Cornell Hotel School, The Culinary Institute of America Create Dual Degree Program / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Cornell Hotel School, The Culinary Institute of America Create Dual Degree Program  Ithaca, N.Y., January 9, 2006 - The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) have created a dual degree program for students seeking a preeminent education in hospitality management and the culinary arts. Students who complete this intensive program will earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Hotel Administration and an Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree in Culinary Arts.  "We are pleased to partner with the Cornell Hotel School to crea...

Aqua Hotels & Resorts Named to Manage the 247 room Coral Reef Hotel, the Waikiki Hotel Owned by Andre Tatibouet Since 1973 / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Aqua Hotels & Resorts Named to Manage the 247 room Coral Reef Hotel,  the Waikiki Hotel Owned by Andre Tatibouet Since 1973  HONOLULU, Hawaii - Aqua Hotels & Resorts announced today that it has been named to manage the Coral Reef Hotel, a 247-room property that has been owned by Andre S. Tatibouet since 1973. Renamed the Aqua Coral Reef, the hotel is located next to the International Marketplace at 2299 Kuhio Avenue. According to Tatibouet, "The property will undergo a major renovation this spring at a total cost of over $7 million." No stranger to Hawaii's hotel industry, island-born Tati...

Miami's National Hotel Stays Hot, Delights Celebrity Guests with The Concierge Assistant; The Concierge Desk is 'The Game' at Trendy Mi

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Miami’s National Hotel Stays Hot, Delights Celebrity Guests with The Concierge AssistantTM. The Concierge Desk is ‘The Game’ at Trendy Miami Property; Guest Profiles Stay Secure Agoura Hills, California – January 4, 2006 -- The National Hotel, one of the hottest hotels in Miami Beach, Florida’s, South Beach installed The Concierge AssistantTM software system from Gold Key Solutions to automate its renown guest service operation, Gold Key announced today.  The software application allows property staff to automatically and securely create detailed profiles of each guest, list their pref...

The Vacated Coco Palms Resort on the Island of Kaua'i Receiving a $220 million Restoration that will Retain Much of the Resort's Original Am

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Vacated Coco Palms Resort on the Island of Kaua'i Receiving a $220 million Restoration that will Retain Much of the Resort's Original Ambience The 396-room hotel has been closed since Sept. 11, 1992, when Hurricane ‘Iniki struck Kaua‘i. Sale of Landmark Hotel Site Closes; Partnership with the State of Hawaii Solidifies Plans to Expand Kuhio Highway.  LIHU'E, KAUA'I, Hawaii - Jan. 27, 2006 -- Coco Palms Ventures, LLC has finalized the purchase of the soon-to-re-open Coco Palms Resort on the island of Kaua'i. The sale encompasses 16.4 acres of prime real estate and an...

Some Clearwater, Florida Officials Uneasy with Planned Clearwater Beach Hyatt Morphing from a Hotel to a Condominium-hotel / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Aaron Sharockman, St. Petersburg Times, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 18, 2006 - CLEARWATER -- The developer of a planned Clearwater Beach Hyatt is asking for additional concessions from the city, saying more changes are needed before work can begin. The changes, among other things, could delay the resort's construction until the end of the year and double the number of days condominium-hotel unit owners could use their rooms. That, in turn, would reduce the total number of room nights available to to...

A Burgeoning Number of New Hotel Brands Being Rolled Out in Chicago / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Kathy Bergen, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 31, 2006 - Behind the scaffolding and the sheets of plywood that obscure the facade of the former Lenox Suites Hotel at Rush and Ontario Streets in Chicago, some 260 construction workers are engaged in a $56 million gut rehab. When the 16-story blond brick structure reopens in late February or early March as a high-end boutique hotel with a stylish lounge called J Bar, a steakhouse by celebrity chef David Burke and a swanky gym, it will be known ...

Ventana Hotels & Resorts Names Steven R. Chelew Chief Operating Officer / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Ventana Hotels & Resorts Names Steven R. Chelew Chief Operating Officer Scottsdale, AZ, January 25, 2006 - Ventana Hotels & Resorts, a leader in the deployment of entrepreneurial management practices throughout the hospitality industry, proudly announces the appointment of Steven R. Chelew as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Chelew's new position represents his extensive experience as both a manager of independent and branded resorts, as well as impressive leadership within the corporate suite. "Steve's appointment is the result of both his seasoned operational skills and his professional succe...

Owners of the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Urbana, Illinois Expand – with an Adjacent 74 room Holiday Inn Express; the Pairing of

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Don Dodson, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 18, 2006 - URBANA -- Eager to appeal to a broader market, full-service hotels are building limited-service motels nearby in hopes of snagging customers willing to pay less for a little less. The most recent example: a new Holiday Inn Express that opened Dec. 28 in Urbana, adjacent to the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center. The new 74-room hotel, at 1003 W. Killarney St., has 18 suites, as well as an indoor swimming pool...

Cendant Hotel Group Providing International Franchisees and their Hotel Employees Hospitality Management Courses through Cornell University and eCorne

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   Cendant Hotel Group Providing International Franchisees and their Hotel Employees Hospitality Management Courses through Cornell University and eCornell PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Jan. 26, 2006) – Cendant Hotel Group International today announced an alliance with Cornell University to provide its international franchisees and their hotel employees with specially priced classroom-based and online hospitality management courses. Traditional classroom courses will be offered through the Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration’s Professional Development Program, and Web-base...

REH Capital Partners, LLC Sells the 144 unit Lake Cecile Suites and Resort in Orlando, Florida for $10 million / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  REH Capital Partners, LLC Sells the 144 unit Lake Cecile Suites and Resort in Orlando, Florida for $10 million Fort Lauderdale, Florida (January 5, 2006) – In a move to capitalize on the “hot” transactions market for Florida hotels, REH Capital Partners, LLC, announced today that it has sold the 144 unit Lake Cecile Suites and Resort in Orlando, Florida, formerly licensed as MainStay Suites through Choice Hotels, to Palm Suites Land Trust in a transaction valued in excess of $10 million.  REH, through a private investment consortium, purchased the property out of foreclosure...

Strand Development Company LLC Acquires Management Contract of Carolinian Hotel, Columbia, South Carolina / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Strand Development Company LLC Acquires Management Contract of Carolinian Hotel, Columbia, South Carolina Columbia, SC, January 24, 2006 - Strand Development Company LLC based in Myrtle Beach, SC announced today that they have added the Carolinian Hotel as the 25th hotel to its management portfolio.  The management company change is a result of the sale of the hotel to an independent owner.  Strand Development Company, LLC will oversee all areas of the hotel’s operations, including guest services, sales and marketing efforts and hotel administration.  “We are excited abo...

Carnus Systems Releases Hospitality Forecasting Software / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Carnus Systems Releases Hospitality Forecasting Software Artificial Intelligence Forecasting Software Proves Very Effective at Accurately Predicting Restaurant Covers and Staffing at Pan Pacific;  Owners Purchase Subscription       SAN FRANCISCO, January 6, 2005 – The Pan Pacific Hotel San Francisco, owned by a partnership between Oxford Lodging and Goldman Sachs, recently completed a trial implementation and purchased a novel hospitality forecasting software developed by Carnus Systems.   After carefully monitoring the results throughout a 60-day period, the web-based software...

Carlson Hotels Worldwide Adds 110 Hotels to its Five-brand, Global Portfolio in 2005; Systemwide Revenues Reaches USD$6 Billion / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Carlson Hotels Worldwide Adds 110 Hotels to its Five-brand, Global Portfolio in 2005; Systemwide Revenues Reaches USD$6 Billion MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 24, 2006) ----- Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced that 110 hotels and resorts were added to its five-brand, global portfolio in 2005, while the company achieved record financial results for the third consecutive year. Carlson Hotels ended the year with 922 hotels operating in 69 countries, generating systemwide revenues of USD $6 billion, an increase of 18 percent from 2004. The company's hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, Ra...

Developer Gene Carlisle's Planned Hotel/Condo in Downtown Memphis Receives 20 Year Tax Break Even though Project Includes Residential Component

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Jane Roberts, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jan. 11, 2006 - Score another victory for Gene Carlisle, the Mid-South hamburger magnate who in 2007 intends to be building a 27-story condo/hotel at Beale and Riverside Drive. Tuesday, the Center City Revenue Finance Commission granted the project a 20-year tax break -- five years more than customary -- saving Carlisle approximately $13 million in local taxes over the entire term. "Board members felt that due to the great financial risk ...

Candlewood Suites Hotel to Open in Ft. Lauderdale; 71 room Hotel Owned by 84 Investments, Inc. / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   Candlewood Suites Hotel to Open in Ft. Lauderdale;  71 room Hotel Owned by 84 Investments, Inc. ATLANTA (Jan. 20, 2006) - InterContinental Hotels Group, the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announces plans for a new 71-room Candlewood Suites hotel near Ft. Lauderdale's air and cruise port terminals in South Florida. The new property is expected to open late 2006 and will be Ft. Lauderdale's first Candlewood Suites hotel.  The Candlewood Suites Ft. Lauderdale is owned by 84 Investments, Inc., and managed by Luckey's Management Inc., under a license agreement ...

Carol M. Smith Named Director of Sales & Marketing for the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center, Staunton, Virginia / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Carol M. Smith Named Director of Sales & Marketing for the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center, Staunton, Virginia McLEAN and STAUNTON, Va., Jan. 3, 2006 - Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. today announced the appointment of Carol M. Smith as Director of Sales & Marketing for the newly restored and expanded Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center.  Situated in the historic downtown district of Staunton, the property is in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  The hotel's complete refurbishment includes 124 deluxe guestrooms and nearly 11,000 square feet of elega...

Some Readers View the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly as Being too Academic; The Journal's Editor Michael Sturman Responds

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Some Readers View the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly as Being too Academic; - The Journal's Editor Michael Sturman Responds  Perhaps I’m Protesting Too Much, But…. In his December 27th column, Stanley Turkel criticized Gary Thompson’s response to the criticism that the Cornell Quarterly is too academic.  In a survey, a significant percentage of readers of the Cornell Quarterly said that the journal was either “a little” too academically oriented (47.4%) or “far” too academically oriented (12.4%).  Dr. Thompson did not interpret this finding as negative, instea...

Cristina Lussi Named Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 2006 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Cristina Lussi Named Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 2006 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show WHITE PLAINS, NY, January 5, 2006Â…Cristina Lussi, director of sales and marketing, Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club (Lake Placid, NY), has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 2006 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS). In addition, Anthony Mangano, CHA, vice president, Syramada Hotel Corporation (Syracuse, NY), has been appointed to the nine-member Board. The 91st annual IH/M&RS will take place November 11-14, 2006, at New York CityÂ...

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association Recognizes the “Best of the Best” Hotel Employees of the Year ORLANDO - Thursday, January 26, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association held its annual Employee Recognition Awards celebration.  This “Academy Awards” style dinner recognized hotel employees of the year, in 12 different categories (Administrative, Bell Person/Concierge, Community Services, Convention Center/Banquet, Culinary, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Front Office, Housekeeping, Laundry, Recreational, and Security).     Â...

Carlos Cabrera Named Senior Vice President, Field Operations Florida and Caribbean for Hyatt Hotels Corporation / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Carlos Cabrera Named Senior Vice President, Field Operations Florida and Caribbean for Hyatt Hotels Corporation NAPLES, FLORIDA (January 19, 2006)- Carlos Cabrera has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Field Operations for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. In his new role, Mr. Cabrera is responsible for owner relations, financial performance and standardization of product and services in Hyatt's 12 hotels and resorts in Florida and three in the Caribbean. Mr. Cabrera reports to Chuck Floyd, executive vice president, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. In his most recent role as Vice President and Manag...

Campbell Black Named Regional Director of Operations and General Manager for InterContinental's Three Properties on The Cleveland Clinic Campus

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Campbell Black Named Regional Director of Operations and General Manager for InterContinental's Three Properties on The Cleveland Clinic Campus CLEVELAND, OHIO – January 27, 2006 – InterContinental Hotels Cleveland is pleased to announce the appointment of Campbell Black to regional director of operations and general manager.  With 25 years of hospitality experience, Black most recently served as the regional vice president of operations and general manager at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental in San Francisco, Calif.   Bringing extensive operational and geographic experiences, Black is...

Qatari Royal Family Names Boston Firm to Design New Hotel in Capital City of Doha / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Qatari Royal Family Names Boston Firm to Design New Hotel in Capital City of Doha J/Brice Design International wins $30 million project in Qatar, whose capital city Doha attracts major hotel chain development as it becomes a new  Middle East hub. January 27, 2006 - J/Brice Design International, Inc. of Boston has been selected to direct the interior architecture and design of Hotel Khalifa in Doha, Qatar. Sheik Ahmed Al-Thani and Brothers, who are members of the Qatari Royal Family, are developing the 150-room hotel property. Hotel Khalifa is slated to open mid 2007. Project budget, not i...

Hotel Design: The Trick for Any Brand is to Define the Standard But Not to Stifle Innovation / Patrick Goff / January 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Hotel Design: The Trick for Any Brand is to Define the Standard But Not to Stifle Innovation by Patrick Goff, January 2006 Designers generally go through college learning the fundamentals of design such as the use of human proportion in Georgian architecture, or the use of the Golden Section. Such ‘rules’ underpin much of good design but good design is often driven by reaction against the taught and the perceived wisdom of a previous generation.   Designers work to a brief and the brief also acts as a constraint to be kicked against. It can also become a yardstick to judge the quality of t...

Are Two Hotels, Comparable in Size, Location, Age and Condition, Worth the Same if One is a Ritz-Carlton and the Other is an Unbranded Unknown? Hotel

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive By Cheryl Hall, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Debate centers on how to account for factors like brand recognition January 25, 2006 - Are two hotels, comparable in size, location, age and condition, worth the same if one is a Ritz-Carlton and the other is an unbranded unknown?  They should be when it comes to property taxes, the hotel industry says.  Not so fast, says the tax assessor.  Intangibles like brand names can't be taxed. That's cut and dried. But just how to value appraisal deductions for these nonphysical assets i...