August 11, 2008 Today's Headlines: Transaction Activity Loses Momentum During First Half Just 9% Of Americans Plan 'Staycations' IHG To Launch Indigo In Asia Langham Plans Mainland China Push HSBC Slows Hospitality Lending Mississippi Casinos Confident Despite Economy UK Government Criticized Over Tourism Cuts Hawaii: Poor Hotel Performance Fans Fears Transaction Activity Loses Momentum During First Half Close to US$3 billion in upscale and luxury lodging facilities traded during the first half of 2008, well below the US$11.5 billion in individual property deals that occurred in the first half of 2007. Read the full story >> Just 9% Of Americans Plan 'Staycations' A new survey of Americans reveals only 9% are planning a "staycation" as an alternative to an out-of-town vacation during the next six months. This is a significantly lower percentage than expected by industry analysts. Read the full story >> IHG To Launch Indigo In Asia IHG will reportedly unveil plans to take its boutique Hotel Indigo brand into Asia for the first time when it delivers interim results this week. Read the full story >> Langham Plans Mainland China Push Langham Hotels International expects to have eight hotels under construction in mainland China in the next six months as a core part of an aggressive expansion. Read the full story >> HSBC Slows Hospitality Lending Britain's biggest bank, HSBC, is reining in its lending and overdraft facilities to some leisure firms as the sector struggles amid a sharp consumer slowdown. Read the full story >> Mississippi Casinos Confident Despite Economy As consumers' expendable income shrinks with the rising cost of food and gas, casino companies' earnings have plummeted almost across the board, and grand expansion plans have fallen along with them. Along the Mississippi coast, however, a muted optimism prevails, fueled by drive-in traffic that could propel the coast to meet the record-breaking revenue of last year. Read the full story >> UK Government Criticized Over Tourism Cuts The UK government has been criticized over its decision to cut funding to the tourism sector in a Treasury Select Committee report published in July. The report said that the move to cut funding to VisitBritain by 18% by 2010/11 was "baffling" and that while it understood budget cuts at the DCMS were necessary, the timing was poor ahead of the 2012 Olympics. Read the full story >> Hawaii: Poor Hotel Performance Fans Fears Dampening consumer enthusiasm for long-haul travel already was softening tourism to Hawaii at the start of the year. However, the shutdown of two airlines and two cruise ships and the continued rising of fuel and commodity prices took its toll in June and resulted in sharply dropping occupancy rates at hotels throughout the state. Read the full story >> Click here for all news headlines ADVERTISEMENT HOTELS' Hotelier Radio Listen in as industry's leading hoteliers discuss their experiences, challenges, future plans, vision and outlook on the industry in podcasts featured on HOTELS' Hotelier Radio. Click here to tune in to Hotelier Radio. readers' choice - our most popular web pages Longtime IHG, Hilton Exec Steve Porter Dies Peninsula Beverly Hills’ The Belvedere Introduces Market-Driven Menu China RevPAR Declines HOTELS’ 325 HOTELS' 325 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites To Open In Bangkok HOTELS' Daily News Service is edited by Jeff Weinstein +1 630 288 8260. Copyright © 2007 Reed Business Information. All rights reserved. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact David Wood +1 630 288 8267.

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