Commercial Construction Magazine

Today in the News

New 3 WTC tower could be capped at 7th floor

The 80-story, 3 World Trade Center tower in New York City could be capped at seven floors if he can't secure at least one major tenant to commit to the building, according to unnamed sources. The building is under construction and was scheduled to be completed in 2015. The tower could be built to its original scale if the developer finds a tenant before the structure is capped off at the seventh floor. Read the Crain's story here.

Walmart opens second Chicago superstore 

Wal-Mart opened another supercenter in Chicago. The 157,000-square-foot store features a full line of groceries, as well as a bakery, deli, frozen food section, and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. It also includes various general merchandise areas, such as a pharmacy, apparel and accessories, sporting goods, electronics, home, lawn and garden, fine jewelry, and health and beauty. This store marks the retailer's fifth location in Chicago, but only the second supercenter (a 10,000-square-foot Walmart Express also opened in July). 

H&M to add 275 new locations in 2012 

Fast-fashion retailer H&M plans to add approximately 275 new stores, including ones in the United States, China and the United Kingdom. In addition, the retailer will enter Bulgaria, Latvia, Malaysia and Thailand for the first time. The company also plans to open in Mexico during fall 2012—marking its first in Latin America. This will make a total of 10 new H&M markets over a period of two years. H&M also will expand its other brands – COS and Monki – with the opening of its first COS stores in Hong Kong, Italy, Finland and Kuwait. 

Golfsmith to open 10 new stores in 2012 

Golfsmith plans to open 10 new stores and relocate four existing ones in fiscal 2012. New stores are planned for Cleveland; two stores in metro-Washington, D.C.; Chattanooga and Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Christiana, Del.; and San Antonio. Each store and relocations is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. 

Togo's plans to open 28 new restaurants this year 

Fast-casual sandwich chain Togo's Franchisor will open 26 franchise locations and two corporate restaurants in 2012, as well as remodel 80 existing restaurants. As part of the chain’s 40-year anniversary, it launched a strategic plan for expansion, which includes remodeling options for franchisees to refresh existing units, while continuing to grow the brand in key growth states, including Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The new store prototype highlights the deli inspired one-on-one style service Togo's guests receive, and showcases fresh food with reach-in glass refrigerators, see-through counters and vibrant new decor. 

Odebrecht, Braskem offering sustainable award  

The Odebrecht Organization is offer an award for sustainable development to American universities through two of its subsidiaries‚ Äì Odebrecht USA (the North American division of a global leader in engineering and construction services), and Braskem, the largest manufacturer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas. By writing and submitting a paper on contributions to sustainability, undergraduate students can help develop engineering and chemical solutions. The award is open to any undergraduate or group of students enrolled at a U.S.-accredited university, with at least one student seeking a degree in engineering, architecture, building and construction management or chemistry. Entries will be accepted through May 31, 2012 at www.odebrechtaward.com. 

-- Posted January 27, 2012      

Starwood eyes Asia Pacific for 2012 growth

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is looking to open 80 new hotels in 2012, with about 60 percent of these properties in the Asia-Pacific region. Starwood has named China as the primary driver of growth in the region and says that about 35 of its new properties this year will be there. In addition, the company says it will place more than 60 percent of the new hotels in the luxury and upper-upscale segments as it nears the 150th luxury-hotel mark this year.

Accor is cautious optimistic about Europe 

Hotel group Accor has maintained its goal of increased profits and is expected to reach $675 million in earnings before interest and taxes as it adopted a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2012 despite the economic uncertainty in southern Europe. Read the Reuters story here 

Development of NY luxury tower to bring jobs

A developer in New York plans to build a 203-foot tall, 450-unit luxury residential tower on the site of the former St. Vincent's Hospital in New York's Greenwich Village. Plans also include a public park, elementary school and emergency care clinic. The City Planning Commission has approved the plan for the project, which now needs approval from the city council and the mayor to proceed. The project is expected to create more than 1,600 construction and permanent jobs.

-- Posted January 26, 2012      

AGC: Construction jobs may improve in '12

There likely will be fewer workers let go by construction companies this year, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and Computer Guidance Corp. Only about 9 percent of companies surveyed say they plan to reduce their workforces, while about 32 percent say they plan to hire. In Arizona and Georgia, about one quarter of the respondents said they would likely hire, and only 5 percent to 6 percent expected layoffs.

Subway testing new cafe concept in Green Bay

Subway Cafe in Green Bay, Wis., is not a standard Subway restaurant. Along with overstuffed couches, it has a separate coffee counter and gourmet sandwiches on the menu. The 2,200-square foot restaurant something to see. Read the story here.

Marriott gets 2 new locations for Edition brand

Investors, buoyed by Marriott International's decision to build up its Edition brand through an $800 million investment, have agreed to develop hotels in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Bangkok, Thailand. The hotel company plans to directly finance the development of three Edition properties in London, New York and Miami Beach, Fla. Read the Wall Street Journal story here.

-- Posted January 25, 2012       

Loews plans expansion with $500m fund

Loews Hotels & Resorts is studying San Francisco, Chicago and Washington as part of a planned expansion initiative. The firm has reserved a $500 million fund for the project, which also would include an expansion of its snow and beach properties. Read the Travel Weekly story here.

Family Dollar to open some 500 stores in '12

Family Dollar plans to open 450 to 500 new stores this year, as well as its 11th distribution center to serve its stores in California. Company officials said they will continue its store renovation program, making over another 1,000 stores, and keep pushing to increase the amount of private brand goods and goods bought directly from Asian factories in its stores. Read the Charlotte Observer story here.

Office Depot rolls out simplified store layouts

Office Depot continues to simplify the shopping experience for its customers. A reorganization tested at two lab stores last year includes more prominent displays of popular items, and more abundant and simpler in-store signage, a model the chain will roll out to all 1,132 locations this year. 

Walgreen's redesigning with the times

Walgreen's decision to elevate its stores to inviting neighborhood shops, complete with a cafe, makes sense for several reasons. The retailer is benefiting from growing interest in prestige makeup and skin-care brands; it is giving customers a place to snack or get a pedicure while they wait for prescriptions; and its artisan cheese and fine wine fit a trend of expanded shopping missions for stores. Read the Forbes story here.

-- Posted January 24, 2012      

Hotel-construction financing remains tight

The market for hotel-construction lending continues to show some activity, although obtaining a loan remains difficult especially in this period of recovery, lending sources and hotel executives say. Read the Hotel News Now story here.

Starbucks readies entry into India market

Tata Coffee Ltd. is likely to finalize an alliance with Starbucks Corp. by the end of January and the international chain is expected to make a much-awaited entry into India with the opening of its first outlet by the end of 2012. Read the Wall Street Journal story here.

Tennessee regional health facility goes LEED

The Upper Cumberland Regional Health Facility in Cookeville, Tenn., has become the first building in Tennessee to earn LEED(R)-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-New Construction) certification at the platinum level. Assisting in the milestone was PPG Industries, which supplied its SOLARBAN(R) 70XL and Solarban 60 solar control, low-emissivity (low-e) glasses. 

The 51,000 square-foot building, which houses the leadership and management for the health departments of 14 Tennessee counties as well a clinic and conference center, was designed to provide a healthy, low-maintenance work environment while minimizing energy consumption and the use of potable water.

In addition to extensive use of daylighting, the facility features a geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and an array of photovoltaic solar panels that generate 2.5 percent of the energy needed to sustain its operation. Together, these three strategies combine to reduce energy use by 43 percent compared to a similarly sized building with standard code requirements. The project also exceeds LEED requirements for stormwater management by incorporating a system of rain gardens and bioswales.

-- Posted January 23, 2012      

USGBC lists top LEED Green buildings states

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today released its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011, with Colorado being the leading state, with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011. Other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington, with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, respectively. The top LEED states per capita, including the District of Columbia, are Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, California, New York and Minnesota.

Mayors: Transportation bill will create jobs

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is calling on Congress to pass a bipartisan transportation bill, extend the payroll tax cuts and save the Community Development Block Grant program. The group issued a report that reminds readers of the "crucial role metro areas play" in driving the economy and urges Congress to pass jobs-creation legislation.

Schimenti to build REI in Landmark Building

Outdoors retailer REI has tabbed Schimenti Construction to build its new flagship store in the SOHO district of New York City. The 39,000 square foot store, which includes a complete New York City bike shop, is located in the historic Puck Building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and has received recognition by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.  Designed by Callison Architects, the store keeps a number of historic elements of the original building intact. Some of the unique components retained in the building of the new store includes two nine-ton, 14-foot flywheels from steam engines that originally powered the printing press, cast-iron columns, original chandeliers and lithograph tablets dating back to the early 1900s.

Hyatt Regency McCormick to begin expansion

The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago has begun work on the first phase of a $110 million expansion project. The work includes the construction of a new 460-room tower, predicted for completion in 2013. Later phases will involve renovations on the existing 800 rooms and a redesign of the main lobby. Read the Chicago Tribune story here.

-- Posted January 20, 2012     

Construction spending hit $807b in November '12

Spending on public and private nonresidential construction and homebuilding reached $807 billion in November 2011 -- the highest levels since June 2010, based on an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, cuts are likely to come, and some are concerned by the lack of action by Congress on bills that would aid the ailing construction industry. Read the story here.

Fast-Casual chains start '12 with expansion plans

Fast casual chains such as Baja Fresh, Fuddruckers and MOOYAH are among several concepts starting the New Year with new openings across the United States. The openings symbolize the continued success of the fast casual segment, which saw unit growth of 5 percent during the 2011 fourth quarter. Read the Fast Casual story here.

Target unsure of fate of Canadian Zeller stores

Target made big news when it said it would enter Canada with the acquisition of all but 86 Zellers stores. Now, mall owners, small towns and retailers are wondering what will become of the stores not taken. Zellers has long-term, low-rent leases on most of the spaces, taking the decision largely out of the hands of mall owners and small towns that want to redevelop the real estate for stores that would generate more revenue and new jobs. Read the Globe and Mail story here. 

-- Posted January 19, 2012    

ABI positive for second straight month

After showing struggling business conditions for most of 2011, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is hitting positive terrain in consecutive months. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to 12 month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the December ABI score was 52.0, following the exact same mark in November.  This score reflects an overall increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 64.0, down just a point from a reading of 65.0 the previous month. See the press release here.

Fed: Business travel expenditures up

A Federal Reserve report has found that business-travel spending was indeed on the upswing in 2011. The numbers that were revealed in the latest Beige Book mirror the findings reported by the Global Business Travel Association. Read the Huffington Post story.

-- Posted January 18, 2012    

NRF: Retail industry to grow 3.4% in '12

Despite a projected rough economic outlook ahead, the retail industry stillis poised for growth in 2012, according to a recent report by the National Retail Federation (NRF). The report says the retail industry will still grow at a rate faster than many other industries, with an increase of 3.4 percent ($2.53 trillion) projected in 2012. The number is slightly lower than the pace of 2011, in which sales grew 4.7 percent. Read more from the NRF here.

Orlando to get 3 new hotels in next 2 years

Three developers are looking to build hotels in downtown Orlando, Fla., in anticipation of the opening of a new SunRail transit line and a performing arts center in the area. The hotels include Starwood Aloft's planned 118-room hotel, Concord Eastridge's 155-room Cambria Suites and Rida Development's 100- to 150-room hotel. Read the Orlando Sentinel story here.

India high on Best Western expansion wish list

Best Western International and a host of chains are eyeing India as one of the top Asian countries ripe for expansion. A burgeoning economic development and strong potential in the leisure and business travel segments will pace the growth. Read the Business Standard story here.

IHG targets smaller cities with new China brand

The new upscale hotel brand that InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) plans to launch in China will place "a particular focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which represent a rapidly growing share of the China hotel market. China's travel-demand growth has shown secondary and tertiary cities outpacing that of the country's top cities as hotel performance continues to show strong improvements. Read the Travel Weekly story here.

-- Posted January 17, 2012      

Family Dollar to open 7 stores in Fresno, Calif.

Family Dollar plans to open seven new stores in and around the Fresno, Calif., market.  Specifically, the retailer has confirmed six stores are to open in Fresno with an additional store in Clovis, California. The first two stores are expected to open in May 2012. 

Subway expects to add 25,000 jobs in 2012

The Subway restaurant chain is expecting to add 25,000 full- and part-time jobs by the end of 2012. The estimate comes on the heels of its announcement to open 2,500 new outlets this year. The 2012 forecast is similar to the chain's 2011 accomplishments, in which it opened more than 2,400 restaurants worldwide and created approximately 24,000 new foodservice jobs. The jobs projection for 2012 does not include ancillary fields, such as construction, logistics, equipment manufacturing, food processing and maintenance. 

-- Posted January 16, 2012     

Hotel REITs are ready to start buying again

Hotel REITs are ready to start their acquisitions again, after deal flow slowed to a crawl in Q4. Deals, such as LaSalle Hotel Properties' $396.2 million acquisition of Park Central in New York and Chesapeake Lodging Trust's purchase of Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st Street for $52.2 million, are beginning to close. Read the Hotel News Now story here.

Hyatt to undertake massive expansion in India

Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to open six new properties in India in 2012, adding about 950 rooms to its total room supply in the country. The company's development plan includes the introduction of its new extended-stay Hyatt House brand and the expansion of five other brands across the country: Andaz, Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency and Park Hyatt brands. 

Eliane, Portobello to merge firms

Brazilian producers of ceramic tile, ELIANE S/A and PORTOBELLO S/A, have entered into an agreement to merge. The ultimate transaction will result in a firm with more than 4,000 employees and $650 million (U.S.) in sales, making it one of the top five worldwide producers in revenue, and combined market their products globally in more than 70 countries. The merger is expected to be finalized during the first quarter of 2012. While the merged company will have a new corporate name, the PORTOBELLO and ELIANE brands will continue operating independently under the new corporation, and no major changes are anticipated for the marketing, distribution or manufacturing of either brand. 

-- Posted January 13, 2012      

DSW plans to double 2012 store openings

DSW plans to open between 35 and 40 new stores this year, up from an earlier estimate of 15 to 20 new locations in 2012. The availability of real estate opportunities is driving the acceleration in the shoe store chain's expansion plans. Read the Pittsburgh Business Times story here.

Korman enters LA extended-stay market

Korman Communities and its partners have acquired the 88-unit Crescent luxury-apartment complex in Beverly Hills, Calif., for $85 million, with plans to reopen the property under its luxury extended-stay hotel brand, AKA. The company plans to follow up the purchase with acquisitions in West Hollywood and Santa Monica, also in Southern California, and also seeks to expand to London. See the Wall Street Journal story here.

Vienna hotels may see rates jump in '12

Stable demand across all hotel segments and sluggish supply growth have allowed Vienna hotels to recover from poor performance in recent years brought about by the economic crisis. This year may provide more momentum for the city to finally restore its rate and occupancy to pre-downturn levels, thanks to growing demand in leisure and corporate sectors. Read the Hotel News Now story here.

-- Posted January 12, 2012        

Publix to enter Charlotte, South Carolina

Publix plans to open its first stores in the Charlotte and South Carolina market.  The first to two stores will be located in York and Lancaster specifically.  Construction of the first 50,000 square foot store is scheduled to begin in February 2012. Publix currently operates approximately 1,000 stores in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina.

Walgreens opens flagship in Chicago

Walgreens opened a new flagship store in Chicago, which sports similar features to the Duane Reade flagship store on Wall Street in New York. The new location includes areas such as an enhanced pharmacy with an “ask your pharmacist” desk, Express Rx kiosk, and an iPad equipped health guide to help navigate health and wellness products, a Take Care Clinic and the Upmarket Café.

Travelodge to expand U.K. portfolio in '12

Travelodge plans to invest about $380 million into expansion in the U.K. market, with a goal of opening 41 new hotels throughout 2012. The company is on track to meet its long-term goal of 1,000 properties by 2020. 

-- Posted January 11, 2012       

Studies: Hotel rates climb 4.3% in 2011

A study by STR Global has found that average hotel rates in the U.S. rose 4.3% last year, likely because of the sharp decline in supply growth. The steady growth in business and leisure travel should boost demand and cause a further 3.6% increase in rates this year, TravelClick predicts in a separate study. Read the story here.

Best Western to launch $300m India expansion

Best Western International has announced plans to open 66 new hotels in India over the next five years, including about 20 new Best Western Premier properties in fast-growing cities. The company intends to spend more than $300 million in the expansion. 

-- Posted January 10, 2012       

Giant Foods to buy 16 Genuardi's Philly locations

Giant Food Stores agreed to purchase 16 Genuardi’s stores from rival Safeway for $106 million in Philadelphia, a move that will further grow Giant’s rapidly expanding share of the Philadelphia market and could spell the end of the 92-year-old Genuardi’s banner. Safeway plans to intended to exit the Philadelphia market, closing three Genuardi stores not in the deal and looking to sell the remaining eight stores that Giant did not purchase.

Smashburger eyes Latin America

Smashburger has partnered with international restaurateur Richard Eisenberg and his company, QSR International, in a growth initiative to expand the brand’s footprint into Latin America. The commitment of 18 restaurants will bring Smashburger's presence to Central and South America and the Caribbean. The company expects to open its first Latin America locations in Costa Rica in 2012 and is actively seeking additional experienced multi-unit operators to become franchise partners across the region.  The Smashburger locations in Latin America will open over the course of the next several years.  This marks the third international market for Smashburger, following recent expansion announcements for Canada and the Middle East.

Best Western plans 66 hotels in India

Best Western International plans to set up another 66 hotels in India over the next five years. The company expects to secure 90 percent of the total investment of about $302 million from individual investors. The hotel group now has 34 properties in India. Of these, 26 are operational and the rest are under construction.

-- Posted January 9, 2012      

Modell's remodeled NYC flagship driving traffic

What happens when the CEO of a major sporting goods player meets a famed desiger? The answer may rest in the revamped Modell's Sporting Goods' 20,000-square-foot Times Square flagship. Tweaks to the store's ambiance included lighting and music changes, and the changes have driven a 32 percent increase in business. Read the Stores article here.

Hotels deals volume to stay on par in 2012

The economic uncertainty and continued lack of liquidity in the debt market will cause hotel deals worldwide in 2012 to settle at about $30 billion, similar to last year's figures. According to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, promising buying opportunities still exist in core markets such as the United States, and Britain as banks force owners to give up distressed properties, but the weak equities market will prevent many major billion-dollar deals from taking place, it says. Read the Reuters story here.

IHG to launch upscale brand in China

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) plans to introduce a new hotel brand in China within the next six months.  The brand will be in line with its goal of more than doubling its portfolio in the Middle East, China and India in the next few years. IHG intends to eventually export the as-yet unnamed upscale brand across the Asia-Pacific region as the economy in China and other key markets in the area continue to stand firm against the global recession. Read the MarketWatch story here.

-- Posted January 6, 2012     

Retail sales improving after tough holiday

Many retailers delivered solid sales gains for December, but heavy discounts needed to lure shoppers exacted a high price, clouding the holiday shopping season. The need for discounts also is raising concern about what it will take to get shoppers to spend again in coming months. Retailers collectively reported a 3.5 percent increase in monthly revenue at stores open at least a year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers' tally of 25 retailers. For November and December combined, holiday sales rose 3.3 percent, a solid increase, but behind last year's 3.8 percent. Read the USA Today story here.

Reed completes Elmhurst Medical Center

Reed Construction completed a new medical office build-out at the Elmhurst Medical and Surgical Center. The project, located within the Elmhurst Medical and Surgical Center in Elmhurst, Ill., includes a new surgical procedure room, recovery rooms, examination rooms, laboratories and doctors’ offices. Reed Construction built-out a new reception area, nursing stations, waiting areas and employee break rooms. A new mechanical and electrical system was installed that includes an air handler for medical gases and updated fire protection systems.The Proteus Group provided the architectural and engineering services.

Dollar General outlines California store plans

Dollar General expects to open approximately 50 stores in central and Southern California as well as a new distribution center in 2012. California will be Dollar General’s 39th state. 

Dunkin' to expand in U.S. and abroad

Dunkin' Donuts plans to double its 7,000 locations in the U.S. over the next 20 years. The company also is ramping up its growth in international markets, such as China and India. Read CNN Money story here.

-- Posted January 5, 2012    

Laticrete's Metcalf named to CTDA Hall of Fame

LATICRETE North America division President Ed Metcalf was inducted into the Ceramic Tile Distributor Association's Hall of Fame. He accepted the award, presented jointly by the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), during the Total Solutions Plus convention this past November. The award is given to those individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association and the industry through invention and/or dedication of service.  

Restaurants report strongest effort in 5 months

Half of U.S. restaurant operators reported an increase in same-store sales during November, compared with the same month in 2010, and 41 percent said traffic rose in the month, according to the National Restaurant Association. The sixth consecutive month of same-store sales gains boosted optimism among restaurant operators, with 41 percent saying they expect sales to rise during the next six months. Read the story here.

Construction begins on Springhill Suites in Texas

Construction has begun on a 107-key SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Midland, Texas. The 79,812 square foot, four-story hotel features architectural design elements such as an indoor bar area with outdoor patio and 2,600 square foot ballroom. Construction will be performed by Green Street Construction, based in Lubbock. The hotel, designed by Dallas-based architectural firm, Mayse & Associates, will be owned and operated by Midland-based Insignia Hospitality Group, Inc. 

-- Posted January 4, 2012   

Report: Consumers spent $44b during holidays

With the help of a last-minute shopping rush, it looks as if Holiday 2011 will best Holiday 2010. According to a recent report by ShopperTrak, consumers spent about $44 billion in GAFO retail sales for the week ending December 24, a 37.8 percent increase over the previous week, and a 14.8 percent gain over the same week last year.

Foot traffic was also high, increasing 32.4 percent from the previous week. The last-minute sales increase ensured this December will outpace December 2010. Month-to-date figures are up 4.7 percent over December 2010.

As expected, shoppers came out in full force on the day after Christmas because it fell on a Monday for the first time in six years. The day ranked fourth in foot-traffic and sales for the entire holiday season, behind Black Friday, November 26, Friday, December 23 and Super Saturday, December 17. Foot traffic increased 25.9 percent over the same day last year and consumers spent $7.1 billion on December 26 in GAFO retail sales, an increase of 25.5 percent over the same day last year.

Restaurant industry performance at 5-month high

Driven by positive same-store sales and an increasingly optimistic outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) rose to its highest level in five months. The RPI stood at 100.6 in November, up 0.6 percent from October. November represented the second time in the last three months that the RPI stood above 100, which signifies expansion in the index of key industry indicators. The RPI, which consists of the Current Situation Index and the Expectations Index, is measured in relation to a steady-state level of 100. Index values above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are in a period of expansion. Read the Fast Casual story here.

Uncle Maddio's opens third restaurant

Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint has opened its third unit in Louisville, Ky. The company's two other restaurants are located in Atlanta and Woodstock, Ga. Uncle Maddio's plans to open five more restaurants, including in Charlotte, N.C., and Savannah, Ga. Additionally, franchise contracts have been awarded for units to open in Knoxville, Tenn., Raleigh, N.C., Columbia, S.C., greater Atlanta and Jacksonville, Fla. 

-- Posted January 3, 2012   

Holiday shopping season hits highs and lows

Two high points with a lull in the middle. That sums up the past holiday shopping season, as bargain-hungry consumers started strong on Black Friday weekend, took a break, and then swarmed back to snap up last-minute deals just before Christmas. Read the story here.

Miami-Dade hotels see strong '12 convention biz

Hotels in the Miami-Dade, Fla., area are preparing to maintain in 2012 their 2011 performance as a string of events and conventions are expected to boost the market's growth further. Read the Miami News Today story here.

Baton Rouge, La., on track for summer opening

Pinnacle Entertainment says that work on its $357 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge destination casino in Louisiana is progressing well and that the complex should open on schedule in summer 2012. Read the story here.

-- Posted January 2, 2012  

Hotels facing few finance options for renovations 

The continued aversion of lenders to the hotel market leaves hoteliers with few options to finance long-overdue capital improvements. Analysts says most properties in need of renovations are suffering with their net-operating income and lenders are focused on that. Read the Hotel News Now story here .

Crowne Plaza in Albany, N.Y. to become Hilton

Following extensive renovations, the former Crowne Plaza Albany–City Center will become the Hilton Albany early next year. In the interim, the 386-room property will be called the Hotel Albany. The hotel’s 25,000 square feet of public meeting space includes what Hilton says is the largest ballroom in upstate New York’s Capital District. The hotel is within walking distance of the New York State Capitol, Empire State Plaza and Times Union Center. 

Rezidor opens 1st Radisson Blu Hotel in Georgia

Rezidor Hotel Group is operating its first property in the republic of Georgia, with the debut of the 168-room Radisson Blu Batumi. The hotel has three bars and two restaurants, including one on the hotel’s 19th floor. The property also includes a spa an a casino. Brussels-based Rezidor, of which Carlson owns a majority stake, operates more than 400 Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

Wal-Mart tops Portland, Ore., store with ecoroof

Walmart's new store in the Hayden Meadows Retail Center in North Portland, Ore., will feature a 40,600-square-foot ecoroof. As Sustainable Business Oregon reports, Walmart will work with Portland-based Columbia Green and its resale partner Firestone Building Products on the design and implementation of the ecoroof. 

-- Posted December 30, 2011 

Hotels report rising rates in December

The average occupancy rate of hotels rose 5.9 percent, to 49 percent, for the week of Dec. 11 to 17, while average daily rate went up 4.2 percent, to $95.35, during the same period, hotel-industry tracker STR reports. New Orleans and San Diego led the top 25 U.S. markets in occupancy increases, with 23.5 percent and 18.8 percent jumps, respectively. 

Consumer confidence rising in recent months

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence index rose nearly 10 points in December, after a 15-point November jump. The index, and two similar reports, may signal a rise in consumption in the months to come, but some economists warned the December numbers may reflect seasonal cheer that could dampen again after the holidays. Read the Los Angeles story here.

KS casino generates some 1,600 construction jobs

The Kansas Star Casino has opened on a temporary gaming floor in Wichita, Kan., and more than 1,600 have been employed during the construction phase, which will continue over the next year or two. Read the American Business Journal story.

-- Posted December 29, 2011 

Bi-Lo to buy Winn-Dixie chain 

Bi-Lo, which is owned by private equity group Lone Star Funds, plans to buy Winn-Dixie in a $560 million acquisition. The move would create the nation's ninth-largest supermarket chain. Sources say the deal is not expected to face antitrust hurdles or lead to store closures, since both retailers are strong regional brands with no overlap of stores. Read the Charlotte Observer story here.

Louisville, Ky., Hyatt undergoing $5.8m facelift

The Hyatt Regency Louisville will get a $5.8 million facelift. The 390-room downtown hotel will get a new lobby and front desk, new front entrance that includes a canopy where guests can take advantage of valet service and a new fitness center. Its existing restaurant is being converted into a full-service eatery called Sway, short for Southern Way. 

-- Posted December 28, 2011      

Survey shows increased travel spending in '12

The 2012 annual Travel Trends Survey by Travel Leaders shows that more than 91 percent of member agencies expect travel spending by clients next year to be the same or increase from that of 2011. Read the Travel Agent Central story here.

Franchises to feel modest growth this year

The number of franchises fell 0.6 percent in 2011, the third consecutive annual decline. Still, the industry likely is to see about 1.9 perent growth next year, according to a report from the International Franchise Association. Quickservice restaurants will continue as the largest franchise category, and also provide the most jobs and generate the most revenue, the report said. Read the Wall Street Journal story here.

Starwood plans four Middle Eastern hotels in '12

Four properties by Starwood Hotels & Resorts will launch in the Middle East in 2012, adding a total of 1,094 rooms to the chain's inventory in the region. The upcoming hotels include the St. Regis Doha, to open in February, and the St. Regis Abu Dhabi, which will debut in the second quarter. The Four Points by Sheraton Medina and the Sheraton Medina Hotel in Saudi Arabia will open during the third quarter. 

-- Posted December 27, 2011