Morgans Hotel Group Temporarily Closes the Royalton Hotel in Manhattan; Will Undergo a Complete Refurbishment and Redesign / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Morgans Hotel Group Temporarily Closes the Royalton Hotel in Manhattan;  Will Undergo a Complete Refurbishment and Redesign  NEW YORK - June 1, 2007 - Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) (“MHG”) today announced that it will temporarily close its legendary Royalton hotel on June 10th, 2007, for the first time since opening in 1988, to undergo a complete refurbishment and redesign.  The newly renovated Royalton will feature thoughtfully re-imagined public spaces including the entrance, lobby, restaurant, bar, lounge areas, and hallways on the guestroom floors. The hotel will also boast t...

Some 3,000 Motels Along Fabled Route 66 Are in Various States of Repair or Disrepair; Efforts Scarce to Fix Up these Architectural Landmarks / June

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By David Pittman, Amarillo Globe-News, TexasMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News Jun. 3, 2007 - Workers removed 70 tons of trash from the Triangle Motel's grounds. The new owners of 7954 E. Amarillo Blvd. didn't realize the motel had sidewalks until they removed a layer of dirt from the grounds. Why would anybody care about an otherwise falling apart, 60-year-old motel? Owner Alan McNeil is just trying to save a dying Route 66 landmark from demolition. Today, many structures that made the...

Elvis Presley Themed Attractions Could be Part of the Redevelopment of the The Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Arnold M. Knightly, Las Vegas Review-JournalMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News Jun. 2, 2007 - Elvis Presley could be making a return to the Strip. New York-based entertainment group CKX, which controls the late singer's image, announced Friday it was paying $100 million for a 50 percent stake in FX Luxury Realty, part of a group has a 13 percent stake in Riviera Holdings Corp. and a separate investment in 18 acres on the Strip. CKX owns licensing rights to the names and images of Presley an...

Study Delves into the Revenue Management Profession / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Study Delves into the Revenue Management Profession MCLEAN, VA (June 26, 2007) – The results of an insightful study that delves deep into the revenue management profession were revealed at the fourth Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Revenue Management Strategy Conference held June 25, 2007 in Orlando, FL, at the city’s Convention Center, which was attended by a record crowd of more than 250 professionals.  From a detailed accounting of time allocated to specific revenue management activities to use of automated systems, personal creativity, and job commitment an...

February 28, 2007

Carol Verret Consulting  and Training Consulting Training Seminars . . . . “It’s not the big that eat the small,  it’s the fast that eat the slow”  Five Revenue Management Tactics for Independent Hotels  . “It’s not the big that eat the small, it’s the fast that eat the slow”  (Jennings & Houghton, 2005).   For independent hotels that’s good news.  Independent hotels and resorts may not have all of the resources available to them that their franchised counterparts do but they have the advantage of greater flexibility – independents can gear up or down in a flash! There are some challe...

Resort Fees at Hawaii Hotels Cause 'Checkout Sticker Shock' / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Resort Fees at Hawaii Hotels Cause 'Checkout Sticker Shock'  HONOLULU, June 11, 2007 - According to Travel Hawaii LLC (http://Travel-Hawaii.com), a leading Hawaii Internet booking service, over 16 of Hawaii's leading hotels -- mainly high end resorts -- charge mandatory "Resort Fees" of up to $26 per day that are automatically added to guests' bills upon checkout. These fees can cause "checkout sticker shock" if guests don't include them in their pre-trip cost calculations. And often the hotels' own web sites don't make such fees apparent.      For example, at the Grand Wailea Resort on M...

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report The Rainmaker Group and Realty DataTrust Partner to Introduce Optimized Multi-Dimensional Online Pricing for the Apartment Industry > Revolution LRO clients now able to market optimized rental rates on the Internet through VaultWare™ online leasing solution  ATLANTA, GA, June 25, 2007 – The Rainmaker Group, the world leader in automated revenue management software and services to the multi-family housing industry announced it has completed an integration of its revolution LRO SM (Lease Rent Options) system with VaultWare, the multi-family industry’s premier online leasing tool from Real...

Trump Entertainment Resorts Installs Rainmaker Group revolutionsm Revenue Management Suite in All Atlantic City Properties; Trump uses revolution RM t

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Trump Entertainment Resorts Installs Rainmaker Group revolutionsmRevenue Management Suite in All Atlantic City Properties > Trump uses revolution RM to optimize rates, manage increased demand for three properties and 2,900 rooms ATLANTA, GA, June 21, 2007 – The Rainmaker Group, the world leader in automated revenue management software and services to the casino hotel and multi-family housing industries for total property profitability, announced today that Trump Entertainment Resorts has implemented Rainmaker’s revolution SM Product Suite of revenue management modules in all three of its ...

Greenfield Property Holdings Ltd. Signs Raffles Hotels & Resorts to Operate a 100 room Resort on Tortola, British Virgin Islands / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Greenfield Property Holdings Ltd. Signs Raffles Hotels & Resorts to Operate a 100 room Resort on Tortola, British Virgin Islands SINGAPORE, June 11, 2007 - Raffles Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Greenfield Property Holdings Limited to manage a new luxury resort and residence, Raffles Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. Set on 50 acres of pristine beachfront property at the northeastern end of Tortola, Raffles Tortola will offer residents a secluded half-mile white sand beach and sweeping views of the shimmering Caribbean Sea.      Residents at Raffles Tortola, scheduled...

Radisson Edwardian Hotels Implement EzRMS Internet Product Suite in their 12 London Luxury Hotels / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Radisson Edwardian Hotels Implement EzRMS Internet Product Suite in their 12 London Luxury Hotels London – 27 June 2007, Radisson Edwardian announce their agreement to implement the EzRMS™ Internet Product Suite, including the Budgeting (Ez-BUDGET™), Deal Quotation (Ez-QUOTE™), Regional Management (Ez-REGION™) and the competitive analysis (Ez-COMPETE™) modules at their twelve luxury hotels in the heart of London and at London’s Heathrow Airport, plus the five star Radisson Edwardian Hotel in central Manchester. Lisa Smith, Director of Sales and Revenue for Radisson Edwardian already leads a strong Revenue Management...

PeopleFilter Technology Appoints Richard Post to Lead Hospitality Practice / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive   PeopleFilter Technology Appoints Richard Post to Lead Hospitality Practice ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 7, 2007) - PeopleFilter® Technology, developers of the PeopleFilter applicant tracking system (ATS), today announced that Richard Post has joined the company as Practice Lead, Hospitality.   Post, an experienced 12-year talent management solutions and business development veteran, will be responsible for driving the direct sales, business development and marketing efforts for PeopleFilter’s hospitality practice.  In this role, Post will leverage his expertise in H...

Russell Miller Appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Island, Bahamas, Set to Open 2009 / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Russell Miller Appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Island, Bahamas, Set to Open 2009      MIAMI, June 25, 2007 - Russell Miller has been appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Island, Bahamas, announced Ezzat Coutry, senior vice president for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Mr. Miller will lead pre-opening operations for the $900 million project, set to open in 2009 on a private island in the Bahamas, just four miles from Nassau and reachable only by ferry or helicopter.      "I am thrilled to be part of this incredible project," said Mr. Miller. "T...

Benchmark Appoints Ron Leporati Head Golf Professional for Bedford Springs Old Course at Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Benchmark Appoints Ron Leporati Head Golf Professional for Bedford Springs Old Course at Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, June 2007 - Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Ron Leporati as head golf professional for Bedford Springs Old Course at Bedford Springs Resort, the historic property dating to 1796 that once served as the Summer White House.  The resort, along with the golf course, is scheduled to reopen this month following a $120 million restoration and expansion.  The property is located in Bedford, Pennsylvania.Â...

Ramesh Gokal Named President and Chief Operating Officer of Advantis Hospitality Alliance, Operators of the Vista® Brand of Hotels / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Ramesh Gokal Named President and Chief Operating Officer of Advantis Hospitality Alliance, Operators of the Vista® Brand of Hotels MURFREESBORO, TN.—June 27, 2007 - Advantis Hospitality Alliance, a rapidly growing hotel franchise company operating the Vista® Brand of hotels, announced today that Ramesh Gokal will be joining the company as President and  Chief Operating Officer.  He will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the company’s rapidly growing hotel franchise portfolio and play an important role in the company’s organic growth and acquisition program.  “Rame...

Rick Corcoran Named Hotel Manager, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Rick Corcoran Named Hotel Manager, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Vancouver, BC, June 18, 2007 – Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recently named Rick Corcoran as Hotel Manager, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.  Born and raised in Quebec City, he returns to Canada from his most recent position as Director, Food & Beverage, The Fairmont San Francisco.  Corcoran’s career in the hotel industry began in 1989, when he joined The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac as Second Cook and then earned his Diploma from the Institut du Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie du Quebec.  In 1991 Corcoran moved to the Hilton Quebec and...

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Meredith Quarnstrom Named VP – Food & Beverage for Hilton Hotels Corporation BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. June 11, 2007 - Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced that Meredith Quarnstrom has been named vice president, Food & Beverage. A 12-year Hilton veteran, Quarnstrom previously served as general manager of the Hilton Atlanta Airport and the Doubletree Hotel Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Her new responsibilities will include overseeing food and beverage business across company-owned and -managed properties in the Americas. She will focus primarily on banquets and catering, casual and in-room dining a...

Istithmar Acquires the Queen Elizabeth 2 for $100 million; Plans to Turn the Ship into a Floating Hotel Berthed off Dubai's Palm Jumeirah Islan

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Staff and Wires, South Florida Sun-SentinelMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News Jun. 18, 2007 --DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The Queen Elizabeth 2, the majestic ocean liner that has carried millions of people across the Atlantic during its 40-year history, has been sold to a Dubai-owned company for $100 million, the company said Monday. State-owned Istithmar said it plans to turn the giant passenger ship into a first-class floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination, berthed off Dubai's manmade Palm Jumeirah island. ...

Prism Hotels & Resorts Reflags Historic Downtown Richmond, Virginia Hotel Into Doubletree; $8.9 million in Renovations Completed / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Prism Hotels & Resorts Reflags Historic Downtown Richmond, Virginia Hotel Into Doubletree; $8.9 million in Renovations Completed      DALLAS, June 20, 2007 - Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts has reflagged the former Radisson Hotel Historic Richmond into the Doubletree Hotel Richmond Downtown, introducing the first Hilton brand hotel to downtown Richmond. E2M Partners, a private equity firm which specializes in real estate investments on behalf of individual and institutional investors, provided the equity capital for this transaction.      As part of the reflagging, Prism Hotels...

Gary Mendell, Stephen Mendell and Jay H. Shah Receive the 2007 Hospitality Innovator Award, Sponsored by the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entre

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Gary Mendell, Stephen Mendell and Jay H. Shah Receive the 2007 Hospitality Innovator Award . Sponsored by the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration   Ithaca, NY, June 1, 2007 – Entrepreneurs Gary Mendell ’79, Stephen Mendell ’82 and Jay H. Shah ’90 have received the 2007 Hospitality Innovator Award, sponsored by The Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration. The award honors entrepreneurs who have created and built distinctly successful ventures in the...

Daniela Piacenza Joins LRA Worldwide as a Senior Research Consultant; Native Venezuelan Will Work with LRA's International Research Clients / May

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Daniela Piacenza Joins LRA Worldwide as a Senior Research Consultant . Native Venezuelan Will Work with LRA’s International Research Clients HORSHAM, Pennsylvania; June 25, 2007 –  LRA Worldwide, Inc., a leading consulting and research firm in the rapidly-growing field of Customer Experience Management (CEM), announced that Daniela Piacenza has joined the firm as a Senior Research Consultant.  Piacenza, who is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian, will work primarily on LRA’s international client projects, as well as on business development opportunities in Europe and Latin A...

Owner Kinseth Hospitality Companies Starts Renovation of the 319 room City Centre Hotel in Peoria; Seeks to Regain Holiday Inn Flag / June 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Paul Gordon, Journal Star, Peoria, Ill.McClatchy-Tribune Regional News Jun. 19, 2007 - PEORIA -- The largest hotel in Downtown Peoria has embarked on a multi-million dollar, two-phase renovation project hotel officials say will be completed by early next year. The Holiday Inn City Centre, which will be called City Centre Hotel for the next few months because of the renovations, will get a facelift in public and guest room areas --including new carpets and bedding -- said general manager Sami Qureshi. The hotel, he said,...

PeopleFilter and Goldberg Kohn to Present Educational Webcast on Reducing Hiring Risk While Winning the Race for Talent; Designed to Help HR Professio

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive   PeopleFilter and Goldberg Kohn to Present Educational Webcast on “Reducing Hiring Risk While Winning the Race for Talent”  . -Designed to Help HR Professionals in the Hospitality Sector Accelerate their Hiring Practices and Processes-  ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (June 19, 2007) WHO:  PeopleFilter® Technology, developers of the PeopleFilter applicant tracking system (ATS), and Goldberg Kohn Bell Black Rosenbloom & Moritz, Ltd. a commercial law firm  WHAT:  Will present an educational HR.com Webcast, “Reducing Hiring Risk While Winning the Race for Talent” WHEN:...

Developer Don Peebles Acquires 13 Acres Near the Las Vegas Strip for $65 million; Planning Four 55 Story Towers with 800 Hotel Suites, 1,000 Condomi

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Matthew Haggman, The Miami HeraldMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News Jun. 7, 2007 - Developer Don Peebles has paid $65 million for 13 acres a half-mile from the Las Vegas Strip. The Coral Gables builder, behind projects like the Royal Palm Hotel and Bath Club on Miami Beach, plans a non-gaming residential and resort complex in the booming city. The project, designed by Miami architectural firm Arquitectonica, is slated to include four, 55-story towers. Plans call for 800 hotel suites, 1,000 condominium units, shops and restaurants...

Industry's Top Hospitality Technology Exposition and Conference Leverages Passkey to Help Ensure Continued Event Success; HITEC Taps into Leading

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Industry’s Top Hospitality Technology Exposition and Conference Leverages Passkey to Help Ensure Continued Event Success . HITEC Taps into Leading Group Reservation System for Sixth Consecutive Year Austin, TX/Quincy, MA—June 25, 2007— Passkey, the world’s leading group reservation system, today announced that for the sixth year in a row, the hospitality industry’s leading technology event, HFTP’s HITEC, is using Passkey, the hospitality industry’s leading event housing technology, to manage its housing and hotel reservations for this annual international event, held this year in Orlan...