Sonnenblick-Eichner Company Completes $88.5 million of First Mortgage Financing for a Portfolio of Nine Hotels in California / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Sonnenblick-Eichner Company Completes $88.5 million of First Mortgage Financing for a Portfolio of Nine Hotels in California LOS ANGELES, CA – March 20, 2007 - Sonnenblick-Eichner Company announced today that it has completed the second stage of first mortgage financing totaling $88,500,000 for a portfolio of nine hotels located along the Pacific coastline in San Diego, San Francisco, Cambria, and Pismo Beach, California.  Two of the properties are located in infill locations in Venice and Marina Del Rey. The portfolio includes three full service and six limited service hotels. The financi...

Site Inspections New Generation of Hospitality Sales Professionals Lesson #5 / David Brudney / David Brudney / March 2007

January 30, 2007

By David M. Brudney, ISHC, March 2007 . (This is the fifth in a series of articles on the new generation of hospitality Sales professionals.  The previous four articles addressed “You Can’t Microwave Experience”, the need to “Pack Your Own ‘Chute”, “Selling Time Balance” and  “Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer”).  . I used to love giving hotel tours.  I walked my prospects everywhere, from the Presidential Suite down to the laundry room, whether they had any interest at all. My thinking back then was that I would dazzle the prospects with my best-in-class tour and, of course, everyone would book ri...

Napa Valley's Silverado Resort Receives Series of Enhancements / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Napa Valley's Silverado Resort Receives Series of Enhancements NAPA VALLEY, Calif., March 13, 2007 - Silverado Resort - particularly its elegant white-columned mansion - has been a Napa Valley landmark for more than 135 years. During that time, it has been a private home, a commercial operation, a golf clubhouse and since the 1960s, a full-service resort.  . . In recent years the resort has undergone a series of updates that have given it a fresh new style. Among the changes are the addition of the Grill at Silverado,  renovation of the Royal Oak Restaurant, renovation of...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Silver Companies Developing Three Hyatt Place Hotels in Three Markets – Fredericksburg, Va., Jacksonville, Fla. and Germantown, Tenn.  METRO WASHINGTON D.C / BOCA RATON, FL – March 7, 2007 – Silver Companies announced today that it has secured the rights to develop three Hyatt Place TM hotels for three different markets – Fredericksburg, Va., Jacksonville, Fla. and Germantown, Tenn.  Silver Companies will new-build each of their three Hyatt PlaceTM hotels, and will be one of the first to do so in each of the three states. Each Hyatt Place will be master-planned by Silver Compani...

CEO of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce Files Lawsuit Against Hyatt in Burlingame, CA for a Shower Slip Incident / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Scott Smith, The Record, Stockton, Calif.McClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 27, 2007 - STOCKTON -- Douglass Wilhoit, the chief executive officer of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, has filed a lawsuit against the Hyatt Regency San Francisco after claiming he slipped in a shower there and hurt his right shoulder. Wilhoit, named the 2006 Stocktonian of the Year and charged with promoting businesses and tourism in the city, said he doesn't advise people to sue to solve their disputes. He said he notified the h...

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Opens 50th Hotel – the 704 room Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Opens 50th Hotel -   the 704 room Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou  March 26, 2007 - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, today celebrated the grand opening of its 50th hotel -  the Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou - the newest international luxury hotel to open in this thriving metropolis in more than a decade.  More than 400 VIP guests gathered to commemorate the landmark occasion, including acclaimed Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.   Actress Zhang Ziyi (Memoirs of a Geisha, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and...

Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Susan Schmittfranz Director of Food & Beverage for The Northland Inn, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Susan Schmittfranz Director of Food & Beverage for The Northland Inn, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2007 - Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed Susan Schmittfranz director of food & beverage for The Northland Inn, a hotel and executive conference center located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, near Minneapolis.  Charles Nehme, general manager, made the announcement.   "I am so pleased to announce the promotion of Susan," said Mr. Nehme.  "She has been a superb addition to our food & beverage team and ...

EQT, a European Private Equity Group, Plans to Acquire Hilton's Scandic Hotel Chain for Approximately US$1.1 billion / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive EQT, a European Private Equity Group, Plans to Acquire Hilton's Scandic Hotel Chain for Approximately US$1.1 billion  BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & LONDON - March 2, 2007 -  Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) today announced the exchange of contracts to sell its Scandic Hotel chain (“Scandic”) to EQT for approximately €833 million (or approximately US$1.1 billion). Net proceeds after transaction costs and taxes are expected to be approximately $1.04 billion.  Based on trailing 12-month recurring earnings from Scandic (net of corporate overhead expenses) before interest, taxes...

Planned Luxury Golf Club In Nebraska's Sand Hills Signs Tom Lehman to Design One of Two Courses; The Prairie Club Expects to Attract Golf Fanat

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Paul Hammel, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.McClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 9, 2007--VALENTINE, Nebraska. -- A long-delayed luxury golf club proposed near Valentine is back on track, and a top professional golfer has signed on to the project. Tom Lehman, who's earned more than $18 million during his playing career and won the British Open in 1996, will design one of the two 18-hole golf courses at the Prairie Club. "He is extremely excited about this," course owner Paul Schock said of Lehman. "The first time he set eyes...

San Antonio Has a Whopping 44 hotels Under Construction or Expected to Break Ground in the Next Year / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Rachel Stone, San Antonio Express-NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 24, 2007 - If it feels like San Antonio is swarming with tourists and awash in new hotels, it's not just your imagination. And it's not just the River Walk anymore. More hotels are being developed in San Antonio than anywhere else in the country. And while downtown still is the heavy-hitter for hotel real estate, smaller hotels are popping up all over the city, according to a company that tracks hotel construction. San Antonio is...

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Hotel Sales People / Brenda Fields / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report     Seven Habits of Highly Effective Hotel Sales People by Brenda Fields, March 26, 2007 For hotel staff working on Christmas morning, either behind the front desk or in the housekeeping department, a rooms sales position may look like a pretty cushy job! Sales people usually don’t have to work holidays or weekends and seem to have the freedom to come and go as they please. But, in reality, a sales position bears it own challenge and responsibilities to the property. Sales has the primary responsibility to generate room revenues for the property i.e. building occupancy in low demand perio...

Missouri River Breaks Lodge Opens on Lake Sakakawea Near The Links of North Dakota / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Missouri River Breaks Lodge Opens on Lake Sakakawea Near The Links of North Dakota RAY, N.D., March 28, 2007 - Darroll and Joanie Myers announce the official opening of the Missouri River Breaks Lodge (http://www.mrblodge.com), an executive bed and breakfast nestled in the bluffs overlooking Lake Sakakawea. The lodge brings together a unique combination of pristine open prairie, breathtaking views of the Missouri River bluffs together with modern architectural amenities, high quality craftsmanship, and an opulent decor. Discover this unique paradox we call "rustic luxury." The l...

SBE Entertainment, Controlled by 31 year Old Sam Nazarian, Likely to Spend a Ton of Money Bringing the 1,720 room Sahara Hotel to the Next Level / M

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Howard Stutz, Las Vegas Review-JournalMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 6, 2007 - As one of the Strip's last remaining icons, the Sahara savors its 55 years in operation. The wall behind the hotel's front desk is adorned with old photos from the casino's heyday, when its star-studded showroom lineup included Johnny Carson, Tina Turner, George Burns, Jack Benny, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The House of Lords steakhouse remains one of the Strip's last gourmet rooms that can trace its roots back to the 1960s. Over t...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  SBE Entertainment Group to Acquire Las Vegas’ Sahara Hotel & Casino . Plans is to Reposition Legendary Property for a New Generation of Visitors (Las Vegas – March 2, 2007) – SBE Entertainment Group, LLC (“SBE”), its partner Stockbridge Real Estate Funds (“Stockbridge”) and Gordon Gaming Corporation (“Gordon Gaming”) announced today that SBE and Stockbridge have reached an agreement with Gordon Gaming to acquire Las Vegas’ renowned Sahara Hotel & Casino.  SBE and Stockbridge intend to utilize their extensive redevelopment experience to reinvigorate the property and the Las...

Rooms Department Operations: Controllable and Profitable / Robert Mandelbaum / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Rooms Department Operations:  Controllable and Profitable . by: Robert Mandelbaum, March 2007 A hot restaurant or trendy bar may provide some panache for a hotel.  Golf courses and spas are fun to operate and certainly popular with guests.  However, when all is said and done, it is renting and servicing guests rooms that drives the revenues and profits of hotels. In 2005, guest room rental revenue averaged 68.0 percent of the total revenue earned by the typical U.S. hotel.  This ratio ranged from 97.1 percent at limited-service properties to 52.6 percent at resorts.  As f...

CSK Hotels LLC Developing aloft Hotel in Rogers, Arkansas / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  CSK Hotels LLC Developing aloft Hotel in Rogers, Arkansas ROGERS, Arkansas., March 14, 2007 — CSK Hotels LLC, a real-estate development company based in Ft. Smith, Ark., has announced it will be the first to develop an aloft hotel in Arkansas, to be called "aloft Rogers." The company also is among the first to develop properties for the new Starwood aloft brand. The130-room aloft Rogers is scheduled to break ground tomorrow and open in the first quarter of 2008. Crossland Construction is the general contractor.  The property is located at 1103 So. 52nd, near Pinnacle Hills and the Promenade...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Rockwood Capital Acquires Landmark Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC; First Lodging Asset of Rockwood’s Fund VII Greenwich, CT – March14, 2007 - Rockwood Capital has acquired the landmark Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. from a venture consisting of affiliates of Walton Street Capital LLC, Rockpoint Group, LLC and SCS Advisors, Inc.  The hotel is located in the heart of Washington’s business district, four blocks from the White House.  The Mayflower is a Renaissance Hotel managed by Marriott International. Built in 1925, The Mayflower is listed on the National Register ...

Makeover Going on Inside Roanoke's Flagship Hotel; $6.5 million Face-lift is the First Total Renovation Since the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Ce

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Jenny Kincaid Boone, The Roanoke Times, Va.McClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 26, 2007 - Long workdays aren't unusual in the lodging industry. In the past few months, however, some employees at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center have had more than their share. As late as 11 p.m. some days, a renovation team that includes Director of Property Operations R.D. Wright has stayed to measure armoires and desks, move electrical outlets and contemplate what furniture should go where in 150 hotel guest rooms. ...

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Cited for Innovative and Successful Training Processes / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Cited for Innovative and Successful Training Processes CHEVY CHASE, MD - March 07, 2007 -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has been named the number one company by Training magazine in its "Training Top 125" 2007 survey. The coveted listing selects the 125 best global companies for employee-sponsored workforce training and development. A winner in 1992 and 1999 of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company moved up from their 2006 number four Training ranking to score top honors this year.  In the March 2007 edition...

Ritz-Carlton Hotel President Simon Cooper Optimistic Over New Hotel in Tokyo / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Mai Iida, Kyodo News International, TokyoMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 28, 2007 - TOKYO -- Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. President Simon Cooper on Wednesday expressed confidence that his new hotel opening in Tokyo on Friday can win the competition against other overseas luxury hotel chains. The U.S. company is opening the hotel in a new landmark business and commercial complex called the Tokyo Midtown in the Roppongi district, following the creation in the capital of Mandarin Oriental, Conrad, and Grand Hyatt hotels i...

Wyndham Worldwide Will Invest In and Manage the 600-room Westin Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; Will Reflag to the Wyndham

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Wyndham Worldwide Will Invest In and Manage the 600-room Westin Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; . Will Reflag to the Wyndham Brand and Add Timeshare Component PARSIPPANY, N.J. (March 22, 2007) – Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN) today announced joint transactions whereby it will invest in and manage the 600-room luxury Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, under the Wyndham® brand and develop an adjacent 26-acre tract as a Wyndham Vacation Ownership timeshare resort.   Wyndham Hotel Management Inc. will operate the...

Extensive Agenda Set for 7th Annual Resort Management Conference, The Broadmoor, March 25-27, 2007; Breakout Sessions in Three Tracks: Operations, Mar

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Extensive Agenda Set for 7th Annual Resort Management Conference, The Broadmoor, March 25-27, 2007 . Breakout Sessions in Three Tracks: Operations, Marketing and Current Trends   MCLEAN, VA (March 12, 2007) – Playing a strong supporting role in the 7th Annual Resort Management Conference to be held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO, from March 25-27, 2007 is an extensive line-up of sponsors and exhibitors providing valuable information and resources for attendees.   Leading the sponsor roster are gold supporters American Express and ResortsandLodges.com, in additi...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive First Step In Maximizing Reservations Sales:   Believe It’s Possible by Doug Kennedy, March 2007 As a hospitality industry sales/strainer, it’s extremely interesting to observe reactions of managers and decision makers to solicitations and proposals for reservations training services.  Interestingly, the hotels & resorts that are already doing the most in-house training, and who already have the best internal programs in place, are always the most interested in anything that can help them achieve even results.  Alternatively, those who need the most help typically respond ...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive CSM Lodging Rebranding the Courtyard by Marriott – Minneapolis Downtown at the Depot to The Depot, a Renaissance Hotel by Marriott   MINNEAPOLIS – March 16, 2007 – CSM Lodging announced plans today to rebrand The Depot, one of Minneapolis’ most distinctive landmarks. The Courtyard by Marriott (225 3rd Avenue South) will convert to The Depot, a Renaissance Hotel by Marriott following a multimillion dollar renovation of guest rooms and public space.    Designed to enhance the enjoyment of traveling, the full-service Renaissance Hotel at The Depot invites guests to experi...