Hilton makes changes to executive team and other international hotel news

Hilton makes changes to executive team
Hilton Hotels Corporation has promoted Thomas Keltner to executive vice-president and chief executive officer, Americas and global brands. He was president of brand performance and the franchise development group. Ian Carter remains vice-president, Hilton Hotels Corporation and chief executive officer, Hilton International, with responsibility for hotel operations outside the Americas. James Harvey assumes the title of executive vice-president, global distribution services and chief information officer. He was executive vice-president and chief information officer. Antoine Dagot has been promoted to executive vice-president, Hilton Hotels Corporation in addition to his existing position as president and chief executive officer, Hilton Grand Vacations Company. Molly McKenzie-Swarts is promoted to executive vice president of human resources, diversity and administration. She was senior vice president of human resources and administration. The changes are effective from 1 March 2007.

Marriott to eliminate trans fats from cooking
Hotel company Marriott has said it will eliminate trans fats from the cooking oil used by its restaurants at more than 2,300 hotels in the USA and Canada. Marriott said it would no longer use partially hydrogenated oils across all its brands, which include Marriott, Courtyard, Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn. It has already cut the oils from breads, salad dressings, cookies, muffins and pastries. Omni Hotels has also said it will cut out trans fats from 1 March.

InterContinental signs Moscow hotel deal
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a contract for an InterContinental Moscow hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2010. The InterContinental Moscow is being developed by Rossiyskiy Kredit Bank and will be managed by IHG. The 205-room new-build hotel is located on the site of the former Minsk hotel at 22 Tverskaya, close to the Kremlin, City Hall and Pushkin Square.

Hyatt to launch new spa offer in Thailand
Hyatt will launch its Barai hotel and spa at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin resort town on 1 March. The eight-suite hotel and spa will a “sanctum of serenity” set over 18,500sq m and is claimed to be the first of its kind in Thailand. The Barai has been designed by Thai architect, Lek Bunnag and named after barays, large man-made reservoirs created to channel irrigated water.

Travel Industry Association wins millions to develop online offer
The US Department of Commerce has awarded the Travel Industry Association (TIA) of America a $3.9m (£2m), two-year grant to promote inbound international tourism. The TIA said it would use the funds to build websites in multiple languages, which will be aimed at markets that account for 75% of international inbound visitors to the USA. The sites will be developed in conjunction with various partners, including American Express, Travelocity and Yahoo!

By Emily Manson

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