Hotel rage in Denver? The Denver DA's offiice has filed charges against a man for allegedly trying to run over a valet parker at the upscale JW Marriott hotel. The two had previously had had an altercation, reports say. File photo taken Oct. 24, 2007 shows sunset over the Denver skyline.
The Denver District Attorney's Office charged Tracy Lee Ottaway, 47, with attempted murder, according to the Denver Post. Ottaway and the valet at the JW Marriott had a previous altercation in late July, although the DA's office didn't release details.
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Thursday, September 16, 2010
Couple thrown out of Hotel for writing online hotel review
According to an article in The Gazette, Mr Healey and Sherrie Andrews said they were in day two of a three night stay when they were asked to leave.
Mr Healey, who was due to check out on September 4, was forced to drive back 280 miles the evening before. He said: "I couldn't believe it when we were asked to leave.
"We had been there a day when they said we couldn't get back in our rooms because they were re carpeting, and we didn't complain – all we asked was if we could have an extra towel.
"Then, on our second evening, the Manager banged on the door and told us to get out, accusing us of writing a review on Trip Advisor, and said he would call the police."
Mr Healey has only just returned to work as a Tesco manager after sick leave to receive chemotherapy for testicular cancer according to the article.
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| from The Gazette |
A man, who is suffering from Cancer, is very upset after he and a companion were thrown out of a Blackpool UK hotel, because the manager accused them of writing an online hotel review on TripAdvisor
According to an article in The Gazette, Mr Healey and Sherrie Andrews said they were in day two of a three night stay when they were asked to leave.
Mr Healey, who was due to check out on September 4, was forced to drive back 280 miles the evening before. He said: "I couldn't believe it when we were asked to leave.
"We had been there a day when they said we couldn't get back in our rooms because they were re carpeting, and we didn't complain – all we asked was if we could have an extra towel.
"Then, on our second evening, the Manager banged on the door and told us to get out, accusing us of writing a review on Trip Advisor, and said he would call the police."
Mr Healey has only just returned to work as a Tesco manager after sick leave to receive chemotherapy for testicular cancer according to the article.
He added: "I was shocked when the police arrived, and we just agreed to leave. We asked for a refund but the hotel refused.
"I think it is shocking and people need to know about this."
A spokesman said: "Police officers were called to the Golden Beach Hotel just before 8pm on Thursday.
"No offence had been committed by the couple, but the manager had requested them to leave the property. We advised the couple how to go about getting a refund. This is a civil matter."
Troubled hotel portfolio nears resolution
A special servicer assigned to manage some $63.7 million in debt backing a portfolio of nine Fairfield Inn by Marriotts — including three properties in Massachusetts — appears to be readying for more drastic action following months of cash-flow problems.
In July, The Roundup first reported that Och-Ziff Real Estate, the New York investment firm that acquired the hotels in 2007, had acknowledged in writing that it was unable to pay its $200,000-plus in monthly debt service after having tapped roughly a $1 million in cash reserves to support the properties. C-III Asset Management, one of the servicers overseeing the properties’ loans, said at the time that is was “preparing to engage counsel and has begun the process of ordering third party reports” in light of the hotel portfolio’s problems.
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In July, The Roundup first reported that Och-Ziff Real Estate, the New York investment firm that acquired the hotels in 2007, had acknowledged in writing that it was unable to pay its $200,000-plus in monthly debt service after having tapped roughly a $1 million in cash reserves to support the properties. C-III Asset Management, one of the servicers overseeing the properties’ loans, said at the time that is was “preparing to engage counsel and has begun the process of ordering third party reports” in light of the hotel portfolio’s problems.
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McDonald’s set to roll out breakfast menu across India
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) major McDonald’s is all set to roll out breakfast menus across its Indian outlets. A formal company announcement of this new addition will be made in the forthcoming quarter of 2010. By the end of 2010 around 40 McDonald’s outlets across India will serve breakfast menus from 7-11 am and 30 stores are expected to adopt this menu addition every subsequent year.
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Dubai records 4,181,326 hotel guests in first half of 2010
The number of hotel guests in Dubai reached 4,181,326 in the first half of 2010, a nine per cent increase over 3,852,742 guests in the first half of last year. According to a report in asiatraveltips.com, statistics from Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) show that the number of hotels operating in Dubai has reached 566, representing a seven per cent increase from 530 in 2009, while hotel rooms reached 67,369, indicating a 16 per cent increase from 58,188 rooms last year.
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W Union Square Sold
A hotel chain has purchased the hip, but troubled W Hotel in Union Square for well below the price it fetched at the height of the market.
Host Hotels and Resorts, based in Bethesda, Md., has purchased the hipster vacation paradise for $185.2 million, city records show.
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Host Hotels and Resorts, based in Bethesda, Md., has purchased the hipster vacation paradise for $185.2 million, city records show.
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London Hotel Revenue Returns to 2008 Level on Business Travel
London hotel revenue in July returned to a peak reached about two years ago as business travelers came back to the city and a weak pound helped attract visitors from the U.S. and the euro zone.
July revenue per available room, or revpar, in the city was on par with its peak level in 2008, according to London-based researcher STR Global. London’s revpar has recovered faster than any other major European city, according to STR data.
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July revenue per available room, or revpar, in the city was on par with its peak level in 2008, according to London-based researcher STR Global. London’s revpar has recovered faster than any other major European city, according to STR data.
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Walt Disney World: New luxury pet ‘hotel’ is a sellout
The newest resort facility to open at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., already has sold out its VIP suites every weekend until January, and spaces are filling quickly for next year.
That’s “VIP” as in “very important pet.”
The Best Friends Pet Care “hotel,” which is exclusively for cats and dogs and certain other creatures (but no humans), opened Labor Day weekend with 250 pets and received more than 600 reservations in its first week of operation, spokeswoman Deb Bennetts said.
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That’s “VIP” as in “very important pet.”
The Best Friends Pet Care “hotel,” which is exclusively for cats and dogs and certain other creatures (but no humans), opened Labor Day weekend with 250 pets and received more than 600 reservations in its first week of operation, spokeswoman Deb Bennetts said.
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Hilton Hawaii hotel workers vote to support strike
Hilton Hawaiian Village union employees, working without a contract since June, have voted overwhelmingly to support a strike.
About 70 percent of Hilton workers represented by Unite Here Local 5 turned out to vote yesterday and 95 percent of them agreed that negotiators could call for a strike if bargaining breaks down, said Local 5 spokesman Cade Watanabe. About 1,400 unionized workers work at the Hilton in Waikiki.
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About 70 percent of Hilton workers represented by Unite Here Local 5 turned out to vote yesterday and 95 percent of them agreed that negotiators could call for a strike if bargaining breaks down, said Local 5 spokesman Cade Watanabe. About 1,400 unionized workers work at the Hilton in Waikiki.
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U.K. Antitrust Regulator OFT Probing Price Fixing in Online Hotel Bookings
A U.K. antitrust regulator opened an investigation into possible competition law violations in the online hotel-booking industry and is contacting companies to request information.
“Investigators will be focusing on allegations that there could be agreements or concerted practices related to fixed or minimum resale prices of hotel rooms booked online,” Office of Fair Trading spokesman Frank Shepherd said. “In this case the claimant has made himself known.”
U.K. internet-travel firm Skoosh.com asked the regulator in April to investigate claims that Expedia Inc. and Priceline.com Inc. fix prices for hotel rooms by blocking cheaper offers from online wholesalers, founder Dorian Harris said in July. The OFT asked Harris to provide them with further information, he said.
The probe is at an early stage, the OFT said in a statement today. An Expedia spokeswoman said they were aware of the investigation. Priceline spokesman Brian Ek declined to comment.
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“Investigators will be focusing on allegations that there could be agreements or concerted practices related to fixed or minimum resale prices of hotel rooms booked online,” Office of Fair Trading spokesman Frank Shepherd said. “In this case the claimant has made himself known.”
U.K. internet-travel firm Skoosh.com asked the regulator in April to investigate claims that Expedia Inc. and Priceline.com Inc. fix prices for hotel rooms by blocking cheaper offers from online wholesalers, founder Dorian Harris said in July. The OFT asked Harris to provide them with further information, he said.
The probe is at an early stage, the OFT said in a statement today. An Expedia spokeswoman said they were aware of the investigation. Priceline spokesman Brian Ek declined to comment.
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Moody's Sets Stage For Moving Wyndham From Junk Territory
Moody's Investors Service moved toward lifting Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (WYN) to investment-grade territory, citing expectations of improved operating results at all the hotel operator's businesses and reduced risk from its timeshare unit.
The operator of the Ramada, Howard Johnson and Days Inn hotel chains in July posted a 34% increase in second-quarter earnings and raised its forecast for 2010. A number of hotel operators reported better-than-expected results for the latest quarter as demand strengthened amid recovering corporate and overseas travel.
Moody's on Wednesday said Wyndham has a leading market position in each of its business segments and gave a nod to the high margins and low capital intensity of the hotel-franchise and vacation-exchange and rentals operations. The timeshare business is less risky now because of lower development spending and a higher level of cash sales, the rating agency said.
Moody's has Wyndham at Ba1, the verge of investment-grade territory, and its rating outlook was raised to positive from stable. An upgrade could come if improving operating trends continue.
The operator of the Ramada, Howard Johnson and Days Inn hotel chains in July posted a 34% increase in second-quarter earnings and raised its forecast for 2010. A number of hotel operators reported better-than-expected results for the latest quarter as demand strengthened amid recovering corporate and overseas travel.
Moody's on Wednesday said Wyndham has a leading market position in each of its business segments and gave a nod to the high margins and low capital intensity of the hotel-franchise and vacation-exchange and rentals operations. The timeshare business is less risky now because of lower development spending and a higher level of cash sales, the rating agency said.
Moody's has Wyndham at Ba1, the verge of investment-grade territory, and its rating outlook was raised to positive from stable. An upgrade could come if improving operating trends continue.
Trump SoHo Gets Financing Boost
Trump SoHo, the flashy downtown hotel-condo project that has struggled to sell units, announced Wednesday it has restructured its financing with iStar Financial in a deal that increases its loan by $20 million.
The deal gives the 391-unit development more breathing room as it tries to ride out a turbulent real-estate market that's been particularly hard on condo hotels. It shows that iStar, which already has lent more than $250 million to Trump SoHo, has faith in the project. But it's not clear whether it will be enough to restore the project to health.
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The deal gives the 391-unit development more breathing room as it tries to ride out a turbulent real-estate market that's been particularly hard on condo hotels. It shows that iStar, which already has lent more than $250 million to Trump SoHo, has faith in the project. But it's not clear whether it will be enough to restore the project to health.
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Pizza Huts largest franchisor speaks out
When 2009 third quarter earnings for Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands shored up a dismal 13 percent same-store sales decrease from the previous year, NPC International, its largest franchisee, famously took its franchisor to task. NPC CEO Jim Schwartz’s call for the franchisor to step up and find the right message to connect with consumers made a dramatic splash in the industry media. Afterward, the company found its footing, spearheaded on a $10 pizza promise and new ad campaign. Subsequent earnings numbers have been climbing.
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