HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Sofitel Moves to a New Geography-Based Organization; Joins Accor’s New Luxury/Upscale Segment
Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance | February 7, 2014
Paris, February 7, 2014 - Sofitel Luxury Hotels announced today its move to a new geography-based organization, based on five key regions worldwide. Inside this new organization, Sofitel, part of Accor Group and formerly a standalone brand, is now part of a newly created luxury and upscale segment including Accor hotel brands Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure and The Sebel. These organizational changes further reinforce the Group's support of Sofitel's luxury approach, and enable Accor to leverage Sofitel's expertise and best practices. As part of this realignment, the Accor luxury and upscale segment marketing and design functions will ...
Guestroom Renovation Complete for the 92-room Courtyard by Marriott in Warwick, Rhode Island
Courtyard by Marriott Warwick | February 7, 2014
WARWICK, RI (February 7, 2014) --- The 92-room Courtyard by Marriott in Warwick, RI recently completed a major renovation of its guestrooms with a new design geared towards the next generation of business travelers. The new "Cynergy" design offers modern-style rooms with flexible workspaces, including in-room docking stations for smart phones and tablets. The hotel, located at 55 Jefferson Park Road and only 3 miles from T.F Green Providence Airport, is managed by Waterford Hotel Group, a national hotel and convention center management firm. With a priority of flexibility and connectivity, the new Warwick guestroom upgrades feature a ne...
CHM Named Hotel Asset Manager for Hyatt Regency & Marriott Marquis at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL
Capital Hotel Management (CHM) | February 7, 2014
BEVERLY, Mass., February 7, 2014 - Capital Hotel Management (CHM), a leading hotel asset management and investment advisory firm, today announced that it was awarded the asset management contract for both the Hyatt Regency and planned Marriott Marquis at McCormick Place on behalf of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (MPEA). "CHM is a proven asset management firm that has produced excellent results for its convention center hotels," said Richard Oldshue, chief financial officer for the MPEA. "These two hotels are part of a massive redevelopment project around the convention center, and we believe CHM is an excellent choice...
John Neutze Named DOSM, Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor, Siem Reap & Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh
Raffles Hotels & Resorts | February 7, 2014
NEW YORK (February 7, 2014) - John Neutze has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing, Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Cambodia, effective from January 14, 2014. Neutze, a New Zealand native with over 20 years of international experience in the hospitality industry, joins the Raffles family from Hilton Worldwide. Neutze was the National Director of Sales for Hilton's National Sales Office in Thailand, responsible for the wholesale leisure sales team for eight Hilton Worldwide hotels. Prior to this, Neutze was the Director of Sales for Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa (now Conrad Maldives Resort & Spa). ...
Peter Klebanoff Now Heading OpenWays Mobile Key Business Development Effort in the Americas
OpenWays | February 7, 2014
Known and well respected by brands, owners and management companies, and passionate about the guest experience, this 30-year hospitality industry veteran will leverage his contacts and guest-facing technology sales expertise to help hoteliers drive better stay experiences while saving money Los Angeles - FEBRUARY 7, 2014 - With deployment of its Mobile Key front-desk bypass solution well underway at hotels around the world, and its OKIDOKEYS solution now released into the residential market, OpenWays is hiring more talent. To apprise properties, managers, owners and brands on the mobile-strategy enhancement capabilities of Mobile Key -...
Brandon Fortune Appointed Executive Chef for the 120-room L’Auberge Del Mar in California
KITCHEN 1540 | February 7, 2014
Del Mar, Calif.- February 7, 2014 - They say that all good things are worth waiting for and, in the case of KITCHEN 1540's search for a new chef, fortune has finally arrived. L'Auberge Del Mar announced today that Brandon Fortune has been appointed executive chef of the 120-room hotel in San Diego's picturesque coastal village of Del Mar. Fortune will oversee all culinary operations for the property, including the acclaimed KITCHEN 1540 restaurant. "Brandon is an exceptional culinary talent who not only brings the kind of youthful energy and creativity we desire in an executive chef, but also the business acumen and leadership qualities...
Alsol Hotels & Resorts Appoints Ignacio Peréz as Area Manager for Alsol Cap Cana Properties
Alsol Hotels & Resorts | February 7, 2014
NEW YORK - Feb. 7, 2014 - Alsol Hotels & Resorts announces the appointment of Ignacio Pérez as area manager of Alsol Cap Cana properties. As area manager, Pérez oversees five-star resorts Sanctuary Cap Cana, Alsol Luxury Village and Alsol Del Mar, located in the Dominican Republic, and will oversee the additional properties scheduled to debut in Cap Cana and Mexico in 2014. "We're elated to engage Ignacio's wealth of hospitality knowledge to propel our team to an elevated level of success," said Carlos Del Pino, managing director of Alsol Hotels & Resorts. "His extensive experience in the hospitality industry will not only ben...
RLJ Lodging Trust to Acquire for $313 million a 10-Hotel West Coast Portfolio of Hyatt Hotels
RLJ Lodging Trust | February 7, 2014
BETHESDA, Md.--February 6, 2014--RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ) ("RLJ") and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) ("Hyatt") today announced that Hyatt affiliates have entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement for RLJ to acquire a portfolio of 10 hotels totaling 1,560 rooms (the "Hyatt Portfolio") consisting of Hyatt, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels. A Hyatt affiliate will continue to manage the hotels under new management agreements. The Hyatt Portfolio, which is located primarily on the West Coast, is expected to be acquired for a total purchase price of approximately $313 million. RLJ intends to spend approximately $25 mill...
FRHI Hotels & Resorts Appoints Senior Executives in Asia Pacific
FRHI Hotels & Resorts | February 7, 2014
SINGAPORE, February 7, 2014 - FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI), the parent company of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts, has appointed five senior executives to oversee its growing portfolio of hotels in the Asia Pacific region. Appointments include Wayne Buckingham as senior vice president, Asia Pacific; Foued El Mabrouk as vice president, operations, China; Tom Meyer, regional vice president, Asia Pacific and managing director, Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford; Shelley Perkins as vice president, human resources, Asia Pacific; and Julian Anthony as vice preside...
Wyndham Worldwide Reports 2013 Q4 Net Income of $86M & $432M for Full Year; RevPAR up 3.8% in Q4
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | February 7, 2014
Full Year Adjusted Diluted EPS Growth of 19% Increases Dividend 21% PARSIPPANY, N.J., Feb. 7, 2014 -- Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN) today announced results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013. Highlights: "We finished the year with another strong quarter, marking our fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth in adjusted EPS," said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO. "We are excited about our prospects for 2014 as we continue to execute and innovate across our businesses and maintain our capital allocation discipline to enhance value for shareholders." Fourth quarter adjusted diluted earnings per shar...
The Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston Elects 2014 Board and Chairperson, Helen Bonsall
Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston | February 7, 2014
February 7, 2014 - The Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston, a non-profit group representing one of the largest industries in Southeast Texas, has elected Helen Bonsall, General Manager at Double Tree by Hilton Houston Hobby to lead the organization as its 2014 Board of Directors Chairperson. Other members elected to the executive board are John Keeling, Vice President Development Valencia Group as Chair Elect; Barry Shank, General Manager of Moody National Companies as First Vice Chair; Tom Netting, General Manager Hyatt Regency as Secretary; Shawn Gracey, General Manager of Hotel Derek, as Treasurer; and Alfredo Matos, G...
Travel Industry Accounts for 25% of Overall U.S. Export Growth in 2013
U.S. Travel Association | February 7, 2014
Travel Export Increase for December 2013, the Largest Increase in 20 Years WASHINGTON (February 7, 2014) - David Huether, senior vice president of research and economics at the U.S. Travel Association, provides analysis on today's Commerce Department announcement of the December U.S. trade balance: "Travel continues to be a trade dynamo. Travel exports increased by $0.7 billion to $15.9 billion in December 2013 - an 11.8 percent increase from December 2012. The monthly increase was the largest since February 2012, and the largest December increase in the past 20 years. "The travel industry's trade surplus - the third-largest of any indu...
How to Meticulously Execute on Data-Driven Marketing
EyeforTravel | February 7, 2014
As marketers forge new, adventurous ways to use data and analytics, they must stay focused on execution. Marketers continue to grapple with a disjointed mix of data, and there is pressure to handle it in the best way possible. The need to work out a meticulously planned data stream, which capitalises on every possible source of data, is becoming more important given that optimisation and personalisation are the holy grail today. Take for instance the challenge of blending loyalty data and Facebook data. Today, if a travel organisation has 500,000 'likes' on Facebook, there is a need to identify how many of them are already part of a lo...
The 297-room Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo Opens in the U.K.
Hampton Hotels | February 7, 2014
LONDON and MCLEAN, Va. - February 7, 2014 - Hampton by Hilton welcomes a landmark addition to its portfolio with the opening of the Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo. It is the brand's first hotel in central London and follows the recent launch of Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal, joining Hilton Worldwide's global brand of over 1,900 mid-priced hotels. The hotel comprises 297 guest rooms and is the largest Hampton by Hilton property outside of the U.S. With a focus on comfort and service backed by the 100% Hampton Guarantee, Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo centers around distinct comfort zones. These include con...
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to Open the 202-key Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London in May 2014
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts | February 7, 2014
Hong Kong, February 7, 2014 - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London will open May 6, 2014. Located on the historic South Bank of the River Thames in the 306-meter-high (1,004-foot-high), glass-clad Shard, the hotel will be the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group's third in Europe, following debuts in Paris in 2010 and Istanbul in 2013. As the tallest hotel in Western Europe and the first high-rise hotel in London, the Shangri-La occupies levels 34 to 52 of the 72-story Shard. Its contemporary interior design complements Renzo Piano's masterful architecture and the breathtaking views - unmatched by...
The Newly Built 122-room Cambria Suites Miami Airport – Blue Lagoon Opens in Florida
Cambria Suites | February 7, 2014
Owned by Sunflower Hospitality and Managed by Driftwood Hospitality MIAMI, Feb. 7, 2014 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, welcomes the new Cambria Suites Miami Airport - Blue Lagoon to the growing Cambria Suites brand. On February 6, local business leaders, dignitaries and members of the press will celebrate the grand opening of the hotel, located at 6750 NW 7th Street, with VIP interviews, a cocktail reception, site-tours and live entertainment. Cambria Suites properties are specially designed for lifestyle travelers and Choice Hotels is continually working with established fr...
Hotel Marketing Cannibalization: Is Your Hotel Website Traffic Eating Itself?
Vikram Singh, co-founder, Madbooker | February 7, 2014
By Vikram Singh Hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals are all competing for their market share of today's travelers, who are armed with multiple devices and tools to search for lodging . Even if you get their clicks, it's getting harder to keep their attention. Add to the mix Airbnb, deep pocket OTA's, and meta search engines, and you are now competing in the big leagues, no matter how big or small your lodging operation is. Now there is one competitor you absolutely do not need – yourself! Cannibalization of your hotel website traffic happens when you help your visitors leave your site via external links. It takes a lo...
Sugar Bay Resort’s Digital Marketing Goals Surpassed with 18:1 ROI
Sugar Bay Resort and Spa | February 7, 2014
Vizergy® Helps Property Transition from Branded to Independent; Earns HSMAI Adrian Award Jacksonville, FL (February 7, 2014) - Sugar Bay Resort and Spa partnered with Vizergy in 2011, and sought to improve website traffic and search engine rankings, create a more user-friendly booking process across all screens, and realize a steady incline in direct online revenue. The property has seen continued success in their online marketing efforts, including an 18:1 return on their investment in 2013. As a result, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has recognized Vizergy - Digital Travel Marketing with a sil...
Knowland Expands Training to Include How to Sell to Third Party Planners
The Knowland Group | February 7, 2014
Learn how to better align sales efforts to take advantage of new group business from the former Vice President of Training and Development at Conference Direct Washington, D.C. (Feb. 7, 2014) - The Knowland Group, the largest data company in the global meeting and event industry, announced today the launch of its new complementary online webinar series "Understanding Third Party Planners," further expanding its training dedicated to the art and science of meeting and event sales. The training will be offered as part of the core training available exclusively to customers through The Knowland Group's online training platform, Knowland Un...
Crowne Plaza Hanalei San Diego, California Begins Multi-Million Makeover to be Completed by Q4 2014
HMG Hotels | February 7, 2014
San Diego, CA - February 7, 2014 - The CROWNE PLAZA HANALEI SAN DIEGO began a multi-million dollar redecoration of its property in January 2014 to be completed by November of 2014. Expertly managed by the award-winning hotel management company HMG Hotels, this property guarantees no interruption of guest services and visitors are assured a quiet stay during this period of redecorating. The redecoration involves a reputed team of design specialists who have focused on a welcoming "sense of arrival" for all guests, groups and meeting planners. Enhancements will include energy-efficient lighting and updated seating throughout, as well as u...
Selling Craft Beers: 5 Tips for Countering Customers’ Price Ale-ments
this Article | February 7, 2014
by Joshua D. Hayes MA, Allisha A. Miller, David K. Hayes Ph.D., Panda Professionals Hospitality Management and Training Restaurant managers face a variety of challenges when pricing their food and beverage products. This is especially the case when significant changes in customer preferences create heightened demand for specific new products. Nowhere is this challenge more apparent than in today's explosive growth in consumer demand for "craft beers." In the U.S., craft beers and ales are produced by small breweries or microbreweries; most commonly defined as those with an annual production of 6 million barrels or less. The demand for ...
Pathfinder Partners & Vesta Hospitality Acquire the 129-room Homewood Suites in La Quinta, CA
Pathfinder Partners, LLC | February 7, 2014
SAN DIEGO (February 7, 2014) - Marking its first investment in the hotel industry, Pathfinder Partners, LLC - San Diego-based firm specializing in opportunistic investments in real estate assets and defaulted loans - has partnered with Vesta Hospitality to acquire the 129-room Homewood Suites By Hilton® hotel, an extended stay property at 45-200 Washington Street in La Quinta, Calif. Co-investor Washington-based Vesta Hospitality has been managing the property since 2010. According to Lorne Polger, senior managing director of Pathfinder Partners, plans are currently underway to implement a $1.8 million property improvement program to r...
The Differences in Attitude Often Make or Break A Company / John Hogan
John Hogan | February 7, 2014
Building Value - Now and for the Future #2 in a Series (THE P-A-R PRINCIPLE) By Dr. John Hogan, CHA CMHS CHE CHO February 7, 2014 "Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." Colin Powell In my career, I have attended probably several hundred professional conferences and meetings. Some of these were local or state hospitality associations, many were brand related and others were for specialized development for my team or myself. I have...
Four Seasons Parking Operations Contract Awarded to AAA Parking
AAA Parking | February 5, 2014
February 5, 2014-Orlando, FL - One of the world's greatest hotel brands will make its Orlando debut this year with a posh new resort on the grounds of Walt Disney World®. Still under construction, Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort will bring their renowned service and style to Florida's most popular tourist destination. Located inside the magnificent Golden Oaks resort community, the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World® will anchor the first-ever whole ownership of custom single-family homes at Walt Disney World® Resort. A state-of-the-art luxury Spa, Tom Fazio designed Championship Golf Course and roof top Ste...
