The Spanish Institute for Hotel Quality Awards the Quality Certification to The Melia Sierra Nevada / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  The Spanish Institute for Hotel Quality Awards the "Quality Certification" to The Melia Sierra Nevada  August, 1999 - The Meliá Sierra Nevada Hotel in the southern Spanish province of Granada, managed by the Spanish hotel company Sol Meliá, has become the first Spanish ski hotel to receive Quality Certification from the Spanish Institute for Hotel Quality, allowing the hotel to display their “Q” for quality sign at the hotel entrance, guaranteeing the optimum quality of the products and services provided within.  The Quality Certification is part of an ambitious project being sponsored ...

Sol Melia Credits Improved European Hotel Occupancy and New Managment Fee Income for 2nd Qtr Profit Increase / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Sol Melia Credits Improved European Hotel Occupancy and New Managment Fee Income  for 2nd Qtr Profit Increase August, 1999 - To 31st. June, the Spanish company has incorporated an additional 14 hotels, 3 of which have been acquisitions  After successfully completing the absorption of Meliá Inversiones Americanas (MIA) and the merger with Inmotel Inversiones, the new Sol Meliá has registered operating profits before interest, amortisation and taxes (EBITDA) of 6,764 million pesetas – 40.65 million euros – at the close of the second quarter, a 32 % increase with respect to the same period...

Sleeping Habits Survey Utilized by Sleep Inns; Goal to Provide Conducive Environment for Rest / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Sleeping Habits Survey Utilized by Sleep Inns; Goal to Provide Conducive Environment for Rest  SILVER SPRING, Md. - Aug. 5, 1999--One in ten hotel guests sleep in the buff when spending the night in a hotel room. Most people sleep on the same side of the bed in a hotel as at home, and 16 percent bring their own nightlight to a hotel.  That’s according to a just-released survey commissioned by Sleep Inn, the limited service chain franchised by Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH). WRA Research, an independent marketing research firm based in Omaha, NE, surveyed 500 Sleep Inn guests in late...

Siegel Sez- UPDATE THIS / August 27, 1999

March 30, 1999

Siegel Sez -  UPDATE  THIS !  August 27, 1999 - Issue #2 Technology  N E W S T A N D   By Jon Inge  GDS / Central Reservations  News   by John Burns  Technology Tips  News You Can Use  By Mark Haley      Hospitalitys Location for Automation   Technology  N E W S T A N D   By Jon Inge  GDS / Central Reservations  News   by John Burns  Technology Tips  News You Can Use  By Mark Haley    Hospitalitys Location for Automation Atlanta, GA - August 27, 1999 - When Hotel-Online and UPDATE Magazines & UPDATEPlus.com discussed doing an email every two we...

Siegel Sez- UPDATE THIS / August 13, 1999

March 30, 1999

Siegel Sez -  UPDATE  THIS !  August 13, 1999 Technology  N E W S T A N D   By Jon Inge  GDS / Central Reservations  News   by John Burns  Technology Tips  News You Can Use  By Mark Haley      Hospitalitys Location for Automation   Technology  N E W S T A N D   By Jon Inge  GDS / Central Reservations  News   by John Burns  Technology Tips  News You Can Use  By Mark Haley    Hospitalitys Location for Automation Atlanta, GA - August 13, 1999 - If you are reading this, then I will assume that you are in the hotel, travel, or foodservice related in...

John Sharpe, President of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Retiring at the End of October 1999 / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report John Sharpe, President of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Retiring at the End of October 1999 TORONTO - Aug. 5, 1999 - Four Seasons Hotels Inc. announced today that Mr. John Sharpe, President of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, will retire at the end of October 1999, following a distinguished 23-year career with Four Seasons.  In accordance with plans made over the past few years, Mr. Sharpe will be replaced by two co-Presidents, with overall responsibility for supervising the Company’s business functions and hotel operations around the world.  Effective November 1, 1999, Mr. Wolf Hengst will...

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino Upgrades  Electronic Reservations With Sceptre Hospitality Resources’ GDS and Internet System Sceptre expands e-reservations scope, adds new yield-management sophistication Las Vegas, NEV. – August 24, 1999 - The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas’ newest and most heralded casino hotel, has upgraded its electronic reservations capabilities with Sceptre Hospitality Resources’ GDS and Internet system. In adding RESERVE, the 3,036-suite hotel creates new marketing and sales clout through Sceptre’s seamless, real-time GDS and Internet links, el...

RIU Hotels Chain and German Tour Operator TUI Providing Guests Luggage Check-In at Hotel Rather than Airport / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report RIU Hotels Chain and German Tour Operator TUI Providing Guests Luggage Check-In  at Hotel Rather than Airport Majorca (Spain) - 9.18.99 - The measure, currently at the pilot scheme stage, cuts out long waits at the airports for the guests and the stressing moving around of suitcases   Hotel Riu Palace Macao  Dominican Republic Since May the RIU Hotels chain, the second in Spain for turnover, has been carrying out an innovative pilot scheme in the Caribbean consisting of the direct check-in of its guests’ luggage from the hotel, where the passengers receive their...

Hoteliers Participate in REZsolutions Conference on High Tech Trends in the Hospitality Industry / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Hoteliers Participate in REZsolutions Conference on High Tech Trends in the Hospitality Industry First Annual REZsolutions Global Customer Conference Unites Hoteliers  from Around the World PHOENIX - Aug. 16, 1999--REZsolutions, the leading provider of distribution systems and solutions for the hospitality industry, brought together hoteliers from around the world to Boca Raton, Fla. For the first annual Global Customer Conference. Held at the Boca Raton Resort and Country Club, the conference offered hoteliers the opportunity to attend informative seminars about trends and ...

Manfred Gerling Heads Up Red Lion Hotels Franchising Opportunities / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Manfred Gerling Heads Up Red Lion Hotels Franchising Opportunities VANCOUVER, Wash - Aug. 17, 1999--For the first time in its 40-year history, Red Lion Hotels Inns—one of the premier names in lodging in the Western United States—has begun to offer franchise opportunities to prospective hotel owners around the country, including targeted expansion areas in the Western United States and Canada. “We will be able to expand the chain by offering the Red Lion name to quality hotel operators and owners,” said Jim Dina, chief operating officer for Red Lion Hotels  Inns. “We believe ...

RIU Hotels Making Record Investment in the Club-Hotel Gran Canaria: $60 Million / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report RIU Hotels Making Record Investment in the Club-Hotel Gran Canaria: $60 Million August 20, 1999 - The biggest investment in a new establishment in RIU’s 46-year history has a name and a price: Club-Hotel Riu Gran Canaria, 60 million dollars (10,000 million pesetas).  This is the final amount which RIU, the second chain in the country for turnover, will invest from now until May 2000 (when it opens its doors) in its largest establishment in Spain with regard to the number of rooms (639) and resources invested (10,000 million pesetas).  This investment includes the purchase price of th...

Preferred Hotels & Resorts Generates $100 Million in Revenue for First Time in 30 Year History / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Preferred Hotels & Resorts Generates $100 Million in Revenue for its Member Hotels Targeted Marketing Programs, Strategic Growth are Keys to Brand Expansion  HONG KONG, July 28, 1999 – Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., a global brand of more than 120 of the world’s finest independent luxury hotels and resorts, generated record revenues of more than $100 million for its member hotels, representing double-digit revenue growth for the 1998-1999 fiscal year. The announcement was made by Peter Cass, Preferred’s chief executive officer, at the company’s annual meeting of owners and g...

Strategic Hotel Capital and GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd Purchase Hotel Inter-Continental, Prague / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Strategic Hotel Capital and GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd Purchase Hotel Inter-Continental, Prague CHICAGO - Aug. 18, 1999--Strategic Hotel Capital Inc. (SHCI), an upscale and luxury global hotel investment company based in Chicago, and GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd (GIC RE), the real estate investment arm of the Government of Singapore Investment Corp. Pte Ltd, today announced the acquisition of the Hotel Inter-Continental Praha, Czech Republic. Following the acquisition, Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts, the upscale brand of Bass Hotels Resorts, was awarded the contract to manage the Hotel Inte...

Dave Murray the Opening GM at Lodgian's Portland Marriott City Center / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Dave Murray the Opening GM at Lodgian's  Portland Marriott City Center First new-construction downtown hotel since 1985 PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 9, 1999- The Portland Marriott City Center on Broadway celebrated its grand opening today with Mayor Vera Katz cutting the ceremonial ribbon. The hotel will host its first guests Tues., August 10.  Located in the heart of Portland, at 520 SW Broadway at Washington Street, the full-service hotel is the first new-construction hotel to open downtown since 1985.  “Business travelers told us what they wanted in a hotel experience-functional, comfortab...

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Harrah’s Entertainment Planning Merger with  Players International , Inc. Acquisition Strengthens Harrah’s Geographic Reach - Accretive to Earnings - MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 16, 1999 -  Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) today announced that it made an offer to acquire Players International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLAY) in a merger transaction at a price of $8.50 per share in cash. Harrah’s offer, which includes the terms of a definitive merger agreement, has been approved by Players’ board, and Players has given notice to terminate its existing merger agreement with Ja...

John Chadwell Continues as President and COO of Pebble Beach Company; New Ownership Group Retains the Name Lone Cypress Company / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  John Chadwell Continues as  President and COO  of Pebble Beach Company New Ownership Group Retains the Name Lone Cypress Company PEBBLE BEACH, Calif - July 30, 1999--The sale of Pebble Beach Company to a group of investors led by Clint Eastwood, Richard Ferris, Arnold Palmer, and Peter Ueberroth was finalized today at a price of $820 million. The investor group also includes a number of other friends and supporters of Pebble Beach Company. The new investor group acquired Pebble Beach Company from the Lone Cypress Company, a subsidiary of Taiheiyo Club, Inc., a prestigious Japanese gol...

Shell Vacations Peacock Suites Vacation Ownership Resort Will Benefit from the $4.2 Billion in Public Improvements Underway in Anaheim / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Shell Vacations Peacock Suites Vacation Ownership Resort Will Benefit from the $4.2 Billion in Public Improvements Underway in Anaheim Resort prepares by launching new sales initiatives, opening telemarketing center Anaheim, CA—July 23, 1999 -- A $4.2 billion metamorphosis is currently underway that is intended to transform the city of Anaheim into much more than the California home of Mickey and friends. The renovation is expected to serve as a dynamic catalyst that is anticipated to increase the county’s annual tourists by seven million - to 44 million - visitors per year, creating one o...

La Salle Hotel Propertie's San Diego Paradise Point Resort Receiving Property Wide Renovation / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  La Salle Hotel Propertie's San Diego Paradise Point Resort Receiving Property Wide Renovation Recapturing Historical Charm of Orginal Vacation Village San Diego, CA – July 29, 1999 - San Diego Paradise Point Resort, formerly San Diego Princess Resort, is undergoing a dynamic transformation with a property-wide renovation and facelift.  The San Diego landmark, located on a tropical island in San Diego’s Mission Bay, will enter the second phase of the comprehensive renovation on September 6, following the busy summer vacation season.  The vision of management and ownership is to revitali...

San Diego Paradise Point Resort Receives Third Consecutive Gold Key Award / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report San Diego Paradise Point Resort Receives Third Consecutive Gold Key Award San Diego, CA – August 24, 1999 - San Diego Paradise Point Resort received its third consecutive Gold Key Award, presented by Meetings & Conventions magazine. Now in its 22nd year, the Gold Key Award is given annually to the finest meeting properties worldwide. A total of 213 hotels and resorts earned enough votes to win this year’s Gold Key Award.  Winners of the coveted award are nominated and chosen by M&C subscribers for overall excellence.  The 1999 Gold Key Awards recognize the top domestic and internation...

Study Says Pennsylvania's Rich Heritage Attracts 12% of Total Leisure Travel Expenditures / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Study Says Pennsylvania's Rich Heritage Attracts 12% of Total Leisure Travel Expenditures HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 2, 1999 - On behalf of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C. Oliver today released the results of a new study showing that Pennsylvania’s rich heritage attracts billions of dollars of tourism revenue to Pennsylvania.  Representing 12 percent of all Pennsylvania leisure travel in 1997, heritage tourism accounted for $5.35 billion, or one-fifth, of all leisure travel expenditures. Historic towns and districts were the mo...

Asian Economics Resume Upward Curve…Good News for the Travel and Tourism Industry / PATA / August 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report   Asian Economics Resume Upward Curve...Good News for the Travel and Tourism Industry   Asian Economics Resume Upward Curve...Good News for the Travel and Tourism Industry August 1999 - Strong signs are emerging from various sectors that the Asian economic crisis has turned the corner, and that better days lie ahead. That is always good news for the travel and tourism industry which, as the next story in this month's issue reports, is also recovering.  Here are 10 recent developments that point to a regional economic turnaround:    A Reuters survey of 130 e...

Opryland Hotel Chooses SeaChange Interactive Television System to Build New Revenue Streams From 3,000 Rooms / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Opryland Hotel Chooses SeaChange Interactive Television System to Build New Revenue Streams  From 3,000 Rooms MAYNARD, Mass., Aug. 5, 1999 - The Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. has selected the SeaChange GuestServe Hotel System to deliver interactive television services to over 3,000 guest rooms, including rooms at the affiliated Inn at Opryland.  The hotel operator will leverage SeaChange International, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: SEAC) advanced digital video server platform on its existing in-house cable television network to enhance its guests’ experience with video-on-demand (VOD) movies, Int...

Thomas D. Burke Heads Up Outrigger's Ohana Hotels / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Thomas D. Burke Heads Up Outrigger's  Ohana Hotels HONOLULU, HAWAII—August 26, 1999 - The new management team for OHANA Hotels of Hawaii, a new lodging brand launched by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts dedicated to providing quality accommodations at moderate prices, was recently announced by David Carey, president and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises, Inc. At the helm of OHANA Hotels is Thomas D. Burke, vice president of operations. He is responsible for the successful launch of the new brand and the strategic direction and operation of the 15 Waikiki hotels that comprise the OHANA group. ...

Amin Group Assigns Prime Hospitality to Manage the Oakland, CA Comfort Inn Suites / Aug 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Amin Group Assigns Prime Hospitality to Manage  the Oakland, CA Comfort Inn  Suites FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 25, 1999 - Prime Hospitality Corp. (NYSE: PDQ) has announced it has signed a management agreement with the Amin Group to assume operations of its new Comfort Inn Suites in Oakland, California. Under the five-year agreement, Prime will oversee all facets of day-to-day hotel operations, including sales and marketing, human resources/staffing, and financial procedures. The three-story, 104 unit property will open in September, 1999 and is located on Edes Avenue off I-880. It is also ...