U.S. lodging executives’ sentiment about general business conditions was flat in April compared to the prior month, according to the University of New Hampshire Lodging Executives Sentiment Index (LESI) for the month ending April 2013. The index showed little growth to 69.3 from 68.8 in March 2013.

Fifteen teams of students will compete in the Bud Albin Challenge Round, the semi-final round of the Holloway Prize Innovation-to-Market Competition. The semi-final round will be held Friday, April 26, 2013, during the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference. The business plan competition runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

Promising entrepreneurs hoping to win this year’s record $25,000 Holloway Prize – the oldest business plan competition in the state and one of the first in the nation – will vie in the first stage of the competition this April, having only 10 minutes to make their best first impression.

U.S. lodging executives were less optimistic about general business conditions in March than the prior month, according to the University of New Hampshire Lodging Executives Sentiment Index (LESI) for the current month ending March 2013. The index decreased from 72.6 in February 2013 to 68.8 in March 2013.

U.S. lodging executives reported strong optimism about general business conditions in February, an improvement in their outlook compared to January, according to the University of New Hampshire Lodging Executives Sentiment Index.