E&YKL Study Says Lodging Industry Fundamental Stay Healthy Despite Stagnant Occupancy Rate, Leading to Moderate 1999 Growth / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report E&YKL Study Says Lodging Industry Fundamentals  Stay Healthy Despite Stagnant Occupancy Rate,  Leading to Moderate 1999 Growth MIAMI, December 10, 1998  Following 1998, a year of record profits and dynamic change for U.S. lodging companies, the industry is expected to continue its moderate upward profit trend in 1999. according to a report to be released next month by L&Y Kenneth LeventhaI Real Estate Group. While lodging fundamentals are healthy, the hotel industry currently finds itself defending its condition to the public debt and equity markets. While those in the lodging industry ...

Dutch Study of Wine Drinkers Reveals Strong Association Between Wine Consumption and Healthy Foods / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Dutch Study  of Wine Drinkers Reveals Strong Association Between Wine Consumption and Healthy Foods BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 29, 1998 -  Several previous studies have touted the benefits of drinking wine to prevent heart disease -- a concept known as the "French paradox." A recent study of diet and drinking patterns published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, however, reveals that people who drink wine tend to choose foods that are healthier for the heart. Lead author of the study, Dr. Anne Tjonneland from the Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, says, "The importa...

Dolce International Acquires Hôtel du Domaine de Chantilly Outside Paris/ Nov 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Dolce International Acquires Hôtel du Domaine de Chantilly Outside Paris MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY (November 30, 1998). – The leading global conference center company, Dolce International, in partnership with Boston-based AEW Capital Management has acquired Hôtel du Domaine de Chantilly, a 111-room conference hotel with an 18-hole golf course just 25 minutes from Charles DeGaulle International Airport and 30 minutes from Paris. It is the fifth conference center acquisition by Dolce/AEW, L.P., formed in August 1997. Said Andrew Dolce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dolce International, Â...

Destinations.com Creates Coast-to-Coast Synergies in Leisure Travel Reservations / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Destinations.com  Creates Coast-to-Coast Synergies in Leisure Travel Reservations SEATTLE - Dec. 21, 1998--Destinations.com Inc. today announced a $3 million private investment from The Travel Team, Inc./American Express. The investment gives The Travel Team, one of Western New York's largest commercial travel management companies, an active interest in Destinations.com. According to Destinations.com President Todd Tarbert, the investment will accelerate reaching the company's goal of becoming the nation's leading provider of voice and Web-based reservations booking services for Convention a...

Krisitine Davidson Appointed General Manager Of Comfort Inn, Hutchinson, Kansas / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Krisitine Davidson Appointed General Manager  of Comfort Inn, Hutchinson, Kansas Hutchinson, KS- December 21, 1998 - Leisure Hotels, L.L.C., the management division of Leisure Hotels Group of Companies has named Kristine Davidson General Manager of the Hutchinson Comfort Inn. Prior to joining Leisure hotels. L.L.C. Davidson was employed at the award winning Holiday Inn Brandywine located in Peoria. Illinois. During her tenure at Brandywine Davidson held the positions of guest services, lead auditor, and guest services assistant manager. Davidson also has a travel and tourism degree from Mids...

Cypress Restaurants, Inc. Franchisee of the Year by Denny's / Nov 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Cypress Restaurants, Inc. Named  "Franchisee of the Year" by Denny's ORLANDO, Fla. (November 30, 1998) – Orlando-based Cypress Restaurants, Inc. celebrated seven years of explosive growth last week at Denny's national convention in Las Vegas.  Cypress earned top honors in a winning streak that would earn the envy of any Vegas veteran.  Now the third largest Denny's franchisee, Cypress captured awards for "Franchisee of the Year", "Developer of the Year", first and third place for "Most Improved Store Sales" and two of five Local Store Marketing awards with a win for Special Events and Pub...

Host Marriott To Acquire Eight Public Limited Partnerships that Own 24 Full-service Marriott / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Host Marriott To Acquire Eight Public Limited Partnerships that Own 24 Full-service Marriott Hotels as Part of the REIT Conversion BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 18, 1998 -  Host Marriott Corporation (NYSE: HMT) announced today that, in connection with its previously announced plan to convert into a real estate investment trust (REIT), its Board of Directors has declared a special dividend payable in either cash or common stock of Host Marriott, at the election of each Host Marriott stockholder, and a dividend of shares of common stock of Crestline Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation and subsidiary...

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Hospitality Education Available on the Internet  with EI’s New Courseline ORLANDO, Fla., December 1998—The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association (EI) has announced a January 1999 launch for CourseLine, which offers the ability to take EI courses via the World Wide Web.  The first course, Front Office Procedures (332) will be available at the beginning of January - at a special price to those willing to help the company test its methods of delivery and content.  The Front Office Procedures CourseLine program contains all of the text and exhibits found in the EI c...

Limited-Service and Extended-Stay Room Starts Flat – Full-Service Hotel Construction Up Sharply In Third Quarter / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Limited-Service and Extended-Stay Room Starts Flat - Full-Service Hotel Construction Up Sharply In Third Quarter NEW YORK - Dec. 9, 1998--New construction of full-service hotels rose sharply in the third quarter of 1998, the first substantial increase since the industry's recovery began in 1992, according to the just released Bear Stearns Supply Demand Chronicle from the firm's lodging, gaming and leisure research unit. Meanwhile, construction of limited-service and extended-stay hotels was virtually flat in the third quarter, breaking a years-long pattern of intense construction for those segmen...

Choice Hotels, Sunburst Hospitality, Agree to Enhance Strategic Alliance / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Choice Hotels, Sunburst Hospitality, Agree to Enhance Strategic Alliance SILVER SPRING, Md - Dec. 21, 1998--Choice Hotels International, Inc., (NYSE:CHH) and Sunburst Hospitality Corporation, (NYSE:SNB) have agreed to strengthen their strategic alliance to enhance development of the extended-stay MainStay Suites hotel brand. The agreement was approved by both companies' boards of directors. The companies formed a strategic alliance in October 1997, when Sunburst Hospitality, one of the country's leading hotel ownership and management companies, separated from Choice Hotels, the world's second...

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Canadian At Par Program Attracts  Canadian Visitors to Buffalo December  22, 1998 - The Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau introduces the Canadian At Par in Buffalo -- a program that’s designed to benefit both Canadian visitors and the Buffalo area hospitality industry. The CVB has secured the participation of a variety of local Buffalo area attractions and accommodations who have agreed to accept Canadian currency at par from January 2 to February 28, 1999. The result is an affordable Buffalo stay for Canadian visitors and inc...

Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau Announces Successful Bid to Host 2000 Junior Olympics / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau Announces Successful Bid to Host  2000 Junior Olympics December 18, 1998 - The Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau announces Erie County’s successful bid to host the National Junior Olympics track and field competition in 2000.  “This is yet another feather in our cap when it comes to landing major amateur sports events which brings people and money into our community,” said County Executive Gorski during a recent news conference. The Junior Olympics track and field championships, the world’s largest youth track-and-field event, w...

Developer Guillermo Santaella Breaks Ground on Microtel Inn & Suites in Beunos Aires, Argentina / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Developer Guillermo Santaella Breaks Ground on Microtel Inn & Suites in Beunos Aires, Argentina ATLANTA (Dec. 4, 1998) - Buenos Aires-based developer Guillermo Santaella has broken ground on Microtel's second international hotel in Buenos Aires/Costa Salguero.  Located at Av. Rafael Obligado y Jeronimo Salguero s/n - Costanera, the hotel faces the river and is five minutes from the Jorge Newbery Airport and the Costanera downtown shopping and entertainment area.  A mid-1999 opening is planned. "The Buenos Aires/Costa Salguero property is another example of Microtel's growing presence internat...

Buena Park Hotel at Knott's Berry Farm to be Acquired by Cedar Fair, L.P. / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Buena Park Hotel at Knott's Berry Farm to be Acquired by Cedar Fair, L.P.  SANDUSKY, Ohio, Dec. 18. 1998 -  Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership which owns and operates five amusement parks, today announced that it has reached agreement in principle for the acquisition of the Buena Park Hotel, which is adjacent to its Knott's Berry Farm park in Buena Park, California. The transaction is subject to a number of conditions and conclusion of a definitive agreement. Further details were not disclosed. "The Buena Park Hotel will be a first-class facility once an extensive re...

Buckhead America Hotel-Management Unit Signs Contracts on Three Florida Properties / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Buckhead America Hotel-Management Unit Signs Contracts on Three Florida Properties ATLANTA, Dec. 18, 1998 -  Buckhead America Corporation (Nasdaq: BUCK), the hospitality services company, said its hotel-management subsidiary, The Lodge Keeper Group Inc., signed contracts effective Jan. 1, 1999 to manage three hotel properties in Florida totaling almost 500 rooms.   Silver Leaf Suites The properties include two, 126-room Suburban Lodges of America franchises under construction in Stuart, Fla., and near Universal Studios in Orlando, and an independent, 225-unit, all-suites hotel, Silv...

Texas-based Castle Hospitality Co., LLC Developing Hilton Garden Inn in Brownsville, Texas / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Texas-based Castle Hospitality Co., LLC Developing  Hilton Garden Inn in Brownsville, Texas BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Dec. 2, 1998--Hilton Hotels Corp. Wednesday announced the development of the 102-room Hilton Garden Inn(r) Brownsville, in Brownsville.  Ground-breaking for the hotel project is scheduled for January 1999. Construction of the property is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 1999.  The Hilton Garden Inn Brownsville, which will be located at the intersection of Expressway and Media Luna Road, will be managed and operated by McAllen, Texas-based Castle Hospitality C...

Bass Hotels & Resorts' Guest Satisfaction Tracking System, Reports the Holiday Inn Youngstown South With the Highest Score and Presents the Hote

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Bass Hotels & Resorts'  Guest Satisfaction Tracking System,  Reports the Holiday Inn Youngstown South With the Highest Score  and Presents the Hotel with the Torchbearer Award Boardman, Ohio (September 1998):  The Holiday Inn Youngstown-South (Boardman, Ohio) has received the Bass Hotels & Resorts Torchbearer Award, the company’s most prestigious award given for quality service. The 1998 Torchbearer Awards were presented during a special ceremony at the Bass Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Conference in New Orleans.  Len Lesko, general manager of the Holiday Inn Youngstown-South accepte...

Blue Chip Casino Begins Hotel Construction; Jeffrey Doyle Named Manager of Hotel Operations / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Blue Chip Casino Begins Hotel Construction;  Jeffrey Doyle Named Manager of Hotel Operations MICHIGAN CITY, Ind - Dec. 10, 1998--According to Blue Chip Casino officials, construction has begun on the Blue Chip Hotel, which will be located adjacent to the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City. "We're very excited to begin construction on what promises to be a high-quality property," said Kevin F. Flynn, chairman and CEO of Blue Chip Casino.  "Guest comfort is always top of mind for any facet of Blue Chip Casino operations.  Our new hotel stands to be no exception. We continue to hold and unwave...

Kevin Bloom Appointed as Executive Vice President of ASTON Hotels & Resorts in Hawaii / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Kevin Bloom Appointed as Executive Vice President of ASTON Hotels & Resorts in Hawaii Aston's Waikiki Coral Reef Hotel Completes $280,000 Lobby Renovation Honolulu - December, 1998 - Kelvin Bloom, former president and COO of Castle Resorts & Hotels, has been named executive vice president of ASTON Hotels & Resorts (Hawaii). He succeeds Charles Brookfield, who this past June was named President and CEO of ASTON International. Bloom's primary responsibilities will include development and owner relations for ASTON Hotels & Resorts. Bloom brings more than 20 years of hotel and condominium resort...

Bernhardt Construction Opens the Fourth Microtel Property in Oklahoma / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Bernhardt Construction Opens the Fourth  Microtel Property in Oklahoma ATLANTA (Dec. 16, 1998) - Bernhardt Construction Inc. has opened Oklahoma's fourth Microtel property at 690 Bernhardt Dr. near the McAlester Municipal Airport in Krebs.  There are currently Microtel Inn & Suites in Oklahoma City (two) and Tulsa.  In addition, Bernhardt  Construction has also entered into a multiple development agreement with U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: USFS), franchisor of the Microtel brand, to build more Microtel properties in Idabel, Muskogee, Durant, Pryor and McAlester.  "The opening o...

Hoteliers Elected as Officers at Best Western International / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Hoteliers Elected as Officers at  Best Western International PHOENIX, December 3, 1998 - Three Best Western International hoteliers have been elected officers of the global hotel giant's board of directors for 1999. Serving as chairman of the seven-member board will be Mike Scholz, a Montana hotelier who served last year as vice-chairman. The new vice chairman is Iowa hotelier John Van Duyn and serving as secretary/treasurer will be California hotelier Cindy Binkele. Scholz, a 25-year veteran of the lodging industry, was elected to the Best Western board in 1996. General manager of the Be...

Temple-Inland, Inc. Completes Addition of 99 Suites to the Radisson Hotel Suites – Austin, Tx / Nov 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Temple-Inland, Inc. Completes Addition of 99 Suites to the Radisson Hotel Suites - Austin, TX AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 30, 1998 -  The Radisson Hotel Suites - Austin, in conjunction with Winegardner Hammons, Inc., Temple-Inland, Inc. and Radisson Hotels Worldwide, is pleased to announce the opening of a new suite addition to the hotel following the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation. Located in the heart of downtown Austin overlooking Town Lake, the Radisson Hotel Suites - Austin has remodeled all existing areas of the hotel and recently opened 99 new two-room suites, many specifically...

Choice Atlantica Hotels Commits to South America Hotel Development Despite Economic Uncertainty / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report Choice Atlantica Hotels Commits to South America Hotel Development Despite Economic Uncertainty -- At Least 19 Hotels Expected to Open in 1999  FORT LAUDERDALE, December 10, 1998 – Despite economic uncertainty in certain South American markets, fast-growing hotel company Choice Atlantica Hotels is wrapping up a year punctuated by rapid growth and marked by impressive investor commitment. And executives are predicting an even more aggressive hotel development rate in 1999. The company was formed in 1995 as Barrington International Hotels & Restaurants, Inc. and renamed Choice Atlantica...

The 294-room Apollon Palace Hotel in Athens, Greece, Sold for $US 13 Million / Dec 1998

April 30, 1998

Hotel Online Special Report The 294-room Apollon Palace Hotel  in Athens, Greece, Sold for  $US 13 Million Athens Hotel Gets New Owner, Repositioning Programme London, UK, December 4, 1998 -- Insignia/ESG Hotel Partners, Inc. has confirmed the sale of the 294-room Apollon Palace Hotel and Mythos Beach Restaurant in Athens, Greece, for approximately $US 13 million.  The hotel and restaurant were sold by Alka s.a. to Athens-based Divani Caravel s.a. Jonathan Worsley of Insignia/ESG Hotel Partners's London office oversaw the marketing of the asset on behalf of Alka s.a. The Apollon Palace Hotel and Mythos Beach Rest...