August 15, 2011
FORUM
Has the Lodging Industry Turned a Corner?
Last month’s Midwest Lodging Investors Summit was a watershed event on several fronts. The crowd was large and enthusiastic, the venue was impeccable and the speakers were top-notch, candid, informative and provocative. Beyond that, however, for the first time in several years, I observed true optimism among the crowd. ...
CHECK IN
Programming Change: La Quinta Goes High Def
Few things are more infuriating for guests than turning on a fancy new flat-screen TV at a nice hotel and having a limited choice of programming in standard definition. ...
Why Chatham Lodging Trust Regained Innkeepers Portfolio Out of Bankruptcy
While most hotel REITs chase full-service and luxury hotels in major markets, Chatham Lodging Trust continues to focus on what it knows best: extended-stay and select-service hotels. And the REIT’s latest acquisition is one that Jeffrey Fisher, chairman and CEO of Chatham, is intimately familiar with....
How to Test Hotel Feasibility
When designing a hotel, the architect and development team need to create a project that is ultimately economically feasible. Unless the hotel’s owner is ego driven rather than economically motivated, most investors are looking for a return on their invested capital. Since feasibility means different things to different people, and as a hotel consultant having prepared thousands of feasibility studies, I have been asked to provide my perspective on this topic....
FEATURES
Is a Hotel Building Boom on the Horizon?
Conventional wisdom in the hotel industry dictates that growth in new supply will remain stagnant for the next couple of years, allowing existing hotels to flourish through improved occupancies and, more importantly, increased rates. While that’s true, some hotel companies and entrepreneurial developers are laying the groundwork for what could be another significant hotel building boom in 2013 and beyond....
Landmark Hilton Anatole Undergoes a Transformation
People who visit downtown Dallas can’t miss the Hilton Anatole, the monumental convention hotel Trammell Crow built as the 1970s turned into the ‘80s. Its campus, comprising two high-rise atriums, a 27-story tower, 1,606 guestrooms, more than 600,000 square feet of event space, various recreational activities, and a world-class collection of Asian art coming into fuller view, makes it unique. ...
DESIGN PERSPECTIVE
Rowley Has Designs On Fresh Start
In May, Cheryl Rowley closed the Beverly Hills office of her highly successful hospitality design firm, 25 years after she opened it. In that span, Rowley grew the bustling office to a staff of 35 at its peak, helped create the designs for Kimpton’s boutique Monaco and Palomar brands and designed countless other luxury hotels and resorts for brands like Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental....
Design Elements August 15, 2011
Roundup of design news....
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Tech Bytes HITEC Wrap
Highlights from HITEC...
BACK OF HOUSE
Products August 15, 2011
The latest in hotel products....
Vendor News August 15, 2011
Roundup of vendor news....
