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Q3 2007 Client Newsletter |
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02 July 2007 |
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Development of New Luxury Corporate Apartments in the Heart of Manhattan |
BridgeStreet Worldwide's parent company, Sorrento Structuring - a Dublin-based, privately held investment group recently purchased a building site, in the established Murray Hill area of Manhattan, one block from the Empire State Building and just off Madison Avenue. BridgeStreet will exclusively manage the new luxury high rise property consisting of 110 residential apartments over 35 floors.
With the addition of the Sorrento property, named the S34 to its portfolio, BridgeStreet Worldwide continues to offer more options to guests seeking the perfect place to stay while on extended visit to New York City. The S34, BridgeStreet's first "easy to stay with" building, offers a fresh approach to business travel accommodations by combining the privacy and comfort of a luxury residential building with the impeccable services and amenities you would expect to find at a fine hotel. The full roster of premium amenities and services include Wi-Fi throughout the building, concierge and doorman-attended lobby, state-of-the-art fitness center, rooftop terrace and spaciously designed residences.
BridgeStreet Worldwide president and CEO, Lee Curtis, is enthusiastic about the natural synergy that exists between BridgeStreet Worldwide's property management expertise and Sorrento's real estate investment acumen. "BridgeStreet Worldwide and Sorrento are committed to furthering our excellence in service to clients by proactively seeking real estate and management opportunities in key world markets," said Curtis.
Sorrento purchased BridgeStreet Worldwide in January of this year as a catalyst for growth. "This acquisition is yet another strategic and financial milestone for BridgeStreet and Sorrento. The combination of our global real estate activity and BridgeStreet's operational expertise has opened the door for opportunities such as this," said Bryan Turley, Sorrento's chief executive officer. "Our objective remains to identify and invest in established robust property markets and we are confident that New York remains one of the most attractive cities globally for this purpose." |
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BridgeStreet Worldwide UK Embraces New Quality in Tourism Serviced Apartment Grading System |
BridgeStreet Worldwide, the UK's largest serviced apartment provider with over 20 years' industry experience, has announced plans to grade its 1,000 apartments under Quality in Tourism's new Serviced Apartment Grading System.
The company, whose portfolio includes apartments in key UK locations such as Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Heathrow and London, will initially grade 300 of its serviced apartments, with the remaining 700 apartments being assessed before the end of 2007.
As Director of Sales & Marketing Jo Layton explains, BridgeStreet Worldwide was keen to pioneer the new grading system. 'The idea of an industry-wide grading system emerged when we met with Quality in Tourism more than two years ago to discuss the grading of The Atrium by BridgeStreet Worldwide Apartments in Manchester,' she says. 'Our discussions with Quality in Tourism led us to conclude that the industry would benefit from a formal grading system against which all providers could be measured. The concept, championed by BridgeStreet, was presented to the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers, who immediately adopted the idea and has spent the last two years developing the system with Quality in Tourism.'
As with the hotel industry, the grading system provides universal frames of reference for the intrinsic quality of apartments' fixtures and fittings, cleanliness and general services. Check-in and arrival processes, as well as health and safety systems, are also tested to ensure they reach a recognized industry standard.
'The new system is less about achieving the highest number of stars for our apartments,' comments Jo Layton, 'but more about offering travellers an independent, reliable and objective rating against which to judge each serviced apartment provider. We at BridgeStreet believe that over time corporate buyers will only entertain working with serviced apartment providers who have submitted their inventory to scrutiny in this way, especially as each grade also affords an instant indication of the property's quality and price ratio.
'We fully endorse the new grading system and are thrilled to have our name at the forefront of the rollout of what is a significant step forward for the industry as a whole,' she concludes. |
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BridgeStreet Worldwide Spotlighted by Microsoft for Mapping Program Implementation |
We invite you to explore the mapping technology we have implemented on our web site- the first of many web services we will be providing to customers that offer interactive, geo-graphic interfaces. Providing a real-time visual of BridgeStreet Worldwide locations with an interactive map for indicating places of interest such as parks, schools, museums, restaurants, and the client's workplace, helps traveling executives get a better sense of the neighborhood before they even arrive.
BridgeStreet Worldwide is able to put all of that information at traveler's fingertips with the Microsoft Virtual Earth mapping software. This software offers high-resolution satellite imagery with aerial views of apartment communities and an interactive mapping solution for points of interest nearby.
In addition to providing customers with interactive accommodations mapping, BridgeStreet's implementation of Microsoft Virtual Earth has been laced throughout its systems via web services allowing for real-time modeling of building vacancy in relation to customer travel patterns. Comparing geographic information with customer travel behavior helps to minimize vacancy losses. |
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Park Row Apartments in Leeds, UK Grand Opening |
Enjoying a prime location in the heart of Leeds city centre, Park Row Apartments by Bridgestreet Worldwide offers a spacious and affordable accommodation alternative.
Park Row boasts 23 stylish one and two bedroom apartments and for those in search of extra luxury, it also offers three stunning penthouses featuring contemporary designs and balconies.
Designed with the business traveller in mind, Park Row provides a secure, private, comfortable and spacious environment to work, relax and entertain.
Fitted with all modern conveniences, 24 hour check-in and a concierge service, Park Row is ideal whether for one night visits or for extended stays.
Conveniently located it provides immediate access to Leeds buoyant culture and its multitude of local bars, restaurants, theatres and cafes assured to please both the business and leisure traveller alike.
Graham Lydiatt newly appointed Sales Manager says: "What a superb opportunity to be part of the launch team and present Park Row Apartments to new clients. |
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BridgeStreet Worldwide Announces Global Alliance Program Evolution |
BridgeStreet Worldwide, responding to changing client needs and the rapid globalization of the temporary housing industry has restructured its existing licensed partnership into a cohesive international alliance of high quality serviced apartment providers.
This network, known as the BridgeStreet Global Alliance is a conglomerate of like-minded corporate housing providers dedicated to high quality accommodations and services. The industry first alliance gives customers a comprehensive global housing solution, which delivers a consistent extended stay travel experience across the board.
"A pillar of BridgeStreet Worldwide's success is our dedication to superior services offered consistently across international borders to both clients and guests," said Lee Curtis, BridgeStreet Worldwide president and CEO. "By evolving the standards and participation levels of our Global Alliance program we further ensure our customers will receive reliable, high quality service wherever they are traveling - whether it be Dubai or Silicon Valley."
BridgeStreet Worldwide selectively recruits the highest quality local corporate housing providers throughout the world to participate in the Global Alliance. "We have assembled a team of industry experts that are placed strategically in key cities to assess client demand for specific locations and perform rigorous due diligence on potential global alliance members", reports Curtis. Members work through a stringent certification process, graduating to the status of Certified Partner.
The BridgeStreet Global Alliance is further stratified with the addition of the category of Premier Global Alliance Partner. This is the highest level of the Alliance and applies to providers who currently participate in the US-based Licensed Global Partner program. It is the goal of the BridgeStreet Global Alliance program to offer members the opportunity to join, gain membership benefits and evolve their businesses through the levels of the Alliance over time, through solid commitment and consistent delivery to superior customer service practices; thus, further formalizing and evolving the serviced apartments industry internationally.
"The Global Alliance participation levels are based on the longevity and strength of the partner's relationship with BridgeStreet Worldwide. Our long-term objective is to establish partner relationships that advance through the hierarchy of the Global Alliance, ultimately developing Premium partners throughout major metropolitan areas across the globe," said Curtis.
Multiple benefits are realized by both customers and alliance members through the Global Alliance program. Global Alliance customers receive a seamless process of reservations, billing and account management and are assured consistently high quality accommodations, service delivery and innovative processes they've come to expect from BridgeStreet. Alliance members benefit from shared operational knowledge, technology, shared buying power and training.
Redefining the BridgeStreet Global Alliance and committing additional resources to roll out the program along with developing new, supportive technology, BridgeStreet Worldwide is positioned to become the first-choice corporate housing provider for clients demanding quality accommodations and impeccable service at their choice of locations around the globe. |
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BridgeStreet UK Launches Guest Satisfaction Survey Program Online |
The BridgeStreet United Kingdom operations have launched email/web-based guest satisfaction survey program. Upon check out, each guest is given the opportunity to pass feed back on their experience staying in a BridgeStreet Worldwide apartment in the form of a Guest Satisfaction Survey.
To complement the printed version of the survey an online option has been introduced to enable guests on the move to complete the questionnaire in their own time. The survey is sent shortly after departure to an email address gathered during reservations. Results are then compiled into reports which give valuable insight into the expectations of our guests while allowing reservation bookers insight into how well BW is serving their firms' employees.
The survey asks guests to rate BridgeStreet Worldwide in terms of comfort, cleanliness, value for money, size, furniture and appearance of their apartment.
Guests are queried on whether they would choose to stay with BW again and whether BSW associates have been responsive to their requests, flexible and efficient.
In a very competitive environment, survey results are crucial. Constantly improving guest services and the facilities BW offers; guests' feedback enables tailoring of strategies to take the appropriate corrective actions and ensure the ultimate serviced apartment experience.
Everyday, BW Operations Team works efficiently to "turn" around dozens of apartments cleaning and preparing them to impeccable living spaces for incoming guests. |
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BridgeStreet Paris Office moves to Paris Business District |
Bridgestreet Paris Office is now located at the 10 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt in the 8th district, just behind the Champs Elysées in the heart of paris and very close to many of the properties offered.
This new location gives BridgeStreet the chance to be in the most important business area of Paris as well as one of the most beautiful places in the city. |
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Karen Guinan Named GM in Washington, DC Metro Area |
Karen Guinan, a long time hotel management and customer service professional, joins to serve as the General Manager for the Washington, DC metro area.
Guinan has been instrumental in bolstering financial and customer service successes in hotels along the east coast for over 15 years. She has opened several Marriott Courtyard hotels and has received multiple distinctions for her outstanding efforts in the hospitality industry, including Hotel of the Year award for the Northeast for Marriott properties and the "Jack of All Trades" award from Hyatt Hotels. |
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