Florida Attorney General Issues Subpoenas to 10 Florida Hotels Over Energy Surcharges / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Miami Men File Suits Against Hotels for Adding Energy Surcharges to Bills By Michele Chandler, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jun. 29--Several top hotel chains have quietly added energy surcharges to consumers' hotel bills, an action that has spurred at least two lawsuits and an investigation by Florida's attorney general.  The surcharges, usually about $3 or less per night, are necessary to balance increasing electricity costs, the hotel companies say. But customers often aren't told about the add-ons until checkout, a violation of state law, ac...

General Manager Doug Sears Opens the 425 Room Elliott Grand Hyatt Seattle / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report   General Manager Doug Sears Opens the  425 Room Elliott Grand Hyatt Seattle SEATTLE - July 23, 2001 - The much-anticipated Elliott Grand Hyatt Seattle debuted today, becoming the first member of the distinguished Leading Hotels of the World to be located in the United States’ Pacific Northwest. In keeping with Seattle’s rising cosmopolitan style and high-tech stature, the Elliott Grand Hyatt Seattle combines unsurpassed technology with the warmth and service of a sophisticated city residence. Its 425-room tower overlooks the stunning snow-capped peaks of the Olympic and Casca...

Extended Stay America to Leave Behind 165 Florida Employees in Corporate Move Spartanburg / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Extended Stay America to Leave Behind 165 Florida  Employees in Corporate Move Spartanburg By Patrick Danner, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jul. 20--About 165 employees in Extended Stay America's 200-person Fort Lauderdale corporate office won't be following the company when it moves its headquarters to South Carolina in the next month or so.  While the option to join the company in Spartanburg was open to all corporate employees, only about 35 -- primarily executives and senior managers -- have chosen to make the move, said Robert A. Brannon, Exte...

Accounting for Hospitality Managers by Raymond Cote, CPA, CCP Releases 4th Edition / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online  Special Report  Accounting for Hospitality Managers by  Raymond Cote, CPA, CCP Releases  4th Edition New Name, New Chapters  LANSING, Mich., July 2001 - The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association has released the fourth edition of Accounting for Hospitality Managers, by Raymond Cote, CPA, CCP. Formerly titled Understanding Hospitality Accounting II, this revised textbook includes four completely new chapters and several topics intended to give students the knowledge they will need to apply hospitality accounting at the supervisory and managerial levels. New chapters ...

Fairmont Acquires Minority Stake in 393-room Luxury Business Hotel Project in Dubai; Will Manage the Hotel Upon Completion / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report    Fairmont Acquires Minority Stake in 393-room  Luxury Business Hotel Project in Dubai;  Will Manage the Hotel Upon Completion Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 16 2001 – The private office of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan announced today that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont) has been appointed to manage its 393-room luxury business hotel in Dubai, adding that an agreement for Fairmont to acquire a minority stake in the project has also been made. William Fatt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fairmont sees the move as the ‘the first of many’:  ...

Diplomat Resort, Country Club and Spa Faces Federal Lawsuit for Widespread Discrimination / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Diplomat Resort, Country Club and  Spa Faces Federal Lawsuit for  Widespread Discrimination  By Buddy Nevins, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jul. 26--Jose Romero says his boss made fun of his accent and called him a "stupid Hispanic" while he was the restaurant purchasing manager of the Diplomat Resort, Country Club and Spa.  Pierre Kattan, the Diplomat's restaurant operations manager, says his Islamic religious beliefs were constantly the butt of jokes in the kitchen and that he was ordered not to hire blacks because "black people do n...

Lack of Certainty Over Completion Date for Denver's Convention Center Expansion Causing High-dollar Conventions to Go Elsewhere / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Convention Center Battle, Delays Costs Denver $150 Million, Official Says By Jason Blevins, The Denver Post Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jul. 1--Denver has lost $152.5 million in convention business as the political battle over expansion of the convention center rages on, says the city's leading tourism official.  And if the city doesn't have a firm date for the opening of the proposed expansion and its accompanying hotel in the next two months, another $150 million will be lost, he warns.  "If we don't have the space, we won't get those groups. If we don't h...

The Rate at Which Luxury Hotels Are Opening in Miami is Unusual; HoteliersExpect it Will Take Years for the 2,000 New High-end rooms to be Filled / Ju

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive The Rate at Which Luxury Hotels Are Opening  in Miami is Unusual; Hoteliers Expect it Will Take  Years for the 2,000 New High-end rooms to be Filled By Cara Buckley, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jul. 23--With the opening of the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne Thursday, Miami-Dade moved one step closer to becoming a luxury hotel haven. By 2002's end, eight new top-tier properties -- plus dozens less deluxe -- will have opened in two years, a hotel building boom that rivals New York's of the early 1980s and San Francisco's 15 years ago.    Given th...

Organized School Excursions from Japan Targeted for Growth by Hawaii Tourism Groups / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report   Organized School Excursions from Japan Targeted  for Growth by Hawaii Tourism Groups July 20, 2001 - Educational tourism in Hawaii has grown rapidly over the last few years. This growth is partly attributed to the state's efforts at focusing on this segment of the tourism market, which has significant value added benefits and helps broaden and diversify our visitor industry.                   To encourage continued growth, and in support of Hawaii's educational programs, tourism service providers and education-related activities, DBEDT, along with its business ...

I Don't Want No Satisfaction… I Want Loyalty! / Bill Fitzpatick / Hospitality Upgrade Magazine / Summer 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report I Don't Want No Satisfaction...  I Want Loyalty! To view more articles covering technology for the hospitality industry please visit the Hospitality Upgrade Web site or to request a free publication please call (678) 802-5300 or email. This article is from the Summer 2001 issue of Hospitality Upgrade, formerly the Hotel & Restaurant Technology UPDATE magazine. This article is from the Summer 2001 issue of Hospitality Upgrade, formerly the Hotel & Restaurant Technology UPDATE magazine. By Bill Fitzpatrick As smart as you are, I know that you aren’t falling for that old 1...

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online  Special Report    Hotel Industry’s Thorniest Questions May be  Answered by Cornell Hotel School &  Smith Travel Research Alliance Joint Effort Will Focus on Key Industry Issues Ithaca, NY, and Hendersonville, TN - July 6, 2001 -- Smith Travel Research has entered into a strategic alliance with the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration to develop a series of research studies that seek to unravel some of the hotel industry’s thorniest questions.  The research projects will be conducted under the aegis of The Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University, which is housed at...

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report     Human Resources Issues Top List of  “What Keeps Industry Managers Up at Night” /  Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research ITHACA, N.Y. - July 30, 2001 - In a survey of hotel managers from over 25 countries, The Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration has found that 57 percent of respondents are most troubled by human-resources issues. Topping the list of concerns is attracting talented people to the industry, followed by how to retain, motivate, train and develop them.    “From our ‘Key Industry Concerns’ survey, we found...

Beverly Crescent Hotel and Sunset Waters Beach Resort Appoint Coastal Hotel Group as Management Company / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report    Beverly Crescent Hotel and Sunset Waters Beach  Resort Appoint Coastal Hotel Group  as Management Company Chicago, IL,  July 9, 2001 – Coastal Hotel Group, a Chicago based full-service boutique hotel management company, is pleased to announce it’s newest properties, the Beverly Crescent Hotel, a luxury property located in the heart of Beverly Hills, and Sunset Waters Beach Resort, an all-inclusive resort in Curacao, Netherland Antilles.   The Beverly Crescent Hotel is a contemporary boutique hotel complete with a European breakfast and afternoon tea recently purchased by an in...

Choice Offers Development Incentives for Reimaged Brands; Fee Reductions, Royalty Percentage Reductions, or Cash / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online  Special Report Choice Offers Development Incentives for Reimaged  Brands; Fee Reductions, Royalty Percentage  Reductions, or Cash  SILVER SPRING, Md., July 24, 2001 - In support of the reimaging strategy underway for three of its brands and to stimulate system growth in the face of a challenging economy, Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH) today announced the introduction of incentives for development of its Sleep, Quality and Comfort Suites brand hotels. For developers of Sleep brand hotels, a cash rebate of $20,000 will be issued if groundbreaking occurs within eight months of contract ...

The Popularity of Boutique Hotels / The Canadian Lodging Outlook / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online  Special Report The Popularity of Boutique Hotels CANADIAN LODGING OUTLOOK May 2001 Year-to-Date The Canadian Lodging Outlook is a joint monthly publication  of Smith Travel Research and HVS International,  Vancouver and Toronto, Canada By: Kaushik Vardharajan, Consulting and Valuation Analyst, HVS International - New York Hotels built in the 19th century and through the mid-20th century were very much like people. Each hotel had its own distinctive façade and a unique décor, but more importantly, each had its own personality that was impossible to copy elsewhere. People would stay only at a particular...

Prominent Swiss Hotelier Carmen Bucher Wirth Dies at Age 88 / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online  Special Report    Prominent Swiss Hotelier Carmen Bucher Wirth  Dies at Age 88 5 Jul 2001 - Carmen Bucher Wirth, owner of the world-famous Hassler Hotel, died Wednesday June 27th in a Rome hospital.. She was 88 years old.  A member of one of Europe’s most prominent Swiss hotel families, Mrs. Wirth was educated in New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, where she earned a degree in international law. When her husband, hotelier Oscar Wirth, died in 1968, leaving her with two young boys, she immediately drew upon her inherited aptitude for the hotel business and concentrated on making the Hassler the ...

Crestline Second Quarter Results Boosted by Senior Living Communities / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report    Crestline Second Quarter Results Boosted  by Senior Living Communities BETHESDA, MD, July 17, 2001 – Crestline Capital Corporation (NYSE:CLJ) reported second quarter 2001 Earnings before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization and other non-cash items (EBITDA) of $22.3 million, a 31 percent decrease from 2000 EBITDA of $32.5 million. Year-to-date EBITDA was $46.0 million, a 26 percent decrease from 2000 EBITDA of $62.3 million. The 2001 results have been significantly affected by the January 2001 sale of the Host Marriott full-service hotel leases, which generated over...

Starwood Begins Marketing CIGA Portfolio / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report     Starwood Begins Marketing CIGA Portfolio WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 19, 2001 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that Deutsche Bank, Jones Lang LaSalle and JP Morgan have been retained to market for sale all or a portion of the Company's hotels within the CIGA portfolio.  Starwood plans to sell the hotels but retain long-term management contracts.  The Company has spent considerable time determining the optimal strategy for maximizing sale proceeds.       CIGA's assets include the St. Regis Grand and Westin Excelsior in Rome, Hotel Danieli a...

CHIP Hospitality Assumes Management of the Residence Inn by Marriott Canmore and the Grand Canadian Resorts Timeshare Development / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report     CHIP Hospitality Assumes Management of the Residence Inn  by Marriott Canmore and the Grand Canadian  Resorts Timeshare Development Vancouver, British Columbia (July 18, 2001): CHIP Hospitality, a subsidiary of Canadian Hotel Income Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CHIP REIT/Hot.un:TSE) and one of Canada’s largest hotel management companies, today announced it will assume the management of the Residence Inn by Marriott Canmore and the Grand Canadian Resorts timeshare development in Alberta, Canada, effective July 1, 2001.  This agreement launches CHIP Hospitality’s new ...

Choice Hotels 2nd Qtr Results Exceed Analysts' Expectations; Internet Reservations Represent 7.2% of Total System Sales for 2nd Qtr / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report  Choice Hotels 2nd Qtr Results Exceed Analysts'  Expectations; Internet Reservations Represent 7.2%  of Total System Sales for 2nd Qtr Operating Information By Brand Revenues Up 10% for 2nd Quarter SILVER SPRING, Md., July 23, 2001 - Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), the world's second largest hotel franchisor, today reported second quarter 2001 recurring net income of $14.4 million, or $0.32 recurring diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared to the $14.3 million in recurring net income and $0.27 recurring diluted EPS reported for second quarter 2000.    Â...

Stanford Hotels Group Developing 600 Room Convention Hotel Adjacent to San Francisco Airport / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report   Stanford Hotels Group Developing 600 Room Convention  Hotel Adjacent to San Francisco Airport SAN FRANCISCO - July 20, 2001-- Stanford Hotels of San Francisco is pleased to announce plans to develop a 600-room, First Class Convention Hotel in Burlingame, California, adjacent to the San Francisco International Airport, which will be located on the bay front next to its 404-room Sheraton Gateway Hotel.      Stanford Hotels plans to develop a 12-story building with 600 guest rooms, luxury penthouse suites, two restaurants, European spa and health club facilities. A special fe...

The 20 Casinos in Black Hawk, CO Set the Pace for Colorado's Gaming Tax Collections / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online Special Report     The 20 Casinos in Black Hawk, CO Set the Pace  for Colorado's Gaming Tax Collections Black Hawk, Colorado. Tuesday, July 17, 2001 — Another record year!  That’s what Colorado gaming enjoyed, as led by the 20 casinos in Black Hawk the state’s industry posted an all-time high AGP (Adjusted Gross Proceeds) figure of $650.5 million for the tax year of July 2000-June 2001.  That’s up 9.3% from the $595 million in 1999-2000.   The Black Hawk casinos did even better;  their 2000-2001 AGP of $453.6 million bested their previous year figure of $395 million by a whopping 14.8%!  Fo...

Food & Beverage Mistakes & How to Correct Them / Harry Nobles / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online  Special Report Bell Staff Mistakes &  How to Correct Them E-mail:  hospsvc001@aol.com Harry Nobles,  July 2001 During my many years of inspecting and evaluating hundreds of hotels and restaurants and dealing with  thousands of employees,  I sometimes think I have experienced every possible example of service delivery.  I hope I am wrong because that might lessen my enthusiastic anticipation at visiting and shopping the next property.   Over the years I have acquired some pet peeves about service and some mistakes that employees make when providing these services.   I have also developed  ...

Washington, D.C.-Area Hotels See More Bedbug Infestations / July 2001

March 30, 2001

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Washington, D.C.-Area Hotels See More Bedbug Infestations By Kristina Stefanova, The Washington Times Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News  Jul. 26--Strange bedfellows are not uncommon for the nation's capital.  Neither are bedbugs.  The quarter-inch, brown, oval, wingless insects increasingly are infesting hotel rooms, sharing visitors' beds strictly to suck their blood.  "Bedbugs are associated in the public's mind with filthy living conditions, but that's not the case," said Phil Koehler, an urban entomologist with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and ...