H&LA News

David Sangree will moderate a session at the  Midwest Lodging Investment Summit (MLIS) conference at the Hyatt Regency at McCormick Place in Chicago on July 17, 2012. For more information the MLIS Conference, click here.  

David Sangree was appointed to Michigan State University's Real Estate and Development Advisory Council.

Eric Hansen, AIA, ISHC is co-chairman of the Ohio Travel Association's Legislative Committee, and its representative on the Ohio Tourism Roundtable composed of the representatives of the Ohio Travel Association, the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association, the Ohio Restaurant Association, and the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, foster awareness of the importance of tourism and provides support for the tourism industry with in the state of Ohio.  For more information on how tourism impacts each region of Ohio, visit www.OhioTourismWorks.org.

David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC was a speaker at the World Waterpark Association's 31st Annual Symposium and Tradeshow that took place October 2-5, 2011 in New Orleans, LA.

The Appraisal Institute has appointed David Sangree to the editorial review board for the Appraisal Journal.

Waterpark Resort and Hotel Industry News

Overall Hotel Market: Hotel & Leisure Advisors' analysis indicates that the United States' hotel market in 2011 achieved improving occupancy and average daily rate levels in most cities with overall national averages showing improvements in both occupancy and average daily rate. We project continued improvement in 2012 throughout the United States with higher percentage gains for the upscale and luxury properties. New property openings of hotels will continue to be limited in 2012 because of the lack of financing available for new construction properties. This has especially affected larger resort properties, which have been unable to obtain financing to begin construction. Smaller chain-affiliated properties will continue to open in 2012, though at a lower rate than before 2009.

Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont added an indoor waterpark to its four season resort campus in December 2011. In 2012, the resort will open a new hotel. The indoor waterpark features the only indoor Aqualoop by Whitewater in the United States as well as a double FlowRider surfing machine, indoor activity river, and multiple slides.

Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio constructed a $22 million, 115,000 square foot addition to its conference space, which opened in December 2011. The addition includes a 38,000 square foot grand ballroom/exposition center.

Splash Lagoon Indoor Waterpark in Erie, Pennsylvania added a large wave pool and additional rides to the existing 65,000 square foot indoor waterpark facility. The expansion opened in the fall 2011. The owners of Splash Lagoon purchased a nearby ski resort and are now offering packages including skiing and the indoor waterpark.

The Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin purchased four nearby hotels and motels and have remodeled and themed these properties, which total 367 rooms. Guests at these properties now receive passes included in the room rate to utilize the indoor waterpark, outdoor waterpark, and amusement park.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will open the 243-room Soaring Eagle Hotel and Waterpark in May 2012. The Mount Pleasant, Michigan property includes two hotel towers with a restaurant, lounge, and meeting space. The 45,000 square foor waterpark includes a single flow rider, climbing wall, pool, wet deck with multi-level play structure, dumping bucket, body slide, bowl slide, lazy river, two brightly colored birthday party rooms, and a food court.

A number of properties have changed names and franchise flag affiliations during the past 12 months.  These include the former Holiday Inn with indoor waterpark in Elmhurst, Illinois, which is now a Waverton Hotel; the former Howard Johnson with indoor waterpark in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which is now Budget Host Suites; and the former Marriott CoCo Key indoor waterpark in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, which is now Hotel ML with CoCo Key Indoor Waterpark.

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