Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - (Page 26) 26 News H&MM July 7, 2008 | HotelMotel.com Segment evolves Continued from page 1 “This is part of the business cycle,” said Joe Wheeling, c.e.o. of Red Roof Inn, which recently announced a redesigned prototype for all new-builds moving forward. “People are going to continue to take vacations, but with the constraint on airlines, they’re probably going to drive and take a more regional approach. People are going to seek out good quality and great value.” Wheeling also said he thinks a sluggish economy will force travelers to trade down and look for lessexpensive room rates this year. “Is that going to change travel patterns? Yes,” he said. Red Roof Inn, which spun off from Accor and moved its headquarters back to Columbus, Ohio, last year, primarily competes in the Midwest. But, in attempts to penetrate new markets—primarily the South—the first new prototype will open in Beaumont, Texas, in the first quarter of 2009. “We have so much ability to grow,” Wheeling said. “This new prototype really could be the key.” Wheeling said the redesign is based on a value-add approach, taking dollars away from certain areas and earmarking them for areas that will have more of an effect on the guest experience. For example, the new prototype will not feature the signature red roof. “It’s not a value-add area,” Wheeling said. Also, more attention will be directed on guestroom and publicspace design, as well as technology, room cleanliness and bed comfort, Wheeling said. Accor North America emRED ROOF INN By the end of this year, 1,000 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties will feature the brands’ new illuminated signage to attract more drive-in traffic, according to InterContinental Hotels Group. Red Roof Inn’s new prototype focuses attention on the guestroom and public spaces. barked on a similar mission with its “Phoenix” prototype for Motel 6, unveiled in March. New Motel 6 properties will feature a completely revamped guestroom with a spacious lobby that features a 24hour food market. The Motel 6 prototype—the first redesign for the brand in 12 years—is centered on a new building exterior and “provides an upscale feel at the lowest price of any national chain,” said Jim Amorosia, president and c.o.o. of Motel 6 and Studio 6. There are more than 900 Motel 6 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. InterContinental Hotels Group hopes to capitalize on drive-in traffic with the rebranding of its midscale brands Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Since announcing a relaunch in October, 60 Holiday Inn proper- ties have prepared service upgrades and received new illuminated signage to attract drive-in traffic. By the end of this year, 1,000 properties will feature the new signs and upgraded brand standards. “It’s important for the signs to stand for something,” said John Merkin, senior v.p. of brand management for Holiday Inn, Americas. “It’s more than symbolic. We took this opportunity to re-baseline the whole product.” Merkin said IHG conducts interviews with guests and 90 percent said they still are taking trips, regardless of a softening economy. He agreed that more families will stick to one-tank trips rather than fly-to destinations. “If you look at it from a family’s perspective, in absolute terms, they might spend $30 more in gas,” Merkin suggested. “We think they will cut back on food and WORLD CLASS FF&E/OS&E PURCHASING SOLUTIONS PERFORMED WORLDWIDE Accuracy Integr ity Reliability www.benjaminwest.com BOULDER | CHICAGO | DALLAS | HONOLULU | LONDON CIRCLE NO. 105 economize by choosing cheaper brands.” Microtel, the Atlanta-based chain of all-new-construction, interior corridor economy properties recently acquired by Wyndham Worldwide, also launched a new prototype design at the end of last year. All future Microtel guestrooms will feature a 32-inch flatpanel television and granite countertops. Suites are divided into four zones—the café zone, activity zone, relaxation zone and sleep zone. There are 38 Microtel properties currently under construction, which will push the total number of properties to more than 300 by the end of 2008. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the new design launches will affect overall supply and demand in the economy segment, said Mark Lomanno, president of Smith Travel Research. Lomanno said the economy and midscale-with-food-and-beverage segments have been dragging down overall revenue per available room growth. “Everybody knows the four segments that have done the majority of the growth over the past 20 years: luxury, upper-upscale, upscale and midscale without food and beverage,” Lomanno said. “The reason everyone is waiting for the other shoe to fall is because when you read all this stuff, it gets aggregated with independents, economy hotels, midscale with food and beverage that are really, really suffering. The demand side of the equation is weak.” “The low end is hurting,” added Randy Smith, c.e.o. and cofounder of Smith Travel Research. “But it’s not new. They’ve been hurting for some time.” jfreed@questex.com INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP http://HotelMotel.com http://www.benjaminwest.com http://www.benjaminwest.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 Contents Brands Target Eastern Markets New Peer Network Promotes Innovation Noble Makes Moves Despite Slow Market Perspective Legally Speaking On Finance AAHOA Update Satisfaction Trends Trends & Stats HotelWorld Update Guest Column 2008 Purchasing Survey Refrigerators Transportation In-Room Ammenities Revenue Management Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 (Page 1) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 (Page 2) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Noble Makes Moves Despite Slow Market (Page 4) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Noble Makes Moves Despite Slow Market (Page 5) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Perspective (Page 6) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Perspective (Page 7) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Legally Speaking (Page 8) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Legally Speaking (Page 9) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Legally Speaking (Page 10) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Legally Speaking (Page 11) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Legally Speaking (Page 12) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Legally Speaking (Page 13) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - On Finance (Page 14) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - On Finance (Page 15) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - AAHOA Update (Page 16) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Satisfaction Trends (Page 17) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 18) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - HotelWorld Update (Page 19) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Guest Column (Page 20) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Guest Column (Page 21) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Guest Column (Page 22) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Guest Column (Page 23) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - 2008 Purchasing Survey (Page 24) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - 2008 Purchasing Survey (Page 25) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - 2008 Purchasing Survey (Page 26) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - 2008 Purchasing Survey (Page 27) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Refrigerators (Page 28) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Refrigerators (Page 29) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Transportation (Page 30) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Transportation (Page 31) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Transportation (Page 32) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Transportation (Page 33) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Transportation (Page 34) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Transportation (Page 35) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - In-Room Ammenities (Page 36) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - In-Room Ammenities (Page 37) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - In-Room Ammenities (Page 38) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - In-Room Ammenities (Page 39) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - In-Room Ammenities (Page 40) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - In-Room Ammenities (Page 41) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Revenue Management (Page 42) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Revenue Management (Page 43) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Ad/Editorial Index (Page 44) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Ad/Editorial Index (Page 45) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Ad/Editorial Index (Page 46) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Ad/Editorial Index (Page 47) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Marketplace (Page 48) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 49) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 50) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 51) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 52) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 53) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 54) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 55) Hotel & Motel Management - July 7, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 56)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.