OPINION: Casino Gambling Isn't the Answer for Texas / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive OPINION: Casino Gambling Isn't the Answer for Texas By Henry Tatum, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 26, 2003 - The lobbyists make it all sound easy. They drop by the offices of Texas legislators, hat in hand, and offer their sympathy about the state's $10 billion budget deficit.  It really is too bad Texas is in such sorry financial shape when there are so many needs out there, the lobbyists say. And the shame of it all is that the problem could be solved without putting it all on the taxpayers' shoulders, they add.  The answer is simpl...

Ned Tentindo Named General Manager of the Holiday Inn at Historic Carradoc Hall in Leesburg, Virginia / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Ned Tentindo Named General Manager of the Holiday Inn at Historic Carradoc Hall in Leesburg, Virginia JOHNSTOWN, PA -  February 3, 2003 - Crown American Hotels is pleased to announce that Mr. Ned Tentindo has been named the new General Manager of the award-winning Holiday Inn at Historic Carradoc Hall in Leesburg, Virginia.  Mr. Tentindo is responsible for the efficient and overall operation of the 122-room, full-service hotel located at 1500 East Market Street, Route 7 in Northern Virginia.  Mr. Tentindo reports to Mr. Mario Gomes, Director of Operations at Crown American Hotels. Mr. Tenti...

Tony Colantino Named Regional Director, Select Service & Extended Stay Lodging for Marriott Hotels of Canada / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Tony Colantino Named Regional Director, Select Service & Extended Stay Lodging for Marriott Hotels of Canada TORONTO, ON - February 5, 2003 - Alain Piallat, President of Marriott Hotels of Canada, today announced the appointment of Tony Colantino as Regional Director, Select Service & Extended Stay Lodging for Marriott Hotels of Canada.   In his new position, Mr. Colantino will be responsible for Marriott's Residence Inn, Springhill Suites and Courtyard properties in Canada.  He will assist and support all general managers with owner relations, decisions surrounding brand, operations and man...

Destination Hotels & Resorts Hits Record GDS Transactions After Switching to Synxis / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report   Destination Hotels & Resorts Hits Record GDS Transactions After Switching to Synxis® Upscale Hotel Management Company Selects SynXis to Control of their Reservations Distribution MCLEAN, VA, Feb 18, 2003  – SynXis Corporation, a leading provider of reservation management and distribution systems for the hospitality industry announced it has partnered with Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), the second largest independent hotel management company in the country, to provide a complete reservation management and electronic distribution system for their collection of upscale hotels...

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Summit Hotels & Resorts Highlights Individuality Of the Group’s 140 Privately-owned and Managed Hotels Feb 3, 2003 - Summit Hotels & Resorts, the international luxury hotel group, has today announced the launch of ‘Signatures Services’, a collection of services that highlight the individuality of each of the group’s hotels.  Each hotel’s ‘Signature Service’ will be presented in the Summit Hotels & Resorts 2003 directory, and will be marked with a ‘bell logo’ that has been specially designed for this new programme. As with written signatures, every Summit Hotels & Resorts’ property...

Opinion: Never Before Have I Felt Compelled to Address a National or International Issue…Until Now / Steven J. Belmonte, CHA / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Opinion: Never Before Have I Felt Compelled to Address a National or International Issue... Until Now By Steven J. Belmonte, CHA FEBRUARY 25, 2003 -- In the weeks that have passed since France let the United States and the world know that it is more interested in not upsetting a tyrant such as Saddam Hussein than it is in its status as an ally of the world's greatest nation, many people have asked a similar question: Doesn't France remember what the United States did for it twice in the 20th century, namely freeing it from the totalitarian grip of a ruthless invader? Can France be so in...

StayOnline and iPass Announce Agreement – StayOnline to Integrate its Wireless Access Points into the iPass Global Virtual Network for Enterpris

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report   StayOnline and iPass Announce Agreement - StayOnline to Integrate its Wireless Access Points into the iPass Global Virtual Network for Enterprises - Atlanta, Ga., and Redwood Shores, Calif., – February 10, 2002 – StayOnline®, an installer of 100 percent wireless High Speed Internet Access for the hospitality industry, and iPass Inc. announced today an agreement to provide iPass customers with Internet access at hotels in StayOnline’s provider network. The network aggregation agreement gives iPass the ability to integrate into its virtual network more than 850 Wi-Fi access points that...

Penn State HRIM Students, Lance Castellano and Dant Hirsch Receive the Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Penn State HRIM Students, Lance Castellano and Dant Hirsch Receive the Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence University Park, Pa.--  25 Feb 2003 - Lance Castellano and Dant Hirsch, seniors majoring in hotel, restaurant and institutional management (HRIM) at Penn State, have received the Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence for the 2002-03 academic year as the result of their academic excellence and their involvement in extracurricular activities. The Statler Foundation was created from the estate of hotelier Ellsworth M. Statler following his death in 1928.  The p...

Foodservice Design – Why Yes, I Speak Blue Print / Lee Simon – Drawing Conclusions / March 2003

January 30, 2003

  Drawing Conclusions Foodservice Design By Lee Simon / The General Group / March 2003   The concept for your new restaurant has been bouncing around in your head for years.  You knew what you wanted to do; you were just waiting for the right opportunity.  Four months ago, you finally began the logistical planning effort to make this dream of yours a reality.  The lease is signed, the financing is taken care of, and you are excited, amazed, and a little petrified that this project is actually happening.  After you hired your design team, they conducted an interview with you to try and obtain as much information regardin...

Spa Resort Casino Leads Palm Springs, Coachella Valley in Hotel Occupancy / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Spa Resort Casino Leads Palm Springs, Coachella Valley in Hotel Occupancy February 21, 2003 - The Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs is achieving greater occupancy levels than all other hotels in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, according to recently produced STAR reports. The reports show the Spa Resort Casino averaging 76 percent of rooms occupied, an average 14 percent increase over prior year.   At 230 rooms, the Spa Resort Casino is considered a major hotel in both the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Hotel General Manager Jim Metzger feels the property has stepp...

Sol Melia Reports 2002 RevPar for All Hotels was Down 4% from 2001; Average Occupancy for 2002 at 66.5% / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Sol Melia Reports 2002 RevPar for All Hotels was Down 4% from 2001; Average Occupancy for 2002 at 66.5% February, 2003 EBITDAR increased by 0.5%, while EBITDA, in line with analyst expectations, decreased by 3% Net profits excluding exchange rate differences and extraordinary profits reached 53.3 million Euros, 12% down on the previous year Funds from hotel operations grew by 7% Wednesday, 26th February, 2003. Sol Meliá today announced results for the hotel company for the year 2002. Revenues grew to 1,010.3 million Euros, almost exactly the same as in 2001, while ...

Exclusive Golf, Hunting Resort in South Dakota Features Graham Marsh Designed Golf Course / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Exclusive Golf, Hunting Resort in South Dakota Features Graham Marsh Designed Golf Course By Ian H. Fennell, American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 7, 2003 -- Potter and Sully counties aren't stomping grounds for Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes.  But that could change with the June opening of an exclusive private club on 4,600 acres of prairie and cropland straddling both counties.  Sutton Bay will be located about 45 miles north of Pierre and 12 miles west of Agar. It's expected to create between 40 and 60 jobs and...

Starwood and Strategic Hotel Capital Emerge as Front-runners to Buy Hotel Assets from Six Continents / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Starwood and Strategic Hotel Capital Emerge as Front-runners to Buy Hotel Assets from Six Continents By Jim Armitage, Evening Standard, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 21--Starwood and Strategic Hotel Capital today emerged as front-runners to buy hotels from Six Continents, the group facing a hostile takeover bid from entrepreneur Hugh Osmond.  Osmond's strategy, outlined yesterday, is to break up the hotels division and either sell it piecemeal or run it with hotel partners.  Six Continents, which wants to press ahead with a demerger of its pubs and hot...

Scott Hetherington Named Managing Director, Asia for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Scott Hetherington Named Managing Director, Asia for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Singapore, February 20, 2003 – Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels is pleased to announce the promotion of Scott Hetherington to Managing Director, Asia.  Currently based in Singapore, Mr Hetherington has overseen the firm’s hotel corporate advisory, investment sales and related activities in Asia since 2000.    Announcing the promotion, CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Asia Pacific Mr David Gibson said “This further reinforces our commitment in Asia, strengthening Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ global leadership in ...

The Shaner Hotel Group Forms Alliance with Essex Partners; Will Provide Accounting Services for Essex's 18 Hotels / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report The Shaner Hotel Group Forms Alliance with Essex Partners; Will Provide Accounting Services for Essex's 18 Hotels STATE COLLEGE, Penn. (February 4, 2003) – The Shaner Hotel Group, which owns and manages hotels across the Midwest and Eastern U.S., has formed a strategic alliance with Essex Partners to provide accounting services for the Rochester-based hotel company.  Under the agreement, which began Jan. 1, the Shaner Hotel Group provides all accounting functions including daily revenue reporting, accounts payable, treasury management and monthly financial reporting for the 18 hotels either...

Michelle Taylor, Former President of Kiehl's, Inc., Appointed Managing Director of San Ysidro Ranch Montecito, California / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Michelle Taylor, Former President of Kiehl's, Inc., Appointed Managing Director of San Ysidro Ranch Montecito, California MONTECITO, CALIF. (February 18, 2003) – Coinciding with the celebration of its 110th Anniversary, the San Ysidro Ranch in beautiful Montecito has announced that it has become an owner managed property with a new management team.  Michelle Taylor, former president of Kiehl's, Inc., joined the legendary property in the Montecito foothills in April 2002 and will serve as Managing Director.  Anne-Edith Cameron, a longtime employee of the Ranch has been promoted to G...

Super Bowl Deception Leaves Bad Customer Perception; Short-sighted Greed Overtakes Hospitality in San Diego / William Orilio, MHS / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Super Bowl Deception Leaves Bad Customer Perception;  Short-sighted Greed Overtakes Hospitality in San Diego by William F. Orilio, MHS, CEO / February 2003 Super Bowl XXXVII was a resounding success for the NFL and the City of San Diego.  The pinnacle event of American sports broke like a cresting tidal wave over the city, the teeming masses flooding in on the highways, on trains, and at the airport.  On freshly swept streets, among buildings scrubbed of grime and graffiti, San Diego was radiant with Football Fever.  Athletes, celebrities, tourists and locals alike ate, drank...

Performance-based Sales Compensation Strategies for the Hospitality Sales Professional / Tory Parks / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Performance-based Sales Compensation Strategies for the Hospitality Sales Professional By Tory Parks Director of Sales & Marketing for Del Lago Resort, a Benchmark Hospitality Property February 2003 Most hospitality sales professionals earn a straight salary with a small to moderate incentive compensation program. Commissions or bonuses do not make up a large percentage of their overall compensation package. I believe this has been to the industry's detriment.  Good salespeople perform better when given a reward for their performance.  The rewards for those who rise to the challenge should ...

Scott Swank Appointed General Manager of Pan Pacific Singapore / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Scott Swank Appointed General Manager of Pan Pacific Singapore Singapore - Feb 25, 2003 - Scott Swank has been appointed as General Manager of Pan Pacific Singapore. He replaces Yasuhiro Uetani who has returned to Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts' corporate office in the capacity of Director-Executive Vice President.  Scott is no stranger to Pan Pacific Singapore.  He was the hotel's Director of Marketing and Rooms between 1991 and 1996. In mid-1996, he was relocated to Sonaragon Pan Pacific Dhaka, Bangladesh as General Manager.  With 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry, S...

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Deutsche Bank Extends a $1.17 billion Commitment to Strategic Hotel Capital; Financing Secured by Fifteen of the Company’sTwenty-seven Hotels Transaction Believed to Be Largest Ever by Privately Held Hotel Company CHICAGO, Ill., February 25, 2003 — Strategic Hotel Capital (SHC), a private hotel investment company, today announced that it had completed a $1.17 billion financing provided by Deutsche Bank.  It is believed to be the largest, loan ever made to a privately held hotel company.  The financing was executed through a $910 million commercial mortgage-backed securities offer...

Oakwood Centralizes Call Accounting: Slashes Telephone Accounting Costs/Boosts Telephone Profits / SDD / Hospitality Industry Call Management / Febru

January 30, 2003

Hospitality Industry Call Management Tools for managing guest telephone  and internet services revenue Oakwood Centralizes Call Accounting: Slashes Telephone Accounting Costs/Boosts Telephone Profits Seeking a way to increase telephone profits in an increasingly competitive telecommunications market, Oakwood Worldwide centralized tenant communications accounting for 20,000 apartment units with help from SDD, a Microsoft Certified Partner whose JAZZ Enterprise software leverages the scalability and interoperability of the Microsoft® Windows® NT® server operating system. Seeking a way to increase telephone pro...

South Carolina's Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel Push for More Smiles from Hospitality Industry Workers / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive South Carolina's Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel Push for More Smiles from Hospitality Industry Workers By Dawn Bryant, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 9--GREENVILLE, S.C.--For a state known for its "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places," South Carolina could use a few more smiles.  Improving customer service in the hospitality industry, the $14.4 billion backbone of the state's economy, has become a renewed priority for tourism leaders trying to meet the growing demands of travelers and keep the industry strong.  Elected...

The $86 million Radisson SAS Hotel in Cologne, Germany Opens; Architecturally Significant Hotel Owned Primarily By Infra Immobilien GmbH Wuppertal /

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  The $86 million Radisson SAS Hotel in Cologne, Germany Opens; Architecturally Significant Hotel Owned Primarily by Infra Immobilien GmbH Wuppertal Brussels, February 2003 – Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the opening of its first hotel in Cologne.  This architecturally significant hotel is located just opposite the exhibition center in Cologne-Deutz and is only a five-minute walk from the Kölnarena – Europe’s largest sports and entertainment venue. The MEUR 80 (approx. $86 million U.S.) building combines the aesthetic appeal of a design hotel with the comfort tod...

Ritz-Carlton Sends 70 Trainers from Other Hotels to Prepare Staff for Opening of 349-room $170 million Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Ritz-Carlton Sends 70 Trainers from Other Hotels to Prepare Staff for Opening of 349-room $170 million Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas By Hubble Smith Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  February 12, 2003 - Day by day, Ron Boeddeker's 16-year vision of his 2,300-acre Lake Las Vegas Resort gets a little clearer.  The opening of the upscale 349-room Ritz-Carlton here Tuesday adds another piece of critical mass to the development by Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Transcontinental Properties Inc.  "It's been 16 years from the time we started and when yo...