Hotel & Motel Management - September 3, 2007 - (Page 46)

46 Checking Out LODGING’S LIGHTER SIDE H&MM September 3, 2007 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition By the numbers $26 billion The price that The Blackstone Group was expected to pay to acquire Hilton Hotels Corp. 63.2 Percent occupancy rate in ﬁrst half of 2007, according to Smith Travel Research. 1,354 Number of hotels expected to open in 2009, a growth rate of 3.3 percent, predicts Lodging Econometrics. 250,000 Number of incandescent light bulbs to be replaced with compact ﬂourescent lights as part of an environmental goal at InterContinental’s properties. 34 Percent of the U.S. work force that will likely be nonCaucasian by 2010 44,400 Number of rooms under construction through June 2007 in the South Atlantic, STR reports. STAYBRIDGE SUITES Staybridge Suites: It takes a village In honor of its 100th hotel, Staybridge Suites sought to raise $75,000 to build a new villa as part of expansion plans at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando. Thanks to an outpouring of donors, Staybridge Suites exceeded its goal. The groundbreaking of the villa occurred earlier this year as the company debuted its 100th hotel in Tallahassee, Fla. During the festivities, Staybridge Suites honored long-time employee Marybeth Millsaps’ 6-year-old son, John John, who is a cancer survivor. Give Kids the World, a nonproﬁt organization, was created to fulﬁll wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses and their families by enabling them to visit Central Florida attractions and to enjoy the village for as long as needed. The brand is part of InterContinental Hotels Group. Donating a day’s work to Habitat for Humanity Alliance Hospitality Management in Raleigh, N.C., recently issued a $4,000 check to its chosen cause, Habitat for Humanity. Along with the check, 36 members of the group’s support team donated more than 200 hours of time to help build homes in a new subdivision in the Raleigh area. Alliance Hospitality is a full-service hotel management company with more than 45 properties in 13 states, including Marriott, Starwood and Hilton hotels. Fountain’s nickels, dimes aid troops ALLIANCE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT Shell Vacations Hospitality’s Peacock Suites in Anaheim, Calif., turns loose pocket change into aid for the U.S. Armed Forces. The property installed a fountain in the lobby and discovered many guests were tossing coins into the fountain. The hotel g.m. chose to earmark the money for special items for troops in Iraq. Contributions are continuing to grow. Pictured are Pfc. Ramiro Valdovinos [center], with his mother, Theresa Valdovinos [immediate left]; ﬁance, Diana Rubio [far right]; and executive housekeeper Jennie Eufracio [left]. Summer camp woos tomorrow’s hotel leaders Joe Bendy, c.o.o. and g.m. of Houston’s River Oaks Country Club, shares with students about working in a private club during a summer camp hosted by the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Bendy, a Hilton College alumnus, was one of several industry leaders who met with students to discuss various career options. Quotable UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON “ “ People see that they don’t have to be hotel operators; a lot of it is ﬁnancial engineering.” DANIEL LESSER, senior managing director-industry leader at CB Ellis, on the recent Blackstone Group acquisition of Hilton Hotels Corp. Like most things that are not responsive to the market, the National Labor Relations Board will either adapt or disappear.” JOHN WILHELM, president, hospitality industries, UNITE HERE, on the recent fallout surrounding proposed “card-check” legislation. Editor’s note: If you have information about an event that would be considered the lighter side of lodging, please e-mail Stephanie Ricca at sricca@questex.com. SHELL VACATIONS HOSPITALITY http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://HotelMotel.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - September 3, 2007

Cover Contents Convention Centers Add Bells and Whistles Questex Media acquires Five Star Alliance Perspective At Your Risk Energy Star Update Sales Clinic Transactions Awards Trends & Stats Wireless Networking Northwest Pipeline Coffee Services Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - September 3, 2007

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