Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels|"Quebec Hotel Sues Former Guest Over Online Review"

Source              :  o.canada.com
Category        :  Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels
By                  :  Mark Cardwell
Posted By     :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels

In what is believed to be a legal first in Canada — and a potential landmark case that could help to define the limits of free speech in cyberspace — a hotel is suing a former guest for $95,000 in damages over a review he wrote on the travel site TripAdvisor. It also wants the negative review, which is still online, taken down. But the lawyer for the Montreal man who wrote the review says the “frivolous” defamation lawsuit will be quashed in court like the bedbugs her client claims he found in his room. That’s not how the hotel sees it. “Cleanliness is the name of the game in the hotel business,” said Quebec City lawyer William Noonan, who filed the motion in Quebec Superior Court here last month on behalf of l’Hôtel Québec. “Hotel owners can’t be upset with someone who doesn’t like their service. But when people start yelling ‘Bedbugs!’ they’d better have proof.” According to the motion, Montreal building contractor Laurent Azoulay checked into l’Hôtel Québec in the Quebec City suburb of Sainte-Foy on April 26 for a two-night stay with his son, who was playing in an atom hockey tournament.

The 204-room, four-star property is one of seven in the local Hôtels Jaro chain, which is owned by area businessman Jacques Robitaille. “During the (first) night,” reads the motion, “the defendant claims to have discovered in his room a scourge for hotels around the world — bedbugs.” The hotel, it adds, was unable to give Azoulay another room because it was fully booked that night. It says Azoulay also refused to go to another of the chain’s hotels nearby (wanting to remain in the same hotel as his son’s hockey team) and returned to his room for the night. The next morning, a Saturday, Azoulay allegedly insisted on meeting Robitaille to discuss the situation.

When that didn’t happen, he checked out of the hotel and threatened to write a bad review about the property on TripAdvisor. Later that day, Azoulay posted a review on TripAdvisor about what he termed his “nightmare” stay at l’Hôtel Québec. “At first this hotel looks okay,” it reads, “until you wake at 3AM (sic) because you’ve been scratching all over and realize your bed is infested with BED BUGS!” Azoulay goes on to recount his version of events before issuing this warning: “Beware of BED BUGS! If you are looking for a scratch-free night sleep, stay elsewhere, you will be doing you and your loved ones a favour! Trust me … and that’s why the Internet is a great tool!” The review has received 176 votes from readers as being “helpful.” It is also one of 16 “Terrible” reviews of l’Hôtel Québec on TripAdvisor, which ranks the hotel 62nd among 99 area hotels.

Azoulay’s review, however, is the only one that mentions bedbugs. According to Noonan, the hotel decided to sue when Azoulay refused repeated requests for him to return to Quebec City and meet with Robitaille to resolve the issue. “He made this big fuss and then he thinks he can just walk away,” Noonan told The Gazette. “But his actions have hurt the hotel a lot. We’ve had numerous people call and tell us they weren’t staying because of it, and cancel reservations.” Noonan notably questioned Azoulay’s claim about bedbugs. “There are 204 rooms in that hotel and it had never had a single complaint about bedbugs before that night,” he said. “If there were some there — and in his room only — how did they get there and where did they go?” Noonan said he hasn’t heard of similar cases in Quebec or Canada. That case is still before the courts.

Though she refused to discuss details, Azoulay’s lawyer, Muriel Librati, said her client intends to fight the case, which is expected to be heard here in early December.

“The way he’s been treated is deplorable,” the Westmount lawyer said. “They are insisting my client put bedbugs in his room and that he is just trying to get money from them.” Azoulay, she added, has pictures of bedbug bites on him and his son, as well as a video showing several bedbugs they caught and put in a glass before killing them. “This case is frivolous,” Librati said. “TripAdvisor is an open forum for people to post reviews. Suing over a negative one is a perfect example of libel chill.” “The court system is too complex, long and expensive as a recourse for an individual consumer who has suffered an injustice,” said Viel, director of communications for the Union des Consommateurs, a Montreal-based federation of 11 Quebec consumer protection groups. Sites like TripAdvisor, he added, help to level the playing field.

“They give consumers more power by providing them with a fast, easy and free way to express their frustration and to get a company’s attention (and) hopefully get satisfaction,” Viel said. The problem with online discussion groups and forums like TripAdvisor, he added, is the lack of control over the veracity of reviews. “Like political parties do with blogs and opinion pieces, many businesses are now hiring people to write glowing reviews about them — or bad ones about their competitors,” Viel said. He urged travellers to be cautious in regards to online reviews, and rely instead on travel professionals and travel guides for more accurate information. Danielle Lefrançois, the communications manager in the Montreal office of Advertising Standards Canada, echoed that warning. “The use of supposedly neutral blogs and forums on the Internet to promote goods and services is a big problem,” Lefrançois said.

She added that her group, a self-regulatory body run by the advertising industry that investigates complaints about the veracity of claims and testimonials on corporate websites, has never received any complaints about online review sites like TripAdvisor. But she advises consumers to be wary when consulting them. “Even honest reviews reflect individual opinion,” she said. “And people sometimes have unrealistic expectations and are easily disappointed.”

Source : o.canada.com/2013/08/23/quebec-hotel-sues-former-guest-over-online-review/

Hotels In South Virginia Beach|"VV Council Denies Hotels' Appeal On Taxes, Rejects Settlement Offer"

Source              :  vvdailypress.com
Category        :  Hotels In South Virginia Beach
By                  :   Jim E. Winburn
Posted By     :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Hotels In South Virginia Beach

The city on Tuesday denied an appeal by three hotel operators and ordered them to pay more than $30,000 in past due transient occupancy taxes. Council members voted 5-0 to deny the appeal for Days Inn Victorville for a $7,826.83 assessment, Travel Inn Motel for $9,364.45, and Budget Inn Kentwood for $12,822.96. Before the council’s decision, Frank A. Weiser, an attorney representing the city of Victorville Hotel/Motel Association, told the City Council that hotel operators had decided to offer a settlement just before the council’s public meeting. City Attorney Andre de Bortnowsky told Weiser that the offer, which “cuts the proposed tax amounts in half,” came too late for the council to consider it in closed session.

He also expressed concern with the other four hotel operators included in Weiser’s July 24 appeal in response to the City Council’s June 11 decision. Since the June 11 hearing, Green Spot Motel, Mojave Village Motel, and Budget Inn Victorville have paid the tax due the city. Economy Inn chose to pay its tax prior to the hearing. “My concern with it would be that you have already made decisions that affect other hotels in city of Victorville,” de Bortnowsky said. “They have asked previously for different amounts, and if you accept post settlement you would be treating this group of hotels differently than you have already treated past hotels.” Weiser also argued for the hotels’ refusal to open their books to a city audit based on their Constitutional right to privacy. He said that this does not necessarily give the city the right to simply and arbitrarily estimate the tax due, along with interest, if a hotel operator fails to open its records for whatever reason.

“I think that is the central issue that came out of the motel owners saying, that whether you like it or not ... we still have a Fourth Amendment right,” Weiser said. Councilman Jim Kennedy, himself an accountant with an office in San Bernardino, did not place much merit in Weiser’s claim. “Never once have I tried to make the argument that because my client did not have records or didn’t wanted to show them to the auditor that’s a reason for not assessing a tax,” Kennedy said at Tuesday’s meeting. Mayor Jim Cox told fellow council members that the hotels’ appeal rests on whether evidence has been presented to show that errors have been made with either the city’s audit or appeal process regarding the hotels’ tax assessments.

“It does appear with all the information available that it is simply money owed to the city,” Cox said. “We have all of this data that indicates the money is owed. I don’t see how we can settle for a less amount.” The city conducted a transient occupancy tax audit on 21 hotels for a three-year span from 2010 to 2012, which revealed that seven of the city’s hotels had “substantial errors in the reporting of the taxes for the audit period totaling $520,132.92,” according to a city staff report from June.

Source : vvdailypress.com/articles/offer-41911-rejects-appeal.html

Hotels In South Virginia Beach|"California Hotels Are A Hot Investment Again"

Souce              :   latimes.com
Category        :  Hotels In South Virginia Beach
By                  :   Roger Vincent
Posted By     :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Hotels In South Virginia Beach

Nearly 180 California hotels changed hands in the first half of 2013, a 12% increase from the number sold in same period last year, according to a mid-year report by Irvine consulting firm Atlas Hospitality Group. The dollar value of these sales grew even faster. The report said the combined value of the sales jumped 24% to a total of nearly $2.2 billion in the first half of this year as investors gambled that the hospitality business will continue to improve. Among the big inns sold were the La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel and the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley. San Diego County was a major hot spot, with total sales up 200% to $744 million. Leading the way was the $365.8-million sale of La Costa Resort to Omni Hotels & Resorts. The Dallas hotelier rebranded the 479-room inn as an Omni resort.

Another high-profile and historic property was sold in Riverside County's Coachella Valley. The 796-room La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, which dates from 1926, was acquired by an investment fund of the government of Singapore.

La Quinta, where movie director Frank Capra wrote the screenplay for "Lost Horizon" poolside in 1937, was one of four hotels in a property portfolio purchased by the Singapore investment fund. Also part of the deal was the rambling Claremont hotel, which opened in 1914 in the Berkeley Hills and formerly had multistory spiral slides intended for use as fire escapes. La Quinta was valued at $109 million, and the Claremont was valued at $511 million in the $1.46-billion transaction that also included the Grand Wailea in Hawaii and the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Atlas said. The $65-million sale of the Sheraton in downtown Los Angeles to local developer Wayne Ratkovich was the largest in Los Angeles County. Hotel sales in the county were down from a year earlier, but only because owners were reluctant to part with them, said Alan Reay, president of Atlas Hospitality. "In terms of desirability from buyers, first choice is still West L.A.," Reay said. That market, one of the strongest in the country, also includes Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

Second on buyers' shopping lists is the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco, he said, followed by coastal resorts such as those found in Monterey, Orange County, La Jolla and downtown San Diego. With hotel occupancy and room rates on the upswing, many investors believe hotels will offer better financial returns than apartments and other types of commercial real estate, Reay said. Lenders, who wouldn't support hotel investments just three years ago, are again willing to finance purchases, and interest rates remain low by historic standards. Asian hotel buyers find California particularly attractive, he said. "The Chinese are interested in San Francisco and Los Angeles," he said. "There is a lot of money pouring out of China." The rise in hotel prices will eventually slow as new hotels are built by developers hoping to cash in on the hot market, he said. "A lot more rooms are going to open up," Reay said, "and dampen price appreciation."

Source : latimes.com/business/la-fi-hotel-investment-20130822,0,1091207.story

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels|"Busch Gardens Teams Up With Virginia Beach Hotels"

Souce             :   canada.com
Category       :  Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels
By                  :   Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Posted By     :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels

Virginia Beach and Busch Gardens Williamsburg team up to bring your family closer together for one action-packed vacation with August Adventures.When you book a minimum of two or more consecutive nights in Virginia Beach from August 1 – 31, 2013, kids will stay free and then play free at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. There is a limit of two free child Busch Gardens  tickets per family; children must be ages 3-9. 

Ten Virginia Beach hotels are participating in August Adventures including Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Holiday Inn Oceanside, Holiday Inn & Suites North Beach, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, The Oceanfront Inn, Courtyard Virginia Beach Oceanfront South, Comfort Inn & Suites Oceanfront, Hampton Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront North, Fairfield Inn & Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront and the DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach.   

Source:canada.com/travel/Busch+Gardens+teams+with+Virginia+Beach+hotels/8712509/story.html

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels|"A First Look At The New Salamander Resort & Spa"

Souce             :   forbes.com
Category       :  Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels
By                  :   Hayley Bosch
Posted By     :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels

Tucked away on 340 acres in Middleburg, Va. sits the latest addition to Sheila C. Johnson’s Salamander Hotels & Resorts portfolio (which includes Hammock Beach Resort, Innisbrook and Reunion Resort). It’s been a long time coming—Johnson first stepped foot on the grounds 10 years ago—but Salamander Resort & Spa is set to open its doors on Aug. 29. Surrounded by the beauty of Virginia’s Horse Country, you’d be hard pressed to find a better locale for a luxury resort with an equestrian flair. Throughout the 168-room hotel, there’s a definite equine flavor; but it’s the perfect balance between elegance and theme. And if anyone knows how to craft a classy horse retreat, it’s Sheila C. Johnson, who serves on the board of governors of Parsons The New School for Design in New York and even funded the college’s Sheila C. Johnson Design Center. It began with her desire to create a destination spa in the Washington, D.C. region—something that the area has been lacking. Salamander Resort & Spa is a quick (and beautiful) hour drive from the nation’s capital, offering the opportunity to make it a day trip or experience the lavish accommodations by staying overnight. The Forbes Travel Guide Tastemaker envisioned her newest property as an iconic respite with a focus on two important parts of her life: her daughter Paige’s love of horses and wellness—with a hefty dose of luxury, of course.

As for the design of the resort, Johnson pulled inspiration from her own home just a few miles down the road. A walk around the resort will unveil striking similarities (for example, the spa courtyard looks a lot like Johnson’s own pool terrace). When you drive down the tree-lined driveway, it feels as if you’re arriving at an old Virginia manor—thanks to the oversized porte-cochère, slate walkways, brick façade, and the steeple on top. In fact, aside from the part that the building is no more than six years old, nothing about the resort shouts “brand new,” which is something Johnson strives for here. Step inside and rather than walking into a traditional lobby, you’ll enter a welcoming living room that appears to be generations old (another aspect that’s completely on purpose). It’s hard to comprehend how much thought is put into a property such as Salamander Resort & Spa, but a closer look at various parts reveals a lot. For instance, in the living room, the wide-planked oak flooring was deliberately spaced to seem as if it had expanded and contracted over time, and there are quoins underneath the boards to allow for a bit of bounce that you’d find in worn wood floors. Two massive stone fireplaces stand guard on either side of the living room; so beautifully finished that you may be tricked into believing they were imported from an old French mansion—yes, those are new, too.

But not everything on property is brand new: A 150-year-old stallion barn has been converted into a private dining room that’s large enough for 24 guests, and all of the books in the resort’s library were purchased from the Middleburg Library, meaning that locals have been checking out these tomes for years. The small historic town was part of President John F. Kennedy’s Camelot, and Jackie O. would ride horses on the land where Salamander Resort & Spa now stands. While historic aspects are part of what makes the resort so interesting, it’s the way the culture and surrounding environment has been woven throughout that really makes it unique. The four levels of guest rooms are broken down by seasonal theme with fall being on the top floor, offering the best views of the area’s vibrant foliage come October. Aside from the different color schemes, each floor is decorated with photographs taken by none other than Johnson herself of various horse scenes and landscapes corresponding to the season. Taking advantage of the beautiful environment, each of the 168 rooms boasts a furnished balcony (complete with a horse cutout in the ironwork), and 50 percent have working fireplaces.The 17 suites are named after some of Johnson’s daughter’s favorite horses, while room categories are equestrian themed—think Dressage and Blue Ribbon. But for a real taste of luxury and a deeper look into Johnson’s life, book the 1,680-square-foot Owner’s Suite that’s outfitted with various antiques and collectables from her personal art and furniture collection.

The equine characteristics and exclusive touches continue into the inspiration for this luxury destination resort: wellness, in the form of a 23,000-square-foot spa that’s open to both hotel guests and the public. When you head into the locker room, you’ll walk through an octagonal space, reminiscent of a barn’s frame. The embrace of the surrounding areas is certainly present in the spa, as well; many of the treatment rooms have private terraces—yes, you can have your massage outside if the weather cooperates—and some even boast fireplaces. Spa guests can live the lavish life outdoors by the infinity-edge pool, which as we mentioned before is strikingly similar to Johnson’s personal pool terrace. The tranquil area is lined with cabanas beneath a wooden trellis; it’s sure to attract many leisure seekers. While the horse motif is apparent throughout the resort, the most equestrian space is Harrimans, Salamander Resort & Spa’s signature restaurant. Named after the family who used to own the property, Ambassadors Averell and Pamela Harriman, the Virginia Piedmont-inspired eatery is modeled after the Harriman’s former barn—notice the octagonal shape of the dining room, the stable-like ironwork atop the banquettes and the tack room-esque private dining room that’s adorned with a handful of Johnson’s daughter’s equestrian trophies and other memorabilia. In addition to flaunting the most equine décor, Harrimans may just have the best view on-site: a 220-degree vista of the property, with the stable on one side and the 100,000-square-foot Grand Lawn on the other.

Cuisine will play a large part in the overall experience of a stay at Salamander Resort & Spa; not only is Harrimans regionally influenced, but chef Todd Gray (of Equinox in Washington, D.C.) plans to use plenty of ingredients from the culinary garden just outside of the restaurant. Next door to Harrimans sits the state-of-the-art cooking studio that will host classes—which by the way can be streamed to guest room televisions if you can’t get out of bed—and incorporate a visiting chef program. We have a good feeling this lineup will be pretty stellar, though nothing is set in stone yet. Juxtaposing the newness of the cooking studio is the classic Gold Cup Wine Bar (a nod to the famous equestrian event), where visitors will be able to take advantage of the resort’s Virginia vintners program. Weekly sessions with partner wineries (think Barrel Oak Winery and RdV Vineyards) allow budding oenophiles to learn a thing or two about the up-and-coming Virginia Wine Country by chatting with the winemakers and sipping vino. The brick floor—5,500 pounds to be exact—is strategically chipped to look as if it has been there for years, and the bar has metal plates engraved with the partner wineries’ logos. Topping off the Virginia theme is the mural of Loudon County (where the resort is located) highlighting the various vineyards throughout the region that was painted by local artist Tom Neel.

It’s all about leisure at Salamander Resort & Spa. Guests can partake in all kinds of activities, both indoors and out. If a culinary class isn’t appealing, perhaps a game of billiards is—between the cooking studio and Gold Cup Wine Bar sits the billiards room, which looks as if it could be part of an old mansion (just like everything else on property). With so many surrounding acres, including 200 that have not been cleared, there’s an endless amount of fun to be had in the great outdoors. Venture down to the 22-stall horse barn—don’t worry if you didn’t bring your own stallion along, though you certainly can—and set out on a guided horseback ride through the miles and miles of trails. Active travelers can work up a sweat on the tennis courts, then cool off in the resort pool, while bocce ball offers a calmer form of entertainment. Many things are still in the works, but that only gives us more to look forward to: A treetop canopy tour (we’re talking aerial walkways and viewing platforms) will be completed in the fall, adding yet another way to enjoy the beautiful environment. And the spa plans to take advantage of the trees in a similar, yet much more relaxing, way; Salamander Resort & Spa plans to debut its tree-house treatment rooms in spring 2014. So while much of what we’ve been waiting for will finally be presented on Aug. 29, the luxury resort continues to add more, giving its guests a best-in-show experience.

Source : forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2013/08/09/a-first-look-at-the-new-salamander-resort-spa/

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels|"The Inn & Spa At Loretto Announces The Opening Of Santa Fe's Only Penthouse"

Souce           :   sfgate.com
Category       :  Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels
By               :   PRWeb
Posted By   :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels

The Loretto's lavish rooftop Penthouse redefines luxury accommodations with the only Penthouse in Santa Fe. Penthouse has its own dedicated art studio with spectacular panoramic views of Santa Fe.The Inn and Spa at Loretto is excited to announce the opening of Santa Fe’s first Penthouse suite located on the rooftop of the iconic Santa Fe Inn. Effortlessly blending southwest design elements with understated natural materials, the Penthouse is a lavish southwest retreat with a modern contemporary feel. Beauty abounds in the spacious two-story suite, with lush living and dining areas, a fully appointed gourmet kitchen and dining area, a dedicated, fully stocked art studio, and 5 terraces with unparalleled views.

With floor-to ceiling windows as well as 1,032 square-feet of outdoor space on 5 intimate terraces, the Penthouse boasts expansive panoramic views of Santa Fe including the famed Loretto Chapel, the renowned Old Santa Fe Trail, the Historic Plaza, and an array of breathtaking mountain vistas and spectacular sunset views. Perfect for entertaining, the spacious suite can accommodate up to 60 guests, making it ideal for events such as parties, gatherings, rehearsal dinners and small weddings. Additionally, the Penthouse Suite is located on its own floor with a private elevator making it perfect for celebrities and guests seeking additional privacy.

For the artist, the suite boasts a dedicated art studio fully stocked with supplies. Framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, the space features lots of natural light and for inspiration, 360-degree views overlooking the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Inn and Spa at Loretto partnered with Canyon Road galleries including the Wiford Gallery to place beautiful, one-of-a-kind art pieces throughout the Penthouse.

“The Loretto’s spectacular Penthouse Suite is the first of its kind in Santa Fe,” said Dana Ortega, Marketing Director at The Inn and Spa at Loretto. “We are thrilled to provide our guests with a world-class level of modern luxury atop Santa Fe in an intimate, private space.” The Penthouse suite was updated in 2013 by Zimmer Associates, a design firm that utilizes natural design principles to create living environments that align earth, mind and spirit to enhance the natural and cultural setting of the space.

Source : sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/The-Inn-and-Spa-at-Loretto-Announces-the-Opening-4735085.php

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels|"Hotel Flies The Flag For Chester"

Souce           :   chesterchronicle.co.uk
Category     :  Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels
By               :   Chester Chronicle
Posted By   :  Hotels in Virginia Beach South Courtyard

Courtyard Virginia Beach Hotels

The Chester Grosvenor and Spa has been flying the flag for Chester and Cheshire during an overseas sales trip. The Chester Grosvenor and Spa has been flying the flag for Chester and Cheshire during an overseas sales trip. Jonathan Slater, hotel managing director, travelled 11,763 miles and met 200 American travel agents during a week-long visit to the US. The sales trip was an opportunity to meet travel agents who book luxury holidays for thousands of American travellers every year.

Mr Slater introduced The Chester Grosvenor and Spa in a series of entertaining lunch and dinner presentations at luxury hotels across the US. In just six days he visited San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and La Jolla in California, before travelling on to Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas. He also showcased what Chester and Cheshire had to offer, from its historic Roman Walls to its rolling countryside, as well as promoting the UK as a whole. Mr Slater said: “This was a wonderful opportunity to meet face-to-face the people who are responsible for booking thousands of extra-special overseas visits every year. There’s nothing like the personal touch on sales trips like this.

“Our hope is that the travel agents that we met will remember The Chester Grosvenor and Spa when recommending destinations and hotels to their clients.“The US market is an important one to us, and Chester as a whole, so it’s important that we continue to promote ourselves there.” The sales trip was in conjunction with Matthew Johnson from Historic House Hotels and Terry Holmes from Red Carnation Hotels.

Source : chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/business/hotel-flies-flag-chester-5191599