FROM THE EDITORS
By Ed Watkins
Everyone knows business travelers are tethered to their smartphones. They use them to make calls, send texts and e-mail messages and access news and information. And while part of their search activity includes a lot of travel info, they don’t generally use their iPhones, BlackBerrys or Androids to actually book travel—until now, at least that’s what La Quinta believes. At its annual conference this week in New Orleans, the fast-growing and innovative chain of 828 hotels introduced LQ Instant Hold, an enhancement to its mobile website that should enable travelers to quickly and easily book rooms at La Quinta properties.
Read more.
CHECKING IN
By Paris Wolfe
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is allowing really late checkouts for top-tier loyalty-program members. In fact, the company is replacing the familiar 3 p.m.-check-in, 11 a.m.-check-out standard with a rolling 24-hour program for its most frequent guests.
Read more.
By John O'Neill
The value of a hotel, or of any type of real estate, is always based on the concept of anticipation. Anticipation is the expected utility that will come to the real estate owner in the future. For example, when you estimate the price you would be willing to pay for a house, that price could be, at least partially, based on your anticipation of the pleasure you’ll receive from sitting on the back deck in the summer drinking a gin & tonic and smoking a cigar, for example.
Read more.
Brand company executives discuss the state of the hotel industry after the Americas Lodging Investment Summit. Click here for the video.
TODAY'S TOP READS
The Latest Hotel News From Newspapers, Magazines and Websites:
IHG Launches New Brand for Health-Conscious Travelers
Priceline Q4 Profit Tops Views On Hotel Bookings
Donald Trump Buys Doral Golf Resort for $150M
Nashville's Hotel Boom Expected to Continue
Click here for more Top Reads
HOTEL HAPPENINGS
• Wyndham Hotel Group is renaming its Microtel brand to Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham. Along with adding the “by Wyndham” label, the brand will have a new logo.
• Ferris State University sold Big Rapids Holiday Inn and Conference Center to
Suburban Inns. They will launch a $4 million remodel of the property this spring.
• Choice Hotels opened its 5,000th domestic hotel, a Comfort Suites in Katy, TX.
• Ascend Collection’s membership program debuts in Central America at Gran Hotel, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Follow hotel news as it happens with Lodging Hospitality on Twitter.
ON THE ITINERARY
March 3-6
Council on Hotel and Restaurant Training (CHART)
Semi-Annual Hospitality Training Conference
Renaissance Austin (TX)
www.chart.org
March 4-5
Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Spring Trade Expo
Ocean City (MD) Convention Center
www.oceancitytradeexpo.com
March 5-6
Hotel Association of Canada Conference
Sheraton Centre Toronto
www.hotelassociation.ca
March 6-9
Digital Signage Expo
Las Vegas Convention Center
www.digitalsignageexpo.net
March 12-13
Ragatz Associates Fractional & Resort Real Estate Conference
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
www.ragatzassociates.com
March 18-20
Hunter Hotel Investment Conference
Marriott Marquis, Atlanta
www.hunterconference.com
March 21-23
International Association of Conference Centers Americas Conference
LaTorretta Lake Resort & Spa
Montgomery, TX
www.iacconline.com
Click here to see the schedule for 2012.
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