Some hotel futures at risk

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The number of hotels defaulting on their loans surged 125 percent in May and June this year. Travel is down (no shit), which has an obvious effect on the top line. When there’s no money coming in, it’s hard to send cash out to meet some pretty hefty obligations. So, if none comes in, none can go out … and defaults start to rise.

Some high-profile properties have defaulted already, including the Four Seasons and Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel – both in San Francisco – and the W Hotel in San Diego. Nobody’s safe in this market. Outside California, 13 hotel loans adding up to $596 million became delinquent in June alone. Most of the carnage came from Phoenix, Las Vegas and New York City.

Of course, the defaults don’t spell the end for these properties. There is always the chance that the loan terms can be changed or the hotels can be sold. There’s a long way between defaulting loans and closed doors.

The Brando eco-friendly beach resort to open in 2011

by Katie Hammel on

Did you know that Marlon Brando owned (and now his estate owns) an entire French Polynesian atoll 35 miles from Tahiti? Did you also know that Brando dreamed of creating an eco-friendly resort on the atoll? Well both are true, and by 2011 Brando’s dream will be a reality, thanks to Richard Bailey, CEO of Tahiti Beachcomber.

Bailey was a longtime friend of Brando’s and had been working with him on the project before Brando’s death in 2004. Bailey owns four InterContinental resorts in Tahiti and will use some of the same sustainable technology used at those resorts to make sure The Brando has as little impact on the surrounding environment as possible. One technology will use a pipe to bring cold water up from the depths of the sea and use it to provide cool air to the rooms – a practice that will have zero environmental impact.

The resort, which will be the only one on the 13-island chain of Tetiaroa that Brando bought in 1965, will feature 47 luxury villas, each with its own plunge pool, plus a spa, fitness center, and a resort pool. Activities at the resort will include snorkeling, scuba diving, and exploring the nearby islands and Tahitian culture. No word on how much a stay at the luxury eco-resort will cost, but no one ever said saving the environment didn’t come with a price.

[via ShermansTravel]

Element Hotels: made for do-it-yourself foodies

by Kendra Bailey Morris on


Back in 2006, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. made a bit of history when it launched the first hotel brand that requires all of its hotels to pursue LEED certification. Element Hotels, which are designed for longer stays and come complete with multi-purpose, modular furniture, flat-screen televisions and fully equipped ENERGY-STAR appliances are not only aesthetically appealing, but are also about as eco-friendly as anyone can get.

Yet, it’s their flagship culinary program in partnership with Whole Foods that makes a stay at Element Lexington truly value-added, especially for health conscious foodies. Along with the hotel’s many delicious amenities, which include a “Rise” breakfast bar, featuring an array of healthy options from hot sandwiches and smoothies to a complimentary “Relax” evening reception (occurring four nights a week) complete with savory appetizers, beer and wine, Element Lexington will offers Whole Foods cooking demonstrations for its guests right on the premises.

Cooking classes will take place twice a month, and will feature five Whole Foods fresh ingredients or less, so guests will be able to easily recreate these meals back in their rooms. After the cooking class is over, attendees then have the opportunity to purchase a “Meal-in-a-Bag” (for $15.00 or less for two servings) to cook on their own, making both shopping and cooking a breeze. Additionally, guests will get to take home co-branded recipe cards and special coupons to be used at the Bedford Whole Foods. For those wanting to shop for themselves, a special shuttle from the hotel will run several times weekly to the grocery, and for folks that don’t have that kind of time, ingredient order forms will be provided to have groceries delivered and even unpacked in guestroom kitchens.

In keeping with all things organic, Element Lexington has also planted a vegetable garden on the property which boasts in-season delights such as Roma tomatoes, basil, cantaloupe and cucumbers. Produce and herbs from the garden will be used for both Rise breakfast menu items and the Relax evening reception along with the weekly outdoor summer BBQ featuring organic meats, garden burgers and soy hotdogs grilled up each Wednesday by the general manager of the hotel.

Yet, the culinary perks don’t stop here. “Restore”, Element’s on-site organic pantry, offers healthy on-the-fly snacks 24 hours a day, and twice a week guests can ride the hotel’s complimentary shuttle to the local farmer’s market in order to pick up their own produce. And, it won’t be difficult to work off all those calories since Element offers an array of complimentary wellness programs including bikes to borrow, running maps, a full-service fitness center and an all-saline, chlorine-free pool.

Clearly the culinary landscape for travelers is forever changing and evolving, with more of us, especially business travelers, seeking healthier, budget-friendly accommodations that allow for independence along with a sound commitment to the environment. With this in mind, it’s nice to see the hotel industry starting to respond.

–Kendra

Chicago bed and breakfasts offer a hotel alternative

by Katie Hammel on

When I travel outside of the US, I often try to stay at bed and breakfasts. I love the personal attention I get at a b&b. I like the inside tips I get from the owners, who are usually more than happy to sit and chat over a glass of wine and offer recommendations on where to go and what to see in their city. I prefer staying in one of a city’s neighborhoods, rather than downtown, so I can imagine what life would be like if I actually lived there. And I like feeling as though the owners really care that I am there, rather than that I am just one of the many faceless guests at a hotel. These b&bs tend to be simply decorated, with modern furnishings. They’re relaxed, informal places where I can just as easily make friends with fellow travelers as I can keep to myself and enjoy my privacy.

Unfortunately, it seems that in the states, b&bs are envisioned as places overtaken by calico and creaky antique furniture, where “wine and cheese” hour strikes fear in the heart at the thought of awkward, enforced socialization and boring conversation with the far too perky elderly innkeepers. And that may certainly be the case at many bed and breakfasts around the world. But fear not, if you’re planning a trip to Chicago there are several stylish, accommodating options for fun, relaxing b&b stays around the city. Here are just a few.

Ray’s Bucktown B&B
Ray’s garners stellar reviews on TripAdvisor and is perfectly located for anyone seeking to experience some of Chicago’s trendy nightlife. Ray’s is right in the heart of Bucktown, a young ‘hood full of bars, restaurants, and boutiques that is just over 10 minutes from downtown on the El. The b&b offers 10 rooms, most of which have pillow-top mattresses, TVs with DVD and TIVO, free wi-fi, and phones with free local and long-distance calls. Some rooms have en-suite bathrooms, and rooms in the “Annex” have access to a shared kitchen. There is a free cooked-to-order breakfast daily, free parking, free use of the house’s Mac computers, and a steam room and sauna. Rates are on par with most other Chicago hotels and range from $119-$199 a night, but taxes are only 11.9% (downtown hotel tax is $14.9%).


House 5836
House 5836, in the northern neighborhood of Andersonville, boasts “hip urban rooms” for $99-$179 dollars per night. The rooms are simpler, with just a bed and bathroom in most, but the house offers wi-fi throughout and the common living room has a plasma TV. A free continental breakfast is served daily and you can book in-room spa treatments. The house is located just off the Red Line, about 30 minutes north of downtown, in an area known for its excellent ethnic restaurants.

Old Chicago Inn
Cubs fans coming to Chicago for a game won’t find a more convenient place to stay than the Old Chicago Inn. Located in the heart of the Lakeview neighborhood, the Inn is just a few blocks from Wrigley Field and about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. Rooms feature pillow-top mattresses, free wi-fi, exposed brick walls, and hardwood floors. Some have en-suite bathrooms. Guests can also enjoy free street parking, continental breakfast daily, complimentary dinner at nearby Trader Todd’s restaurant, and a free local gym membership during their stay. Rates range from $100-$210 per night.

Villa Toscana
Villa Toscana earns mixed reviews, but at $99-$159 a night, it might be worth taking a chance on. Located smack dab in the middle of trendy Boystown (a part of the north side’s Lakeview hood), it’s the perfect spot to crash after a wild day at the annual Pride Parade or Market Days (the Midwest’s largest street fest) celebrations, which both take place right out the front door along Halsted Street. If you’re more interested in tamer activities, you can hit the boutique shops and restaurants of Lakeview or ride the El train 25 minutes or so into downtown. Each of the seven rooms in the historic 19th century building is decorated in a different style, from the chic and sleek British Colonial to the colorful Moroccan, and offers private en-suite bathrooms and free wi-fi. A continental breakfast is served daily.

Watergate to go on the block

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Monument Realty hopes the action on the Watergate Hotel Tuesday will rival what made it famous. The storied property, a monument to our eventual freedom from President Richard Nixon, is set to be auctioned. The real estate developer that bought it five years ago – hoping to restore it – received a foreclosure notice and had to find a buyer. Originally, Monument had its figurative fingers crossed for some relief form lender PB Capital, but it’s pretty clear that the Tooth Fairy wasn’t listening.

Before we rush to lament the forced sale of the most famous hotel in our nation’s capital, keep in mind that it hasn’t been open since Monument bought it in 2004. The company still owes $40 million on the hotel. Nothing’s happening. And, while we can blame today’s economic climate for the failure of this endeavor to launch, the reality is that Monument pissed away several months of prosperity.

Stupidity – rather than economics – is the driver behind this auction.