What the hotel rankings really mean

Ever wonder why the same hotel gets four stars from one website and three stars from another? What's the difference between a bed-and-breakfast and an inn? What exactly is a boutique hotel, and what do you get when you stay at a resort?

Here's a primer on hotel rating systems, categories and definitions.

Bed-and-breakfast: An owner-occupied property with no more than 10 or 15 guest rooms, plus common areas. Breakfast is included in room rates.

Inn: Usually an independently owned property with more than 10 rooms but fewer than 50; often the owner lives on-site. Some inns include dinner and breakfast in room rates; some have full-service restaurants open to the public.

Boutique hotel: Characterized by unique, stylish or even quirky décor and interior design, offering a stark alternative in appearance and experience to chain brands where furnishings may be identical in every location. Boutique hotels were originally independently owned, but today there are boutique hotel chains, such as Kimpton hotels and Starwood's Ws. Marriott is launching a boutique brand called Edition.

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Carnal Cartagena blase about sex scandal

CARTAGENA, Colombia –  Days after U.S. Secret Service agents were sent home over allegations of hard-partying and bringing prostitutes to their hotel, the mayor of this Caribbean city was wondering what all the fuss was all about.

After all, prostitution is legal in Colombia, and it's a big draw of this steamy Caribbean port where sex is as easy to buy as a bottle of beer.

"It doesn't bother people at all," Mayor Campo Elias said Tuesday, echoing many of his constituents. "First, because adults were involved and, second, because here, it's normal."

To find a prostitute, guests at the hotel where the Secret Service agents stayed ahead of President Barack Obama's recent visit need only step out to the beach. There, scrappy men peddle everything from shrimp cocktails to sex workers.

"I think prostitution is part of the city's culture. That is, a tourist comes to Cartagena and it's part of his plan to look for company," said Gerardo Javier May, a security industry executive.

In Washington Tuesday, Secret Service officials began briefing U.S. Congress members over allegations that agents took prostitutes to their hotel before the Summit of Americas attended last weekend by Obama.

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A look at the Secret Service sex scandal hotel

The U.S. Secret Service's embarrassing sex scandal that unfolded in the last few days in Cartagena, Colombia, took place in an historic, high-end hotel that's considered a national treasure by the Colombian government.

Located on a Caribbean beach, it's also known for catering to families.

The scandal, according to the Associated Press, involves charges that some Secret Service agents brought alleged prostitutes to their hotel rooms.

The image of partying agents flies in the face of the image that they typically portray.

On Saturday, the agency placed 11 agents on leave and brought in new agents in advance of President Obama's visit while an investigation takes place, the AP says.

USA TODAY ASKS: Ever had a hard time getting a hotel refund?
USA TODAY ASKS: What do you expect from a hotel's Twitter, Facebook feed?

House Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Peter King told ABC News how he thinks the situation became publicly known:

"My understanding is that 11 secret service agents did bring women to their room and there was a dispute the next morning when one of the women did not leave there room," King said. "One did not leave, police came and she refused to leave until she was paid for her services. So that is what started all this."

For more info, ABC News posted this most recent story.

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Robinsons Land to open 3 new malls, expand 2 others

MANILA, Philippines - Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) the property development arm of tycoon John Gokongwei’s flagship firm JG Summit Holdings Inc., will open three new malls and expand two existing ones to boost its steadily growing chain of commercial centers.

In March, RLC opened its first full service mall in Calasiao, Pangasinan. The company is slated to open Robinsons Place Palawan in May and Robinsons Magnolia in July.

RLC recently completed two mall expansion projects in Tacloban and Bacolod.

Together with the two expansion projects, RLC’s gross leasable area will reach 917,000 square meters at end-September this year. In 2013, RLC will add another 100,000 sqm of GLA with four new malls and one expansion, all of which will be outside Metro Manila.

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Going to the Dogs: Pet-Friendly Hotels Raise the Welcome Sign

With money to spend and time to fill, empty nesters Roy and Mary-Ann Ramsey travel the world with their canine "child," Zahra. The travel agency owners, both over 55, take their black British Labrador on at least three trips a year and are serious about ensuring Zahra enjoys them just as much as they do.

Kimpton's hosPETality on offer.

Luxury hotel groups such as Fairmont and Kimpton, and properties such as the DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore, are taking notice of travelers like the Ramseys and offering pet-related amenities to gain their business.

Recession or no, the pet industry is booming. It has enjoyed� average growth of 5% for the past five years and is estimated to hit $53 billion this year, according to the American Pet Products Association. In its 2011-12 Pet Owners Survey, the group reported that 10.6 million dog owners had taken their pet on a trip within the previous month. In addition, 23% of owners are willing to travel with their dog for more than two nights, compared with 21% in 2008 and 19% in 2006.

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Hotel’s Free Wi-Fi Comes With Hidden Extras

Justin Watt, a Web engineer, was browsing the Web in his room at theCourtyard Marriott in Midtown Manhattan this week when he saw something strange. On his personal blog, a mysterious gap was appearing at the top of the page.

After some sleuthing, Mr. Watt, who has a background in developing Web advertising tools, realized that the quirk was not confined to his site. The hotel’s Internet service was secretly injecting lines of code into every page he visited, code that could allow it to insert ads into any Web page without the knowledge of the site visitor or the page’s creator. (He did not actually see any such ads.)

Mr. Watt posted about the discovery on his blog, and that soon spawned a conversation on Hacker News, a discussion site for tech topics, about the ethics of this technique. One commenter described it as “icky,” and another asked, “Why aren’t they putting ads in my pillow?”

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Magnitude-4.5 quake jolts Eastern Visayas, another quake hits Negros

A magnitude-4.5 quake jolted the Eastern Samar area in Eastern Visayas before dawn Friday, with the quake felt as "moderately strong" in some areas.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake was tectonic in origin and was recorded at 4:29 a.m.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake's epicenter was 65 km northeast of Tacloban City.

Phivolcs said the quake was felt at:

- Intensity IV: Llorente, Eastern Samar; Borongan, Eastern Samar
- Intensity III: Tacloban City; Mercedes, Taft, Oras, Sulat, Eastern Samar; Palo, Tolosa, Dulag, Leyte
- Intensity II: San Policarpio, Eastern Samar; Leyte, Leyte

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Starwood Hotels to Open Its First Dual-Branded Ski Resort Complex in China

STAMFORD, Conn., Apr 04, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. HOT -0.91%today announced it will open its first dual-branded ski resort complex in Changbaishan, China later this year. The Westin Changbaishan and Sheraton Changbaishan Resort will open in August 2012, adjacent to the slopes of Changbai Mountains, one of China’s leading ski areas. The highly anticipated resort complex will lengthen Starwood’s lead as the largest international luxury and upper upscale hotel operator in China.

“We look forward to introducing both Westin and Sheraton to Changbai Mountains with this spectacular, new ski resort complex where guests will enjoy world-class amenities set against the backdrop of one of China’s most visually stunning mountain ranges,” said Stephen Ho, Starwood’s Senior Vice President of Development for Asia Pacific. “China is both our fastest growing global market and our richest source of loyal travelers, and we expect that this dual-branded Starwood resort development will resonate with Chinese travelers who stick with the brands they know and love.”

The Westin and Sheraton resort complex is close to Yingfu Expressway and just six miles to Changbaishan Airport (NBS). Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, the Changbai mountain range extends through several countries and is home to 200 animal and bird species. Guests will enjoy downhill on trails surrounded by unspoiled pine forests, as well as ice skating and ice fishing.

The world-famous Changbai Mountains are known as one of the most beautiful areas in China. Endowed with rich natural resources and amazing scenery, the more than 494,000 acre nature reserve has been established to protect the Changbai Mountains’ natural environment and eco-system.

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The Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington Hotel Receives 2011 Hilton Brand Award of Excellence Honored by Hilton Hotels & Resorts for top quality standards

MILWAUKEE, Apr 03, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus CorporationMCS -3.47% , today announced that the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington hotel in Bloomington, Minn. has been recognized by Hilton Hotels & Resorts as a 2011 Hilton Brand Award of Excellence recipient. The Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington was one out of only nine Hilton properties recognized in the Americas for this award, out of 293 Hilton Branded hotels. The property is owned by W.P. Carey & Co. LLC and managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

Tweet this: @Hilton494France Recognized as @HiltonOnline 2011 Brand Award of Excellence Recipient http:/bit.ly/GRQtTm

“It is an honor to receive this extraordinary award from Hilton Hotels & Resorts,” said Gary Gentile, senior vice president of operations at Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “We are pleased that travelers appreciate the high level of operational excellence our teams strive for every day. We are proud to have earned this recognition and look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional service to our guests.”

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London Olympics: Luxury Hotels Boast Rooms, At A Price (PHOTOS)

LONDON -- Coming for the Olympics with money to spend? Then there's still time to ensure you can take tea at The Ritz, drink at the Savoy's American bar, or sleep in an Art Deco room at Claridge's.

Most of London's most exclusive hotels have been booked for the Olympics, snapped up by Olympic officials or companies block-booking rooms for favored customers, but there are still amazing places to stay.

That is, if you can afford the bill.

"You can still get some rooms in certain periods of the games, although we expect to be fully booked soon," said Simon Negger, spokesman for the Maybourne Hotel Group that owns three of London's most iconic hotels: Claridge's, The Connaught and The Berkeley.

London's hotels are walking on their own balance beam this Olympic year, trying to maximize revenues during the July 27-Aug. 12 event while not alienating loyal customers and still fulfilling obligations to Olympic organizers, who asked all hotels to hand over some rooms to house Olympic officials, athletes and delegates during the London Games.

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LTO implements DOTC’s “Ligtas Oplan Cuaresma 2012”

TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, Apr. 1 (PIA) -- Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 8 Director Camilo Guarin said recently that the “Ligtas Oplan Cuaresma 2012” will again be implemented in Eastern Visayas, from April 2 to 10. 

This is pursuant to the DOTC Memorandum directing for a nationwide implementation of “Ligtas Oplan Cuaresma 2012” to assist the travelling men, women and children, Director Guarin said. 

Guarin said he has directed all the heads of LTO districts and extension offices all over Eastern Visayas to set up DOTC-LTO Help Desks in various transport terminals in their respective areas of jurisdiction. 

Moreover, the LTO Regional Director called for the deployment of Field Enforcement Team to extend assistance and services to the general riding public to ensure their safety and welfare. 


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