Thursday, August 29, 2013

Carolina Beach Hotels Suites|"Blackstone In Talks To Buy Stake In Hotels Once Owned"

Source             :   irishtimes.com
Category         :   Carolina Beach Hotels Suites
By                   :   Former Berkley Court
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels Suites

Blackstone Group is in talks to buy a 25 per cent stake in three hotels once owned by now-bankrupt developer Sean Dunne in Ballsbridge, Dublin. The real estate, once Ireland’s most expensive, is being sold by the administrators of the UK unit of failed Icelandic lender Kaupthing Bank hf, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Ltd.’s administrators, EY, declined to comment on the transaction. A spokesman for Blackstone, the biggest manager of private-equity real estate funds, also declined to comment.

Mr Dunne bought the former Berkeley Court, the Towers and Jurys Hotel in 2005 for about €380 million. At the time it was the highest price per acre paid for sites in Ireland. His banks, Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc’s Ulster Bank, Rabobank and Kaupthing, took control of the hotels in 2009 after planning authorities refused Dunne permission to redevelop the 6.8-acre site amid a real-estate market collapse. The UK Treasury put Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander into administration in the UK in 2008 as it went into default. Mr Dunne was declared bankrupt in Ireland’s High Court last month. Blackstone is among a wave of US investors, including Kennedy-Wilson Holdings and Oaktree Capital Group, to snap up Irish real-estate assets in the past two years. Blackstone, based in New York, bought the 501-bedroom Burlington Hotel in the same district in November for €67 million from Lloyds Banking Group. That’s less than a quarter of the €288 million an Irish real-estate developer Bernard McNamara paid for the property in 2007. McNamara was declared bankrupt in the UK last year.

Source:irishtimes.com/business/sectors/commercial-property/blackstone-in-talks-to-buy-stake-in-hotels-once-owned-by-dunne-1.1509702

Carolina Beach Hotels Suites|"Halal Hotels Lure Turks"

Source             :   hurriyetdailynews.com
Category         :   Carolina Beach Hotels Suites
By                   :   ISTANBUL
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels Suites

Alternative holidays in halal hotels in Turkey have been drawing the attention of Turkish people, rather than Arab tourists, according to sector professionals.Local tourists make up a major proportion of visitors who prefer alternative holidays, Seval Tur General Manager Ömer Solmaz said in a telephone interview with the Hürriyet Daily News yesterday. Solmaz said Turks living abroad were the second largest group choosing these hotels, while other Muslims in European countries and Russia were interested in alternative holidays despite their share in total visitor numbers in Turkey being relatively low.The hotels offer their visitors separate swimming pools and beaches for women and men, along with halal food and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Solmaz said people who generally want to have a holiday with their family in an alcohol-free environment prefer such Muslim-friendly hotels, particularly adding that women tend to feel “more comfortable” there. “Veiled women are able to wear swimsuits or bikinis while they swim in separate pools, or in the sea off separate beaches. In addition, some unveiled women prefer these hotels, in order to avoid being disturbed by the attitude of some men,” he said. A representative from Yörünge Turizm told the Daily News that Arab tourists generally preferred normal hotels in the southern provinces in summer. “This is because they are already living in conservative countries. When they come to Turkey, they’re looking for something different,” he said. The hotels serve at almost full capacity in the summer season, except during the month of Ramadan, when the capacity falls to around 50 percent. “The people who prefer alternative holidays are usually prayerful. They can’t swim while they’re fasting. That’s why the occupancy rates fall during Ramadan,” Solmaz said, adding that some hotels were lighting the beaches at nights for their Ramadan visitors, who sometimes wanted to swim after the fasting breaking iftar meal.he alternative holiday has been a rising trend over the last decade of Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule, according to sector players. While there are currently only around 50 hotels for alternative holidays in Turkey (approximately 30 halal hotels and 20 thermal hotels), it seems like their number will increase.

Muslim-friendly hotels are particularly located in the southern, Aegean, northwestern and Black Sea regions, while thermal hotels are generally in interior provinces.“Thermal hotels are for health tourism. They don’t have alcohol drinks for health reasons, but they have become a part of alternative holidays over time,” Seçim Aydın, the president of Anatolia Tourism Enterprises Association, told the Daily News. He also added that some places in plateaus in the Black Sea region had started to offer alternative holidays.“Alternative holidays are appropriate for Islamic tendencies,” Aydın said. “These hotels’ profit margins and occupancy rates are higher than the others. As long as this profitability continues, investments in this sector will continue under this government’s rule.” The prices per person, per night range between 25 euros and 220 euros in alternative holiday hotels.

Source:hurriyetdailynews.com/halal-hotels-lure-turks-not-arabs.aspx?pageID=238&nid=53422

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Beach Hotels In Carolina|"Date With Wrecking Ball At Lincolnwood's Purple Hotel"

Source             :    chicagotribune.com
Category         :   Beach Hotels In Carolina 
By                   :   Jonathan Bullington
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Beach Hotels In Carolina

The last guests of the long-vacant Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood today will be developers and village officials, who will gather to watch a wrecking ball knock its famed purple bricks into a pile of rubble. "It's sort of bittersweet for me and for everybody in the community to see it go, but also looking forward to the future," said Neal Stein, a principal at North Capital Group. Stein and company plan to transform the hotel property and adjacent parcels at Lincoln and Touhy avenues into something that resembles a central business district for the near north suburb. Plans call for restaurants, retail, office and public space and a new hotel — that won't be purple. Built in the early 1960s by the Hyatt company and designed by architect John Macsai — who officials said will attend its demolition — the Purple Hotel was once a destination for celebrity guests. Perry Como, Roberta Flack and Barry Manilow all checked in at one point. Michael Jordan supposedly spent his first night in Chicago at the hotel after being drafted by the Bulls in 1984.

But its history is not as bright as its bricks. In the 1980s, a reputed mobster and associate of the late Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa was reportedly gunned down in the parking lot by a masked man. And in the 2008 corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, political "fixer" Stuart Levine testified to taking part in frequent drug binges at the hotel. By 2007, complaints of rodents, mold and other code violations forced Lincolnwood officials to seek a court order closing the hotel's doors. The village later gained court permission to demolish the hotel, awarding a $1.1 million contract for the work 2011. Then North Capital Group stepped in, purchasing the site last year with renovation plans that would have spared the building and converted it into a boutique hotel with banquet and restaurant facilities. New retail and office space also were contemplated in the original plan.

Initial plans were submitted and meetings held in early 2013, but Stein said the financial projections and site constraints didn't add up. The hotel's location in the middle of the property left little room for additional development on the site, he said. "It just didn't make economic sense to put that amount of money in a 50-year-old structure," he said. "No matter how nice we could have made it, it just wouldn't have allowed us to give people what they want today." Some village officials have seen preliminary plans for the new development, said Timothy Wiberg, Lincolnwood village manager. "Their problem keeping the building up was it was really difficult to use the remainder of the site," he said. "What they're doing now is taking much fuller advantage of that property and developing it in a more intensive nature."

Wiberg said the main concern of the village has always been in seeing the "prime site" redeveloped from a vacant safety hazard to an economic engine for the village. Officials had been willing to spare the hotel from a wrecking ball, he said, but the new direction more closely represents what the village envisioned for the property. Those purple bricks may not fade into history, though, as several thousand of them await possible inclusion in the new development, Stein said. "The architects haven't designed what it will be — maybe in a fountain or a walking path," he said. "But we'll definitely want to include some remembrance of the past building in the new development."

About 2,000 of the bricks were at Lincolnwood Fest 2013 earlier this month, where for a suggested $5 donation owners could own a piece of the hotel. Proceeds went to the village's public library, Stein said. Nearly $6,000 was raised, he said. The lines of people waiting to get their hands on a brick surprised Stein. 

"It reminded me that this hotel played a significant role in Lincolnwood and the northern suburbs for so many years," he said.

Source : chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-purple-hotel-20130826,0,121955.story

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Oceanfront Hotels In Carolina|"Phoenix Mills Call Off Management Contract "

Source             :    economictimes.indiatimes.com
Category         :  Oceanfront Hotels In Carolina
By                   :  ET Bureau
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Oceanfront Hotels In Carolina

Hong Kong-based hotel operator Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Mumbai-based Phoenix MillsBSE -2.88 % have 'mutually' agreed to terminate the management contract of the latter's five-star hotel in Mumbai, just nine months after the hotel became operational. "Shangri-La International Hotel Management and Pallazzio Hotels and Leisure have mutually decided to end their relationship and Shangri-La will withdraw from the management of the Shangri-La Hotel, Mumbai," a spokesperson for Shangri-La said in response to an email query by ET. Pallazzio Hotels is a subsidiary of Phoenix Mills, which owns the 40-storeyed luxury hotel in the Phoenix Mills compound in Lower Parel, Mumbai. 

Shangri-La will withdraw from the management of the hotel on September 6. "The hotel will be handed over to the owning company on September 6 and will no longer be part of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts," the spokesperson said. Shishir Shrivastava, joint managing director and group chief executive officer of Phoenix Mills, confirmed the development. Both Pallazzio and Shangri-La, however, declined to comment on the reason behind the termination of the 20-year contract within nine months. The mutual decision, however, means there will be no penalties involved. "Reasons are confidential and as of now, officially, both the parties have mutually agreed to terminate the contract," Shrivastava said. Pallazzio has now finalised a new operator to manage the 390-room hotel. "We have narrowed down on the new operator we want to work with and as soon as we finalise, we will announce it," he said. 

At present, 223 of the hotel's 390 rooms are operational. The remaining will be made operational in phases. The company has invested over Rs 1,000 crore on the hotel project. "The property will continue to operate as an uber-luxury hotel with several enhancements, new banquet facilities and further the signature restaurant Mekong and Libai Bar will launch as planned by mid-September," Shrivastava said. Phoenix Mills had faced several issues while obtaining environmental clearance for the project, as the construction work of the hotel had commenced before obtaining the mandatory clearances from the State Environment Impact Assessment authority, the three-member committee set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to scrutinise and grant clearance to all major construction projects.

Source:economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/shangri-la-hotels-phoenix-mills-call-off-management-contract-in-mumbai/articleshow/22108903.cms

Oceanfront Hotels In Carolina|"Hotel Room Hacks"

Source             :    huffingtonpost.com
Category         :  Oceanfront Hotels In Carolina
By                   :   Travelzoo
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Oceanfront Hotels In Carolina

When travelers book a hotel room, they can usually count on finding many of the conveniences of home, from clean bedding to tiny shampoos. But for routines that go beyond sleeping and grooming, a hotel room may fall short. These hotel-room hacks will help you transform your sleeping space into a place to keep off extra weight, keep up with your inbox, or keep your kids safe and entertained.You don't need rows of elliptical machines or even a lot of space to keep up your fitness routine on the road. While you probably shouldn't attempt pull-ups on the doorframe or swing around a jump rope, the average hotel room affords plenty of space to do squats, pushups, jumping jacks, crunches, lunges and triceps dips. If your normal workout involves weight training, substitute barbells with resistance bands, which are lightweight and portable enough to fit into any carry-on. You can even use the luggage itself as weight resistance (just don't overdo it--you still have to get it into the overhead bin on the way home).

For a more structured workout, pop a workout DVD into the room's DVD player or your laptop, or find free videos on sites like YouTube and BodyRock, many requiring no equipment except your own body weight.Many hotels have business centers that can provide the conveniences of the office and a distraction-free place to work. But if a room is all you have, then a reliable Internet connection is priority number one. 
Free Wi-Fi is an increasingly common hotel amenity, but some hotels still charge by the hour and even by the device. Frequent business travelers should invest in a Wi-Fi base station like the Apple AirPort Express, which turns a single wired Internet connection into a Wi-Fi hot spot, so you can connect all your devices without extra charges.

Using Skype for business calls can help you avoid racking up cell phone minutes or room-phone charges. For hands-free calls, get a Bluetooth headset and Bluetooth adaptor for your laptop if it doesn't already have one. Groups of coworkers on the road should consider a portable, wireless speaker like Jambox, which can connect to your phone via Bluetooth so you can hold conference calls while ensuring everyone in the room can hear clearly.Some hotels are already equipped with child-friendly gear like cribs and outlet covers -- just call ahead and they'll set everything up before your arrival. For childproofing on the fly, remember: a single roll of masking or duct tape goes a long way. Use it to cover outlets, tape washcloths to sharp corners and keep drawers from closing on curious fingers.

These additional steps will help create a kid-friendly space: remove the plastic bags from trash cans; remove table cloths that can be pulled down; make sure windows are securely locked with furniture moved away; tie up loose cords, like on window blinds, so they're out of reach; unplug electrical devices like hairdryers and coffee pots and keep them in a locked or out-of-reach drawer; check all surfaces for small objects that can be choked on; put away potentially hazardous products like shampoo and mouthwash; and lock balcony doors. Of course, none of these tips will keep away another threat to families: boredom. If bad weather has you stuck indoors, have the kids build a pillow fort, write postcards to friends back home, or hold a treasure hunt with convenience-store finds like candy and stickers hidden around the room.

Source : huffingtonpost.com/travelzoo/hotel-room-hacks_b_3822683.html

Monday, August 26, 2013

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach|"Carolina Tops Lynchburg In Finale"

Source             :    augustafreepress.com
Category         :   Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
By                   :   augustafreepress
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach

The Lynchburg Hillcats late-inning rally came up short in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Mudcats in Friday’s series finale at Five County Stadium.  All four runs came against the Hillcats in the fifth inning.  Josh Elander had three hits in the game including an RBI-single to drive home the Hillcats only run in the eighth.  The Lynchburg bullpen pitched five scoreless innings in the loss.  The Hillcats split the four-game series and finish the eight-game road trip 6-2, dropping a continuation game in Myrtle Beach to start the road swing. Two Hillcats (29-30, 65-63) walks and an error helped along the big four-run fifth that got started on a double by Jerrud Sabourin off the right field wall.  Matt Weaver played the carom perfectly and threw a seed to second just narrowly missing the outfield assist.  Then SP Jose Lugo made an error on a dribbler back to him.  Bryson Myles then came to the plate looking to sacrifice himself but he was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded.  Jordan Smith stepped up and lined a two-run single to right-center to put the Mudcats (31-29, 53-77) ahead.

Brandon Cunniff then entered in relief and allowed the two inherited runners to score on a two-run double by Tony Wolters but was able to strike out the final two batters on strikes to strand two in scoring position and end the inning.  The Mudcats batted around in the inning and all four runs were charged to Lugo (0-1) who failed to record an out in the inning. Nick Pasquale (6-7) meanwhile was dominant in his start for Carolina.  He shut out the Hillcats through seven shutout innings before the Hillcats finally got to him in the eighth.  Two walks and a single loaded the bases and the Mudcats went to the ‘pen, tabbing Louis Head with the bases-loaded, no-out jam.  He got the first two he faced before Elander bounced an RBI-single into left field.  Anthony Nunez tried to score from second on the hit but was cut down at the plate to end the inning.  Head struck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the year. The Hillcats return home to begin a four-game series with Northern Division rival Frederick Keys Saturday night at City Stadium. Gates open at 5pm for the 6:05pm first pitch with the final fireworks show of the season, presented by Courtyard Marriot, coming after the final out.  It’s Fan Appreciation Night at the ballpark as well.

Source : augustafreepress.com/carolina-tops-lynchburg-finale-4-1/

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach|"Enchanted Puerto Rico Beach Wedding On Isla Verde"

Source             :    newsmaker.com.au
Category         :   Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
By                   :   Marketwired
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach

Starting a new life together with the enchantment of a tropical paradise, couples who set their sights on the romantic atmosphere of a destination wedding will fall in love all over again amidst the pristine beaches and impeccable accommodations found at the Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort. Skilled in helping couples with everything needed for a memorable wedding event, this impressive Isla Verde resort features a variety of event venues including a new outdoor terrace overlooking the beach and surrounded by tropical palms. Located just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, the terrace is just one of many options couples can choose from when planning the start of their new life together with a chic Puerto Rico beach wedding.

With white sand beaches at their feet and the glimmering blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean as their backdrop, couples can shroud themselves in the joy of each other knowing that every detail is expertly addressed to ensure a picture-perfect event. Whether seeking the ideal location for an intimate ceremony for 10, an indoor ballroom with windows overlooking the beach or an "open air" venue, this Courtyard by Marriott is fully equipped with 8,000 square feet of endless possibilities as wedding packages can easily be customized to meet individual needs. Expert wedding consultants and professional caterers with expansive menus are seasoned in helping couples determine the best options to fulfill their wedding dreams. From plated dinners and cocktail receptions to seaside buffets, couples can entertain their guests in style with this Isla Verde, Puerto Rico hotel's packages designed to ensure memories that will last a lifetime.


Offering special group rates, wedding guests will enjoy the pampering comforts of this stylish destination which includes a variety of well-appointed guest rooms and spacious suites, all featuring balconies with ocean or partial ocean views. Conveniently located less than a mile from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, the wedding party, family and friends can easily access their accommodations and will appreciate the San Juan beach resort's full-service amenities.

Source : newsmaker.com.au/news/27286

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Carolina Beach Hotels|"Nordic Hotel Magnate Replaces Pay"

Source             :    theguardian.com
Category         :   Carolina Beach Hotels
By                   :   Helen Russell
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC
Carolina Beach Hotels

Scandinavian hotel guests flicking through pay-TV channels may get more (or less) than they bargained for from now on. The Nordic Choice chain has promised to remove pornography from each of its 171 establishments and replace it with contemporary art. The chain's owner, Petter Stordalen, was inspired to take action after becoming involved with Unicef's campaign to help the 1.2 million children who are victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation . He said: "The porn industry contributes to trafficking, so I see it as a natural part of having a social responsibility to send out a clear signal that Nordic Hotels doesn't support or condone this."

The cliche of the travelling businessman coming back to his hotel room and watching porn is the same in Norway as in the rest of the world, admits Stordalen, but he is convinced that this can change. "It may sound shocking or unusual [to remove pay-TV porn], but everyone said that about the ban on smoking. We were the first hotel chain in the world to ban smoking and people thought we were crazy. Now it's totally normal for public spaces to be smoke-free." A well-known philanthropist in Scandinavia, Stordalen is Norwegian's sixth richest man with a net worth of $1.2bn (£772m) according to Forbes magazine. He's passionate about the environment, from chaining himself to Sellafield nuclear treatment plant in protest in 2002, to preserving 100 square metres of rainforest for every night booked by a guest in his hotels, and even converting his Ferrari FF to run on biofuel.

He is also an avid collector. "Art is important to me, but hotel art has always had a bad reputation – cheap paintings that match the sofas and so on," he said. "I wanted to redefine hotel art to be something unique."
Starting with his flagship hotel in Norway's capital, Stordalen has done just that. Each of 121 rooms in Oslo's The Thief is decked out with original artwork, some borrowed from Stordalen's own collection, including a Tracey Emin and a Peter Blake. There are interactive TVs in each room offering "art on demand" with a choice of nine works of contemporary video art, including Sam Taylor-Wood's Still Life from 2001" – a film showing a bowl of fruit slowly decomposing. Guests' reactions have been positive, so far: "No one has asked for their porn back!" said the hotel's Siri Løining Kolderup. "Instead, I think they appreciate that we've taken movie-on-demand to the next level, exchanging bad taste porn for high-end contemporary video art. We hope and predict porn will not be a part of the next generation of in-room entertainment in any hotel, anywhere."

Source : theguardian.com/culture/2013/aug/25/nordic-hotel-petter-stordalen-pornography-tv

Carolina Beach Hotels|"Hotel Booking Firm Clever-Hotels.com Collapses Leaving Thousands Sleepless"

Source             :    independent.co.uk
Category         :   Carolina Beach Hotels
By                   :   buuteeq-Hotel Marketing
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels

Thousands of British travellers face paying twice for their holiday hotels after a prominent online website, Clever-Hotels.com, went bust. 
Clever-Hotels.com was owned by a company called Navelar GmbH, based in the German city of Hamburg. The firm has emailed customers holding confirmed reservations to say: "The companies, through which Navelar has booked hotel rooms for its customers, have announced this afternoon that they will cancel all bookings of Navelar".

Clever-Hotels.com was one of many competing websites whose business model is based on securing a prominent position on price-comparison sites and in using search-engine optimisation to obtain a good placement on Google searches. The company used Lao Tzu's quote, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step," suggesting travellers should "Start here: Clever-Hotels.com". It claimed to provide "Worldwide hotel rates at the best possible price", though research carried out by The Independent earlier this year suggested that cheaper deals could be obtained by booking direct with the hotel than through Clever-Hotels.com.

The rooms were not supplied directly by Clever-hotels.com but through hotel wholesalers. It appears that the holding company was forced into administration when it failed to make payments due on bookings. Guests already staying in rooms booked through Clever-Hotels.com, and those about to check-in, are being asked to pay again. Customers who paid with credit and debit cards are likely to be able to reclaim the money through the card issuer, though this could take some time. Some people paid by bank transfer, a form of payment that offers no such protection. Purchasers are unsecured creditors, and will have to wait until later in the year to see if any of their lost funds can be recovered.

Many of the deals were found through Trivago, another German website. Richard Price tweeted: "First time using #trivago and got scanned by some random German company". Trivago is majority owned by Expedia, which also owns Hotels.com and Venere.com. Its terms exclude any liability when a provider goes bust: "Trivago at no time takes the role of a tour operator or travel agency". It adds: "Offers, in particular those related to the booking of hotels and trips or services or products related to them, are based on the databases and websites of external contracting parties. Trivago takes no liability for the degree of completion and accuracy of these offers."

Source : independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/hotel-booking-firm-cleverhotelscom-collapses-leaving-thousands-sleepless-8783956.html

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach|"Is It Ever OK To Steal From Hotels?"

Source             :    stuff.co.nz
Category         :   Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
By                   :   buuteeq-Hotel Marketing
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC
Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach

It's a dilemma many travellers have faced: at what point does taking items from hotel rooms cross the line from being 'complimentary' to just plain ol' stealing? According to this article on Smart Travel Asia, statistics claim that on average a third more British women steal than men, with towels and light bulbs the most commonly lifted. Most commonly taken out of the hotels and resorts surveyed were towels, bathrobes, leather items (blotter, telephone pad), alarm clock, hair dryer, bath pillows, show pillows, cushions, drinking glasses and feather duvets. Other light-fingered favourites that appear on travel and hotelier blogs include vases, batteries and even the ever-present Gideon Bible.

A Hotels.com survey found that more than a quarter of Kiwi travellers have admitted to stealing things from hotels, with the most-stolen item being magazines and books. Of the 29 countries surveyed by hotels.com, Kiwis ranked 15th on the honesty list, with the Danish taking the number 1 position. We've had a brainstorm about what items are free to a good home, what are definite no-nos and those awkward items in between. On the 'approved' list of take home items are the various toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, soaps, shower caps and sewing kits. Also OK are the coffees, teas and milks - although clearing the entire lot out and into your handbag (never to be used again) could be seen as taking the mick. On the sometimes-OK-but-we're-never-quite-sure we have those papery, flimsy slippers that feature hotel branding (it's got their name on it, does that mean they stay?) and the awkwardly placed water bottle that says 'drink me!' but doesn't verify if it is complimentary or will later be charged at some exorbitant fee upon checkout.

On the 'never should be taken' list we have all the obvious large ticket items (think TVs, radios, desks, chairs and fans) but also dressing gowns and towels. These are one of the most commonly nicked items, with Holiday Inn admitting in 2008 that more than 560,000 towels grew legs and walked away. This later prompted a 'Towel Amnesty Day' where Holiday Inn offered to pay US$1 to a charity for every story travellers posted online of their towel stealing hijinks.

Source : stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/9075009/Is-it-ever-OK-to-steal-from-hotels

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach|"New York Hotels Decide It’s Time For A Makeover"

Source             :    nytimes.com
Category         :   Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
By                   :   JANE L. LEVERE
Posted By      :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach

New York hotels are at the forefront of a boom in complete makeovers, after years of lower capital spending caused by the steep economic downturn.The Milford NYC on Eighth Avenue is getting more than $140 million in improvements, including fully upgraded rooms.For hotels that had become rundown and were sold or shuttered for a while, like the Milford NYC near Times Square, or establishments like the New York Palace hotel, where the former Le Cirque restaurant space is being overhauled and a French market added, scaffolding has become as commonplace as the city’s traffic noise. New research by Bjorn Hanson, the divisional dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University, confirms the upswing in modernizing travel accommodations on everything from linens to new facades. Nationwide, the United States hotel industry is expected to spend $5.6 billion on capital expenditures this year, exceeding the most recent record of $5.5 billion set in 2008. He estimated that one-fifth of hotels would receive such improvements this year — up from 15 percent in a typical year. In New York alone, about a quarter of the city’s hotels are expected to be upgraded.

Spurring the extensive remodeling is a mix of factors. For one, Mr. Hanson said, investors and management companies that waived spending to offset lower profits in a weak economy are now looking at projections showing a much healthier outlook over all. Industrywide, occupancy this year is expected to be at its highest level since 2007, while the average daily rate is expected to rise to what Mr. Hanson estimates will be a record $111. He predicted industry profits would be a record $46 billion.In addition, he said hotel management companies and franchisers wanted to ensure that their brands were associated with quality, not slippage either in service or appearances, now that Americans are traveling again.And for the first time since he first measured capital expenditures in the 1990s, Mr. Hanson said he saw evidence that the myriad travel review sites on the Web, as well as on Facebook or through other social media, were influencing companies’ decisions to approve rather lavish outlays of capital for enhancements. He said hotel owners’ decisions to upgrade could be motivated by anticipation of critical reviews that “don’t go away.” He also said owners were proactively seeking positive reviews about recent renovations and innovations, as well as “wow comments” on things like refitted lobbies and fitness centers and unusual food and beverage services.

To help hotels that have undergone major renovations, the travel review site TripAdvisor.com said it would delete old negative reviews, to allow them to “start with a clean slate.” Ryan Meliker, managing director of real estate investment trusts and lodging at MLV & Company, an investment bank, said that although he generally agreed with Mr. Hanson’s findings, public companies “with access to capital and stronger balance sheets than private companies were able to invest more in the downturn than private companies.” He said real estate investment trusts like Host Hotels & Resorts took advantage of lower construction costs during the downturn to invest in their holdings; in fact, he estimated Host’s capital expenditures would decline this year to $450 million from $541 million in 2011. Mr. Meliker also said refurbishment of New York hotels was, in many cases, “not just refreshing the rooms,” but rather “major renovations to reposition the asset going forward.”

A prime example of this is the Milford NYC hotel, on Eighth Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets, which was previously owned and operated as the Milford Plaza by the Milstein family, which shut it in 2009. Its new owners, Highgate Holdings and the Rockpoint Group, are putting more than $140 million into capital improvements. Vann Avedisian, a principal of Highgate Holdings, said Highgate and Rockpoint’s intention — once they purchased the Milford for $250 million in 2010 and reopened it — was to convert “a two-star, tour-and-travel hotel with no amenities into a three-and-a-half-star lifestyle hotel.”To that end, the Milford’s refurbishment includes a new glass facade, reconfigured lobby and check-in area, and a new restaurant. Guest rooms — increased in number by 62, to 1,331 — have been fully upgraded.

Other additions will include a 4,900-square-foot spin studio and fitness center and a 4,000-square-foot food hall run by UrbanSpace, set to open by mid-2014 in the space once occupied by Mama Leone’s restaurant.The firms Gabellini Sheppard Associates and Gensler are doing the Milford’s new design. Northwood Hospitality, which purchased the New York Palace from the Brunei Investment Authority for over $400 million in 2011, has opted to “redo everything,” said its president, David McCaslin, because the hotel, which is behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 455 Madison Avenue, has not had any major renovations since 2006.In addition to the redecorating of the restaurant once occupied by Le Cirque, the 27,000 square feet of retail space in the north wing of the historic Villard Mansion has also been renovated, though it has not yet been rented. Furniture, lighting and televisions in all 909 guest rooms are being replaced, and upgrades in the hotel’s towers section — occupying the top 14 floors — will include a new private reception area near the hotel’s 50th Street entrance and complete renovation of three of the largest suites. The work is expected to cost about $140 million.

Chef Michel Richard will operate the hotel’s restaurants, while interior design is by BAMO, BBG-BBGM, Champalimaud and Jeffrey Beers.The only Novotel in the United States, the Novotel New York Times Square, which was sold by Accor to Chartres Lodging Group, Apollo Global Management and Lubert-Adler Partners for a reported $90 million in 2012, is undergoing a transformation that its owners hope will lift it from a three-star hotel to one that can compete with four and four-and-a-half-star hotels and charge commensurately higher rates, said Maki Nakamura Bara, president and co-founder of Chartres Lodging Group.Renovations at the hotel, at 226 West 52nd Street, include a redesigned lobby with an expanded lounge area that offers better views of Times Square, and a new restaurant, called Supernova, that Ms. Bara said would serve “comfort foods with a modern twist.” All 480 guest rooms are being redecorated according to Accor’s Novotel brand standards, and will have new bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and soundproof windows.

Most of these projects are scheduled to be completed this fall. In addition, the 50-year-old Loews Regency Hotel has been shut since January for a $100 million refurbishment, scheduled for completion in January 2014. The project, the first significant overhaul of the hotel in 15 years, includes a redesigned lobby with a new lounge; an increase in the number of guest rooms, to 380 from 350, achieved by reducing the number of suites; and refurnished guest rooms with modernized bathrooms. Sant Ambroeus Hospitality Group will manage the hotel’s restaurant, famous for its power breakfasts; the adjacent bar area; and the new lobby lounge. Loews also has leased 10,000 square feet, previously occupied by second-floor offices, boardrooms and guest rooms, to the hairstylist Julian Farel for a new salon and spa.Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of Loews Hotels and Resorts, a co-owner of the New York Giants and co-chairman of the host committee for the 2014 Super Bowl, said the refurbished Regency would reopen next January, in time “to work out any bugs prior to the Super Bowl.”

Industry experts expect major renovations at New York hotels to continue well beyond this year, as new hotels open and create even more competition for the incumbents: NYC & Company, the city’s marketing and tourism organization, estimates that 16,000 new rooms will be added by 2016, raising total inventory in all five boroughs to 110,000 rooms. John A. Fox, senior vice president of PKF Consulting, which studies the tourism industry, said there were “many more” new hotels being built in New York than in other markets; to compete with them, he said, established hotels will require upgrades.

Source:nytimes.com/2013/08/21/realestate/commercial/new-york-hotels-decide-its-time-for-a-makeover.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0#p[NYhNYh]

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Carolina Beach Hotels|"5 Free Things To Do In Myrtle Beach"

Source             :    timesdispatch.com
Category         :   Carolina Beach Hotels
By                  :   PRWeb
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels


Myrtle Beach, this year celebrating the 75th anniversary of its incorporation, is the heart of South Carolina’s $16.5 billion tourism industry. Myrtle Beach is in the center of a 60-mile reach of beaches that attracts more than 14 million visitors a year to dozens of golf courses, hundreds of restaurants and tens of thousands of hotel, motel and other rental units. There’s shopping at hundreds of stores, and nine live entertainment theaters.This is the reason people come to Myrtle Beach. In South Carolina, the beaches are public, and there are regular beach-access points. Some areas have lifeguards, and some have umbrellas and chairs for rent, but all you really need is a beach blanket and a cool drink.


There’s a beach for most every taste. Pawleys Island, to the south, is one of the oldest beach resorts on the East Coast with homes dating to the 1700s. The quiet beach is lined with weathered bungalows and proudly calls itself “arrogantly shabby.” In Myrtle Beach, the shore is lined with high-rise hotels and condos, and it’s just a short walk to grab a burger along busy Ocean Boulevard.The boardwalk runs along Myrtle Beach’s oceanfront business district. Just more than a mile in length, it was completed three years ago at a cost of more than $6 million. It’s a great place to wander along the shore without getting your feet sandy or to just sit and watch people enjoy their summer escape. At sunset, you can watch the oceanfront SkyWheel, the tallest Ferris wheel in the eastern U.S., spin lazily, illuminated by a million LED lights. The boardwalk is being extended another block, and Mayor John Rhodes has said he would like the city to eventually build the world’s longest, running 4.6 miles along the shore. Summer means a lot of free entertainment. In Plyler Park, just off the boardwalk, the Hot Summer Nights series of free concerts and other events runs through Aug. 31. On Mondays, there are free kids carnivals, with concerts from reggae to rock and country to Dixieland other nights of the week.

Every Wednesday, there are fireworks over the ocean. Across town, at the Broadway at the Beach entertainment complex, there are free fireworks every Tuesday and most Fridays during the summer. North Myrtle Beach holds four free concerts on Friday evenings during the season in McLean Park; other concerts are held by the lake at Myrtle Beach’s Grand Park.If you want to get out of the sun for a bit, stop by the Franklin Burroughs-Simeon Chapin Art Museum. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Located on the south end of Myrtle Beach, part of the structure is an almost 90-year-old beach house moved to its current location about 30 years ago. The museum has 10 galleries and an art studio for workshops. The museum is hosting “Animation B.C. (Before Computers),” an exhibit focusing on the development of animation in the 20th century. It features original production art, including Mickey Mouse and Dora the Explorer. Also this summer, the museum features an exhibit with 45 works of golf art.

Source:timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/travel/free-things-to-do-in-myrtle-beach-s-c/article_32b9a6f8-4f46-5cfd-8be9-03307ea6fd15.html



Carolina Beach Hotels|"Southwind Hotels & Resorts"

Source            :    sfgate.com
Category        :   Carolina Beach Hotels
By                  :   PRWeb
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels
Visitors to the Paradise Coast Hotel and Suites of Naples, Florida are experiencing the results of a new approach to revenue management under the leadership of Southwind Hotels and Resorts, a Tampa Bay hospitality management firm with special expertise in the management of independent and boutique hotels.
Along with new management, property renovations and rebranding, the all-new Paradise Coast Hotel and Suites is also benefiting from a comprehensive approach to revenue management, thanks to the people at Southwind Hotels and Resorts. The hotel, located at 1785 5th Avenue South, reopened under new ownership in May of 2013. Southwind specializes in quick turnarounds and long-term hospitality management solutions for both branded and unbranded independent and boutique hotels. Through dedicated "demand management" practices, the Southwind team is engaging with on-site staff at Paradise Coast and third party distribution channels to streamline efforts and maximize ROIs.

Based in Tampa Bay, Southwind's team works on the ground, directly with hotel department heads and distribution channels to streamline hotel marketing and sales efforts. The Southwind team works with owners and managers to problem solve solutions while building on positives such as property placement, staff depth and creativity. The goal is a flexible business plan that grows with trends in the business, anticipating needed changes and making wise choices along the way. For those properties seeking comprehensive hotel management companies in Florida, Southwind goes far beyond managing demand. High performing full-service solutions include on-property management, food and beverage services, hotel website design and hotel booking engines plus meeting staffing meets such as recruitment, hiring, and research-based customer service training. Southwind has also implemented its bold array of hotel revenue management services at the Westwinds Waterfront Resort in Treasure Island, Florida and the High Point Plaza Hotel and Conference Center (North Carolina). All three locations join a strong portfolio of boutique properties, including the new Coconut Cove All Suite Resort and the Quality Beach Resort, both of Clearwater, Florida. Southwind is under the leadership of President Gilles Arditi, a Certified Hotel Administrator with over twenty years of service in hospitality management. Arditi brings a comprehensive and impressive track record in property repositioning and take over; budgeting, hotel sales and marketing planning and implementation; business planning and implementation; managerial staff development, and new property management.

Arditi finesses the delicate and crucial realm of negotiations as well as completing successful improvements on properties large and small. He and his team also provide specialized management services to troubled properties, including those in need of Florida hotel receivership services. Areas of expertise include property take-overs and acquisitions, budgeting, renovations and re-openings; taxes, regulations, and ordinances – in addition to hands-on hotel management and negotiations. Before signing on for Southwind's services, hoteliers are encouraged to contact the team for a no-cost demand management evaluation. This analysis includes an examination of rate parity across channels, an assessment of allocation practices, and a review of the property's online presence. The value of the customized analysis, using cutting-edge technology to examine an organization’s strengths and vulnerabilities in a highly competitive environment is clear. At a minimum, this report "gives hoteliers a better understanding of demand management and its impact on their bottom line," says Arditi.

Source:sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/Naples-FL-Hotel-Breaks-New-Ground-with-Demand-4737971.php

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Carolina Beach Hotels Deals|"Hit By A Surprise Fee On Your Hotel Bill"

Source            :    theglobeandmail.com
Category        :   Carolina Beach Hotels Deals
By                  :   MITCH LIPKA
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels Deals
It took some discussion with the manager to get the fees dropped. While travellers were complaining about airline fees – additional charges for putting luggage on planes, reserving seats and other services – the hotel business quietly experimented with fee after fee. The result is that your bill at checkout can be confounding. Hotels are tacking on lots of extra charges in addition to sales tax and the tariffs from cities and states that apply only to the hospitality industry. Common fees include resort usage, airport pickup, parking and gym visits along with charges for room service. Some of the more surprising charges include a fee for moving items around in the minibar (not actually consuming any), a bellman (whether you use one or not), the room safe (even if you don’t stash valuables in it), checking out early, checking in early and upgraded amenities (such as shampoo). And here’s a new fee: parking in an open, unattended lot.

These charges are most common at higher-end hotels, resorts and properties in urban centers. The new parking fee at suburban hotels is still relatively rare. Most hotels in the middle of the price spectrum – the most popular segment in the U.S. – continue to avoid most fees in favor of offering free Internet, free breakfast and free parking. Fees collected by the hotel industry this year will hit a record $2.1-billion (U.S.), according to a projection released by NYU’s Hanson on Tuesday, who tracks hotel fee trends annually. That is double what consumers paid a decade ago. Among luxury properties, 99 per cent charge for a late cancellation, compared with 29 per cent among so-called midscale properties, according to a 2012 study by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The biggest problem with fees, Hanson says, is not disclosing those that are mandatory. Last fall, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 22 hotel booking companies for leaving details out of the price projection when consumers shopped for hotels. It is now common to find a section on fees on hotel booking sites as well as a disclosure when a “resort fee” applies.

“Increasingly, hotels give away free breakfast, free Internet, and now some hotels are trying to claw that back with ‘convenience fees,’” says Robert Habeeb, president and chief operating officer of First Hospitality Group in Chicago, which operates 53 hotels, mostly in the Midwest. Fees vary at its properties, but can include Internet connection fees ($11.95 a day at one property), a pet fee ($50 per stay at another property), breakfast and parking. Hotels watch occupancy trends and change prices – and fees – constantly, Habeeb says. “It has become like you’re trading a commodity on the floor of an exchange.” Ultimately, he says, “consumers decide what they’re willing to pay for and what they’re not.” Overall, nearly a quarter of hotels charge for in-room Internet access, according to a 2012 survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Wi-Fi charges are most common in so-called “upper upscale” and luxury hotels – with the fee assessed at more than three-quarters of all properties in those categories. Business travellers to big cities, in particular, are targeted for the Wi-Fi charge – which can be as high as $15 a day. “If you’re headed to downtown-anywhere, there’s a good chance you’ll see a Wi-Fi fee on your bill,” says Jeremy Murphy, chief executive officer of TheSuitest.com, a travel website that analyzes hotel rooms and prices.

NYU’s Hanson says it can be tough for consumers to understand what might end up on their bills. “Fees and surcharges are not even uniform across brands,” he says. “They can change overnight ... That makes it very difficult for travellers to be aware and anticipate.” If you can, find out in advance what the extra charges are, and pay close attention to your bill when you’re checking out. Tom Waithe, director of operations for Kimpton Hotels in the Pacific Northwest, encourages hotel guests to challenge charges they disagree with. “The desk has, in many cases, the full ability to reverse a charge or reduce it, but be fair – the charges are often posted in advance,” Waithe says.

Source : theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/hit-by-a-surprise-fee-on-your-hotel-bill-youre-not-alone/article13758515/

Carolina Beach Hotels Deals|"Official Says City Will Win Its Case Against Mansions Operating As Hotels"

Source            :    jsonline.com
Category        :   Carolina Beach Hotels Deals
By                  :   Don Walker
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Carolina Beach Hotels Deals
The commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services said Thursday he believes the city will find a way to shut down the marketing of two east side mansions as hotels. Commissioner Art Dahlberg said his department is doing all it can under the law to respond to neighbor complaints that two east side mansions controlled by a Whitefish Bay businessman have been marketed as hotels. Although the city had ordered Jason Hernandez, owner of Autopilot Management, to stop marketing the homes, his attorney on Thursday formally appealed the orders. An appeal immediately puts any enforcement action on hold until an appeal is heard. The Board of Zoning Appeals will hear the case in October.

Until that time, Dahlberg said, inspectors are gathering evidence for the zoning hearing. "My honest belief is we will prevail in front of the Board of Zoning Appeals," Dahlberg said. "I think we are reading the zoning ordinances correctly. That is the law of the land. But the law of the land says I can't take additional enforcement actions while an appeal is pending. I know that's frustrating for people who live next to this." 
Dahlberg said the homes fit the definition of a commercial hotel, which is not allowed in the pricey residential neighborhood. Hernandez said his right to market the homes for rental is an issue of personal freedom. He has said the homes are residential rentals in which guests are offered short-term leases. In the appeal, Alan Marcuvitz, Hernandez's attorney, argues that based on the plan of operation for both homes, "it is evident that occasional rentals are occurring at these properties. Neither property, however, constitutes a 'commercial hotel.'"

The dispute comes as some homeowners in Milwaukee have begun offering their homes for rent for the 110th Harley-Davidson reunion. The anniversary will be Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. Dahlberg said that if residents complain about a neighbor renting out their house for Harley visitors, they can file a complaint with the city. City inspectors will investigate. On the east side, Dahlberg said city inspectors responded to complaints about the homes immediately. The first complaint involved the home at 2950 N. Shepard Ave. Dahlberg said there was evidence the home wasn't being used a single-family dwelling. The second complaint involved a mansion at 2628 E. Newberry Blvd. When inspectors arrived, they found a door wide open. Police were called to check on the home. "We discovered not only a sign-in book for the guests for the facility, but there were posted rules of what was expected out of the guests while they were staying there," Dahlberg said.

Police confiscated the sign-in book and the posted rules, Dahlberg said. That information, coupled with advertising on vacation rental websites, convinced city inspectors the home was in violation of existing zoning ordinances. A citation was issued on the Newberry property, he said. Hernandez's father, Luis, owns the Shepard Ave. home and leases it to Autopilot Management. Autopilot is leasing the Newberry Blvd. home from Lynn Marie Thompson, the owner. Thompson, who lives in Washington state, could not be reached for comment. Dahlberg said some cities regulate such properties by licensing them. In Milwaukee, regulation is done through zoning ordinances. "I told them our reading of the zoning ordinance and the building code show that these homes are no longer being operated as single-family dwellings,' Dahlberg said.

Source:jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/official-says-city-will-win-its-case-against-mansions-operating-as-hotels-b9976577z1-219811501.html

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Hotels In Carolina|"What You Should Really Say To Score A Hotel Upgrade"

Source            :    renewamerica.com/
Category        :   Hotels In Carolina
By                  :   Selwyn Duke
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Hotels In Carolina
Sometimes it's simply due to luck, but there are ways to increase your chances of being bumped up into a better room, according to Jacob Tomsky, author of Heads in Beds, which exposes hotel secrets. First of all, forget saying it's your birthday or anniversary, the hotel staff have heard it all before. You've got a much better chance of scoring an upgrade if you think outside the box. "I've heard it suggested that one might mention a special occasion: It's my anniversary! I just got a promotion! It's my birthday! I'm celebrating a divorce," Thomsky told the Huffington Post. "From my perspective, as a front desk agent, if you had to pick one of the above reasons, which do you think I'm most likely to respond to? "If you guessed 'celebrating a divorce' you'd be correct." Thomsky said standard hotel front desks can check in up to 250 guests a day, and estimates of those at least 25 would be celebrating a standard special occasion of some sort, so bringing that to their attention holds little persuasive power.

"When someone comes at you with one of these standard situations and it's the 4000th time you've heard it, it really does lose its power. Point is, your special occasion probably isn't that special, as far as a hotel employee is concerned," he said. "But celebrating your divorce? Well, ma'am, I don't hear that one too often. I'll take care of it. Here you are: Upgraded corner suite with a tremendous view. Feel better." If the divorce line won't work in your situation - say you're travelling with your husband and/or kids, there are other ways to increase your chances of an upgrade. Thomsky said tipping is a sure-fire way to get noticed by hotel staff.
"Once a guest has definitively improved my life (I would spend my new-found tips on anything from a healthy lunch to rent) I would immediately set out to repay the favour and improve their life. Often with an upgrade," he said. "And if not that, the very best room in the category they have booked, because, believe me, there is always a nicer room. Or amenities."

Timing is everything. When possible check in between 4-6pm as the front desk will already be aware of any cancellations and no-shows. Also avoid booking during busy holiday periods as upgrades cannot be given if a hotel is at full occupancy. - Take advantage of a hotel's mistake. Room not ready upon check-in? Construction noise causing a loss of sleep? Make a hotel issue work to your advantage by talking to the management - nicely - and seeing if they will offer a form of compensation for the inconvenience. - Loyalty. Increase your chances of an upgrade by being loyal to a hotel and providing repeat business. Casually mention when reserving your room that you've stayed there before. It costs a lot less for a hotel to keep a repeat customer happy than to acquire a new one, so they will often give special treatment to frequent guests.
- Be nice. Front desk staff and hotel managers deal with a lot of people and handle a range of problems during their day. Sometimes being friendly can go a long way. - Ask. Try your luck and ask directly for a hotel upgrade. The worst that can happen is they will say no, and you might get what you wish for. - Don't you know who I am? Title dropping can increase your chances of being upgraded. Hotels may want to impress you more when they know you are someone who is an important businessperson, can draw in more guests or have press power.
Source:news.com.au/travel/travel-advisor/what-you-should-really-say-to-score-a-hotel-upgrade/story-e6frfqfr-1226697585855

Hotels In Carolina|"Hotel Review: Palermo Place In Buenos Aires"

Source            :    renewamerica.com/
Category        :   Hotels In Carolina
By                  :   Selwyn Duke
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Hotels In Carolina
In Buenos Aires, where low prices and plentiful availability often entice visitors to rent an apartment for a short stay, Palermo Place aims to offer apartment living with the perks of hotel services. The low-rise, modern hotel has the feel of a cosmopolitan, if slightly generic, pied-à-terre. Opened in 2011 on a leafy street in the upscale Palermo neighborhood, the hotel is surrounded by chic coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques. (A nearby elementary school occasionally pierces the residential quiet, but only during recess.) It’s a short walk to the night-life districts of Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood and other attractions like the 62-acre Palermo Woods park. A subway station and buses are close, and cabs are plentiful.

Our fifth-floor double with twin beds (other rooms have king beds) had a floor-to-ceiling glass door opening to a French balcony that offered a bright, appealing city vista. Dark wood décor, by the Argentine designer Gianni Berelli, set off the cream-colored tile floor, and bedding was plush. The kitchenette had a two-burner stovetop, microwave and easy-to-open cabinets stocked with plates and cutlery. Over the desk, outlets accommodated American-style plugs, and the alarm clock included an iPod dock — well thought-out features for travelers. The large TV had plenty of international programming.Reasonably sized, with a powerful shower and a bidet, as is standard in Buenos Aires. A single, deep sink was outside the bathroom — though two would have been more convenient, and the placement, between the room door and the bathroom door, was a bit awkward. Luxe toiletries and terry cloth robes were provided. The bare basics in the gym — a single treadmill, elliptical machine and Nautilus; no free weights — were made up for by the skyline view on the patio just outside. There was also an outdoor shower and some chaise longues, should relaxation be in order post-workout. The hotel has a separate roof deck with tables and a grill. Wi-Fi is free throughout the building, and there was a coin-operated washer and dryer. Above all, Palermo Place strives to set itself apart with its concierge service, which helps with the usual needs — booking taxis and restaurant reservations; printing flight itineraries — and also more atypical requests, like finding baby sitters and personal trainers.

Hotel employees can stock your kitchen before your stay, or refill toiletries if you provide a list. But in a city that loves secret hot spots and thrives on insider information, a search for an address for a roving underground club was met with a shrug and an offer to look online for it, no help at all. Generally, though, the multilingual staff was friendly and eager to assist with requests like bike rentals and straightening out an overcharge from a boutique.There is no room service per se (there’s no restaurant on the premises), but guests are given vouchers for nearby bakeries and cafes for breakfast, or the staff can arrange to order in, with no service fee. Palermo Place makes up for its slightly anodyne vibe with its prime location in a lively neighborhood and its affordable price. For those who want a little homeyness without the guesswork of arranging it in an unfamiliar place, it works.

Source:travel.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/travel/hotel-review-palermo-place-in-buenos-aires.html?_r=0

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Marriott Carolina Beach|"The Babe & The Cynic"

Source            :    renewamerica.com/
Category        :   Marriott Carolina Beach
By                  :   Selwyn Duke
Posted By     :   Hotels Carolina Beach NC

Marriott Carolina Beach
A certain very erudite and always entertaining social critic remarked recently that he always thought the worst of people. He went on to say – perhaps, at most, half jokingly – that he was always right about them, too. He then revealed that he actually had been very trusting as a boy, that he believed everyone and often got taken advantage of. He certainly doesn't get taken advantage of much now, I'm sure. But what he doesn't know is that in one significant way he hasn't changed at all. The man's admission of his boyhood as a doormat didn't surprise me, for gullibility and cynicism are two sides of the same coin. They are both a function of naiveté, which can be defined as ignorance about reality. The gullible person proceeds as if everyone is good and trustworthy, whereas the cynic proceeds as if everyone is essentially bad and untrustworthy. But reality is quite different: there are, practically speaking, "good" people and "bad" people, the well-meaning and the self-serving. And possessing discernment enables one to distinguish between the two groups. Yet the gullible person trusts people even when he shouldn't and the cynic fails to trust them even when he should.

The transition from gullible babe in the woods to steadfast cynic is easy to understand. The budding cynic, lacking in what some today called "emotional I.Q.," is unable to draw the aforementioned distinctions among people; they all look the same to him. But being essentially good – and, as people will do, supposing that others operate as he does – he assumes that virtually everyone can be trusted. Then, of course, it isn't long before the wrong person betrays his trust – and it happens again and again and again (this is especially problematic since con artists, generally possessed of great feel for man's nature, will sense his gullibility and target him specifically). Not wanting to be burned again, the babe then switches modes and ceases to trust, but not just those unworthy of it. For he still can't distinguish between the good and bad; people still all look the same to him, so the untrustworthy who scarred him now just seem like a representative sample of man. Thus does he assume that all people are basically self-serving and often mercenary.

Of course, the babe no doubt also knew people who didn't betray him. Just as it's usually only bad news that makes headlines, however, it's his personal bad news that captures the headlines in his mind. Besides, cynicism becomes a survival tactic: since he never knows who would plunge that knife into his back, he finds it safer to never turn it on anyone. And so just as the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, the babe becomes the cynic, seemingly a very different creature but actually still the same one. This won't be how the cynic sees it, though. He will fancy he has grown up when he has only grown soul-sick; he will assume he is worlds apart from his old self when that person is but a dime's width away. "I'm onto you now!" the cynic may think; "You can't fool me!" but he has fooled himself. He may stand around, with a knowing air, talking about the cynical motives of the government, the Church, environmentalists, pro-lifers and anything sentient that walks on two legs, and he may be right half the time – just as the babe was. But he is still painting everyone with the same brush; he just has changed his color choice from Angel White to Demon Night.

Cynicism is hard to recover from, too. This is not just because it's a survival tactic, but also because it's a simple way of comprehending the world (and people like simple explanations) and gives the cynic that sense of being a sophisticate immune to guile. Moreover, it seems to make sense. After all, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, if you look for the worst in people, you're sure to find it – even if you have to imagine it. Everyone has failings, "bad news" that easily will capture headlines in the cynic's mind and be used to characterize the individual. Just as significantly, much of what we do and say lends itself to interpretation, which is why misunderstanding always lurks just around the corner. What did Jim really mean by what he said? And while the cynic, never having been good at reading people, isn't the best candidate for rendering this interpretation, you know what it will be. Every innocent misstep will be insidious malevolence, every slip of the tongue a calculated, subtle slight. And every reading will further confirm what he already "knows" about people.

For this reason, the cynic is much like the woman who has been jilted romantically and hurt: having had her heart broken by a man and never wanting to experience such pain again, she hardens her heart; she puts a wall around it, never letting another fellow get close. And for the same reasons why the cynic doesn't trust man, she doesn't trust men: she has found it safer to just paint all men with the same dark brush (this is, by the way, one of feminism's root causes), and anger makes this emotionally appealing. The cynic likewise feels safe behind his walls of misanthropy; this, along with the fact that he sees people as having confirmed his conception of man's nature for many years, and because he has an ego, make him so sure of his judgments that it's unlikely he will ever question his cynicism. This is why good religion counsels against "rash judgment."

This brings us to the tragedy of cynicism. What the cynic mistakes for the walls of his fortress are really the boundaries of his prison; what he thinks keeps the bad at bay actually shuts the good out. His world is a dark place, where he perceives the sinful but doesn't see the saintly – at least not most of it. To make matters worse, he magnifies the bad because he misreads much of his fellow man's light as darkness. He has created not only his own hell, but his own devils. They surround him, and should he lower his walls he will be devoured.

But to become cynical is to give the Devil his victory. There is a social phenomenon today whereby we will sacrifice great joy and freedom for a gram of safety; we will eliminate dodgeball, high diving boards at hotels, large sodas and anything else that may imperil us as we ensconce our children in Beelzebub's bubble wrap. But you risk your life just by living, and you can't really live without accepting risk. This is true in the emotional realm as well. While we should mature beyond gullibility and not play the doormat, we can't fully imbibe the human experience without opening ourselves up to other humans and risking at least the possibility of being hurt. As our capacity to trust dies, so does our capacity to live. The irony of cynicism is that while it is the belief that all people act out of selfish motives, it is motivated by a desire to protect the self. Thus, the best way to combat selfishness isn't to erect those walls. It is to tear them down.

Source : renewamerica.com/columns/duke/130813