Conrad Properties Converting an Additional 11 Apartments to 11 Hotel Suites at the Clayton on the Park, St. Louis / May 2004

February 28, 2004

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 Conrad Properties Converting an Additional 11 Apartments to 11 Hotel Suites at the Clayton on the Park, St. Louis May 10, 2004 - Clayton on the Park, the boutique all-suite luxury hotel and apartment high-rise in Clayton, is doing some pretty exciting things to further enhance its appeal to business travelers. Conrad...

Purchased By Curzon Group, the Clarion Hotel Waco Now Managed by Richfield Hospitality Inc.; Steve Fisher Named General Manager / May 2004

February 28, 2004

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 Purchased By Curzon Group, the Clarion Hotel Waco Now Managed by Richfield Hospitality Inc.; Steve Fisher Named General Manager Denver, CO. — May 4, 2004 —Richfield Hospitality Inc. assumes management today of the Clarion Hotel Waco, Texas. Purchased yesterday by Bethesda, Md.-based Curzon Group, the Clarion Hotel...

Choice Hotels Offers New Prototypes for MainStay Suites, Comfort Inn and Quality Brand Franchisees / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Choice Hotels Offers New Prototypes for MainStay Suites, Comfort Inn and Quality Brand Franchisees Silver Spring, MD (May 13, 2004) – Choice Hotels International today introduced a new prototype and service enhancements designed to deliver a more compelling return on investment for MainStay Suites franchisees and to maximize further the profit potential inherent in the extended stay segment. Also Choice Hotels introduced new prototypes for its flagship Comfort Inn and Quality brand hotels.  MainStay Suites “Just as the extended stay segment has evolved since the launch of MainStay Suites,...

Palacio Hospitality Group Converts Two California Hotels to Choice Brands / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Palacio Hospitality Group Converts Two California Hotels to Choice Brands May 27, 2004 -  Quality Inn & Suites hotel at 3240 Mather Field Road, Rancho Cordova, California   Formerly a Best Inn & Suites hotel, the hotel underwent extensive renovations that included the addition of a fitness center, completely remodeled lobby and breakfast area.  Additional improvements included an updated exterior, parking lot, enhanced lighting and landscaping.  Owned and operated by Palacio Rancho Cordova LLC of San Diego, Calif., the 112-unit hotel features standard rooms equipped with king and que...

Choice Hotels Names the Best Hotel Within Each Brand; The 2004 Inn of the Year Awards / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Choice Hotels Names the Best Hotel Within Each Brand; The 2004 Inn of the Year Awards SILVER SPRING, Md.  (May 19, 2004) – Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), presented this year’s best hotels with the Inn of the Year Award, at Choice’s 50th annual convention in San Diego, which was attended by more than 4,000 delegates from around the world. Choice annually presents the Inn of the Year Award to hotels that demonstrate lodging excellence.  The best of each brand is selected by a committee of peer hoteliers who evaluate the hotel on a variety of factors including gue...

Cheyenne, Wyoming Task Force Considers Site, Financing for $30+ million Convention Center / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Jessica Lowell, Wyoming Tribune-EagleKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 19, 2004 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Before a convention center can be built in Cheyenne, the task force examining the possibility will have to decide how such a large-scale project will be paid for. "The financing will determine the site that's chosen," task force member Nick Joannides said Tuesday. A week after consultants delivered a report with key recommendations about the project, the task force met to determine what steps it will take next. "Without financing, none of this will happen," said Joannides, who is g...

Rezidor SAS to Open Cerruti Hotels in Vienna, Dubai and Kuwait / May 2004

February 28, 2004

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 Rezidor SAS to Open Cerruti Hotels in Vienna, Dubai and Kuwait Dubai, May 5, 2004 - Rezidor SAS, one of the world’s fastest growing hospitality companies, whose portfolio includes Park Inn, Country Inn, Radisson SAS, Cerruti and Regent, today announce their first three Hotel Cerruti projects – in Vienna, Dubai and...

IRS Seeks Probe of $455 million Tax-exempt Bonds Used to Build Two Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Complexes in Florida; Bonds May Fail Provision

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Robert Little, The Baltimore SunKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 8, 2004 - The IRS says Baltimore developer David S. Cordish's $455 million deal to build two hotel-casino projects for the Seminole Tribe of Florida appears to violate federal tax law and has ordered an investigation into the use of tax-exempt bonds to finance the enterprise. The agency also is exploring the initial fees paid to Cordish and other brokers of the deal, suggesting the payments to private businesses are inappropriately high for a tax-exempt financing that is meant to benefit only "essential government...

Caneel Bay Resort Acquired By CBI Acquisition LLC / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Caneel Bay Resort Acquired By CBI Acquisition LLC WESTPORT, Conn. - May 13, 2004 -- Equis Financial Group and its affiliates announced today that it acquired, through CBI Acquisition LLC, the award winning Caneel Bay, a Rosewood resort on St. John Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, http://www.caneelbay.com. In addition to Equis, other principal shareholders and investors of CBI Acquisition LLC include Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, who has managed Caneel Bay since 1993, and Howard Guja, President and CEO of Roebling Advisors LLC, who has facilitated some of the largest residential and commercial ...

Caroline B. Wilsey Appointed Director of Conference Services for Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs, Colorado / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Caroline B. Wilsey Appointed Director of Conference Services for Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs, Colorado THE WOODLANDS (HOUSTON), TEXAS, May 2004 …. Benchmark Hospitality has announced the appointment of Caroline B. Wilsey as director of conference services for Cheyenne Mountain Resort, a hotel and conference center featuring 316 guestrooms and suites located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Laura Neumann, vice president and general manager, made the announcement.   Ms. Wilsey brings over a decade of senior-level hospitality expertise as well as extensive knowledge of...

Wireless Joins Active Duty at Five CWB Properties; StayOnline Keeps Military Reservists and Other Guests Connected to Home / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report   Wireless Joins Active Duty at Five CWB Properties . StayOnline Keeps Military Reservists and Other Guests Connected to Home . Atlanta, GA – May, 2004 -- Military reservists who want to stay connected with their loved ones while on weekend duty are but one of the guest groups at the Best Western Wright Patterson in Fairborn, Ohio that will be happy to find that the hotel has contracted to install StayOnlineÂ’s 100% wireless High Speed Internet Access this summer. “They are really looking forward to having that high speed connection to home, “ said General Manager Victoria Urmey.  Â...

Christian Pageot Appointed Executive Chef for The Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti / May 2004

February 28, 2004

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 Christian Pageot Appointed Executive Chef for The Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti PAPEETE, TAHITI – May 10, 2004 – The Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti, set to open in June 2004, announces the appointment of Christian Pageot as executive chef. Pageot will be responsible for all food and beverage facilities at the resort...

Craig W. Johnson Appointed General Manager for The Mansion on Forsyth Park and historic Kehoe House, Savannah, Geogia / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Craig W. Johnson Appointed General Manager for The Mansion on Forsyth Park and historic Kehoe House, Savannah, Geogia Orlando,FL/Savannah, GA – (May 22, 2004) – The Kessler Collection is pleased to announce Craig W. Johnson as General Manager for The Mansion on Forsyth Park and historic Kehoe House.  His responsibilities will include overseeing all operations of the 126-room luxury hotel and the 13-room historic inn.  The Kehoe House is currently open; however The Mansion on Forsyth Park is slated to open February 2005. Craig brings over 34 years of hospitality experience.  He w...

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Cam C. Cooper Named President of The Owners’ Association of InterContinental Hotels Group Former IHG Senior Executive Brings Extensive Hotel Industry and Association Management Experience to the Position ATLANTA (April 30, 2004) –The IAHI, The Owners’ Association of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has appointed Cam C. Cooper as its president.   In this role, Cooper will direct the professional staff that administers the business of the nearly 2,500-member Association. In addition to working closely with the IAHI’s leadership to establish policy and direction, she ...

High-Speed Internet Leader Broadband Hospitality Named Endorsed Vendor by Choice Hotels International / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report High-Speed Internet Leader Broadband Hospitality Named Endorsed Vendor by Choice Hotels International YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO— May 4, 2004 — Broadband Hospitality, one of the lodging industry’s leading high-speed Internet providers, has been named an endorsed vendor by Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH). The Silver Spring, Md.-based hotel company selected Broadband Hospitality earlier this month. “We’re extremely happy to be part of the Choice Hotels team,” says Vince Lucci, president of Youngstown, Ohio-based Broadband Hospitality. “We expect this new partnership to be a win-win situation ...

Construction Starts on 95-room Bridgewood Hotel and Conference Center, Neenah, Wisconsin / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Avi Stern, The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 27, 2004 - NEENAH, Wis. -- Ultimately, Rich Batley and his partners want to mix city cool with country charm. Construction officially begins Friday on the three-story, 95-room Bridgewood Hotel and Conference Center, 1000 Cameron Way, which will become the centerpiece of the $35 million redevelopment of the Bridgewood Golf Course. It will be Neenah's third hotel, behind the Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk on E. Wisconsin Avenue and the Days Inn of Fox Cities on S. Green Bay Road. "I love our location," said ...

Hotel Operators Can Gain Market Share Through Distinctive Brand Images; A 100-room boutique hotel can develop more identity within a market than its 1

February 28, 2004

RSBA & Associates  Hospitality Consulting Services 400 Spear Street, Suite 106 San Francisco, CA 94105 Email: rickswig@rsbaswig.com Web site: http://www.rsbaswig.com   Email: rickswig@rsbaswig.com Web site: http://www.rsbaswig.com  Hotel Operators Can Gain Market Share Through Distinctive Brand Images - A 100-room boutique hotel can develop more identity within a market than its 1,000-room competitor through customer impact points . by Rick Swig, May 2004 Branding is a hot topic regardless of the industry, and it is of critical importance. The hotel sector is no stranger to branding. However, identifying the...

Meyer Jabara Hotels Renovates 113-year-old Boston Landmark into the The Courtyard by Marriott — Boston Copley Square / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Meyer Jabara Hotels Renovates 113-year-old Boston Landmark into the The Courtyard by Marriott Boston Copley Square DANBURY, Conn., May 3, 2004 - Center City Boston's first Courtyard by Marriott has opened in the heart of the renowned Copley Square.  The 113-year-old landmark building has undergone substantial renovation and is under the management of Meyer Jabara Hotels.  Jeffrey Pitt, a Marriott veteran hotelier, is the property's general manager.  Located at Eighty-Eight Exeter Street, the historic structure has been transformed over a two-year period from a vacant apartment b...

A Wingate Inn & Suites with a Water Park Planned for Billings, Montana / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveAmarillo Globe-News, TexasKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 14, 2004 - Matt Brosovich said he has landed a major hotel to anchor his Broso Valley Park, the new business park next to the Shiloh Road interchange on the West End. A Butte-based developer of the hotel, a Wingate Inn & Suites, could begin construction as early as August on the hotel featuring more than 100 rooms, a water park and convention facilities. Brosovich, who is an agent with Prudential Floberg Commercial, said bringing in the hotel was part of the plan. "Our key focus this year was to get ourselves a large, reput...

The New $375 million 928-room Tower at the Bellagio Expected to Cut the Resorts Overhead Cost Per Room by 7.5% / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Rod Smith, Las Vegas Review-JournalKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 8, 2004 - While guests may have their eyes turned skyward today when the Bellagio tops off its new 928-room spa tower, company executives and industry analysts have their eyes firmly fixed on the resort's bottom line. The $375 million Bellagio expansion should cut the Strip resort's overhead cost per room by 7.5 percent, increase the critical customer mass for its casino and increase operating efficiency when it opens in December. The megaresort's hotel boss said business from independent and incentive traveler...

Tim Flors and Janice Pavlich Named Regional Sales Managers for Baymont Inns & Suites / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Tim Flors and Janice Pavlich Named Regional Sales Managers for Baymont Inns & Suites Milwaukee, Wis. — (May 10, 2004) Baymont Inns & Suites has created three new regional sales manager positions to develop new and existing business for its franchisees. The positions were created to enhance revenue and occupancy, and increase brand awareness overall.  "We created these positions to support and develop brand revenue through effective direct sales and local marketing within this specific target area," said Dan Daniele, president of Baymont Franchises International, LLC. "Baymont Inns & Suites...

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos Roll with Bartech Minibars; Hollywood and Tampa Locations Install Automated Minibars in 750+ rooms / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report     Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos Roll with Bartech Minibars; Hollywood and Tampa Locations Install Automated Minibars in 750+ rooms BWI CORRIDOR, MD (May 26, 2004) – Bartech Systems International, the world’s leading provider of automated minibars, today announced that it is supplying its versatile e-fridge® minibars to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida. The 250-room Tampa facility opened in March and the 500-room Hollywood facility opened May 11.  Seminole Hard Rock selected Bartech for its internal and external design flexibility, cutting-...

U.S.-Singapore Joint Venture to Renovate Abandoned Bangkok Building into the 542-room Millennium Hilton Hotel / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality ExecutiveBy Nondhanada Intarakomalyasut, Bangkok Post, ThailandKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 28, 2004 - Krungthep Rimnam Ltd, a joint venture between Singapore's City Developments and the US property fund Westbrook Partners, is injecting 2.4 billion baht to transform an abandoned property along the Chao Phraya River into a five-star Millennium Hilton hotel. City Developments and Westbrook Partners are contributing a combined 45 percent through the Thai Real Estate Restructuring Fund while the remaining 55 percent was borrowed from financial institutions, said Suchad Chiaranussati, Westb...

Chef David Meador Opens Noble House Hotels and Resorts Signature Restaurant Concept, BALEEN, at The Inn and Spa at Loretto / May 2004

February 28, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Chef David Meador Opens Noble House Hotels and Resorts Signature Restaurant Concept, BALEEN, at The Inn and Spa at Loretto SANTA FE, NM – (May 24, 2004) – The Inn and Spa at Loretto, located in the heart of Santa Fe, announces the arrival of BALEENsantafe.  BALEEN is the highly acclaimed signature restaurant concept by Noble House Hotels and Resorts, owner and operator of Inn and Spa at Loretto. BALEEN (pronounced Bah-leen) with locations in Miami and Naples, Florida and in San Diego, California has been consistently recognized in those markets as one of the best dining experience...