Design Studio17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDTCHLA Industry Headlineshttp://multibriefs.com/briefs/CHLA/CHLA.xmlenThe California Hotel & Lodging Association elected new members to its 2012 board of directors at its recent meeting in Sacramento. The nominating committee presented six candidates for consideration to the board of directors, who subsequently elected all nominees.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb4041ab9ec41Americans plan to travel in slightly higher numbers this summer, according to surveys, starting with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. But many will hold the line on spending for items such as hotel stays and entertainment because of high fuel costs and rising airfares. An annual survey by the American Automobile Association released recently predicted that 34.8 million Americans will travel by all modes at least 50 miles from home during the holiday weekend, a 1.2 percent increase over last year.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb40466aae6c2Cheaper gas won't be enough to get many more Americans on the road this summer. They're still too worried about their jobs and the economy. Economists and tourism experts are expecting only a small uptick in summer travelers. Gas prices are lower, but still high enough to keep some Americans off the road. The job market is improving, but still shaky. And household debt remains high.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb40499ab0f93Hotels in the U.S. are testing small, tech-equipped meeting room spaces as an alternative to holding meetings in hotel lobbies. "Hotels are learning that they can have multiple uses per day," said Bjorn Hanson, the divisional dean of New York University's hospitality school as quoted by USA Today. "Although the (the small meeting rooms) may not generate the food and beverage revenue like traditional, all-day meetings, there still can be more total revenue." 17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb406ebc58b44Extensive media coverage last year of attacks on hotel housekeepers put pressure on industry leaders to rehash security methods. While much of the public focus on hotel staff security has died down, hoteliers still are looking for the most effective ways to ensure a secure work environment for their staffs. The implementation of a closed-door policy for housekeepers while they are cleaning guestrooms is an option hoteliers continue to consider.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb40640f240c5The first results of 2012 indicate that international tourism continued to show sustained growth in spite of challenging economic conditions. During the first two months of 2012, international tourist arrivals grew by an estimated 5.7 percent compared to the same period of 2011, according to the May issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, released in Batumi, Georgia on the occasion of the 54th UNWTO Commission for Europe.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb4056a548256The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that international visitors spent an estimated $13.7 billion on travel to and tourism-related activities within the United States during the month of March — an increase of more than $1.5 billion, or 13 percent, from March 2011. Year-to-date, U.S. travel and tourism exports have grown nearly 13 percent in 2012, and the industry has generated a $10.6 billion trade surplus during the first quarter of 2012. 17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb406a79ef8a7Independent health and safety experts Check Safety First has announced the launch of its QualityCheck feedback system that looks set to help hotels measure performance against guest expectations. Using a simple form that captures categorized responses, QualityCheck offers hoteliers the ability to easily collect and assess guest feedback validating the hotels commitment to quality, whilst also using comments and criticism to drive continual improvement.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb406097ba698Rockwood Real Estate Advisors, a full service real estate investment banking firm, announced that it has been retained on an exclusive basis to sell the Los Angeles Marriott — Burbank Airport and the Renaissance Denver Hotel. Located in Burbank, the Los Angeles Marriott — Burbank Airport is a 488-key full-service hotel that underwent a $28.4 million renovation in 2007. Situated on 11.76 acres adjacent to the Bob Hope Airport, which had 4.3 million passengers in 2011, the hotel is also just one block from Yahoo!, Inc., and near Warner Bros. Studios and Walt Disney Studios.17 May 2012 14:16:53 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb405cdc3c1c9