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LEO A DALY Architects: Practice

LEO A DALY Architects, Building, News, Projects, US Design Office, Developments

LEO A DALY Architects : Architecture Practice

International architecture, planning, engineering, interior design & program management company

post updated Feb 2, 2021

LEO A DALY News

Amy Jakubowski leads LEO A DALY’s Los Angeles hospitality studio

Amy Jakubowski is an award-winning interior designer with 28 years of experience in design and business development leadership image courtesy of architects practice

LOS ANGELES – LEO A DALY, the global planning, architecture, engineering and interiors firm, is pleased to announce the hire of interior designer Amy Jakubowski, IIDA, ISHC, LEED AP. As director of interior design, Jakubowski now leads the firm’s hospitality design studio in Los Angeles.

Jakubowski is an award-winning design executive with over 28 years of experience as a leader, designer, director and business development partner. Her diverse experience includes mixed-use developments, hotel repositionings and renovations, new builds, restaurants, residential, retail and corporate offices, including the development of brand prototypes and guidelines. She has been responsible for annual design revenues in excess of $10M, and construction project budgets ranging from $25M to $500M. She has worked successfully with major hotel brands including Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, St. Regis, Fairmont, Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Peninsula, Langham, Viceroy and IHG.

Jakubowski’s design work has been published in Interior Design, Boutique Design, Sleeper, Hospitality Design, Contract, Metropolis, and recognized with Gold Key and IIDA Lester Dunes Awards. She has also been named as one of Hotel Management’s Top 30 Most Influential Women in Hospitality, and been a contributing author to industry publications and a reoccurring speaker at industry conferences. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where she received a BFA in interior design.

“We are excited to welcome Amy to the talented LEO A DALY team. Amy has proven her expertise in the hospitality sector throughout her impressive career and we look forward to utilizing her design leadership to further strengthen our portfolio of awarding-winning hospitality design to better serve our clients,” said Mark Pratt, global hospitality practice leader.

LEO A DALY is an industry leader in hospitality design, ranked 5th among architects and designers by Hotel Business in 2020. The firm earned $20.9 million in fees in 2019, and completed projects for Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel (Omaha, Nebraska), Hotel del Coronado (Coronado, California) and Embassy Suites San Rafael (San Rafael, California).

24 June 2020 Chia-Lung Chang joins LEO A DALY as Director of Planning and Urban Design

Chia-Lung Chang joins LEO A DALY as Director of Planning and Urban Design

The architect and planner brings 20 years of experience to lead planning for the global design firm

photo courtesy of architects

LEO A DALY, LEO A DALY, the global planning, architecture, engineering and interiors firm, is pleased to announce that Chia-Lung Chang, AIA, has joined as vice president, director of planning and urban design. In this role, he will work closely with executive and studio leadership to develop and execute strategic direction for the firm’s global planning and urban design practice. He is based out of LEO A DALY’s Washington, D.C., design studio.

Read a short interview with Chai on urban quality of life post-pandemic: https://leoadaly.com/perspectives/how-will-quality-of-life-in-cities-change-post-pandemic/

International masterplanning experience Chia joins LEO A DALY after 20 years with Gensler, where he led the firm’s South-East Region Planning and Urban Design practice. He is an expert at managing and designing complex projects that require big picture, resource-driven solutions. His planning and urban design portfolio encompasses work across the globe, including a new resource-efficient desert city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a financial district in Malaysia that balances high-density mixed use with natural open space, and a self-sufficient community in Nigeria that blends local traditions with twenty-first-century innovation, and a climate-sensitive mixed-use development in Qatar that is walkable and activated day and night.

An award-winning planner and architect, Chia is widely recognized for the forward-looking leadership he brings to his work and regularly speaks and lectures on smart cities, quality of life, and long-term sustainability in the built environment. “Chia brings the unique experience of building an international center of excellence in planning and urban design and leading multiple studios to collaborate on large, high-profile projects all over the world. His holistic view, dedication to integrated design and focus on adding value for clients makes him the perfect fit to lead our global planning and urban design practice,” said President Steven Lichtenberger, AIA.

Strategic growth for LEO A DALY The hire is part of a strategic investment in expanding the firm’s integrated design capabilities. Under the leadership of Lichtenberger, who joined the firm in 2018, LEO A DALY has focused on aligning resources to deliver best-in-class design and thought leadership as a seamless global practice. Significant changes include an expansion of the firm’s federal design group; the appointment of firmwide leaders in sustainability, engineering, education, hospitality, and talent development; and the appointment of Global Design Principals Irena Savakova, RIBA, and Dennis McFadden, FAIA.

“A vertically oriented, integrated design approach enables LEO A DALY to deliver progressive, meaningful solutions to our clients’ needs, anywhere in the world. As we enter our second century as a firm, we’re committed to creating a design platform that will drive excellence and innovation for the next 100 years,” Lichtenberger said.

Feb 27, 2020 Ellen Mitchell-Kozack joins LEO A DALY as Chief Sustainability Officer

She is a nationally recognized voice in sustainability and public interest design

LEO A DALY, the global planning, architecture, engineering and interiors firm, is pleased to announce that Ellen Mitchell-Kozack, AIA, LEED BD+C, WELL AP, SEED, has joined the firm as vice president, chief sustainability officer.

photo courtesy of architects

In this role, she leads LEO A DALY’s strategic initiatives in sustainable design worldwide, including Environmental Social & Governance, alignment with the UN Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals, carbon footprint assessment and social impact. She is based in the firm’s Dallas, Texas, design studio.

Get to know Ellen in this short video:

vimeo

Redefining design excellence | Ellen Mitchell-Kozack joins LEO A DALY from LEO A DALY on Vimeo.

Mitchell-Kozack is a nationally recognized voice in sustainability and public interest design. As senior vice president, director of sustainability at HKS, she led the firm’s DesignGreen studio and founded Citizen HKS, an impact initiative focused on leveraging sustainable design to address growing humanitarian needs of communities around the world. She has managed certification of more than 60 LEED projects worldwide, totaling $2.8 billion in construction, including 50 United Nations Plaza in San Francisco and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.

Mitchell-Kozack is co-chair of the American Institute of Architects’ Large Firm Roundtable Sustainability Group. She was named one of several “Heroes and Mavericks” by Boutique Design in 2018, a BD+C 40 Under 40 winner in 2015 and has won Emerging Leader Awards from AIA Dallas (2012) and the Design Futures Council (2013). Her work has been featured in Dezeen, Fast Company, Architectural Digest and Designboom. She has spoken at Greenbuild (2018), NeoCon (2018), AIA National Convention (2017) and SXSW Eco (2015).

“I’m excited to welcome Ellen Mitchell-Kozack as chief sustainability officer. Ellen applies a humanitarian and environmental lens to architecture that will benefit our clients, the communities we live in and the future of our planet,” said LEO A DALY President Steven Lichtenberger, AIA.

“As designers of the built environment, we have a responsibility to address the environmental and social impacts of our work. LEO A DALY is committed to deepening our commitment to the world’s most pressing environmental and social issues. I’m excited leverage the firm’s integrated design expertise to affect positive change,” said Mitchell-Kozack.

Nov 13, 2017 Intelligence Community Campus-Bethesda, Merriweather Park, Symphony Woods, Columbia, MD, USA image courtesy of architects Intelligence Community Campus-Bethesda Building The Intelligence Community Campus (ICC-B) in Bethesda, Maryland is the recipient of a 2017 Design-Build Merit Award, given by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).

Nov 21, 2016 LEO A DALY Sweeps Florida Architecture Awards

Design practice receives Firm of the Year, two design awards for architecture, and a Gold Medal for distinguished individual

(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. and MIAMI) The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Palm Beach has named LEO A DALY Firm of the Year, honored two of the firm’s South Florida projects with Design Excellence Awards, and recognized Ignacio Reyes, AIA, with a Gold Medal Award.

The AIA Firm of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement in design, community services, education, and service to the profession and the AIA by an architectural firm with projects, accomplishments and service over a period of at least 10 years.

LEO A DALY, an international firm with offices in Miami and West Palm Beach, has been a significant contributor to the culture and identity of South Florida for almost 50 years. Recent notable projects including Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering, Palm Beach State College Public Safety, and the Palm Beach County convention center.

“We are grateful to the AIA for the honor of being named as the Firm of the Year. It serves as recognition of our dedicated staff of professionals and their commitment to excellence built upon our culture of service and quality,” said Bill Hanser, AIA, Managing Principal of the West Palm Beach office.

Two architectural projects heavy on innovation received Design & Honor awards shared by the West Palm Beach and Miami offices.

The recently completed Emergent Technologies Institute (ETI) at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers earned the Design Excellence Award of Merit – Civic Institutional. The first completed project in a master-planned Innovation Hub development, ETI pairs university students and and private-sector researchers in the incubation of green technologies.

“ETI marries cutting-edge lab design with modern creative pedagogy, encouraging the cross-pollination of diverse perspectives that is crucial for new ideas to grow,” said Ron Wiendl, AIA, Director of Design for LEO A DALY West Palm Beach.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Innovation Center, currently under construction in Miami, received an Unbuilt Award of Merit – Non-Residential. The Innovation Center is designed to increase the velocity of design for the cruise giant through virtual reality simulation and a collaborative workplace design.

“This is truly a state-of-the-art facility. A three-story virtual-reality simulator will allow Royal Caribbean’s New Build group to rapidly innovate by studying a virtual 3D model of their cruise-ships in an immersive, 360-degree environment,” said Rafael Sixto, AIA, Managing Principal for LEO A DALY Miami.

Jury comments said, “The clarity and strength of the initial design sketch was riveting. The interior is striking and contemporary, and the design of the refueling area is particularly noteworthy.”

The Gold Medal Award for Ignacio Reyes, AIA, Director of Business Development, recognizes his profound impact on the profession over an extended period of time. It is the highest award that AIA Palm Beach can bestow on a member.

14 Jun 2016 LEO A DALY Appoints Global Education Practice Leader

Stephen Wright, AIA, vice president, has been appointed to lead LEO A DALY’s global Education design practice. Rick Thompson Jr., AIA, has joined the firm as vice president, stepping in for Wright as managing principal for the Washington D.C. office.

Stephen Wright, AIA:

Rick Thompson Jr., AIA:

As education practice leader, design principal, Wright will direct LEO A DALY’s continuum of education planning and design services, which supports higher-education and K-12 institutions in solving complex programming, planning, architectural, and interiors challenges in support of improved student outcomes and enhanced campus life. He will continue to be based in the Washington D.C. office, which has been named as the firm’s Center of Excellence for Education.

Thompson joins the firm from AECOM, where he was national director of project performance for the Buildings and Places practice. He will direct strategy, staffing, and business development for LEO A DALY’s Washington D.C. studio, an office of 35 architects, planners and interior designers with a strong presence in corporate/commercial, aviation, federal, and education design.

“Stephen Wright has long been the driving force behind developing LEO A DALY in the Education market,” said John Kraskiewicz, AIA, chief operations officer. “His passion, strategic vision, and creativity have enlivened thought-leadership across the firm and inspired great projects like the Wilson School in Arlington, VA, and the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design in DC. We look forward to seeing growth in this sector as Stephen focuses himself exclusively on Education.”

“We couldn’t have a better person than Rick stepping in to take over as managing principal. His expertise in large office, mixed-use, airport, and government projects will build on our DC office’s reputation for culturally significant, timeless architecture and workplace environments that improve productivity, wellness, operational processes, and technological integration,” he added.

About Stephen Wright

Stephen Wright applies 30 years of experience in creating educational environments that solve the complex programmatic needs of colleges, universities, and K-12 schools. He is, first and foremost, a design architect focused on creating pedagogically-rich design that improves learning and brings life to campuses. His portfolio of work includes many award-winning performing arts, library, dining, and residential projects for top-tier institutions.

About Rick Thompson

Rick Thompson is an architect and MBA with a doctorate in engineering and 25 years of experience as a multi-disciplinary practice leader. He most recently served as AECOM’s vice president, national director of project performance for Buildings and Places. Rick balances a passion for design excellence with an expertise in performance improvement, risk management, and delivery of multi-billion dollar projects, and has more than two dozen major design awards.

LEO A DALY – Practice News in 2015

LEO A DALY Architects News – latest additions to this page, arranged chronologically:

16 Dec 2015

Irena Savakova joins LEO A DALY

Washington, D.C. – Internationally renowned architecture, engineering, planning, and interiors firm LEO A DALY announced today that Irena Savakova has joined its Washington office as Director of Design. In this role she will lead a world-class design team in completing complex architectural projects for a variety of clients.

Savakova is an award-winning designer with 25 years of experience developing architectural and interiors projects for federal, commercial and educational facilities in the US and internationally. She enjoys an industry-wide reputation for her creativity, passion, and knowledge in managing complex core and shell developments, interiors, and space-planning projects.

“Architecture draws its identity from its context as well as from its uniqueness. I am thrilled to be joining a firm that shares my passion for design that strikes a balance between form and function, beauty and purpose—serving clients by listening to their concerns, understanding their goals, and sharing in their vision,” said Savakova.

Over the past seven years, Savakova has led or contributed to the architectural design of new signature facilities for the US Department of State, Social Security Administration, the National Guard Bureau, the Air National Guard, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and NASA. Her deft handling of the approval process with the National Capital Planning Commission and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on sensitive historic sites such as St. Elizabeths Campus and at Joint Base Anacostia resulted in unanimous final design approvals.

“Irena is a collaborative designer who embodies everything we stand for at LEO A DALY. She will be a strong and energetic advocate for the continued elevation of our design culture. This is an important milestone for our office, and I am excited by the prospects for our future together,” said Stephen Wright, AIA, Managing Principal for LEO A DALY Washington, D.C.

Savakova began her design career in Bulgaria. In 1991 she graduated with a Master of Architecture degree and began practicing in the European Union, where she is licensed as a registered architect. In 1995, she earned a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Maryland at College Park, and joined DMJM-Design (later AECOM) one year later.

The Washington, D.C., office of LEO A DALY is recognized for its 50-year history of design excellence, including important projects such as the National World War II Memorial, the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, and the North Terminal of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Current projects include the Intelligence Community Campus – Bethesda, the new North Terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and the renovation of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design for George Washington University.

LEO A DALY – Practice News in 2012

Edward G. Benes, J.D., P.E., Joins LEO A DALY as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel

(OMAHA, Neb. – Sept 4, 2012) Edward G. Benes, J.D., P.E., joins international architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm LEO A DALY as vice president and deputy general counsel.

image Courtesy of LEO A DALY

Working with general counsel Jerry L. Norris, J.D., Benes will handle the legal issues of LEO A DALY and its subsidiary Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN). His responsibilities will include drafting, reviewing and negotiating client, subcontractor and joint venture contracts, managing and addressing corporate law issues, maintaining corporate and professional liability insurance and advising senior management of potential risks in contractual, financial and legal areas. In addition, he will be providing legal support and recommendations on human resource issues, employee benefits and company policy development, satisfying state registration requirements, managing and addressing disputes and claims against the firm, supporting acquisitions and firm growth initiatives, as well as providing risk management training.

Benes has nearly nine years of experience as an attorney in the construction industry. Before joining LEO A DALY, Benes served as senior counsel at Newmont Mining Corporation providing legal support for the company’s capital construction projects group. Prior to that position, Benes was vice president and senior counsel at AECOM Technology Corporation, where he supported its Midwest region and North America design-build group.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Benes worked as a professional engineer and project manager for more than seven years. As an engineer, Benes worked for several consulting firms in Chicago, where he designed numerous civil engineering and infrastructure projects.

“Edward Benes is an invaluable addition to our firm,” said Charles Dalluge, LEO A DALY’s executive vice president. “His expertise in corporate, construction and employment law and his background as a professional engineer make him a perfect fit for this position.”

Benes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University in Chicago. He also studied graduate courses in engineering and construction management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel. Benes is currently licensed to practice law in the states of Illinois and Arizona and as a patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, Benes is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Illinois.

U.S. Commercial Service and LEO A DALY Host Symposium on Healthcare Tourism in Istanbul, Turkey

(ISTANBUL, TURKEY – Feb. 27, 2012) The U.S. Commercial Service and international architecture, planning, engineering, interiors and program management firm LEO A DALY hosted a symposium entitled “Healthcare Tourism: Medical, Wellness, Geriatrics Design Trends and New Technologies” at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey on Feb. 21.

Izmir Health Park International Campus, Izmir, Turkey: image Courtesy of LEO A DALY

The event was organized to help broaden the knowledge base of Turkey’s private healthcare sector educators, officials, investors and facility operators who are participating in new initiatives to expand the country’s healthcare tourism industry. It was supported by the Turkish Health Tourism Organization (TUHETO), a group that works to position Turkey as a global healthcare destination for patients seeking cutting-edge medical treatments and facilities. More than 60 healthcare professionals attended.

The symposium featured LEO A DALY healthcare experts who presented the firm’s most innovative healthcare design and planning projects and discussed how they advise global clients in planning for and accommodating innovation, technology, future growth, care trends and sustainable design in their facilities. The speakers also covered topics including trends in wellness, clinical innovations, pediatric care, and geriatrics/senior living.

With more than 60 years of expertise in the healthcare sector, LEO A DALY is a leader in creating innovative designs for hospitals and medical centers throughout the world. The firm is a major proponent and practitioner of evidence-based design strategies, providing sustainable and technology-driven solutions for its clients.

LEO A DALY’s symposium presenters were: • Dilek Hocaoglu, Chamber of Architects, UIA, LEO A DALY regional director for Eastern Europe, CIS and North Africa (moderator-opening remarks) • Michael Huffstetler, Assoc. AIA, LEED® AP, LEO A DALY international director of operations (speaker and moderator) • Arthur O. Smith, LEO A DALY senior associate and senior project manager, registered healthcare architect, NCARB (speaker) • Ann R. Jones, RN, MBA, AOCN, LEO A DALY healthcare strategist and clinical operations specialist (speaker) • Kevin P. Donahue, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP, LEO A DALY executive director, senior living specialist (speaker)

Following the symposium, the LEO A DALY team members visited with several members of parliament, TUHETO, and the TBMM Health Commission in Ankara, Turkey to discuss healthcare trends and share a business analysis for the future of healthcare tourism.

Earlier this month, Mr. Leo A. Daly III, FAIA, RIBA, FRAIA, CEO and president of LEO A DALY visited Turkey to meet with leaders including U.S. Consul General Scott Kilner, and several Turkish ministers and mayors. An interview with Mr. Daly during his visit is featured in the February issue of Konsept Projeler, Turkey’s lifestyle and design magazine.

This spring, LEO A DALY will present the content from the healthcare tourism symposium to investors, educators and stakeholders in New York City, to be followed by additional presentations in Jeddah, Dubai, London and Moscow.

Aegean Breeze at Alaçati, Turkey, by LEO A DALY: image from architects

Mahdi Mansour, P.E., Joins LEO A DALY as Regional Director – Middle East and North Africa

(WASHINGTON – Feb. 21, 2012) International architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm LEO A DALY appoints Mahdi Mansour, P.E., as regional director – Middle East and North Africa. In this role, Mahdi will be developing prospective client relationships, managing existing client relationships, identifying new project opportunities, and coordinating the firm’s projects in the region.

A civil engineer by profession, Mansour has more than 27 years of experience in both the private and public sectors in the United States and abroad. He joins LEO A DALY from the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, where he was the construction and projects manager responsible for directing several large-scale projects, including the master planning, design, construction and delivery of more than 14,000 Emirati homes and related infrastructure and community facilities. Previously, he served as a senior transportation engineer for the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning in Doha, Qatar.

“The growth and future potential of the Middle East and Northern African regions provides significant opportunities to architecture firms,” said Charles Dalluge, LEO A DALY’s executive vice president. “Mahdi Mansour’s leadership qualities and expertise in the planning, design and implementation of public sector projects and private developments will help us take advantage of these opportunities and add further business value to our clients.”

Mansour also has significant project experience in the United States. Before working in Qatar, he served as a vice president for Lennar Homes, one of the largest homebuilders in the United States, where his responsibilities included preparing master plans, securing entitlements, and designing and constructing all infrastructure needs for large-scale communities. Prior to joining Lennar Homes, Mansour worked for the city of Tampa for 18 years, rising in rank to become the acting director and deputy director of the Department of Public Works. In this position, he supervised more than 530 employees and managed the construction, renovation and maintenance of all city-owned parking garages and public buildings, including several historic buildings.

Mansour received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Tennessee Technological University. He is a registered professional engineer in Jordan and in the state of Florida. He also is a member of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Transportation Engineers, American Public Works Association, Florida Board of Professional Engineers and the Jordan Board of Professional Engineers.

LEO A DALY Practice News

LEO A DALY Welcomes Three New Senior Leaders to its Houston Office

LEO A DALY WELCOMES THREE NEW SENIOR LEADERS TO ITS HOUSTON OFFICE

Oza Bouchard, Dallas E. Felder and Christine Braunger Bring Decades of Expertise

(HOUSTON – Feb. 8, 2012) International architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm LEO A DALY has added three new senior leaders to its Houston office team.

Oza Bouchard, Dallas E. Felder and Christine Braunger bring a history of close collaboration in securing and executing major award-winning commissions for higher education, corporate-commercial, and institutional clients worldwide.

photo from LEO A DALY

Oza Bouchard, AIA, LEED AP joins LEO A DALY Houston as vice president and managing principal; Dallas E. Felder, AIA, LEED AP joins as vice president and director of design; and Christine Braunger joins as director of business development.

“This dynamic trio’s creativity, leadership experience and strong client relationships will be a perfect fit to help LEO A DALY leverage the firm’s strengths in the Texas market,” says Charles Dalluge, executive vice president.

They join Vincent Stasio, director of operations, and Wayne A. Pesek, finance manager, in leading LEO A DALY Houston’s seasoned team of designers.

Bouchard, who brings 36 years of experience to his role, has led numerous multimillion-dollar planning and design projects for clients throughout the world, including the master planning of the $15 billion King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.

A noted expert and innovator in project delivery, Bouchard speaks regularly on the topics of integrated project delivery (IPD); improving the design-build process; and the development of client-focused architectural project management. Bouchard is a recognized leader in the project delivery focus of Building Information Modeling (BIM), receiving a national award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Bouchard earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Texas Society of Architects, Society of College and University Planning, Association of Physical Plant Administrators, and Construction Owners Association of America, as well as a certificate holder for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Felder brings 16 years of innovation and award-winning design leadership experience to LEO A DALY Houston. His portfolio includes a broad range of projects with a focus on corporate-commercial development and higher education projects, as well as varied cultural, civic and religious project types.

Most notably, Felder was lead designer for the LEED® Platinum KAUST academic campus and library in Saudi Arabia. Recognized as the largest sustainable project in the world, KAUST received national and international honors, including the 2010 AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Projects Award and a 2011 AIA-American Library Association (ALA) Library Buildings Award.

Other distinguished design commissions for Felder include the LEED® Platinum NASA Building 20 at Johnson Space Center; the LEED® Gold SYSCO Corporate Headquarters; the Christus St. Elizabeth Ambulatory Care Center; and a new performing arts center for the Lone Star College System.

Felder earned his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and his Bachelor of Science degree with high honors from the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Texas Society of Architects and the Rice Design Alliance.

Braunger brings 20 years of national and international experience in the design and construction industry to her new role as LEO A DALY Houston’s director of business development. Through her career as a key strategist of federal and institutional projects, she is credited with acquiring multimillion-dollar contracts, resulting in billions of dollars in construction.

In her tenure developing strategic market sector-focused initiatives, Braunger has been responsible for advanced client identification strategies, management of acquired client relationship assets, and for broad-vision brand development and communications.

Braunger earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University.

More designs by LEO A DALY online soon

LEO A DALY : main page on the practice

Location: Bainuna Street 34 Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

LEO A DALY Further Information

Recent international projects by LEO A DALY include:

– Huanggang Village Masterplan, Shenzhen, China – Excellence Huanggang Century Center, Shenzhen, China – Cheung Kong Center, Hong Kong, SAR – Haitong Securities Building, Shanghai – Tianjin Cultural Center Master Plan, Tianjin, China – Huijin International Center, Xiamen, China – Hilton Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, San Juan, Puerto Rico – ZADCO/GASCO Headquarters Complex, Abu Dhabi, UAE – New England Children’s Clinic for Autism, Abu Dhabi, UAE

LEO A DALY Building News 2009

LEO A DALY OPENS NEW OFFICE IN ABU DHABI (OMAHA, Neb. – November 19, 2009) LEO A DALY, the international architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm, has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The office serves as the regional office for the Middle East, and focuses on healthcare, education, hospitality, high-rise residential, aviation, corporate offices, mixed use and master planning.

“Abu Dhabi is investing in its future to create a stronger sense of community and identity, along with a commitment to sustainability.” said LEO A DALY Executive Vice President Charles Dalluge. “Our new regional office aims to fulfill this need through our extensive expertise with forward-thinking and sustainable design.”

Muhammad M. Ali, PE, serves as regional director – Middle East. Ali, who has been with the firm for more than three years, will work closely with Ross Ensor, the firm’s corporate international director, to generate and manage project opportunities in the Middle East. Ali is a registered professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Mississippi.

LEO A DALY most recently completed full architectural and interior design services for the New England Children’s Clinic in Abu Dhabi, an inpatient residential school for children with autism spectrum disorders. The project was designed in accordance with the equivalent of LEED® Silver standards under the Estidama sustainability code.

The opening of the Abu Dhabi office marks the sixth international LEO A DALY location, which includes Beijing, PRC, Hong Kong, SAR, Istanbul, Turkey, Moscow, Russia and Tianjin, PRC. The LEO A DALYoffice is located at Suite 1101, Sheikh, Tahnoon Tower, Al Corniche, P.O. Box 44079, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Regional Director is Muhammad Ali.

LEO A DALY Appointment

CHARLES PEACE JOINS LEO A DALY AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR – ASIA

(WASHINGTON – November 9, 2009) International architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm LEO A DALY strengthens its Asian market presence with the addition of Charles Peace as its Regional Director of Asia. He will be based in Beijing, China.

In this role, Peace will be responsible for pursuing business development opportunities throughout Asia. Specifically, he will be responsible for developing relationships with key clients and industry representatives and pursuing projects within the hospitality, aviation, healthcare, corporate commercial and residential market sectors.

Peace brings more than 12 years of experience in international business development to this position. He has successfully worked with clients in several countries including China, The United Kingdom and Russia. He previously worked as a Commercial Director for Savills Property Services in Beijing for seven years where he garnered a strong understanding of the Chinese property market. He was responsible for commercial negotiations, sourcing and procuring premises on behalf of large commercial clients, in addition to managing a large multi-national team.

His high-profile clients included The British Government, The French Government, Warburg Pincus, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Volvo, Liberty Mutual and LG. His portfolio of projects includes the Beijing Twin Towers, The Exchange, R&F Centre, Hopson International, Raycom InfoTech Park, Haidian Culture & Arts Center and the China Life Building.

“Charles Peace brings with him an exceptional knowledge of the Asian market,” said Ross Ensor, LEO A DALY’s Corporate International Director. “His wealth of experience and understanding of the international issues makes him ideally suited to expanding our operations and client relationships in Asia.”

Peace holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business with specializations in Marketing and Russian from University of Greenwich, London. He speaks French, German, Russian and Mandarin.

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holidayinn-dubai-al-barsha · 6 years

Photo

HIAB Girls at Dubai Women's run yesterday! Well Done

#runforher hashtag#DubaiWomensRun hashtag#HolidayInnDubaiAlBarsha hashtag#TrueHospitality hashtag#ToleranceDay

Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha’s Participation In Dubai Women’s Run | 16th Nov 2018 ''Tolerance Day Dubai, UAE, Saturday, 17th November, 2018 | Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - Chairman of the National Olympic Committee - the Dubai Women’s Run is the first initiative in the Middle East celebrating the spirit of women in the region.

The Dubai Women’s Run since its launch in 2010, attracts local, regional and international participation.

The event welcomed over 6,000 female runners (aged 14 years up) to run in the 5km and 10km races, In addition, thousands of supporting family and friends, and those visiting Dubai Festival City Mall, enjoyed the family-friendly festivities at the Event Village.

This year Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha proudly participated in this constructive activity ably represented by Ten female associates representing the hotel from different departments, of different cultures and religions demonstrating that Diversity is strength. ‘On this ‘’Tolerance Day’’ and everyday , let’s celebrate diversity !

These ladies of Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha participated in the race with great enthusiasm and positive vibe, proudly showcasing two of our award winning restaurants : Fine Dining -Thai - What’s On Award Winner (2018 | 2107 | 2014)Casual Dining - Indian - Honourable Mention at Leaders in F&B Awards 2017 - LEADING ASIAN RESTAURANT

Roxana Jaffer, CEO, Sovereign Hotels Dubai and Director, Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha proudly stated:

‘’We at Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha are very supportive of women as they exude compassion that helps to cultivate leaders of the future through their skills in team building and empowerment coming naturally.”

‘’Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha, as a member of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) has long been committed in practicing and advocating its Sustainable Development Goals in every path of its business strategy knowing that our monetary profit can only be defined by putting people and planet first.

We align our business practices with 10 of 17 sustainability goals in helping to transform the world, viz. No Poverty; Zero Hunger; Good Heath and Well Being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Reduced Inequalities; Responsible Consumption & Production and Partnerships for the Goals.’’

As signatories of WEPs, Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha does not only abide by the principles by virtue of participation but believe in the ethos wholeheartedly and accordingly have in place, strict policies for Equal rights and Equal privileges promoting Gender Equality and progression through meritocracy, exercising zero tolerance if any of the policies are breached by any member of the management, regardless of position.

Further at Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha, we have following canons in place that gender equality and allow benefits for women on the walk of motherhood

· Creation of equal business opportunities and sustainable mutual growth

· Instilling strong work ethics, especially of tolerance at all levels of work

· Offering a supportive work environment with work hours flexibility

· Ensuring equal pay for women

We understand that in today’s age, it is even more vital to develop a team of hardworking female employees who take a fair and equal share of remuneration with their male counterparts as they are equally committed towards corporate goals.

We at Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha know women can be the best managers, not as just business rhetoric but a proven reality – and promise to abide by the Women Empowerment Principles. We promise not to impose a sabbatical on women employees post motherhood, negating a culture of visible discrimination, and striving to lead by example.

Commitment to WEP’s is professed by the following statement, by Roxana Jaffer, CEO Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha, Director of Sovereign Hotels Ltd (Holding Company)

“The vision of our UAE leaders has allowed our small and young country to be counted on the global arena. It is the same visionary leaders, who not only approve a gender balance index, by promoting a gender balance council but create positions in the UAE cabinet for women, raising the representation of women to 27.5%.

Surely it is only natural, that the private sector in the UAE should follow suit by giving women equal opportunities, being committed to support women to achieve excellence and getting a higher representation especially in management.’’

-Ends-

For further information please contact: Kezia Da Rocha [email protected]

+971 4323 4333

Notes to Editors: About Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha Set in the heart of New Dubai, Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha is a perfect blend of contemporary design and classic elegance. The hotel has 309 rooms including 54 suites. Each room is equipped with the latest facilities, tastefully decorated to meet every guest’s needs and comfort. Business houses have access to a wide variety of conference venues equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Completing the Holiday Inn experience are the award winning restaurants “The Royal Budha” (Thai), “Gharana” (Indian) and “Xennya Terrace” (Rooftop Bar & Lounge) as well as bars, banquet facilities and impeccable service.

A Full floor of 53 rooms from its portfolio of 309 elegant and contemporary rooms have been refurbished and upgraded to stylish and chic Club rooms. Bundled with exclusive benefits such as full day Club lounge access with culinary delicacies and beverages, happy hours, personalized treatment, and many more, the proposition of upgrading your stay as well as express check-in and check-out service at a dedicated desk is a very attractive offer.

For more information please visit: www.holidayinn.com or www.hialbarshadubai.com.

Find us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HolidayInnDubai or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hidubai

From creative Thai cuisine at The Royal Budha, to traditional Indian experience coupled with enchanting live entertainment at Gharana, to an array of generous buffets at The Gem Garden, the hotel offers a variety of F&B options. This year around, Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha’s renowned award winning Chef Sameh Youssef won ‘Chef of The Year 2017’ by Hotelier Express Awards.

The Gem Garden | All Day Dining All-day dining with a difference. The Gem Garden’s minimalist Zen styling is the ideal place any time of day or night. The food, on the other hand, is anything but minimalist, with a combination of generous buffets and classic a la carte dishes.

The Royal Budha | Fine Dining -Thai - What’s On Award Winner (2018 | 2107 | 2014) Award winning creative cuisine delivered in a stylish setting under the watchful eye of a towering Buddha makes this a royal treat. Situated on the ground floor, this contemporary Thai restaurant is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation.

Gharana | Casual Dining - Indian - Honourable Mention at Leaders in F&B Awards 2017 - LEADING ASIAN RESTAURANT An experience of the Indian subcontinent through the kaleidoscope of elements of familiar monuments and the culinary tastes of that region leads this restaurant to be labeled exotic with live entertainment.

The Q | Sports Bar Suspended UV lit snooker cues add a dramatic feature in the ceiling to a fresh and modern monochromatic back drop. White floors and walls, super comfy large black sofas and upholstered bar stools make this an ideal spot to watch your latest sporting events on massive cinema screens around the circular bar.

Lounge@Barsha | Coffee Shop Meet and Greet Lounge: PASTRIES & SPECIALITY TEAS

This elegant lobby lounge is ideal for business and social get-togethers. A selection of pastries, sandwiches and hot or cold refreshments are served throughout the day.(Free Wi-Fi)

Bodega Garage | Filipino Nightclub An ultimate fun experience at The Q Underground awaits. Enjoy Manila style, unlimited fun, games, music, teamed with sizzling food & drinks at Bodega Garage! A Filipino nightclub with its brand tag line being ‘Park Urself At Bodega Garage’ promises an amusing journey.

Xennya Terrace | Rooftop Bar & Lounge Xennya on a higher level. This rooftop bar and lounge overlooks Dubai’s mesmerizing skyline.

Make friends over amazing ambiance, fine wine and our generously stocked bar.

Dolphin Bar | Roof Top Bar The perfect venue to soak up the atmosphere of Dubai. Enjoy a refreshing daytime swim followed by an even more refreshing cocktail, or sip at sundown with a relaxing drink over the panoramic view of the Burj Al Arab.

About Holiday Inn®: Started over 60 years ago and with close to 1,200 hotels worldwide today, the Holiday Inn® brand is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world. During that time, it was the first hotel brand to launch a computerized reservation system in 1965, one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984 and the first to take an online booking in 1995. The ‘Kids Eat & Stay Free’ programme is available at every Holiday Inn® property, and KidSuites® rooms at every Holiday Inn Resort® hotel, demonstrates the long-standing commitment of the Holiday Inn® brand to serving family travellers, along with a comfortable atmosphere where everyone can sit back and relax.

For four consecutive years, the Holiday Inn® brand has been ranked “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-scale Full Service Hotel Chains”, according to the J.D. Power and Associates North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study.

For more information about Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Resort® or to make a reservation, visit www.holidayinn.com. Find us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/holidayinn or Facebookwww.facebook.com/holidayinnhotels.

About IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN® Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns nearly 5,100 hotels and more than 750,000 guest rooms in almost 100 countries, with nearly 1,500 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme, with nearly 99 million members worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations andwww.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media and follow us on social media at:www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

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rollinbrigittenv8 · 7 years

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Video: IHG CEO on Where He’ll Break New Ground

IHG CEO Keith Barr, pictured here, spoke at Skift Global Forum in New York City in September. Skift

Skift Take: Barr is touting his experience in China and his company's long presence there as an advantage in understanding global consumer trends. But is that enough to raise the company's cool factor in western markets?

— Dan Peltier

Now that CEO Keith Barr has taken the reigns at International Hotels Group, there are a few things he plans to do differently than his predecessor, Richard Solomons, to shake up operations at the UK-based company.

Barr, who became CEO of the UK-based company in July, reflected at the Skift Global Forum in New York in September on what technology advances will bring to the guest experience during his first year as CEO. “There are many things we can do with technology that isn’t transparent to the customer,” said Barr. “But you can also do tech for tech and add a lot of cool things that add little value to the customer journey.”

Mobile check-outs is an example of new technology that Barr said has added value to the guest experience this year. “Mobile check-out is in 2,600 hotels and we’re scaling it up,” he said. “I think we’ve had 250,000 check-outs so far. I use it all the time because it’s removed a friction point.”

Barr’s also made some changes to IHG’s organizational structure, such as consolidating the head office for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia in Europe. “At a group level, I’ve created a new chief marketing officer role focusing on brands, marketing, loyalty insights and also took the technology role and combined it with a significant portion of our commercial role because there’s a convergence of tech and commercial and treating them as two separate entities in this day and age is pretty archaic,” he said.

“Having worked in Asia, when we broke China out of Asia-Pacific, China benefitted and Asia benefitted because it had the right focus on the markets,” said Barr. “In the new structure we’re building for the company, it’s really a market focus rather than a regional focused structure.”

Regions are company constructs, said Barr. “We like to organize things a certain way so that we have a PNL that says something,” he said. “The reality is, you want to have the right go to market strategy, the right resources in place close to the coal face where things happen and that’s how we’re organizing. It’s a bit contrarian but recognizing that we really want to enable us to grow and outperform in those markets.”

Adding more lifestyle hotels, such as IHG’s recently announced Avid Hotels brand, also isn’t out of the question, said Barr. When asked if he feels consumers need another lifestyle brand, Barr responded, “If the 14 million customers in the segment that we looked at are right, yes we do,” he said. “I think it’ll be the next big thing for IHG.”

The company’s asset-light strategy is one element of Solomons’ work that Barr plans to continue. “We have 5,200 hotels around the world and 1,500 in development – we own eight,” said Barr, speaking at Skift Global Forum in New York City in September. “We’re a brand company through and through and we’re becoming more of a technology company every single day.”

Watch the entire interview above, and find more coverage of Skift Global Forum here.

At this year’s Skift Global Forum in New York City, travel leaders from around the world gathered for two days of inspiration, information, and conversation. There were interviews, and panels, as well as solo TED-like talks on the future of travel.

Visit our Skift Global Forum site for more details about 2018 events.

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touristguidebuzz · 7 years

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Video: IHG CEO on Where He’ll Break New Ground

IHG CEO Keith Barr, pictured here, spoke at Skift Global Forum in New York City in September. Skift

— Dan Peltier

Watch the entire interview above, and find more coverage of Skift Global Forum here.

Visit our Skift Global Forum site for more details about 2018 events.

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ihggraduates · 7 years

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Jijivisha 2018

Intro

Welcome reader - yes, YOU! We are IHG Future Leaders - cohort 2016, and just yesterday we embarked on a journey to India to continue the CSR immersion project launched last year.

For the next two weeks (10-25 March) we are going to share our personal first-hand experiences, the ups and downs, the highs and lows… Watch a video testimonial or have a more in-depth read - the choice is yours! For now, have a look at the intro video ;)

vimeo

Journey & DAY 1 (Olga)

“I had felt very anxious for the past week and a half without truly understanding the reasons behind it. Yes… it was the build-up of the upcoming journey but the true nature of my apprehension has become clear to me today. It had not been very easy for me to ‘give myself fully’ into hands of my colleagues. I had not been in control of the planning process, travel arrangements and communication with the counterparts in India. I was scared of unknown.”

“I must say, I have been pleasantly surprised when we landed - the boys, who took charge of the project, have done a great job. And that’s when it hit me…

…sometimes you just need to trust others with making decisions on your behalf - and when you do, the result / outcome may surprise you; strengthening not only your relationship with your colleagues / friends but also deepening mutual trust and respect.”

I cannot wait what the upcoming days going to bring. You?!

#Jijivisha2018 #IHGFutureLeaders2016 #India #CSR

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touristguidebuzz · 7 years

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Hurricane Irma Leaves Travel Agents and Cruise Lines Extremely Concerned and Hoping for the Best

Winds brought by Hurricane Irma blow palm trees lining the seawall in Caibarien, Cuba, on Friday. Desmond Boylan / Associated Press

Skift Take: Hurricane Irma is a monster storm the likes of which the Caribbean and United States haven't seen in a while. While tourism usually rebounds after major storms, we haven't seen an active Atlantic hurricane season like this for nearly a decade and many travel brands will need to think long-term to recover.

— Dan Peltier

Hurricane Irma left a wake of destruction behind in the Caribbean while those in the path — Cuba, cruise ships, the entire state of Florida, and swaths of the Southeast United States — prepared for a hit.

Residents and tourists in Florida continued to flee north on Friday in an exodus that started days earlier; state officials said 5.6 million had been asked to evacuate, according to news reports. With the storm’s estimated point of landfall still unknown, all of Florida remained in the track.

Cruise lines canceled sailings, altered itineraries to visit Cozumel instead of Key West, and sent ships packed with evacuees and employees out to safety at sea. Several popular port destinations including St. Martin and St. Thomas suffered extensive damage that will likely keep cruise traffic away as they recover.

On Friday, some of Florida’s biggest tourist draws — Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando — announced their theme parks would close for the anticipated impact on Sunday and Monday. SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens, in Tampa, also announced closures on those days.

More than 3,000 flights into and out of Florida had been cancelled for the time when the storm is expected, USA Today reported, and airports in South Florida were suspending operations Friday night.

The toll on islands already hit by the storm was still being calculated. But it is already clear that the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season is quickly becoming one of the most active, costliest, and deadliest seasons in more than a decade and travel brands in the Caribbean and United States Southeast and Gulf Coast are bracing for fallout from the storms.

Tourism is the most important industry in many of the impacted islands and areas, and depending on how quickly travelers come back and infrastructure recovers – and especially how cruise lines cancel or adjust itineraries – the fourth quarter of 2017 could be difficult for many travel brands and destinations.

Travel Agents Say It’s Early To Access Storms’ Impact

September and the fall season is typically a quieter time of year for Caribbean tourism, which means less immediate fallout from tourism from hurricanes and other storms, said Albert Herrera, Virtuoso‘s senior vice president of global product partnerships. “However, we fully recognize that many islands and our partners on those islands have been severely impacted, and we are waiting to see what it means for our partners in Florida,” said Herrera.

He said that while Hurricane Harvey, which struck Texas last month, was enormously damaging, it had less of an impact on tourism just because of the geography.

“No one yet knows how long tourism in the Caribbean and Florida will be waylaid due to Irma,” he said.

Herrera said that roughly a third of its Caribbean and Florida overall 2016 bookings were for September-December. He added that 50 percent of Virtuoso’s business for the region for September-December usually happens in December. “Both the Caribbean and Florida tend to be booked closer in than other more exotic destinations, so we cannot easily give a year-over-year comparison using future 2017 bookings,” he said.

It remains to be seen how this increasingly active hurricane season will change consumer behavior and bookings, said Herrera. “Educating and encouraging travelers to come back to these destinations and spend at their hotels, restaurants, attractions will be an imperative part of the recovery process,” he said.

John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Network leisure group and hotels, said that if the reports of destruction on some islands that he’s been hearing are true, recovery will take awhile.

“But I think it’s really early to talk about some of these islands since we’re still waiting to re-establish communications with partners in a few cases,” said Lovell, speaking by phone from Orlando, another potential target of Irma. “We expect on Monday and Tuesday for more assessments to start coming out of Caribbean destinations. We’re all concerned because the Caribbean is a huge percentage of our North American business.”

Lovell said overall bookings for the Caribbean region from Travel Leaders Network partners, which number 40,000 travel agents, are up year-over-year for September and that November and December bookings are also looking strong. “Do I anticipate cancellations right now? Yes, that will happen,” said Lovell. “It’s really a wait-and-see approach for the next week or two. A lot of that is predicated on what cruise lines will have to do. But at least before these storms, it was shaping up to be a great fourth quarter of 2017.”

Wave season, which typically starts in January when travelers book their winter and spring Caribbean cruises and when cruise lines heavily market their itineraries and offerings, has also started earlier in recent years, said Lovell.

“Wave season for us has really backed up to December and into November for 2018 bookings,” he said. “But I don’t think in 2005 [which included storms such as Hurricane Katrina, Wilma and Rita, for example] we saw some of the devastation we’re seeing to cruise and land-based destinations with storms this year. But tourism came back in 2005.”

The Impact So Far

Just last month, Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc in Houston and along Texas’ Gulf Coast, killing at least 70 and causing widespread flooding and damage that could reach $180 billion, according to the state’s governor.

So far this week, Hurricane Irma – one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean – has pummeled Caribbean islands such as Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Martin, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and St. Barthelemy, and severely damaged tourism infrastructure including cruise ports, hotels, and airports, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the region’s tourism board with 28 member countries, said in a statement. The Associated Press said Friday that the storm had so far killed 21 people in the Caribbean.

Some of the hardest-hit islands were just beginning to take stock of the damage as they faced a new threat: Hurricane Jose, a Category 4 storm.

Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Nevis, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic suffered minor damage but were spared the brunt of Irma. The storm was moving toward Florida between Cuba and the Bahamas late Friday.

Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the island’s tourism board, said in a statement that major tourism infrastructure and attractions such as the cruise port and airport are operational after Irma passed over the destination. “While power outages are present throughout the Island, many hotels, as well as essential services on the island such as hospitals, are operational due to generators and the majority of hotels throughout mainland Puerto Rico are ready to welcome new guests, said Jose Izquierdo, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, in a statement. “Attractions such as parks and beaches are currently being assessed to ensure a committed focus on quick clean up in the coming days.”

South Florida and potentially other U.S. Southeast states are next up on Irma’s path, with some wind and storm impact expected to approach the Florida Keys late Saturday, followed by Miami-Dade County and other parts of South Florida.

Many Floridians are comparing the potential strength of Irma to that of Hurricane Andrew, which struck Florida in August 1992 and is the most destructive hurricane to hit the state to date.

Recovery efforts for Andrew cost $26.5 billion in 1992 (the equivalent of more than $46 billion in 2017) but the storm did the worst damage to the south part of the county and largely spared the downtown Miami and Miami Beach areas. Many hotel rooms in those areas were later occupied by recovery teams, said Rolando Aedo, chief marketing officer of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

But both downtown Miami and Miami Beach are significantly more developed in 2017 than they were 25 years ago, and other tourist attractions outside of these areas suffered considerable damage that took a toll for years. If Irma packs as much of a punch as the much smaller Andrew — or eclipses that storm in destruction — major impacts to Miami’s tourism infrastructure and core tourist areas are likely.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez earlier this week ordered mandatory evacuations from areas including downtown Miami and Miami Beach and Miami’s CVB is listing information from airports, cruise lines and other weather updates on its website.

Hotels Say They Prepared

Marriott International said it’s had hurricane plans in place and that hotels in the impacted area are waiving cancellation and change fees but details will vary depending on the hotel. “Plans are in place to evacuate and close our hotels and offices if local authorities or conditions require such action,” the company said in a statement.

“At this time we have not received any reports of guest or associate injuries. A select number of our hotels in [the Caribbean] have sustained minor to significant damage. We are assessing the extent of impact on each hotel and efforts are underway to fully restore operations in those properties more significantly affected by the storm,” Marriott said.

IHG Hotels tweeted on Friday that pet fees and restrictions for hotels in impacted areas will be waived for the storm, citing that many of the company’s hotels were already pet-friendly before the storm formed.

Hilton said in a statement that its Puerto Rico properties didn’t suffer any significant damage and the company has no reports of guests or staff being affected by the storm. Hilton is waiving cancellation fees for hotels in affected areas of the Caribbean and Florida (including Advance Purchase) with arrivals from September 5 through September 12.

Wyndham called Irma a storm of epic proportions and had begun evacuations at its properties in South Florida on Friday. The company is waiving cancellation fees in areas with expected impact at its branded hotels, vacation ownership resorts, and vacation rentals.

“At properties we directly manage, our teams are coordinating with local authorities, following evacuation and other emergency directives, and taking precautions to best prepare and respond to the storm,” Wyndham said in a statement. “Our teams are also in communication with our many franchised and affiliated resort properties across the region.”

News editor Hannah Sampson and hospitality editor Deanna Ting contributed to this report.

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rollinbrigittenv8 · 7 years

Text

Hurricane Irma Leaves Travel Agents and Cruise Lines Extremely Concerned and Hoping for the Best

Winds brought by Hurricane Irma blow palm trees lining the seawall in Caibarien, Cuba, on Friday. Desmond Boylan / Associated Press

— Dan Peltier

More than 3,000 flights into and out of Florida had been cancelled for the time when the storm is expected, USA Today reported, and airports in South Florida were suspending operations Friday night.

Travel Agents Say It’s Early To Access Storms’ Impact

He said that while Hurricane Harvey, which struck Texas last month, was enormously damaging, it had less of an impact on tourism just because of the geography.

“No one yet knows how long tourism in the Caribbean and Florida will be waylaid due to Irma,” he said.

John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Network leisure group and hotels, said that if the reports of destruction on some islands that he’s been hearing are true, recovery will take awhile.

The Impact So Far

Some of the hardest-hit islands were just beginning to take stock of the damage as they faced a new threat: Hurricane Jose, a Category 4 storm.

Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Nevis, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic suffered minor damage but were spared the brunt of Irma. The storm was moving toward Florida between Cuba and the Bahamas late Friday.

Many Floridians are comparing the potential strength of Irma to that of Hurricane Andrew, which struck Florida in August 1992 and is the most destructive hurricane to hit the state to date.

Hotels Say They Prepared

News editor Hannah Sampson and hospitality editor Deanna Ting contributed to this report.

0 notes