Remember the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," where a valet takes a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT out for a joyride? Brandi Mahoney claims it happened to her when she stayed at the Embassy Suites Portland in downtown Portland, Ore., recently.
How does she know someone took her car — a 2006 Saab convertible — for a spin? Her on-board navigation system told her.
"When I parked the car, I looked at the dashboard program and it said .5 miles to your destination," said Mahoney, who left the car with a valet. She said she then went upstairs to change for dinner. When she came back down, the valet brought her car around.
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Thursday, October 7, 2010
Spain’s AC Hotels in Marriott deal
AC Hotels has signed joint venture with Marriott International which will include a welcome equity injection into one of Spain’s best-known urban chains while raising the US operator’s southern European profile.
AC said on Thursday an initial 90 AC hotels in Spain, Portugal and Italy would be rebranded “AC by Marriott” as part of the deal, which involves an undisclosed investment by the US group.
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AC said on Thursday an initial 90 AC hotels in Spain, Portugal and Italy would be rebranded “AC by Marriott” as part of the deal, which involves an undisclosed investment by the US group.
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Landry's goes private
When Tilman Fertitta took Landry's Restaurants public in 1993, the company had nine restaurants. Today it's an empire, with more than 200 restaurants, amusement venues, hotels and casinos.
And now it's all his.
After trying more than two years to go private again, Fertitta finally succeeded. The deal, which is worth about $1.4 billion including debt, is expected to close today. On Monday, Landry's shareholders approved his offer.
Although he no longer has to answer to anyone, he says the company strategy will be the same.
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And now it's all his.
After trying more than two years to go private again, Fertitta finally succeeded. The deal, which is worth about $1.4 billion including debt, is expected to close today. On Monday, Landry's shareholders approved his offer.
Although he no longer has to answer to anyone, he says the company strategy will be the same.
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W Atlanta-Downtown foreclosed
The W Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residences is now officially under foreclosure.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) reported late Tuesday the senior lender 2010-1 SFG Venture LLC -- a joint venture between the FDIC and Square Mile Capital Management LLC -- foreclosed on the property. The move is no surprise. Atlanta Business Chronicle reported in August the lender was moving ahead with foreclosure.
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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) reported late Tuesday the senior lender 2010-1 SFG Venture LLC -- a joint venture between the FDIC and Square Mile Capital Management LLC -- foreclosed on the property. The move is no surprise. Atlanta Business Chronicle reported in August the lender was moving ahead with foreclosure.
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Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Study Reveals 63 Percent of Restaurant Workers Handle Food While Sick
Pop-quiz question: What is the easiest way to ensure a food service establishment ends up embroiled in a foodborne illness outbreak?
Answer: Fail to implement a sick leave policy and allow food handlers to work while sick!
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Answer: Fail to implement a sick leave policy and allow food handlers to work while sick!
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Jail for cleaners who stole from hotel room safe
The Dubai Criminal Court awarded two Filipino cleaners who confessed to stealing and hiding $4,100 of a hotel visitor three months jail followed by deportation.
Shahram Gulam, 32, Iranian, businessman complained about the missing of $4,100 from the safebox of the hotel room after he left for Sharjah with his brother at 9.20 am on June 7.
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Shahram Gulam, 32, Iranian, businessman complained about the missing of $4,100 from the safebox of the hotel room after he left for Sharjah with his brother at 9.20 am on June 7.
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Premier Inn agrees to to stop claiming to be largest hotel brand in London
Premier Inn, the UK's largest budget hotel company, has agreed to stop claiming that it is the largest hotel operator in London, following talks with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The company was reported to the ASA by its bitter rival Travelodge in connection with adverts in which Premier Inn appealed to developers and landowners to help them expand the company, in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond.
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The company was reported to the ASA by its bitter rival Travelodge in connection with adverts in which Premier Inn appealed to developers and landowners to help them expand the company, in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond.
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Are hotels ready for the dynamic pricing revolution?
Even though dynamic pricing was first introduced in the hotel industry by chains like Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental in the early 2000s, it seems we are only now starting to get onto the barricades in this hotel pricing revolution.
Just over a month ago, IHG announced at the National Business Travel Association convention that following the success of a test with dynamic pricing in Asia-Pacific over the summer, it now seeks global adoption of dynamic pricing.
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Just over a month ago, IHG announced at the National Business Travel Association convention that following the success of a test with dynamic pricing in Asia-Pacific over the summer, it now seeks global adoption of dynamic pricing.
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Pritzker Firm Acquires L.A. Hotel
Geolo Capital, the private equity arm of San Francisco billionaire John A. Pritzker, has acquired a 250-room boutique hotel near LAX from a New York hedge fund.
The 12-story hotel, which originally opened in 1975, was re-launched as Custom Hotel in 2007 following a $20 million-plus renovation by Palisades Development Group, a Los Angeles developer headed by Avi Brosch.
Palisades, after running into financial trouble during the credit crunch, lost the property in foreclosure to hedge fund Marathon Asset Management LLC. Financial terms of the deal between Marathon and Geolo were not disclosed.
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The 12-story hotel, which originally opened in 1975, was re-launched as Custom Hotel in 2007 following a $20 million-plus renovation by Palisades Development Group, a Los Angeles developer headed by Avi Brosch.
Palisades, after running into financial trouble during the credit crunch, lost the property in foreclosure to hedge fund Marathon Asset Management LLC. Financial terms of the deal between Marathon and Geolo were not disclosed.
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Fore! Hotel clerk thwarts armed robber with a golf club
According to the Island Packet a 60-year-old hotel clerk didn't put up with a man's attempt to rob the Quality Inn Suites early Sunday, according to an incident report from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.
The clerk was doing his daily audit about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when a man wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun ran into the north-end island and demanded money.
The clerk pushed the robber, who then hit him with the gun. The clerk then grabbed a golf club and chased the man out the hotel. The clerk then called 911.
The robber was described as a white man, about 175 pounds, 5 feet 10 inches, wearing a dark ski mask, blue jeans and a dark-colored T-shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 843-524-2777.
The clerk was doing his daily audit about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when a man wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun ran into the north-end island and demanded money.
The clerk pushed the robber, who then hit him with the gun. The clerk then grabbed a golf club and chased the man out the hotel. The clerk then called 911.
The robber was described as a white man, about 175 pounds, 5 feet 10 inches, wearing a dark ski mask, blue jeans and a dark-colored T-shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 843-524-2777.
Hersha lines up credit of up to $250 million
Hotel owner Hersha Hospitality Trust said Tuesday it has obtained commitments to borrow as much as $250 million under a senior secured credit facility.
The real estate investment trust said it signed a commitment letter with TD Bank NA and TD Securities (USA) LLC for a proposed $225 million credit line that comes due in three years. The facility also includes the option for a one-year extension and may be increased to $250 million.
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The real estate investment trust said it signed a commitment letter with TD Bank NA and TD Securities (USA) LLC for a proposed $225 million credit line that comes due in three years. The facility also includes the option for a one-year extension and may be increased to $250 million.
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Detroit Westin's hotel restaurant unsuccessfully sued TripAdvisor
Given the growing interest among some hotels in the USA and Europe in possibly suing TripAdvisor for allegedly defamatory user reviews, Tnooz.com's story about a Detroit restaurant that sued the online-review giant caught my eye.
Restaurant 24 Grille in the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit hotel sued TripAdvisor in April 2009 in a Michigan state court for $25,000, Tnooz.com tell us.
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Restaurant 24 Grille in the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit hotel sued TripAdvisor in April 2009 in a Michigan state court for $25,000, Tnooz.com tell us.
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Woman sues Hyatt over cross-dressing employee
DEERFIELD, Ill. — A Los Angeles woman who says she caught a male hotel employee dressed in some of her clothes this past summer in the northern Chicago suburb of Deerfield has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago-based Hyatt company.
According to a complaint filed with Deerfield police, 36-year-old Dayanara Fernandez said that when she returned to her room at the Deerfield Hyatt on June 6, she found a male hotel worker wearing one of her skirts and a pair of her high-heeled shoes. Fernandez said she later discovered the man was wearing some of her underwear.
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According to a complaint filed with Deerfield police, 36-year-old Dayanara Fernandez said that when she returned to her room at the Deerfield Hyatt on June 6, she found a male hotel worker wearing one of her skirts and a pair of her high-heeled shoes. Fernandez said she later discovered the man was wearing some of her underwear.
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Wyndham looks to be around to stay in Pittsburgh
Wyndham is building a reputation as an up-and-coming name in the hospitality business. Hilton long has been one of the top three or four players.
Experts in hotel operations say Parsippany, N.J.-based Wyndham Hotel Group is eager to put its Wyndham Grand flag atop the Pittsburgh region's biggest hotel and conference center, enhancing its network of destinations in major markets.
The hotel's bankrupt owner, Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC, took down the Hilton signs there on Friday, a month after Hilton Hotels & Resorts terminated the franchise license.
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Experts in hotel operations say Parsippany, N.J.-based Wyndham Hotel Group is eager to put its Wyndham Grand flag atop the Pittsburgh region's biggest hotel and conference center, enhancing its network of destinations in major markets.
The hotel's bankrupt owner, Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC, took down the Hilton signs there on Friday, a month after Hilton Hotels & Resorts terminated the franchise license.
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Monday, October 4, 2010
Morgans Extends Loans Backed by Hudson New York Hotel, Mondrian
Oct. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Morgans Hotel Group Co. won extensions for loans backed by its Hudson New York hotel in Manhattan and the Mondrian Los Angeles after paying down a portion of the money owed on the two properties.
The debts now will expire in October 2011, the New York- based hotelier said. Morgans paid down $16 million of the Hudson loan and $17 million of the Mondrian debt, bringing the outstanding amount on the Hudson’s first mortgage to $201.2 million and the Mondrian’s remaining debt to $103.5 million.
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The debts now will expire in October 2011, the New York- based hotelier said. Morgans paid down $16 million of the Hudson loan and $17 million of the Mondrian debt, bringing the outstanding amount on the Hudson’s first mortgage to $201.2 million and the Mondrian’s remaining debt to $103.5 million.
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