Expedia reports lower Q1 profit after spending on tech upgrades, expansion News from The Seattle Times: Bellevue-based Expedia said Thursday it benefited from a recovery in business travel and a surge in hotel-room bookings during the first three months of 2011, though its profit suffered from increased spending on technology and marketing. The online travel [...]

Flooding causes evacuation of Ramada on Zorn News from Bizjournals.com: Business First – by John R. Karman III, Staff Writer Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 1:52pm EDT – Last Modified: Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 3:08pm EDT Ed Green | Business First Access to the Ramada Inn was cut off by rising water. Rising flood waters [...]

Shrek, Kung Fu Panda’s Po, others check into Gaylord Hotels News from USA Today: By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY Do your kids go nuts over Shrek, Po from Kung Fu Panda and the penguins from Madagascar? Well, open your wallet and get ready… Gaylord Entertainment, the operator of four massive hotels-conference centers in the [...]

Dubai hotels target Chinese travel market News from AME Info:An increasing number of Chinese have been travelling overseas in recent years as the nation’s economy gains strength and its government relaxes rules on travel abroad. Figures from the China Tourism Authority show that total Chinese outbound departures are expected to reach 65 million in 2011, [...]

OTO Opens 204-Room Hilton Garden Inn News from Citybizlist Real Estate: Posted April 25, 2011 Sign in to connect with your friends on Citybizlist WASHINGTON, D.C. – South Carolina-based OTO Development LLC has rolled out the red carpet at its newest piece of real estate, a 204-room Hilton Garden Inn, also host to the trendy [...]

Travel Channel Invests $ 7.5M in Hotel Reviewer Oyster.com News from Digital Media Wire:Cincinnati, Ohio – The Travel Channel, owned by Scripps Networks, has invested $ 7.5 million in hotel reviews site Oyster.com, The New York Times reported. Previous backer Bain Capital Ventures also participated in the company’s second round of funding. Founded in 2008, [...]

Oh no, my hotel rewards have been downgraded News from Chicago Tribune:Q: My husband and I have been members of Marriott’s loyalty program, Marriott Rewards, for decades. We’re also Marriott Vacation Club owners. We have a problem with a rewards stay we were hoping you could help us with. About a month ago, I contacted [...]

Panel OKs new Broadway hotel with conditions: Hyatt property would… News from Santa Cruz Sentinel: SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz Planning Commission begrudgingly endorsed a 111-room hotel proposed for Broadway west of the Ocean Street intersection, but the panel placed numerous conditions on the project. The commission recommended the Hyatt Place Hotel to the [...]

Hilton Worldwide Signs Three Management Agreements with New Huadu Industrial … News from Centre Daily Times: SHANGHAI & MCLEAN, Va. — Hilton Worldwide has signed three management agreements with New Huadu Industrial Group for a Waldorf Astoria-branded resort and a Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Hainan and a Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in [...]

Pa. casino opening hotel; others may follow News from BusinessWeek: By MICHAEL RUBINKAM BETHLEHEM, Pa. Nearly a year after the arrival of table games in Pennsylvania, a few of the state’s casinos are adding “stay” to “play.” They’re building luxurious hotels meant to entice high-rolling patrons to linger longer and gamble more. Sands Casino Resort [...]