External Articles

BP establishes floating hotels for workers in preparation for massive cleanup on Gulf Coast | foxnews.com

The 40-foot-long corrugated steel boxes, resembling oversized white shipping containers, are stacked two high and three wide atop a barge at Port Fourchon, the oil industry's hub on the Gulf of Mexico. The words "Martin Quarters" painted in black offer the only clue that they're not stuffed with cargo. This barge is a floating hotel, or "flotel," set up by BP and several subcontractors to accommodate more than 500 workers hired to clean up the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Ian Schrager Completes Acquisition of the Ambassador East Hotel in Chicago | chicagobusiness.com

Studio 54 nightclub co-founder and renowned hotelier Ian Schrager says he’s likely to keep the name and “ethos” of the Ambassador East hotel and its legendary Pump Room restaurant. Mr. Schrager on Thursday closed his purchase of the hotel and restaurant in a deal sources say was valued at more than $25 million. In an interview Friday afternoon, Mr. Schrager says that while his plans aren’t yet final for the hotel and Pump Room — a one-time celebrity hotspot that opened in the late 1930s — he’s now leaning toward keeping the names after considering a change.

Barry Sternlicht may be trying to buy Las Vegas Riviera again | lvrj.com

An investment firm controlled by former Starwood Hotel founder Barry Sternlicht may be bidding to acquire the Riviera and its related casino in Colorado by forcing the property's holding company into bankruptcy.

Four Seasons NYC Hotel said to be hitting the block | crainsnewyork.com

Owner Ty Warner is reportedly in danger of default on the 368-room luxury hotel, where room rates start at $1,000 a night. Even multi-billionaires like Ty Warner are not immune to the latest economic conditions. Mr. Warner, who made his fortune manufacturing Beanie Babies, owns the Four Seasons Hotel New York—but maybe not for much longer.

Ritz-Carlton to close hotel at Lake Las Vegas | lvrj.com

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, a five-diamond hotel at the troubled resort community in Henderson, told its 340 employees Monday that it will close on May 2.

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, a five-diamond hotel at the troubled resort community in Henderson, told its 340 employees Monday that it will close on May 2. Transcontinental Corp. opened the 349-room hotel in 2003, but Deutsche Bank took over ownership of the property last year through an affiliated company called Village Hospitality and decided to stop funding the resort. "The unprecedented economic downturn has had a significant impact on the hotel's operations. As a result, Village Hospitality LLC concluded that continuing to fund operations was no longer economically viable and consequently decided to close the hotel effective May 2, 2010," Assistant Vice President Scott Helfman said in a statement.

Loews Atlanta hotel checks in at end of luxury wave | ajc.com

When the Loews Atlanta hotel opens in Midtown this spring, it will mark both a grand debut and a last hurrah. The past decade saw a boomlet in high-end, ultra-luxury hotels in the city, as chains like Rosewood, W and Intercontinental arrived atop the real estate bubble. They brought personalized pampering such as butlers, luxury sedan shopping shuttles and hot stone spa treatments, all at nightly rates ranging into the high hundreds. They catered to business travelers, many of them in town to forge multimillion-dollar deals.

A glimpse into the 2010 hotel industry | bizmology.com

Last month I wrote a post about the hotel industry and its expanded personalized focus on the consumer. This month I came across a New York Times article that examines the lodging industry and its development endeavors expected to unfold in 2010. For example, close to 100 hotels are slated to open this year in major American cities, like New York and Houston. I was surprised by this given our sluggish economic and travel climates.

Spanish Hotelier To Open Gay Hotel In New York | ontopmag.com

The Spanish hotelier Axel Hotels will bring its gay hotel chain to New York City in 2011, On Top Magazine has learned. Axel currently operates “hetero-friendly” hotels in Barcelona, Berlin and Buenos Aires, considered the gay capital of South America. Visitors can choose between the typical “do not disturb” sign or the more risky “please disturb.” In an email, Renate Siebenhofer, development director of the hotel chain, confirmed the group's plans to open its fourth five-star hotel in the U.S.