Cendant and Liberty Media Corp. Working Together to Develop Internet and Cable Distribution for Cendant Hotels / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Cendant and Liberty Media Corp. Working Together to Develop Internet and Cable Distribution for Cendant Hotels Liberty Media to Invest $400 Million in Cendant Common Stock NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 1999 - Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) today announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: LMG.A and LMG.B). Specifically, Cendant and Liberty Media have agreed to work together to develop Internet and related opportunities associated with Cendant’s travel, mortgage, real estate and membership businesses. Such efforts may include the creation of ...

Leisure Hotels, L.L.C Signs Management Contract for 82-unit Hawthorn Suites LTD. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Leisure Hotels, L.L.C Signs Management Contract  for 82-unit Hawthorn Suites LTD. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Goal to Become One of the Largest Independently Owned  Hotel Operators in Central US. HUTCHINSON, KS - Dec 7, 1999 - Leisure Hotels, L.L.C. in its quest to become one of the largest independently owned hotel operators in the central U.S. has recently signed three additional management agreements this year bringing to 20 the number of properties in its management portfolio.   Hawthorn Suites LTD. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Most recently, management contra...

Survey Reveals What Hotel Guests Steal, Leave Behind / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Survey Reveals What Hotel Guests Steal,  Leave Behind December 1999 - We’re all guilty of it.  We check into a hotel, and upon departure grab those little soaps, shampoos, maybe a hanger or two.  “At these prices, I deserve it,” we tell ourselves. But what else do some of us think we deserve? And what do we junk to make room in our suitcases for these newly stolen treasures?  WHERE Magazine, the visitor publication found in the rooms and concierge desks of the better hotels around the globe, conducted a survey in eleven of its cities in the US and Europe to find out...

Boldly Computing Where No Wires Have Gone Before / Elizabeth Lauer / Winter 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Boldly Computing Where No Wires  Have Gone Before By Elizabeth Lauer  Whenever I browse through the latest edition of UPDATE Magazine, I can’t help picturing myself standing in a remote, highly-secretive laboratory listening to a dapper guy name “Q”.  He is prattling on at a precarious speed, while showing me the latest and greatest in “007 competitive advantage.”  The same gadgetry that is supposed to save our hero in a predicament set forth by an unseen nemesis, can also cause instant, or slow and painful death if it fails.  When I was a kid,  I wanted to grow up and ...

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Adam’s Mark  Statement and Fact Sheets in  Response to U.S. Dept of Justice Investigation  of Adam’s Mark/HBE Corp. ST. LOUIS, Dec. 16, 1999 - We are, of course, disappointed to have been named as a subject today of an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. We believe that, when the Department’s investigations are finally concluded, Adam’s Mark and its parent, HBE Corp., will be completely exonerated from the allegations in the complaint. In fact, while we, like any other customer-service company in the U.S., are vulnerable to lawsuits and public critique, we be...

Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts Ceases Management of The Pan Pacific Sutera, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts Ceases Management  of The Pan Pacific Sutera Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia  December 21, 1999 Singapore -- Mr. Ichigo Umehara, President of Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts and Mr. Edward Ong, Chief Executive Officer of Sutera Harbour, jointly announce that Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts will cease its management of The Pan Pacific Sutera Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia with effect from January 1, 2000.   The 500-room hotel was opened in April 1998 as part of the Sutera Harbour Complex, which also includes The Magellan Sutera Hotel and Spa, the Sutera Harbour Golf and C...

Johansens Opens Inspections for Luxury Hotel, Inns Seeking Inclusion in 2001 North American Travel Guide / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Johansens Opens Inspections for Luxury Hotel, Inns Seeking Inclusion in 2001 North American Travel Guide LONDON, Dec. 14, 1999 – Johansens, the premier publisher of guides to world’s finest independently-owned boutique hotels and inns, has opened inspections for properties wishing to be considered for inclusion in the 2001 edition of its Guide to Recommended Properties, North America, Bermuda and the Caribbean.  Its North American guide is one of a series of books Johansens publishes annually that showcase luxury accommodations around the world – from castles, inns an...

Outlook 2000 – A Roundtable Discussion / JMBM / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel OnlineSpecial Report Outlook 2000 -  A Roundtable Discussion The editors of Global Hospitality Advisor recently spoke with five leaders in the hospitality industry to explore their predictions for the issues that will shape the coming years.  Also: '90s Trends That Didn't Make It Global Hospitality Advisor: The hospitality industry has a fundamental business challenge: its inventory has to be sold every night or it expires. So, at the foundation it is about "heads in beds." What, in your opinion is inside those heads and what are their shifts in spending patterns.?  Jim Butler (Jeffer, Mangels, Butler &...

If You Can't Stand the Smoke, Get out of the Pub / JMBM / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel OnlineSpecial Report If You Can't Stand the Smoke, Get out of the Pub December 1999 - Since January 1, 1998, smoking has been banned in virtually all public  and private workplaces in California. Recently, however, a California judge has decided that it is possible for a pub to utilize a loophole in the law which prohibited smoking.  One of the few exception to the general prohibition against smoking in the workplace is a retail or wholesale tobacco shop and private smokers' lounge, used by cigar clubs and tobacconists to avoid the strictures of the law. According to the statute, a retail or wholesale toba...

ANA Hotels International Improves RFP Process to Corporate Clients with Hotel RFP Solutions / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report ANA Hotels International Improves RFP Process  to Corporate Clients with Hotel RFP Solutions New York, November 29, 1999 --- ANA Hotels International, a leading Japanese hotel company with properties in Japan, Asia, Australia, and Europe has entered into a two-year agreement with JBH Travel Audit to use Hotel RFP Solutions. Developed by JBH Travel Audit in Denver, Colorado, Hotel RFP Solutions is a web-based product that acts as a shared electronic file cabinet available to all individual hotels and sales offices.  The RFP Process, including solicitation of bids from...

Arquitectonica and Langdon Wilson Collaborating on Design of $95 Million, 308 room Ritz-Carlton, Irvine / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Arquitectonica and Langdon Wilson Collaborating on Design of $95 Million, 308 room Ritz-Carlton, Irvine IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 15, 1999 - Two prominent architectural firms have been named to design The Ritz-Carlton, Irvine at Park Place, the $95 million, 308-room hotel set to break ground next March.  Arquitectonica, with U.S. offices in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, and Langdon Wilson, of Irvine, will collaborate on the 15-story super-luxury hotel, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2002. Langdon Wilson will be the architect of record, and Arquitectonica will be the desig...

Intelisys Working with Starwood to Slash Costs of Purchasing By Up to 40% Annually / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Intelisys Working with Starwood to Slash Costs of Purchasing By Up to 40% Annually  Will Connect Directly With Suppliers Online NEW YORK - Dec. 22, 1999--Intelisys Electronic Commerce, Inc., a leader in global business-to-business e-commerce, announced today that it will team up with Starwood Resorts Hotels Worldwide, Inc., one of the world’s largest hotel and leisure companies, to help them connect directly with suppliers online and reduce the costs of purchasing. Starwood, which through its subsidiaries operates the Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Fo...

Maryland Economic Development Corporation, Quadrangle Development Corporation and Hyatt Corporation Start Construction on 400 room Hyatt Regency Ches

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Maryland Economic Development Corporation,  Quadrangle Development Corporation and Hyatt Corporation Start Construction on 400 room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay CHICAGO - Dec. 14, 1999--A venture including Chicago-based Hyatt Corporation has secured funding to build a $152 million privately-financed waterfront Hyatt resort, golf course and marina on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore in Cambridge, Md. The resort hotel and conference center will be owned by Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) and managed by Hyatt Corporation. The developer is Quadrangle Develop...

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Mike Whitson, The Houstonian Hotel’s  Director of Marketing,  Sees the Future  with Daylight Software Four star, four diamond Houstonian Hotel switches to Daylight’s enterprise™ sales and catering system–  “Looking at the future of sales and catering in the hotel industry”—Mike Whitson, Houstonian Hotel– DOVER, NH November 30, 1999--Daylight Software Inc, Dover, NH and The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston, TX announced, today, that the Houstonian has selected Daylight Software, Inc. to provide Daylight enterprise, its enterprise-wide, ...

HotelView Adds Consumer Features to its Destination Bundling Web Site / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report HotelView  Adds Consumer Features to its  Destination Bundling Web Site POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (December 20, 1999) - HotelView Corporation has redesigned its Web site at http://www.hotelview.com with a new look, destination videos and the addition of travel tools to simplify trip planning.  A wholly owned subsidiary of Visual Data Corporation (NASDAQ:VDAT), HotelView’s site also now includes banner advertising and gives viewers the option of choosing between RealPlayer or Windows Media at speeds of 56, 100 or 300. Viewers can still enjoy watching high-quality streaming video tours of so...

Internet Based Training Now Available To Hotel Vendors and Suppliers / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Internet Based Training Now Available To  Hotel Vendors and Suppliers Fort Worth, TX – December 8, 1999 - HotelTraining.com announced today the formation of a new division that will address the increasing demand for their custom Internet based training platform.  The new division has been created to work with vendors and suppliers of hotel-related products and services.  “This was the next logical step for us” said Jay Delerno, President of MacDel Inc., d/b/a HotelTraining.com. “This year’s HITEC Show exposed us to a number of inquiries from hotel software and ha...

Novotel and Hotel Ibis at Olympic Park Homebush Bay Open at 100% Occupancy / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Novotel and Hotel Ibis at Olympic Park Homebush Bay Open at 100% Occupancy Fifty percent of annual occupancy already confirmed at Olympic Park Hotels 14 December 1999 -  With one month until the doors open and over 55,000 room nights already confirmed at the combined 327 room Novotel and Hotel Ibis complex on Olympic Boulevard Homebush Bay in 2000, the dual hotel complex is already sitting on 50% occupancy for the year. Opening 14 January 2000 in time for the Swimming World Cup and World Cup Diving, the Novotel is already 100% full for its first week of operation, with...

Corporate Holiday Parties Can Result in Costly Lawsuits / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Corporate Holiday Parties Can Result  in Costly Lawsuits  STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 9, 1999 - Holiday parties may result in costly lawsuits claims Marsh, Inc., the world’s leading risk advisor and insurance broker. “Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions hold that employers may be liable for acts of sexual harassment and discrimination committed by supervisory employees, and holiday parties are no exception.” says Chris DiBona - Managing Director of Marsh, Inc.’s Connecticut operations. “If not planned and monitored with care, office parties can undermine otherwise we...

Bob Hermany, Starwood Chicago Managing Director, to Head Hilton Arlington Park Conversion / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Bob Hermany, Starwood Chicago Managing Director, to Head Hilton Arlington Park Conversion CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 1999 - Bob Hermany, Chicago Area Managing Director for the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has been named to head the hotel chain’s conversion of the Hilton Arlington Park.  As Area Managing Director, Hermany will oversee the multi-million renovation of the hotel, which will be reflagged as the Sheraton Arlington Park. The conversion date is set for January 17th with renovation beginning in early January. Starwood owns and manages 486 Sheraton and Westin hote...

ASTON® Enters Marketing Agreement with Hanalei Bay Resort on Kauai / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report ASTON® Enters Marketing Agreement with  Hanalei Bay Resort on Kauai HONOLULU December 22, 1999 - Hotel Corporation of the Pacific, dba ASTON Hotels & Resorts, today announced an agreement with Quintus Resorts of Nevada to handle the sales and marketing of the deluxe Hanalei Bay Resort on the north shore of Kauai in the Princeville Resort area. The agreement is effective immediately.  Ranked as one of the top 30 tropical resorts in the world by Conde Nast Traveler, this luxury condominium resort was built in 1979 and was completely renovated in 1995.  It offers majestic views from i...

Occupancy Will Continue to Drop in 1999, But Rebound Slightly in 2000 According to HRG's State of Hotel Industry Report / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Occupancy Will Continue to Drop in 1999,  But Rebound Slightly in 2000 According to  HRG's State of Hotel Industry Report Atlanta, GA,  November 22, 1999 - The Hospitality Research Group (HRG), the research affiliate of PKF Consulting, released its 1999 edition of its annual State of the U.S. Hotel Industry report.  Each year, HRG projects the performance of hotels located in major U.S. cities.  The results of the 1999 - 2000 projection were initially released at a press briefing in September at the Cornell Club of New York.  Now, the full contents of this briefing...

Yogi Hutsen Named GM at The Westin Seattle; Carla Murray Joins Sheraton Seattle Hotel Towers as GM / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Yogi Hutsen Named GM at The Westin Seattle; Carla Murray Joins Sheraton Seattle Hotel Towers as GM  SEATTLE - Dec. 16, 1999-  Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide announces the realignment of two Seattle hotels, the Sheraton Seattle Hotel Towers and Westin Seattle. As part of a corporate-wide realignment, Sheraton Seattle Hotel Towers general manager, Yogi Hutsen will become general manager of The Westin Seattle. Hutsen will also continue to serve as Starwood area managing director for Westin properties located in the Pacific Northwest region including The Westin Alye...

Starwood Re-Organizes North American Hotel Operations / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online  Special Report Starwood Re-Organizes  North American Hotel Operations Also - Edward S. Netzhammer Named Vice President of Global Revenue Management WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Dec. 13, 1999 - Ted Darnall, President - North America Hotel Operations for Starwood Hotel Group, announced the promotions of two current Starwood executives and longtime hotel veterans to key positions within North American hotel operations. Hotel Operations Moves from Geographic to Brand-Specific Organization For the last 18 months, Starwood’s North America Division was aligned geographically, allowing the co...

Vista Host Appoints Thomas Gualano GM at the Hawthorn Suites at the Pennsylvania Convention Center / Dec 1999

April 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Vista Host Appoints Thomas Gualano GM at the Hawthorn Suites at the Pennsylvania Convention Center December,  1999 - Philadelphia, PA., Vista Host, a Houston based hotel management firm announced today that Thomas Gualano has been appointed General Manager of the Hawthorn Suites at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  In this role, Gualano will be responsible for the overall operation of the hotel.  “Based on Thomas’s outstanding record in the Hospitality industry, we are confident that he will be instrumental in ensuring the sucess of the Hawthorn Suites,” said Peter Birckhead, Se...