The Former Hotel Lav in Split, Croatia Receives $150 million Renovation, Reflagged Le Meridien Lav / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive   The Former Hotel Lav in Split, Croatia Receives $150 million Renovation,  Reflagged Le Meridien Lav . Dynamic Global Growth Continues for Le Méridien under Starwood’s Stewardship WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - January 09, 2007--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) announces that Le Méridien® Lav has opened its doors in the stunning Mediterranean port of Split. The resort, previously known as Hotel Lav and regaled as the ‘best address in Split,’ has undergone a $150 million renovation and is the first Le Méridien hotel in Croatia, as well as the latest addi...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Shangri-La Hotels Named Didier Le Calvez Executive Vice President, Europe and North America and General Manager of the Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d’Iena, Paris January 18, 2007 - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, has appointed Didier Le Calvez as executive vice president, Europe and North America and general manager of the Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d’Iena, Paris, opening early 2009.  Mr. Le Calvez will report directly to Shangri-La’s chief executive officer. In this newly created, Paris-based position, Mr. Le Calvez will be responsibl...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  The 373 Suite Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort Opens On the Shoreline of Fort Lauderdale’s Exclusive North Beach FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA, January 20, 2007 – The highly anticipated Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort officially opened today as an all-suite landmark property located on the shoreline of Fort Lauderdale’s exclusive North Beach. General Manager Andreas A. Ioannou, an 18-year veteran with Hilton Hotels Corporation, welcomed Broward County Mayor Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bure...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort Deemed “Best Leisure Resort Worldwide” by Venerable Gallivanter’s Guide . . LOS CABOS, Baja California, Mexico, Jan. 5, 2007  – Putting an exclamation point on 10 extraordinarily successful years, Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort was named both the “Best Leisure Resort Worldwide” and the “Best Hotel/Resort in Central & South America” for 2006 by The Gallivanter’s Guide. . Infinity Pool at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort . “What a fantastic launch to our 10th anniversary year to be named the world’s best leisure r...

Meritus Hotels Appoints Tommy Lai Chi-On as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Shanghai JC Mandarin and Regional Director of Sales in China / Janua

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Meritus Hotels Appoints Tommy Lai Chi-On as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Shanghai JC Mandarin and Regional Director of Sales in China       Singapore, 25 January 2007 - Meritus Hotels & Resorts is pleased to welcome Mr Tommy Lai Chi-On as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Shanghai JC Mandarin as well as the Regional Director of Sales for the Global Sales Office in China. A Hong Kong citizen, Tommy concentrated his hotel career in understanding the dynamic markets of Asia for the past 13 years.  He spent progressive stints with international hotel chains such as Man...

The Ritz-Carlton Chain In Talks to Take Over Management of Fort Lauderdale's Lago Mar Resort; Deal Hinges on a $100 million Expansion of the 2

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Douglas Hanks, The Miami HeraldMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 16, 2007--The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain is in talks to take over Fort Lauderdale's Lago Mar resort, a deal that would mark a milestone in the city's bid to become a luxury destination. Executives with both companies described the negotiations as extensive and substantial. Bill Marriott Jr., chairman and chief executive of Ritz-Carlton's parent company, Marriott International, visited the 10-acre oceanfront property this month. The Lago Mar Resort and ...

RLJ Lodging Fund II, LP Acquires the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott from LaSalle Hotel Properties for $69.0 million / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report   RLJ Lodging Fund II, LP Acquires the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott from LaSalle Hotel Properties for $69.0 million BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 26, 2007 - RLJ Lodging Fund II, LP ("RLJ Fund II"), an affiliate of RLJ Development, LLC ("RLJ") controlled by Robert L. Johnson, founder of BET and owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, announced today that it has acquired the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott from LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) for $69.0 million. The acquisition marks RLJ's entrance into the New York City lodging market.  The 438-room New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott offers ...

Les Pedersen Named Director of Sales and Marketing for Resort at Squaw Creek Near Lake Tahoe / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Les Pedersen Named Director of Sales and Marketing for Resort at Squaw Creek Near Lake Tahoe SQUAW VALLEY, USA – Jan. 16, 2007 – Andy Anderson, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Destination Hotels & Resorts, announced that Les Pedersen has been named director of sales and marketing for Resort at Squaw Creek. The property is one of 30 hotels and resorts in the company’s collection of upscale hotel and vacation rental properties.  A 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Pedersen joins Resort at Squaw Creek from the Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler, B.C.,...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive In 2006 Over 600 Hotels Applied for Membership in The Leading Hotels of the World – Only 42 Were Accepted; Hotels in Development Stage Encouraged to Apply Up to 3 Years Prior to Opening LHW gives inside track to high-end hotels in development   January 11, 2007 - Demand and competition for admission to this admittedly very exclusive organization set records year after year.  And management of Leading Hotels has recognized an opportunity to help potential members in the development stage to get a leg up on the competition.  By entering into a licensing agreement with the ...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Hotel Construction Pipeline Reaches a Record Level; New Supply Forecast for ’07 and ’08 Is Modest and Will Help Boost Industry Wide Profitability Portsmouth, NH – January 22, 2007 - Lodging Econometrics (LE), the Global Authority for Hotel Real Estate, in its year-end report to the lodging industry indicated that the Construction Pipeline reached a record level, surpassing the previous high set in 1999.  At the end of 4Q06, the Pipeline contained 3,748 new Construction Projects being actively pursued by Developers, having 511,056 guestrooms Patrick Ford, President of LE, said...

The Apa Group Forced to Shut Two Kyoto Hotels; Were Built Based on Fabricated Quakeproof Data / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive Kyodo News International, TokyoMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 25, 2007 - TOKYO -- The Kyoto city government on Thursday banned two Kyoto hotels from taking customers due to their vulnerability to earthquakes, municipal officials said. The two hotels are the 10-story Apa Villa Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae, opened in 2004 with 139 rooms, and the 11-story Apa Hotel Kyoto-Eki-Horikawadori, opened in 2005 with 515 rooms, according to the city government. The hotels need reinforcement as they have only 71 and 79 percent of necess...

Krisam Group Spans the Globe; Closes 2006 with Growth, Adding Member Hotels in Austria, France, Switzerland and the UK / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Krisam Group Spans the Globe . Closes 2006 with Growth, Adding Member Hotels in Austria, France, Switzerland and the UK  Now has Close to 50 International Hotels in more than a Dozen Countries -  Sees Continued Expansion in 2007 Washington, DC – January 2, 2006 – Krisam Group, the pioneering national sales company for independent and unique hotels, announced that it added seven member hotels in four countries in the second half of 2006, to round out a year of dynamic international growth – a trend the company sees continuing into 2007 and beyond. The new member hot...

Market Intelligence Firm Celebrates Tremendous Growth; Knowland Tracks Details on over 247,000 Events in 2006, Revenue Grows 548% in Second Full Year

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Washington, DC (January 8, 2007) — The Knowland Group announced tremendous success in 2006, consisting of exponential growth in revenue, a swelling client base, and an increase in the number of markets it services. The Knowland Group, known for its innovative method of providing market intelligence to the hospitality industry, has once again proven its leadership position in the industry by its incredible growth. As a result of its unrelenting dedication to building strong customer relationships and providing a quality service, The Knowland Group has aggressively grown its custom...

January 30, 2007

By David M. Brudney, ISHC, January 2007 . (This is the fourth in a series of articles on the new generation of hospitality Sales professionals.  The previous three articles addressed “You Can’t Microwave Experience”, the need to “Pack Your Own ‘Chute” and “Selling Time Balance”).  . Had Don Vito Corleone been a hospitality Sales professional, you could be certain he would have kept a very close eye on his primary competition - - who are their clients, what are they planning and where are they vulnerable? Today’s hospitality Sales pro doesn’t need to be a “Godfather”, but nonetheless must know the competition very ...

The Doubletree Grand Key Resort Was Open Illegally: Key West Resort Where a Guest Died of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Had Been Operating Without Requi

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Cammy Clark, The Miami HeraldMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 11, 2007 - KEY WEST -- The Doubletree Grand Key Resort, the hotel where a guest died recently from carbon monoxide poisoning, had been operating without a required certificate of occupancy since shortly after it opened in 2000, according to Key West city records. Operating without the certificate is a violation of state and city regulations, city officials said. "It's frightening news," said Matthew Helmerich, spokesman for the Monroe County state attor...

An Urban Legend About Hotels Storing Personal Information on Magnetic Key Cards Continues to Float Around / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Jim Stafford, The Daily OklahomanMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 30, 2007 - As former director of state policy for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Steve Buck traveled across the country almost on a weekly basis. He was in and out of a variety of hotels. At checkout time, he dropped his magnetic hotel key off at the desk and made his way to his next destination without giving it a second thought. The possibility that his personal information such as name, home address and credit card information might be...

Principals of Hop Kiln Winery Acquire the Kenwood Inn and Spa, in Sonoma County, California / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Principals of Hop Kiln Winery Acquire the Kenwood Inn and Spa, Sonoma County, California HEALDSBURG, Calif., Jan. 9, 2007 - Kenwood Inn Holdings LLC has purchased the Kenwood Inn and Spa from Terry and Roseann Grimm who developed this amazing property from a one-time antique shop. Nestled among the wineries of Sonoma Valley, the Kenwood Inn and Spa is both a Sonoma County icon and world class hotel and spa, evoking the charm of a classic, Mediterranean villa. Kenwood Inn Holdings LLC is affiliated with another well known Sonoma County icon property: historic Hop Kiln Winery loc...

Kempinski Hotels Grows to 92 Unique Hotels, Launches New Hotels in Russia, China and Central Europe / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive Middle East and North Africa Business Report, Amman, JordanMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Jan. 15, 2007 -- Following the successful launch of its accelerated development plan in the Middle East and Africa with the announcement of seven distinctive new luxury hotels in the region, Kempinski Hotels is gearing up for greater growth by tapping into the projected increase in Middle East outbound travel, launching new properties in Russia, China and Central Europe. Europe's leading luxury hotel group is well positioned to offer Middle East a...

Benchmark Appoints Konrad Meier Executive Chef for the Historic Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford, Pennsylvania / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Benchmark Appoints Konrad Meier Executive Chef for the Historic Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford, Pennsylvania The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 29,  2007 - Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Konrad Meier as executive chef for the historic Bedford Springs Resort.  The landmark property, which dates to 1796 and is situated on 2200 wooded acres near Bedford, Pennsylvania, is undergoing a $108 million restoration and expansion.  It is scheduled to reopen this summer.  Throughout its distinguished history, Bedford Springs has served seven US Presi...

Kingdom Hotel Investments Planning a US$ 65 million Raffles Resort Development in Da Nang, Vietnam / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Kingdom Hotel Investments Planning a US$ 65 million Raffles Resort Development in Da Nang, Vietnam January 30, 2007 - Kingdom Hotel Investments ('KHI'), a hotel and resort investment company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a prime beach site for the development of a luxury resort and residences for sale in Da Nang, Vietnam. The resort will be built for approximately US$ 65 million. This will be KHl's first hotel in Vietnam and marks an important milestone in the company's continued expansion in Asia.  Branded as Raffles Da Nang, the proposed resort will open in 2011 and fe...

December 2006 Meetings Business for Major Kansas City Hotels Shows Increase over Previous December; Top 10 Hotels Battle for Share of Market / January

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive December 2006 Meetings Business for Major Kansas City Hotels Shows Increase over Previous December -. Top 10 Hotels Battle for Share of Market Reports by Hospitality Information Services tell managers at competing hotels who is meeting where – and for how long Walnut Creek, CA.  January 23, 2007.  Major Kansas City hotels found their December 2006 meetings business increase 5.0% over the previous December, according to Hospitality Information Services (HIS), which tracks the meetings industry in 44 markets in the U.S. and Canada.  The December 2006 HIS Monthly Mar...

Jumeirah Signs Global Business Partnership with SoftBrands; Jumeirah to Implement SoftBrands Next Generation Technology Throughout Its Portfolio of Lu

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Jumeirah Signs Global Business Partnership with SoftBrands . Jumeirah to Implement SoftBrands Next Generation Technology Throughout Its Portfolio of Luxury Hotels and Resorts  (Dubai, UAE – Jan. 30, 2007)  SoftBrands, Inc. (AMEX: SBN) a global supplier of enterprise application software, today announced that it has entered into a business partnership with Jumeirah, the Dubai-based dynamic and fast growing luxury hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, to install SoftBrands’ Core Central Reservation System, Epitome Business Intelligence and Epitome Property Management System in prop...

Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Joseph S. Verde Director of Food & Beverage for The Heldrich, New Brunswick, New Jersey / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Joseph S. Verde Director of Food & Beverage for The Heldrich, New Brunswick, New Jersey The Woodlands, Texas, January 2007 ... Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed Joseph S. Verde as director of food & beverage for The Heldrich, which is currently being constructed in downtown New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Mike Taylor, Benchmark's general manager for The Heldrich, made that announcement. "I am so pleased to welcome Joe to The Heldrich," said Mr. Taylor.  "A former executive chef, he comes to us with an extensive food & beverage backg...

President and COO Joe Squeri Leaving Choice Hotels International / January 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  President and COO Joe Squeri Leaving Choice Hotels International SILVER SPRING, Md. (January 30, 2007) - Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH) today announced that Joseph M. Squeri, president and chief operating officer, is leaving the company and will pursue other professional opportunities. Since joining the company in 1997 as vice president, finance and controller, Mr. Squeri has served in a number of positions of increasing scope and responsibility, including treasurer, chief financial officer, and executive vice president of operations. "Joe made important contributions to the c...