The Sixth Annual ResExpo Trade Show/Conference Heads to Hyatt Regency Tampa March 11-12; More Than 35 Exhibitors Expected / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Sixth Annual ResExpo Trade Show/Conference Heads to Hyatt Regency Tampa March 11-12;  More Than 35 Exhibitors Expected February 3, 2003 - ResExpo 2003, the industry's longest running travel technology trade show and conference for buyers, sellers and users of travel distribution technology, comes here March 11-12. ResExpo is in its sixth year of successfully bringing together distribution executives and technology companies from around the world for two full days of product demonstrations, conference seminars and networking opportunities. More than 35 exhibitors will pack the exhibit hal...

Faced with Two Years of Declining Visitors and Shrinking Gaming Revenues, Reno Works to Broaden Appeal / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Faced with Two Years of Declining Visitors and Shrinking Gaming Revenues, Reno Works to Broaden Appeal By Bob Walter, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 21--RENO, Nev. – More than 130 years after a handful of hearty pioneers built bridges across the Truckee River and began creating what would become Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World wants to be discovered yet again.  Faced with two years of declining visitor totals and shrinking gaming revenue, the lingering uncertain economy and unprecedented competition from California's India...

Who Says Regent Is History? / Hotel Asia Pacific / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Who Says Regent Is History? Hotel Asia Pacific February 2003 By Steve Shellum   The Asian-born chain suffered a big blow when it lost its world famous Hong Kong flagship. But the brand’s new Asia Pacific boss, Paul Kirwin, has already scored a major coup in the region – and promises many more ahead Just when you think Regent is a spent force in the luxury-hotel sector, it comes up fighting with a coup that signals to the industry: “We’re very much alive and kicking!” Many in the industry believed the writing was on the wall when the Asian-born brand lost the world-renowned Regen...

WestCoast Hospitality Completing Conversion of 22 of Hotels to the Red Lion Flag / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report WestCoast Hospitality Completing Conversion of 22 of Hotels to the Red Lion Flag SPOKANE, Wash., Feb. 4, 2003 - WestCoast Hospitality Corporation (NYSE: WEH) today announced a series of special events and philanthropic community outreach initiatives to mark the conversion of 22 of its hotels to the Red Lion brand, set for completion on February 26. The conversions will increase the number of Red Lion hotels to 63, the largest number of hotels in the brand's history, in 13 states, representing 10,677 rooms and approximately 462,584 square feet of meeting space. WestCoast is making several change...

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts Renovating and Re-flagging Former Hyatt Regency Hotels in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts Renovating and Re-flagging Former Hyatt Regency Hotels in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Brussels, February 2003 – Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, which first entered the Saudi Arabian market in November with the opening of the 183-room Radisson SAS Hotel in Yanbu (formerly the Al-Hayat hotel), now has its flag flying over two more properties in the Kingdom – in Jeddah and Riyadh.   The award-winning Scandinavian hotel chain has taken over the management of former Hyatt properties in Jeddah and Riyadh.  Refurbishment of both hotels will begin almost immediate...

Roy Young Appointed General Manager for The Northland Inn, a 231 Guest Suites Property in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Roy Young Appointed General Manager for The Northland Inn, a 231 Guest Suites Property in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota BROOKLYN PARK (MINNEAPOLIS), MINNESOTA, February 2003 ... Benchmark Hospitality has appointed Roy Atherton Young as general manager for The Northland Inn, a 231-guest-suites property located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, near Minneapolis.  Burt Cabañas, chairman and chief executive officer for Benchmark, made the announcement. Previously, Mr. Young was the vice president of hotel operations for The Claridge Casino Hotel, a 510-guestroom property located in Atlantic City, New Je...

Robert Southall Appointed Innkeeper of Resort at Deer Harbor on Orcas Island / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Robert Southall Appointed Innkeeper of Resort at Deer Harbor on Orcas Island Lifestyle change brings big chain management experience to Deer Harbor February 21, 2003 - Seattle, WA - Seattle based Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (CHI) has recently named Robert (Bob) Southall the new innkeeper of intimate Resort at Deer Harbor on Orcas Island. Southall brings with him nearly 25 years experience in the hotel business. Prior to joining the team at The Resort at Deer Harbor, Bob was with the Hilton Hotels Corporation. His previous duties with Hilton included general manager of the 500-room San...

Randy Hayes Joins Hilton DFW Lakes as Director of Food & Beverage Operations / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Randy Hayes Joins Hilton DFW Lakes as Director of Food & Beverage Operations Dallas (February 26, 2003 ) -  Randy Hayes has joined the Hilton DFW Lakes as Director of Food & Beverage Operations.   Hayes was most recently the Vice-President of Operations at Main Event Entertainment, a Grapevine based entertainment company that specializes in recreational group entertainment including laser tag games.  There, he was responsible for coordinating and supervising all property food and beverage operations. Prior to his move to Texas, Hayes was the Regional Director of West Coast Op...

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Virtual-Agent Services’ Robert Camastro Named to Fast Company “Fast 50” Champions Of Innovation  . Distributed Workforce Concept Challenges the Status Quo February 18, 2003 (Schaumburg, IL) – Robert Camastro, President of Virtual-Agent Services, a provider of high quality contact center solutions, has been named to Fast Company magazine’s  list of “Fast 50” Champions of Innovation – individuals whose achievements helped change their respective industry or society.  The “Fast 50” will appear in the March issue of Fast Company, the nation’s leading magazine for management innova...

With 21 New Hotel Projects Actively Under Development, Puerto Rico Tourism Company Unveils Initiatives for 2003 / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report With 21 New Hotel Projects Actively Under Development,  Puerto Rico Tourism Company Unveils Initiatives for 2003 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Feb. 11, 2003 - The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) kicks off the new year with a tour of New York City, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Dallas, hosting an event in each market to re-introduce the media and travel industry to Puerto Rico's authentic Latin culture and diverse activities and discuss the economic impact these new initiatives will have on the island.  Jose M. Suarez, who was appointed PRTC executive director on December 23, 2002,...

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Boutique Hospitality Group Selects PRofit from PR –  Public Relations & Marketing for New  South Beach Hotel ORLANDO, Fla.  (Feb. 5, 2003) – Boutique Hospitality Group, a hospitality management and solutions provider based in Miami Beach, has selected PRofit from PR – Public Relations & Marketing to provide services for the Brooklyn Hotel, a newly opened boutique property on Miami’s South Beach. Opened Oct. 1, 2002, the Brooklyn Hotel features 17 one-bedroom suites designed with a mix of French Art Deco and Italian appointments that create a combination of luxurious yet comfortable sur...

PrintMe Networks Gives San Francisco Hyatt a Competitive Edge Among Business Travelers / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

PrintMe Networks™ Gives San Francisco Hyatt a Competitive Edge Among Business Travelers Success Story The Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel knows how to cater to business travelers.  Midway between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the 793 room hotel is a temporary home and office for road warriors from companies worldwide. Establishing itself as a leader in business and meeting services, The Hyatt is a bellwether for trends driving the entire hospitality industry. So what's new to the Hyatt? PrintMe is! Electonics For Imaging’s PrintMe™ service enables printing from laptops, cell phones, PDAs and two way...

Prime Hospitality Brands AmeriSuites and Wellesley Inns & Suites Ranked in Top 20 in Entrepreneur's New Franchises 2003 Rankings / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Prime Hospitality Brands AmeriSuites and Wellesley Inns & Suites Ranked in Top 20 in Entrepreneur's New Franchises 2003 Rankings Fairfield, N.J., February 11, 2003 -- Prime Hospitality Corp. (NYSE: PDQ), announced today that their AmeriSuites and Wellesley Inns & Suites brands were both recognized for offering one of the best new franchise opportunities available in the United States.  Prime, a leading hotel owner, operator and franchiser, today noted that its AmeriSuites brand ranked #15 and its Wellesley Inns & Suites brand ranked #19 of the top new franchises 2003, which is part of...

Lower-cost Cruise Vacations and Caribbean Destination Packages Driving Price Discounting in Las Vegas / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Lower-cost Cruise Vacations and Caribbean Destination Packages Driving Price Discounting in Las Vegas By Rod Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  February 04, 2003 - A new pox afflicts the gaming industry: a room-rate price war.  "At the midtier and low-end levels, we believe hotels, particularly in Las Vegas, are in a price war," Bear, Stearns & Co.  analyst Jason Ader said.  Hotel operators here are lowering room rates to attract additional visitors to local casinos and to counter competition from other areas, he said.  Lower-cost vac...

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report The Malta Tourism Authority Appoints Michael Piscopo as Director of North America; #1 Goal – Increase Tourism to Malta from the U.S. Market  MALTA, February 25, 2003 – The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Piscopo, who is serving his second term as Director of North America for the MTA office in New York City.  Under his three-year contract, Mr. Piscopo will be responsible for promoting Malta as a travel destination in the U.S. and Canadian markets.  During his first term in this post, 1996 to 2000, significant increases in arrival figure...

Phoenix Hospitality LLC Signs Management Agreement with Wyndham for the 532-room Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Downtown; After Renovation Property to be Rename

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Phoenix Hospitality LLC Signs Management Agreement with Wyndham for the 532-room Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Downtown; After Renovation Property to be Renamed Wyndham Phoenix DALLAS (Feb. 18, 2003) – Wyndham International, Inc. (AMEX:WBR) announced today its plans to brand a 532-room hotel in downtown Phoenix.  On May 15, 2003, the Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Downtown will be renamed the Wyndham Phoenix.  The property joins the Wyndham brand as part of a 10-year franchise agreement between the property’s owners, Phoenix Hospitality LLC and Wyndham International.   “This new franchising agreeme...

Philadelphia Hotel Leaders Demand to Meet with Governor, Threaten Suit; Upset Over Convention Center Board Electing Leaders Who Lack Hospitality Expe

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Philadelphia Hotel Leaders Demand to Meet with Governor, Threaten Suit;  Upset Over Convention Center Board Electing Leaders Who Lack Hospitality Experience By Don Steinberg, The Philadelphia Inquirer Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 7, 2003 - Angry members of Philadelphia's $3 billion a year hospitality industry added their voices to the shouting at the Convention Center yesterday, demanding to meet with elected officials and threatening legal action if their timeline is not met.  Leaders of three groups representing 56,000 tourism, hotel, restaurant and relat...

Focus on the Philadelphia Convention Center Squabble and the Players Involved / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Focus on the Philadelphia Convention Center Squabble and the Players Involved By Don Steinberg, The Philadelphia Inquirer Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Feb. 9, 2003 - Problems at the Convention Center?  What problems?  "No problem," said Mayor Street on Friday, talking about the problems that have beset the center.  "Relax," Street told attendees at a Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce luncheon. "This is going to be worked out... no problem."  No problem? Here are the major players in the squabble, their problems, and what's next for each:  MAYOR STREET...

The Parker Company Continues a 35-year Tradition in the Hospitality Procurement Field / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  The Parker Company Continues a 35-year Tradition in the Hospitality Procurement Field Miami, Florida - February 2003  -  The Parker Company LLC, the new privately held company formed by Douglas, Philip and Mitchell Parker continues a 35-year tradition in the hospitality procurement field. With over 20 new projects in house and an active overseas operational base, the new company hasn’t missed a beat since its start-up in January. The company was formed when the public company that owned Leonard Parker Company decided to discontinue operations late last year. “When Leonard Parker Company ...

Carlson Hotels Worldwide Brand Park Plaza Opening 99 room Resort on Nakha Island, Thailand / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report  Carlson Hotels Worldwide Brand Park Plaza Opening 99 room Resort on Nakha Island, Thailand MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (February 6, 2003) ---- Park Plaza hotels, part of Minneapolis based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, is pleased to announce plans to open the Park Plaza Resort Nakha Island, just off the East Coast of Phuket, Thailand.  The resort, due to open in early 2004, is the brand's first hotel in Thailand.  "The addition of the Park Plaza Resort Nakha Island-Phuket is an important landmark in terms of expansion within the Asia-Pacific region," said Jetse Pottinga, executive vice president for Park...

Pacific Islandia California Inc., Owner of the 489-room Sheraton Anaheim Hotel, Files for Bankruptcy Protection; Bankruptcy Over Dispute, Not Results

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online Special Report Pacific Islandia California Inc., Owner of the 489-room Sheraton Anaheim Hotel, Files for Bankruptcy Protection; Bankruptcy Over a Dispute, Not Results By Sandi Cain  February 2003 Pacific Islandia California Inc., owner of the 489-room Sheraton Anaheim Hotel, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Anaheim-based Pacific Islandia said the filing stems from a dispute with the hotel’s lender, Littleton, Colo.-based MONY Realty Capital Inc., part of New York's MONY Group Inc.   The filing isn't a result of the hotel’s performance or the downturn in tourism in the past year, said Libby Zarrahy, ...

Lodging Industry Demand Is Reset at a Lower Base / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Lodging Industry Demand Is Reset at a Lower Base February 25, 2003 - Beginning in the Fall of 2001, ongoing security alerts, travel concerns involving safety and convenience, and lower consumer confidence and personal wealth due to stock market declines and volatility have caused lodging demand to trail the long-run trend line by approximately five percent, or 130,000 occupied room nights per night in 2002.  PricewaterhouseCoopers believes that the combination of the many factors, some of which will continue well into the future, will result in a permanent structural resetting of...

PricewaterhouseCoopers Forecasts Lodging Industry Expenses Will Rise in 2003 / February 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report PricewaterhouseCoopers Forecasts Lodging Industry Expenses Will Rise in 2003 Extraordinary Expense Reductions through 2002 Have Lowered Break-Even Occupancy to 47.4% NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2003 -- As a result of some expenses that will rise, or costs that will need to be reinstituted, PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasts that the total expenses per available room will rise by 1.9 percent, or $21,800, to $22,200 in 2003, or expressed differently, total expenses per occupied room basis will increase by 0.8 percent, or from $36,700 to $37,000.                         In 2002, ...

Peter Smith Named President & CEO of AFM Hospitality Management Division / Feb 2003

January 30, 2003

Hotel Online  Special Report Peter Smith Named President & CEO of AFM Hospitality Management Division Former Westin Operations Head to Focus on Quality & Sales Leadership SEATTLE, WA (Feb. 10, 2003 ) – AFM Hospitality Corporation (TSX:AFM) announced today it has named a well known and respected hotelier to lead its rapidly growing managed hotel portfolio in the United States and Canada. Peter Smith, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Westin Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has been named President & Chief Executive Officer of the AFM Hospitality Management Division, effective immediately. In making th...