February 28, 2006

  Room With a View by Larry Mundy May 2006   I am here to mourn the disappearance of a great American institution, the exterior-corridor motel.  Actually that phrase is a misnomer, because an “exterior-corridor” property has no corridors at all.  The guestroom door opens directly to the wonders of nature, the singing birds, the gentle breezes.  Countless immigrant forefathers, living in the crowded tenements of the northeast, labored long hours so that succeeding generations could someday have their own exterior-corridor home in the suburbs.  An exterior-corridor motel is a metaphor for America, opening its doors ...

What Do You Do With an Old Hotel? / Room With a View – a Column by Larry Mundy / June 2006

February 28, 2006

  Room With a View by Larry Mundy June 2006   In my travels, I like to stay at unique hotels whenever possible.  I have stayed in hotels made from an old warehouse in Charleston, from a grain elevator in Akron, and from a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Savannah.  There have been hotels made from strings of railroad cars, art-deco office buildings, and I’m told even from giant blocks of ice (brrr).  In what urban planners call “adaptive re-use,” probably just about every type of old building has been considered for conversion to some sort of lodging facility. But I have not seen a lot of re-use of old hotel buildings....

Hotel Smokers: A Dying Breed / Room With a View – a Column by Larry Mundy / May 2006

February 28, 2006

  Room With a View by Larry Mundy May 2006   Even the giant tobacco companies now admit that smoking causes or promotes cancer, premature aging, various pulmonary diseases, heart attacks, arteriosclerosis, halitosis, deadly fires, offensive smells, global warming, nuclear proliferation, discolored teeth, discolored fingers, war, and plagues of giant locusts.  The more progressive giant tobacco companies will also admit that smoking is to blame for most alien abductions, spontaneous human combustion, heartbreak of psoriasis, avian flu, and safes or pianos falling from high windows.  The tobacco companies will admit all ...

February 28, 2006

  Room With a View by Larry Mundy May 2006   There are certain phrases in the English language that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, just hearing them.  “Litter of puppies.”  “Roaring fireplace.”  “Home-cooked meal.”  These hearken back to a simpler, less complex time in our lives when simple pleasures abounded, the warmth of family enveloped us, and we were all too young to be candidates for colonoscopy. Hotels go to great lengths to promise all the comforts of home, and if you have a typical F&B operation, there is probably some sort of traditional “comfort food” on your menu.  Even if your restaurant ...

Montelucia, the $200 million Reincarnation of the Former La Posada, No Longer Affiliated with Horst Schulze's West Paces Hotel Group / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By John Yantis, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 24, 2006 - Local hotel industry insiders say Montelucia, the $200 million reincarnation of sprawling Paradise Valley resort La Posada, will debut as an InterContinental when it welcomes guests in late 2007. Rumor has it that ownerdeveloper Crown Realty & Development has dumped West Paces Hotel Group for the British-based luxury brand. InterContinental is one of the few internationally known tony hotel names still missing in the Scottsdale ar...

Columbia Sussex Corp. Completes the Caesars Tahoe Makeover to MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Columbia Sussex Corp. Completes the Caesars Tahoe Makeover to MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa  STATELINE, Nev., May 25, 2006 - MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa in Lake Tahoe celebrated its official debut on May 24, with the help of Howie Mandel, comedian and host of NBC's hit game show "Deal or No Deal." MontBleu, formerly known as Caesars Tahoe, brings a new level of style and sophistication to the picturesque surroundings of Lake Tahoe, creating a casino-resort experience that has not been previously available in the popular tourist destination.      With its hip, "metro-cool" atmosphere, t...

Morgans Hotel Group Co. Acquires the 194-room James Hotel in Scottsdale; Will Re-Brand as Mondrian Scottsdale, Don Jacinto Named General Manager / May

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Morgans Hotel Group Co. Acquires the 194-room James Hotel in Scottsdale;  Will Re-Brand as Mondrian Scottsdale, Don Jacinto Named General Manager NEW YORK, NY, May 3, 2006 - Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC), a fully integrated hospitality company that operates boutique hotels in gateway cities under well-known brands such as Delano and Mondrian, today announced the closing of its acquisition of the 194-room Mondrian Scottsdale, formerly known as the James Hotel.  The final purchase price of $47.8 million was financed using available cash. The Company expects to enter into mortgage fin...

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Monarch Hotels and Resorts Selected to Manage The Blue Rose,  Orlando’s New 1,300 Unit Condo Hotel ORLANDO, Fla., May 18, 2006 – CMA Companies, the developer of The Blue Rose, Orlando’s tallest and most spectacular new condo hotel, has selected Monarch Hotels and Resorts to be the official hotel management company for the 1,300-room property. Monarch Hotels and Resorts’ senor executives have decades of experience with some of the finest hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Starwood, Wyndham and Marriott.  They currently manage the luxurious Savoy Hotel on Ocean Drive in the h...

MGM Mirage, With 70,000 Employees, Unveils 2005 Diversity Report / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  MGM Mirage, With 70,000 Employees,  Unveils 2005 Diversity Report May 11, 2006 - MGM MIRAGE today heralded its diversity education program as a key factor in helping create a unified company vision and a culture of shared values following its merger with Mandalay Resort Group (MRG). At the time of the merger in April 2005, MGM MIRAGE grew from 11 to 23 hotel and casino properties, and increased from 40,000 to 70,000 employees throughout the U.S. Speaking at the company's Annual Diversity Meeting that attracted more than 1,500 suppliers, employees, and community and business leaders from thr...

The Middle East (Qatar, Oman, Abu Dhabi) Recorded a World-beating 21% Growth in RevPAR in 2005 / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive Middle East and North Africa Business Report, Amman, Jordan Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 15, 2006 - Hotels throughout the Middle East recorded a world-beating 21 per cent growth in revenue per available room (revPAR) last year, contributing to buoyant market confidence as some investors and owners enjoy a return on investment (ROI) in just five years, according to a recent Deloitte survey. The result, double that of Asia and five times that of Europe is in turn attracting global interest from key industry suppliers a...

Metro-Home Corporate Apartments Owner Linda Coughlin Wins National Award for Leadership in Advancing Women-owned Businesses / April 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Metro-Home Corporate Apartments Owner Linda Coughlin Wins National Award for Leadership in Advancing Women-owned Businesses New York, May 22, 2006 - Linda Coughlin, founder and president of Metro-Home NYC, the premier provider of short-term and extended stay housing solutions for individuals and corporate employees in Manhattan, has received the 2006 Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) Leadership Award.  The award was presented during a ceremony at the spring conference for WIPP held recently in Washington, DC.  WIPP is the nation's largest bi-partisan women's business group.  The 2006...

Top 50 Destinations for Memorial Day 2006 / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Top 50 Destinations for Memorial Day 2006 Priceline.com Releases Top 50 Destinations List for Memorial Day 2006; Chicago is Most-Requested Destination for First Time in 4 Years; East Coast Beaches Stage Comeback for the Long Weekend  NORWALK, Conn. - May 22, 2006 -- Internet travel service priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) today released the results of its 4th annual survey of the 50 most-popular destinations for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29). The survey is based on more than 30,000 hotel room booking requests made by priceline.com customers for the weekend. Because the survey is ...

JMBM's Global Hospitality Group Hosting its 16th Annual Meet the Money® Conference, Focusing on the Latest Trends and Issues in Hotel Finance

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report JMBM's Global Hospitality Group Hosting its 16th Annual Meet the Money® Conference, Focusing on the Latest Trends and Issues in Hotel Finance, on May 11, 2006 in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES – April 26, 2006 – The Global Hospitality Group® at Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP (JMBM) will host its 16th annual Meet the Money® conference, focusing on the latest trends, terms, sources and issues in hotel finance, on May 11, 2006, at the Sheraton Gateway Airport Hotel in Los Angeles. For one full day, under one roof, hotel executives and developers seeking capital for their proje...

Seattle Marriott Hotel Sea-Tac Airport Completes Transformation of 459 Guestrooms as $15 Million Renovation Continues; Washington State's Fifth-L

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Seattle Marriott Hotel Sea-Tac Airport Completes Transformation of 459 Guestrooms as $15 Million Renovation Continues; Washington State's Fifth-Largest Hotel Continues Multi-Year Renovation  SEATTLE - May 23, 2006 -- Highlighted by a complete makeover of its 459 guestrooms, the Seattle Marriott Hotel Sea-Tac Airport has completed the first phase of a $15 million, multi-year renovation.  The hotel's extensive renovation plan will also include a redesigned lobby area, fitness center, additional landscaping, and building and equipment upgrades that will be completed over the next several m...

Market Metrix Announces First Quarter 2006 Hospitality Index Results / Drury Inns Ranked Number 1 in Customer Satisfaction for the Hotel Industry / Ma

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Market Metrix Announces First Quarter 2006 Hospitality Index Results ... Drury Inns Ranked Number 1 in Customer Satisfaction for the Hotel Industry -- Drury Inns, Jet Blue Airlines and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Take Top Industry Categories --- -- Hotel loyalty programs gain strength; Hilton HHonors most effective -- SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – May 9, 2006 -- Market Metrix, LLC, the leading provider of market research services for the hospitality industry, today announced results of the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI) for the first quarter of 2006.  Drury Inns, JetBlue Airways and Enterp...

Maritim Hotel Company Opens the 60 million Euros Maritim Hotel Dresden / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Maritim Hotel Company Opens the 60 million Euros Maritim Hotel Dresden Dresden / Bad Salzuflen, May 2006 - May 15th 2006 was a special day for the Saxon State Capital of Dresden, Germany, and the German Maritim Hotel Company. After great local and regional anticipation, Dr. Monika Gommolla, Chairlady of the hotel company, cut a symbolic ribbon to open the new Maritim Hotel Dresden. The First mayor of Dresden, Dr. Lutz Vogel and the CEO of AXA Investment Management, Dr. Karl-Josef Herrmanns-Engel were also present at the ceremony. The hotel is the 45th in the Maritim Hotel por...

Pacifica Hotel Company Acquires Two Marina Del Rey, California Hotels, the Marina del Rey Hotel and the Marina International Hotel & Bungalows / May

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Pacifica Hotel Company Acquires Two Marina Del Rey, California Hotels, the Marina del Rey Hotel and the Marina International Hotel & Bungalows SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - May 25, 2006 -- Pacifica Hotel Company, which owns and operates quality coastal hotels from San Diego to San Francisco, announced that it has purchased the Marina del Rey Hotel and Marina and the nearby Marina International Hotel & Bungalows. The prices and sellers were not disclosed.  "We are delighted to acquire these ideally located properties, which we plan to transform into upscale hotels that offer memorable lodging experi...

Marcus Hotels Acquires the 186 room Westin Columbus Hotel; Continues to Seek Expansion Through Equity Investments / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Marcus Hotels Acquires the 186 room Westin Columbus Hotel;  Continues to Seek Expansion Through Equity Investments MILWAUKEE, Wis., May 2, 2006—Marcus Hotels and Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced that it has completed the purchase of the 186-room Westin Columbus (Ohio) hotel.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  The property, which also will be operated by Marcus, was acquired from an affiliate of BPG Properties, LTD, the operating affiliate of Philadelphia-based Berwind Property Group, LTD., a privately held real estate inves...

Blogger who Criticized Proposed Tourism Advertisements for the Maine Department of Tourism Hit with a $1 million Lawsuit; The State's Ad Agency

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Robert Weisman, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 27, 2006 - A coastal Maine blogger who criticized the state's tourism office has been hit with a lawsuit seeking potentially more than $1 million in damages for allegedly making false statements and posting on his website, Maine Web Report, images from proposed tourism advertisements a New York agency prepared for Maine officials. The case raises the issue of how free speech protection will be applied in the proliferating world of weblogs, or blo...

New Maestro 'GEM' Guest Experience Management Drives Repeat Business, Captures Comments Online; Automated Response Analysis Boosts Guest Loy

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  .Special Report New Maestro ‘GEM’ Guest Experience Management Drives Repeat Business, Captures Comments Online . .Automated Response Analysis Boosts Guest Loyalty Markham, ON – May 24, 2006 - NORTHWIND, a leading provider of enterprise hotel management software and reservation software for hospitality, announced the introduction of Maestro Guest Experience Management (GEM) today.  GEM increases guest loyalty by delivering unique knowledge and insights to help operators better understand and deliver what guests’ value most.  Guest responses are captured online by GEM and then professionally analyzed t...

Five Multi-year Trade Shows Contract to Take Residence at The Venetian Macao; Las Vegas Sands Corp. Flexes Trade Show Muscles in Macao / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Five Multi-year Trade Shows Contract to Take Residence at The Venetian Macao;  Las Vegas Sands Corp. Flexes Trade Show Muscles in Macao LAS VEGAS, May 10, 2006 - Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) today added to its trade show presence in Asia by announcing that the company has negotiated and signed contracts for five multi-year trade shows that combined represent 13 separate events. The company also said it has received several new letters of intent from other trade show organizers and is working with a large pipeline of shows which it expects to sign up by the end of 2006.      "Almost...

Interstate Hotels & Resorts Installs PMWorks in All of its Crossroads Division Properties / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Interstate Hotels & Resorts Installs PMWorks in All of its Crossroads Division Properties  . Executive says company’s priority of protecting owners’ assets efficiently and effectively led to division-wide install of innovative preventive-maintenance software  MIAMI — MAY 12, 2006 — Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nation’s largest independent hotel-management company, has streamlined its high-priority policy of preventive maintenance—a critical but often overlooked factor in successful and profitable hotel operation—by installing the industry’s most innovative preventive-maintenance...

Hospitality International Selects MSI As Preferred PMS Partner / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Hospitality International Selects MSI As Preferred PMS Partner EnterprisePM to provide yield management and custom reports at an affordable price allowing properties to be more competitive    PHOENIX — MAY 2, 2006 — Hospitality International, the Atlanta-based franchisor of more than 330 Scottish Inns, Master Hosts Inns, Red Carpet Inn, Passport Inn and Downtowner Inns, announced that it has entered into a preferred vendor relationship with Multi-Systems, Inc. (MSI) and its newly released Enterprise PM system.    MSI is a leading supplier of property-management and integrated opera...

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Will Manage a 120-room Hotel and 90 Branded Residences Within the Victory Park Development in Dallas / May 2006

February 28, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Will Manage a 120-room Hotel and 90 Branded Residences Within the Victory Park Development in Dallas HONG KONG, May 10, 2006 - Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has today announced that it will manage a new 120-room luxury hotel and 90 branded residences which are planned to open in Dallas, Texas in 2009.  The project provides Mandarin Oriental with a further opportunity to extend its prestigious brand into another key U.S. destination.  Mandarin Oriental, Dallas will open in the city’s dynamic new Victory Park development, a $3 billion, 75-acre, mixed-use projec...