Hostel bookings by North Americans increased 20 percent in 2008 on Hostelworld.com, the Web site reported.

One factor in the increase is the economy, as hostels typically provide lodging at well below hotel room prices. But another factor is the upscaling of hostels and the variety of accommodations, with the majority of hostels these days offering private rooms and family rooms as well as dormitories.

"Many hostels offer private rooms, suites, pools and free Internet, bars and restaurants, as well as a unique social experience unmatched by hotels," said Hostelworld.com spokesperson Aisling White. "Savvy North American travelers are coming to realize these benefits can be found even in budget accommodations and not just in Europe."

Some hostels also offer inexpensive meals and most have kitchens that guests can use to cook their own food, and others even have swimming pools and hot tubs. Hostels also offer plenty of unusual accommodations, from lodging in treehouses to castles to former prisons.

Entrepreneur Steve Wynn has opened a new $2.3 billion resort and casino in Las Vegas called Encore, with an Italian restaurant themed on the late crooner Frank Sinatra.

The restaurant, which is named for the singer, has Sinatra memorabilia and photos of him on display.

Sinatra's daughter Tina said the family had rejected similar plans from 12 restaurateurs. She said they agreed to Wynn's proposal because "he was his friend, and he loves and protects us."

Mr. Wynn and Mr. Sinatra worked together and were friends in the early '80s, when Sinatra sang for Wynn at the Golden Nugget hotel-casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, N.J. The public caught glimpses of the pair's relationship through a series of humorous commercials promoting the Nugget casinos. Mr. Wynn was usually the butt of jokes, treated as a bellhop or other low-level employee by Mr. Sinatra. Details:www.encorelasvegas.com.

In a concession to the economy, Vail Resorts Inc. says it's holding its prices steady for multiday lift tickets at its five ski resorts.

Guests who buy PEAKS advance tickets a week in advance for at least three days of skiing or snowboarding will pay the same prices as last season. So a three-day adult ticket for Vail would be $267, or $89 per day. A single day at Vail normally costs $97.

Vail Resorts operates Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado and Heavenly in the Lake Tahoe area.

Vail Resorts executives say lodging reservations are down 23 percent from last year at the same time but that the number of season passes sold is up 18 percent.

Meanwhile, through Jan. 31 while supplies last, Intrawest is offering a pass good for one day of skiing each at Copper Mountain, Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado for $99. Intrawest, like Vail Resorts, relies on skiers from out of state to boost business. Both companies are cutting jobs to deal with the slow economy.

Details: www.coloradoski.com/Resorts/Deals/.