India Hotel Attrition Rates Ranging from 30-35%; Hotel Staffers Leaving for Cruise Lines for Pay Up to Five Times Higher / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Ambika Naithani, The Economic Times, IndiaMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Apr. 7, 2007 - MUMBAI, India -- People working in the hotel industry are leaving it by boatloads, quite literally. Hospitality business, where the attrition rate is anywhere in the range of 30-35 percent, is increasingly losing a chunk of its workforce to cruise liners (CL). Says Gurmeet Singh, country director of human resources, Marriott India, which has close to 2,100 employees across the country, "Our associated attrition is 35 percent, of w...

$2 million Investment Provides the 253 room Best Western Beach Resort Hotel a Transformation to the Holiday Inn Miami Beach; Renovation Maintains Chic

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report $2 million Investment Provides the 253 room Best Western Beach Resort Hotel a Transformation to the Holiday Inn Miami Beach; Renovation Maintains Chic Miami Modern (MiMo) Style  ATLANTA (April 18, 2007) – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that the renovated 253-room Holiday Inn Miami Beach oceanfront property will open this summer.  . . “The Holiday Inn Miami Beach offers travelers a unique guest experience right in the heart of one of America’s hottest tourist spots,” said Mark ...

IHG Launches Hotel Franchising Program for Holiday Inn Express in China / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report IHG Launches Hotel Franchising Program for Holiday Inn Express in China Shanghai, April 19, 2006 – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced today that it will offer a hotel franchising program for the Holiday Inn Express brand in China. This announcement follows the successful opening of the first six Holiday Inn Express hotels and the signing of close to 20 additional management contracts for the brand in Greater China. A. Patrick Imbardelli, chief executive, IHG Asia Pacific, said: “From the outset, we designed our Holiday Inn Express support platform in China with franchising...

International Association of Conference Centers Focus Groups Reveal Key Planner Insights / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive International Association of Conference Centers Focus Groups Reveal Key Planner Insights ( St. Louis, 4 April 2007 ) -  At a recent focus group sponsored by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) at the Summit Executive Centre in Chicago, ten meeting professionals confirmed that planners face busier and more demanding schedules with rising prices and little increase in budgets. This necessitates an extreme focus on delivering value for the money spent on meetings. As facilitator Mike Fahner pointed out, "they are looking for relationships with a property that...

Never Give Up and Other Lessons Hotelier Mark Hamister Learned Before Age 18 / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  "Never Give Up" and Other Lessons Hotelier Mark Hamister Learned Before Age 18 by Mark Hamister, April 2007 In honor of The Hamister Group's upcoming 30 year anniversary, I would like to share some didactic stories from the company's pre-history. My passion for excellence began to develop when I was still in junior high school. Although my style and methods have matured since then, the experiences below continue to influence my professional outlook and management style. I hope that these anecdotes will provide some fun insight and encouragement to my co-workers, friends of The Hamister Group...

February 28, 2007

hotelbook® “Top Tens” Help Travelers Untangle Web of Online Options . Pegasus Solutions’ Independent Travel Web Site Compiles Best Hotel Lists . DALLAS (April 16, 2007) — Pegasus Solutions’ independent travel Web site, www.hotelbook.com, has launched a “Top Tens” feature to ease the online travel booking experience and provide vacation inspiration for travelers by narrowing down hotel choices into categories such as “Golf,” “Casino,” and “Honeymoon” hotels.  Each list displays the properties’ name, location, star rating, basic pricing information, and links to the hotels’ individual pages and photography on...

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center $6.5 million Renovation Project Blending High-tech with Traditional Ambiance / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center $6.5 million Renovation Project Blending High-tech with Traditional Ambiance ROANOKE, Va. (April 19, 2007) – The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, a Doubletree hotel, is in the midst of a dramatic renovation that is transforming guest rooms and corridors, blending the Hotel’s high-tech offerings with its historic ambiance. The first phase of the renovation, involving 150 guest rooms on the second and third floors, is expected to be completed prior to May 7. About 75 rooms will be out of service at a time to complete the restoration – the prope...

How Predictable is Hotel Performance? / Robert Mandelbaum and Jack Corgel / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report How Predictable is Hotel Performance? by: Robert Mandelbaum and Jack Corgel, April 2007 To the novice, the lodging industry looks very glamorous - tall shiny buildings full of beds and adult beverages on the inside, with infinity pools and lush green golf courses on the outside.  However, as most active participants in the industry are aware, the stresses of investing in a hotel are many: Hotels are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week which expose properties to a variety of risks not encountered by property types open 6 AM to 8 PM Without leases, performance is cyclical...

Demand Slowdown and The Hotel Supply Conundrum / PKF / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Demand Slowdown and The Hotel Supply Conundrum / PKF Atlanta, Ga., April 10, 2007 – U.S. hotel owners continue to ride the wave of prosperity that has characterized the lodging industry since mid-2003.  Twelve successive quarters of year-over-year demand growth, fueled by an expanding economy, has attracted a flow of debt and equity capital that has driven property values, and transaction activity, back to pre-9/11 levels in most markets.  Of all the factors that have contributed to the robust health of the lodging industry, none has been more important than the unbalanced re...

Conde Nast Traveler Identifies the U.S. Hotels, Restaurants and Spas Opened in the Past Year that Are Destined to Become Instant Classics / April 200

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Conde Nast Traveler Identifies  the U.S. Hotels, Restaurants and Spas Opened in the Past Year that Are Destined to Become Instant Classics NEW YORK, April 25, 2007 - Conde Nast Traveler's 11th annual May "Hot List" issue is the insider's guide to the newest, hottest, sexiest hotels, restaurants, spas, and nightclubs opened all over the world in the past year. To develop the list, the magazine's editors checked out hundreds of new properties around the globe, rigorously evaluating each one on a standard set of criteria. The result is a definitive guide to the world's most exciting new establis...

National Trust Historic Hotels of America® Adds Six New Members; Includes The Jumeirah Essex House and Tubac Golf Resort Once Owned by Bing Crosby

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  National Trust Historic Hotels of America® Adds Six New Members . Includes The Jumeirah Essex House and Tubac Golf Resort Once Owned by Bing Crosby WASHINGTON, D.C., April 9, 2007 – National Trust Historic Hotels of America announces the addition of six new members. This selection brings the program’s total membership to 213 hotels, representing 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The new member hotels offer travelers a diversity of locales from major metropolitan cities to the deserts of the Southwest and represent a variety of architectural ...

Hilton Portland & Executive Tower Details Process to Earn Green Seal Lodging Certification / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Hilton Portland & Executive Tower Details Process to Earn Green Seal Lodging Certification    Portland, Ore.—March 29, 2007 - The ongoing efforts of the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower—one of the country’s first hotels to “green” its operations and the largest hotel in Oregon—have been recognized by Green Seal with the coveted Green Seal Lodging Properties certification (www.greenseal.org). Green Seal is a non-profit organization that promotes the management, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services.    In 2005, Hilton Portland & Execu...

Hilton Signs Agreement to Sell up to 10 Hotels in Continental Europe to Morgan Stanley Real Estate for Approximately US$ $770 Million / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Hilton Signs Agreement to Sell up to 10 Hotels in Continental Europe to Morgan Stanley Real Estate for Approximately US$ $770 Million  BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & LONDON - April 26, 2007 - Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) today announced agreement to sell up to 10 hotels (approx. 3,330 rooms) to a fund managed by Morgan Stanley Real Estate for approximately €566 million (or approximately US$770 million). Assuming completion of the sale of all 10 hotels, net proceeds after property level debt repayment (approx. €41 million), taxes and transaction costs are expected to be ap...

Stanford Hotels Corporation Completes $25 million Renovation at the Hilton Charlotte Center City / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Stanford Hotels Corporation Completes $25 million Renovation at the Hilton Charlotte Center City CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 23, 2007) – A Center City landmark will thrust itself to the forefront of Charlotte hospitality this spring when the Hilton Charlotte Center City unveils its $25 million total hotel transformation. Completely refurbished to accommodate the 21st century business traveler, the Hilton Charlotte Center City’s sleek new guest rooms, suites, banquet space, restaurant and lounge will set a new standard for comfort, service and advanced technology for hotel accommo...

Highland Hospitality Corporation, a REIT with 27 Hotel Properties, Signs Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by JER Partners for Approximately $2 bill

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive  Highland Hospitality Corporation, a REIT with 27 Hotel Properties,  Signs Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by JER Partners for Approximately $2 billion MCLEAN, VA – April 24, 2007 – Highland Hospitality Corporation (“Highland”) (NYSE: HIH), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of JER Partners Acquisitions IV, LLC (“JER”).  The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $2.0 billion, including the assumption by JER of approximately $260 million of Highland’s existing indebtedness. Under the terms of the ...

Harp Group Acquires Hotel Pacific in Monterey, CA, for $29 Million; Portfolio Hotels and Resorts Will Manage the 105-suite Property / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Harp Group Acquires Hotel Pacific in Monterey, CA, for $29 Million;  Portfolio Hotels and Resorts Will Manage the 105-suite Property Oakbrook Terrace, IL (April 24, 2007) – The Harp Group today said it has acquired the luxury 105-suite Hotel Pacific in Monterey, CA, in a deal valued at $29 million. The Harp Group is a real estate investment and development company specializing in high-end hospitality destinations and is one of The Crescendo Companies (“Crescendo”). The elegant Spanish-style Hotel Pacific is part of a distinctive group of properties that are collectively marketed as th...

John Q. Hammons and Oppenheimer Development Corporation Planning a 10-story, 250-room Marriott in Boise's Downtown Adjacent to a New Exhibition F

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report   John Q. Hammons and Oppenheimer Development Corporation Planning a 10-story, 250-room Marriott in Boise's Downtown Adjacent to a New Exhibition Facility BOISE, Idaho and SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 24, 2007  - Mr. John Q. Hammons today announced his hotel development plans in the state of Idaho with the construction of a 10-story, 250-room Marriott(R) hotel in Boise's downtown core. The luxury hotel will connect to the city's planned new exhibition facility and also be walking distance from the existing Boise Centre on the Grove convention facility. The planned expansion of the Boise Centre on...

Starwood Hotels 2007 1st Quarter Profit Jumps to $122 Million From $5 Million a Year Ago; Adds 65 Management and Franchise Contracts of Which 57 Were

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Starwood Hotels 2007 1st Quarter Profit Jumps to $122 Million From $5 Million a Year Ago; Adds 65 Management and Franchise Contracts of Which 57 Were New Builds and 8 Were Conversions from Other Brands  WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. April 26, 2007 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today reported strong first quarter 2007 financial results. First Quarter 2007 Highlights     * Excluding special items, EPS from continuing operations was $0.48 compared to $0.41 for the first quarter of 2006. Including special items, EPS from continuing operations was $0.56 compared...

Hospitality Management Corporation Hosts Annual GM Conference, Names Radisson DFW South in Irving the Full-Service Property of the Year / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Hospitality Management Corporation Hosts Annual GM Conference, Names Radisson DFW South in Irving the Full-Service Property of the Year Dallas, TX, April 24, 2007:  The new Holiday Inn in Denton, TX, was the setting for Hospitality Management Corporation’s (HMC) annual General Managers’ Conference for their managed properties on April 16-18, 2007.  The 3-day event included a golf tournament, and two days of conference sessions. Presentation topics included “Employment Law & Hiring Practices” by William Davis of Jackson-Lewis, LLP; a Best Practices overview and brainstorming session; an ...

Hilton Hotels Corp 1st Qtr 2007 Net Income Drops 9% Compared to Previous Year 1st Qtr; All Brands Report Significant RevPAR Increases / Hotel Operati

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Hilton Hotels Corp 1st Qtr 2007 Net Income Drops 9% Compared to Previous Year 1st Qtr; All Brands Report Significant RevPAR Increases Hotel Operating Statistics BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - April 30, 2007 - Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT - News) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007. First quarter highlights compared to the first quarter of 2006 are as follows:     * Total company Adjusted EBITDA of $371 million, up 13%.     * Fees up 16% to $176 million on strong RevPAR and unit growth and the Hilton International acquisition.     * Pro forma c...

The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited Finds Profits by Assuring its Peninsula Hotels Focus on Delivering the Highest Quality and Service Standards;

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited Finds Profits by Assuring its Peninsula Hotels Focus on Delivering the Highest Quality and Service Standards . The Peninsula New York Achieves 2006 Average Daily Room Rate of $698 at a 74% Occupancy April, 2007 - The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited Annual Results for the Year Ended 31 December, 2006 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Key Financial Results Profit before non-operating items increased by 31% to HK$904 million. Profit attributable to shareholders of HK$2,094 million, including revaluation surpluses. Shareholders' funds incre...

Howard Johnson International Mandating New Mattresses, New Shower Heads, Adds New Slogan, I Go HoJo / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Howard Johnson Strategic Plan Targets Guest Experience   ORLANDO, FLA. (April 16, 2007) – A five-pronged strategic plan focused on enhancing the guest experience was unveiled at the Howard Johnson International conference here today.   Addressing owners and managers for the first time as their brand leader, Rui Barros, Howard Johnson senior vice president, told attendees that the brand is helping to create a more enjoyable guest stay by improving the sleep and shower experience.   New Serta® or Simmons® mattresses are mandated for installation at all properties by Dec. 31, and Arcs a...

Exhibit Space for HITEC 2007 Sold Out with Approximately 700 Booths Representing 300 Companies; Other Opportunities Still Available / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Exhibit Space for HITEC 2007 Sold Out with Approximately 700 Booths Representing 300 Companies; Other Opportunities Still Available AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 10, 2007) - Exhibit space for the 2007 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), has sold out with approximately 700 booths representing 300 companies. A waiting list is available on a first-come, first-served basis for booth space. There are still other opportunities to become involved with HITEC 2007, including space in the Club Tech...

HFTP Taking Proactive Measures to Protect HITEC 2007 Attendees and Exhibitors From Pirate Companies / April 2007

February 28, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  HFTP Taking Proactive Measures to Protect HITEC 2007 Attendees and Exhibitors From Pirate Companies AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 25, 2007) - Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) announced that it is taking several proactive measures to protect attendees and exhibiting companies of the 2007 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) from pirate companies. HFTP has rules prohibiting unofficial companies from associating themselves with HITEC, whether they pose as an exhibitor of HITEC or as a hotel-booking company for HITEC. To reduce the nuisance, ...