Renowned style leader Hotel Diva, a Personality Hotel located in San Francisco, is currently undergoing a $2 million reinvention, slated for completion in November 2011. Led by Edmonds + Lee Architects, all guestrooms, common areas and the exterior are being re-envisioned with the dramatic yet clean, modern style signature of the San Francisco-based designer. Inspired by a theatrical and fashionable evening out, Hotel Diva’s new performance is simultaneously classic and modern.

Exclusive to the hotel, Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water is quenching Diva’s thirst for creativity with a one-of-a-kind Perrier Lounge, slated to open in January 2012. Designed around the iconic green bottle and other elements of the brand, this visionary space will have custom glass bottle light fixtures, intimate seating/meeting space and a Perrier vending machine stocked with a variety of flavors. Hotel guests will also receive a complimentary bottle of Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water upon check-in.

The exterior of the hotel has been freshly painted in charcoal grey with bright white windows, resembling the look of a dashing tuxedo. A complete showstopper, passersby are treated to a small peek of the custom window shades, as their shapely silhouettes can be seen from the hotel’s exterior guestroom windows. Hotel Diva’s lobby will be redesigned as an open, airy lounge with a sexy new look.

Hotel Diva is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square, with all of the excitement of the city’s finest shops, theaters, art galleries, restaurants and nightlife just right outside the door. For guests who want to see a show, two of the city’s best performing arts theaters, the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T) and the Curran Theater, are located directly across the street from the hotel.

About Personality Hotels:

Founded in 1982 by pioneer Yvonne Lembi-Detert, Personality Hotels is San Francisco’s first boutique hotel company. Celebrating individualism, each distinctive Personality Hotel offers comfort and outstanding service infused with inventive, forward-thinking style and amenities. Personality Hotels is an affiliate of HotelTravelCheck.com, the hotel internet marketing company of its four eclectic San Francisco boutique properties: SEXY Hotel Diva, GRAND Kensington Park Hotel, AUTHENTIC Hotel Union Square and TIMELESS Steinhart Hotel. From a sleek urban abode in the center of it all to a relaxing seaside escape, Personality Hotels can oblige. For more information and to book reservations, call 800.553.1900 or visit www.personalityhotels.com.

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Visit HotelBlogs.com today.

It costs 5 to 8 times more to gain new guests than to retaining existing guests. The cost in advertisement, marketing, sales people, etc. is far more than what it costs to make existing guests keep coming back. 68% of guests will not return if they feel unappreciated. These facts cannot be ignored in the hotel industry.

Here are 10 tips that hotels should emphasize with their guests:

1. Lasting Impressions
2. Keep in Touch
3. Reward Loyalty with Exclusive Deals
4. Understand Your Guests’ Needs
5. Ask for Feedback
6. Remember Your Guests
7. Consistent Services in Excellence
8. Train Your Staff to Meet Guest Expectations
9. Know Your Competitors
10. Wow Your Guests by Going the Extra Mile

Caroline Cooper outlines the basic know-how’s that all customer service based industries should take to heart. A little effort can go a long way for your guests. If getting new guests is the hard part, why not do the easy part by keeping them?

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HotelBlogs.com

Discriminatory taxes are taxes that are applied specifically to travel services above and beyond general sales taxes.

The U.S. cities with the lowest discriminatory travel tax rates in central city locations are:

1. Orange County, CA
2. San Diego, CA
3. San Jose, CA
4. Burbank, CA
5. Ontario, CA

The cities that impose the highest discriminatory travel taxes on travelers are:

1. Portland, OR
2. Boston, MA
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. New York, NY
5. Chicago, IL

Knowing the tax rates will help businesses determine where they will save in their next travels. Looks like this study makes California a good hot spot for business travels.

The full report is available exclusively to Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) members and offers detailed insight for travel managers interested in understanding the impact that these taxes have on their business travel spend. Non-members can purchase this study through the GBTA Foundation website:

http://www.gbta.org/Lists/Resource%20Library/Forms/Foundation_Research_and_Surveys.aspx

Pineapple Hospitality, the newly formed hotel management division of Columbia West Properties in Bellevue, Washington, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest property, Hotel FIVE. Previously the downtown Ramada, Hotel FIVE is an urban industrial-inspired boutique hotel located on 5th and Blanchard in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Pineapple Hospitality unveiled the first of two phases of its renovation to the downtown property in May 2011.The first phase of renovations included an updated lobby area and 60 completely renovated guest rooms now featuring hardwood floors, urban industrial art and furnishings designed by Interior Design International in Seattle. The second phase is scheduled to be completed in early 2012.

Read Full Article at Hotel News Resource

With their website launch for west coast travels, Ramada has made it easier for travelers to complete their one-stop-shop for their west coast travels. Choose from Alaska, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii, Northern California, and Southern California. Find destinations, attractions, specials, things to do, and hotels!

Discover exciting West Coast attractions from Lake Tahoe to Waikiki Beach. Enjoy adventures at Disneyland, tour the Sonoma Wine Country, and ski Washington’s Crystal Mountain. Go boating on the Columbia River Gorge or Lake Havasu, and relax on the West Coast’s beautiful beaches from San Diego to Ocean Shores.

Visit Ramada’s Pacific Website to plan your next west coast travels. Get the best of the west coast!

In 1976 this region won worldwide acclaim in Paris when two Napa Valley wines outscored a venerable collection of French Bordeaux in a blind tasting. Today, there are over 500 wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Counties, specializing in different varieties. If you’ve hired a bike and feel a bit tipsy, take West Dry Creek Road – it’s been labeled the safest road on which to fall off your bike.

The Napa Valley has a wonderful collection of resorts, hotels, and motels. These hotels include the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, known for creating the new standard in environmentally responsible lodging. As the only green hotel in California and “the greenest hotel in the United States”, Gaia Napa Valley Hotel is generating excitement and buzz in both the travel industry and the green building industry nationwide.

This cutting-edge, eco-operational hotel offers guests the ultimate experience of harmony with nature; a swan filled lagoon, a koi pond surrounded by a lush garden, and much more. Enjoy the ultimate luxury experience on four acres of the beautiful American Canyon, the gateway to the Napa Valley wine country, one of the most highly desirable destinations in California.

Their onsite catering works to reduce their carbon footprint in everything they do by using available, locally produced food and using organic and environmentally sustainable practices. They also offer a wide range of delightful cuisine to tempt any appetite. You’ll work closely with Executive Chef Marco Fiorini to design the perfect menu for your perfect event. Otherwise, you will enjoy a world class meal as a guest.

L.A. is a prime example of urban sprawl. Let’s face it. L.A. is a bleak place compared to what it used to be. Night life is…lacking. Here are five ways that downtown L.A. can get that much needed face lift. It all comes in the way of some new L.A. hotels changing the recent stereotype of downtown L.A.

1. People like Matt Berman.

2. Bring in more Art.

3. The Staples Center.

4. Frank Gehry.

5. The Gorbals.

What about them? Trust us. Those things will help shape the way you look at L.A. Spice up the night, bring people back into the city, and let’s get the ball rollin’!

Read Full Article.

The west coast hotels in the top ten sexiest hotels in the world:

Andaz San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

Many of the rooms at Andaz San Diego have glass screens between the bed and bathrooms for intimate couple sharing. It is the two-bedroom Andaz Star Suite, which really registers on our sexometer. The shag-piled master bedroom (of course) has king-size bunk beds, a mirrored ceiling and an in room ‘stripper’ pole for added exercise. Oh, and if you get bored with sliding up and down that (steady, steady) each bed has its own separate flat screen TV to watch.

After this, the sexy blue and pink mood lighting and the wide cream lounges in the sitting room are almost a letdown: And all this from the responsible people at Hyatt hotels too.

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The Palms, Las Vegas, USA

Dreams, no matter how fanciful, come true at The Palms – for a price. The Hotel’s themed suites in the $600 million Fantasy Towers building come with larger-than-life extras like two full-size bowling lanes or a basketball court. Here the luxury is of the showy variety. Fans of the forever young blonde bombshell Barbie can now experience her world in the new Barbie Suite, decked out like her Malibu beach house. For the cashed-up single blokes, pack your smoking jacket, little black book and head up to the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa which features a cantilevered Playboy Jacuzzi pool with a view of the Strip, poker table and rotating bed. Just remember, what happens in Vegas…

There is a sexy hotel in explore on every side of the US and the world.

Don Ascione, President and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Chemical USA (CCUSA) announced today, the launch of a new, all-natural product formulated to kill and control beg bug infestations. To facilitate distribution of Mattress Fresh Bed Bug Killer, an exclusive sales representation agreement was signed between CCUSA and Cutting Edge Formulations.

According to Ascione, Mattress Fresh was specifically formulated by Cutting Edge Formulations in response to the bed bug epidemic that is sweeping the nation. The Mattress Fresh, non-toxic formulation includes 100% EPA-exempt ingredients, which can easily and safely be applied by facility maintenance staff. Its effectiveness was verified with a 100% mortality rating afforded to Mattress Fresh by Snell Scientifics, an independent testing laboratory.

Sales will immediately be aimed at the hotel and motel industry that have been negatively impacted by the bed bug pandemic. Additional efforts will be directed to airlines, cruise lines, large housing complexes, prisons, hospitals, libraries and the cinemas that have been impacted by bed bug infestations.

For more information about Mattress Fresh, please visit:
www.naturalmattressfresh.com
www.continentalchemicalusa.com

Las Vegas is not just about the entertainers, chefs, and fashion designers. Architects and interior designers are the new “it” in town and they are doing it Dubai-style. More and more hotels are beefing up their marketing and hospitality by finding more ways to increase booking. Well, what has Las Vegas not done yet? The answer is, hotels at the hospitality level and presentation of Dubai. To stand out, new hotels will need a unique look, design, and ambitious imagination. Dubai World investment group is helping Wynn with its new CityCenter project.

Top architects and interior designers flock to Las Vegas. With the new edge in new hotels, what will Las Vegas be seeing in the near future? With Dubai’s unique take on hotels, Las Vegas may be seeing a push for high end, luxury, and unique experiences for their guests.