Orbitz Lists Full Hotel Prices On Main Page
from The Associated Press via Forbes
Orbitz Worldwide Inc. said Wednesday its online travel site is now including the total price for hotel rooms - including the base rate, taxes and fees - on its main search pages, and said it is the first major online travel company to do so. More

Critical Industry Feedback Needed for Wage Board

The Wage Orders you are being asked to review were originally promulgated in 1937 and many changes have ensued since then. We presently have five Wage Orders (restaurant, hotel*, building service, farm and miscellaneous). The last thorough consideration of the Wage Orders in hospitality industries, by which I mean the restaurant and hotel industries, occurred in 2005. Since then, employer practices have changed. Decisions of the courts and of the Industrial Board of Appeals have had an impact on these orders. The last minimum wage law revision effective January 1, 2005, contained specific provisions regarding the hospitality industries. It is time to review the Wage Orders for updating and I have therefore convened this Wage Board by authority of Sections 653(2) and 659.1 of Article 19 of the NYS Labor Law. *there is a special resort hotel classification under the hotel Wage Order NYSH&TA President Daniel C. Murphy is one of six representatives on the Wage Board. There are two people representing management, two representing unions and two representing the general public. Dan Murphy and Rick Sampson (President of the New York State Restaurant Association) were selected to represent management after being nominated by the New York State Business Council. At this time, Dan Murphy needs the industry’s input so he can present them to the full Wage Board. Please click here to review the complete message from the Commissioner of Labor. Pay special attention to the questions being asked in sections 2 through 7 and provide your questions, concerns and recommendations to Dan Murphy at dan@nyshta.org. We need your input on these very important codes, rules and regulations and how they impact on your business. To review the complete Minimum Wage Order for the Hotel Industry, Part 138 of Title 12 of Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations click here. You will also be able to ask questions and express concerns regarding any of these issues at a Public Hearing close to you. See below for location details: May 6 in Buffalo (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) at the Mahoney State Office Building, Part 6, 65 Court Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 May 15 in Albany (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) at the NYS Department of Labor, Building 12, Harriman State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12240, in Training Rooms D & E on the first floor May 20 in New York City (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in the Center for Worker Education, 18th floor, classrooms 18B – 18C, at the Joseph S Murphy Institute, City University of New York (CUNY), 25 West 43 St., New York, NY 10036 Updates on this issue will be given via NYSH&TA weekly e-news (Hospitality Headlines). More

It’s Always Darkest Before the Dawn
from Hospitality Net
In the 2008 edition of PKF Consulting’s Hospitality Investment Survey (HIS), the lack of liquidity in the market was the driving force in declining investor expectations. As industry participants now contemplate the worsening economic recession and its impact on lodging revenues and expenses, the 2009 edition of HIS reveals that investors anticipate a significant decline in operating incomes and resultant loss in property values unlike anything we have seen in past recessions. More

Adapting to Changes in the Market
from Hotel News Now
The problem with data is that a certain way of looking at it can become very comforting, but ultimately misleading, for the end user. As market conditions change, the realisation that the tools and performance indicators that have been used successfully for a period of time are no longer as helpful can be difficult to digest, lead to uncertainty and, ultimately, to poor decisions. The preponderance of technology and the overwhelming amount of data available that only gives a part of the picture has contributed to a culture of decisions made without recourse to what effect they have had on the business. More

Phone Call PRANK ALERT! Make sure your staff is prepared It has come to our attention that prank phone callers are still targeting New York State hotels. How it happens: A phone call is made to the hotel, usually in the middle of the night. With the guest on the phone, the caller tells them there is a dangerous gas leak in the hotel and they must immediately place a wet towel under the door, smash the window and/or jump out. Multiple rooms are called during the course of the prank. This week, a guest staying at a Finger Lakes property received a phone call early Sunday morning. According to the guest, the caller was very convincing – asking the guest to place a towel under the door, and then asking them to break the window. The guest did not break the window but they did follow all other instructions. Please make sure your front desk staff is aware of this prank so they take the proper steps to keep guests safe. The Finger Lakes property instructed their staff not to transfer phone calls to rooms without asking for a guest’s last name before transferring the call. If you have additional questions about the prank, please contact NYSH&TA Membership Services Manager, Darcy Lyle, at 518-465-2300 ext 111 or darcy@nyshta.org
from Hotel News Now
The hotel industry isn’t the only sector feeling the pain from the global economic downturn. The arts are suffering as well, as donations and ticket sales have decreased significantly. But while funding may be in short supply, an appreciation for the symphony, theater, ballet and other artistic mediums remains. Take the Alexis Hotel in Seattle, Washington, for example. The 121-room property has found that supporting the arts is “suite” music to guests’ ears. More

Let Your Guests Know About The U.S. Passport Card

Beginning June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens will be required to present a U.S. government-approved passport book or Passport Card when entering the United States from abroad. The new requirements may affect your international guests, so it’s to your advantage to inform them of the new procedures. In addition to U.S. passport books that have been recognized as official travel documents for decades, the new U.S. Passport Card is another official document designed specifically for new electronic systems being installed at U.S. land border crossings. The U.S. Passport Card is valid only for entry to the United States at land and sea points of entry when traveling from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda. It is not valid for international air travel, since it is not a globally recognized travel document like the traditional U.S. Passport book. The U.S. Passport Card has been in production since summer 2008. As of November 2008, more than 650,000 have been issued. Current passport holders can also apply for a Passport Card when they are eligible to renew. A U.S. Passport Card costs $45 for an adult and $35 for a child under age 16. When applied for in conjunction with a passport book or by a previous passport holder who is eligible for renewal, the U.S. Passport Card costs $20. Information on how and where to apply for a U.S. Passport Card is available at travel.state.gov. The U.S. Department of State is also providing informational pamphlets to travel businesses such as hotels that can be distributed to guests to remind them of the need for this documentation when crossing American national borders. These pamphlets can be obtained from Global Advertising First, the Maryland public relations firm retained by the department for this program. The contact at the firm is Carter Brewington, (301) 731-4255, or cbrewington@globalad1.com. More