“Gulf Shores, Orange Beach lodging taxes, occupancy rates down due to BP oil spill” plus 2 more |
- Gulf Shores, Orange Beach lodging taxes, occupancy rates down due to BP oil spill
- Hotel guests crave free Wi-Fi
- Historic arrival
| Gulf Shores, Orange Beach lodging taxes, occupancy rates down due to BP oil spill Posted: 05 Sep 2010 10:18 PM PDT GULF SHORES, Ala., — The Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau released tourism figures today for the first portion of a challenging 2010 summer season, which show a decline not as high as once estimated for the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area. Taxable lodging rentals for May 2010 reached more than $20 million, a 7.3 percent decrease from $22 million collected in May 2009. Meanwhile, taxable retail sales topped $51 million for May 2010, which is a 4.3 percent decrease from $53 million for May 2009. "In May, our beaches and the public's perception were both in a completely different state," said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the AGCCVB. While June taxes are being processed, hotel and condominium occupancy rates for the month allude to a 20 to 30 percent decrease. Hotels were filled more than 60 percent while condominiums were about 44 percent full. These rates show a decrease of 22.7 percent and 38.4 percent, respectively, when compared to June 2009. July numbers should be available in August. 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 |
| Posted: 05 Sep 2010 07:35 PM PDT A comfy mattress and a hot breakfast are still important to hotel guests, but free wireless Internet access is the most desired amenity, according to a new survey of 53,000 travelers. The survey by J.D. Power & Associates found that free Wi-Fi was the most important for guests in nearly every segment of the hotel industry, from luxury hotels to budget lodging. As most travelers know, not every hotel offers free Wi-Fi. In fact, the survey found that the most expensive hotels were the least likely to offer it free of charge. Of guests staying at mid-scale hotels, 96% said they got free Wi-Fi, as did 64% of guests at budget hotels, according to the survey of guests who stayed in hotels from May 2009 to June 2010. None who stayed in luxury hotels said they got free wireless Internet. Hotels are likely to feel more pressure to offer the service free of charge, said Stuart Greif, vice president and general manager of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power. He noted that travelers can now get free Wi-Fi from many businesses, including Starbucks coffee shops and McDonald's restaurants. At the Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel chain, the fee for Wi-Fi access is a top complaint among guests, said Ritz-Carlton spokeswoman Vivian A. Deuschl. (The new Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles charges $12.95 a day.) "We know that it is an irritant to guests to have to pay for Internet access," she said. "It comes up very frequently." Although some Ritz-Carlton hotels offer free Internet access in the lobbies and other public spaces, the hotel chain based in Maryland will continue to charge for the service in guest rooms, she said. "We have no immediate plans to change the policy, but it's an ongoing subject of discussion," Deuschl said. • American Airlines is upgrading its planes American Airlines, owner of the nation's largest fleet of MD-80s, is moving to replace its 250 or so aging McDonnell Douglas aircraft with more efficient and roomy Boeing 737-800s. The upgrade began last year and is expected to be completed by next year. The new Boeing planes burn 20% to 30% less fuel and can seat about 20 more passengers than the MD-80, depending on the seating configuration. American Airlines also announced a few months ago that it had hired Boeing to retrofit its existing fleet of 737s to include all the amenities in the newer 737-800. The upgraded planes include economy seats that have a higher reclining pivot point, offering more knee room even when the passenger in front of you reclines. The cabin will also include several electrical outlets and drop-down 10.4-inch LCD monitors to watch movies and TV shows. The overhead bins have been redesigned to nearly double the storage space. Despite the added bin space, American Airlines spokeswoman Courtney Wallace said, the air carrier will continue to impose the same limits on carry-on bags mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration. "We are trying to make the travel experience the best for our passengers," Wallace said. "But we will continue to follow FAA guidelines." • Keep children away from other passengers? Even with roomier, more comfortable cabins, an airline flight can be a hair-pulling experience if you get seated next to a fidgeting child or a screaming infant. That may explain why nearly 80% of respondents said they support the idea of creating a "family-only" section on planes, according to a poll on Farecompare, a travel website. The other 20% objected to the idea of separating parents and their children from other passengers, calling it a form of "family bashing." hugo.martin@latimes.com 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 |
| Posted: 05 Sep 2010 09:32 PM PDT 
Incoming freshman Danielle Bergstrom waited excitedly for University of Houston-Victoria staff to provide her temporary housing assignment Sunday. "I think it will be interesting, but I'm so excited," Bergstrom, 18, said. Like many other incoming UHV freshmen and sophomores, Bergstrom is one of many students who will be forced into an area hotel until Jaguar Hall, the university's first-ever residential complex, is complete. The Jaguar Hall remodel project has been ongoing since May. It was originally slated to complete by Aug. 19, but it was again delayed to coincide with the first day of classes on Aug. 23. Now two weeks into the semester, construction is still under way. "I kind of figured" the dorms wouldn't be done, Bergstrom, said. University officials were forced to reschedule the first day of classes for freshmen and sophomores for Sept. 7, two weeks after the rest of UHV's student body, when it appeared Jaguar Hall wouldn't be ready on time. Bergstrom, an incoming psychology major, was one of about 200 students to check in on Sunday. But, even through the organized chaos, she didn't seem bothered by a temporary housing assignment, or starting the semester late. "She just wants out of the house," Danielle's stepmother, Stephanie Bergstrom, said, laughing. Arriving about 1 p.m., students and parents began filing into the Student Center eagerly waiting on line to finalize lease agreements, make payments for the semester, and find out which area hotel they'll be lodging at while construction crews finish up the dormitory remodel project. Also standing in line, Samantha Lopez, 18, said she's somewhat disappointed to not move into the dorm, but is now focused on having a successful semester at UHV. "I've been wanting to just start already," Lopez, an incoming criminal justice major, said. Students assigned to the 258-person Jaguar Hall check in Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Once checked in, they will be ushered to one of three hotels in the area - La Quinta, Holiday Inn Express and Super 8 - until Jaguar Hall is ready. Hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from campus are being provided by the university at no cost to the students. The estimated move-in date to Jaguar Hall is sometime this week, Norgard said. "We've been waiting and waiting and looking forward to this day," Chari Norgard, UHV associate vice president for success and enrollment management, said. "We're ready to get this semester rolling for them." 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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