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.

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.

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Starwood Hotels and Resorts announced its plans to open seven more hotels in New York City, upping the hotel’s portfolio by 50 percent in the Big Apple. Starwood currently operates 12 hotels in New York City across six of its nine brands, and expects to have 18 properties open in the city by year’s end, including the local debut of the Aloft and Element brands.

From Starwood:

“While nearly 80% of our future hotel pipeline is outside of the United States, we have more hotels in New York City than any city in the world and we will open more hotels right here in our backyard than anywhere else, which speaks to New York’s enduring stature as the most global gateway city in the world,” says Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen.

Coming soon: Aloft hotels in Harlem and Brooklyn and Starwood’s first Element hotel in Times Square.

In addition to the new brands, Starwood’s Sheraton hotels is making a splash in the big city. Of the seven hotels opening, Sheraton will debut two New York hotels including the Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel the Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel. Starwood’s most popular brand, the W, continues to operate four hotels in NYC including its landmark W New York and W New York-Times Square.

Navigating the New York fashion scene can be exhilarating, and downright exhausting. Tribeca, SoHo, Fifth Avenue, Park Avenue – the options are endless and overwhelming – and that’s just for the high-end shoppers. New York is full of deals, sales and bargains, but if you don’t know where to go you’ll end up paying more for you faux item than the real thing. Fear not New York shoppers, Manhattan’s Marrakech Hotel has the solution.

Enter the Marrakech Hotel’s Souk Seeker, a team of personal bargain hunters whose mission is to shell out complimentary tips, suggestions and maps of the fashion capital’s most affordable shopping spots. This exclusive, year-round service is available only to guests of the Moroccan-themed hotel. The Marrakech Hotel’s retail gurus will offer recommendations to New York City’s top bargain shops and retailers from Canal Street to the Brooklyn Flea.

Launching just in time for the debut of Sex and the City 2, when the girls take on Morocco, the Marrakech Hotel will offer fashionistas-in-training one complimentary Skyy Vodka “Shop ’til You Drop” cocktail* from May 27, 2010 through June 30, 2010 at the hotel’s Kazbar Lounge when presenting their movie stub.

To take advantage of the special rate, you’ll need to book by June 1, 2010 and stay at the hotel during the month of June. In addition to the one-bedroom accommodation, you’ll also get a complimentary breakfast.

If you’re more interested in heading out to Breckenridge when there’s snow on the ground, consider the “Early Bird Winter Package.” You’ll be able to stay at One Ski Hill Place between November 12, 2010 (when the grand opening party is being held) and April 24, 2011 for only $81 a night (and up).

The hotel is located across the street from the famous Fashion Institute of Technology, and set in one of New York’s trendiest districts. The hotel’s own accessories are created from fashion favorites including cutting room tables and camera lights, and the hallways will host a rotating art program, including some pieces from local New Yorkers and students at FIT. According to a press release from Wyndham, the hotel will feature luxury amenities including Frette linens, free wireless Internet and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries.

Fashion comes at a cost, though: rooms are currently priced starting at $299/night.

Meanwhile, Starwood’s W Brand is dropping two of its landmark New York hotels — The Court and The Tuscany. In a statement on Starwood’s website:

W New York – The Court and W New York – The Tuscany will be leaving the Starwood system on April 14, 2010 at 11:59 PM. Reservations for dates on or after April 14, 2010, at 11:59 PM will not be eligible for Starwood Preferred Guest membership benefits, award redemption or accrual.

According to HotelChatter.com, Starwood signed an agreement to sell W New York – The Court and W New York – The Tuscany to the St. Giles Hotel. The hotel’s new owner has agreed to honor all local negotiated rates previously signed by W The Court and W The Tuscany for confirmed reservations. For further information on St. Giles Hotels, please call 1-888-406-8588 or visit www.StGilesNewYork.com.

W Hotels currently has four hotels in New York City and is planning on opening the W New York – Downtown, later this summer.

Eventi is a brand new property from Kimpton Hotels, which also has The Muse, 70 Park Hotel and Ink 43 in New York City. Hailed as the first luxury hotel in New York’s fashionable Chelsea area, the 54-story glass tower occupies an entire block of Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) between 29th and 30th Streets. A look through the gallery will prove to you that they’ve picked up on Chelsea’s uniquely flamboyant vibe to make an attractive, cosmopolitan haven for true Chelsea lovers.

“Eventi will be a place that feels alive, with a heart beat that pulses with creativity and sends energy to every corner of the hotel,” says Thomas Mathes, general manager of Eventi. That includes all 292 rooms, the Barbara Nessim artwork and the comfortable living room with a fireplace where guests can lounge and enjoy a daily wine hour.

The hotel also serves the local community; a 20,000 square foot Food Parc and bar, as well as an indoor-outdoor Basque cuisine restaurant, are scheduled to open in Fall 2010.

If you’re interested in checking out the new Eventi hotel, now is the time; they’re still in Preview Rate mode, and you can get 20 percent off the best available rate for stays through September 5, 2010.

Aloft is planning to open three new hotels in India and one in Brussels, in addition to adding hotels throughout the U.S., including two New York City properties – one in Brooklyn and the other in the heart of Harlem.

Aloft was created to offer a low-cost, high-style option for travelers. The Aloft brand has been testing out new technology that aims to ease the hotel check-in process, including introducing wireless check-in service at its Lexington, Massachusetts hotel.

Since launching in June 2008, the Starwood brand has opened 40 hotels worldwide, including China’s Aloft Beijing Haidian and Aloft Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

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