Hotel & Motel Management - November 3, 2008 - (Page 8)

8 News By Paul J. Heney EDITORIAL DIRECTOR H&MM November 3, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Economy sets tone at The Lodging Conference Phoenix–The coming year will not be a particularly fun time for the hotel industry, according to panelists at The Lodging Conference, held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in September. However, they felt this current economic storm battering the U.S. is one hoteliers can ride out successfully. In his opening remarks, Harry Javer, conference producer and president of The Conference Bureau, said he spoke with many attendees in the weeks leading up to the conference and came away with the sense that the hotel industry remains fundamentally sound. “The reasons [attendees] gave me are that balance sheets of hotel owners are in much better shape than they were at the beginning of the last down cycle and the down cycle before that,” he said. “Balance sheets of hotel owners are in much better shape than other asset classes. And balance sheets of hotel owners are certainly in much better shape than Wall Street.” Javer also said the industry’s product is not going away. “The product is getting better; [it] is getting stronger,” he said. See Lodging Conference | page 60 Panel members at The Lodging Conference are, from left, moderator Don Landry, owner of Top Ten Marketing and Hospitality Consulting; Mitesh Shah, president and COO of Noble Investment Group; Arthur Adler, managing director and CEO-Americas for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; Peter Strebel, president of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts; and Gamal Aziz, president and CEO of MGM Mirage Hospitality. Mellow vibe meets bold design at annual HD Boutique Expo By Patricia Sheehan EDITOR IN CHIEF, HOTEL DESIGN HD Boutique welcomes thousands of designers, developers and vendors. Miami–The same week initial reports of a national ﬁnancial meltdown hit the airwaves, hospitality designers, developers and vendors gathered for the annual Hospitality Design Boutique Exposition & Conference (HD Boutique) in Miami’s South Beach. While show organizers reported more than 4,900 registered attendees, ﬂoor trafﬁc seemed lighter than in recent years and the vibe was markedly more subdued. Overall, developers and designers spoke conﬁdently of upcoming projects, both domes- tic and abroad. Some predicted a slowdown in development and construction by the third quarter of next year. Sustainable products and practices dominated show displays and seminar discussions. An entire day was devoted to green hospitality. From carpet and fabric to lighting and casegoods, exhibits promoted sustainable design solutions. On the trends front, bold purples, shiny and rich textures in metallics and patent leather, and large-scale prints dominated, while neutrals were few and far between. Casual furniture took over the show ﬂoor, reﬂecting the blurring line between indoor and outdoor spaces. Lighting ﬁxtures were big, colorful and highly decorative— pointing, perhaps, to a move away from cool minimalism to a warmer, more exuberant style. Bath ﬁxtures and furnishings featured more bells and whistles than ever before, as evidenced by multidirection and multifunction showerheads, chromatherapy elements and customization options. On the technology front, ﬂat-panel televisions with multiple mounting offerings took center stage, complemented by an See Design | page 61 IH/M&RS to focus on going green By Chris Crowell ASSOCIATE EDITOR New York–More than 35,000 industry professionals will meet for the 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show on Nov. 8-11. Taking place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, IH/M&RS will cover themes ranging from energy-saving tactics to emerging information technology to how to increase your bottom line and enhance guest services. On Saturday, the show begins with the Hospitality Leadership Forum, tailored to senior-level hospitality managers. It features the following sessions: See IH/M&RS green focus | page 70 GLM “Securing Payments: What the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Means to Your Hotel,” “Contingency Planning in an Uncertain Era,” “Energy Miser All Stars: Conservation Lessons From the Best,” “Changes on the Travel Horizon: Are We There Yet?” and “Efficiency in Design.” The all-day forum will offer new approaches for human resources, sales and marketing and leadership, and feature 11 panels, including the “CEO Leadership Panel” and the “U.S. Lodging Industry Summit Panel,” which will cover the current state of HD BOUTIQUE IH/M&RS will celebrate its 93rd year by showcasing sustainability and green practices, including a Sunday keynote presentation on the topic. H&MM | PAUL J. HENEY http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition

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Hotel & Motel Management - November 3, 2008 Contents The Rate Debate Accor Defines Motel 6 Prototype Rollout Holiday Inn Eyes Upscale, Timeshare Perspective Economy Sets Tone at The Lodging Conference Mellow Vibe Meets Bold Design at HD Boutique Expo IH/M&RS to Focus on Going Green Legally Speaking Sales Clinic On Finance Travel Trends Cornell Insights Franchise Law HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Energy Star Update Energy Star Update An Industry Connected People on The Move Annual GM Survey Point-of-Sale Systems IH/M&RS Product Preview Outdoor Lighting Refrigeration Marketplace Ad/Editorial Index Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - November 3, 2008

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