AMERICAS BEST VALUE INN: 700 IN SEVEN YEARS
In what is surely the fastest growth curve in the history of the U.S. hotel business, Americas Best Value Inn last month added its 700th property, a feat...
Banner Year for Extended Stay
The prolonged success of the extended-stay segment rolls on. According to The Highland Group's annual study of the sector, extended-stay properties had...
STAYBRIDGE'S HIGH-TECH TRIUMPH
When canny businessman Rick Kearney paid $4 million for 116 acres at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 10 a few years ago, even he thought it was...
Chicago Theater Building Becomes a Hampton
Two local firms First Hospitality Group and Northern Realty Group created a unique Hampton Inn in a 100-year-old office and theater building in downtown...
Remembering Ray Sawyer
Ray Sawyer, president and co-founder of Budget Host Inns, died in early March at age 71. He started the budget chain in 1975 as a way to provide economy...
BRANDING BRIEFS
Associated Luxury Hotels International The Madison, A Loews Hotel in Washington DC and Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort joined ALHI. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts...
PATELS RESURRECT BUDGETEL BRAND
Mike and R.C. Patel expect to soon have Budgetel signs on lodging properties across the U.S. The first 15 franchised hotels in the resurrected chain should...
Feeding the New Breed of Traveler
Ask leaders of the new lifestyle brands who their ideal target market is, and almost without exception they'll describe their customers in terms of psychographics...
Carlson Sets Records in 06
It was a very good year for Carlson Hotels Worldwide and its select service brands in particular. In 2006, the company added more than 80 hotels among...
BRANDING BRIEFS
America's Best Franchising ABF signed an agreement with KI Group, Inc. to bring the Country Hearth hotel brand to India. The agreement calls for the development...
JOE KANE'S LEGACY
In an industry filled with straight shooters and quality people, none of them surpass Joe Kane in integrity. The long-time Wyndham Hotel Group (and Cendant...
The Wyndham Whirlwind
Want to see lodging flex its muscles? Visit Ramadas and Days Inns in Europe and the Middle East. Brands that seem all-American at home are different there...
Homewood Suites Ups the Ante
Innovation is the new mantra at Homewood Suites. Hilton's 190-plus-property extended-stay chain recently rolled out several new initiatives as part of...
WYNDHAM TIMESHARE ROLLS ON
It's been a good couple of months for Wyndham Vacation Ownership. Last month, the company reported that sales in the fourth quarter of 2006 topped $469...
The Prince Touch
Irwin Prince wears many hospitality hats. As chairman of the Hotel Association of Canada and president and COO of both Days Inn Canada and Realstar Hospitality,...
BRANDING BRIEFS
America's Best Franchising The firm sold 30 franchises in 2006, including Country Hearth Inns' first international locations in Canada and America's Best...
BRANDING BRIEFS
AmericInn Recent AmericInn Lodge & Suite openings include properties in Thief River Falls, MN; Hailey, ID; and Greenville, MI. Associated Luxury Hotels...
