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As the lodging sector rebounds from the construction slowdown of the early 2000s, construction spending has boomed in 2007. As of August 2007, construction spending in lodging was up 64 percent from 2006, while material costs seem to be increasing at a slower rate and labor remains available in most areas, making for a relatively strong year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America's October Construction Inflation Alert.

Q What notable projects is R.D. Olson working on in the western U.S.?

Parsippany, N.J.– RCI, a vacation exchange company, announced a series of enhancements to its RCI Points program.

Finding real-estate for timeshare and other vacation-ownership developments has been challenging over the last few years as land best suited for resorts in popular destinations was snapped up by other developers.

The development decision to invest in a property through renovation or build from scratch is never easy, but often is made by existing factors of a property or location, according to hotel developers.

The majority of business travelers find a premium quality mattress and premium quality bed linen extremely or very important features when selecting a hotel, motel or resort for business travel.

Hilton to join Blackstone empire Jul 5, 2007 By: Stacey Mieyal Higgins

Beverly Hills, Calif.—In a July 3 announcement, Hilton Hotels Corp. entered into an agreement to be acquired by The Blackstone Group. Steven Bollenbach, co-chairman and c.e.o. (who is retiring at the end of the year and will be succeeded by Matthew Hart, current president and c.o.o.), said in a conference call the purchase price represents an excellent value for shareholders.

There are many decisions to make when selecting a vehicle for guest transportation needs. The process usually begins with a custom chassis, which is taken to an upfitter who adds the body—seats, doors, frame and accessories.

They are here. They are buying, selling and spending. Our industry has attracted some powerful new owners—real-estate companies. They are playing the numbers—adding and subtracting hotel portfolios, often in large chunks. They are not afraid to spend money to improve the value of their assets, and our industry is benefiting in some less-noticed ways.

National Report?Marriott International, Hilton Hotels Corp., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and others have increasingly staked out turf in mixed-use developments.

Year after year, in all kinds of surveys of meeting professionals, one of their biggest complaints is cold calls by suppliers. Generally, sales personnel from hotels and other meeting venues get on the phone (and even e-mail) with planners to ask if they have meetings, then try to make a sales pitch to use their facilities. Meeting planners say this is a waste of their time, and that salespeople should be in a position to find out more about them before they make calls or send e-mails.

The trend is unmistakable—generations X and Y are driving change in the hotel industry. Make no mistake, their parents' hotel won't cut it with the new generation. More travelers are demanding not just a bed, but an individualized "experience." Expectations are shifting, and some hotel companies are responding by trying to tweak their product to meet those demands. More prevalent, however, is the launching of new brands that cater to the younger, more hip guest.

Palm Desert, Calif.–In case there was any doubt among franchisees, executives for Ramada Inns Worldwide hammered home a clear message during the brand's annual conference.

New York–It's going to be a great summer, according to Richard Kelleher, chairman and c.e.o. of Pyramid Advisors LLC. And some say good times should hang on even longer.

What jams or preserves do you wish with your toast this morning?" the waiter asked me as the ship plowed through the Atlantic headed for New York.

San Francisco–The relationships between hotels and guests are critical to success, and when it comes to deals between hotel companies, relationships are just as important. The purchase of the former Adam's Mark Jacksonville (Fla.) in May 2005 by Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group LLC led to the company buying the entire Adam's Mark chain.

The majority of business travelers find a premium quality mattress and premium quality bed linen extremely or very important features when selecting a hotel, motel or resort for business travel.

New York—Stressing that relief from stress is the bedrock of their industry's growth, more than 150 spa executives met in May to discuss and strategize critical issues at the first Global Spa Summit.

When a refrigerator is kept in proper operating condition, the refrigeration system does not have to work as hard to remove heat from inside the unit, according to Randy Augustine, product manager–reach-ins, Hoshizaki America.