SRS-WORLDHOTELS has unveiled its long awaited new identity as WORLDHOTELS and announced that it is setting its sights on the business travel market.
The group has 500 independently-owned hotels worldwide, ranging from the deluxe to the three star. About half are in Europe where the original company Steigenberger Reservations Service WORLDHOTELS was launched 35 years ago.
Mr Michael Ball, the group's ceo since 2002, said that already 65% of its guests were business travellers and it aimed to increase that market.
“We have deals with many corporates and one of the biggest sales teams in the hotel business. We already have partnership deals with American Express and TQ3 and there has been a dramatic increase in the number of RFPs that we have received.
“We are going to carry on what we have been doing and do more of the same. We shall be going out actively seeking the business market,” he said.
He said WORLDHOTELS had an “exceptional year” in 2004 with room nights booked up 17% and room revenue up by 26%.
He said the majority of the rise was due to the increase in business travellers.
“We are announcing our new brand name and identity at a time when we are driving forward with our plans and growing the business at a much faster rate than we have done in recent years,” he said.
The group's new product, worldhotel.events, launched last year had also attracted an increased amount of conference business while increased use of the internet had brought it new markets.
“Our hotels are independent and each is different so we are an antidote to the chains. The whole point of what we do is to appeal to the informed and discerning business traveller,” Mr Ball said.