but he isn’t enamored with the new trademark.
“It is a train and I don’t think there is much cachet associated with trains, even a fabled train like the Orient-Express,” Botts says. “Northwest Orient gave way to Northwest Airlines a long time before merging with Delta, so the name itself was somewhat colonial and anything but cool. But Belmond?”
As nearly always, only time will tell us what will happen with Belmond and how they will grow their brand/locations in the future.
Jul 1, 2015, 6:46 am
#872
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
The Augustine Hotel in Prague which was managed for a time by Rocco Forte Hotel is now part of the Luxury Collection by Starwood.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury...ropertyID=4310
Of course, I remember the Park Hyatt rumor about this hotel too.
As of July 1st, 2015, the hotel is still listed on LHW too:
http://www.lhw.com/hotel/The-Augusti...Czech-Republic
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury...ropertyID=4310
Of course, I remember the Park Hyatt rumor about this hotel too.
As of July 1st, 2015, the hotel is still listed on LHW too:
http://www.lhw.com/hotel/The-Augusti...Czech-Republic
Jul 1, 2015, 9:14 am
#873
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
Diageo sells Gleneagles hotel to Hoxton hotel owner Ennismore
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...wner-ennismore
A somewhat unexpected new owner.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...wner-ennismore
A somewhat unexpected new owner.
Jul 3, 2015, 1:31 pm
#874
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Diageo sells Gleneagles hotel to Hoxton hotel owner Ennismore
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...wner-ennismore
A somewhat unexpected new owner.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...wner-ennismore
A somewhat unexpected new owner.
I'm actually at Gleneagles right and spoke to Paul, the GM, about it, who certainly seemed happy about it and said he felt they were the best group of people they spoke to about acquiring them.
Jul 3, 2015, 1:56 pm
#875
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
Exactly what I thought. My office is just around the corner from the Hoxton, so I've been there a few times for lunch - quite a difference in styles and certainly will be interesting what they do.
I'm actually at Gleneagles right and spoke to Paul, the GM, about it, who certainly seemed happy about it and said he felt they were the best group of people they spoke to about acquiring them.
I'm actually at Gleneagles right and spoke to Paul, the GM, about it, who certainly seemed happy about it and said he felt they were the best group of people they spoke to about acquiring them.
Jul 6, 2015, 5:04 am
#876
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Malta
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 671
I don't know why but I find the word "Belmond" just meh and nothing about it seems to conjure up images of luxury which perhaps it should, find it hard to believe that was the best that they could come up with. Perhaps subconsciously I think of the dreadful Vauxhall Belmont or the vulgar term Bell**d.
Jul 6, 2015, 5:46 am
#877
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
Totally agree. 'Orient Express' was so much more elegant and evocative. They may have expanded beyond the train itself, but there is nothing wrong in retaining a name which recalls the groups origins. the new name is a nothing, modernising just for the sake of it. There will always be those who insist on meddling with things that don't require fixing.
Jul 6, 2015, 5:48 am
#878
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
Interesting deals here:
Colombian billionaire pays €190M for Madrid's Hotel Villa Magna
http://www.hotelmanagement.net/trans...la-magna-31740
and
TRU Hotels purchases Northern Ireland's Lough Erne Resort
http://www.hotelmanagement.net/trans...e-resort-31741
Colombian billionaire pays €190M for Madrid's Hotel Villa Magna
http://www.hotelmanagement.net/trans...la-magna-31740
and
TRU Hotels purchases Northern Ireland's Lough Erne Resort
http://www.hotelmanagement.net/trans...e-resort-31741
Jul 8, 2015, 5:19 pm
#879
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: Hilton*D, Marriott*LG, Hyatt*G
Posts: 6,268
Istanbul to get Peninsula Hotel
Peninsula Hotels, with 2 Turkish partners, are looking to develop at Peninsula Hotel in Istanbul.
http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/News/Details/59575
http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/News/Details/59575
Jul 8, 2015, 9:10 pm
#880
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
Peninsula Hotels, with 2 Turkish partners, are looking to develop at Peninsula Hotel in Istanbul.
http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/News/Details/59575
http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/News/Details/59575
http://www.hshgroup.com/en/~/media/F...stanbulEN.ashx
yangon is slow but not canceled yet
http://www.hshgroup.com/en/~/media/F...roject_EN.ashx
Jul 10, 2015, 1:50 am
#881
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
IHG sells InterContinental Hong Kong for $938m
http://www.ft.com/fastft/358211/ihg-...hong-kong-938m
http://www.ft.com/fastft/358211/ihg-...hong-kong-938m
Jul 10, 2015, 1:56 am
#882
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
IHG sells InterContinental Hong Kong for $938m
http://www.ft.com/fastft/358211/ihg-...hong-kong-938m
http://www.ft.com/fastft/358211/ihg-...hong-kong-938m
and here on the IHG website. http://www.ihgplc.com/index.asp?Page...15&NewsID=3476
Jul 29, 2015, 6:30 pm
#883
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...gritourism.htm
farmers market (and more) for hotel guests at RC charlotte
farmers market (and more) for hotel guests at RC charlotte
Jul 30, 2015, 12:18 pm
#884
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/medi...g-beijing.aspx
http://202.66.146.82/listco/sg/manda...m/2015/int.pdf
"Marrakech in September." online reservations from oct 16
"Doha is scheduled during the second half of 2016. "
Ritz/MO Madrid €90 million renovation http://www.mandarinoriental.com/ritzmadrid/hotel/
MO london £85 million renovation
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/medi...rd-breach.aspx
http://www.soneva.com/press-releases...s-to-siem-reap
top two floors of the prestigious WF CENTRAL
74 luxurious guestrooms and suites
many will have excellent views of the Forbidden City
Both restaurants will have access to a rooftop garden terrace providing unparalleled views of the city’s famous sites, while the bar will be connected to a private courtyard.
Spa...indoor swimming pool
Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square within walking distance.
will also manage a luxury 241-room hotel as part of the CCTV project, which is scheduled to open in 2016.
74 luxurious guestrooms and suites
many will have excellent views of the Forbidden City
Both restaurants will have access to a rooftop garden terrace providing unparalleled views of the city’s famous sites, while the bar will be connected to a private courtyard.
Spa...indoor swimming pool
Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square within walking distance.
will also manage a luxury 241-room hotel as part of the CCTV project, which is scheduled to open in 2016.
"Marrakech in September." online reservations from oct 16
"Doha is scheduled during the second half of 2016. "
Ritz/MO Madrid €90 million renovation http://www.mandarinoriental.com/ritzmadrid/hotel/
MO london £85 million renovation
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/medi...rd-breach.aspx
http://www.soneva.com/press-releases...s-to-siem-reap
SONEVA KIRI
commence on Sunday 16th November 2014
flights to Siem Reap and back every Sunday and Wednesday
$650 plus taxes
commence on Sunday 16th November 2014
flights to Siem Reap and back every Sunday and Wednesday
$650 plus taxes
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Aug 1, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Aug 4, 2015, 5:58 am
#885
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: We love to Fly, Hotels and Discovery
Posts: 1,471
La Grande Maison Bordeaux Joins Relais & Chateaux
http://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/f...chateaux-15500
Leeu House in South Africa Now Accepting Reservations
http://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/s...rvations-15506
http://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/f...chateaux-15500
Leeu House in South Africa Now Accepting Reservations
http://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/s...rvations-15506
Last edited by RichardInSF; Aug 5, 2015 at 12:43 am Reason: consecutive posts by same member