The average U.S. hotel will see an increase of 2.3 percent in net operating income this year, Colliers PKF Hospitality Research forecast. The growth is based on the strong surge in demand that occurred during the first half of the year. It follows a 37.8-percent cumulative decline in profits experienced from 2007 through 2009, and is the first annual uptick in net income expected since 2007. “The bottom-line losses suffered by hotel owners over the past two years were devastating,...

Indiana’s unemployment rate in July was 10.1 percent; this was the 12th-highest of the 50 states. Nevada was running at 14.3 percent to lead the nation, while the lowest rate was 3.6 percent in North Dakota. We’re much closer to the worst than we are to the best. Are these the best of times or the worst of times? In material terms, these might be the best of times. Many of the poorest walk around with cell phones to their ears. Machines for washing dishes and clothes stand ready...