Daily Digest for Thursday Mar 26, 2009


Featured News
A Call for Immediate Action Regarding a Threat to Organic Food
Appointments & Promotions
Seasoned Designer Joins Apollo Renovation Team
Changes in the Rezidor's IR Organization
HFTP Extends Board Application Deadline to April 4
Preferred Makes Six New Appointments
Langham Promotes Katie Benson to Regional VP
Business & Finance
Change Coming for Australia's Major Owners
Hotel Investment Activity Across Canada Drops
Global Hotel Prices Drop 12%
Tropicana and Creditors Reach Agreement on Reorganization Plan
HREC Arranges Sale of Houston Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Melaka Joins Earth Hour
Las VegasTakes Pro Meetings Stance
AHLA: Senator Will Not Support the Employee Free Choice Act
Starwood Hotels Moves Downtown
Hotel Openings & Acquisitions
Novotel to Open in Manado, Indonesia
Park Inn comes to Saudi Arabia and Oman
Homewood to Build in Birmingham Area
Equities Opens Hampton in Brunswick, GA
Aloft Deal for Chapel Hill, NC
Former Holiday Inn Now Doubletree Collinsville/St. Louis
Hotel Packages, Renovations, & Awards
Shangri-La to Launch CustomStay
Life Heritage Resort Hoi Debuts Life Spa
Chicago Ritz Unveils New Guestrooms and Suites
Millennium Bostonian Finishes $25 million Makeover
Doubletree in Times Square Hilton HHonors Reward Offer
Conference & Event News
Keeping Ahead in Current Economy is Focus at Controllers Conference
CHTA Sets Speakers and Agenda for Investment Conference
EMCVenues to Host MEET USA-MidWest - May 28 – 29
U.S. Travel Association Announces Six Finalists for Innovator of the Year
Products & Services
Bridgeport Conference Center Partners with UniFocus
A Customer’s Perception Starts in the Lobby
Convention & Visitor Bureau News
Sample Sumptuous Sonoma County
New Reasons to Visit Sonoma's Wine Country
Read more of today's headlines ...


Spas, Health & Fitness
Critical Steps to Open Your Spa Effectively
By Gary Henkin, President & Founder, WTS International
Spas are as susceptible as any service business to the challenges and pitfalls of today’s difficult economic environment. The perception was that spas and the luxury service segment (hotels, retail products, restaurants, etc.) were reasonably insulated to severe economic downturn. We know now that this isn’t the case, and spas are facing challenges that didn’t exist just six months ago. In order to position your spa to maximize the chance for operational and financial success, one should pay more attention today to the pre-opening and planning phases. Creating a delineative identity in combination with a well thought out timeline for opening will give your spa the best chance for a successful launch.
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