Uncommon Hospitality to Open Boutique Hotel in Portland, Maine’s Historic West End District
Post Company | December 13, 2022
5 Telltale Signs It’s Time to Change Your S&C System and Why It’s Quicker and Easier Than You Might Think
Ryan Hamilton | July 6, 2022
All Things Independent
Hyatt to Acquire Florida’s 1,641-room Peabody Orlando Hotel for $717 Million
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | August 28, 2013
To be Rebranded as Hyatt Regency Orlando Convention Center Upon October 1st Transaction Closing CHICAGO - August 28, 2013 - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a wholly owned Hyatt subsidiary plans to purchase the 1,641-room Peabody Orlando hotel for $717 million from UST Hotel Joint Venture, Ltd., comprised of affiliates of Belz Enterprises and Estein & Associates USA, Ltd. The transaction is expected to close on October 1, 2013, and the hotel will be rebranded as Hyatt Regency Orlando Convention Center upon closing. "This transaction brings us a very high-quality hotel in one of the most popular cities in the w...
Creativity “on” the Job – 25 Outlandish Excuses Americans Use To Get More Vacation Time
Choice Hotels | August 28, 2013
New Survey From Choice Hotels: Most Americans Are Planning End-of-Summer/Fall Getaways ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 28, 2013 -- Heading into the long Labor Day weekend, most Americans (66 percent) report they plan to take a leisure trip for the end of the summer or fall this year, according to a nationwide survey conducted this month by Choice Hotels International, Inc., (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies. As the peak summer travel season draws to a close, nearly two-thirds of Americans polled (63 percent) said they could use more vacation time. The top things they would do with their extra time off: just relax (58 percent)...
iRiS Software Systems to Launch New In-app Phone Feature
iRiS Software Systems | August 28, 2013
August 28, 2013 - iRiS Software Systems, the award-winning hospitality technology provider, has launched an integrated phone system through their iRiS Valet application. The iRiS Guest Valet application now supports integration with PABX systems via SIP servers, allowing guests to make internal and external phone calls from within the app- a world first! "We're all very excited about this new integration, the fact that this is a world first cements our position as the leading innovators in the industry and the Palais Hansen Kempinski is the ideal place to trial it." Said Jason Jefferys, CEO of iRiS Software Systems. This new integration...
Five Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Business for Same-Sex Weddings
14 Stories | August 28, 2013
The 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute (GWI) announces a free PDF: Five Things You can do to Prepare Your Business for Same-Sex Weddings - just click here for the free download. Over 300 wedding and hospitality professionals from top hotels around the world are graduates of the world's first gay wedding certification course, presented by the GWI. Our next GWI course by webinar will be offered again on September 10, 17 and 24. Registration is now open and the early bird rate expires on September 1. Our next live course will be held in San Diego on November 3, Los Angeles on November 4 and in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City on...
Nobody Asked Me, But…No. 108 Is It Fair?; After Two Years in the Making; A Preview of My New Book
Stanley Turkel, CMHS, ISHC | August 27, 2013
Quote of the Month By Stanley Turkel, CMHS, ISHC 1. Is It Fair? So you bought a Hilton franchise because you believed that the Blackstone Group was a strong owner. Now, Blackstone has begun preparations for an initial public offering and has hired the Goldman Sachs Group, Bank of America's Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley to find appropriate buyers. What recourse does a Hilton franchisee have? None at all. While the franchisee can't sell his hotel without Blackstone's approval, Blackstone can sell the entire Hilton Corporation without the approval of its more than 4000 franchisees: (consisting of Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, DoubleTr...
Knowland Group Executive Awarded CFO of the Year
The Knowland Group | August 27, 2013
Innovative cloud computing and data firm's CFO, Jeff Haslow, receives recognition from financial industry community Washington, DC (Aug 27, 2013) - The Knowland Group is proud to announce that Jeff Haslow, Knowland's Chief Financial Officer has recently been award CFO by the Year (Private Company) during Proformative's CFO Dimensions Awards for Excellence. At the award ceremony held at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on August 22nd, winners in four categories were honored during Proformative's premier conference for chief financial officers and corporate finance leaders. Haslow, in great company, shared the stage with the CFO or fin...
Thomas F. Kissinger Promoted to Senior Executive Vice President for The Marcus Corporation
The Marcus Corporation | August 27, 2013
Steven S. Bartelt and Mary Beth Castino Also Named for New Legal Department Positions MILWAUKEE, Wis. - August 27, 2013 - The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS) today announced the promotion of Thomas F. Kissinger, 53, to senior executive vice president of The Marcus Corporation. In addition, the company announced the promotions of Steven S. Bartelt to director of legal affairs and Mary Beth Castino to director of risk management. Kissinger will continue to serve as The Marcus Corporation's general counsel and secretary, and will assume added responsibilities for the human resources and corporate real estate departments. He will also work ...
AH&LA Appoints Vanessa Sinders as Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) | August 27, 2013
Washington, D.C. - August 27, 2013 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) announces the appointment of Vanessa Sinders as senior vice president of governmental affairs, effective September 16, 2013. In this role, Sinders will oversee the association's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with key administration policymakers, and will be responsible for directing the governmental affairs department in the development and execution of key strategies for addressing the key issues facing the lodging industry, including immigration reform, tax, healthcare, and labor. She also will oversee the expansion of the association'...
Hay Creek Hotels Promotes George F. Soderberg II to Vice-President of Operations
Hay Creek Hotels | August 27, 2013
EXETER, New Hampshire (August 27, 2013) - Hay Creek Hotels is pleased to announce the promotion of George F. Soderberg II to Vice-President of Operations. In this capacity, he will be responsible for the overall operations direction of all Hay Creek properties. George joined Hay Creek Hotels in 2009 as Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing. He quickly demonstrated his ability to improve revenue and GSI while simultaneously controlling costs. He took on a variety of responsibilities, including cost controls, design and implementation of service and operational standards, marketing, sales, market analysis, revenue management analysi...
Denihan Hospitality Group Promotes Patrick Chiappetta to Corporate Director of Restaurants and Bars
Denihan Hospitality Group | August 27, 2013
New York, NY (August 27, 2013) - Denihan Hospitality Group, a full-service hotel management and development company that owns and operates boutique hotels in major urban markets in the U.S., has announced the promotion of Patrick Chiappetta to Corporate Director of Restaurants and Bars. In his new role, Patrick directs the culinary, catering, staff training and marketing efforts throughout Denihan's companywide restaurant and bar operations. Chiappetta joined Denihan in 2010 as Director of Operations for Art and Soul, helmed by two-time James Beard award-winning Chef Art Smith. During Chiappetta's tenure at Art and Soul, the restaurant ...
Lite Hotels Names Paul Dun & Lendy Ma Hotel Managers for Pagoda and White Sands Hotels in Honolulu
August 27, 2013
August 27, 2013 - Honolulu, Hawaii - Lite Hotels, a division of Aqua Hospitality, named Paul Dun, hotel manager, for the 360-room Pagoda Hotel. Most recently, Dun was hotel manager for the White Sands Hotel where he was instrumental in helping the property achieve improved ADR and a higher ranking on the popular consumer travel site, TripAdvisor. Prior to joining Aqua in 2006, Dun worked in Special Events at the Royal Hawaiian Center. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and has a B.A. from the University of Redlands in California. Replacing Dun at the 93-room White Sands Hotel as hotel manager is Lendy Ma. With nearly ten years of ex...
Denver’s Curtis – a Doubletree by Hilton Completes $3.4 Million Meeting Space Expansion
the Curtis - a Doubletree by Hilton | August 27, 2013
Denver, Colo. (Aug. 27, 2013) - Line up and start practicing your serve - the Curtis - a Doubletree by Hilton has expanded its playground with a $3.4 million renovation that includes the new Four Square Ballroom, a unique 7,000 square feet indoor/outdoor event space in the heart of downtown Denver. At 4,200 square feet, the new Curtis Four Square ballroom boasts upscale finishes, tons of natural light, cool modern art elements and the latest in advanced technology. A large retractable nano glass wall separates the modern indoor space from a sizeable outdoor patio complete with a private bar, custom lounge furniture and a fireplace. The ...
Embassy Suites Baltimore Installs FlyteBoard; Enhances Service with Real-Time Airline Information
Flyte Systems | August 27, 2013
Historic Property Renovates with High-Tech Flyte Systems Services that Keep Guests On Time and On Property; New InfoBoard Provides Global Property Information, Airline Schedules, and More CHICAGO, IL August 27, 2013 - Flyte Systems, the leading provider of airport travel information displays and digital signage content for the hospitality industry, digital signage, convention centers and related businesses, announced the Embassy Suites Baltimore Downtown installed its FlyteBoard airline schedule display. FlyteBoard gives guests accurate, real-time airline flight information for travel confidence that keeps them comfortably on property l...
Denihan Hospitality Group Names Three New VPs: Cheryl Franz, Wendy Pong and Susan Weigel
Denihan Hospitality Group | August 27, 2013
New York, NY (August 27, 2013) - Denihan Hospitality Group, a full-service hotel management and development company that owns and operates boutique hotels in major urban markets in the U.S., has announced the appointment of three new vice presidents, according to David Duncan, Denihan's president. They include: Cheryl Franz, Vice President, Learning & Organizational Development; Wendy Pong, Vice President, Asset Management; and Susan Weigel, Vice President, Revenue Management. In a newly created position, Franz is responsible for managing and supporting the assessment of organizational needs and the design, implementation and evalua...
Sébastien Bazin Appointed as Accor’s Chairman and CEO
Accor | August 27, 2013
Paris, August 27, 2013 - The Board of Directors of Accor that convened on August 27, 2013, chaired by Philippe Citerne, decided to appoint Sébastien Bazin as Chairman and CEO of Accor. To take on this new role, Sébastien Bazin has ended all his duties at Colony Capital, which he had been heading since 1997. Philippe Citerne has been appointed as Vice-Chairman of Accor's Board of Directors. Philippe Citerne declared: "following the selection procedure, the Board has considered Sébastien as the best choice for Accor, among all high quality candidates that have been examined. His perfect understanding of the Group, his experience in the...
Increase Booking Conversions with One Simple Step – Add FAQs to Your Website
Lodging Interactive | August 27, 2013
As a DIY or fully-managed service, Lodging Interactive will oversee a hotel's online FAQ listing, including developing questions people typically ask, sourcing the answers from the hotel, and allowing new questions to be asked by consumers online to help hotels increase conversion rates, maximize organic search and boost SEO rankings PARSIPPANY, N.J. - AUGUST 27, 2013 - Your hotel has a restaurant . . . does it serve menu items that are gluten free? The Titanic Exhibit is in town . . . what does it cost to get in and how long is the exhibit open? The resort offers three pools . . . are there lifeguards on duty and are pool floats permit...
U.S. Lodging Sector Performance Remains Favorable Despite Sluggish Economic Growth, Says PwC US
PwC US | August 27, 2013
NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2013 -- PwC US anticipates that positive momentum in travel activity will continue to boost revenue per available room ("RevPAR") in 2013, despite the recent sluggish pace of economic recovery. An updated lodging forecast released today by PwC US shows favorable gains in hotel performance, consistent with PwC's expectations at the start of the year. Occupancy levels at higher-priced hotels are ahead of prior peak levels, industry RevPAR is above its prior peak, and hotel construction activity, while rebounding, is still quite moderate, according to PwC. As demand continues to outpace supply growth, and economic growth...
The Components of Labor Costs by Mark Woodworth and Robert Mandelbaum
PKF Hospitality Research | August 27, 2013
August 27, 2013 - Labor and related costs have long been the single expense category in operating a hotel. In 2012, 45 percent of all dollars were spent on personnel to manage, market and, critically, deliver hospitable service to create a memorable (and hopefully positive!) guest experience. Thus, managers spend a significant portion of their time recruiting, training, and scheduling employees. In the July 2012 issue of Lodging we noted, "As the U.S. lodging industry continues along the road to recovery and occupancy levels begin to surpass long-run average levels, hotel managers will be challenged to continue to operate on austere lev...
InnRoad Names Cynthia Roberts Director of Sales, Western US
innRoad | August 27, 2013
[New York, NY - August 27, 2013] innRoad announced today the commencement of Cynthia Roberts as Director of Sales, Western US. Presently, Cynthia is coordinating sales efforts across the region to benefit the many western independent hotels in search of higher profits. Cynthia is an experienced and awarded Sales Executive, having worked in hospitality sales for the past 18 years with companies such as Hotwire.com and Travelclick. During her long career in the West, based in California, she has developed relationships with hundreds of hotels across many sub-markets and metropolitan areas. It was here she developed an affinity for indepen...
San Antonio’s Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa Completes $35-Million Expansion and Renovation
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa | August 27, 2013
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 27, 2013 -- State and local elected officials and tourism industry leaders gathered to celebrate the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa's 20th anniversary and the emergence of San Antonio as a world-class resort destination. When the resort opened in 1993, it was the first new hotel built in Texas in five years and established the "destination resort" market in San Antonio. "Hyatt Hill Country was immediately successful," said Gino Caliendo, General Manager. "We've averaged more than 200,000 guests every year since, bringing millions of visitors to San Antonio from all 50 states across the U.S. and 55 different ...
The New-Build 202-room Sheraton Dohuk Hotel to Open in Iraq in Early 2014
Brilliant Role Group | August 27, 2013
DOHUK, Iraq - August 27, 2013 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has signed an agreement with Mase Co LLC, a company managed by Brilliant Role Group, to open a new-build Sheraton hotel in Dohuk, in the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in northern Iraq. Scheduled to debut early next year, the Sheraton Dohuk Hotel will be the first of four new Starwood hotels to open in Iraq after 20 years, and will be the first internationally-branded hotel in the emerging city of Dohuk. "We look forward to a long-term partnership with Mase Co as we enter into our first hotel development together with the introduction of the Sheraton b...
SpeedRFP, the Online Direct Buying Network for Meeting Planners, Leapfrogs its Growth
SpeedRFP | August 27, 2013
SpeedRFP Surpassed 65,000 Buyer Members, and Helped Facilitate more than $100,000,000 in Bookings in the Past Year Santa Barbara, CA, August 27, 2013 - SpeedRFP, the leading cloud-based, request-for-proposal (RFP) system, grew its network of meeting planners and other buyers by more than 38,000 in the past 12 months. In doing so, it surpassed the 65,000-member mark and was involved in bookings exceeding $100,000,000 in meeting revenues in the same period. Based on these numbers and input from the planner community, it's clear that while there are many options when "shopping" for meetings, SpeedRFP has become the eRFP solution of choice ...
$24 Million 179-room Holiday Inn Lima Airport to be Developed in Peru by the Pinasco Family
the Holiday Inn brand | August 27, 2013
MIAMI - August 27, 2013 - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), continues to increase the Holiday Inn® brand's footprint in Latin America with the signing of the new-build Holiday Inn Lima Airport hotel. The $24 million hotel will be located adjacent to the city's Jorge Chavez International Airport, and is being developed by the Pinasco family, who will also manage the hotel under the Operaciones Turisticas Peruanas S.A.C. entity. The organization has been working with IHG for many years and also owns and manages the Crowne Plaza® Lima hotel. "We see great potential for our brands in Peru," said Joel Eisemann, chief development officer...
Hotel Equities Promotes Brad Rahinsky to Chief Operating Officer
Hotel Equities | August 27, 2013
ATLANTA (August 27, 2013) -Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (www.hotelequities.com) recently promoted Brad Rahinsky to the position of Chief Operating Officer. With a comprehensive 20-plus year background in hospitality operations, sales and marketing and business development, Brad sets the strategic path for Hotel Equities overseeing all aspects of the organizations day-to-day activities with the assistance of an industry-best support team. Prior to HE, Brad's experience includes several executive level positions with multiple brands and hotel management firms. He joined the firm in early 2012. "Since joining Hotel Equities, Brad has becom...
