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Hotel Industry News Archive for 2003 Page 3

(External) What makes a good hotel great?

People often ask, Can you recommend a good hotel? Whether we are talking about London, Paris, New York, Monte Carlo or Grand Rapids, Michigan, the answer depends on a raft of considerations.

Exclusive Resorts Acquires Key Competitors

Exclusive Resorts, LLC., the pioneer and global leader in the luxury residence club industry, has acquired the two remaining companies in the sector, The Odyssey Club, LLC., and Mirabella Estates, LP.

Christmas-New Year's Travel to Rise 2 Percent, AAA Says

New Year's holiday travel should increase by more than 2 percent from last year as Americans continue to fly in increasing numbers, according to AAA. AAA estimates that 59.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, up 2.4 percent from the 58.2 million who traveled last year.

Turning problems into opportunities: Guest response systems provide the data needed to eliminate defects, improve processes and increase guest satisfaction

By Mike Benjamin

Manufacturing companies such as General Electric Co. and Motorola Inc. have used Six Sigma—the crème de la crème of total quality management programs—for years. The central idea behind Six Sigma is that if one can measure how many defects there are in a process, one can systematically learn how to eliminate them and get as close to zero defects as possible.

(External) Hotel Law Raises Privacy Issues

The guest-registration records at hotels and motels in Reidsville can now be examined by police without a court order, based on an ordinance passed by the Reidsville City Council this week.

VIP International Launches Website Services to Drive Traffic to Property Sites

VIP International Corporation, a channel marketing provider committed to being the number one producer of bookings per client, today announced it is responding to a recent hospitality study showing property websites generate 6.25 percent average reservation rates at the lowest cost per reservation, by adding a suite of Website Services to funnel more business to clients' Internet sites.

Holiday Inn Draws up New Partnership with Cartoon Network

Holiday Inn has signed a partnership deal with Cartoon Network to drive its positioning within the family market. The venture will work to raise awareness of the hotel's leisure offering, driving both loyalty and trial.

(External) Hotel Pipeline Expanding

After reaching historically low levels earlier in the year, the pipeline for new hotel construction is showing the first tentative signs of expanding. If the momentum continues, analysts have predicted a wave of new building in the next few years that would see an increase in the number of hotels opening later in the decade across all price points.

Radisson SAS Signs Deal for Destination Resort in Ireland

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, the first-class hotel brand of Rezidor SAS Hospitality and the leading international hotel brand in Ireland, has signed an agreement to manage a resort to be developed on the historic Farnham Estate in Cavan, scheduled to open in June 2005.

HVS Singapore Releases: 2003 Hotel Market Overview, China

The HVS International Singapore office, has just released an in-depth overview of the key hotel markets located in China. Phil Golding, Associate Director explains that, “With the increasing number of hotel related opportunities in Mainland China this market overview provides our industry colleagues with the most up-to-date information of the various hotel markets.”

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. Completes Financing

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. (FHR) (TSX/NYSE: FHR) has completed the previously announced issuance and sale of convertible senior notes (the Notes) totaling US$270 million aggregate principal amount.

New Leadership Of Caribbean Hotel Foundation To Expand Scholarship Program

San Juan, Puerto Rico (December 8, 2003) - In order to expand the activity and improve the efficiency of its scholarship program, the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) has confirmed the appointment of a new leadership team for the Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CHF) with a new Chairman, Antigua's Rob Sherman leading the new Board of Trustees, and Coordinator, Gill Titcombe.

The Leading Hotels of the World Launches New Website

NEW YORK, Dec. 8 With the launch of the newly designed Leading Hotels of the World website (www.lhw.com) travelers can quickly and easily find special values and instant details for vacation and business travel at over 400 of the best hotels and resorts in the world.

Internet Based Hotel-Rates Monitoring Services

eMark Services, a software services company based in India, has announced the availability of web based price intelligence services for the global hotel industry. Great flexibility is available to customers regarding the formats in which this comparative price data can be presented. It could be compiled in simple excel spreadsheets or represented graphically for easy visual interpretation.

How an Independent Hotel can turn lemons into lemonade by Ilan Blum

Before the advent of commercial applications to the Internet, an independently owned hotel was unable to market itself online as efficiently as the large hotel groups and chains. Even though many of the independents have worked to increase reach with their own websites as well as through links to the big search engines, most have not taken advantage of the Internet’s power to level the online playing field.

China 2003 Hotel Market Overview

The overview provides details relating to market profiles, accessibility, seasonality trends and market segmentation, hotel supply, recent performance statistics, and market outlook.

2003 Hotel Development Cost Survey by Elaine Sahlins

HVS International has tracked hotel construction costs throughout the United States since 1976. In 2001, the survey introduced data for a larger range of hotel products, setting new baseline ranges for six lodging types.

All eyes on Asia by Steve Shellum

The battle for global dominance in the hotel industry is being fought in the region - with the world's biggest chains planning massive expansion

Starwood Extends Tender Offer for Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel at Purchase Price of $625 per Unit to December 19, 2003

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Dec. 5, 2003 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that it has extended its tender offer to purchase, through its wholly owned subsidiary, WHLP Acquisition LLC, all of the outstanding units of limited partnership (the Units) of Westin Hotels Limited Partnership (WHLP), the owner of the Westin Michigan Avenue hotel in Chicago, Illinois, at a purchase price of $625 in cash per Unit.

Canadian Lodging Outlook October 2003

Published in conjunction with STR (Smith Travel Research) and endorsed by the Hotel Association of Canada. This publication summarizes monthly occupancy and average room rates from major cities in Canada.

Innkeepers USA Trust Completes Acquisition of First 23 Leases from Lessee

PALM BEACH, Fla. Innkeepers USA Trust (NYSE: KPA), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) and a leading owner of upscale, extended-stay hotel properties throughout the United States, today announced that it had completed the acquisition of 23 hotel leases from its principal lessee, Innkeepers Hospitality.

Shangri-La To Operate A Second Property In Australia

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading deluxe hotel group, announces a new management agreement with the Australian property investor Huntercorp Pacific to operate a 256-room five-star hotel in Cairns, north Queensland.

Marriott International To Grow Its Presence In Hawaii With A Courtyard Hotel On Kauai In 2004

The Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) presence in Hawaii will grow in 2004 with the addition of a moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Kauai as a result of a franchise agreement with the Presidio Hotel Group, LLC., a northern California-based firm that specializes in developing and managing full-service and focused-service hotel properties in the United States.

First Marriott Resort To Open On Fiji In 2005

Marriott International [NYSE: MAR] will manage a new 250-room property on the popular destination resort island of Fiji that will open in 2005 under an agreement reached with Unitava Limited.

Choice Hotel Latest Company to Offer Guaranteed Online Rates

Silver Spring, MD (December 4, 2003) – Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), today announced the extension of its Best Choice e-Rate Guarantee to all hotels within its worldwide system, encompassing more than 4,700 properties in 42 nations around the globe.