Travel Roundup: MGM Mirage Talks End, Aspen Goes Budget, NYC Hotels' Pay Cuts and More

(MoneyWatch) 

Possible investors end talks with MGM Mirage -- Colony Capital LLC and Crown Ltd. ended investment talks with MGM Mirage, closing the door on a joint investment with the struggling company. The casino operator had been talking with Colony to gain up to $750 million in loans to help refinance its $13.5 billion debt and save its financially troubled CityCenter project. Sources say that MGM Mirage is now concentrating on negotiations with its lenders. [Source: Bloomberg]

Aspen to go working class? -- Making Aspen affordable has become an mayoral issue that could decide the city's election. Mayor Mick Ireland wants Aspen's tourism marketing to promote the posh city's free buses, free Nordic skiing trails and complimentary music concerts. Ireland also wants to spearhead a city-wide campaign for discounted gold rounds, dinner packages and other budget-travel deals. His opponent disagrees, saying the city should rely on its tried-and-true wealthy customers. [Source: Associated Press]

New York City hotels aim to cut pay -- Hotel operators want to cut wages because of dwindling profits and are negotiating with unions representing 27,500 hotel and hospitality workers. About 20 hotels are seeking arbitration to settle pay cuts, including the Carlyle, Courtyard Times Square South, the Paramount Hotel and the Holiday Inn SoHo. The average occupancy rate in New York City hotels dropped about 12 percent from last year, while the average daily room rate fell to $196.30, down from $232.25 last year. [Source: New York Times]

Lenox Hotel introduces hypoallergenic rooms -- The Lenox, a hotel in the Saunders Hotel Group, introduced its Pure rooms, a whole floor devoted to hypoallergenic room and materials. The 23 rooms cater to those with allergy sensitivity, like asthma or seasonal allergies. From its tea tree-scented rooms to tightly-knit microfiber bedding to prevent dust mites, the rooms' air is considered "medical-grade." [Source: Boston Globe]