ATLANTA -- Georgia Department of Revenue agents seized five Augusta hotels at 8 a.m. today, citing a failure to pay sales taxes and withholding taxes for their employees’ income taxes.
Two of the five have repaid the more than $400,000 owed, according to Revenue Department spokesman Reg Lansberry. The remaining three haven’t as of 11:30 a.m.
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Monday, July 26, 2010
Business Travel Picks Up, Lifting the Hotel Industry
So far the biggest beneficiary is New York, though other cities on the East Coast are starting to report gains as well. And the upscale, full-service hotels that have long been favored by business travelers have benefited more from the upturn in demand than the midlevel brands, industry analysts say.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
Mario Batali sued by ex-employees
Mario Batali seems to make headlines as often over accusations of misdeeds as he does over his proficiency in the kitchen. Last January he was sued for failing to pay $45,000 in back rent to to the owners of the building that housed his now-defunct seafood restaurant, The John Dory. Then in April, he was accused of discriminatory hiring practices.
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Pig eyes among the wackiest hotel demands
The next time you forget to pack your toothbrush -- again -- hold your head high when requesting a spare from the hotel, confident in the knowledge that someone before you asked for 30 pig eyes on ice.
That's just one of more than 100 extraordinary guest requests documented in an internal Fairmont Hotels document obtained by Postmedia News.
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That's just one of more than 100 extraordinary guest requests documented in an internal Fairmont Hotels document obtained by Postmedia News.
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STR Global: Americas performance for June 2010
LONDON and HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The Americas region recorded positive results in the three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for June 2010, according to data compiled by STR and STR Global.
The region’s occupancy rose 7.0 percent to 64.9 percent, average daily rate ended up 1.8 percent to US$100.31, and revenue per available room increased 8.9 percent to US$65.11.
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The region’s occupancy rose 7.0 percent to 64.9 percent, average daily rate ended up 1.8 percent to US$100.31, and revenue per available room increased 8.9 percent to US$65.11.
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STR Global: Asia/Pacific results for June 2010
LONDON—Hotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced increases in all three key performance metrics for June 2010 when reported in U.S. dollars, according to data compiled by STR Global.
In year-over-year measurements, the Asia/Pacific region’s occupancy rose 14.5 percent to 63.9 percent, average daily rate increased 10.8 percent to US$121.83, and revenue per available room jumped 27.0 percent to US$77.83.
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In year-over-year measurements, the Asia/Pacific region’s occupancy rose 14.5 percent to 63.9 percent, average daily rate increased 10.8 percent to US$121.83, and revenue per available room jumped 27.0 percent to US$77.83.
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STR Global: Europe results for June 2010
“The first half of 2010 showed again a split across Europe in performance”, said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. “Hotels in Western and Northern Europe led the way in ADR improvements (in Euro-terms), whilst Southern and Eastern European hotels struggled to convert the occupancy gains into improved ADR.
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STR Global: MEA results for June 2010
LONDON—The Middle East/Africa region reported favourable results in the three key performance measurements for June 2010 when reported in U.S. dollars, according to data compiled by STR Global.
The region’s occupancy rose 1.7 percent to 59.2 percent, average daily rate increased 14.3 percent to US$151.00, and revenue per available room grew 16.3 percent to US$89.37.
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The region’s occupancy rose 1.7 percent to 59.2 percent, average daily rate increased 14.3 percent to US$151.00, and revenue per available room grew 16.3 percent to US$89.37.
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No dynamite required: Tropicana opts to remodel instead
Along the strip, rumors gallop faster than hot dice scatters on a summer night in July.
That's why guests and employees had been smelling dynamite in the lounges and pits at the Tropicana for years, certainly before the Stardust and the New Frontier got blasted earlier this year. Maybe longer than that; the smart money was saying the Trop, the sad old relic of '50s Vegas Strip action, would be the next to go.
But the smart money was wrong. The Trop will live well into the 21st century because of big remodeling plans.
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That's why guests and employees had been smelling dynamite in the lounges and pits at the Tropicana for years, certainly before the Stardust and the New Frontier got blasted earlier this year. Maybe longer than that; the smart money was saying the Trop, the sad old relic of '50s Vegas Strip action, would be the next to go.
But the smart money was wrong. The Trop will live well into the 21st century because of big remodeling plans.
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Pensacola hotels post gains despite oil spill
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Pensacola-area hotels posted some surprising increases in business last month despite the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Smith Travel Research Inc. says hotel occupancy was up 15.5 percent in June and lodging revenues were up 7 percent.
But tourism officials say those numbers are being fueled not by tourists, but by BP workers, government officials, media crews and a June 15 visit by President Obama.
Ed Schroeder (shray'DER) of the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau says restaurants, shops, night clubs and other retailers benefited little from the bump in room stays
Smith Travel Research Inc. says hotel occupancy was up 15.5 percent in June and lodging revenues were up 7 percent.
But tourism officials say those numbers are being fueled not by tourists, but by BP workers, government officials, media crews and a June 15 visit by President Obama.
Ed Schroeder (shray'DER) of the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau says restaurants, shops, night clubs and other retailers benefited little from the bump in room stays
Saturday, July 24, 2010
China's Chongqing cracks down on local mafia, arrests 46 people
CHONGQING, July 23 (Xinhua) - Police in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality arrested 46 people involved in a mafia-style gang, including a major shareholder of the local Hilton Hotel that was recently targeted by police because of its involvement in prostitution. Two government officials were also arrested.
Peng Zhimin, 47, owner of Qinglong Property Development Co., was arrested on multiple charges including allegedly managing a mafia-style organization, organizing prostitution, crimes of intentional injury, illegal occupation of farmland, and bribery, according to a statement emailed to Xinhua by the municipal public security bureau.
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Peng Zhimin, 47, owner of Qinglong Property Development Co., was arrested on multiple charges including allegedly managing a mafia-style organization, organizing prostitution, crimes of intentional injury, illegal occupation of farmland, and bribery, according to a statement emailed to Xinhua by the municipal public security bureau.
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Castle-led group buys Hilo Hawaiian for $17.3M
The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on the Big Island was sold yesterday for $17.3 million to a group of local investors led by Castle Resorts & Hotels.
The sale marks the first time in 20 years that the hotel has been under local ownership.
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The sale marks the first time in 20 years that the hotel has been under local ownership.
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DineEquity sells 63 Applebee's locations for $32M
GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) -- DineEquity Inc., which owns Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP restaurants, said Friday it agreed to sell 63 company-operated restaurants to its largest franchisee, Apple American Group LLC, for $32 million.
The restaurants are in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Closing is subject to regulatory processes related to liquor license transfers and other closing conditions.
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The restaurants are in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Closing is subject to regulatory processes related to liquor license transfers and other closing conditions.
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Governor signs Illegal Hotels Bill
NEW YORK - Tenants and tourists in New York City will be protected by a new law that makes it clear that operating a residential apartment as a transient hotel is illegal in New York City. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried, will put an end to the rampant spread of illegal hotels by clarifying ambiguities in State and City laws which made it impossible for government agencies to effectively crack down on offenders and protect residents. Governor Paterson signed the bill into law today.
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Friday, July 23, 2010
McDonald's Global Sales Drive Second Quarter Earnings Up 15%
OAK BROOK, Ill., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- McDonald's Corporation today announced strong results for the second quarter driven by all areas of the world.
"McDonald's second quarter reflects strong top-line and bottom-line results with each area of the world generating higher comparable sales, traffic and profits," said Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner. "This performance demonstrates the popular appeal of McDonald's relevant menu choices. We're delivering great tasting food to our 60 million customers around the world every day with the outstanding value and unmatched convenience they expect from McDonald's."
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"McDonald's second quarter reflects strong top-line and bottom-line results with each area of the world generating higher comparable sales, traffic and profits," said Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner. "This performance demonstrates the popular appeal of McDonald's relevant menu choices. We're delivering great tasting food to our 60 million customers around the world every day with the outstanding value and unmatched convenience they expect from McDonald's."
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