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Actually, according to the latest (2007) Travel+Leisure magazine ranking of the top 500 hotels in the world, 24 of the 35 Ritz-Carltons located in the US were listed. And of those, Cleveland's had the second-to-worst score (81.55). But then again, it is still apparently one of the top 500 hotels in the world. I even remember reading a few years back another T+L ranking that had it at no. 53 in the US. But as we know here in Cleveland, such national rankings are worth about as much as.... :? And as someone else mentioned, if you read the reviews on TripAdvisor.com, most of the more seasoned travelers seem to be slightly disappointed in the property. While I've never stayed at the Cleveland location, I have been to it for a few functions and while nice, I can see how its about due for that updating, especially compared to some of the newer R-C's that I've stayed at. Remember, its about demanding the best for Cleveland, and not settling for an inferior product because some may perceive us as a second-tier city. There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism.

Well, my real Cuban grandfather would go to Caribe "back in the day" to get supplies for his pigroasts (Lechon Asado), so I can attest that it's the real deal. Peabody: You're sooo right about the bread, it is what makes or breaks a Cuban Sandwich. It's been a while, but I can attest that at least a few years back, Caribe was second to none in these parts. I know a lot of Westside puertorriqueños that swear by it.

Simplythis, do you have a link for this blurb? I wonder if this means the hotel/residential portion will not be LEED certified? Is it even possible to LEED certify a refurbishment, and one of this scale at that? With the announcement of the 1 Hotel in the Flats, and all of the other sustainable/green energy efforts going on in town, that would be disappointing. Just think of it, with the 1 and this project's TBD hotel, Cleveland could become noted for its "green hotel" sector.

This is 100% incorrect. They are not related in any form, fashion or shape! I don't see a Le Meridien for Cleveland, nor do I want one BEFORE a W Hotel, Westin, Aloft or Element. Hell I would even take a convention sized Sheraton before a LM. According to my sources, it won't be a starwood or a starwood capital property at the AmeriTrust site. Moving on and back to the Flats East Bank. As far as my 5th Grade reading level teaches me, they were related: http://www.starwoodcapital.com/hotel.html Correct, Pope. Starwood Hotels & Resorts founded by the CEO of Starwood Capital, Barry Sternlicht, hence the whole "Starwood" commonality. W, Aloft, etc. are the babies of Sternlicht. While he's no longer involved in Starwood Hotels & Resorts, he's gotten back into the hotel business with 1, Baccarat, and Crillon. And with all that he's learned with W and the rest of the Starwood hotels, I'm betting this will be out of the park. So let's say maybe 50% incorrect. :wink:

I don't mean to judge, but is this really the best we could get to manage what will be the most important improvement in Hopkins for years? Also, can anyone post the article about the Airmall that was in Crains this week?

Here's some additional info on the Starwood Capital Group. It's pretty damn impressive, and note that it is indeed related to Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Would be pretty cool if K&D could line up Le Meridien for Ameritrust, they've always been solid: Hotel Group Starwood Capital has historically been one of the most aggressive and successful acquirers of individual hotels and hotel companies on a global basis. Starwood Capital is well known for its 1995 acquisition and subsequent recapitalization, reorganization and expansion of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT “Starwood Hotels”), a Fortune 500 company, with ownership of brands such as Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels, The St. Regis, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection and Four Points by Sheraton. Mr. Sternlicht, as Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels between 1995 and May of 2005, led the transformation of Starwood Hotels from an overleveraged, liquidating REIT into a thriving global enterprise of more than 115,000 employees, with a total enterprise value in excess of $18 billion, including more than 800 hotels system-wide in 80 countries. Mr. Sternlicht was the driving force behind the acquisition of Westin Hotels, ITT Sheraton and Le Meridien. He is also credited with the development of the W brand and the expansion of The St. Regis from a single hotel to a global hotel brand representing the ultimate in luxury hotels. When Mr. Sternlicht left Starwood Hotels, Starwood Capital returned to hotel investing. Through the first half of 2005, Starwood Capital directly made more than $2.1 billion of hotel investments. Since the launch of the first dedicated hotel fund in late 2005, Starwood Capital has led an additional $5 billion of hotel-related investments, including the $3.2 billion acquisition of Groupe Taittinger/Société du Louvre (“SDL”). One of Europe’s largest hotel networks, SDL has a unique collection of 14 luxury hotels and a portfolio of 800 budget hotels throughout Europe. Today, Starwood Capital is developing and managing a number of hospitality and leisure related brands. Starwood Capital has hired senior hospitality industry executives to help develop and launch these brands, which include: LUXURY SEGMENT • 1 Hotels and Resorts – an eco focused luxury hotel brand • Baccarat Hotels and Resorts – A sparkling five star brand focused on resort • Crillon – A six star brand offering lavish accommodations while retaining an intimate atmosphere of a private residence. Starwood Capital oversees the operation of the following existing brands. BUSINESS SEGMENT • Concorde Hotels and Resorts BUDGET SEGMENT • Campanile – Louvre Hotel Group’s leading two star chain. • Kyriad – offers a balance between quality and the charm of diversity. • Premiére Classe – rooms are available at a single price for one, two or three people. RESTAURANT SEGMENT • B.R. Guest – A New York based restaurant and bar operator with 16 outlets, including the Blue Water Grill, Dos Caminos, Blue Fin and other brands

This is undoubtedly good news for Continental and especially Cleveland, despite all the previous assurances from Gordon Bethune and the analyses of some our the more astute airline-thinkers on this forum. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/04/continental_will_not_merge_wit.html Continental will not merge with United Posted by Alison Grant April 27, 2008 19:23PM Categories: Breaking News, Business Impact Continental Airlines announced tonight that it has no plans to merge with another airline at this time, ending weeks of speculation that it would join forces with United Airlines to create the world's biggest airline. The Houston-based carrier said its board met earlier today and unanimously supported management's recommendation to continue as a stand-alone airline for now. The board weighed the merits of merging and decided the risks outweighed gains, the company said in a letter to employees. "We have significant cultural, operational and financial strengths compared to the rest of the industry, and we want to protect and enhance those strengths - which we believe would be placed at risk in a merger with another carrier in today's environment," Chairman and Chief Executive Lawrence Kellner told employees in a written statement. Ricky Smith, director of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, said the announcement from Continental "is good news, obviously. But it also reflects Continental's commitment to and success of their current business model." While he ruled out a merger for now, Continental will continue to review potential alliances, Kellner said in the letter, which was also signed by President Jeff Smisek. The airline also is studying its membership in SkyTeam, the group of airlines with which Continental partners. The SkyTeam alliance includes Northwest Airlines, Delta, KLM, Air France, AeroMexico, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Korean Air and Czech Airlines. That includes the partnership and reciprocal mileage award arrangement with Northwest Airlines. Kellner said that Continental is in an "enviable position in the New York market. He also cited "a powerful hub in Houston, and hubs in Cleveland and Guam." Continental's trans-Atlantic service is solid and enhanced by recent direct flights to London's Heathrow Airport, Kellner said. He did not mention flights to Paris, but Continental last week confirmed it is going ahead with plans for a May 22 launch of a Cleveland-Paris flight.

Wow, for someone who has a Ph. D. in communications, Mr. Ritchie's writing style leaves a bit to be desired, IMHO. But great to hear Bang and Clatter's opening went so well! With their pricing program and almost nightly shows, I'm jealous off all the downtown dwellers who can decide to go catch a show on a whim. "Honey, do you want to watch American Idol or Survivor tonight?" "Meh, let's just go to the Bang." :wink:

Any updates on the new The Bang and The Clatter space? Last time I was down there a few weeks ago, it was still facadeless, so I'm assuming the March 14 production didn't happen.

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool liberal-democrat, and support CNN as much as anyone else, but I definitely have noticed Atlanta-related stories getting an egregious amount of attention on CNN. This tornado is a good example. I first had this thought a year or two ago when they promoted the hell out of a CNN special presentation revisiting the courthouse shootings that happened there a few years back, which also got LOT of attention from CNN at the time. And then there was that women who converted to Jesus the convict that was holding her hostage in her apartment in Suburban-Atlanta, who's story we were forced to hear ad-nausuem. I'd much prefer CNN to any other network, but the self-important Atlanta routine does get a little old.

I LOVE it that Phoenix has withstood the onslaught of Starbucks on Lee Road. There was an article a few weeks ago in the NYT about just this occurrence, apparently it's happing all over the country and is compounding the problems Starbucks has been having financially. Check it out, the local coffee shop they featured sounds pretty awesome too: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/business/30sbux.html?scp=1&sq=starbucks+kansas+city&st=nyt

Got this invite email today, looks like the coffee shop/tapas bar/jazz lounge will finally be opening up. Can't say I quite understand why Adrian Fenty would actually be in attendance (although didn't this Baxter women relocate from DC?), although with the creepy Hope Memorial Bridge replicas they have lined up out front, I guess we should expect the unexpected. At any rate, it looks like they have a couple of days of festivities lined up. Anyone gonna be in attendance?

I loooovvveeee the first comment on that article. While it seems a bit, um, sophomoric at first, I think it's actually a good sign that downtown is being viewed as a desirable place to work by people besides those of us who are crazy about urban development. COMMENTS (1)Post a comment Posted by Jizy on 02/06/08 at 11:43AM I wish I could work downtown, better oportunities for meeting chicks who work and do not have kids.

Here's a new article about "America's Hardest Hit Foreclosure Spots" from Forbes that — GASP! — doesn't make one mention of Cleveland or Cuyahoga Country. Cuyahoga isn't even among the 50 hardest-hit counties in the nation, according to the slideshow linked to the article. However, Cook (Chicago), Fulton (Atlanta), Orange (Calif.), Hennepin (Minneapolis), Prince William (Washington D.C.), and Allegheny (Pittsburgh)all make the list. Which makes me begin to think...why is it that Cleveland has been picked on so? While I can't believe that there is a national conspiracy (well, now I guess I should say international conspiracy) to make Cleveland out to be some unlivable war zone, it seems that some mighty lazy reporting has led to it being grossly misrepresented. http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/27/homes-underwater-foreclosure-forbeslife-cx_mw_0128realestate.html?feed=rss_popstories

Well I just left a message at all offices of all of the councilpeople listed...I hope they won't mind hearing the opinions of a former suburbanite currently residing in Washington D.C.! I've often driven by this building and been struck by its design; it truly is a wonderful piece of Deco design and, as it's looked a little forlorn lately, I've hoped that reuse would come to it soon, especially adding some street-level presence.

I'm not sure if this is the best thread to post this, but I came across a very interesting link from none-other then the Cleveland.com comments section. According to an analysis by Fortune and Moody's, Cleveland is actually one of only five large cities in the nation that is predicted to experience appreciation in "upscale home" values (houses that sell for double the median home price). In fact, Cleveland's appreciation will be the largest in the nation. Minneapolis, Charlotte, Washington D.C., and most all the other markets that many around here have so coveted will all experience loses, according to this study. It's surprising to me that the foreclosure crisis (real or imagined) is not expected to pull down the market as a whole. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/price_rent_ratios/

By "population with higher educational attainment," I simply meant the population with more college degrees: According to the survey, gay couples were more likely to have college degrees than straight couples- 34 to 23 percent. However, straight couples make more money than gay couples- $60,200 to $45,300. Now, I know that statistics can lie, but on the surface this seems contrary to the fact that those with college degrees typically earn more than those without. I'm wondering why this is...do gays, for some reason, tend to work in lower in lower paying fields? Or, are they less likely to be promoted? I'm sure there could be a multitude of explanations, I'm just thinking out loud. But I certainly agree with you about the deflating value of college degrees...especially worrying to me as I'll be receiving my own in a few months time!

This was just posted on Cleveland.com, I'm not sure if it's received coverage in other venues. It's a very interesting, if incomplete, survey recently conducted about same-sex couples in Ohio. I do have some issues with some of the conclusions, however, as it contradicts many previously held estimations on same-sex couples. It's been generally held that same-sex couples earn more, on average, than heterosexual couples, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say that same-sex couples have more spending power, as "DINCs" (Dual-Income, No Children). But why is it that a population that has higher educational attainment (according to the survey) earning less on average? Is it occupational choice, or discrimination? Also, only .33 percent of Ohio's population is gay, according to this survey! How laughably inaccurate that statistic surely is! http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/01/samesex_couples_in_ohio_increa.html#preview Same-sex couples in Ohio increasing, parenting, study says Posted by Patrick O'Donnell January 22, 2008 22:24PM Categories: Breaking News Same-sex couples are raising nearly 12,000 children across Ohio and more than 2 percent of the state's adopted children, researchers at the UCLA law school reported Tuesday. And the number of same-sex couples in the state is growing, the study found, jumping from just under 19,000 in 2000 to nearly 30,700 by 2005. The Census Snapshot of Ohio compiled by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, adds limited commentary to data distilled from the 2000 Census and more recent census updates. Researcher Adam Romero said he hopes the data will better inform debate about related legislation in Ohio. ...

While working in London in 2006, I appreciated the (VERY!) frequent notifications and explanations of delays while on the the Tube, which is what happens when you have a century old (and sometimes more) system and woefully inadequate, privately-conducted maintenance. ...Although hearing that there was a delay due to "a person under the train", which seemed happen at least once per week, always struck me as a bit of TMI!

I had a feeling I would get that response from you, KJP. :-D It's always fun stumbling upon a Real Cities site and seeing how similar they are to Cleveland.com. I remember following Hurricane Katrina from NOLA.com and having to catch myself from thinking that half of Cleveland was under water. And whenever I get down on Cleveland, a trip to over NJ.com always perks me back up! :lol:

Hmm, STO and Cleveland.com are both Cleveland-based organizations. Could it be that Northeast Ohio is finally getting some sway downstate?

My reaction to seeing the list of stores, especially comparing it to the (partial) opening list, was that while most of them certainly do not have the same prestige or pricetags of a number of the original stores, they serve a purpose and serve a market nonetheless. While it is a shame that many of the original stores that are long gone were unique to our region and even state (and not to mention that some have since opened up in markets with higher perceived-levels of wealth), the stores that have come in to fill the place of the Benettons and Ballys certainly are just as relevant. While working downtown this summer, I would pass through Tower City at different times of the day and the stores I saw never seemed any less busy than in the average suburban mall. Needless to say, it's absolutely teeming with people after work and on game nights. And 100% occupancy, even if it's just for the Christmas season, is 100% occupancy nonetheless. I suspect truly dead mall such as Randall Park, Euclid Square, or even Westgate in its last decade of existence don't or didn't even come close to this.

I was really disappointed to hear about Michael DeAloia's departure from the city earlier this month. Having met with him and some of the high tech companies he has brought downtown (specifically to the Playhouse Square area) I got the impression of a very ambitious, able, and competent leader, with some very real plans for technology development in Cleveland. The story surrounding his departure is certainly less than clear (apparently spurred by the failure to attract the support of other development officials to land some division of Apple Inc. downtown), but I'm at least glad to hear he's staying in Cleveland. BTW, SchoolOne is the business that was supposed to move from Elyria into that building in Ohio City that burned just 4 weeks before its move-in date. However, it was a blessing in disguise, according to the CEO, who mentioned to me that they have grown much faster than they expected and would have run out of space in the W.25th location by now anyway.

Surprised this hadn't been posted yet...must be a busy Thursday night out in UrbanOhio land! But, um, this is some absolutely fantastic news. While most of this isn't new to any of us, it's a nice summary of the potential for new office construction downtown. The enthusiasm of the professionals quoted in the article is especially hopeful. And KJP, there is even a link to your latest Stark/Pesht article included on the Cleveland.com page. All in all, an amazing display of positivity for Cleveland by the PD. New office buildings could tower over Cleveland Posted by Henry J. Gomez August 30, 2007 17:29PM Categories: Breaking News, Economic development, Impact At least five big companies with leases soon to expire, including accounting giant Ernst & Young and global manufacturer Eaton Corp., are shopping for new digs. With the central business district's highest-quality buildings short on space, each of these major employers are exploring the possibility of new construction with real estate developers. Others in the market include Huntington National Bank, which has a 200-employee regional base here, and the large law firms of Baker Hostetler and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. More at http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2007/08/new_office_buildings_could_tow.html

cle2032, I agree with you on the glut of rubbish over on airliners.net. If Cleveland had a nickel... But the fact that Kellner will be in town I think gives this particular rumor some legs. At the very least, it's fair to say that a visit by Kellner will result in some news -- good, bad, or otherwise.