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Jacksonville, FL $40 Million Laura Street Trio Development to Include Courtyard by Marriott Hotel
August 18, 2013
Aug. 18--The Laura Street Trio, three historic and vacant buildings at the heart of downtown, will become a complex featuring a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, two restaurants, a commercial bank and a rooftop bar, its owner told the Times-Union exclusively. The entire project, which will include adding another building and a parking garage, will cost about $40 million, said Steve Atkins, who heads Southeast Development Group that purchased the three buildings, along with Barnett Bank, in March for $3 million. The money was borrowed from Stache Investments Corp., which is headed by Jaguars owner Shad Khan. But Khan is not involved in the re
Some Wary Fans Not Seeing the Magic in MyMagic+; Disney Must Gain Fans to Make Initiative Desirable
August 18, 2013
Aug. 18--NBCUniversal plans to spend about $1.1 billion on capital projects this year, driven primarily by ambitious expansion plans at its theme parks in Florida and California. That $1.1 billion will pay for a big chunk of the construction costs for a host of new attractions: a Transformers ride, a Simpsons shopping area and a second Harry Potter land at Universal Orlando, plus a Despicable Me attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, among other projects. It's also nearly the same amount of money the Walt Disney Co. is investing in "MyMagic+" -- the multitentacled technology project at Walt Disney World whose central elements includ
Pinnacle Entertainment Sells St. Louis, MO Lumiere Casino and Hotel to Tropicana for $260 Million
August 17, 2013
Aug. 17--Pinnacle Entertainment said Friday it will sell its Lumiere Place casino and hotel complex on the St. Louis riverfront to Tropicana Entertainment for $260 million. The price is about half what Pinnacle spent to build the glitzy complex that opened in late 2007. Revenue at the Lumiere Place casino has slipped in recent months as part of a downward trend in the St. Louis area's gambling market. Pinnacle sold the complex, which includes a luxury Four Seasons hotel and the HoteLumiere, under pressure from federal antitrust officials. The Federal Trade Commission required Pinnacle to sell one of its two St. Louis-area casinos as a c
Chattanooga, Tennessee Tourism Hits New Record; Governor Increases State Tourism Budget by 36%
August 17, 2013
Aug. 17--Hamilton County tourists spent more than $989 million last year -- and numbers like that make an $8 million increase in the state's tourism budget a no-brainer for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Haslam discussed Tennessee's tourism industry in front of about 1,000 people at the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau annual meeting Friday. "When we talk about recruiting business to come to Tennessee, we tend to think about big manufacturers -- which we love and are really important -- but tourism really does drive a lot of employment in Tennessee and a lot of revenue for local and state governments," he said after the program
Owned by International Capital Trading, the 283-key St. Regis Abu Dhabi Opens
August 17, 2013
Aug. 17--The second St. Regis hotel in Abu Dhabi is now ready to welcome guests after eight months delay from the initial inauguration plans. Unlike St. Regis on Saadiyat island, owned by Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the recently opened St. Regis Abu Dhabi is owned by International Capital Trading, a private investment company based in the Capital. "Despite different ownership we will cooperate with each other. Besides, the Saadiyat hotel caters primarily for the tourism sector, while we target the corporate market," said general manager of St. Regis Abu Dhabi Oliver Key. Located in the rather dull Nation's Towers,
The Top Mobility, Connectivity and Wireless Infrastructure Decisions CIOs Face
Hospitality Upgrade | August 16, 2013
by Russell Vest Guests inherently expect some things at a hotel. They expect the lights to work when they flip the switch, water to flow from the faucet and in-room air conditioning to adjust to their needs. These infrastructure issues appear seamless to the guest, but require significant behind-the-scenes effort to ensure 100 percent guest satisfaction. The same is true of wireless infrastructure. Seamless commercial cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity is an integral part of the guest experience. Guests' mobile connectivity requires a robust and propertywide, integrated communications network. However, unlike lighting, plumbing and air man
Embassy Suites Project in Wilmington, N.C. Likely to be Delayed by Challenge from Hilton Owners
August 16, 2013
Aug. 16--The owners of the Hilton Wilmington Riverside are challenging the city's agreement with the developers angling to build a hotel next to the convention center. In the short term, the challenge will delay the city's negotiations with Harmony Hospitality, a Virginia developer with plans to build an Embassy Suites next to the center. A frustrated Mayor Bill Saffo is casting the maneuver as a tactic to delay progress on the hotel deal. Saffo said the council could have voted on an agreement to sell the land to Harmony at Tuesday night's meeting. But the attorney's letter prompted the city to postpone a presentation from Harmony on a
Bankruptcy Trustee Pondering $2.1 Million High Bid for Red Rose Inn in Plant City, Florida
August 16, 2013
Aug. 16--PLANT CITY -- The Red Rose Inn and Suites' future remains uncertain as a bankruptcy trustee didn't immediately accept a $2.1 million high bid for the iconic hotel. The trustee, Jerry McHale, wants time to think about the bid, which was cast by an unidentified potential buyer. If the bid is rejected, the 261-room hotel at Interstate 4 and Wheeler Street will go back on the market. The Red Rose is for sale to help repay debts owed by Evelyn and Batista Madonia Sr., who in March filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for themselves and affiliated companies. On Thursday, 7,300 acres of their farmland and more farm-related asset