April 29th, 2008newest hotel in marshall, texas. Opening in July 2008
Three floors have been painted and exterior stone walls are up. Opening date is still targeted for mid July.
January 1st, 2008The Lodging Host New Year Shuffle
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.
November 15th, 2007Expedia and IHG Reach New Agreement
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET, LONDON (Nov. 15, 2007) – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Expedia, Inc. today announced they have entered into a multi-year agreement under which consumers can now book IHG hotels on Expedia® sites globally. The agreement will result in the addition of more than 3,700 hotels across all IHG brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites, to the hotel selection on Expedia® and hotels.com® branded points of sale globally, as well as Hotwire® and Expedia® Corporate Travel.
“IHG continually seeks to extend the reach of our brands to deliver our customers additional convenience in booking their accommodations and we are delighted to work with Expedia in such a way that will greatly benefit our guests,” said Eric Pearson, senior vice president, Distribution Marketing, IHG.
As a further testament to the relationship, IHG is participating as the launch partner for Expedia’s new media-based pricing model. The dynamic, two-part economic model will blend transaction pricing with media pricing based on clicks on specific IHG properties in Expedia.com and hotels.com search results. Expedia and IHG collaboratively developed this innovative approach to distribution marketing – a first in online travel – where IHG will receive significant benefits from value-added media placement throughout the Expedia network in addition to the bookings they receive from Expedia.
Read the rest of this entry
November 2nd, 2007Sub Prime Crash to Effect Hotels?
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
October 30th, 2007Lodging Host Presents 2007 Annual Employee Awards
LONGVIEW, TX (October 29, 2007) - Lodging Host Hotel Corp held its bi-annual Managers Lock-In Training Conference October 28-30 in Hillsboro, TX. The two-day conference hosted by the Hampton Inn Hillsboro was a time of training and team building for Lodging Host corporate employees and hotel managers. The final evening featured an awards dinner where the following employees were recognized for their excellent customer service and dedication to Lodging Host over the previous year.
Employee of the Year - Teresa Marcus
Hampton Inn
Department Head of the Year - Becky Schomer
Hampton Inn Livingston Sales Manager
General Manager of the Year - Louis Christian
Holiday Inn Express Livingston General Manager
ATLANTA, October 22, 2007 – IAHI, the Owners’ Association of IHG, announces the election of four new members to its Board of Directors: Bakulesh G. “Buggsi” Patel, Kevin Hilchey, Mark Zipperer, and Jose Paoli Montesinos. The announcement was made during the 2007 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference, held October 22-24 in Dallas,
Bakulesh G. “Buggsi” Patel is the Owner of BHG Hotels, a Lake Oswego, Oregon-based hotel/motel management and consulting firm. Patel has ownership interest in 21 hotels in
Kevin P. Hilchey is President and Founder of Longview, Texas-based Lodging Host Hotel Corporation, since 1984. He has been active in the IAHI by serving on the Holiday Inn Express Brand Committee from 2003 to the present, and the Southern Regional Committee from 2001-2003. Hilchey co-founded the East Texas Hotel and Motel Association in 1982 and served as its President. He also has served on the Board and as President of the Legal Defense Fund for the Texas Hotel and Motel Association (TH&LA). Read the rest of this entry
October 1st, 2007Lodging Host Expands Further in 2008
LONGVIEW, TX (October 2007) - Among the renovations and new products currently being built, Lodging Host Hotel Corp anticipates 2008 being a year of growth across Texas and New Mexico.
- Lodging Host Hotel Corp has bought land in Longview, TX to build another Residence Inn by Marriott. The extended stay hotel will be located near the new Wal-Mart and Interstate 20 on the south side of Longview. This project is scheduled to open in Fall 2008.
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Marshall, TX is going up with a Summer 2008 anticipated opening.
- Best Western Inn at Circle T in Hamilton Texas is moving quickly now that rain has slowed. The hotel is within walking distance of Circle T Ranch Arena complete with Crossfire Cafe and Cantina. Completion of the project is slated for January of 2008.
- With the completion of the purchase of Holiday Inn Express in Farmington New Mexico, Lodging Host plans a $1.2 million renovation. Once complete, the Farmington property will have an entire new interior and exterior look and feel. Completion is scheduled for April 2008.
- Construction continues on the expansion of the Staybridge Suites in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The addition to the hotel will include 28 more suites and a common area for guests to gather. This project is expected to be completed between February and March 2008.
July 16th, 2007Lodging Host Expands their Portfolio
LONGVIEW, TX (July 2007) - Lodging Host Hotel Corp welcomes three new hotel properties to its’ portfolio.
As a partner with Albuquerque Innkeepers I, LLC, Lodging Host intends to begin construction of a 110-room Residence Inn in Albuquerque, NM within the next 60 days. The all-suite extended stay hotel will be adjacent to the Albuquerque International Airport. From a complimentary breakfast to luxury bedding, this Residence Inn® will offer all the warmth and comfort of home.
Construction is progressing on our Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Marshall, TX. The hotel will be located at the busy intersection of Interstate 20 and State Highway 59. “Lodging Host has definitely chosen the right time to build. The additional 80 hotel rooms to the Marshall community will increase our ability to attract large groups and conventions to Marshall.” stated Geraldine Mauthe, Convention & Visitor Development Marshall Chamber of Commerce.
Construction of a Best Western in Hamilton, TX is scheduled to be complete this September. The 57-room hotel is located beside the Circle T Rodeo Arena. The new arena off West Highway 36 in Hamilton is a indoor rodeo facility complete with bull-riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, live music, dancing, and an upscale restaurant and bar.
