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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Choice Hotels Honors Top Franchisees With Premier and ‘Best of Choice’ Awards at 65th Annual Convention
Choice Hotels | May 2, 2019
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 2, 2019 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announced its Premier and "Best of Choice" award winners at the company's 65th annual convention in Las Vegas. The elite Premier award designations – Premier Legacy, Premier Developer and Premier Hotelier – acknowledged three of the company's top franchisees from 2018. Each of the winners were recognized for providing exceptional guest experiences, commitment to development, and embodiment of the Choice Hotels brand promise: Premier Legacy Winner – Champ Patel, founder of Champion Hotels Group, is both an experienced hotel ...
Ten Luxury Fashion Brands Venturing Into Hospitality
Chiara Eckenschwiller | May 2, 2019
In a world where everything has to be documented on social media, customers are increasingly looking for experience-related services. It is not enough anymore to wear luxury products such as a purse or shoes, customers now want to pair their products to an overall experience. Luxury travelers are craving luxury experiences As fashion brands are reinventing themselves, what better way to do so while at the same time facilitating the expansion of their empire? Luxury hotels are increasingly appealing to travelers, especially at a time when luxury becomes more accessible and diverse. Luxury travelers are craving experiences that go beyond...
Blue Flag Acquires The Roberts Collection in Nantucket, Partnering With Life House on Management and Restoration
Life House Hotels | May 2, 2019
NANTUCKET, Mass., May 2, 2019 -- Local real estate firm Blue Flag Partners ("Blue Flag") has acquired The Roberts Collection, partnering with award-winning Life House hotel group on the management and future restoration of the historic, 58-room boutique hotel. Life House has taken over management of The Roberts Collection through the summer 2019 season, and in partnership with Blue Flag's in-house development, branding and construction teams will debut a transformed lifestyle hotel with multiple food and beverage concepts in the spring of 2020. This is the first collaboration between NYC-based Life House and Blue Flag, whi...
Mic Drop: Next REVERB by Hard Rock to Be Located in Sonoma Wine Country
May 2, 2019
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., May 2, 2019 -- REVERB by Hard Rock, Hard Rock's newest generation of music-centric hotels, is revving up the anticipation with the announcement of its second select service property, REVERB by Hard Rock Sonoma Wine Country, slated to open in summer of 2020. The property will join the inaugural REVERB by Hard Rock Atlanta, which is scheduled to open earlier next year. "REVERB by Hard Rock is lighting up the select service scene for 2020," said Todd Hricko, senior vice president, global hotel business development for Hard Rock Hotels. "The city of Cotati is the perfect location for our second REVERB, as...
Revisiting the Public Ownership of Convention Hotels
the authors | May 2, 2019
By Gregg Rockett and Jeff Sachs Part Two: In support of public authorities that choose to own convention hotels – from professionals in the trenches. Introduction Part one of this article reviewed the controversy surrounding the public ownership of hotels and highlighted the opposition's principal arguments, which has several decades of academic and journalistic documentation. One would think that a reaction to overwhelmingly negative literature would discourage the public sector from pursuing the outright ownership of hotels, and this may have muted some initiatives. However, municipal jurisdictions in the United States continue ...
Most Business Travelers Would Never Stay at a Hotel Where They Could Not Earn Rewards Points
La Quinta by Wyndham | May 2, 2019
PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 2, 2019 -- What does it take for today's business traveler to make the most of their time on the road and experience triumphant trips? La Quinta by Wyndham — a trusted hotel brand among career commuters for more than 50 years — along with esteemed entrepreneur and investor on the hit television series Shark Tank, Robert Herjavec, today unveiled the behaviors, quirks and realities business travelers face with the brand's first-ever "La Quinta Means Business" national survey. In its new survey, La Quinta sheds light on burning business travel questions, including how many travelers actua...
Sabre Announces Milestone Migration of La Quinta by Wyndham to SynXis Platform
Sabre Corporation | May 2, 2019
Achieves one of the largest same-day systems migrations in the history of the hospitality industry SOUTHLAKE, Texas, May 2, 2019 – Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, announced recently that it has successfully completed the migration of La Quinta by Wyndham properties to the Sabre Hospitality Solutions industry-leading SynXis Platform. This unprecedented migration, which was completed in early April, involved the simultaneous transition of La Quinta's reservations software and property management system for more than 900 hotels, resulting in one of the largest same-day ...
ECPAT-USA Issues Report on State Human Trafficking Laws for the Lodging Industry
ECPAT-USA | May 2, 2019
Brooklyn, NY (May 2, 2019) - - - To help lodging companies facing different laws about human trafficking in different states, ECPAT-USA , with the financial support of the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (AHLEF), today issued a report detailing what each state requires and providing materials to comply with the laws. The report, "Unpacking Human Trafficking A Survey of State Laws Targeting Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry", and all necessary materials are now available on the ECPAT-USA website, www.ecpatusa.org/hotel. "We know that the hospitality industry is eager to help fight human trafficki...
Your Outdated Venue Management Technology Costs You More Than You Think
Lauren Hall | May 2, 2019
By Lauren Hall, Founder & CEO, iVvy The digital era that we find ourselves in can be viewed from two perspectives – one in which companies are inspired by the new possibilities of the digital revolution and one in which technological investment is an overly costly expenditure. Technology seems to be on a fast-track to evolution, meaning platforms that emerged just a few short years ago could already become obsolete by the newer, updated solutions of today. While this is the reality of the progressive age we live in (and the ongoing influence of modern consumer demand), companies far too often fall into the trap of focusing on ...
Fountains Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa Rebrands as Best Western Fountains Hotel
May 2, 2019
PHOENIX, Arizona (May 2, 2019) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts and Fountains Hotel in Cape Town announce the rebranding of the Fountains Hotel. With 156 guest rooms and suites, the Best Western Fountains Hotel is located in the heart of Cape Town's central business district. Ideal for both business and leisure travelers, the hotel offers a choice of comfortable bedrooms, the majority with views over the harbour, the bustling Thibault Square or Table Mountain. The hotel boasts a range of rooms, with air-conditioning, safe, coffee-and-tea making facilities, satellite TV's, mini-bars and complimentary WiFi. The restaurant offers ...
Aroma360 Selected for Scenting of Mr. C Hotels’ East Coast Properties
CARMA CONNECTED | May 2, 2019
Aroma360, a global leader in the trending scent marketing industry, adds Mr. C Hotels, an award-winning hotel brand to its extensive, international roster of luxury hospitality clients. Mr. C Hotels, the boutique hotel concept launched in 2011 by Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani - the innovative fourth generation of the family internationally renown for its iconic restaurants, landmark banquet spaces, clubs, and residences – collaborated with Aroma360 on an original scent experience for its two east coast properties – Mr. C Seaport in Lower Manhattan and the new Mr. C Coconut Grove in Miami. "Mr. C is one of the most exciting bra...
5 Common Mistakes of Hotel Guest Review Management
Hotelogix | May 2, 2019
Hotel review websites like TripAdvisor and Yelp, today, control your bookings in more ways than one. Apart from showing prospective bookers the option of looking at accommodations based on their ratings, they also heavily influence their buying decisions. Reviews on hotels are one of the primary factors that guests today consider before going ahead with their reservations and it is wise not to treat this lightly. Stats suggest that 96% of TripAdvisor users consider reviews important when planning trips and booking hotels. Considering how dependent the new-age traveler is on hotel review sites, this is a vast majority of your audience. W...
IHG Partners With QLong Investments to Develop Flagship Holiday Inn in Queenstown Remarkables Park, New Zealand
IHG | May 1, 2019
IHG® will open a brand-new Holiday Inn in Queenstown Remarkables Park following the signing of an agreement with property owner QLong Investments Limited. Set to open its doors in early 2021, Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park will be a flagship for Holiday Inn in New Zealand, showing off the latest and best of the world's largest hotel brand family. The 182 room build will be conveniently located within a few minutes' drive from Queenstown Airport and close to The Remarkables Ski Field, perfectly positioned and easily accessible to visitors, families and holidaying groups. It will feature an all-day dining and bar venue, as we...
The Inn at Hastings Park Joins Ocean House Management Collection
The Inn at Hastings Park | May 1, 2019
LEXINGTON, Mass., May 1, 2019 -- The Inn at Hastings Park, one of New England's most acclaimed historic hotels located in Lexington, Massachusetts, has joined the Ocean House Management (OHM) Collection of prestigious properties including Ocean House, Weekapaug Inn and Watch Hill Inn, in Westerly, Rhode Island. Trisha Pérez Kennealy, the owner of The Inn at Hastings Park, opened the hotel five years ago with the goal of providing travelers with a luxurious experience in a quintessential and historic New England setting, unlike anything else in the Boston area. With the addition of Ocean House Management, Ms. Pérez Kenn...
Hyatt and Mizrahi Developments to Develop 160-Room Andaz Toronto – Yorkville
Andaz | May 1, 2019
CHICAGO—May 1, 2019--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Mizrahi Developments to build a 160-room luxury Andaz hotel at the prestigious address of One Bloor Street West in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Slated to open in 2022, the first Andaz hotel in Toronto will be the hotel component of The One, a commercial and residential luxury mixed-use tower that is expected to be the tallest building in Canada, upon completion. The Andaz brand features 18 hotels globally and is designed to attract inspired expressives: well-traveled creative individuals who embr...
Oakland’s Waterfront Hotel, A Joie De Vivre Property, Reveals Multi-Million Dollar Refresh and Appoints New General Manager
Joie de Vivre Hotels | May 1, 2019
(OAKLAND, Calif.; May 1, 2019)—Waterfront Hotel (10 Washington St., Oakland, Calif.), located in the vibrant neighborhood of Jack London Square, reveals a multi-million dollar refresh. In collaboration with Oakland-based design firm Studio Hatch, the marinafront lifestyle hotel's renovations enhance the lobby and collective spaces, meeting venues, as well as 145 guestrooms and suites. Waterfront Hotel now adorns a modernized finish, incorporating a lighter color palette and materials inspired by its maritime location. Waterfront Hotel features an inviting, cozy interior with subtle nautical influences. Surrounded by panoramic view...
Hotels Should Focus on Employee Experience to Close Talent Gap
Bill Caswell | May 1, 2019
By Bill Caswell The American Hotel & Lodging Association estimates there are more than 900,000 unfilled positions in the U.S. hospitality industry. This talent deficit will be a significant obstacle to overcome, and more companies are getting serious about developing real solutions. What's the problem? One of the primary causes of this employment drop-off is the shifting values of Millennial and Generation Z populations. This younger workforce has a natural aversion to the 24-hour nature of the hospitality industry, preferring jobs with more work/life balance, flexible schedules and ample vacation time. The nature of the hospitality...
Hotel Industry to Announce Grant to Dallas Groups to Train Youth for Hospitality Careers
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation | May 1, 2019
DALLAS, TX – May 1, 2019 – Today, Dallas Mayor Michael S. Rawlings joined the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF), the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association (THLA), and the Hotel Association of North Texas (HANTX) to announce two local grants totaling $75,000. Both the grant to CitySquare, a Dallas community-based organization, and the grant to Richardson High School will assist in recruiting and training individuals to join the growing and dynamic hotel industry. In Dallas, more than 104,000 young adults are looking for employment. Yet, the Dallas hotel ...
Upselling The Frugal Guest
Larry Mogelonsky | May 1, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) When applied to hospitality, the word 'frugal' can have a rather opaque meaning. It doesn't mean that guests are cheap, but instead they are discerning and hesitant to splurge without full justification. Every hotelier knows that guests are becoming increasingly tech-savvy with each passing week, but what this also means is that they are becoming exceedingly aware of channel price differences and marketing tricks used to cajole them into spending more than is absolutely necessary for a given service. And this is true for not just hospitality but practically every industry where the ...
Blue Water Development and Real Hospitality Set to Open New Aloft Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland
Aloft Hotels | May 1, 2019
Aloft Hotels, in partnership with East Coast hospitality specialist Blue Water Development and Real Hospitality, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest hotel for the next generation of travelers, Aloft Ocean City. Taking a design-driven, tech-forward approach to modern hospitality, this 120-room, pet-friendly hotel is located in the 45th Street Village on the bayside of Ocean City and is expected to officially open May 2, 2019. Aloft Ocean City will be equipped with beautifully appointed common areas; a state-of-the-art fitness center; an indoor and outdoor pool, including a poolside bar and private balconies overlooking Isle ...
Allbridge Redefines In-Room Entertainment With Interactive IPTV Solution
Allbridge | May 1, 2019
Raleigh, NC; May 1, 2019 – Allbridge, the leading provider of data, video, and voice solutions for Hospitality, Healthcare, and Higher Education properties nationwide, announces their new in-room entertainment IPTV platform for hotels, Allbridge Entertainment. This product will bring a cloud-based, interactive TV experience to guests to enhance their stay with innovative features for increased user engagement. Allbridge Entertainment, powered by its partnership with MCOMS, provides over-the-top (OTT) content, streaming and personalized property information with unique branding opportunities. The new product will be the first of ma...
Volara and Schneider Electric Bring Smart Room Controls on Voice Command to Hotels
Volara | May 1, 2019
Integration partnership will enable guests to speak commands that control the guest room's lighting, thermostat, curtains, sheers, make-up-room and do-not-disturb features New York and Paris (France), — May 1, 2019 — Volara – the fully integrated voice-based conversation management software for the hotel industry – and Schneider Electric, the global leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, have signed a partnership agreement to combine their automation and voice technology expertise to co-develop new innovative solutions in the hospitality industry. Together, Schneider Electric and Vo...
EMD Showing How Interior Design, Technology and People Can Work Together to Create Better Meetings at HD Expo
Electro-Media Design Ltd. | May 1, 2019
Designers, architects and contractors looking to integrate technology into their next projects are encouraged to visit Electro-Media Design in Booth 4974 May 15 to 17 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas [Gaithersburg, Md.—May 1, 2019]— For nearly 30 years, Electro-Media Design Ltd. has been bringing the science of "ArchiTechnologySM" to hotels and conference facilities across the globe. This month at HD Expo 2019, company executives will be discussing this concept with designers, architects, developers, owners' representatives and asset managers explaining to them why lighting, acoustics, architecture and event technologies need to...
Airbnb v. Hotels: New Research Sheds Light on How They Can Compete and Benefit in the Sharing Economy
INFORMS and Marketing Science | May 1, 2019
Key Takeaways: Airbnb cannibalizes hotel sales, particularly in the lower-priced leisure travel segment, while at the same time creating market expansion. Airbnb can help stabilize or even increase demand during peak travel seasons, offsetting the potential for higher hotel prices which can sometimes be a deterrent. The flexible lodging capacity created by Airbnb may disrupt traditional pricing strategies in some markets, actually helping to minimize the need for seasonal pricing. As Airbnb targets business travelers, higher-end hotels are most likely to be affected. CATONSVILLE, MD, May 1, 2019 – Researchers from the Teppe...
