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November 4th, 2024
Novotel Living Saigon South Debuts in Vietnam
Novotel | September 1, 2023
Novotel Living – Accor’s extended stay concept designed to make guests feel like home, has made its debut in Vietnam with the launch of Novotel Living Saigon South, a contemporary extended stay hotel that keeps travellers comfortable and fully connected, however long they stay. “The opening of Novotel Living Saigon South marks our second hotel in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City - a vibrant neighborhood in the largest city in Vietnam, brimming with opportunities for commercial and residential developments. The hotel is strategically located close to the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, right in the center of the local community...
Construction to Begin in September for $250 Million Avani Hotel in Mooloolaba
Avani Hotels | September 1, 2023
A brand new 13-storey hotel in a world-class destination offering a stunning rooftop bar, pool, restaurant and a conference and wedding venue is set to transform a popular Coastal seaside suburb. Construction of the Avani Hotel will start in September for the long-awaited $250 million 4.5-star property, on the corner of Brisbane Road and First Avenue at Mooloolaba. Sunshine Coast Council has given the green light with the finalisation of development approvals for the key project that will help boost the local economy through the creation of jobs and bring tourists to the region. Designed by renowned architect Cottee Parker Architects an...
Chorten Wangyel Appointed Managing Director of Coral Sands Hotel in Harbour Island
Coral Sands | September 1, 2023
Wangyel’s appointment marks his grand return to the Bahamas, where he formerly served as General Manager of The Dunmore Hotel and Residences, and The Cove Eleuthera. September 1, 2023—Coral Sands Hotel in Harbour Island is delighted to announce the appointment of Chorten Wangyel as managing director of the iconic establishment. The celebrated hospitality leader will take the helm this month, marking a pivotal moment for the property. With a career in luxury hospitality spanning almost 20 years, Wangyel brings an impressive global perspective to Coral Sands. Recent successes include his role as the preopening general manager of Kisawa Sa...
Today Is National Hotel Employee Day
AHLA | September 1, 2023
WASHINGTON (Sept. 1, 2023) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today recognized National Hotel Employee Day. AHLA and the National Day Calendar established National Hotel Employee Day in 2022 to honor the nearly two million employees who work in the hotel industry. It is observed annually on September 1. This year, National Hotel Employee Day comes as hotels across the nation are working to quickly fill nearly 100,000 open hotel jobs, according to Indeed. To attract more talent, hotels are offering current and prospective employees near-historic wages, better benefits, and more flexibility than ever before. America...
Mantra Melbourne Airport to Undergo Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
Accor | August 31, 2023
Mantra Melbourne Airport is delighted to announce that it will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment, providing guests with superb facilities and a relaxing stay, with the new-look property set to be unveiled in 2024. Formerly referred to as Mantra Tullamarine, the popular airport hotel has recently been renamed Mantra Melbourne Airport to provide greater clarity and make it easier for guests to identify the hotel’s convenient location at the airport. Mantra Melbourne Airport will invest in remodelling its guestrooms, restaurant and bar. The new-look guestrooms will provide a range of accommodation options, including executive, pre...
Taylor Swift Impact Grows to $208M in U.S. Hotel Room Revenue
STR | August 31, 2023
Analysis by M. Brian Riley There’s no shortage of debate when discussing U.S. hotel performance or the country’s economic prospects headed into the final months of 2023. One portion of those discussions not requiring debate, however, is the massive lift provided by Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Best believe U.S. hotels were still “bejeweled” when Swift came to town, as concert dates after our previous update (June through early August) increased the tour impact to $208 million in additional U.S. hotel room revenue. Methodology The starting leg of Swift’s U.S. tour, analyzed here, began in mid-March with a total of 28 shows i...
Damon Cundiff Named New Executive Chef at Kimpton Overland Hotel in Atlanta
IHG Hotels & Resorts | August 31, 2023
Atlanta, Ga. – Aug. 31, 2023 – The Kimpton Overland Hotel, along with its two dining venues, APRON and The Rooftop at the Overland, is excited to announce Damon Cundiff as its new executive chef. South Carolina native Damon Cundiff brings more than 26 years of hospitality experience to his new role as Executive Chef at the Kimpton Overland Hotel. Growing up watching his family gather and cook, Cundiff became fascinated with how meals brought people together, which ultimately led him to pursue a culinary education at the Culinary Institute of America and the International Culinary Arts Institute. Throughout his career, Cundiff has been ...
U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 26 August
CoStar Group | August 31, 2023
WASHINGTON – 31 August 2023 – Following seasonal patterns, U.S. hotel performance declined from the previous week but showed positive comparisons year over year, according to CoStar’s latest data through 26 August. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. 20-26 August 2023 (percentage change from comparable week in 2022): Occupancy: 65.0% (+0.4%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$150.23 (+1.7%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$97.62 (+2.1%) Among the Top 25 Markets, Las Vegas saw the largest year-over-year occupancy increase (+7.9% to 76...
The Difference Between What Customers Want and What They Need
Shep Hyken | August 31, 2023
By Shep Hyken Many years ago, I walked into an Ace Hardware store to find a new hinge for a swinging door. When I showed the salesperson my broken hinge, he asked if I was open to a suggestion. He sold me a better hinge that was less expensive. Who could argue with that? I had no idea that years later, I would write about this example in one of my books, Amaze Every Customer Every Time. After that, I noticed that salespeople were more helpful than “salesy.” And guess what happens when they practice helpful behavior versus typical sales behavior? They make the sale. Another example of this “helpful” level of service happe...
Why Hospitality Is Important as a Skill and Not Only as an Industry
EHL Insights | August 31, 2023
Well on the way to recovery post-pandemic, the global hospitality industry continues to grow, change, and diversify every year. In fact, hospitality remains one of the world's fastest-growing employment sectors, and factors such as increasing disposable income, rising demand for more diverse travel and tourism activities, and the affordability of air travel contribute to this ongoing growth. According to the Hospitality Global Market Report, the travel and tourism industry saw a growth of 15.1% in 2022. One of the sectors with the best economic performance was the hotels. In 2022, hotels generated 595,500 million more in profits than in 2...
In Focus: Singapore
Hok Yean CHEE | August 31, 2023
The Republic of Singapore is a metropolitan city-state and island country in Southeast Asia with a total land area of approximately 714.3 square kilometres. It is situated at the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia. With an economy supported by its growing population of approximately 5.6 million people, Singapore has witnessed a remarkable record of sustained economic growth throughout the years and bolstered its role as a global commerce, finance and transportation hub. Due to the high inflation and uncertain global outlook, Singapore's overall economy grew by 3.5% in 2022. Further decrease in Gross D...
IHG Opens Convent Square Lisbon as Part of Vignette Collection
IHG | August 31, 2023
IHG Hotels & Resorts adds sixth hotel to its first collection brand LONDON: August 2023: IHG Hotels & Resorts welcomes Convent Square Lisbon, Vignette Collection to its growing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio – now the second largest in the world. The 121-room hotel in Lisbon’s epicentre marks the second Vignette Collection property to open in Europe and the sixth hotel to join IHG’s first collection brand, set to reach 100 properties in 10 years. Harmonising heritage and hospitality, Convent Square Lisbon, Vignette Collection sees a 13th century Dominican convent rewritten to offer unexpected serenity in Lisbon’s l...
Pyramid Global Hospitality Appoints James Messinger as New Corporate Director of Culinary
Pyramid Global Hospitality | August 31, 2023
BOSTON and THE WOODLANDS, Texas, August 31, 2023 – Pyramid Global Hospitality, the powerhouse hospitality company behind inspired collections like Benchmark Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle and Hamilton Pyramid Europe, has named James Messinger as corporate director of culinary. “We are thrilled to welcome James to the Pyramid Global Hospitality corporate food and beverage team,” said Patrick Berwald, senior vice president, food & beverage at Pyramid Global Hospitality. “With over 25 years of culinary experience commensurate with our organization’s diverse operating needs, James is the seasoned executive for this role who will he...
W Punta de Mita Welcomes Oscar Gonzalez Ibarra as General Manager
W PUNTA DE MITA | August 31, 2023
The sophisticated beach resort introduces new leadership following the unveiling of a multi-million dollar renovation RIVIERA NAYARIT (AUGUST, 2023) – W Punta de Mita, the newly reimagined beachfront resort on the shores of Riviera Nayarit, is pleased to announce the appointment of Oscar Gonzalez Ibarra as General Manager. With his extensive expertise in luxury hospitality and commitment to delivering unparalleled guest experiences, Gonzalez is poised to lead W Punta de Mita’s reputation as the premier lifestyle hotel in the region. Oscar Gonzalez Ibarra began his career in his hometown of Mexico City at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. Over th...
SH Hotels & Resorts Expands Treehouse Hotels Brand to Australia With 2026 Opening of Treehouse Adelaide
Treehouse Hotels | August 31, 2023
WHAT: SH Hotels & Resorts, the sustainable brand management company founded by Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, announces its first Treehouse Hotel in Australia, scheduled to open in Adelaide in 2026.Treehouse Hotels, the free-spirited lifestyle hospitality brand acclaimed for “celebrating the joy of youth, freedom, fun and friends, real and imaginary,” is founded on the adventurous ideas that inspire a child to build their "treehouse" and hang. Treehouse Hotels creatively capture the carefree comfort, freedom, warmth and wonder of childhood. Designed to appeal to the youthful and playful spirit in all of u...
Marriott International Signs Agreement With Dalands Holding to Bring W Hotels to Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah
W Hotels | August 31, 2023
Overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the urban escape is anticipated to feature the brand’s detail-driven design and innovative programming Marriott International, Inc., today announced it has signed an agreement with Dalands Holding in collaboration with Marjan, the master-developer of freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah, to bring W Hotels to Al Marjan Island. Slated to open in Q1 2027, W Al Marjan Island is anticipated to mark W Hotels first property in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah bringing bold design, outstanding service and always-on programming. Al Marjan Island is Marjan’s flagship archipelago island off the coast of the city set a...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Breaks Ground on Two Atwell Suites Hotels in Nevada and Texas
IHG | August 31, 2023
ATLANTA (August 31, 2023) – IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, recently celebrated the ceremonial groundbreakings of two new Atwell Suites properties in Henderson, Nev. and Fort Worth, Texas. Both hotels are projected to open in mid-late 2024 and join a rapidly expanding pipeline that will bring 35 additional properties and more than 3,500 rooms to the U.S. in the coming years. Created to fill a growing need in the all-suites, upper-midscale category, Atwell Suites hotels are thoughtfully designed for guests seeking flexibility, discovery and kinship when they travel. Each hotel features guest...
Proposed DOL Overtime Changes Would Harm Hotels, Hurt Workers
AHLA | August 31, 2023
WASHINGTON (Aug. 31, 2023) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President & CEO Chip Rogers is speaking out today after the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposal to increase the minimum salary threshold for employees to qualify as salaried executive, administrative, and professional employees (and therefore exempt from overtime pay requirements) under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The proposal also would automatically update the threshold every three years. This would be the second increase imposed by DOL in less than 5 years. Employees who fail to qualify for the FLSA’s “white collar” exemption mu...
VAI Resort Taps Hapi and Salesforce to Deliver Hyper-Personalized Guest Experiences
HAPI | August 31, 2023
One-of-a-kind desert oasis in Glendale, Arizona, featuring an 1,100-room luxury hotel, will deploy Hapi Guest to personalize the guest experience across all areas of the resort. MIAMI and GLENDALE, Ariz., August 31, 2023 – VAI Resort, a $1 billion, 60-acre oasis featuring a 1,100-room luxury hotel scheduled to open in 2024 in Glendale, Arizona, has partnered with Hapi and Salesforce to personalize and differentiate guest service across the entire resort. The VAI operating team has selected Hapi Guest, a suite of hospitality-ready tools and configurations built for Salesforce CRM, to power a groundbreaking 360-degree personalized guest...
Penn State School of Hospitality Management Master of Professional Studies Applications Now Live!
The School of Hospitality Management | August 31, 2023
New Flexible, Focused Graduate Degree in Hospitality Management Starts at Penn State The Penn State School of Hospitality Management has launched a one-of-a-kind graduate degree program in hospitality management designed specifically for hospitality industry professionals. The school’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Hospitality Management (HM), launched its inaugural class in Fall 2023. MPS offers an exceptional and focused curriculum delivered by world-class faculty through online and in-resident course offerings. Flexible learning options The MPS in Hospitality Management program blends flexible course mode options with ...
Mount Cinnamon Grenada Appoints Diannethea Bain as General Manager
Mount Cinnamon | August 30, 2023
Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mrs. Diannethea Bain as General Manager. Mrs. Bain, who previously held the role of Hotel Manager and Head of Administration at the hotel, is a certified Hospitality Training Specialist who is a committed, caring, hospitality professional with extensive experience in Training and Talent Development, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Quality Assurance. In this new role, Mrs. Bain’s aim is to extensively develop the talent of the hotel’s team members, which will take Mount Cinnamon further in terms of its service offerings. She wants team members to grow in ...
The Psychological Shift When Increasing Nightly Rates
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | August 30, 2023
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky However much we think of dynamic pricing and yield management as a science, there’s still an art to it because underpinning every hotel reservation is human emotion. To help explain concepts like this, a little numerical exploration can really shine a light on things. Let’s start with smaller numbers to give this an opening perspective. We’re both big fans of wine, so consider a bottle of table wine. Imagine that the marketing gurus at whichever the chosen wine brand is have a chat and decide that the optimal price for this bottle is a clean $10.00. But that’s a full four digits, and you well know fr...
Oxford’s Linton Lodge to Undergo Renovation and Expansion
August 30, 2023
Planning Committee approval has recently been secured for the refurbishment and extension of Linton Lodge Hotel to a 123-room 4-star boutique hotel that better meets the demands of the Oxford market. Linton Lodge is currently a 3-star hotel set in the leafy North Oxford suburb, just a mile from the city centre. It is formed of two converted and extended Edwardian houses and provides 87 hotel rooms for visitors, including tourists and business travellers. Oxford’s hotel market is currently undersupplied, which is limiting the city’s tourism and business, as well as driving up the price of local accommodation. Over the next decade, at...
Australia Hotel Performance Normalizing With Improvement in Business Travel
CoStar Group | August 30, 2023
SYDNEY – 30 August 2023 – Australia’s recent hotel performance represents normalization as leisure demand has peaked and given way to strengthening in corporate business, according to CoStar and STR analysis that will be presented this week at NoVacancy Hotel + Accommodation Industry Expo. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. STR is CoStar’s provider of data benchmarking, analytics, and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry. Australia’s occupancy through the first seven months of the year was 68.2%, which was up ...
