June 1, 2011
FORUM
What Kind of Year Has It Been for You?
The crucial summer travel season is underway, and most owners and operators should have a fairly clear idea of their prospects of success for the next three months and probably the whole year....
CHECK IN
Why It Pays for Hotels to Be Pet Friendly
When Philip and Cherie Crouch traveled, the couple wanted to take their chows with them, but it wasn’t easy to find a place to stay. Today, Phil and Cherie are general manager and assistant general manager, respectively, of two hotels in Needles, CA, the Best Western Colorado River Inn and Rio del Sol Inn. They’ve made hos-PET-ality part of their daily business. ...
Chinese Target Caribbean for Tourism Investment
The Chinese have set their sights on the Caribbean—and particularly the region’s tourism business—as a significant investment target. And governments in the region, as well as the private sector, are welcoming them with open arms....
Steve Belmonte Launches New Hotel Franchise Brand
Calling it “the most franchise friendly brand in the hotel industry,” lodging industry veteran Steve Belmonte yesterday launched a new franchise company, Centerstone Hotels....
FEATURES
Residence Inn’s New Cost-Effective Renovation Package
There’s probably no better indication of the hotel industry’s (and country’s) healthy obsession with cost control than Residence Inn’s approach to its latest generation of property upgrades. The 622-unit chain, the long-time leader in the upscale extended-stay segment, recently introduced a new cutting-edge suite renovation package that brand executives say costs about $15,000 per key, which is “not a penny” more than the price of the brand’s previous upgrade package....
2011 Top of the Top Report
Lodging Hospitality’s annual Top of the Top report catalogs the major players in the U.S. lodging industry. The listings include the Top 50 Brands (ranked by number of rooms open) and the Top 50 Third-Party Management Companies (by total rooms under management). The section also has a list of the leading owners and operators in the business. ...
