Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico was selected to receive the Heritage and Sustainable Community of the Year Award for 2008.  This was announced by Miles M. Smart, Ph.D., president of Audubon Environmental.  This corporation is a sustainability consulting firm that works with developers, government agencies and landowners to protect and sustain wildlife and natural resources, along with land and water.

The resort developers were recognized by the award to outstanding commitment and dedication to sustainable development, and for putting into motion practices that benefit and protect the environment.  The resort has committed to preserving approximately 65% of the land as green area, and has transplanted over 4,000 trees and coconut palms.  Bahia Beach Resort has also planted over 62,000 native or naturalized plants and trees.

Audubon Environmental, together with Bahia Beach Resort development team, worked to achieve the highest possible level of sustainability, and to preserve the culture and history of the area.  The firm met these goals by performing an on-site assessment of restoration, enhancement and protection opportunities.  They put strategies into place to promote those opportunities, and educate the people who live, work and enjoy recreation on-site.

According to Smart, the Bahia Beach Resort project was a huge success, and the firm was very pleased to see it get recognized for the work and efforts involved.  He stated “This project is an example of how luxury can be coupled with environmental sustainability to create something great.”

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts have teamed up with National Geographic Kids to re-launch its year-round Camp Hyatt program, which will give children ages 3 to 12 more opportunities to have fun and experience cultural activities at participating North American Hyatt resorts.

The program kicked off on May 29 with a new website, which you can visit at www.camphyatt.com.  The website and the renovated Camp Hyatt program are designed to teach children about topics such as culture, animals, recycling and water in fun and interactive ways.

Each program will be different, according to the natural environment of each Hyatt resort location.  Kids are invited to visit the website at www.camphyatt.com to see what all of the excitement is about, and to help build anticipation for their family vacation.

Some of the features kids will find on the site include environmental awareness and appreciation, animal games and art, arts and crafts related to culture, and a National Geographic kids entertainment library.

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts is reviving the classic family vacation to celebrate the new Camp Hyatt program.  This new package includes:

15% savings on restaurant dining for registered guests

15% savings on Hyatt Pure spa services in locations that offer this service

Complimentary half day of Camp Hyatt for one child

Exclusive access to a 20% shopping discount on NationalGeographic.com

Registered guests receive full daily breakfast

Now through September 7, 2009 this family package is offered at participating Hyatt hotels.  You can learn more by visiting classicfamilyvacation.com.  Be sure to use offer code FAMVAC, or you can call 1-800-233-1234 for more information.

The economy has resulted in many people choosing not to take vacations - which has effected Walt Disney Co. profits for the second quarter dramatically , a whopping 46% drop in net income.  In an effort to reassure investors, Disney management dropped hints that the declining economy seems to be easing up.

Disney’s net income fell to 33 cents a share for the quarter ending March 28, which was worth 58 cents a year earlier.  The brunt of the recession appears to be hitting Disney’s parks.

According to Robert A. Iger, Disney Chief Executive, action was taken to keep visitors coming to Disney’s domestic parks, which had a predictable impact on margins.  Discounted hotel rates resulted in increased attendance during the quarter when Walt Disney attendance decreased 1%, and Disneyland at Anaheim had a 2% gain.  This helped increase occupancy, but also resulted in a 17% drop in spending per room.

Disney’s broadcasting business continued to be weak due to decreases in local ad sales, resulting in decreased revenue at Disney’s television stations.  Higher international sales of “Criminal Minds”, “Ugly Betty” and “Desperate Housewives” helped balance program expenditures.

In recent years, ABC has been unsuccessful in launching a new hit show.  Ratings have slid 3%, which could mean a rough ride in coming months.  The advance sale of commercial time will soon begin, and it is believed ABC will have a hard time maintaining its share of revenues due to advertisers having to pay increased rates for a smaller viewing audience.

Revenue also slipped for Disney’s interactive media group, which fell 17% to $129 million.  This loss was caused by a reduction of sales in Disney’s video games.

A recent survey conducted by Ernst & Young LLP shows that hotel owners and management companies are increasing efforts to strengthen cash positions in order to survive the economic downturn.  The purpose of these efforts is to efficiently position their businesses for mid and long-term growth.

Key findings in the survey, conducted in global hotel enterprises that range in size from under $150 million to over $600 million in revenues, resulted in the following:

Cost Management - The hospitality sector is likely to be affected with hiring freezes, reductions in working hours and layoffs being implemented.

Capital Strategies - Of the respondents in the survey, 33% state that they plan to raise new capital in 2009, with 38% stating they will seek capital in 2010-2012.

More than two thirds of respondents plan to enter into joint ventures with other capital enterprises to make their business stronger.

Business Challenges - The second biggest challenge to the hotel business is decreasing average room rate, according to 56% of respondents.  This is right behind the biggest challenge, which is considered decreasing demand by 82%.  Other challenges that respondents considered are lack of financing, steadily climbing labor costs and competition increases.

Green Initiatives - Up to 88% of respondents currently use recycling programs and energy saving measures in their hotels.  Those that do not intend to implement these measures next year.

Human resource management issues appear to be the most troubling problem for the lodging industry.  A recent study determined that certain problems seem to be common in the industry’s leaders ability to manage effectively.  Sixty-four percent of participants from regions worldwide acknowledged that the largest areas of concern were attracting, retaining and training of human resources personnel.  Morale was also a key issue.

Most challenging appears to be finding the time to train employees, which seems to be impeded by competitive pressures.  General managers show concern with attracting talented human resources personnel, while retaining quality people is the major concern of executives.  Morale is a key issue for concern by all respondents.  Consistency in quality and training are an equal concern to both executives and general managers alike.  This study was conducted in cooperation with the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University.

The world-famous Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV - a 6,500 acre four-star resort founded in 1778, a past stop of US presidents and royalty, and locaton of a once-secret Cold War era nuclear bunker for Congress - has become another victim of the economy. The resort filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-March, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, located in Richmond.

Greenbrier is owned by the Greenbrier Hotel Corporation (GHC). GHC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Greenbrier Resort and Management Corporation, which is wholly owned by CSX Corporation. According to bankruptcy documents, CSX, a railroad company based in Jacksonville, Fla., shut down an internal cash fund for the resort last December, just as the economy had started to nose-dive. CSX has owned the Greenbrier since 1910.

The Greenbrier has been losing money for the past five years, and had debts to CSX of $91 million. With costly renovations and accelerating losses, CSX insisted that Greenbrier file for bankrtupcy.

Along with the bankruptcy announcement, Greenbrier said that hotel operator Marriott International of Bethesda, MD was willing to buy the Greenbrier for up to $130 million, pending court approval, new labor contracts with potentially 9 unions representing over 900 employees, and a court-supervised auction process to allow other qualified buyers to have an opportunity to bid on the Greenbrier.

If no new labor deal is reached, the Greenbrier could eventually be forced to liquidate.

In its annual report to the SEC, Empire Resorts told shareholders that it might not survive the summer.

Owner of the Monticello Gaming & Raceway, Empire reported losses in operations for 2008 of $9.5 million, which is up from $7.5 million in 2007.

Empire is required to pay an outstanding balance of about $7,150,000 from the Bank of Scotland on May 29. The holders of the company’s senior convertible notes ($65,000,000 principal balance due) have the right to demand repayment of the principal amount due on July 31.

The report said “We do not presently have a source of repayment for this credit facility or for these notes and our operations will not provide sufficient cash flow to repay these obligations.”

“These factors, as well as continuing net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities as well as an uncertain economic environment, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.”

The recession is taking its toll on ski industry giant Vail Resorts, Inc.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, through March 1, total skier visits are down 5.1 percent from a year earlier. Lift ticket revenue is off 8 percent. Lodging bookings have slid 13.9 percent.

Ski school, dining and retail operations at Vail Resorts’ five ski areas — Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek in Colorado and Heavenly in California — have posted double-digit percentage declines.

To avoid layoffs in what Chief Executive Rob Katz called “this unprecedented environment,” Vail Resorts announced wage cuts Wednesday ranging from 2.5 percent for seasonal employees next year to 10 percent for executives. The cuts are projected to save $10 million.

“With the uncertainty that lies ahead, reducing cost is an imperative,” said Katz, who is bypassing his salary for 12 months and then will take a 15 percent reduction. “We have chosen to address this situation by making the preservation of jobs and protecting the guest experience our highest priorities.”