“Extended-stay hotels plan to stick around awhile” plus 3 more |
- Extended-stay hotels plan to stick around awhile
- Hotels.com Launches VirtualVacation, an Augmented Reality Experience
- Hotels.com Launches VirtualVacation, an Augmented Reality Experience
- How to find the best eco-friendly hotels
| Extended-stay hotels plan to stick around awhile Posted: 04 May 2010 07:36 PM PDT Hotelier Matthew Newton caters to the domestically displaced. And that has helped him, and other like-minded innkeepers, weather economic upheaval.
Four of the five properties owned by Carrollton-based Magnolia Lodging LLC, where Newton is president, are extended-stay hotels. That's a rapidly growing hotel segment based on the proposition that, even during a recession, kitchen pipes burst and workers start new jobs. In the key measures of hotel occupancy and revenue per available room, local extended-stay hotels fared better than the market as a whole in 2009, according to Smith Travel Research. Cautiously optimistic that the worst of the recession is over, Newton and other operators must now wean recession-weary consumers from the discounted rates they've enjoyed, even as the supply of extended-stay hotels expands. "The rates have dropped to a level where the hotel is not very profitable, and that's across the industry," said Newton, 41. "We're doing OK, but the profits have been dramatically hit." The extended-stay category – featuring apartment-like hotel rooms with kitchens and full-size appliances – has been around since at least 1975, when the first Residence Inn opened in Wichita, Kan. Marriott International Inc. bought the brand in 1987. With more than 600 locations, it remains one of largest chains in the nearly $6 billion extended-stay market. Occupancy rates at extended-stay hotels in Dallas-Fort Worth fell 0.4 percent in 2008 to 69.9 percent, and dropped to 62 percent last year, down 11.4 percent, according to Smith Travel Research. By comparison, D-FW occupancy rates industrywide fell by 3.1 percent to 59.9 percent in 2008 and shed an additional 13.2 percent in 2009 to end the year at 52 percent occupancy. Because extended-stay hotels tend to be smaller than full-service hotels and don't have banquet facilities, revenue is typically less. Last year, 147 full-service hotels in Dallas-Fort Worth averaged more than $5 million in room revenue alone, according to Smith Travel Research. That compared with an average of $1.6 million for 122 extended-stay hotels, which tend to charge less per room than full-service hotels.
First timers
Thanks largely to the sluggish economy, local rates at extended-stay hotels dropped 6.6 percent to $62.51 on average last year, and by 7.4 percent to $86.85 industrywide, according to Smith Travel Research. Larger rooms and smaller prices have drawn more first timers to extended-stay hotels. "Whereas the business traveler might not have been traveling as much ... the leisure travelers were capitalizing on that value," said Jeff Flaherty, spokesman for Marriott, which also operates TownePlace, an extended-stay chain. One recent afternoon, Newton showed off a Homewood Suites by Hilton in Allen that Magnolia built and opened in February. It's the fourth extended-stay hotel opened by Magnolia – a family-owned business launched in 1997 as an offshoot of a hotel management business owned by artist and art collector Jay Shinn. He's chief executive and Newton's uncle. The other investors are Newton's parents, Sarah and Wayne Newton. Sarah Newton is Shinn's sister. Wayne is "great at building hotels," Newton said, but is no singer and no relation to the Las Vegas entertainer. Breakfast daily and dinner Monday through Thursday are included in room rates that can go for $99 a night for a studio to $199 a night for a two-bedroom, two-bath room suite. At least half the guests that fill the Allen hotel's 114 rooms stay more than five nights, Newton said. They come for training, nearby construction jobs or to be near a hospitalized relative. Some, like Colorado resident Cyndy Zemlak, are in transition. Zemlak, her husband, Kyle, and their two daughters are moving from Denver to North Texas, where Kyle has found work in the oil business. She was in town recently to check on the progress of the family's under-construction home in Frisco, which is to be completed in August. "I've been here almost two weeks now," said Zemlak, 45, pausing between bites of steamed vegetables and garlic and herb Tilapia in the hotel dining room of the Allen hotel. With two teenagers to feed and no desire to cook, she said she appreciated the meal service included in the room price. "If the house isn't finished, we'll come here. They have breakfast, dinner and maid service."
Adding brands
The growing appeal of extended-stay hotels is attracting new franchised outlets in existing brands and new brands. Homewood has 15 locations in North Texas – its largest market. Three more are slated to open by the end of next year. Hilton plans to open one of its lower-priced Home2 extended-stay hotels in fall 2011.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. launched its Element line in 2008. And Candlewood Suites, an extended-stay chain that's part of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, will open a hotel in Weatherford in June. Even with the recession's stranglehold on financing, the supply of extended-stay rooms in Dallas-Fort Worth increased by nearly 6 percent in 2008 and 3 percent last year, according to Smith Travel Research. Local growth was slower than the national pace, but the increase was still significant, said Jan Freitag, vice president of Smith Travel. The narrower drop in extended-stay occupancy rates during the recession, compared with the market as a whole, "is certainly a good thing that should allow you to increase your rates faster as the economy comes back," he said. Newton said he thinks rates won't head north until next year, but he said if hotels are to survive, they'll have to edge up.
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| Hotels.com Launches VirtualVacation, an Augmented Reality Experience Posted: 04 May 2010 06:56 AM PDT VirtualVacation from Hotels.com, an augmented reality microsite at www.virtualvacay.com, launches today for consumers to 'travel' to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Orleans, Denver, San Diego and Seattle – from their computers. "This is more than a fun and entertaining way to virtually visit cities across the country. It is a natural progression toward how future travel plans will be researched and booked, and represents an evolution of our brand from offline to social channels," says Vic Walia, Sr. Director Brand Marketing for Hotels.com. "VirtualVacation provides real time feeds for local event information, hotel booking options, weather and a lot more utility than most first-generation augmented reality concepts." Through the use of visual storytelling and live interaction, VirtualVacation from Hotels.com provides a view of a real world environment whose elements are fused with computer-generated imagery. Users interact via webcam motion detection and microphone interactivity, activated by a physical printed 'marker' or smart phone image. Once the 3D image of the city appears, users can navigate the site and choose which city and adventure to experience. Users are given the opportunity to modify local landmarks, customize street signs, land a plane at the airport, and even insert themselves into a postcard and send to friends and family through social networking sites. The site also provides users with useful trip planning information, including local weather, event information, and special deals in each city. Travelers can plan their trip and book a vacation right through the site, with the help of SMART, Hotels.com's animated spokesperson, who helps guide visitors through each city. "We anticipate a lot of consumer interest, which is why we are actually asking consumers to vote for the next virtual city they want us to build," added Walia. "This is true brand engagement through social channels, and Hotels.com is delighted to be leading the way for the travel industry." In an effort to develop this cutting-edge platform with innovative online tools, Hotels.com worked with its ad agency, Young & Rubicam (Y&R) Chicago who developed the SMART character to extend the 'SMART experience' into the digital world. "VirtualVacation is entertaining, social, functional and informative, unlike many augmented reality campaigns that tend to be very gimmicky in nature," said Ken Erke Y&R, Hotels.com's advertising agency and creator of their VirtualVacation product. "We're proud of this initial viral effort for Hotels.com and believe it will generate tremendous buzz and reputational value for the brand." VirtualVacation is also being supported by a national print advertising campaign that begins on May 5. For more information, please visit: www.virtualvacay.com For a site demo, please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5oxp81BvWU Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Hotels.com Launches VirtualVacation, an Augmented Reality Experience Posted: 04 May 2010 05:17 AM PDT DALLAS, May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Want to visit the Statue of Liberty or take a walk down the Las Vegas Strip? Hotels.com®, a leading provider of lodging worldwide, is proud to offer consumers a first-of-its-kind opportunity to explore 10 of the most popular destinations in the U.S. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/hotels/43850/ (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100504/MM97918 ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/LAFRU1LOGO ) VirtualVacation from Hotels.com, an augmented reality microsite at www.virtualvacay.com, launches today for consumers to 'travel' to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Orleans, Denver, San Diego and Seattle – from their computers. "This is more than a fun and entertaining way to virtually visit cities across the country. It is a natural progression toward how future travel plans will be researched and booked, and represents an evolution of our brand from offline to social channels," says Vic Walia, Sr. Director Brand Marketing for Hotels.com. "VirtualVacation provides real time feeds for local event information, hotel booking options, weather and a lot more utility than most first-generation augmented reality concepts." Through the use of visual storytelling and live interaction, VirtualVacation from Hotels.com provides a view of a real world environment whose elements are fused with computer-generated imagery. Users interact via webcam motion detection and microphone interactivity, activated by a physical printed 'marker' or smart phone image. Once the 3D image of the city appears, users can navigate the site and choose which city and adventure to experience. Users are given the opportunity to modify local landmarks, customize street signs, land a plane at the airport, and even insert themselves into a postcard and send to friends and family through social networking sites. The site also provides users with useful trip planning information, including local weather, event information, and special deals in each city. Travelers can plan their trip and book a vacation right through the site, with the help of SMART, Hotels.com's animated spokesperson, who helps guide visitors through each city. "We anticipate a lot of consumer interest, which is why we are actually asking consumers to vote for the next virtual city they want us to build," added Walia. "This is true brand engagement through social channels, and Hotels.com is delighted to be leading the way for the travel industry." In an effort to develop this cutting-edge platform with innovative online tools, Hotels.com worked with its ad agency, Young & Rubicam (Y&R) Chicago who developed the SMART character to extend the 'SMART experience' into the digital world. "VirtualVacation is entertaining, social, functional and informative, unlike many augmented reality campaigns that tend to be very gimmicky in nature," said Ken Erke Y&R, Hotels.com's advertising agency and creator of their VirtualVacation product. "We're proud of this initial viral effort for Hotels.com and believe it will generate tremendous buzz and reputational value for the brand." VirtualVacation is also being supported by a national print advertising campaign that begins on May 5. For more information, please visit: http://www.virtualvacay.com For a site demo, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5oxp81BvWU 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 favorites and bed & breakfasts. With services such as welcomerewards™, an industry leading loyalty rewards program; the real opinions of other travelers captured in over 1.5 million Guest Reviews and; a Price Match Guarantee, so that those booking with Hotels.com can be assured they are getting the best deal, either online or by speaking directly to a travel expert at 1-800-2-HOTELS 24 hours a day. Hotels.com, A Smarter Way to Book™. For more information, please visit hotels.com. Hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. ( Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, SMART character, 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 © 2010 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50
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| How to find the best eco-friendly hotels Posted: 04 May 2010 06:58 PM PDT
From the outside, the Heritance Kandalama in Sri Lanka may look like an abandoned temple run over by weeds and vegetation, but the luxury hotel is actually one of the most eco-friendly resorts in the entire world. The wild vines, shrubs and plants that cover the hotel's windows, balconies and roofs ensure that rainwater is able to flow from the hills to the hotel reservoir located just below. Given the hotel's abandoned appearance, the location also serves as an attraction to toque macaques and hundreds of species of birds. The fact that the Heritance Kandalama is eco-friendly is one detail which is proving to be more important than ever for travelers. Expedia, an online travel website that processes thousands of flight and hotel reservations daily, has made plans to add a brand new feature to its hotel listings called Green Lodging Certifications. This will enable tourists to compare and contrast competing hotels' green practices, in addition to teaching travelers how they can incorporate green living into their vacation plans. "Today's travelers are increasingly interested in gauging the environmental practices of hotels and other travel suppliers," says Expedia's Janice Lichtenwaldt. "To that end, Expedia has elected to increase the green resources available to our customers, as well as the green recognition available to our partner hotels." In partnership with Green Key, an agency that specializes in ranking and auditing hotels based on the effectiveness of their eco-friendly practices, Expedia will also be creating an additional resource for eco-conscious tourists called the "Traveler's Guide to Going Green." Kit Cassingham, the founder of Best Green Hotels, explains that what sets green hotels apart from conventional hotels is a genuine concern for the environment. She says, "Green hotels act on their concern by conserving and protecting resources while conventional hotels act as if there is no problem." Best Green Hotels, one of the most comprehensive listings of environmentally friendly hotels online, features its own rating system, a term glossary and directories divided by city, state and country. Cassingham believes that an association for green hotels is necessary for two reasons. The first is to give travelers an accessible resource through which they can easily research and find green hotels. The second is to provide hoteliers with a place where they can learn more about incorporating green practices into their resorts, while getting the support they need. Cassingham is optimistic about the future of eco-friendly hotels and does not believe that this is only a trend. She says of Best Green Hotels, "The site is about five-years-old. I was thrilled to have 750 green hotels listed within a few months, but I also figured I had only scratched the surface of finding hotels that had green operations." "Between more hotels and hotel chains adopting green and sustainable practices and hotels promoting what their actions are online, we are pushing 5,000 listed properties," she adds. "That speaks to me of a growing sector of eco-friendly hotels." Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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