Hospitality Industry | Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San Jose, California

Denizen Hotels is the New Member of the Hilton Family

March 10, 2009 By Cookie Leave a Comment

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF., USA – 10 March, 2009: Hilton Hotels Corporation (Hilton) announced today the addition of Denizen Hotels, a global lifestyle brand, to the Hilton Family of Brands. Appearing throughout the world in international social epicenters, Denizen Hotels will cater to globally-conscious modern travelers of the world.

“The term denizen literally means ‘citizen of the world,” said Ross Klein, Global Head Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, Hilton Hotels Corporation. “We created this new brand in homage to guests who desire and deserve the best hotel experiences, both on an emotional and functional level. We are excited to introduce this new concept and look forward to welcoming the denizens of the world to our properties.”

Social, interactive spaces will be at the heart of the Denizen Hotels brand, welcoming guests and providing exclusive hubs for relaxation and inspiration. From communal style society restaurant tables for the epicurean explorers to rejuvenation zones which will provide a personal technology-rich haven before or after check-in, Denizen Hotels creates a living community, anticipating guest needs and desires in and outside of their rooms and suites.

Excerpts taken from a Hilton press release. Visit the new Denizen website

Doubletree Hotel San Jose is proud to welcome this new member to our Hilton family!

Filed Under: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, Hilton boutique hotel, Hilton expansion, hospitality industry, hospitality news, san jose hotel Tagged With: Denizen Hotels, Hilton lifestyle brand

Countdown to Unveiling of Hilton’s Lifestyle Brand Begins

March 6, 2009 By Cookie Leave a Comment

The announcement of Hilton’s new lifestyle brand of hotels has been the buzz of the hospitality industry since early last year. Not a single detail of Project Global 21 has been leaked yet and it is driving everyone crazy, even us here at Doubletree San Jose! We are itching to find out who our new family member will be. We’ll the day we have all been waiting for is finally about to arrive! On Tuesday March 10th the details will be unveiled at the 2009 International Hotel Investment Forum March 10 in Berlin, Germany.

Keep track of the countdown here

Filed Under: Hilton, Hilton boutique hotel, Hilton expansion, hospitality industry, hospitality news

Keep America Meeting Petition Surpasses 10,000!!!

March 5, 2009 By Cookie 1 Comment

The Keep America Meeting petition has surpassed 10,000 signatures and grown to include new industry groups, such as the Association of Destination Management Executives, the Financial & Insurance Conference Planners, and Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. MeetingNews, Successful Meetings, and Incentive magazine also have joined Keep America Meeting, and the petition has caught Bill Marriott’s attention. Nice job and lets keep educating on responsible meeting practices and keep America meeting!

If you haven’t yet please sign the petition!

http://www.keepamericameeting.org/

source: Meetings Podcast

Doubletree Hotel San Jose is a strong supporter of this petition

Filed Under: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, hospitality industry, hospitality news Tagged With: Keep America Meeting Petition, Meeting and Event Planning Industry

Support the Meetings Industry and Treat Yourself – The Online Auction is Open to Everyone!

February 24, 2009 By Cookie Leave a Comment

For the first time ever, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation is opening up our popular silent auction to the general public. Anyone can take advantage of these amazing packages! Now is your chance to not only get all the great items you want, but to do it knowing you are helping raise funds for education and research initiatives that will benefit the meetings and convention industry.

The online auction launched on Friday, February 20 and features the following new components:

• Buy It Now prices available until March 20
• Online bidding open through the end of the Foundation Dinner on April 15
• Option to forward to a friend
• More fabulous vacation and merchandise packages than ever!

Visit the website to bid or find out more info

Filed Under: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, hospitality industry Tagged With: PCMA, professional convention management association auction, Travel auction

Man dies from a paper-cut, three generations later a hotel career is launched

February 20, 2009 By Cookie Leave a Comment

I imagine there are a multitude of reasons why those of us who work in hospitality have chosen to do so. Among them are the enjoyment of providing excellent service, a desire to help travelers feel more comfortable when away from home and some people fall accidentally into a hotel career while pursuing something completely different. My story is particularly unique, and one I am proud of – I am in this business because in the first half of the last century, a man died from a paper-cut.

My grandfather worked at a hotel where that man used to stay. It turns out that he appreciated the service my grandfather provided so much that he hired him away from that hotel to work for his own. When the man later died of blood poisoning from a paper-cut (medicine just wasn’t the same back then), my grandfather was named as the primary beneficiary of the estate which included the Pawnee Hotel in North Platte, Nebraska. My mom grew up around that hotel and others her parents later owned around the country. After school, she and her sister would have to work the switchboard, clean rooms and do other hotel chores.

Photo of Pawnee Hotel in North Platte, Nebraska

By the time I entered the picture, my grandparents were retired, but I remember always knowing that my grandparents owned hotels and that my mom was raised in them. I had such a strong love for all of them that I decided at a very young age that I was going to work in hotels, just as they did. If that’s part of what made them such great and interesting people, I definitely wanted to follow in their footsteps. I have developed a passion for what I do and an awareness of how our guests and my fellow hotel team members are affected.

My story reminds me that all of us who work in the hotel have our own stories, and our guests do, too. For at least a couple days at a time, the stories come together; and if we can learn from each other, hopefully all are enhanced.

Steve Sitton
Director of Revenue Managemenet
Doubletree Hotel San Jose

Filed Under: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, hospitality industry, san jose hotel

Downturn Hits U.S. Corporate Meetings

December 4, 2008 By Cookie Leave a Comment

Storm buffeting the U.S. economy threatens to swamp the $175 billion corporate meetings industry as companies seek to cut back on expenditure by reducing the number of conferences they hold.

By organizing fewer big meetings in distant cities, companies can save millions on airline seats, conference hall bookings, hotel rooms and a range of smaller items.

But those savings — while smart for the companies — are provoking a crisis in the industry that provides the services.

“I’ve been in this business 40 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Kevin Maguire, president of the National Business Travel Association.

“I call it the DDE for ‘devastating domino effect’,” said Maguire. It is having an impact from cab drivers and florists to restaurants and street vendors, he said.

Tammi Runzler, vice president of convention sales and services at the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau, compared the situation to the weeks after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when fear of air travel gripped much of the business world.

Source: www.hotelnewsresource.com

Looking for customized meeting solutions during these times, check out Doubletree Hotel San Jose, we’re here to help find a way to make it work!

Filed Under: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, hospitality industry, hospitality news Tagged With: business travelers, corporate meetings industry, economic recession and hotels

Hilton Hotels Corporation Appoints Matthew Richardson as Global Head of Architecture, Design and Construction

October 28, 2008 By Cookie Leave a Comment

Hilton Hotels Corporation (‘Hilton’) announced today that Matthew Richardson has been named global head of architecture, design and construction, effective immediately. In this capacity, Richardson will oversee the company’s worldwide efforts with respect to new build projects, capital improvement, technical advisory services, interior design and construction for owned and managed as well as franchised properties. He joins Hilton from Host Hotels and Resorts where he served as senior vice president and chief development officer, overseeing all of the company’s design and construction activities.

Committed to establishing a highly aggressive global development and real estate leadership team, the company also announced that Philip Keipper has been promoted to senior vice president, architecture and construction – the Americas. In this position, Keipper will have responsibility for the oversight of all new build projects, inclusive of franchise properties, and capital projects for the Americas.

In addition, Habib Enayetullah has joined Hilton as senior vice president, real estate and asset management. In this new position, he will focus on the company’s asset and real estate holdings, ensuring the ongoing value and viability of these assets.

‘I am pleased to be able to announce these three significant appointments within Hilton’s global development and real estate leadership team,’ commented Steven Goldman, president, global development and real estate. ‘These appointments help advance our strategic priority of expanding the company’s global platform by maintaining momentum in the U.S. market and accelerating the growth of our international management and franchise business.’

to see complete article visit Hotel News Resource

Doubletree Hotel San Jose is a member of the Hilton Family of Hotels

Filed Under: Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, Doubletree Hotels, Hilton, Hilton expansion, hilton hotels, hospitality industry, hospitality news

Doubletree Hotels Summer Staycation Solutions

July 30, 2008 By Cookie Leave a Comment

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 22, 2008 – As gas prices continue to rise and the economy continues to change, more Americans are opting for shorter-distance travel alternatives that won’t break the bank. According to the Air Transport Association, an estimated 1.3 percent fewer Americans are expected to fly this summer versus the same season last year – with many families choosing to explore local attractions in their hometowns. A wide variety of value-added packages and amenities that have been designed by Doubletree® Hotels to guarantee that even a ‘staycation’ or local area getaway this summer can feel like miles away from home.

“People across America are still finding great places for an economical summer vacation. This year, it’s interesting how many people are becoming tourists in their own town or region and exploring some of those great nearby attractions they tend to take for granted,” said Mary Beth Parks, vice president, brand marketing for Doubletree Hotels. “With more than 190 hotels and resorts located throughout the U.S. and Canada, there’s always a Doubletree hotel or resort that is less than a one-tank trip away. Travelers can save the extra travel time, check in with us, get away from the daily routine at home and enjoy more valuable time with friends and family – all at a place even closer to home than they think.”

Famed travel expert and author of TheTravelMom.com, Emily Kaufman, agrees that the staycation trend is smart way to travel. “Consumers are still eager to take vacations this summer – they are just becoming more resourceful given gas prices and the current economic climate,” says Kaufman. “Value-added packages like the ones offered at Doubletree Hotels provide the perfect opportunity for travelers to avoid the extra gas expenses, additional baggage charges and long lines at the airport to enjoy a cost effective vacation.”

So just how can travelers enjoy a great summer getaway without traveling far from home? Kaufman offers her top five tips for travelers looking to make the most out of their “staycation” below.
• Surf your local area travel websites – Just as people search websites for those faraway vacations, even your own city has a series of travel and visitors bureau sites that provides detailed lists and information for local attractions. All it takes is a slightly different way of web surfing for that summer staycation and consumers can find all sorts of activities and adventures right in their own backyard.
• Love The Ones You’re With – Whether you’re miles from home on an exotic island or minutes from your own front door, the memories you create can be just as great. Take the extra time you get from avoiding the long-haul travel hassles to enjoy the people you’re traveling with. Be sure to take just as many photos too … it’ll make the emotional ties to your destination that much stronger.
• Pick Your Vacation Personality – Make sure that you are creating vacation opportunities that offer something for everyone by picking places that match the personality of people you travel with. For example, do you like to explore new places with sightseeing, museums and attractions or does sitting by the pool relaxing with a book fit your family better? You can easily find all of the above not far from home.
• Stop Speeding Ahead And Slow Down– We live in a busy world with everyone running from one chore or activity to the next every day. It seems obvious, but sometimes it’s hard to remind ourselves that vacations are a time to slow down, unwind and spend meaningful time enjoying the company of the ones we love.
• Save some energy – Turn off the air conditioner at home and leave the hospitality to the hoteliers. Even better, choose a local hotel with a pool to cool off in and enjoy that refreshing plunge in the pool.

Check out www.sanjose.doubletree.com to what kind of staycation packages we have to offer local Silicon Valley residents!

excerpts from Press Release by Hilton Hotels Corp 07/22/08

Filed Under: hospitality industry, hospitality news Tagged With: leisure travel, staycation, summer staycation, traveling

Meeting Rooms of the Future

July 21, 2008 By Cookie Leave a Comment

Picture this: Agroup of twentysomething men and women comfortably sprawl on vibrantly colored beanbag charis and cushy sofas, checking their PDAs, BlackBerries, and laptops as they chat with cohorts via a live feed on an oversized LCD screen. The room is bathed in warm, natural light entering through floor-to-ceiling windows. Along with the refreshing air from the open windows, just a hint of lavender permeates the room. Fresh fruit is within arm’s reach, along with small bowls of nuts and dried fruits.

No, its not a break room at Google headquarters. It’s one vision of the conference room of the future-a version that’s already being played out in conference centers across the country and one that experts expect to become increasingly common. Of course, that’s not what all meetings will look like in the future, but it is part of a trend toward ensuring that meeting spaces are flexible enought to suit the varying needs of all kinds of groups.

“The physical elements of a meeting are going to be differnet in the sense that they won’t always take place in a meeting room as we now know it,” says Mark DePiero, senior vp of global acquisitions for Dolce International, based in Montvale, NJ. “We know that we’ll still have general sessions and breakouts of a sort, but breakouts won’t be the traditional setup of eight chairs and a conference table…

Erin Peschel, CMP, director of sales and marketing for the Conference CEnter at NorthPointe, based in Lweis CEnter, OH says that Northpointe and other Sodexo confernce centers are “rolling in what we call ‘soft seating’-chairs and sofas and ottomans, even beanbag chairs-that help attendees think be comfortable and think outside the box.” While such setups can be particularly appropriate for brainstorming, strategizing, and teambuilding meeting, they’re obviously not appropriate for all meetings…

For something that’s a little more tradtional looking, but still addresses new thoughts in learning styles, “pods” are gaining favor. Rather than simply setting up rows of tables and chairs, pods are tables that set in a U kind of shape. Classroom use to be the default style, but now we’re findig a lot of groups want pods or half rounds both which give a more open and free flowing feel that encourages sharing or thoughts and ideas…

excerpts taken from Corporate Meetings and Incentives July 2008

Filed Under: events industry, hospitality industry, hospitality news

Hotels Join the Reality TV Trend

July 17, 2008 By Cookie Leave a Comment

A documentary series following three NH Hoteles properties in The Netherlands has become one of the most popular shows on Dutch television since its launch in March. Some 400,000 viewers tune in to SBS 6 five days a week to follow the day-to-day operations at Amsterdam’s NH Schiphol Airport, NH Jan Tabak and NH Barbizon Palace.

NH Chief Operating Officer Francisco Zinser stresses that “Hotel”—for which 60 half-hour episodes have been filmed and a second season already is planned—is not a reality show. There are no actors, no scripts and no manufactured drama. “Hotel” is balanced, and NH does not
review episodes before they air. It makes for an authentic view of life in the hotel industry.

“If something goes wrong, well, things go wrong,” Zinser says. “The problem is not that things go wrong, the problem is how you avoid them happening in the future and how you resolve that issue.”

“Hotel” is too new for NH to know to what degree the show is impacting business. However, Zinser says most guests are excited to be filmed and a number of guests have indicated that they booked an NH hotel because of the show.

source: Hotels magazine, June 2008

Filed Under: hospitality industry, hospitality news Tagged With: Hotel reality tV