Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Unwelcomed Hotel Guests

Regardless of a hotel’s great location, the tasteful décor or the Egyptian cotton sheets, hotel guests have been more concerned with what they don’t want in their hotel room: bedbugs.

Let’s face it, they are unnerving hotel owners and grossing out travelers in the U.S. (reported in New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago), but we need to be objective about it, especially those of us that cannot avoid travel.

The scare of bed bugs has brought postings of bed bug sightings on different web sites, including Trip Advisor. The reality is that although bedbugs were moving like wildfire in the U.S. in the recent months, so were the stories about bedbugs, which in a lot of cases were not true.

All hotels are at risk, as it is not a sanitation issue. Bedbugs are brought into hotels by hotel guests, so going to a high end hotel will not decrease your chances of encountering bedbugs.

The truth is that the majority of hotels are bedbug free and there is vigilant staff trained to look for signs of bedbugs to reduce the risk of infestation.

The financial impact for those infested hotels is hard to assess, as it will cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars per room to get rid of infestation. The real impact may be psychological (guests not sleeping at night for fear of being bitten).

Bed bugs usually “hitchhike” their way around, they can come from clothing or furniture in contact with wild animals or areas infested with these bugs and their eggs.

Important information on bedbugs from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention:

· Their bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea and they are not know to transmit disease

· They can live several months without a blood meal

· They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards

· They tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep

How to check for bed bugs in your hotel and how to keep from bringing them home:

· Inspect your mattress, especially seams, headboard and bed frame (back and front making sure to check every hiding spot), pillows (uncover and check seams), as well as chairs, dressers and any furniture you may come into direct contact with. Report any sight of bed bugs to management immediately and repeat inspections for each new room.

· Check luggage racks and closet (including shelves), carpet edges around and near the bed.

· Before packing to leave, check luggage and inspect every item as you pack. Once home, unpack immediately and wash all clothes in luggage with detergent and hot water and dry in low heat for at least 20 minutes. Standard dry cleaning also kills the insects; however you may want to seal any dry clean items in a plastic bag to prevent from bugs getting out and onto other clothes. Check luggage again.

http://tinyurl.com/29sh4r7

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Recycled and Reborn

A hot new trend in urban redevelopment is the adaptive reuse of buildings no longer needed for their original purposes transformed into hotels, museums, and other types of venues and visitor attractions. Transformed firehouses, prisons, and textile mills throughout New England receive new life as the adapted venues become attractive and available meeting spaces. Meeting planners looking for structures with intriguing history and architecture can find a number of options throughout the New England region.

“Recycled and Reborn”. MeetingsEast. September 2010, Volume 10:6.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Sierra’s First New Built Luxury Resort

The first all-new hotel built in the Sierra’s for decades offering the latest in luxury and technology. The Ritz-Carlton Highlands located on the north side of Lake Tahoe located just outside of the historic town of Truckee opened in December 2009 and is the only 5 star skiside resort of its kind in Lake Tahoe. With luxury rooms along a snowy mountain, a 17,000 square foot spa and 15,000 square feet of conference space, the Ritz Carlton Highlands offers something special for everyone. For a unique experience, planners can arrange for guests to arrive via gondola from Northstar Village below. Northstar Village also offers many activities and entertainment to include ice-skating, shops, galleries, live performances, hiking, and biking. For more information, click on http://tinyurl.com/m23q9b

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

ARMY QUARTERS RESTORED TO LUXURY LODGE JUST UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

Fort Baker, a army officers' quarters and dating back to 1901 tucked into a sheltered alcove in national park ground in Marin County, has been restored to create a modern, cozy, and unusual hotel get-a-way. Cavallo Point Lodge is located just five minutes from Sausalito and virtually underneath the Golden Gate Bridge offering immediate access to some of the best biking and hiking in the Bay Area as well as easy access to phenomenal Bay Area activities. This unique venue boasts a million-dollar wine cellar, a cookery school and bar, a stunning art collection and views of Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. For more information, go to http://www.cavallopoint.com/

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hilton Hotels & Resorts Make a Debut in Peru

The 230 room Hilton Lima Miraflores is scheduled to open in 2012. Miraflores is an upscale are of Lima knows for its shopping areas, gardens, flower filled parks, beaches and fine dining. Hotel guests will also have close access to the MiraCorp Business Corporate Center, as well as rich history and culture of the capital and largest city in Peru. The hotel will have 10 meeting rooms and a grand ballroom to accommodate up to 450 people. Guest will also be able to enjoy a restaurant, lobby bar and Pisco bar, as well as a sky terrace with a pool, spa and fitness center. http://tinyurl.com/2fw79wt