September 15, 2011
FORUM
Lessons From the Fight Over the Waikiki EDITION
Naturally, journalists love a juicy story, and there probably hasn’t been one as juicy in the hotel industry as the fight over the Waikiki EDITION. In the six weeks, the story has had more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park. In case you missed it, ...
CHECK IN
Suit Charges City Wants to ‘Eradicate’ Unwanted Hotels
A legal battle brewing in suburban Dallas could have significant property-rights implications for hoteliers across the nation. Owners of two InTown Suites extended-stay properties in Carrollton, TX recently sued the city, claiming it improperly revoked their lodging licenses based on a law they call “capricious and arbitrary.”...
Hotels Go Gluten-Free
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Omni Hotels & Resorts and Ritz-Carlton Hotels are among the chains tweaking their menus and their kitchens for gluten-free guests. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts handles requests on a guest-by-guest basis....
Hilton Anaheim Hoping for Party Tweets
How Tweet It Is. Hilton Anaheim Hotel is throwing a party, Aug. 31, for 200 of Orange County’s most influential tweeters. They’ll get the VIP treatment as they hobnob with each other, check out the hotel’s latest improvements and preview the hotel’s new mobile website. And, hopefully, tweet all about it. ...
Values Catching Up to Replacement Cost
Every so often I like to look at the current relationship between a hotel’s market value and its replacement cost. This information is useful in setting strategies for new hotel development, acquisitions, when to buy and when to sell. It can also forecast volatility....
FEATURES
Upmarket Best Westerns Embrace Brand’s Descriptor Strategy
In the seven months since Best Western launched its descriptor strategy, the concept has gained acceptance by both existing members and developers and owners looking to join the membership chain. According to Mark Williams, vice president of North American development, 776 Best Western Plus properties are online with another 40-plus in the process of converting to the descriptor. ...











