In Focus

The new hotels beyond United States borders range from a luxurious 300-room St. Regis property planned for an island in Bahrain to an extended-stay Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel that caters to executives working in business parks along India’s “IT Highway.” Whatever the size or the sector, lodging companies are racing to plant their flags in the booming economies of China, India, the United Arab Emirates and other growing countries around the world.While many of the big hotel companies have until now built significant presences in major foreign capitals and other cities through large, center-city hotels, they are now growing…

In 1939, seven owners of southern motor court hotels created Quality Courts, an alliance of motels that shared standards for the quality of their facilities and operating procedures. They could not have imagined that their alliance would grow into one of the world’s largest hotel chains, operating 10 brands in the midscale, economy, upscale and extended-stay segments.By the end of 2007, Choice Hotels International Inc. was franchising 5,500 hotels representing 450,000 rooms in the United States and 37 other countries and territories. That included the newly introduced Cambria Suites, an upscale brand with Generation X-friendly features.The company plans continued expansion….

In real estate, as much as in any business, the early spoils tend to go to outfits that first recognize paradigm-shifting trends and then position themselves to capitalize as momentum builds. But the organizations also cannot forever rest on their laurels, for competitors are never far behind.Though competition is less cutthroat among non-profit trade associations, a parallel history appears to be playing out as varying interests vie to supply ratings systems for the industry-transforming green building movement.A powerful early leader has clearly emerged in the U.S. Green Building Council and its signature Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification programs,…

The Cleveland office market is shaping up to be a destination where local owners, investors and developers can go to increase their revenue streams and asset values, according to Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services Inc. regional manager Michael Glass.”It is a great time to invest in the Cleveland market, as we are seeing some of the best numbers in more then a decade.” Class A space is seeing vacancies in the single digits for the first time since 2001, and absorption has gone positive for the first time in almost two decades. Additionally, asking rents grew 1.9 percent…