R. Donahue Peebles $84 million Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort a Product of Miami Area Boycott / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive R. Donahue Peebles $84 million Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort a Product of Miami Area Boycott By Tatsha Robertson, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 12--MIAMI BEACH -- As a young entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr. played at some of the hottest hotels along South Beach's famed Collins Avenue. But by nightfall, Davis had to carry a written pass signed by a white hotel owner to walk along this city's beach in the 1950s.  Today, the owner of the newest luxury hotel on that same strip is the African American grandson of a retired hotel doorman.  R. Donahue ...

Paul Cooper Named Director of Development for Coakley & Williams Hotels / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online Special Report    Paul Cooper Named Director of Development for Coakley & Williams Hotels Greenbelt, MD -- June 29, 2002 - Coakley & Williams Hotel Management Company has appointed Paul Cooper as its Director of Development.  In his new position, Mr. CooperÂ’s primary responsibility will be increasing the portfolio of quality hotels managed by CWHMC.  To date, Coakley & Williams operates 22 hotels in 8 states and the District of Columbia with multiple franchises that include: Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Wingate Inn, Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Quality Suites, and Sleep Inn. Â...

Westmont Hospitality Group Acquires the 504-room Pan Pacific Vancouver from Tokyu Canada Corporation / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Westmont Hospitality Group Acquires the 504-room Pan Pacific Vancouver from Tokyu Canada Corporation Includes the 200,000 sq.ft. Vancouver World Trade Centre         Vancouver, BC (June 28, 2002):  Canada's Westmont Hospitality Group has purchased the 504-room Pan Pacific Vancouver and adjoining 200,000 sq.  ft. Vancouver World Trade Centre from Tokyu Canada Corporation. As part of the purchase agreement, the award-winning Pan Pacific Vancouver will continue to be managed by Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts and guests should expect business as usual at this AAA rated ...

The Horbelt Investment Group Acquires the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Palm Cove, Queensland for Approximately US$ 9.2 million / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report The Horbelt Investment Group Acquires the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Palm Cove, Queensland for Approximately US$ 9.2 million Brisbane, 20 June, 2002 - Contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the 189 room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Palm Cove, Queensland.  The hotel was sold for A$16 million in a deal brokered by Mike Batchelor, Executive Vice President of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.   Sold with vacant possession, the property was purchased by the Horbelt family, an Adelaide based property investment group.  The new owners are considering their options with regard to the futu...

PS Hospitality Launches, Driving Revenue for Hotels / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  PS Hospitality Launches, Driving Revenue for Hotels  Unique Services Provide Integrated Approach to Building Hotel Business  Alexandria, VA (June 4, 2002) – PS Hospitality, a hotel revenue generation services company, was launched today, providing integrated sales, marketing and revenue optimization services for independent and chain hotel operators.The company brings together a team of hotel industry veterans with experience in hotel management, revenue/yield maximization, Global Distribution System (GDS) and online reservations technology, Internet marketing, and team building.  ...

Peter J. Regan Named VP Sales, MeriStar Hotels & Resorts Doral Division / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  Peter J. Regan Named VP Sales, MeriStar Hotels & Resorts Doral Division WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 2002--MeriStar Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: MMH), the nation’s largest independent hotel management company, today announced that it has promoted Peter J. Regan to vice president, sales, of the company’s Doral division.   In his new position, Regan will be responsible for driving group and conference center business on a national basis for all of the Doral hotels, resorts, and conference centers.  He also will continue to oversee pre-opening group sales and marketing activities for ...

Dolce Appoints Management Team at PGA National Resort & Spa; Ron Vuy Named General Manager / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Dolce Appoints Management Team at PGA National Resort & Spa; Ron Vuy Named General Manager Montvale, NJ, June 2002 - On April 1, 2002, Dolce International, the global leader in learning through meetings and leisure, took over management of Mobil Four Star, PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and after a short transition period, is very proud to introduce the enhanced and dynamic strategic team of PGA National Resort & Spa under the leadership of Ron Vuy.         Ron Vuy, newly appointed general manager, brings with him many years of experience in vario...

Patty Donovan Named Director of Leisure Sales for La Costa Resort and Spa / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Patty Donovan Named Director of Leisure Sales for La Costa Resort and Spa SAN DIEGO, June 20, 2002- Hospitality industry veteran Patty Donovan has been named director of leisure sales for the internationally acclaimed La Costa Resort and Spa. Donovan brings more than 15 years' experience to the position.  Most recently she was director of leisure sales for Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island, overseeing the resort's grand opening sales efforts and development of rates, room categories, resort packages and more.  She was also responsible for achieving revenue goals fo...

Auckland-based Hotel & Tourism Resources and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Partner to Bring Brand to New Zealand / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report advertisement Auckland-based Hotel & Tourism Resources and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Partner to Bring Brand to New Zealand HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAII - June 12, 2002 - While Outrigger Hotels & Resorts bullishly moves throughout Australia and the Pacific, Hawaii's largest hotelier is now expanding into a new market with the opening of a new management office in Auckland, New Zealand.          The Honolulu-based company expects to announce its first New Zealand property soon with a long-term objective of having four to six hotels and resorts operating within the next three years, a...

Central Florida Hotels & Resorts Determining Spas are an Essential Amenity / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Central Florida Hotels & Resorts Determining Spas are an Essential Amenity By Todd Pack, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 24--Orlando usually isn't a place visitors come to rest. It's where parents exhaust themselves keeping up with their kids in fantasy worlds that can be miserably hot or sopping wet with rain.  But as Central Florida draws more sophisticated, affluent travelers and business groups, a small but growing number of resorts are trying to stand out by offering their guests Swedish massages, pedicures and "herbal cleansings...

Orlando's Convention Center Expansion Will Create the Country's Second-largest Convention Center; On Hold Hotel Projects with 4,000 Rooms Cr

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Orlando's Convention Center Expansion Will Create the Country's Second-largest Convention Center; On Hold Hotel Projects with 4,000 Rooms Creates Concern By Todd Pack, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 3--Orange County is spending some $748 million to double the size of its convention center in hopes of drawing many thousands more business travelers to Central Florida every year.  But there's one snag: there might not be enough places for the visitors to stay.  Officials had hoped a trio of hotel projects with nearly 4,000 rooms combin...

Online Travel Companies Make Moves for Market Share / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Online Travel Companies Make Moves for Market Share By Mary Anne Ostrom, San Jose Mercury News, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 5--Online travel companies are taking off in new directions as they race to claim their piece of an increasingly competitive market.  Tuesday, Yahoo and Travelocity announced a stronger alliance, giving Travelocity near-exclusive travel booking and marketing exposure on the Sunnyvale Web portal.  Also, Expedia and Ticketmaster, both majority-owned by USA Interactive, said they will expand a joint program to sell sports and enter...

OHANA Hotels & Resorts Completes $2 million Renovation Project on Two Waikiki Hotels / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report OHANA Hotels & Resorts Completes $2 million Renovation Project on Two Waikiki Hotels HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAII - June 19, 2002 - OHANA Hotels & Resorts has completed a $2 million renovation project on two of its Waikiki hotels. The 101-room OHANA Royal Islander, located at 2164 Kalia Road, has re-opened following a three-month closure. Work on the neighboring 110-room OHANA Reef Lanai, located at 225 Saratoga Road, was completed earlier this year in February. "Travelers looking for a terrific value close to Waikiki beach should tell their travel agents to book them at the OHANA Royal Islan...

Oakwood First Corporate Housing on Travel Agents' GDS / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Oakwood First Corporate Housing on Travel Agents' GDS LOS ANGELES - June 7, 2002 -- Oakwood Worldwide, the leading global provider of corporate housing, has issued a response to a press release issued today by a competitor, BridgeStreet, a wholly owned subsidiary of MeriStar Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:MMH).  BridgeStreet's press release claimed that the company had just become the first in the corporate housing industry to list its properties on GDS, the reservation system used by travel agents.  "Since 1998, Oakwood Worldwide has been providing its global inventory of corporate housing on...

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report The OpenTravel™ Alliance Version 2002A of Extensible Markup Language Specification Available for Public Review; Accommodates Multiple Travel Verticals ALEXANDRIA, Va. June 25, 2002--The OpenTravel™ Alliance (OTA) released Version 2002A of its Extensible Markup Language (XML) specification for public review.  Addressing multiple levels of interoperability across the travel verticals, Version 2002A enables organizations of all sizes to implement complex online transactions. The public review period extends through July 19, 2002 with final publication of the specification scheduled for J...

If John Q. Hammons Gets His Way, Downtown Oklahoma City Will Keep Getting Roomier / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive If John Q. Hammons Gets His Way, Downtown Oklahoma City Will Keep Getting Roomier By Rick Robinson, The Daily Oklahoman Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 7--If John Q. Hammons gets his way, downtown Oklahoma City will just keep getting roomier.  The Springfield, Mo., hotelier has released architect's renderings of the 225-room Marriott Courtyard Hotel that's scheduled to break ground next month at E.K. Gaylord Boulevard and Reno Avenue.  He also released more details about a proposed Bricktown hotel, identifying it as a four-story, 120-room Marriott Residence...

Official Hotel Guide's Superior Deluxe Classification Awarded to 101 Hotels in 2002 / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  Official Hotel Guide's Superior Deluxe Classification Awarded to 101 Hotels in 2002 SECAUCUS, NJ -- May 30, 2002 -- Official Hotel Guide, the comprehensive and unbiased hotel directory preferred by the world's most successful and productive travel professionals, released its annual list of Superior Deluxe hotels. 101 hotels worldwide qualified for this exclusive classification in 2002.  Official Hotel Guide (OHG) ranks over 29,000 hotels and resorts worldwide in 10 categories. This is the world's only hotel classification system that applies the same criteria to hotels worldwid...

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  .Special Report Smith Travel Data Shines Spotlight on Twin Cities Management Firm Using Maestro PMS from NORTHWIND to Capture Area’s Top RevPAR Morrissey Hospitality’s Famed ‘Heart Felt Service’; Maestro Yield Management Give Historic Saint Paul Hotel Profitability, a Renaissance of Glory July, 2002 - The northern plains of the great Midwest have always been home to hearty pioneers who were not afraid to work in a demanding environment.  Over 200 years ago settlers traveling on foot and in wagon trains came to St. Paul, Minnesota to set trap lines, trade with the Native Americans, and to build hom...

Newmarket International & Passkey Partnership Offers Ideal Integration of Leading Software Solutions / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Newmarket International & Passkey Partnership Offers Ideal Integration of Leading Software Solutions New alliance enables hotels, CVBs and meeting planners to capitalize on significant synergies, saving time and money PORTSMOUTH, N.H./QUINCY, MASS. — JUNE 19, 2002 — Newmarket International Inc., the world leader in travel industry sales, marketing and catering solutions, with well known products such as Delphitm, has formed an alliance with Passkey, the meeting industry’s leading ASP solution for group reservations management and distribution. The new alliance integrates the two lea...

Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism Provokes New Tourism Thinking / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism Provokes New Tourism Thinking WASHINGTON, DC (May 31, 2001) -- The tourism industry should be the first choice -- and not the last resort -- for the youngest and brightest of the  Caribbean region. This was a recurring theme at the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) which drew scores of journalists and tourism experts to the Bahamas this month. The meeting, held at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau May 16-20, took a hard look at the business aspects of tourism industry and featured electric presentations from some of the ...

April, 2002 Gaming Win Increases for Nevada Casinos, but Uncertainty Remains / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive April Gaming Win Increases for Nevada Casinos, but Uncertainty Remains By Dave Berns, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 7--April was a good but not great month for revenue generation at the state's 344 largest casinos.  And so continued the uncertain economic atmosphere that has dominated the Strip and state tourism scenes for the past year, figures released Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board show.  Statewide gaming revenue before expenses was up 3.09 percent to $800 million in April compared with April of last year. A $19.7 mill...

Belvedere Hotels Ltd., Rebrands the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel to the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   Belvedere Hotels Ltd., Rebrands the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel to the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza CINCINNATI - June 4, 2002--Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of the 624-room Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, representing another addition to the brand's growing roster of full-service hotels. Formerly the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel, the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza will continue to be operated and managed by Belvedere Hotels Ltd., under a franchise license agreement with Hilton Hotels Corporation.  "Hilton Hotels Corporation is pleased to have the opp...

February 28, 2002

  Newmarket International’s NetXchange TM MeetingBroker Surpasses 6 million Roomnight Transactions  Early adoption rates soar for industry’s first Internet-based exchange seamlessly integrating lead sources such as electronic RFP sites and national sales offices to a property’s sales system                                                                     PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — JUNE 11, 2002 — Newmarket International Inc. — the makers of DelphiTM and other leading group, sales, catering and banquet solutions — is pleased to announce that its NetXchange...

Despite Rising Occupancy Rates, New York City Hotels Skittish About Raising Room Rates / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Despite Rising Occupancy Rates, New York City Hotels Skittish About Raising Room Rates By Eric Herman, Daily News, New York Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 10--Nine months after Sept. 11, the city's hotels are humming again. Rooms are filling up, and occupancy rates are approaching pre-Sept. 11 levels.  But there are some potentially ominous suggestions that a real recovery may still be far off.  The city lost over 1,000 hotel rooms on Sept. 11, with the Marriott World Trade Center destroyed and the Millennium Hilton still closed. But some downtown hotels ...