| November 8, 2012 | News for hotel and lodging professionals |
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- CEO of Ryman Hospitality says employee uncertainty led to weak Q3
Ryman Hospitality Properties posted a net loss of $26.7 million in the third quarter, from a loss of $1.6 million during the same period last year. Company CEO Colin Reed attributed the weak results to employees feeling uncertain about their future as the company transitioned into a real estate investment trust. "It was difficult simply because many of our employees at the corporate level and at our hotels were faced with a great degree of uncertainty regarding their futures," Reed said. The company posted revenue of $228.1 million, an increase over $225.2 million in the previous year, while revenue per available room went down 0.9%. American City Business Journals/Nashville, Tenn.
(11/6), HotelNewsNow.com
(11/7)      
| Business Update | | |
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- Hospitality Properties Trust posts weak Q3 results due to conversions
Officials at Hospitality Properties Trust said that renovation and rebranding efforts the company implemented at several of its properties led to performance declines during the third quarter. "The conversion process, even when it goes well, generally has a negative impact," said John G. Murray, president and chief operating officer. HPT posted a 5.6% decline in third-quarter occupancy at its comparable 285 hotels. Revenue per available room was nearly flat with growth of 0.2%, while average daily rate rose 6.1%. HotelNewsNow.com
(11/7)
- Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San Antonio changes hands
The 322-room Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San Antonio has been acquired by Axle Capital Group for an undisclosed sum. The new owners have unveiled plans for a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the property in partnership with Greenwood Hospitality Group, which will manage the property. The hotel is expected to retain the Sheraton brand. GlobeSt.com
(11/6)
- Accor eyes growth plans in Asia-Pacific, U.S.
Accor is hoping to add about 5,000 rooms annually, turning away from properties in Europe to develop sites in the U.S. Because the Asia-Pacific region is growing, the company says it also wants to expand in that market. "When you look at the demand worldwide you see there is a bit of a slowdown in southern Europe. Italy, Spain and Portugal are suffering," said Chairman and CEO Denis Hennequin. Reuters
(11/6)
| Market Trends | | |
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- STR: Storm-hit U.S. markets saw weekly performance declines
Several major cities in the path of the superstorm Sandy saw their occupancy drop significantly during the week that ended on Nov. 3, data from STR shows. Washington and Boston reported occupancy declines of 25.8% and 19.7%, respectively, compared with figures last year. The overall U.S. hotel market saw a 2.5% occupancy decline during the same period. Hotel occupancy in New York fell 7.3%. Demand from displaced residents; runners who were in the New York area to participate in the city's marathon, which was canceled after the storm; and others likely minimized the decline, said Jan Freitag, a senior vice president at STR. HotelNewsNow.com
(11/7)
- Tourism recovery in Miami Beach, Fla., draws new hotel investments
Miami Beach, Fla., has become a hot target for hotel investors as tourism in the area continues to gain strength after the recession. Because of the limited number of areas for new construction, investors have been seeking acquisition prospects and raising property values through renovations. Recent beneficiaries of this makeover drive include the SLS Hotel South Beach, formerly the historic Ritz Plaza, and the former Royal Palm hotel, which is scheduled to reopen as the James Royal Palm. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(11/6)
- In some German cities, economy hotels experiencing better recovery
According to HVS London, economy hotels in Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg in Germany have higher occupancy. In Munich, however, the luxury-hotel market was growing primarily due to less supply. "Occupancies were higher in the economy sector in all markets except Munich, where in fact the luxury segment excelled due to a higher international and corporate base than the other three cities," said Arlett Oehmichen, associate director at HVS. HotelsMag.com (free registration)
(11/6)
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| Spotlight on Technology | | |
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- Column: Expedia program could lead to a $2.1B loss in hotel value
The new Expedia Traveler Preference Program could cost U.S. hotel owners about $2.1 billion in real-estate values because of the added expenses in the system that would go directly to owners, writes Jim Butler, founding partner of JMBM and chairman of its Global Hospitality Group. "The issue is not that Expedia is allowing guests to pay the hotel directly; rather the controversy revolves around the fact that the new model increases the cost to a hotel to acquire the same business and that the entire burden of this added cost falls on ownership," Butler writes. Hospitality Net
(11/5)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
This white paper focuses on how hospitality and gaming organizations can take better advantage of the blending of social media, location-specific searches and mobile device usage. Eleven tips for using analytics to enhance customer-focused marketing are discussed, with a focus on delivering offers that are relevant, personal and immediate.
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| Best Practices | | |
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- Column: Promote hotel security in marketing efforts
Tourists want to see a solid security presence at the hotels they stay at, and hoteliers would be wise to properly train guards and make security part of their marketing strategy. "Visitors continue to make it clear that, in this 'era of terrorism' and in places where there is street crime, a highly visible police and security presence makes them feel more comfortable, willing to stay on the streets longer and more likely to spend money," this feature says. eHotelier.com
(11/7)
| Development | | |
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- Penn National submits Iowa casino proposal with 2 possible sites
Penn National Gaming has submitted two potential sites for a proposed land-based casino in Iowa. The company has proposed a site in downtown Sioux City and another in Woodbury County as possible locations for its Hollywood Casino Sioux City. Penn will partner with a new nonprofit group formed by its Iowa-based company, Belle of Sioux City. The proposed gaming facility, which would have 750 slot machines and 25 table games, would include a multipurpose event center, restaurants and a sports pub. Sioux City Journal (Iowa)
(11/5)
| AH&LA News | | |
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Green guidelines detail ROI
Created by AH&LA Green Guru Pat Maher, case studies for improving energy, water and waste have been added to AH&LA's Green Resource Center. From installing waterless urinals and landscape-irrigation systems to recycling mattresses, these guidelines are broken down into easy-to-understand descriptions and implementation procedures, complete with ROI analysis. For more resources, visit www.ahla.com/green.
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Holiday fire safety resources

Did you know most states and municipalities have regulations regarding holiday decorations? Make sure to review local and state fire codes when decorating for the upcoming season. And the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has Holiday Decoration Safety Tips and the National Fire Protection Association has a Hotel Fire Safety Checklist to assess property readiness in case of a fire. The U.S. Fire Administration and the Department of Homeland Security maintain a list of fire-safe hotels approved for government travelers. All these resources can be found on the AH&LA website.
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- Wednesday, November 07, 2012
- Tuesday, November 06, 2012
- Monday, November 05, 2012
- Friday, November 02, 2012
- Thursday, November 01, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Katie Parks
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