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Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at Gainesville joins Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio

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Benchmark has added the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at Gainesville to the company’s Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brand portfolio. The recently renovated, 248-guest room property is located on the University of Florida campus, close to Gainesville’s Central Business District. The property serves a growing market of visiting alumni, parents and students, academics, and guests affiliated with the university. Its IACC-approved conference center, with 25,000 square feet of meeting space, attracts a significant number of meetings and events. The Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at Gainesville is Benchmark’s tenth property in Florida, and the third hotel located on a major college campus within the United States.

“We are honored to be chosen by Hilton Hotels & Resorts to manage this exceptional property,” says Benchmark CEO Alex Cabañas. “We are also delighted to again expand our presence in Florida, where both our Gemstone Collection and Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brands are represented throughout the Sunshine State,” he said. Benchmark recently added two hotels in St. Pete Beach to its portfolio, expanding its presence to Southwest Florida.

Mr. Cabañas also noted the growing importance of conference center hotels to a university. “These hotels serve as a campus ‘guest house’, providing an authentic, on-campus experience while sharing ideas and resources,” he said.

The non-smoking, pet-friendly hotel includes 248 guest rooms and suites featuring HDTV, desks for work/study-related activities, and complimentary WiFi. Guests can enjoy the property’s outdoor pool and whirlpool and a 24-hour fitness center.

The University of Florida is a prominent research university, set on 2,000 acres in Gainesville, in North Central Florida. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in law, medicine, business and engineering.

The University of Florida campus offers an array of services and attractions, including an art museum, concerts, lectures, theater, libraries and sports events. Guests can enjoy collegiate football at the nearby Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, home of the Florida Gators. Other local attractions include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Gainesville Raceway. The surrounding region offers opportunities for biking, canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming and wildlife viewing at one of seven nearby Florida State parks.

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Swiss-Belhotel International appoints new General Manager for Swiss-Belinn Muscat

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Swiss-Belhotel International has appointed Paul Uglesic as the General Manager for Swiss-Belinn Muscat in Oman. Paul has ten years of outstanding experience in the hospitality industry working with some of the world’s leading brands.

Making the announcement, Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are delighted to welcome Paul Uglesic to lead the team at Swiss-Belinn Muscat in Oman. Paul has a decade of strong knowledge and understanding of the hospitality sector as well as excellent pre-opening expertise targeted at achieving operational excellence and guest satisfaction. We are confident under his leadership this superb property, that is in advanced stages of development, will provide outstanding facilities in the 3-star category.”

Paul started his executive career in the industry at Radisson Blu Resort & Spa in Croatia in 2009. In 2015, Paul moved to Dubai taking up the role of Executive Assistant Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek and performed a task force role as the acting General Manager at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Downtown. His most recent posting was at the Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City as the opening General Manager.

Upon joining the Swiss-Belinn Muscat Paul said, “I am truly proud to take up the position at the fantastic Swiss-Belinn Muscat in Oman. It is an exciting adventure for me since Swiss-Belhotel International is a great brand to work for. Together with my team, I am looking forward to launching the hotel and positioning it as a preferred address for both regional and international travellers.”

Paul holds a bachelors’ degree in economics from the University of Adelaide in Australia along with several certifications and professional diplomas in hospitality management, hotel revenue management, and general manager’s program from the acclaimed Cornell University.

Expected to open this year, Swiss-Belinn Muscat is a superb 3-star hotel enjoying an outstanding location in close proximity to Muscat International Airport. Equipped with 128 rooms and suites, the hotel is being developed to offer its guests a comprehensive range of facilities including an all-day-dining restaurant, meeting space, gym, Wi-Fi access and 24-hours room service. Given its fantastic location near the airport, the hotel will serve as the perfect abode for transit passengers looking for stop-overs and airline crews as well as corporate travellers on a short visit to Oman or those facing unexpected flight halts.

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New GM at Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel

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Rizal Bin Yaacob is the new General Manager of the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel and Casino of Seychelles. He was transferred from The Tarras Beach & Spa Resort of Malaysia.

“He is a committed and dedicated manager who can be relied upon to be at ‘the beck and call’ of the hotel in ensuring guest satisfaction and smooth operations. He is a team developer and delegates authority and empowerment to his subordinates. He has excellent interpersonal skills in communicating with both guests and employees. I have found Rizal to be firm and fair in his style of management. He was a very well respected member of the team and also by the local community in Redang Island,” says a member of the hospitality trade who knows him well.

Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino sits on one of the most popular tourist beaches of Seychelles and has all the potential for being the meeting place for visitors and Seychellois.

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New GM at Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel

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Rizal Bin Yaacob is the new General Manager of the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel and Casino of Seychelles. He was transferred from The Tarras Beach & Spa Resort of Malaysia.

“He is a committed and dedicated manager who can be relied upon to be at ‘the beck and call’ of the hotel in ensuring guest satisfaction and smooth operations. He is a team developer and delegates authority and empowerment to his subordinates. He has excellent interpersonal skills in communicating with both guests and employees. I have found Rizal to be firm and fair in his style of management. He was a very well respected member of the team and also by the local community in Redang Island,” says a member of the hospitality trade who knows him well.

Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino sits on one of the most popular tourist beaches of Seychelles and has all the potential for being the meeting place for visitors and Seychellois.

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New head at JFA Group of Companies – Hotels Division in Seychelles

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Philippe Cornaille has been appointed head at JFA Group of Companies – Hotels Division in Seychelles. When asked to give some background on himself, Philippe Cornaille starts by saying he was born in Luxembourg first, and married to “my lovely Virginie” second. Aside from being happily married, he also holds the demanding task of overseeing all the hotels of the JFA Group of Companies in Seychelles.

Philippe Cornaille is another “return customer” to the Creole Travel Group team in Seychelles. He was previously the Resident Manager of the Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie of La Digue in 2009, before moving on in 2013 to Tsogo Sun Hotels in Dubai. He continued as the General Manager of the pre-opening phase of AVANI Les Berges Du Lac Tunis Suites, before returning back home to Seychelles to the JFA Group.

Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie at La Digue and Le Domaine de La Reserve at Praslin are the hotels in that Hotel Group in Seychelles.

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Denis Private Island of Seychelles shortlisted for World Travel Awards

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It has been confirmed that Denis Private Island is in the running for one of the world’s most prestigious honors in the professional tourism trade.

Its nomination in the 26th World Travel Awards (WTA) for the Indian Ocean’s leading private island resort category is a first for the locally-owned property.

Seychelles prides itself on having some of the best tourism accommodation properties, and seeing such nominations for the 26th World Travel Awards (WTA) only confirms the achievements of the local hospitality industry.

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Mandarin Oriental opens first hotel in Beijing

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Hongkong Land today announced the completion of its prestigious WF CENTRAL premium lifestyle retail destination, located in the capital city’s historic Wangfujing area, with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing. Executives from Hongkong Land and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group celebrated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new hotel, Mandarin Oriental’s first hotel in Beijing.

Seamlessly connected with WF CENTRAL, the hotel features 73 rooms and suites which are among the largest in Beijing. The rooms are designed with a contemporary residential style combined with subtle traditional Chinese elements, an array of luxury amenities and expansive, spa-like bathrooms. Many rooms have superb views towards the Forbidden City. The hotel is also home to stylish restaurants and bars, including the signature Mandarin Grill + Bar, casual dining restaurant Cafe Zi, and the sleek, sophisticated MO Bar — all of which have direct access to an expansive rooftop garden terrace.

Those seeking rejuvenation in the heart of the city may visit The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, which offers a range of curated wellness and beauty treatments as well as a 25-metre indoor lap pool with natural light and a comprehensive gym.

“Since its opening in May 2018, WF CENTRAL has been playing a crucial role in the redevelopment of the historic Wangfujing area of Beijing into one of the city’s premium lifestyle retail destinations,” said Mr Raymond Chow, Executive Director of Hongkong Land. “The opening of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, completes our work and exemplifies this strategy, as we are bringing Mandarin Oriental’s legendary hospitality together with a compelling mix of retail and dining, all nestled within one of the world’s most important and historic cities.”

Mr Richard Baker, Chief Relationship Officer, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said, “Mandarin Oriental is delighted to partner with Hongkong Land in the creation of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing. This is our third successful collaboration and we are immensely proud to be part of WF CENTRAL, Beijing’s preeminent lifestyle retail destination. We look forward to introducing the Group’s legendary hospitality to China’s capital and to welcoming guests through our doors.”

WF CENTRAL, Hongkong Land’s flagship development in Beijing, is a US$1.2 billion retail-led project designed to be the city’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination. It is also expected to be a major contributor to the transformation of Beijing’s historic Wangfujing area into a hub for retail, dining and business. The complex has a total gross floor area of more than 150,000 sq. m., including 43,000 sq. m. of retail space that hosts an exciting, diverse mix of tenants according to five core categories: “Luxury”, “Fashion”, “World-class Gastronomy”, “Lifestyle & Wellness” and “Art & Culture”.

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