News Top: November
Florida’s Manatee River Hotel History: An 87-year Journey to the Bradenton Hampton Inn & Suites
November 18, 2013
Nov. 18--BRADENTON -- The Manatee River Hotel, set to reopen Tuesday as the Bradenton Hampton Inn & Suites, was conceived as a ritzy playground for the roaring '20s but saw its high-roller hopes go to the gutter when the Great Depression hit and never truly recovered. "Rendered in Italian Renaissance style it will be one of the most imposing structures in the entire state of Florida," read a July, 9, 1925, article in the Manatee River Journal-Herald announcing the hotel's plans. The project came on board thanks to investor H.C. Van Sweringen, half of the Van Sweringen brothers who established the affluent Shaker Heights suburb of Cl...
The 336-room Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Completes Renovations
Marriott Hotels | November 11, 2013
Chantilly Hotel Unveils Renovated Conference Dining Room, Guest Rooms and Restaurant CHANTILLY, VA – (November 2013) – Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles has unveiled extensive renovations and new technology that transform the Chantilly hotel into an attractive, convenient destination for business meetings, weddings and individual travelers. New guest rooms designed for meeting attendees, a restyled conference dining room, new restaurant and soon-to-be-completed updated fitness center empower a modern blend of business and pleasure thanks to a significant investment by owner Host Hotels & Resorts. Mobile-friendly apps ease sc...
Two California Hotel Operators to Pay More than $183K in Back Wages to 69 Employees
November 19, 2013
Nov. 19--Two hospitality operators in Southern California -- including a Days Inn franchisee in San Bernardino -- have agreed to pay a total of $183,468 in back wages and liquidated damages to 69 employees, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday. Sahkar Hospitality Corp., of Corona, agreed to pay more than $123,678 in back wages and damages to 16 employees of Days Inn, located at 1386 E. Highland Avenue in San Bernardino, on grounds the housekeepers were being paid -- on average -- less than $5 per-hour from February 2010 through March 2013. The minimum hourly wage in California is $8. The other hotel operator of Miracle Springs...
Phuket, Thailand Resort Owner, Montara Hospitality Group Shifts Gears to Luxury Hotel Management
November 8, 2013
Nov. 08--Montara Hospitality Group, a local boutique resort owner, is expanding its business into hotel management, planning to manage at least 10 properties by 2017. Established in 1999, the group owns two luxury boutique hotels: Trisara Phuket and the Boathouse Resort on the Beach in Phuket. Its two brands for hotel management are Trisara for mixed-used properties and Montara for boutique hotels. The company prefers to focus only beach properties. Chairman Narong Pattamasaevi said the group decided to expand to the hotel management business because of strong demand from clients after visiting its hotels. Privacy and individual service...
Soffers on Verge of $178 million Settlement in Fontainebleau Las Vegas Banktruptcy Case
November 14, 2013
Nov. 14--The Soffers are on the verge of settling with creditors over the debacle once known as the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a still-skeletal $2 billion high rise in Sin City that ranks as one of the biggest busts of the U.S. real estate crisis. A federal bankruptcy judge in Miami said Wednesday he was "inclined" to approve a $178 million settlement that would pay contractors on the failed casino tower about 25 cents on the dollar. Contractors would divvy up about $85 million for a total claims pool of $600 million, but which a creditor lawyer said would probably end up closer to $350 million once negotiations are finished. The money wi...
Depot Renaissance Minneapolis’ Ice Skating Rink Honored By Fodor’s Travel as a Top 10 Rink in the US
The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel | November 21, 2013
Celebrating with Special "Ice Skating Package" Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 2013 ... The landmark Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel has been recognized by the leading Fodor's Travel magazine as having one of the nation's best ice skating rinks. The Depot's ice rink is located indoors within The Depot Pavilion -- the historic train shed of the Victorian-era former train station, which is now a luxury hotel. The ice rink opens for the 2013-2014 season on November 28, 2013. At #9 in Fodor's Travel's "Best Ice Rinks in the U.S." line-up, the rink within The Depot Pavilion is in exceptional company, including the iconic Rockefeller Cen...
MGM Resorts Workers OK Union Contract, Keep Free Health Insurance; Puts Pressure on Caesars
November 21, 2013
Nov. 21--A new labor contract landed on the Strip late Wednesday when two prominent Las Vegas unions voted to accept the terms of a fresh five-year contract with MGM Resorts International. More than 4,000 members from the Culinary Union and Bartenders Local 165 cast ballots, and 97 percent voted in favor of the deal. The lopsided tally followed on the heels of an 18-hour final meeting between union and casino officials on Nov. 5 at the Culinary Academy, where a contract emerged after four months of tedious chatter. "This agreement is the result of months of hard work and frank, honest discussion of difficult topics," said MGM spokesman ...
Developer Ed Bushor and Artist Wyland to Acquire HI’s Bankrupt Naniloa Volcanoes Hotel for $5.2 M
November 13, 2013
Nov. 13--Developer Ed Bushor and his longtime friend, marine artist Wyland, are buying the bankrupt Naniloa Volcanoes Hotel for $5.2 million, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge confirmed Tuesday. The $5.2 million offer beat out an earlier unconfirmed bid for $3.7 million by Ramco Properties, owner of the Hilo Hawaiian, which is next door to the Naniloa. It also shut out other last-minute offers from two other developers, including Peter Savio, who owns Pagoda Hotels. "Ramco made their offer a week ago Monday, but the judge didn't confirm them, giving other investors an opportunity to overbid," said Mark Bratton, vice president for Colliers I...
Pricing in a Social World by Kelly A McGuire, PhD and Breffni M Noone, PhD
SAS | November 7, 2013
The price transparency afforded by the advent of the OTAs changed the way that hotels think about pricing. Social media and online reviews are driving the next major shift in pricing - value transparency. Consumers now have easy access to detailed consumer opinion, along with price, through review sites, OTAs and even hotel websites. In order to continue to price effectively, revenue managers need to understand how consumers are using this user generated content (UGC) with price, to make a hotel purchase decision. To help hotel managers understand how value transparency will impact their pricing and positioning strategies, we conducted ...
Hankyu Hanshin Hotels Admits to Serving Sub-Par Food for Years; Japanese Hospitality Under Scrutiny
November 5, 2013
Nov. 05--TOKYO (The Straits Times/ANN) -- Thousands of Japanese diners could not tell the difference. Even inspectors for Michelin Guide, which awards its highly-coveted stars to only a select few restaurants, were apparently duped. There have been red faces across Japan since Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Hotels (HHH) admitted last month that eight directly-managed hotels in Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto and Hyogo prefecture had been serving sub-par food for years. Hankyu, which also runs a profitable railway, department store and the all-women Takarazuka Revue, is a respected brand name in western Japan. Hanshin, which has similar operations, merg...
New Owners of Gabe’s Tower in Owensboro, Kentucky Plan Hotel’s Rebirth
November 12, 2013
Nov. 12--The new owners of Gabe's Tower plan to spend as much as $6 million to renovate and reopen the iconic 13-story building as a refurbished hotel, Mayor Ron Payne announced Monday. The city is working with the developers to find additional parking for the hotel and to waive landfill fees for the demolition debris that will come out of the long-closed circular edifice at 1929 Triplett St., according to Payne. "It looks like we will be salvaging Gabe's Tower," Payne said. "There's been talk of reopening the (hotel) restaurant. They need parking, and we're assisting with that." Payne answered "yes" when asked if the developers had the...
Atlantic City’s Hotel Occupancy Rate Stays Strong Despite Overall Drop in Casino Industry’s Profits
November 25, 2013
Nov. 25--The Atlantic City casino industry's gross operating profits are down 23 percent in the first nine months of the year, registering $349 million. Total revenue in the first nine months was down 8.6 percent from last year, totaling $3.2 billion. Those figures include gambling, food and beverage, rooms and entertainment revenue. Operating profits in the third quarter alone decreased by 8.1 percent to $137.4 million, according to data released Friday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Meanwhile, hotel occupancy in the third quarter held steady as the casino industry measured a 91 percent room occupancy rate with 1.55 ...
Dauphin County to Sell Failed Hyatt Regency at the Pittsburgh Intl. Airport for $44.5 Million
November 20, 2013
Nov. 20--Well that nightmare is almost over. Thirteen years after it opened its doomed hotel in Pittsburgh, the Dauphin County General Authority is expected to close on the sale of the building Thursday, according to Jay Wenger, the authority's financial advisor. A Rhode Island-based hotel operator has agreed to buy the Hyatt Regency at the Pittsburgh International Airport for $44.5 million. The bondholders have agreed to accept $8 million less than the principal still owed to them through 2029. The bondholders are also walking away from $35.6 million in theoretical interest payments they understood the unprofitable hotel would not be g...
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel Appoints Ms. Terry Lewis as General Manager
the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel | November 11, 2013
November 12, 2013 - The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel has named Terry Lewis General Manager of the newly renovated 1,781 room hotel, a significant appointment as Ms. Lewis is the first woman to be named General Manager of a convention hotel in New York City. A 28-year veteran of the hotel industry, Ms. Lewis brings strong leadership experience to her fifth hotel General Manager role and extensive knowledge of the New York City tourism market. Ms. Lewis has held senior roles in large New York hotels since 2008, most recently as General Manager of the Westin New York Times Square Hotel and General Manager at the W New York Times Sq...
Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park Officials Plan to Update Lodgings
November 30, 2013
Nov. 30--GLASGOW -- Mammoth Cave National Park invites those interested in proposed improvements to lodging facilities at the national park to express their comments in writing online or by letter to national park officials. A call for public comment on improvements to lodging facilities at Mammoth Cave was made by officials earlier this week. According to a press release issued by Mammoth Cave on Tuesday, the national park began its planning in 2010. Public comment was also sought at the time, which revealed people favor clean, comfortable lodging and a majority of people stated an interest in rustic cabins, a variety of food and bever...
After Years of Trying, Sale of St. Louis Renaissance Grand Hotel Pending for $26 million
November 7, 2013
Nov. 07--After years of trying, owners of the Renaissance Grand have found a buyer for the financially struggling convention hotel in downtown St. Louis. Bondholders who have owned the 917-room hotel since foreclosing on it in 2009 said Thursday they have a deal to sell the hotel to 800 Washington LLC. Haberhill LLC, of Potomac, Md., would serve as the hotel's operating partner, officials said. The $26 million deal excludes the hotel complex's suites portion in the former Lennox Hotel across Washington Avenue from the Renaissance Grand. But Paul Ricotta, the Boston lawyer for bond trustee UMB Bank, said that sale of the suites portion a...
Whitehall, Montana’s Historic Borden’s Hotel to Receive $1.5 Million Makeover
November 13, 2013
Nov. 13--A ceremony today will launch renovation plans for a vacant, landmark building in Whitehall that is intended to provide new vitality to the city's downtown. The 11 a.m. signing of loan papers with Rocky Mountain Bank there will secure about $1.2 million of the money needed for the roughly $1.5 million renovation of the vacant Borden's Hotel, said Tara Mastel, manager with the Jefferson Local Development Corp., which owns the building. The building will seek federal certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program after the renovation is completed, Mastel said. Meeting the LEED platinum standard w...
Executive Chef Peter D’Andrea Joins Biloxi’s IP Casino
November 21, 2013
Nov. 21--BILOXI -- IP Casino Resort has a new executive chef who, among his culinary accomplishments, cooked for Julia Child's 80th birthday celebration. Peter D'Andrea comes to IP Casino with 40 years of experience in the food and beverage industry and will oversee the menu development for the casino's restaurants and catering services. "I am very excited to join the outstanding team at IP Casino Resort Spa and look forward to bringing F&B to a new culinary level," he said. He also will develop and implement culinary training programs at the resort. Following an apprenticeship, D'Andrea worked as a cook, sous chef and in restaurant...
Firm Controlled by Bill Gates, Cascade Investment, Buyer of Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
November 22, 2013
Nov. 22--Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. announced Thursday that it has sold the 244-room Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta and its office space in Midtown for $62 million to a private investment firm controlled by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The five-star hotel, which opened in March 1997 at 75 14th Street, will remain a Four Seasons, according to the buyer, Cascade Investment. The hotel occupies the lower third of the 53-floor building, with 226 guest rooms and 18 suites. (See photos). Cascade spokesman Rick Matthews told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday the company is acquiring the hotel and 99,000 square feet of office space....
The Dishes, Drinks & Digs That Will Be Breaking Down Barriers in 2014; AF&Co’s Annual Trends Report
Andrew Freeman & Co. | November 20, 2013
Now in its seventh year, AF&Co's annual trends report has become an industry standard in anticipating market demand and consumer feedback. Compiled from extensive research, the report is intended as a guide to help operators prepare for the coming year. New this year, the AF&Co.'s team of trendologists is introducing the Trends Index – a matrix featuring their top "food calls" for the upcoming year, from the next mutant morsel to predicting the new bacon. "This year's trends are about the experiential," says Freeman. "As technology continues to infuse every aspect of our lives, clientele are looking for deeper personal con...
Glorietta Bay Inn Wins Prestigious Best Guest Relations Award For A Second Year In A Row
Glorietta Bay Inn | November 22, 2013
Coronado, California, November 25, 2013 – Glorietta Bay Inn is pleased to announce that it has been recognized with the prestigious "Best Guest Relations" award by the California Hotel & Lodging Association. This marks the second "Best Guest Relations" award in a row following last year's win. The award is presented to hotels that exemplify exceptional levels of service, quality and value. The hotel's housekeeping manager, Fe Herron, was also honored with the statewide "Outstanding Manager of the Year" award. The awards were presented at the Stars of the Industry ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort on November 19, 20...
Developer Harry Walia Tries Again to Bring a Hotel to Palmetto, Florida; Proposes 93-room Hotel
November 22, 2013
Nov. 22--PALMETTO -- Venice- based developer Harry Walia, who wanted to bring a Hyatt Hotel to Palmetto, submitted revised plans in hopes of bringing the city its first hotel. This month the city commission voted 4 to 1 to deny Walia's request to for a hotel to be built in the Riviera Dunes community, after residents filled council chambers to oppose the deal. Commissioner Charles Smith was the lone commissioner to vote to OK the hotel. Char Patterson, Palmetto planning tech, said Walia, who could not be reached for comment, submitted plans to scale back his earlier request. "He changed his plans," Patterson. said The plans show Walia w...
Luxury 54-room Hotel, The Petaluman, Planned for Downtown Petaluma, California
November 30, 2013
Nov. 30--Downtown Petaluma may be home to Wine Country's next luxury accommodations, and developers are hoping the plan will be embraced, unlike recent swanky hotel proposals in Sonoma and Healdsburg. In both of those tourist-dependent cities, plans for new hotels have been met with controversy recently. A group of Healdsburg residents is considering seeking a ballot measure limiting the size of hotels, similar to an unsuccessful measure in Sonoma that was defeated last month. As Petaluma works to attract more tourists, a new hotel likely won't generate as much opposition, at least related to the use and number of rooms. But its modern ...
Malcolm Bryant Corp Nears Completion of The Waterfront Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel in Owensboro, KY
November 2, 2013
Nov. 02--The Waterfront Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel, which is nearing completion in downtown Owensboro, is working on getting a number of certifications approved in December that would clear the way for the hotel to open earlier than the Owensboro Convention Center, its next-door neighbor, a hotel official said Friday. Malcolm Bryant, president of the Malcolm Bryant Corp., the company that is building and will own and operate the $20 million hotel, said the hotel will still have an official grand opening with the convention center after both are open. The convention center is scheduled to be finished on Jan. 27 and be open for busine...
Ocean Properties Unveils Design for 124-room Residence Inn by Marriott, Bangor, Maine
November 27, 2013
Nov. 27--BANGOR, Maine -- A hotelier responsible for 10 Maine hotels on Tuesday rolled out early plans for a five-story Residence Inn by Marriott -- one of six hotels planned for Bangor since 2006. Ocean Properties, which owns more than 100 hotels and resorts in North America, unveiled early designs for a 124-room hotel next door to the Cross Insurance Center during a Tuesday night Business and Economic Development Committee meeting. The Residence Inn likely would draw people attending conferences, including conventions scheduled at the Cross Insurance Center, many of whom likely would stay for more than one night. Ocean Properties has ...
