Time to play musical flags at full-service hotels

New in Bangkok's Sukhumvit entertainment district, the Four Points By Sheraton.

By Joe Brancatelli

The long downturn in the hotel industry is leading to a spate of “reflaggings,” which is what happens when a property changes its chain affiliation. The big action recently is at the full-service level. Try to keep up:

• A former Radisson 20 minutes from the Mall of America has been converted to the 253-room Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West. And a Radisson in Texas has become the Crowne Plaza Fort Worth South.
• A former Holiday Inn has become the 179-room Doubletree Tinton Falls in Eatontown, New Jersey.
• Starwood converted the former Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel to a Sheraton.
• There are new hotels, too. Please note: a 210-room Hilton Garden Inn in Konya, Turkey, and a 302-room Hilton on Pattaya Beach, Thailand.
• Speaking of Thailand, a 268-room Four Points by Sheraton opened in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit entertainment district.
• The 105-room Radisson Petra La Dehesa has opened in Santiago, Chile.
• A 90-room Staybridge Suites opened in South Bend, Indiana.

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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2010 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

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