Barcelo Hotels & Resorts Announces New Opening
The Barcelo Maya Colonial & The Barcelo Tropical Beach Hotels Open for the Holiday Season.
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts announces its two new five-star all-inclusive luxury Riviera Maya. Hotels will celebrate their grand opening as scheduled on December 23rd.

The new Barcelo Maya Colonial Beach and The Barcelo Maya Tropical Beach Hotels join the popular Barcelo Maya Beach and the Barcelo Maya Caribe Beach Hotels to create one of the area's most beautiful and comprehensive all- inclusive resort destination properties.

CH&LA Elects 2006 Chair -- Wes Tyler, General Manager of Chancellor Hotel on Union Square
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) elected Wes Tyler, General Manager of the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, as the incoming 2006 Chairperson of the Board of Directors at its annual meeting this afternoon in Los Angeles.

As the incoming Chairperson, Tyler stated his focus for the upcoming year is going to be on participation, particularly in the California Lodging Industry Legislative Awareness Summit and the Las Vegas Int'l Hotel & Restaurant Show. "Participation of our industry in these two events is vital to the industry. Legislatively, presenting a united voice in Sacramento to protect our rights and interests is key to the growth of our industry," commented Tyler in his remarks at the annual meeting.

Best Western International Reaches Industry Milestone
Best Western International announced today that it has welcomed its 4,200th property into the membership, maintaining its leading role in the industry as THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R) operating under a single brand name.

"The value and quality of the Best Western brand is defined by its true global presence," said David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western. "As we prepare to celebrate our 60th anniversary in 2006, we continue to look ahead with an eye toward innovation and a commitment to customer care, led by the entrepreneurial spirit of our membership."

Groople Appoints Michael Stacy as CEO
David Loy will maintain his role as President and Founder of Groople, working alongside Stacy on day-to-day operations as they spearhead the company's next phase of growth in the online group travel market.

Stacy brings fifteen years of executive level experience to his new post at Groople, including successfully growing some of the leading brands in online travel. 'Mike Stacy's broad experience and proven successes in the online travel industry make him an invaluable asset in leading Groople into our next stage of development,' said Groople President and Founder David Loy. 'Mike has helped build some of the industry's largest brands, including our partner Travelocity, and we are excited for him to bring his vision and knowledge to Groople's team of travel executives.'

Cendant Hotel Group Announces Wyndham Worldwide Appointments
Cendant Hotel Group today announced the appointments of April R. Urbine as vice president of national sales and Jeff Smith as vice president of operations for Wyndham Worldwide.

Urbine, who will lead the hotel chain's group sales efforts, had served Wyndham International since 1987 in a variety of sales capacities. Smith will be responsible for owner relations, managing the field-based directors of business development and providing operational support to all Wyndham hotels. He previously served Omni Hotels in several operations and franchise support roles, most recently as vice president of operations.

Hotel Marketers Want ROI For Online Advertising
With predictions that online advertising will grow to $18.9 billion by 2010 and assertions that the ROI for online advertising is second only to direct marketing, attendees to the recent Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference, held at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, CA, were urged to protect their Web sites and their consumers who are being attacked by traffic diversion, identity theft and fraud.

The attendees represented the top Internet marketing professionals in the industry, with 57% of attendees from 24 hotel brands and hotel management companies and 13 individual hotels, resorts, and casinos, along with 34% from 24 service providers.

Dieter Huckestein Announces Retirement from Hilton Hotels Corporation
Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) said that 35-year industry veteran Dieter Huckestein, chairman and chief executive officer of Conrad Hotels and president of the Hilton Global Alliance, has announced his retirement from the company effective in early 2006.

Mr. Huckestein, a widely respected lodging industry leader whose career has included managing some of the world's leading hotel properties and overseeing regional operations throughout the world, has planed to pursue a number of entrepreneurial opportunities.

Hilton Hotels to Buy Hilton Group Assets
Hilton Hotels Corporation Agrees to Acquire Lodging Business of Hilton Group plc - Transaction to Make Hilton Hotels Corp. a Global Company for the First Time in 40 Years. Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) announced an agreement whereby HHC will acquire the lodging assets of Hilton Group plc (known collectively as "Hilton International" or "HI") for approximately GBP 3.30 billion (or $5.71 billion) in an all-cash transaction. This equates to a purchase price multiple of 11.3 times pro form a 2006 Adjusted EBITDA.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2006. Consummation of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of certain competition and governmental clearances, and the approval of Hilton Group shareholders.

New Chairman For Crescent Hospitality
Crescent Hospitality Corporation today announced that E. Robert Roskind has joined the company as chairman. He will play a major role in the company's expanded growth strategy that will include hotel ownership.

Roskind will lead the company's acquisition program, which will focus on first-class, full-service hotels in major urban, premier suburban and resort locations. Roskind said: 'We are seeking properties that are doing well but can benefit from Crescent's ability to increase margins, as well as turn-around situations that require repositioning which has been one of the company's specialties.'

InterContinental looks to growth, gets no bids
InterContinental Hotels Group Plc, the world's largest hotelier, said it would focus on increasing room numbers and raising its valuation and had received no bids, despite speculation U.S. peers were circling.

The British-based group (IHG.L) is moving towards being a managed and franchised hotel operator, but analysts have warned that unless it closes the valuation gap with its U.S. hotel rivals it may become a bid target. "We have received no offer of any description," said group Chief Executive Andrew Cosslett in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

Analysts said unless InterContinental closes this gap then U.S. players such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT.N) or Marriott International Inc (MAR.N) may approach it and take advantage of its relatively low share price.

Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel Taps New General Manager Internal Promotion within Tishman Corporation
The Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel has recently appointed Donald 'Don' Dougherty as General Manager. In this role, Dougherty will assume all operational, administrative and financial oversight of the property and its newly remodeled, 10,000-square-foot casino.

Prior to this position, Dougherty was the General Manager at the Crowne Plaza Harrisburg, Pa. He returns to Puerto Rico where he served as Director of Operations at the former Wyndham Old San Juan Hotel and Casino during the conversion and $7.5 million renovation to the only Sheraton hotel on the island.

The 2005 Greek Hotel Branding Report - By Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas
The first study exploring the extent of branding among Greek hotels has recently been published by Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas, an Athens-based tourism consultant and lecturer at the Greek Open University. The 2005 Greek Hotel Branding Report presents all 71 hotel brands that have built a presence in the country's hospitality industry.

"Greece boasts one of the world's largest and most mature hotel sectors with nearly 9,000 businesses and a 342,000-room capacity, yet it is among the least developed in regard to branding," Dr. Koutoulas said. "Only 3.4% of the country's hotels (controlling 16.8% of the total room capacity) have an affiliation either with a Greek or an international brand, a situation that reflects the orientation of most accommodation businesses towards the package tour market and their close co-operation with tour operators."