Hotel & Resorts: 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Benson Hotel - Dining

Dining in the landmark London Grill Portland restaurant is a “must do” when visiting The Benson Hotel. Now under the direction of Serge Selbe, executive chef, the culinary staff has set the standard in Portland for quality and service. The new and improved London Grill features a fresh new decor and menu, the tradition continues with an enriched experience at every meal period. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch that many believe is Portland’s Best Sunday Brunch. Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Monday - SaturdayLunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Monday - SaturdayDinner: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Sunday - Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Friday & SaturdayBrunch: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday only. Last seating is 1:00 p.m. Breakfast Lunch Menu - Dinner Menu Breakfast Menu - Lunch Menu - Dinner Menu Elegant décor and soft lighting create an intimate dining ambience at the London Grill, located in The Benson Hotel in downtown Portland. This award-winning restaurant has been a well-known fixture in the Northwest's restaurant scene. Using only the finest ingredients, the menu features both traditional favorites and bold, innovative creations. The London Grill Awards The London Grill also boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in the Northwest, with more than 6,000 bottles and awarded Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence year after year. For the past 50 years, the London Grill has built a world-class reputation for exciting dining and numerous specialty dishes, including: Sweet Smoked Paprika Garlic Soup with Spinach, Dungeness crab, shrimp and poached free range egg; Pan Seared Duck Foie Gras served with fingerling potatoes and garlic butter; Grilled Lamb Chops with Ratatouille crépinette, polenta, Chinese eggplant and hazlenut emulsion; or, Rib Eye Prime served with thyme scalloped potatoes, wild mushroom fricassée and the ever popular local breakfast favorite, Eggs Benedict. The London Grill's new executive chef has dedicated decades to creating award-winning cuisine. His impressive list of culinary awards continues in the tradition of Chef Emeritus, Xavier Bauser, who has personally prepared elegant meals for famous celebrities and every U.S. president since Richard Nixon. The Benson culinary team has collected Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in international culinary Olympic competitions. The London Grill Features three private dining rooms for parties, rehearsal dinners, family reunions, business luncheons and romantic dinners.

For the past 90 years, The Benson Hotel has been the heart of social events in Portland. From engagements to vows, bridal lunches to rehearsal dinners and receptions to farewell brunches, we can help you plan each of them to perfection. Whether you prefer traditional or trendy, intimate or grand, we will help make your special day everything you have dreamed. Start the evening with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres by the fireplace, then move into the Crystal Ballroom or Mayfair Ballroom to celebrate the first dance under the sparkling chandeliers where style and elegance are sure to add to the romantic evening. The staff's attention to detail and the beauty of the hotel make wedding celebrations truly memorable. The Benson is a place where you can always revisit and celebrate the memories year after year! Please contact us for available dates and an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.Your Wedding Specialists503-295-4140sales@bensonhotel.com

Accommodations

The Benson Hotel, Portland's Grand Hotel, is awarded the AAA Four Diamond rating and is recommended by Conde Nast. The Benson Hotel provides modern luxury in a classic setting. Whether you select a Grand Suite with baby grand piano, fireplace and Jacuzzi, one of our panoramic-view penthouses, a specially appointed Benson Junior Suite or an elegant guest room, you will appreciate the comfort and restful ambience of your environment.
Hotel Information & Amenities

Luxurious Bamboo Bath Robes & Slippers
Experience the latest in luxury and sustainability - The Benson now features new Bath Robes and Slippers made from Bamboo!These organic, breathable and biodegradable robes are made from nature's most renewable resource – Bamboo. Bamboo regulates to your body temperature because it breathes better, dries faster and is cling and odor free.Book your next stay with us and experience these luxurious robes for yourself!

309 Southwest Broadway, Portland Oregon 97205503-228-2000 * FAX 503-471-3920Reservations * 1-888-523-6766 (1-888-5BENSON) * RES 1-800-663-1144 * reservations@bensonhotel.com

Reservations

Make Reservations Now through Coast Hotels
Reservations by phone: 888-523-6766 or 503-228-2000
View our current specials and packages for your next visit to Portland.
Coast Rewards - premium guest privileges program.

309 Southwest Broadway, Portland Oregon 97205503-228-2000 * FAX 503-471-3920Reservations * 1-888-523-6766 (1-888-5BENSON) * RES 1-800-663-1144 * reservations@bensonhotel.com

Benson Hotel - Meeting Rooms

If you are planning a conference, meeting or event, The Benson Hotel offers an experienced and professional Sales, Convention Services and Catering staff who will exceed your highest expectations. We can accommodate groups from 10 people to 400 people and will work closely with you to make sure your event is a success!
Please let us know how we may help you:Sales Inquiries: 503-295-4100 or sales@bensonhotel.comCatering Inquiries: 503-295-4140 or sales@bensonhotel.com

Oregon's only winner of the "Best in the West" award for 2006 as an outstanding meeting facility providing excellence in service.
Smart MeetingsPlatinum Choice Conference/Meeting Venue
We invite you to view our floor plans, sample catering menus, and audiovisual services.

309 Southwest Broadway, Portland Oregon 97205503-228-2000 * FAX 503-471-3920Reservations * 1-888-523-6766 (1-888-5BENSON) * RES 1-800-663-1144 *

Staff at Yang Sing Oriental - You're hired!

Staff at Yang Sing Oriental - You're hired!

It's been brought to my attention that Blue Rainbow Apartments in Manchester has hired the majority of the reception team from the Yang Sing Oriental hotel only after a week it was closed in early March.

Blue Rainbow Apartments was awarded Best Serviced Apartments in 2007 by hotelsofmanchester.com. The standard apartment can be booked from £99 with a 5 star luxury service.

Will Hannah, Managing Director of Blue Rainbow Apartments commented "One of our greatest assets is our staff, and we know Yank Sing Oriental felt exactly the same way about theirs. When the news was released on Monday, we were in despair for the talented team who had lost their jobs. We're currently in a great position, almost at full capacity every night even in low season, and hiring these experienced individuals is definitely a step in the right direction for us."

Very clever and brave move from Will.

Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1F 8ZP

With some many restaurants available in London (TripAdvisor list more than 7,000), sometimes you just want to experience something really creative, new and you can remember for a long time. Well Inamo just did that for me.

Inamo is a fairly new restaurant in Soho busy district of London on Wardour Street where you can find many kinds of restaurants. Inamo building is black from the outside with the red Inamo signage. Once you get in, the room feels a bit dark but then you explore the room more and you understand why.

The restaurant has about 40/50 seats available and each table is white and serves as a touch screen menu where you can see all starters, main courses, order your food and even play battleship with your partner. The table is the main attraction in the restaurant and even though it looks a bit unsocial in the beginning because individuals want to discover this piece of technology by themselves, you start to share your experience with dinners. You can also change the ambiance on the table or play the random selection so you can table can show red roses or have green grass.

The food comes quickly (10min) after you order it with your touchpad screen projector on the table. Food is Asian fusion with black cod, delicious Wagyu beef (this is very tender Japanese beef massaged with beer), spring rolls and more. All the food that came in was nice and delicious in our mouths. Some portions were a bit small though (4 little scallops for 7£).

The bill came for £32 per person with starters, main courses, a bit of beer and desserts. The experience is really worth it and make sure you book a table (only for 1h30 dinning experience though) beforehand.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Branding, Howard Johnson and China

Branding, Howard Johnson and China

In southern China at the moment - Sanya the tourist capital of Hainan province is closer to Bangkok than it is to Beijing…and attracts a massive number of domestic tourists from mainland China with foriegn tourists mainly limited to Russia and Korea.

While the main purpose of my visit here was to deliver some lectures at the Sanya Tourism College, I was invited to speak to the management team at the new 1000 plus room Howard Johnson which opened four months ago. They have a delightful team here and look all set to take the hotel sales and service to a very high level.

Hotel room technology - new, newer and newest

Technology is moving quicker than ever - so much so that even saying it is a cliche. But say it I must and to illustrate, guide you to two examples of the ‘newer’ and the ‘newest’. You will not miss which one is the newest although I suspect it is a long way away…

Surely not because of the technology ‘WOW’ factor but I supect that they did some serios research into what real travellers want. Check out this video!

And then make your way to the BBC to review what the men of science have come up with. The question to ask is how did the scientists get it more right? They have not just gone all geeky, but seemed to have asked a lot of good questions.

Hyatt Hotels meetings

MEETINGS & EVENTS

No matter what type of meeting you’re planning, Hyatt has all the added touches to make it stylish and unique. You’ll also find a Hyatt in all the places your group wants to meet. From vibrant city and business hotels, to convenient airport locations, to idyllic and rewarding resorts. And now planning a successful meeting at Hyatt is easier than ever when you use our online meeting event solutions below.

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

Please click below to view our hotel and resort site for information on wedding or celebration services.

Luxury Hotels - President's Club

Fairmont President's Club

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts exclusive guest recognition program, Fairmont President's Club, offers special benefits and privileges designed to reflect your individual travel preferences and offer an enhanced level of service.
Membership is complimentary and your Fairmont President's Club experience begins the moment you arrive at any of our properties with express check-in at our private reception desk and continues during your stay with complimentary high-speed Internet access, free local calls, complimentary health club access, complimentary use of TalyorMade golf clubs, use of Fairmont Fit and so much more.
It only takes 10 stays or 30 nights to move to Platinum status - faster than all other hotel loyalty programs. As a Platinum member you can enjoy even more exclusive benefits including room and suite upgrades, complimentary nights, choice of $100 USD dining or Willow Stream Spa certificates, guaranteed room access, and more.
Your status as a member of Fairmont President's Club signifies your importance to us, and gives you assurance that you will always receive consistent and exemplary service.

Luxury Hotels - Activity

Welcome to Willow StreamThe Spas at Fairmont
All Willow Stream Spas are sanctuaries inside Fairmont Hotels, in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Each reflects its surroundings - the desert, the mountains, the sea, or the cityscape. All offer Fairmont's unique brand of luxury and outstanding service, coupled with authentic spa experiences and a place to escape that simply makes you feel fantastic.
We're serious about creating authentic experiences where just being here is a joy. Our spas are relaxing, comfortable and sensorial. The layers of details, the small touches, make the difference. We help you escape your fast-forward, mad current world and bring you to a quieter place to recover, so you can dive into life again - energized.
Our resorts and urban oasis' are perfect playgrounds for kicking back and having fun. A round of golf, watching a sunset or laughing with friends over a delicious meal are all great pastimes and a perfect compliment to your spa experience.
Our experiences are authentic - they work. Some are inspired by local traditions, plants and herbs, others are designed for specific results like stress relief, diminishing the appearance of fine lines or connected to your favorite interests like golf, skiing or spending time outdoors. Some are just pure pampering.
Whatever the desired result, we make sure all of our experiences feel wonderful. Make Willow Stream your place - your own personal escape - a place to find your energy and feel fantastic.

Marriott Hotels-News Releases

Hotel & Resorts