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Marriott International
last week detailed its growth plan to add 85,000 to 100,000 hotel rooms worldwide within the next three years. Overall, this plan represents a 5 percent -6 percent compound growth annually, and the growth will focus strongly on international properties.

Marriott expects to add more than 30,000 new hotel rooms outside of North America by 2009, which would be an increase of more than 30 percent.

Additionally, as much as 60 percent of additions to Marriott’s full-service brands will come outside of the United States, which it currently reports at less than 1 percent.

Confort Inn
When you stay just two separate times at any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay Suites hotel in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean or Mexico by December 15th, you earn enough points for a free night on a future stay at more than 1,000 hotels.

And the more you stay, the more free nights you can earn. Choice Privileges rewards program is easy, fast and free to join at www.choicehotels.com.

Hyatt
Earn a free night at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide after every two eligible Hyatt stays between November 1, 2006 and January 31, 2007, when you pay with your MasterCard card. Register at www.goldpassport.com.

After three consecutive years of strong increase in occupancy, U.S. travelers should find major city hotel lobbies a little less crowded in 2007.

While the number of hotel rooms occupied will continue to grow at a 1.4 percent pace, the number of new accommodations is projected to increase by 2% in 2007. The net result is a forecast of a slight 0.6% decline in occupancy for the nation’s largest lodging markets.

Hotels are approaching the peak of the current business cycle,
according to R. Mark Woodworth, president of Atlanta-based PKF Hospitality Research (PKD-HR). A slight slowdown is likely, although the hotel industry is still expected to see continued growth in revenue and profits.

The average occupancy rate is still projected to be a healthy 68% in 2007, which is still well above the long-term average of 66.4%. That means that travelers could still have some trouble booking hotels in certain markets.

Woodworth said that 24 of the 52 cities PKF tracks will see an increase in occupancy in the coming year.

XM Satellite Radio
is back in the National Car Rental fleet –at no charge! The service is available on various models within the midsize, full size, premium, luxury, mini-van and SUV car classes.

XM is America’s number one satellite radio service. The 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels, including music, sports, talk, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming.

Hotels

No-Smoking Trend Affects European Hotels
European hotel guests prefer smoke-free hotels, according to a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates.

The study found that nearly 70 percent of hotel guests in Europe prefer a smoke free environment-and not just in their rooms.

The desire for a smoke-free environment ranges from 57 percent of guests who reside in Spain to 76 percent of guests who reside in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

In North America, 79 percent of guests want a smoke-free environment. (Source: J.D. Powers press release).

InterContinental Opens New Hotels
InterContinental is opening new hotels under two of its brand names; Staybridge Suites, an upscale, extended stay hotel brand, and Holiday Inn.

It is planning to open 100 more Staybridge Suites and has just opened a new one in Kalamazoo, Mich., and plans to open others in the state.

InterContinental has just opened another new hotel in its Holiday Inn, line, the 96-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Williamsburg-Historic Gateway, in Williamsburg, Va. (Source: InterContinental press release).

Cars

Avis Offers Special Pricing
Avis Rent-A- Car System is offering American Express cardholders who use their American Express car to pay for a rental from any neighborhood location up to 25 percent off daily, weekend and weekend rates.

In addition, those who rent for three days or more will receive a $25 American Express gift card. (Source: American Express press release).

American Express Global Forecast

Corporate travel costs will continue to rise, according to the latest American Express Global Business Travel Forecast.

Airfares will continue to rise worldwide, although not as fast as they did this year; hotel rates will continue to increase at the same rate as this year, and, in some markets, even faster.

Specific projections are:

• Global domestic economy fares should rise three to five percent; international business fares, three to seven percent
• Hotel rates will increase two to eight percent and as much as 18 percent in major markets such as New York
• Car rental costs will rise four to six percent in the U.S. and Canada.

Static inventory, increasing demand and volatile fuel costs are driving increases. (Source: American Express press release).

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