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Front Desk |
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§ Best Western CEO: Show employees you care
Best Western CEO David Kong says the best way to keep staff motivated is to show that you appreciate them. Kong told CNN that it helps that he has held positions including in housekeeping and as front-desk clerk, giving him an appreciation of the jobs. CNN (6/20)  
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Hotels & Motels in the United States
Datamonitor's new 'Hotels & Motels' industry guide provides top-level data and analysis covering the industry. Save time and money carrying out entry-level research with this profile. |
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Business Update |
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§ Sunstone names former Jones Lang LaSalle exec as CEO-in-waiting
Sunstone Hotel Investors has named Arthur L. Buser, former head of global hotel capital markets at Jones Lang LaSalle, as chief-executive-to-be. Buser, who is set to assume the role of president next month, will replace Bob Alter as chief executive next year. Forbes/Associated Press (6/19)
§ Bloomberg opposes proposed NYC hotel-tax hike
New York's City Council is proposing bringing the hotel tax to 8% in order to avoid budget cuts to public schools. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he is adamantly opposed to the tax increase, especially at a time when international tourism is down everywhere except in New York. The New York Sun (6/20)
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Market Trends |
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§ Insiders discuss Las Vegas' past, future
Five Las Vegas insiders give their take on how Las Vegas has evolved from the Rat Pack days, and how it's weathering the economic downturn. Most believe it will be an interesting summer, and rates will have to drop to bring in customers. USA TODAY (6/20)
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Spotlight on Technology |
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§ Web 2.0 sets new lines of communication for guests, hotels
Social media allows guests to communicate more than ever about hotels, but hotels have plenty of opportunities of their own to open up lines of communication with guests and build loyalty. At a hospitality conference, experts discussed the movement, and how consumers are more likely to trust other consumers than marketers or advertisers. Hotel Interactive (6/19)
§ Text-analytics technology helps Gaylord Hotels gauge customers: In an effort to better address customer dissatisfaction, Gaylord Hotels recently turned to text analytics from Clarabridge. The system allows for the monitoring of comments made in surveys, e-mails, blogs, text messages and social-network profiles. CIO (6/17)
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Best Practices |
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§ Your Web site: The public face of your business
The quality and professionalism of your Web site will reflect on that of your business. A columnist offers a critique of three companies' Web sites. BusinessWeek (6/9)
§ Don't let fear stall the sales follow-up
Salespeople often don't follow up on sales calls because of fear. Follow-ups should, however, be made within 72 hours of the presentation, while the material is still fresh in the prospect's mind, and salespeople should avoid asking the prospect when they should call, unless they want to be told to wait a week. American City Business Journals (6/9)
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Development |
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§ Terra Capital to invest $200M in China hotels
Terra Capital Partners says it plans to invest $200 million into budget business hotels in China. The program, managed in collaboration with Terra's Asian affiliate, Pacific Star Group, will focus on major markets such as Beijing and Shanghai and smaller markets with populations of 5 million or more. Hotelsmag.com (6/18)
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Government Affairs |
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§ Westin hotel in L.A. sues Spector for unpaid bills
The Westin Bonaventure hotel in Los Angeles is suing record producer Phil Spector for $110,000 in unpaid hotel bills related to four luxury suites that were rented for Spector, his legal defense team, his witnesses and others during his six-month murder trial last year. According to the lawsuit, Spector had agreed to pay in advance every two weeks but refused to pay unless the rate was drastically discounted. Los Angeles Times (free registration) (6/19)
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AH&LA News |
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§ Save 20% on one of your biggest expenses
AH&LA's new energy program takes a broader approach than just electricity and gas procurement, including energy conservation, utility bill management and forecasts. This program is available only to hotel companies with more than 2,000 rooms! Get for more information here, or contact Brent Burton at Burton Energy Group at [email protected].
§ Network with key industry players through AH&LA
As an AH&LA member, you are afforded unique opportunities to attend industry conferences and events, where you meet and interact with leading executives. From trade shows to special-interest meetings to seminars, we help our members integrate with the hospitality community and strengthen their presence. Get more information on making the most of your membership or joining AH&LA here.
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SmartQuote |
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Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before."
--Kurt Vonnegut,
American novelist and satirist
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