For Steve Joyce, it’s clear this is personal.

The CEO of Choice Hotels International had a bit more of a bounce in his step at this year’s brand convention, and it’s not only because he has shed a few pounds. The brand Joyce is most proud of—the brand he left Marriott International to help launch—appears to have emerged from a tough four years, and it finally looks poised for future success. ... Read More

I would never call myself a reality-TV junkie—although I do enjoy a handful of programs in the genre. “Survivor,” 20-plus seasons in, is still a personal favorite, and I occasionally find myself flipping to Food Network or Travel Channel for some mouth-watering culinary delights. But that’s about it.

I have, however, added another reality show to my roster in recent weeks: Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible.” The program, which we’ve written about once or twice, features hotelier and host Anthony Melchiorri as he attempts to turn around struggling properties. ... Read More

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending a pair of U.S. hotel lending conferences—one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. While the content was similar, the prevailing mood in the conference’s hallways seemed vastly different.

I began in Boston at the Hotel Equity and Lender Perspectives conference. This was the first year for the HELP event and as you might imagine from a rookie conference the vibe from attendees was an optimistic one. ... Read More

Earlier this year, STR Global, sister company of HotelNewsNow.com, published a market review on the secondary cities across China in one of their weekly press releases. I thought it would be interesting to return to these markets and review China’s hotel development growth—this time with a slightly different angle.

A couple of months ago while attending a strategy course for my MBA, one of my lecturers asked the class what would be the “correct development strategy” for a company to expand? To this, he stated there are only four possible answers applicable to this question in today’s environment: China, China, India, India. ... Read More

One of the first things my brother-in-law did when he moved from Sacramento, California, to a small town in Northwest Ohio was join the local rotary club. Then he volunteered to plan the community’s Labor Day festival. Then he connected with the local young professional association. And the city sports association. And a handful of other clubs and organizations.

It might seem like an odd choice for an attorney at first glance. It certainly did to me. But when I asked him about it, his answer was succinct as it was savvy: It was smart business. ... Read More

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
—Winston Churchill

One common question from the investment community to us here at STR is: “So, how long will this ride last?” In other words, given the favorable supply and demand fundamentals for the U.S. hotel industry, how long will we see positive average-daily-rate and revenue-per-available-room growth? ... Read More

I was 7 years old the first time I bet on the Kentucky Derby. I wasn’t the only first grader who had the gambling itch. As one of 20 odd students in Ms. Beelik’s class at St. Paschal Baylon elementary school, I picked my favorite steed for a chance to win an edible white chocolate cross.

Looking back, there were so many things wrong with that scenario—gambling … at a catholic school … at a catholic elementary school … vying for a mildly sacrilegious prize. ... Read More

Editor’s note: Each month, HotelNewsNow.com’s Samantha Worgull highlights the five best, most interesting, unique and otherwise downright cool apps in the hotel space. ... Read More