January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report John Pasley, GM of the Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel, Named “Outstanding General Manager of the Year” by the Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association Association Honors Pasley for Service and Commitment to the Hospitality Industry OKLAHOMA CITY and SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – February 3, 2004 – John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX: JQH) proudly announces that John Pasley, general manager of the Renaissance® Oklahoma City Hotel, recently was named “Outstanding General Manager of the Year” by the Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association (OH&LA).   The Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel...

Iraq Reconstruction a Boom for Kuwait Hotel Industry; Gulf Emirate Poised to Exploit Strategic Location / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Iraq Reconstruction a Boom for Kuwait Hotel Industry; Gulf Emirate Poised to Exploit Strategic Location Kuwait, February 2004 - With the major exhibition devoted to the reconstruction of Iraq taking place in Kuwait this month, the northern Gulf emirate is poised to exploit its strategic location as a gateway in to that country. Kuwait International Fair, organisers of Rebuild Iraq 2004, claim more than 1,000 companies from 45 countries are taking part in the event, boosting Kuwait’s claim to provide an ideal staging post for those seeking contracts in every sector, from oil and ga...

Basic Components of a Hotel Website: Current Weather, Flash Animation, and Virtual Tours?? Plain Talk About Internet Sales / Neil Salerno / February

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Basic Components of a Hotel Website: Current Weather, Flash Animation, and Virtual Tours??  Plain Talk About Internet Sales By: Neil Salerno – February 2004 Internet marketing technology is a wonderful thing, but, as with most new technologies, it is quickly adding the burden of its own new language. The language of the Internet and web technology is easily understood among the techies who are creating it, but it tends to add confusion and misunderstanding for hoteliers and other technology outsiders. Although more and more hoteliers are developing a better understanding of the ...

Trendwest Resorts Building $56 million Vacation Ownership Resort in Indio, California / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Trendwest Resorts Building $56 million Vacation Ownership Resort in Indio, California REDMOND, Wash. - Feb. 9, 2004 – Trendwest Resorts, the West Coast’s leading vacation ownership company, yesterday unveiled plans to develop a new luxury vacation ownership resort in Indio, California. The Mediterranean-style WorldMark Indio resort, scheduled to begin construction in Spring 2004, is located in the rapidly growing Shadow Hills area on 27.3 acres bordered by the Landmark golf course.  According to Indio Mayor Jacqueline Bethel, “The City of Indio and our community stakeholde...

LaSalle Hotel Properties Acquires the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown; White Lodging Services Corporation Named Manager of 615-room Full-Service Conven

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report   LaSalle Hotel Properties Acquires the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown; White Lodging Services Corporation Named Manager of 615-room Full-Service Convention Hotel BETHESDA, Md. - Feb. 10, 2004 -- LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE:LHO) today announced it has acquired the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The 615-room AAA four-diamond convention hotel is centrally located in the heart of Indianapolis' business and leisure district. White Lodging Services Corporation has been named manager of the hotel, which will continue to be operated pursuant to a Marriott franchise agreement. The tra...

How to Safeguard Your Guests from Being the Next Identity Theft Victims / Diana S. Barber / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  How to Safeguard Your Guests from Being the Next Identity Theft Victims By Diana S. Barber, Esq., February 2004 Did you hear the one about the guest who checked in to a luxury hotel room and found a guest folio print out for the previous guest in the waste paper basket in the guest room?  Personal information was located on the guest folio and was in the hands of a stranger who had ample opportunity to steal the previous guest’s identity.  This happens all too often in large and small facilities. During my recent visit to a 5-star hotel, I walked by an empty meeting room wit...

InterContinental Hotels Group Deploys Simplified Chinese Website for the Holiday Inn Brand / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report InterContinental Hotels Group Deploys Simplified Chinese Website for the Holiday Inn Brand Shanghai, 12 February 2004 – InterContinental Hotels Group has unveiled innovative new e-commerce services to enhance the online reservation experience. The Group has launched its fully integrated Holiday Inn Chinese language website www.holidayinn.com.cn, which offers real time content and booking facilities in Simplified Chinese. In addition, the Group is the world’s first hotel company to simultaneously launch guaranteed reservations on the website even if the customer does not use a cr...

Hunzinger Construction Co. Acquires Downtown Milwaukee Land for $1; Will Build $32 million, 255-room Sheraton Hotel / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Hunzinger Construction Co. Acquires Downtown Milwaukee Land for $1; Will Build $32 million, 255-room Sheraton Hotel  By Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 20, 2004 - Plans moved forward Thursday for a $32 million, 255-room Sheraton Hotel in downtown Milwaukee near the Midwest Airlines Center.  The Redevelopment Authority granted a purchase option for the city-owned hotel site to an investors group led by Brookfield-based Hunzinger Construction Co. Hunzinger first disclosed plans for the Sheraton in November.  The land, along ...

Former Executive Housekeeper Suing Moscow, Idaho Hotel Claiming Job Loss Due to Disability; Claims Hotel Management Used Same Tactic as She Was Taught

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Former Executive Housekeeper Suing Moscow, Idaho Hotel Claiming Job Loss Due to Disability;  . Claims Hotel Management Used Same Tactic as She Was Taught to Get Rid of Unwanted Employees By Hannelore Sudermann, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 10, 2004 - MOSCOW, Idaho -- A Latah County woman is suing Hagadone Industries in Idaho Federal District Court claiming she lost her job because of a disability.  In the case, which started Monday morning, Judith Kastl, former executive housekeeper at Moscow's University Best Western I...

On Command Acquires Controlling Interest in Hotelevision, Inc. / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  On Command Acquires Controlling Interest in Hotelevision, Inc. DENVER, Feb. 11, 2004 - On Command Corporation, a leading provider of in-room interactive entertainment announced today the acquisition of the controlling interest of Hotelevision, Inc.  Hotelevision is the leading national television company that provides advertising with targeted access to affluent audiences in upscale hotel rooms.  Under the terms of the agreement, Hotelevision will continue to operate as a separate entity, but will coordinate its activities with On Command. "On Command is very excited to add H...

'No Strings Attached' Reservations Training Guarantee Announced by HotelTraining.com/ February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report "No Strings Attached" Reservations Training Guarantee Announced by HotelTraining.com  Dallas, TX - February 5,2004 - HotelTraining.com today announced a new guarantee for their STAR Workshop, the company's Internet Based Reservations Training Program. Jay Delerno, President of  HotelTraining.com, explained  "the reason for implementing our new guarantee was to simplify what we are willing to do as a company to introduce the benefits of Internet Based Training with less financial risk to hotels."  Our guarantee is simple:  The hotel's commitment is:  Subscribe to our STAR Workshop for t...

Australia Based Flag Choice Hotels Adds 40 new Franchises in 2003 / February 2004

January 30, 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 Australia Based Flag Choice Hotels Adds 40 new Franchises in 2003 Silver Spring, MD  (February 24, 2004) — Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) reports strong sales growth for its Australia based master partner, Flag Choice Hotels, which showed a 10% increase in room revenue to franchisees from its success...

Host Marriott Corporation Sales Six Marriott Hotels; Anticipates the Sale of Approximately $500 million of Assets in 2004 / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Host Marriott Corporation Sales Six Marriott Hotels;  Anticipates the Sale of Approximately $500 million of Assets in 2004 BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 5, 2004 - Host Marriott Corporation (NYSE: HMT) today announced that it has sold three hotels and signed an agreement to sell two additional hotels for total proceeds of $70 million to a joint venture comprised of HEI Hospitality, Greenfield Partners, LLC and GIC Real Estate.  The three hotels sold were the Atlanta Marriott Northwest, the Detroit Airport Marriott, and the Detroit Marriott Southfield hotels. The closing of the sale of the...

Making the Connection Without Wires; Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre finds Positive + Connection with Wireless / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report   Making the Connection Without Wires; Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre Finds Positive + Connection with Wireless January 4, 2004 - As hotels continue to wrestle with how best to deliver high-speed Internet access, the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre has found itself with a winning formula.  In a recent survey of guests using the hotel’s wireless HSIA, wireless availability ranked high among business travelers and was indicated as a factor in choosing their hotel.   “We are in a business where convenience and service are paramount,” said Joe Palmieri, the hotel’s general manager. “Provid...

Hilton Garden Inn Names Performance Award Winners for 2003; Rita Arnold, Hilton Garden Inn Orlando East — Florida, Receives Brand's General

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Hilton Garden Inn Names Performance Award Winners for 2003; . Rita Arnold, Hilton Garden Inn Orlando East, Receives Brand's General Manager of the Year Award BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 4, 2004 – Hilton Garden Inn®, the upscale mid-priced brand targeted to today’s growing segment of mid-market travelers, proudly saluted its top hotel performance award winners for 2003, during a presentation held last week at the brand’s Focused-Service Brand Conference in New Orleans.  “We are very proud of each of our hotel’s accomplishments during 2003 and hope that the Hotel Performa...

Top Developers and Top Hotels for Hilton's Focused-Service Brands Named; Stonebridge Companies Receives the Multi-Brand Top Developer of the Year

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Top Developers and Top Hotels for Hilton's Focused-Service Brands Named; Stonebridge Companies Receives the Multi-Brand Top Developer of the Year Award BEVERLY HILLS, Calif - Feb. 16, 2004 -- Hilton Hotels Corporation announced its top developers and hotels during its Focused Service Brand Conference for Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R) held in New Orleans, January 27-29, 2004. The conference was attended by more than 3,000 guests, including owners, operators and Hilton corporate team members. Each brand recognized a De...

Business Travelers Turn to High Speed Hotel Directory to Locate Accommodations / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report Business Travelers Turn to High Speed Hotel Directory to Locate Accommodations Knoxville, TN -- February 17, 2004 -- For business travelers who prefer a high speed Internet connection, the hassle of finding lodging that offers more than a slow “dial-up” is over. High Speed Hotel Directory ( www.highspeedhoteldirectory.com ) takes the work out of finding hotels that offer high speed connections.  The Web site, organized geographically, displays each hotel’s contact information and amenities, as well as a description of the type of high-speed access and color photographs. Site visitors can ...

High Speed Hotel Directory Helps Travelers Before and After They Reach Their Destination / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report High Speed Hotel Directory Helps Travelers Before and After They Reach Their Destination  Knoxville, TN – February 19, 2004 – A new addition to High Speed Hotel Directory (www.highspeedhoteldirectory.com) has made it easier for business and vacationing travelers to find information before, en route, and after they arrive at their destination.  The new Travel Tools section of the Web site allows travelers to find weather conditions, maps and driving directions, tourism offices, and more. International travelers can find information helpful to them as well, with currency converter and embass...

Year and a Half Before Opening, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi Receives More than 1,900 Resumés / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Year and a Half Before Opening, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi Receives More than 1,900 Resumés The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss., Inside Gambling Column By Timothy Boone, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 15, 2004 --THE CROWD AT THE GROUNDBREAKING for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi on Tuesday morning was impressive, but not as amazing as the number of people who have applied for a job at the resort.  More than 1,900 people have submitted resumés or asked about jobs with the Hard Rock, said Joe Billhimer, president and chief operat...

HSMAI Calendar of Events 2004 / All the Facts / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report   HSMAI Calendar of Events 2004 / All the Facts MCLEAN, VA (Feb. 10, 2004) – In 2004, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will present a comprehensive line-up of industry events and programs, delivering educational sessions and strategy conferences as well as business-to-business forums for buyers and suppliers of hospitality, travel and tourism.  HSMAI events are invaluable for sales and marketing professionals looking to hone their skills, network with customers and stay abreast of industry changes.  Following is the current schedule of events....

HSMAI Survey of 7,000 Members Reveals the 'Top 10 Issues of Concern' Facing Sales and Marketing Executives / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report HSMAI Survey of 7,000 Members Reveals the “Top 10 Issues of Concern” Facing Sales and Marketing Executives in 2004 MCLEAN, VA (Feb. 2, 2004) – While the economic outlook is generally improving in the marketplace, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) just-released membership survey of its 7,000 members revealed the “Top 10 Issues of Concern” facing sales and marketing executives and staff with the number one issue being the current travel environment and the economy. The annual HSMAI survey asked members for their top three concerns facing th...

HSMAI and HSA Announce Partnership to Deliver HSMAI University Offers Line-up of Public Venue, Private Label and Online Learning Educational Programmi

January 30, 2004

. HSMAI and HSA Announce Partnership to Deliver Educational Programming HSMAI University Offers Line-up of Public Venue, Private Label and Online Learning  MCLEAN, VA (Jan. 29, 2004) – In keeping with its mission to deliver education and learning to its members and the industry at large, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has entered into a partnership with HSA International, the leading education and training firm in the hospitality industry, to manage its new HSMAI University program.    The HSMAI University is the organization’s most comprehensive and ambitious initiative in the re...

Starwood Reports 2003 Full Year Net Income Down 13% to $309 million from $355 million in 2002; Worldwide 4th Qtr RevPAR Up 6.6% and 4.7% in North Amer

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report  Starwood Reports 2003 Full Year Net Income Down 13% to $309 million from $355 million in 2002;  Worldwide 4th Qtr RevPAR Up 6.6% and 4.7% in North America Hotel Operating Statistics WHITE PLAINS, N.Y - Feb. 5, 2004 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT): Fourth quarter 2003 Highlights: REVPAR at Same-Store Owned Hotels worldwide and in North America increased 6.6% and 4.7%, respectively, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2002. ADR increased 3.5% and 1.3% worldwide and in North America, respectively. Globally, W Hotels REVPAR grew 9.9%, followed by Sh...

HOFEX 2004 Set for February 10th to 13th at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre; Expecting 28,000 Attendees / February 2004

January 30, 2004

Hotel Online  Special Report HOFEX 2004 Set for February 10th to 13th at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre; Expecting 28,000 Attendees (30 January 2004, Hong Kong)  As many as 28,000 people from the food and beverage and hospitality industries across the world are expected to visit Hong Kong next month to participate in HOFEX 2004 -The 10th Asian International Exhibition of Hospitality Equipment, Supplies & Technology, Food & Drink. The exhibition will be held from February 10th to 13th at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wanchai. The showcase further underscores Hong Kong’s positi...