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World Property Channel
July 25, 2011
http://www.worldpropertychannel.com/international-markets/vacation-leisure-real-estate/us-hotel-market-report-hotel-room-rates-str-revpar-adr-occupancy-rates-in-hotels-phoenix-hotels-orlando-hotels-san-francisco-hotels-los-angeles-hotels-4583.php
According to STR, the U.S. hotel industry experienced increases in all three key performance metrics during the week ending July 6, 2011.
In year-over-year comparisons for the week, occupancy rose 1.8 percent to 72.2 percent, average daily rate increased 3.4 percent to US$102.83, and revenue per available room finished the week up 5.2 percent to US$74.24.
Among the Top 25 Markets, Phoenix, Arizona, increased 17.0 percent in occupancy to 53.3 percent, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Miami-Hialeah, Florida (+10.9 percent to 77.0 percent); Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida (+10.9 percent to 63.3 percent); and Los Angeles-Long Beach, California (+10.6 percent to 88.2 percent). New Orleans, Louisiana, fell 18.9 percent in occupancy to 60.8 percent, posting the largest decrease in that metric. The decline was followed by St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois, with an 8.4-percent decrease to 69.3 percent.
Three markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: San Francisco/San Mateo, California (+17.8 percent to US$171.79); Los Angeles-Long Beach (+15.5 percent to US$139.67); and Phoenix (+13.1 percent to US$82.95). New Orleans fell 2.8 percent to US$96.76, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.
Phoenix jumped 32.4 percent in RevPAR to US$44.23, achieving the largest increase in that metric, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach with a 27.8-percent increase to US$123.19. New Orleans reported the largest RevPAR decrease, falling 21.1 percent to US$58.79.
The Bay Citizen
July 22, 2011
http://www.baycitizen.org/labor/story/police-arrest-dozens-protesters-front/
San Francisco police arrested dozens of protesters Thursday evening following a demonstration in front of the Grand Hyatt Union Square.
The union representing the hotel’s workers organized the protest, one of eight demonstrations against the chain across the nation. A UNITE HERE Local 2 press release said the events sought to “end the abuses” faced by Hyatt workers, including the replacement of long-term employees with lower-paid temporary workers.
“This is all because Hyatt has singled itself out as the worst of the worst,” said Ian Lewis, research director for Local 2. “At this hotel, we’ve been fighting for a contract for two years.”
Hundreds of people crowded the sidewalk, marching, holding signs and chanting slogans.
Hyatt spokesman Pete Hillan said nearly 100 police officers were required to manage the crowd.
Officers used Muni buses to take the demonstrators to jail. As the buses pulled away, protesters continued to chant, calling for a contract.
“This is all street theater,” Hillan said. “Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen it all.”
Hillan said Hyatt has already offered the workers a contract on par with those at other local hotels.
“We’re sitting here with pen poised,” Hillan said. “Our question is why Local 2 holds its membership hostage to a national agenda.”
Cynthia Reeb, a Local 2 member and switchboard operator for the nearby Hyatt Regency, said a suitable contract would provide fair wages, health care and job security.
“We only want what’s fair,” Reeb said. “We’re asking people to understand that this isn’t just our problem. It’s an American problem.”
Fortune
July 21, 2011
http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/21/klimptons-5-star-culture/?section=magazines_fortune
To business travelers, Kimpton, the privately owned operator of 55 hotels across the U.S., may be best known for its boutique properties like the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco and the Epic in Miami. But among its employees, the company is highly regarded for its workplace, which offers generous benefits, ample perks, and a particularly pet-friendly environment. Animal owners can take advantage of discounted pet insurance, and employees are free to bring their dogs to work every day — as long as they stay out of guest rooms. Here, general manager Mark Fischer and Brady take a break at the Ink48 hotel in New York City.
100 Best Companies to Work For rank: 83
Headquarters : San Francisco
Employees: 7,200
Revenue: $687 million
Fun fact: Founded in 1981 by investment banker Bill Kimpton, the company was one of the first operators of boutique hotels in the U.S.
San Jose Mercury News
July 20, 2011
http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_18509995
Foster City voters will decide in November whether to raise the tax on the city’s two hotels from 8 percent to 9.5 percent.
On Monday night, the Foster City council approved placing a measure on the ballot to increase the city’s transient-occupancy tax by 1.5 percent, as city officials look to close a $2.8 million structural deficit. The city’s hotel tax brings in nearly $1.3 million a year in revenue, according to city staff. Boosting the tax rate would increase that amount by $325,000.
Even at 9.5 percent, Foster City’s hotel tax rate would be the lowest in San Mateo County. The second-lowest rate, 10 percent, is in effect in such cities as Belmont and South San Francisco. Burlingame, Millbrae and San Mateo are among the cities with rates of 12 percent.
Because they were considering a tax increase, four out of five council members needed to vote in favor of the measure for it to pass. Councilman Charlie Bronitsky provided the fourth vote, extracting a concession to lower the proposed rate to 9.5 percent from 10 percent, the level suggested by city staffers.
Bronitsky, who has stated his opposition to tax increases in the past, said Tuesday that keeping Foster City’s rate lower than that of surrounding cities was essential to his support. The Chamber of Commerce told city officials the higher rate would not put the city’s hotels, the Crowne Plaza and Courtyard by Marriott, at a competitive disadvantage, he noted.
“Having given it some additional thought over time, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable solution,” he said, noting that the city last month raised many fees for basic services more than 1.5 percent.
Councilman Rick Wykoff cast the lone vote against the proposal. He said Tuesday the city hasn’t done enough to cut spending to justify increasing taxes. “I don’t think we were as aggressive as we should have been in reducing expenditures,” Wykoff said.
The hotel tax hike will need approval from a simple majority of voters to pass.
In other business, the council instructed staffers to produce a report on whether to ban the use of plastic-foam takeout containers by Foster City eateries. San Mateo County recently adopted a polystyrene ban for its unincorporated areas. Burlingame is among cities in the region that have enacted such a ban.
San Francisco Chronicle
July 19, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/18/BU7L1KBR4H.DTL&type=business
28 years
That’s how long it’s been since the U.S. “Misery Index” – the unemployment and inflation rates combined – has risen as high as June’s 12.8. (Joblessness climbed to 9.2 percent, and consumer prices were up 3.6 percent from a year earlier.) The last time things were this bad was May 1983, when the economy was recovering from the 1981-82 recession. San Francisco fared a bit better than the national average, with an index at 11.73 percent last month.
Press Release
Stanford Court Renaissance San Francisco Hotel
July 18, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/16/prweb8645314.DTL
After much ado, the California Street Cable Car Line is back climbing the famous San Francisco hills. Running directly outside the doors of the Renaissance Stanford Court, a boutique San Francisco Hotel, the California Cable Car Line will now stop at this San Francisco hotel and whisk guests all about the city. To celebrate the completion of the California Street Line, The Stanford Court Hotel is offering the ultimate sip, savor and see experience to California Street Line riders.
As part of the sip, savor and see experience, riders who present their Cable Car ticket at Aurea, the on-site restaurant at the Stanford Court Hotel in Nob Hill, can enjoy a complimentary Summer Thyme cocktail, house made potato chips served with two dips-one savory and one sweet-and a San Francisco City Navigator tailored to the California Line. The San Francisco City Navigator reveals popular and potentially unlooked attractions to guests at this San Francisco, CA hotel.
Ideal for both the visiting tourist and the native San Franciscan, this celebratory promotion toasts to the future of the iconic San Francisco cable cars. This offer is valid throughout the month of July to celebrate the completion of the California Cable Car line and is restricted to one experience per cable car ticket.*
*Tax is additional. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. Other restrictions apply.
The California Street Cable Cars have been an icon of San Francisco for a long time. While they are historic and offer a memorable experience, the street cable cars are also an ideal way to explore San Francisco. Guests staying at this San Francisco, California, hotel can easily navigate some of the most popular destinations in the city.
For more information, please visit www.aureasf.com or call 415-989-3500.
About the Stanford Court Renaissance San Francisco Hotel
A luxury, AAA Four-Diamond boutique hotel in the heart of San Francisco, The Stanford Court Renaissance San Francisco Hotel provides a sophisticated, contemporary urban retreat. The spacious, recently restored historic hotel features upscale accommodations in downtown San Francisco with 367 guest rooms and 26 luxurious suites on 8 floors, as well as 16 meeting rooms with 13,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space. Located on Nob Hill, near Cable Cars, Union Square and the Financial District, the hotel also features a full-service business center, fitness center, spacious floor plans and all-new rooms. The spacious guest rooms feature luxury bedding, 37″ LCD TVs, marble bathrooms, in-desk safes and wired & wireless high-speed Internet access. For more information, please visit www.stanfordcourt.com.
Press Release
Hotwire
July 14, 2011
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hotwire-reveals-hotel-rate-report-for-july-2011-125477428.html
SAN FRANCISCO, PRNewswire — Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the results of the July 2011 Hotwire® Hotel Rate Report. The report features the top five cities in North America where hotel rates have dropped the most and the top five cities where rates have experienced the biggest price increases. While one report guides customers to the destinations that will maximize their travel dollars, the other highlights places where using Hotwire to save money is even more essential.
Top Five Price Drops:
Summer travelers are in luck, as popular leisure destinations make this month’s list of top price drops, starting with Santa Fe. With an overall 16 percent price drop, traffic in New Mexico’s capital city is down compared to July 2010. After last month’s area wildfires garnered national media interest, Santa Fe has seen a dip in travel demand. As a result, local hotels are lowering their rates in hopes of refilling rooms. Coming in second with a nine percent price decrease is Monterey. This great coastal vacation destination had many pre-bookings earlier in the year for summer, but tourist flow has quickly fallen, especially now that the recent holiday weekends have passed. In response, Monterey hotels are dropping prices to keep up a steady drum beat of business.
Myrtle Beach and Flagstaff are tied for third place with five percent decreases. Flagstaff has been dealing with slow traffic since February. Hopes for a summer boost haven’t materialized, so hotels in the area are offering some great deals to entice travelers interested in a scenic vacation to areas such as the Grand Canyon. Myrtle Beach had a busy summer last year and started off this summer strong. Now those same properties are looking to keep numbers up throughout the whole season and are dropping rates. Lake Tahoe rounds out the top five price reductions with a four percent decrease and offers a huge range of summer recreational activities to those looking to do anything from hiking, to waterskiing or just lounging by the lake.
Top Five Price Increases:
Some popular big city destinations account for the top price increases this month, leading with a 23 percent increase in Las Vegas. Although temperatures are rising with the start of summer, more convention bookings and leisure travelers are causing rates to increase in Nevada’s most visited area. Grand Rapids comes in second with a 24 percent jump in rates due to an uptick in leisure demand as the city ramps up summer events and hosts some of the world’s biggest music acts this month. Meanwhile, San Francisco and New Orleans continue to make the list as they raise prices thanks to strong convention and group business. Rounding out the top five increases for July is Vancouver. After seeing a significant amount of price drops recently, rates are coming back up due to the much-needed arrival of higher convention attendance and increased leisure demand for the popular summer months.
“Many great summer destinations are lowering their prices right now, giving travelers a variety of options to choose from as they finalize their vacation plans,” said Clem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group. “Whether you prefer lounging on the beach or enjoying natural wonders, great rates can be found in a variety of destinations that offer activities to suit every summer traveler.”
Over 1.8 million hotel rooms go unsold across North America every night, and for over 10 years, Hotwire has worked with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill this unsold inventory. As a result, Hotwire offers travelers amazing deals, every day of the year, across a variety of markets. Through Hotwire’s deep understanding of the industry and unique relationships, consumers have been able to save millions of dollars on all their travel needs.
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