Hotels Blogs
Caution = Successful Restaurants
In the last two months I feel as though I have moved from a gentle jog to a full-on race against time. Proposals are going out right and left. We are finally switching gears from slow to fast, and the problem is that everyone wants a deal. I think we are starting to arrive at the real new economy; one where clients want more, faster, and want to pay less on a longer payment plan. This is the ... More
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Concept creator and restaurant consultant Bob Puccini discusses the state of the hotel food and beverage world, along with insights to success. His discussion topics include hotel food and beverage concept creation, operational issues, challenges, opportunities and solutions.
I Want The Contract NOW! Ways To Speed Up Slow Decision Makers
Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory impatiently stated, “Daddy, I want an Oompa Loompa now!” Veruca just happened to have a willing to please, wealthy father that pacified her every wish and told her that he would get her one.In our world, simply announcing that you want something isn’t always enough to produce the desired item. Could you imagine, standing ... More
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Sales and marketing incorporates service and respect with creativity and an ability to "check your ego" at the door. Bart Berkey tells us how our business is only difficult when we don't do it well. When performed correctly, unique experiences are delivered for customers and clients alike.
Questions About LEED
The Bardessono is now California’s first and only LEED Platinum hotel and only the second in the world. The other LEED Platinum hotel is The Proximity in Greensboro, North Carolina.This brings to mind some questions: 1) Why are there only two LEED Platinum hotels thus far? 2) Why are they smaller independent properties vs. larger branded hotels? 3) Which other “certi ... More
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One of the world's strongest and clearest voices on the subject of sustainable practices in the hospitality industry, Lyndall De Marco, formerly executive director of the International Tourism Partnership, a leadership organisation founded by HRH The Prince of Wales, has established a consultancy focused on the belief that sustainability and profitability can work hand in hand. Ray Burger, president and founder of Pineapple Hospitality Inc., has over 30 years of experience in the lodging industry and has provided the lodging industry with environmental products, programs and services for over 12 years. These two leaders speak out on best practices, as well as the challenges and opportunities for hotel companies to become environmentally responsible businesses.
Reflections From ALIS
Reflecting back on the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, I’ve walked away with a bit of optimism.With Revpar down 17% for some, and brands faring better than boutique hotels in this economy, some boutiques are placing emphasis on “authenticity” and “value” and are looking at more Adaptive Re-Use vs. Build/Expand for growth. Sustainability is also key, as Morga ... More
About this blog
Members of the Champalimaud design team will be posting here ideas and thoughts on trends, what's motivating people, what's keeping them going and what's soothing their nerves. Where we have insight, we'll contribute thoughts on the state of our industry, why people travel today and prioritize between the things that they want and the things they need. In all respects, we'll address how the role of design is evolving through this period. CHAMPALIMAUD is a full service interior design firm specializing in distinctive hospitality design, and providing residential and commercial design on a selective basis. Established 27 years ago in Montreal by Alexandra Champalimaud, the firm is now headquartered in New York. We firmly believe that successful design must be rooted in the characteristics unique to each property. Guided by the goals and aspirations of the client and the cultural context of each property, the history and location, our completed work includes from the most respectful of historic restorations to highly contemporary renovations and new constructions. Ours is a body of work uncommonly diverse and indicative of a guiding ethos that distinguishes Champalimaud from all others.
For Monarch Beach Resort, Altruism Is Grand
It’s been a hellish 18 months for The St. Regis Monarch Beach. Still known in some circles—quite unfairly—as “the AIG resort,” the 5-star California resort is turning the page by offering one of the most generous charitable promotions in the hotel industry, giving away meeting space for nonprofit organizations at no charge throughout 2010. There is no catchȁ ... More
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HOTELS Associate Editor Adam Kirby highlights the hotel industry's most interesting people and ideas.
Michael Shindler's New Gig
We at HOTELS are happy to congratulate former Deal Tracks blogger Michael Shindler on his new position, announced this morning, as executive vice president of hotels and casinos for Hard Rock International. Shindler will oversee global development of Hard Rock’s hotels and casinos, as well as strategic and day-to-day management of existing assets within the brand’s current licensed a ... More
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Commentary, observations and questions arising from the state of the hospitality transactions marketplace, including financing, purchase-and-sales, new development and anything else that suits my fancy.
ALIS Realities, Part 1
I am about 24 hours removed from the 2010 ALIS hotel investment conference in San Diego and have come to the conclusion that industry leaders now better understand and are used to the negative sway, as well as the uncertainty about economic conditions and the lack of merger and acquisition activity. There was a better understanding [or acceptance] this week as to why things are the way they are co ... More
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HOTELS magazine Editor-in-Chief Jeff Weinstein offers his thoughts on hotel industry breaking news and issues of the day.
The Expedia Marketplace
Reading the numerous articles and responses from the industry regarding the Choice/Expedia feud, I believe many hoteliers are missing the point. Some have said the Expedia commission is not consistent with what other travel agents charge (10%). Others have argued that Expedia doesn’t have to clean a room or spend money operationally; it controls room inventory and pocket ... More
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eMarketing guru Scott van Hartesvelt, president of gCommerce Solutions, talks about strategies for marketing hotels online.
Hotel Restaurants Get Recognized
Esquire magazine’s Best New Restaurants of 2009 list appears in the November issue, and the "restaurant of the year" is none other than a hotel restaurant: The Bazaar by Jose Andres at SLS at Beverly Hills, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Also on the list are five other hotel restaurants: - Area 31 at Kimpton’s EPIC hotel in Miami - Pacci Ristorante adjacent to Hotel Palomar Atlant ... More
About this blog
In this blog, I’ll share the best or most compelling piece of information I get each day (sometimes augmented by a bit of insight or analysis). Whether it’s a list of trends, a set of facts and figures, or even insights into great marketing strategies, look no further for ideas you can borrow and build upon to grow your business. We’ll call it “news you can use.” Exactly what you do with it is up to you, but if nothing else, I hope to give you something to talk about.
Magic Carpet Ride: The Modern Wing
This past Saturday, May 16, the long-awaited, super-hyped new Renzo Piano Modern Wing opened at the Chicago Art Institute. It goes without saying that my love for Chicago’s architecture is what lured me to set up shop in Chicago with my three founding partners back in 1988 following graduation from Cornell. All these years later, it is endlessly inspirational to see our skyline co ... More
About this blog
In this blog, we will constantly be considering the business of design. We will be discussing ideas and issues that will help readers manage and maximize today’s current business climate to the benefit of their properties. Topics such as the economy, natural disasters, deal-making, going global, sustainability, design technology and more will be discussed, as these, among others, are the issues that affect us all as we try to maintain our designs on profitability.
It's All About Supply
It has been a year since the first glimmerings of economic problems surfaced to the public at large. Some ignored the issue while others thought any problems would be local and limited to a small section of the housing market. The international community assumed that this was now a global economy with the new engines of economic growth making everyone else independent of the vicissitudes of the U. ... More
About this blog
Outspoken, very relevant and always ready with a cogent message for and about the global hotel industry, Laurence Geller, president and CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, uses humor and controversy to get hoteliers to listen. His HOTELS' Insider blog is intelligent and revealing.
