Sailing away: Escape hull art in progress
Artist Guy Harvey and Norwegian Cruise Line President Andy Stuart last week viewed Harvey's hull artwork as it takes shape on the Norwegian Escape at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. Harvey's images of Caribbean sea life, including his signature sailfish, stretch more than 1,000 feet from bow to stern on what Norwegian said was the marine-wildlife artist's "largest canvas to date." Norwegian has embraced the concept of colorful ship hulls; its most recent ships feature artwork from Peter Max and David Le Batard.
Norwegian signs 15-year Seattle lease
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings inked a 15-year agreement with the Port of Seattle that calls for Norwegian to invest about $30 million in improvements to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal, expanding the passenger processing facilities. Norwegian's three brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, all sail Alaska in the summer.
Tauck doubling down on the family market
Tauck will double to 20 the number of family-friendly river cruises it offers in 2017 under its Tauck Bridges sub-brand for family tours. Tauck launched family-friendly cruises in 2008 and has three itineraries designed for families and will add a fourth in 2017. Tauck vessels have family-friendly features such as suites with pull-out sofas to allow for up to four people in a cabin. Tauck Bridges cruises are offered on the Rhone, Rhine and Danube rivers.
Montana court rules against OTAs on taxes
The Montana Supreme Court ruled against nine OTAs, including Priceline Group and Expedia, with regard to sales taxes due on hotel and car-rental bookings since November 2010. The court said the OTAs were responsible for paying sales tax rates on whatever revenue was generated on hotel-room and car-rental bookings over and above the wholesale rates the OTAs paid to secure those reservations.
Margaritaville hotel planned for Orlando
Orlando will get Florida's third Margaritaville Resort, a 300-acre development with a hotel, vacation homes, retail space and a water park. The Jimmy Buffett music-inspired property will include a lake with a beach, a fishing school, a spa and a planetarium.
Hilton to launch mobile room key
Hilton Worldwide introduced a mobile app that lets guests use their smartphone as a room key. Hilton's Digital Key will be available for HHonors loyalty members by early next year at 250 U.S. hotels under the Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy by Hilton brands. Starwood Hotels & Resorts started a similar program last year.
Hertz to close its U.S. car-sharing service
Hertz will close all of its car-sharing service operations in the United States by September, as well as some locations in Europe. It will continue to operate in some international markets. Hertz launched Connect by Hertz in 2008 to compete with Zipcar, which Avis Budget Group acquired in 2013. Hertz later rebranded it as Hertz On Demand and then Hertz 24/7.
Seabourn reveals look of new ship suites
Seabourn unveiled the first renderings of what suites will look like on the Encore, its ship due to enter service in December 2016. Seabourn said a majority of the ship's 300 suites would be at least 300 square feet with balconies of up to 74 square feet. Suites top out at 1,300 square feet, all with balconies and marble bathrooms.
Dubai's first Aloft and Element to open in '18
Dubai's first Aloft and Element brands will open in 2018, with three Aloft properties totaling 648 rooms as well as a 168-room Element. Starwood Hotels & Resorts has 16 hotels in Dubai, with the company's Sheraton, W and St. Regis brands set to debut there by the end of the year.
Friends & Colleagues
Thomas Ostebo has stepped down as CLIA president and CEO, only about a month after joining the organization. Ostebo, a former admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard, cited personal reasons for his resignation. He was named president and CEO after an executive search to succeed Christine Duffy, who resigned to become president of Carnival Cruise Line. "While it is unfortunate that Tom is departing CLIA, his desire to put his family first is a testament to his character, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors," CLIA Chairman Adam Goldstein said in a statement. Cindy D'Aoust, executive vice president of membership and operations, will assume the role of acting CEO until a permanent replacement is found. • • • Water park resort operator Great Wolf Resorts has tapped former Carnival Cruise Line executive Ruben Rodriguez as its next CEO. Rodriguez will join Great Wolf effective Sept. 22. He succeeds Kimberly Schaefer, who will become Great Wolf's chief brand officer. Rodriguez was Carnival's executive vice president of shipboard operations. • • • Short's Travel Management has named David Hughes president. Hughes will maintain his previous responsibilities as CFO. David LeCompte, CEO of Short's (No. 38 on Travel Weekly's 2015 Power List), said that Hughes has been acting as president for more than a year. "I'm excited to give him the title he has earned," LeCompte said. Hughes joined Short's in 2008. • • • Dream Hotels has filled the general manager posts at two of its properties. Ayo Akinsete has been named general manager of Dream Hollywood, and Dan Daley will succeed Akinsete at the Dream Downtown in New York.