West Palm Beach, Fla.,
county officials estimate that the lack of a headquarters hotel for
the Palm Beach County Convention Center will cost the county
roughly $1 million annually in lost revenue through 2011. The city
is awaiting the county’s decision on a proposed Westin property to
solve the problem.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Co. has launched Meaningful Meetings. Groups booking 10 or
more nights at any of the chain’s properties in the United States,
Canada or the Caribbean can donate 5 percent of total room revenue
to a charity of their choice. Another 5 percent will be donated to
the Community Footprints Fund, sponsored by the hotel company.
Emirates airlines will
launch thrice-weekly nonstop service between Houston and Dubai in
the United Arab Emirates beginning Dec. 3, which will ramp up to
daily service on Feb. 1, 2008.
The State of Tennessee banned smoking in public
spaces effective Oct. 1, with few exceptions. First-time offenders
will be fined $50; fines rise to $500 for the third offense in a
year.