News In Brief

I WANT A CLOTHING ALLOWANCE

"Dress-down day" may be the catchphrase for much of working America, but reports of a backlash have begun to surface. Example: the Middlesex County (N.J.) Courthouse. After Labor Day, a recent memo announced, its 580 employees no longer will be permitted to show up in jeans, shorts, shirts without collars, or any clothing bearing sports or corporate logos. Those who violate the policy may be sent home to change, and could have vacation time deducted. "I sit in a cubicle, and nobody sees me," grumped one less-than-pleased worker. "How I dress shouldn't affect my productivity at all."

HELP! WE'RE ROLLING IN MONEY

It's going to be a big deal when euro notes and coins are introduced in January 2002. So big, in fact, that private banks in Germany already are calling for Army protection. That's because they expect to have six times more cash on hand than normal at the changeover. An estimated 2.6 billion bank notes and 100,000 tons of coins need to be replaced.

Rating US's budget, upscale, and mid-price hotel chains

It takes all-around satisfaction - with everything from handling of reservations to guest services to the accuracy of the bill at checkout - to instill consumer loyalty to a chain hotel, results of a new survey by J.D. Power & Associates indicate. The Agoura Hills, Calif., marketing and research firm sampled more than 10,000 business and leisure travelers who have been guests in US chain hotels this year, staying an average of 2.6 nights. The highest-ranking chains by category (not including luxury hotels) and the average nightly room rate for each, based on the survey responses:

Economy/budget: $69

Fairfield Inns

Mid-price: $77

Hampton Inns

Mid-price/full-service: $86

Courtyard by Marriott

All-suite: $103

Embassy Suites

Upscale: $121

Omni Hotels

- Business Wire

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