NEW YORK, June 16 (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide lost its bid to dismiss a lawsuit by rival hotel operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT.N) that accused it and two former Starwood executives of stealing trade secrets.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson on Wednesday ruled that Starwood had presented sufficient evidence to allow the case against Hilton, which is owned by private equity firm Blackstone Group LP (BX.N), to go forward
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ritz-Carlton to put environmentally-friendly water bottles in hotel rooms
The Ritz-Carlton announced today it will offer environmentally-friendly water bottles at its North American hotels and select properties in the Caribbean. This news comes at a time when many travelers are seeking information on the oil spill clean-up efforts, and is another example of how the hospitality industry is working hard to help build social awareness around our top environmental issues.
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Jamaica Tourism Still Suffering As Manhunt for Drug Kingpin Continues
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- As the manhunt for alleged drug kingpin Christopher "Dudus" Coke drags into a third week and the government takes its anti-gang crusade nationwide, this nation of 2.6 million is fretting about the strength of its economic backbone: the event and tourism industries.
As scenes of firefights between government forces and gunmen loyal to Coke spooked tourists, airlines canceled flights, event planners pulled the plug and the government suspended its promotional ads
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As scenes of firefights between government forces and gunmen loyal to Coke spooked tourists, airlines canceled flights, event planners pulled the plug and the government suspended its promotional ads
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UK Travelodge CEO Sees No Impact From Parent's Woes
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Budget hotel operator Travelodge remains committed to its rapid U.K. expansion rather than further ventures overseas, and will not be affected by the troubles faced by its owners in Dubai, its new chief executive Guy Parsons told Dow Jones Newswires.
"The focus now really is on the U.K.," said Parsons in an interview in London. "For the next two-to-three years you're not going to see a change in strategy because the opportunity's so much greater here than other locations."
Travelodge operates almost 400 hotels in the U.K. and also operates a handful of hotels in Spain and the Republic of Ireland.
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"The focus now really is on the U.K.," said Parsons in an interview in London. "For the next two-to-three years you're not going to see a change in strategy because the opportunity's so much greater here than other locations."
Travelodge operates almost 400 hotels in the U.K. and also operates a handful of hotels in Spain and the Republic of Ireland.
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Hyatt seeks buyers for big portfolio
Crain’s) — Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to sell a 4,154-room hotel portfolio, including three properties in the Chicago suburbs, as part of a strategy to expand its hotel management business while reducing its investment in real estate.
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Atlantis Phase 4, Baha Mar can't go up at same time
While a fourth phase of the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island and the Baha Mar project on Cable Beach may coexist years down the road, The Bahamas cannot sustain constructing them at the same time, according to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
"The Bahamas needs a major project," said Ingraham during a news conference at the Free National Movement Headquarters on Sunday. "Baha Mar would be a major project, so would Atlantis Phase Four be a major project.
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"The Bahamas needs a major project," said Ingraham during a news conference at the Free National Movement Headquarters on Sunday. "Baha Mar would be a major project, so would Atlantis Phase Four be a major project.
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EuroCheapo announces the best cheap hotels in Europe
Today is an important day: EuroCheapo has just announced their first ever Cheapo 100 list of the best cheap hotels in Europe. If you're a traveler on a budget and don't know where to go, this is where you should look.
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Kerzner International hires Blackstone to address debt maturity in paradise lost
In 2006, a consortium of investors including Dubai World, a Goldman Sachs fund and Colony Capital raised USD 3.2bn to take Kerzner International private. That CMBS debt falls due in September, and with no clear avenue for refinancing, the Bahamas-based empire of luxury resorts has hired Blackstone Group for advice, two financial advisors and a real estate investor told Debtwire.
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hilton Hotels and Marriott Tie for First Place in Customer Satisfaction
The American Customer Satisfaction Index released its report on hotels on Tuesday showing that Hilton Hotels and Marriott tied for the lead in customer satisfaction. Forging ahead with lots of promotions, low rates, and plenty of free perks, this is the third year in a row that guest’s satisfaction with their choice of hotels has remained steady at an ACSI score of 75.
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IHG signs agreement for new hotel in Columbia
InterContinental Hotels Group said Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Espacios Urbanos S.A. to manage a new hotel in Cartagena, Colombia.
The hotel will be InterContinental's 23rd property in its Latin America and Caribbean region.
The 280-room hotel in the city's Bocagrande district is scheduled to open in 2013.
IHG owns or franchises more than 4,4000 hotels and other properties around the world under names such as Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and others.
The hotel will be InterContinental's 23rd property in its Latin America and Caribbean region.
The 280-room hotel in the city's Bocagrande district is scheduled to open in 2013.
IHG owns or franchises more than 4,4000 hotels and other properties around the world under names such as Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and others.
Reopening of Four Seasons Nevis Could Give St. Kitts Much-Needed Boost
NEW YORK CITY – As part of our coverage of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s annual Caribbean Week event last week, Travel Agent sat down with St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of State for Tourism Ricky Skerritt and discussed how important the anticipated November re-opening of the Four Seasons Nevis will be on St. Kitts.
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Monday, June 14, 2010
The Fight at Landry’s Gets Uglier
The management buyout of Landry’s Restaurants first earned the dubious honor of being a “deal from hell” well over a year ago.
In its first iteration, the deal showed the perils of weak special committees, managers bent on a buyout no matter the legal consequences and the nightmare of a lawyer losing control of a client and the deal process.
The Landry’s situation now appears to have become much worse.
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In its first iteration, the deal showed the perils of weak special committees, managers bent on a buyout no matter the legal consequences and the nightmare of a lawyer losing control of a client and the deal process.
The Landry’s situation now appears to have become much worse.
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Starbucks to Offer Free Wi-Fi
Many coffee shops try to discourage people from buying a cup of coffee and then lingering for hours to use the free wireless Internet access. Starbucks, meanwhile, is encouraging them to stay as long as they want.
Starbucks said Monday that as of July 1 its stores in the United States would offer free Wi-Fi, via AT&T, that anyone can access with a single click. In case customers run out of distractions on the Web, Starbucks is giving them even more reason to sit and surf, offering a variety of digital content through a partnership with Yahoo.
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Starbucks said Monday that as of July 1 its stores in the United States would offer free Wi-Fi, via AT&T, that anyone can access with a single click. In case customers run out of distractions on the Web, Starbucks is giving them even more reason to sit and surf, offering a variety of digital content through a partnership with Yahoo.
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Haggle for lower hotel prices
Need a hotel for your summer vacation or next long weekend? There are great deals to be had -- but you're going to have to work for them.
A recent survey by Consumer Reports of 27,000 subscribers gave high marks to the posh Ritz Carlton. But moderately priced hotels like the Wingate by Wyndham, the Drury Inn and Hampton Inn and Suites scored well, too.
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A recent survey by Consumer Reports of 27,000 subscribers gave high marks to the posh Ritz Carlton. But moderately priced hotels like the Wingate by Wyndham, the Drury Inn and Hampton Inn and Suites scored well, too.
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Pebblebrook buys Doubletree Bethesda for $67.1 millionPebblebrook buys Doubletree Bethesda for $67.1 million
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, fresh from a recent initial public offering, said it bought the 15-story, 269-room Doubletree Bethesda Hotel and Executive Meeting Center for $67.1 million. The Bethesda real estate investment trust said the hotel will continue to operate under the Doubletree brand and be run by its current manager, Thayer Lodging Group in Annapolis. The Doubletree Bethesda is near the National Institutes of Health and the National Naval Medical Center.
