Hotel Dispenser Systems

Hotel Chatter: To dispense or not to dispense? We're talking about hotel toiletry dispensers, that is. We (and a few of our readers) have said before that dispensers are cool so long as there are some good products in them. Fortunately, if you are visiting these hotels along the West Coast, you'll be encountering some good "tropical" stuff from Tommy Bahama.

The Acqua Hotel, Hotel FIVE, The Maxwell Hotel, University Inn, and Watertown Hotel have all added gallon dispensers of Tommy Bahama toiletries to their guestrooms in an effort to be eco-conscious. But Kurt Helmke, the general manager of the Acqua Hotel, outside of Marin in California, knew that not any old brand would work in the dispenser.

A lot of hotels have started moving to dispenser systems, but the Tommy Bahama products make us stand out.

Tommy's amenity line, distributed by Pineapple Hospitality, includes the Exotic Coral Shampoo, Protective Conditioner, Liquid Soap, Hand and Body Lotion and Bath and Body Gel. The amenities are all natural, have never been tested on animals and exude a clean, fresh aroma. No Hawaiian shirts needed!

Hotels Serving Up Their Own Honey

Los Angeles Times: Thanksgiving dinner guests at Carmel Valley Ranch can expect the Central California resort to serve a honey of a meal.

The great bird will be basted to a rich golden brown in a glaze of honey, apple cider and butter. And there will be honey corn muffins and an elegant ice cream that's a delicate mix of honey scented with lavender.

Guests can give thanks for these sweet dishes to the bees of Monterey Peninsula, most specifically the 70,000 Italian bees of Carmel Valley Ranch (www.carmelvalleyranch.com), which work overtime to provide honey for the upscale 500-acre resort.

The ranch's four colonies of bees are part of a new trend swarming across North America and Western Europe. It's accompanied by the buzz of millions of bees, many of them living on the rooftops of urban American hotels.

From Honolulu to Paris and from Vancouver, Canada, to the Florida Keys, honeybees have taken up residence on hotel ledges, rooftops and balconies and are busy doing what they do best: pollinating plants and making honey.

The hives are part of a beekeeping movement that has a two-fold purpose: to save the species, which has been decimated by colony collapse disorder; and to bring hyper-local honey to guests staying at these hotels.

Urban beekeeping has been growing in popularity for several years. Opéra Garnier, the Paris opera house, has kept hives humming on the roof for more than a quarter of a century.

The Obamas hopped on the bandwagon earlier this year when they served White House Honey Ale, home-brewed by their chefs with honey from the White House beehive.

But the loudest buzz comes from the hospitality industry, where hoteliers have found on-site beehives another prong in the movement to localized sourcing. Hotels are adding beehives to their properties to produce organic honey for use in a variety of areas, from spa treatments to cocktails.

At the Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah — the Beehive State — dandelion and lavender honeys are popular and are served at Buzz, the resort coffee shop (www.montagedeervalley.com).

Eighteen Fairmont Hotels have added apiaries, mostly on rooftops. At the Fairmont Washington D.C., the hives are named Casa Blanca, Casa Bella and Casa Bianca; at the Fairmont Newport Beach, executive chef Chad Blunston works with beekeepers to extract honey for use in Bambu Restaurant; and at the Fairmont San Francisco, 50,000 honeybees produce honey to be used at the afternoon tea service.

Last month I stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, British Columbia, where I could look down from my 20th-floor room and see six hives — and about half a million bees — in the center of a third-floor balcony herb garden. The bees quietly went about their business within 20 feet of the hotel pool and within 50 feet of the mammoth Vancouver Convention Centre. Meanwhile, I snacked on a selection of the hotel's delicate honey truffles, Bee's Knees. In the dining room, I found a small jar of honey on the table at breakfast.

Despite the interest in saving bees, their numbers continue to dwindle.

In March, the United Nations sounded the alarm, seeking international efforts to save bee colonies, which have declined as much as 85% in some areas, particularly the industrialized Northern Hemisphere, according to a report by the U.N.'s environmental agency.

The causes: pesticides, air pollution, parasites, the loss of flowering plants and a decline in beekeepers in Europe.

"The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations' Environment Programme.

"The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees."

In the greater scheme of things, the hoteliers' beekeeping efforts probably aren't "a blip on the radar for honey production or pollination input," said Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine.

"But the promotional value far outweighs the practical application value," he added. From the standpoint of the beekeeping community, the hotel trend is appropriate because "it keeps honey bees in front of people all the time, and featured in a very positive light."

The bottom line, Flottum said: "The hotel wins, the bees win, beekeeping and beekeepers win, the local flora thrive, folks who never thought about where their food comes from get a little insight into that side of the business. It's all good."

John Russo, the beekeeper at Carmel Valley Ranch, couldn't agree more. He runs a program there called the Bee Experience that introduces guests to beekeeping. "When people get enthused about the bees, and want to have their own hives, I feel like I've made a few more converts," he said. "That's a terrific feeling."

Air Passengers Start Wearing Their Luggage

Scottevest SeV Chloe Hoodie

MSNBC: In an effort to avoid checked baggage fees, many passengers now try to pack everything they’ll need for a trip into carry-on bags that can fit into an airplane's overhead bins.

For now, most domestic airlines don’t charge for carry-on bags or for coats, purses and other small personal items. But few travelers would be surprised if more airlines began following the lead of Spirit, Ryanair and some other budget airlines, which do charge fees for carry-ons.

It may already be — unofficially — happening. In what George Hobica, founder of travel website Airfarewatchdog.com, terms a “relatively new trend,” some airlines are getting aggressive about weighing carry-on bags.

“Hawaiian has a 25-pound weight limit and actually weighs bags at the gate, snatching away bags that weigh more and charging a checked bag fee,” said Hobica. “EVA Airways has a 15-pound limit, and several other airlines have limits as well. It's touted as a safety precaution, of course, but it's also a sneaky way of extracting fees for carry-ons.”

For passengers not willing to take a chance at getting dinged with a last-minute charge, there’s another option: wearing your luggage.

At the San Francisco-based chain of Edwards Luggage stores, co-owner Randy MacKenzie said the line of iPad-compatible vests, hoodies, jackets and trench coats from SCOTTEVEST, each with between 20 and 30 built-in pockets and compartments, is a big hit in the “luggage you can wear” category.

"We started selling the SCOTTEVEST two years ago and we've sold hundreds. The product continues to resonate with travelers as it becomes more and more challenging to get through airport security and important to utilize valuable packing space."

For parents trying to carry both a baby and a bulging diaper bag, the convertible Go-Go Babyz “Sidekick” is a diaper bag that doubles as a wearable baby carrier.

And then there’s the Jaktogo, a carry-on bag that can be worn as a coat. (Other versions include the Dresstogo and the Ponchotogo.)

Invented by John Power, an Irish-born engineer who was determined to find a way around carry-on limits imposed by the budget carriers he frequents in Europe, the Jaktogo has 14 various-sized pockets designed to hold more than 30 pounds of clothing, gadgets and gear.

“It’s certainly not a fashionable item you’d wear around town,” said Power. “And we won’t be showing it off in Paris or Milan. It’s ‘boarding-gate’ clothing that’s all about practicality and thriftiness.”

Adding to the Travel Lexicon

Cuddle Class?

Economic Times: Here are some terms that capture the changing trends and concepts, says Sushmita Choudhury Agarwal.

Austerication
This is what you get when you combine austerity with vacation. The word was coined to describe the growing trend of swapping hot travel destinations for something cheaper, closer home. Think downgrading from Maldivian shores to Goan ones, or skiing in Auli instead of the Alps. Given that the problems in Europe are far from over and inflation is still soaring at home, austerication is the word of the year.

Bleisure
It blurs the old divide between business trips and pleasure. Here's how it works: if you are being sent on a two-day business trip, you can invite your spouse to tag along. If your office has booked you in a double room, why not make the most of it and shell out extra only for the air fare? After all, the post-work hours can be put to good use. 
 

Cuddle class

You've heard of, and probably experienced, the cattle class enough number of times. Now Air New Zealand has introduced a new way of flying, and so revolutionary is the idea that it may well force other airlines to follow suit. Basically the airline has designed the economy seats in its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a way that a row of three seats can be converted into a couch at the touch of a button. You get to fly flat without paying first class rates.

Extrava-gappers
A relatively new breed of high-yielding corporate slaves, who choose to take a sabbatical or an extended break when their careers hit a rough patch, like a recession, or job apathy. The agenda includes sampling never-before travel experiences while the economy recovers or as they sort out career aims and return to work life when things are clearer. What sets this group apart from the between-college-and-a-job breed is wallet size: the former have earned fat pay cheques and aren't into shoestring backpacking.

Flashpacking
This is evolved backpacking, padded up with a lot more moolah. Flashpackers retain the essence of backpacking-no fixed itinerary, travelling light, going beyond the done-to-death destinations-but in more comfort. So you trade the youth hostel for a glamping (glamorous camping) site, backpack for a strolley, throw in your iPod, iPad and DSLR camera, and look beyond the low-cost carriers. In a nutshell, flashpacking is what an extrava-gapper would do.

Greycation
Originally, a holiday exclusively for the silver-haired pack. After the recession and amid fears of another one looming large, the word has broadened its scope to mean holidays with elderly people. There is a growing trend of cheaper multi-generational vacations across the globe.

More Travel Trends for 2012

Holiday Hypermarket: The annual TripAdvisor travel trends survey has revealed that the majority of US travelers intend to spend either same amount or more on travel in 2012.

The survey of over 2,700 US holidaymakers found that 49 per cent said they expected to spend the same amount of money on travel in 2012 as they did in 2011, and 31 per cent of respondents said they anticipated spending more in 2012. 79 per cent planned to spend at least $3,000 on holidays in 2012, with 57 per cent spending at least $5,000 and 21 per cent splashing out at least $10,000 on leisure travel in 2012.

90 per cent of those surveyed planned on taking at least two trips in 2012 and 24 per cent were intending to take five or more holidays.

The survey also looked at different types of trip and how popular they were expected to be over the coming year, and found that cultural trips, island destinations and cruise holidays were expected to prove more popular in 2012. 38 per cent of respondents took a cultural trip in 2011 but 42 per cent said they intended to take one in 2012, and while 19 per cent said they had been on a cruise in 2011, 23 per cent said they were planning a cruise for the next year.

The most popular type of trip overall was the beach holiday, with 44 per cent of people saying they would book a beach holiday for 2012.

In terms of destinations, 68 per cent of US travelers said they planned to travel outside the States in 2012, with 54 per cent opting for a holiday in Europe.

Global Travel Trends for 2012

Terminal U: We’ve all heard of buzzwords like ‘staycation’ and ‘glamping’, but what are the next popular travel trends that everyone will be talking about?

An industry report has shed light on some of the key travel trends that will shape the year ahead.

Mystery holidays and camping in a stranger’s garden have been identified as some of the trends influencing the global travel industry in 2011.

The findings were published this week in the World Travel Market (WTM) Global Trends 2011 report, which is published annually in association with market analysis company, Euromonitor International.

Here’s the lowdown of what’s hot in the world of travel at the moment.

US: Top secret holidays

Playing holiday roulette by booking a trip to a mystery hotel or destination may not appeal to every traveller, but the ‘blind booking’ trend has taken off in America this year, the WTM report highlights.

US-based Nextpedition – launched by American Express this year – is said to be helping to drive the movement.

The site customises mystery package holidays for thrill-seekers willing to leave their entire itinerary and destination in the hands of a travel specialist.

The consumer takes an interactive online quiz to determine their ‘Travel Sign’ based on their hobbies and interests to help define what they might want from a travel experience.

After a consultation with a ‘Nextpedition Specialist’, a mystery itinerary is created based on their Travel Sign and budget.

The destination and itinerary are unknown until a traveller’s journey begins and is revealed day by day via a smartphone.

Online booking engines in the US such as HotWire and Priceline are also appealing to travellers’ sense of adventure with masked hotel reservations, the report adds.

Their ‘Secret Hotels’ offers don’t divulge details of a hotel’s name or exact location until a booking is made.

And US-based sites such as luxurylink.com that focus on mystery travel offers and auctions are also getting a following in the domestic travel market, according to the report.

UK: Camping in a stranger’s garden

When it comes to travelling on a shoestring, pitching a tent on a stranger’s lawn may not sound like everyone’s idea of a fun budget holiday.

But it has become something of a growing trend among holidaymakers in the UK, as cash-strapped homeowners turn to sites such as campinmygarden.com to rent out their gardens as campsites, the report says.

The campinmygarden.com website describes the experience as an “accessible, affordable and fun alternative to traditional accommodation.”

The report predicts that rent-a-garden idea will become even more popular during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It has the most appeal to travellers in their 20s and 30s seeking modest, alternative accommodation, or who wish to experience the local community, the report highlights.

It adds that ‘uber cocooning’, where consumers look to save money by staying at home rather than going out will continue to drive the rent-a-garden trend.

Africa: Buying your plane ticket through your phone

Africa’s mobile boom is making travel accessible to those on low-incomes.

As a world leader in mobile or m-commerce, Africa’s 489 million mobile phone users are boosting demand for travel services, according to the report.

Mobile phone banking attracts low-income populations in urban and mainly rural areas of Africa, which have no access to financial services.

Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines are tapping into Africa’s mobile boom by enabling customers without a bank account to book flights through their mobile phones, via systems such as M-PESA and Airtel.

Africa’s first mobile travel app was launched this year – wakanow.com – which includes searches for flights, hotels and car rental.

While South Africa Tourism Board has launched a mobile site – www.traveltoSA.mobi – offering travel deals to Africans in countries including Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique and Kenya.

Social media has also taken off since Facebook launched in major African languages (Swahili, Hausa and isiZulu), offering African mobile users free access to the site.

The report says that travel operators could open up more opportunities for African travel by developing mobile apps and allowing bookings via social media.

China: Hotel chains adapt for Chinese tourists

The Chinese are expected to spend US$57bn (£35bn) on accommodation domestically and abroad in 2011 – the third highest spending behind the US and Germany, according to the report.

Travellers may notice more hotels offering tailored services to entice Chinese tourists and their rising spending power, the report adds.

In 2011, Hilton announced its ‘Huanying (‘welcome’) programme’ which provides creature comforts to Chinese visitors on arrival, in-room and at breakfast.

The programme includes staff fluent in Mandarin at the front desk, two different congee at breakfast and TV programming, along with Chinese tea, tea kettles and slippers.

Also this year, Starwood Hotel Group launched the ‘Starwood Personalized Traveler Program’ offering Chinese amenities and dining.

Eight Key Global Travel Trends

Hotel News Now: At the Global Trends Report press conference on the opening day of the World Travel Market 2011, U.K. TV personality Gavin Ramjaun presented several key emerging trends.

Split into geographic regions, the report, compiled by Euromonitor International, focused on the way travel and tourism markets were responding to both the global economic downturn and also political unrest such as the Arab Spring.

Global arrivals were expected to slow down 5.8% from last year but by 2012 are expected to break the 1-billion arrivals barrier—amounting to a total spend of almost US$1 trillion. The global overview was of ‘recovery on the brink’ with the IMF predicting 4% global GDP growth in 2011, down from 5.1% in 2010. Rising fuel and commodity prices, taxation, austerity measures, political turmoil and social unrest were all found to have exerted some influence. Across all markets, online growth was considered to be without a doubt the most important growth area in the long term, with sales in the mobile device area very strong in the mid-term.

What follows is a list of key trends by region:

North America: mystery trips
“Mystery trips” are on the rise, particularly for popular milestone holidays such as honeymoons and birthdays. Luxury Link’s mystery auction and American Express’ Nextpedition provide hotels, airlines and online travel agencies to sell excess capacity in an opaque bundle that “brings back the element of surprise to the travel experience,” Ramjaun said. Millennials aged 20 to 34 are the main target of these trips, for whom luxury operators review customer profiles and customize mystery experiences for them.

Some other key stats from North America: During 2010, real GDP growth was 3.8% in North America but only 1.9% in 2011. Predictions for 2012 show an increase to 2.2%. Average hotel value in dollars saw 1.3% growth in 2010, 3.6% growth in 2011 and is estimated to be 2.9% in 2012.

U.K.: Rent a garden
“The outlook (in the U.K.) remains bleak with a stagnant economy,” Ramjaun said. Travelers are increasingly searching for alternative accommodation such as campsites and hostels, especially as hoteliers push rates in the buildup to the Olympics. A growing alternative is garden camping, in which Generation Z and the baby boomer markets rent garden spaces in which to camp out. Campinmygarden.com has 350 gardens listed, 80% of which are in the U.K.

The report also found that some London hotels are charging five times more during the Olympic period, and the International Olympic Committee is taking around 40% of hotel availability. Consumers were said to be becoming more ingenious and bypassing high hotel rates with “peer-to-peer transactions tapping into the zeitgeist of what consumers are looking for,” Ramjaun said. “In South Africa with the World Cup, arrivals were up 10%. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the U.K. to take advantage of this.” Whereas in the U.K. hotel growth was found to be -5.4% in 2010 and -0.1% in 2011, 2012 predictions were up to 2.1%.

Europe: luxury without the guilt
The report found the focus was shifting towards “luxury without the associated guilt” in Europe, and therefore ethical and sustainable travel was showing a strong presence. There is an increase in use of “living walls” and “vertical farms” so that luxury hotels can have their own kitchen gardens. The high-end segment is outperforming its mid- and lower-tiered counterparts.

The region as a whole is threatened by a double-dip recession, with increased volatility in the financial markets. Despite this, teal GDP growth remained reasonably stable at 1.8% in 2010, 1.5% in 2011. It is expected to be 1.4% in 2012. Spain, Italy and other bailed-out countries Ireland, Greece and Portugal continue to suffer with high debt and unemployment.

Middle East: rebranding
Arab Spring and other political unrest resulted in a 6.2% decline in tourism arrivals in 2011 compared to 11.5% growth in 2010. But rebranding efforts in regions such as Egypt and Tunisia will yield a bounce back in travel for the Middle East, according to the report.

New campaigns by Egypt’s tourist board are already underway. Bahrain’s summer festival attracted 83,000 visitors and it is thought that post-Gaddafi opportunities will open up in Libya, after an extensive restoration of the countries tourism infrastructure.

Tourist arrivals are expected to increase 1.3% during 2012.

Africa: Mobile commerce boosts travel
Africa was found to be leading the world in M-commerce with 60% of mobile Web users using mobile phones to purchase goods. Mobile-phone money transfer service M-PESA in Kenya targeted unbanked Africans so they could book travel via phones. The upwardly mobile population means that Africa is leap-frogging earlier forms of media and taking travel to those who were traditionally excluded from it.

During 2011, real GDP growth in Africa was more than 5%, driven by economic development and backed by a growing disposable income.

Asia and China: Growing influence
Asia’s economies enjoyed healthy growth but are expected to slow. In China, IHG renamed the Holiday Inn Express to ‘Smart Choice’ and the HND group acquired 20% of NH Hotels. Hotel companies continue to expand in China, with companies like Hilton Worldwide providing comforts such as food and amenities to outbound Chinese. Spending by Chinese travelers is expected to increase. Intra-regional travel is forecast to boost arrivals and incoming tourist receipts as more middle-class travelers explore the region for the first time.

Gamification of travel
Also highlighted as a key area of growth is the ‘gamification’ of travel, or the use of gaming dynamics in non-gaming environments. Interaction is key, with social media playing an integral part in building the brand. Online travel sales are expected to grow around 8% in value this year. The report found that gamification encourages people to share their experience. It appeals to 18-34 year olds and allows companies to target a specific market, build awareness, grow an online community and add information, competition, games and special offers. The report gave as an example Tourism Ireland’s ‘Ireland Town’ game on Facebook, where users can visit well-known tourist attractions in Ireland and share the experience with their friends. The campaign plans to engage 60 million people.

Global village—evolution of social media
On the subject of technology, the report found that hotels are fine-tuning their marketing to reach online audiences and capture social networks with friends and followers. Hotel chains were found to have embraced social media and to provide greater levels of customization. Global hotel chains are providing social media care teams and creating targeted events. A free-spa event in New York’s Madison Square boosted ‘likes’ for Marriott International, for example. For hotels, the benefits were seen as helping enhance brand awareness, opening direct lines of communication and enabling them to aim exclusive offers to online followers.

Hawaiian Spa Offers "20 Hands Duo Massage"

NY Daily News: A Hawaii spa is calling all hands on deck for its guests.

Well-heeled and sore-backed visitors to the Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui can receive a "20-Hands Duo Massage."

For $2,000, couples can experience the feeling of a "hula wave" - the sensation of ten therapists circling the couple using 100 fingers on each guest's body for fifty minutes. The entire treatment lasts two and a half hours.

A gratuity is included with the price, so no worries about having to tip all 20 hands.

"We were just throwing ideas around and were trying to come up with something fun and over-the-top," Stephenie Handley the assistant spa director at Grand Wailea told MSNBC.

There are plenty of appointments open for the rich rubdown - no one has booked it yet.

"We've had a lot of people ask about it and a few people even book reservations, but so far the only people who've been able to enjoy the massage are staff," Handley said.

World Travel Trends for 2012

News.com.au: Escape asked several travel experts what they thought would be tops in destinations and trends for 2012.

 

FEDERICO Folcia and Jia En Teo are the founders and chief executives of Roomorama (www.roomorama.com), the website that offers comfortable yet affordable short-term accommodation in urban areas across the globe, with more than 250,000 properties in 450 destinations.

What destinations will be popular in 2012?

Europe will be hugely popular because of the London Olympics. There will be an estimated 500,000 new visitors each day to London for the Games and many will take the opportunity to travel to close destinations like Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Berlin. South-East Asia will continue to be popular because of the strong Aussie dollar and the affordability of travelling in the region.

What experiences will define travel in 2012?

Travellers want to live like locals. They're not just looking to check off the typical tourist spots but to experience a place and leave with stories to tell. Short-term or vacation rentals will prove to be popular, especially since the peer-to-peer accommodation concept is catching on with many travellers as an alternative to hotel rooms.

What will be the best destinations to get off the beaten track in 2012?

Manila is a fast-growing metropolis and while people usually head straight to the beaches when they go to the Philippines, and skip the capital, it's a city with many hidden gems and even the malls have plenty of local boutiques and businesses rather than large chains. Sri Lanka is another great destination because it's still untouched by tourism and quite underrated with balmy weather, great local food, art and history, and it's still very affordable.

What will be the unusual destinations everyone is talking about in 2012?

Ukraine and the cities of Kiev, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Lviv, because of the UEFA Euro 2012 football finals, and Odessa, which is a beautiful city on the Black Sea.

If you could rent an apartment anywhere in the world, and stay there for a month, where would it be?

It would be Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam because it's historic, the cost of living is very affordable and it's possible to rent a fairly decent room for $10 a night, or a completely private apartment for $25 a night.

If time and money were no object, where would you like to spend your next holiday?

We would love to travel to Brazil and take a boat down the Amazon there's so much to see there that you would need a lot of time.

The Resurgence of Small Hotels

Chicago's Felix Hotel

Chicago Tribune: The city of big shoulders historically has been famous for supporting hotels like the 2,019-room Hyatt Regency Chicago, built in the 1970s, and the 1,544-room Hilton Chicago, once the world's largest lodging property.

But they aren't making them like they used to.

In the aftermath of the recession, hotels are still popping up in Chicago but they're smaller and aim to be uber-stylish with an attitude, eschewing sameness and staidness.

"You couldn't build them like that today," hospitality consultant Ric Mandigo said of the mammoth properties that supply rooms for the city's conventions and events. "As these aren't as relevant as they once were, and with financing becoming more difficult, it just doesn't make sense to build huge hotels anymore."

Take the nine hotels that opened downtown in 2008 and 2009. They averaged fewer than 225 rooms, said the senior consultant at TR Mandigo & Co. By the end of 2011, new hotels that opened in the central business district over the past decade will have boosted the room supply by only 13 percent, he said.

Some of the city's newest hotels are gut rehabs of buildings designed and built around the time of the country's last major downturn, the Great Depression.

Consider the Old Dearborn Bank Building in the Loop.

To be converted into a 250-room hotel, with restaurants and lounges that will open in the fall of 2013, it will be the first such property launched by Virgin Hotels. The 27-story Art Deco building at 203 N. Wabash Ave. was designated an official Chicago landmark in 2003 and features terra cotta ornaments depicting medieval and mythological figures. It was designed in 1928.

"The design of the building successfully blends the overall straight-forward form of Chicago Commercial skyscrapers with the exotic ornament more typical of movie 'palaces' of the 1920s," according to the city's description of the building.

Virgin calls its concept a "four-star lifestyle hotel brand."

And that means, "a place where you experience hospitality and lodging that is utterly comfortable and functional but has vibe and style and a little something extra, something surprisingly delightful," a Virgin spokeswoman said.

Mark Eble, vice president of PKF Consulting, said "lifestyle" hotel is "certainly more a term of art than science."

"I speculate that they mean the term in the same way that designer clothes, exotic cars and certain wristwatches are purchases that convey various messages about the consumer's lifestyle," Eble said.

It's more impressive for a traveler to New York to say that he or she stayed at, say, the Standard — a boutique hotel of Andre Balazs, a onetime boyfriend of actress Uma Thurman — than to say they slept at a Hilton, among the big chains that provide consistent standards, Eble said.

No formal definition exists for "boutique," which is frequently tossed around in the hotel industry. It's like trying to define art, lodging industry observers say: "I know it when I see it."

But boutique properties typically skew upscale and are favored by younger travelers who prefer lodging with an edgier, quirkier or more fashionable look. As hotels try to avoid a cookie-cutter look, the traveling public often has strong feelings one way or another about them.

The buildings typically have fewer than 250 rooms, have smaller accommodations and aren't affiliated with national chains, or at least try to downplay any connection. Given the large number of franchised properties in Chicago already, for example, it's hard to find a brand that's not already represented, helping to fuel the number of properties claiming "boutique" or "lifestyle" status.

"One can only place so many Hiltons in downtown Chicago before the owners of the existing Hiltons object," Eble said. "In response to the boutique trend, the chains have introduced chain boutique concepts, a circumstance previously thought to be an oxymoron."

Examples include the W Hotels, affiliated with Starwood, and the Wit, which is a Doubletree, part of Hilton.

The opportunity for boutique hotels in big cities is excellent, Eble said. "There just aren't enough brands to go around, and robust demand in some markets is keeping the rooms filled without the overhead of corporate marketing and reservations expense," he said.

According to HVS, a hospitality consulting firm, marketing fees for a typical chain-affiliated hotel can average 6.3 percent of revenues, while a typical boutique, which doesn't have franchise fees, might average 4.3 percent.

Boutique hotels were recently built or are under development in such cities as Indianapolis, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, Eble said.

Public, The James, Felix and Palomar are among Chicago's new boutique hotels, Eble said. Older examples, he said, include Allegro, Burnham and Monaco. These older three, along with Palomar, are owned by San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels, which has 50 properties in 23 cities.

"The boutique segment currently represents about 1 percent of the hotel rooms in the United States," said Joe Long, Kimpton chief investment officer. "Demand for this product could be as much as the equivalent of 5 percent or more of the supply."

Ed Watkins, editor-in-chief of Lodging Hospitality magazine, said many developers are looking at boutique hotels as an economically viable way to own a hotel due to their smaller sizes and limited amenities.

Still, financing can be difficult, Watkins said. "One problem with financing is that, even in good times, the lender's first question is, 'What will the brand be?'" said Watkins, who considers the Talbott a boutique hotel. "A true boutique hotel doesn't have a brand."

Positive Winter Travel Trends

Travel Agent Central: Consumers are spending more time planning their winter trips and they are planning their vacations farther out, Tripology, Rand McNally’s online travel referral service, reports. The new Third Quarter Travel Trend Report also shows travelers spending more money on their winter and holiday vacations when compared with the average trip budgets reported in the summer and fall. The Travel Trend Report also provides insight into the top requested travel destinations for winter 2012.

Key findings from the 2011 Third Quarter Travel Trend report are as follows:

- The Top Five Most Requested Countries since January 2011 have been: U.S., Mexico, Italy, Bahamas and Jamaica

- The Top Five Most Requested Cities (for the 3rd quarter in a row) are: Las Vegas, Orlando, Cancun, Miami and Honolulu

- The Average Consumer Budget has risen to $5,710 per trip. This is a steady increase from the first quarter 2011, when the average consumer trip budget was $5,239 per trip. The average consumer trip budget during the winter travel season also increased considerably last year, rising from $4,784 in Q1 to approximately $5,663 per trip in Q3

- The number of days until trip departure (the amount of time between quote request and beginning of trip) increased to 130 days. This was a similar trend in Q3 2010, indicating that consumers tend to spend more time planning their vacations and plan their trips farther out during the winter and holiday travel period

- The most popular winter trip length is between three and four days, the second most popular trip length is four to five days and the third is a trip between seven and eight days. Over 76 percent of travelers’ requests were for a trip duration of fewer than eight days, which was similar to last year’s findings.

“Overall our Third Quarter Trend Report reveals a positive outlook for the winter travel season, as consumers continue to increase their trip budgets as well as their advanced planning of trips during this time of the year,” said John T. Peters, vice president and general manager of digital strategy and travel of Rand McNally.

“Because these trends show that consumers are spending more money and time planning their winter vacations compared to the summer and fall months, it also suggests that a greater number of consumers are currently seeking out the expertise and services of travel professionals to help them maximize their winter trip budgets and plan truly memorable vacations that they are willing to spend a little extra money on," Peters said.

Additionally, the Tripology Trend Report reveals the following Tripology.com stats:

- The demand for travel to Asia increased each month during Q3 2011

- Paris and Rome show enduring popularity for travelers to Western Europe

- Punta Cana is the most requested Caribbean winter travel destination

- The Top Ten Most Requested U.S. Cities are: Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, Honolulu, Maui, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, New Orleans and Boston. The top requested U.S. cities were relatively the same in 2010, with the exception of Boston, a newcomer to the top ten most requested list.

The Tripology Trend Report is sponsored by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives, and is published quarterly by Tripology, a service of Rand McNally.

Travel Forecast for 2012

Fox Business: Financial turmoil that has already started to weigh on corporate balance sheets may start to seep into the wallets of business travelers, according to an industry survey set to be released later on Wednesday by American Express.

Travel costs for businesses will continue to increase in 2012 as airlines and hotels squeezed by rising expenses push their fees higher, according to the credit card company’s Global Business Travel Forecast.

Calling business travel essential to global economic performance and an “enabler of business growth,” Christa Degnan Manning, director of Expert Insights research at American Express Global Business Travel, predicts the combination of demand and the pricing pressure on travel suppliers will push rates up in 2012.

“As more and more companies understand the importance of putting people on the road and its criticality to converting prospects, retaining clients, and ultimately driving growth, particularly in emerging nations, we expect to see travel prices go up,” Manning said.

Airfare has already been rising as airlines increase fares to offset sharply higher jet fuel costs and ailing demand. As major U.S. carriers such as AMR’s American Airlines and Delta Air Lines reduce capacity heading into next year, reduced supply will likely lift fares higher, even in the face of a potential economic slowdown, according to the AMEX forecast.

North America short-haul economy fares could be up 3% to 5%, with North America long-haul prices for economy passenger climbing 0.5% to 3.5%, AMEX said. For business class, short-haul prices are slated to rise 5% to 7%, while long-haul could be up 3% to 5%.

Hotel prices are also slated to increase, albeit slightly, the survey notes, building on gains that began this year as those suppliers aimed to reach pre-recession room-rate levels.

“Hoteliers increasingly seek to remove these from contracted rates to drive their own revenue-generated opportunities next year,” Manning said.

AMEX warned that price increases will vary depending on location and suggested companies looking to keep costs in check calculate the value of services offered by hotels that help improve employee productivity, such as Internet connectivity and business center usage.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, hotel rates are expected to increase conservatively, however there will likely be declines in Spain and Greece that are facing particularly tough financial turmoil.

In Latin America, airfare is expected to increase by as much as 6% to 9% for business short-haul fliers and 5% to 8% for long-haul fliers. The hotel market down there is also projected to have moderate increases, particularly in the business hubs of Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Santiago and Rio De Janerio.

As companies continue to look toward Asia’s emerging markets for new business, the region is once again expected to lead business travel demand. Pricing for business-class short-haul fliers is slated to rise 2% to 6%, while those for long-haul passengers could be up as much as 6% to 10%.

In Asia, the uptick in business travel will inevitably weigh on hotel prices, AMEX said, however prices will likely fall in certain cities such as Shanghai, which has an excess of capacity after building more than enough hotels after its Expo 2010.

Why Companies Keep Traveling

Even with the higher price, though, companies are expected to continue traveling.

“There’s a link between travel and a company’s top-line growth,” said Alicia Tillman, vice president of global communications marketing services for American Express’ global business travel.

In an earlier AMEX survey, the company found that companies that utilize business travel estimate that they won over roughly 50% of their perspective customers through face-to-face contact, compared with just 31% without in person meetings.

“Despite emerging technologies that can serve as alternatives to travel, nothing really replaces what you gain with those in person interactions,” Tillman said, noting that travel is seen as a competitive advantage and helps build client relationships.

At the height of the nation’s latest economic recession, many companies started to slash travel budgets, which are typically one of the top two or three expenses after human capital and technology. However, AMEX noted that those companies that held onto the person-to-person client relationships realized stronger and more profitable growth than those that cut the budget out completely.

Of course, there are alternatives to travel such as telepresence and virtual meetings. And while AMEX says companies should avoid those less personal meetings with clients, it encourages cost-efficient technology-enabled meetings for inter-office affairs.

One of the best ways to tackle immense travel costs is to “managing spending more strategically,” Tillman said.

She suggested companies invest in sophisticated reporting tools so that they can keep tabs on employees spending habits while traveling on the job to ensure the money being spent is not on non-critical things outside of policy.

What's Next for Airline Apps?

CNN: Airline passengers are already able to check in to flights, download boarding passes, select a seat on the go and keep an eye on the upgrades list thanks to recent evolutions in smartphone technology, and the options just keep growing.

A global industrywide Airline IT Trends Survey shows that more than 90% of the airlines surveyed are increasing their investment in mobile capabilities to ease the hassles of getting through the airport and improve the in-flight experience. And the airlines are likely to find a way to generate revenue, too.

So what's a flier to expect from airline apps on the horizon? In the not-too-distant future, you'll probably be able to rent a car, pay bag fees and use augmented reality to find the nearest airport bar through your airline's smartphone app.

Delta Air Lines is putting emphasis on improving mobile functionality. While some airline apps allow travelers to make flight reservations (a feature that Delta has not introduced but promises is coming), the world's largest carrier is one of the few airlines that gives customers the ability to adjust travel itineraries from their mobile device.

Delayed Delta passengers who miss a connection now can immediately rebook a different flight and download a new boarding pass, all while in the air.

The airline has some new app plans up its sleeve as well. Delta declines to give a release date for the feature, but it is close to unveiling a new tool where travelers can track checked baggage from their mobile devices, according to Delta spokesman Paul Skrbec. (They can already do so on the airline's website.)

The airline eventually could offer other services on its mobile app that are already listed on its website, such as the ability to search for hotel and car rental reservations, Skrbec said.

GuestLogix, a company that creates onboard merchandising technology, is already trying to integrate these services into an airline app with the launch of its OnTouch Mobile Concierge platform, which it pitched to major airlines this week, a company official said. The mobile app does not just offer access to itinerary details, but it also functions as a one-stop shop for airline passengers to make in-air purchases related to their trip, such as in-flight refreshments and arrangements for ground transportation, dining and entertainment in the destination city.

GuestLogix says it is in talks with most major North American carriers about implementing the OnTouch Mobile Concierge, which would likely be offered by airlines as a separate app from the ticketing-based ones that exist.

"We are providing airlines with the opportunity to offer their passengers a streamlined experience," said Brett Proud, GuestLogix's executive vice president of new markets and products. "Disparity within the mobile channel is a huge issue despite the fact that consumers are increasingly expecting cross-platform integration and a consistent experience. The fully integrated mobile platform that we have built allows travelers to check in to flights and hotels, view travel information and updates, and receive offers from multiple airline carriers, hotels and other services -- all at one time, and in one place."

The hope is the OnTouch Mobile Concierge will also allow airlines to generate new revenue streams by capitalizing for the first time on destination-related purchases.

But integrating outside products and services into airline apps is not the only way that airlines hope to customize the passenger experience while increasing revenue. According to Delta's Skrbec, the demand is likely there for airlines eventually to offer add-ons such as standby upgrades and the ability to pay for extra checked baggage through mobile applications, but industry research suggests that offering those types of mobile transactions won't happen overnight.

According to a report released this year by Amadeus, a company that develops technology for the travel industry, ancillary services -- from premium seating to in-flight meals -- are unlikely to be sold on airlines' mobile platforms on a widespread level for another year or two.

So more add-ons and products will be available, but is help on the way for slogging through the airport?

American, United and Continental airlines currently offer airport maps in their mobile apps, with Delta soon to join them. But the maps are generally useful only in locating gates; they don't offer detailed information on where to find food and shopping locations.

Augmented reality technology may come to the rescue here. It allows users to point the camera on their smartphone at their surroundings and receive corresponding information about their current location, such as which restaurants and stores are nearby. Amadeus's report estimates it will take three to five years for most airlines to find a way to integrate augmented reality into an airline app.

Airlines might take some cues from a new app released by Denmark's Copenhagen Airport this year, which became the world's first application to use augmented reality indoors successfully -- according to SITA, the app's developer. The app allows travelers at the airport to access not just gate information but also details on surrounding shops and services, saving them time while trying to catch a flight.

Even when it comes to selling fares through mobile clients, a service that 85% of airlines in the Airline IT Trends Survey either offer or plan to offer by 2014, there is room for improvement. Currently, airline apps only offer tickets with their specific carrier, and mobile customers can't take advantage of the flexibility offered by airline alliances.

"Airline alliances, the Star Alliance in particular, haven't really kept pace with mobile developments," said Dennis Schaal, the North America editor of the travel tech site Tnooz.com. "Granted, creating a mobile app that brings in dozens of airlines would be no easy task, but there should be some kind of booking capability at this juncture."

The Star Alliance has two mobile apps available for download: one that offers airport information in addition to the ability to search and track flights, and another that is a fare finder for flights on the alliance's airlines. The Star Alliance includes airlines such as United, Continental, Air Canada and US Airways -- which does not currently offer a mobile app.

But those airlines that fail to take the full leap into the mobile world will quickly find themselves in the minority. Apps might not replace websites as the primary place where people purchase airline reservations, especially with new airline initiatives to integrate ticket-purchasing apps into social-media sites such as Facebook.

However, they're beginning to offer a level of customer service and convenience that has never before been possible in the industry, and perhaps could even transform the experience of traveling enough to create a new barometer on which airline brands will be judged in the future.

Reality TV Driving Travel Trends

Mykonos, Greece

Breaking Travel News: Reality TV is all the rage at the moment and so, apparently, are its destination choices.

Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK’s leading website for travel deals comparison, finds an increase in popularity among its users for destinations where different reality shows were filmed recently.

The biggest climber is Mykonos in Greece with a whopping 89 per cent jump in search to date after X Factor Judge Tulisa took her singing hopefuls there to compete for a position as a finalist in the show. Having aired only last weekend, this is a significant increase within just a few days.

The second biggest climber is Cannes in the South of France, driven by the show Made in Chelsea. Its popularity rose by 39 per cent to date since the episode aired on 12 June 2011.

Hot on its heels and tied in third place with 5 per cent increases each are Barcelona and Miami, both X-Factor destinations, with the former serving as Louis Walsh’s choice and the latter as Kelly Rowland’s.

Reality TV cooking show, Gordon’s Great Escape, drove interest to South East Asia up by 4 per cent to date since the show aired in May with destinations such as India, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia, where the show was filmed, benefitting from being featured on the celebrity chef’s programme.

Made in Chelsea rival Geordie Shore helped increase interest in Magaluf in Majorca by 4 per cent to date, since the show aired its Magaluf Madness episode on 23 August 2011.

X-Factor judge Gary Barlow’s destination choice, Los Angeles, has only shown a 1 per cent rise so far, but that may increase further in the coming weeks as travellers go in search of winter sun.

“Following in the footsteps of celebrity holiday choices has long been a travel trend, particularly in the last few years,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

“So it makes even more sense that this trend would cross over into mimicking the lives and travel habits of the stars of reality TV given their status as ‘regular people’ as opposed to Hollywood stars. They represent a more tangible version of celebrity and their destination choices are likely to be more accessible to a wider range of traveller,” adds Hallak.

The Changing Nature of Hotel Lobbies

Hotel Chatter: To stay on top of the hotel game, we find it useful to check in with people behind the Front Desk. For this week's Concierge Interview with John Williams, who is the president of travel planning service, New York Guest, we were curious about the changing nature of hotel lobbies. Some are spectacles, some are popular hangout spots. But are they actually useful?

To find out, we sat down with John in (where else?) a lobby. Specifically, The Algonquin, whose concierges are staffed by New York Guest.

To start things off, what are some good lobbies to enjoy during fall in New York?

Go to the Mandarin Oriental—watch the leaves change in Central Park, or go to Dizzy's Club. Royalton is pretty good.

What about newer hotels?

With the new properties, a lot of them don't have space [for those types of lobbies]. They're not built that way anymore. It's a lobby: get 'em in, get 'em up to their room. So you really have to go back to the old-style properties like [The Algonquin].

Do you think the lobby should function as a "social hub"?

There was this guy who used to be the General Manager of the New York Palace, and he would be in the lobby every day from four to six. He had a desk for himself just to engage with the guests, get to talk to them and find out how their experience was. Unfortunately, he had a heart attack and died. But that was his thing. [In order to] bring this big property down to a personal level, he'd go down to the lobby every day.

How important is that sense of personality these days?

I think it's more important now, because there are so many properties and there's so much competition. Before 2007 when the recession started hitting, everyone talked about their comp set. Every day now, your competitors are changing. What used to be no longer is. Properties that didn't exist are now in your comp set and the other ones are gone. It's [important] to find out what's going on with your guests, where are they coming from, and what are they looking for. You've got to stay on top of that because technology is changing how the information is getting to them. [It also affects] what you need to have so that they continue to come.

How does a small boutique hotel go about distinguishing itself?

It's the people behind the brand. New York has some great personalities. The people you wouldn't think of hiring, they're some of your most under-utilized and unique people. Don't go based on looks. There's a lot of great talent out there.

Are you referring to places like the Ace?

There's a pseudo-brand that has personality, it's got a bit of an edge to it. The staff is a little bit more hip and open, they like to show off their tattoos and their hair, but they fulfill the experience. That's a really unique New York property. Even down to the rooms, which are really well-thought-out. But it's not a conservative approach. They took off their ties and jackets and unbuttoned and said, 'We're here.'

Is that an example of a hotel setting itself apart form the competition?

Absolutely, especially in that area—they call it "NoMad" or whatever. It's got a great following, because the 20- and 30-somethings are talking. It's cool to go back to hotels. For a while, people didn't go to hotel to have drinks. Now everyone's asking: where's the new rooftop? Where's the new lobby? Where's the new bar?

Helicopter Vacations Take Off

MSNBC: Heli-hiking and heli-camping give the phrase “mountain getaway” an entirely new meaning.

Adventurous hikers and campers simply hitch a ride on a helicopter to a remote location that would otherwise take days to reach. At the top of a mountain, the helicopter drops hikers off to explore the backcountry — saving them both time and grueling mileage.

“It’s unlike anything you could do anywhere else,” said eight-time heli-hiker Anne Hipp of Atlanta, Ga.

Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH), located in Banff, Alberta, offered its first heli-hiking trip in 1978.

Since then, CMH has evolved from hosting a handful of heli-hikers its first year to 1,200 participants in 2011 — a 25 percent increase over the previous season, says CMH marketing representative Jane Carswell.

But the experience isn't cheap. The price for a three-night trip is $2,565 Canadian per person, which includes meals, helicopter flights, 2 1/2 days of guided heli-hiking and accommodations.

CMH continues to tweak existing hiking programs and create new specialty trips tailored to guests’ needs, said CMH spokesperson Sarah Pearson. “We are constantly asking our guests what they enjoyed, what they would like to see us improve, and how can we make these trips even more exciting.”

Canadian helicopter charter service White River Helicopters offered its first heli-hiking trip in 1996 and over the past two years has seen a 30 percent to 50 percent increase in business, said company spokesman Andy Ramsay. He attributes the spike in popularity to the originality of the experience. “It’s the ability to actually do more adventurous things,” he said.

White River Helicopters also offers heli-camping (think helicopter ride, with an overnight stay thrown in) and heli-fishing (a helicopter ride to a remote fishing location). White River is currently advertising heli-camping offerings around the globe, specifically focusing on the European market. “We are diversifying at the moment,” said Ramsay.

A two-week heli-guided trip with White River Helicopters can exceed $10,000 per person, including any hotel stays and meals.

Longtime heli-hiker Hipp already has her trip booked with CMH for next season. “I can’t think of a better vacation if you like the outdoors,” she said.