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CATEGORY NAME
InnerCircle Management to Rebrand NC’s High Point Plaza and Conference Center as a Radisson
January 2, 2015
Jan. 02--HIGH POINT -- The city's largest hotel will once again be known as the Radisson. High Point Plaza and Conference Center will change its name Jan. 12, according to General Manager Corine Hollingsworth. The hotel's owners, Florida-based InnerCircle Management, elected to become part of the Radisson chain to try to drive more business to the downtown location. Hollingsworth estimated that the owners will invest $10 million to $15 million in the hotel as part of the rebranding, which will include hiring more employees. "I think this will be a very good thing for the community. This will increase jobs," she said. "It's a good busine
Construction Delays Over, the 108-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott Opens in Mt. Lebanon, PA
January 1, 2015
Jan. 01--Mt. Lebanon's first hotel opened this week after years of construction delays, to the relief of local officials and businesses looking forward to a boost in commerce. The SpringHill Suites by Marriott in the municipality's Washington Road business district began welcoming guests to its 108 suites Monday afternoon. Local merchants and officials visited for a look at the hotel, which is close to Port Authority's T station. "I think it'll be a great asset to the community and to the business district," Mt. Lebanon Planner Keith McGill said. "All their patrons should find their way to our business district for food, drinks and othe
Philadelphia’s 2014 Hotel Occupancy Rate Likely to Hit 76%; Highest Annual Rate Since 1949
January 1, 2015
Jan. 01--Owners of Center City Philadelphia hotels will have every reason to pop the bubbly. Why the celebration? As of Wednesday -- New Year's Eve -- it appeared 2014 hotel occupancy for Center City's 11,260 hotel rooms will hit 76 percent for the year, the highest annual occupancy rate since 1949, according to PFK Consulting USA, a national travel consultancy. "Philadelphia has become an attraction in and of itself," said Meryl Levitz, head of Visit Philadelphia, the agency charged with marketing to tourists. Even so, hoteliers may want to keep the pricey Dom Perignon bottled for another year, and uncork the house brand. That's becaus
Chinese Investors Buy Miami Site for $74.7 Million; Considering Mixed-Use Hotel-Condo-Office Project
December 31, 2014
Dec. 31--An affiliate of China Communications Construction Company U.S. International purchased a block-size site in the red-hot Brickell neighborhood for $74.7 million, in its first major bet on Miami. Plans for what will be built on the 2.4-acre site at 1430 S. Miami Avenue aren't yet complete, according to Dr. Shan-Jie Li, chief executive officer of American Da Tang Group Co. Ltd. in New York. American Da Tang, he said, is working closely with CCCC as the Chinese firm's U.S. representative on the venture. In an interview conducted through an interpreter, Li said the new owners are in the process of researching what type of developmen
Hawaii’s Tourism Industry Sees Uptick in Visitors & Spending in 2014; A 3-yr Record Breaking Streak
December 31, 2014
Dec. 31--Hawaii's tourism industry is on track to reach another record number of visitors and spending in 2014, for the third year in a row. The visitor industry continues to pace slightly ahead of last year, with arrivals through November up 0.9 percent at 7.5 million, according to preliminary statistics released Tuesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Total expenditures grew 2.3 percent to $13.3 billion in the first 11 months of 2014, boosted by 2 percent higher daily spending to $195 from $192. The growth in spending this year has added $293 million to the state's economy compared to last year at this time. "The exposure with the pr
Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) Plans 119-room Hotel in Ketchum, Idaho
December 31, 2014
Dec. 31--KETCHUM -- A Colorado-based company is planning to build a 119-room luxury hotel in Ketchum, modeled after one of its existing properties in Aspen. Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) announced Tuesday it has purchased property near the Sun Valley's River Run base of Bald Mountain from Bald Mountain LLC. ASC spokesman Jeff Hanle said construction is expected to begin this summer, and the company expects the project to be completed in time for the 2016-17 ski season. "We looked at expanding our brand, and we feel this is a good fit," Hanle said. He said the Ketchum/Sun Valley community has a similar feel of Aspen, with its "vibrant downt
Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) Sells Movenpick Hotel Bur Dubai for $95 Million
December 30, 2014
Dec. 30--JEDDAH -- Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian conglomerate Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) chaired by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has sold its 100 percent interest in the Movenpick Hotel and Apartments Bur Dubai to a UAE-based investment company for a gross consideration of $95 million. The transaction closed on Nov. 28, 2014. Prince Alwaleed commented: "This transaction marks yet another success for KHC's value realization strategy from growth market investments." Sarmad Zok, chairman and CEO of KHI and member of KHC's board of directors, commented: "The sale of the Movenpick Hotel and
TripAdvisor Reviewer’s Anonymity Protected by Media Shield Law; Oregon Hotel Drops Defamation Suit
December 30, 2014
Dec. 30--A Lincoln City hotel lost its fight to hold an anonymous person liable for a scathing review on TripAdvisor.com that its owners worried was driving away business. A Multnomah County Circuit judge said he would not compel the travel website to hand over the name of the commenter because -- just like traditional news organizations, such as newspapers and TV stations -- TripAdvisor is protected under Oregon's media shield law. Judge Christopher Marshall's October ruling effectively killed the Ashley Inn's $74,500 defamation lawsuit against TripAdvisor reviewer, "12Kelly," who among other things, wrote that the 75-unit inn's "rooms