Bob Sassani Appointed General Manager of The Water Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Bob Sassani Appointed General Manager of The Water Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico MIAMI, Jan. 31, 2006 – Desires Hotels™, the boutique division of Tecton Hospitality, today named Bob Sassani general manager of the award-winning The Water Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 84-room The Water Club Hotel, which has been ranked as one of the 32 “coolest” hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, is Tecton’s first boutique property in the Caribbean.               Sassani has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to this, Sassani was the general manag...

Indoor Waterparks and Hotels – Year end 2005 Overview / David Sangree / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Indoor Waterparks and Hotels -  Year end 2005 Overview By David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC, February 2006 The indoor waterpark resort and the addition of indoor waterparks to existing hotels have become more widespread phenomena in the hotel industry in the United States and Canada since 2000. The growth of indoor waterparks is due to their popularity with children, and their parents’ and grandparents’ interest in selecting lodging locations that will be fun for children. In addition, indoor waterpark resort properties are increasingly popular for short weekends and two- or three-day getaway...

City of San Diego Claims Claims Travel Web Sites Not Paying What They Owe in Hotel Occupancy Taxes; Files Lawsuit Seeking $30 million / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive By Elizabeth Fitzsimons, The San Diego Union-Tribune Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  February 10, 2006 - Saying that travel Web sites aren't paying what they owe in hotel occupancy taxes in San Diego, the City Attorney's Office yesterday filed a lawsuit in Superior Court seeking more than $30 million from the sites. The suit claims that more than a dozen Internet companies, including Travelocity.com, Priceline.com and Hotels.com, for the past five years have collected room taxes from customers based on “retail” rates, while paying the city a tax amount based on a lower, ...

Want Better Results? Then Expect Better Sales People / Brenda Fields / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report     Want Better Results? Then Expect Better Sales People by Brenda Fields, February 13, 2006 Over the past several years, the hotel industry has greatly benefited from the strong domestic economy which has impacted both the business and leisure segments, and all success indicators (occupancy, average rate, and RevPAR) are at record numbers in most urban markets. Although there are good sales people in this economy, it seems that a property’s success has little to do with the quality and expertise of its sales people, as the “order-taking” days are back. Hotels are performing well despi...

Joie de Vivre's Chip Conley Took One Look at Sacramento's Historic Cal Western Life Building and Concluded: "That Looks Like a Hotel&

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Bob Shallit, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 13, 2006 - Chip Conley took one look recently at downtown's historic Cal Western Life Building and concluded: "That looks like a hotel - something you'd see ... on the Eastern seaboard." As we reported last week, the Bay Area hotel operator is working with the building's owners to get city funds to help convert the 82-year-old office tower into a 200-room "boutique" hotel, the type known for high-end style and distinctive character. He sees it ho...

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Nobody Asked Me, But…. By Stanley Turkel, MHS, ISHC February 21, 2006 1.  In the New York Times (January 31, 2006 “Détente in the Hotel Bed Wars”) columnist Christopher Elliott writes, “The hotel “bed wars” are over.  But are business travelers the winners?”  Some believe that the bed wars have gone too far.  Professor Harley R. Myler from Lamar University, Beaumont, TX said when he checked into the Marriott University Park in Tucson, “There were several pillows and bedspreads.  I didn’t know what they were for… I would much prefer that they offered free high-speed internet”. ...

Benchmark Appoints Sean McLaughlin General Manager of Glen Cove Mansion & Conference Center / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Benchmark Appoints Sean McLaughlin General Manager of Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2, 2006 - Benchmark Hospitality International has formally announced the appointment of Sean McLaughlin as general manager of Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center, located in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York.  Ellen Sinclair, vice president, made the announcement. "Sean brings a unique and varied background to our company, having invested many years in the hotel and conference center industry, including serving on the Board of Dire...

Stephen Ford Named Vice President, Area Managing Director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts New Delhi, India / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Stephen Ford Named Vice President, Area Managing Director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts New Delhi, India Singapore, 10th February 2006 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts announces that it will set up a regional office in New Delhi, India starting this month, led by the newly appointed Vice President, Area Managing Director Stephen Ford.  Stephen Ford overseas hotels in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.  “Stephen has demonstrated excellent leadership as Area Managing Director for Starwood hotels in  Indonesia over the past 2 years.  His extensive experience with major business stakeholders in Asia as ...

Case Studies Prove Hotel Search Engine Optimisation Delivers Results / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Case Studies Prove Hotel Search Engine Optimisation Delivers Results by Keith Paulin, Februrary 2006 I have a favourite analogy about hotels and how they should view their website and online marketing initiatives; it usually strikes a nerve pretty close to home… Imagine if you printed 1,000 beautiful, four colour, ten page brochures that stunningly captured the unique nature of your hotel at ten bucks a piece…and then locked them away in a cupboard…how effective would they be? Or how about creating a masterful piece of direct mail that is riveting, stimulating and worth a Pulitzer Prize…...

Serge Denis, Managing Director of the Langham Hotel Boston, Named General Manager of the Year (large properties) by the Massachusetts Lodging Associat

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Serge Denis, Managing Director of the Langham Hotel Boston,  Named General Manager of the Year (large properties) by the Massachusetts Lodging Association BOSTON, Mass. – February 1, 2006 – Serge Denis, Managing Director of the Langham Hotel Boston, was named General Manager of the Year in the category of large properties of more than 300 rooms by the Massachusetts Lodging Association last night at the 2005 Stars of the Industry Gala. The nomination is a first for the 40-year hospitality veteran.  This prestigious award “honors a general manager who has demonstrated professi...

Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Named Hotel of the Year Asia Pacific 2005 by the Preferred Hotel Group / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Named Hotel of the Year Asia Pacific 2005 by the Preferred Hotel Group Singapore, 8 February 2006 – Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore was  bestowed Hotel of the Year Asia Pacific 2005 Award by the Preferred Hotel Group for adopting a total approach to innovation towards excellence to provide the highest level of quality and service, resulting in a connectivity service partnership between the hotel and Preferred Hotel Group. . (I-R) – John Ueberroth, Chairman & CEO of Preferred Hotel Group, Patrick Fiat, General Manager, Odette Huang, Director of Sales & Mark...

Rosa Lei Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing for Raffles Beijing Hotel / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Rosa Lei Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing for Raffles Beijing Hotel SINGAPORE, 16 February 2006 – Raffles Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Rosa Lei as Director of Sales and Marketing of Raffles Beijing Hotel.  Rosa brings with her a wealth of experience, having worked for close to 20 years with established hotel brands such as Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Shangri-La and Marco Polo.  Prior to joining Raffles Beijing Hotel, she was Director of Sales & Marketing of The  Marco Polo, Xiamen and Director of Conventions in Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel in...

Five RockResorts Chefs Invited to the James Beard House / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Five RockResorts Chefs Invited to the James Beard House Denver, CO – February 9, 2006 – The best of the west came together at the James Beard House in January as five RockResorts chefs created tantalizing flavors for guests at the prestigious New York City culinary institution.  Executive Chef Fabrice Beaudoin from The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, CO; Executive Sous Chef Steve Topple from The Lodge at Vail in CO; Executive Chef Rahm Fama from La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa in Santa Fe, NM; Pastry Chef Francois Gaertner from The Lodge at Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs, CA and Exec...

City Ordinances to Restrict Chain Restaurants — But not Chain Hotels — Considered to Preserve Charm of San Antonio's River Walk / F

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By John W. Gonzalez, Houston Chronicle Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 12, 2006 - SAN ANTONIO -- It's an array of businesses that might be found in a trendy shopping district: Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafe, Landry's Seafood, Ben & Jerry's. The fact that these and similar businesses are on the historic San Antonio River Walk has many residents wondering whether the landmark is losing its identity in a blur of corporate logos. Responding to a public uproar, Mayor Phil Hardberger recently declared war on what he called the "M...

Connecticut's Two Casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, Offer Insights to Friendly Competition / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Karen Florin, The Day, New London, Conn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 18, 2006 - Mohegan Sun has offered free headline act performances in its Wolf Den auditorium for 10 years. Foxwoods Resort Casino recently started booking free concerts of the same caliber in its Club B.B. nightclub. Foxwoods began granting slot players "double points" on their Wampum player's club cards a few years ago. Mohegan Sun countered by designating certain banks of machines as double-point slots. Mohegan Sun started a player's ...

Dusit Hotels & Resorts Appoints Tatcha Riddhimat as Group Director of Sales / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Dusit Hotels & Resorts Appoints Tatcha Riddhimat as Group Director of Sales February 7, 2006 - Dusit Hotels & Resorts (DH&R) announces the appointment of Tatcha Riddhimat as Group Director of Sales.  Mr Tatcha has attained nearly 20 years experience in the hospitality industry.  This is his second stint with DH&R, having first worked with the group in 1991, then with the Dusit Island Resort, Chiang Rai in 1992, and finally with Royal Princess Hotels & Resorts in 1993.  Mr Tatcha’s expertise is in sales and marketing, where he obtained immense knowledge from various local and internati...

In 2005, Rezidor SAS Signed 29 Hotel Contracts (15 Radisson SAS, 13 Park Inn and One Lifestyle) Totaling Nearly 5,000 rooms / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  In 2005, Rezidor SAS  Signed 29 Hotel Contracts (15 Radisson SAS, 13 Park Inn and One Lifestyle) Totaling Nearly 5,000 rooms Rezidor SAS Hospitality Announces 2005 Financial Results  BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb. 9, 2006 - Today, Rezidor SAS Hospitality, which operates Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, Regent International Hotels, Park Inn, Country Inns & Suites and Hotel Missoni in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, announced its results for 2005.  The company generated group wide revenue of 587.0 MEUR (approx. $702 million U.S.) as compared to 498.7 MEUR (approx. $596 million U.S.) in 200...

6th Annual Resort Management Conference Agenda Set for March 19-21, 2006 at Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  6th Annual Resort Management Conference Agenda Set for March 19-21, 2006 at Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina MCLEAN, VA (Feb. 7, 2006) – The annual gathering where resort professionals take time out to further their knowledge and network with fellow industry executives will take place March 19-21, 2006 when the 6th Annual Resort Management Conference, presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), the University of Denver School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) and the International Resort Managers Association (IRMA) convenes at Pinehurst ...

Motel's "Do not rent" List Subject of a Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Rick Brundrett and Shalama Jackson, The State, Columbia, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 3, 2006 - Cayce police maintain a list of people they have banned from hotels and motels in the city, a federal civil rights lawsuit contends. Brenda Bryant, a Lexington community activist, claims in her lawsuit that the police department enforced its hotel/motel ban on "numerous occasions" before her April 2005 arrest on charges she violated the ban. The agreement between the hotels/motels and the city is a "polic...

Highland Hospitality Acquiring the 673-room Renaissance Nashville for $77 million, Approximately $114,000 per Key / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report Highland Hospitality Acquiring the 673-room Renaissance Nashville for $77 million, Approximately $114,000 per Key MCLEAN, VA, February 17, 2006 - Highland Hospitality Corporation (NYSE:HIH), a lodging real estate investment trust, or REIT, announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the 673-room Renaissance Nashville hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.  The purchase price for the hotel is $77 million, or approximately $114,000 per key.   The Company intends to close on this acquisition within the next thirty days following approval of the sale by the ground lessor, and wil...

RedSky IT Reveals How to Increase Sales and Gain Greater Customer Satisfaction at Hostec-Eurhotec / February 2006

January 30, 2006

RedSky IT Reveals How to Increase Sales and Gain Greater Customer Satisfaction at Hostec-Eurhotec February 17, 2006 -  - RedSky IT, formerly Ramesys Hospitality, is exhibiting at the Hostec Eurohotec Exhibition at Excel, London (UK) from February 19 – 23, 2006.  The exhibition is co-hosted with Hotelympia which is the UK’s leading event for the hospitality market. Over the last 12 months RedSky IT has had enormous success with providing integrated solutions to hotel groups and independent hotels in the US and UK.  These solutions have allowed clients to gain greater control over their business and a higher level of guest sat...

The First Tower of the Radisson SAS Hotel Dubai Media City Opens; Siegfried Nierhaus the Opening General Manager / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  The First Tower of the Radisson SAS Hotel Dubai Media City Opens;  Siegfried Nierhaus the Opening General Manager Brussels, February 2006 — Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, the first-class, full-service international brand of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, announces the opening of the new Radisson SAS Hotel Dubai Media City.  The hotel is located in the heart of the United Arab Emirates’ emerging global media hub.  The first tower of the Radisson SAS Hotel Dubai Media City features 121 guestrooms equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access (WiFi), interactive plasma screen TVs and DVD ...

Components of a Hotel Impact Study / Rachel Roginsky / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report  Components of a "Hotel Impact Study"  February 17, 2006 – Hotel impact represents a commitment to protect franchisees’ rights.  For developers looking to expand a franchisor presence in a specific market, it can mean delays and challenges in the franchise approval process. For franchisees’ it may signify erosion of their key asset – demand generated through their brand’s central reservation system (CRS).  There are two tiers of impact – Base Impact and Incremental Impact.  Base Impact is defined as the effect of new competition on an existing property, usually resulting form the ad...

Privately held RLJ Development, LLC Acquiring 100 Hotels from White Lodging Services Corporation for Approximately $1.7 billion / February 2006

January 30, 2006

Hotel Online  Special Report   Privately held RLJ Development, LLC  Acquiring 100 Hotels from White Lodging Services Corporation for Approximately $1.7 billion BETHESDA, MD (February 13, 2006) – Privately held RLJ Development, LLC (“RLJ Development”) controlled by Robert L. Johnson, founder of BET and owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 hotels from White Lodging Services Corporation (“WLS”) and its affiliates for approximately $1.7 billion.     A first group of 87 hotels is expected to close in the second quarter of 2006.  The remaining 1...