Dorchester Group Bids to Buy Hotel Principe di Savoia In Milan / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Dorchester Group Bids to Buy Hotel Principe di Savoia In Milan Dorchester Group Bids to Buy Hotel Principe di Savoia In Milan  LONDON, March 5, 2003 - The Dorchester Group, the London-based hotel property and management company wholly owned by The Brunei Investment Agency, announced today that it has entered into a binding agreement to purchase the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, Italy.  Effective upon completion of the transaction, the Dorchester Group will assume the full management of the hotel.   The Hotel Principe di Savoia, currently owned and managed by the US based Star...

Hotel Loan Problems On the Rise Again; Prolonged Hotel Market Weakness Taking a Toll / PKF Consulting / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Hotel Loan Problems On the Rise Again  - Prolonged Hotel Market Weakness Taking a Toll Atlanta, GA, March 7, 2003 – Hotel performance has been on a downward spiral over the past two years, putting a strain on the ability of many property managers and owners to cover expenses. The Hospitality Research Group of PKF Consulting (HRG) examined over 3,900 financial statements contained in the Trends in the Hotel Industry database and found that the number of deficient hotels, those with insufficient operating income to cover interest expenses, rose significantly in both 2001 and ...

Mandatory State Crib Inspections in Florida Hotels and Motels Sought by Florida Legislator / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Mandatory State Crib Inspections in Florida Hotels and Motels Sought by Florida Legislator By Diana Marrero, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Mar. 11, 2003 - TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--State Sen. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is making another stab at getting the Legislature to pass -- and the governor to sign -- a bill that would mandate crib inspections in hotels and motels and make it illegal to sell dangerous, used cribs.  The bill breezed through the legislature in 2001. But Gov. Jeb Bush, who has criticized the Democratic legislator from Weston in t...

International Occupancy and Rate Report / January 2003 / Deloitte & Touche / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report International Occupancy and Rate Report January 2003 Summary Report January performance in US dollars Occupancy Average room rate RevPAR 2003 Change 2003 Change 2003 Change %   US$   US$                 Asia Pacific (HotelBenchmark sample represents approximately 1,100 hotels across the region)     Auckland  75.6 6.0% 75 43.3% 57 51.9% Beijing  56.8 -7.0% 75 2.8% 43 ...

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Wanted  - Three CIO’s for High Profile (Hospitality) Vacancy in Hong Kong Hong Kong - March 25, 2003 - We need to fill vacancies for three CIO’s who share the same vision as our Principal, ”to do things better”.  These people preferably with extensive hospitality industry experience will already be holding senior industry positions, in either Asia or at International corporations.  They should have mastered the art of putting IT into hospitalITy and understand that when correctly deployed, technology can be used as a business driver, differentiator, something that enhances the overall g...

Urgo Hotels Tremblant II, ULC Opens First Canadian Homewood Suites in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Urgo Hotels Tremblant II, ULC Opens First Canadian Homewood Suites in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 24, 2003 -- Homewood Suites by Hilton, the national brand of upscale all-suite, residential-style hotels, has announced the opening of the 102-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel within the Tremblant Resort in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada.  The hotel, which is owned by Urgo Hotels Tremblant II, ULC, and managed by UBC Canada, Inc., is the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand’s first international property and represents another addition to the growing roster of more...

The £30 million Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Developed by Collingwood Developments, Set to Open in Fall 2003 / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report    The £30 million Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Developed by Collingwood Developments, Set to Open in Fall 2003 LONDON (March 3, 2003) -- Hilton International is delighted to announce that the 254 guest room, four star hotel currently under construction overlooking the Tynebridge, will be known as the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. The hotel is being developed by Collingwood Developments and on completion will be purchased by Morley Fund Management. The property will in turn be leased to Hilton International to manage the hotel.  The project will cost approx £30 million.  The 254-room h...

Best Overall Performing Hotels for Hilton in 2002; Hilton DFW Lakes, Hilton Lac Leamy and Hilton Scottsdale Resort / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Best Overall Performing Hotels for Hilton in 2002;  Hilton DFW Lakes, Hilton Lac Leamy and Hilton Scottsdale Resort Hilton Names Best of the Brand in 2002 March 28, 2003 - Hilton Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce its top hotel performance award winners for 2002, which were presented last week during the company's Full-Service Brand Conference in New Orleans.  Award recipients chosen from the brand's 230 full-service hotels across the U.S., Canada and Mexico were determined through key areas within the brand's Balanced Scorecard rating system -- customer loyalty, brand consiste...

Hersha Hospitality Trust Makes 16th Consecutive Dividend Payment / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Hersha Hospitality Trust Makes 16th Consecutive Dividend Payment  Hersha Hospitality Trust Announces Year End 2002 Results  Harrisburg, PA., March 27, 2003 – Hersha Hospitality Trust (AMEX:HT), owner of nationally franchised premium limited service and full service hotels, announced that basic and diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 increased to $0.51 from $0.37 per share for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001. The Company also announced that Funds from Operations ("FFO") increased by approximately 12.4% to $1.09 per diluted share ...

Former COO of Helmsley Enterprises, Roger Watkins Files $9 million Salacious Suit Against Leona Helmsley / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Former COO of Helmsley Enterprises, Roger Watkins Files $9 million Salacious Suit Against Leona Helmsley Daily News, New York Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Mar. 6--Hotel magnate Leona Helmsley has been slapped with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit by a straight employee who claims he was fired for not having sex with her.  The salacious suit was revealed yesterday, just one day after a judge dramatically reduced a multimillion-dollar judgment won by a gay employee Helmsley claims she axed for throwing sex parties in her hotel.  Sex or no sex, the Queen of Mean says b...

John Q. Hammons to Develop $35-million Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Loveland, Colorado / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  John Q. Hammons to Develop $35-million Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Loveland, Colorado New Development is Adjacent to the Larimer County Fairgrounds and 40 Minutes From Denver International Airport  SPRINGFIELD, Mo., and LOVELAND, Colo. – March 4, 2003 – Mr. John Q. Hammons today announced he will be developing a new $35-million, 250-suite Embassy Suites Hotel and adjoining 80,000-square-foot convention center in Loveland, Colo.  Surrounded by the picturesque Rocky Mountains, the development will be located across from the new Larimer County Fairgrounds at the...

John Q. Hammons to Develop $40 million 320-room Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco, Texas / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  John Q. Hammons to Develop $40 million 320-room Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco, Texas SPRINGFIELD, Mo., and FRISCO, Texas – March 11, 2003 – Mr. John Q. Hammons today announced his plans to develop a new $40 million, 320-room Embassy Suites Hotel as part of a new professional sports complex in Frisco, Texas, north of Dallas.  The 12-story Embassy Suites Hotel will adjoin a new 100,000-square-foot convention center and also serve as an anchor of the Frisco Sports/Entertainment Complex.  Located at the epicenter of rapid growth along the Dallas North Tollway, the hotel will be located...

Starwood Selling Four Sardinian Hotels and 51% Interest in Undeveloped Land at Costa Smeralda to Colony Capital, LLC for Approximately $310 million /

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Starwood Selling Four Sardinian Hotels and 51% Interest in Undeveloped Land at Costa Smeralda to Colony Capital, LLC for Approximately $310 million Starwood Continues to Manage the Hotels WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - March 24, 2003 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) has signed a binding agreement to sell four hotels and a 51% interest in its undeveloped land assets at Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, Italy, to Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, LLC for 290 million Euros (approximately $310 million) plus additional consideration. Costa Smeralda, or the Emerald Coast, is ...

Arlington Hospitality, Inc. Reports $1,709 million Net loss for 2002; RevPAR for 66 Owned AmeriHost Inn Hotels Rose 3.7% to $33.86 / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Arlington Hospitality, Inc. Reports  $1,709 million Net Loss for 2002;  RevPAR for 66 Owned AmeriHost Inn Hotels Rose 3.7% to $33.86 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., March 17, 2003 – Arlington Hospitality, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM: HOST), a leading hotel development and management company, primarily of AmeriHost Inns, today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2002.  Year-end 2002 Results Revenues decreased slightly to $76.5 million in 2002, including hotel sale proceeds and commissions, from $77.2 million the prior year. Operating income declined to $2.0 million in 2002 f...

Loyalty Program Members in the Middle East Increase F&B Spending Despite Geo-political Situation / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Loyalty Program Members in the Middle East Increase F&B Spending Despite Geo-Political Situation March 24, 2003 - HMC (Hospitality Marketing Concepts), one of the world's leading providers of travel industry membership and database management programs, has released its findings on loyalty program member spending in the Middle East.  HMC used its Loyalty Marketing Index for the Middle East – based on 35 4- and 5-star hotels located throughout the region - to track trends in loyalty member spending for the first two months of 2003.  Results of the analysis showed that loyalty program members...

Holiday Inn Express Overhauls Breakfast Bar at 1,200 Properties; Features Proprietary Cinnamon Roll and Arabica Coffee / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report   Holiday Inn Express Overhauls Breakfast Bar at 1,200 Properties; Features Proprietary Cinnamon Roll and Arabica Coffee ATLANTA - March 2003 - In the midst of a time when food options for weary travelers are being downsized, all Holiday Inn Express properties across the country today will begin providing travelers with a superior, more balanced breakfast offering thanks to the introduction of the brand's new Express StartSM breakfast bar featuring signature breakfast items.  The Express Start breakfast bar rollout began in early January with more than 100 properties per week receiving...

GuestWare, Kor Hotel Group Partner to Deliver Powerful, Personalized Service / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report     GuestWare, Kor Hotel Group Partner to Deliver Powerful, Personalized Service LOS ANGELES - March 2003 - Kor Hotel Group has selected GuestWare as the Customer Relationship Management solution for four of its high-end, boutique hotels. The Los Angeles-based company already has installed GuestWare in three of its California properties: the Avalon Hotel and Maison 140 in Beverly Hills, and the Viceroy in Santa Monica. It soon will install GuestWare in its Palm Springs-based Estrella hotel. “GuestWare is the tool we need to efficiently deliver highly personalized guest service,” says J...

Rezidor SAS Renovates Former Holiday Inn in Cape Town, South Africa and Reflags The Park Inn Greenmarket Square / Mar 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online Special Report Rezidor SAS Renovates Former Holiday Inn in Cape Town, South Africa and Reflags The Park Inn Greenmarket Square MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 10, 2003) ---- Park Inn hotels, part of Minneapolis based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, announces that Brussels-based partner, Rezidor SAS Hospitality, has opened a new Park Inn in Cape Town, South Africa.  This is the second hotel in South Africa developed by Rezidor SAS Hospitality, where it already manages the Radisson Hotel Waterfront.    The Park Inn Greenmarket Square - Cape Town is located near the central business district of Cape Town within wa...

Quality Recycled Latex Paint Available to Hotels; Remanufactured Latex Paint Equivalent to Most Virgin Latex Paints at 30% Less / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Green Suites International & Visions Recycling Help Hotels Paint Their Bottom Lines Black by Saving 30% on Quality Recycled Latex Paint  With 10% post-consumer content and 40% recovered virgin material, VRI’s WORKHORSE™ remanufactured latex paint exceeds even the federal government’s performance standards for virgin product  UPLAND, CALIF. / SACRAMENTO, CALIF.— March 24, 2003 — To become GSA approved, Visions Recycling Inc.’s quality remanufactured latex paint had to meet strict government standards and the product passed with flying colors. “DL Laboratories in New York ...

KSL Resorts Sells the 660 room Grand Traverse Resort to Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; Tribe Will Seek Casino Gambling / March 20

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive KSL Resorts Sells the 660 room Grand Traverse Resort to Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians;  Tribe Will Seek Casino Gambling By John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Mar. 6--The Grand Traverse Resort near Lake Michigan north of Traverse City, best known for summer golf and conventions, has been bought by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, who would like to bring casino gambling to one of the Midwest's largest resort destinations.  The resort, famed for its Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course known as t...

Wyoming Wind Powers Jenny Lake Lodge; Part of Grand Teton Lodge Company's Environmental Mission / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Wyoming Wind Powers Jenny Lake Lodge;  Part of Grand Teton Lodge Company's Environmental Mission GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, February 28, 2003 - Grand Teton Lodge Company has introduced a new section on its web site that is devoted to the company's environmental mission, policies and partnerships. The detailed section at www.gtlc.com includes specific information on environmental initiatives and recommendations for further activities.  "Grand Teton Lodge Company firmly believes that protecting and sustaining the natural environment is paramount to our success as a concessioner," said ...

GOPPAR, a Derivative of RevPAR! / Elie Younes and Russell Kett / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report GOPPAR, a Derivative of RevPAR! By:  Elie Younes and Russell Kett March 7, 2003 Hotel managers, operators, investors, and analysts typically now use RevPAR as a basis for their hotel performance measure and analysis. This widely used measure reflects the guest rooms revenue on a per room basis, thereby monitoring the success or otherwise of the hotel’s rooms inventory management. Hoteliers aim to maximise RevPAR by means of an occupancy and average rate trade off. Rooms revenue makes up a large portion of total revenue. Typically, full-service three- to five-star hotels derive abo...

US Investment Bank Goldman Sachs Group Sells 31.47% Stake in Dusit Thani Hotel Plc / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive US Investment Bank Goldman Sachs Group Sells 31.47% Stake in Dusit Thani Hotel Plc Bangkok Post, Thailand Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Mar. 21, 2003 - US investment bank Goldman Sachs Group has sold its 31.47 percent stake in Dusit Thani Hotel Plc, the local five-star hotel chain, for 1.02 billion baht.  The GS Emerging Market Real Estate Fund on Thursday sold 26.75 million shares of Dusit Thani, at 38 baht each, to a group of investors led by hotel founder Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui.  Goldman Sachs became one of the major shareholders in Dusit Thani in 1997 when...

Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts Expands Via Joint Venture with Chambertin Hoteis Ltd in Brazil / March 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report   Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts Expands Via Joint Venture with Chambertin Hoteis Ltd in Brazil Amersfoort (The Netherlands), 5th March 2003 - Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts is proud to announce its intent to enter into a joint venture with existing Brazilian master franchisee Chambertin Hoteis Ltd with the objective to grow the current hotel portfolio throughout Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay to reach 50 hotels by the year 2007. The current portfolio counts 11 hotels in Brazil, of which the contracts of six new hotels were signed during the recent visit of Hans Kennedie...