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SOCIAL SKILLS
Looking to reach an American audience ? Head for Facebook , where you ’ ll find 70 % of American Internet users . Eastern Europe more your niche ? You should be on Vkontakte , according to research from InSites Consulting , which collected data from more than 9,000 consumers in 35 countries . Here are a few more interesting findings :
80 % it
All atwitter over Twitter ? Not so much .
While 80 % of the Internet is aware of , only 16 % uses it .
MORE THAN HALF OF SOCIAL NETWORK USERS ARE CONNECTED TO BRANDS .
38 %
The 38 % of Internet users who own a smartphone use social networks more intensely than those who don ’ t have smartphones . While 12 % of smartphone users utilize location-based services , 37 % say they do not because of privacy concerns .
BRAZIL AND INDIA HAVE THE MOST SOCIAL NETWORK AWARENESS AND PENETRATION .
98 % of Europeans are aware of at least one social network , and 73 % are members of at least one social network . Facebook , Twitter and MySpace are the best-known networks .
IN CHINA , QZONE ’ S AWARENESS RIVALS THAT OF FACEBOOK .
Golden designers
Michele Sweeting ( far R ), senior vice president of capital planning and procurement with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts , introduced the 2011 Designer of the Year award-winning firm , BAMO , at the annual Gold Key awards , co-sponsored by HOTELS magazine . BAMO executives
AT HOME IN THE WORLD
The glamor of the 1930s is alive in Shanghai , where Victor Sassoon ’ s Nine Nations Suites have reopened at the Fairmont Peace Hotel .
The suites were last restored in the 1970s , and the project was part of the hotel ’ s multimillion-dollar restoration .
Compared to a traditional suite , the Nine
Back of house , front of mind
Westin Hotels & Resorts has expanded its wellness program to include the back of the house . The Associate Enrichment Program brings the brand ’ s wellness initiative to more than 25,000 associates at 181 Westin properties . Each property ’ s “ well ambassador ” works with the executive chef to develop healthy menus , and designated associates lead stretching before and after shifts . Housekeepers at some properties also will receive New Balance shoes via a partnership with the shoe company .
Nations Suites create a roughly 30 % rate premium .
The Indian , Chinese , English and American suites were preserved , while others have been reimagined . For instance , the German suite now highlights functional and minimalist design . The
accepting the honor on November 14 were ( L to R ) Michael Booth , Steve Henry , Pamela Babey , David Moulton and Gerry Jue . Among project highlights for BAMO : The Carlyle in New York , the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora and The Taj Mahal Hotel & Towers in Mumbai .
French , Italian , Spanish and Japanese suites also boast a new look , but their original concepts remain .
HOT
TYPE
“ In the U . K . we have always been quite good about creating real high-end country house hotels , but in the middle of the market it is pretty dire , to be honest .” – Robin Huston , chairman of Lime Wood Group and Home Grown Hotels , on his new concept called The Pig , which he will initially grow to five or six units by acquiring suffering 25- to 30-room assets in U . K . rural locations
80 HOTELS January / February 2012 www . hotelsmag . com