Following in the footsteps of Starwood and Marriott, Hilton Hotels HHonors program has just announced they will offer complimentary internet access to their Gold and Diamond members starting Sept. 1, 2010.
Ok, by now, you should know to slow your roll with these types of announcements. Gold and Diamond levels are for the serious travelers--i.e. Ryan Bingham. Gold members stay up to 36 nights a year or earn 60,000 base points (this can also be done through point promotions, credit card promotions, etc.) while Diamond members do 60 nights or 100,000 base points a year
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Monday, August 2, 2010
FelCor agrees to buy Fairmont Copley for $98.5m
Lodging owner FelCor Lodging Trust Inc. said it is buying the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel in Boston for $98.5 million from an affiliate of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
Fairmont will continue to manage the hotel under a long-term contract. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter and will be funded with cash on hand.
The real estate investment trust plans to spend $20 million to renovate the 383-room historic hotel.
Fairmont will continue to manage the hotel under a long-term contract. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter and will be funded with cash on hand.
The real estate investment trust plans to spend $20 million to renovate the 383-room historic hotel.
Rocco Forte Collection appoints new Managing Director
The Rocco Forte Collection has appointed Karim Naffah as managing director with immediate effect.
Founder and executive chairman of the group Sir Rocco Forte said the appointment would allow him to devote more time to spearheading the expansion of the business, primarily via management contracts.
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Founder and executive chairman of the group Sir Rocco Forte said the appointment would allow him to devote more time to spearheading the expansion of the business, primarily via management contracts.
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Rockets fired at Red Sea resort
Four people have been injured, one seriously, after up to five rockets were fired at the popular Red Sea beach resort of Eilat and the nearby Jordanian port of Aqaba.
According to the BBC, the casualties were in Aqaba, less than 10 kms from Eilat, where one rocket struck.
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According to the BBC, the casualties were in Aqaba, less than 10 kms from Eilat, where one rocket struck.
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Greek terrorists threaten war on tourism
An urban guerrilla group has threatened to turn Greece into a war zone this summer, adding further concern for holidaymakers who already faced food and fuel shortages last week due to a strike by truck and tanker drivers.
Some tourists where also caught up in flight delays and cancellations after air traffic controllers began 'working to rule'.
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Some tourists where also caught up in flight delays and cancellations after air traffic controllers began 'working to rule'.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
Rallying Hilton Troops With One Vision
LONDON—Since taking the helm of U.S. hotel giant Hilton Worldwide in December 2007, Chris Nassetta has made it a priority to expand the company internationally.
The CEO of Hilton, which has 3,600 hotels in 81 countries through its 10 brands, expects the company's fastest growth to come from outside the U.S. in the coming years. "With our strong global brands there is still great opportunity. The U.S. won't be where we have the highest growth. By way of example: 40% of our development pipeline exists outside of the U.S., compared to just 15% two years ago," Mr. Nassetta told the Wall Street Journal. Hilton's premium brands include Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Doubletree by Hilton
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The CEO of Hilton, which has 3,600 hotels in 81 countries through its 10 brands, expects the company's fastest growth to come from outside the U.S. in the coming years. "With our strong global brands there is still great opportunity. The U.S. won't be where we have the highest growth. By way of example: 40% of our development pipeline exists outside of the U.S., compared to just 15% two years ago," Mr. Nassetta told the Wall Street Journal. Hilton's premium brands include Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Doubletree by Hilton
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Turnberry Associates gets mortgage extension for Turnberry isle Resort and Club
The South Florida Buisness Journal repored this afternoon that Turnberry Associates secured an extension on its $180 million mortgage covering the Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura.
The resort and golf course is in the heart of the city, at 19999 West Country Club Drive (map).
SFBJ cited a court document that said the agreement will allow the principal on the mortgage to be reduced, the interest rate to be changed, and the final due date to be extended. The article said that the specific terms of the extension were not available.
The resort and golf course is in the heart of the city, at 19999 West Country Club Drive (map).
SFBJ cited a court document that said the agreement will allow the principal on the mortgage to be reduced, the interest rate to be changed, and the final due date to be extended. The article said that the specific terms of the extension were not available.
Gordon Ramsay 'served with $2m tax bill in US'
British chef Gordon Ramsay is apparently being chased for more than 2 million dollars in unpaid taxes in the US.
The 43-year-old Hell's Kitchen star received three big bills in eight months.
His latest tax bill of 323,000 pounds took the total outstanding tax to nearly 1.3 million pounds. Ramsay has a risk of having his restaurants and assets seized and he may eventually have to dip into his personal fortune to meet the demands.
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The 43-year-old Hell's Kitchen star received three big bills in eight months.
His latest tax bill of 323,000 pounds took the total outstanding tax to nearly 1.3 million pounds. Ramsay has a risk of having his restaurants and assets seized and he may eventually have to dip into his personal fortune to meet the demands.
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McDonald's Sells Cheapest 10-Year Debt in U.S. Market Since at Least 1995
McDonald’s Corp., the world’s largest restaurant chain, sold the cheapest 10-year debt in the U.S. bond market in at least 15 years yesterday, as borrowers tap investor demand for new issues and absolute yields on investment-grade debt fell to the lowest since March 2004.
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Jury awards $34M to restaurant workers at harbor Ruth's Chris
A Baltimore jury on Wednesday awarded more than $34 million to 20 restaurant workers who claimed carbon monoxide exposure in a downtown hotel left them with permanent brain damage, leading to personality changes, memory problems and, in some cases, marital difficulties.
Area attorneys called the judgment phenomenal, particularly considering the level of disagreement over the scope of the injuries. It's likely to be reduced by millions, however: Maryland law places a $710,000 cap on pain-and-suffering damages in nonfatal cases like these, well below the awards some plaintiffs received. Jurors are not told about the cap.
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Area attorneys called the judgment phenomenal, particularly considering the level of disagreement over the scope of the injuries. It's likely to be reduced by millions, however: Maryland law places a $710,000 cap on pain-and-suffering damages in nonfatal cases like these, well below the awards some plaintiffs received. Jurors are not told about the cap.
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Mortons opens in China
Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (NYSE: MRT) today announced plans to open a new Morton's The Steakhouse in Shanghai, China, in a joint venture structure with a local investor group.
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Hooters Expanding, Seeks New Locations In Turkey, India, Japan
Hooters, the restaurant chain known more for its buxom waitresses than its chicken wings, fries and beer is looking to bring its “delightfully tacky yet unrefined”–that’s their slogan–dining experience to Turkey, India and Japan.
Those countries are some of the new markets the casual dining franchise will target in an expansion plan announced Thursday that would increase new restaurant locations by at least 15% to 20% annually for the next several years.
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Those countries are some of the new markets the casual dining franchise will target in an expansion plan announced Thursday that would increase new restaurant locations by at least 15% to 20% annually for the next several years.
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Former Controller for Castle on the Hudson Charged with Grand Larceny
Mourad Boulas, the Hamden, Connecticut resident who is the former controller of Tarrytown's Castle on the Hudson, was arrested on Grand Larceny charges last week.
According to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, Boulas was the target of a nine-month investigation after they had received a complaint from The Castle on the Hudson restaurant and hotel.
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According to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, Boulas was the target of a nine-month investigation after they had received a complaint from The Castle on the Hudson restaurant and hotel.
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Hamptons Hotels Go on the Block
SOUTHAMPTON, NY-Massey Knakal Realty Services is marketing a trio of hotel properties in this tony resort community, following the bankruptcy filing last month by owner Hampton Resorts & Hospitality. Robert Knakal, chairman of the investment sales firm, tells GlobeSt.com the sale is being conducted under an agreement between HRH and its lender, and it’s subject to a bankruptcy court order.
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Piccadilly Inn Hotels Files Voluntary Petition for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for Three Locations
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regis Hotel I, LLC announced today on behalf of Piccadilly Inn Hotels that three Piccadilly Inn locations, have filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The properties affected are Piccadilly Inn Airport, Piccadilly Inn Shaw, and Piccadilly Inn Express locations in California.
Restructuring under Chapter 11 allows Piccadilly Inn to continue normal operations led by current management, while restructuring its financial indebtedness. Hotel operations at all three locations will continue as normal with no anticipated impact on guests, suppliers, and employees.
“The current economy has greatly reduced both tourist travel and business travel causing the hotel industry to be crushed. We’re fortunate enough that the Piccadilly Inn hotels are well established properties with a strong reputation in the area. Most importantly, there will be no interruption in service to our clients and guests and we will continue seamless day to day operation of all four Piccadilly Inn locations,” commented Steven Moore, Vice President of Regis Hotel I, LLC.
Restructuring under Chapter 11 allows Piccadilly Inn to continue normal operations led by current management, while restructuring its financial indebtedness. Hotel operations at all three locations will continue as normal with no anticipated impact on guests, suppliers, and employees.
“The current economy has greatly reduced both tourist travel and business travel causing the hotel industry to be crushed. We’re fortunate enough that the Piccadilly Inn hotels are well established properties with a strong reputation in the area. Most importantly, there will be no interruption in service to our clients and guests and we will continue seamless day to day operation of all four Piccadilly Inn locations,” commented Steven Moore, Vice President of Regis Hotel I, LLC.
