Hotel Online News – Email Archive – Day by Day / April – June 2005

February 28, 2005

Inside Hotel Online today Day by Day Index April - June 2005 Links to Previous Months Inside Hotel Online today Daily Emails June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 Monthly Top Read Articles June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 A...

Major Hotel Chains Grow Internet Reservations Over 22% in 2004; Brand Websites Increase Volume of Reservations Over 31% / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Major Hotel Chains Grow Internet Reservations Over 22% in 2004; Brand Websites Increase Volume of Reservations Over 31% CHICAGO (April 5, 2005) – TravelCLICK today released its 2004 full-year eTRAK results, which indicate that Internet reservations received at the central reservation offices (CROs) of major hotel brands grew 22.8% versus 2003.  In 2004, brand websites grew substantially and gained share compared to third-party merchant and opaque websites. According to eTRAK, brand websites were the source of 71.4% of the brands’ centrally booked Internet reservations, compared to 66....

Worldwide Electronic Room Nights Increase Over 7% in 2004; Average Daily Rate from Electronic Channels Up More Than 6% / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Worldwide Electronic Room Nights Increase Over 7% in 2004;  Average Daily Rate from Electronic Channels Up More Than 6% Chicago (April 7, 2005) - TravelCLICK's 2004 year-end eMonitor results show that worldwide electronic room nights increased 7.5% for the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and Internet combined. This year-over-year growth was fueled by a 10.6% increase in Internet room nights made through third-party websites powered by either Pegasus or the GDS.  The Average Daily Rate (ADR) from electronic channels also showed an increase, as ADR was up 6.9% over 2003.  eMonitor res...

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report New Web Site Dubbed ‘Single Best Source’ for E-Distribution Information, Services . Created by Mark Ozawa and Integrated Hospitality Solutions, www.hospitalitydistributionsolutions.com presents an online overview of the electronic distribution and reservation options available to hospitality, including: GDSs, 3rd Party Distribution Sites, CRSs, Marketing and Representation groups, Distribution Companies and Web Site Service firms  . DENVER - APRIL 8, 2005 - Navigating successfully through the evolving hospitality environment has never been more difficult. Therefore Integrated Hospitalit...

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Hospitality eBusiness Strategies to boost Suburban Extended Stay Hotels’ Direct Internet Distribution Service to include Website Optimization and Direct Distribution and Marketing Strategy, Total Online Brand Building and eMarketing Services New York, NY – April 20, 2005 – Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS), a leading Internet distribution and marketing strategy consulting firm for the hospitality industry, today announced an Internet strategy agreement with Suburban Franchise Systems, Atlanta, Georgia.  SFS, owner and franchiser of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel chain is a leadi...

Gill Family to Sell Majority Stake in Twin Yankee Hotels to Starwood / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Gill Family to Sell Majority Stake in Twin Yankee Hotels to Starwood FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (April 25, 2005) -- The twin Sheratons on Fort Lauderdale beach, bedrocks of the city's tourism trade since the 1950s, will change hands in June, leaving the founding Gill family with just a minority stake in the Yankee Clipper and Trader hotels. Linda Gill, president of Gill Hotels, broke news of the changes to the hotel's 550 employees on Thursday. In an interview, Gill said she will not manage the hotel after the deal closes, but will be a partner and hopes...

Leisure Travel Hits Six Year High in the U.S.; Top Three Most Desired Destinations – Florida , California , Hawaii / YPB&R Survey / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Leisure Travel Hits Six Year High in the U.S.; Top Three Most Desired Destinations - Florida , California , Hawaii / YPB&R Survey ORLANDO, Fla. (April 13, 2005) -- The percentage of adult Americans who have taken at least one overnight trip of more than 75 miles from home has risen to the highest level observed since 1999 according to the Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell/Yankelovich Partners 2005 National Leisure Travel Monitor. According to this closely-watched barometer of the travel habits, preferences and intentions of Americans, fully 58% ...

Wynn Resorts Qualifies to Participate in Request for Proposal for Integrated Resort in Singapore / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Wynn Resorts Qualifies to Participate in Request for Proposal for Integrated Resort in Singapore  LAS VEGAS, Nev. (April 26, 2005) -- Wynn Resorts, Limited (Nasdaq:WYNN) has announced that the company has been notified by the Singapore Tourism Board that it has qualified to participate in the Request for Proposal for an Integrated Resort that will be issued by the Singapore Government in the second quarter of 2005. Ron Kramer, President of Wynn Resorts, said, "We are committed to continuing our participation in the process initiated by the Singapore...

Wyndham Investing $16.5 million in Upgrades to its Puerto Rican Casino Properties; Appoints Four Industry Veterans to Lead Casino Operations / April

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Discount Hotels London, Sydney, Rome, AmsterdamParis, Melbourne, Lisbon, Barcelona, Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Auckland Discount Hotels London, Sydney, Rome, AmsterdamParis, Melbourne, Lisbon, Barcelona, Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Auckland Wyndham Investing $16.5 million in Upgrades to its Puerto Rican Casino Properties Appoints Four Industry Veterans to Lead Casino Operations DALLAS - April 18, 2005 -- Continuing to deliver on its brand philosophy of listening and responding to guest needs, Wyndham International, Inc. (AMEX:WBR), the largest casino ...

BusinessJet Class Announces Partnership with Worldtek / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report BusinessJet Class Announces Partnership with Worldtek  New York NY (April 20, 2005) -- BusinessJet Class, the private jet GDS providing the safest and simplest access to the large and lucrative market of private jet charters, has become a preferred Worldtek supplier, providing its automated air charter booking resources and technology to Worldtek's twenty-five travel offices nationwide.  “We are pleased to welcome Worldtek into the BusinessJet Class family. Although Worldtek has been offering private jet charter to its customers for quite some time, in joining BusinessJet Class they gain a s...

Great Wolf Resorts Proxy Statement Outlines Executive Pay Following Initial Public Offering / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Chris Flores, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 7, 2005 - The Great Wolf Resorts executives who have been spending a lot of time recently at the new Williamsburg property had some nice paydays in 2004 as they ramped up for their initial public offering in December. The company released its first proxy statement Wednesday, outlining executive pay. Great Wolf Chief Executive Officer John Emery received a $354,000 salary and a $2 million bonus for guiding the company through its IPO. Emery also received an option to buy 350,000 shares of stock in thre...

The Former Wilson World Hotel & Suites, Spartanburg, SC, Now Managed by Hospitality Management Corporation as a Radisson Hotel / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Former Wilson World Hotel & Suites, Spartanburg, SC, Now Managed by Hospitality Management Corporation as a Radisson Hotel Dallas, Texas (April 6, 2005) -- Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) is pleased to announce the addition of the Radisson Hotel in Spartanburg, SC, to their portfolio of managed properties.  Owned by The Tabani Group, the hotel was originally a Wilson World property, and was completely renovated before re-flagging to Radisson. The Radisson-Spartanburg offers 200 spacious guest rooms and suites; high-speed internet access...

The Navy Lodge Program Opens its 43rd Lodge at Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report The Navy Lodge Program Opens its 43rd Lodge at Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania April 1, 2005 - The Navy Lodge Program opened the doors to its 43rd Navy Lodge at Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Philadelphia, Pa., on March 28, 2005. "We are excited to open this beautiful new Navy Lodge," said Michael Bockelman, director, Navy Lodge Program.  "Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove serves military personnel from all services. This Navy Lodge will offer them all a comfortable and affordable place to stay when they are on a permanent change of sta...

The Procaccianti Group Part of Venture Proposing a $100 million Westin Hotel and Condominium in Portland, Maine / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Tux Turkel, Portland Press Herald, MaineKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 7, 2005 - A $100 million Westin Hotel and condominium project that developers say will be among Maine's largest private real-estate ventures is being proposed for the site of the former Jordan's Meats plant in Portland. The project, according to information obtained by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, would include 150 to 200 hotel rooms and between 60 and 100 luxury condominiums. A banquet facility and parking garage would be part of the 450,000-square-foot complex. The six-story project ...

Subsidiary of Starwood Capital Group Acquires the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Apr. 2, 2005 - A new owner bought the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa this week, but neither guests nor the resort's 493 employees should notice much of a difference.  The luxury resort at 3800 E. Sunrise Drive was purchased March 30 by SCG Tucson Properties, a local subsidiary of Starwood Capital Group. That Greenwich, Conn.-based firm owns more than 220 hotels and resorts worldwide.  La Paloma, which was purchased from Caesar Parks Hotels & Resorts, is currently managed by Starwood Hotels an...

UBS Realty Investors Acquires the 432-room Westin Galleria Hotel in North Dallas for $95 million / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Steve Brown, The Dallas Morning NewsKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 8, 2005 - UBS Realty Investors has paid about $95 million to buy the Westin Galleria hotel in Far North Dallas. The 432-room hotel tower is attached to the Dallas Galleria shopping mall, which UBS bought in 2002. Westin will continue to manage the hotel, Peter Casey, a spokesman in UBS' New York office, said Thursday. The property will also be renovated. Though UBS did not disclose terms of the sale, real estate brokers confirmed the purchase price. "Certainly they are paying less than replacement cost -- from ...

Subsidiary of Starwood Capital Group Acquires the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, TucsonKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 2, 2005 - A new owner bought the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa this week, but neither guests nor the resort's 493 employees should notice much of a difference. The luxury resort at 3800 E. Sunrise Drive was purchased March 30 by SCG Tucson Properties, a local subsidiary of Starwood Capital Group. That Greenwich, Conn.-based firm owns more than 220 hotels and resorts worldwide. La Paloma, which was purchased from Caesar Parks Hotels & Resorts, is currently managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worl...

Oh, What a Web We Weave! Pitfalls with Descriptive Language / John R. Hendrie / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Oh, What a Web We Weave! Pitfalls with Descriptive Language By John R. Hendrie, CEO, Hospitality Performance, Inc., April 2005 No wonder the Consumer, our Visitor and Guest, is not only confused and wary but also frequently leaves our Destination hotels, restaurants and attractions shaking his/her head in disappointment.  We have applied license, quite loosely, to what we present to them.  Through glowing words, flowing and flattering descriptions, superlatives, grand language or even simple, we have created an expectation, one which often we do not or cannot deliver upon.  We should h...

The Warwick Hotel, a Houston Landmark, Sold to the Owners of the Hotel ZaZa in Dallas / Arpil 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Nancy Sarnoff, Houston ChronicleKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Mar. 31, 2005 - The Warwick Hotel, a decades-old landmark in the Museum District, has been sold to the owners of the swanky Hotel ZaZa in Dallas. The historic property could close down as early as this summer and reopen next spring as a Hotel ZaZa. "We think the Warwick is a great property," said Charles Givens of ZaZa Fountains, the entity that purchased the hotel from Olympus Real Estate Corp. "It's a property with a real soul, and we're going to breathe new life into that soul." Plans to reposition the hotel are st...

West Virginia Governor to Sign Bill Allowing Raise in Hotel Tax / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report West Virginia Governor to Sign Bill Allowing Raise in Hotel Tax CHARLESTON, W. Va. (April 25, 2005) -- Gov. Joe Manchin said Thursday he'll sign a bill allowing Charleston and other cities to raise their hotel-motel taxes, but said he's withholding judgment on legislation to give substantial pay raises to state judges and magistrates.   Manchin said that, barring some major technical flaw in the bill, he will sign into law legislation (SB237) that allows cities to increase hotel-motel occupancy taxes from the current 3 percent to as much as 6 perc...

WTTC's 2005 Top Ten List of Travel & Tourism Economies; Tsunami Assessment Given for Thailand, Sri Lanka, and The Maldives / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report WTTC's 2005 Top Ten List of Travel & Tourism Economies; Tsunami Assessment Given for Thailand, Sri Lanka and The Maldives Global Travel & Tourism Poised for Continued Growth in 2005 NEW DELHI, INDIA and LONDON, UK – April 8 – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released its 2005 Travel & Tourism forecasts for 174 countries and the world and an assessment of the impact of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on the industry today at the 5th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in New Delhi, India. Releasing forecasts prepared on its behalf by Oxford Economic Forecasting, which follow t...

Best Practices in Responsible Tourism – WTTC's 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report Discount Hotels London, Sydney, Rome, AmsterdamParis, Melbourne, Lisbon, Barcelona, Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Auckland Discount Hotels London, Sydney, Rome, AmsterdamParis, Melbourne, Lisbon, Barcelona, Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Auckland Best Practices in Responsible Tourism -  WTTC's 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 8 April 2005, New Delhi, India - The World Travel & Tourism Council today announced the winners of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.  The awards, until last year under the auspices of British Airways, recognize and promote best pr...

St. Louis Hotel Developer William S. Stallings Ordered to Pay $615,000 for Defaulting on GMAC Lease / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Peter Shinkle, St. Louis Post-DispatchKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 9, 2005 - A judge has ordered developer William S. Stallings to pay $615,000 for defaulting on a lease of furnishings for his defunct WS Hotel on Washington Avenue downtown. GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corp. filed a lawsuit in September 2003 to recover the money after claiming Stallings defaulted on the $1.5 million lease of furnishings and fixtures in the hotel. The FBI began an investigation, and in March 2004 Stallings pleaded guilty of defrauding GMAC of nearly $60,000 by taking exercise equipment and othe...

The W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences Adding 2nd W Residence Tower; Nears Sellout of First 61Condo Units / April 2005

February 28, 2005

Hotel Online  Special Report The W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences Adding 2nd W Residence Tower; Nears Sellout of First 61Condo Units DALLAS, April 5, 2005  - Victory, the 72-acre urban development in Downtown Dallas, today confirmed that the W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences, the first W Hotel in Texas and the first W Residences product scheduled for completion in the United States, is on target for a spring 2006 debut.  The property will be a centerpiece of Victory, an ambitious, new multi-purpose destination and city district offering an eclectic and intriguing collection of emerging and reputation retai...