Hotel Lodging News

Lodging Host Hotel Corp President, Kevin P. Hilchey announced today that effective December 11th 2009 Lodging Host had assumed the management of the Staybridge Suites at the Austin Airport in Austin, Texas.  The hotel opened for business earlier in 2009 and houses 161 guest suites. 

The Staybridge is the newest hotel at the Austin Airport and offers studio, one bedroom and two bedroom/two bathroom suites, all with full cooking facilities.  It also offers complementary breakfast 7 days a week,the brand’s “Sundowner” dinner 3 nights a week, free high speed Internet access, the Bridgemart, meeting space, outdoor pool, exercise facilities, complementary guest use laundry facilities and a sports court.

According to Denise Arnold, Director of Marketing for Lodging Host, “We are proud to add this sixth IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group, parent company of Holiday Inns) product to our portfolio of managed hotels.  Lodging Host Hotel Corp has been in business for over 25 years, providing quality property management services to lenders, federal agencies and private owners.  This hotel is a superb addition to 14 hotels and we look to provide the Austin Airport Market with the same exceptional guest service that has separated our hotels from our competitors.”

Intercontinental Hotels Group, Parent company of Holiday Inns and Staybridge Suites, last week honored the Las Cruces location with a request for them to submit information and photographs to be considered for a Brand Design Award for 2008.  In 2008 the hotel added 28 additional long term stay suites, an additional guest use laundry area, a communal dining table in the Great Room, a Home Theater Room, “public-private meeting space” and an Internet Cafe.

The Communal dining table is a High top table that seats up to eight persons.  It has a granite top and custom pendant lighting. It has become a popular gathering point at almost any time of day for singles or groups.

For those groups that need just a little more privacy, the hotel installed “public-private meeting space”  on the 4th floor.  It is a public space that was designed so that small groups, not wishing to purchase private meeting space, could meet in a semi-private atmosphere for informal meetings.  The space is arranged with flexible seating and in separate pods.  Each of the pods has a CRT for displaying laptop presentations and a meeting board is available for brainstorming sessions.

For singles and couples the hotel designed an Internet Cafe on the third floor.  The area contains a modern coffee shop atmosphere and decor, a complimentary coffee maker that makes 25 varieties of coffee, teas and cocoas, background music, seating for singles and couples, wired and wireless Internet access and a complementary full body massage chair.  The staff even keeps the area stocked with biscotti.

The second floor contains the Home Theater.  This area is for public use and can be reserved for private showings.  The room contains plush recliner seating with drink holders, a state of the art surround sound system, special sound deadening walls, an extra large Digital High Definition screen, DVD player, Blue Ray player and a popcorn machine.

The winner of the Design award for the Staybridge Brand will be announced at the IHG Annual Investor’s Conference in the Fall of 2009 in Washington DC.

With the opening of the Residence Inn at the Airport on December 23rd 2008 in Albuquerque NM, Lodging Host Hotel Corp has opened it’s first Marriott franchised product.  The hotel consists of 110 guest suites all of which have full cooking facilities.  Other amenities of the hotel include indoor pool, hot tub, exercise facility with equipment each with their own televisions, guest Market, guest laundry facilities, airport shuttle service, business center, meeting room to accommodate 40 persons and a Boardroom for 8 persons.

The hotel is a Generation 7.5 Residence Inn and incorporates the InnFusion Guestroom design of the new Generation 8 Residence Inn product.

Lodging Host Hotel Corp intends to develop 4 more Marriott products in the next 4 years and has executed franchises for a 75 room Fairfield Inn and Suites in Forney, Texas and a 110 suite Residence Inn in Longview Texas.  Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009 on both of those hotels.

According to Kevin P. Hilchey, President of Lodging Host Hotel Corp “We will be developing other product as well during that time as the economy and lending environment allow.”

During the semi-annual meeting of all the Lodging Host Hotel Corp Management Team a break was taken from the training exercises and information exchanges to hold the Annual Awards Dinner. It was an enjoyable evening, during which the three Lodging Host annual employee awards were presented.

The first award presented was to the Lodging Host Hotel Corp Manager of the Year. It was presented in his absence to Lloyd Quinn, who had to miss the event due to infectious flu. As General Manager of the Hotel Phillips in Bartlesville, OK he has stepped into one of the most demanding roles in the company after proving himself at the Hampton Inn in Marble Falls, TX. Now running a full service, historic facility has allowed him to show what he can really do.

Second award given out was for Department Head of the Year. The award presented to Cary Johnson of Hampton Inn Hillsboro. Cary has been with the hotel prior to the opening in April 2007 and no one was surprised when he won the prestigious 2008 award. Cary’s dedication, work ethics, responsiveness to guests needs, and wonderful sense of humor were big factors in the decision by the Lodging Host Hotel Corp Board of Directors to bestow Cary with this honor.

And finally, the Big Winner with a trip and spending money on the line was the Employee of the Year Award. After much deliberation it was presented to Marsha Jess of the Hampton Inn on the Lake, Marble Falls, TX. Marsha has been working at the hotel for over seven years at the Front Desk. She is khown for her cheery demeanor with guests and for filling in whenever and wherever the hotel needs her.

We would all like to congratulate this year’s outstanding service people who were given the awards as well as all those who were nominated from their respective hotels. It is employees such as those that create the high level of guest service surrounding Lodging Host managed hotels.

In the month of September the three Hampton Inns run by Lodging Host, Hampton Inn Hillsboro TX, Hampton Inn Livingston TX and the Hampton Inn in Marble Falls TX ranked #1, #5 and #11 in the state of Texas.  This is a fantastic accomplishment by the three hotels and is based on Hilton’s SALT scores (Satisfaction and Loyalty Table) based on customer comment cards and Hilton inspections.

In addition The Hillsboro property won the Hilton 3rd Quarter Hampton Inn Hall of Fame award being ranked #33 in the entire Hilton system.

Lodging Host lost three hotels temporarily. Hurricane Ike hit TX and LA on September 12th 2008.  The Comfort Suites in La Porte, TX, the Hampton Inn in Livingston TX and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Livingston TX.  In addition the Hampton Inn in Hillsboro TX lost power briefly and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Marshall TX lost power for 2 days.

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Livingston sustained the most damage with water penetration to all guest rooms and public areas.  It should reopen late in the week of September 29th.  Mike Scavone headed up the efforts for the team.  The LHHC & hotel staff reacted quickly getting generators transported to the site for temporary power.  That provided enough electricity to allow lighting for crews to work, to do water extraction and power fans to lessen the growth of mold.  Outside contractors were secured immediately to replace carpet and padding, replace damaged sheetrock in walls and ceiling, paint and texture effected areas and eradicate mildew.  When power was restored the team was poised to move forward to minimize the loss created by Ike.

The Hampton Inn in Livingston sustained minor roof damages and water penetration only to a couple public space and a few guest rooms.  Again the team quickly moved to minimize damages and take in the remaining guests of the Holiday Inn Express that were displaced by the large amount of damage to that hotel and employee and their families displaced by the storm.  When the hotel got power back a couple of days later, the hotel quickly opened rooms and worked with the City of Livingston to house emergency crews working in the area.  The hotel opened the rest of it’s rooms the week of September 22nd even as repairs proceeded.

The Comfort Suites in La Porte TX was not as fast with power not restored until late in the week of September 22nd and access to the city restricted until early that same week.  The hotel sustained water damages to the first floor mostly due to the rising water.  But again the hotel and LHHC staff moved quickly to get repairs underway and reopened about 30 of their rooms later in the week of September 22nd, even as repairs continued, to provide much needed housing for emergency Utility crews doing repair work in surrounding communities.

The Holiday Inn Express Livingston now offers a new hot breakfast. Complete with bacon, eggs, sausage and our famous cinnamon rolls. We have added a beautiful fireplace with a flat screen TV for your viewing pleasure.  Come and sit in our new comfortable and updated seating area and enjoy a cup of Smart Roast Coffee with free Internet access. Sandra Brown says “Come experience breakfast with me at the Holiday Inn Express Livingston.”

LONGVIEW, TX - With a new year comes new growth and Lodging Host Hotel Corp is preparing for a year of expansion.  Lodging Host has been re-positioning managers to meet the current needs of the company.

Gloria McKelvey has temporarily left the Holiday Inn Express in Farmington, New Mexico.  She will be returning to the hotel and Lodging Host in approximately six months. Janet Glynn, our prior Field Systems Consultant, has stepped in as manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Farmington during their renovation period.   “I’m very excited to be a part of such a great team.  I’m looking forward to watching the renovation make this hotel an even more comfortable and home-like experience.” Janet K. Glynn, MBA  Glynn will continue in management at the new Residence Inn Albuquerque hotel once open in 2008. The corporate position of Field Systems Consultant has been filled by Nikki Patterson, formerly General Manager of the Hampton Inn Livingston.Louis Christian, a Lodging Host manager for over 15 years, is currently filling the Hampton Inn Livingston management position.  Christian is also training new managers during this time, preparing the company for future growth.  Christian will move to Marshall, Texas  to open the new Holiday Inn Express Marshall this spring.Holiday Inn Express Livingston welcomes Ms. Sandra Brown as manager.  Brown is a recent hotel management graduate who has also been in training for the prior 90 days with Christian.  Down in south Texas, the building of a hotel in Hamilton Texas has caused a shift from the manager at Plantation Suites in Port Aransas (Monica Blackwell) to take the new property when it opens. Her position will be filled by Geneva Peacock, coming from the second position at Candlewood Suites in Round Rock. 

LIVINGSTON, TX - The Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn in Livingston are participating in Toys for Tots together.  Toys will be collected at both hotels and then delivered to the local volunteer fire stations for delivery before Christmas. 

The City of Livingston will be in full Christmas Spirit this year while sponsoring the Livingston Hometown Christmas on December 8th.  The day will feature a car show (with raffle for new car), petting zoo, pony carousel, wagon rides, carriage rides, the Christmas Train Village, arts & crafts vendors, entertainment and refreshments between 10:00 am and 9:00 pm.   

The day also includes a Jingle Bell Fun Run and Walk at 1:00pm.  The run/walk is open to anyone interested in a little fun and friendly competition.  A Best Holiday Outfit and Largest Theme-Dressed Group award will also be presented. Get your friends and neighbors together and join in the fun holiday event.

The Lighted Christmas Parade will begin at 6:00 p.m.  And Santa Clause will be at City Hall from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for photos.  Take an old fashioned hayride through Pedigo Park and enjoy the lighted holiday figures and other Christmas lights on display, from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. 

Longview, TX (November 2, 2007) - There has been much speculation as to what the crash in the sub-prime market is going to do to Hotel lending and construction.  My quick answers would little and nothing respectively but let me explain because it is certainly not that simple. 

While hotel lending does not really have a sub-prime aspect in name it does have “conduit” lending.  This lending source is used for stabilized operating hotels and is significantly more sophisticated than what was happening in the Housing sub-prime market. Read the rest of this entry �