The Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotel brands are converting guest rooms and public areas in the United States, Caribbean and Canada into smoke-free areas. More than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the region have begun converting all smoking guest rooms to nonsmoking, parent company Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced in February. With public areas also smoke-free, the hotels will designate an outdoor area specifically for smoking guests. Starwood's Westin brand already made a similar conversion in January 2006, when it became the first chain to go smoke-free
(BTNonline, Dec. 5, 2005).Orbitz, Marriott Ink Distribution Agreement
Orbitz Worldwide in February announced a long-term partnership to distribute Marriott International rooms through its Web sites, including Orbitz for Business, Orbitz and CheapTickets in the Americas and Ebookers in Europe. It will add HotelClub in the Asia/Pacific early this year. "This agreement will translate into more choice, more flexibility and more value for our mutual customers," said Peggy Bianco, Orbitz's vice president of global hotel supplier relations.
Choice Expands Reach Of All-Suites Brand
Choice Hotels continues to grow its recently launched all-suites brand Cambria Suites with the February announcement of a development agreement with Suenos Hospitality for at least five franchise agreements by Dec. 1, 2009. The first two contracts, for Cambria Suites properties in Oklahoma City and Glendale, Ariz., already have been executed. Choice last year launched Cambria Suites, its first foray into the all-suites market, with the opening of its first property in Boise, Idaho
(BTNonline, May 7, 2007). At the end of 2007, Choice had four Cambria properties open and 65 were under development in 26 states and Canada.
Interstate To Create Midprice Wyndham Properties
Interstate Hotels & Resorts in February announced a joint venture that converted 22 Exel Inn properties, located largely in the Midwest, into various Wyndham Worldwide brands. The joint venture pairs the Arlington, Va.-based Interstate with Pittsburgh-based FFC Capital Corp., with Interstate buying 10 percent equity in the 22 select-service properties, which have a total of 2,397 rooms. Interstate's equity includes a share of capital improvements for the rebranding as well as management of the properties. The hotels are located along major interstate highways in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas.