Japan's Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission Investigating Kokudo Which Runs the Prince Hotels Chain / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveKyodo News International, TokyoKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 21, 2004 --TOKYO -- Kokudo Corp. appears to have been controlling its effective stake in Seibu Railway Co. by holding some of them under individuals' names and adjusting the number of such shareholdings for at least five years, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday. The sources cited Seibu Railway's revised financial reports released Oct. 13 that show the number of individual shareholders whose shares were actually held by Kokudo was about 800 more in the 1999 and 2001 business years than in the 2002 and 200...

Kohler Co. Acuires the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in St. Andrews, Scotland from the Kosaido Company of Japan / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Kohler Co. Acuires the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in St. Andrews, Scotland from the Kosaido Company of Japan KOHLER, Wis., Oct. 5, 2004 - Kohler Co. has acquired the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in St. Andrews, Scotland, along with Golf Resorts International (GRI), Limited.  With this purchase, Kohler Co. will own and operate the Old Course Hotel, the nearby Dukes Golf Course, as well as the spa and two full-service restaurants located within the hotel.  Swilken Holdings was not involved in the purchase of the property as was previously announced.  Jonathan Thornto...

Kentucky Seeks New Tourism Campaign Slogan; Will it Be "Kentucky: Unbridled Spirit" or "Kentucky: Limitless" or "Kentucky:

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 27, 2004 - FRANKFORT -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration is asking the public to approve one "brand" or image out of four finalists to attract more tourism and businesses to the Bluegrass State. Fletcher announced the four finalists at a tourism conference yesterday in Covington and described a nearly monthlong process to select the winner. Over the next four weeks, residents and non-residents will be asked to vote for their favorite Kentucky brand. Anyone with Internet service -- regardless of whet...

Kemper Development Company Selects Starwood to Manage 337-room Luxury Hotel in Bellevue, Washington Under its Westin Brand / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Kemper Development Company Selects Starwood to Manage 337-room Luxury Hotel in Bellevue,  Washington Under its Westin Brand WHITE PLAINS, N.Y - Oct. 26, 2004 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) was selected by Kemper Development Company (KDC), the developer of Lincoln Square, to manage the 337-room luxury hotel at Lincoln Square under its Westin brand. Located at the corner of NE 8th and Bellevue Way, The Westin Bellevue at Lincoln Square will provide a critical component to this 1.4 million-square-foot mixed-used project. Westin had been originally selected by pre...

Former Executives from Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia Developing Online Travel Site / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Richard Lee, The Stamford Advocate, Conn.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 12, 2004 - Calling themselves the new Internet travel "dream team," a group of online travel experts has launched a Norwalk-based Web site to take on the companies they helped develop into industry giants. Former executives from Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia and Intuit have created Kayak.com, an online travel search site with its headquarters on Marshall Street. The site offers travelers a look at what's available on 60 Internet travel pages, along with user-created ratings and reviews. Kayak.com's founde...

Kansas City's 30,000 Area Hotel Rooms Running at 59% Through August, 2004; 60% for the Year Might be Within Reach / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Rick Alm, The Kansas City Star, Mo.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 16, 2004 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hotel occupancy in Kansas City is running ahead of the past two dismal years and a full point ahead of at least one expert's recovery projection. "We're getting to the point where hotel operators are getting comfortable again and seeing some average rate growth," said lodging industry consultant Jeff Marvel, president of Kansas City-based Marvel & Associates. Through August, Marvel has pegged 2004's average occupancy rate at 59 percent for the metropolitan area's nearly 30,000 room...

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Joe Kane, President of Days Inns Receives the Lodging Conference’s Above and Beyond Award PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Oct. 22, 2004) – Joe Kane, president of Days Inns Worldwide, has received the Lodging Conference’s Above and Beyond Award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and contributions to the industry during his 39-year career. Kane was honored during the 10th annual Lodging Conference at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix on Oct. 1.  Presenting the award were Morris Laskey, chief executive officer of Lodging Unlimited Inc., the show sponsor, and Mary Lou Koys, executive vic...

Jeff Tweed Joins Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort and Convention Center as Senior Sales Manager for the Southeast / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Jeff Tweed Joins Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort and Convention Center as Senior Sales Manager for the Southeast ORLANDO, Fla.- October 25, 2004 - Jeff Tweed has joined the Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort and Convention Center as senior sales manager for the Southeast, according to Kit McClelland, director of sales and marketing. Tweed staffs a Caribe Royale office in Charlotte, N.C., in order to serve clients across the Southeast, with a concentration on Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  The Caribe Royale offers groups 150,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, 1,218 o...

Las Vegas Is the Number One Selling Destination for Japanese Tour Operators, 168,000 Japanese Visitors to Las Vegas in 2003 / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Chris Jones, Las Vegas Review-JournalKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 2, 2004 - Saying sayonara to a recent widespread reluctance to travel abroad, an increasing number of Japanese are expected to visit the United States this year, a new study says. Local travel leaders are optimistic Japan's 2004 travel renaissance will be a boon to Las Vegas, which has seen a steady decline in Japanese visitor counts in each of the past three years. This year's Las Vegas-area Japanese visitor count won't be available until well into 2005, but the Travel Industry Association of America, a Was...

Joseph Smith named as Chief Operating Officer for Boykin Management Company / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Joseph Smith named as Chief Operating Officer for Boykin Management Company Cleveland, Ohio, October 13, 2004 — Boykin Management Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Joseph Smith to the position of Chief Operating Officer at its headquarters, located  in Cleveland, Ohio.  "I am pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Smith to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Boykin Management Company. Joe has brought a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to the Boykin organization; his strong management skills and command over the day-to-day operations will further s...

White Lodging Services Appoints Jon Peck as General Manager of the new 617-room Louisville Marriott Downtown / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report White Lodging Services Appoints Jon Peck as General Manager of the new 617-room Louisville Marriott Downtown LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 30, 2004 - White Lodging Services officially announced Jon Peck as General Manager of the new 617-room Louisville Marriott Downtown.  Scheduled to open April 2005, the new convention hotel is part of a comprehensive revitalization effort taking place in the City's downtown district.      "We are committed to playing a key role in the ongoing 'Renaissance' of downtown Louisville," stated Peck.  "Our team looks forward to combining the best of Marriott...

Jason Merrill Appointed Chef at The Jackson House Inn & Restaurant, Woodstock, Vermont / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Jason Merrill Appointed Chef at The Jackson House Inn & Restaurant, Woodstock, Vermont WOODSTOCK, VT, September 2004 – An upscale, 15-room country inn and fine dining venue in Woodstock, VT, The Jackson House Inn & Restaurant, has garnered a reputation for attracting and grooming rising star chefs from culinary capitals around the US.  Named as one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2004 and touted as preparing "some of the country's most creative food" by Food & Wine the Jackson House has become a true epicurean destination showcasing some of "the bes...

Jeffrey Mayers Appointed General Manager for the 377-room Riverview Plaza Hotel in Downtown Mobile, Alabama / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Jeffrey Mayers Appointed General Manager for the 377-room Riverview Plaza Hotel in Downtown Mobile, Alabama October, 2004 - Jeffrey Mayers was recently appointed general manager for Riverview Plaza Hotel, according to Steve Solberg, chief operating officer for PCH Hotels & Resorts.   The Riverview Plaza is a 377-room luxury hotel in downtown Mobile, which was purchased this past summer by Retirement Systems of Alabama. The new general manager was most recently employed by Interstate Hotel Corporation at The Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville, South Carolina.  He has also served Inter...

Jeffrey Keeler Appointed Food and Beverage Manager for the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Conference Center / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Jeffrey Keeler Appointed Food and Beverage Manager for the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Conference Center STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – Oct. 12, 2004 – The Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Conference Center, the largest conference and banquet facility in northwest Colorado, has named Jeffrey Keeler as its new food and beverage manager. Keeler will direct services for the 30,000-square foot-plus conference center; the clubhouse at the resort’s Robert Trent Jones II championship golf course; and three restaurants inside the slope side resort hotel. The Sheraton is part of the Starwood Hote...

Belmonte Taps Veteran Hospitality-Law Expert; James C. Brashares Brings 30-plus Years of Negotiating Experience to the Table as Newest Member of Hospi

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Belmonte Taps Veteran Hospitality-Law Expert James C. Brashares Brings 30-plus Years of Negotiating Experience to the Table as Newest Member of Hospitality Solutions LLC Randolph, N.J. — Oct. 15, 2004 — Steven J. Belmonte, founder, President and CEO of Hospitality Solutions LLC, a multi-faceted consulting firm specializing in franchise agreement termination/liquidation damage claim negotiations, franchise agreement negotiations, litigation support, expert witness and mediation services, has hired lodging-industry lawyer James C. Brashares as Hospitality Solutions newest Senior Associate. ...

After Two Years of Declines, Hoteliers in Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna and Turin All / Deloitte Experienced RevPAR Growth During the First Eight Mon

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report After Two Years of Declines, Hoteliers in Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna and Turin All Experienced RevPAR Growth During the First Eight Months of 2004 Italian hotels start to recover lost ground October 2004 - Italian city centre hotels reported growth in revenue per available room (revPAR) during the first eight months of 2004 halting two years of decline. Year-to-August figures from the Italian edition of HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte show that five of the six cities tracked managed to improve their performance compared to the same period in 2003. However, despite this, revPA...

Intrawest Sets its Sites on Global Leisure and Travel Market; Crosses $1.5 Billion Revenue Milestone / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Intrawest Sets its Sites on Global Leisure and Travel Market; Crosses $1.5 Billion Revenue Milestone PURCHASE, N.Y. - Oct. 20, 2004 -- With over $1.5 billion in annual revenues and nearly $3 billion in assets, Intrawest Corporation (NYSE:IDR)(TSX:ITW) has come of age...and set its sites on the world.  The company's recent investment in luxury, adventure travel outfitter Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) means the company that revolutionized the ski industry will now be reinventing leisure travel globally. To mark the achievement, Daniel Jarvis, CEO of the company's Leisure & Travel Gro...

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Interstate Hotels & Resorts Acquires Sunstone Hotel Properties, Inc., the Manager of  54 Hotels . Sunstone’s Senior Operating Team will Become Part of Interstate’s Operating Team ARLINGTON, Va., October 27, 2004 — Interstate Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: IHR), the nation’s largest independent hotel management company, today announced that it has acquired Sunstone Hotel Properties, Inc., the manager of  54 hotels, including 50 hotels owned by Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (NYSE: SHO), a newly formed real estate investment trust (REIT).  The two companies had announced earli...

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Destination Marketing – Internet Forums,  Good or Bad, Reliable or Not By John Hendrie, October, 2004 Our marketing dollars at work deliver visitors to our area, heads in beds, diners, shoppers and attraction seekers.  We spend all this money on the front end effort, hopefully provide a meaningful experience while the guest is with us, and then thanks and good bye.  Few Hospitality Businesses spend much time or money evaluating Visitor/Customer Satisfaction, and Internet Forums, which put a very public face on that experience, are in steady use, and they will affect your business.Â...

HSMAI Holding 3rd Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference on Dec. 7, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  HSMAI Holding 3rd Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference on Dec. 7, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA Top Executives at Leading Hospitality Companies Will Unite to Debate Issues and Practices MCLEAN, VA (Oct. 14, 2004) – The most critical issues impacting Internet marketing professionals, from inventory management to search marketing and dynamic packaging, will headline the agenda when HSMAI presents the 3rd Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference on Dec. 7, 2004 at the Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles, CA, immediately preceding the 2004 HEDNA Conference. The day’s program w...

Golden Nugget Selects Interactive Sites for Website / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Golden Nugget Selects Interactive Sites for Website  Scottsdale AZ (October 22, 2004) -- With new owners, the Golden Nugget Las Vegas needed a complete renovation of its website and navigation structure to align it with the marketing goals for the property, particularly in the area of web strategy. Golden Nugget chose Interactive Sites for the assignment and the new website www.goldennugget.com launched three weeks ago. With new owners from a thirty-something, martini-and-cigar demographic the new website was design to reflect a 'Rat Pack' marketing position in both design and dynamics. Const...

InfoGenesis Solution Implemented; Case Study – Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach / InfoGenesis / October 2004

April 30, 2004

InfoGenesis Solution Implemented - Case Study - Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Known as “Surf City, USA,” Huntington Beach is located on the California coast between Los Angeles and San Diego. Over eight miles of picturesque sandy beaches entice eleven million visitors each year. The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa—which held its grand opening in January 2003—is ideally perched above historic Pacific Coast Highway, providing stunning views of the beach. Rich Mediterranean-style architecture and lush courtyards positioned throughout the property provide an inviting atmosphere for guests. With 110,000 square fee...

David and Goliath: How Independent Hotels Can Successfully Compete with the Large Chains / Brenda Fields / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report     David and Goliath: How Independent Hotels Can Successfully Compete with the Large Chains by Brenda Fields, October  2004 We all are familiar with the concept that two can live more cheaply than one, and this certainly applies to the large chains with multi-properties. The shared costs, bulk purchasing, and centralized functions contribute to greater profitability opportunities. In addition, marketing costs associated with promoting the chain can be spread out over all the properties, driving down the costs per property while at the same time, ensuring maximum exposure.  So how can a...

The Impact Group Planning to Raze the Days Inn it Owns In Tampa; Will Replace with 200 room Westin Hotel / October 2004

April 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Dave Simanoff, Tampa Tribune, Fla.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 26, 2004 -- TAMPA, Fla. -- Rocky Point's oldest hotel will be replaced next year with luxury condominiums and a four-star hotel. The Impact Group, a Tampa company that develops and manages hotels, says it will raze the Days Inn it owns at 7627 Courtney Campbell Parkway to build a 14-story, 108-unit condominium tower and a 12-story, 200-room Westin hotel. Demolition is slated to begin in early 2005, and the condo tower and hotel should be ready for residents and guests in the summer of 2006. The two new building...