I found it tremendously good news that with their second attempt Earthrace succeeded to circumnavigate the world with bio fuel in a record time. See their Blog for the day to day coverage of this adventure.
As I said in my prior post I’ll try to be as concise as possible when pondering 2008 and will be spilling my thoughts over several posts.
I enjoyed the year tremendously, despite the economic crisis.
Three most important worldnews Items of 2008 to my view:
I tend to stay away from most of the news. That may change in the near future, as (according to Alltop) I’m now a respected news source for The Netherlands.
- A new President for the USA
I believe Mr. Obama will put the USA again on the map where it belongs: A Super decent Super Power as a role model. His choice of ministers gives a strong impression of his will to bridge differences rather than to enhance them. This maybe wishful thinking from a guy who grew up in the “Polders” (i.e. reclaimed land) with our famous “Polder Model” (i.e. endlessly discussing the differences until almost everybody agrees to a solution).
- The Olympics in China
The Olympics did a tremendous job for China to make it more visible in the world as it should be. I particularly liked the impressive and impeccable organization of the spectacle including rockets to keep the rain away in stead of the students. I love the new Herzog Meuron “Knotted Olympic Stadium” I have a feeling the authorities have become a little more relaxed about freedom of speech partly because of the protests by the athletes and the press. I was proud to see my own small country The Netherlands ending relatively high in the medal count.
- The bankruptcy of the financial institutions
I have always learned from my forebears that you shouldn’t trust bankers, although they are usually immaculately dressed. Almost all have proved a tremendous lack of due diligence. The bailing out of the financial institutions may be wise to prevent 1929/30 alike situations, but I have a strong feeling we have to get rid of all bankers. Kick all incompetent dummies out. Let’s start fresh from zero, scratch, zilch. Let banks be led by sensible diligent housewives who know how to flip a dime three times before spending it and who I trust not to spend anything on derivative nonsense. I’m not even talking about the hedge fund managers and the like: Back in the 60ies to 80ies we used to call them corporate raiders. In fact they are mere buccaneers or even thugs. Although I strongly disagree with the ideas behind Guantanamo Bay, I believe that’s a place they belong while their fortunes should be confiscated and used to curb the losses in bailing out the economy. I’m not a communist and neither a socialists, but the lesson of 2008 is that most financial guys have crossed the line and we (and particularly our “leaders”) all stood there and let them do it. I hope 2009 will be give us much more of “Back to Basics”. Let’s throw the greed out of the window!
What is your view?
Like this post? Please Share it!:
Tagged as:
About the Blog and More
I would have loved to attend the Sleepers Magazine London Sleep Event, but luckily this morning a press release in my mailbox got me up to date:
Some excerpts:
London, 7 November 2008.
The European Hotel Design Awards, presented by Sleeper Magazine on Thursday, 6 November 2008, is the premier celebration of outstanding innovations in the hospitality industry and hotel design in Europe.
“This was perhaps the most hotly contested decision I have seen the judging panel have to make in the six years I have been involved in these awards. But I think it is fair to say that the eventual winner is a hotel that stood out from the competition in all aspects of its conception. Not just it’s design and architecture, but also its use of technology, it’s marketing, its future development potential and most importantly, the seamless integration of all these into a product that offers the guest a rewarding experience. The winning project was acknowledged by the panel to be a radically new hotel concept that will have considerable influence on others in the industry for years to come.”
Says Matt Turner, editor in chief of Sleeper Magazine.
The Dutch hotel group citizenM has won the grand prize: The European Hotel Design Award of the Year.
and three awards in the categories:
THE INNOVATION AWARD
“The judges looked at the added value for the guest, the concept design, various use within the hotel, the building, the property, guest experience, use of information database, to check out and unanimously award the hotel who has accomplished to achieve this within all aspects of a hotel.”
Ahmed Akudi, International Projects Director, Grohe AG
THE TECHNOLOGY AWARD
“… We’ve seen moving facades. The innovation of this hotel gives a scope and a degree of innovation… There’s one clear winner.. citizenM hotels!” Guy Dittrich, journalist.
THE GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARD
“The art within hotel design illustrates a choice, a brand, an unique website, an experience recognisable through website, brochures and overall decor…” Juliet Kinsman, editor in chief, Mr & Mrs Smith.
Michael Levie
â€We are thrilled by the recognition of the European Hotel Design Awards jury. Our team and partners worked hard to create an innovative, contemporary hotel for the cost conscious traveller. We looked at every business process to enhance and improve the stay of a guest in our hotels. The result citizenM hotels has made is a quantum leap in innovation, which now is prestigiously recognised by hotel industry professionals from all over the world.â€
says Michael Levie, CEO citizenM hotels.
My observations:
citizenM hotels opened their first hotel in June 2008 at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The second hotel, close to Amsterdam’s city centre, will open in April 2009. A third property in Glasgow will also open its doors next year. citizenM hotels plans to open 20 hotels in the coming 5 years in all major capital cities of Europe.
I have covered CitizenM extensively:
- Third Pod Hotel Concept for Amsterdam Revealed
- Amstelveen: Citizen M and the Neighbourhood
- Amsterdam CitizenM Opening (1)
- CitizenM Hotel Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Opening (2): The Room
- CitizenM Hotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Opening (3) Final Observations
I publish this for completeness sake.
However, although I admire and like the various design features and concepts and am proud that a Dutch brand is getting so much Kudos, I do believe the German chain Motel One is doing a much better job with less design features…….
The main reasons for my observation:
- Motel One has perfect parking facilities for those traveling by car.
- Motel One has rooms you can occupy with two persons rather than one. This has to do with the place of the double bed of a citizenM room: You can’t enter your bed without crawling over your partner or have him / her crawling over you.
- Motel One has a separate perfectly designed fully fledged bathroom opposed to the citizenM bath “sphere”.
- Motel One has windows you can open.
Also interesting see a Mr & Mrs Smith representative in the jury…. I wonder if the distinguished members of the jury have had the honor of sleeping in a citizenM room….
A final question: Would you expect so much online coverage for a Hotel chain from an agency with such website :Birgit Schmoltner?
Like this post? Please Share it!:
Tagged as:
Dutch Design,
Pod Hotels
Project Syndicate
is a not-for-profit association of newspapers dedicated to fostering global debate on issues shaping the world today. Our organization has rapidly risen to the forefront of the international print media market as the premier provider of the highest quality opinion and commentary content. In the last years, the number of member newspapers has risen enormously to include 391 leading newspapers. Project Syndicate commentaries are now translated into 63 languages and read by over 5 million readers in 146 countries.
Recently there is some rumor that printed media don’t have enough content. Here is one of their sources I stumbled on.
Like this post? Please Share it!:
Hospitality veteran Johan Neppelenbroek had set up Historic Hotels of The Benelux as a split off from Erfgoedlogies in order to enable this group of hotels to join the international network of Historic Hotels.
As of August 1, 2008 Annemarieke van der Velden (see photo) has taken over Johan’s position. Johan’s investment in the label has been taken over by the Eden Hotel group. Currently the Eden Group manages 17 hotels and 9 restaurants in The Netherlands. With this acquisition Eden is preluding on its expansion plans outside The Netherlands in due course.
According to insiders the fact that a single hotel group takes over the management of the association will not lead to a loss of member hotels.
Historic Hotels of the Benelux has 33 member hotels in The Netherlands en 17 member hotels in Belgium.
Historic Hotels of the Benelux is a member of Historic Hotels of Europe
Historic Hotels of Europe is a partner of Historic Hotels of America
I wish Annemarieke a lot of success with this new venture.
Like this post? Please Share it!:
I have uploaded my photos of the opening to Happy Hotelier’s Flickr Account. Some final observations:
The name
Correctly spelled the name is CitizenM and not Citizen M. I cannot change this in my prior posts because of the archiving system I am using here.
The Launch Party
After the Press conference there was the official opening. Rattan Chadha (Chairman) and Micheal Levy (CEO) held a speech and then everybody attending got a piccolo of champagne with the request to have the cork popping out at the same moment after a count down. The photos show a Happier Boss than at the press conference.
Rattan Chaddha Opening the CitizenM
He emphasized that the whole operation is a matter of teamwork, but as an onlooker I would say this is his baby and the team should do as he says. Not bad though, because the result is really innovative. See the glowing review of a frequent traveler as a comment to one of my prior posts.
Philips was represented by Andrea Ragnetti
I believe they made a giant step forward with Philips in applying domotica in hotel design with the Mood Pad.
Extensive coverage by the Press
There was a huge attendance of TV, writing press and Bloggers.
Extensive TV Coverage
When returning home my wife told me Dutch TV had covered the opening with 4 whole minutes which is a lot of free publicity!
The “cameraman” here is not a cameraman, but my Italian friend and fellow Blogger Stefano Pugliese, who rather would be called “Director” and who organized the attendance of several Bloggers at the opening, among which: Hotel Chatter, Howard Greenstein and two of the grayest, err sorry Karen – I’m not a Grey Travel Blogger, Happy Hotelier! (lol) , Independently Minded Travel Bloggers :
Here is a good TV impression of the whole on: Bright TV and here is another link on Tech Digest and here is the Youtube Version of the Tech Digest Video:
Of course the WiWiH crew was there as well:
The Lobby
The lobby gives a feeling of your own living room and is filled with retro design furniture due to a collaboration with Vitra. Here is a picture of the check in screens.
Very cleverly your room number is not shown on the screen at checking in, because everyone could look over your shoulder, you get your room number and password for the WiFi printed on a decent paper slip. Don’t forget to take it with you from the printer though otherwise you might find someone else in your room, or worse, someone else taking advantage of things you have paid for.
You are requested to take the electronic key card and use it with your next check in. You can use it as luggage tag and in case you lose your luggage which is not uncommon with the present status of service from the airlines, and if, for security reasons you don’t want to label your luggage with your home address because you are afraid of unwelcome visitors during you stay abroad, you have a chance of reclaiming it through CitizenM. They know how to reach you…..
Last update July 3, 2008
Like this post? Please Share it!:
Tagged as:
Been There,
Pod Hotels
