February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  Harrah’s Completes $200 million Investment in Harrah’s Atlantic City; Boosts Room Count to 1,626 May 22, 2002 - New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey joined executives from Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. this morning to celebrate the grand opening of what is now the state’s largest hotel and the first resort of its kind east of Las Vegas.  With the addition of its 25-story Bayview Tower and expanded gaming space, the new Harrah’s Atlantic City boasts a total of 1,626 hotel rooms and more than 3,700 slot machines. In addition to McGreevey, this morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was atten...

2002 AAHOA Annual Convention – Wrap Up / May 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report --- 2002 AAHOA Annual Convention - Wrap Up NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 30, 2002 - 2,700 members and supporters of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) spent a successful three days at the 2002 AAHOA Annual Convention & Tradeshow held Apr. 24-26 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.  The convention featured special guest Al Gore and keynote speakers William J. Bennett, co-director of Empower America, Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), Mira Nair, independent film director and founder of Mirabai Films, Inc., and Dr. Kesh...

Mike Amin New Chairman of The Asian American Hotel Owners Association; 12 Board Members Elected / May 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report --- Mike Amin New Chairman of The Asian American Hotel Owners Association; 12 Board Members Elected ATLANTA, May 1, 2002 – The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) publicly announced the 2002-2003 board of directors today.  Elections took place Friday, Apr. 26 during the association’s annual convention held in Nashville, Tenn.  “We were very pleased by the voter turn-out,” stated Fred Schwartz, president, AAHOA. “This was a year where we had many more qualified candidates than open positions so competition was fierce.” In addition to electing 12 board members (nine re...

Divi Resorts Welcomes iHotelier To The Caribbean / May 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report     Divi Resorts Welcomes iHotelier To The Caribbean -  iHotelier to Provide Electronic Distribution for Resort Chain  Houston, Texas (June 18, 2002): iHotelier, a division of Webvertising Inc., announced that it has signed an agreement with Divi Resorts, a leading resort chain in the Caribbean, to power their electronic reservation services.  As per the agreement, Divi Resorts will use the iHotelier system to establish seamless connectivity to all the major Global Distribution Systems and to manage inventory for their properties.  iHotelier’s proprietary Onescreen Reservation Interfa...

Hotel Booking Solutions to Attend Premier Hospitality Conference in June / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report Hotel Booking Solutions to Attend Premier Hospitality Conference in June hobooBox Software Creators to Exhibit at HITEC in Chicago NEW ORLEANS (June 10, 2002).  Hotel Booking Solutions’ (HBS) executives will be available to discuss the benefits and functions of their premier channel management software, hobooBox, during the Hospitality, Financial and Technology Professionals’ (HFTP) conference, HITEC, in Chicago later this month. hobooBox is channel management software designed specifically to work with hotels, booking engines, distribution systems, property management systems and tourism...

Classic New Orleans Hotel Chooses Hotel Booking Solutions / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report Classic New Orleans Hotel Chooses Hotel Booking Solutions International House GM Calls hobooBox Outstanding, Efficient  New Orleans (June26, 2002) ­  International House has selected Hotel Booking Solutions LLC to incorporate hobooBox software to manage their distribution channels.   hobooBox, a channel management software solution, enables a two-way interface, which seamlessly transfers real time rates and inventory from the hotel PMS or CRS, to any or all of the different sales channels. The hobooBox software is designed to connect any two links within the industry¹s supply chain.  Â...

IDeaS Revenue Management Rolls Out e-yield 4.0; Delivers Industry Platform for Functionality and Increased Revenue / May 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report IDeaS Revenue Management Rolls Out e-yield 4.0; Delivers Industry Platform for Functionality and Increased Revenue MINNEAPOLIS, June 6, 2002 – IDeaS, Inc., a leading provider of revenue management solutions and one of America’s fastest growing technology companies, announced today that it has begun the rollout of the company’s e-yield 4.0 platform.  According to Ed Booth, CEO of IDeaS Revenue Management, “Version 4 of e-yield combines the most advanced science in revenue management with intense collaboration from some of the most knowledgeable hoteliers and technology suppliers in the wor...

Room Nights Booked Electronically Down 10% from the First Quarter of 2001, Revenue Off 18% / eMonitor / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report   Room Nights Booked Electronically Down 10% from the First Quarter of 2001, Revenue Off 18% TravelCLICK's First Quarter eMonitor Report        CHICAGO - June 5, 2002 - TravelCLICK's eMonitor results for the first quarter of 2002 show that worldwide hotel room nights and revenue booked electronically through the Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) decreased versus the same period last year. However, booking activity during the quarter showed recovery following the unprecedented losses in hotel occupancy experienced in the fourth quarter.        Room nights booked electroni...

Hotel ZaZa Selects the Ze-Net HSIA Solution / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   Hotel ZaZa Selects the Ze-Net HSIA Solution DALLAS, Texas, June 5, 2002 -- The new luxury Hotel ZaZa in Dallas has selected Ze-Net Technologies to provide its broadband infrastructure and both wired and wireless high speed Internet access solutions.  As the rising star of a new standard in luxury business hotels, the Hotel ZaZa is planning ahead by implementing its technology strategy to provide high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel today, while incorporating the broadband infrastructure it will need to meet the Internet-driven amenity challenges of tomorrow.  Opening in Octobe...

Yokohama's Hotels Prepare for Asia's First Ever World Cup / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Yokohama's Hotels Prepare for Asia's First Ever World Cup Asian Hotel & Catering Times Joher Anjari speaks to two of Yokohama's most prestigious hotels about their responses to and preparations for Asia's first ever World Cup. June 2002 - Yokohama lies at the very centre of Japan' s hopes for World Cup 2002, which next month is being jointly held with South Korea. The grandest stadium of the 10 newly built around Japan is just 10 minutes from the nation' s second most populous city, and the venue for the World Cup final on June 30. The city will also host three group matches – m...

Yield Management Systems, LLC Releases Revolutionary maximflex and maximE.flex Revenue Management Solutions / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   Yield Management Systems, LLC Releases Revolutionary maximflex and maximE.flex Revenue Management Solutions CHICAGO, June 20, 2002- Yield Management Systems LLC (YMSI), a global leader in advanced Revenue and Profit optimization systems for the hospitality industry, and the provider of maximÒRevenue Management system, today announced the release of two revolutionary new Revenue Management Solutions : maximflexand maximE.flex maximflex is a flexible, modular product that will allow hotels to "mix and match" all features that they might need for heir specific operating environments o...

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   maxim® Selected by Hyatt Hotels Corporation to Enhance Hyatt’s Revenue Management System CHICAGO, June 15, 2002 -Hyatt Hotels Corporation has licensed maxim® from Yield Management Systems, LLC (YMSI) to enhance and upgrade the capabilities of Hyatt’s current revenue management system. Hyatt has also engaged YMSI to provide ongoing advanced revenue management support.  Hyatt has been using an earlier version of the maxim® technology in its North American and Caribbean hotels since 1996 with great success. Hyatt’s revenue management system utilizes maxim’s patented Marginal Value ...

Steve Wynn Unveils Plans for $1.83 Billion 2,701 room Le Reve Resort; Most Expensive Casino Resort Ever, Topping the $1.6 billion Bellagio / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Steve Wynn Unveils Plans for $1.83 Billion 2,701 room Le Reve Resort; Most Expensive Casino Resort Ever, Topping the $1.6 billion Bellagio By Jeff Simpson, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 18--Steve Wynn unveiled financial and construction plans for his biggest project ever Monday: a $1.83 billion megaresort that will include a man-made mountain and a Ferrari and Maserati dealership.  In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday, the developer announced financing details for his Le Reve project, which will be built on the north S...

Steve Wynn Signs Casino Deal with Macau's Political Leader, Chief Executive Edmund Ho; Wynn Resorts Ltd. Will Invest $512.8 million Within Seven

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Steve Wynn Signs Casino Deal with Macau's Political Leader, Chief Executive Edmund Ho; Wynn Resorts Ltd. Will Invest $512.8 million Within Seven Years By Jeff Simpson, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 24--Strip developer Steve Wynn signed a casino deal with the government of Macau in a ceremony today, The Associated Press reported.  Wynn signed his deal with Macau's political leader, Chief Executive Edmund Ho. The signing of the concession contract came four months after Macau awarded Wynn one of three licenses to operate casinos.  The ...

GM Philippe Pellaud Opens the Radisson SAS' New Hotel in Wroclaw, Poland / May 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   GM Philippe Pellaud Opens the Radisson SAS' New Hotel in Wroclaw, Poland Interior Designed In Cooperation With Nearby Academy of Art Brussels, May 2002.... The Radisson SAS Hotel in Wroclaw, Poland, opened its doors to the public May 6th.  The hotel is situated opposite the National Museum Panorama Raclawicka and shares a courtyard with the Academy of Art, which played an instrumental role in the interior design of the hotel, which features sculptures, paintings and examples of famous Wroclaw ceramics.   Wroclaw, the capital of Lower Silesia, is situated less than 250 miles f...

Worldspan's Global Distribution System Now Offers Automated Hotel Tax, Surcharge and Fee Disclosure / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  Worldspan's Global Distribution System Now Offers Automated Hotel Tax, Surcharge and Fee Disclosure Provides e-commerce and traditional travel agencies more accurate and complete rate information                                   ATLANTA, June 10, 2002 - Worldspan, today announced the introduction of Hotel Tax, Surcharge and Fee Disclosure functionality in  Worldspan Hotel Source®, the company's hotel reservation technology. This exclusive Worldspan enhancement provides e-commerce subscribers and traditional travel agents with real-time rate inform...

The Worldwide Ranking of Hotel Groups; The worldwide supply of hotel groups grows by 3% in 2001 (4.9 million rooms) / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report The Worldwide Ranking of Hotel Groups; The Worldwide Supply (4.9 million rooms) of Hotel Groups Grows by 3% in 2001  Growth of the supply of hotel chains is significant in Europe and in North America Europe’s supply grows by 4.4% (48,000 rooms) versus 3.3% in North America (88,000 rooms) Budget categories continue to gain in presence The budget segments grow by more than 67,000 rooms versus 22,000 in the upmarket category Growth through franchising growing stronger The hotel supply managed through franchising grows by 3.3% (89,000 rooms) versus 2.3% (46,000 rooms) in ...

Plaza 50's Wild Guest Receives Special Treatment from General Manager, Victor Freeman / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Plaza 50's Wild Guest Receives Special Treatment from General Manager, Victor Freeman NEW  YORK, June 17, 2002 – Even wild animals are shown special attention at Manhattan East Suite Hotels’ Plaza 50.  General Manager, Victor Freeman is shown feeding Noy, a Baby Clouded Leopard, during a recent stay at the hotel.  Noy, part of Jack Hanna’s Animal World was in the Big Apple for a TV appearance…quite a trip from his home in South East Asia.              Maria Andriano Redpoint Marketing PR, Inc. andriano@redpointpr.com 212.229.0119, ex...

The City Owned Hyatt Regency Wichita Enjoying Positive Cash Flow / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive The City Owned Hyatt Regency Wichita Enjoying Positive Cash Flow  By Molly McMillin, The Wichita Eagle, Kan. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 19--The Hyatt Regency Wichita is financially healthy, city officials say, despite the hotel's four-year record of net losses.  Anti-tax activist Karl Peterjohn passed out information to reporters at Tuesday's City Council meeting obtained from an open records request that shows the Hyatt Regency posted net losses in each of its first four years of business. The city took over ownership of the hotel late last year.  The a...

The $20 million Renovation of the Historic White House Hotel in Biloxi Halts; Lack of Financing / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive The $20 million Renovation of the Historic White House Hotel in Biloxi Halts; Lack of Financing By Timothy Boone, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 4--BILOXI, Miss.--The $20 million renovation of the historic White House Hotel has been temporarily halted because of obstacles thrown up by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but the owner hopes work can resume this fall.  "We're trying to make all the financial guys happy with the paperwork," said owner James S. Love III.  Once a mortgage is secured to cover the renovations, Love said the ...

Manhattan's Ritz-Carlton Hotel Provides 'Water Sommelier'; Up to 12 Selections / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Manhattan's Ritz-Carlton Hotel Provides 'Water Sommelier'; Up to 12 Selections By Candy J. Cooper, The Record, Hackensack, N.J. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 4--In an elegant bar at Manhattan's Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the world's only water sommelier lifts to his nose the first of three sparkling wine glasses, each filled with a different North Jersey tap water. Number one hails from a drinking fountain at the Bergen County Jail.  Filip Wretman, the fresh-faced water connoisseur, considers the jailhouse drink as if it were a $300 bottle of Lafite Rothschild. He rol...

Wyndham Setting a Precedent; Now Provides Free, Local and Long Distance Phone Calls and Free High-speed Internet Access for Members of its Guest Recog

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   Wyndham Setting a Precedent; Now Provides Free Long Distance Phone Calls and Free High-speed Internet Access for Members of its Guest Recognition Program DALLAS - June 3, 2002-- Wyndham International (NYSE:WYN) announced it is revolutionizing the hotel industry with the latest addition to its Wyndham ByRequest® guest recognition program - free, unlimited, local and long distance phone calls(a), free high-speed Internet access, and free copying and faxing privileges, effective today.  The unprecedented offer is being made to current and new members of Wyndham's ByRequest guest recog...

Tourism Proves as a Resilient and Stable Economic Sector / WTO / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Tourism Proves as a Resilient and Stable Economic Sector International Tourist Arrivals by (Sub)region World's Top 15 Tourist Destinations International Tourism Receipts by (Sub)region World's Top 15 Tourism Earners World's Top 15 Tourism Spenders Madrid, 18 June, 2002 - Tourism has shown again, how resilient and stable economic sector it is. Compared to the preliminary estimates issued last January, updated information demonstrates that world tourism only experimented a small reduction in 2001. According to recent and more precise information, it now appears that the decrease in wor...

Sheraton's Vistana Resort, a Time-share Complex at the World Golf Village, Scheduled for Friendly Foreclosure / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Sheraton's Vistana Resort, a Time-share Complex at the World Golf Village, Scheduled for "Friendly" Foreclosure on July, 11  By Earl Daniels, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 30--Dick and Barbara Mulvey of Ponte Vedra Beach probably won't get what they want.  They hope an upcoming foreclosure sale of Sheraton's Vistana Resort, a time-share complex at the World Golf Village in St. Johns County, will result in them being able to sell their time-share unit to the new owner. They have spent $550 over the past year trying to sell...