The Embassy Suites Hotel in Downtown Denver To Be Converted to a Ritz-Carlton at a Cost of $75 million / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive By Julie Dunn, The Denver Post Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  March 1, 2006 - The Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Denver will become the city's first Ritz-Carlton, developers announced today. Hotelier Charlie Biederman and his partners plan to spend more than $75 million to convert the 367-room hotel, located at 1881 Curtis St., into 202 luxury rooms and suites. The top five stories of the building will be revamped into 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences, ranging in size from 2,300 square feet to 4,400 square feet. No pricing was announced, but Biederman, who...

ARAMARK Harrison Lodging Awarded Eight Year Contract to Manage Deer Creek Resort & Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, Ohio / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   ARAMARK Harrison Lodging Awarded Eight Year Contract to Manage Deer Creek Resort & Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, Ohio PHILADELPHIA (March 2, 2006) – ARAMARK (NYSE: RMK) today announced that ARAMARK Harrison Lodging was awarded the contract to manage Deer Creek Resort & Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, OH.  Under terms of the eight year agreement, with estimated total sales in excess of $40 million over the life of the contract, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging will be responsible for all management and operational functions of the property, which is a part of the Ohio State Park Res...

Deal of the Year Awards Presented at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, Germany / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Deal of the Year Awards Presented at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, Germany BERLIN, Germany: March 10, 2006 - Hosts of the 9th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) have announced the winners for the prestigious Deal of the Year Awards.  The Awards were presented 8 March 2006 at the InterContinental Hotel in Berlin, Germany, in the categories of Single Asset Deal of the Year, Portfolio Deal of the Year and Best New Development of the Year. The winner of the Single Asset Deal of the Year Award is Kingdom Hotel International for the acquisition of the Sa...

Benchmark Appoints Jennifer DeMarle Director of Human Resources for Danfords on the Sound / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Benchmark Appoints Jennifer DeMarle Director of Human Resources for Danfords on the Sound The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2006 - Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Jennifer DeMarle as director of human resources for the 86-guestroom Danfords on the Sound, located in Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York.   Stewart Weiner, general manager of the property, made the announcement.   The position is a reappointment for Ms. DeMarle, who for five years held the same role at the property under previous management.   "Jennifer has done a terrific job for us...

Daufuskie Island Club & Resort Looking for Investors to Step up Development / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive By Peter Hull, The Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Mar. 17, 2006 - DAUFUSKIE ISLAND -- The owners of the Daufuskie Island Resort and Breathe Spa are seeking investors in preparation for new building plans at the resort and a separate tract.  Owners Bill and Gayle Dixon are preparing a master plan that could be presented to Beaufort County planners within three months.  If approved, the barrier island with no bridge could see development on a scale not seen in years.  Land planners working for the Dixons are pr...

Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau Bookings Up 19% Compared to Same Time Last Year / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive By Suzanne Marta, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  March 21, 2006 - Things are looking up for Dallas' visitor industry, right now and in years to come.  Bookings by the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau are about 19 percent higher than at this time last year, thanks largely to major trade groups and corporate events that will come here through 2012.  And local hoteliers say a strengthening economy has translated into rising occupancies and room revenues for the first few months of this year.    "It's been a wonderful start to the...

Diane Wesley Named Director of Sales for Hotel Vitale, San Francisco / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Diane Wesley Named Director of Sales for Hotel Vitale, San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO (March 23, 2006) – David Curell, Managing Director of Hotel Vitale, is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Wesley as the new Director of Sales for Hotel Vitale, San Francisco’s newest luxury waterfront hotel that opened along the Embarcadero in March 2005.    As director of sales, Wesley will be responsible for all room and catering revenue for the 199-room property in addition to managing hotel’s sales and marketing budget.   Additionally, she will serve as manager of the hotel sales and caterin...

DiamondRock Hospitality, a Public Company Since May 2005, Reports a Net Loss of $7.3 million for the Year 2005; Acquired Nine Hotels During 2005 / Mar

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  DiamondRock Hospitality, a Public Company Since May 2005, Reports a Net Loss of $7.3 million for the Year 2005; Acquired Nine Hotels During 2005 Hotel Operating Statistics BETHESDA, Md., March 1, 2006 - DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") (NYSE: DRH) today announced results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner and acquirer of premium hotels in North America.     Fourth Quarter 2005 Highlights     * Same-store revenue per available room ("RevPAR...

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report TravelCLICK Names David Marshall Chief Architect . Industry Veteran to Advance TravelCLICK’s Hotel Revenue Delivery Platform CHICAGO (March 27, 2006) – TravelCLICK Inc., the leading provider of hotel business process management (BPM) solutions, announced today the appointment of David Marshall to direct the evolution of TravelCLICK’s integrated hotel distribution solutions.  As Chief Architect, Marshall will advance TravelCLICK’s integrated solutions to a platform offering seamless interoperability for revenue delivery applications.  Marshall has more than 20 years of experience in ...

David Horowitz Named General Manager for the New Hyatt Regency Century Plaza / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  David Horowitz Named General Manager for the New Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Horowitz to oversee immediate reposition; includes multi-million dollar renovation   CENTURY CITY, CA (MARCH 27, 2006) – David Horowitz has been appointed General Manager for the new Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City, California. Horowitz is responsible for the management, operations and marketing of the 728-room landmark hotel, which begins a multi-million dollar renovation project this spring. Horowitz’s appointment was announced by Hyatt Hotels Corporation.    Formerly General Manager of the Hy...

Gatehouse Capital and Aimbridge Hospitality Developing Five aloft Hotels in Frisco, Plano, Las Colinas, Downtown Dallas and the Fort Worth TCU Area /

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Gatehouse Capital and Aimbridge Hospitality Developing Five aloft Hotels in Frisco, Plano, Las Colinas, Downtown Dallas and the Fort Worth TCU Area DALLAS, TX - March 14, 2006 - Gatebridge Hospitality, a venture formed between Gatehouse Capital, Champ Development (led by Starwood veteran Joe Champ) and Aimbridge Hospitality, today announced it would develop and invest in five aloft hotels in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  The hotels will be owned operated by Aimbridge Hospitality and franchised under a long-term contract by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), the parent compan...

Krisam Group Appoints Directors of Sales, and Opens Offices in the Southeast, Southern California; Debra Edwards Leads New Atlanta Office, Yolanda Hor

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Krisam Group Appoints Directors of Sales, and Opens Offices in the Southeast, Southern California . Debra Edwards Leads New Atlanta Office,  Yolanda Hormozi Heads Up Souther California Washington, D.C. (March 7, 2006) . . . . Krisam Group, the top independent national sales office for hotels, announced that Debra Edwards has been appointed Director of Sales to open Krisam’s new Atlanta sales office. Yolanda Hormozi has been appointed Director of Sales to open Krisam’s new sales office in Southern California.  Along with their roles at Krisam, Edwards and Hormozi will also serve as reg...

Hotel Marketing Starts Locally; Never Forget Your Neighbors / David Brudney ISHC / March 2006

January 30, 2006

By David M. Brudney, ISHC, March 2006 I love it when clients put me up at a hotel I never would have found nor selected on my own.  I love it because I always come away from the experience with either a reminder or a new lesson to share. One lesson I’ve learned over the years is to always engage other guests in conversation, when and wherever the opportunity presents itself. This past week I found myself in a suburban, independent limited service hotel near a project where I anticipate doing some future consulting work.   So here I was, having a really nice complimentary breakfast - - make your own waffle fresh, what a great idea...

Venezuelan Developer, Vitorrio De Stefano, Opens 200 room Clarion Hotel on Island of Curacao / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Venezuelan Developer, Vitorrio De Stefano, Opens 200 room Clarion Hotel on Island of Curacao Silver Spring, MD (March 23, 2006) – Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) today announced the opening of the four-star Clarion hotel located on the Caribbean island of Curacao. The opening of the Clarion International Curacao hotel represents Choice's seventh hotel franchise in the Caribbean region.  In the tradition of the internationally recognized Clarion brand, the new hotel is an upscale, full-service facility that will target both the corporate and leisure traveler. The Clarion Internati...

Radisson Riverfront Hotel St. Paul Reflagged The Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront; The 479 room Property is Managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Radisson Riverfront Hotel St. Paul Reflagged The Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront;  The 479 room Property is Managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. ATLANTA (March 7, 2006) – InterContinental Hotels Group announced today the opening of its latest Crowne Plaza hotel in St. Paul, Minn., the brand’s first in the St. Paul market. The 21-story, 479-room property is located in the heart of the Twin Cities Business district and sits atop the bluffs of the Mississippi River.  With the addition of the Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront, there are now five Crowne Plaza hotels with more than 1,300 ...

Aquilini Investment Group Completes Rebranding of Hotels in Frederiction and Moncton to the Crowne Plaza Brand; Both Properties Managed by Pacrim Hosp

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Aquilini Investment Group Completes Rebranding of Hotels in Frederiction and Moncton to the Crowne Plaza Brand; Both Properties Managed by Pacrim Hospitality ATLANTA (March 9, 2006) – InterContinental Hotels Group announced today the expansion of Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts into the New Brunswick province of  Canada. Fredericton, N.B. welcomes its first Crowne Plaza hotel and will join its sister property, the Crowne Plaza Moncton, N.B., which opened earlier this year.   “With the addition of two Crowne Plaza hotels in New Brunswick, our portfolio of upscale hotels in Cana...

Of 684 Marriott Courtyards Worldwide, the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware Named Best in Customer Satisfaction for 2005 by Marriott Corp. / Mar

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Of 684 Marriott Courtyards Worldwide, the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware Named Best in Customer Satisfaction for 2005 by Marriott Corp. March 7, 2006 - The Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware hotel was named best in  customer satisfaction for 2005 by Marriott Corp. at its general  managers' meeting held Feb 20-22 at the Marriott San Diego in California. The UD/Shaner Hotel Group-owned Courtyard received more  outstanding customer satisfaction surveys than any of the 684 Marriott Courtyards worldwide.  Bill Sullivan, managing director of the hotel, accepted the trophy at  the...

Hard Rock International and Intrawest Corp. Planning a 320 Unit Condo Hotel at Copper Mountain, Colorado / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Julie Dunn, The Denver Post Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Mar. 3, 2006 - Summit County's Copper Mountain will be home to the first Hard Rock Hotel at a mountain resort, Hard Rock International and Intrawest Corp. announced Thursday. Plans call for a four-star condo-hotel, with 320 residences and featuring a spa, a multilevel indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant and multiple bars. "We believe bringing Hard Rock to Copper will help in creating the most exciting destination in the U.S. ski market," said Trevo...

Hotel Web Site Lookers & Bookers; Want to Convert Lookers on Your Web Site? / Neil Salerno / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Hotel Web Site Lookers & Bookers; Want to Convert Lookers on Your Web Site? By: Neil Salerno – March 2006 Experts say online travel bookings are still on the rise and, according to recent reports; an increasing number of online travelers are turning to supplier sites to book reservations. This is great news for our industry, but, as hoteliers, are we taking advantage of this increased traffic? The growing popularity of search engines on the net has focused new attention on the need to make certain that your hotel’s web site conforms to search engine guidelines and is designed to convert...

Hampton Inn West in Bloomington, Illinois Agrees to a Moral Responsibility to Pay Workers of Bankrupt Company that Performed Housekeeping Duties at

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Scott Richardson, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Mar. 8, 2006 - BLOOMINGTON -- A spokesman for the Hampton Inn West in Bloomington agreed to accept what one minister termed "a moral responsibility" Tuesday and seek wages due former workers of a now-bankrupt company that once cleaned rooms at the west-side motel. Hotel officials stressed they previously paid Sonshine Cleaners, which they contracted to do the work, and they assumed the workers were paid. "It's not us," said genera...

Renovations Under Way at Two of Walt Disney World's Original Resorts, the Contemporary and the Polynesian Hotels / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Christopher Boyd, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Mar. 30, 2006 - Renovations under way at two of Walt Disney World's original resorts demonstrate the theme park's obsession with perpetual self-renewal. The Contemporary and Polynesian hotels will soon emerge from a major face-lift aimed at putting rooms on par with those in the region's newest resorts. Every five or six years, Disney gives its rooms a makeover, changing furniture, revamping bathrooms and installing the latest technology. ...

Conrad Indianapolis Expects to be First 5-star Hotel in Indianapolis; 210 New Employees Receiveing at Least Two Weeks of General and Specialized Tra

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Erika D. Smith, The Indianapolis Star Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Mar. 19, 2006 - When the world-renowned Conrad Hotel swaggers into Indianapolis this week, opening its doors Downtown for the first time, it will have quite a reputation to live up to. One of luxury. One of prestige. One that, until now, only belonged to fellow Conrads in crème de la crème cities like Tokyo, Miami, Bangkok, New York, London, Cairo and Istanbul. A five-star reputation. Not that the Hoosier luxury hotel already has earned...

Condo Hotels – The Evolution of Rental Revenue Splits and Expense Allocations / Global Hospitality Advisor / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report The Global Hospitality Advisor Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ Jim Butler on Condo Hotels The Evolution of Rental Revenue Splits and Expense Allocations “Ask the Hotel Lawyer”™ is a regular feature column of the Global Hospitality Advisor®, providing practical insight into timely legal issues. “Ask the Hotel Lawyer” is a regular column that provides practical insight into timely legal issues. In the last column, Jim Butler addressed the pros and cons of condo hotels. In this column, he answers questions about one of the all-important details of a successful condo hotel deal – “split...

The Carlyle Group and Davidson Hotel Company to Convert the 157-room Colonnade Hotel to The Westin Colonnade Coral Gables / March 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report The Carlyle Group and Davidson Hotel Company to Convert the 157-room Colonnade Hotel to The Westin Colonnade Coral Gables WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - March 16, 2006 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces a franchise agreement with an affiliate of The Carlyle Group and Davidson Hotel Company to convert the 157-room Colonnade Hotel to The Westin Colonnade Coral Gables. Located in the center of the historic city of Coral Gables, a Mediterranean-themed suburb of Miami, the hotel boasts 23,000 square feet of meeting space which includes 6, 000 square feet of unique event spa...