Ward Childs Named Senior Food and Beverage Director, Executive Assistant Manager at Grand Hyatt New York / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Ward Childs Named Senior Food and Beverage Director, Executive Assistant Manager at Grand Hyatt New York NEW YORK (June 28, 2005) - Grand Hyatt New York, announced that Ward Childs has joined the company as Senior Food and Beverage Director, Executive Assistant Manager.  He will oversee the company’s entire food and beverage operation while assisting Vice President and Managing Director, Richard Morgan. “Hyatt Food and Beverage is entering a major growth phase,” said Richard Morgan.  “Ward brings excellent food and beverage experience to the table, which will play a key role...

Best Tip for Increasing Tips… Smile / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Matt Phillips, The Bakersfield CalifornianKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jun. 16, 2005 - Sheila Kendig doesn't need any researchers to give her tips on working for tips. Now 61, she started waitressing at an Italian restaurant when she was about 14. "We all have bad days," Kendig said after knocking off her 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. shift at Lorene's coffee shop in downtown Bakersfield. "But when I'm at work, I smile." "At the end of the day, when you go home and count your pocket, there is a difference," she said. Researchers agree. Smiling can actually help boost tips for servers. ...

Reig Capital Puerto Rico, Inc. Developing the W Vieques – Martineau Bay, Located on the Island of Vieques / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Reig Capital Puerto Rico, Inc. Developing the  W Vieques - Martineau Bay, Located on the Island of Vieques June 2, 2005 - W Hotels Worldwide announced today plans for the first W Hotel in the Caribbean, W Vieques - Martineau Bay, located on the largely undiscovered island of Vieques. Scheduled to open in Fall of 2006, the W Vieques - Martineau Bay will have 156 guest rooms and villas, two restaurants including one pool-side cafe, an 8,000 square foot spa and a 3,000 square foot bar. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. , W's parent company, signed an agreement with Reig Capital Puer...

Starwood Signs Agreement with HEI Hospitality and Gatehouse Capital to Operate W Hotel & Residences in Hollywood, California / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Starwood Signs Agreement with HEI Hospitality and Gatehouse Capital to Operate W Hotel & Residences in Hollywood, California June 7, 2005 - Hooray for Hollywood! W Hotels Worldwide, the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world, announced today plans for a new W Hotel & Residences in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. , W's parent company, entered into an agreement with HEI Hospitality, a hotel investment and operating company, and Gatehouse Capital, a Dallas-based real estate investment firm, who will jointly develop the prope...

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online Special Report   “You're Hired” Says the Trump Organization; Visual OneÂ’s Property Management System to be Installed at the New Trump International Hotel and Tower, Las Vegas, NV ROCKVILLE, MD (USA) – June 20, 2004 – Visual One Systems Corporation, a supplier of property management software to the hospitality industry since 1977, will be implementing its property management system to manage all aspects of Trump Las VegasÂ’s 1,120-unit condominium hotel scheduled to open in October 2007.  The initial installation of V1Â’s software coincides with the opening of the Trump Sales Office in June of 2005.Â...

Visual One to Feature V1Net at HITEC; Web based PMS Is On Show in Los Angeles / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online Special Report   Visual One to Feature V1Net at HITEC Web based PMS Is On Show in Los Angeles ROCKVILLE, MD (USA) – Jun 16th, 2005 – Visual One Systems Corporation, a leading supplier of management software to the hospitality industry since 1977 will be featuring the V1 Net product on their booth (Number 1005) at this years HITEC Exposition and Conference.   "V1Net is the sixth, full, PMS system that we have developed in our 27 year history,” says David Burroughs, President of Visual One Systems.  “It is a new-generation system based on the latest Microsoft ‘dot-net’ technology.  V1Net addresses...

Starwood Vacation Ownership CEO, Raymond L. Gellein Jr., Sees Lots of Potential Beyound the U.S. / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Jerry W. Jackson, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jun. 20, 2005 - Starwood Vacation Ownership is the dean of Central Florida's time-share resorts, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the company's Starwood Vistana Resort at Lake Buena Vista last week . But longtime Chief Executive Officer Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein Jr. is looking to the future. The company is building across the country, including Hawaii, and soon will announce plans for a resort in Mexico. And the potential horizons extend well beyond that, Gellein said recently during an interview in his ...

When Security Counts . . . Count On VingCard to Upgrade Your Electronic-Locking System / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report  When Security Counts . . . Count On VingCard to Upgrade Your Electronic-Locking System With technology advancing and the need for heightened security increasing, there’s no time like the present to upgrade electronic-locking systems; Omni Severin upgrades to VingCard to improve functionality, security Dallas — June 9, 2005 — With today's security landscape rapidly changing, now is the time for hoteliers to upgrade electronic door locks. VingCard electronic-locking systems offer increased security and advanced technology. “Security will always be in the forefront of hospitality, c...

Will the Condominium Hotel and Fractional Ownership Concept Penetrate Europe, Middle East and Africa? / Jose Ventura / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Will the Condominium Hotel and Fractional Ownership Concept Penetrate Europe, Middle East and Africa? By Jose Ventura, June 2005 During the past few years a lot has been said about the cutting edge new vacation ownership models, but a “belly button” approach has been undermining the possibility of expansion of this concept into new markets. Europe, Middle East and Africa, including the Indian Ocean offer an entire new portfolio of opportunities including some of the most desirable destinations and prestige locations. So why has it been so difficult for the new wave of hospitalit...

Las Vegas Casino Investment in Spas Very Bullish / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Bill Ordine, The Philadelphia InquirerKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jun. 27, 2005 - HIGH-END SPAS MAKE LAS VEGAS SAY 'AAAHH': Using accoutrements ranging from Australian desert salt to Tibetan bowls and techniques both ancient and New Age, Las Vegas' swankiest resorts have devised almost as many ways to soothe achy muscles and jangled nerves as they have to separate a gambler from his bankroll. Vegas resorts have long had fancy workout and body treatment facilities, but when Tucson-based Canyon Ranch opened a branch of its world-famous spa at the Venetian a few years ago, the an...

Loews Hotels Developing 400 room Resort at Lake Las Vegas Resort / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Loews Hotels Developing 400 room Resort at Lake Las Vegas Resort June 2, 2005 - Lake Las Vegas Resort, a 3,592-acre residential, golf and resort community just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, today announced that Loews Hotels will build its first hotel in Nevada at the billion-dollar resort. The new Loews Hotel, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort, will become part of a successful resort community nestled around a 320-acre lake boasting three championship golf courses, multi-million dollar homes, high-end retail, award-winning restaurants, the AAA Five Diamond-rated The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las V...

Vantis Expands Relationship with SKYCITY Entertainment Group in New Zealand SKYCITY Grand Hotel Selects Vantis for Internet, GDS, Voice and Booking En

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Vantis Expands Relationship with SKYCITY Entertainment Group in New Zealand - SKYCITY Grand Hotel Selects Vantis for Internet, GDS, Voice and Booking Engine Services Calgary, Alberta, Canada — June 8, 2005 — Vantis, a leading provider of marketing and revenue generation services for independent hotels, car rental companies and airlines, recently announced it will provide a wide range of reservation services for SKYCITY Grand Hotel, a five-star deluxe hotel situated above the SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre in the heart of vibrant Auckland, New Zealand.  Through the agreement, Vantis wi...

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Luxury Cambridge Suites Toronto Chooses Viz-it Rich Media Solutions from Vantis to Increase Internet Sales - "Show – Don’t Just Tell’ Internet Marketing will Attract Guests with Visual Storytelling June 21, 2005 - Competing against the major chains can be tough for an independent city-center hotel – unless it has a few competitive tricks up its sleeve to level the playing field. With more than 40 percent of all reservations beginning with an online search, knowing the most effective Internet strategies and how to use them is a great equalizer. So is having a reputation as the most respe...

Valencia Group Appoints Jason P. Melton as VP of Corporate Finance and John C. Boulware as Corporate Controller / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Valencia Group Appoints Jason P. Melton as VP of Corporate Finance and John C. Boulware as Corporate Controller June 20, 2005 - Doyle A. Graham, Jr., President of Valencia Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason P. Melton as vice president of corporate finance and John C. Boulware as corporate controller. Jason P. Melton boasts an impressive background in the real estate and business development industry.  His responsibilities as vice president of corporate finance include equity placement, sourcing and negotiating project debt financing, assisting with the craftin...

Vail Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Developing The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, Approximately 108 Condominiums at the Base of V

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Vail Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Developing The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail,  Approximately 108 Condominiums at the Base of Vail Mountain in LionsHead Village The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail to be managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and to include luxury services and amenities such as ski concierge, owners' lounge, library, fitness center, outdoor pool and hot tub deck . VAIL, Colo., June 9, 2005 - Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) announced today that it has approved a plan for its wholly-owned real estate subsidiary, Vail Resorts Development Compa...

Vail Resorts Closes on Sale of Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa for $62 million / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report  Vail Resorts Closes on Sale of Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa for $62 million VAIL, Colo., June 27, 2005 - Vail Resorts, Inc. announced today that it closed its transaction to sell the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa for $62 million to DiamondRock Hospitality Limited Partnership ("DiamondRock"). The hotel will retain its current name and will remain branded as a full-service Marriott resort. Vail Resorts, through its Vail Resorts Lodging Company subsidiary, will continue to manage the resort for 15 years, through 2020, under a management contract with DiamondRock that is...

The Halekulani Works with a Fashion Designer to Turn a 2,135 sq ft Suite in to an Aesthetic and Emotional Experience / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report The Halekulani Works with a Fashion Designer to Turn a 2,135 sq ft Suite in to an Aesthetic and Emotional Experience Halekulani & Vera Wang Define A New Standard of Guest Experience HONOLULU - June 16, 2005 -- Halekulani, one of the finest and most acclaimed luxury resorts globally, has partnered with the equally distinguished and renowned designer Vera Wang to create the world's most romantic luxury suite. The suite was unveiled by Peter Shaindlin, Chief Operating Officer of Halekulani Corporation. Ms. Wang created the design for the one-of-a-kind luxury suite at the adored...

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report VFM Interactive Launches Vscape® – a Rich Media Distribution Solution Providing Unprecedented Control to Hotels TORONTO, CANADA, June 20, 2005 – VFM Interactive, the leader of rich media production and distribution for the travel industry, announced today the launch of Vscape® – a sophisticated online tool for distributing hotel still images and rich media such as videos and virtual tours across the Internet. With Vscape, hotels can distribute their online media with one simple point of contact to thousands of travel sites, search engines and, shortly, GDSs – while having complete selecti...

Best Western Partners with VFM Interactive in Unprecedented Rich Media Strategy / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Best Western Partners with VFM Interactive in Unprecedented Rich Media Strategy TORONTO, CANADA, June 27, 2005 – Best Western International has selected VFM as its exclusive North American provider of rich media production and distribution services in order to roll out a rich media strategy at a scale the travel industry has not previously seen. VFM will be producing rich media for more than 2,400 Best Western properties across North America, including 360s, videos and Photoflicks®. Additionally, Best Western will be utilizing VFM’s recently-announced Vscape®, a comprehensive online media m...

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online Special Report   Aloha Kapalua! – Visual One and the Kapalua Land Company Ink Agreement Famous Maui, Hawaii resort selects the Visual One PMS,  Golf, Retail, Back Office Accounting and Condominium Owner Management systems . . Rockville, MD (USA) – June 16, 2005 - Starting at HITEC 2003, the exclusive and world famous Kapalua Resort in Maui began the process of searching for solutions to modernize its PMS, Golf, and Condo software systems. The resort was looking for technologies that would provide significant gains in performance, features and reliability over the existing systems. Today their two-...

Visual One Enters Egyptian Market; Visual One Systems Selected by Abercrombie and Kent Nile Cruises / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online Special Report   Visual One Enters Egyptian Market; Visual One Systems Selected by Abercrombie and Kent Nile Cruises June 14, 2005 - Visual One Systems have made their first sale in Egypt with the signing of the Abercrombie and Kent Nile Cruises. The fleet of four cruise ships have ordered the Visual One PMS and Point of Sale systems. A&K has a fleet of four boats on the Nile; each one is designed to be smaller than the average Nile cruiser to ensure a more personalized service. An A&K cruise experience is unlike any other – with private docks, their own feluccas, and uniquely tailored sightseeing to avoi...

Caribbean Hotel Association Study Concludes More than 188,000 Travel & Tourism Jobs Could Be at Risk Due to New United States Passport Regulation / Ju

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report  Caribbean Hotel Association Study Concludes More than 188,000 Travel & Tourism Jobs Could Be at Risk Due to New United States Passport Regulation CHA advocates extension of time SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (June 2, 2005) – The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) has released the findings of an economic impact study of the new United States passport regulation that will require US citizens visiting the Caribbean to be in possession of a valid US passport to re-enter the US, effective January 1, 2006.  The study, conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) on behalf of...

Radisson Hotel City Center in Tucson Gets in Room Duel with Rocket Scientists and Aviation Mechanics / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Lynda Edwards, The Arizona Daily Star, TucsonKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jun. 15, 2005 - It doesn't take a rocket scientist to snag a room at the Radisson Hotel City Center in July. What it does take is about 300 aviation mechanics being paid by Northwest Airlines as labor trouble brews. AIAA, The American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, whose 30,000 members include America's leading rocket scientists, filed a June 3 lawsuit against the Radisson. AIAA claims the Radisson contracted to reserve 290 rooms for the group's July conference. But AIAA was bumped when Northwes...

California Home to 56 Indian-owned Casinos / June 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Carol Park, The Business Press, San Bernardino, Calif.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Jun. 27, 2005 - California tribes are expanding their casinos faster than anywhere in the nation. The state was home to 56 casinos last year. That's five more since 2002, according to the "Indian Gaming Industry Report" by Alan Meister, an economist with Analysis Group, an economic consulting firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York. About 383 Indian-owned casinos employed 489,000 workers and paid $17.3 billion in wages and $5.7 billion in taxes in the United States in 2003. Those numbers inc...