US hotels spending $5.5 billion to boost amenities
If you wonder where US hotels are spending their money these days in the highly competitive market, think amenities.
Hotels will spend a record $5.5 billion this year on flat-panel televisions and other amenities as they upgrade rooms and gyms to lure business travelers, said PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in a study.
Hotel owners will increase spending 10% compared with last year as they replace beds, serve free breakfasts and install high-speed wireless Internet networks, PwC said.
Some of this is due to chain policies.
Hotel-management companies including Marriott International Inc., Hilton Hotels Corp. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. have required the owners of their properties to invest in upgrades to help boost revenue.
US business travel will increase about 1 to 2 percent in 2007, in line with the growth rate a year earlier, according to the Travel Industry Association.
Hotels are estimated to raise their rates an average of 5.9% in 2007 even as occupancy will be unchanged from a year earlier, PwC said.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports