Partnership with Clean the World at the Heart of Boston East India Hotel's Mission

At Boston East India Hotels, we care first and foremost about our guests and providing a curated hospitality experience that is second to none. However, we are also dedicated to sustainability and the world we live in. We do not toss around words like green, eco-friendly and sustainability lightly, nor do we half-heartedly attempt to make a difference in the world today — case in point, our partnership with Clean the World at The Daniel.

Clean the World is a nonprofit organization that is committed to reducing the waste created by discarded soap and shampoo products, as well as helping to prevent the millions of deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses around the world.

The organization does this by collecting, recycling and distributing discarded soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and gels from hotels. The guest room hygiene items are recycled by Clean the World’s recycling operations centers in Orlando, Las Vegas and Toronto, and distributed, for humanitarian purposes, to children and families in communities around the globe.

Clean the World partners with some of the world’s largest nonprofit organizations and NGO’s, including World Vision, World Food Program and Harvest Time International, as well as numerous U.S. partners to help distribute soap and shampoo.

As simple as it might sound, soap saves lives and we are proud to be part of Clean the World’s Bed and Breakfast Partners and help the organization save lives around the globe.

Medical research has shown that hand washing with soap significantly reduces the impact of two fatal diseases: acute respiratory infection and diarrheal disease. These are the top two killers of children less than 5-years-old. By distributing recycled soap to those who need it the most Clean the World’s efforts can have a massive impact in the global hygiene revolution.

We also love that Clean the World has a tremendous track record of success.

Started in 2009, Clean the World has collected and distributed more than 18 million bars of soap to more than 65 countries worldwide including Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Swaziland, Mali, Mongolia, Uganda, Honduras and Romania. The organization has operations in 50 states across the United States and 10 provinces in Canada. Its main recycling operations center in Orlando has the capacity to produce over 80,000 bars a day.

Clean the World’s recycled soap has been tested by TriTech Laboratories, a Florida state-certified testing facility, and given a 100 percent clean bill of health. TriTech infects soap to run through the standard Clean the World recycling process and checks to see what happens. The tests have found that all pathogens are successfully removed by the organization’s recycling process.

Clean the World has also become a natural disaster first responder — in January 2010, as part of our Haiti Earthquake relief efforts, it collected and distributed over 150 tons of hygiene products, medical supplies, water and other essentials to Haiti.

The green and eco-friendly benefits of working with Clean the World are also substantial. Since it was founded, the organization has eliminated more than 1.4 million pounds of hotel waste from polluting local landfills.

At The Daniel, partnering with Clean the World will help produce an estimated 250 pounds of recycle bars of soap annually, which equates to about 1,400 recycled soap bars distributed to children and families in need. The efforts will produce an estimated 200 pounds of recycled bottled amenities, which equals about 1,400 recycle bottled amenities distributed to children and families and need.

Annually, about 275 people are provided with soap from materials that are recycled from The Daniel.

Clean the World estimates that since the organization began its efforts more than 17 million children have died of diseases preventable with proper hygiene. With 18 million bars of soap distributed over that same time, it is clear that the organization’s mission to wipeout hygiene-related fatalities is an achievable goal — as a doubling of its efforts over the same time period moving forward could do it.

While The Daniel is just one of Clean the World’s 1,600 hospitality partners through North America — including giants such as The Walt Disney World Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, IHG, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Best Western International, Joie de Vivre Hotels, Hilton and Hyatt — we are glad to play our part in the massive impact this effort is having.

We also want our guests to know that when they visit any Boston East India Hotels property they are also part of this effort to impact the health and well-being of so many around the globe. We know many of our guest do their part at home to contribute to the sustainability of our planet and improve the health of all in it, but when they stay with us they are continuing to do their part even when they are on the road!

Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel is Maine’s Newest Music Hotspot

Listen up entertainment and music lovers, there’s a new place to be in Maine for the best in up-and-coming and hot musical acts — Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel. It kicked off this spring and is hosted by the hotel’s Coast Bar + Bistro. The Daniel has already etched itself into local performance lore with its musical hits, no cover charge for shows and food and drink specials. The crowds are growing and musicians are clamoring in line to be a part.

If you haven’t been out to witness the music event that has set Brunswick singing then don’t miss this week’s special Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel performance and extended three-day weekend of music with singer/songwriter Lauren Crosby on July 10 and the popular Gillen & Turk in for a special two-night stand on July 11 & July 12.

Fred Gillen Jr. and Matt Turk have been showcasing their vaunted blend of folk, rock and instrumentation up and down the Northeast since their 2008 CD debut “Backs to the Wall.” The multi-instrumental pair harmonize in song and feature guitar, bass, mandolin and an instrument bag-of-tricks that has brought them widespread acclaim and a loyal following. It’s their first stop at the Coast Bar + Bistro and their popularity warranted a special two-night stay.

Crosby is a perfect example of what makes Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel so great and she kicks off this special three-day weekend of music with the 6 p.m. to close Thursday night slot. She is a rising folkie bluesy singer/songwriter from Georgetown Island, Maine, who has been compared to legendary singers such as Janis Joplin and Edie Brickell. Fans have lauded her music for being real, raw and poetic. The Daniel is thrilled to offer a platform for a local talent like Crosby and also give a real treat to audiences who have never seen her wonderful voice on display before — and a welcome return to those that have already fallen in love with her sound.

Musicians are not the only stars of the show for Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel. The Coast Bar + Bistro is also in the spotlight and brings its “music” to the mouths of Thursday’s revellers with a mouthwatering spate of cuisine and drink specials. Great Thursday night deals include $4 draft beers, $3 bottled beers, $4 house wines and $5 mini tacos.

The Coast Bar + Bistro was recently rebranded, renovated and expanded with new interior décor, a bigger bar, additional seating and a capacity of 80 people. The bar features some of the region’s finest micro-brewed beers, hand-picked wines, and Brunswick’s largest selection of cocktails. The bistro offers a range of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, signature pizzas and entrees. Menus change throughout the year and feature cheeses, organic meats, produce and seafood from farmers and fishermen in Maine.

As part of the Troca Hotels collection, The Daniel is Maine’s newest lifestyle luxury hotel, and Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel also draws on the strength and tradition of Thursday Night Live @ The Sofala, a Trocal Hotels property in Goa, India.

Thursday Night Live @ The Sofala, which has been running strong for several years and over 100 shows, is credited with changing the game for the entertainment scene in Goa; artists from across India and around the world visit the hotel to perform and jam with the house band, Smoking Chutney. Recent performances have featured such well-known acts as Gypsy Kings, Chrystal Farrell, Gary Lawyer and Ricardo Vogt.

Thursday Night Live was created to provide guests of Troca Hotels properties, such as The Daniel and The Sofala, with a vibrant and unique experience, as well as turn the hotels into local and authentic social hotspots. This strategy scored big at The Sofala and the early returns are hitting top marks at The Daniel also.

Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel launched on March 29 with Eric Worthing, lead singer from Worthy Bones, performing a reggae-infused acoustic show, flavored by the sounds of the Grateful Dead and Sublime with his own jams and funky style of guitar playing.

Other featured acts have included: singer/songwriter/guitarist Aaron Nadeau, singer/guitarist Joe Gallant and an unplugged solo blues, bluegrass and country performance by Will Mallett of the award-winning Mallet Brothers.

Rest assured that Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel will only continue heat up and the best is yet to come, so hurry up and grab your spot for the newest and most vibrant Thursday hotspot.

The Daniel Hotel Blog Launches: Let Us Curate Your Guest Experience

Boston East India Hotels property in Maine, The Daniel, has kicked off The Daniel Hotel Blog, the ultimate place to mingle and satisfy all your guest curiosities and also to let you keep up on all the happenings around The Daniel and the independent lifestyle luxury hotel world.

As part of the Troca Hotels brand, the goal at The Daniel is to deliver exceptional and personalized experiences to our guests when they chose to stay with us. But we also want to make sure our guests always have The Daniel on their minds and, by following The Daniel Blog, will never really be that far away — and ready to return for another great guest stay.

Guests at The Daniel seek a curated, authentic and engaging experience during their stay and beyond. We offer inspired service that delivers on this desire and want to make sure our guests constantly feel The Daniel is always part of their travel experiences.

The Daniel Blog will keep our travelers connected with travel ideas, expert tips, upcoming events to watch out for and the latest The Daniel news.

Want some friendly advice on the latest travel trends? The Daniel Blog can provide that: “Memorial Day Travel Trends: Kicking off the Summer Across the U.S.” 

Want some insight on how The Daniel chooses from all the amenities lined up for a coveted spot at the hotel? Check out: “Hotel Amenities: What’s in Your Guest Room?” 

Are you a traveler that loves to bring along man’s best friend or your favorite pet on the road with you and want to know how The Daniel will fit your needs or the best tips for travel with pets in general? Dig in to: “Pets are Welcome: Travel Tips for Your Furry Friends.” 

Perhaps you are a foodie and already can’t get enough of The Daniel’s Coast Bar + Bistro. In this case, the Daniel Blog will have just the thing for you as you can check back in to learn about the latest dishes, recipes, drinks and general cuisine wizardry diners can expect from the Coast Bar + Bistro.

Fans of live music will want to keep up, to make sure they don’t miss the next hot performance of an up-and-coming act with Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel, which features live music every Thursday from 6 p.m. until close. Killer recent shows have included rising folkie bluesy singer/songwriter Lauren Crosby, singer/guitarist Joe Gallant and singer/songwriter/guitarist Aaron Nadeau. And the lineup promises only to heat up as Thursday Night Live @ The Daniel is now the place to be on Thursday nights.

Don’t expect this blog to just repost company press releases or only flaunt the latest The Daniel offerings. We know you want to be engaged, entertained and to explore all that is the traveling lifestyle. On that note, feel free to comment and make suggestions on what you want to see and hear. We are here to serve you first and foremost.

The Daniel Blog will also feature topics such as design, style, Q&A with staff members, photo essays and provide an eclectic insight into the wonderful Maine region that houses The Daniel.

So stay tuned! You won’t want to miss out.

Q&A: Checking In with Boston East India Hotels Director of Development and Marketing James Foster

As Boston East India Hotels Director of Development and Marketing, James Foster is responsible for overseeing marketing for the company’s hotels and villas, directing the development and public relations efforts, including planning for the global pipeline of assets under development.

Prior to joining Boston East India, James was a group marketing head and then a partner with Casa Boutique Hotels and General Manager at Casa Colvale in Goa. Under James’ leadership, Casa Colvale rose from obscurity to become one of the top vacation resorts and spas in India and the aspirational Goa destination for India’s celebrities and industrialists.

He started his career with The Appco Group, the world’s leading direct sales and marketing company with more than eight hundred locations in twenty-five countries on five continents. At the company, he pioneered loyalty card marketing for the hospitality industry and headed a group with over six hundred sales staff in eleven offices across the United Kingdom. He also worked for the company in France and as the Marketing Head for India.

A graduate of Harrow School in London, James studied law at the University of London. He is fluent in English and French and is certified under the Hilton Garden Inn University General Manager Program and has received a certificate of recognition in operations from Hilton Worldwide.

After living in India for nearly a decade, James moved to the United States in October 2013 to handle his responsibilities out of the company’s headquarters in the Boston area.

Hear what James has to say about his role with Boston East India Hotels and his background in the hotel industry:

Describe your job in five words or less.

Unpredictable, exhilarating, unconventional, fast-paced and entertaining

How long have you worked in hospitality?

I spent the first twelve years of my career working in marketing for a large London based company. I crossed over into hospitality in 2007 while living in India when I got the opportunity to become marketing head for Casa Boutique Hotels, a group of luxury boutique hotels in Goa. I was fortunate to head up some beautiful properties during my time in Goa, including Casa Colvale, which became one of the most highly rated lifestyle hotels in India under my tenure. Hospitality has been in my blood for a lot longer, my family own and manage a small hotel and golf course in the Loire Valley, one of the most scenic areas of France, a couple of hours drive from Paris.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

The toughest part of my job is controlling my enthusiasm for all the incredible opportunities to purchase gorgeous hotels in stunning locations here in the United States and globally. If we had unlimited capital I would be buying hotels every week, but I have to be patient and pick the opportunities that will give us the greatest potential for delivering fantastic investor returns and the best experience for our guests.

What is the best part of working for Boston East India Hotels?

Working with such an accomplished and experienced team of hospitality professionals is a real privilege and gives me the confidence and motivation to keep pushing every day to grow the company. The travel and excitement of doing hotel deals in fascinating places all over the globe is a big plus too!

What are the short-term goals for your job?

Short term, I want to keep our projects, conversion and operations teams incredibly busy over the next twelve months by closing six more hotel deals. We have a very strong pipeline of projects in the U.S., U.K. and South Asia which will quickly translate into a great portfolio of lifestyle hotels for such a young company.

What are the long-term goals for your job?

My long term goal is to help build the world’s best portfolio of lifestyle hotels under the Troca Hotel’s flag. I believe that with the team we have built over the last couple of years we have an opportunity to compete with and outperform the larger brands in the lifestyle segment and develop a world class brand.

You made a big move to the United States to join Boston East India Hotels. What is your favorite thing so far about living in the United States?

The best part of moving to the United States is there is so much to see and do. After ten years of living in India, the long winter in Boston was very exciting for my kids who had never seen snow before and we made the most of the fantastic skiing in New England. We are now looking forward to an equally fun summer with so many interesting places to visit.

Who is a Troca Traveler to you?

A Troca Traveler is someone who knows what they like and need to ensure a luxurious stay in exciting locations around the world without the need for endless marble bathrooms and cookie cutter experiences that most luxury brands offer today. The Troca Traveler wants an authentic experience and prefers to be surprised by a unique aspect of our hotels or by our people going above and beyond their expectations, rather than knowing what they will get before they walk through the door.

Do you remember the first time you spent the night in a hotel? How old were you and where was it?

My earliest hotel memory is at a small beautiful ski hotel called Les Roches Fleuries. We would stay every year and I felt like I grew up with some of the fantastic staff.

What is your favorite place to travel to?

I spent a lot of time backpacking and traveling around Southern and Eastern Africa and I can’t wait to take my kids on extended trips to that fascinating part of the world.

What is your most surefire travel tip?

Be safe but not too safe when it comes to exploring the world. There are too many incredible experiences that can be missed if you stick to the beaten track.

Here's to pausing to watch the day go by...

We're a global lifestyle hotel company for sure. We're concerned about a range of issues from guest comfort and engagement innovation to our new CSR initiative. There's a lot that keeps me busy from when I enter the office early and the wee morning hours when I often leave. But when Brian Sette, our Senior Manager of Art & Culinary Concepts, told me his amazing pup Penny loved looking out the window and could do it for hours, I asked him to pull up a chair in my office to test it out. There she was. Perched on that chair. Watching the young kids walking in and out of Converse's world headquarters, across the street from us. Cheers to Penny for not letting the world go by without noticing and here's to working at a company where we can occasionally pause to watch Penny. 

Happy Sunday everyone!

---

Abhijit "Beej" Das
President & CEO

Boston East India Hotels LLC
21 High Street, Suite 300
North Andover, MA 01845 USA 

Pets are Welcome: Travel Tips for Your Furry Friends

There’s a great scene in the recent excellent debut of FX’s original series “Fargo.” Billy Bob Thornton’s character Lorne Malvo tries to check into a local motel in the show’s fictional setting of Bemidji, Minn., and is amused by the run down property’s Pet Policy — pets are allowed but it is $10 dollars more for a dog or a cat.

"What if I got a fish? Or what if I kept spiders or mice? What if I had bacteria?” Lorne asks, not sure that the motel’s Pet Policy of $10 more should be standard; it should depend on the animal.

While Lorne’s confusion on what constitutes a pet and the motel’s lack of established policy, and what actually constitutes a pet for that matter, is a bit silly. A good word to the wise — amateur entomologists should keep their bugs at home!

All kidding aside, it does illustrate a good example for hotel-bound pet enthusiasts — if you are traveling with a furry friend make sure to do your homework and figure out what options hotels have for you. Pet policies vary widely from dogs only, with no special pet services, to allowing a variety of animals complete with available pet beds, food bowls and even treats from the kitchen.

Our hotel, The Daniel, has a Pet Policy and it lets you know exact guidelines for bringing a pet.

Here is what we say at The Daniel:

We love animals! But, despite our unconditional love for pets, we are aware that many of our guests don’t share our love. Therefore, we do have a limited policy regarding your furry family members.

Pets are limited to dogs and cats. No other animals of any kind are permissible. We do have designated rooms that allow for pets, so you must inform us at the time of booking, as these rooms are subject to availability.

We require guests to sign a damage/pet waiver and make a $100 deposit, which will be returned after checkout if no damage occurs.

As the comfort and safety of our guests is of the utmost importance, pets must not bark or be aggressive; they must be trained and housebroken. Pets are not allowed in the spa, fitness or dining areas. Owners must not leave their pet unattended or leave the premises without their pet, unless prior approval has been made. Any pet or owners violating this policy will be asked to leave the hotel.

An AAA study found that 51 percent of American travelers would bring pets along on every vacation if they could, illustrating the demand for pet-friendly hotels.

The perhaps obvious number one concern for those wishing to travel with pets is actually finding pet-friendly accommodations. According to AAA, some of the things that matter the most include: finding places that accept pets (95 percent), learning about pet policies such as size limits and fees (49 percent) and getting details about available pet services (22 percent).

“Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook” offers some other useful tips.

It is great when hotels, such as The Daniel, have such a clear Pet Policy, but not all do and sometimes it can be difficult to find out.

Increasingly, pet lovers are turning to pet-friendly websites and social media to find pet-friendly hotels, even more so than traditional visitors bureaus, newspaper travel sections, magazines and guidebooks.

Pet Hotels of America is one of the best websites to check out. The site hawks 25,000 pet-friendly hotels in the United States through a specific search engine and pet travel guides for popular U.S. travel destinations.

If anything, websites such as Pet Hotels of America can be a real help in highlighting what travelers need to consider when bringing along a pet.

The Daniel offers up a few more local travel tips to keep your pets happy:

·         Nearby grassy areas

·         Neighborhood dog parks or pet friendly parks

·         Groomers or pet day care

·         Local veterinarian

So, load up man’s best friend and head on out. With a little prep it can be a pet-friendly travel world out there. As far as bacteria goes, though, Fargo’s Lorne Malvo is probably out of luck.

Q&A: Checking In with Boston East India Hotels Director of Operations Jim Heineman

Jim Heineman is Boston East India Hotels Director of Operations. He is responsible for overseeing overall operations and management of the company’s hotels and villas worldwide and advising the development and project teams on operations and feasibility matters involved in the company’s current and pipeline projects.

Jim has three decades of experience in the hotel industry, and has held strategic and tactical senior leadership management roles both in hotel management/ownership and in the real estate development industry. 

He has been the General Manager at a wide variety of branded and boutique hotels, including the Parsippany Hilton in New Jersey, The Roosevelt Hotel in New York and the Algonquin Hotel in New York. He has also served as a Senior Vice President for the Applied Companies during the development and pre-opening for the W Hoboken. Jim started his career with Interstate Hotel Corporation and has a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. 

Hear what Jim has to say about his role with Boston East India Hotels and his background in the hotel industry: 

Describe your job in five words or less.

Rewarding, Complete, Exciting, Intense Fun

How long have you worked in hospitality?

I am almost afraid to say that I have worked over 35 years in the hospitality business. I started in high school working at a local restaurant in the kitchen as a dishwasher for $2.14 per hour, then a cook, and then head chef. I grew up in the back of the house and worked my way up to the top.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Producing financial results in revenue generation and profitability in different hotels in different parts of the world.

What is the best part of working for Boston East India Hotels?

The teamwork and collaborative efforts that happen every day with each and every project, which in turn yields the best possible results.

What are the short-term goals for your job?

Improving existing hotel profitability and hiring and training the best possible staff in industry from around the world to grow both Troca Hotels and Boston East India Hotels.

What are the long-term goals for your job?

Establish published SOPs on revenue generation, payroll reduction, expense management, budgeting of operations and capital, training and best practices to open any hotel in any country successfully.

Who is a Troca Traveler to you?

A Troca Traveler is a valued guest that loves our curated services and price value of their experiences such that they will always search for Troca Hotels first in any location all over the world before any other hotel. 

Do you remember the first time you spent the night in a hotel? How old were you and where was it?

I traveled with my family every summer to visit the historical places all over the U.S. and Canada. I was six years old and remember the Holiday Inn name somewhere in the U.S. and a swimming pool. What else would one want! 

What is your favorite place to travel to?

I have worked all over the United States and have traveled to Lisbon, Paris and India for work. I love Europe to explore the heritage and architecture, so Paris is my number one choice, followed closely by India. 

What is your most surefire travel tip?

Wherever you go, you must be willing to look outside the normal tour. Open you mind and find a local that knows all the best places off the beaten path. If you stay in the tourist areas you will never really know what life is really like in that spot you yearned to travel to for so many years. Your eyes must be wide open and explore.

Jay Leno’s long goodbye to ‘The Tonight Show’

From one North Andover company to an Andover institution, farewell Jay. From humble roots in the Merrimack Valley, you entertained the world. Thanks for setting an inspirational example for us to follow.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2014/02/06/leno-long-goodbye/IJv7qYr34LfEXKazp0HyaM/story.html