Hotel & Motel Management - May 5, 2008 - (Page 4)

4 News H&MM May 5, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Pipeline favors established companies PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts a 6.4-percent increase in capital spending in the lodging industry for 2008, totaling $5.85 billion. 2006 and 2007 spending equaled $5 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively. The increase will go toward enhanced room design and technology, as well as food-and-beverage outlets. Hotel Brokers International released its TransActions Recap 2008, showing 2007 as a record year in dollar volume of transactions and average selling price per room. It also predicted a rise in capitalization rates for 2008 and strong pricing throughout the year. The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law held a hearing on the H-2B temporary seasonal worker program. The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. is encouraging the House and Senate to bring H-2B legislation to the ﬂoor immediately. InterContinental Hotels Group named David Tessier senior v.p. and c.f.o. of the Americas. Tessier previously was c.f.o. at Kerzner International Resorts. LaSalle Hotel Properties, a real-estate investment trust, and LaSalle Investment Management will form a joint venture to seek U.S. hotel investments. The two plan to invest up to $250 million of equity, resulting in investments up to $700 million. For updated breaking news, visit www.HotelMotel.com. See Bold word | page 44 3 Palms debuts in upscale tier By Heather Gunter ASSOCIATE EDITOR The 3 Palms in Orlando is part of a new brand from America’s Best Franchising, which will focus its initial growth efforts in Florida, according to Doug Collins, chairman and c.e.o. of America’s Best Franchising. ATLANTA–America’s Best Franchising is entering new territory with an upscale brand, 3 Palms. The company, which franchises economy brands Country Hearth Inns & Suites and America’s Best Inns & Suites, is launching the 3 Palms brand as a joint venture with Orlandobased Hotel Condo Services. 3 Palms will focus on conversions of independent and condo hotels. “We ran into an opportuSee 3 Palms | page 48 Guests want reward options in all of the products and services they buy,” said Wendi Mazzucco, senior NATIONAL REPORT–Long gone are director of customer engagement at the days of the one-size-ﬁts-all loyalWyndham. “It’s a generation of peoty program. In 2008, the customer is ple that don’t think they have to buy it king, as companies across the industry exactly the way it is because that’s the develop new initiatives to boost busionly way they sell it.” ness and guest satisfaction. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Customization kicked off the Mazzucco is focusing almost exclusively on custrend, strongly appealing to Genera- WYNDHAM tomization. Though Kimpton’s 43 lotion X, according to Wyndham Hocations also offer free nights, the brand tels and Resorts’ studies. is “not about tracking points and saving those “The big thing we found with the Gen X- up,” said Natalie White, director of loyalty See Reward options | page 48 ers is that they believe they should have input By Jinny VanZanten CONTRIBUTING EDITOR KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS AMERICA’S BEST FRANCHISING Kimpton’s hotels, such as the Nine Zero in Boston, offer customized options to its loyalty program members. GATEHOUSE CAPITAL grew 18.5 percent—to 756,678 rooms—over the January 2007 NATIONAL REPORT–While eco- ﬁgure. The March 2008 ﬁgure nomic conditions are causing decreased to 665,250 rooms. trepidation among marConcord recently ginal players in the deconducted internal revelopment community, search on the Raleigh stronger players continue market and found more to build. than 42 hotels under “We still hear of andevelopment. nounced deals, but they “If all of those got are not getting done as built, the market would quickly as advertised,” be in trouble,” Laport said Mark Laport, presi- Collins said. “My best guess dent and c.e.o. of Raleigh- GATEHOUSE is that a third will get Durham, N.C.-based built—which will still Concord Hospitality Enterprises. strain the [competitive] sets, but Smith Travel Research reports it’s still healthier than what it that, as of January 2008, the to- might have been, especially if busiSee Pipeline | page 44 tal active development pipeline By Stacey Mieyal Higgins SENIOR EDITOR Gatehouse Capital is developing the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences despite the gloomy economic forecast. Developers said the stronger companies will continue to build. http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.HotelMotel.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - May 5, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - May 5, 2008 Contents Pipeline Favors Established Companies 3 Palms Debuts in Upscale Tier Guests Want Reward Options Perspective Legally Speaking Marketing Matters Consultant’s Corner On Finance What Women Want Maintenance Doctor Trends & Stats Special Report: Top Hotel Brokers Design: Tune Into Music Programs Hot Products: PTACs On the Block: Silver Lining in Bleak Hotel Sales Market Events Transactions Supplier News Consumer Insight: The Importance of Creature Comforts When Traveling Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - May 5, 2008

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