A look ahead: AH&LA Fall Conference, Nov. 6 to 10
The AH&LA 2009 Fall Conference, held in conjunction with the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, has been the show for hoteliers for more than nine decades -- growing to 30,000 attendees, boasting more than 20 educational sessions, parading thousands of new products on the trade-show floor. But this year you get to be part of something greater than that. You get to make history. This November marks 100 years in the making, as AH&LA kicks off its centennial celebration.

The events, people and programs surrounding this conference will serve as a depiction of the industry as it stands 100 years after the association was founded. And you're invited to be part of this legacy. Register now.

If you are not already an AH&LA SmartBrief subscriber, but you need this kind of timely, relevant summary of the most important industry news, sign up to receive our daily AH&LA SmartBrief -- FREE.

Emerging Trends & Technology

Nonprofits recycle hotel soap for charitable causes
A former Uganda refugee living in Atlanta has launched the Global Soap Project, one of several nonprofit groups that are recycling lightly used hotel soap for other purposes. Florida-based Clean the World is also collecting soaps for distribution to impoverished countries, and the trend is catching on, said Patrick Maher, a consultant for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. "It's one of the new things this year," he said. MySanAntonio.com/The Associated Press (10/15)

Starwood CEO: Loyalty program sees surge in China
In an interview, Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen said the company's loyalty program is seeing tremendous growth in China, with the number of Chinese travelers enrolling in the program increasing by 50% this year, compared with the same period last year. With increasing wealth in the country, China is now Starwood's fourth-largest country source for active members, behind the U.S., Canada and the U.K. USA TODAY/Hotel Check-in blog (10/14)

Mobile connections provide massive marketing audience
With 4 billion mobile connections worldwide -- twice the number of credit card holders and 2.5 times the number of TV viewers -- mobile connections are essential marketing tools, experts at a recent marketing conference said. Combining mobile marketing with another marketing component can be key to standing out in the sea of other marketing messages. Finance and Commerce (Minneapolis) (10/8)

Hospitality & Social Media

Social media will be ticket to travel bargains in 2010
Travelers are expected to be able to take advantage of more bargains than ever in 2010, and social media is among the top suggestions for finding the bargains, even on airlines, said Lufthansa spokeswoman Jennifer Urbaniak. "Social media has quickly become a new sales and loyalty channel for airlines," she said. CNN/Tribune Media Services (10/14)

Aloft elevates marketing efforts with social media
The concept of social-media marketing has remained largely unexplored by the hospitality industry; however, some chains are making headway. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's Aloft brand has used a comprehensive social-networking program, and the chain was even introduced through the virtual world of the "Second Life" computer game. Hotelier Middle East (United Arab Emirates) (10/2009)

Bloggers, Twitterers embraced in Vegas
When conventions of bloggers came to Las Vegas in previous years, many wouldn't give them the time of day. But with most resorts in the city having embraced social media and Web outreach, and appreciating the power that bloggers can have in influencing public opinion, the resorts in the city are rolling out the red carpet for attendees to this year's BlogWorld event. Las Vegas Weekly (10/14)

Experts: Think outside the box to survive the downturn
Panelists on a recent hospitality webinar recommended thinking outside the box and keeping an eye open for opportunities in meeting the current challenges the industry faces. Suggestions included upselling to customers who are already booked and making the most of social media. GlobeSt.com (10/15)

• Session: Tweets & APPtitude: How has the emergence of social media and smartphone technology opened up new avenues for hotel marketers? What are the best uses for these new technologies, and should hotels put more effort in marketing via Web sites such as Twitter and electronics such as the iPhone? An expert panel examines these emerging trends and their potential impact on the hotel industry. Click here for the hospitality leadership forum schedule.

Design, Development & Construction

U.K. hotel incorporates a variety of green features
The extensive use of recyclable materials is just one of the reasons why the Scarlet Hotel in the U.K. is sometimes referred to as the greenest hotel in the country. The structure has a distinctive recyclable membrane on its zinc roof. Solar panels generate energy for the hotel, and a biomass broiler provides heat. CatererSearch.com (10/12)

• Session: Benchmarking your property's ecosystem: Learn how to manage your hotel's environmental performance using newly launched GreenQuest to record your energy usage and measure your carbon footprint with direct input to EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager. Additionally, tracking is the best way to qualify ROI, and this session will show you to watch your energy, water and waste savings add up. Click here for a list of all AH&LA Fall Conference/IH/M&RS educational seminars.

Kent State University mulls hotel, conference center
Officials with Ohio's Kent State University say they are moving closer to a plan to bring brand-name lodging to the city for the university and visitors. The plan under consideration would involve a $14 million hotel and conference center that would be part of a larger revitalization project for the city. Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) (10/18)

New Programs & People on the Move

Richard Solomons: Rebranding Holiday Inn to keep it "fresh"
The $1 billion relaunch of the Holiday Inn chain is simply part of the proper management of a brand, said Richard Solomons, global chief financial officer and head of commercial development at InterContinental Hotels Group. "It's important to keep your brands fresh," he said. Asked about REVPAR (revenue per available room) for Holiday Inn during an interview on CNBC, he said it is down 10% to 15% depending upon the market. But he said all of the hotel companies have been hit by the worldwide economic downturn. "We're beating our competitors around the world," Solomons said.  CNBC (10/16)

Steve Wynn tries new role as political commentator
Billionaire Steve Wynn, the chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd., has become a familiar pundit on television news shows. Wynn has appeared on Fox News and CNBC to criticize President Barack Obama's policies on health care and the economy. "The biggest enemy, the biggest obstacle, that working middle-class America has is government spending," said Wynn. Las Vegas Review-Journal (10/18)

Other News

• International hotel groups prepare for Rio's 2016 Olympics
  Bloomberg (10/8)

SmartStat

More about AH&LA
Uniting 11,000 hospitality executives, AH&LA is the only national organization dedicated to serving the interests of hoteliers on the front line, behind the scenes and on Capitol Hill. Members are empowered with exclusive bottom-line savings, educational resources and networking opportunities with our expansive network of top-level industry professionals. Explore our Web site to see why we've been the leading voice of the lodging industry for nearly 100 years.

Email: ahla@smartbrief.com
Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004
Legal and Privacy information at http://www.smartbrief.com/legal.jsp
Unsubscribe