Most Clicked AH&LA SmartBrief Stories
1. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino president found dead at home
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 10, 2010
Randy Kwasniewski, the president of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, was found dead Tuesday. The Clark County Coroner's Office has not released an official cause of death for Kwasniewski, who was found at his home and reportedly suffered a gunshot wound. Las Vegas Sun (03/09) USA TODAY/Hotel Check-in blog (03/10)
2. MGM Mirage: Aria, Bellagio boast healthy business
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 08, 2010
Aria at CityCenter is not taking business away from other Las Vegas luxury properties at MGM Mirage, according to CEO Jim Murren. Bellagio reported a 92% occupancy rate in the fourth quarter, with an average room rate of $206 for the quarter. CityCenter opened three months ago on the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas Sun (03/08)
3. Report: Starwood launches top-secret loyalty program
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 12, 2010
Starwood reportedly launched a top-secret loyalty program late last year that reaches out not only to some of the chain's best customers but to rivals' best customers as well. According to a Starwood official, the pilot program, run separately from the Starwood Preferred Guest main loyalty program, has a goal of creating individually tailored experiences, and participants are provided with a single point of contact with a Starwood ambassador. The pilot program has been so successful that it is being expanded. USA TODAY/Hotel Check-in blog (03/11)
4. Ritz-Carlton is ranked No. 1 in survey's deluxe level
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 09, 2010
Ritz-Carlton claimed the No.1 spot in the deluxe level in the Hotel Chain Survey, edging out Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts by scoring the highest in eight of 13 criteria that included staff, facilities, arrangement of group travel and overall price and value. Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria Collection kept its position of third place from last year and tied with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. BTNOnline.com (03/08)
5. Georgia's Sea Island faces big troubles
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 08, 2010
Georgia's Sea Island resort, which has attracted the likes of former presidents and Bill Gates, has hit tough times, and owner Sea Island Co. soon could be replaced by a new owner. The company, which is deeply in debt, is said to be far behind on its loan payments and is looking to find a buyer for its ultraluxury portfolio. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (free registration) (03/07)
6. First, fire all the unhappy people
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 12, 2010
A worker who is unhappy in his or her job can drag down morale and take a serious hit on a manager's time and energy. Some employees just aren't a good fit with your company, and as a business owner you have a right to surround yourself with people who want to be there and who will contribute positively to the company, Jay Goltz writes. New York Times, The (03/09)
7. Jury awards Westin hotel baker $3 million in harassment suit
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 11, 2010
A baker at New York's Westin Times Square Hotel who alleged he was harassed and physically abused on the job was awarded $3 million by a federal jury on Wednesday. Jurors said the main issue that swayed them was the fact that the the baker, Moises Mendez, complained that the hotel had installed a hidden camera over his work station. Lawyers for Westin owner Starwood Hotels & Resorts said the camera was intended to protect Mendez from harassment and was approved by the union. Daily News (New York) (03/10)
8. Extended Stay lenders to pull chain out of bankruptcy
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 09, 2010
Senior lenders with Extended Stay say they will join Paulson & Co. and Centerbridge Partners to invest $450 million into the chain and allow it to exit bankruptcy. Under the plan, Paulson and Centerbridge will invest $225 million in exchange for a 22.5% stake in the company, and holders of Extended Stay's $4.1 billion mortgage debt will receive new mortgage notes worth $2.5 billion, in addition to stock valued at a 55% stake in the company. Wall Street Journal, The (03/08)
9. The top movie hotels are named
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 08, 2010
Just in time for the Oscar celebrations, Tripadvisor.com has come out with a list of the top 10 most famous hotels associated with movies. The hotels include the Fairmont, San Francisco, where Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" was filmed in 1958 and numerous other movies have been shot; the Bellagio in Las Vegas, featured in "Ocean's Eleven" and "Ocean's Thirteen"; and the Plaza in Manhattan, where movies including "North by Northwest" and "Home Alone 2" were filmed. Reuters (03/05)
10. Survey: Las Vegas No. 1 destination in U.S.
AH&LA SmartBrief | Mar 11, 2010
Hotel rooms in Las Vegas are the most popular and affordable in the nation, according to a survey from Hotels.com. The city was the No.1 destination for domestic travelers and No. 2, behind New York, for international travelers. Its average daily room rates from July to December declined 18%, from $109 in the first half of the year to $79. Las Vegas Sun (03/10)
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