President Obama drew a lot of criticism when he suggested Americans shouldn't "blow" money in Las Vegas. After the debt-ridden debacle this country has gotten itself into, it's about time someone suggested saving.

The inaugural InspireDesign, held this week at the World Market Center in Las Vegas, was a great idea, weaving a trade show-like event into the existing, permanent showrooms of the complex. There's also a plan to include educational programs, as well as make the event more of a community-building gathering and less like a traditional trade show.

In his State of the Union address this week, President Obama hit the expected high points: healthcare reform, Wall Street bailouts and unemployment. But designers, take note: The unspoken message of bipartisanship came through in the clothes. The purple dresses and ties, to be exact. 2010 is the year of centrist purple.

Do you have that guy in the office who is always telling far-fetched stories? The World islands development in Dubai is that guy in the hotel development industry.

My first thought on hearing about Marriott's Autograph Collection was that it would probably take some of the wind out of the sails of the company's long-awaited Edition brand. But after chatting with Marriott executives, as well as their newly announced launch partner, I think the company may be on to something.

Courtesy of TravelNotes.org, here is a list of hotel companies that will turn your leftover loyalty club points into a cash donation to support Haiti relief efforts.

Mudslinging between Starwood and Hilton over trade secrets and corporate espionage resumes with more accusations.

Meetings and business travel is still in a funk for the most part, and I figured the Professional Convention Management Association conference, which centers on these topics, would be a downer. But on panel after panel people seemed positive, excited or hopeful for the coming year.

Last week, La Quinta offered some members of the media a peek behind the curtain, so to speak--an opportunity to observe one of the company's brand council meetings. The council, which meets at least three times per year, includes corporate executives and franchisees.

This year has been a rocky one for the lodging and tourism industries in Las Vegas, and the city is hoping the new CityCenter complex will be the Christmas miracle it has been looking for.

The Grand Opening of the expanded Grand Hyatt Belleview—on Seattle's east side—featured a gala celebration and a stunning fashion show.

Our editors take a look at recently renovated hotel properties, along with sponsored slides from our re:fresh partners.

People and places in and around the HD Boutique design show in Miami, September 2009.

Sponsors: Benjamin West & Audit Logistics. Our annual Track Days networking event in Colorado Springs was a great success!

They are back by popular demand! Hotel & Motel Management is happy once again to host executives from online hotel reviews giant TripAdvisor for a live online chat.

At the inaugural IHIF Asia Pacific conference, Shawn Dolley, head of sustainability, Aedas, explains that a successful green program has to be about more than gimmicks to expand the bottom line.

At the inaugural IHIF Asia Pacific conference, Terence Ronson, managing director, Pertlink, discusses guests' needs, from games to entertainment to working efficiently. Ronson says that designers need to be aware of how to incorporate technology to make it easy for guests to use it.

At the inaugural IHIF Asia Pacific conference, Simon Baxter, associate, EC Harris, talks about how operators, owners, and investors can benefit from greening their properties—and why looking at the longer term is a positive.

At the Asian American Hotel Owner's Association conference in Washington, D.C., in April, David Lieberman, senior reporter for USA Today, sat down with Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, to discuss the economy, managing personnel and issues affecting the lodging industry.

The HotelWorld Network put together a three-part video series of Welch's comprehensive and sometimes comical commentary.