In postwar Europe and the Middle East, Hilton hotels were quite literally "little Americas." For American businessmen and tourists, a Hilton Hotel—with the comfortable familiarity of an English-speaking staff, a restaurant that served cheeseburgers and milkshakes, trans-Atlantic telephone lines, and, most important, air-conditioned modernity—offered a respite from the disturbingly alien. For impoverished local populations, these same features lent the Hilton a utopian aura. The Hilton was a space of luxury and desire, a space that realized, permanently and prominently, the new and powerful presence of the United States. Building the Cold War examines the architectural means by which the Hilton was written into the urban topographies of the major cities of Europe and the Middle East as an effective representation of the United States. Between 1953 and 1966, Hilton International built sixteen luxury hotels abroad. Often the Hilton was the first significant modern structure in the host city, as well as its finest hotel. The Hiltons introduced a striking visual contrast to the traditional architectural forms of such cities as Istanbul, Cairo, Athens, and Jerusalem, where the impact of its new architecture was amplified by the hotel's unprecedented siting and scale. Even in cities familiar with the Modern, the new Hilton often dominated the urban landscape with its height, changing the look of the city. The London Hilton on Park Lane, for example, was the first structure in London that was higher than St. Paul's cathedral. In his autobiography, Conrad N. Hilton claimed that these hotels were constructed for profit and for political impact: "an integral part of my dream was to show the countries most exposed to Communism the other side of the coin—the fruits of the free world." Exploring everything the carefully drafted contracts for the buildings to the remarkable visual and social impact on their host cities, Wharton offers a theoretically sophisticated critique of one of the Cold War's first international businesses and demonstrates that the Hilton's role in the struggle against Communism was, as Conrad Hilton declared, significant, though in ways that he could not have imagined. Many of these postwar Hiltons still flourish. Those who stay in them will learn a great deal about their experience from this new assessment of hotel space.

Introduce students to the exciting world of international hospitality with this extensively-revised textbook that explores key issues in global hotel development and management. Students will learn about new trends and developments that have changed the context of international hotel operations and management and explore international policies affecting travel, tourism, and hospitality development. Topics include: Trends in global distribution systems, sustainable development,new hotel products, and consumer demographics Growth and importance of China, India, and the Middle East as destinations for hotel development and management Country-specific policies regarding investment regulations, visa programs, hotel classification systems, and travel advisories

This book tries to examine the complex global phenomenon of international tourism, exploring its various concepts in their different manifestations. The book offers comprehensive information on various concepts, methods and frameworks giving a systematic overview of the subject on a global basis. Key elements of the book include: nature and components of the tourism industry; destination planning and management; marketing strategies and communication; economic dimensions and international co-operation.

This book provides comprehensive coverage of cross-cultural issues and behavior in tourism, and illustrates how international cultural differences influence travel decision-making --publisher's description.

Never before has it been more important for hotel operators and designers to understand the concept of what makes for a comfortable stay. Hotels of today have to cater to ever-increasing numbers of travel-savvy customers that emanate from all corners of the globe. These are customers with a wide range of demands and expectations, particularly in relation to the level of comfort they seek. Iconic Design Hotels is packed with innovative designs that are guaranteed to redefine the concept of what a hotel should be. Concepts range from the Plush and lush to minimalist and they are presented in a way that illuminates the design perspective as well as the criteria used for gauging the comfort of customers. Thorough documentation is provided in the form of floor plans, the architects' personal sketches and notes, and gorgeous, full-color photographs.

International Hospitality Business: Management and Operations will introduce hospitality managers to the most up-to-date developments in hospitality to prepare you for the rapidly changing world of international hospitality. This book is a compilation of the most current research in global operations. It examines new developments, new management co

The fully revised edition of this well-known text by an experienced author, consultant and educator follows the structure and approach which has proved so successful since its first publication in 1980. The book examines the hotel as a business providing commercial hospitality. It focuses on markets, money and people, and uses examples from hotel operations throughout the world. This new edition is the outcome of a thorough revision of an established text. The new material includes a comprehensive profile of the hotel business in the 1990's and includes data, quotes and extracts from a wide range of authoritative industry sources.