Profile; David Alan Siegel, the 67-year-old Orlando Entrepreneur Who is Buying Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Profile; David Alan Siegel, the 67-year-old Orlando Entrepreneur Who is Buying Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort By George Graham, The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 23--TAMPA, Fla.--David Alan Siegel, the 67-year-old Orlando entrepreneur who is buying Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort, stumbled into a time-share bonanza. Siegel owned an orange grove near Disney World, and a man wanted to buy it and develop a time-share resort on the site.  When the man explained the concept, Siegel liked it so much he decided to develop the resort himself.  ...

Arlington, Texas Convention Center Trying to Compete Against Dallas Hotels that Are Giving Away Meeting Space / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Arlington, Texas Convention Center Trying to Compete Against Dallas Hotels that Are Giving Away Meeting Space By Sean Wood, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 20--Some Dallas hotels are cutting room rates, offering free meeting space for conventions and showering meeting planners with gifts in an attempt to fill empty hotel rooms over the next 18 months.  Hardest hit by this stepped-up competition is nearby Arlington, whose convention center competes directly with some of the large Dallas hotels that cater to conventions with on-site ...

Dallas Strives to Move Up a Few Notches in the Rankings of Convention Cities / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Dallas Strives to Move Up a Few Notches in the Rankings of Convention Cities By John Kirkpatrick, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 20--Two decades ago, convention and meeting planners laughed when Orlando, Fla., sought their business. "They'd say, 'All you have is Mickey Mouse,' " said Bill Peeper, president of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.  "We didn't have big convention centers and were viewed, at best, as a third-tier convention city," he said. Although Orlando suffered from a perception that it was inappropria...

David A. Siegel Acquires Grenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort for $12.75 million / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive David A. Siegel Acquires Grenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort for $12.75 million By Bill Heery, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 19--TAMPA, Fla.--An Orlando-based time-share company purchased the once famous Grenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort on Tuesday for $12.75 million.  "Now I own three golf courses, and I don't play golf," said David A. Siegel, president and chairman of the board of Central Florida Investments Inc., which owns 12 Westgate Resorts time-share communities in the United States, including River Ranch in east Polk County.  Siegel s...

David Hancock Named Hotel Group Development Manager for Grand Central Management / May 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report   David Hancock Named Hotel Group Development Manager for Grand Central Management 30 May 2002 - Expansion in the group’s hotel ownership in New Zealand has necessitated the appointment and David Hancock returns to Grand Central Management after nine months with the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand. He has worked in the travel and hospitality since 1990.     David will look at investment and management opportunities in the hotel market as the group rolls out its expansion plans in New Zealand and Australia.     Grand Central’s hotel properties in New Zealand include:...

Executive Housekeeper Denise Blocker at the Embassy Suites Hotel Newark/Wilmington South Wins Hilton's Spirit of Pride Award / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Executive Housekeeper Denise Blocker at the Embassy Suites Hotel Newark/Wilmington South Wins Hilton's Spirit of Pride Award NEWARK/WILMINGTON, Del., June 18, 2002 – Executive Housekeeper Denise Blocker at the Embassy Suites Hotel Newark/Wilmington South has won the Spirit of Pride Award, which was announced at a private ceremony at the hotel.  The award, which is presented quarterly by Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognizes the individual efforts of outstanding employees.   Blocker was recognized for her outstanding performance in generating employee morale and reducing emp...

Princess Cruises Opens Fifth Wilderness Lodge in Alaska, The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Princess Cruises Opens Fifth Wilderness Lodge in Alaska, The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge May, 2002 - Princess welcomes the first guests to the line's newest Alaska property, Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge today, as it officially opens for the 2002 summer season.                The company's fifth custom-built property in the state, the 85-room Copper River lodge is the only hotel of its kind bordering on the nation's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias -- considered one of the most spectacular destinations in the state. The lodge is featured as par...

ConnectedHotel Partners with IP3 Networks to Launch HSIA with VPN for the Hospitality Market / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report ConnectedHotel Partners with IP3 Networks to Launch HSIA with VPN for the Hospitality Market SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS (June 25, 2002) — Getting connected is extremely important to business travelers. Studies have shown that up to 92% of business travelers base their hotel choices on the availability of fast and easy Internet access. They consider High Speed Internet Access (HSIA) invaluable but difficult to find with any consistency. More and more hotels are recognizing this need and using ConnectedHotel’s solutions to give business travelers a free-to-guest HSIA connection to the Internet. Corporate...

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report TeleMatrix™ To Manufacture Hotel In-Room Touchscreen Kiosk Telephone w/ Tampa Based Concierge Networks Colorado Springs, CO, June 18, 2002 - TeleMatrixTM, a leading worldwide provider of telephones for hospitality, commercial, and residential use, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Concierge Networks to design, engineer, and manufacture KioPhoneTM, the first and only in-room kiosk appliance built solely for the hospitality marketplace.  KioPhone integrates full guestroom telephone functionality with an expanded-size touchscreen to provide on-line, customized informati...

The Wyndham Owned Coumbus (Ga.) Hilton to Receive $2 million Renovation, Rebranded Wyndham Columbus / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive The Wyndham Owned Coumbus (Ga.) Hilton to Receive $2 million Renovation, Rebranded Wyndham Columbus By Tony Adams, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 26--The Columbus Hilton has been on the market more than two years, but there has been no taker.  Now its owner, Dallas-based Wyndham International Inc., is taking a different approach. The company has decided to ditch the Hilton franchise and stamp its own brand on downtown's premier, full-service hotel.  Beginning Aug. 1, the Hilton officially will become the "Wyndham Columbus," compa...

Greater Columbia Hotel and Motel Association Opposes University of South Carolina Foundation's Campus Hotel Plan / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Greater Columbia Hotel and Motel Association Opposes University of South Carolina Foundation's Campus Hotel Plan By Clare Ramsey, The State, Columbia, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 27--The USC Foundations' plans to open a 125-room hotel near campus have local hotel operators fuming.  "An analogy would be if the university wanted to build a seafood restaurant to train hotel and restaurant students on cooking right next to the Blue Marlin," said Ted Hasbrouck, general manager of the Holiday Inn Northeast. "The restaurant association would have a nuclear rea...

Club Med Boss Philippe Bourguignon Hopes for Company Turnaround This Summer / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Club Med Boss Philippe Bourguignon Hopes for Company Turnaround This Summer By Ross Tieman, Evening Standard, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 20--Club Med boss Philippe Bourguignon seems fated to travel but never to arrive.  After five years battling to improve the profitability of France's biggest holiday company, the man who turned Euro Disneyland into a success has announced a first-half loss of euro25 million (UKpound 16 million) at Club Mediterranee.  But is there a ray of sunshine, maybe even a destination, around the corner?  Like many of its t...

Janine Cicchino Appointed Director of Sales for The Claridge Hotel, Chicago / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Janine Cicchino Appointed Director of Sales for The Claridge Hotel, Chicago CHICAGO, IL - July 1, 2002 - Janine Cicchino, a 25-year hotel professional, has been appointed director of sales for The Claridge Hotel, 1244 N. Dearborn Parkway, according to General Manager, Tony Suttile.  Cicchino will oversee sales for the 76-year old property's 163 rooms, which cater to the transient business traveler, and small groups and meetings. "Her successful history with hotel sales in Chicago, combined with her personal and professional approach to doing business,  Janine Cicchino ...

Choice Hotels International Inc. Acquires 55% Controlling Interest in Flag Choice Hotels, its Franchising Partner in Australia / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Choice Hotels International Inc. Acquires 55% Controlling Interest in Flag Choice Hotels, its Franchising Partner in Australia SILVER SPRING, Md. - July 1, 2002 - Choice Hotels International, Inc., (NYSE:CHH) today announced it has acquired controlling interest in Melbourne-based Flag Choice Hotels, its franchising partner in Australia.  "By acquiring the controlling interest in Flag Choice Hotels, we will be able to implement a comprehensive business plan designed to improve franchise services, enhance marketing programs, and build a strong base for the Choice brands in the P...

Christie Cookie Company Tracks the 100 millionth Doubletree® Chocolate Chip Cookie / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  Christie Cookie Company Tracks the 100 millionth Doubletree® Chocolate Chip Cookie Milestone Cookie Recipient Found at Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis -- Park Place BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - June 12, 2002 -- Weighing in at a tasty two ounces and traveling in style, one of the most celebrated cookies in history has reached its final destination. The 100 Millionth Doubletree® Chocolate Chip Cookie arrived today with great fanfare at the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis -- Park Place.  At approximately 5:00 yesterday afternoon, Francis Raborn from Great Falls, Va. was personally pr...

Hotels, Restaurants Turning to Chic Restrooms; P.S. — the food is great but be sure to check out the bathrooms / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Hotels, Restaurants Turning to Chic Restrooms; P.S. -- the food is great but be sure to check out the bathrooms By Anabelle de Gale, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 2--From MTV music videos playing above urinals to fish tanks separating the sexes, off-the-stall restrooms are all the rage in restaurants, clubs and hotels across South Florida.  Need to go? Learn another language, have your feet massaged, catch a show or be the show while answering nature's call.  Trendy toilets can make the business at hand a more memorable and enjoyable experie...

Coral Beach Hotels & Clubs to Manage Crown Colony Golf & Country Club and Riverwood Golf & Country Club / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  Coral Beach Hotels & Clubs to Manage Crown Colony Golf & Country Club and Riverwood Golf & Country Club Ft. Myers, Fla. - June 2002 - Paul Rondeau, director of sales and marketing for the Southwest Florida division of Centex Homes, has announced the appointment of Coral Beach Hotels & Clubs as the management company for Crown Colony Golf & Country Club and Riverwood Golf & Country Club.   Coral Beach Hotels & Clubs is a full-service hospitality management and investment company with a portfolio of hotels and country clubs in South Florida and the Caribbean.  The company will be respo...

One million Room Nights Booked in Five Plus Months on Cendant's Web Sites / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report  One million Room Nights Booked in Five Plus Months on Cendant's Web Sites PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 12, 2002 - Cendant Corporation's hotel group today announced that one million room nights have been booked so far this year through its Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Travelodge®, Howard Johnson®, Knights Inn®, Villager, Wingate Inn® and AmeriHost Inn® brand Web sites. Last year the millionth room was booked in August, according to Peter Strebel, senior vice president of sales & marketing for Cendant's hotel group. "Our hotel brand Web sites are now faster and easier to navig...

The Casino Industry Could FaceTobacco-style Lawsuits / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive The Casino Industry Could Face Tobacco-style Lawsuits By Dave Berns, Las Vegas Review-Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 6--The casino industry could face the sort of multibillion-dollar lawsuits that have damaged cigarette, alcohol and gun manufacturers if gaming executives fail to alter their business practices, said a leader of the tobacco litigation push.  Common Cause President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Harshbarger said Wednesday the litigation will come as an increasing number of Americans face lives destroyed by legalized gambling.  The Cap...

Carino Collection Becomes Top Provider of Corporate and Group Sales Support for New York City Independent Hotels / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Carino Collection Becomes Top Provider of Corporate and Group Sales Support for New York City Independent Hotels Carino Collection adds The Regent Wall Street, Flatotel and The Metropolitan Hotel  as members,  doubling the size of their Manhattan City portfolio  June 05, 2002 New York, NY . . . The CARINO CollectionÂ’s President Joseph Carino, Jr., today announced partnerships with three premier hotels, which brings to six the number of CARINO Collection in New York City.  The new Manhattan members of the CARINO Collection are: Regent Wall Street, 55 Wall Street Â...

Foodservice Veteran, Chuck Weber Joins the Upper Midwest Hospitality Lodging and Restaurant Show Team / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online  Special Report Foodservice Veteran, Chuck Weber Joins the Upper Midwest Hospitality Lodging and Restaurant Show Team WHITE PLAINS, NY, June 17, 2002…As an extension of its partnership with Hospitality Minnesota to manage the Upper Midwest Hospitality Lodging and Restaurant Show (UP Show), George Little Management, LLC has retained foodservice industry veteran, Chuck Weber, as sales consultant for the event.  Weber will be responsible for Midwest sales efforts and client relations. He also will consult with GLM on development of the Show’s overall marketing campaign. “I look forward to thi...

Colorado Tourism Leaders Wrestle Their Biggest Foe: Perception that Colorado is Aflame / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Colorado Tourism Leaders Wrestle Their Biggest Foe: Perception that Colorado is Aflame By Jason Blevins, The Denver Post Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 11--Colorado is not a charred landscape of diseased deer stumbling through bone-dry riverbeds surrounded by flaming trees. No matter what the governor says.  State tourism leaders and businesses on Monday wrestled their biggest foe: the perception that Colorado is aflame. That's on top of the long-reported news that the state is in the throes of the driest summer in several decades and addled with diseased rumin...

Wildfires Not Effecting Colorado Tourism…Yet / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Wildfires Not Effecting Colorado Tourism...Yet  By Wayne Heilman and Sara Nesbitt, The Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 11--Wildfires burning in Colorado's mountains haven't had much effect on the state's tourism industry -- yet.  Many hotels and attractions have been taking calls about the fires, but none so far are reporting cancellations.  But if the fires continue to rage through the summer -- possibly closing popular attractions like Pikes Peak and nearby outdoor recreation areas -- it could devastate the tourism trade i...

CNL Hospitality Corp. to Build $50 million Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Tampa, Fla. / June 2002

February 28, 2002

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive CNL Hospitality Corp. to Build $50 million Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Tampa, Fla. By Mark Albright, St. Petersburg Times, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 13--TAMPA, Fla.--An Orlando developer has signed a deal to build a nine-story Renaissance hotel at International Plaza.  Construction of the 300-room, four-star property is scheduled to begin in early 2003 with an opening in 2004.  The hotel, which will sit between the outdoor restaurant district and Neiman Marcus, will be Tampa's first Renaissance and the third Marriott property within a mile of Tampa...