"The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association is deeply saddened by the untimely and sudden passing of Arley Sobers, the Acting Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization."

Among the many special features and amenities awaiting Democratic National Convention guests at the 600-room hotel are shortbread cookies at turndown made from one of Michelle Obama's favorite recipes, and bottles of "Honest Tea," a cooling beverage Sen. Barack Obama enjoys on the campaign trail.

The the Russia & Commonwealth of Independent States Hotel Investment Conference is scheduled for Oct. 21-22 at the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO has agreed to provide the opening remarks and be a patron of the Russia & Commonwealth of Independent States Hotel Investment Conference in October because of his keen interest in Russia and its overall growth and development.

Wyndham Hotel Group has announced the leadership team for its recently acquired Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites brands.

The recently opened Candlewood Suites in Sheridan, Wyo., features a comfortable residential look and feel, incorporating a new exterior design and paint scheme, an expanded lobby and environmentally friendly amenities.

Jack Welch, the legendary former GE chairman and c.e.o., will be the keynote speaker at the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn.'s 2009 Annual Convention and Trade Show, which will be held in National Harbor, Md., in April.

As of July 29, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received the maximum number of H-2B petitions for seasonal workers for the first half of fiscal year 2009.

Lodging Econometrics has released its US Construction Pipeline Report for Q2 2008, announcing 5,883 projects with 785,547 guestrooms in the total pipeline.

A discounted registration fee of $30, available through Oct. 9, is now available for the 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show.

Cutting-edge new products, seminars addressing hot button topics and networking opportunities with industry trend-setters will define the 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show taking place Nov. 8-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York .

Doris Kearns Goodwin, noted historian and author of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, will deliver the keynote address at the 2008 Hospitality Leadership Forum in November.

Mark Straszynski, former corporate controller and treasurer of United Plastics Group, joins Best Western as the hotel chain's chief financial officer.

A four-month "Countdown to 35" package series kicks off in September for the Aspen condominium property, managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts.

The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), the world's largest hotel investment conference, moves to the soon-to-open Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel for its eighth annual meeting, Jan. 26-28, 2009.?

John M. Scott III, president and c.e.o. of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, has been honored as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southwest region.

Stevan Porter, president of InterContinental Hotel Group's Americas region, is undertaking medical treatment which necessitates him relinquishing his responsibilities.

Fortune magazine recently named the Keating Hotel by Pininfarina one of the “33 Best New Hotels For Business,” the only San Diego hotel to make the worldwide list.

In addition to networking, deal-making, and record attendance, the 30th Anniversary NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference was also the stage for the recognition of NYU Tisch Center hotel, tourism and sports business students chosen as Conference Patron and Sponsor Scholars.

Event organizers were pleased with the first stand-alone HOTEC Design meeting forum. The event sold out, and already the HOTEC Design 2009 event is filling up fast.