April 1, 2010
Forum
Don't Get Too Excited About Good News
OPINION: Things Are Looking Up, But Challenges Remain
Both the consumer press and the hotel press have reported unusually good news in recent weeks. At the beginning of the month, the big national story was the jump in new jobs (162,000) added to the economy in March. And while there is debate on the composition and value of those jobs, it should be clear to all that adding jobs is always better ...
Check In
Larkspur Looks to Grow
Q&A: Unique Approach Drives Hoagland’s West Coast Success
Karl Hoagland isn’t your typical hotel executive. He didn’t start as a bellman or working behind a front desk. He fell in love with the industry while working as an investment banker, helping raise millions for his hotel company clients. But he found...
Hilton Garden Inn Opens 500th Property
NEWS: Chain Grows From Zero To 500 In 14 Years
Some people believe it takes 500 properties for a hotel chain to become a mega-brand. If so, Hilton Garden Inn reached mega-brand status earlier this month with the opening of its 500th unit, a 118-room property in Concord, NC...
Loews Prevails In Tough Las Vegas Market
GM Believes In Long-Term Viability Of Hotel
With closings and distress all around it, one hotel in the beleaguered Lake Las Vegas mixed-use development in Nevada continues to thrive. In recent years, the 493-room Loews Lake Las Vegas has undergone several upgrades ...
Hotel Transactions Ready to Start Flowing
OPINION: Private Equity, Improved Operating Numbers Will Stimulate Deals
In a typical year, 400 to 500 hotels change hands in the U.S. This volume of transactions is significantly higher than any other region of the world. With the massive recession contributing to a huge erosion of operating profits, hotel owners are facing property value declines of ...
What Is a Property’s Highest and Best Use?
OPINION: Sometimes It Makes More Sense to Demolish a Hotel
When hotel markets evolve as they have lately, the highest and best use of a particular hotel may change. Highest and best use is an economic concept that identifies the use of real estate that will generate ...
Features
2010 Design Awards
DESIGN GEMS: Awards Showcase Five Sparkling Projects
In the annals of hotel design, last year will certainly always be remembered for the opening of the massive and impressive CityCenter, but despite a deep downturn, there were plenty of other projects worth noting. Lodging Hospitality chose five Design Award winners from 54 worthy nominations. ...
Marriott Turns up Volume on Green Building
FEATURE: New Courtyard Prototype Will Be an Easier and Cheaper Way to Earn LEED Certification Green building, as measured by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, has been slow to advance in the hotel industry. That could soon change. ...
Rebuilding A Resort for Today’s Tastes
FEATURE: Design Team Recaptures, Updates Ocean House’s Original Luxury
While hotel design is a difficult task under optimal conditions, it becomes particularly challenging for a project like Ocean House, the five-star-quality oceanfront resort about to open in Watch Hill, RI. The 72-unit Victorian property is a near-exact replica of a famed resort of the same name ...
DESIGN PERSPECTIVE
Windows of Opportunity into Energy Efficiency
OPINION: Insulating Glass Can Save Energy and Add LEED Credits
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process of the U.S. Green Building Council is a powerful tool to deliver desired energy-saving performance in both new construction and major renovation of lodging facilities. The application of LEED concepts can help determine...
Design Elements April 2010
The Millennium Bostonian recently wrapped up a $25-million renovation led by design firms Jinnie Kim Design and CCS Architecture, who both took inspiration...
Rooms with a Remote View
You really can't get much more remote than Bora Bora, one of the French Polynesia islands in the Pacific Ocean. But now you can take it a step, or swim,...
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Functional and Efficient Phones
The guestroom telephone poses a dilemma for many hoteliers. While an increasing number of guests (probably a majority) rely on cellphones for communication,...
Sofia Has Best of Both Worlds
Seamlessly combining old-world charm with the best of today's technologies and amenities, The Sofia Hotel is a boutique lodging property in San Diego's...
HEI Hotels Masters Energy Management
FEATURES: Strong Program Yields 20 Percent Energy Savings in Four Years
HEI Hotels & Resorts is serious about conserving energy, protecting the environment and, most importantly, saving money. Due to an aggressive, consistent and well-thought-out energy management strategy, the Connecticut-based owner/operator of full-scale upper upscale and luxury properties has...
BACK OF HOUSE
Americas Best Value Inn Goes Green in the Bathroom
Americas Best Value Inns recently took a seemingly small but very important step in the ongoing greening of the hotel industry. The 50,000-plus-room limited-service...
Products April 2010
TISSUE PAPER American Hotel Registry's Naturally Pure 2-Ply Bath and Facial Tissue is created from 100-percent rapidly renewable virgin fiber that is...
Vendor News April 2010
iBAHN named Jennifer Ranno as vice president of sales for the Americas region. Most recently, she was vice president of accounts for the Americas for...
