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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
FelCor Reports Fourth Quarter 2013 Earnings; RevPAR Increased 7.7% for Comparable Hotels
FelCor Lodging Trust | February 25, 2014
February 25, 2014 - IRVING, Texas--FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated (NYSE: FCH) reported operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013. Highlights for the Quarter Adjusted FFO per share improved from $(0.01) to $0.05. RevPAR for 51 comparable hotels increased 7.7%. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $1.2 million to $43.2 million, and Same-store Adjusted EBITDA increased by $4.4 million to $42.9 million. Net loss per share improved by $0.59, from $0.83 to $0.24. Sold, or agreed to sell, three hotels for total gross proceeds of $51 million. Reinstated quarterly common stock dividend ($0.02 per share). Commenting on...
Hospitality Properties Trust Reports Q4 Net Income of $27.6M & Full Year 2013 Net Income of $101M
Hospitality Properties Trust | February 25, 2014
February 25, 2014 - NEWTON, Mass.--Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT) today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013. Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2013: Normalized funds from operations, or Normalized FFO, for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 were $103.3 million, or $0.71 per share, compared to Normalized FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 of $93.9 million, or $0.76 per share. Net income available for common shareholders was $27.6 million, or $0.19 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2013, compared to $18.5 million, or $0.15 per share, for the quarter ende...
Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, AZ Welcomes Mark Lindsey as Director of Sales and Marketing
Royal Palms Resort and Spa | February 25, 2014
PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 25, 2014) - Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix's premiere luxury resort, is excited to introduce Mark Lindsey as the property's new Director of Sales and Marketing. Lindsey brings more than 36 years of hospitality experience and leadership to his newest role of Director of Sales and Marketing at Royal Palms. Prior to joining the Phoenix resort's team, Lindsey was the Director of Sales and Marketing for Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, where he orchestrated several large-scale marketing campaigns, led a team of seven sales managers and managed all of the property's revenue goals and leisure sales ...
DiamondRock Hospitality Reports 2013 Q4 & Full Year Results; Renovations Took a Bite out of RevPAR
DiamondRock Hospitality | February 25, 2014
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 25, 2014 -- DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") (NYSE: DRH), a lodging-focused real estate investment trust that owns a portfolio of 26 premium hotels in the United States, today announced results of operations for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2013. The Company also announced a 21% increase to its quarterly dividend commencing with the first quarter 2014. 2013 Operating Results RevPAR: RevPAR was $138.11, an increase of 1.4% from 2012. Excluding the New York City hotels under renovation during 2013, the Company's RevPAR increased 5.3% from 2012. Hotel Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Ho...
Alila Hotels and Resorts Names Ian Jones as GM for Alila Seminyak Bali, a New Resort to Open Q4 ‘14
Alila Hotels and Resorts | February 25, 2014
25th February 2014 - Alila Hotels and Resorts, a luxury operator with boutique hotels and resorts in India and Asia Pacific, has appointed Ian Jones as the General Manager for Alila Seminyak, a new resort due to open in Bali in late 2014. Hailing from a small town in Aurora, Canada, Ian Jones began his hotel career in a 1,400-room hotel where he filed the keys into the front desk racks ready for the next guest. 30 years later, he has enjoyed an international career spanning four continents and seven countries. Ian has worked with some of the world's most well-known hospitality companies, including Starwood, Fairmont, Hilton and, most re...
Digital Signage Expo 2014 Declared a “Success” by Hoteliers & Casino Operators
Digital Signage Expo | February 25, 2014
Atlanta - February 25, 2014 - Digital Signage Expo® (DSE), the world's largest and longest running International Conference and Tradeshow dedicated exclusively to digital signage, interactive technology and digital out-of-home networks (DOOH), has been declared a success by Hoteliers and Casino Operators who attended the show. The conference and trade show, which ran February 11-13, drew just over 4,000 attendees, of which over 42% were end users, the primary prospects that DSE's exhibitors want and need to see. 1,813 exhibitor personnel attended, bringing DSE's total attendance to over 5,800. Of that combined total, 29....
Bernard de Villèle Named as General Manager for The 189-key St. Regis Mexico City
The St. Regis Mexico City | February 25, 2014
MEXICO CITY (February 25, 2014) - Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. today announced that Bernard de Villèle has joined The St. Regis Mexico City as general manager. Formerly the general manager at The St. Regis Mauritius, de Villèle brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is perfectly suited to take the reins of Mexico's most exclusive cosmopolitan address for unparalleled luxury and bespoke service. "With a career spanning nearly four decades in hospitality, we're delighted to welcome Bernard and his expertise to The St. Regis Mexico City" said Batya Brykman, vice president and director of operations...
Starwood’s Co-President of The Americas, Osvaldo V. Librizzi, to Retire at 2014 Year-End
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | February 25, 2014
Sergio Rivera to Become President of the Americas and Jorge Giannattasio to Become Chief of Latin America Operations & Global Initiatives February 25, 2014 - STAMFORD, Conn - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that longtime leader, Osvaldo V. Librizzi , will step down from his current role, Co-President of The Americas, at the end of the year and will serve as non-executive Chairman until the end of 2015. Sergio Rivera , currently Co-President of the Americas, will become President of the Americas and assume full responsibility for the region, and Jorge Giannattasio , currently SVP CFO of the A...
HRI Lodging Names Paul Gibson General Manager of Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, AZ
HRI Lodging | February 25, 2014
NEW ORLEANS, LA (February 25, 2014) - Veteran Phoenix-area hospitality executive Paul Gibson has been appointed general manager of Crowne Plaza® San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona, announced Gary Gutierrez, president of HRI Lodging, which assumed management of the historic resort earlier this year. Gibson worked for Interstate Hotels and Resorts for the past 15 years, first as the area general manager of the Crowne Plaza® Phoenix North and most recently as the general manager of the Phoenix Airport Hilton. Under Gibson's direction, the Crowne Plaza® Phoenix North won the 1999 IHG Service Award of Excellence and the 2001 Inte...
Palace Resorts Appoints Kevin Wojciechowski as Vice President of Development
Palace Resorts | February 25, 2014
MIAMI, Fla. (February 25, 2014) - Palace Resorts - the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations - proudly announces the addition of Kevin Wojciechowski as Vice President of Development for the brand's seven oceanfront resort properties in Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Riviera Maya, Mexico, as well as Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun. In his roll, Wojciechowski will work closely with Sandor Winkler, Palace Resorts' Chief Development Officer, to drive the brand's growth and expansion strategies. Additionally, Wojciechowski will manage the successful acquisition and creation of new Palace Resorts pr...
Top 25 Hotel Chain in the World Migrating to the Holistic Indra Travel Management Suite
NH Hotel Group | February 25, 2014
More than 380 hotels in 28 countries will transition from a multivendor environment to Indra's unified TMS platform, setting a new course for multi-property technology adaption across the globe [MIAMI - FEBRUARY 25, 2014] - One of the top 25 hotel chains in the world is directing the future of hotel technology by migrating to an all-in-one, unified platform for hotel chain management. Using Indra's SAP-based ERP, NH Hotel Group will now operate with an integrated approach to hotel chain management and blend all back-office, front-office and CRS needs on a single technology platform. NH Hotel Group, Europe's third-ranked business hotel c...
Owned & Managed by DKN Hotels, the 120-key SpringHill Suites Anaheim Maingate is Set to Open in CA
SpringHill Suites by Marriott | February 25, 2014
Anaheim, California - February 25, 2014 - The 120-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Anaheim, California is scheduled to open this Saturday, March 1, 2014. Located at 1160 West Ball Road, the SpringHill Suites Anaheim Maingate will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by DKN Hotels of Irvine, California. Located one mile from Disneyland and 14 miles from John Wayne Airport, the hotel offers guests convenient access to Anaheim Convention Center, Knott's Berry Farm and the Honda Center. Rates are seasonal. "We're delighted that the SpringHill Suites Anaheim Maingate is the latest addition to our growing number of propert...
COMO Hotels Opening First U.S. Property with the RoamBoost Cellular and First-Responder Solutions
the COMO Group and COMO Hotels and Resorts | February 25, 2014
RoamBoost's Cellular Signal Enhancement System is ensuring each guest receives a strong mobile signal whenever and wherever it is needed; RoamBoost's First Responder solution is making certain that police, fire, and EMS personnel have access to public safety radio signals throughout the hotel to save lives BOSTON, MASS. - FEBRUARY 25, 2014 - When COMO Hotels and Resorts opens its first U.S. property in Miami next month, RoamBoost from RoamingAround will be there. Metropolitan by COMO is a 74-room luxury boutique hotel that occupies an original 1930s building located in the heart of the city's famous Art Deco district. To ensure guest s...
The 108-room Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio/Veracruz Opens in Mexico
Hilton Garden Inn | February 25, 2014
Owned by Promotora Platinum SA de CV and Managed by Optima Hoteles February 25, 2014 - VERACRUZ, Mexico and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's award-winning brand of upscale yet affordable hotels, announced the opening of the 108-room Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio/Veracruz representing an addition to the brand's growing portfolio of more than 570 hotels worldwide. The new Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio/Veracruz is owned by Promotora Platinum SA de CV and managed by Optima Hoteles. Situated just minutes from the World Trade Center and 25 minutes from the local airport, Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio Veracruz provides th...
DoubleTree by Hilton Veracruz, Mexico to Open by Q2 2015, Through Renovation & Conversion
DoubleTree By Hilton | February 25, 2014
MCLEAN, Va. - February 25, 2014 - Hilton Worldwide announced today that it has signed a management agreement with Inmobiliaria Cidras SA de CV for a 227-room DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Veracruz, Mexico. Upon completion of extensive renovations, the Novomar Hotel is expected to reopen as DoubleTree by Hilton Veracruz during the first half of 2015. "Veracruz has established itself as a major tourist destination for visitors wishing to combine old-world charm with modern conveniences," said John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. "DoubleTree by Hilton has enjoyed success in Mexico since opening our first location there in 201...
Agreement Signed with Archer Hospitality Private Limited for DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Agra, India
DoubleTree By Hilton | February 25, 2014
To Open in August 2014 February 25, 2014 - NEW DELHI and AGRA, India and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the signing of a management agreement with Archer Hospitality Private Limited for DoubleTree by Hilton Agra, scheduled to open this August. Located just 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) from the Taj Mahal, DoubleTree by Hilton Agra will be among very few hotels offering views of the legendary mausoleum. The hotel's city center location will also place it near popular tourist attractions and shopping hubs like the Agra Fort, Akbar's Tomb and Kinari Bazaar. "The opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Agra mark...
How to Create a Sustainable, High Performance Team
Aspire Marketing | February 25, 2014
By Renie Cavallari When it comes to creating a successful business, there is only one place to start: your people. People are the heart of any company. It's people who sustain a business over time, who are there with you through highs and lows. Your people are your most vital asset. Do you know how to get the most out of them, ignite their potential, and fuel your business for years to come? To find a strong answer to that question, Aspire looked at thousands of people in multiple industries that we've worked with to identify what qualities determine performance. We hoped our research would help organizations learn how to harness the po...
Sage Hospitality & Whitman Peterson Acquire 11 Hotels in Second Portfolio Purchase of Their Venture
Sage Hospitality | February 25, 2014
DENVER, Feb. 25, 2014 -- Sage Hospitality, one of the leading hotel investment and management companies in the U.S., announced the purchase of 11 hotels in partnership with Whitman Peterson. This purchase marks the second of a programmatic, highly-focused investment venture between Sage and Whitman Peterson, wherein they plan to acquire a sizable portfolio of select-service hotels in need of high-impact capital, operational, and/or brand improvements. The first portfolio, purchased in March of 2013, encompassed seven well-branded, but under-capitalized hotels and is in the final stages of renovation. This new transaction adds 11 hotels ...
IHG Signs New-Build Holiday Inn® Porto Maravilha & Holiday Inn Express® Porto Maravilha in Brazil
Holiday Inn Hotels | February 25, 2014
Both to Open by July 2016 for Olympic Games 24 February, 2014 - MIAMI – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], one of the world's largest hotel companies, makes its return to the Rio de Janeiro market with the signing of the new-build Holiday Inn® Porto Maravilha and Holiday Inn Express® Porto Maravilha hotels. The 32-story hotels will be located in Rio de Janeiro's revitalized downtown area of Porto Maravilha. The hotels, owned by Odebrecht Realizaçöes Imobiliárias and FII PM Caixa Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário Porto Maravilha, will be managed by IHG. "We see great potential for our brands in Brazi...
Same-Sex Marriage in 18 States – What’s Next?
14 Stories | February 25, 2014
With the ruling on Friday that same-sex marriages can begin immediately in Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago), the gay wedding landscape has changed again. Since November 2012, there have been 10 new states with same-sex marriage. Will yours be next? And more importantly, are you ready for it? The 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute (GWI) has trained thousands of wedding, travel and hospitality professionals from around the world, and hundreds are graduates of the world's only gay wedding certification course, presented by the GWI. Our next GWI course by webinar will be offered again on March 13, 20 and 27. Registration is now open an...
Educational Institute Signs Partnership Agreement with Forum of Brazilian Hotel Operators
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute | February 24, 2014
Orlando, Florida, February 2014- The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) and the Forum of Brazilian Hotel Operators (FOHB) have signed a cooperation agreement for further action to help build the professionalization of the hotel sector's workforce. Based in Sao Paulo, FOBH is associated with the top 25 Brazilian hotel chains and has a total of 600 hotel members representing 97,000 rooms: 14 percent upscale, 58 percent midscale, and 28 percent economy. With the partnership, employees from hotel chains associated with FOHB will have a 20 percent discount on courses offered for various levels of hospitality, including m...
The Digital Direction: Hotel Marketing Budgets and a Digital 101 for Hotels – Part 1
The Authors | February 24, 2014
by Leora Lanz, Lindsey Pete, & Erin S. Bagley This article is Part I of a two-part series analyzing the landscape of digital marketing for hotels and motels in 2014. Part I reviews the fundamentals of digital marketing and why it is vital hotels understand current trends. Part II will investigate the future of "earned content" marketing. Time is precious; more and more people are booking travel on the go and they want fast response times and 24-hour access.[1] These needs have caused a fundamental shift in the channels consumers are using to book hotel rooms. The Q3 2013 Travelclick update shows that 60.3% of individual business and...
The 318-room Radisson Blu Beach Resort, Crete Milatos to Open in Greece in Q2 2014
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | February 24, 2014
February 24, 2014 - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, announces their very first hotel on the Greek island of Crete: The Radisson Blu Beach Resort, Crete Milatos featuring 318 guest rooms is scheduled to open in second quarter. Carlson Rezidor already operates one property in Greece, the Radisson Blu Hotel Athens. Radisson Blu is Europe's largest upper upscale brand and known for its contemporary design, innovative service concepts and the unique philosophy Yes I Can! "We are delighted to arrive in Crete and look forward to our future cooperation with the Geniatakis family. This sig...
Hersha Hospitality Trust to Sell Hotel 373 in Manhattan for $529,000 Per Room
Hersha Hospitality Trust | February 24, 2014
February 24, 2014 - PHILADELPHIA - Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT, "Hersha" or "the Company"), owner of upscale hotels in urban gateway markets, announced that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Hotel 373 located in midtown Manhattan. The 70 room hotel is being sold to an offshore investment group for $37.0 million, or approximately $529,000 per key. "The pricing on the sale of Hotel 373 is indicative of Manhattan's highly sought after real estate market, and underscores the quality and value of Hersha's New York City hotel portfolio. We believe the sale of Hotel 373 will narrow the gap between the privat...
