Hotel Owners and Managers Seek Their Own Shangra-La Through the International Hoteliers Club

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, September 20, 2010 (Press-News.org) Like their own magical Shangra-La, Hotel and B&B Owners and Managers now have a way to stay anywhere in the world, anytime they want--for free. Sound too good to be true?

Well, almost free, anyway.

Kamal Bouskri, Owner of the luxury boutique Hotel Riad Kniza in Marrakesh, and founder of the International Hoteliers Club, has helped to create a haven--driven by online worldwide accessibility and featuring the Hotel Owner or Manager's own personal Shangra La---just for the harried hotel exec. Want to go to Hong Kong? Marrakesh? Rio de Janeiro? Buffalo?

Buffalo? How did that get in the list?

"We are so pleased that we've been able to create a club--exclusively for hotel executives," said Bouskri recently. "Over the years, I've been lucky to make many friends in the hotel industry. Many of them wanted to visit Marrakesh. They've offered stays in their hotels as compensation for stays with me. The idea was planted years ago, and it's recently borne fruit. With the expansion of the idea, and the worldwide applicability of the Internet, we were able to visualize and develop our dream."

September 20 is the official launch date of the International Hoteliers Club. With offices in both Geneva and New York, it's a truly international club for Hotel Executives. They're expecting hotel execs from Buffalo, too. Although the international cache of Cannes is alluring, some poor executive may just want a week in the winter in Buffalo, NY. The Club, in this case, does assure executives anonymity in their choice of lodging.

"Want to visit Costa Rica and you manage a hotel in Switzerland?" asked Bouskri. "We can make that happen--because we have a Hotelier in Costa Rica who just happens to want a week in Switzerland. Your Swiss Hotel can swap a week's lodging with his, and"---- he said, smiling----"you'll probably even see a few five star meals comp'ed along the way. Fresh seafood in Costa Rica sounds pretty good in the middle of the winter in Switzerland!"

The snow skier in Costa Rica, of course, is seeking more than 1000 feet of vertical drop---preferably on fresh powder, which is fairly difficult to find in Costa Rica. With this successful swap, a match has been made and two more hotel executives are very satisfied members of the IHC.

"This represents an amazing opportunity for a group of talented individuals to enjoy, learn, and create new and enjoyable opportunities for themselves, " said Alan Guinn, CEO and Managing Director of The Guinn Consultancy Group, Inc., an advisor to the Hotel industry. "The fact that they are able to trade stays cross-property is phenomenal. It doesn't even take into consideration the cross-learning that takes place between the hotel executives while they enjoy their vacations from their everyday job responsibilities. The friendships developed are one thing...but the learning "take-away" and cross-pollination within the industry will be invaluable to their growth as well-rounded Executives."

Bouskri adds, "What started as an exchange of complimentary hotel rooms between friends has evolved into an exclusive online community where hotel owners, B&B owners and managers, and general managers can communicate best practices, share the latest hospitality industry news, and exchange unrestricted complimentary room stays."

Individual Hotel Executives can join the site online through the club website at http://www.internationalhoteliersclub.com, and organizations wishing to join for a group of members and offer memberships at a group rate may call either the Geneva Office at +41 22 518 02 60 or the New York Office at +1 212 386 5531.

Individual Hotel Executives seeking membership status in the International Hoteliers Club may register online at www.internationalhoteliersclub.com. Groups seeking Association or Affiliation for groups of 10 or more Executives should notify the offices in either Geneva, Switzerland at 41 22 518 02 60 or in New York City at 212-386-5531.