Florida Leads the Nation in the Number of Timeshare Resorts; More Timeshare Owners Take Vacations in Florida than Any Other State / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Florida Leads the Nation in the Number of Timeshare Resorts;  More Timeshare Owners Take Vacations in Florida than Any Other State WASHINGTON - The Florida timeshare industry contributed $14.3 billion to the statewide economy in 2005, according to a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and released today by AIF, the research arm of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Undertaken to analyze the impact of timeshare developers and owners and their value to Florida’s economy, the study was released in advance of ARDA’s annual convention that will draw 4,000 timeshare ...

ARAMARK Harrison Lodging Launches New Interactive Web Site; Leading hospitality management company uses online marketing toengage and educate customer

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report ARAMARK Harrison Lodging Launches New Interactive Web Site . Leading hospitality management company uses online marketing to engage and educate customers and prospects PHILADELPHIA (March 23, 2007) – ARAMARK Harrison Lodging (AHL), a leading hospitality management company for more than three decades, today announced it has launched a new interactive Web site, www.aramarkharrisonlodging.com.    AHL designed the new Web site to function as an online marketing tool and to help educate guests and prospects of how the company provides enriching experiences through its growing portfolio of ...

Former Walt Disney Executive, Aldo Manzini, Named Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for MGM MIRAGE / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Former Walt Disney Executive, Aldo Manzini, Named Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for MGM MIRAGE LAS VEGAS, March 8, 2007 - MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) today announced that Mr. Aldo Manzini has been named to the newly created position as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. This addition to senior company management will bring strategic coordination to the company's administrative functions. Mr. Manzini will oversee multiple corporate departments providing significant administrative support to the company's operations and...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Andrew Gibson Appointed to Manage Mandarin Oriental’s Global Spa Division Hong Kong, March 9, 2007 – Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Andrew Gibson as Group Director of Spa.  Mr Gibson has been appointed to lead and manage the global activities of Mandarin Oriental’s internationally acclaimed luxury spa division. He is a well known and respected spa professional with twenty-five years of luxury and diversified hotel and leisure services experience. Mr Gibson was most recently a partner and Chief Executive Officer with Raison d’Etre Spas Discove...

While Operating Profits Fell 14%, Intercontinental Hotels Chief Executive Andy Cosslett's Pay Almost Doubles / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive Evening Standard, LondonMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Mar. 21, 2007 - Intercontinental Hotels Group chief executive Andy Cosslett's total pay almost doubled last year, even though operating profits at the Holiday Inns and Crowne Plaza hotels owner fell 14 percent. Cosslett, 51, had his remuneration lifted from £663,000 to £1.27 million, made up of basic pay of £688,000, bonuses of £549,000 and perks worth £31,000. He also had £300,000 put into his pension pot to raise its value to £43,800 a year. He was ...

Staybridge Suites Reaches 100th Hotel with the Opening of Staybridge Suites Tallahassee, Florida / March 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Staybridge Suites Reaches 100th Hotel with the Opening of Staybridge Suites Tallahassee, Florida TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2007) – Staybridge Suites reached its 100th hotel milestone with a grand opening celebration today at the Staybridge Suites Tallahassee, Fla., arriving at this mark faster than any other hotel brand in the upscale extended-stay category. Staybridge Suites is also experiencing record development growth with more than 100 hotels in the pipeline, expecting to open an estimated 30 of these by year-end 2007 and to more than double in size over the next few year...

LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels Signs Exclusive Deal with Ralph Pucci to Develop the First Hotel Ralph Pucci. The Georgetown Inn in Washington DC to Und

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels Signs Exclusive Deal with Ralph Pucci to Develop the First Hotel Ralph Pucci . The Georgetown Inn in Washington DC to Undergo Transformation to the new 96-room Hotel Ralph Pucci  (New York, NY – January 5, 2007) – LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels has signed an exclusive deal with esteemed furniture design gallery owner Ralph Pucci to develop the first Hotel Ralph Pucci.  The Georgetown Inn will undergo a transformation and debut as the new 96-room Hotel Ralph Pucci in Fall 2007, and be the first of its ...

The New Orleans Ritz-Carlton Completes $100 million in Renovations, Reopens 15 months after Hurricane Katrina; Big Boost to Big Easy's Tourism

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Stevenson Swanson, Chicago TribuneMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 7, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS -- From the crawfish concierge who will teach visitors how to eat this city's characteristic shellfish to the "voodoo love bath" in the spa, the newly reopened hotel on Canal Street strikes a distinctly New Orleans note, celebrating a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The reborn Ritz-Carlton hotel, which underwent more than $100 million in renovations during the 15 months it was closed, i...

The New Orleans Ritz-Carlton Completes $100 million in Renovations, Reopens 15 months after Hurricane Katrina; Big Boost to Big Easy's Tourism

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Stevenson Swanson, Chicago TribuneMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 7, 2007 - NEW ORLEANS -- From the crawfish concierge who will teach visitors how to eat this city's characteristic shellfish to the "voodoo love bath" in the spa, the newly reopened hotel on Canal Street strikes a distinctly New Orleans note, celebrating a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The reborn Ritz-Carlton hotel, which underwent more than $100 million in renovations during the 15 months it was closed, is a milestone in the comeback of a...

TravelCLICK Converts Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond Woodlands Resort & Inn to iHotelier CRS; Premier Luxury Hotel Selects TravelCLICK to Build Bran

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report TravelCLICK Converts Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond Woodlands Resort & Inn to iHotelier CRS . Premier Luxury Hotel Selects TravelCLICK to Build Brand Identity and Drive Reservations CHICAGO (Jan. 31, 2007) – TravelCLICK Inc., a leading provider of hotel business process management (BPM) solutions, announced today that the prestigious Woodlands Resort & Inn in Summerville, SC has selected the iHotelier central reservation system (CRS) for website reservations and connectivity to the Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Woodlands selected TravelCLICK for its expertise in enabling luxury hotel...

More Hotels Switch to iHotelier by TravelCLICK For Reliability and Brand-Building Capability; Award-Winning Merchandising Capabilities and Ease of M

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report More Hotels Switch to iHotelier by TravelCLICK For Reliability and Brand-Building Capability . Award-Winning Merchandising Capabilities and Ease of Migration Also Cited by Customers CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2007) – Hotels and resorts around the world are making the switch to iHotelier by TravelCLICK Inc., a web-based central reservation system (CRS) and distribution management solution designed to drive revenue through enhanced property merchandising and a compelling user experience. Properties cite a variety of reasons for migrating to iHotelier — from the system’s award-...

Hoteliers Can Improve Internet Performance Without Breaking the Bank; iBAHN NextConnectSM extends hotel infrastructure for the next generation of Inte

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report iBAHN NextConnectSM extends hotel infrastructure for the next generation of Internet applications . SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - (Jan. 31, 2007) – As the demand for Internet capabilities in hotels grows, more and more hoteliers find themselves looking for cost-effective broadband solutions.  Unfortunately, many hotels with only telephone grade wiring (Cat3 cabling) and limited budgets for upgrading their technology infrastructure end up settling for HSIA (High Speed Internet Access) solutions that aren’t secure, reliable or even really high-speed.  These “band-aid” efforts place these hotels at...

iBAHN and Marriott to Offer Hotel Guests Internet PCs / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - (Jan. 16, 2007) – iBAHN tm, the leading provider of secure and reliable broadband services to hotels and meeting sites, announced an agreement with Marriott to offer Internet PCs with printers in 250 Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, and TownePlace Suites properties.  “We are very pleased with the reliability and functionality of the Internet PC and are excited to provide this amenity to our guests,” said Tim Sheldon, senior vice president for CRST Managed Hotel, North American Lodging Operations.  “The Internet PC has provided business travelers easy access t...

Hospitality Technologies/services Rolled Out in 2006: Are You in the Know? / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - (Jan. 9, 2007)  New Products and Services For Hoteliers • Speed Solution, rolled out in March 2006, provides High-Speed Internet Access (HSIA) as well as ongoing support at absolutely no cost to hoteliers.  The innovative business model allocates bandwidth and charges a fee to guests for a premium version of the service, ideal for those who run bandwidth-intensive applications (such as corporate travelers, guests downloading large files and online gamers).  However guests who simply wish to check e-mail, chat and do some web browsing, have a free-of-charge, basic servic...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report . fresh ideas for hospitality The Pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality for centuries. According to legend, captains of New England would mount a pineapple on their fence posts when they had a safe return from sea.  This served as an invitation for family and friends to visit and share a meal together.  Today, the pineapple serves as a symbol for the highest quality in hospitality . . The Triple Win: greenSPA™ amenities benefit hotels’ guests, properties’ profits and the environment . Hotels from coast to coast reduce waste to preserve our planet  SAINT CHARLES, MI...

Hotel Pennsylvania Named 2006 eMarketer of the Year by TravelCLICK and HSMAI; New York City Landmark Hotel Recognized at 50th Annual Adrian Awards Gal

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Hotel Pennsylvania Named 2006 eMarketer of the Year by TravelCLICK and HSMAI  . New York City Landmark Hotel Recognized at 50th Annual Adrian Awards Gala NEW YORK (Jan. 30, 2007) – In front of an audience of global hotel executives and hospitality industry leaders, New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania was named the 2006 eMarketer of the Year by TravelCLICK and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) last night at the 50th Annual Adrian Awards Gala, held at the New York Marriott Marquis. Sponsored by TravelCLICK, the eMarketer of the Year Awards honor hoteliers who exh...

First Franchised aloft Hotel, The 136 room aloft Rancho Cucamonga, Breaks Ground / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  First Franchised aloft Hotel, The 136 room aloft Rancho Cucamonga, California Breaks Ground NEW YORK & RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.- January 23, 2007 - aloha! Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) and its much-anticipated new lifestyle brand, aloft(sm) hotels, announced today the groundbreaking of the world’s first franchised aloft hotel, aloft Rancho Cucamonga.  The hotel is owned by a joint venture between The John Buck Company (TJBC), a Chicago-based real estate firm, and Interstate Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: IHR), one of the nation’s largest independent hotel ma...

Beijing Yongtai Hotel Management Co., Ltd to Develop an aloft Hotel in Beijing, China / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Beijing Yongtai Hotel Management Co., Ltd to Develop an aloft Hotel in Beijing, China Singapore / White Plains, NY, January 31, 2007 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) and its much-anticipated new lifestyle brand, aloftSM hotels, today announced it has signed an agreement with Beijing Yongtai Hotel Management Co., Ltd to develop an aloft hotel in the capital city of China, Beijing.  The 200-room hotel will offer visitors a refreshing alternative to current lodging options when it opens in 2009.   aloft Beijing, Haidian will be part of an integrated mixed-use co...

The Whiteface Lodge Resort and Spa Acquired by T-Rex Capital, The Lake Placid, NY Resort Will be the Flagship Property of T-Rex Capital's High-En

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Whiteface Lodge Resort and Spa Acquired by T-Rex Capital . The Lake Placid, NY Resort Will be the Flagship Property of T-Rex Capital's High-End Private Residence Club STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 23, 2006 - T-Rex Capital, LLC, a leading developer of residential, commercial and government properties, announced the acquisition of The Whiteface Lodge, a luxury resort and private residence club located in the Adirondacks' Lake Placid. Resort Holdings, Lake Placid, LLC, agreed to sell the distinct resort that will become the flagship property of T-Rex Capital's High-End Private Residen...

Starwood Vacation Ownership Adding a 113-unit Westin Vacation Ownership Resort to the 235 room Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon, Colorado / Ja

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Starwood Vacation Ownership Adding a 113-unit Westin Vacation Ownership Resort to the 235 room Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon, Colorado WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE: HOT) today announced The Westin® Riverfront Resort & Spa – a 235-room full service hotel and resort facility, which is currently under construction and being developed by East West Partners – and The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas, a 113-unit Westin vacation ownership resort being developed by Starwood Vacation Ownership. The entire mixed-use project will bring together the ...

DiamondRock Hospitality Company Acquiring the 793 room Westin Boston Waterfront / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive DiamondRock Hospitality Company Acquiring the 793 room Westin Boston Waterfront BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10, 2007 - DiamondRock Hospitality Company ("DiamondRock") (NYSE: DRH) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with a Boston based developer to acquire the leasehold interest in the recently built 793-room Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, which is attached to the recently built convention center in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, the acquisition will include a leasehold interest in 100,000 square feet of r...

Newmarket International Appoints Patrik Wennerland to Sales Director EMEA; Hospitality Industry Veteran Brings Years of Experience and Expertise to Ex

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Newmarket International Appoints Patrik Wennerland to Sales Director EMEA . Hospitality Industry Veteran Brings Years of Experience and Expertise to Expand Newmarket’s International Reach Portsmouth, NH/London, UK,  January 16, 2007 —  Newmarket International, Inc., the leader in sales and catering solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced that it has appointed Patrik Wennerland to Sales Director EMEA. In this role, Wennerland is responsible for managing the EMEA sales team to help deliver continued sales growth and reinforce Newmarket’s leading market position.  Patrik ...

Hotel Waterpark Developers to Meet in Phoenix-Glendale, Arizona March 1 & 2 / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Hotel Waterpark Developers to Meet in Phoenix-Glendale, Arizona March 1 & 2 January 11, 2007, Phoenix-Glendale, AZ --- Hotel and resort developers from across the USA, Mexico & Canada will meet in Glendale on March 1 & 2, 2007 to learn more about the phenomenal growth of indoor waterparks as part of mixed-use resort projects as well the details of how to do it successfully. The development workshop runs from 9:00 am Thursday, March 1 through 5:00 pm Friday, March 2 at the Thunderbird School of International Management. The conference is limited to the first 180 registrants.  Fo...

Waterford Hotel Group Hosts 80 Managers from 27 Properties at its 17th Annual Leadership Conference; Duane Schroder Named General Manager of the Year

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Waterford Hotel Group Hosts 80 Managers from  27 Properties at its 17th Annual Leadership Conference . Duane Schroder Named General Manager of the Year    (Waterford, CT - January 30, 2007) --- More than 80 managers representing the 27 properties managed by Waterford Hotel Group, Inc. and corporate office personnel recently gathered at the Marriott Hartford Downtown for the company’s 17th Annual Leadership Conference.  The annual event is a way for the company’s leadership to share ideas, set goals, and foster team spirit throughout the organization. The theme of this year’s ...