January 1, 2006
Articles
Opportunities And Challenges for '06
What a year 2006 promises to be. If you listen to your gut or to the industry prognosticators (see pgs. 50-52 to read what they say), you realize that...
BEST WESTERN PUSHES E-COMMERCE
The growth of online reservations has been so dramatic in the past two years that automation-resistant Best Western members who fail to capitalize on...
Courtyard Tops 100,000 Rooms
A 218-room Courtyard by Marriott near the Kremlin in Moscow contains the chain's 100,000th room. The brand selected Marriott Rewards Gold Member Curtis...
BRANDING BRIEFS
AmericInn International C.P. Properties LLC broke ground in late October on a new AmericInn Lodge & Suites in Havre, MT. The 54-unit property will open...
HILTON GARDEN MAKES MANHATTAN
The first Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan isn't banking on its prime location at 8th Avenue and West 49th Street alone. The Hilton Garden Inn Times Square...
London Calling in L.A., New York
LXR Luxury Resorts, the new high-end chain owned by Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, is launching a sub-brand. The group will transform two of its urban...
VANTAGE HOSPITALITY GOES UPSCALE
Vantage Hospitality Group last month introduced a new brand The Lexington Collection that has the potential to dominate the three- and four-diamond lodging...
LESSONS FROM HURRICANE KATRINA
Sadly but not surprisingly, it was the private sector, and hotels in particular, that led the way in responding quickly to the devastation from last summer's...
WHAT'S AHEAD IN HOTEL DESIGN?
As the lodging industry continues its current growth spurt, hospitality design is evolving at a greater pace, too, challenging operators and designers...
ALIS Highlights Dealmaking
A number of new features will be introduced at this month's Americas Lodging Investment Summit. The fifth annual event will be held Jan. 23-25 at the...
Mian Companies Goes Coastal
Dallas-based Mian Companies is invading California. The investment, development and management firm recently opened one property on the Southern California...
A NEW ENTREPRENEUR IS BORN
Veteran corporate hotelier Joe Lavin has become an entrepreneur. The former Marriott International and Choice Hotels executive recently launched HarborStone...
Upcoming Industry Events
JANUARY 23-25 Americas Lodging Investment Summit-ALIS, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, Los Angeles. Information: www.ALISconference.com JANUARY 24-26 30th...
THE LODGING HOSPITALITY BLOG
Last month, Lodging Hospitality launched a weblog, or blog, on its website. The Front Desk is a regular look at issues, trends and news in the industry,...
HOSPITALITY PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Loews Corp. Chairman and hotel industry pioneer Preston Robert Tisch died on Nov. 15. Starting in 1946, Tisch and his brother Larry built Loews Hotels...
Sentiment Keeps Pace
The composite Lodging Executives Sentiment Index (LESI) remains strong and shows continued expansion of general business conditions in the lodging sector....
HIGH END RESORTS ARE HOT
Condo hotels, fractionals, destination clubs and high-end timesharing are the hot topics in the resort industry, as evidenced by three recent conferences...
TRAVEL AGENTS BOOST TOUR FLOW
An Arizona travel representation company may have found a way to help vacation ownership companies answer their most difficult and expensive challenge:...
The Road to Sales Success in the First Year
I just don't think I'm cut out for hotel sales. Months have gone by since I went into sales and I'm getting more discouraged every day. My boss is unhappy....
Defining Segments
After my November column (pgs. 40-42), I received a number of questions regarding what types of hotels are included in each category (luxury, upper upscale,...
The School of Horst
At 66, Horst Schulze is not only back in the game; he's back on the high-end tip. Four years after establishing West Paces Hotel Group, six years after...
BETTER THAN Banner
If you thought 2005 was good for your bottom line, you haven't seen anything yet. No matter how one slices it, 2006 may be the best year ever for the...
Dream Weavers
A Florida palm tree replaced the traditional evergreen that symbolizes completion of a construction project's structural phase at the Oct. 7 topping off...
Today's Hottest Trends: According to Merilee
Flat screen televisions: Have them in every room. They are expected and save space. Bays can be less than 12 feet because there is no need for a bulky...
A Digital Revolution
Goodbye, analog. Hello, digital. All TVs including those made for hotels will soon enter the all-digital world. Last fall, the Federal Communications...
Henry Morrison Flagler
Toward the end of the 19th century, the exploits of entrepreneur Henry Morrison Flagler dazzled America. Not only was his Florida East Coast Railroad...
CONTROL ENERGY COSTS THROUGH PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
With chill settling in across most of the country, hotel owners and operators have yet to see the worst energy bills predicted to be 35 percent or higher...
Customizing the Booking
It's routine to book a room online but not yet routine to book your preferences, too. At the New York Palace, you can do both, thanks to the online concierge...
RADISSON OFFERS FREE HSIA
Starting this month, Radisson Hotels & Resorts offers complimentary high-speed Internet access in all its Americas guestrooms. There is no program to...
ONITY SECURES CRITICAL BLESSING
Onity HT 24 and HT 28 locks have been certified as compliant with the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA)/American National Standard Institute...
INNOVATIONS IN HOTEL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
WORKING TO FORGE A SAFETY CULTURE Expanding insurance coverage, better safety practices and a comprehensive approach have lowered costs for Premier Resorts...
SUPPLY Side
Matthew Mrowczynski was named executive vice president of sales and marketing for Energy Eye. He had been executive vice president of TimeLox. Energy...
