Most Clicked AH&LA SmartBrief Stories
1. Accor sells Motel 6, Studio 6 brands to Blackstone Group affiliate
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Accor has sold its North American budget brands Motel 6 and Studio 6 to an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII. The $1.9 billion sale includes 1,102 hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada. "This deal will provide Accor with additional resources to address the tremendous growth potential in the Asia Pacific region, in Latin America and in Europe, where the leadership of our brands is one of the key drivers of our future growth," said Denis Hennequin, chairman and CEO of Accor. HotelNewsNow.com (05/22)
2. Hilton: Management pullout from Grand Wailea would cost millions
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Hilton Worldwide has cautioned that efforts by a group led by Paulson & Co. to sever management contracts with Hilton for the Grand Wailea resort hotel in Hawaii and two other resorts would lead to payments of millions of dollars in damages. "Certain conditions would need to be met and approved by the bankruptcy court before these assets could be sold unencumbered by Hilton Worldwide management contracts. Among these conditions is a very large damages award to Hilton Worldwide, potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars, which may render such a sale to be cost prohibitive," Hilton said in a statement. American City Business Journals (05/24)
3. Bank acquires foreclosed luxury hotel in Sacramento, Calif.
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
KXTV-TV (Sacramento, Calif.) (05/26)
4. Investment group may put 2 bankrupt hotels on the market
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Hedge fund Paulson & Co. and Winthrop Realty Trust are reportedly planning to sell the Arizona Biltmore resort and the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley, Calif. They are asking $425 million for the Phoenix property and $80 million for the Berkeley hotel. The group is said to be looking to lift the two properties and an additional pair of hotels out of bankruptcy through a sale. Bloomberg Businessweek (05/23)
5. Divorce-hotel concept comes to the U.S.
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Netherlands-based hotelier Jim Halfens is looking to introduce his "Divorce Hotel" concept to the U.S. and has approached a number of law firms and hotels across the country with the proposal. The concept, which is also being pushed in countries such as Britain, Germany and Italy, allows a married couple to pay a flat fee to have their divorce proceedings completed over a few days while enjoying the comforts of a hotel. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (05/26)
6. Boutique-hotel restaurants can gain from partnering with noted chefs
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Having a famed chef running the hotel restaurant could give that much-needed revenue boost to a property's food and beverage operations, boutique-hotel executives say. If internationally acclaimed chefs are out of the question, even a local restaurateur with limited recognition still has the potential to draw outside demand, they say. HotelNewsNow.com (05/25)
7. Hospitality Properties will reflag 20 hotels under Wyndham brands
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Wyndham Hotel Group's Wyndham and Hawthorn Suites brands will acquire 20 properties across the U.S. under a rebranding effort by Hospitality Properties Trust. Hawthorn Suites will gain 16 properties; the other four will become Wyndhams. The initiative will include renovations on all 20 properties and cost about $75 million, Hospitality Properties Trust says. Travel Weekly (05/24)
8. Japanese firm is considering sale of Hawaii hotel portfolio
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Seibu Holdings, a Japan-based hotel and railway firm, may soon sell off its portfolio of hotels and golf resorts in Hawaii, a source says. The source says Seibu has hired a broker for the sale. MarketWatch (05/24)
9. Review: Room Key offers an appealing alternative to OTAs
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Its wide range of property options and integration with hotel websites make Room Key a viable alternative to online travel agencies, Dennis Schaal writes in this review. "If you don't want to deal with the uncertainty inherent in using sites such as Hotwire or Priceline, in which you don't know the hotel identity upfront, or want to avoid online travel agency sites and last-minute mobile apps such as HotelTonight, then Room Key is worth a look," Schaal writes. USA TODAY (05/21)
10. Owners of Alex Hotel, Flatotel in NYC file for bankruptcy protection
AH&LA SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Bloomberg (05/22)
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