New Hilton Opens in Charm City (8/28/2008)

BALTIMORE—The 757-room Hilton Baltimore opened here and boasts two meeting planner suites. The facility features views of Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles.

The property reportedly offers the largest number of guest rooms in the city. Hilton says the ballroom is also the biggest in town as well, measuring 25,000 square feet. A pedestrian skybridge links the hotel to the Baltimore Convention Center.

The hotel features 80,000 square feet of meeting and function space, including a 15,000-square-foot junior ballroom. The hotel offers a professional audiovisual and event services team and a 24-hour business center.

Additionally, the hotel includes four deluxe one-bedroom suites, two executive suites and presidential suites. Ten hospitality suites have views of the ballpark.

Ritz Delayed in the High Desert (8/28/2008)

RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.—The Ritz-Carlton, located in the Palm Springs area, is undergoing a $600 million renovation and is expected to open January 2009. Several big changes made by the hotel’s owner, Miami-based Gencom Group, delayed the much-anticipated opening by a year.

The hotel will include ballroom and meeting space, as well as a 24,000-square-foot La Prairie spa—only one of four such spas the world. The nearest La Prairie spa at the Beverly Hills Hotel measures 1,916 square feet. The new Ritz in will also feature 242 guest rooms.

The Fairmont’s Renovation Completed (8/28/2008)

CHICAGO—The Fairmont Chicago recently completed a $50 million renovation. The hotel features 62,000 square feet of meeting and function space, renovated and expanded guest rooms, updated dining options and the new 11,000-square-foot mySpa.

Two Hotels Coming to the Windy City (8/28/2008)

CHICAGO—Two new hotels are set to open in October at the Midway Hotel Center, located at Chicago Midway International Airport.

The additions are the Holiday Inn Chicago Midway and the Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Midway Airport, both owned by Chicago-based Weglarz Company.

The hotel campus will now feature more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space and four restaurants.

Inn Marin Announces Renovation (8/26/2008)

NOVATO, CALIF.—Inn Marin, a 68-room hotel located in Marin County, has undergone $2 million in renovations, including an expansion and refurbishment of event facilities.

These include remodeling of the Garden Room, boardroom and enhanced landscaping in the hotel’s five-acre garden. Additionally, a brand-new front entrance and lobby were constructed.

All rooms were renovated to include bamboo flooring, flat-screen TVs, a rainfall showerhead and more. Rooms also feature a new signature scent developed to soothe visitors.

Airfares Reached Record Levels in Q2 2008 (8/25/2008)

NEW YORK—Rising oil prices, capacity constraints and ticketing restrictions drove up domestic airfares by 10 percent and the average one-way international airfare climbed to its highest level since 1999, according to the American Express Business Travel Monitor. The report included data for the second quarter of 2008.

American Express data also showed that the percentage of international business class tickets purchased was at the lowest level since the third quarter of 2004. Increases in the percentage of tickets purchased in other classes of service show that firms are encouraging travelers to trade down to other classes of service.

Arizona’s First W Hotel Planned in Scottsdale (8/25/2008)

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ—Arizona’s first W Hotel is scheduled to open here by the end of summer.

W Scottsdale Hotel & Residences will include 224 rooms, a spa and Sushi Roku, a popular Japanese restaurant with locations in Hollywood and Las Vegas.

Embassy Suites Announces Prototype and Business Expansion (8/25/2008)

RIDGELAND, MISS.—The first Design Option III hotel, the Embassy Suites Jackson-Ridgeland, is scheduled to open in November 2008. This new design allows developers to build an Embassy Suites facility on less land with more efficient use of space.

Embassy Suites Hotels is experiencing its strongest development pipeline in the brand’s 24-year existence. In the next three years, 62 hotels are scheduled to open, many of which will be the Design Option III prototype.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach Reopening this Fall (8/25/2008)

MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is set to reopen Oct. 18, after closing for a $1 billion renovation.

The beachside hotel will include 107,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 51,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space. The revamped hotel will feature a 40,000-square-foot spa. According to the hotel’s website, an iMac computer will be in each of the guest rooms.

InterContinental Hotels and Resorts Comes to Scottsdale (8/25/2008)

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—InterContinental Hotels Group will open its first InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in the U.S. here Sept. 16. The former La Posada Resort is undergoing a $250 million conversion into an Andalusian-style resort and spa named InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa.

Features will include 27,000 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor rooftop pool, a spa, an outdoor wedding chapel and 293 rooms. Guest can enjoy activities such as wine tasting, star gazing and cigar rolling.

New Hotel Opens in Oklahoma City (8/25/2008)

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.—The new 102-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Oklahoma City Airport opened here.

The hotel includes a 100-person capacity meeting room.

Westin Verasa Opening in Napa (8/25/2008)

NAPA, CALIF. —The Westin Verasa is set to open Sept. 18. The hotel will be Napa’s largest upscale lodging and meeting facility. Four meeting rooms and an outdoor terrace overlooking the Napa River will provide 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

“There has been a lot of interest in weddings and corporate groups,” said Forrest Huisman, development manager with Intrawest Placemaking, the project developer.

Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a hot tub, two bocce courts and access to river walking paths.

Dorchester Collection Expands Hotel Portfolio (8/20/2008)

NEW YORK—The Dorchester Collection, a hospitality management company specializing in luxury hotels, has taken over management contracts at the New York Palace in New York City and the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles.

The company announced major investment plans for both properties, including a three-year redesign and renovation for the New York Palace. Enhancements at the Hotel Bel-Air include a new spa opening in 2009.

Crowne Plaza Makes Portland Debut (8/14/2008)

PORTLAND, ORE.—241-room Crowne Plaza Portland-Downtown opened in downtown Portland’s Lloyd Business District near the Oregon Convention Center. The hotel is in the final stages of a $3 million conversion from a Holiday Inn.

Renovations include a new lobby, new exterior paint, new furniture throughout the hotel, upgraded mattresses in the guest rooms and an upgraded bathroom package.

The 10-story Crowne Plaza offers a variety of amenities, including 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel, an indoor pool, a business center, complimentary airport shuttle and a restaurant and lounge serving casual fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dolce Changes Name in Rebranding Effort (8/14/2008)

MONTVALE, N.J.—Dolce International changed its name to Dolce Hotels and Resorts in what is part of a commitment to refresh its brand and achieve new service standards, according to Chairman and Managing Director Andy Dolce.

Along with a new name and logo, expansion, renovations and sweeping design and operational changes are in the works for the company, which currently operates a portfolio of 24 properties. The properties have been segmented into two divisions: Hotels and Resorts and Conference Hotels.

“The essence of our brand has always been to deliver exceptional meeting and hospitality service. We are now taking our standards and expertise to a whole new level by creating spaces and experiences that inspire our guests and foster big ideas in a way not seen before in our industry,” Dolce said.

According to Dolce, one of the most visible aspects is the approximately $100 million investment being made in capital improvements at several properties in the company’s portfolio, including Dolce Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pa.; Dolce Basking Ridge in Basking Ridge, N.J.; and The H Hotel in Midland, Mich..

Because of a recent partnership with Broadreach Capital, Dolce added that the company is poised for significant expansion in the future.

Experience Columbus Adds D.C. Sales Manager (8/14/2008)

COLUMBUS, OHIO—Experience Columbus, formerly the Columbus CVB, hired Regina Gray to serve as sales manager in its Washington, D.C., sales office.

In her new position, Gray will promote and sell Columbus as a destination for the national association market. She was most recently a sales manager for the Hilton Hotels national sales office in Washington, D.C.

Fresno Welcomes Holiday Inn (8/14/2008)

FRESNO, CALIF.—The Holiday Inn Fresno Downtown reopened following a $6.5 million renovation of all of its 200 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Guest rooms have been outfitted with wired and wireless Internet access, workstations with ergonomic seating, flat-screen televisions and sitting areas.

Fresno Welcomes Holiday Inn (8/14/2008)

FRESNO, CALIF.—The Holiday Inn Fresno Downtown reopened following a $6.5 million renovation of all of its 200 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Guest rooms have been outfitted with wired and wireless Internet access, workstations with ergonomic seating, flat-screen televisions and sitting areas.

Grand Rapids Names New CVB Chief (8/14/2008)

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.—Doug Small has been tapped to serve as president and CEO of the Grand Rapids CVB, starting next month.

Small most recently served as senior vice president of the Denver Metro CVB and is also a former head of the CVB in Syracuse, N.Y.

New Aloft Comes to Minneapolis (8/14/2008)

MINNEAPOLIS—Aloft Minneapolis, a new-build, 155-room hotel opened in the downtown Mill District of Minneapolis.

Set along river bluffs, the hotel offers loft-style guest rooms with high ceilings, platform beds as well as office/entertainment centers. Amenities also include a fitness center and indoor swimming pool.