MOORE, Ok.

The Oklahoma City area, particularly the community of Moore, is still taking stock of the fallout from Monday’s devastating tornado, which at last count had taken 24 lives and injured hundreds.

At more than a mile wide and moving at speeds of more than 200 m.p.h., the tornado severely damaged more than 2,000 homes on its 17-mile trek, and has left countless citizens temporarily homeless.

President Obama has declared a federal disaster in the five Oklahoma counties hit by the storm, and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have been dispatched to aid in the recovery.

One bright spot is that no hotels were severely damaged, according to published reports out of the region, with some properties even chipping in to provide temporary shelter for storm victims.

Additionally, travel through OKC on I-40 and I-44 appears normal. I-35 in the southern OKC Metro area was reported as slow but open on Tuesday.

Among affected events has been the postponement of the Big 12 college baseball championship from Wednesday to Thursday, though the site (Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in OKC) remained unchanged.

TROY, Mich.

 New California Hotel Corporation through its subsidiary Met Hotel Partners LLC, will be expanding the operations at the 200 Room Met Troy Hotel, intending to modify and enhance the 17-acre site.

Renovations will begin in June of 2013 ending in April of 2014. The property will stay open as renovations are completed.

New Improvements will include:

• A 35,000-square-foot retail center facing the property. The retail center will include a Subway shop, coffee shop, dry cleaners, and other professional services; the company is in discussions with several major franchises. The retail center is located just minutes away from the famed Somerset Mall Collection.
• A 500-seat amphitheater for performing arts centered into the Hotel Courtyard. Guest rooms facing into the Courtyard will be able to watch live events from their rooms and order food and beverage as well as enjoy patio setting.
• A New 5 Diamond Restaurant is being considered for what was formerly the Charlie’s Crab Location. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story restaurant and bar will be leased out to a restaurant operator with fine dining restaurant experience in the Detroit market. The company is in talks with several operators.
• A new name for the hotel is under consideration as well as discussions with several major franchises.

GREEN BAY, Wis.

127-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Green Bay, Wis., is scheduled to open in early June of this year. Located at 1011 Tony Canadeo Run, the SpringHill Suites Green Bay will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Green Bay CS Hotel Group, LLC and managed by HP Hotels of Birmingham, Alabama.

Located seven miles from Austin Straubel International Airport, the hotel also offers guests close access to Lambeau Field and Resch Center.

Business travelers can take advantage of a large, well-lit desk with ergonomic chair. Complimentary Wi-Fi in the hotel’s lobby and high-speed Internet access in every suite allow guests to remain connected at all times.

Featuring a brand-new design that aims to add depth and sophistication to the décor, the hotel’s lobby is a potential venue for conducting casual meetings or simply to socialize, with warm colors, accent fabrics and walnut-stained wood. The hotel also offers business services, same-day dry cleaning, guest laundry facilities, an indoor swimming pool with a whirlpool spa and a fitness center. In the lobby, the Market offers convenient 24/7 access to food and beverages.

The property also has 1,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodate meetings and functions of up to 50 people.

HOUSTON

Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Pearl Hospitality, the developer of the new JW Marriott Houston Downtown Hotel, announced that the building is undergoing renovations and will be open for business in spring of 2014. The conversion of the historic Samuel F. Carter Building at 806 Main St. aims to support downtown growth, preserve a historic asset and provide much-needed hotel rooms while furthering Houston as a tourist and convention destination.

The new luxury hotel will feature 323 guest rooms, a restaurant and full-service bar, a spa, health club, an executive lounge, swimming pool and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. The project will create 177 new jobs, 150 of them permanent.

"This is another example of Houston's thriving economy, and it is my goal to continue attracting job-creating projects and companies to our city," Mayor Parker remarked. "This is a perfect model of a public/private partnership that is a win-win for the community. It puts a vacant building into productive use, restores a historic structure, and most importantly creates jobs for Houstonians."

The $80.8 million renovation project includes several funding sources: $31 million in owner equity; $42.5 million in senior bank financing and $7.35 million financing by the City of Houston.

PENSACOLA, Fla.

A new 90-room Hampton Inn & Suites has opened in Pensacola, Fla., and will be owned and operated by Banyan Investment Group.

“The Florida panhandle is growing dramatically as a destination for leisure as well as business travelers, which we know first-hand having developed and managed properties in the area for more than 35 years,” explained Rakesh Chauhan, President and CEO of Banyan Investment Group. In addition, the company has its corporate headquarters in the Gulf Coast city of Miramar.

The Hampton Inn & Suites , which brings 30 jobs to the area, features a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, and a “perfect mix” lobby that reflects the multi-functional nature of today’s hotel lobby as a social center, refreshment area, and remote office.

By Mark K. Matthews and Sara K. Clarke, courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel/McClatchy-Tribune Regional News

WASHINGTON

As conferences go, this one was supposed to be pretty standard: a 7,000-person affair at the Orange County Convention Center that -- although not among Orlando's biggest shows -- still would have brought a $13 million economic boost to the Orlando area.

But thanks to cutbacks in government travel, officials at the General Services Administration scrapped the training forum, scheduled for this past week, and instead told its government and industry partners to save money by doing their training online or through local resources.

The canceled GSA expo appears to be the biggest casualty yet of government cutbacks in Orlando's meetings and convention industry. But it's not the only one -- though the worst fears of the travel industry have not come to pass.

Another victim: the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, a major event held every year in Orlando. Organizers saw attendance at the annual show drop from more than 20,000 in 2011 to about 16,500 this past December and attributed the decline to federal travel restrictions among the military and a negative perception of conferences.

The National Training & Simulation Association, which hosts I/ITSEC, also canceled a 300-person meeting at Rosen Centre that was slated for this August and expects attendance at this year's I/ITSEC to suffer again.

"The purpose of the organization is to be a liaison between government and industry. So if government can't be there, there's no one to liaise with," said Barbara McDaniel, director of conferences and programs for the National Training & Simulation Association.

Word of the cancellations led U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson -- an outspoken opponent of the federal belt-tightening known as sequestration -- to rail against the across-the-board cuts.

"Clearly these cancellations are detrimental to the local economy, and they did not have to happen," said Grayson, D-Orlando. "Sequestration causes pain for hardworking Central Floridians and our tourism-driven economy. There is a simple way to solve the problem of sequestration: repeal it."

Congress, however, appears unlikely to do that. And there's an equally small chance that federal travel to Orlando -- or anywhere in the country -- will increase anytime soon.

A year ago, the White House budget office ordered its agencies to cap their 2013 travel budgets at 30 percent less than the amount they spent in 2010. This cap will continue until at least 2016.

Many of the cuts have already happened, but they're not over yet.

A top budget official told Congress this year that annual spending on federal travel fell by $2 billion from 2010 to 2012. (It was $11.7 billion in 2010). An additional $1 billion reduction is expected this year, bringing the estimated yearly total to about $8.7 billion in 2013, not including exemptions for travel deemed essential for national security, international diplomacy or other "critical government functions."

The 2012 White House directive also added new layers of oversight to travel and federal conferences.

The goal is to avoid another scandal such as the one that followed revelations that the GSA in 2010 spent more than $820,000 on a conference just outside Las Vegas that included catered in-room parties and a "red carpet" awards ceremony.

Erik Hansen, director of domestic policy at the U.S. Travel Association, said his trade organization has heard "constantly" from its members that federal travel is on the decline. And to some degree it makes sense, he said, given that "times are tight."

But blanket cutbacks, such as the one dictated by the administration for fears of another conference scandal, aren't smart either, he said.

"Part of that is irrational policies from Washington," Hansen said.

Even so, with hundreds of meetings and conventions hosted each year in Orlando, local tourism officials seemed almost relieved to have relatively few major cancellations.

"It really hasn't been as harsh as what we anticipated it might be," said Jan Addison, deputy general manager of the Orange County Convention Center.

Still, Addison says the sequestration has the possibility to affect the meetings and convention industry in ways beyond just canceled events. Lines at airports caused by cutbacks in Transportation Security Administration agents or at customs for international visitors could make travel unwieldy and dissuade even private-sector workers from traveling to a meeting in Orlando.

As for this past week, the convention center was unable to book another show to replace the GSA Training and Expo, which was canceled in February. The show did have a clause in its contract that would force the GSA to pay $262,755 for the last-minute cancellation of rented space at the center.

mkmatthews@tribune.com or 202-824-8222. skclarke@tribune.com or 407-420-5664.

___

(c)2013 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com

ST. LOUIS

Paric Corp. has begun a $25 million renovation of St. Louis’ landmark Union Station, now a hotel, meeting, restaurant, entertainment and retail center.

Lodging Hospitality Management will update all 539 guest rooms in the DoubleTree hotel, plus the exhibition and grand halls. The renovation will add about 50,000 square feet of meeting space, doubling the size of hotel’s current meeting facilities.

The project is planned to be completed next spring. The architect is the Lawrence Group.

ATLANTA

The Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta has been named the Official Hotel and Caterer of the new College Football Hall of Fame, which is set to open in the fall 2014. Omni will manage the meeting, event and function space, as well as concessions for the Hall, which is expected to attract half-a-million visitors per year. The hotel is now booking groups, associations and events interested in utilizing this unique space in what will be a state-of-the-art facility. 

The College Football Hall of Fame is located adjacent to the Omni Hotel in the Centennial Olympic Park area of downtown Atlanta near the Georgia Dome, Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. The Hall will feature historic and contemporary artifacts, interactive multimedia displays, children’s activities, a 4K/3D theater featuring a film on the history and excitement of college football, a retail store and a 45-yard indoor football field all under one roof. Furthermore, the new attraction will have 50,000 square feet of usable event space.

The indoor Playing Field can accommodate approximately 700 people for a sit-down meal, and up to 1,200 people for a reception or catered event. The “Quad” and “Hall of Fame” special event spaces have almost 7,000 and 4,000 square feet of flexible space respectively; and the Game Day Theater, that features 4K/3D technology, can accommodate 150 people for corporate meetings and presentations.

 “As a partner with the College Football Hall of Fame, it’s our goal to offer groups, conventions and leisure guests a memorable experience while providing a high level of service,” said Gary Froeba, regional vice president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “From a meetings and conventions standpoint, the Hall of Fame is a terrific addition to a city that already touts the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola as unique venues and attractions.”

 SANTA CLARA, Calif.

The NFL announced it has selected the San Francisco 49ers new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as the host site for historic Super Bowl 50. The game is scheduled for February 7, 2016 and marks the return of one of the world’s iconic sporting events to the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time since Stanford Stadium hosted Super Bowl 19 in 1985.

Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau President & CEO Steve Van Dorn says, “There is no better place than this brand-new stadium to host the NFL’s historic Super Bowl 50. Attendees are really going to enjoy the California sunshine and beautiful San Francisco Bay Area region.”

Located an hour south of San Francisco in the center of Silicon Valley, the $1.2 billion, 68,500-seat Santa Clara Stadium has the ability to expand its number of seats for the Super Bowl. The stadium features 100,000 square feet of event space, wide plazas, and 165 luxury suites with stadium-wide Wi-Fi capability, mobile connectivity, IPTV, and colossal HD video boards measuring over 13,000 square feet. 

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.

Thank you to all of our colleagues in so many organizations who have reached out to check on our team and community in the wake of the horrible disasters of the past 2 days.

Our team is all safe and has suffered minimal damage. Our tourism infrastructure has also suffered minimal impact – and I’m thankful for that primarily because of the massive hotel room need we are experiencing right now. The full impact of the situation will not be known for several days as everyone’s focus changes from the immediate needs of rescue and reconnecting families to the longer term recovery and rebuilding.

Unfortunately Oklahoma, and particularly the Oklahoma City metro area, has had to deal with natural disasters and other emergency situations too often over the past 20 years. Our people are strong and resilient. Our emergency services personnel are among the best in the country and are as prepared as anyone can be for these challenges. Our community services agencies such as the American Red Cross, Oklahoma Blood Institute, Feed the Children, Regional Food Bank and others are ready and were among the first non-emergency personnel on the scene. The Oklahoma National Guard has been unbelievable already. The latest request we are hearing from the command post is for volunteers to not show up as there are so many there already.

Oklahoma has long responded to events of this nature with what has become known as The Oklahoma Standard. We help each other with no expectation of compensation or return other than that we are always ready to help each other. That has never been more evident than in events like this.

We ask for your prayers for our people – the survivors, the families of the victims and our community leaders who are providing such outstanding coordination of the rescue and recovery efforts. We are strong and we will recover as we have in every previous challenge.

As we move forward we will be posting updates on our website www.visitOKC.com. Our industry is responding as it always does to serve the needs that are present. Travel through OKC on I-40 and I-44 is normal. I-35 in the southern OKC Metro area is slow but open.

I have been asked by several of our colleagues if they can help. Thank you. The best way to help is by contribution to the relief funds for the tragedy. There are numerous funds available but I know The Oklahoma Fund – American Red Cross is not only legitimate but serves as a tremendous resource in these situations – http://www.redcross.org/news/press-release/Red-Cross-Statement-on-Oklahoma-Tornado.

Michael J. Carrier

President

Oklahoma City CVB

By Richard N. Velotta, courtesy of the Las Vegas Sun/McClatchy-Tribune Regional News

The Nevada Gaming Commission conducted its monthly meeting today in Las Vegas.

The issue: A transfer of interest in a gaming license held by Silver Nugget Holdings was considered for Lucky Silver Gaming LLC.

The vote: 5-0

What it means: The transfer was approved. Lucky Silver operates the Silver Nugget, the Opera House and the Lucky Club in North Las Vegas and partners with Fifth Street Gaming, which also will manage the Downtown Grand.

Gaming commissioners inquired about the Downtown Grand, and Fifth Street Gaming CEO Seth Schorr said renovations on the property are ahead of schedule.

He said he expects the property -- the former Lady Luck casino -- to open in the fall and reservations will be available online June 15. The property is being converted to a 650-room boutique hotel and will be the first Las Vegas property and the largest hotel to be affiliated with Choice Hotels' "Ascend" collection.

Ascend is Choice's high-end affiliation, which includes the Comfort Inn and Clarion brands.

-- -- --

 (c)2013 the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Visit the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.) at www.lasvegassun.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

FRANKFURT, Germany

A turnaround in the format of the education program of the IMEX Association Day for 2013 resulted in excellent feedback from the 300 association executives attending the annual day of education and networking at the Messe Frankfurt Congress Center on Monday, May 20.

This year’s program, which was devised by association executives for association executives, set out to dig deep into the most important issues facing association meetings planners as well as their senior directors, and particularly to provide specific takeaways and practical action points. Three education tracks—executive, operations and meetings—allowed the attendees, who either take part as IMEX hosted buyers or by their own arrangements, to select only those sessions which are most applicable to their business.

On the corporate side Monday, over 70 corporate buyers from a variety of multi-national companies attended the first-ever Exclusively Corporate @IMEX event at the Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt. Together they control annual meetings and events budgets in excess of $200 million.

This new event is the latest in a series of meeting industry innovations by IMEX. This event is designed to provide corporate buyers with a high-level, private forum offering tailored education and networking plus expertly-facilitated discussion.

 PLANO, Texas

 Granite Properties announced the groundbreaking for a speculative office tower and the four-star, 299-key Hilton Granite Park conference hotel. Both projects are designed by BOKA Powell architects and slated for completion in mid-2014. Granite Properties has engaged Woodbine Development Corporation as hotel development consultant. The two new structures are part of the existing 90- acre mixed-use development located at the Sam Rayburn Tollway and the Dallas North Tollway in Plano, Texas.

 The 12-story, 300,000-square-foot Class A office tower, known as Granite Park IV, is being built to achieve LEED Silver certification, featuring energy efficient building systems, unique exterior lighting elements, as well as a fitness center, conference space and a five-level garage. The building is surrounded by extensive landscaped walkways and water features that connect to the adjacent buildings.

 The 262,500-square-foot Hilton Granite Park conference hotel includes 299 luxury rooms and 35,000 square feet of conference space, a full-service restaurant, retail shop, a fitness center and outdoor pool and lounge. The lobby includes a large bar area and a unique, multi-purpose technology lounge. The hotel's interior design blends the region's agrarian history with modern amenities that will appeal to business travelers. The guest rooms and bathrooms incorporate upscale finishes and lighting, with stone countertops, custom sinks, lighted mirrors and a mosaic back-lit tile. A pedestrian boardwalk along the waterfront connects the hotel to its conference center and surrounding office buildings.

MENDOCINO, Calif.

Love Hotel Management Company has been selected to manage the Heritage House Resort in Mendocino, Calif ., presently under renovation and scheduled to open in Fall of 2013. The property, once a premier Northern California location, will again be offering its dramatic Pacific Ocean views and serene setting this autumn.

The Heritage House Resort will offer 70 newly renovated rooms and suites, each overlooking the Pacific Ocean and appointed with luxurious new beds, in-room fireplaces, walk-in showers and large soaking tubs.

The resort also features naturally landscaped grounds and wooded trails, a popular dining room with sweeping views serving farm-to-table meals, an indoor and outdoor Fitness Center, Pool, fully equipped wireless Internet and ultra-flat-panel televisions.

ATLANTA

When Americans need to fill their gas tanks during road trips, they are likely to choose stations where they can get in and out quickly—and are less concerned with the brand of gas or food and beverage options, according to research by YP, North America's largest local search, media and advertising company.

The research, based on consumer survey findings and analysis of searches via the YP – Local Search & Gas Prices app, also found schedule flexibility and sight-seeing are the two most appealing benefits of taking a road trip versus flying.

YP's research also found that Americans view oil companies and the U.S. government as having the most influence on gas prices; Boston and Austin lead other U.S. cities in preparing for Memorial Day road trips; and mobile searches for gas prices peak in August, suggesting more Americans are taking road trips later in the summer.

Other key findings include:

When choosing a gas station during trips, easy entry and exit trump brand of fuel and amenities

Besides price, being able to conveniently get in and out of a station matters most in determining where road trippers purchase gas (39 percent). Factors less often cited in the consumer survey as most important include the food and beverage options available at a station (21 percent), the brand of gasoline sold (19 percent) and the appearance of the station itself (13 percent).

Control over travel schedule and sight-seeing are lead benefits of road trips over flying

When surveyed to compare driving versus flying, Americans find greater flexibility in schedule (35 percent) and sight-seeing (33 percent) as the two most appealing benefits of taking a trip by automobile, besides price, instead of by plane. These responses were followed by the ability to easily take more stuff with you (11 percent), avoiding crowds and security lines (9 percent), and the ability to more easily take pets (7 percent).

Top U.S. cities preparing for summer road trips

Boston saw the largest increase in gas price searches between the week of Memorial Day 2012 and the preceding two weeks than any other city (54 percent), followed by Seattle (13 percent), Atlanta (11 percent) and Chicago (10 percent), according to data from mobile searches on the YP – Local Search & Gas Prices app. During that same period, many Americans looked to get their cars ready to hit the road, and Austin led the cities seeing the highest increases in searches for auto repair businesses (243 percent), followed by Atlanta (153 percent), Cincinnati (122 percent), Sacramento (78 percent) and Colorado Springs (70 percent).

When do people pay the most attention to gas prices?

According to data from mobile searches on the YP – Local Search & Gas Prices app, the highest number of searches for nearby gas prices during summer 2012 took place in August (22 percent), and the top five days seeing the highest volume of gas price searches all came in August and September, suggesting that more Americans are taking road trips in the second half of the summer closer to back-to-school season. August was followed by July (21 percent), then June and September (both 20 percent), and May (17 percent) in volume of gas price searches. August 28, 2012 marked the single highest daily volume of gas price searches during the summer. To date in 2013, more searches for gas prices occur on Friday than any other day of the week, and Sunday sees the lowest number of gas price searches. The survey found most Americans (61 percent) purchase gas when their gas meter approaches the quarter of a tank mark, and one out of every five Americans typically do not buy gas until the "low fuel" indicator light comes on.

Americans see oil companies and U.S. government as heaviest influencers of gas prices

Petroleum companies are viewed by the largest number of Americans (30 percent) as holding the strings when it comes to gas prices, followed closely by the U.S. government (28 percent), the consumer survey revealed. Few Americans (7 percent) believe consumers of gas in the U.S. have the most influence, and only 2 percent believe consumer demand in other countries has the most influence. College graduates are more likely to say that petroleum companies have the most influence than those without a college degree (40 percent versus 27 percent), who are more likely to say that the U.S. government has the most influence.

Data was produced from YP – Local Search & Gas Prices app and a May 2013 omnibus survey, a national survey of 1,000 men and women ages 18 and older.

SINGAPORE

Singapore has emerged as the only Asian city in the Top Ten Convention Cities in the world, alongside Vienna, Madrid, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona, according to the latest Global Rankings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and also maintained its position as Asia’s Top Convention City for 11 years running.

 In 2012, Singapore hosted a record of 150 ICCA events, the highest so far, representing a 5.6 percent increase from 142 in 2011, compared to the 4.4 percent increase from 2010 to 2011.

The accolade comes after a healthy year for Singapore tourism as the country welcomed a record-high 14.4 million visitors in 2012, an increase of nine percent from 2011.

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

The Hotel Group (THG) has announced the completion of a multi-million dollar transformational renovation of the new DoubleTree by Hilton-South Bend in South Bend, Ind., located at 123 North Saint Joseph Street.

The makeover encompasses all 291 guestrooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space of the former Marriott property as well as corridors, lobby and atrium; mechanical and HVAC functions throughout the hotel also received updates. The newly re-branded hotel boasts a Starbucks store and new restaurant concept, Baker’s Bar and Grille, which offers a classic American menu, daily drink specials and Studebaker-themed decor.

Located in the heart of downtown South Bend, DoubleTree by Hilton-South Bend overlooks the St. Joseph River and is minutes from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, the Studebaker National Museum and Potawatami Zoo.

NEW YORK, N.Y.

Findings from a new Harris Poll reveal a number of preferences, pet peeves and other insights on today’s air travelers. Findings show, for example, that among Americans who travel by commercial airline once or more per year, many are looking for personal space to stretch out in-flight, with 58% willing to pay for extra legroom on a longer flight (3+ hours) and over half (53%) willing to shell out to avoid the middle seat on such a flight.

The Harris Poll of 2,276 U.S. adults was conducted online from March 13-18, 2013 by Harris Interactive. It revealed that Alaska/Horizon Airlines seems to be a preferred airline for many, as it was named Brand of the Year in the full service airline category in the 2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study, followed by Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Airlines. Southwest was the 2013 Value Airline Brand of the Year for the third consecutive year in the Harris Poll EquiTrend Study.

Many flyers seem to be unhappy with the amount of personal space on airplanes, with the aforementioned majority (58%) willing to pay extra for additional legroom on a long flight and half of fliers (50%) indicating that it would be worth having a chatty seatmate to be in a seat with extra legroom. When asked to select their top two amenities on a flight, the most desired choice was a window or aisle seat (53%), followed by extra legroom (35%).

Women (59%) are more likely than men (48%) to choose a window or aisle seat as among the most important amenities.

Men (28%) are twice as likely as women (14%) to select in-flight Wi-Fi as a top amenity.

Click here for the full story from Harris Interactive.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/HarrisPolls/tabid/447/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/mid/1508/ArticleId/1194/Default.aspx

Overland Park, Ks.

True North Hotel Group has opened a 126-room Hampton Inn & Suites in Henrietta, N.Y., a suburb of Greater Rochester. The hotel is close to the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Strong Memorial Hospital, Highland Park Marketplace Mall and the Fingerlakes Region, and is five miles from the Greater Rochester International Airport and six miles from downtown Rochester.

Located on Clay Road just off the New York thruway (I-90), the new Hampton Inn & Suites has close access to shopping, restaurants and retail areas.

The new Hampton Inn & Suites features amenities such as a free hot breakfast, modern fitness facility, 24-hour business center, 1,000 square feet of versatile meeting space and indoor swimming pool.

HUNT VALLEY, Md.

Laurus Corporation has announced the acquisition of the 392-room Hunt Valley Inn, Md., for an undisclosed amount. The hotel will immediately embark on a $10 million renovation and conversion to a Wyndham Grand Hotel. Laurus has appointed Concord Hospitality Enterprises to operate the hotel.

The Hunt Valley Inn’s renovation will touch all aspects of the guest experience and includes upgrades to the 33,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, indoor and outdoor pre-function areas, including a new event lawn, guest room upgrades, and a re-imagined restaurant and lounge. During the renovation, the hotel will operate as a Wyndham affiliate, giving business travelers the added benefits of a major brand affinity program.

To make an immediate impact to the guest experience, the initial phases of the renovation will focus on upgrading the sense of arrival, such as expanding the Wi-Fi capacity. Refurbishment plans also will focus on upgrading the exterior, expanding the meeting space, adding an outdoor pavilion, and converting a percentage of the renovated guest rooms to an upscale concierge’s level.

The Hunt Valley Inn also is just minutes from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the Baltimore National Aquarium, University of Maryland Baltimore, the Maryland Zoo, Camden Yards and the Baltimore Convention Center.

CHICAGO

The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) will showcase over 50 new exhibitors at the 2013 show, June 11-13, which includes a broad range of global participants from the travel, hospitality, destinations, incentives and meetings industry.

New exhibitors participating at AIBTM for the first time include United Airlines, Savoya Global Chauffeured Services, Visit Savannah, Travizon Meeting Management, Sonesta Collection, The Breakers, Monte Carlo SBM-Hotels & Casinos, Detroit Metro CVB, Sustainable Travel/Namibia Tourism Board, Poken, Tropicana Las Vegas, Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Monaco Government & Tourist Convention Authority, Park City CVB, Jordan Tourism Board, Malaga CVB, Sun Country Airlines and many others from across the globe.

AIBTM has also announced that keynoting this year’s theme “Defining the Future of Meetings…Together,” will be J. Walker Smith, principal of The Futures Company, who has been chosen to kick off AIBTM’s 2013 exhibition on June 11th.  He will present data and insights that demonstrate the continued value of face-to-face relationships in the current “kinship economy,” even in a digital age.    

Leading off day two will be renowned national speaker Seth Mattison, with a keynote presentation titled “Rocking the Workplace: Managing and Leading the Four Generations.”  At 8:30 a.m. on June 12, Mattison will present fresh research and case studies that highlight what it takes to attract and retain the best and brightest talent of every age.   

AIBTM 2013 takes place from June 11 – 13 at McCormick Place in Chicago. To find out more, visit www.aibtm.com

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont.

‘Cabineering,’ a new lodging concept offered in West Yellowstone, aims to provide the comforts of home and the perks of a hotel for adventurous travelers in remote areas. Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, a 50-cabin property, is scheduled to open July 1. Explorer Cabins will provide a unique vacation experience by combining several lodging trends, including cabineering, "generational travel" and dog-friendly travel.

The self-catering cabins are located just minutes away from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park and a short drive from the Old Faithful Geyser, and are clustered in five distinct natural camp settings to encourage a sense of community for groups traveling together. The five camps are named after early pioneers and explorers of Yellowstone National Park, namely Washburn, Colter, Bridger, Russell, and Langford.

The Explorer Cabins are the first newly built lodging option in West Yellowstone since the Delaware North Parks & Resorts-owned-and-operated Yellowstone Park Hotel was established in 2007. Delaware North also owns and operates Gray Wolf Inn and Suites and the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone.

About the Cabins:

 •Three designs are available - Montana, Old Faithful and Yellowstone:

•The Montana Cabins accommodate up to four people, and consist of one large room with two queen-size beds. Guests can connect two adjoining cabins through an interior doorway. There are 10 Montana Cabins, which offer five possible inter-connecting cabins.

•The Old Faithful Cabins accommodate up to four people and contain one king size bed in a private bedroom, as well as a living room area with a sleeper sofa. Two of the 10 Old Faithful Cabins are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

•The Yellowstone Cabins accommodate up to six people and include two private bedrooms with one king bed in the master suite. Twenty cabins feature a queen bed in the second bedroom, and 10 cabins feature a twin over twin bunk bed in the second bedroom. Features in Every Cabin Include: •A fireplace, a front porch with a sitting area, private bathrooms, and a kitchenette.

•Modern amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi, a flat-screen HDTV, premium cable, wireless telephone, and alarm clock/MP3 player are provided.

•Artwork created by local artists featuring Yellowstone National Park or West Yellowstone is displayed in every cabin.

Additional Amenities:

 •Located in the Bridger Camp, The Bridger Cookhouse is open for dinner daily. It offers a variety of burgers and sides, including beef, bison, salmon, turkey, or veggie.

•Guests will be greeted with supplies for making S'mores, which they can use at one of five gas-lit fire pits on the property.

•Two hot tubs are located on the property. One hot tub is available in the Washburn Camp, another in the Coulter Camp.

•Guests of the Explorer Cabins may also use the pool, hot tub, fitness center, and laundry facilities at the nearby Yellowstone Park Hotel.

CHICAGO

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is set to deliver a series of seminars at AIBTM (www.aibtm.com), which are dedicated to supporting the corporate meeting planners of the future. AIBTM is slated to kick off on June 11 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

 The seminar program will build on the strategic partnership that was formed between the IBTM Global Events Portfolio and PCMA in 2010. PCMA is responsible for delivering a corporate education stream at each of the IBTM Events, which are held annually across the globe (www.ibtmevents.com).

PCMA will kick off the corporate program with The Corporate Meeting Planner of the Future, which will take place in room W190A at 10:00 am. The session, presented by Greg Bogue, Experience Architect, Maritz Travel Company, will explore the why-to and how-to of enhancing attendees strategic value as a meeting professional in a corporate environment.

The key objective of this session will be to ‘build’ the planner of the future and ensure attendees walk away with a personal plan to move to the next level. The seminar will achieve this through supporting meetings industry professionals to understanding the interconnectivity between strategy, the planning process and the meeting experience. It will also explore best practice for transferring business strategies into meeting and event strategies.

In the second session delivered as part of the corporate education stream; PCMA will combine forces with the Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association (HCEA), to share key findings from the organization’s State of the Industry report, which will offer specific insights for medical convention organizers and exhibit marketing personnel.

Healthcare Convention Trends – What Medical Meeting Planners Need to Know will be presented by Jacqueline Beaulieu, Executive Vice President, Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association and will run from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm in room W190A.

The final session to be delivered by PCMA at AIBTM 2013 will explore Conferences and Trade Shows On the Go. From 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Terence R. Donnelly, CMP, Vice President, Sales, Experient and Heidi Voorhees, Senior Vice President, Experient will explore the future of mobile technologies and the impact this will have on event attendee experiences.

In addition to the seminar series, PCMA will be running Executive Edge at AIBTM from 09:00 am – 5:00 pm in room W195. The session, hosted by Maurice Schweitzer, Associate Professor of Operations and Information Management at the University of Pennsylvania, is a highly structured and interactive workshop, with a dynamic negotiation skills program, which has been specifically designed to sharpen business acumen.

PCMA’s Executive Edge program has been created for senior level professionals with an average of 15 years of experience. Registration fees apply, for further information visit www.aibtm.com/en/Sessions/2029/PCMA-Executive-Edge

To view the full education program line up at AIBTM, visit the education tab via www.aibtm.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has just launched their “ALHI Private Sale” for 2013. Available exclusively through ALHI for new business booked at participating ALHI member hotels and resorts for 2013, the “Sale” is designed to assist meeting professionals, association executives, incentive specialists, business executives, and the organizations they serve, to save on their 2013 programs.

The “ALHI Private Sale” provides to new business one complimentary room for every 30 rooms booked and actualized between June 1 and December 31, 2013. The program must have a minimum of a three-night stay, and 30 rooms or more on peak night. 

ALHI is a dues-based Global Sales Organization (GSO) which serves the North American meetings, conventions and incentive marketplace with its Global Sales responsibilities for its diverse and distinctive membership of more than 140 Four- and Five-Diamond quality hotels and resorts worldwide. 

For more information on the “ALHI Private Sale,” and for a list of participating ALHI hotels and resorts, visit www.alhi.com.

LAKE CHARLES, La.

L'Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La., a Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. property, held a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony today to announce the completion of a more than $20 million hotel room renovation project. Phase two of the renovation will begin in September to complete renovation of the remaining hotel tower rooms and suites in the first half of 2014.

The updated hotel rooms aim to present a blend of comfort, convenience and elegance. Amenities include oversized flat panel televisions, luxury bedding, pillow top mattresses, plush carpeting and more. Floor to ceiling windows offer views of the tropical pool area, Contraband Bayou or the golf course.

The renovation includes the addition of two new room categories; Royale and Marquis Suites are larger in size than Luxury Rooms, with sweeping views of Southwest Louisiana. The spacious yet intimate rooms feature upgraded amenities including refrigerators, Keurig brand coffee machines, make-up mirrors and complimentary robes and slippers.

L'Auberge Lake Charles opened in 2005 with 750 hotel rooms and added a 250-room tower in 2008. The unique 26-story hotel complex offers spacious rooms, luxury suites, well-appointed Garden Suites and a private villa complex and is the largest hotel in Louisiana outside of New Orleans. The hotel features a casually elegant design, thoughtful in-room amenities and stunning views of Contraband Bayou or Contraband Bayou Golf Club.

SAN FRANCISCO

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced it will expand its footprint in the Southern California market with the management of a new four-star hotel in Palm Springs.

Slated for a 2015 opening, the new construction, luxury hotel will feature 190 rooms and a rooftop bar and pool—the first of its kind for Palm Springs. Located in the epicenter of the city’s revitalized downtown on North Palm Canyon Drive, the hotel will also offer a chef-driven, destination restaurant and more than 24,000 square feet total event and meeting space, as well as ample views of the Mount San Jacinto State Park.

For Kimpton, the new Palm Springs property represents an expansion of the brand’s presence in Southern California, joining existing hotels in Los Angeles (Hotel Palomar Westwood and the Hotel Wilshire), Santa Barbara (Canary Hotel) and San Diego (Hotel Solamar, Hotel La Jolla and the Hotel Palomar San Diego).

The annual Skytrax World Airport Awards, based on responses from millions of passengers around the world, have hailed Vancouver International Airport (YVR) as the best airport in North America and Singapore Changi Airport as the best in the world.

This year, nearly 400 airports were rated according to 39 dimensions that included efficiency, comfort, passenger amenities and signage.

Visit Skytrax’s website for the full list of award-winning airports for 2013.

CHICAGO

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Aedes Real Estate and UBM Realitätentwicklung AG announced their affiliates have entered into an agreement for a Hyatt Regency hotel in Amsterdam, which is expected to open in 2015.

Hyatt Regency Amsterdam will be the first Hyatt Regency hotel and the third Hyatt-branded hotel to open in the city, joining the recently opened Andaz Amsterdam and the late-2013 opening of Hyatt Place Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Hyatt Regency Amsterdam will offer 211 guestrooms, including 15 suites. The hotel will feature meeting and ballroom space, a restaurant, a bar and lounge, a fitness center, and a two-treatment room spa.

Hyatt Regency Amsterdam will be located in central Amsterdam between Sarphatistraat and Spinozastraat, and will be surrounded by the Singelgracht canal. The hotel will be in close proximity to many of Amsterdam’s museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Scheepvaart Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. The hotel will be less than half-a-mile from the Weesperplein metro stop and is close to the ring road, which connects all parts of Amsterdam to the national road system.

HONG KONG

Istanbul welcomed its newest luxury hotel with the opening of the Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul on May 11.

The opulent 186-room hotel is the second in Europe for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which hails from the other city where East famously meets West, Hong Kong. Shangri-La brought its Asian "hospitality from the heart" to Paris in 2010 to strong reviews and now adds Istanbul to its growing list of international gateway cities.

Set on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait between the Dolmabahce Palace and Naval Museum, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul overlooks the unfolding panorama of Istanbul's domes and minarets and the green hills of the city's Asian shores. It is located on the site of a former tobacco warehouse from the 1930s. The warehouse's restored, six-storey Neo-Classical facade and two carefully preserved 150- and 350-year-old Sycamore trees in the courtyard give testament to the past.

The hotel takes design cues from the glamorous Dolmabahce Palace with swathes of marble, glittering chandeliers and a mix of European, Asian and Turkish design. A grand staircase wends down the hotel's three-story atrium, transporting guests from the lobby to the elegant ballrooms and other venues below.

The dome-shaped atrium is lit by natural skylight and a massive Bohemian chandelier that rains crystals nearly two stories. Also decorating the atrium is The Garden of Peach Blossoms, a stunning 18-metre-tall silk painting, which was commissioned for the hotel. The hotel showcases more than 1,000 pieces of European and Asian art.

The grand lobby flows into the Lobby Lounge, where classic European bespoke furniture and plush sofas are arranged to create intimate seating areas. Guests can relax to the sound of classical or jazz music and enjoy house-made pastries and more than 100 types of Chinese teas poured by the hotel's tea master. The adjacent Le Bar is a jewel box set off by a stone wall and serves traditional cocktails and spirits, plus tapas and mezzes.

Nearly all of the hotel's 17 suites have private terraces offering beautiful Bosphorus vistas. The ultimate indulgence is the Shangri-La Suite, which has three terraces overlooking the Old City, Asian shores and the Bosphorus Bridge.

MIAMI

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the signing of a new Holiday Inn hotel in Quito, Ecuador. This property brings three IHG-branded hotels to Ecuador including the current Holiday Inn Express Quito hotel, and the upcoming Holiday Inn Guayaquil Airport hotel slated to open next month.

The hotel will be located approximately 22 miles from Quito’s city center and one mile from the new Mariscal Sucre International Airport, built to expand the capacity of the city’s former airport and estimated to serve five million travelers annually with room for future expansion. Surrounded by the Andes Mountains, Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador and a UNESCO World Heritage site, having one of the best-preserved historic city centers in the Americas.

Scheduled to debut in 2016, the four-story hotel will boast a modern facade and design featuring 130 guest rooms. The hotel will be equipped with maximum sound insulation, built to minimize airport noise, and will also feature an array of on-site amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, restaurant, fitness center and 6,000 square feet of meeting space.

McLEAN, Va.

Embassy Suites Hotels and Kemmons Wilson, Inc. broke ground Monday on Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa Downtown, the first property in the area to feature Design Option III, the brand’s latest design concept.

Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2014, the hotel will be the first Embassy Suites in Wilson Hotel Management’s portfolio, bringing 154 suites and more than 5,300 square feet of flexible banquet and meeting facilities to the Tuscaloosa, Ala., area.

Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa Downtown will be constructed and designed in the brand’s Design Option III style, which features a variety of side-by-side suites, shotgun suites and one-room suites in addition to a contemporary atrium area, decreasing the amount of land needed and creating efficiencies for both construction and operational costs. These features also aim to further enhance the guest experience, as there is still a great sense of space and more natural light in guest rooms and public areas like the atrium, while still maintaining all of the offerings that are characteristic of Embassy Suites hotels including free cooked-to-order breakfast and Complimentary Evening Reception.

Duluth, Ga.

May 13, 2013 – The 112-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Duluth, Ga, has just opened its doors for business.

Located 30 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers guests convenient access to the Gwinnett Arena, Mall of Georgia and Discovery Mills Mall.

Additional hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool with a whirlpool spa, an exercise room, valet laundry service, complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as fax and copy services. The hotel also offers three meeting rooms with 2,000 square feet of space.

By Andres Viglucci, courtesy of the Miami Herald

 The two high-powered teams vying to redevelop the obsolete Miami Beach Convention Center will make final public presentations on their proposals Tuesday.

The presentations, which are expected to take all day, will outline in detail how the teams propose to renovate and expand the convention center, add an 800-room hotel, and redevelop its parking lots with a mix of green spaces and residential, cultural and retail buildings. Both teams have agreed to renovate the Jackie Gleason Theater.

The teams will also detail proposed financing schemes and budgets for the project. Both teams are proposing to roughly split the cost between public and private sources.

Each team will get four hours for its presentation.

The Portman-CMC team, led by Atlanta developer Portman Holdings, will go first, at 10:30 a.m. The team includes Danish architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group. The Portman team has proposed a $1.15 billion budget.

The ACE South Beach team, led by Tishman Hotel & Realty of New York, will present at 2:30 p.m. The team includes Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his Office for Metropolitan Architecture. The ACE team has proposed a $1.2 billion budget.

Both presentations will take place at the convention center’s Flamingo Ballroom in Hall C.

The Miami Beach City Commission is expected to select the winner in June.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/14/3395726/two-teams-vying-for-miami-beach.html#storylink=cpy

TELLURIDE, Colo.

Telluride Ski & Golf Resort (TelSki) has announced the purchase of Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride, Colo. TelSki will own as well as operate the inn, an iconic and award-winning address set in the Mountain Village section of Telluride at a top ski-in/ski-out location..

Inn at Lost Creek opened in 1998, and has become known for a hip vibe, lux amenities and privacy, and the ski-in/ski-out convenience. Inn at Lost Creek was named last year to Condé Nast Traveler's 2013 Gold List of the World's Best Places to Stay, as well as ranked among the top 50 ski hotels in North America in the magazine's annual Readers' Choice Awards.

Inn at Lost Creek is the first hotel to be owned and operated by TelSki, which owns and operates the Telluride Golf Course, nine dining outlets, six retail stores, Telluride Ski & Golf Club, several scenic private event venues, and manages the Telluride Conference Center. TelSki was named the #1 Ski Resort in America for 2012 by Condé Nast Traveler.

Private developers announced plans on Wednesday for a 48,000 square-foot conference center and 200-room hotel at a former refinery site in Casper — more than a year after consultants recommended a center farther east in the city’s downtown.

Plans to build on part of the former Amoco refinery site, now known as the Platte River Commons, received initial approval from the Amoco Reuse Agreement Joint Powers Board. But developers must still meet a number of contingencies to make the project a reality.

“We believe that the Platte River Commons is the best site for this project because of all the things that are already over here and the ways that we think that it will infill,” Richie Bratton said.

He and Dick Bratton, of Refined Properties LLC, updated the plan they first presented in 2011. The real estate development company, which manages land in the Platte River Commons and Salt Creek Heights Business Center, submitted one of three proposals for a conference center that year.

The varied project plans prompted the city of Casper to seek a market study, which the Strategic Advisory Group, a consulting firm, completed last year. The group recommended a 200-room hotel and conference center with a ballroom that could serve more than 1,000 people. Consultants estimated the project to cost $42 million, which would have been funded with a mix of private and public funds.

When that plan failed to receive enough Casper City Council support this spring, the Brattons partnered with Narender Taneja, of JJM Group Hotels, to renew their proposal. They plan to build a Crowne Plaza hotel and conference center on 17 acres of what’s known as the Opportunity Area of the Platte River Commons, leaving a few acres on either side to be developed.

 “It will increase the other property values and enable us to be able to transition the property that we have into assets that we could use in other ways too,” joint powers board member Laura Angelo said Wednesday.

The hotel is estimated to cost $24 million and the convention center is estimated at $14 million, for a total cost of $38 million. The joint powers board agreed to sponsor an application for a $5 million Wyoming Business Council grant for infrastructure costs, pending city and county support. Members also authorized a $6 million loan commitment for JJM Group Hotels, which depends on the grant and agreement to terms that have yet to be negotiated.

In addition to the joint powers board’s loan and WBC grant, Dick Bratton said the city of Casper has tentatively agreed to lease the land, paying $2.6 million up front and then leasing it to the hotelier for $100,000 a year at a 2 percent return on investment.

JJM Group Hotels will be responsible for $23 million in private funding, and the developers expect to receive $2 million to $4 million for naming rights.

The conference center will have a ballroom that would serve 1,500 people and flex space that could be broken down into smaller rooms. The hotel would feature a public restaurant, spa and outdoor area facing the North Platte River. Shuttle services would also be offered to local attractions.

The plan meets the consultant recommendations in all but one regard. It is not downtown.

The commons consists of 340 acres west of downtown, bordered by Poplar and 13th streets and the North Platte River. It is a former industrial area, which Dick Bratton said could present a challenge.

 “We are in a little bit of a brownfield site,” he said. “When we get digging that type of an area, we’ll probably find a few unknowns, but we have in all of the projects.”

Bratton said construction would begin in the fall and the project can be completed in two years pending the business council grant.

Reach city reporter Kelly Byer at 307-266-0639 or kelly.byer@trib.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyByer.

Five air traffic control towers in Washington state, part of 149 across the country that were slated to be closed due to federal government spending cuts, will remain open, at least until Sept. 30.

In a statement Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Federal Aviation Administration will transfer sufficient funds to end employee furloughs and keep the 149 towers originally slated for closure in June open for the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

In Washington state, the five towers are located at Olympia Regional Airport, Renton Municipal Airport, Felts Field Airport in Spokane, Tacoma Narrows Airport and Yakima Air Terminal/McAlllister Field.

BRISTOL, Conn.

 DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the opening of a new hotel in Bristol, Conn. Formerly a Clarion hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol, Connecticut opens following a 13-month and more than $20 million renovation.

Less than a mile from ESPN headquarters and ESPN Plaza, the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol unveils a new design in its transformed setting. Custom artwork highlights the newly renovated lobby, and the hotel’s 141 guest rooms are enhanced by contemporary upgrades. A brand-new five-story, 19-suite tower offers a separate, more private entrance for guests.

Guests at the hotel can enjoy all-day dining at The Willows restaurant, featuring a farm-fresh menu of seasonal New American fare and an extensive wine list with boutique selections from around the world. The hotel’s Time Out sports bar features a seasonal menu of light bites made with local, fresh ingredients, and 12 of the finest craft beers from all over the country. The two new dining venues feature menus created by award-winning Executive Chef Leo C. Bushey, III.

The hotel also features more than 7,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, an indoor heated swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour business center and complimentary WiFi internet access for all guests throughout the hotel.

ENID, Ok.

The Enid Event Center in Oklahoma is now slated for a ribbon cutting on June 12 for its grand opening. The new facility is a full service, multi-purpose venue serving the region with the capability to host events ranging from concerts and sporting events to family shows and consumer shows.

Enid Event Center construction began in early 2012. The 73,000 square-foot facility, managed by Global Spectrum, has a seating capacity of over 3,000 for shows and concerts.

PITTSBURGH, PA

Ultima Hospitality has announced the purchase and planned enhancement of DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Airport. The 135-room hotel is located near the airport and 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.

The property will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation to revitalize the public spaces, meeting spaces, guest rooms and restaurant beginning in the third quarter of 2013.

DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Airport provides complimentary nonstop airport shuttle service. The hotel features a 24-hour fitness center, heated indoor pool and whirlpool, 24-hour business center, complimentary WiFi for all guests and 14,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space. The hotel also offers a spacious outdoor landscaped terrace, two ballrooms, multiple breakout rooms and a dedicated boardroom for meetings and events.

The hotel is also home to Jacksons Restaurant-Rotisserie-Bar, serving a wide variety of seasonal American cuisine with an international flair. Guests may watch food being prepared in the restaurant’s display kitchen, which features a wood-burning grill, brick oven and rotisserie, or relax and catch a game in booths complete with private plasma screens.

NEW YORK, N.Y.

W New York - Union Square has unveiled the completion of a multi-layered renovation project that aims to merge traditional and contemporary styles in the heart of one of Manhattan’s liveliest neighborhoods.

The transformation includes a full re-design of the hotel’s 270 guestrooms and top suites, W Living Room, Todd English’s iconic Olives New York, and destination bar Lilium by Gerber Group (previously Underbar). Inspired by the neighborhood’s junction of uptown and downtown New York City, the renovation also preserves original design details of the landmark 1911 Beaux Arts building, including its turn-of-the century Great Room, with 23-foot high gilded ceilings and grand windows, which was restored late last year.

The hotel offers almost 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y.

DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the opening of its newest hotel in New York with the DoubleTree by Hilton Binghamton. Formerly the Riverwalk Hotel and Conference Center, the property experienced significant damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

Following the completion of a two year, multi-million dollar renovation, the property has transformed into an upscale, full-service hotel owned by Alfred Weissman Real Estate and operated by the Newport Hospitality Group.

The 207-room hotel now features elegantly designed suites with sprawling views of Downtown Binghamton and the Chenango River. The hotel also offers 32,000 square feet of expansive conference space including a courtyard and outdoor garden terrace, ideal for weddings and outdoor events. The flexible meeting space can allow for up to 17 breakout rooms, and includes the Serling Room—an amphitheater-style lecture room that can accommodate up to 50 guests.

Just 10 miles from Greater Binghamton Airport, the hotel offers easy access to the area’s historic, cultural and scenic offerings, including the historic Forum Theatre and a wide array of shops, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and nightspots. Visitors can enjoy a stroll alongside the Chenango River on the Binghamton River Trail or explore nearby attractions, including NYSEG Stadium, the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Roberson Museum, Binghamton Zoo, Binghamton University and Broome Community College.

LAS VEGAS

 Las Vegas' Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino has announced that 380 redesigned Samba suites are now officially on sale. Located in the resort's notable Masquerade Tower, the fresh accommodations are available just in time for Vegas-goers to book their summer vacations.

The renovated designs, inspired by the lively, rhythmical Brazilian dance, aim to put guests in a festive mood. Energizing hues of teal and orange are incorporated throughout the 600-square-foot suite with patterned carpets, dark wood furnishings, brushed chrome fixtures, a 32-inch flat screen television and upgraded bathrooms featuring granite countertops, tile flooring and a walk-in shower.

Amenities at Rio include VooDoo Beach Pool,  featuringreal sand beaches, cascading waterfalls, four swimming pools and five whirlpool spas. Two outdoor bars offer a selection of specialty cocktails made by some of the city's top flair bartenders.

The property also offers 160,000 square feet of event space that includes 83 meeting rooms.

DENVER

Following nearly $10 million in property-wide capital improvements, the former Loews Denver Hotel is slated to reopen this fall as Hyatt Place Denver/Cherry Creek.

The new property will offer:

•  194 well-appointed guestrooms, all of which will feature a 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed®, a sectional sofa

• King guestrooms will feature walk-in showers

• Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel

• A fitness center

•  Complimentary a.m. Kitchen Skillet, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, premium coffee and an assortment of juices

• 3,000 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting/function space

• 24/7 Gallery Menu serving made-to-order entrees and appetizers around the clock

• Intimate Bakery Café featuring specialty coffees, premium beers, wines and cocktails

Hyatt Place Denver/Cherry Creek will be the third hotel in the Denver area for the Hyatt Place brand. The newest location will offer close proximity to downtown Denver, as well as the upscale Cherry Creek area. The hotel will also be within walking distance to the Infinity Park and will be less than five miles from the University of Denver and the Denver Botanic Gardens.