Asset Sale Program Progressing at Patriot American and Wyndham International / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Asset Sale Program Progressing at Patriot American and Wyndham International DALLAS - Dec. 16, 1998--Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. whose shares (NYSE:PAH) are paired and trade with those of its operating company, Wyndham International, Inc. (together, the "Companies"), today announced additional progress toward its asset sale program and provided an update related to negotiations regarding the forward equity contracts and accounting developments affecting fourth quarter 1998 earnings. Sale of Certain Hotel Assets As part of its ongoing strategy to sell matured assets that cannot be conv...

The Opening of the Royal Towers at Atlantis, Paradise Island Redefines the Vacation Experience / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report The Opening of the Royal Towers at Atlantis, Paradise Island Redefines the Vacation Experience Resort Inspired by Plato's Legend of Phenomenal Ancient Civilization PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas, Dec. 7, 1998 - The countdown continues to one of the most anticipated and dramatic events in travel -- the grand opening of Sun International's Royal Towers at Atlantis, December 11-12. Already creating unprecedented excitement for its innovative design and mythical inspiration, Atlantis is destined to change the way people think about vacation destinations.  Never before has there been a resort of t...

San Diego Paradise Point Resort Two-Time Recipient of Gold Key Award / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report San Diego Paradise Point Resort Two-Time Recipient of Gold Key Award San Diego, CA - December 2, 1998 - San Diego Paradise Point Resort received its second consecutive Gold Key Award at an Awards Gala in New York City Sunday, November 8, 1998.  The 1998 Gold Key Awards recognize the top domestic and international hotels and resorts providing the finest service and quality in the meetings industry.  Selection for the award was determined by meeting planners through a balloting process to the 76,000 subscribers of Meetings & Conventions magazine, one of the premier trade journals of the meeting...

Signs of a Revival in Tourism Growth / PATA / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report   Signs of a Revival in  Tourism Growth --- Charts: Arrivals in Pacific Asia by Selected Markets, 1997 - 1998 Top 10 Airports for Shopping and Prices Signs of a Revival in  Tourism Growth December 1998  Asia's economic and financial crisis has had less impact on travel and tourism worldwide than earlier feared, according to the results of a survey of national tourism organisations (NTOs) just released by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). The next two years could be difficult, the WTO report concludes, hut strong growth rates-at least in terms ...

Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. Restructures Lease Relationship with NorthCoast Hotels / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. Restructures Lease Relationship with NorthCoast Hotels DALLAS - Dec. 3, 1998 - As part of its ongoing strategy to divest of certain owned assets that are not eligible for conversion to one of its core proprietary brands, Patriot American Hospitality, Inc., whose shares (NYSE:PAH) are paired and trade with those of its operating company, Wyndham International, Inc., today announced it has completed the restructuring of its relationship with one of its independent lessees, NorthCoast Hotels, LLC, such that NorthCoast will no longer be a lessee of any of Patriot Am...

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Oregon Coast’s First Sustainable Tourism Planning Workshop Set for January Lincoln County, Oregon - Dec 8, 1998 -   Public administrators, elected officials, business owners and tourism industry leaders are being called together January 25 – 26, for the first Oregon Coast Sustainable Tourism Planning Workshop hosted by Lincoln County’s destination marketing organization, the Central Oregon Coast Association (COCA).  The two-day, hands-on workshop is bringing public officials and business together, discussing long-range tourism planning efforts supporting the Oregon Coast’s visitor industri...

Omni Hotels Releases 900 Room Los Angeles Property From Licensing Agreement / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Omni Hotels Releases 900 Room Los Angeles Property From Licensing Agreement IRVING, Texas - Dec. 23, 1998--After four years as an Omni Hotels franchise, the Omni Los Angeles Hotel Centre will become an independent operating hotel. The new name of the hotel will be the Wilshire Grand Hotel. The change becomes effective Feb. 1, 1999. Omni Hotels could not reach mutually agreeable terms for a new licensing agreement with the owners of the Los Angeles hotel that met Omni Hotels' growth plans and operating standards. In 1996, Omni Hotels set itself on a course to become a four-diamon...

Omni Hotels Acquires the 365-room Radisson Plaza in Charlotte, N.C./ Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Omni Hotels Acquires the 365-room  Radisson Plaza in Charlotte, N.C. Immediate Plans for $7 Million Dollar Renovation IRVING, Texas - Dec. 22, 1998--Omni Hotels announced today that it has acquired the Radisson Plaza in Charlotte, N.C., to be renamed the Omni Charlotte Hotel. Located at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets in Charlotte's exclusive uptown area, the 365-room hotel is connected via a glass-enclosed skybridge to the city's key downtown business and entertainment districts. A scheduled renovation in excess of $7 million is expected to transform the Omni Charlotte Hotel into ...

Aaron T. Okinaka Appointed Director of Catering at The Ilikai / Hotel Nikko Waikiki / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Aaron T. Okinaka Appointed Director of Catering at The Ilikai / Hotel Nikko Waikiki Honolulu, HI (Nov. 30, 1998) - Aaron T. Okinaka has been appointed director of catering at The Ilikai Hotel Nikko Waikiki. His responsibilities include all facets of catering administration, including sales and marketing. "I believe in exceeding expectations, and look forward to bringing personalized service to all of our clients," explains Okinaka. Most recently Okinaka served as director of catering at the Ala Mona Hotel, where he was responsible for the administration and operations of the catering and banq...

Norman P. Blake, Jr. Named Chairman, President And CEO at Promus Hotel Corporation / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Norman P. Blake, Jr. Named Chairman, President And CEO at Promus Hotel Corporation MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 3, 1998 -  Promus Hotel Corporation (NYSE: PRH) announced today that Norman P. Blake, Jr. has been named Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Blake, 57, is the former Chairman, President and CEO of USFG Corporation, the insurance and financial services company based in Baltimore, Maryland, which was acquired earlier this year by the St. Paul Companies following a highly successful restructuring. He is also the former Chairman and CEO of Heller Internation...

Measuring Training in the Hospitality Industry and Other Topics / Harry Nobles / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Measuring Training in the Hospitality Industry  Also See: Most Popular Amenities Is Your Guest Comment Card too Complicated?   Also See: Most Popular Amenities Is Your Guest Comment Card too Complicated? By Harry Nobles - December 1998  You are a conscientious owner or manager; You take employee training seriously and have trained your employees well.  You have trained your new hires in the tasks they need to know to do their assigned jobs; you have trained or retrained your experienced employees so they can do the job the way you want it done.  You can now sit back...

Dealing with the AAA or Mobil Inspector – Does AAA Approval Help? / Harry Nobles / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Does AAA Approval Help? Dealing with the AAA or Mobil Inspector A Higher AAA Rating? Harry Nobles Hospitality Consulting E-mail:  hospsvc001@aol.com Does AAA Approval Help? There are approximately 36 million AAA members, and they travel a lot.  AAA members travel, on average, more than others.  Annually, they spend more than 150 million room nights in hotels and motels.  AAA members use AAA TourBooks to find a place to stay.  Desks clerks regularly tell me that AAA members often bring their TourBooks to the desk at check-in to be sure they get the correct rate.Â...

Straight Talk from KPMG's Nardozza / JMBM / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Straight Talk from  KPMG's Nardozza December 1998 - Francis J. Nardozza is the National Leader of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Real Estate and Hospitality Consulting Practice and also serves as their National Hospitality Industry Director.  He is recognized nationally for the more than 20 years of experience on a wide variety of hotel projects throughout the world. We interviewed Frank recently to get his latest views. JMBM: You've helped clients through several cycles of development supply demand imbalance and international investment. How is the current picture different from past cycles? ...

Marriott Lures World Travelers to Moscow Despite Economy / Nov 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Marriott Lures World Travelers to Moscow  Despite Economy MOSCOW, Nov. 30, 1998 -  In an ongoing effort to offer guests the world, Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites announces unprecedented expansion in the heart of Russia with the new Moscow Marriott Collection, a trio of the capital city's finest hotels. Set amid the revitalized cultural center of Moscow, The Collection consists of the five-star quality Marriott Grand Hotel, the recently expanded Hotel Tverskaya -- converting to a Marriott Jan. 12, 1999 -- and Marriott Royal, a new, premier property overlooking the world-famous Bolshoi T...

Kenneth Widmaier, GM of The Washington Monarch Hotel, Announces Several Staff Changes / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Kenneth Widmaier, GM of The Washington Monarch Hotel, Announces Several Staff Changes December 7, 1998, Washington, D.C. - Kenneth Widmaier, General Manager of The Washington Monarch Hotel, is pleased to announce the following appointments and promotions to the hotel staff: John Riley has joined the hotel staff as Controller. Formerly with Southpark Suite Hotel in Charlotte, Riley has been affiliated with Destination Hotels and Resorts for six years. Steve Schopf  has been appointed Director of Sales. Schopf has been affiliated with Destination Resorts and Hotels for more than five years, m...

Microtel Inn & Suites Named Top Brand in Development Pipeline by Lodging Econometrics / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Microtel Inn & Suites Named Top Brand in Development Pipeline by Lodging Econometrics  ATLANTA, Dec. 1, 1998 – U.S. Franchise Systems’ (Nasdaq: USFS) Microtel Inn & Suites has been ranked the top hotel brand in the U.S. by numbers of projects and rooms in the development pipeline in the latest Development Outlook report of Lodging Econometrics, the research division of National Hotel Realty, Portsmouth, N.H., which monitors hotel real estate development.  With 13,565 rooms in permitting, Microtel far outpaced all others, with second place going to Marriott with 9,317 rooms.  Microtel was als...

Microtel Inn & Suites Releases 1999 Marketing Plans / Nov 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Microtel Inn & Suites Releases  1999 Marketing Plans Focus is on ‘Building Your Business with Service’ ATLANTA (Nov. 30, 1998) – Microtel Inn & Suites has announced an all-encompassing marketing program based on building a customer service culture at the chain’s second annual franchise conference held recently in Atlanta.  The meeting, which showcased 1999 marketing and advertising programs and recent innovations to help build brand awareness, was attended by more than 150 present and future owners/franchisees of Microtel Inn & Suites from across the country and South America.  Amo...

Microtel Inn & Suites Creating Strong Presence atAirport Locations, Now Located at 27 Airports Across U.S. / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Microtel Inn & Suites Creating Strong Presence at Airport Locations, Now Located at 27 Airports Across U.S. ATLANTA (Dec. 24, 1998) - As Microtel Inn & Suites continues to expand to offer travelers more affordable lodging at airport locations throughout the U.S. and internationally, Pittsburgh Airport Hotel LLC has opened Pennsylvania's fourth Microtel at 900 Chauvet Drive at Pittsburgh Airport.  There are also Microtels located in Allentown, Erie and West Chester, Pa. "Microtel provides value and quality, and is the traveler's alternative to the higher-priced, full-service properties currentl...

The US$60 Million Meliá Hanoi (Vietnam) Soft Opens in January, 1999 / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report The US$60 Million Meliá Hanoi (Vietnam)  Soft Opens in January, 1999 Singapore, 29 December 1998 -  Meliá Hanoi, Sol Meliá's newest property, will open it's doors to guests on 4th January 1999.  The 21 storey property, which is Sol Meliá's sixth business hotel in the Asia Pacific is owned by Thai-Vietnamese joint venture conglomerate, S.A.S - CTAMAD Co. Limited, and  has been constructed at a cost of more than US$60 million. Centrally located on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, within the city's business and diplomatic district, near the government offices, Meliá Hanoi is also within easy acc...

Virginia Tourism Industry Leader, Patrick A. McMahon, Remembered as Alliance Builder / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Virginia Tourism Industry Leader, Patrick A. McMahon, Remembered as Alliance Builder RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 14, 1998 -  Patrick A. McMahon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, died Sunday, Dec. 13, at his home in Richmond. Nationally recognized as a leader in destination travel development, McMahon was appointed to head the Virginia tourism office in 1985 after having served as a senior staff member of the Travel Industry Association of America from 1979 to 1985. He also served for 10 years as a member of the national executive staff, Boy Scouts of America, an...

Marriott International Recognized as One of 100 Best Companies to Work for by Fortune / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Marriott International Recognized  as One of 100 Best Companies to Work for  by Fortune Magazine WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) has been named as one of the 100 best companies to work for in America by Fortune according to the January 11 issue of the magazine. Marriott was ranked 44th in Fortune's second annual employee survey. The list was compiled through a poll of more than 27,000 randomly selected employees at hundreds of companies nationwide. "Marriott is pleased to be recognized again by Fortune," said Brendan Keegan, executive vice p...

Historic Mark Antony Hotel, Ashland, Ore., To Re-Open After Complete Refurbishment / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Historic Mark Antony Hotel, Ashland, Ore.,  To Re-Open After Complete Refurbishment SEATTLE - Dec. 30, 1998--Experienced developers, a seasoned architect, a recognized management and marketing company and the historical society of Ashland, Oregon are coming together to create a welcome new hospitality center in the heart of the Shakespearean theater area. The Mark Antony Hotel, located just adjacent to Oregon's renown Shakespearean festival site, will re-open its doors as a completely renovated property under the management and marketing of Seattle-based WestCoast Hotels. When the refurbishm...

Resort Update: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Resort Update:  Four Seasons Resort Maldives  at Kuda Huraa Resort Executive Committee About Ramesh Sadhwani, GM Hotel Fact Sheet   Resort Executive Committee About Ramesh Sadhwani, GM Hotel Fact Sheet December 1998 - Beach villas are being enhanced with the addition of secluded private plunge pools with natural slatted wooden decks and an additional block of beach villas will include an innovative indoor/outdoor garden bathroom design. The concept artfully integrates the outdoor courtyard garden shower area with the existing indoor bathroom and shower. The spacious deck and ou...

Tom Chase, Marriott City Center, Minneapolis, Elected President Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Tom Chase, Marriott City Center, Minneapolis, Elected President Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association  ST. PAUL, Minn. - December 9, 1998 - Tom Chase, general manager, Marriott City Center, Minneapolis, was elected president of the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association (MH&LA) for 1999 at its annual meeting held yesterday, December 8, at the Radisson Hotel South & Plaza Tower, Bloomington. Chase will assume the presidency on January 1 from David Brott, Baymont Inns & Suites, Brooklyn Center. Chase, general manager of the Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis for the past ten years, be...