SynXis, the Sabre Holdings business that provides hotel distribution and Internet marketing services globally, announced today that Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, one of the most prestigious luxury hotel groups in the world, has switched their current hotel portfolio to the RedX(R) Distribution Management System for distribution across all channels.

A perfect moment in Halifax, Nova Scotia, captured in a photograph, could lead to many more photo opportunities -- in the form of a $2,500 vacation package prize. From HH the fall colours in Point Pleasant Park to romantic sail around the Halifax Harbour or an outdoor concert on Citadel Hill, perfect moments abound in this beautiful destination.

It’s tough out there nowadays and there’s no denying it. This miserable economic climate that prevails has caused most hoteliers to write off 2009 with only hope that 2010 will be much better. But we can’t afford to keep our heads in the sand for a year and expect to pop it out and everything will be fine and dandy, as though we are waking up from a bad dream. That type of fairy dust just doesn’t occur in the real world. Hoteliers need to keep their head above water and do more than tread it-they need to find tools to build a proverbial raft to stay afloat.

London hoteliers are expected to see a 12.7% drop in revenue per available room (revPAR) by the end of 2009 according to Hotel Market Outlook, a quarterly report released by Deloitte. The report uses the outputs of an econometric model produced by an independent economic research group to produce forward looking changes in hotel performance.

Stephen P. Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is the incoming chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Multicultural & Diversity Advisory Council (MDAC).

A few weeks ago, Carlo Wolff wrote an article about the pros and cons associated with developing an independent hotel versus a branded one. It’s a good follow-up to examine the historical performance of independent hotels compared to branded properties throughout the United States. To set the frame of reference for the scope of the segment, independent hotels account for 42.7 percent of the hotel properties in the STR United States hotel census and 31.2 percent of room supply. The aggregate of independent properties has trailed branded hotels in absolute key performance metrics for the total United States during the past 15 years. More specifically, branded hotels have outpaced independents in monthly room rate and occupancy by an average of 3.2 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively. The real story in the numbers, however, is in the raw data behind the performance metrics – supply and demand.

In today’s ambiguity, how do Russian hoteliers cope with a need to run leaner businesses, and how do these actions compare with international landscape? Inspired by 2009 Russia HCE compensation survey results, and speaking with market participants. I promise not to use the 6-letter "C"-word in this article, which already fills everyone's communication channels. I just want to talk about how Russian hoteliers are coping with the changing economic climate these days, and what they are doing on the staff compensation front to keep their hotels profitable. I also want to compare what's happening in our market with the practices in other parts of the world.

Supertel Hospitality, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPPR), a real estate investment trust (REIT) which owns 122 hotels in 24 states, today announced that Kelly A. Walters will join the company as president and chief executive officer, effective April 14, 2009. Walters was a senior vice president at Investors Real Estate Trust (NASDAQ: IRET). He will succeed Paul J. Schulte, the current president and chief executive officer. Schulte, 75, will continue as chairman of the board.

Franklyn Hotels and Resorts, the pan-European specialist in small luxury lifestyle hotels, is looking to extend the collection onto a global stage. The group plans to establish a presence in North America and Asia by 2010, with an initial expansion into New York, Singapore, China, Indonesia and Thailand. This has followed KOP Group's recent investment in Stein Management Company, parent company of Franklyn Hotels and Resorts, and the subsequent appointment of Michael Sagild to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Guest’ satisfaction is the main objective of every Hotel wishing to differentiate from the others and therefore, holding and even improving its position in the international market. Every day there are more and more Hotel authorities realizing that achieving guests’ welfare and pleasure, is the only way to guarantee their coming back. Apart from the fact that the same guests will most probably make many positive remarks, and thus will generate more new customers to come. Nevertheless, how can we be sure that we succeeded in gaining the guest’s satisfaction and mainly, how can we measure the guest’s satisfaction degree?

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) formed a strategic partnership agreement today with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) during the 2009 ARDA Convention & Exposition at the Marriott World Center Resort in Orlando, March 29-April 2. The partnership provides both organizations opportunities to leverage shared resources, ensuring that the best possible legal and regulatory environment exists for the Caribbean lodging marketplace as a whole.

It’s going to take some time for America to put down the pitchforks and torches and allow corporations to get back to the business of business meetings; back to winning new customers, pressing flesh with existing ones, attending strategy, training, social or even, dare we say it, incentive meetings. Back to doing all the things that companies must do in order to grow their business, and by the way, the U.S. economy too. Until then, hotel marketers are going to continue to be under tremendous pressure. Seems no matter how hard we try, the dark cloud of the “AIG effect” always seems to be present. So what do we do?

Home2 Suites by Hilton™, a new mid-tier, extended-stay hotel concept targeting the savvy, value-wise, extended-stay guest, launched new Web site features including a sustainability page and e-tour of the future space. These expanded Web site features will help consumers and developers understand the brand identity of Home2 Suites and its unique, “Hip and Humble” approach to hospitality at www.home2suites.com.

Lately I’ve come across all sorts of how-to articles for surviving in today’s economy, and it strikes me that, in typical fashion, the hotel industry is being far too polite. This is war, people; only the strongest will survive—for God’s sake don’t let it be your competitor. To secure your hotel’s place on the evolutionary scale, consider adopting some of the cutthroat tactics of our colleagues in other industries. Make rates a moving target. These days, travelers demand discounts, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep lowering your rates. Instead, borrow a tactic from the retail industry and jack up your rack rates to give the illusion of huge discounts. Phrase it like this: “No, I’m not joking,

iBAHN, the worldwide leader in digital entertainment and Internet solutions for the hospitality and meeting industries, today announces the results of an online campaign to create a hotel room designed by the public. The online collaboration produced some interesting results, now available on the Our Hotel Room website, (www.ourhotelroom.co.uk) which show that almost 20% of respondents rate tiered internet connectivity, including a free base service, as top of their wish list.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) will host a Webinar, Bedbugs 101, on Wednesday, April 29, guiding hoteliers on how to most effectively prevent an outbreak of this pest, and how to handle one if it should occur. Greg Baumann, vice president of technical services at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), will share some basics on bedbugs, including what managers can do to prepare for infestations; how to handle guests during an outbreak; and how to set expectations for hoteliers working with a pest management company.

The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in three key performance measurements during the week of 22-28 March 2009, according to data from STR. In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy fell 12.3 percent to end the week at 56.6 percent (64.6 percent in the comparable week in 2008). Average daily rate dropped 8.8 percent to finish the week at US$99.77 (US$109.34 in the comparable week in 2008). Revenue per available room for the week decreased 20.0 percent to finish at US$56.50 (US$70.61 in the comparable week in 2008).

As the saying goes, the bigger they come, the harder they fall. And the New York City hotel market, which had started to achieve new peaks of performance, has tumbled badly since October 2008. Almost to the day that Lehman Brothers collapsed, the NYC hotel market has been weakening. But the weakness in the financial markets only tells part of the story. This article will examine the recent trends in New York hotel market conditions and provide some insight into what the future might hold.

Key findings are released from a survey recently conducted for the Ninth Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) "Affordable Meetings® "Mid-America Conference & Exposition."

The Canadian hotel industry posted decreases in all three key performance measurements during the week of 22-28 March 2009, according to data from STR. In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy fell 3.8 percent to end the week at 57.5 percent. Average daily rate dropped 3.0 percent to finish the week at CAD$120.20. Revenue per available room for the week decreased 6.8 percent to finish at CAD$69.06.