Heather Gunter

Over four decades, Hirsch Bedner has built a global presence with a staff of 450 in 13 offices, including London and Hong Kong

Advantis Hospitality Alliance is in acquisition mode. The company, which owns Vista Hospitality Solutions, is acquiring Select Inn from Select Franchising of Fargo, N.D., and is looking for more brands to buy.

Over four decades, Hirsch Bedner has built a global presence with a staff of 450 in 13 offices, including London and Hong Kong.

Economic uncertainty, weaker lodging fundamentals and the fear of global recession will cause lenders to be more cautious in 2009, but there's still hope for good transactions.

Demand for inauguration week hotel rooms has skyrocketed since the election, giving Washington-area hotels (and those as far away as Richmond, Va., and Baltimore, Md.) leverage normally seen during events like the Super Bowl.

Newport News, Va.–The Courtyard by Marriott brand celebrated its 25th anniversary with a new lobby concept that invites guests to get out of their rooms.

Honolulu–Best Western International is taking a contrarian approach to the slumping economy. Rather than battening down the hatches, the membership company plans to sail through the economic storm in part by spending more than $43 million in advertising this year.

The 25-year-old Courtyard by Marriott brand is working to stay fresh with its core customer base—baby boomer business travelers—and to appeal to younger guests.

Going green has shifted from a movement reserved for the granola set, to a feel-good idea, to a more attainable and necessary component of hotel design.

Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO of Marriott International, praised the use of space at the new Courtyard Newport News (Va.) Airport hotel, which hosted the brand’s 25th anniversary celebration.