Spokane Journal of Business

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Traveler spending, hoteliers' profitability expected to rise

Forty-two percent of U.S. travelers who participated in a recent survey said they are planning to increase travel spending this year, and 79 percent of U.S. hoteliers said they are optimistic about increased profits this year.TripAdvisor, which...

Hilton, Marriott, Four Seasons most 'relevant' brands

How do you choose a hotel? By the quality of service? The view? What your friends might think? How about the water pressure in the shower? Don't laugh.Brodeur Partners, a Boston-based communications company, looked into the heart of what really...

Hotel price index reports strong growth

The average price of a hotel room around the world rose by 3 percent during 2012, compared with the previous year, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index.The rate of increase has moderated when judged against the 4 percent rise in...

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Lincoln Center finds niche with flexible space mix

As the economy slid into a recession five years ago, it was an unnerving time to open a new event center in Spokane, says Richard Heftel, sales manager, marketing director, and co-owner of The Lincoln Center, at 1316 N. Lincoln.Still, The with a...

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Axia Home Loans grows here

Bellevue, Wash.-based Axia Financial LLC, which does business as Axia Home Loans, has grown its Inland Northwest operations since May, both in employee numbers and offices to meet demand for mortgage lending and refinancing services. This past a...

Loan appraisal requirements set to change

Six federal financial regulatory agencies last month issued a final rule that establishes new appraisal requirements for what are being termed as higher-priced mortgage loans.The rule implements amendments to the Truth in Lending Act made by the...

Intermountain Community Bancorp reports upswing

Sandpoint-based Intermountain Community Bancorp, which operates Panhandle State Bank and Intermountain Community Bank, has reported fourth-quarter net income applicable to common shareholders of $910,000, or 14 cents a share, compared with or $1.08...

Commercial delinquency rates decline

The delinquency rate for U.S. commercial real estate loans included in commercial mortgage-backed securities fell 14 basis points in January to 9.57 percent, says a report issued late last month by Washington, D.C.-based finance research company at...

B of A helps provide more than $2.6 billion in housing

Through its lending, tax-credit equity investments, and real estate development programs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch says it last year provided more than $2.6 billion for community development—commitments that it claims will help create in...

Lenders said not likely to fill student-loan funding gap

Fitch Ratings, of New York, says it expects the gap between rising U.S. college costs and available financing to continue expanding in future years as a result of static federal loan limits and ongoing congressional debate over fiscal spending will...

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