The new Aloft Cleveland will offer 150 guest rooms, all featuring the typical tech amenities and including a social environment for guests to mix and mingle.

Aloft Cleveland Downtown will be part of the $275 million first phase of the Flats East Bank project – a project that will include a 450,000 square foot office tower, as well as retail shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, a riverfront boardwalk and 14 acres of parks and green space. The hotel will provide access to nearly 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, perfect for business meetings and social gatherings.

The hotel is being financed by the Cleveland International Fund which has raised $20 million in funding and commitments for the hotel project. Aloft Hotels currently operates more than 40 hotels around the world.

Those of you looking for deals to Costa Rica will save up to 40 percent off room rates under the “Residents Rate” promotion (code: N9R).

Guests will receive deluxe accommodations for two at Los Suenos Marriott and Costa Rica Marriott (both 5-star hotels) and at the Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Escazu. Los Suenos Marriott stays ($101/night) include free use of the free-form pool with private coves and water activity areas as well as lighted tennis courts and fitness center. Those staying at the Costa Rica Marriott ($119/night) will get complimentary use of the two outdoor pools and a whirlpool, three tennis courts, nature trails, and fitness center. Stay at The Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose Escazu ($112/night) and you’ll enjoy a Studio Suite with a fully equipped kitchen and separate living area, complimentary high speed internet, complimentary grocery shopping service, complimentary laundry service, complimentary breakfast, and complimentary use of the full-service business center.

If you need help deciding which Marriott to chose it’s helpful to know that both Los Suenos and Costa Rica Marriott have brand new luxury spas and the Marriott Los Suenos also has a golf-course located in the Costa Rica rainforest.

The hotel joins Marriott International’s Autograph Collection – a brand the hotel group launched last year as a way for unknown luxury hotels to maintain their boutique-like feel while tapping into the vast Marriott consumer database – and to date is one of the most high-profile hotels in the group. The Cosmopolitan will also be featured as a partner hotel on The Ritz-Carlton website.

It took $3.9 billion to build the Cosmopolitan, which will have 2,995 guestrooms once it is fully completed next year. The new luxury resort is located adjacent to CityCenter Las Vegas and is the Autograph Collection’s first casino resort.

Not the best way to start off a relaxing vacation.

Therefore, it’s become my custom to check — and turn off! — the room-provided alarm clock when I first arrive so there will not be any surprises at dawn. Or worse: at pre-dawn.

Lance Armstrong has always had a love-hate relationship with France, but in a recent keynote speech at this week’s National Business Travel Association conference in Houston, Armstrong added another bone to his picking list: France hotels.

When asked about his experiences as a frequent business traveler, Armstrong took shots at the French calling the country’s hotels “horrible”. Here’s the direct quote, straight from the keynote’s podium:

“Most of my travel-at least in Europe-was in France, staying in these … You’re competing in the biggest race in the world and you’re stuck staying in these horrible hotels. There are no French hotel owners in here, are there?”

According to a reporter for CultureMap Houston, who was at the conference, the moderator is employed by a company that runs hotels in France and unsurprisingly disagreed with Armstrong’s general statement of France’s hotel industry, going so far as to offering to put him up next time he is in the country.

Let’s hope his next stay in France goes better than his next ride.

Of course there are more Tenerife holidays that you could enjoy while there during any time of the years. There is so much to do on the island, you couldn’t possibly get bored. Depending on what you like you can sail, skydive, wind-surf, water ski, or hiking. There is golf to play and Canarian wrestling to watch; or you could just shop and enjoy the culture. The food there is a wonderful mix of cultures. You should definitely try the papas arrugadas, or wrinkled potatoes as I was told, they are superb. While you are sightseeing, don’t forget to visit the Villa de la Orotava. It’s rich in history, architecture and culture. The beaches, which are dark-sand, are absolutely stunning.

A few tips for the eager traveler from someone who has experience, you shouldn’t need to take bottled water with you, common sense is always a good idea while on holiday. A Tenerife holiday, or Canary Islands holidays for that matter, is exactly what needs to be prescribed when stress is at its maximum. It’s a great idea to just try to take in as much as you can while there. There is so much to do, I know it’s impossible to get it all taken in during a week or two. Taking several more Tenerife holidays is a definite in my future. I can’t wait to get back. Maybe I’ll see you there! Take your time and enjoy Tenerife.

You can easily find many different reasons why you should choose Caribbean as your preferred destinations for your honeymoon. However, one of the best reason is here in Caribbean you can find Rendezvous, the boutique hotel for couples. This hotel is the best part of St Lucia vacations, one of the foremost islands in Caribbean. As the only hotel specifically designed for couple, Rendezvous has the perfect scene for your most intimate and romantic honeymoon moment.

Rendezvous is like specially design only for both of you. This boutique hotel has five stars facilities for your romantic retreat with the lavish natural beauty surrounds it. Their staffs will make sure that you will get the best service and maintain the calm and comfortable atmosphere to help you reach the most romantic moment in your life. Don’t hesitate to visit their website to learn more about the most romantic experience you can get from the Rendezvous, the boutique hotel for couples.

According to a study by Smith Travel Research, here are five interesting (and important) facts about the U.S. hotel market:

1. Flat occupancy: Small-town and highway hotels stayed basically flat for the first half of 2010, at 49 percent. Meanwhile, metro markets – like New York, Chicago and Washington, DC – pushed from 61 percent for the first half of 2009 to 65 percent for the same period in 2010.

2. Follow the money: Major hotel companies, including Marriott and Wyndham, have demonstrated that the cities have been kinder to them financially. The cash is coming from bigger city properties.
3. New York is crucial: Rates have been on the rise since March in New York, after the city experienced drops for almost a year and a half. This has been buoyed by business travel, which is where the real money is.

4. New York’s occupancy is 50 percent higher than the United States: While the overall U.S. occupancy rate reached only 56 percent for the first half of 2010, the city attained a level of 79 percent. Again, business travelers have contributed heavily to this trend.

5. Hotel rates dropped, except in New York: Excluding New York, U.S. hotel rates fell, on average, 2.7 percent (2 percent when you include New York). New York, which accounts for a mere 1.9 percent of room supply in the United States, it’s responsible for close to 6 percent of revenue.

Typically, the corporate rate is what is given to wedding parties and special events, and this rate is higher than other discounted rates. You would be better served to reserve with your AAA membership, AARP membership, or hotel rewards membership.

The newest hotel loyalty program from the Epoque collection allows each club member to earn 6 percent of the pre-tax room price toward your account (called “the bank” for members). Once you accrue $50 in bank, you can start applying your earned dollars toward a new reservation.

First thing is first, you must sign up to be a member. Then, every time you make a reservation on www.epoquehotels.com, your reservation will end up on your personal profile page where you can track your dollars earned. You can also buy more “money” whenever you want, you can gift your bank to others and you can buy a gift certificate for yourself or someone else.

Like many loyalty programs, there are additional benefits of being a member. You’ll get free WiFi in all hotels, and priority status for early check-in and late check-outs. Epoque reps more than 300 boutique properties in its roster. Among our favorites: The Lenox in Boston; The EPIC in Miami; Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans; and the Dream Hotel in New York.