HotelsMag April 2015 | Page 57

SUPPLYLINE

AMBIENTE 2015 HAD RECORD LEVELS OF INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

More international attendees than ever before attended Ambiente 2015 . The fair reported 4,811 exhibitors from 94 countries ; 53 % of visitors hailed from outside Germany . The top 10 visitor nations after Germany were Italy , France , the Netherlands , Great Britain , Spain , the U . S ., Switzerland , China , Turkey and Poland . Ambiente also reported above-average increases in the number of visitors from the Middle East and Asia , particularly from China and India .

Ambiente ’ s 2015 partner country was the U . S . American product design was honored in a presentation created by Brooklyn-based designer Scott Henderson . Ambiente announced that Italy will be its 2016 partner country .

UNIVERSAL POINTS AIMS TO DRIVE DIRECT BOOKINGS

Universal Points , a loyalty program for boutique and lifestyle hospitality , aims to drive direct bookings and improve travel experiences by bringing independent hotels and guests closer together . With a focus on customer engagement , the reward program says it is built upon the principles of simplicity , flexibility and transparency .

Universal Points launched with more than 135 participating properties . New hotel partners include the Chamberlain West Hollywood , Colony Palms in Palm Springs , The Lafayette Hotel in San Diego , The OUT NYC and several Miami Beach hotels .

HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT & RESORTS SELECTS INFOR FOR TRAINING

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts ( HE & R ) selected Infor Learning Management to provide employees with flexible training options , Infor announced . HE & R will also use Infor HR Service Delivery , a secure environment for employees , managers and human resource professionals .

Because of HE & R ’ s diverse operations , its employees are required to achieve varied certifications , which were previously tracked and managed manually . With the Infor program , renewal information will be distributed via automatic reminders .

VILLEROY & BOCH CONGRATULATES BOCUSE D ’ OR WINNERS

Nicolas Luc Villeroy , board member for tableware at Villeroy & Boch , traveled to Lyon , France , to congratulate the winners of the Bocuse d ’ Or international culinary competition . Ørjan Johannessen of Norway won first place , Philip Tessier of the U . S . won second place , and Tommy Myllymäki of Sweden took third place in the competition that took place January 27 to 28 , 2015 . Dishes prepared at Bocuse d ’ Or were presented on plates from Villeroy & Boch ’ s Affinity line . The company also produced this year ’ s commemorative Bocuse d ’ Or plate .

IN BRIEF

■ The Puccini Group named Heleri Rande director of business development for EMEA .

■ Quadriga

Rande

Worldwide promoted Jean-Philippe Delouis to president and managing director EMEA . The company also appointed James Cannon as regional director for UK and Ireland .

■ Kalisher appointed Barbara Wittig as group account director .

■ The Marriott Marquis Washington , D . C ., leveraged Cintas ’ Uniform Room to track inventory , cash flow , back stock and uniforms .

■ The Courtyard Marriott in Summerville , South Carolina , chose Nydree Flooring ’ s COR Wenge flooring for its lobby .

■ Marriott selected Bittel ’ s Jacob Jensen HT series trimline phones for the U . S . launch of urban lifestyle brand AC Hotels by Marriott .

■ DHISCO , Inc . appointed Toni Portmann as CEO and executive chairman of the board .

■ Hotel Internet Services appointed Lawrence Jaffe as marketing director Portmann and Bill Herman as national account manager .

■ Sealed Air ’ s Diversey Care division announced a five-year global contract to provide cleaning and hygiene products and services to Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group .

■ Source Outdoor entered a strategic vendor partnership with Chella Textiles , an artisanal textile manufacturer offering weaves for indoor and outdoor applications .

www . hotelsmag . com April 2015 HOTELS 55