BUSINESS BRIEFS
Castle Group reports loss
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Castle Group Inc., a Honolulu-based hospitality management company, reported it swung to a net loss of $170,208 in the three months ended June 30. A year earlier, it recorded a profit of $12,103 in the quarter.
The company that manages and markets resort condominiums and hotels had revenue of $5.24 million in the quarter, up from $5.03 million a year earlier. The information was contained in a filing Castle made at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The filing also discloses that the company wants to expand in Hawai'i, Micronesia, New Zealand, Thailand and Central America.
U.S. HOTEL REVENUE DOWN
U.S. hotels' revenue per available room fell 0.8 percent in the week ended Sept. 15 from the same period a year earlier, according to Smith Travel Research. The revenue figure, known as RevPAR, is based on average occupancy and room rates, according to Bloomberg News.
RevPar was $68.32 compared to $68.87 a year earlier.
Occupancy fell to 66.2 percent from 68.5 percent a year prior, while average daily room rate was up $2.71 to $103.17.
GO! OFFERS TRAVEL PACKAGES
The interisland carrier go! has started go! Drive, a program that offers travel packages of interisland flights, car rentals and other options.
The packages can also include hotels, tours and airport transfers and are available through the airline's Web site at www.iflygo.com.
The program's introductory prices start at $89.
LOO NAMED EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
The Sheraton Waikiki has appointed Ryan Loo as the executive sous chef of the Hanohano Room.
Loo was recently honored as the regional recipient of the Best Commis de Cuisine award in the Chaine des Rotisseurs professional competition.
His career began with Starwood Hotels in 1999 when he worked as a prep cook at The Royal Hawaiian hotel. Loo also honed his culinary skills at Hoku's in the Kahala Hotel and the prestigious Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
Loo graduated from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and also attended Kapi'olani Community College, receiving his Associate degree in Food Service with an emphasis in culinary arts.
GOLF WEB SITE LAUNCHED
A new golf Web site has launched, promising to offer users an easy way to book affordable tee times.
The site, www.ParHawaii.com, includes course insight and photographs, interactive maps and golf news.
The site is owned by Karen Tableros, a Hawai'i resident.
ATLANTIC CITY OCCUPANCY UP
Hotel occupancy and room rates increased in Atlantic City, New Jersey rose in the second quarter, according to the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority.
The group reported Friday that occupancy rates increased to 94.3 percent during the second quarter from 92 percent a year earlier. Average daily room rates rose 7.1 percent to $101.32.
It said occupied room units grew 1.7 percent to 1.24 million during the quarter.
