Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - (Page 4) 4 News H&MM December 8, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Best Western sets spending strategy Several senior-level personnel changes were made in hotel companies in November. Eric Danzinger, formerly an executive with Doubletree Hotels, Starwood Lodging and Carlson Hotels Worldwide, took on a new position as president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group. Danzinger filled the opening at Wyndham left by Steven Rudnitsky, who recently stepped down. Rudnitsky, too, accepted a new role in November. He was named president and CEO of Dolce Hotels and Resorts. MGM Mirage chairman and CEO Terrence Lanni resigned from the company. Red Roof Inn CEO Joe Wheeling will leave his position effective April 30, 2009, and will remain with the company in a senior advisory role and on its board of directors for two years. Finally, David Kloeppel, EVP and CFO for Gaylord Entertainment, was promoted to president of the company. He also will retain his duties as CFO. Murfreesboro, Tenn.based Vista Hospitality Solutions entered into an agreement to acquire the Select Inn brand from privately owned Select Franchising of Fargo, N.D. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. A multi-year licensing agreement was signed by Budgetel Franchise System and Atlantabased America’s Best Franchising. It calls for America’s Best Franchising to be the sole worldwide franchisor and management firm for the Budgetel brand, effective Nov. 30. For updated breaking news, visit www.HotelMotel.com. Best Western International CEO David Kong announced plans to increase advertising during the economic downturn. By Heather Gunter ASSOCIATE EDITOR HONOLULU–Best Western International is taking a contrarian approach to the slumping economy. Rather than battening down the hatches, the membership company plans to sail through the economic storm in part by spending more than $43 million in advertising this year. Best Western’s competitors—primarily public companies—will trim back sales and marketing and other services to please Wall Street, David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western, told the 2,500 attendees of the brand’s 2008 North American convention at the Ha- waii Convention Center in October. “If we dramatically increase our marketing expenditure as they reduce theirs, we are in a position to take market share from them,” Kong said. In December last year, when the stock See Spending | page 30 Courtyard turns 25, unveils new lobby By Heather Gunter ASSOCIATE EDITOR The Courtyard by Marriott’s new lobby is a social gathering space that incorporates a variety of seating functional for business travelers. NEWPORT NEWS, VA.–The Courtyard by Marriott brand celebrated its 25th anniversary with a new lobby concept that invites guests to get out of their rooms. The new lobby will be part of a $500-million makeover by owners and franchisees over the next two and a half years. Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO of Marriott International, praised the use of space at the Courtyard Newport News (Va.) Airport hotel, which is the first new-build property to boast the redefined lobby. The hotel, which is owned and operated by LTD Management Co. of Chesapeake, Va., hosted the brand’s 25th anniversary celebration in October. It is the first of a dozen Courtyards that will have the new lobby this year. The Newport News property also showcases the brand’s new exterior design and refreshed See Lobby look | page 31 MARRIOTT New division of MGM goes beyond gaming By Paul J. Heney EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PHOENIX–MGM Mirage Hospitality, a new division of MGM Mirage, is looking past the slot machines and poker tables to a future in non-gaming resort cities. “We have been asked many times if we would take our brands to New York, to Chicago, overseas. In the past, because we are a gaming company, we felt it was not core business,” said Gamil Aziz, CEO of MGM Mirage Hospitality. The company has announced its first project, the MGM Grand Abu Dhabi, a $3.5-billion development set to open in 2012. Aziz explained the shift in business mix over the past 10 years convinced MGM it no longer was just a gaming company, but a hotel, re- MGM Mirage is evolving its brand to reach beyond gaming. This is a rendering of its first new property, the MGM Grand Abu Dhabi. tail and entertainment company. Aziz’s division has signed several deals in China and India, economies he said will continue to grow without regard to what is happening with the credit market in the U.S. Abu Dhabi probably will See Mirage | page 30 MGM MIRAGE BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 Contents Best Western Sets Spending Strategy Courtyard Turns 25, Unveils New Lobby New Division of MGM Goes Beyond Gaming Perspective Legal FAQ Marketing Matters Family Business On Finance AAHOA Update Satisfaction Trends HotelWorld Update Consultant’s Corner Trends & Stats IH/M&RS Editors’ Choice Award Winners Insurance Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 (Page 1) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 (Page 2) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - New Division of MGM Goes Beyond Gaming (Page 4) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - New Division of MGM Goes Beyond Gaming (Page 5) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Perspective (Page 6) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Perspective (Page 7) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Marketing Matters (Page 8) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Marketing Matters (Page 9) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Family Business (Page 10) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Family Business (Page 11) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - On Finance (Page 12) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - On Finance (Page 13) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - AAHOA Update (Page 14) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - AAHOA Update (Page 15) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Satisfaction Trends (Page 16) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - HotelWorld Update (Page 17) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 18) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 19) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 20) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 21) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 22) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 23) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 24) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 25) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - IH/M&RS Editors’ Choice Award Winners (Page 26) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - IH/M&RS Editors’ Choice Award Winners (Page 27) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 28) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 29) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 30) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 31) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 32) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 33) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Ad/Editorial Index (Page 34) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Marketplace (Page 35) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 36) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 37) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 38) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 39) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 40) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 41) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 42) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 43) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 44)
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