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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Grand Pacific Resorts Sentiment Scores Soar
Grand Pacific Resorts | January 29, 2014
CARLSBAD, CA (January 29, 2014) --The accolades are in and the secret is out that the service culture at Grand Pacific Resorts is what makes the organization and every guest encounter exceptional. Owners, Exchangers, and Renters, are spreading the word online that their vacation experience at a Grand Pacific managed resort is unmatched. According to RCI's Timeshare Online Listening Center, Grand Pacific Resorts realized a 3 point increase YOY raising the brand's status higher than the average of similar size organizations. The staff at resorts managed by Grand Pacific receive rave reviews. As one reviewer noted on Trip Advisor "Thank yo...
The 219-key Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa in Arizona Begins $6 Million Lobby and Guest Room Renovation
Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa | January 29, 2014
SEDONA, Ariz. - January 29, 2014 - Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa has begun phase one of a $6 million renovation that will bring a new lobby experience, and refreshed guest accommodations. Renovations of the resort lobby began in early January, and will include a redesigned layout with additional social and work spaces, the addition of a spa concierge, and new furnishings and finishes from the ground up. Materials, textures, colors, and lighting elements will reflect a sense of energy and place, designed to instantly change a guest's state-of-mind upon entry. Interior design and interior architecture firm Monogram by Callison is heading...
Three Hotel Companies Select Aptech Execuvue Business Intelligence, Profitvue Enterprise Back Office
Aptech Computer Systems | January 29, 2014
Companies Including MHG Hotels and LTS Hospitality Management Selected Aptech ASP Financial Solutions for Faster Goal Achievement at Property and Corporate Levels Pittsburgh, PA - January 29, 2014 - Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., the leading provider of hospitality software for business intelligence and enterprise financial accounting, announced that three hotel companies with a total of 20 properties selected Aptech Execuvue® Business Intelligence and Profitvue® Enterprise Back Office systems. New Aptech clients include MHG Hotels, LLC. and LTS Hospitality Management. Click here for more on Aptech's products and services. Execuvue is...
Opening Q1 2016, the 137-key Aloft Coral Gables in Under Development in Florida
Aloft Hotels | January 29, 2014
Owned & Managed by JV between Sunview Companies & HES Group January 29, 2014 - STAMFORD, Conn. - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today that its forward-thinking Aloft® brand will debut in Coral Gables as part of a sleek, new mixed-use development. When it opens in January 2016, Aloft Coral Gables will be the eighth Aloft in Florida and will feature 137 spacious, loft-like rooms, urban-inspired design and a vibrant, social atmosphere. Following the August 2013 opening of Aloft Miami-Brickell, Aloft Coral Gables is the second Aloft hotel project owned and managed by a joint venture between Sunvi...
Jain Group and IHG to Develop Three Holiday Inn Hotels in West Bengal
January 29, 2014
Kolkata, India, 29 January 2014: IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) one of world's leading hotel companies announced their partnership with prominent real estate company, Jain Group to bring its popular and most recognized hotel brand, Holiday Inn to West Bengal. As a part of the agreement, the hotels will come up in Kolkata, Siliguri and Durgapur within the next two-three years. The hotel will add to IHG's strong pipeline of Holiday Inn brand family hotels, which represent more than 85% of the company's growth in India. Holiday Inn Kolkata located next to City Centre 2 in New Town, will have 150 rooms, including four deluxe suites. ...
Microtel By Wyndham Expansion in the Philippines’ Continues with Two New Properties to Soon Open
Microtel Inns & Suites (Philippines) Inc. | January 29, 2014
Microtel, as its name would suggest, is a small- to medium-sized hotel but its growing, nationwide network of properties can no longer be considered "micro". Microtel has heavily influenced the Philippines' hospitality industry. More than 13 years ago, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham® pioneered the no-frills, great-value hotel concept in the Philippines that has successfully targeted the mid-market. Its approach is back-to-basics and focuses on providing consistently clean, comfortable, safe and secure accommodations at remarkably reasonable rates. Under the direction of its president, Jose Mari del Rosario, Microtel Philippines e...
Content Marketing 101: An Introduction to the Newest Marketing Tool for Businesses
Jennifer Nagy | January 28, 2014
By Jennifer Nagy The traditional marketing methods that businesses have used in the past are becoming outdated and uninteresting to consumers, leading to low conversion rates, decreased website traffic and lower ROI (on a company's marketing spend). Today, many companies are choosing to implement new and creative marketing strategies with the end goal of establishing their company and key executives as experts in their industry. Not only does this increase a company's overall credibility, it also helps to shorten the sales cycle drastically. The most effective thought leadership campaigns use content marketing to educate readers (potent...
Four Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels Earn Place on U.S. News & World Report’s List of Best Hotels
January 28, 2014
United States Properties Include Bardessono, Hotel 1000, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, Villas of Grand Cypress The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 28, 2014 ... Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, announces that four hotels within its Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® brand have received recognition on U.S. News & World Report's 2014 "Best Hotels in the United States" list. Bardessono in Napa Valley was awarded a Gold award as one of the "Best Hotels in the USA." Hotel 1000 in Seattle, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in Miami Beach and Villas of Grand Cypress in Or...
Stacey Edinger Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing for the 802-key Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Hyatt Regency San Francisco | January 28, 2014
(San Francisco, CA - January 28, 2014) --- David Lewin, General Manager of Hyatt Regency San Francisco, has announced the appointment of Stacey Edinger as the hotel's Director of Sales and Marketing. Edinger replaces Judy Cronkhite who has transferred to the Grand Hyatt San Francisco. With three years in the Hyatt Hotels and Resorts family, Edinger was most recently the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame. Prior to joining Hyatt, she was Director of Sales and Marketing for several other hotels, including Parc 55 San Francisco and InterContinental Mark Hopkins. Additionally, Edinger h...
Managed by Growth Properties, the 99-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Opens in Cookeville, TN
Growth Properties, Inc. | January 28, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS (January 28, 2014) - Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, a leading upper-midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Cookeville, TN. "We are excited about this addition to our portfolio as we grow the brand in the south," said Scott Meyer, senior vice president, Midscale Brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. "We strive to provide services and amenities that appeal to leisure and business guests alike and this hotel is no exception with its proximity to restaurants, area attractions and business parks." The hotel offers 99 guest rooms and suites, a fitness center, outdo...
Nobody Asked Me, But…No. 120 Hotel History: Wolcott Hotel (1904); Quote of the Month; My New Book
Stanley Turkel, CMHS | January 28, 2014
By Stanley Turkel, CMHS 1. Hotel History: Wolcott Hotel (1904)* Although it opened on March 1, 1904, the Wolcott remains one of New York City's best-kept hotel bargain secrets. Centrally located on 31st Street, just 3 blocks down Fifth Avenue from the Empire State Building, the Wolcott was designed by one of the most famous architects in the United States, architect John H. Duncan (1855-1929). He came to prominence in the early 1890s when he designed the Ulysses S. Grant's Tomb and townhouses for some of New York's richest families: Otto H. Kahn, Arthur Lehman, the Goelets and Strausses. Duncan also designed one of the greatest public ...
U.S. News & World Report Names the 2014 Best Hotels; Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia No. 1 in USA
U.S. News & World Report | January 28, 2014
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2014 -- U.S. News & World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of consumer advice and information, today released the 2014 Best Hotels rankings. For the first time, the Lodge at Sea Island in Sea Island, Ga., is the No. 1 hotel in the USA. Tortuga Bay in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic holds onto its spot as the Best Hotel in the Caribbean for the second year in a row. Banyan Tree Cabo Marques in Acapulco jumped up four places since last year to be the No. 1 Best Hotel in Mexico, and the Ritz-Carlton, Montreal seized the top spot in the 2014 ranking of the Best Hotels in Canada. Out of the 1,693 luxury hotel...
Rockbridge Acquires the 247-room Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel in Hawaii
Rockbridge | January 28, 2014
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2014 -- Rockbridge Partners, a division of Rockbridge, announced today the acquisition of Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking the company's 330th hotel investment. The 247-room hotel is located one block from Waikiki Beach and adjacent to the International Market Place. "The acquisition of Aqua Waikiki Wave demonstrates the reach of Rockbridge," said Jim Merkel, president and chief executive officer of Rockbridge. "Our ability to identify and effectively execute hotel investments by leveraging our organization's strengths enables us to pursue opportunities in top-performing markets across the co...
NAVIS Expands Its RezForce Call Center; 50% Lead Conversion Rate Drives Success
NAVIS | January 28, 2014
NAVIS Added 80 Associates to its RezForce - RezCast Client Call Center, One of Most Successful in U.S.; Call Volume Increased 50% in 2013; Center Provided High-Conversion Reservation Services to More Than 125 Hospitality Accounts Bend, OR - January 28, 2014 - NAVIS, the leading reservation sales system, marketing automation, data analysis, and CRM provider for the lodging industry, announced it expanded its RezForce Reservation Call Center. NAVIS added 80 team members to its RezForce® staff to support a 50% increase in call volume in 2013. RezForce responded to nearly half a million calls for more than 125 accounts in the past year. NA...
Better Managed F&B Inventory at Quail Hollow Club Thanks to Clear Sky F&B Inventory Control Software
Clear Sky Software | January 28, 2014
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - January 28, 2014 - One of Clear Sky Software's newest customers is the prestigious Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clear Sky's system controls and keeps track of all food and beverage inventories at Quail Hollow. Late in 2013 Clear Sky FOOD & BEVERAGE was implemented and training was provided to staff members in purchasing, accounting, restaurant, kitchen areas and club house. Additional features installed at Quail Hollow include Clear Sky's interfaces to FreshPoint, Sysco and US Foods. Quail Hollow Club, located in booming South Charlotte, is a busy club with an extensive F&B inventor...
Profiles in Success: Online Packages, Guest Engagement, Mobile Strategy Reward Independent Operator
Maestro Property Management Solution | January 28, 2014
Lodging Hospitality Management Launches New '2-Click' Micro-Visual Website; Increases Direct Booking and Revenue with Maestro ResWave Dynamic Packages, Social Media Links, Mobile Reservations, and More January 28, 2014 - Lodging Hospitality Management (LHM) thought that its two independent properties had solid, interesting websites. Until they looked at the numbers. LHM operates 17 hotels in the St. Louis area. It knows how to run both chain properties and independents. Along with its Hilton, Sheraton, IHG, and Choice flags, it operates two luxury indies, The Cheshire and The Seven Gables Inn. "We have these unique boutique properties i...
Theresa Ginter Named Hotel Manager for Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, BC, Canada
Nita Lake Lodge | January 28, 2014
Whistler, BC (January 28, 2014) - Nita Lake Lodge is proud to announce the appointment of long-time employee Theresa Ginter as their new Hotel Manager. Theresa joined the Nita Lake Lodge family back in November 2010 as Front Office Supervisor and has worked her way up in the company by first taking on extra responsibilities as Front Office & Revenue Manager and then further developing her role as Operations & Revenue Manager. "We're so pleased to appoint Theresa as our new Hotel Manager," says Nita Lake Lodge's Majority Owner Michael Scholz. "During her time at Nita she has shown herself to have an outstanding work ethic, a real...
Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Names GMs for Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Hotel Phillips and Skirvin Hilton
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa | January 28, 2014
Jan. 28, 2014 - MILWAUKEE - Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced that Tom Mason has been appointed managing director of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wis., Gerald Rappaport has been appointed general manager of the Hotel Phillips in Kansas City, Mo. and Brett Sundstrom has been appointed general manager of the Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City, Okla. Mason joins Marcus Hotels & Resorts with over 30 years of hospitality experience. He began his career with Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 1981. His career includes serving as general manager of the Hyatt Regency ...
Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Complete for the 148-key Radisson Hotel Chatsworth in California
January 28, 2014
CHATSWORTH, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2014) - Radisson®, one of the world's best-recognized hotel brands, today announced the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation of the Radisson Hotel Chatsworth, located at 9777 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Chatsworth. "We are proud that as a brand we achieved our goal of renovating 75 percent of the Radisson portfolio in North America by year-end 2013," said Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Radisson, Americas. "We are on track to have the entire portfolio completed by 2015, making Radisson the most refreshed hotel brand in North America." All 148 spacious guestrooms and suites have been reno...
Chumash Casino Resort Selects Percipia Networks for Multi-property Installation
Chumash Casino Resort | January 28, 2014
Santa Ynez, CA - January 28, 2014 - Chumash Casino Resort, the AAA Four Diamond-rated property owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, selected guest room technology integration solutions by Percipia Networks. The expansive 190,000-square-foot resort, home to the area's largest full service spa chose Percipia's Parallax and voice mail integration software in their newly renovated guest rooms and luxury suites. "We were satisfied with both the implementation of the software and the level of attentiveness by Percipia Networks' representatives while they upgraded our technology," said Chumash Casino Resort General Manager Bill Pet...
Crown Plaza Brand Debuts in Serbia with the Opening of the 416-key Crowne Plaza® Belgrade
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | January 28, 2014
Completing Conversion of the InterContinental Belgrade 28 January, 2014 - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's largest hotel companies today announced it has opened the first Crowne Plaza in Serbia - Crowne Plaza® Belgrade. Boasting the largest hotel ballroom in the country, the hotel's meeting facilities further set it apart from the competition. Originally opened as InterContinental Belgrade in 1979, the hotel was bought by Delta Holding in 2008. Delta Holding has since signed a new management agreement with IHG and has invested in the transformation of this famous hotel into a Crowne Plaza. The distinctive look ...
LSH Barra S.A. Launches Development of the 171-key Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro to Open in 2016
January 28, 2014
A Debut for Trump Hotel Collection™ in South America NEW YORK - Jan. 28, 2014 - TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION, the next generation of luxury hospitality, and LSH Barra S.A. announce the development of Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro. Located in the posh Jardim Oceanico sub-district of the famous Barra da Tijuca borough and facing one of Rio's most magnificent beaches, the 13-story, 171-guestroom Trump Rio will be TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION's first property in South America and the only luxury hotel in the neighborhood when it opens in 2016. "With the Barra da Tijuca hosting most of the venues of the 2016 Summer Olympics as well as Jardim Oceanico's p...
Poly Real Estate Group Selects Rosewood Hotels to Manage Rosewood Sanya, to Open in China in 2017
January 28, 2014
28 January 2014 - Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® has been appointed by Poly Real Estate Group to manage Rosewood Sanya, scheduled to open 2017. It is the third Rosewood property to be announced in mainland China following Rosewood Beijing (opening Spring 2014) and Rosewood Chongqing (opening 2015.) The property will join an exclusive group of Rosewood resorts located across the Caribbean and Atlantic, United States and Mexico, and upcoming in Thailand and Indonesia. Rosewood Sanya will be located in the newest development in the destination, at Haitang Bay in southern Hainan Island. The property will be designed as an exclusive sanctua...
Vivek Badrinath Joins Accor as Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Accor | January 27, 2014
January 27, 2014 - Vivek Badrinath joins Accor as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. He will be responsible for marketing, digital solutions, distribution, and information systems. Vivek Badrinath will be a member of the Group's Executive Committee. This appointment will be effective as of March 1st, 2014. Reacting to this appointment, Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, declared: "I am very happy Vivek has agreed to join Accor. He will be responsible for areas that are key to the Group's success and the development of its brands. I am convinced that his perfect knowledge of digital issues and his international experience will giv...
