STR Reports Caribbean and Mexico Pipeline for January 2010

The Caribbean/Mexico hotel development pipeline includes 130 hotels comprising 18,088 rooms, according to the January 2010 STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. ...more

STR Global Reports Central and South America Hotel Pipeline for January 2010

The Central/South America hotel development pipeline includes 125 projects with 19,877 rooms, according to the January 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. ...more

STR Global Reports Asia/Pacific Hotel Pipeline for January 2010

The Asia/Pacific hotel development pipeline includes 948 hotels comprising 239,918 rooms, according to the January 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. ...more

STR Global Reports Middle East/Africa Hotel Pipeline for January 2010

The Middle East/Africa hotel development pipeline includes 456 hotels comprising 123,764 rooms, according to the January 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. ...more

STR Global Reports Europe Hotel Pipeline for January 2010

The Europe hotel development pipeline includes 602 hotels comprising 101,704 rooms, according to the January 2010 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week. ...more

Cornell Sustainability Roundtable Proceedings Demonstrate Complexity of Green Operations

The Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) has posted the proceedings of its inaugural Sustainability Roundtable. ...more

Aging Population and Generational Behavioral Shifts Are Prime Contributors to Long-term Declines in Supper Visits

Historically, supper is the meal that leads the restaurant industry out of recessions, but that won’t be the case this time, according to a new study by The NPD Group, a leading market research company. Supper is the restaurant industry’s largest sales generator but has been the weakest performing meal period for the past decade, reports NPD. ...more

Super Bowl Not So Super for Restaurants and Bars, Says Technomic

In a sign of the lingering recession, actual sales data collected from nearly 3,000 restaurants and bars across the country show that business was sluggish for this year's Super Bowl, with total sales on Super Bowl Sunday down nearly 6 percent vs. the 2009 Super Bowl Sunday. ...more

Restaurant Trends - Growing And Emerging Concepts - Data Reflects Change and Activity from October 8, 2009 to February 8, 2010

Update from Restaurantchains.net on growing and emerging restaurant concepts ...more

Americans Still Cutting Back on the Small Things to Save Money

Almost two-thirds buying generics and almost half brown bagging it ...more

Food & Beverage - How to Avoid a Price War with Your Competitors - By Ken Burgin

A customer phones, and their first question is one you hate: 'How much are the main courses at your place?' or 'What are your cheapest party menus?' ...more

Guest Satisfaction - January 2010 Chatter Guard Benchmark Report Is Released

Lodging Interactive, a leading interactive marketing agency servicing the hospitality industry and the publisher of the free Chatter Guard Monthly Benchmark Monitor Report has released its January 2010 report. ...more

5 Ways Airlines and Hotels Can Drive Revenue with Social Media

If Dell can make $6.5 million from Twitter, why can’t airlines? ...more

True Hotel Internet Marketing Partners Produce Bookings

There’s a big difference between random Internet marketers and hotel Internet marketing experts that specialize in the industry. The difference shows up in your property’s bottom line. ...more

A Social Media ROI Story

Queensland’s Best Job: Social media or integrated marketing? ...more

What’s the secret to achieving top ranking on TripAdvisor? - By Daniel Edward Craig

Many hotels aspire to achieve top ranking in TripAdvisor’s popularity index, but HKHotels in New York dominates the charts, with all four of its properties in the top five rankings. Did they pay someone off at TripAdvisor? Write bogus reviews or complex algorithms? ...more

Measuring Your Hotel's Online Reputation By Service Attributes

Your online reputation is the aggregate of guest reviews posted online. And, this refers to more than a few travel review sites. Guest reviews are posted on hundreds of travel review websites and an equal or greater number of non-travel social websites and blogs. ...more

Hospitality Across Generations: Move over Black Tie, Hello Blue Jeans! - By Rob Rush

The first sign of the times, you ask? Perhaps it was back in 2006 when Ritz-Carlton looked in the mirror and realized that 'Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen' didn’t exactly apply to a 32-year-old CEO in jeans and a t-shirt. In a nod to the changing demographics of those who consumed 'luxury,' Ritz loosened up a bit, recognizing the need for a generational component to its time-honored and revered operational and guest service standards. ...more

Keys to Success - Hospitality Conversations - By John Hogan

When planning topics for columns, I assess issues and concerns that face hotel owners, managers and professionals. In 2009, I considered a series of columns that would include specific insights from professionals who serve the industry in a variety of roles. For several reasons, I decided to defer the new series, to be known as my 'HOW TO' columns until 2010. While the economy is still lagging behind where we hope it to be, I am confident that delivering optimistic and realistic messages can have a positive impact on the industry’s forward direction. ...more

STR Reports Canada Performance for Week Ending 13 February 2010

The Canadian hotel industry posted mixed results in the three key performance measurements during the week of 7-13 February 2010, according to data from STR. ...more

Hotel Industry Leading Indicator Growth Stagnant

Economic research firm e-forecasting.com in conjunction with Smith Travel Research announced HIP declined in January after improving 2.8 percent in December. ...more

Hotwire Reveals Canadian Hotel Rate Report for February 2010

Calgary Tops Rate Report for Third Consecutive Month ...more

STR Reports Performance Of Luxury Hotel Spas For Year-End 2009

Luxury hotel spas showed mixed operating results for the full year 2009. The summary Spa STAR data shows that the Average Treatment Rate (ATR) was reported at US$135.39, a 4.5 percent decline compared with full-year 2008. For full-year 2009, Average Treatment Room Utilization (ATRU) increased 3.5 percent to 31.1 percent. ...more

Thank Goodness 2009 Is Over - December 2009 Canadian Lodging Outlook

Published in conjunction with STR (Smith Travel Research) and endorsed by the Hotel Association of Canada. This publication summarizes occupancy and average room rates from major cities in Canada. ...more

Canadian Occupancy, ADR, RevPAR - Week Ending February 6, 2010

Published in conjunction with STR (Smith Travel Research) and endorsed by the Hotel Association of Canada. This publication summarizes weekly occupancy and average room rates from major cities in Canada. ...more

STR reports US performance for week ending 6 February 2010

In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy ended the week virtually flat with a 0.8-percent decrease to 48.4 percent. Average daily rate dropped 4.8 percent to finish the week at US$95.34. Revenue per available room for the week fell 5.6 percent to finish at US$46.14. ...more

STR reports Canada performance for week ending 6 February 2010

The Canadian hotel industry posted mixed results in the three key performance measurements during the week of 31 January-6 February 2010, according to data from STR. ...more

STR Global Releases Performance Results for China

Dramatic declines in China’s hotel performance during 2009—underscored by revenue per available room (RevPAR) falling 26.2 percent compared with a year ago—contrast strongly with the continuing good performance of the Chinese economy. ...more

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Although Technology May Help Improve the Airport Experience, the Basics Have the Greatest Impact on Passenger Satisfaction

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Indianapolis International and Kansas City International Airports Each Rank Highest in Overall Passenger Satisfaction in their Respective Segments ...more

The Recession Is Over! Now What? - By R. Mark Woodworth

In the December 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) made the official proclamation that the U. S. entered an economic recession in December 2007. As is sometimes the case, U.S. hoteliers began to feel the pain well before most other businesses. ...more

Whitepaper Explains How Travel Companies Can Save £000's

Free Travel Industry Whitepaper available ...more

Nobody Asked Me, But... No. 61 - By Stanley Turkel, MHS, ISHC

The Plaza and the Pierre; La Quinta’s Backward Step ...more

BlueKai's Pulse Index Shows Online Travel Intent Actions Rose Sharply in January

BlueKai reports that the volume of online flight search actions increased by 45% from December 2009 to January 2010, with activity for domestic destinations up 44% and international destinations up 48%. ...more

US Travel Spending Declines in 2009, Growth Expected in 2010

While travel spending in the US saw a decline of 9% in 2009*, Mintel expects to see more people taking off in the new decade with a 6% increase in travel spending expected for 2010. ...more

Private Jet Charter Sales Increase 52% for New Flight Charters in January 2010

Most Popular Destinations for Private Jet Charters Were Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Aspen, Colorado ...more

Hotwire Reveals Hotel Rate Report for February 2010

Tampa Ranks Number One as Other Popular Florida Destinations Stabilize ...more