“Hotels Book More Convention Groups This Year” plus 3 more |
- Hotels Book More Convention Groups This Year
- Catham Lodging Trust To Buy Hotel
- Lodging Interactive - July 2010 Chatter Guard Benchmark Report Is Released
- Cali Canine Hotels Make Top List
| Hotels Book More Convention Groups This Year Posted: 23 Aug 2010 07:08 AM PDT Americans are meeting again on the road.  Hotels are reporting a rebound in business from group customers, a key segment that includes companies, associations, sports teams, religious groups, social organizations and the military. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)More Photos Hotels are reporting a rebound in business from group customers, a key segment that includes companies, associations, sports teams, religious groups, social organizations and the military. The U.S. Travel Association forecasts a 7% increase in meeting and convention spending this year, to $90.7 billion. That follows a 15% decline in 2009, when organizations canceled meetings, sent fewer employees to trade shows and insisted on bare-minimum amenities. Hotels and convention bureaus responded with aggressive deals and packages, such as providing free coffee breaks or discounts on audiovisual equipment. Groups are responding now, spurring an optimistic mood in the meeting planning and convention industry. "It's been crazy, great crazy," says Andrea Strauss, owner of the meeting planning firm Classic Conferences. "It's coming back quick and strong." In a June survey of members by Meeting Professionals International, which represents meeting planners, 61% responded that they're seeing more favorable business conditions, including attendance, budgets and number of meetings. In August last year, only 15% responded the same way. Others reporting a rebound: •InterContinental Hotels Group says its group and corporate business rose 10% in the first half of this year vs. 2009. •Eight New York City hotels run by Denihan Hospitality Group, including Affinia Manhattan and The Benjamin, are reporting a 26% increase in revenue from a year ago from group customers. •JW Marriott in Grand Rapids, Mich., has sold 1,500 more group nights this year, a 20% increase from 2009, resulting from a resurgence in meeting bookings tied to the city's medical industry, says George Aquino, hotel general manager. •Revenue from group customers is 30% higher so far this year than a year ago at Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale. While corporate business is still trailing last year, associations and other groups are booking more meetings and rooms, says Jay Marsella, the hotel's sales director. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | |||
| Catham Lodging Trust To Buy Hotel Posted: 23 Aug 2010 03:18 AM PDT Last Updated: August 23, 2010 03:56pm ET More San Diego HeadlinesMore Related TopicsRelated VideosUpcoming EventsRelated Webinars Fisher SAN DIEGO-Palm Beach, FL-based Chatham Lodging Trust, a hotel real estate investment trust focused on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels, has signed a contract to acquire an upscale extended-stay hotel in north San Diego, in an all-cash transaction for $32 million. The property marks the 13th hotel either acquired or under contract to purchase by Chatham in the past four months since its April 21, 2010 initial public offering. Fisher points out that the property fits the REIT's model of a "great location, in a market with multiple demand generators and superb visibility and accessibility." He adds that "We believe that the San Diego market also has among the highest barriers to new competition in the country." This is the REIT's first acquisition on the West Coast, says Fisher, and "Southern California is one of our key target markets," he adds. "We expect to fund the acquisition with our anticipated $85 million senior secured credit facility." As GlobeSt.com previously reported, the company signed a commitment letter with a group of lenders for an $85-million senior secured-credit facility. The paper included an accordion feature that allows the company to increase the size of the facility to $110 million. It will mature in three years and the interest rate will be Libor plus 3.25% with a Libor floor of 1.25%. At the time, Fisher said that Chatham Lodging generally focuses on the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic states, as well as Southern California. Fisher explains that this transaction, like many of our others, "is one that we sourced based on our long-standing relationships within the market," he says. "It was not actively marketed, and we were able to acquire the hotel at what we believe is an attractive price." As GlobeSt.com previously reported, one of the company's recent acquisitions includes the Hampton Inn & Suites Houston—Medical Center for $16.5 million in an all-cash transaction. The seller was local owner, Moody National Cos., according to the Harris County Appraisal District. The 120-room hotel acquisitionwas part of a four-property portfolio that Chatham agreed to buy for $61 million and was the first one to close. It marked the REIT's seventh acquisition since its IPO in April 2010. A Chatham source tells GlobeSt.com that because the hotel is under contract to purchase and the transaction is not complete, the current owner has required that the REIT not provide any additional information at this time. Be the first to comment on this post using the section below. Post your commentSign up to comment. You must be registered to post a comment. Click here to register. Log in If you have already registered to Daily News, please use the form below to login. When completed you will immeditely be directed to post a comment. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php | |||
| Lodging Interactive - July 2010 Chatter Guard Benchmark Report Is Released Posted: 23 Aug 2010 02:03 AM PDT |  23 August 2010
Lodging Interactive, a leading interactive marketing agency servicing the hospitality industry and the publisher of the free Chatter Guard Monthly Benchmark Monitor Report has released its July 2010 report. To receive the full report, sign up for our newsletter at LodgingInteractive.com. July was a lackluster month for the hospitality industry, with sluggish consumer ratings in almost every segment and category. While the losses were generally mild, the lack of gains was particularly evident across the board. Perhaps the hot weather is affecting the customers' moods? On a scale of 1-5, 5 being "fantastic" and 1 being "poor," the only positive category for the average hotel lodger was in Dining, which rose a scant 0.71% (from 3.27 to 3.26). The rest of the average hotel performances were single digit losses: July saw a 2.73% drop in Resultant Quality Score (3.39 to 3.28), a 2.30% decrease in Facilities ratings (3.74 to 3.64), a 7.49% loss in Housekeeping (3.53 to 3.16). Room satisfaction saw a 1.35% decline (3.21 to 3.15), a 1.63% decrease in Staff reviews (3.49 to 3.42), and a 2.31% dip in Value (3.13 to 3.06). To receive the full report, sign up for our newsletter at LodgingInteractive.com. About Lodging Interactive Lodging Interactive, headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, is an award winning leading provider of Internet Marketing Services to the hospitality, spa and restaurant industries. The company provides a portfolio of effective hotel internet marketing services to hundreds of hotels, resorts, timeshares, spas and restaurants. Clients include branded hotels from nearly every major brand as well as prestigious, landmark independent hotels. Through its CoMMingle Social Media Marketing Agency operating division, the Company offers hospitality focused and fully managed outsourced hotel social media marketing.
Vice President, Business Development Phone: 877-291-4411 Email: rjwalsh@lodginginteractive.com  Lodging Interactivewww.lodginginteractive.com 2001 Route 46, Suite 310 USA - Parsippany, NJ 07054-1315 Phone: 877.291.4411 Fax: 877.833.7375 Email: info@lodginginteractive.com Follow us on:    All Articles from Lodging Interactive
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| Cali Canine Hotels Make Top List Posted: 23 Aug 2010 05:48 AM PDT Travel & Leisure, Fairmont San Francisco, Kimpton, W Hotels FAIRMONT FIDOS: When we think of the ever-so-grand Fairmont in San Francisco, our mind does tend to wander to indoor rainshowers and potent libations. But that historic hostelry also makes a good stay for dogs and their people, says Travel & Leisure. T&L cited the mini bar especially for pets as one feather in the Fairmont's cap. OTHER HOTELS, TOO: While the Fairmont is the only specific hotel in California mentioned, two chains with several Golden State properties got Travel & Leisure shout-outs: Kimpton and the W. We're sweet on Maverick, the Director of Pet Relations at Palomar, a Kimpton property in San Francisco. ONE LAST THOUGHT: If the Fairmont did wear a cap -- see paragraph #1 -- we imagine it might be full of faux peacock feathers. Maybe with a little chic brim to one side. Agree? BY Alysia Gray Painter // Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 07:24 PDT This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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