| December 12, 2012 | News for hotel and lodging professionals |
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 | Hospitality Risk Update — Hotel Fireplaces
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| Business Update |  |  |
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- Hotel chains plan $1.8B investment in Peru due to booming tourism
Rising tourism numbers in Peru have captured the interest of several global hotel chains including Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide, which are leading a $1.8 billion investment drive in the country over the next four years. Hilton is looking to spend $65 million to build its portfolio in Cuzco and Lima, while Marriott has targeted Cuzco, Lima and Trujillo for its $104 million investment. Bloomberg Businessweek
(12/11)      
- Commune Hotels & Resorts CEO outlines growth plans for firm
 Niki Leondakis, the new CEO of Commune Hotels & Resorts, has laid out the hotel company's expansion plans for its Joie de Vivre and Thompson Hotels brands. "We have seven management and acquisition deals in the pipeline," Leondakis said. On the financial side, Leondakis said that Commune is looking to earn $1 billion in revenue within the next five years. Travel Weekly
(12/10)
| Market Trends | | |
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- AH&LA encourages sustainability initiatives amid growing interest
AH&LA is strengthening its efforts on sustainability-related programs across the lodging industry in response to heightened interest in the issue by member hoteliers, says Patrick Maher, a consultant for AH&LA and partner at The Maher Group. "In 2011 and 2012, AH&LA saw a major increase in sustainability programs being used by members," Maher said. The association is looking to increase the number of members compliant with its 11 Minimum Green Guidelines, as well as those certified under Energy Star and LEED. Hotel News Resource
(12/11)
- U.S. lodging pipeline dropped 3.6% in November, STR says
The latest STR/McGraw Hill Construction Dodge Pipeline Report indicates that the country's hotel pipeline in November dropped by 3.6% in terms of number of rooms in active development. The East North Central region showed the largest rise in rooms under construction, at 155.6% for a total of 7,216 rooms. The Middle Atlantic, New England, East South Central and West South Central regions reported growth of more than 50% in rooms under construction. TravelPulse
(12/11)
- Condo-hotels in South America are coming back
The condo-hotel market in South America is experiencing another boom -- this time with better-equipped developers and managers, this feature says. In addition to Brazil, other emerging markets include Colombia, Argentina and Uruguay. "In the past, there was a disconnect between unit owners and developers as to viable returns. Development was not truly regulated, and consequently, condo-hotels were overbuilt. Supply exceeded demand and occupancy expectations were not realized. The model ostensibly 'crashed.' Today in Brazil, things are different," said Salo Smaletz, an executive with the InterContinental Hotels Group in Latin America. HotelNewsNow.com
(12/10)
| Spotlight on Technology | | |
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- Expedia pinpoints mobile users to grasp growing trend
At the Expedia Partner Conference this month in Las Vegas, executives explained the importance of knowing mobile customers. They separate phone, computer and tablet users into different customer categories to track trends. "We see customers are using mobile during commute hours, desktop computers at the lunch hour and during work hours, and tablet bookings go up after 9 p.m.," said Sarah Bernard, Hotwire's vice president of global product development. She notes that 75% of same-day reservations come via mobile, while tablet users book the highest average daily rates. Hotel Management online
(12/10)
| Best Practices | | |
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| Development | | |
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- $35M renovation is under way for Hyatt Regency resort in San Antonio
The owner of the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio has unveiled details of an ongoing renovation project on the 500-room property. The $35 million upgrade includes renovations on all guest rooms, the addition of a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and an expansion on the resort's indoor meeting space from 35,000 square feet to about 70,000, including the new ballroom. San Antonio Express-News
(12/11)
| AH&LA News | | |
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Ensure your organization is legally compliant

Keep up with recent employment law changes and how they apply to your industry. Only HR in Hospitality, March 11-13 in Las Vegas, gives you the guidance you need to ensure you're using HR best practices for legal compliance. Register early and save $350. AH&LA members save $125 more. E-mail membership@ahla.com for your savings promo code.
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Lodging survey tracks key industry trends
The new 2012 Lodging Survey tracks key trends in more than 100 areas, including in-room amenities, security, food/beverage, guest services, green and facilities, giving hoteliers a detailed analysis of the industry. To download a copy of the study, funded every two years by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, visit the members-only section of www.ahla.com.
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