April 1, 2007
Articles
The Technology Conundrum
Technology is a fickle beast, at times empowering but also often frustrating. Particularly in the hotel business, technology isn't a cure-all, the answer...
NO WAITING TO EXHALE HERE
Smokers, and some hotel franchisees, can breathe a little easier. Not every hotel chain is jumping on the non-smoking bandwagon, a topic that's generated...
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...
WORDS FOR THE WEALTHY
Advance copies of hot books are the latest amenity at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Author presentations and celebrity dinners can even be on the menu. The...
Upcoming Industry Events
APRIL 4 Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference, sponsored by HSMAI, Las Vegas. Information: www.hsmai.org APRIL 11 RealShare Hotel Investment &...
DEVELOPERS TARGET BRANDED WATERPARKS
As the indoor waterpark hotel market begins to mature, cagey developers are building properties that have the potential to attract customers beyond the...
TRANSACTIONS
Apple Hospitality Two The real estate investment trust Apple Hospitality Two, Inc. will be merged with an affiliate of ING Clarion Partners, LLC in a...
HOSPITALITY PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Allen Mullinix was promoted to vice president of development at Americas Best Value Inn by Vantage, Christopher Foster will oversee ABVI membership development...
Timeshare/Resort Briefs
Shell Vacations recently completed a four-month renovation of its Peacock Suites timeshare resort in Anaheim, CA. IGroup Design oversaw the project, which...
MARRIOTT TEACHES TIMESHARE SALES
Start em young is always a good philosophy and one that Marriott Vacation Club International employed recently. In late February, the Orlando-based timeshare...
Brands and Value
Aquestion I've been asked several times since I've been writing this column over the past few years is, What hotel brands actually contribute to hotel...
Smoothing the Legal Path to Development
Successful development of a pure hotel or the currently favored mixed-use project is a delicate blend of business, finance, marketing and law. The challenging...
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...
Getting Older, Thinking Younger
Never call them old. Don't treat them as old in your marketing, traditional and otherwise. Don't underestimate their hunger for health and fitness, for...
Upscale Resort Design Today
Two design strategies drive the upscale resort market. One aims to create an exclusive resort, while the other seeks to build a world of unique experiences....
The Bed Bug Battle Rages On
They're back. Bed bugs have been staging a comeback across the country. Blame it on increased international travel, banning insecticides, careless housekeeping...
Natural Borne Killers
Green is gaining momentum in the hospitality industry, encompassing everything from natural cleaning products to ecologically-based design to dedicated...
SOCIAL NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY FOR A NEW GENERATION
Social networking is moving into the business world at a speed that is taking most managers by surprise. After a spectacular start within the 15-24 age...
IBAHN BROADENS BANDWIDTH BUT DOESN'T BREAK THE BANK
The iBahn NextConnect system features technology from Tut Systems and leverages old wiring so hotels can support current and future bandwidth demands,...
PAR-SMS Partners With HBSi
hospitality management solutions from PAR-Springer-Miller Systems are working with demand management software from Hotel Booking Solutions Inc. Driving...
Graphical Ads Make TravelCLICK Debut
TravelCLICK has unveiled PromoSpots, graphical advertising available at point of sale. The idea is to give Sabre Connected travel agents greater opportunity...
Tech Bytes
Wireless network integrator Wayport acquired ResortWIFI, a wireless Internet services provider. Wayport will integrate many of the 40-plus ResortWiFi...
NXTV DEBUTS HD BOXES
NxTV, a video-on-demand and digital entertainment provider, has begun installing high-definition (HD) set-top boxes in the hotels it services. The first...
Vendor News
Multi-Systems, Inc. announces changes in the company's senior management: Glen Long has joined as vice president of sales and marketing. Most recently,...
INNOVATIONS IN HOTEL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Laundry Program Procter & Gamble offers a complete commercial On-Premise Laundry program featuring Tide, Clorox and Downy. It does not use harsh acids...
