June 15, 2011
FORUM
The Evolution in Hotel Technology
When I first started writing about the hotel industry, technology was a subject that hardly ever came up. In fact, most hotel GMs were probably either afraid technology would replace personal service or perhaps replace them....
CHECK IN
Choice Accelerates Plans for Recovery
Steve Joyce’s message to franchisees was simple. It was also the title of Choice Hotels’ annual convention—“Time to Accelerate”—held in Boston the past three days....
Burt Cabanas: 30 Years of Excellence
Burt Cabanas moved to Miami from Cuba when he was 10 years old, following the death of his father. While his family planned to return to Cuba, they were unexpectedly exiled to this country in the aftermath of Castro's revolution. At 14, the young Cabanas’ took his first job was in the hospitality industry: Pool boy at a Miami Beach hotel. He never really left the industry...
MLIS Offers Mid-Year Look at Lodging
As the hotel industry continues to rebound, owners, operators and developers are looking for the next growth opportunities. One place they can find it is at next month’s fourth annual Midwest Lodging Investors Summit, which will be held July 17-19 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago....
HSMAI Rebrands With New Mission, Services
By third quarter 2011, members of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International will see a new website, newsletter and logo. The changes are the visible part of the association’s rebranding work. Less visible, but more important, are a new mission statement, new Expert Communities and expanded educational opportunities. ...
Making Sense of Debt Yield Ratios
When applying for a mortgage on your hotel, it is useful to understand the various analytical tools lenders use to evaluate the size and terms of the loans they are making. Up until a few years ago, the preferred benchmark lenders relied on was the debt coverage ratio. Recently, a new tool called the debt yield ratio came into vogue, which seems to be used by most hotel lenders today. Let’s look at ...
FEATURES
New Orleans Hospitality Industry Rises to Pre-Katrina Levels
If there was any doubt New Orleans was back, 2010 Super Bowl LXIV showed the world a thriving post-Katrina city. The number of visitors is now creeping closer to pre-storm levels. In 2004, a whopping 10.5 million people visited the city. In 2010, those numbers hit 8.3 million....
Technology Handbook 2011
The Technology Handbook is a catalog of information on the products and services offered by vendors serving the lodging industry. You’ll find an index with 10 major categories of hotel-related technology products and services. In each, we list all the companies who responded to our survey, and then you’ll find a directory listing each company in alphabetical order, including the categories of products they offer, where they are located, a phone number and their website....
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Hotel Operations Go Mobile
Mobile technology may be the most significant development in the hotel industry since electronic guestroom door locks. Not only are guests using mobile devices to find, shop and book hotels (a Ypartnership/Harrison Group study says 42% of iPad owners use the device to shop hotel rates), but hotel operators and their employees have found many ways to improve operating efficiencies and sales and marketing acumen through mobile computing....
DESIGN PERSPECTIVE
Morgans Finds Early Success with Mondrian SoHo
Morgans Hotel Group opened its third Mondrian-branded hotel in early spring. The 270-room Mondrian SoHo has been five years in the making and is managed by Morgan’s for owner/developer Cape Advisors....
BACK OF HOUSE
Behind the Scenes June 15, 2011
Operational insight to help keep your property running at full speed...
Products June 15, 2011
innovations in hotel products and services....
Vendor News June 15, 2011
A roundup of vendor news and notes....
