2011 Per Diem Rates Announced

Aug 31

Ashley SpitzerNews, Places to Stay economy, hotels, meeting industry, per diem rates No Comments

The new fiscal year per diem rates were announced yesterday by the General Services Administration (GSA):

Rates Start: October 1, 2010
Rates End: September 30, 2011

The standard Continental United States (CONUS) per diem rate increased to $77 per night.

GSA reported the average daily rate (ADR) for hotel rooms is down 5.73% from fiscal year 2010.

There are several non-standard area lodging rate changes that have been reduced, making them more affordable to visit:

• New York City (Manhattan) fall high season: reduced to $269 from FY2010 $340
• Colorado Springs: reduced to $84 from FY2010 $88
• Las Vegas: three seasons reduced to one, rates down from FY2010 high of $118 to $93
• Miami, Fla., for the Miami-Dade area mid-season: down to $151 from FY2010 $152
• Chicago, Ill., early summer area high season: reduced to $166 from FY2010 $211
• Charleston, SC: down to $132 from FY2010 $142
• Los Angeles, Calif.: reduced to $123 from FY10 $135
• Kansas City, Mo: down to $99 from FY2010 $107
• Cincinnati, Ohio: unchanged from FY2010 at $115
• Seattle, Wash: reduced to $139 from FY2010 $159

How these rate changes affect your planning this fall?

This Summer, Corks Fly Free

Aug 11

Ashley SpitzerMember News, Places to Stay guest-friendly hotel tips, hotels, Kimpton, unique activities No Comments

Here’s a fun summertime offer from our good friends at Kimpton:

Get uncorked at Kimpton Restaurants and byow (bring your own wine)!

There’s no doubt that you’re stashing some stellar bottles of wine at home. So now through Labor Day, feel free to bring a bottle of wine, or two, to share with friends at any Kimpton Restaurant. Corkage is complimentary all summer long.

Learn more about planing a meeting at a Kimpton hotel or restaurant.

Summer Meeting Deals for Last Minute Meetings

Jul 07

Ashley SpitzerMember News, Places to Stay hotels, meeting ideas No Comments

Most of us expect to pay top dollar when it’s last minute. Yet, you can find special offers for any season you choose on ConventionPlanit.com — It’s simple!

Hotels and convention centers needing to fill certain timeframes are extending great deals for your meeting – a virtual win-win! Check out some Divine Deal samplings below with special offerings for this summer:

Swissotel Chicago, Illinois

Memorable Hotel Pets

Oct 19

Damion RutherfordMember News, Places to Stay guest-friendly hotel tips, hotels, Kimpton, unique activities 1 Comment

If you have a soft spot for pets, like us, you’ll appreciate ABC News’ list of America’s most adorable hotel pets.

Kimpton Hotels surely wins for the most pet friendly hotels – several of their properties made this list for friendly animal mascots, including the Hotel Monaco Alexandria and The Muse.

What’s your favorite animal on the list? Have you encountered a personal favorite that didn’t make the list?

Tips for Hotel Privacy

Oct 07

Damion RutherfordNews best travel practices, guest-friendly hotel tips, hotels, travel tips No Comments

With Erin Andrews peeping tom causing a stir throughout the country and raising security issues among hotels, we can’t help but think of a few ways for the hotel guest to take safety into their own hands.

Even though many of the large hotel chains are reviewing and investigating their privacy policies, we see no harm in putting a few tips into practice now.

1. Keep your room number private: Be aware that at check in, it’s standard for the clerk to write your room number down on the key card instead of saying it out loud.

2. Stop a Peeping Tom: smear Vaseline on the inside of the peephole lens or place a piece of duct tape over the peephole, as Peter Greenberg recommends, to prevent anyone from seeing inside.

3. Inspect your room: Look under the bed, in the closet, bathroom and shower upon entering your room for anything (or anyone) suspicious.

4. Deadbolt your door: Be sure to deadbolt your door after entering the room – prevents any unwanted parties from entering without your permission; whether it be a housekeeper, maintenance crew, intruder, or a guest assigned mistakenly to the same room.

What are some other safety precautions you practice when traveling? What do you think of the press this situation is receiving? In general, do you feel safe when you stay at a hotel?

Historical San Francisco Penthouse Updated

Sep 22

Damion RutherfordMember News, Places to Stay Fairmont, Hotel Rennovations, hotels, San Francisco hotels No Comments

You’re probably familiar with the San Francisco Fairmont for its 55,000 square feet of meeting space or for the views of the San Francisco Bay – but it’s the penthouse that may be the most famous.

The spacious suite spans the entire eighth floor of the hotel, whose guests have included JFK, Prince Charles and Representatives of the Big Four – and just completed a major renovation.

In an Associated Press interview, Tom Klein, regional vice president general manager of the hotel, says

“You’ll just be blown away.”

For $15,000 a night, the three bedroom suite with dining room, living room, library, and terrace comes complete with a butler, housekeeper, chef, masseuse, personal trainer, fully stocked gourmet kitchen, plus the use of a Ferrari California.

Some updates in the renovation include a newly remodeled kitchen and removing the 1,800 pieces of etched glass that make up the ceiling of the billiard room for a cleaning.

Hotel Chains Trading Stars for Cash

Aug 25

Damion RutherfordNews, Places to Stay economy, Five Diamond, Five Star, hotels, meeting industry No Comments

The latest casualty of the struggling hospitality industry is the rating system itself.

Bloomberg.com reports many luxury hotel brands have begun cutting ratings to save costs.

The AAA and Mobil rating systems identify specific service requirements for hotels to receive a five-diamond or five-star rating. These services can be quite costly for the hotels.

According to the Mobil Travel Guide, if the hotel has a pool, guests arriving for a swim should be escorted to their chairs and offered refreshment. Welcome gifts and thoughtful items on pillows at turn down service are expected. Ice buckets must be glass, metal or stone, and tongs must also be provided.

The Bloomberg.com article quotes Stephen Bollenbach, former chief executive officer of Hilton Hotels Corp.:

“Ratings aren’t based on making good returns on your investment.”

If the trend of hotels cutting back on services and lowering ratings continues, will rating systems become irrelevant? Are they outdated?

As a guest, how important is the AAA or Mobil rating in your booking decision? Can hotels survive on reputation alone?

Chicago Ordinance Would Notify Guests of Work Stoppages

Jul 28

Ashley SpitzerNews, Places to Stay, Tips for Meeting Planners Chicago Hotels, economy, Hotel Unions, hotels, meeting experiences, meeting industry 1 Comment

Chicago’s City Council is hoping to pass an ordinance that would notify potential hotel guests of work stoppages.

Specifically, work stoppages of 20 or more hotel employees having gone on for more than 15 days would be reported to guests prior to booking.

The ordinance would protect guests from being surprised with unions picketing outside hotels or a lack of staffers during their stay.

Quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Roper said,

“With business as difficult as it is to attract, all the meeting planners need is one extra little thing to say, ‘We wanted to get out of Chicago anyway. This is our out.’… In these tough economic times, we don’t need any more negative impressions.”

What do you think?

As a meeting planner, do you have a right to know if the conditions at a hotel are abnormal? How would your decision to stay at a property be affected by a union strike, if at all?

From the hotelier side, do you agree with Mr. Roper? What are some alternative solutions?

Ethics Rules Alter Travel

Jul 16

Ashley SpitzerNews economy, hotels, Keep America Meeting, meeting industry No Comments

USA Today posted an interesting article about the ethics of Congressional travel.

Here’s the linK:

Ethics rules alter travel by Congress – USATODAY.com.

The amount of travel over the past few years for lawmakers has dropped significantly, according to the article. From the ethical standpoint, I do not want lawmakers traveling on the dime of a non-profit in order to sway legislation.

However, I can’t help but think about the matter from the hospitality industry’s standpoint. Any travel cutbacks I read or hear about cause me to cringe…because, as we know and have experienced, businesses have been canceling trips and meetings to avoid seeming lavish and excessive in the eyes of Congress.

My hope is that the travel industry, which has already experienced significant lows this year, will not be bundled with Congress’ unethical behavior.

Let the industry have a fair chance for the good to be seen – awareness is the best way. Let’s help spread the word of campaigns like Keep America Meeting to help generate positive press about the travel industry.

What are your thoughts? Does it bother you to see travel associated with negativity? What are some other ways to spread the importance of the industry?

Radisson Fort McDowell Named Hotel of the Year

Jun 17

Ashley SpitzerMember News, News, Places to Stay Awards, hotels, Radisson Hotels No Comments

Congratulations to the Radisson Fort McDowell Hotel & Casino…

…for being named Radisson’s Hotel of the Year for 2008!

The property was honored at a special reception yesterday – during the company’s annual meeting.

The Hotel of the Year Award is presented to the property that displayed outstanding sales and marketing efforts, distinguished itself with a high level of commitment to guest service, supported the Radisson brand and has had exceptional financial success.

This is the first time that the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino has been honored with the Hotel of the Year distinction.

Click here to learn more about the gorgeous award-winning resort!