Casino Carrasco Hotel was built in 1912, Sofitel had acquired the hotel and will finish its reconstruction in 2011….. Read more

• Paul Smart is a man (chef) intent on proclaiming the Gold Coast as a destination worthy of culinary broadcast. His food is as his name states..elegant, well dressed and stylish…as I said Smart.

  

  Paul Smart Sous Chef Room 81 picture Brian Usher

Your first memory of food: Mussels straight off of the BBQ at Christmas time. I remember my dad saying when the shell opens up they are ready but wait until they get on the plate. I couldn’t help my self

Your culinary hero: Ferran Adria

Your advice for aspiring chefs: Work hard and honest. Keep up with current food trends also keeping the best of the traditional cooking styles and techniques. Keep learning no matter what level you are at.

Favourite cheap eat: Sushi train

Favourite childhood food: My Nanna had an apricot tree, she would cook them in a stock syrup and we would have them for dessert

Most memorable meal: At Becasse in Sydney on Clarance Street, every thing was flawless right down to every little detail. it blew me away.

I read that a career highlight for you was cooking for the Queen. Can you explain how this came about? I was working at the Ritz in London. There were 30 chefs on the night we cooked for the queens birthday and 300 guests were invited, the same week I worked with the El Bulli team on 2 outside catering gigs. That was a busy week

Air France & Sofitel Hotels now advertisers in French luxury Magazine Casol: http://marysecasol.com/luxury-lifestyle-magazine.html

Motivational speaker, Mr. Francis Kong recently graced the St. Peter National Convention last November 17 at the Hotel Sofitel in Manila. Known for his eloquence and substance for his talks and inspirational messages, Mr. Kong did not disappoint the St. Peter audience and was received with a warm cheer and smiles.

Behind Francis Kong and myself is the infamous St. Peter Pink Casket that was a also part fo the National Convention festivities.

The 3rd Thursday of November is arriving, so that means it is time for Beaujolais Nouveau 2009!  We went over this phenonmenon last year, but millions of cases of this wine will be released to the world this Thursday at 12:01am, with a bunch coming right here to Chicago.  Not only will the wine be available for purchase, but the city will be partying down with this tasty, easy drinking wine.  Here is a list of specials and events:

Bistro 110: Burgundy/Beaujolais Tasting.  Head to this Magnificent Mile bistro at 6pm this Thursday for a 6 wine tasting paired with offerings from Chef Dominique Tougne which include cheese, charcuterie, garlic sausage, veal blanquette, poached salmon, and dessert.  $25.

Brasserie Jo: This Friday, enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau by the glass ($8) or bottle ($39) with a la carte pairings of escargots, saucisson, and beef bourguignon.

Cafe des Architectes: Head to the Sofitel Water Tower for a Four Course Prix Fixe.  This menu features French dishes made with local ingredients such as Swan Creek Farm pork belly and chicken, Nichols Farm cippolini onions, and Fayette Creamery camembert.  This menu will be featured Thursday-Saturday.  $45.

French-American Chamber of Commerce: 25th Annual Passport to France.  Enjoy French cuisine from local restaurants paired with 2009 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau along with other French wines and spirits.  There will also be a silent auction and chances to win a trip to France.  At the Union League Club of Chicago.  $50 in advance, $60 at the door.

Kiki’s Bistro: Pairing Beaujolais Nouveau with regular menu items.  Wines from Montes Vineyards of Chile will also be featured.

La Sardine: If you’re hanging around Harpo Studios, stop in to enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau paired with a Four Course Prix Fixe retro menu.  Seafood gratin, duck consumme, monkfish, and dessert.  $35.

L’Eiffel Bistro & Creperie: If you’re out near South Barrington, head to this lively little bistro for the festivities.  Live music, Beaujolais Nouveau, and a Three Course Prix Fixe.  $35.50.

Mon Ami Gabi: Live music, prizes, 2009 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, and hors d’oeuvres at both the Lincoln Park and Oak Brook locations.  $35.

6 jours, 8 avions, 4 événements. Notre première expérience à l’étranger pouvait sembler sur le papier un peu folle et excentrique. Certes, il y eu des surprises, des problèmes jusqu’à la dernière minute mais au Brésil; c’est l’habitude. Et le Brésilien gère tout celà dans la bonne humeur. L’accueil fut tout simplement extraordinaire. Le vin est encore un produit peu diffusé et le piano un instrument parfois juste connu dans le jazz, la bossa ou la samba…

Nous vous invitons à visiter notre tournée en photos.

C’est ici !

Nous sommes déjà repartis l’an prochain pour plus de 6 soirées.

Et si vous partiez avec nous ?

The August selection for the finest hotels in the world, the Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, Egypt. The setting for Agatha Christie''s Death on the Nile, this historic Colonial Hotel is possibly the best hotel in Egypt. It is and experience, should visit with artifact hunting and grave that traveler' on the list of list of every luxury adventure combines's.

The Old Cataract Experience

Consider the following scenario: Enter the bigLobby with high ceilings and notice the blend of Victorian elegance and eastern arabesques. Keep straight until you reach the terrace. View from the Egyptian sailboat called a felucca gliding through the water of the Nile on both sides of the island of Elephantine. Feel the warm breeze as you sit down and take note of the long robe makers calmly eating the wide halls. Survey of the confluence of past and present, between East and West, and when the waiter your hands icy cold martini and lemonade,and consider the peace and tranquility of it all. This is the Old Cataract Hotel, welcoming guests to its calming interior design since 1899 and unanimously considered one of the best hotels in Egypt.

On a granite outcrop on the banks of the Nile in Aswan, Egypt stands, the hotel takes its name) from the rivers First Cataract (rapids. The large rooms are spacious, with antiques, fine Egyptian cotton linen, high ceilings, and most have painfully beautiful NileViews.

The large restaurant, 1902, one was of several in the hotel for the opening of the first Aswan Dam, with Winston Churchill, ordered royalty and dignitaries inaugurated present. French continental cuisine is served in a large colorful Moorish interior. There is also a swimming pool with a terrace overlooking the Nile. The languorous beauty of the Nile will collect you at the Old Cataract, an experience should not be missed.

LuxuryExperience for the adventurous from your base at the Old Cataract:

Take a taxi to the nearby island of Philae. You can take a boat motor seen you negotiate with this fantastic island, which is filled with temples that have been taken to be preserved when created.Take the Aswan dam was a 2-hour flight to Abu Simbel to visit the huge – giant seated figures presided over a small temple, entered.Go for a cruise on one of the graceful felucca sailboats canOf course, that over the Nile.

Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel

Location: Abtal El Tahrir Street, Aswan, Egypt, is more likely to arrive by train or bus, the airport half an hour by taxi.

Luxury Style: adventurous, the puffs of the colonial past of the Old Cataract love dreamers who want nothing more than to see feluccas drift lazily across the Nile to walk, the historians who wish to follow in the footsteps of Howard Carter, Agatha Christie Fans whowant to look the Shadow of "Death on the Nile", actually just about anyone who thought that they would like to see the tombs of ancient pharaohs as a list of its life has had successes.

What we heard: When a competition for the most beguiling spot in the world around him would be the hours of the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel is certainly a contender.

Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

After our uber spicy korean dinner, we were already looking for a sweet dessert. We decided to go to Le Bar at Sofitel to try out their Mango Roll but it was unavailable, the other desserts were still yummy looking but we didnt feel like eating the chunky chocolate balls.

We decided to head off to Starbucks but we hanged out in Sofitel’s garden area first. We found some lounge chairs and enjoyed the cool sea breeze, it was really relaxing. I hope all restaurants in manila have that relaxing and serene ambiance.

Although Sofitel’s furbishings is getting old and rusty, it still has its luxurious and serene ambiance. I do hope that Sofitel will continue to offer the Filipinos experience.

Santa Croce occupies the north west part of the main islands, and can be divided into two areas: the eastern area being largely mediaeval, and the western – including the main port and the Tronchetto – mostly lying on land reclaimed in the twentieth century.

The district includes the Piazzale Roma, home to Venice’s bus station and car parks, and around which is the only area of the city in which cars can travel. The tourist attractions lie mostly in the eastern part of the quarter, and include the Church of San Nicolo da Tolentino, the Fondaco dei Turchi, the Church of San Giacomo dell’Orio, the Centre for the History of Costume, the Patrician Palace and Ca’Corner della Regina.

Across from the Piazzale Roma is a small garden that makes you feel like you are outside of Venice.  I nice retreat from the hustle of the more crowded districts.  Also nearby is the Papadopoli Venezia Hotel (formerly in the Sofitel family).  This runs about $280 on average a night.  But in a quieter part of the city.

Prasheel Churi in Otago Daily Times, Mia Visser, of Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Resort, and Prasheel Churi, of Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, will take on their big-city counterparts at the New Zealand hotel receptionist of the year finals in Wellington on October 9. Photo by James Beech.

A greast hotel receptionist needs to be approachable, pleasant and diplomatic and must be able to multitask, say the two Queenstown finalists competing to be named the best in New Zealand.

Southern regional winner Mia Visser (23), of Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Resort, and Southern runner-up Prasheel Churi (24), of Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, take on six counterparts in the national finals at the InterContinental Wellington hotel, on October 9.

The Association of Rooms Division Executives of New Zealand hosted regional heats in its search for the New Zealander who will compete for the David Campbell Trophy, at the AICR international receptionist of the year competition, in Madrid, in January.

The French-founded AICR stands for the International Association of Deputy Managers and Reception Heads of Luxury Hotels.

Miss Visser and Mr Churi, who both entered the competition for the first time, said they called on their day-to-day receptionist experience when competing in the Queenstown round at Novotel earlier this month.

Six candidates were quizzed by a panel of five judges about themselves and their knowledge of hotel costs, profits, revenue, yield management, staffing level, structure, promotional ideas and more.

“Guests” confronted them with a variety of everyday problems in a role-playing scenario and judges gave feedback.

“I took it as being at work, without the judges there,” Miss Visser said.

“This is what could happen so you just approach it in the best possible way.”

Miss Visser has worked at Sofitel since December.

The International College of Hotel Management graduate has worked in five-star hotels in Australia and Singapore for almost six years and aims to become a duty manager.

“It feels quite good. To be nominated was a surprise. It was a new experience and it was good to compare against strong competitors in the region.”

Mr Churi, originally from Mumbai, has worked as a receptionist for 14 months and graduated from the Pacific International Hotel Management School in July.

He said he wanted to make his career in hospitality, especially front of house.

“It was good to hear I got the opportunity and I could fulfil the expectations of my management. It’s great to hear you would be representing your hotel on a national level.

“My colleagues were very happy and I had great support.”

The duo said they had taken the judges’ comments on board and were ready for the Wellington finals.

“At the end of the day, it’s about portraying yourself and your hotel and doing your best,” Miss Visser said.

By James Beech on Mon, 28 Sep 2009

www.odt.co.nz

The big project is over! Before I write about the luscious buffet I had last Friday, I’d just like to congratulate AP 24.07 for the release of Manghuhula. Also, thank you thank you for all those who supported us!

Anyway, I was invited to binge out on one of the biggest buffets here in Manila– Spiral Buffet at Sofitel. What to wear on such a delightful occassion?

1. Black: So you’ll always look thin even if you are sooo full. Hahah

2. For all the ladies out there, an A-line top or an empire one, to hide that bulging tummy when you’ve eaten almost everything the buffet has to offer. Hahaha!

I really, really loved the food at Spiral, Sofitel. What’s more is that I binged with my 2 great friends! The drive was worth it! I have never eaten that much since forver! And the dessert bar was just to die for!

Anyway, enough with the foodie. Hehe. I discovered a store (that’s apparently been here awhile already) called Tango. It’s a local store here in Manila that has 3 branches in Metro Manila. Anyway, their stuff is really, really great and with reasonable prices. I debuted it at the Spiral Buffet. Hehe. They don’t have a website just yet, though.

Oh, and Annie, I really, really, really love this clutch that you gave me!!!!

Wee!!!! I’m back from the hectic world called work. Haha!

Top: Black, low neck A-Line, Tango

Bottom: Skinny jeans, Flea Market

Bag: Black studded clutch, Aldo-gift

Sunglasses: MNG

Shoes: Black and gray strappies, VNC

De olho na Copa de 2014, o grupo Accor desenha os acordos finais para implantar em Porto Alegre o seu primeiro Fórmule 1.

O hotel de baixo preço ficará nas imediações da rodoviária.

No RS, o grupo Accor já opera três Mercure, dois Íbis (um terceiro Íbis começará a ser construído no primeiro trimestre, perto do Sheraton) e um Novotel. No Estado não existe nenhum Sofitel.

- O Fórmula 1 é uma espécie de hotel uma estrela e é famoso em todo mundo. A qualidade é Accor. Em São Paulo, o Fórmule 1 da avenida Paulista cobra R$ 70,00 por um apartamento para três hóspedes, com direito a roupa de cama, toalha de banho, xampu e sabonete, além de uma TV (não há telefone). O café da manhã custa R$ 6,00.

Políbio Braga

With the recession hitting both domestic and international travel, the hotel industry in India and other countries suffered huge losses. Despite these losses Accor, the largest hotel chain in Europe, has recently announced that they will invest USD 130 million (89.69 million euros) to set up around 50 hotels in India by 2012.

Accor has almost 4,000 hotels in 90 countries, including power brands like Sofitel, Mercure, Ibis, Formule 1 and Motel 6. It is reported that Accor, presently operates five hotel properties and one convention centre in India, with a room inventory of 1,100. In the next three years, the company is expected to have an inventory of 10,460 rooms in 50 hotels spread over 15 cities of India. Accor also plans to invest 80 million euros in the Asia-Pacific region this year by opening 55 hotels, adding a total 10,000 rooms. The company’s plans seem as lavish as their hotels – they plan to invest a similar amount in the region the following year.

According to Michael Issenberg, Chairman and COO, Accor – Asia Pacific, “The revenue of upscale and midscale hotels has been severely impacted due to the recession worldwide. However, we are bullish on India’s growth prospects.”

Accor has endured losses like other hotel companies worldwide throughout the financial meltdown period. In order to revive companies need to capitalise on their strengths. To find out whether Accor is doing just that, we’ll have to wait and watch.

Of course, since Shangri-La Hotel is doing its buffet-sale thang, would Spiral do nothing? ‘COURSE NOT!

Gather at least a group of four to get 50% off, hit the telly and dial 8326988 or email your reservations! Offer good until Sept 29 only!

12:40pm, early August, main kitchen for No.35 at The Sofitel, Melbourne, Australia. Time lapsed photography of the lunch staff, with the camera mounted in the south east corner of the kitchen.

The Chefs in Kitchen where: James Viles, Ian Burch, Shaun Quade, Adam Roberts and Ludo Baulacky

passei três meses freelando dentro da agência unodesign, onde desenvolvi uma série de peças diferentes, como banners digitais, anúncios de revista/jornal, cartazes, cardápios, catálogos de veículos etc, grande parte seguindo charts.

entre os clientes se destacam accor hotels, sofitel, novotel, mercure, mercedes benz, brasil diverso, synthes e syngenta.

abaixo algumas peças:

anúncio e informe publicitário / novotel

anúncio e informe publicitário / novotel

anúncio de revista / mercure

convite, cartazes, banner, email marketing (em parceria com jean carlos) / novotel

convite, cartazes, banner, email marketing (em parceria com jean carlos) / novotel

take one / sofitel

take one / sofitel

newsletter (layout de jean carlos) / novotel

adaptação de layout de jean carlos para portfolio / brasil diverso

adaptação de layout de jean carlos para portfolio / brasil diverso

adaptação de layout de jean carlos para portfolio / brasil diverso

Ces dernières années, j’ai constaté qu’il n’y avait plus aucun investissement direct extérieur en Polynésie française, à l’exception notable et très récente de la téléphonie mobile ( mara télécom-siemens, vodaphone et digicel). Et pourtant, ces investissements sont sources de capitaux, d’innovation et de modernisation économique, d’ouverture au marché international, de participation à la mondialisation, de création de richesses et d’emplois.

Il est vrai que la Polynésie française, contrairement à de nombreux autres pays, n’a pas fait évoluer une règlementation des investissements étrangers relativement restrictive. De facto, de nombreux secteurs d’activité sont fermés à ces investisseurs. C’est notamment le cas dans le domaine de la pêche, de la perliculture, du transport aérien international et interinsulaire, des transports en commun, de la production et distribution d’énergie ( concession de l’EDT), des croisières touristiques interinsulaires, des pensions de famille, des casinos et des postes et télécommunications (téléphone fixe et mobile…).

Dans de nombreux autres secteurs, divers régimes d’autorisations qui, quelquefois s’empilent les uns aux autres, sont aussi des freins aux investissements : aquaculture, marinas, agriculture, cliniques privées, téléphonie mobile, hypermarchés, magasins spécialisés d’une superficie importante, télévision…. Un véritable parcours du combattant qui limite les ardeurs et qui peuvent mettre la patience des investisseurs à rude épreuve. A priori, le but recherché n’est pas de décourager l’investisseur extérieur. Mais pratiquement, n’est ce pas le cas ?

Malgré ces restrictions, le champ d’expression pratique de ces investisseurs est relativement vaste : hotellerie, animations touristiques diverses (golf, club de plongée, compagnie de charters nautiques, location automobile…) , agriculture, industrie agro-alimentaire, industries de transformations diverses, laboratoires de recherche, bâtiment-travaux publics, commerce spécialisé,  les TIC, les services aux entreprises ( hors postes et télécommunications) ou aux particuliers….

Mais pourquoi les investisseurs extérieurs ne se “bousculent-ils pas au portillon” ?

Deux motivations principales guident les investisseurs extérieurs.

1) La satisfaction d’une demande domestique pas ou peu satisfaite.

Malheureusement, la taille démographique ( 260.000 habitants) de la Polynésie française limite les opportunités. Point positif cependant : notre niveau de vie et notre pouvoir d’achat peuvent intéresser des investisseurs qui ne sont pas bloqués par cette taille critique démographique. C’est le cas, justement, et dans une certaine mesure, de la téléphonie mobile : le marché local semble être lucratif ( les bénéfices plantureux de Tikiphone qui les “remonte” vers l’OPT le démontrent).

De même, notre éloignement géographique et, paradoxalement,  les barrières à l’entrée ( droits de douane, TDL, interdictions à l’importation, quotas….)  sur notre marché peuvent déclencher des intentions d’investir. Malheureusement, ces dernières années, on n’a rien vu venir de conséquent. Tant mieux pour certains de nos capitalistes locaux installés depuis longtemps dans certains secteurs. Mais est-ce tant mieux pour les consommateurs polynésiens ?

On peut donc en conclure que le marché polynésien n’intéresse pas grand monde, si ce n’est les exportateurs étrangers.

2) Nos avantages comparatifs pour conquérir les marchés extérieurs.

Notre premier atout est, bien sûr, le tourisme. Il est vrai que dans les décennies 60 – 80, ce secteur a accueilli de nombreux investisseurs et chaines hotelières extérieures. Mais dans la période récente, c’est le calme plat et il y a même un petit mouvement de désengagement ( club méditerranée) . En fait, ce sont les “capitalistes locaux”, adossés aux riches épargnants français, qui se sont substitués à ces investisseurs extérieurs, grâce notamment aux leviers majeurs que constituent la défiscalisation nationale ( Loi Pons, Paul, Girardin, Jégo) et la défiscalisation locale ( “Loi Flosse” et suivantes…). Sans ces leviers, je ne sais pas où on en serait…

Tant mieux pour notre “grande bourgeoisie” polynésienne qui a pu réinvestir les bénéfices réalisés dans divers secteurs d’activité dans ce secteur porteur et celui, complémentaire, du transport aérien international, quitte à s’appuyer sur l’expertise gestionnaire et le réseau de distribution des grandes chaines hotelières internationales ( Accor- Sofitel, Intercontinental, Méridien, Radisson, Outrigger, puis, Sheraton, puis Hilton….). Seul inconvénient du système: la richesse se concentre et continue à se concentrer entre quelques mains…

Mais dans les autres secteurs ? Rien dans la perliculture et la pêche. Fermés aux investisseurs étrangers ( mais pas à d’éventuels prête-noms locaux…) jusqu’à nouvel ordre.

On nous dit que le cinéma est un secteur “porteur”. Certes, mais les résultats ne sont pas probants jusqu’ici. Peut être qu’entre les avantages théoriques et le parcours du combattant pratique, il y a un fossé incommensurable. Ce n’est pas le promoteur du golf de Moorea qui nous contre-dira dans son domaine…

Alors, face à ce bilan particulièrement pauvre, que faire ?

Je pense qu’en premier lieu, il faut que nos décideurs, en 2009, nous disent exactement ce qu’ils veulent des investisseurs extérieurs. Si j’ai bien compris, c’est en voie d’être clarifié dans le domaine des croisières interinsulaires ( révision des incitations, notamment fiscales). Mais dans les autres secteurs, il serait temps d’actualiser nos textes relatifs aux investissements étrangers.

En second lieu, il faut comparer avec ce que les autres pays similaires à la Polynésie française font pour attirer les investisseurs. Si on veut de ces investisseurs ( la question se pose ici lorsqu’on voit diverses autorités religieuses se mêler de questions “temporelles”, voire très terre à terre, comme le tourisme “gay”…), que faut-il faire pour être attractif ?

En troisième lieu, une fois que l’on a identifié en quoi nous pouvons être “attractifs”, il faut le faire savoir (  information et communication) et aller chercher ces investisseurs de manière efficace (prospection “ciblée”). Le moins que l’on puisse dire, au vu des maigres résultats, est que nous ne sommes pas très dynamiques et performants dans ce domaine.

Autre chantier et autre défi à relever !

Spotted in Morrocco, Actors Club !

“Girls, here in Morrocco you’re much safer with our bodyguard!”

(Paris )

SOFITEL

Das Thema kommt immer wieder auf: In zahlreichen Hamburger Hotels sollen weiterhin die Mitarbeiterinnen von Reinigungsfirmen keine Mindestlöhne erhalten. Dies legt eine Auskunft des Senats der Hansestadt auf eine SPD-Anfrage offen. Lediglich 121 der 300 Hotelbetriebe haben das freiwillige „Tariftreue-Siegel“, das auf eine Initiative des Dehoga-Landesverbandes zurück geht, angefordert. Warum sich 60 Prozent der Betriebe dieser Zertifizierung nicht anschließen, ist nicht klar.

Roomkeeping im Hotel: Immer noch Lohndumping in vielen Häusern?

Auch bei den Gebäudereinigern ist ein Siegel unbeliebt. Nur 45 der in der Innung organisierten 123 Betrieben führen ein Zertifikat, das Standards garantieren soll. Immer wieder muss der Zoll Hinweise nachgehen und mühsam recherchieren, ob die Mindestlöhne eingehalten werden.

Lesen Sie den vollständigen Beitrag hier:
http://www.tophotel.de/index.php?mindestlohn-zimmermaedchen-hotels-hamburg