The final numbers are in, confirming 2007 was a banner year for the lodging industry. Smith Travel Research reports that while occupancy remained largely unchanged at 63.2 percent, average room rate climbed 5.9 percent. The resilency of the lodging segment is reflected in the fact that, despite warnings of recession, comparable numbers are still forecast for 2008.

The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) of the Convention Industry Council (CIC) has commissoned an Exhibitions and Events Data Standards panel that will be chaired by Shawn Pierce, director of infrastructure of Hanley Wood Exhibitions. “Exhibitions,” he noted, “require their own best practices, particularly with respect to data transfer.” CIC also approved creation of a panel on Green Meeting Practices that will be chaired by Amy Spatrisano, principal, Meeting Strategies Worldwide, Inc.

On his recent Mideast tour, President George Bush spent a night in the “Ruler’s Suite” at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel. According to columnist Maureen Dowd, the cozy suite includes its own ballroom. Room rates at the $3 billion seven-star hotel range from $1,598 to $12,251. At those rates, I don’t think I’d be able to sleep.

The tally is in. The Consumer Electronics Show, the largest trade show in North America, attracted an estimated 140,000 people to Las Vegas this week. The show occupied 1.85 million square feet of space, confirming the adage that “what goes on in Vegas could only go on in Vegas.”

Egypt plans to copyright the Pyramids, the Sphinx and various museum pieces and use the royalties from copies to pay for the upkeep of its historic monuments and sites. According to The New York Times, legislation will be presented to the Egyptian Parliament, where it is expected to pass. The Egyptian newspaper Al-Wald recently noted that more people visit the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas than Luxor itself…and suggested the hotel share some profits with Luxor, Egypt.