| Pity the travelers who suffered last year's packed airports and crowded vacation spots. But their pain was the hotel industry's gain. Flourishing in the travel boom were Marriott International Inc. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., both of which racked up double-digit profit gains. Shareholders made out as well, with Starwood's stock returning 59.1%; Marriott's, 55.9%; and Hilton Hotels Corp.'s, 54.7%. Modest growth in hotel capacity and rising rates helped boost results. But 2001 is shaping up to be anything but a vacation.
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