As the developer behind a new hotel build or conversion, you first need to establish what kind of patrons you seek to court and what demand base you need to target: Corporate and government representatives on long-term business? Leisure travelers? Families? Larger groups?

NEW YORK (AP) -- The travel gurus are reading their crystal balls for the new year, and here are some of their predictions: Travelocity.com's Genevieve Shaw Brown, Hotwire.com's Clem Bason and JWT (J. Walter Thompson)

Coming off an awful 2009, travel-related businesses from casinos to cruise lines to ski resorts are crossing their fingers that 2010 will bring something of a rebound. They're looking to pent-up demand and lower costs to offset at least some of the pricing pressure that seems likely to continue into the near future. Certainly, the comparisons will be easier.

The Middle East/Africa region reported mixed results in the three key measurements reported in U.S. dollars for November 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. The region’s occupancy dropped by 8.2 percent to 68.1 percent; average daily rate increased 2.2 percent to US$178.28; and revenue per available room decreased 6.3 percent to US$121.49.

The European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for November 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. Figures for occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room ranged from double-digit losses to double-digit gains, depending on the market and the currency used for comparison.

Spa Benchmarking is one of the “hottest” topics in the spa and hospitality industries. It is a relatively new discipline; therefore, it is filled with challenges and opportunities. While spa benchmarking studies are very much needed, not all studies are useful... some can actually be quite damaging and harmful. There are too many studies that lack credibility, integrity, quality and reliability, ...

Did you catch the revised forecast from PKF? PKF-HR is now forecasting lodging demand to post a quarterly year-over-year increase during the first quarter of 2010, thus ending eight consecutive quarters of declines. On an annual basis, PKF-HR is now forecasting lodging demand to rise 1.9 percent in 2010, up from the 1.6 percent increase forecast back in September. (HotelNewsNow, 12/14/09)

The economy will slowly improve in 2010, but just getting your fair share of business will not be nearly enough. Less business in the marketplace means your fair share is less, too. Hotels need a bigger piece of the smaller economic pie to dominate in the marketplace.

Plan A Public Relations & Marketing, Inc., a full-service marketing firm specializing in the hospitality industry, is proud to announce that the EZYield.com Web site has earned a 2009 Silver Adrian Award for Excellence in Web Marketing. The firm’s design and development of the site was part of a comprehensive re-branding initiative completed on behalf of EZYield.com this year. The 53rd annual Adr...

Genares Worldwide Reservations Services (Genares), an industry-leading reservations services company, has successfully completed the Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) certification process and reinforced its commitment to support industry standards.

Hospitality eBusiness Strategies, the industry's leading Internet marketing and distribution strategy consulting firm, relaunches the HSMAI Foundation eConnect site, which provides insights into hospitality sales and marketing topics.

The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during November, according to data from STR. In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy fell 4.3 percent to end the month at 49.5 percent. Average daily rate dropped 8.3 percent to finish the month at US$93.60. Revenue per available room for the month decreased 12.3 percent to finish at US$46.33.

The U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during the week 6-12 December 2009, according to data from STR. In year-over-year measurements, the industry's occupancy fell 2.9 percent to end the week at 48.1 percent. Average daily rate dropped 5.9 percent to finish the week at US$96.04. Revenue per available room for the week decreased 8.6 percent to finish at ...

The Central/South America hotel development pipeline includes 131 projects with 19,929 rooms, according to the November 2009 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week.

Mrs Wungsoontorn, born in Chiang Mai, graduated in Economics from Chiang Mai University. She brings to this role 25 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry. She started her career in sales and has continuously progressed to greater responsibilities in a number of hotels in Thailand including Montien Hotel Bangkok and Pattaya, The Mansion Kempinski and The Emerald Hotel. In 2000,...

A veteran of the city’s events scene who brings marketing savvy and Food & Beverage expertise to her new position, Sneddon is responsible for coordination and execution of all social events at the historic property, which has hosted the cream of society and the world’s elite – including a dozen U.S. Presidents – since opening in 1910. Sneddon joins The Blackstone from the Renaissance Chicago O’Ha...

Dietrich Chillous joins the Outrigger Reef on the Beach in the newly-created position of food and beverage manager. As such, he is responsible for the hotel’s overall food & beverage operations including the day to day food and bar operations at Kani Ka Pila Grille, as well as the hotel’s room service, catering, banquet functions and special events operations. Chillous is no stranger to Outrigger...

By Educational Institute of AH&LA
This textbook explores the resort industry from concept and development to management and operations. Readers will learn about types of resorts, resort history, facilities planning, personnel organization, front and back of the house management, resort marketing and sales, and the future of resorts. New features for the third edition include a more international focus, material on handover of a resort project, discussion of environmentalism and greening of the resort industry, changes in resort financing, and exploration of economic, geopolitical, and demographic issues affecting resorts.