“Hotels crank up the extra fees (Austin American-Statesman)” plus 1 more

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Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Hotels crank up the extra fees (Austin American-Statesman) Posted: 29 Mar 2010 10:08 PM PDT By Hugo Martin LOS ANGELES TIMES Published: 11:12 p.m. Monday, March 29, 2010 If you're fed up with all of those infuriating airline fees, wait until you check into your hotel. To overcome slumping revenue and weak demand, the hotel industry is increasingly billing guests for such things as a mini-bar "restocking fee," a "baggage holding fee" and even a "tray fee." Extra charges at hotels are nothing new. The hospitality industry has long charged guests for making long-distance phone calls, parking and ordering in-room movies. But now more cash-hungry hotel operators are embracing the revenue-generating tactics of the airline industry, said Bjorn Hanson, one of the nation's leading hospitality experts and an associate professor at New York University. Not only are hotels increasingly tacking on fees for services that were once complimentary, he said, many are also adding new charges. For example, if you take a can of soda from the mini-bar in your room, you may pay up to $2.50 for the drink plus a restocking fee of as much as $5.95, he said. "It makes for an expensive can of soda," Hanson said. Also, if you order room service, he said, you can expect to pay for the food, plus a "room service fee" and even a $2 fee to pay for lost or damaged room service trays. On top of that, many hotels now calculate the gratuity and include it on the bill, he said. In addition, he said, many hotels now charge a fee just to hold your bags for a few hours after you check out. All those fees add up. In 2009, he said, the U.S. lodging and hospitality industry collected about $1.6 billion from such charges. That is up from about $1 billion in 2003, Hanson said. But don't expect hotels to advertise these charges in their in-room brochures, Hanson warns. Instead, he said, you will probably learn about them only after you get your bill. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Homewood Suites Names Top Performing Hotels of 2009 (dBusinessNews.com) Posted: 29 Mar 2010 06:14 PM PDT

Memphis - HOMEWOOD SUITES NAMES TOP PERFORMING HOTELS OF 2009 Awards Given to Top-Ranked Properties During Series of Regional Revenue Rallies MCLEAN, VA – March 29, 2010 – Homewood Suites by Hilton, the international brand of all-suite, residential-style hotels, today announced its top performing properties of 2009. The results are based on three key components: quality assurance audits measuring cleanliness, condition and brand standards; customer satisfaction scores rating staff service; and the quality of the hotel's physical lodging accommodations. Twenty five hotels from the brand's portfolio of nearly 300 properties were ranked in this year's top performers list.  Award winners receive a trophy, monetary prize and special recognition during a series of regional brand meetings.  "It's often the small details that make a big difference to our guests," said Bill Duncan, Global Head, Brand Management, Homewood Suites.  "Each of these hotels has gone above and beyond in exceeding customer expectations, meeting our stringent brand standards and maintaining a clean beautiful property." The top-ranked hotel received special recognition with a "Connie" Award, named after Hilton Worldwide's founder Conrad Hilton. This year's Connie Award winner is the Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston/Airport Convention Center, SC.  The property is overseen by General Manager, Torri Jennings, and Director of Sales, Connie Armstrong. Additional Merit winners included: 1. Dallas-Frisco, Texas – GM: Joel Welborn; DOS: Michelle White 2. Denver-Tech Center, Colo. – GM: Todd Dickson; DOS: Linda Aulisio 3. Toronto-Oakville, Ontario, Canada – DOS: Christina Anderson 4. Oklahoma City-West, Okla. – GM: Jenny Hankins; DOS: Kimberly Campbell 5. Phoenix North / Happy Valley, Ariz. – GM: Katie Huff; DOS: Susan Klucar 6. Henderson/South Las Vegas, Nev. – GM: Kyle Johnson; Sales Manager: Jean Lee 7. Omaha/Downtown, Neb. – GM: Linda Saron 8. Phoenix/Avondale, Ariz. – GM: Anna Fuchs; DOS: Toni Lindner 9. Tampa-Airport/Westshore, Fla. – GM: Todd Kinney; DOS: Mike Nealon 10. St. Louis Riverport – Airport West, Mo. – GM: James Vavak; DOS: John Kuithe 11. Santa Fe – North, N.M. – GM: Lisa Vigil; DOS: Nancy Bankston Johns 12. Alexandria, Va. – GM: Charles Gellad; AGM: Liliana Torres 13. Vancouver/Portland, Wash. – GM: Kari Jonassen; DOS: Tracie Red Elk 14. Birmingham South – Inverness, Ala. – GM: Gayle Wilkinson 15. Falls Church – I-495 @ Rt. 50, Va. – GM: Jean-Pierre Gaster; DOS: Bob Duffey 16. Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – GM: Liz Oliver; DOS: Andrew Saporito 17. San Diego Airport / Liberty Station, Calif. – GM: Rick Brown; DOS: Jaci Sims 18. Jacksonville-South/St. John's Center, Fla. – GM: Karen Rosenstrom; DOS: Randy Nathan 19. Miami-Airport/West, Fla. – GM: Jenny Estrada; DOS: Juan Quiroz 20. Huntsville/Village of Providence, Ala. – GM: Tricia Gonterman; DOS: Jennifer Middleton 21. Pensacola-Airport (Cordova Mall), Fla. – GM: Cindi Hasty; DOS: Courtney Brooks 22. Houston-Clear Lake, Texas – GM: Melissa Cortinas; DOS: Joan Medland 23. Daytona Beach/Speedway-Airport, Fla. – GM: Wismer Johnson; DOS: Marisol Moreno 24. Dover, N.H. – GM: Shannon Mitchell About Homewood Suites by Hilton Launched in 1989, the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand today has nearly 300 hotels open with approximately 110 in the development pipeline. Beyond its spacious suites and home-like amenities, additional guest features include an on-site Suite Shop convenience store, complimentary grocery shopping services*, a complete business center and laundry services at most locations.  To make reservations at a Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel, travelers can visit the Homewood Suites Web site at homewoodsuites.com or call 1-800-CALL-HOME.  Homewood Suites by Hilton participates in Hilton HHonors, the only hotel rewards program that offers Points & Miles and No Blackout Dates.  About Hilton Worldwide Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels.  For more than 90 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value.  The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands.  Its brands are comprised of more than 3,500 hotels in 81 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.  The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com. #  #  # *Guest pays for groceries. Other restrictions apply. Hilton HHonors®, Double Dip® and Double Dipping® are trademarks owned by Hilton HHonors Worldwide, LLC.     Hilton HHonors membership, earning of Points & Miles®, and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions.

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