Tuesday, February 16, 2010

“Hotels.com Dramatically Improves Booking Experience for Disabled Travelers (redOrbit)” plus 3 more

“Hotels.com Dramatically Improves Booking Experience for Disabled Travelers (redOrbit)” plus 3 more

Hotels.com Dramatically Improves Booking Experience for Disabled Travelers (redOrbit)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 11:31 AM PST

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Posted on: Tuesday, 16 February 2010, 11:44 CST

DALLAS, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotels.com, the largest provider of lodging worldwide, today announced new site features that help travelers easily search for and reserve hotel rooms online with specific accessibility needs in mind. Hotels.com is one of the first travel Web sites to address this growing need for consumers.

Hotels.com users can now search for lodgings in the U.S. that offer wheelchair-accessible pathways, accessible showers, Braille signage, and/or telephone equipment for the deaf. Customers can also request a room with one or more specific accessibility feature on the online reservation page. All such requests will be reviewed by the Hotels.com customer service agents, who will contact the traveler directly to confirm the reservation or to offer to locate a similar room at an equivalent rate at another hotel.

"These new features let travelers with disabilities take advantage of all the convenience and discounts offered by Hotels.com," said Bonnie Lewkowicz, a travel industry expert and wheelchair user, who has written about the needs of travelers with disabilities. "It's a huge step forward."

The accessibility information is seamlessly integrated into the greater Hotels.com experience. Once a traveler has entered a destination and selected travel dates on Hotels.com, travelers can filter hotels based on accessibility features to find the hotels within their search criteria that can most accommodate their needs.

"Travelers with disabilities can finally take advantage of the smart site features we're most proud of, such as the welcomerewards program, no change or cancel fees and our price match guarantee," said Vic Walia of Hotels.com. "We can't wait for our valued customers to both take advantage of these new features and also let us know how we can improve even further."

The new search features is just the latest way Hotels.com helps consumers 'stay smart.' With a 24-hour call center, the best of breed loyalty program welcomerewards, Price-Match Guarantee(TM), millions of user reviews no change or cancel fees, and now increased search options, it has never been better to book with Hotels.com.

For further information, please contact: Andy Pray - Ruder Finn for Hotels.com Phone: (212) 583-2722 Email: praya@ruderfinn.com

About Hotels.com

Hotels.com® is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering more than 85,000 properties in over 60 countries from national chain hotels and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts. With services such as welcomerewards(TM), an industry leading loyalty rewards program; the real opinions of other travellers captured in the over 3 million Guest Reviews and; a Price Match Guarantee, so that travellers can be assured they are getting the best deal, Hotels.com is the smarter way to book either directly online or by speaking directly to a travel expert at 1-800-2-HOTELS 24hrs a day. For more information, please visit hotels.com. Hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP, a subsidiary of Hotels.com. Other logos or products and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners © 2009 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

SOURCE Hotels.com


Source: PR Newswire

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WSH&LA Launches Greening Washington's Lodging Industry Program (E-Hospitality.com)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:46 PM PST

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Cascadia Consulting Group To Provide Professional Services to Implement Program

Seattle, WA /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association (WSH&LA) recently selected a consulting team led by Cascadia Consulting Group, Inc. of Seattle, WA as its professional partner to launch its Greening Washington's Lodging Industry Program.

This project is funded by a $53,000 Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. WSH&LA's grant application was one of only 13 grants funded by Ecology in 2009. Of 100 grants submitted, WSH&LA's earned the fourth highest overall score. Ecology noted this was a "very impressive feat given incredibly fierce competition."

Grant funds will be used to launch pilot projects with select hotels and provide educational workshops and resources to hotels across the state throughout the year.

WSH&LA will select two hospitality firms to participate in the pilot. These firms will receive free consulting assistance to implement new environmental practices, measure, and market their successes. Open houses and workshops will be held to showcase the hotels' efforts, and will feature industry professionals, green suppliers, and valuable resources, sharing the results and lessons learned with industry peers, guests, and the public.

"These new programs will help our members save money, maximize marketing opportunities, and capture new business, while being better environmental stewards in their local communities," says Gerry Link, CHA, General Manager, Vancouver Hilton, and WSH&LA board and green team member.

"We know of no other state lodging association that has received a government grant of this type and we are honored and excited to assist our members in greening their properties and Washington's lodging industry," says Jan Simon Aridj, WSH&LA President and CEO.

"We are confident that Cascadia brings unmatched resources and expertise in green lodging to WSH&LA and its members," added Paula Helsel, CHA, General Manager, Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, and WSH&LA board and green team member. The consultant team also includes two other key partners, MeetGreen®, an internationally-recognized green meeting consultancy, and Colehour+Cohen, a Seattle-based PR and communications firm.

Cascadia will work in partnership with WSH&LA, its green team, and other industry partners to launch this exciting new program across the state.

About WSH&LA
WSH&LA is Washington State's trade association for the lodging industry. More than 90 years old, WSH&LA serves 500 hotelier members, representing 40,000 rooms from across the state, and more than 125 allied members. WSH&LA works toward a favorable legislative and regulatory environment for the lodging and tourism industry; promotes Washington as a tourism destination as the publisher of the Washington State Visitors' Guide, and its online companion, www.stayinwashington.com; sponsors a retro program that helps members decrease on-the-job accidents and injuries; and presents an annual convention and trade show that, along with ongoing workplace safety programs and the Greening Program, provides the industry with cutting-edge information and education.

About Cascadia Consulting Group
Since 1993, Cascadia has served hundreds of public and private sector clients across the U.S. including corporate clients such as Starbucks, Kimpton Hotels, and Adobe and some of the country's leading cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Cascadia's expertise spans the fields of waste reduction and recycling; climate, energy and sustainability; and water and natural resources. Cascadia's mission is to make a positive difference for the environment and for our clients.

If you are interested in participating in this project or have questions, please contact:

Jan Simon Aridj, WSH&LA President & CEO JanSimon@wshla.com

Amity Lumper, Cascadia Project Manager amity@cascadiaconsulting.com

SOURCE Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association

Copyright [2009] PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

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Americas Best Value Inn Is First National Hotel Chain To Implement Biodegradable Bathroom Amenities System-Wide (E-Hospitality.com)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:46 PM PST

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Cleveland, OH /PRNewswire/ -- In a historic moment for both the environment and the lodging industry, Vantage Hospitality Group announced today that all of its nearly 900 Americas Best Value Inn and Canadas Best Value Inn hotels throughout North America will carry biodegradable packaging in their guest rooms, including shampoo, body lotion and bath soap.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090506/CL12342LOGO-b)

Although the 'green movement' has been making steady progress throughout the hotel industry for several years, Americas Best Value Inn is the first national hotel chain to make such a strong and all-encompassing commitment.

"This isn't just a commitment to the environment, it's a commitment to our hotel owners and guests," said Roger Bloss, President and CEO of Vantage Hospitality, which is the 10th largest hotel company worldwide. "Americas Best Value Inn has grown tremendously since we began 10 years ago and we plan to be around for a very long time. Therefore, we need to make sure we maintain the cities and towns where our properties are located and where our guests reside by not contributing unnecessarily to the local landfills."

The facts are alarming: 3.5 billion bottles and caps go into landfills every year in the U.S. alone; it takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down in a landfill; and 95 percent of plastics are not recycled and wind up in landfills.

To help solve the problem, Vantage has partnered with Concept Amenities, whose products include an organic enzyme called Eco Pure that allows the bottles to biodegrade in a landfill in less than nine years instead of centuries. Americas Best Value Inn properties will begin to carry the biodegradable packaging in March as their current amenity supplies are depleted.

Gary Coward, Senior VP of Concept Amenities, Inc. (USA) stated, "We are excited to launch this truly revolutionary product and pleased to share the stage with Vantage Hospitality and the fastest-growing hotel chain in America. Americas Best Value Inn is the first national brand to offer ERP™ biodegradable guest amenity products. With over 50,000 active rooms in service, that's a lot of little amenity bottles and caps each year. We are pleased to know that together, we are having a positive impact on our environment."

Visit www.AmericasBestValueInn.com and www.VantageHospitality.com for more information.

SOURCE Americas Best Value Inn

Copyright [2009] PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

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Red Lion Hotels posts bigger 4Q loss (AP via Yahoo! Finance)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 02:04 PM PST

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SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Red Lion Hotels Corp. said Tuesday that its fourth-quarter loss more than doubled as revenue fell.

For the three months at ended Dec. 31, the hotel chain lost $8.7 million, or 48 cents per share. That compares with a year-ago loss of $3.9 million, or 22 cents per share.

Excluding a one-time item, the company's loss was $3.1 million, or 16 cents per share. That compares to an adjusted loss that amounted to 15 cents per share last year.

Revenue sank almost 14 percent to $35.7 million, down from $41.3 million last year.

Systemwide revenue per available room for the company's hotels open at least a year fell 7 percent -- a slower decline.

Revenue per available room is a key gauge of a lodging company's performance.

For the full year, the company lost $6.6 million or 37 cents per share. That's far worse than the previous year's loss of $1.7 million or 9 cents per share. However, excluding one-time items, the full year loss amounted to $957,000, or 5 cents per share. That compares to an adjusted profit of $2 million, or 11 cents per share, during the same period the year before.

Total revenue for the year was $165.4 million, down 11.8 percent.

Full year, systemwide revenue per available room sank almost 12 percent.

Red Lion has 45 hotels in the western U.S. and Canada.

Its shares fell a penny to close at $6.04 in Tuesday trading.

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