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All Things Independent
Ashford Prime Completes Acquisition of the 142-room Pier House Resort and Spa in Key West, Florida
Ashford Hospitality Prime | March 3, 2014
DALLAS, March 3, 2014 - Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. (NYSE: AHP) ("Ashford Prime" or the "Company") today announced it has completed the acquisition of the 142-room Pier House Resort and Spa from Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust") for a total consideration of $92.7 million ($653,000 per key). In connection with the transaction, the Company has assumed the existing $69 million property level debt financing that Ashford Trust closed in September 2013. The balance of the purchase price was funded with proceeds from the Company's January equity offering. On a forward 12-month basis, the purchase price represent...
Moxy Milan Malpensa to Open in September Followed by a Further Five Hotels in Europe by End of 2015
Marriott International, Inc. | March 3, 2014
Berlin, Germany, March 3, 2014 – Following the debut of Moxy Hotels this September at the Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) announced today that it plans to open five additional locations in key cities throughout Europe by 2015 including Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt in Germany, as well as Oslo, Norway. Marriott International expects to sign a further 13 hotels in Europe by the end of 2014. A fresh and innovative lifestyle hotel brand created especially for the millennial traveller which combines contemporary design and approachable service at a reasonable price, Moxy Hotels is projected to reach 15...
Protecting Our Most Important Asset: Our Children: Tourism’s Fight Against Child Sexual Exploitation
Dr. Peter E. Tarlow | March 3, 2014
by Dr. Peter Tarlow Tourism security has traditionally been about protecting visitors from themselves, from other tourists and from locals who seek to rob and or steal from them, commit fraud against them or in one way or another verbally or physically assault the visitor. Unfortunately not all visitors are angles of perfection, and at least in some nations around the world children are sold into sexual slavery to be used by and at the visitor's pleasure. Despite what most people want to believe there are people who travel for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a minor. There are many reasons for this sickness, ranging from the...
Mr. Bicycle and Other Challenges – Otherwise Known as Combating the Guests from Hell
Steven Ferry | March 3, 2014
by Steven Ferry "What do you suggest?" asked the GM of a luxury resort over lunch, recently. "A guest is insisting we track down the guest who 'stole' his bicycle and have him apologize in person." The resort gives bicycles without charge to all guests and one had perhaps inadvertently, in the dark, taken the wrong one back to their villa. The butler had found the bicycle almost immediately and returned it to the indignant guest while the GM arranged for a visiting friend to impersonate the "thieving" guest and offer an apology. Unfortunately, the irate guest's bicycle went missing again soon thereafter, and the guest went ballistic, th...
Rhonda Davis Appointed as Spa Director for Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Florida
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa | March 3, 2014
DESTIN, Fla. (March 3, 2014) - Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, the largest full-service beachfront resort on Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast, has announced the completion of renovations at their award-wining Serenity by the sea Spa, and the appointment of Rhonda Davis as the new spa director. The resort's recent $12.5 million transformation included major upgrades at the 11,000 square-foot spa, where Davis will oversee all aspects of operations, staff management and treatment protocol. For eight consecutive years, Serenity by the sea has been voted "Best Spa" by readers of Emerald Coast magazine, and in 2013 was ranked #26 ...
Christine Devers Appointed as General Manager of the 289-key Park Ridge Marriott in New Jersey
Marriott Hotels & Resorts | March 3, 2014
Park Ridge, NJ (March 3, 2014) - Christine Devers has been appointed General Manager of the Park Ridge Marriott, it was announced by David Marriott, COO - Americas Eastern Region and Bill Skoglund, Area Vice President, of Marriott International. Ms. Devers began her career in the travel and hospitality industry as a summer intern at the Palisades Executive Conference Center. She joined Marriott in 1991 and over the years, has held various executive-level positions in Hotel Operations and Human Resources including as Director of Rooms Operations and Director of Human Resources at the Park Ridge Marriott, Multi-Property Director of Human ...
GCommerce Announces Partnership with Historic Connecticut Resort
GCommerce | March 3, 2014
Saybrook Point Inn & Spa celebrates their 25th anniversary by collaborating with digital marketing agency, GCommerce PARK CITY, Utah - GCommerce, a hospitality digital marketing company, announced today they have a new client in Old Saybrook, the historic Saybrook Point Inn & Spa. This 4-diamond New England property is a refreshing waterfront and sea escape for the east coast area, including Boston and New York. The family owned hotel is celebrating their 25th anniversary. With this milestone Saybrook Point Inn & Spa has engaged GCommerce to create a new website presence and digital strategy to showcase their amazing propert...
European Hotel Transactions Reach New Peak in 2013, Up 39% Over 2012, Says HVS Report
HVS | March 3, 2014
3 March 2014 - European hotel transaction volume in 2013 reached a new peak since the onset of the global financial crisis, signalling a comeback of the hotel real estate market. The 2013 European Hotel Transactions article, published by HVS London to coincide with the International Hotel Investment Forum [Berlin, 3-5 March], reports that total transaction volume across Europe reached €7.7 billion in 2013, a 39% increase on the €5.6 billion recorded in 2012. The first quarter of 2013 accounted for more than half of the year's total transaction volume, totalling €4.2 billion. "The European hotel industry has signalled positive tren...
Florida’s Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration Hotel Completes $10-Million Makeover
| March 3, 2014
March 3, 2014 - CELEBRATION, FL -- The newest accommodations at a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel now can be found at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration following the resort's $10-million transformation of its guestrooms, meeting and event spaces, restaurant, lobby and public spaces. Located a half mile from the Walt Disney Resort with complimentary, all-day shuttle transportation to the Epcot Transportation Center (saving families $14 a day in parking), the new-look Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration is ideal for families looking for money-saving rates on new accommodations near the Magic Kingdom. The property's all-new guestrooms fea...
A 2015 Opening Planned for 188-key Aloft New Orleans Downtown Transforming an Historic Building
Aloft Hotels | March 3, 2014
Owned by 225 Baronne Complex and Managed by HRI Lodging March 03, 2014 - STAMFORD, Conn. - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its leading-edge Aloft brand will debut in New Orleans in 2015, following the completion of an adaptive re-use project. The historic building, located at 225 Baronne Street, will be transformed into a sleek new Aloft Hotel in the city's central business district. Owned by 225 Baronne Complex LLC, an entity of HRI Properties, and managed by HRI Lodging, Aloft New Orleans Downtown will feature 188 spacious, loft-like rooms, forward-thinking technology and a lively, socia...
Strategic Hotels & Resorts Closes on Sale of Mexico’s Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort for $200M
Strategic Hotels & Resorts | March 3, 2014
CHICAGO, March 3, 2014 -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE) today announced that the Company has closed on the sale of the Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort and the adjacent La Solana land parcel for $200.0 million. The Company expects after tax proceeds to total approximately $180.0 million which it intends to use to retire its 8.50% Series A Preferred Stock and reduce indebtedness under its revolving credit facility. This press release contains forward-looking statements about Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (the "Company"). Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-loo...
Caesars Entertainment to Sell $2.2 Billion of Assets to Caesars Growth Partners
Caesars Entertainment | March 3, 2014
Represents First of Anticipated Steps to Address Capital Structure of CEOC Subsidiary LAS VEGAS, March 3, 2014 -- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Bally's Las Vegas, The Cromwell (formerly Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon), The Quad and Harrah's New Orleans to Caesars Growth Partners, LLC for a purchase price of $2.2 billion, including assumed debt of $185 million and committed project capital expenditures of $223 million, resulting in anticipated cash proceeds of $1.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014, subject t...
Construction Slated to Begin in Spring 2014 for The Hotel Covington Kentucky
BuildCentral | March 3, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Add/Update 176 Hotel Projects to the New Hotel Construction Projects Database Chicago, IL. March 3, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have added or updated 176 hotel projects in the last two weeks to Hotel Construction, a nationwide database of hotel construction projects, openings, and key decision makers (Owner/Developers, Architects and Contractors). These proposed hotels are still in the planning stages. Now is the perfect time to have your product drawn into plans, or offer construction services: Jupiter Pointe Marina Hotel (Jupiter, FL) TK Tripps Hotel (Asheville, NC) Hotel Eleven (Austin, TX) ...
Kokua Hospitality Adds San Francisco’s The Powell Hotel to Portfolio
Kokua Hospitality, LLC | February 28, 2014
This month, Kokua Hospitality, LLC, a hotel management firm based in Chicago, celebrates its eighth anniversary with the addition of the eighth property under their umbrella, The Powell Hotel. The San Francisco hotel joins Kokua's roster of notable properties across the country, including DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile, The Allerton Chicago, Inn of Chicago, Aloft National Harbor, Embassy Suites Baltimore- Inner Harbor, and Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach. Kokua Hospitality was conceived in 2006 and today offers adaptive and transparent property management to eight hotels, boasting a total of more than 2,700 rooms nationwide. Th...
Benchmark Hospitality Int’l Formally Unveils New Hotel Brands
Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels | February 28, 2014
"Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels" and "Benchmark Resorts & Hotels" To the National Travel Press in New York City The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2014 ... Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, formally introduced its new hospitality brands to the national travel press during a luncheon this week at Per Se in Manhattan: Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® and Benchmark Resorts & Hotels®. Presenting both brands -- two of the hotel industry's newest -- was Alex Cabañas, president & CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International. "Benchmark is taking a bold st...
America’s Best Franchising Names Sterling F. Stoudenmire, IV as President and CEO
America's Best Franchising | February 28, 2014
February 28, 2014 - America's Best Franchising has named Sterling F. Stoudenmire, IV as the company's new President and CEO, effective immediately, succeeding Doug Collins who has chosen to pursue new opportunities. Stoudenmire is highly-respected as an innovative transformation executive who has been assigned the responsibility of aggressively changing the company into an industry leader for its segment. "We intend to revitalize the company and its value proposition for both owners and the traveling public by thoroughly and dramatically redefining, repositioning, and re-launching the America's Best Franchising brands," said Stoudenmire...
Mark Sherwin Joins Sonesta as Executive Vice President Operations
Sonesta Hotels & Resorts | February 28, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014, Boston, MA - Sonesta has named Mark Sherwin as Executive Vice President Operations. Mark joined the company in late January and will lead the growing operations team for Sonesta focused on cost improvement initiatives, profit improvement plans, operational fiscal responsibility, and bottom-line operations strategies. "Mark has the background and firsthand experience necessary to lead our general managers and corporate operations team," said Bill Sheehan, Sonesta's Chairman, President and CEO. "Mark's hands on leadership at the corporate, regional and property level in upscale and luxury hospitality environment...
The 1030-room Anaheim Marriott in California Adds Three New Executives to its Sales Team
Marriott Hotels | February 28, 2014
Anaheim, CA (February 27, 2014) - The Anaheim Marriott has added three new executives to its sales team, it was announced today by Dan Shaughnessy, director of sales and marketing. Erica Westmyer has been named director of group sales. She was formerly citywide sales executive for Marriott International's Los Angeles/Anaheim Market Sales Team representing both the Anaheim Marriott and the Fairfield Inn Anaheim for citywide bookings from the West Coast, Central, and Midwest markets. She joined Marriott Hotels & Resorts in 2007 and worked for the Anaheim Marriott on property as part of the sales team from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2...
Magdalena King, Assistant GM of Antlers at Vail, Honored as Hospitality Professional of the Year
| February 28, 2014
Vail, Colorado - February 28, 2014 - Magdalena King, assistant general manager of the Antlers at Vail hotel, was honored as Hospitality Professional of the Year at the 11th annual Vail Valley Partnership Success Awards at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Vail on Friday. In addition to a strongly "people first" management approach that has won her fans from her staff to Antlers guests to the Vail business community, King has set a goal of helping all of her housekeeping staff get GEDs that included forming a Spanish-language book club to boost literacy. Given annually, the Vail Valley Partnership's Success Awards honor the "'best of t...
Action Hotels Opens the 185-room Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb in Oman
February 28, 2014
Muscat, Oman, 28 February 2014: IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has opened Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb in the heart of capital's new business district, making it the third IHG hotel in the city. Brought to the city by Action Hotels, the opening marks the return of the one of the world's most recognised hotel brands to Oman. The hotel is located within ten minutes' drive of Muscat International Airport and next to the new centres of business and government, perfect for business travellers on a tight schedule or families looking for a convenient stay in the serenity of Al Seeb. The hotel is also close to some of the capital's most popu...
Orient-Express Hotels Reports Q4 2013 Results; Same Store RevPAR up 9%
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. | February 28, 2014
Fourth quarter same store revenue per available room ("RevPAR") up 9% in US dollars and 10% in local currency compared to prior-year quarter Fourth quarter total revenue up 9% to $138.0 million from $126.5 million in prior-year quarter Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA up 12% to $21.4 million from $19.1 million in prior-year quarter Full year adjusted EBITDA up 17% year-over-year to $119.7 million Excluding El Encanto, full year adjusted EBITDA up 18% year-over-year and retention of 44% Agreed to sell The Inn at Perry Cabin in December 2013 for $39.7 million of gross proceeds and to enter into a ten-year management agreement for the...
Rebranding to Occur for Hilton Munich Airport Q1’15 Opening; Renovation & 160-key Expansion Planned
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | February 28, 2014
February 28, 2014 - MUNICH and McLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide has signed an agreement which will see it rebrand a 389-key hotel within Munich Airport under its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. The property is the only hotel with a direct link to the main terminal building and is the latest addition to the company's expanding portfolio of hotels at European transport hubs. Under the new agreement, Hilton will manage the upper upscale hotel on behalf of owners Allresto Flughafen München Hotel und Gaststätten GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Flughafen München GmbH, from January 2015. The hotel, which is currently operating ...
NICC 2014 to Showcase the Future of Hospitality and Travel
Newmarket International, Inc. | February 28, 2014
Gain Access to the Information Needed to Build Your Growth Strategy and Make Your Business Flourish Now and in the Future Portsmouth, New Hampshire - February 28, 2014 - Newmarket International, Inc. ("Newmarket"), the proven business solutions provider for empowering hospitality organizations to lower costs and increase revenue while improving customer satisfaction and guest loyalty, is pleased to announce several guest speakers discussing the future of hospitality and travel at NICC 2014. Being held this year at the Omni Dallas Hotel from Tuesday, April 8 to Friday, April 11, NICC has been acclaimed as both thought provoking and inspi...
Managed by Hegg Companies, the 111-key Hyatt Place Lincoln/Downtown-Haymarket Opens in Nebraska
Hyatt Place | February 28, 2014
Under the Leadership of General Manager David Wheaton and Director of Sales Jacquie Hirschman CHICAGO (February 28, 2014) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and Hegg Companies today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Lincoln/Downtown-Haymarket, the first Hyatt hotel in Lincoln, Neb. This hotel offers a refreshing new choice for the business and leisure travelers coming to Lincoln and looking to be in the center of it all. The hotel is managed by Hegg Companies, located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and today's opening adds Hyatt Place Lincoln/Downtown-Haymarket to its management portfolio in the region. "We are excited to work with WRK to...
