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Tea producers told to warm up their global image
COLOMBO (AFP) - Faced with falling prices and competition from coffee growers, global tea producers are being stirred into action to boost their image in order to regain consumers in the cut-throat beverage market. Tea, the world's most consumed drink behind water, is seen as an "old ladies' drink" and is being abandoned by youngsters who pay top dollar for trendy coffees such as mochas and frothy cappuccinos, industry officials say. "Producing countries need to make tea more fashionable, by highlighting its health benefits, put out products like tea-laced biscuits, cakes, (also) perhaps a line of merchandise," said US Tea Association president Joe Simrany. Big producers such as Sri Lanka, Kenya and India have failed to add more value to the brew, leaving tea trailing behind coffee in the 70-billion-dollar global hot drinks market, according to a recent industry meeting here.
New at Westin hotels: in-room spa service
Three Westin hotels in Hawai'i are adding a new in-room spa service, taking advantage of a new trend of offering services that pamper guests in the hopes of attracting more of them. The Westin In-Room Spa experience is being offered at all Westin resorts in the Islands: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa (758 rooms and suites); The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas (797 studio and one-bedroom villas); and Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort (793 rooms and suites). The program includes taking the massage table and a basket of restful niceties to the hotel room instead of having the guest go to the spa. A sample basket provided by Westin included white ambrosia tea, a cymbidium orchid displayed in a box, a citrus-y aromatherapy spray and dark chocolates.
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