Hotel Front Office Management, 3rd Edition

TYPES OF LODGING FACILITIES 13long-term. These properties sometimes specialize in catering to the business traveler andoffer special business technology centers.Extended-Stay HotelsIn “Survey Results of the Extended Stay Lodging Industry,” The Highland Group of Atlanta,Georgia, reports the following information, about this newest hotel product on themarket which includes the 31 extended-stay brands as well as some independent hotels.Extended-stay hotel room supply in the United States increased more than 50 percentin 1997 over 1996. There will be more economy-price than upscale extendedstayrooms before the end of 1998. This is a significant reversal from prior yearsand indicates a change in the way extended-stay lodging is used by American travelers.Projected extended-stay hotel supply will be more than half a million roomsthrough 2002. At this level, extended-stay hotel rooms will represent some 12 percentof total lodging inventory.Assuming supply growth projections are fully realized through 2002, this representsa significant change from the current price distribution of extended-stayhotels and marks a change in the way Americans use extended-stay lodging. Useof extended-stay lodging will have expanded from the corporate expense-accountHOSPITALITY PROFILE?Gellad is the general His extended-stay hotel offers a breakfast in theCharlesmanager of the Homewood morning and a manager’s reception (light foods andSuites in Alexandria, Virginia. beverages); a fitness center and an indoor whirlpool;He began his career at the a coin-operated laundry; an executive center that isHampton Inn in Alexandria, Virginia, as a front desk equipped with a fax machine, personal computer,clerk and progressed to guest services manager there. copying machine, and other office amenities; a conveniencestore called a “Suite Shop”; free parking;Then he took a position as sales manager at theHampton Inn in Fairfax, Virginia, and then as directorof sales at the Hampton Inn in Alexandria, Vir-Mr. Gellad’s entry-level experience has providedand free local, credit-card, and collect calls.ginia. He was on board as director of sales prior to him with many opportunities to learn how to dealthe opening of the Homewood Suites in Alexandria, with different personalities. He says that when youVirginia.become a supervisor of people, those people want toMr. Gellad said his market for guests includes be treated as individuals, but you have to do so bythose persons who are going to be in town for an being fair in interpreting the polices to everyone. Heextended period of time because of government contracts,special projects, training, or relocation in the between work and a personal life. This business canalso extends his hope that you will develop a balancemilitary or in the private sector. Relocation is the be very time consuming, but you have to take timecommon characteristic with this market.to develop a life outside the hotel.TLFeBOOK