Hotels could be the new terror target

Hotels and easier-to-access tourist areas are now the likely target of terrorists, according to a global intelligence organisation.

A report by STRATFOR said Al-Qaida is changing from a centralised organisation with global goals to regional ‘franchises’ with more parochial aims and strong grass-roots support.

These smaller cells have less training and less money, so they set their sights lower, it said.

It said the number of attacks on hotels has more than doubled since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Hotels are targets because they are a fixed location, contain a lot of human traffic, particularly Westerners, and have shallow security.

Although hotel security guards try to monitor suspicious people and activities, extremists know how to get around this, said the report.

As an example, the bombers who carried out the July twin suicide attacks at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia, had registered two days earlier.

“The first step for large hotel operators in dealing with this threat is to undertake a vulnerability assessment to identify properties that are most likely to be at risk,” the report says.

Despite the increasing attacks in hotels, the report says many owners and managers have been reluctant to equip their buildings with more security measures, which can be cumbersome and inconvenience guests.

But in the wake of recent lawsuits, that may be changing.

Travel share prices rise after TC announcement

Thomas Cook’s share price closed up 10.8p yesterday at 245p after the threat of a takeover was removed.

The banks speaking for 43.9% of the company announced that they have completed a placing of shares with institutional investors to raise almost £900 million.

Following the collapse of TC's majority owner, Arcandor, in June, three creditor banks, Bayern LB, Commerzbank and RBS, took control of Arcandor’s 52.8% holding.

Former Arcandor chief executive, Dr Karl-Gerhard Eick, has stepped down as a director and chairman of the board to be replaced by non-executive deputy chairman, Michael Beckett, previously chairman of MyTravel.

Analysts said the sale ends the uncertainty hanging over Thomas Cook about a possible takeover.

Hotels4u.com launches dedicated ski programme

HOTELS4U.COM LAUNCHES ITS FIRST DEDICATED SKI PROGRAMME

Leading bedbank website hotels4u.com is launching its first dedicated Ski programme on Friday 10 July. The new programme allows agents to benefit from the growing interest in dynamic packaging within the ski market by offering a fully flexible accommodation and transfer product.

hotels4u.com’s new ski programme will feature as a separate section on the website, with over one hundred two, three, four and five star hotels, apartments and chalets on offer in the popular ski destinations of Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy and Switzerland. Available for stays departing from December 2009, board basis will include half board, bed & breakfast and self-catering to ensure flexibility and choice across the product range.

A selection of competitively priced transfer options ranging from coach, shuttle bus and taxi to private limousine will also be available for all resorts.

Teresa Walsh, hotels4u.com’s sales director, said; “With no-frills carriers such as Jet2, Easyjet, BMI Baby and FlyB.com offering frequent services from a wide-range of UK airports to all the key ski destinations, our new Ski product offers agents the perfect opportunity to benefit from holidaymakers looking for great value, flexible skiing options in winter 2009/10.

“With Eurostar operating its Ski-Train from December 2009, the dynamic packaging opportunities for the ski market are endless, allowing travel agents to tap into the growing self-drive sector and increase profitability.”

hotels4u.com’s ski product portfolio
Over 25 properties will be featured in 10 top Austrian resorts such as Kitzbuhel, St. Anton, Zell am See, Galtur and Mayrhofen. Andorra will offer a 35 strong property portfolio covering four resorts including the 3 star Palarine hotel in Arinsal from £21 per person per night based on bed and breakfast.

As an emerging ski destination, Bulgaria’s Bankso and Borovets resorts offer good value accommodation, with prices starting at just £16 per person per night bed and breakfast at the 4 star Bansko Park hotel.

With prices in France starting from £7 per person per night, a wide range of self-catering properties in top resorts such as Alpe d’Huez, Courcheval and la Plagne together with hotels in resorts such as Chamonix, Les Arcs and Tignes cater for those looking for flexible dining options as well as flexible packages. The inclusion of properties in Switzerland and Italy meanwhile, ensures that the main Alpine resorts are catered for.

Killington weathers the storm

KILLINGTON - Vermont's ski season weathered the winter, in spite of a sour economy and a temperamental climate.

The Vermont Ski Areas Association announced Thursday the state's ski resorts recorded 4,068,696 skier visits for the 2008-09 season. The announcement came at the industry trade group's 40th anniversary annual meeting today at Killington Resort.

The total reflected a 7.5 percent decrease from the banner year of 2007-08, but was on par with the five-year average. The record number of skier and snowboarder visits came in 2000-01, when 4,579,719 people hit Vermont's slopes.

The past season saw an above-average start with a strong Thanksgiving opening, but a Christmas thaw, little fresh snow in March and the poor economy conspired against skiers and the resorts.

"Vermont's ski industry held up very well in spite of the enormous challenges of the current economic climate," said Parker Riehle, president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, in a news release. "Skiing and snowboarding are lifestyle sports that have historically proven to be recession-resilient, and this season was no different."

The annual meeting also heralded Vermont ski areas' strong showing at this year's National Ski Areas Association's annual awards presentation, where Green Mountain State resorts garnered eight national awards for safety programs, environmental excellence, marketing and industry achievement:

• Stowe, Stratton and Okemo won environmental excellence awards.

• Jay Peak, Mad River Glen and Sugarbush won marketing awards.

• Okemo won a helmet safety award.

• Former Stowe and Killington executive Hank Lunde of Stowe won the NSAA Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Stratton Mountain Resort's Sky Foulkes was elected chairman of the VSAA board of directors, taking over for longtime chairman Bill Stenger of Jay Peak Resort. Kelly Pawlak, general manager of the Mount Snow Resort, was elected vice chairwoman of the board.