Lori C. Main Appointed General Manager for the New Pan Pacific Seattle / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   Lori C. Main Appointed General Manager for the New Pan Pacific Seattle Seattle, WA --- January 26, 2006 --- A native North Westerner, Lori C. Main was recently appointed as the general manager for the new Pan Pacific Seattle, according to Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts North America.  The new hotel is scheduled to open in October 2006 at 2200, Vulcan Real Estate's signature mixed-use development situated at the gateway to the South Lake Union neighborhood.              Currently the general manager at The Roosevelt Hotel in Seattle, Main has strong Seattle ties an...

Leland Lewis Named General Manager for the InterContinental The Barclay New York / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Leland Lewis Named General Manager for the InterContinental The Barclay New York NEW YORK, NY (January 11, 2006) - Leland Lewis was recently named General Manager for the InterContinental The Barclay New York.  In this position, Lewis will be responsible for the operations and profitability of the 686-room hotel, the flagship hotel for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in North America.   He was most recently the General Manager for the InterContinental Hotels Cleveland, where he was responsible for three hotels on the Cleveland Clinic campus, the Guest House, the InterContinen...

Linda Hodgson Named Director of Sales and Marketing for the InterContinental The Barclay New York / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Linda Hodgson Named Director of Sales and Marketing for the InterContinental The Barclay New York NEW YORK, NY (January 9, 2006) - Linda Hodgson was recently named Director of Sales and Marketing for the InterContinental The Barclay New York.  In this position, Hodgson will lead the development and implementation of all sales and marketing initiatives to maximize profits at the 686-room hotel in midtown Manhattan.                Hodgson comes to the InterContinental The Barclay New York with a wealth of experience in hotel sales.  Most recently she was Director of Sales and M...

LBA Properties Opens Springhill Suites by Marriott in Clearwater, Florida, Begins Construction on 84 room Courtyard by Marriott in Hattiesburg, Missis

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   LBA Properties Opens Springhill Suites by Marriott in Clearwater, Florida,  Begins Construction on 84 room Courtyard by Marriott in Hattiesburg, Mississippi Dothan, Ala. – Jan. 26, 2006 – LBA Properties kicked off the first month of 2006 with the opening of a 79-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Clearwater, Florida, and the construction start of 84-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 119 Grand Drive in Hattiesburg, Miss.  The Courtyard, LBA’s first hotel in Mississippi, is three blocks from the University of Southern Mississippi, and part of the new 40-acre Chauvert S...

A Record 24.9 million Tourists Visited Los Angeles in 2005 / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Rick Orlov, Daily News, Los Angeles Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 4, 2005 -- A record 24.9 million tourists visited Los Angeles last year and provided a $12.7 billion boost to the local economy, and city officials said Tuesday the figure is expected to grow this year. The influx of visitors -- more than the 24.3 million drawn to the city in 2004 -- spent nearly 8.5 percent more than visitors the previous year. Officials project tourism to increase 2.7 percent this year, with more than 25 million visitors spending nearly $1...

Behind Every Good Steak There´s a Bull; High Priced Kobe Beef Likely Comes from Cattle Raised in Idaho / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Ken Dey, The Idaho Statesman, Boise Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 5, 2006 -  It may be called the Rolls Royce of meats, but it took a $41 hamburger to catapult Kobe beef out of gourmet magazines and into the mainstream of American culture. And while most people associate the high-priced beef with Japan, few realize it´s more likely to come from cattle raised in Idaho. The Old Homestead Steak House in New York City created a stir last month by putting a $41 Kobe beef hamburger on its menu. The media frenzy that followed p...

10th Annual KioskCom Conference & Tradeshow to be held April 10-12 in Las Vegas / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  10th Annual KioskCom Conference & Tradeshow to be held April 10-12 in Las Vegas The Largest and Longest Running Conference and Tradeshow of Its Kind Announces Speaker Roster and Session Topics TRUMBULL, CT (January 24, 2006) – The KioskCom Conference & Tradeshow (KioskCom), the defining global event for interactive self-service business solutions, announces its 2006 conference and tradeshow will be held April 10-12 at The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV. Building off of a highly successful 2005 event, KioskCom 2006 expects that over 2,000 participants will register, contin...

Affiliate of Trinity Investments, LLC Acquries the Kahala Mandarin Oriental; The Legendary Kahala Will Carry Its Own Flag With New Management / Januar

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   Affiliate of Trinity Investments, LLC Acquries the Kahala Mandarin Oriental;  The Legendary Kahala Will Carry Its Own Flag With New Management HONOLULU, HI -(Jan. 20, 2006) Kahala Hotel Investors, LLC, an affiliate of Honolulu-based Trinity Investments, LLC, announced today its plans to rename the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii. As of March 1, the luxury 364 room property will become The Kahala and management of the AAA 5-Diamond resort will be turned over to Landmark Hotels, Incorporated. Charles M. Sweeney, chairman of Trinity, said, "The Mandarin Oriental Group has revit...

The Marcus Corporation Appoints Karen Y. Spindler to Corporate Director of Human Resources / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Marcus Corporation Appoints Karen Y. Spindler to Corporate Director of Human Resources MILWAUKEE - Jan. 4, 2006 -- The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS) today announced the promotion of Karen Y. Spindler to corporate director of human resources. Spindler will lead the corporate human resources department and will assume many of the responsibilities of H. Fred Delmenhorst, vice president of human resources. Delmenhorst is retiring from the company January 5, 2006, following more than 20 years of service to The Marcus Corporation. Prior to her promotion, Spindler served as vice president of hu...

KSL Resorts Moves its Focus to Acquisition and Development Opportunities Following Sell to Hilton of Management Contracts for Arizona Biltmore, Grand

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report KSL Resorts Moves its Focus to Acquisition and Development Opportunities Following Sell to Hilton of Management Contracts for Arizona Biltmore, Grand Wailea and La Quinta Resort & Club LA QUINTA, Calif. Jan. 17, 2006 -- KSL Resorts has agreed to sell its management contracts for Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, in Phoenix, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, in Maui, and La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West, in La Quinta, Calif. to Hilton Hotels Corporation, it was announced today. Each of the properties are owned by Orlando-based CNL Hotels & Resorts. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected...

Ken Gorzycki, Director of Golf Course Management at Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, Receives Special Service Award from Texas A&M's D

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Ken Gorzycki, Director of Golf Course Management at Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, Receives Special Service Award from Texas A&M's Department of Soil and Crop Sciences AUSTIN, Texas – January 19, 2006 – Texas A&M University recently awarded a Special Service Award to alumni Ken Gorzycki, ‘77, Director of Golf Course Management at Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas. This prestigious award was presented to Gorzycki at an annual meeting of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences January 11 in College Station, Texas. World renown turf specialist, Dr. James B. Beard, A...

UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm Hints at Nationwide Hotel Workers Strike; Labor Contracts at 200 Hotels in Six Cities Expiring this Year / January

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Howard Stutz, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 27, 2006 - A nationwide labor dispute involving 60,000 hotel workers in major North American cities could be averted if the hotel industry were to adopt some of the policies major casino companies use, the national union chief for lodging and food service workers said Thursday. In a conference call sponsored by Wall Street investment house Bear Stearns, UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm told stock analysts and portfolio managers who follow the ho...

Conde Nast Johansens Names the Recipients for the 2006 Americas Awards for Excellence / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Conde Nast Johansens Names the Recipients for the 2006 Americas Awards for Excellence NEW YORK (January 12, 2006) -- Condé Nast Johansens today announced the eagerly awaited winners of the 2006 America's Awards for Excellence.  The recipients of the prestigious awards were revealed at the publication's annual awards gala.  Winners included The Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California; The Point, Saranac Lake, New York; The Hay Adams,Washington DC , The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, South Carolina; and The Lodge at Pico Bonito, Atlantida, Honduras.    Nineteen awards were presented in a range o...

Jean Patrick Thiry Named Managing Director for the Domina Hotel Group / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Jean Patrick Thiry Named Managing Director for the Domina Hotel Group Milan, 26th January 2006 – Domina Hotel Group has appointed Jean Patrick Thiry Managing Director. In his new role Mr Thiry will be responsible for the commercial and operational aspects of the Group and will be based in Milan Headquarter. “I am excited about the opportunity to assert Domina Hotel Group as a well-known hotel chain among its competitors,” said Mr Thiry. “Through perseverance, knowledge and innovative processes, small companies can achieve great results and I strongly believe that innovation...

Jack Schmidt Elected Chairman of the Americas Board for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Jack Schmidt Elected Chairman of the Americas Board for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International   MCLEAN, VA (Jan. 6, 2006) – Hospitality sales and marketing executive Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer of Benchmark Hospitality, has been elected Chairman of the Americas Board for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).     In this leadership role, Schmidt will guide the organization’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors for a two-year term, January 2006 - 2008.     “Through Jack’s long-standing career in the hospitality s...

TIA National Chairman Jay Rasulo Calls for New Industry Strategy to Compete in World Tourism Market / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report TIA National Chairman Jay Rasulo Calls for New Industry Strategy to Compete in World Tourism Market  “Millions of Jobs, Billions in Revenue, and American Image are at Stake”    WASHINGTON, DC --  Jay Rasulo, National Chair for the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), warned a gathering of more than 500 travel and tourism industry executives that the U.S. risks missing out on enormous growth opportunities if it doesn’t adopt a new strategy to compete in the growing global tourism market. Click here for speech. Rasulo, who serves as Chairman of Walt Disney Parks ...

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division Closes a Nine-Property Hampton Inn Portfolio / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online Special Report Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division Closes a Nine-Property Hampton Inn Portfolio ATLANTA – January 11, 2006 – Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division announced today that they advised Mercury Investment in the disposition of a portfolio of nine Hampton Inn Hotels in the month of December.  The hotels were sold to Encore Enterprises for $100 Million.  Located in various markets across the country, the properties comprised 1,238 rooms, which included the following assets: .. Property Location Rooms Hampton Inn Buckhead  Atlanta, GA  154 Hampto...

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division Closes the Sale of 19 Hotel Transactions in December / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online Special Report Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division Closes the Sale of 19 Hotel Transactions in December ATLANTA – January 13, 2006 – Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division announced today that they advised multiple sellers in the disposition of 19 hotels in the month of December. Located in urban and suburban markets across the country, the properties comprised 2,458 rooms, which included these assets: .. Property Location Rooms Motel 6  Memphis, TN  124 Comfort Suites  Tucson, AZ  90 Holiday Inn  Southern Pines, NC  162 Fallside Inn  ...

Jerry Gibson Named General Manager, Grand Hyatt New York / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Jerry Gibson Named General Manager,  Grand Hyatt New York NEW YORK – January 26, 2006 - A four-time GM with resort experience, Jerry Gibson brings new energy to the city life by joining the Grand Hyatt New York as General Manager. Previously General Manager of Hyatt Lake Las Vegas in Nevada, Mr. Gibson arrives with 25 years of Hyatt experience to oversee the recently renovated 1,311-room property. Mr. Gibson’s interest in hospitality began at an early age as he traveled working cases with F. Lee Bailey. After working on many speaking engagements in hotels, Mr. Gibson was dra...

JER Partners Acquires Six TownePlace Suites by Marriott Hotels Located in the Denver, Colorado Area for $53 million / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   JER Partners Acquires Six TownePlace Suites by Marriott Hotels Located in the Denver, Colorado Area for $53 million MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 6, 2006 - JER Partners, the private equity investment arm of the J.E. Robert Companies, has acquired a portfolio of TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotels ("the Portfolio") from Rocky Mountain Extended Stay, LLP for $53 million.  The 785-room Portfolio is comprised of seven extended stay hotels, six of which are located in the greater Denver, Colorado area, and one of which is located in Colorado Springs, approximately 70 miles south of downtown Denver.    ...

New Edition of Hotel Investments Book Debuts at ALIS Conference / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  New Edition of Hotel Investments Book Debuts at ALIS Conference ORLANDO, Fla., January 2006 — The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association will debut the fourth edition of Hotel Investments: Issues and Perspectives at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 23-25, 2006, in Los Angeles, Cal.  Edited by Lori E. Raleigh, Executive Director, International Society of Hospitality Consultants, and Rachel J. Roginsky, ISHC, Principal, Pinnacle Advisory Group, this book features 15 articles and four case studies by leading professionals in the hotel investment...

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Hotelier’s 2006 Top Ten Internet Marketing Resolutions By Max Starkov and Jason Price, January 2006 In 2006, 27%-29% of all revenues in hospitality will be generated from the Internet (25% in 2005, 20% in 2004). Another 27% of all hotel bookings will be influenced by the Internet, but done offline (call center, walk-ins, group bookings, etc). By the end of 2007, 39% of all travel sales will be online (Merrill Lynch). Are hoteliers taking full advantage of this dramatic channel shift? Has the shift increased commoditization of hotel rooms and the overall experience? Is there suc...

InterContinental Hong Kong's 7,000 Sq. Ft. Presidential Suite Constructed at a Cost of US$2.5 million / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report InterContinental Hong Kong's 7,000 Sq. Ft. Presidential Suite Constructed at a Cost of US$2.5 million Asia’s Most Spectacular Presidential Suite   HONG KONG (January 25, 2006) --- Acclaimed as one of the world’s top hotels for business and leisure and prized for its spectacular views, InterContinental Hong Kong has just completed the creation of Asia’s most spectacular Presidential Suite.  At 7,000 square feet, the 5-bedroom Presidential Suite is the largest in Hong Kong.   The suite was constructed at a cost of US$2.5 million and took 253 days and 76,120 man-hours to bu...

Around 155 Hotels Under Active Development in India; Bangalore Most Active with 27 new hotels with 6,100 Rooms / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Raja Awasthi, The Economic Times, India Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 22, 2006 - NEW DELHI -- The hotel industry which is reeling under a shortage of over 1.25 lakh rooms across the country may get some relief soon. Around 155 hotels, which are under active development in various cities in the country, will help to bridge this huge gap. The figure does not include the economy hotels which are also set to grow in large numbers. Leading the pack among the metros is IT hub Bangalore where 27 new hotels, servi...