HOSPITALITY EVENTS
“The Show” Becomes Hospitality Week
Questex Media Group, Inc., a global business-to-business media company and publisher, produces the HotelWorld Expo and Conference, in addition to publishing Hotel & Motel Management, Luxury Hotelier, and Hotel Design magazines. The Group also manages 84 websites and 45 events, conferences, and tradeshows, as well as 77 other trade magazines and eNewsletters. Questex Media Group’s combined operations include more than 450 employees working in four different continents: Asian, Europe, and North and South America, and the massive integrated information and media provider is managed by its headquarter in Newton, Massachusetts. Questex Media Group, which serves several industries directly and indirectly related to the hospitality industry, recently announced to the public that it now owns Oxford Publishing, Inc. The publishing company is the well-known producer of the International Restaurant Show-Las Vegas, an increasingly popular food event, and “The Show,” the largest hospitality beverage show in the Western Hemisphere.
Beginning in February 2008, Questex Media Group announced that the HotelWorld, “The Show,” and the International Restaurant Show-Las Vegas, which are now owned by the Group, will be co-located. The Group has planned for the three events to be the central focus of the unique grouping that will combine with other hospitality events sponsored by professional associations and media, as well as state, national, and international organizations, to become the newly formed International Hospitality Week. The Group has scheduled the first mega-event to be held in the Las Vegas Convention Center for the weekend of February 24-27, 2008, and the event will bring together countless niches of the hospitality industry to create a giant conglomeration of food and drink events, as well as restaurant planning and hotel management and strategy segments. As the most popular of Questex Media Group's events, the world-renown “The Show” will still be heading up the nightclub and bar segment, hosting numerous wine, beer, and spirit retailers from around the world during this impressive event.
India’s Hot Tourism Climate
Over 30,000 business travelers across the globe voted based on five parameters: location of the hotel, service offered, comfort, food and beverage, and facilities available.
Leela is followed in the rankings by Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and The Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai. The Oberoi, New Delhi, is ranked 18th and is the only other Indian hotel on the Conde Nast list.
Several Indian luxury hotels have received high praise from international guests. Travel+Leisure magazine recently ranked The Oberoi Udaivilas, in Udaipur, as the best hotel in the world.
In 2004, the number of foreign tourists visiting India reached an all-time high of nearly 3 million, an increase of nearly 500,000 over the previous year.
This increased flow of tourists is driving rapid and sustained expansion of the hotel sector, which is currently booming.
For the 12 months to February 2005, mid-market level and higher hotel revenue per room throughout India increased nearly 30% compared to the same period the year before.
A robust economy and rising investments have made India alluring to international investors, while favorably evolving business dynamics continue to offer the promise of strong future growth within the hospitality industry.
Recent government initiatives, including relaxed airline regulations coupled with campaigns designed to stimulate tourism, such as 'Incredible India' and 'Atithi Devo Bhavah,’ are bringing India closer to realizing its full tourism potential.
In August, Asia Pacific's premier luxury hotel company, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, was set to begin the operation of three new hotels in Bangalore from with over 1,000 rooms.
Beginning in December 2008, Shangri-La will begin the operation of a 330 room business retreat and spa located on the outer ring road in the IT corridor, within four miles of Bangalore airport. Phase two of the plan will bring online an additional 200 rooms and 200 serviced apartments.
UK based Le Meridien Group already owns 10 hotels in India, and they have outlined plans to increase its holdings to 20 hotels by 2009.
Le Meridien's hotels in India have been profitable, with average occupancy of 83% for 2004, and India remains a top priority destination in Asia, as La Meridien looks to roll out its hotel expansion.
India's tourism industry is still in a nascent stage of growth and industry experts believe that it will grow considerably
Coupled with the strong momentum of the construction sector, there are massive business opportunities for companies involved in the food and hospitality industries.