Rooms
03 May 2013

  • What a hotel needs to do to get ready to host the G8 conference

    Destinations

    Ferghal Purcell is remembering the time he hosted Nelson Mandela during critical talks leading to the first free democratic elections in South Africa in 1991. “I was general manager of the Lord Charles hotel in Somerset West on the Cape when Mandela and the entire ANC leadership came to stay. They were there to hold [...]

  • Hotel industry and Brand USA have the ear of the new U.S. commerce secretary

    Rooms

    It’s nice to have friends in high places and the hotel industry and Brand USA likely will get just that as President Obama nominated Penny Pritzker to be the next Commerce Department secretary. A billionaire and fellow Chicagoan who was co-chair of President Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, Pritzker is the daughter of Sue and Donald Pritzker, [...]

02 May 2013

  • The new thing in the Dubai development boom: Hotel apartments

    Destinations

    It took Damac Properties Co. one day to sell the first 200 units in its Hollywood-themed apartment and hotel project as buyers seized the opportunity to invest in Dubai’s booming tourism market. The closely held company, working with Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures, plans to finance the $1 billion, four-tower development in part with proceeds from [...]

01 May 2013

  • Marriott boosts first quarter profits based on rate increases and group business

    Rooms

    Marriott International Inc. says it turned a better-than-expected profit in its first quarter thanks to higher room rates and a return of events by large groups. The company, based in Bethesda, Md., said Wednesday that it earned $136 million, or 43 cents per share, in the three-month period that ended March 31. That’s up from [...]

  • Hyatt Q1 profits fall 20 percent as demand for group bookings slip in U.S.

    Rooms

    Hyatt Hotels Corp., the chain controlled by the Pritzker family, said first-quarter profit fell 20 percent as renovations cut into revenues and demand declined for rooms booked in groups. The stock fell the most since October. Net income fell to $8 million, or 5 cents a share, from $10 million, or 6 cents, a year [...]

  • South Carolina approves law protecting hotel guests from extra taxes

    Destinations

    Travelers in South Carolina wouldn’t pay additional taxes for spa treatments and other conveniences that can be added to hotel bills under a bill approved by the House. The measure approved Tuesday would delete certain items from the additional 5 percent accommodations taxes on lodging. Another perfunctory vote on Wednesday would send it to the [...]

  • Las Vegas wants to overtake Reno as America’s biggest bowling city

    Destinations

    Las Vegas is getting a mega bowling facility. South Point Hotel and Casino announced Tuesday that it has struck a 12-year deal with the United States Bowling Congress to host several annual events in a new $30 million bowling center. The new facility will include more than 60 lanes. The hotel-casino expects to begin construction [...]

  • Streaming video on planes: Why the Wi-Fi doesn’t work

    Transport

    Travelers hitting the road with their mobile electronic devices have three questions about staying connected away from home: will there be Wi-Fi, how much will it cost and how well will it work? Increasingly, it is that last question that matters most. Hotels, airports and airlines are struggling to keep up with customers streaming movies [...]

  • Sleep, the next big trend in the hotel industry

    Rooms

    The latest craze? Giving customers a good night’s sleep. At the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek in Colorado, the hotel recently brought on a Sleep Ambassador to train employees on the art of a restful night’s sleep. The hotel offers a Sound Sleep TV Channel…oxygen canisters to adjust to the altitude and slumber massages…In Berlin, the [...]

30 Apr 2013

  • Loews Hotels Q1 revenues rise, but not enough to cover parent’s profit drop

    Rooms

    Diversified holding company Loews Corp. reported Monday a decline in first-quarter profit, mainly reflecting higher impairment charge and lower investment income. The company’s 90 percent owned property and casualty insurance unit CNA Financial Corp. generated flat profit, while its 50.4 percent-owned unit Diamond Offshore recorded lower results. Loews’ revenues remained almost flat, despite good performance at most [...]