Outrageous! The Cure for the Post Recession Blues! - By Carol Verret

It’s almost spring and there are green shoots sprouting in gardens and the economy! It’s time to shake off the deadly serious work attitudes we have adopted and be a little outrageous! ...more

Settlement Agreement Approved in New Jersey MGM MIRAGE to Sell Interest in the Borgata Hotel & Casino

MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) today announced that the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (CCC) approved the settlement agreement between the Company and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under which the Company will sell its 50% ownership interest in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and related leased land in Atlantic City. ...more

Best Western Signs First Premier Hotel in Philippines

Best Western International and Unibuilt Real Estate Corporation have signed an agreement which will further boost the chain’s presence in the Philippines and at the same time introduce the Best Western Premier brand to the destination. ...more

Picture This - Tell Guests Your Story of Environmental Stewardship with Pineapple Hospitality’s Green Earth Key Cards.

If you go by the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, then you’ll see why many hotels are telling the story of their environmental commitment with customized green hotel room key cards. ...more

Lodgian Receives Audit Report with Going Concern Explanation

Lodgian, Inc. (NYSE Amex Equities: LGN) today announced that the audit report of its independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, while expressing an unqualified opinion regarding the company's audited financial statements, identified matters which raise substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern. ...more

Staybridge Suites Debuts in New York City's Times Square

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG] announced today that a new 310-room Staybridge Suites will open in early April in the center of Manhattan. ...more

Hampton Hotels Opens 17 New Properties During First Two Months Of 2010

Announced that it opened 17 new properties during January and February, totaling more than 1,600 new rooms. ...more

CHART Restaurant and Hotel Training Professionals Give Back to San Francisco Community During Conference

Attendees donate teddy bears to firefighters to share with local children, and distribute restaurant gift cards to Ronald McDonald House ...more

Independent Hotels and Resorts Attract Guests, Increase Revenue Using Social Media and E-Marketing to Promote Direct Website Bookings, Loyalty

Personalized Service, Engaging Guests in the Era of Internet & Social Marketing Proves a Winning Strategy for Independent Hoteliers to Outshine Large Chains ...more

Hotwire Reveals Canadian Hotel Rate Report for March 2010

Calgary Tops the Hotel Rate Report for the Third Consecutive Month ...more

New Survey Provides Hoteliers Insight on Industry Trends

As the hospitality industry continues to recover, hoteliers look for insight on industry trends. To provide that insight, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and VIZERGY®, leaders in hotel Internet marketing, have teamed up to conduct a dynamic study that will help properties increase their online revenue and understand how their peers are navigating the volatile environment. ...more

Jordan’s Tourism Sector Shows Resilience According to Deloitte Analysis of 2009 Hotel Performance

In what was a testing year for tourism markets globally after the fallout of the world financial crisis, Jordan showed signs in 2009 of withstanding the challenge. The country observed an occupancy rate of 56.1 percent in the 12-month period ended December 2009, according to statistics from STR Global, which reflects a year-on-year decrease of 18 percent. However, revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the same period decreased relatively less, by 5.7 percent, to US$82.11. ...more

Middle East Hoteliers Prove to Be the Strongest

Deloitte has confirmed that hotels in the Middle East achieved the highest occupancy, average room rates and revPAR globally in 2009. Data prepared by STR Global, shows occupancy reached 61.3 percent for the year, while average room rates and revenue per available room (revPAR), stood at US$202 and US$124 respectively. ...more

European Hotels on the Up

Recent analysis by Deloitte has found that recovery in European hotel performance is on the horizon. Demand has experienced an upturn since October 2009, before pushing into positive territory in December 2009 - up 4.2 percent. STR Global results for January 2010 also show a healthy 3.3 percent increase in the region against January 2009. ...more

European Hotel Real Estate: a Long, Slow Haul Back

Key highlights from Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2010 ...more

UK Hotels Forecast 2010 and 2011: On the Comeback Trail

Hotels are on the comeback trail. More accurately hotels appear to be on two separate trails to recovery – a super-highway for London and a much rougher Provincial trail. ...more

World Travel & Tourism Council Forecasts Subdued Growth For 2010

World GDP fell by 2.1% in real terms, with developed economies - a major source of demand for Travel & Tourism - the most severely affected. Households curtailed leisure travel plans, substituting lower-cost short-haul and domestic travel for more expensive long-haul trips, and corporations reduced business travel budgets. ...more