Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Hotel Review"

Source             :   theguardian.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Chris Moss
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

The climb out of New Quay in Ceredigion on the Wales Coast Path is short and very steep, but worth the effort, for the views over Cardigan Bay, the choughs and fulmars and bottlenose dolphins.Back in town, I make for the Black Lion, a 19th-century inn with views out to sea. It looks austere and a bit nonconformist. In April 2013, it reopened as a nine-room hotel. The refurb is very evident. There's a smell of "new" when I come into reception but the decor is plain, pared down, and everything looks sturdy, solid and functional. My room, one of five with sea views, has high ceilings and sash windows on three sides, with plenty of west Wales light pouring in, even on a drizzly autumn day. Cream, beige, brown and olive linens make the room feel vaguely autumnal too, and an original oil entitled Welsh Winter completes the effect. The bathroom is big and warm, with Cole & Lewis soaps but, sadly, no bath; walkers in need of a restorative soak may want to ask for one of four rooms with a tub. Owners Llinos and Mike Young are away and their young stand-ins, Sam Knight and Cara Cook, are super-efficient and chatty. But they appear to know little about Dylan Thomas, who lived nearby in a bungalow called Majoda (his "shack at the end of the cliff") in 1944-5 and was a regular at the inn.

The town became popular with cyclists in the 1890s but by Thomas's era it was a bohemian redoubt – perfect for skint poets who liked a drink. Now New Quay draws walkers, nature lovers, foodies and watersports fans. The Black Lion pays discreet homage to Thomas's memory, with black-and-white photographs of him smoking, drinking, being the family man. The food is posh pub grub, with daily hiker-friendly specials such as hunter's chicken, pasta and meatballs, and steak and Doom ale pie. I dine early on creamy chicken liver paté and fresh chutney. The Black Lion is a free house, with guest ales, including fruity Purple Moose from Porthmadog; I have one with my steak pie, plus a few beers from Mantle, a microbrewery that opened in nearby Cardigan in August. An army officer tried to kill Thomas during his year in New Quay, possibly because of the poet's communist sympathies, more probably because he was sleeping with the soldier's wife. Nothing so exciting happened during my stay. The pub, like the town, was sleepy, and my own slumber was assisted by the sound of lapping waves.

But it feels new, fresh, hopeful. Sam tells me the Black Lion is fast becoming New Quay's local boozer – important in a town where half the houses are second homes. Next year is the centenary of Dylan Thomas's birth (dt100.info). The pub is firmly on the pilgrim trail. It just needs a few books, some poetry readings, and a bit of the poet's spirit – hair down, glasses full, the possibility of chaos – to be a great inn.

Source:theguardian.com/travel/2013/oct/28/black-lion-inn-new-quay-ceredigion-wales-hotel-review

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Hotel Price Hikes In Brazil"

Source             :   theguardian.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :    Rio de Janeiro
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

"One more team stamps its passport for 2014," enthused the TV Globo commentator as live coverage of the England-Poland game came to an end. But a note of doubt crept into his voice as cameras panned across delirious England fans celebrating their team's 2-0 victory. "These children are going to invade Brazil, huh," he noted, dryly. Brazil is bracing itself for an avalanche of English fans – but many may balk at the country's prices. Rio de Janeiro, where the final will be held, has a shortage of hotel rooms and many are already fully booked up even though they are charging premium rates during the tournament. Inflated prices are already causing concern. In August Brazilian tourist board Embratur asked Fifa and the hotel sector to look at hotel charges because of "stratospheric growth" in prices. A survey found that some room rates had gone up by nearly 600%, while average room rate in Rio for June, when the World Cup begins were $461 (£289). A cheaper option for more adventurous fans will be the increasing number of small guesthouses situated in favelas that until recently were ruled by heavily armed drug gangs. Since 2008 a massive public security "pacification" campaign has allowed police to regain control of dozens of neighbourhoods which had been off-limits to the authorities for years.

To reach the Maze, a hotel run by British expat Bob Nadkarni, visitors need to walk down a narrow winding alleyway, past tiny bare brick and breezeblock houses of the Tavares Bastos favela in central Rio. The effect would be almost medieval if it wasn't for the sagging tangle of electricity wires drooping above, and the tiny hole-in-the-wall businesses visitors pass – a bar, a hairdressers and a shop. On Wednesday morning, a man wheeled a fridge down the alley past an overflowing plastic bucket positioned under an overflow. Two policemen clutching automatic rifles pressed themselves against a wall in a training session for close combat. Further down the alleyway, an officer alerted another group of trainees to possible sniper positions in the rooftops above. Nadkarni began work on The Maze 30 years ago, and his guesthouse is a labyrinth of narrow staircases, sudden turrets, hidden corners, and poky, oddly shaped rooms.

"People who come here don't want a common, tourist hotel that might be more comfortable, with air conditioning and TV," said Nadkarni's wife, Marluce da Silva. "It is very tranquil." She showed off the guesthouse's best suite – a small room that for five nights in the World Cup costs £1,000, with a double bed, a clothes rail, a mosaic tiled bathroom with shower, and a balcony offering stunning views across the bay and three wooden chairs – one of which was broken. The same room normally costs Real 180 - £52 – a night, a quarter of the price. The Maze offers the same five-night package in a single room with no balcony for £700, or for £350 in one of the nine beds in its tiny dormitory with no lockers and just one bathroom. Breakfast comes included. Brazilian football fans welcomed England's World Cup qualification. Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard are both popular players and England football shirts can be seen on Rio streets.

"Rooney is a very decisive man for Manchester United and is not different in England. He can make the difference in a tough game," said Miguel Salek, 31, a Brazilian England fan who writes for a football website. "The current England team is very competitive." But Salek admitted that his beloved England are less of a favourite than bigger teams such as Brazil, Argentina and Germany. Others shared his doubts. "I like the new boys, but I have doubts if the oldies will deliver," said Antonio Mendonça, 40, a São Paulo headhunter. "I think this England team is the strongest in recent times, mixing the experience of Gerrard and Rooney with a promising new generation of players," said Frank Honma, 40, a São Paulo video editor. "I'm happy that England are in the cup, it is my second World Cup team without any doubt."

Source : theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/16/hotel-price-hike-brazil-favela-alternative

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"From Mammograms To Mocktails Hotels Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month"

Source             :   hotelchatter.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Chanize 
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many hotels are "Thinking Pink", offering packages and programs to support breast cancer research. Hotel geeks, you can do your part to help the cause in the simplest ways from buying a slice of cake, getting a manicure at a hotel spa, to of course booking a stay at one of these special properties. It's a twin-win this month.

Next week we'll let you know hotels supporting this nationally recognized month with one of our favorite things--Specialty Cocktails!The Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village near Malibu is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness by inviting guests to be proactive about their health by participating in a $75 digital mammogram screening at their state-of-the-art California Health and Longevity Institute, and also their special Think Pink Pampering Package, which includes a customized 50-minute Tranquility Massage followed by a Pink Lady Mocktini which can be sipped poolside at the spa's Serenity Pool. The package is $130 per person and is available Monday to Friday through October 31, 2013. A portion of the package proceeds will be donated to The Cancer Support Community, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families of those affected by cancer.  The Surrey in New York City is offering a special Champagne Pedicure in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The 60 minute pedicure is $95 and includes two signature Cornelia cupcakes, a small bouquet of pink roses and dried lavender. The movement even extends to the Middle East. The pastry chef at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates in Dubai will make a special Breast Cancer Awareness cake to be sold at the lobby restaurant, Aspen by Kempinski, from October 20th until 26th. 10% of the profits from each cake sold will be donated to the organization Breast Cancer Arabia. Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos' 14th annual PINKTOBER campaign is celebrated at its 17 world-wide properties. 

Guests can obtain limited-edition merchandise and get tickets to special concerts like the Bret Michaels Velvet Sessions performance at Hard Rock Hotel Orlando. “Get into bed for a cause” thanks to the “PINK Sheets Rooms” hotel package where the Hard Rock donates 25 percent of their room revenue to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Carol Keating Foundation and other local charities. Meanwhile, guests' room will be adorned with pink sheets, pink robes, commemorative pins and more. La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla has a few promotions during October and November including a 3-Day Cheer Station. On Friday, November 15th – during the annual Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk/Run, La Valencia will set up a “Cheer Station” along the route, just one block from the hotel. Hotel employees will pass out pink goodies to the anticipated 4,000 walkers who'll pass by. 

Source:hotelchatter.com/story/2013/10/7/9458/90403/hotels/From_Mammograms_to_Mocktails,_Hotels_Support_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Time For Superstorm Sandy Evacuees To Check Out Of Hotels"

Source             :   npr.org
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Joel Rose
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Almost 300 Sandy victims are still living in hotel rooms on the taxpayers' dime — but not for long. City officials say the program is expensive, and it's time for those remaining Sandy evacuees to move out. This week, the displaced families living in hotels got a letter from New York City officials telling them they will not pay for those rooms after Friday. This was the message they sent back on Wednesday: Heck no, we won't go! At a press conference outside City Hall, several dozen evacuees protested for more time. "Normal people, normal citizens, we had jobs, we go to school. We just basically want to get back to where we were, to the lives that we have," says Shawn Little, a home health care worker who lived in Far Rockaway, Queens, before the storm. Little says she's close to doing that. She's signed a lease on an apartment, she says, and hopes to move in soon. But many other Sandy evacuees still have nowhere else to go. "A lot of these people are going to end up homeless," says Judith Goldiner with the Legal Aid Society. "We did not focus our resources after Sandy on making sure the people who were most harmed by Sandy were taken care of, and that's the real tragedy here." City officials dispute that. Michele Ovesey is New York's commissioner for homeless services. She says the city went above and beyond, sheltering as many as 3,000 households in hotels over the past year.

"It's a very generous program. We essentially allowed anyone in who knocked at our door," Ovesey says. "We have to have some kind of end date for the program." The city tried to end the hotel program back in April, but the Legal Aid Society sued to keep it going. A federal judge issued an injunction but lifted it last week. Now the city says it will stop paying for hotel rooms. Goldiner says the city is overlooking one of the biggest problems facing all New Yorkers — but especially low-income Sandy evacuees."In New York City, we have about a 1 percent vacancy rate, and it's lower — much lower — for affordable housing apartments," Goldiner says. City and federal officials created a voucher program to help evacuees find apartments they can afford. But Goldiner says some of those vouchers were issued in just the past few weeks, leaving her clients in limbo. "They are literally waiting for city bureaucracy to dot the i's and cross the t's and they can move in. But unfortunately, the city isn't willing to wait for them," she says.

Ovesey concedes that not everyone in the hotels will find alternative housing by Friday. But she says the hotel program has helped 1,400 households move into permanent housing since the storm. "We made every effort to keep as many evacuees in the hotel program frankly as long as we could, and I think we've done a tremendous job," Ovesey says. Ovesey says the hotel program hasn't been cheap, either. It's cost taxpayers more than $70 million. FEMA is picking up that bill, but it won't reimburse any more hotel stays. At the same time, Irwin Redlener at Columbia University's Earth Institute points out that there are billions of dollars in federal recovery funding that have yet to be spent. "We're battling against a very disorganized federal outgo of resources, so the cities are left holding the bag," Redlener says. "And even worse than that, the families are left holding the bag." Some of those evacuees may try to stay in the hotel rooms and take their chances in court, while others may have to check into homeless shelters Friday night.

Source : npr.org/2013/10/03/228910696/superstorm-sandy-evacuees-hotel-rooms

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Sandy Refugees Say They Still Need Hotel Program"

Source             :   abclocal.go.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   DEEPTI HAJELA
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

A few hundred New Yorkers still homeless nearly a year after Superstorm Sandy are asking the city for more time to find shelter before they're evicted from their hotel rooms.Federal funding for the program ended this week, but about 300 people are still sleeping in city-funded hotel rooms that are paid for through Friday. Several of them held a press conference Wednesday with elected officials to fight for the program's continuation. Among them was Cherell Manuel, who said she found a new place to live but needs a few more weeks to get all the pieces in place before moving. Manuel and her four children have been living in hotels since the storm flooded their home in Far Rockaway, Queens. "We didn't ask to be here. They act like we asked to be here," she said, standing on the steps of City Hall. "We're the victims of a devastation."

The city has spent $70 million to house more than 3,000 people left homeless since the storm hit Oct. 29, officials say. Each room costs about $266 per night. A judge last week sided with city lawyers and lifted an injunction that protected the housing program, saying that the city doesn't have the finances to continue the program now that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has stopped its financial support. Michael Cardozo, the city's top lawyer, said in a statement Wednesday that the city has "dedicated tremendous effort and resources" to those displaced. "Interim housing, along with intensive case management services, was provided but was never intended to be a permanent solution," he said. "As the court has recognized, the city cannot afford to single-handedly continue this program in the absence of FEMA funding." Cardozo said anyone without a place to go could access a city homeless shelter, and staff would work with them to find housing.

Source : abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9271568

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Hotel Debt Fills Bonds"

Source             :   bloomberg.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Sarah Mulholland
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is booked solid next week as bankers prepare to crowd the iconic lobby for cocktails at an annual bond-market convention. For owner Jeffrey Soffer, the conference helps justify a $1 billion makeover that almost cost him the property three years ago. Soffer is seeking a roughly $850 million mortgage on the 1,504-room resort from some of the same bankers gathering at the ABS East conference, according to people briefed on the details of the financing who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The loan, intended to refinance debt and buy out Dubai World’s 50 percent stake in the hotel, will be packaged into commercial mortgage-backed securities as investors snap up the deals at the fastest pace in five years, according to the people.Soffer, the head of real-estate investor Turnberry Associates, is likely to find a receptive audience after prices for hotels in top-tier locations climbed 17.6 percent this year to within 11 percent of the 2008 peak. Bond sales linked to hospitality loans have already more than tripled since January to $7.7 billion, compared with $9.4 billion in 2007 before markets collapsed, enabling borrowers to extract cash from their businesses, according to Wells Fargo & Co. data. 

“When things get bad in hotels they get really bad,” said Dan Fasulo, a managing director at Real Capital Analytics Inc., a New York-based property research firm. “A lot of lenders got burnt badly in the downturn. There is no question that CMBS lenders have been the most aggressive” since values started recovering, he said.Hotels, which are the first commercial property type to see revenue decline in a recession, can rebound the fastest as rates can be adjusted on a daily basis to meet renewed demand. The delinquency rate for the properties has dropped to 8.04 percent as of August, from 11.46 percent the prior year and a peak of 21.31 percent in September 2010, according to Fitch Ratings. The Fontainebleau, a haunt for Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe that also served as a backdrop for the “Scarface” and “Goldfinger” movies, was a victim of the real-estate crash and recession. Soffer acquired the property on Collins Avenue in South Beach in 2005 and then spent $1 billion using borrowed money to renovate the resort. The owners stopped making payments on $620 million of debt in September 2010 as businesses and households ratcheted back on travel amid the recession. Hotel revenue in Miami plunged as much as 28 percent during the depths of the crisis in 2009 according to STR, a Hendersonville, Tennessee-based data provider.Soffer, who married Australian model Elle MacPherson this year, hung on to the hotel by negotiating with lenders to extend maturities. Along with a unit of Dubai World, they agreed to invest an additional $100 million in cash, people familiar with the plan said at the time.

He’s now seeking to tap rising demand for hotel debt and increased valuations to buy out the Middle Eastern investor. Average revenue-per-room at the end of September 2012 rose 35 percent since 2010, according to Fitch Ratings. The new loan will pay off debt sold in a CMBS deal last year comprised of a $412 million mortgage arranged by UBS AG. Joseph Gerbino, a spokesman for the Fontainebleau, declined to comment on the financing. Soffer and representatives from Dubai World didn’t return calls seeking comment.The negotiations are taking place as attendees plan to assemble from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8 for Information Management Network’s ABS conference for securitization where 3,500 people are registered, up 25 percent from 2012, according to IMN. Attendance has climbed from 1,200 in 2009. The Fontainebleau, has hosted the conference since 2011, serving as a backdrop for bankers to woo clients at parties and steak dinners. The event is regaining its footing as CMBS sales are poised to double to $70 billion this year, according to Credit Suisse Group AG. The share of hotel loans within those deals also is rising as investors become more comfortable with the lodging sector as the U.S. recovery progresses, said Lad Duncan, an analyst at Wells Fargo.

“Lenders were full up on hotel loans,” during the recession, he said in a telephone interview. “With the market improving, they are much more palatable.” Mortgages on hotels account for 15 percent of standard CMBS deals sold this year, which contain as many as 100 loans tied to everything from office parks to shopping malls, according to Wells Fargo. That’s up from 2.8 percent in 2010.The lodging sector has become increasingly reliant on Wall Street with CMBS the primary source of debt financing, Real Capital said in an April report. CMBS lenders are particularly dominant in smaller cities and towns, accounting for 50 percent of hotel loans in so-called tertiary markets in 2012, the latest data available, according to Real Capital. That’s in part because insurers and regional banks retreated from hotel lending after taking losses during the downturn, said Real Capital’s Fasulo. About $6.7 billion of bonds linked to large hospitality loans to be sold off individually are set to be issued through the end of the year, according to Bank of America Corp. data. That includes a $3.5 billion transaction tied to Blackstone Group LP (BX)’s initial public offering of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., the biggest hotel chain in the world. Still, growth in revenue-per-available-room, or revpar, is starting to slow, according to researcher STR. It rose 5.6 percent in the first half of 2013, compared with 6.8 percent growth for all of last year and 8.2 percent in 2011.

Source:bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-01/miami-beach-banker-party-shows-why-hotel-debt-fills-bonds.html

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"IHCL Likely To Get Extension For Taj Hotel Operation"

Source             :    thehindu.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   thehindu
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Tata-owned Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is likely to get an extension of three months to operate the Taj Mansingh Hotel in posh Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone here after its lease expires next month. The IHCL has been running the landmark property for the past 35 years and its lease is due to expire on October 10. The New Delhi Municipal Council, which owns the property located in the heart of Delhi on Mansingh Road, is yet to come to any conclusion on auctioning the hotel as it is waiting for the Solicitor-General’s opinion. The NDMC had sought the opinion of the Solicitor-General after a nod from the Home Ministry earlier this month. The NDMC officials said the civic body is likely to extend the lease with the IHCL for operating the hotel for at least three months as it cannot reach a decision on the issue until it gets the opinion of the Solicitor-General.

The decision to grant the three months’ extension is likely to be taken during the next council meeting to be held on October 7. “The election code of conduct for the Assembly polls in Delhi is likely to be in place in a few days and it will become difficult to auction the property during that time,” an official said. However, according to NDMC chairperson Jalaj Srivastava, the agency can approach the Election Commission for a “special permission” to auction the property in that case. “If the agency gets the Solicitor-General’s opinion during the time when the code of conduct is in place, we can seek special permission from the Election Commission to allow us to auction the hotel,” Mr. Srivastava said. The hotel has been in news since its lease ended in October, 2011. The property, constructed by the NDMC, was given to the Indian Hotels Company Limited in 1978 on lease for 33 years. When the lease came to an end in 2011 and the NDMC was about to renew it, the Urban Development Ministry intervened and asked it to auction the property. As time was running out, the NDMC gave a year’s extension to IHCL. While the company expected the lease to be renewed in October 2012, the process was stalled temporarily as NDMC could not take a final call. The agency had then decided to give one-year extension to the Tatas.

Source:thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/ihcl-likely-to-get-extension-for-taj-hotel-operation/article5185084.ece

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Collapsed Hotel Ruins May Stay For Months"

Source             :    tvnz.co.nz
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Fairfax
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

The cracked ruins of the former Copthorne Hotel in Christchurch city centre may remain for months while structural engineers investigate the cause of its collapse. Construction workers ran for their lives on Saturday afternoon when the 10-storey hotel on Colombo Street collapsed like a "pack of cards" during demolition. The floors collapsed, but the walls on the northern and southern ends of the building still remain. The structural integrity of the remaining walls is not known, but a large crack can be seen in the base of the northern wall, which appears to be misshapen. A Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Enterprise spokesman said a prohibition notice stopped all work on the site while engineers assess the building.

It was not known when the engineering report would be complete. The Copthorne Hotel building was in the middle of scheduled demolition by Southern Demolition and Salvage. It is an owner-controlled demolition and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is not involved. Cera said it would not be investigating the incident.Southern Demolition and Salvage owner Alan Edge could not be reached for comment yesterday but said earlier that he believed the collapse was a result of the stress of aftershocks.

Source : tvnz.co.nz/national-news/collapsed-hotel-ruins-may-stay-months-5593107

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Dubai Luxury Hotel Rooms"

Source             :   arabianbusiness.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Andy Sambidge

Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

More than 10,000 five-star hotel rooms in Dubai are in need of refurbishment, placing significant burden on hotel operators as they consider taking rooms out of operation to undertake the necessary work, a new report has said. EC Harris, the global built asset consultancy, estimates that the cost of renovation is in the region of AED325,000 per room. There were an estimated 23,500 five star rooms in Dubai in 2012. Christopher Seymour, head of property UAE at EC Harris said: "Some of the hotel assets in Dubai are now over 15 years old and to maintain the quality of the offering, protect the brand and meet customer expectations, refurbishment programmes are becoming a requirement."The quality of the hospitality accommodation in the UAE is very high and with the wave of new hotel construction in the pipeline, we will see some operators forced to undertake refit and refresh of their older hotel assets in order to remain competitive." He said refurbishment programmes should be targeted at quiet periods to reduce the revenue effect of taking rooms and facilities out of operation.

However, that quiet period is seen to be reducing as the appeal of Dubai as a destination increases. Most operators now view the only 'window' as late May to early September - a period of just 14 weeks. Seymour added: "Careful planning and programme management are very important to ensure success. Using tried and tested processes from the busy tourism markets of Europe and North America demonstrates that it is feasible to carry out major hotel refurbishments whilst remaining in operation." Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel closed in July and is scheduled to reopen next spring as it undergoes an extensive refurbishment. The hotel announced that it is undergoing a full refurbishment of all guest rooms, the Vivaldi restaurant and other facilities in the hotel. Dubai hotels posted big increases in occupancy and revenues during August compared to the year-earlier period, according to data released by STR Global. The city's hospitality sector witnessed increases in supply (5.81 percent) and demand (30.4 percent) while occupancy rose 23.3 percent to 72.6 percent. STR Global also said hotels reported a 8.7 percent increase in average daily rate to AED753.16 and a 34 percent rise in revenue per available room to AED546.61.

Source:arabianbusiness.com/10-000-dubai-luxury-hotel-rooms-need-revamp--520327.html#.UkU3GNJi3-U

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Local Hotel Business Dropped"

Source             :   kmir6.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   Gitzel Puente
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Hotels in the Valley are off-season right now, being the slower summer months. Local cities are competing with beach destinations in Organce and Los Angeles counties. Compared to 2012, one small hotel owner in Palm Springs says he's definitely seen a decrease in business."Last year was a very big boom season for us. Numbers were very big, so in comparison to last year, yeah we're down here at the rendezvous maybe 20 percent at the very most," explains the general manager of Rendezvous Hotel, John Michael Cooper.

The total number of people staying at a hotel in Palm Springs dropped below 50 percent in July, that's the lowest showing this year. "Maybe people are hopping on a plane for their summer trip, maybe they're staying home, maybe things aren't necessarily the best ever," says Cooper. Despite the low numbers, all rooms are booked at the Rendezvous Hotel for this week. Many tourists say Palm Springs is still a top destination on their list. "Palm springs is perfect because even though I know you call this the off-season now, this is the season we come. It's so relaxing to be here. We live in a big city, so this is not the big city," shares a traveler from Los Angeles, staying at the Rendezvous Hotel. For hotel owners, they have the peak-season to look forward starting in November and running until April. "We're very optimistic. We're going to see numbers bumping up. People are going to start coming back in. The holidays are going to be a very big season for us," says Cooper.

Source : kmir6.com/news/toprotator/Local-Hotel-Business-Dropped-in-July-222195771.html

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale|"Bahamas In 50,000 Seat Airlift Fall"

Source             :   tribune242.com

Category        :   Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

By                  :   NEIL HARTNELL

Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

The Bahamas has suffered an airlift decline of more than 50,000 seats for 2013 to-date, Tribune Business has been told, as airlines phase out services and adjust schedules to traveller demand. Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, said airlift to the Bahamas had chiefly been impacted by Spirit Airlines and Jet Blue phasing out their respective services from Fort Lauderdale and Westchester, New York. Jet Blue and United Airlines had also adjusted airlift levels to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale and Newark, and Mr Sands told Tribune Business: “The airlines are more nimble these days, and quickly adjust the size of their aircraft and frequency of flights based upon demand.

“Year-to-date, this has resulted in a loss of over 50,000 seats. Airlines have also become very sensitive to the cost of operations, and any taxes and fees which directly impact their operating costs can result in their redeploying aircraft to destinations with higher yields and lower operating costs.” The 50,000 seat loss revelation comes with the Government expected to decide imminently whether it will modify the new, and increased, taxes that the 2013-2014 Budget imposed upon the commercial and private aviation industries. Both had reacted angrily to the new and increased fees, with airlines representing 90 per cent of US market airlift into the Bahamas warning they “may reconsider their service levels to the Bahamas”. To-date, the Government has stuck to its position that it needs the $4-$5 million in extra revenue the new and increased fees would bring it, despite the howls of protest. However, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) August newsletter details the compromise proposals submitted by the private sector, which are now thought to be under active review by the Christie administration.

The BHTA document describes the “consensus” as being a major reduction to the 1 per cent Customs processing fee, and total elimination of the ‘attendance charge’ for flights arriving after 5pm, and before 9am. To make up the revenue loss suffered by the Government, the private sector has proposed increasing the passenger departure tax by $4 per head. “BHTA, working closely with the airlines, the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and the Ministry of Tourism, conducted a detailed impact analysis which was presented to the Ministry of Finance,” the BHTA newsletter said. "The Government countered that it needed to raise $4-$5 million in revenue which was anticipated through the fees. “BHTA advocated that lost business from cancelled flights could negate any impact and provided a detailed analysis in support of that argument....... “From the discussions, the consensus was to recommend eliminating the [Customs] attendance fees and significantly reducing the Customs processing fees for commercial airlines, replacing it with a $4 increase in departure tax which would take effect later this year.” Airline service is the lifeblood for the hotel and tourism industry, and any carrier cutbacks on service to the Bahamas could result in reduced occupancies, lower revenues/profits, and produce sector lay-offs.

The BHTA acknowledged that the issue was “particularly sensitive” given the tourism industry’s drive to attract new and increased airlift ahead of the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project’s late 2014 opening. David Johnson, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, declined to comment on the Government’s position on the aviation taxes when contacted by this newspaper, but indicated that a decision could come as early as this week. Describing the issue as a “sensitive one”, given that it was under the purview of the Minister of Finance (Prime Minister Perry Christie) and had reached Cabinet level. But, in common with the BHTA newsletter, which expects a decision on whether to modify the aviation tax regime by early September, Mr Johnson indicated a decision was imminent. “I believe that in a few days your questions will be effectively answered,” Mr Johnson said. “I anticipate that in a further three days there should be some light shone on that. I believe the matter will be resolved in a few days.” Mr Sands, too, added that the private sector was “hopeful that in very short order” the aviation tax issues would be dealt with.

“The industry and Ministry of Tourism quickly assessed the potential downside of the new fees, recognised the dilemma government faces in raising revenue, and came up with an alternative plan to address the airlines’ concerns,” he told Tribune Business. Meanwhile, Stuart Bowe, the BHTA’s president, referred to “a noted drop in airline seats through July” as one factor behind the Bahamian hotel and tourism industry’s “mixed results” for the 2013 first half. Noting that air travel prices had been cited as ‘the greatest financial deterrent to leisure travel’ by 54 per cent of respondents to a US Travel Association Survey, Mr Bowe acknowledged in the BHTA newsletter: “Affordable airlift continues to be a primary challenge for the destination.” He added that the Bahamas needed to secure an extra 1,200 seats per day by the end of 2014 to meet Baha Mar’s increased room inventory needs.

Mr Sands, though, said the tourism industry- working with the Government and Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) had “developed a plan” to both deal with this and regain the airlift lost. As previously reported by Tribune Business, the private aviation industry had expressed annoyance at the extra $50 fee being levied by Customs to process their forms when they land in the Bahamas, plus a fee - also $50 - being charged for refuelling stops in this nation. Both private and commercial airline flights are being charged $75 for arrival and departure, making for a grand total of $150 per flight. In addition, the commercial airlines - especially the foreign carriers - slammed the Customs service charge for planes arriving after 5pm, and before 9am, on any given day. Commercial aircraft with a seating capacity of less than 30 are charged $50 per hour; airliners with seats numbering between 31-70 are charged $100 per hour; and those with 71 seats or more are charged $200 per hour. The airlines also expressed concern over Customs’ new 1 per cent administrative processing fee, which is now added to brakes, tyres and other aircraft parts imported to the Bahamas for repairs. This fee, capped at $500 per import, replaces the previous $10 Stamp Duty levy.

Source : tribune242.com/news/2013/sep/01/bahamas-in-50000-seat-airlift-fall/

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale|"Motel Disturbance Call Leads To Meth Lab"

Source             :   miami.cbslocal.com
Category        :   Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale
By                  :   miami.cbslocal
Posted By     :    Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

A call to a motel for a disturbance turned into an alleged meth lab bust by Fort Lauderdale Police. Officers said they were called to the Relax Inn at 1851 South Federal Highway Monday afternoon. According to the officers, an argument between two men and a woman took place and the management of the motel asked them to remove their belongings and leave the property. Officers were requested to escort the people to their room for their stuff, but while officers were there, the woman reportedly told them the men were cooking meth in their room.Investigators located what they said was a small meth lab and evacuated the rooms as a precaution. A DEA Clandestine Lab Team responded to secure the property. Erica Rojas said she stays at the motel and was shocked at the discovery.

“I don’t appreciate it because there’s children that live over there,” she told CBS 4′s Carey Codd. A woman named Terese, who lives near the motel with her three children, says she is often concerned about drug use and prostitution in the area. She wonders what kind of damage an explosion at even a small meth lab could have done. “I know that’s a lot of chemicals, right?” she said “And my children’s room is right there in the back of the hotel, so its pretty scary.” Police took the three people believed to be involved in the scene into custody for questioning. Their names have not been released.

Source : miami.cbslocal.com/2013/09/02/police-motel-disturbance-call-leads-to-meth-lab/

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Colombo Hotels To Add 700 Rooms"

Source             :    dailynews.lk/
Category        :    Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale
By                  :    dailynews
Posted By     :   Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort lauderdale

Sri Lanka's tourism sector needs over US$ 3.5 billion in investment to build the required 40,000 rooms to cater to the anticipated 2.5 million tourists in 2016.The main contribution will be made by Shangri-La Colombo, Hyatt Regency, Movenpick, Sheraton, Marino Sands Hotel, ITC Hotel and Suncity Business Hotel and others in this regard. Currently,Colombo is only equipped with 2,000 five star rooms which are in short supply.With the completion of the Movenpick and Hyatt the country will see another 700 rooms being added during the next 3 to 4 years. "We believe there would be demand for city five star rooms with the expected growth in business, crew and MICE travellers. Further the infrastructure development in the country and being strategically located to expanding economies and large source markets for tourism such as India, China, and Singapore, the country offers good potential for growth", according to a TKS Securities research report.

The report has identified nine large scale mixed development projects, five standalone apartment projects and six three to five star hotel projects which have been announced in and around the city of Colombo. "The developments we have identified together will add 3,000 apartment units and more than 3,000 three to five star hotel rooms in the coming 4 to 5 years. However we do not expect a glut in hotels, apartments and retail space as the development will be automatically phased out, TKS Securities said. In the mixed development arena, Havelock City has already completed and sold two apartments towers (226 units) and another two apartment towers (218 units) are under construction. Meanwhile Hyatt Regency and Platinum One have partly completed structures for majority of the level of storeys. However apart from these developments all other projects are yet to break ground. Therefore we believe that the Colombo metropolis will function with a marginal capacity increase during the next 2 to 3 years where we would not see a real growth until the next 4 to 5 years,the report said.

The Australian based Crown group will invest US$ 350 million on a mixed development project along with a Sri Lankan investor. Government permission was granted for the project under the Strategic Development Act purely for a tourism project. Hyatt Regency project with 475 hotel rooms and 90 serviced apartments is expected to open in 2014-15 with an investment of US$ 159 million.

The US$ 170 million EoN Resorts project located at D.R.Wijewardene Mw Colombo 10 will comprise 300 rooms, 100 luxury apartment units, 150,000 sqft retail space, 2,000 sqft food court and Convention centre with 2,000 seating capacity. Movenpick Colombo, a 24 story five star complex, developed by Softlogic Holdings will comprise 224 rooms,conference and meeting facilities, four restaurants serving diverse, cuisines, and a full range of recreational facilities, such as a fully equipped gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a health spa and other facilities. Total cost of the project is estimated to be US$ 46.6 million. Shangri-La Colombo hotel project with 500 hotel rooms is expected to open 2016-17. Shangri-La Colombo will comprise Sushi bar, steakhouse, seafood market and Irish pub, specialty restaurants such as Indian, Islamic, Szechuan and Macanese,Sky lounge, meeting facilities ,Swimming pool and tennis courts Total Investment for the Shangri-La Colombo hotel project is $ 400 million.

The $ 80 million Sheraton Colombo project is expected to open in the near future and the hotel will comprise 306 rooms. The project will spread across in 100 perches Galle Road, Colombo 3. Colombo Marino Sands Hotel project, developed by Damro Group with an investment of US$ 40 million will comprise 270 room 12 storey luxury hotel and a department store. In addition, the hotel will comprise three basement car parks ,200 ft roof top infinity pool,four restaurants and other facilities. The US$ 23 million, Suncity Business Hotel in Green Path, Colombo 3 is expected to open in 2016. The project is developed by Suncity Hotels (Pvt) Ltd and will comprise 240 rooms, roof top swimming pool, open air club lounge ,dining restaurant, gym,five lifts and car parking.

Source : dailynews.lk/?q=business/colombo-hotels-add-700-rooms

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Hotels & Lodging "

Source            :    calgaryherald.com
Category       :    Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale
By                 :    MEGAN COLE
Posted By     :   Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Whether it's Tofino, Whistler or Kelowna, when Tobias Lawrence and her husband travel they take along their whole family, which means their two huskies Haiku and Lulu. "After some bad experiences with boarding I want my dogs with me," said Lawrence. "If we go away for Christmas, we want our dogs with us. We aren't going to board them because we want them to be part of the experience. "They are our family."

Dog owners who feel the same way as Lawrence are becoming an increasing trend, which means that hotels and other accommodation properties have to make arrangements to host dog owners and their pets.

For more than 20 years Lawrence has been travelling with dogs, including her previous pooch Logan, and said she has seen a shift in the way hotels welcome pets. "More hotels are definitely accommodating those travelling with dogs," she said. "When I first got my husky Logan — and I had her for 16 years — it was extremely difficult to travel places." Lawrence said even travelling to major cities like Vancouver was a challenge, not to mention rural B.C., which often had a limited selection of hotels and motels. "We recently travelled to Kelowna and stayed at the Ramada there, and when we arrived they had two gift baskets for Haiku and Lulu," she said.

Even though the perks for pets are welcomed by owners, Lawrence said there are other considerations, such as the location of the hotel and whether there are dog walking options. While some hotels have adopted a pet-friendly approach to match the growing demand, Nicholas Gandossi, general manager of Vancouver's Opus Hotel, said it has been part of their business since Day 1. "We haven't just adopted that position as a sales or marketing ploy. We've been pet-friendly since the day we opened our doors in 2002," said Gandossi. According to Gandossi, even though most of their guests fly into Vancouver, other clients choose to drive, which allows them to bring their dogs with them. But part of being pet-friendly for Gandossi also means acknowledging that other guests may not be, which is why they have included a doggy waiver. "We have the noise clause on the doggy waiver which guests sign at check-in," he said. "They can't leave dogs in the rooms because of potential noise." Along with barking, Opus also addresses concerns about cleanliness in their pet-friendly rooms, which are given a thorough scrubbing when the canine has departed. In general, those rooms are reserved for this particular type of guest. Many hotels aren't stopping at the basic amenities. From puppy spa facilities to gourmet dog food menus, accommodators are going the extra mile to attract dog owners."We made the decision not to charge any pet fee," said Gandossi.

"This seems very basic, but I think it makes a strong point that we're telling our guests that we want to make them feel included and welcome to bring their other loved ones. Then we added all the extra incentives — every guest checking in gets a copy of Modern Dog magazine, every guest gets a dog toy, and we've purchased pet beds and stainless-steel bowls."

Source:calgaryherald.com/life/Hotels+other+lodging+increasingly+catering+owners+with+perks/8676309/story.html

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale|"Toronto's Pearson Airport Lands A New Breed Of Hotel"

Source           :    calgaryherald.com/
Category       :    Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale
By                :    RICK MCGINNIS
Posted By     :   Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

The 427 roars past the old Valhalla Inn building, speeding travellers to and from the airport that was once the hotel's reason for existing. The building is empty and eerie. Terrance Jacobs lets me in through a side door; he's chief executive of TCL Asset Group, and his company has the contract to liquidate the hotel in a two-day auction next week, but even he admits he hates being here alone.There's always a hint of The Shining in any empty hotel, but it wasn't always like this for the Valhalla Inn, which opened in 1963, a labour of love by Etobicoke developer Edmund Peachey, who guessed that a Nordic-themed motor hotel near what was then called Malton airport would probably stand out from the crowd. And it did.

Way on the other side of Pearson's runways, on Derry Road just 750 yards from Brampton, the Radisson Plaza Mississauga is having its grand opening. There's no Viking longhouse lounge here-- the theme is Viennese rococo, all marble and gold, all meant to make this hotel stand out in today's crowd.Nick Kochhar is the general manager and VP of the Plaza, and he says that the business traveller they're targeting is a different beast from the onetime patrons of the Valhalla Inn's Mermaid Bar. They're more concerned with comfort than amusement, and put a premium on features like reliable broadband wifi, multiple flat panel TVs, a spacious bathroom, prompt laundry service and a really good bed.

"A few years ago you could see a distinct difference brand to brand," he tells me. "You'd see a difference between a mom-and-pop hotel and a Days Inn or a Holiday Inn, then a big jump in what you'd expect in a Hilton or a Radisson or a Four Seasons. Some of these brands barely had a TV in a room, not to mention a fridge or a coffee maker. Today, you can go to the smallest of these properties and these have become standard. The basic standard has stepped up."Out in airport hotel country, all that hasn't changed is their patrons' disinterest in being close to the action--and the traffic -- downtown. Once little more than motels, airport hotels soon tried to distinguish themselves by the quality of their facilities and entertainment, since patrons chose them mainly for their proximity to clients and suppliers. Today, business trips are more crowded, the expectations to produce more keen and technology has woven a more robust tether to employers and clients, so their room is their office, boardroom and bedroom.

When the Valhalla Inn was built, Scandinavian modern was the height of design fashion, but Peachey decided to go back a bit further, to the days of the longboat and the horned helmet, and so Mr. Jacobs lets me into conference rooms named after Norse gods like Freya and Odin, now filled with hundreds of auction lots of silverware and plastic plants, chafing dishes, plates and ice buckets -- 26 lots of eight, all emblazoned with the hotel's logo, which will survive in a sister hotel still doing business in Thunder Bay.A local heritage group has dibs on the bar in the Nordic Dining Room with its carved dragon prow, among other distinctive architectural elements, like the massive front door handles and the signage on the once-swinging Mermaid Bar. The deer that once roamed the landscaped courtyard are long gone, as are the girls in costume fish tails who once did shifts in the hotel pool, in front of the watertight windows behind the bar in the curved, azure-painted room downstairs. It's the sort of thing you associate with a hotel in Miami, not Toronto, even in the '60s, and in any case Mr. Jacobs tells me that this is the first time the windows to the pool have been exposed in years -- the owners had to cover them up with stained glass when patrons started getting naked in the pool, much to the amusement of Mermaid Bar patrons. It's an anecdote that typifies the first golden age of the airport hotel, when highways were giving way to airways, and the travelling salesman was transforming into the business traveller, albeit with the same need to let off a little steam with strangers far from home, glorying in a spell of blessed anonymity on the "airport strip," whose punning name referred as much to the peeler bars as the hotels.

But Peachey's closest onetime competitor, the Ramada Inn just up the highway, is also shuttered, and airport strip fixtures like the Regal Constellation are being demolished as the airport hotel and its clientele is evolving and moving further away from the city. At the new Radisson Plaza, Mr. Kochhar and the hotel's owners are aiming for at least a four diamond rating -- ambitious for a downtown hotel, never mind one located on a six-lane road full of rumbling diesel rigs, whose neighbours are warehouses and industrial parks. They're building ahead of a demand, he admits, but the logic is sound -- remote clusters of hotels have grown up to serve Markham's tech industries, for instance, and development around the old strip at Airport Road and Dixon has run out of space. "A hotel is something that is built ahead of time," Mr. Kochhar says. "In normal economic circumstances, when there is a demand people increase the capacity of manufacturing, whereas in tourism you have to make the availability first and then satisfy the demand."

Source:calgaryherald.com/travel/Pearson+Airport+lands+breed+hotel/2020083/story.html

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale|"Fort Lauderdale Condo Hotel Update"

Source           :    http://www.consumertraveler.com
Category       :    Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale
By                  :    Janice Hough
Posted By      :   Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

People who are looking to own a vacation home, but would also like to rent it when they are not in Fort Lauderdale, often turn to Condo Hotels.  We are fortunate to have a few Condo Hotels in Fort Lauderdale that are very nice.  The buildings that are the most popular are:   The W Fort Lauderdale, Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale, Hilton Q Club, Gallery One, and The Atlantic Hotel.  In the last few weeks news has come out on The W Fort Lauderdale Residences, and on the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale.

The Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale, which has been legally known as the Castillo Grand, was sold to a developer who is familiar with operating hotels in the Ritz Carlton brand. 

The W Fort Lauderdale Residences may have found a buyer. Between the two luxury buildings of the W Fort Lauderdale Residences and The Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale you will see the large vacant building located at 551 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.  That building was supposed to be the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Fort Lauderdale. Speculation is that whoever buys the 298 unit building will turn it into a luxury condo hotel.

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale|"Grand Birch Fort Lauderdale Beach"

Source:veniceofamericahomes.com
Category:Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
By:CASEY PRINDLE
Posted By:Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

hotel in ft. lauderdale

In April The Sun Sentinel wrote an article about the Grand Birch, you can find that article here.  Plans were approved on the 300 Block of North Birch Road to build a 22 unit project.  The site is just south of the W Fort Lauderale on the Intracoastal side.  The planned site to build upon is a vacant lot which is just over a half acre in size.  The location of the planned site is on the map below.

Grand Birch Fort Lauderdale

The article says that 70% of the bottom floor will be glass.  This will allow you to see through to the Intracoastal from the road, I think that will look amazing.  One person who knows a lot about developing that area of the beach is Par Sanda.  He’s been doing some great work on older hotels in the area.  Essentially updating the fixtures, but keeping the bones and the art deco feel alive in his hotels.  He came out in support of the project.

Everything seemed to be moving along, and then the Sun Sentinel published a second article which said the Grand Birch Project could be delayed due to legal challenges.  You can find the second article here.  In short the lawsuit claims the city is violating it’s own building codes by approving the project.

Whether this building gets under construction or is delayed for some time remains to be seen.  But here is what is known, builders are starting to build again.  Developers are looking for raw land they can break ground on quickly.  There is no shortage of construction groups looking for buildings in poor condition that they can buy and renovate.

Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotels|"Five Luxe Airport Hotels Around The Globe"

Source :blog.forbestravelguide.com
By : forbestravelguide
Category : Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotels
Posted By : Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

With long security lines, not-so-fabulous fast food and departure delays, it’s no wonder most of us try to get in and out of airports as quickly as we can. But contrary to what you may be thinking while you wait and wait for your luggage at the baggage claim carousel, not everything associated with the airport is bad. In fact, there are a number of hotels connected to them that absolutely soar because of their convenience and comfort. Our editing crew checked out five properties around the globe that will suit you just fine during your next extended layover.


Regal Airport Hotel, Hong Kong
Proximity and luxury are the keys to any top-tier airport hotel and Regal Airport Hotel in Hong Kong has both. It’s directly connected to the passenger terminal of Hong Kong International Airport via a covered walkway, plus there’s a complimentary shuttle service between the airport, Tung Chung and downtown. Guest rooms feature clean and contemporary design and are ideal for overnight stays, while true relaxation can be found in the spa suite with its outdoor Jacuzzi, couples massage service (outside under a canopy) and mosaic steam room perfect for air-travel detox. If you’re staying for more than just the night, check out the Hong Kong hotel’s swimming pool, complete with dripping resort flair such as lounge chairs, umbrellas and lush foliage.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Vancouver
The Fairmont Vancouver Airport features rooms with soundproof windows and unobstructed views of the North Shore Mountains, Gulf Islands and, if you can’t get enough of your travels, the runway—it’s actually located inside the airport directly above the U.S. departures terminal. Whether you’re taking advantage of a day room or an overnight layover, Jetside Bar’s floor-to-ceiling windows with mountain and runway views, and Laurentian stone fireplaces will set your travel jitters at ease while you sip on a unique honey lager made from homegrown honey (and brewed through a partnership with the local Whistler Brewing Company). If that doesn’t do it, head to the Absolute Spa and indulge in one of the more than 130 body treatments and therapies.

Sofitel London Heathrow
You can’t get much closer to London Heathrow Airport than Sofitel London Heathrow—it’s literally linked to the airport’s Terminal 5 so it’s super convenient whether you’re flying in or out. The modern hotel features standard rooms that are sharply designed (some with zen garden scapes), as well as a three-bedroom Imperial Suite with luxurious touches such as Swarovski Crystal bathrooms. The posh accommodations don’t stop with the rooms, however. Sofitel London Heathrow also includes three restaurants and pair of bars serving everything from gourmet French cuisine to international fare. Of course, it wouldn’t be an ideal airport hotel without a spa, and Sofitel’s includes a mix of hardwood, stone and glass touches, plus a sauna, and massage and hammam services.

Cedarbrook Lodge, Seattle
Seattle’s Cedarbrook Lodge sits on 18 acres of emerald-soaked natural landscape less than five minutes from SeaTac International Airport (you can arrange for a complimentary shuttle to transport you to the hotel), but feels worlds away from the rushed chaos of the tarmac. You can take in the views of nature from your guest room or if you have time, reserve croquet, bocce ball and other lawn game equipment for an afternoon outdoors. Before heading off to your next destination, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar for a farm-fresh meal made with ingredients from the on-site garden.

Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich
Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich is a glittering glass façade illuminated by colored lights and dotted with various flora. The rooms embrace a comfortable, sharp-edged design and the suites sport dashing hardwood floors. If you have time, you can unwind at the hotel spa, indoor pool or 24-hour gym. And when you have to head back to the Munich Airport, the Kempinski Hotel’s cushy transport service will get you to the Terminal 1 check-in counter in its BMW 7 Series limousine.

Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale | "Fort Lauderdale's Spring Break"

Source      : http://news.travel.aol.com
Category    : Hotels Near Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale
By          : Affordable Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
Posted By   : Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

The sun was out but the ocean was cresting with white caps and the palm trees blowing madly when I arrived in Fort Lauderdale yesterday afternoon. Poolside at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, families were sheltering from the wind and the only spring breakers I met refused to talk ("We're in the military, we'll get in trouble," they said). People were raising little yellow flags on their lounge chairs to summon drinks, and it was tempting to settle in and stay a while with a piña colada under all the pretty palms.

Affordable Hotels In Fort Lauderdale

But I was in search of the scene, so I headed south, strolling the beach toward 17th Street and watching the kitesurfers cut their sails through the sky like exotic butterflies on speed. That's when I met three friends – Erin, Eryn and Kim – juniors at Indiana University who were all sporting Ray Ban wayfarers in varying colors and carrying green metallic Bud Light Lime bottles in their hands. They'd driven 18 hours from Indiana to Fort Lauderdale to take advantage of a free hotel stay Erin had hooked up, and it was their first spring break. "It's pretty crazy here," said Erin, a preppy art education major with pretty blonde locks. "We went to Off the Hookah last night. There was a girl working there who was shaking her booty right over guys' faces, then pouring shots into their mouths."

"I was over-stimulated," she said. "I didn't know which way to look."

The girls were keeping things pretty chill during the day and had found some good places to eat, like Sushi Rock Café on Las Olas and Dos Caminos, near the beach. The latter had great margaritas, they agreed.

A bit farther along, I spotted a group of four people with their bags and towels spread out in the sand around a wave-worn lobster trap, beers in brown bags at the ready. "It's for storing our shoes, our beer and for keeping tourists away," joked Jonathan Luszcz, a Rhode Islander, about the lobster trap. He was hanging out with a Croatian, Fijian and South African who had all linked up for Spring Break through a Facebook group.

The four were staying nearby at Martha's Crewhouse, where the cheap beds ($175 per person per week) are occupied by travelers, transients and those seeking work on Fort Lauderdale's famed yachting scene.

For Reiner Tourney, a boyishly handsome 23-year-old from George, South Africa, this was his first spring break, and the forwardness of American girls was top of mind. "American women are pretty loose, yeah?" he said, "It's not even a challenge, I want to chat up a chick, get to know her, learn her background, and they're just like wahhhhh," he says, spreading his knees open wide. "At Tap 42 that actually happened to me." Yes, said the group, that was the place to be for ladies night on Wednesdays, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Leilani Bennet, 33, from Fiji, was taking a break from communication studies at the University of Hawaii. "We have a beautiful place where I come from but you know, it's always like the grass is greener," she said.

"Here's there's the beach, downtown Las Olas," she said, referring to Fort Lauderdale's upscale retail and restaurant boulevard, "You can go to full on nightclubs or just a hole in the wall to play some pool."

I walked along AIA toward Las Olas, where at 5:30 p.m. crowds were pouring into the Elbo Room and a live band was playing a Spin Doctors cover. Sun-weathered homeless men with ratty backpacks held close took in the passing scene - gaggles of girls with Fat Tuesdays thermoses strutting past in bikinis and tongue-hanging-from-their-mouths college boys trying to make inroads.

Taylor and Stephanie, friends, from school in Boston, slurred through their tongue rings and flaunted their hot bikini bodies, booze pouring off their breath. "She's 23 so she's here to find a sugar daddy," said Taylor about her friend. "I'm from Orange County, California, and I just like how much cooler and friendlier people are here." They both erupted into a loud "woooohoooo," stumbling into each others arms and making all the boys in the immediate viewing area fantasize.

"If you're older than 26 don't even bother coming to Fort Lauderdale," said Stephanie, who told me my shorts were far too conservative for the scene.

The girls were fun but they weren't making a whole lot of sense, so I found a more coherent looking group nearby - four friends who'd made the 21-hour drive from the University of Northern Illinois. "We came for the sunshine and hot weather and naked people," said Mikey, who was on hiatus from his family consumer nutrition sciences and LGBT studies, "There are lots of hot shirtless guys."

Nearby, on the beach in front of the Drunken Taco (home of "ginormous margaritas" and over 250 types of tequila), a large group was taking down a display of flags that included the stars and stripes, the University of Western Illinois and Sigma Alpha Epsilon banners.

Drawn by their fellow frat brothers' display, a group of guys from Mississippi State University were winding down the day in a sea of beer cans in the sand, discussing whether to hit up Off the Hookah or a place they'd heard of called Cowboy's for the night's fun.

"We were in Miami but we didn't like it, it's like $45 to do anything down there," a friendly junior named Phil told me. "We went to South Beach and everyone's just kind of a jerk."

"Here's a lot more hospitable," agreed his friend, Matt, "and everyone's more our own age. Down there they were closer to 30."

"In Miami we were paying $20 to park for four hours, but we came up here, pulled into a parking lot and these kind of elderly people in their 40s or 50s just offered us their parking pass for the day," said Phil.