© Radius Images - Corbis

For decades, recessions and lackluster economies have not prevented Las Vegas from developing new hotels—until now. Though the city is taking an uncharacteristic breather from building new properties, that hasn’t stopped existing ones from reinventing themselves. A 181-room Nobu boutique hotel opened within one of the towers at Caesars Palace, while THEhotel is being remodeled and rebranded as the Delano Las Vegas, a sister to the Miami Beach Delano, to be completed by the end of this year. Other famous names have also gotten facelifts: The MGM Grand completed an overhaul to its rooms, as did the Bellagio and Four Seasons. The Palms redid its rooms and suites to the tune of $50 million in an effort to attract an “over 30” crowd. Meanwhile, the former Sahara Hotel will be remodeled and renamed the SLS Las Vegas, a boutique luxury resort from the same company that manages SLS hotels in Beverly Hills and South Beach. It is expected to open in 2014.

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In news of hotel openings and rebrandings this month, a big Los Angeles hotel becomes a Hyatt; Sonesta picks up an Atlanta location; Marriott regains a prime New York City property; Istanbul adds yet another new luxury hotel; Rosewood debuts a Middle East location; Marriott adds another London affiliate; and a classic Italian property reopens.

A new survey of the lodging industry found that significant rate increases at U.S. hotels may have a downside for operators: Corporate travelers are compensating for the higher room rates by spending less on restaurants and other hotel services.

In news of hotel openings and rebrandings this month, New York City adds two chain properties; a prominent downtown Atlanta location changes brands; a Renaissance in Houston gets a new identity; Kempinski cuts the ribbon on a classic Vienna hotel; Paris loses one of its top hotels for a while; Marriott adds a pair of U.K. affiliates; and Hyatt expands in India.

Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the well-known luxury lodging group, has long maintained that guest loyalty programs are not terribly important among its customer base when it comes to reasons for choosing a hotel. But according to a news report from the Middle East, the company might have changed its mind.

A number of consumer surveys have shown the importance of free Wi-Fi to hotel guests, but many higher-end properties and chains continue to charge for the service. Now a new policy from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) could lead the rest of the industry to make some big changes.

Courtesy of Steelcase - Marriott

If holding a business meeting in your hotel lobby or guestroom doesn’t inspire you, then Marriott may have the answer. The hotel company has teamed with Steelcase, a workspace design company, to create settings for small meetings that promote collaboration: studios of varying sizes that accommodate meetings from three to 75 attendees, and common areas, many with natural light and outside access. Called Workspring at Marriott, the spaces offer technology, wireless access, office supplies and food and beverages. The Redmond Marriott Town Center near Seattle is the first hotel to offer the small meetings suites, though the company is identifying other U.S. and worldwide markets.

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While much of the economy is recovering slowly, the U.S. lodging industry appears to be riding a wave of prosperity, with one leading forecasting firm predicting higher occupancies and rising room rates again this year.

Three new hotel brands have recently been announced, including one from Marriott that will focus on Europe; and two from Starwood Capital, the real estate investment company headed by Starwood Hotels founder and ex-CEO Barry Sternlicht; those brands will put three new hotels in New York City.

In hotel news this month, Hyatt adds a pair of properties in Austin; Orient-Express reopens a restored California icon; eight Holiday Inns become Wyndhams; Starwood’s W debuts in a key Chinese city; Wyndham adds dozens of European locations; and there’s a new Park Hyatt in Korea.