Hotels and Motels

Starwood Hotels 2nd-qtr net income falls 15 pct on costs, but room rates are looking up. The owner of Sheraton and Westin hotels said Thursday its second-quarter net income fell 15 percent on higher costs. But Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s revenue rose on higher room prices and the company boosted its outlook for the year.

A Roman Catholic priest in Connecticut has pleaded not guilty to charges he stole $1.3 million in church money over seven years to use for male escorts, expensive clothing and luxury hotels and restaurants.

Saudi investment tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom group reported on Tuesday a 48 percent jump in first-half net profit due to profits from its international hotels and domestic investments.

Starwood Hotels expected to post improved performance in 2nd quarter. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., the company that owns the Sheraton and W Hotel brands, reports its second-quarter results Thursday before the market opens.

Extended-stay hotel operator Innkeepers USA Trust files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Innkeepers USA Trust filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, outlining a plan that would give one of the extended-stay hotel operator's major creditors substantially all of the equity in the company.

Top Indian property developer DLF denied Monday a report it was in talks with Singapore's Banyan Tree Holdings to sell a controlling stake in hotel operator Amanresorts.

Top Indian property developer DLF denied Monday a report it was in talks with Singapore's Banyan Tree Holdings to sell a controlling stake in hotel operator Amanresorts.

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews sues several hotel chains over secret video tapings by Ill. man. ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, who was secretly videotaped nude while staying at hotels, filed a lawsuit Thursday against seven hotels and the suburban Chicago man who admitted making the tapes.

Hotelier widow death deemed homicide, reversing previous ruling, in twist to sordid case. A Florida medical examiner has reversed his ruling that the death of a prominent hotelier's widow was an accident.

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews sues several hotel chains over secret video tapings by Ill. man. ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, who was secretly videotaped nude while staying at hotels, filed a lawsuit Thursday against seven hotels and the suburban Chicago man who admitted making the tapes.

Glance: How Carlyle Group's $3.8 billion offer for NBTY compares to other recent deals. Private equity firm The Carlyle Group agreed Thursday to buy vitamin maker NBTY Inc. for $3.8 billion in cash in one of the largest private equity deals so far this year.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Marriott International Inc <MAR.N>, operator of Marriott, Residence Inn and Ritz-Carlton hotels, posted a higher second-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by a rise in room rates in North America.

Marriott 2nd-qtr profit more than triples, adjusted results up more than 40 pct. Marriott International Inc. tripled its second-quarter net income and boosted its full-year outlook as revenue improved, the hotel operator said Wednesday.

Hotel workers' union protests contract dispute with Disneyland. Mickey Mouse mask-wearing protesters were among about 325 union members and supporters who demonstrated against Disneyland over a hotel employee contract dispute.

Wood-burning stoves, in-room recycling, fine cuisine featuring local produce: from bed-and-breakfasts to five-star palaces, France's hotel industry is opening its eyes to the lucrative advantages of going green.

Analyst community remains enamored . Shares of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (NYSE: HOT, Stock Forum) have given up roughly 23% since grazing the $55 level in late April, underperforming the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) by 12% during the past 40 sessions. What?s more, from a longer-term perspective, the equity is in danger of finishing the week south of both its 10-week and 20-week trendlines for only the second time since mid-March 2009.

Mandarin Oriental opens hotel without a casino in gambling destination Macau. Macau is one of the world's premier gambling destinations, but its newest hotel, the Mandarin Oriental Macau, opening Tuesday, does not have a casino.

Saudi Prince Alwaleed talks investments, 'future projects' with head of Qatar investment arm. The investment company headed by the Saudi prince who is a major Citigroup shareholder says he discussed investments and future projects with the chief of an arm of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund.

British hotel chain Premier Inn said Saturday it was banning the use of vuvuzelas after a manager was kept awake by England fans blowing the plastic horns.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - At a time when many hotels are vying to be part of a major brand, one lodging company has chosen to go at it alone.