One of LGD’s Miami Beach accounts, Hotel De Soleil South Beach, got a shout-out in Star Magazine… Click to read all about Adrian Grenier, eating, running, and other awesomeness.

A core strategy espoused by LGD’s popular It campaign is that a recession silencing so much competition is the perfect time for strong companies to gain market share - at a fraction of the cost. Incidentally, Sol Melia - the parent company of two LGD hospitality clients, Gran Melia and ME by Melia - announced today their plans to invest $132 million into new hotels and resorts in 2009.

From Reuters… Spain’s leading hotel chain Sol Melia will invest 100 million euros ($132.4 million) this year and will focus spending on its luxury brands as the economic crisis buffets the tourist industry, the company said on Wednesday.

“We are fully aware of the delicate moment … that the tourist sector is going through, especially in Spain,” said Chief Executive Sebastian Escarrer. “We have to invest so that when we come out of this crisis we are in a good position to keep at an international level.”

This year’s openings include a spectacular Mediterranean resort, Gran Melia Crete, and a new urban skyscraper, Gran Melia Shaghai. LGD Communications is agency of record for every Gran Melia, and has already developed exquisite creative for each property - from new bar and restuarant brands to a range of hospitality materials.

The hotel business has collided head-on with the bad economy and the tight credit market. Hotel revenue is down sharply. Big new projects, planned in the boom days, are either sitting unfinished or left on the drawing boards. And some high-end hotel owners now face an unhappy situation — how much can they cut prices to fill their rooms before they damage their hotels’ luxury cachet?

READ THE FULL STORY HERE…

Via Popguru

Now for Criss Angel news. There’s something you don’t hear everyday! The Mindfreak himself has been shacking up with Holly Madison (Hef’s former first lady) at ME Cabo Resort in Cabo, San Lucas. They’ve been working on their tans and partying at ME Cabo’s Passion Club for a couple of days now and plan to be there for over a week - guess things are getting serious! Criss is taking a break from his Vegas show ‘Believe’ - because even Mindfreaks need some R&R from time to time. Holly’s taking a break from, well, I don’t think she does anything but tan or bang old men and D-list celebrities for fame. So this is sort of like a working vacation for her.

But what crazy train is ever complete without Paula Abdul?! She joined her good friends for a few days away from “American Idol” and some fun in the sun - because tanning next to Ryan Seacrest in a thong is stress enough. ME Cabo gave her the full treatment with “American Idol” cakes and showing her taping of the night’s show. Paula can’t relax on vacation without focusing on herself! Here are the exclusive pics of the gang hanging by the pool

The ME Resorts are mighty popular with the celebs lately! Mischa Barton is currently staying at ME Madrid to promote an Herbal Essences campaign. Rob Schneider is also bunking up there for a press junket - and because he figured he could get Sandler some good Herbal Essences swag.

By Roger Vincent |Tribune Newspapers

January 19, 2009

Hotel industry fortunes fell hard at the end of 2008, and the prospects for 2009 look grim as Americans cut travel spending and leave plenty of room at the inn.

Hotel operators have seen room reservations fall drastically as business travelers and vacationers cut down on trips. In 2009, U.S. hotels will suffer one of the greatest annual declines in occupancy and revenue in history, according to analysts.

In their suffering, however, many hotels will give travelers a break by lowering prices or offering incentives, such as free meals, in hope of enticing more business.

“We just get creative,” said Mehdi Eftekari, general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, where, he says, occupancy is down slightly. Incentive packages might include a free breakfast, car rental or spa treatment with room rental.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

OK, so we lied, they’re not custom. But Associate Creative Director Chris McCauley did stroll in today with a new pair of Puma El Rey kicks in Oil Green & Copper, to match LGD’s signature green walls and copper leather conference chairs. Way to represent, Chris.

For anyone who missed it, last week Reuters published a rather large investigation of what global hotel chains are doing to fight the recession.

By David Jones and Deena Beasley

LONDON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It’s a trend pre-dating the global slowdown: big hotel chains are moving into the quirky boutique sector to tap into a niche of profitable growth. What’s not clear now is how many can succeed.

Hotel revenues have fallen sharply since last October and shares in hotel groups in Europe fell by more than 30 percent in 2008 as investors anticipated pressure on earnings this year.

Nonetheless global giants from InterContinental — the world’s largest hotel group — to Marriott and Starwood are launching boutique brands in Europe, with others set to follow as they face the biggest industry downturn in a generation.

Consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in December forecast U.S. demand for hotels in 2009 would fall by 2 percent which, when coupled with an increase in supply, would reduce occupancy levels to 58.6 percent — their lowest since 1971.

Against that backdrop boutique hotels — individual and usually luxurious outlets — offer big chains a chance to boost one of the industry’s key measures: revenue per available room (RevPAR), which PwC saw sliding 5.8 percent in this year, after last year’s estimated 0.8 percent decline.

The U.S. market looks the most exposed, according to Natixis Securities in a January 9 note. Britain, Spain and Italy look more vulnerable in Europe than France and Germany.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

LGD Communications announces First Fridays. On the first Friday of each month, from 2 to 5 pm, we open our doors for portfolio reviews. Seasoned designers and copywriters, graphic artists, programmers, students and more are invited to sign up online to meet with our creative directors for 15 minutes.

We’re always looking for fresh talent in an effort to build a world-class ad agency right here in Miami. We want the city’s strongest branding creatives, so get in here and show us your best work.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE, AND TO BOOK YOUR REVIEW

LGD designed all the collateral for ME Cancun’s rockin’ New Year’s Eve High Party. View the pieces and photos of the pool party and nighttime fun below… MORE PICS HERE

New hotels brands - like ME by Melia (above), one of LGD’s star accounts - are redefining the future of hotel marketing. Cool spaces, custom touches and youthful service appeal to the next generation of experienced travelers. In the article below, from Canada’s Globe & Mail, travel writer Janet Forman notes what other brands are doing to inspire this new, financially empowered demographic.

By JANET FORMAN

With its pulsing streets and wild, cloud-splitting skyline, Shanghai has a reputation as the metropolis on the edge. And walking into the new Park Hyatt hotel here feels like time travel. Through the door at the Shanghai World Financial Center - a 101-storey skyscraper with 20,000 inhabitants - is a nearly empty vestibule: A sole concierge awaits you before a massive abstract mural. From there, it’s an ear-popping elevator ride 87 floors up.

Here, the open lobby by designer Tony Chi is based on the communal plan of a traditional Chinese home; Shanghainese young Turks hang out and network above the Lilliputian skyline. And in the rooms above, discreet technology is everywhere. Lights glide on as if awakening from sleep instead of snapping open with a mechanical pop, and one simple remote controls all media. READ THE FULL ARTICLE…