Search

The article discusses the economic position of Choice Hotels International in the midst of the economic downturn. President and chief executive officer Steve Joyce regards 2008 as the worst economic downturn he has ever experienced in his career. The moderate-tier and lower hotels applied the trade down effect on its customers, that is, lower rates for less frills, to survive the economic storm. Choice Hotels can attract value-seeking guests due to the variety of its brands.

The article features the Aria Restaurant at Fairmont Hotel of Chicago and Sensi Restaurant at Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada whose kitchens are its central focus. While offering Asian cuisine, the Aria has its kitchen placed at the center of the dining room and a Tandoori oven with its own chef strategically situated at the door of the restaurant. Sensi, on the other hand, offers a similar concept but with a different point of view where its dining tables are adjacent to glass walls that allow customers to see through the entire kitchen and its staff.

The article focuses on hotel swimming pools and discusses what hotels are doing to their pools to make them vital cogs of their hotel designs to blend with their themes and atmospheres. It notes that the trend in pools is to create additional exterior living spaces to generate more revenues. At Harrah's Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the article found that the pool is covered at night and converted into a nightclub while other hotels have turned them in cabanas and fire pits.

The article reports that a growing number of travelers are concerned over maintaining environmentally friendly practices while on the road, according to a Deloitte survey. Brian Mullis of Sustainable Travel International says more travelers are looking to align their personal values with their consumption choices. The Deloitte survey found that business travelers expect certain environmental actions at lodging facilities. Some of their expectations include recycling, energy-efficient lighting and towel/sheet reuse programs.

The article focuses on hotels operated by branches of the U.S. military. As stated, military lodging evolved through the years from simple housing facilities to full-service hotels like private sector brands. They differ in that they are exclusive to active-duty personnel, their families, reservists and Defense Department employees and retirees and they are non-profit operations. Their similarities include having a brand name and a co-management infrastructure, being audited by an external accounting firm, and staffing.

An interview with Jake Kheel, environmental director of PuntaCana Resort & Club in the Caribbean, is presented. He describes his role as an environmental director. He mentions his involvement with the PuntaCana Ecological Foundation. He comments on environmental sustainability in the hotel industry.

The article focuses on Harrah's casino brand which opened a property in Chester, Pennsylvania. David Norton, chief marketing officer for Harrah's Entertainment, says that the brand has a good reputation for customer service because it does give them a comfort level of what the gaming experience is going to be about. He adds that Harrah's has a very high recognition even among non-gamblers.

The article focuses on the increasing demand for IPTV, a digital box that uses an Internet protocol (IP) network, in hotels. According to Hooman Honary, acting president of IPTV provider NxTV, the hotel industry is increasingly adopting the technology because of its benefits. IPTV is said to add a number of benefits while drastically reducing cabling costs and helping to manage bandwidth throughout a property. Hotels that are using IPTV include Four Seasons in Washington, D.C. and Hongkong, China-based Peninsula Hotels.

The article discusses the potential security risks of Internet networks and high-definition television systems in hotels and how these are being addressed. These risks include spread of virus, theft of guests' private data and pirating of direct-from-studio movies. According to Trevor Warner of Warner Consulting Group, protections are offered by the Internet network providers. One such provider, Telkonet, says networks that are set up correctly with isolation between users are less vulnerable. Also mentioned is the Pro:Idiom encryption technology.

The article describes Room 114 at the Courtyard by Marriott, an experimental hotel guest room designed by the University of Delaware in Newark. Room 114, which is also called the X Room, is an actual working guest room where business travelers and families checking into the hotel stay. The room contains many of the technologies found in the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professional's Guestroom 2010, except that the room is a real working room built to determine just how these technologies can be utilized and how they will be accepted by guests.

The article discusses the reopening of the renovated Mansfield Hotel and describes its new design in 2007. A brief history of the Mansfield Hotel as well as its Beaux-Arts style is presented. The design team of Stephen B. Jacobs and Andi Pepper is credited for the hotel's improvements including the high ceilings, red mahogany banisters, expanded M Bar and the state-of-the-art fitness center which is inspired by the elegance and romance of the early 1900s fused with 21st century style and offerings.

The article focuses on the efforts of hotel operators in the U.S. to initiate environmentally friendly laundry operations. Marriott International is mentioned as one of the hotel companies using ozone technology. According to the author, the ozone systems of laundry cleaning kill microorganisms, break down stains while using only a lesser amount of hot water.

Focuses on the impact of the ice storm which hit Canada and New England in January 1998 on the home improvement industry. Temporary closing of retail operations due to power outages; Increase in demand for kerosene heaters; Retailers' problems on moving merchandise.

Examines the status of the vinyl fencing market in the United States. Rise in demand for vinyl fencing due to its ease of installation, low upkeep requirement and high durability; Efforts of do-it-yourself retailers to educate consumers about the advantages of vinyl fences over those made of wood; Features of an effective vinyl fencing marketing plan.

The article explores the third phase of the Privatization of Army Lodging program in the U.S. Under this program, asset manager and developer Lend Lease and hotel operator IHG are continuing to upgrade on-base Army hotels into modern facilities that meet the same brand standards as hotels found in any civilian post. These hotels operate under the name IHG Army Hotels but are branded under IHG's Holiday Inn Express, Candelwood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands.

The article centers on minibars as a profit center for hotels. Although sales per occupied room have taken a decrease for this service due to free water being given away by some hotels, it continues to rake in profits at an average spend of 2.45 dollars per room. 24 out of 100 hotel guests utilize the in-room minibar complimented by snack trays that highlight impulse items found in the minibar.

An interview with Bill Marriott Jr., president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Marriott International Inc., is presented. When asked why he is retiring as CEO, he refers to his having stayed in the company for 60 years. He believes that the hotel business is one of the most rewarding industries in the world because it does so much to help people. He says he hopes to spend more time with his grandchildren after he retires.

The article focuses on the DirecTV Residential Experience for hotels that was introduced by DirecTV and P&F USA at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It aims to give hotel guests a more home-like television viewing experience. The new plan will not require Pro:Idiom, which could save a hotel 150 U.S. dollars per television. DirecTV also allows hotels to offer more high-definition channels.

The article describes how staff multitasking and facility setup can help create efficiency in a hotel's laundry operations as in the case of Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway in Dallas, Texas. Aside from energy-efficient equipment for laundry, the hotel, which adheres to Accor North America's sustainable initiatives, also positioned the laundry facilities near its front desk so that employees may multitask. The setup results to staffing cost savings and maximizes the time that associates are on duty.

The article features the LINQ360 Innovation Lab. A brief background on this ecosystem which aims to make hospitality technology work in an integrated environment is provided which involved Innlink, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Crestron. The range of technologies is presented including temperature controls, room locks and property management systems. The concept of the laboratory is described which simulates checking into a hotel with reservations done in a virtual capacity.

An interview with Cheryl Rowley, the veteran hospitality designer who has closed up her studio, Cheryl Rowley Design in Beverly Hills, is presented. When asked why she has decided to close up her shop, Rowley said that she and her husband wanted to relocate to Vancouver Island in their retirement. Regarding her accomplishments, she hopes that she had brought a way for people to look at design in a different way. The rise of boutique hotels had provided choices for people, she said.

The article features the Stash Hotel Rewards, a rewards program which aims to help independent hotels attract frequent business travelers who represent nearly 50% of all room night demand in the U.S. Jeff Low, founder of the Stash Hotel, thought of the creating a points-based currency will allow guests of independent partner hotels to redeem those points at other Stash hotels in the U.S. and the Caribbean. It adds that partner hotels have been getting more travelers ever since the program was launched.

The article reviews the Web site of Forbes Travel Guide, a star rating service and series of travel guides for hotels and restaurants.

An interview with Stanley Tang, principal at BLT Architects, is presented. When asked about the keys to balancing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations with design, Tang says that the key to balancing ADA regulations with design is the careful coordination and successful integration of this aspect into the character and quality of the facility. Tang believes that space in and of itself is not always the only or best solution to functional and operational needs. He adds that thoughtful attention to efficient layout is also important.

The article provides information on the Eye on Awareness training course made by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute and Cardinal Point Strategies for hotel employees. The course provides hotel workers with a series of skill and knowledge components and focuses on the front line staff at hotels. According to Paul Goldenberg, chief executive officer of Cardinal, the training course content originates from professionals in homeland security. The course also complements an awareness campaign made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The article discusses how some U.S. resorts get help in tracking wardrobes as shown in the initiative by the Sunset Station Hotel & Casino in Henderson, Nevada. A uniform room, which is outsourced and operated by uniform-maker Cintas Group in order to create a more cost-effective manner and take the management of tracking garment out of the hands of resorts, has been setup. A professional software is usually used to make long-term cost projections such as a time-stamp system or radio-frequency identification chips sewn into uniforms.

The article discusses the role of channel management in helping small independent boutique hotels improve their exposure in the Internet while limiting their labor costs. The channel management systems help small hotels to maintain and track their third-party distributors, practice rate equality, and become more competitive. Proper management of distribution channels contributes to proper management of inventory leading to the attainment of highest profitability level.

The article considers the value of mobile technology to hotel management. Some of the advantages include cost savings and making the properties more efficient. Among the operations that can be monitored by Buffalo Lodging manager John Zompetti through mobile technology are plumbing and electrical systems. Remote energy management is cited as another application of mobile technology.

The article discusses the innovations waterpark resorts are adopting in order to adjust with the changing nature of travelers and to keep themselves afloat during tough times. It notes that resorts are looking at various types of sales and marketing models in the form of memberships and season passes. They are also looking at partnerships with other local attractions such as restaurant chains. Donny Weber of the Weber Group says the tough times are an opportunity for the industry to be innovative and redefine itself.

The article focuses on the application of limited health benefit plans in offering a way to secure some benefits for part-time and hourly hotel workers. Hotels are facing problems in providing adequate and affordable healthcare to their workers because premiums are high and often out of the affordability range of lower-wage workers and small business on tight margins, the author said.

The article considers the use of automated energy management systems in hotels. These systems are intelligent devices designed to regulate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) usage and to improve energy efficiency. Several hoteliers claim that energy management is the first thing to install when starting a green initiative. According to Jeff Sobieski, executive vice president of energy management at Telkonet, hotels have turned to energy management systems for cost savings and environmental benefits.

The article focuses on the popularity of wireless minibars in the hospitality sector. It states that the improvement of communication methods has made these wireless minibars popular in the market. It describes the Zigbee low-cost wireless network protocol which offers a different way of transmitting information from a minibar to the hotel staff. It also compares traditional minibars with the wireless amenities.

The article deals with the growing popularity of luggage-shipping services as of April 2008. As noted, travellers are shipping their luggage to their hotels ahead of time because of several reasons. Aside from airline delays since tracking began in 1995, airlines have begun to limit the amount of luggage passengers can check without an additional fee. However, Manhattan, New York City-based Lugge Free suggests that as such services are becoming in demand, hotels must find ways to organize and store their guests' luggage until they check in.

The article looks at the factors behind the success of former National Football League (NFL) head coach Don Shula as a restaurateur. Shula owns a family-run chain of steakhouses which already has 26 franchises owned and operated by hotels. Unlike other restaurants, Shula's steakhouses have embraced and sought out hotel locations. Shula asserts that hotels have proven to be prime locations for his restaurants and his company seeks out hotels since the two business complement each other and add benefits to the bottom line for both businesses.

The article discusses the trend among hotels to focus again on bedding. It is stated that one idea is signature or proprietary bedding first adopted by Westin with its Heavenly Bed. Hotels are noted to be also upgrading their mattresses to the new types made of high-tech materials, including memory foam. One such mattress is Radisson Hotels' Sleep Number which lets users adjust the mattress to satisfy their desired comfort, fitness and support. Hoteliers are also reportedly using mattress covers.

The article focuses on the growing interest in hotel properties with improved indoor air quality, which means being free of allergens and odors. The results of an independent study indicate that 93 percent of hotel guests say they prefer a room with improved indoor air quality. It is noted that hoteliers are utilizing comprehensive systems such as Nalco's Building Environment Solutions (BES) program, which allows them to take a proactive approach to indoor air quality while differentiating themselves from local competition.

The article reports on the relaunching of Holiday Inn by Intercontinental Hotels Group. The relaunch will require all Holiday Inn hotels to implement significant property and service changes. The relaunch program features a new logo and signage. The phases for the relaunch are discussed. The aim of the relaunch is mentioned.

This section presents an interview with Raphael St. James, a fitness concierge at the Affinia Dumont hotel. He talks about the importance of physical fitness concierges to the hospitality industry. He discusses his role as a fitness concierge and how he attends to the needs of various hotel guests. He says that being a fitness concierge entails wellness background and personal training credentials.

The article offers information on Powermat, device developed by Powermat Ltd. which transmits wireless electrical power to charge electronic devices.

The article evaluates hotel laundry and room attendant carts from the Nickolodeon Family Suites.

The article talks about the reservation system created by Tom Magnuson, founder of the Magnuson Hotels, and his wife for economy-segment independent hotel owners. According to Magnuson, the reservation system allows hotels to stay independent but still obtain benefits of an advanced reservation system and support that would normally receive from a franchise. He adds that the concept created a large reservation distribution system and provided personal service to manage inventory and rates.

The article talks about the concept of customer satisfaction guarantees offered by the management of Hampton Hotels. According to Phil Cordell, senior vice president at Hampton Hotels, the success of any service industry depends on the ability of team members to do their jobs. He states that Hampton Hotels were one of the first adopters of the 100 percent guest-satisfaction guarantee, a program which the guest can demand a refund if they are not satisfied with the hotel's service.

The article presents the highlights of the second annual Developing Unconventional Gas (DUG) Australia Conference and Exhibition held in Brisbane, Queensland as of December 2014, including the lectures by Senex Energy's Ian Davies and gas industry expert Dick Stoneburner on Australia's gas sector.

Reports on the increase in the use of residential carbon monoxide (CO) detectors that operate similar to standard smoke alarms. Controversies on the effectiveness of CO detectors; CO poisoning as the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor focuses on the Motel 6 hotel chain which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012.

The author underscores diversity ownership and management for the lodging industry as the current and future's workforce become increasingly multicultural. The industry, although filled with talent of varied profiles, lags behind other industries when it comes to African-American, Hispanic and female owners and executives. The author announced the upcoming HR & Diversity Summit which is a unique diversity and inclusion summit focused on the value of creating diverse hotel industry leadership.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the guest editors discuss various reports within the issue including the McDonald's diversity of ownership program, insights of Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights Era owner Hank Thomas, and the HR & Diversity Summit on September 5-7, 2012.

The article focuses on limited-service hotels, which continue to build on the momentum started in 2011. It states that Americas Best Value Inns, Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands were looking at ways to push occupancy up. Limited-service hotels are seeing positive growth while the economy continues to recover and they open their doors to more guests and more business.

The article offers information on Hotel & Restaurant (HR) & Diversity Summit to be held at the Omni Park in Boston, Massachusetts on September 5-7, 2012.

The article focuses on Wyndham Hotel Group's program wherein upper management are brought into the hotels and work one-on-one with the general managers and the staff to learn how the hotels work. The aim is to help them become better informed when presenting ideas and making decisions, and to align the franchisees' needs with the corporate office. Details of how the program works are provided.