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Wayne Chappell, Head of Kansas City, Mo., Convention, Visitors Bureau to Leave for Houston / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Wayne Chappell, Head of Kansas City, Mo., Convention, Visitors Bureau to Leave for Houston By Rick Alm, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Aug. 3--Wayne Chappell, Kansas City's top tourism cheerleader, announced his resignation Friday as president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Kansas City. Chappell will begin work later this month as vice president of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Council. He was sales and marketing director at the Houston agency from 1973 to 1978. Rod Anderson, a Kansas City restaurant owner...
Wyndham Only Hotel Company to be Recipient of 2002 CIO-100 Award / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Wyndham Only Hotel Company to be Recipient of 2002 CIO-100 Award DALLAS (Aug. 15, 2002) - Wyndham International, Inc. (NYSE: WYN), a leader in technology innovation, has been named a recipient of the 2002 CIO-100 Award. This prestigious honor is a result of Wyndham's ongoing commitment to demonstrating positive business performance through integrated technologies and processes. Wyndham has long-pursued an information architecture that fosters improved guest services. Most recently, Wyndham announced a revolutionary offer to members of its guest recognition program, Wyndham ByReque...
Wyndham Reports Net Loss of $76.9 million for 2nd Qtr compared to Loss of $39.1 million a Year Earlier; RevPAR Falls 9.8% / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Wyndham Reports Net Loss of $76.9 million for 2nd Qtr Compared to Loss of $39.1 million a Year Earlier; RevPAR Falls 9.8% DALLAS - Aug. 6, 2002 -- Wyndham International, Inc. (NYSE:WYN) today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2002. Financial Highlights Total revenues on a comparable pro forma basis, which reflects adjustments for acquisitions and dispositions, for the second quarter 2002, were $508.7 million, an 8.7 percent decrease from the same period in 2001. On a pro forma basis earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as a...
David Villarrubia Named General Manager of the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report David Villarrubia Named General Manager of the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston HOUSTON - Aug. 27, 2002 -- David Villarrubia has been named general manager of the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston in Houston, Texas, scheduled for completion in late 2003. Villarrubia most recently served in the same position at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. A native of New Orleans, Villarrubia has held a number of positions during nearly 30 years with Hilton Hotels Corporation. He began his career with the c...
Japanese Air Travelers to Las Vegas Declines 62% Compared to First 6 Months of Last Year / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Japanese Air Travelers to Las Vegas Declines 62% Compared to First 6 Months of Last Year By Chris Jones, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Aug. 21--Japan's two largest airlines this week reconfirmed what many Las Vegas businesses and tourism officials have known for months: Fewer Japanese are traveling to the United States. Katsumi Aiba, general manger for Japan Travel Bureau in Los Angeles, said Tuesday many Japanese are still reluctant to visit the United States because of last year's terrorist attacks and troubles with their nation's econom...
Properties in Bakersfield and Solvang, California Reflagged Vagabond Inns / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Properties in Bakersfield and Solvang, California Reflagged Vagabond Inns LOS ANGELES, CA August 9, 2002 - Vagabond Franchise System, Inc., today announced the addition of two locations in California to its expanding network of economy and mid-market properties. Now open is the 134-room Vagabond Inn Bakersfield South, re-flagged from an Inn of America. The hotel is the second in the San Joaquin Valley city owned by Surya M. Reddy, MD and his associates, who also own the Vagabond Inn Bakersfield North. The new property is located at 6501 Colony Street and is manag...
HotelTraining.com Selected by Vagabond Franchise Systems Inc. / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report HotelTraining.com Selected by Vagabond Franchise Systems Inc. Dallas, TX August 26, 2002 - HotelTraining.com announced today that Vagabond Franchise Systems Inc. has selected the company to provide Internet Based Training for the company's central reservations office. HotelTraining.com introduced the first reservation sales training program designed specifically for delivery via the Internet in August 1998. Since that date, the company has provided reservations training to hotels and reservations centers in the United States, Australia, Western Europe and Asia. The STAR (Sales Train...
UniFocus Releases New Flexible Budget System / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report UniFocus Releases New Flexible Budget System CARROLLTON, TX -- August 22, 2002 - UniFocus, a knowledge and performance management company for service industries, recently launched Watson, R.M. Budgeter, the hospitality industrys only flexible budget system. Watson, R.M. Budgeter protects against profit erosion by giving clients a powerful tool for analyzing revenue and cost trends, said Mark Heymann, chief executive officer of UniFocus, adding, The key to this analysis is the comparison of actual costs to pre-established standards. Performance is no longer measured against origi...
Sun Suites Chooses Unirez to Help Drive Recognizable Value To Hotel Guests / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online .Special Report Sun Suites Chooses Unirez to Help Drive "Recognizable Value" To Hotel Guests DALLAS, TX / Atlanta, GA (August 26, 2002) After a comprehensive analysis of competitive hotel reservation services, Sun Suites has chosen Unirez to provide seamless connectivity to all Global Distribution Systems, booking capability through all major alternate distribution channels including Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz and Travelweb, as well as providing on-line booking capability for the new, enhanced Sun Suites web site, www.sunsuites.com. Bob Henritze, President of Sun suites said, "At Sun Suites o...
Sporting Events Bolster UK July 2002 Hotel Performance / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Sporting Events Bolster UK July 2002 Hotel Performance London - August 19, 2002 - The Commonwealth games and Golf Open Championship have given a much-needed boost to the UK's regional hotel industry, according to preliminary figures released today from the HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte & Touche. In July, regional hotels reported positive occupancy growth for the first time this year, up seven percent from June and 0.7% over last year, to reach 75%. This growth combined with a small improvement in average room rate resulted in revPAR* rising 0.9 percent. July's performance i...
Hotel Sales and Marketing Professionals Turnover Double that of Other Industries / HSMAI Foundation / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Hotel Sales and Marketing Professionals Turnover Double that of Other Industries / HSMAI Foundation MCLEAN, VA (Aug. 12, 2002) The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation commissioned a study on Turnover one of the areas of greatest interest and concern for the sales and marketing profession. Funded by the Foundations Corporate Membership Program, the comprehensive, six-month survey studied the Causes, Costs and Cures of Turnover. A detailed recap and analysis of the 70-page report appears in the spring issue of the HSMAI Mar...
Wireless Broadband Internet Access Integrated at Hyatt Regency Istanbul, Turkey / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Wireless Broadband Internet Access Integrated at Hyatt Regency Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul, Augus 14, 2002 - Hyatt Regency Istanbul is now offering Wireless Broadband Internet Access (WLAN) throughout the hotel, including the pool area and all guestrooms. Hyatt Regency Istanbul is the only 5 star hotel in Turkey providing full wireless access. "At Hyatt Regency Istanbul, we always think through the special needs of our guests who are mostly traveling on business. The Internet connection for a traveling businessmen who is not a member of a global service provider is often both co...
Tulsa Hoteliers Feel Heat of Competition / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Tulsa Hoteliers Feel Heat of Competition By Tom Droege, Tulsa World, Okla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Aug. 8, 2002 - The Adam's Mark Hotel is undergoing a $1.5 million face-lift to help hold its ground when the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center, which will be the city's largest such facility, opens early next year on East 71st Street. "This is putting us in a position to be more competitive," said Brett Sundstrom, general manager of the downtown Adam's Mark. The 12-story hotel at 100 E. Second St. is getting a fresh interior skin and contemporary furn...
Hotel Room Sales Now Unaffected by Travel Fears; Only Economic Conditions Affecting Demand in Most Markets / August 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Hotel Room Sales Now Unaffected by Travel Fears; Only Economic Conditions Affecting Demand in Most Markets Atlanta, GA, August 22, 2002 - Recently released lodging forecasts from Boston-based Torto Wheaton Research (TWR) and Atlanta-based The Hospitality Research Group, the research affiliate of PKF Consulting (HRG), reveal that air travel stigma effects on hotel room sales following September 11, 2001 have disappeared in all but 13 major cities. And in these 13 cities, the effects have substantially dissipated. Air travel stigma is defined as the reduction in air travel occurring...
Business Travelers Anxiety; 18% Indicate No Travel On or Around September 11th / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Business Travelers Anxiety; 18% Indicate No Travel On or Around September 11th Concern About Travel on September 11 Remains High / YP&B Survey ORLANDO, Fla. - (August 6, 2002) - Almost one in five leisure travelers say they will not travel on or around September 11th because of concerns about potential terrorist activity according to a new national poll of travel intentions issued today by Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown, the Orlando-based travel services marketing firm that monitors the travel intentions of Americans. Business travelers displayed roughly the same degree of anxiet...
Tourist Rage, A Result of Stressed-out Society, Pointed at Hospitality Workers / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Tourist Rage, A Result of Stressed-out Society, Pointed at Hospitality Workers By Dawn Bryant, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Aug. 11--The sun isn't the only thing making tourists hot along the Grand Strand. Traffic, long lines and flight delays are causing more vacationers to lose their cool and take out their frustrations on hotel workers, amusement ride operators and waitresses. "Tourist rage" is a result of the stressed-out society and tourists' unrealistic hopes for a perfect, peaceful getaway, psychologists say. Once some t...
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Opens Five New Hotels in the Toronto Area; In One Day! / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Concord Hospitality Enterprises Opens Five New Hotels in the Toronto Area; In One Day! TORONTO, ON August 14, 2002 Today, Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), celebrated the opening of five new hotels in the Greater Toronto Area -- the Courtyard Vaughan, Courtyard Toronto/Mississauga, Courtyard Toronto/Markham, Residence Inn Toronto/Mississauga and Residence Inn Toronto/Markham. All five hotels will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Mentor, Ohio. The grand opening of the hotels was inaugurated with a ribbon cutting cere...
Mark Tobin and Mike Cahill form HREC Asset Managementsm In Association with Hospitality Real Estate Counselors, Inc.® / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Mark Tobin and Mike Cahill Form HREC Asset Managementsm In Association with Hospitality Real Estate Counselors, Inc.® Denver, CO, August 15, 2002: Industry veteran, Mark Tobin, has joined forces with Denver based Hospitality Real Estate Counselors, Inc.® (HREC®) to form HREC Asset Managementsm, a lodging investment advisory firm. Mark Tobin and Michael Cahill (president/founder of HREC) are both principals in the new venture. HREC Asset Management is headquartered in Denver, Colorado and Mark will serve in the role of managing principal and company president. Hotel asset mana...
Thailand Makes Deal to Boost the Number of Japanese Tourists / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Thailand Makes Deal to Boost the Number of Japanese Tourists By Woranuj Maneerungsee Bangkok Post, Thailand Aug. 27--The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) signed a memorandum of understanding with eight leading Japanese tour operators yesterday to dramatically increase the number of visitors from Japan within six months, starting in October. The memorandum was signed by Juthamas Siriwan, the TAT governor, and executives of the companies that are part of a business mission to Japan. The mission, which lasts until Thursday, is led by Somkid Jatusripitak, a deputy p...
Bad Food, Poor Guides Hurt Thai Tourism Industry / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Bad Food, Poor Guides Hurt Thai Tourism Industry By Saritdet Marukatat, Bangkok Post, Thailand Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Aug. 29, 2002 - Low-quality food and tour guides have created a bad impression of Thailand among Chinese tourists, one of the fastest-growing groups of visitors to the country, according to a study by the Thai Chamber of Commerce University. Most travelers from China picked food as one of their "worst experiences" during their stay, followed by local guides, traffic problems and sex shows. Low-quality meals at hotels, unauthenti...
The University of Hawaii Travel Industry Management Program Receives the TedQual (Tourism Education Quality) Certification from the World Tourism Orga
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report The University of Hawaii Travel Industry Management Program Receives the TedQual (Tourism Education Quality) Certification from the World Tourism Organization August 26, 2002 - The University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Travel Industry Management (TIM)s Bachelor of Science Program recently received the TedQual (Tourism Education Quality) Certification, a quality certification issued by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), with one of the highest ratings of all certified institutions throughout the world. The TedQual Certification establishes a quality assurance system for tourism ...
Taylored Training Targets Hospitality Industry / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Taylored Training Targets Hospitality Industry Denver, Colorado August 14, 2002 - A new Denver-area speakers and trainers bureau, Taylored Training, has been established to provide specialized training and education to hospitality professionals and team members. The focus of training provided by the new group is a set of four areas vital to the success of lodging and dining organizations and team members. The core competencies cover the skills necessary for the continued personal and organizational success in the hospitality industry, including customer service, writing, and mee...
Traveler Confidence Returning; Concerns Over the Economy's Health is Primary Reason Consumers are Avoiding Travel – Travel Business Roundta
March 30, 2002
Hotel Online Special Report Traveler Confidence Returning; Concerns Over the Economy's Health is Primary Reason Consumers are Avoiding Travel - Travel Business Roundtable Survey WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2002 - Nearly one year after the September 11 terrorist attacks, price-cutting by the travel industry and enhanced security measures at airports have stimulated demand and largely restored the the confidence of U.S. travelers. But an industry rebound remains uncertain, with leisure and business travelers both citing the economy as the prime reason they are traveling less, according to a new nationwide survey relea...
Commissions in the Hotel Industry: Agents for Change? / Robert Mandelbaum / PKF / Aug 2002
March 30, 2002
By: Robert Mandelbaum Concurrent with the increased us of the Internet, travel agencies may go the way of the buggy whip and the carbide lantern. The Internet is now a major channel for the travel industry to reach potential customers. It gives consumers more options to book their travel and provides airlines, car rental firms, and hotels the ability to reach these same consumers directly, therefore bypassing third-party agencies. Like all industries, the travel industry constantly examines the relative cost / benefit of the various distribution channels available to make contact with customers. Because of this comparative anal...
