| November 6, 2012 | News for hotel and lodging professionals |
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- Four Seasons Hotel New York reportedly receives bid for $900M
Ty Warner, owner of the Four Seasons Hotel New York, has reportedly received a bid for the luxury hotel for about $900 million, a source says. The unsolicited bid said to be from an unidentified Asian investor could force Four Seasons Hotels to match the offer in order to retain its management contract for the 368-room property. If a sale is completed, the $2.4 million-per-room deal would be one of the most expensive hotel sales in Manhattan. The Wall Street Journal
(11/4), Bloomberg Businessweek
(11/5)      
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| Business Update |  |  |
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- JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is scheduled for December opening
The first phase of the opening of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has been set for December. At 1,164 feet, the 1,608-room hotel will officially become the world's tallest hotel when it opens. Amenities include a pool deck on the seventh floor, a 16,000-square-foot Saray Spa, nine restaurants and five lounges and entertainment venues. Hotel Management online
(11/5)
- New Strategic Hotels CEO says turnaround strategy will continue
Raymond L. Gellein Jr., the newly appointed CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, says he oversee the continuation of the company's turnaround strategy, which aims to reduce the company's debt. "That strategy continues. ... We're going to keep on keeping on," Gellein said. Gellein said the departure of former Strategic President and CEO Laurence Geller was the result of a mutual agreement between Geller and the company's board of directors. However, he declined to comment on speculation about a sale of the company. HotelNewsNow.com
(11/5), Chicago Sun-Times
(11/4)
| Market Trends | | |
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- Future travel will include nontraditional destinations, study finds
Market research firm Euromonitor International has released the results of its "Global Trends Report," which shows the world's top emerging travel trends. The study says U.S. travelers will be increasingly drawn to destinations previously off-limits to foreigners, such as Myanmar, Cuba and North Korea. The travel industry is also expected to see a rise in "technology-free" vacation packages and trips that focus on relaxation. FoxNews.com
(11/5)
- Tourism group lowers outlook for travel industry
The World Travel & Tourism Council says it maintains an optimistic outlook on global travel despite slightly downgrading its growth prediction for the industry. The group lowered its 2012 forecast to 2.7% from the 2.8% predicted earlier in the year, mainly due to a 0.2% decline in its global GDP growth estimates this year. "Despite some specific and regional downgrades to short-term economic and industry forecasts, the longer-term prospects for travel and tourism remain very positive, and continue to be boosted by strong growth and rising prosperity in emerging markets," said council President and CEO David Scowsill. TravelPulse
(11/4)
- Hotel packages help guests kick their smoking habit
Hotels including the Champneys in the U.K., the Regency Health Resort in Florida and the Vilalara Thalassa Resort in Portugal are among those that have introduced special packages in recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month this month. The programs aim to help guests quit smoking through processes such as hypnotherapy, juice detoxification and acupuncture. HotelChatter
(11/5)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Column: Direct communication is key for targeted public relations
Public-relations personnel should possess excellent interpersonal skills for situations when they need to interact with only a small portion of the public, writes Judy Hoffman, founder of JCH Enterprises. "This 'belly button to belly button communication' ... is incredibly valuable. It avoids the filter which the media would provide in getting the message out. The message can be targeted precisely to those affected without having to involve the entire readership base," Hoffman writes. 4Hoteliers
(11/5)
| Development | | |
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- Joint venture seeks to build casino hotel in Philadelphia
Cordish Cos., the developer and operator of the Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County, Md., has formed a joint venture with Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment to seek a gaming license in Philadelphia. Stadium Casino LLC, the partnership between the two companies, intends to move ahead with a proposal to build a casino hotel in the state. Plans call for the construction of a 240-room hotel, a parking garage and a 200,000-square-foot gaming facility, which would house 2,000 slot machines and 125 table games. American City Business Journals/Baltimore/ Real Estate blog
(11/2)
- Developers add hotel to Hard Rock Casino plan in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City Entertainment plans to build an upscale hotel alongside its proposed Hard Rock-branded casino in Sioux City, Iowa. The company said it would partner with Stoney Creek Hospitality for the planned boutique hotel, which would include 60 rooms and suites. "This entertainment-themed hotel will include top-of-the-line suites designed to enhance the Hard Rock Casino experience," said Jim Thompson, CEO of Stoney Creek Hospitality. Sioux City Journal (Iowa)
(11/5)
| Government Affairs | | |
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- Calif. court sides with online-travel firms in hotel-tax issue
A California appeals court has upheld rulings by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Calif., declaring that online travel agencies were exempt from local hotel taxes when rooms were booked. The cases involved the cities of Anaheim and Santa Monica. Other markets where courts have sided with OTAs include Houston, Philadelphia, Hawaii, and Branson, Mo. Travel Weekly
(11/2)
| AH&LA News | | |
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AH&LA launches mobile app
AH&LA has released its first mobile app for smartphones. This official app keeps members up to date on the latest events on Capitol Hill; gives access to our Information Center; and connects members to AH&LA's social media activity. Members also get the latest on networking opportunities with top lodging leaders, education offerings and special events, including the upcoming Fall Conference/IHMRS, the largest event of the year! To learn more, visit www.mobile.ahla.com.
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