Kansas City Hotels Guide

Kansas City Hotel News
January, 2012
Kansas Hotels Guide
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Kansas City Hotel News is a spotlight on development and events at area hotels.

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$3.5 Million Renovation at Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza
KANSAS CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), January 12, 2011 - One step into the newly renovated lobby at the Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza and previous guests may think they are in the wrong hotel. Hotel management invested more than $3.5 million in the dramatic renovation, which included hundreds of new mattresses and bed frames, nearly 150,000 square feet of carpet, and more than 1,800 yards of fabric for drapes and bed skirts.

"As Kansas City is becoming recognized internationally as a center for both business and culture, it was our hotel's turn to contribute to that level of sophistication," said Stephanie Porter, director of sales, of the Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza. "Now, when guests walk in, they are immediately drawn to all the changes we've made, and we know that all the work and planning was worth it."

Every part of the hotel was updated, including the guest rooms, the lobby and lounge, the ballroom, meeting and conference rooms, the hotel's restaurant (the Main Street Grill, which is now run by Chef Bear Cohen) and the entire underbelly of the hotel.

The refined lobby and lounge areas feature multiple seating groups with clean-lined chairs, coffee tables and ottomans in modern, neutral colors such as gray, brown and taupe punctuated by accents in lime.

The business center and conference rooms offer refined workspaces for business with outside views. All meeting spaces feature Wi-Fi and any equipment needed for dynamic presentations.

Weddings and events for up to 300 are held in the newly carpeted Plaza Ballroom, which can be custom-designed to incorporate endless colors and styles.

More than $1M was invested in the underbelly of the hotel with a completely new HVAC system so the hotel now boasts a new cooling system and water heaters.

Situated between the award-winning Nelson Atkins and Kemper Art Museums, the interior changes enhance the unparalleled location of the hotel. Located on the world-famous Country Club Plaza, the hotel is steps away from the city's lauded shopping, dining and entertainment venues. In addition, guests at the hotel enjoy free Wi-Fi, garage parking, shuttle service within a three-mile radius, and the largest heated seasonal outdoor swimming pool in the city.

Corporate Travel to Drive Growth for Travel Industry
KANSAS CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), January 1, 2011 - Corporate travel will likely fuel the travel, hospitality and leisure industry in 2012 as many Millennials and Generation X professionals expect to take to the road more often, according to a new Deloitte survey.

Specifically, 85 percent of business travelers surveyed expect to take more or the same number of trips next year with 27 percent of 18-44 year olds expecting to take more trips in 2012, while only 16 percent of business travelers 45 years old and above are planning to take more trips next year.

Moreover, reflecting on 2011 travel activity, the majority of survey respondents (81 percent) anticipate taking more or the same number of business trips than they did in 2010. Of the 19 percent of business travelers who expect less travel in 2011, more than six of 10 (64 percent) cite the recession as the primary reason, and 14 percent say a job change.

"Corporate travel plays a key role in driving growth for the travel industry as a whole," said Adam Weissenberg, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and global travel, hospitality and leisure sector leader. "The results of our survey offer an encouraging sign for hotels, airlines and other service-providers."

Generation gap may define hotel preferences

The majority of business travelers surveyed feel experiences at hotels operating under the same brand name differ depending on location, with six in 10 (60 percent) noting that facilities and service quality vary widely.

However, when looking at perceptions around hotel consistency among different age groups, 49 percent of respondents aged 30 and older believe hotel brands are inconsistent whereas only 39 percent of those ages 18-29 indicate the same. When considering loyalty, nearly half (46 percent) of the 18-29 year olds say they prefer to stay at their favorite hotel brand even if it is not conveniently located, whereas 37 percent of those 30 and older do the same.

"While it's important for hotels to focus on the burgeoning number of young business travelers, finding a middle ground to retain brand loyalty among Generation X and Y, and boosting brand loyalty among the potentially more discerning baby boomers, will likely be a challenge for hotels in 2012," continues Weissenberg.

Two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) say they often work in their hotel room, with younger business travelers enjoying working in more social spaces, such as executive/business lounges and the lobby or common area. Nearly two-fifths (36 percent) of the 18-44 year olds surveyed say they often work in the lobby or common area, while only 17 percent of those 45 and older do the same.

When it comes to interacting with hotel staff for check-in, almost two-fifths (36 percent) of the 18-44 respondents favor automated kiosks rather than checking in with a hotel employee at the front desk, whereas only 19 percent of the 45 and older survey participants say they prefer automated kiosks.

Travelers prioritize amenities and efficiencies

Amenities continue to play a key role in the overall hotel experience, with six in 10 respondents (61 percent) expecting more from hotels with regards to amenities and services now that hotel prices have increased. As a whole, 77 percent of business travelers surveyed indicated that complimentary Internet is important to them, and 63 percent are satisfied with the availability of free Wi-Fi in hotels.

The Deloitte survey also found that concerns around air travel are important, with survey respondents listing flight delays (37 percent) and security-related delays (30 percent) at airports as the leading grievances about business travel today. Additionally, respondents indicate that issues with air travel are more of a concern than hotel challenges, such as inattentive staff and lack of amenities at hotels.

Archived Hotel News:
• Hyatt Regency Crown Center to Rebrand as Sheraton Crown Center
• Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Completes Renovation of the Hotel Phillips in Kansas City, Mo
• Drury Hotels Opens New Hotel in Independence, MO
• Park Here, Fly There Package Offered to Honeymooners at Kansas City Airport Marriott
• Hyatt Regency Crown Center's Toy Box Program Makes Planning and Packing for Family Vacations More Enjoyable
• Drury Hotels Earns Top Honors in the 2010 Market Metrix Hospitality Index
• Don't Be Bugged by Bed Bugs
• Kansas City Airport Marriott Announces Renovation of Grand Ballroom
• IHG Pays Back Guests for Their Checked Bag Fees This Holiday Seasonk

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