EI Videos Focus on Front Office Performance / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report EI Videos Focus on Front Office Performance ORLANDO, Fla., September 1999—Four new videos from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association (EI) focus on essential front office performance skills that increase guest satisfaction and boost repeat business.  The videos, which address sales, guest relations and operations for both full- and limited-service properties, demonstrate the correct skills and attitudes necessary for front office success. Each video combines effective training methods with motivational material to help employees feel good about themselves, t...

Edwin Booth Named President and CEO at IDeaS, Inc. / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Edwin Booth Named President and CEO at IDeaS, Inc. MINNEAPOLIS, MN, September 1, 1999 – IDeaS, Inc., the leading provider of a yield management solution to the hospitality industry, announced that Edwin (Ed) Booth recently joined the company as the President and CEO. In addtion, Dr. Subhash Gupta, one of the founders of IDeaS and former President and CEO, will stay on as the Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Booth is the former President and CEO of JobBOSS Software, of Minneapolis, MN, which became the leading supplier of enterprise management software and services for job shops and small c...

The Diplomat Appoints Cyntercon As a Technology Consulting Partner for its 1000-room Oceanfront Hotel / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report The Diplomat Appoints Cyntercon As a  Technology Consulting Partner for  its 1000-room Oceanfront Hotel  Gaithersburg, Maryland—September 13, 1999—CynterCon today announced that it will provide comprehensive IT Outsourcing services to The Diplomat Resort & Country Club (The Diplomat).  Located in Hollywood, FL, the project includes a hotel, country club, golf course, convention center, retail mall, yacht harbor and condominiums. CynterCon provides global consulting and outsourcing services. It is a CynterCorp affiliated company.  As the third phase of a multi-phase project, Cy...

McCormack Baron Associates and SunAmerica Break Ground on $55 Million Westin St. Louis / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report McCormack Baron Associates and SunAmerica Break Ground on $55 Million Westin St. Louis Westin in Historic Cupples Station Fundamental to Downtown Revitalization SEATTLE, Sept. 8, 1999 - Construction has commenced on the 224-room Westin St. Louis, scheduled to open Sept. 1, 2000. The $55 million hotel is a key element of the $300 million redevelopment of downtown St. Louis which also includes a combination of office, retail, hotel, housing and parking facilities. Westin Hotels Resorts will manage the hotel for McCormack Baron Associates and SunAmerica, the owners and developers of ...

Michele Vianello, Deputy Mayor of Venice, Flown to Las Vegas by Culinary Workers Union to March Against the The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino / Sept 19

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Michele Vianello, Deputy Mayor of Venice, Flown to  Las Vegas by Culinary Workers Union to  March Against the The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino LAS VEGAS - Sept. 24, 1999 - The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino criticized the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 today for financing a known communist to travel to Las Vegas in order to march with them on the Las Vegas Strip. “It is unconscionable that the Culinary Union would use their members’ hard-earned dollars to fly a communist leader from Italy to Las Vegas to generate bad publicity for Las Vegas,” said William Weidner, President of...

Dr. John B. Corgel Joins PKF Consulting as Managing Director of Applied Research / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Dr. John B.  Corgel Joins PKF Consulting as  Managing Director of Applied Research New York, NY.  September 16, 1999.  Dr. John B. “Jack” Corgel has joined PKF Consulting as Managing Director of Applied Research for the firm’s newest division, The Hospitality Research Group (HRG).  Dr. Corgel joins the firm from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, where he was a member of the faculty for nine years.  During his tenure at Cornell, he served as the university’s first Director of the Center for Hospitality Research. “We’re delighted to have Jack Corgel as pa...

HRH Prince Alwaleed and Interests Now the Sole Owner of Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report HRH Prince Alwaleed and Interests  Now the Sole Owner of  Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel BOSTON - Sept. 20, 1999--Entities indirectly owned by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud recently purchased its partner’s interest in the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel becoming the sole owner of the luxurious Boston property. Prince Alwaleed’s interests and Olympus Real Estate Corporation initially purchased the property together in September of 1996. Terms of the Olympus buyout were not disclosed. Financing was provided by a bank syndicate led by Fleet National Bank. Commenting on the t...

Sol Melia Names Charles Tee as Vice President for Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Sol Melia Names Charles Tee as Vice President for Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific  Singapore, 14 September 1999 - Sol Meliá today announced the appointment of Mr Charles Tee as the Vice President  for Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific, responsible for the international marketing and sales operations of the group’s 11 Asian properties.  Mr Tee will be taking over from Mr Ron Roy who will be moving to Miami USA to assume a new global marketing role. The first Singaporean to be appointed to this regional post, Mr Tee is expected to play a significant role in increasing the group’s region...

Chaminade Executive Conference Center Receives $3 Million Renovation / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Chaminade Executive Conference Center Receives  $3 Million Renovation THE WOODLANDS, Texas September 26, 1999 - Chaminade at Santa Cruz, the leading conference center in Monterey Bay, California, has completed the final stages of a major renovation under the direction of Benchmark Hospitality, which manages the historic property.  The $3-million project ranged from refurbishing the 152 guestrooms to opening up majestic views of the Bay from the center’s restaurant. In the sleeping villas, four of the 152 guestrooms were upgraded into executive suites with attached parlors.  All gues...

Burt Cabañas Named One of 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Burt Cabañas Named One of 25 Most Influential  People in the Meetings Industry THE WOODLANDS, Texas, September 14, 1999 -  Burt Cabañas, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Benchmark Hospitality, has been named one of the 25 most influential people in the $82 billion meetings industry, by Meeting News magazine, one of the leading meeting trade publications.  Meeting News, which highlights Cabañas’s advocacy of resort-type centers, notes that Benchmark “runs the kind of high-profile properties that buyers increasingly are associating with this niche.” The story also cred...

Construction and Soft Demand in Salt Lake City Impacts Performance Of Cavanaughs Olympus Hotel / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Construction and Soft Demand in Salt Lake City Impacts Performance Of Cavanaughs Olympus Hotel SPOKANE, Wash., Sept. 17, 1999 - Cavanaughs Hospitality Corporation (NYSE: CVH), a lodging, entertainment and real estate services company, today reported that overall weak demand in the Salt Lake City area, combined with temporary closures of key highway off-ramps leading to the hotel, will impact third quarter earnings.  The Cavanaughs Olympus Hotel, the chain’s second largest property, with 393 guest rooms, or 10% of the Company’s total inventory of rooms, has previously been singled out by mana...

Wise Managers Will Establish Mandatory Alcohol Service Training Programs / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Wise Managers Will Establish Mandatory  Alcohol Service Training Programs EI Updates C.A.R.E. Program ORLANDO, Fla., September 1999—Before this holiday season’s “spirits” flow, wise managers will establish mandatory alcohol service training programs for their employees. Controlling Alcohol Risks Effectively (C.A.R.E.™), the responsible alcohol service seminar developed for the hospitality industry by the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Motel Association, provides the critical information servers need to perform their jobs safely.  To help employees learn and...

Bruce V. Bloom Named President and CEO at Knights Franchise Systems / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Bruce V. Bloom  Named President and CEO  at Knights Franchise Systems Parsippany, NJ, September 13, 1999 - Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) today announced that it has named Bruce V. Bloom as president and Chief Executive Officer of Knights Franchise Systems, Inc. Bloom replaces Ramesh B. Gokal who retired.  Bloom has extensive experience in franchise and hospitality management. He most recently served as senior vice president and brand manager for Fairfield Inns by Marriott International.  He served as vice president, Development, for Krystal Company, a 325-unit restaurant chain, whe...

Bovis Managing the Construction Programs for Five New Marriott Properties in San Francisco Bay Area / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Bovis Managing the Construction Programs  for Five New Marriott Properties  in San Francisco Bay Area September 15, 1999 - Bovis Construction Corp., a leading construction company, today announced that the company is managing the development of five new Marriott properties in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The flagship property is a 17-story, 414-room structure, which will be conveniently located at 299 Second Street in San Francisco’s South of Market Area, within walking distance of the new Metreon, The Museum of Modern Art and numerous shops and restaurants. Other new properties will b...

Boca Resorts, Inc. New Name for Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc. / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Boca Resorts, Inc. New Name for  Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc.  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 15, 1999 - Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PAW) announced today that effective September 28, 1999, the Company will change its name to Boca Resorts, Inc. and its stock will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RST. The name change more accurately reflects the Company's plan to strengthen its position in the luxury segment of the resort market. "When you look at our resort properties it is obvious that we have a one of a kind collection of prestigious, unique and...

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Bass Reports Worldwide Holiday Inn's  Room Count Down 4.5% as the Brand’s  Quality Program Takes Effect ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 1999 - Bass Hotels Resorts reports positive results for its Fiscal Third Quarter (April - June 1999) with RevPAR growth significantly exceeding competitor performance of the U.S. market in each of its segments - Midscale with Food Beverage, Midscale without Food Beverage and Upscale. The company observes an Oct. 1 - Sept. 30 fiscal year. U.S. Results For The Third Quarter Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts achieved a 4.1 percent increase in RevPAR (versus 1.2 pe...

Boykin Lodging Acquires 421-Room Executive Plaza Hotel in Downtown Chicago for $48 Million / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Boykin Lodging Acquires 421-Room Executive Plaza Hotel in Downtown Chicago for $48 Million CLEVELAND, Sept. 1, 1999 - Boykin Lodging Company (NYSE: BOY) has acquired an interest in the 421-room Executive Plaza Hotel located on West Wacker Drive, only a block from Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. The hotel was purchased for $48 million, or approximately $114,000 per room, which is estimated to be less than half of its replacement cost.  This full-service hotel is one of the most visible properties in downtown Chicago. Boykin’s joint venture with AEW Partners III, L.P. (AEW), ...

American Historic Inns, Inc., A Leader in Bed & Breakfast Guidebooks, Assigns 4,800 Property Listings to VacationSpot.com / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report American Historic Inns, Inc.,  A Leader in Bed & Breakfast Guidebooks,  Assigns 4,800 Property Listings to VacationSpot.com SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1999--VacationSpot.com® , the Web’s most popular source for finding and reserving independent vacation lodging worldwide, today announced an alliance with American Historic Inns, Inc. , an authority in bed breakfasts and historic inns. As a result of the collaboration, 4,800 detailed property listings from American Historic Inns are now available to VactionSpot.com users, covering some of the most unique and historic inns i...

Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort Fully Operational Following Hurricane Floyd / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort Fully Operational Following Hurricane Floyd PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas, Sept. 15, 1999 - The Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort, renowned for its spectacular architecture and the world’s largest marine habitat, is fully operational and in good condition with no major damage from Hurricane Floyd, according to Sol Kerzner, chairman and CEO of Sun International Hotels, owner and operator of the property. The resort did not close during the storm and remains open and will be taking new guest arrivals Friday, September 17. The hurricane’s affect on the property w...

Managing Director, Don Timbie Leading The Argent Hotel Through $8 Million Renovation / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Managing Director, Don Timbie Leading  The Argent Hotel Through $8 Million Renovation SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1, 1999 - The Argent Hotel, San Francisco has commenced the first stage of an $8 million renovation beginning with the upgrade and enhancement of the entire lobby level, restaurant and lounge. In keeping with the timeless quality of the property, gold and rich tones will be used throughout the color scheme while the woodwork will be refinished to enhance its richness.  Originally built in 1983, the hotel underwent a major renovation and remodeling in 1993. At that time, B...

Andy W. Harvey Named Regional Director at Shell Vacations / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Andy W. Harvey Named Regional Director  at Shell Vacations  SCOTTSDALE, AZ—September 29, 1999 -- Shell Vacations recently tapped Andy W. Harvey to become Regional Director for Arizona Region with responsibility for providing executive sales and marketing leadership for the 200+ employees at Shell’s three Arizona vacation ownership resorts.  Starr Pass Resort Tuscon, Arizona These include: The Legacy at South Mountain Ranch in Phoenix, Starr Pass Golf Suites in Tucson and Orange Tree Golf Resort in Scottsdale.  Harvey was previously Director of Sales fo...

Pala Tribe and Anchor Gaming Plan to Develop a $90 Million Casino Near San Diego / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Pala Tribe and Anchor Gaming Plan to Develop  a $90 Million Casino Near San Diego LAS VEGAS, Sept. 28, 1999 - Anchor Gaming (Nasdaq: SLOT) announced today the September 23, 1999 signing of development and management agreements with the Pala Band of Mission Indians.  The proposed casino and entertainment facility will occupy approximately 50 acres on the Pala Reservation land located in San Diego County, California approximately 15 miles north of Escondido five miles off Interstate 15. Under the agreements, subsidiaries of Anchor Gaming will develop a casino and entertainment facility ...

The Pointe*Anaheim Project Developing Three Hotels Totaling 1,050 Rooms in Anaheim, California / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report The Pointe*Anaheim Project Developing  Three Hotels Totaling 1,050 Rooms  in Anaheim, California Los Angeles, CA - September 22, 1999 - San Diego-based Excel Legacy Corporation XLG (Excel Legacy) and Phoenix-based Western Asset Management (WAM) have retained Sonnenblick-Goldman Company to procure joint venture equity and debt financing for the Pointe*Anaheim development project in Anaheim, California.  Responding to Anaheim’s need for high quality retail shopping, live theatres, and upscale restaurants and hotels, Pointe*Anaheim will merge the amenities of Universal Studios City Walk, ...

Amfac Parks & Resorts Conducting War on Waste at National and State Park Locations / Sept 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Amfac Parks & Resorts Conducting War on Waste  at National and State Park Locations DENVER, September 21, 1999 –Amfac Parks & Resorts, the country’s largest park and resort management, has formerly declared a war on waste at the parks it operates.  “It is time for a ‘take-no-prisoners’ attitude,” said Andy Todd, president and CEO of Amfac. “While Amfac has always had an environmentally friendly attitude and has promoted recycling and preservation to guests and employees, we believe that there are many more aggressive things we can and should be doing. The parks are our national...