May 2012

David Robinson has worn many uniforms in his life. The NBA Hall of Famer wore the uniform of the San Antonio Spurs from 1989 until 2003. He’s donned the red, white, and blue of USA basketball, playing on the first “Dream Team” in the Barcelona Olympics (he played in three Olympics and the FIBA World Championships). Before all of that, he wore the colors of the Naval Academy, becoming famous for a torrid NCAA Tournament in which he and his Midshipmen teammat

More than 250 hoteliers from across the country were in Washington, D.C., Feb. 29 and March 1 to learn the pressing legislative issues facing the lodging industry and take their message to Capitol Hill. Day one of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2012 Legislative Action Summit (LAS) featured panels on the year’s legislative outlook, travel and tourism promotion, labor issues, the online hotel booking tax issue, and the U.S....

At the end of last year, Grand Hyatt New York unveiled its $130 million top-to-bottom renovation, which included 1,306 redesigned guestrooms, “larger-than-life” installations by acclaimed sculptor Jaume Plesna, and the new Grand Club lounge featuring outdoor space. General Manager Mark Pardue recently spoke with Lodging Managing Editor Megan Sullivan about the goals, challenges, and results of the renovation. More...

First things first…when did the nickname begin? “My name’s a long name and when I was in boarding school in England it was shortened,” Bakulesh “Buggsi” Patel says of his well-known moniker. “Actually, my dad spelled it one way so I just kept it that way. More people know me as Buggsi than my real name.” It seems no matter where you go in industry circles, you can hear the simple name “Buggsi” and everyone knows to whom it refers. And, Buggsi h...

The words "organic" and "sustainable" are buzz-worthy terms in the hotel industry, with properties focusing on energy-saving installations and eco-friendly building materials. But more hotels are beginning to apply the words to their food and beverage operations as well. Hyatt recently announced the launch of an ambitious global food and beverage initiative that will drastically change how food is sourced, prepared, and served in brand hotels around the wor...

When hotels embark on soft good renovation projects, designers are tasked with creating new guestroom experiences that will wow guests and help properties stay ahead of their competitors. The focal point of any guestroom revamp is the bed, where weary travelers lay their heads. “The bed is the reason why guests check into a hotel,” says Ken Koneck, public affairs manager for Valley Forge Fabrics. And if you add up all of the components—sheets,...

The opening session of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) annual convention and trade show kicked off with a bang yesterday as the Atlanta Falcons drumline set the rhythm for an upbeat “Bigger, Bolder, Better” event at the Georgia World Congress Center. Alkesh Patel, AAHOA vice chairman and 2012 convention chair, welcomed attendees. He addressed the lack of credit hoteliers are facing and the importance of supporting legislatio...

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), energy represents the single fastest-growing operating cost in the lodging industry. The EPA estimates that a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption would be equivalent to increasing RevPAR—revenue per available room—by $0.60 for limited service hotels and by more than $2 for full-service hotels. Further, if the entire lodging industry reduced their energy use by 10 percent, a whopping $745 mi...

Colorado Springs, which sits approximately one hour south of Denver, has plenty to offer visitors seeking out natural wonders, cultural activities, and mouthwatering cuisine. But, up until this year, the city lacked a boutique hotel destination designed to capture the essence and excitement of the downtown. When Perry Sanders, owner of the newly minted The Mining Exchange, bought up three historic buildings six years ago, he immediately saw the...

Hilton Hotels & Resorts Wednesday launched Hilton Design Studio, a new online, interactive platform that will allow owners, developers, and design firms to better implement the brand’s design narrative. The brand also unveiled two ready-to-use owner solutions—a new FF&E concept called Hilton Valet, as well as Hilton Connectivity Station, which evolves the traditional business center model. More...

You may think a 13-year NBA veteran is highly accustomed to the finer things in life, especially when it comes to travel. First class air travel, perhaps even private air travel, might seem like the only way to fly for one in such a position. You might be interested to learn that David Robinson, a man who has won NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, and Olympic gold medals, still regularly flies commercial. And although he has found himself in many four- an...

Hard Rock International is setting its sights on expansion in the Caribbean and Central America, and has announced development plans for a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino property in Aruba. Michael Shindler, executive vice president for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, told Lodging that plans for the beachfront, 310-room property are underway although financing is still pending and contracts are not yet finalized. The brand, along wi...

What’s most important to hotel guests? You’ll get no penalty if the word “service” immediately came to mind. Guest service is and always will remain the essence of hospitality, but in this age of a transient population hotel cleanliness has overtaken service in the eyes of the traveling public, according to research conducted by Booz and Company. That sentiment is at the heart of Best Western International’s rollout of its I Care Clean program this year. More...

During my tenure in the hospitality industry, I’ve worked both onsite as the director of sales and marketing for several hotels, as well as on the corporate side as a director of brand performance support and as vice president of brand marketing. As a result, I have the unique perspective of seeing firsthand how branding in the hotel industry is approached on both the property and corporate levels. Through these distinct experiences, I have developed a soun...

Developers and hoteliers that take on building projects are often faced with setbacks and problems along the way, but few have had to go through what Robert Rauch, president of R. A. Rauch & Associates, went through five years ago. Rauch and his partner, Joe Simone, purchased land in Carmel Valley, San Diego just before the September 11 attacks. The plan was to build and operate a Homewood Suites by Hilton and a Hilton Garden Inn to act as ...

Nowadays, more travelers in both the business and leisure markets are trying to maintain healthy lifestyles while away from home. Organic foods, cutting-edge workout equipment, and engaging on-site activities are beginning to factor into guests' booking decisions. With an increased demand for healthy menu options and high-tech fitness facilities, the hotel industry is listening to feedback and coming up with creative and exciting exercise opt...

The impact that online reviews and social media chatter have on the hotel industry can no longer be ignored by brands and property management companies that hope to maintain their reputations and provide guests with high-quality service. But attempting to sift through reviews and respond to every comment on every travel-related site and social media platform is a daunting task for any hospitality professional. Now, one tool allow...

Editor’s Note: This is the last part in a 15-part series (appearing on LodgingMagazine.com each Monday) examining the performance of various markets in the United States. The following is courtesy of Deloitte’s “Hospitality Vision US Performance Review." In 2011, a record number of tourists visited New York City — slightly more than 50 million people — generating an economic impa...

Editor’s Note: This is the fourteenth in a 15-part series (appearing on LodgingMagazine.com each Monday) examining the performance of various markets in the United States. The following is courtesy of Deloitte’s “Hospitality Vision US Performance Review." Oahu tourism started 2011 with a bang, and hotel room demand increased through November. According to STR ...

Restaurant renovations and conversions often appear to be somewhat of a magical transformation process to customers. It’s always a surprise when suddenly, and sometimes without warning, your favorite neighborhood Mexican taquería is completely changed into a high-end American gastro-pub. On reality TV, such as Gordon Ramsey’s popular FOX show “Kitchen Nightmares,” dramatic “overnight” refurbishments regularly shock viewers and thrill the rest...

On April 24, separate announcements came across the editorial desks at Lodging. The releases outlined a big deal that was taking place in the Lodging industry—the acquisition of Northbrook, Ill.-based Lane Hotels by AWH Partners LLC (AWH), a joint venture of August Group Ventures LLC (AGV) and Winston Harton Holdings LLC (WHH). The deal, which has an undisclosed price, also includes individual hotels owned by Lane Hospitality LLC. Following the...

Steve Joyce, president and CEO of Choice Hotels International, admits he and the company were guarded in the past when analysts and other industry watchers were predicting the economic turnaround and the better days for the hotel industry where just around the corner. But after consistently rising numbers in occupancy, demand, and now RevPar, he’s become a believer like many others in the industry. “People always asked me when things will turn...

Last May, Tom Baltimore, president and CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust, and his management team were engrossed in some strategic thinking. Part of the diverse business portfolio of The RLJ Companies, founded by Robert L. Johnson, who is probably best known as founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and one-time owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, RLJ had mostly operated in the private equity space. But now it was surveying the landscape of the hotel indu...

NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson is an admirer of the work and wisdom of George Washington Carver. When discussing why he’s dedicated so much of his time, efforts, and money into helping to develop and educate today’s youth, particularly those who weren’t given the opportunities that many other children get, he quickly reverts back to the words of the great American scientist, botanist, and educator. “It is simply your service that will measure...

Much has been made about the effects of mobile technology on hotel reservations and hotel marketing, but there’s another important area of the hotel lodging business where smartphones and tablets are beginning to have an impact—procurement. At its annual show held in Orlando, Fla., earlier this year, Grainger, a broad line distributor of more than 900,000 products for all industries, officially launched its mobile solution for procurement. “Pe...

The numbers are still stunning. While there are more than 50,000 hotels in the United States, just over 500 of them are African American owned. There are 523, to be exact. Considering the African American population will increase by 31 percent to 48 million over the next 10 years, the representation of African American hotels in relation to the potential African American travelers is nearly none existent. The numbers remain shockingly small when it comes to...

To satisfy guests who desire authentic local experiences while traveling, more and more hotels are showcasing works by local artists and using locally sourced materials to enhance the overall design of new-build and renovated properties. Rather than relying on mass-produced paintings and imported goods, many owners are opting for a more personal approach to décor that ties back to the hotel’s surroundings. Michael Suomi, principal and vice pr...

Brand loyalty programs appear to be driving an increasing number of guests to U.S. hotels. However, this increased volume of room nights comes with an increased cost. To gain an understanding of the costs associated with guest loyalty programs, PKF Hospitality Research LLC (PKF-HR) analyzed “Loyalty Programs and Affiliation Fees” (guest loyalty fees) data from our annual Trends in the Hotel Industry survey. The sample consisted of 1,583 hotels that re...

Hotel “fixer” Anthony Melchiorri can turn struggling hotels around in a matter of weeks, and he does just that in “Hotel Impossible,” the Travel Channel’s new weekly series that debuted April 9. Melchiorri’s tough-love style can be hard to swallow and overhauling a business is a painful and often emotional task, but the potential rewards make it all worth it. Each episode features a hotel that is not living up to its potential. Melchiorri secre...

One of the oldest cannons of business is to know your customer, and in the hospitality industry we know from endless surveys and studies that the majority of guests expect a quick check-in, a clean room, friendly front desk attendants, and a quick check-out. As a result, we have been trained to provide this type of speedy service for our guests. This is fine for customers whose needs and preferences do not go beyond being given their room card ...

Most beachfront resorts in the Caribbean have an impressive array of entertainment and leisure offerings on land, but when Mike Wallace, director of development at Reef Worlds, looks out to the sea, he sees untapped potential. “For the last 40 years, resorts have done a very good job of maximizing every last square inch of land-based property that they have, but they’ve all come out of the last cycle saying ‘what’s next?’” he says. “They always ...