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Industry Happenings
Carmel Valley, California’s 57-room Bernardus Lodge Acquired by Ensemble Hotel Partners
Ensemble Hotel Partners | January 27, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014 - Ensemble Hotel Partners is excited to announce the acquisition of Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley's award-winning romantic getaway. The 57-room resort and spa is situated on 25-acres of pristine land in one of California's up and coming wine country destinations. "We are delighted to have acquired the Lodge and look forward to building on the property's existing appeal," said Brian Ehrlich, Chief Investment Officer of Ensemble Hotel Partners. "We believe that there is an opportunity to make this a one-of-a-kind destination." Ensemble Hotel Partners acquired the four-star resort from winery developer, Bernardus ...
Owner, Robbinsville Fieldhouse, Opens 104-room Hampton Inn & Suites Hamilton/Robbinsville in NJ
Hampton Hotels | January 27, 2014
ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. and MCLEAN, Va., January 27, 2014- Hampton Hotels, Hilton Worldwide's global brand of more than 1,900 mid-priced Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hampton by Hilton hotels, today announced the official opening of its newest property, the 104-room Hampton Inn & Suites Hamilton/Robbinsville, located at 153 West Manor Way. "Hampton combines quality, innovation, comfort and plenty of value-added extras, making it the brand of choice in the marketplace today," said Héctor González, general manager, Hampton Inn & Suites Hamilton/Robbinsville. "Quality accommodations and amenities combined with proactive, ...
IHG & PT Hotel Dago Pakar to Open New 223-key InterContinental Bandung Dago Pakar in Indonesia
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | January 27, 2014
Jakarta, 27 January 2014: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and PT Hotel Dago Pakar have signed a management agreement for the 204-room and 19-villa InterContinental Bandung Dago Pakar in the prestigious Dago neighbourhood, northeast of the city centre in Bandung, Indonesia. Set to open this year, the luxurious property is located in the city's Dago Pakar development and promises views over the manicured greens of the 18-hole Mountain View Golf Course, as well as Bandung city. The new hotel is also located just seven kilometres from Husein Sastranegara International Airport and under three kilometres from the commercial hub. Purnawan ...
Kokua Hospitality Promotes Four Internal Team Members, Making Key Appointments to Leadership Team
Kokua Hospitality, LLC, | January 27, 2014
CHICAGO (January 27, 2014) - Kokua Hospitality, LLC announces today several key executive appointments with the promotion of four internal team members. As part of its ongoing effort to be the operator of choice for strategic institutional and select private lodging investors, the hotel management firm acknowledges the considerable work and effort of these individuals with the following advancements: Clay Spencer assumes the role of senior vice president-operations. Spencer joined Kokua Hospitality as general manager of the Chicago Allerton Hotel after holding the general manager title at Hyatt hotels around the country. In this new p...
Bangkok Area Hotels under Pressure; Lowering Rates Not a Solution, Advises HVS
HVS | January 27, 2014
HVS Bangkok Director Christian Pucher recently shared updates and counsel for the hotels in his locale: The protests that began in November 2013 have been taking their toll on hotels' performance amidst what would regularly be the high season. Occupancies are said to be down by 20-40 % on average as travelers cancel or postpone their trips to the City. As the protests are localized to specific areas of the city, some hotels near the protest sites are feeling the impact considerably more than others. "Past conflicts have shown that the market is resilient and that occupancies tend to recuperate to normal levels within three to four month...
Sofitel Opens the 415-key Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort in Indonesia
Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance | January 27, 2014
January 27, 2014 - Sofitel continues to expand its luxury network across Asia. On December 20th 2013, the brand launched a new Indonesian property, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, a unique holiday retreat for business travelers and families with world-class facilities, combining French flair and warm Balinese hospitality and rich culture. "Sofitel is renowned for French luxury and sophistication and with the opening of Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua, we're proud to introduce our signature French elegance and 'cousu main' tailor-made service to Indonesia", commented hotel GM, Goran Aleks. "This much-anticipated hotel brings all the key elemen...
Michael Mathis Named President & Chief Operating Officer of MGM Springfield Development
MGM Resorts International | January 27, 2014
Transition to Begin Immediately; Fully Effective with Licensing SPRINGFIELD (MA) January 23, 2014 – MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) today announced that Michael Mathis will replace Bill Hornbuckle as President & Chief Operating Officer of the MGM Springfield Development effective upon approval of Mathis' individual licensing application, which is pending with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Should the Company receive the sole Western Massachusetts license award from the Commission, Mathis will transition into leading the pre-opening effort and eventual operation of the facility. Bill Hornbuckle has held the title of MGM...
Intergroup’s Tandy O. Lofland Advises Sellers in Sale of Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Galleria Area
Intergroup Companies | January 27, 2014
January 27, 2014 - Tandy O. Lofland, founder and CEO of Intergroup Companies, announced the firm advised on the recent sale of the Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Galleria Area. The 182-room hotel, opened in November 2005, is located in Houston's upscale and rapidly growing Galleria area. The hotel will continue to be managed for the new owner, an affiliate of Summit Hotel Properties, by the seller, developer and operator, Houston-based American Liberty Hospitality, which was represented by Intergroup. This is the most recent transaction between American Liberty and Intergroup over a 25-year relationship. American Liberty Hospitality, founded...
Alliance Hospitality Appoints EJ Schanfarber as President and Chief Executive Officer
Alliance Hospitality | January 27, 2014
Raleigh, NC - January 27, 2014 - Alliance Hospitality, a premier hotel management company, today announced industry veteran EJ Schanfarber has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. EJ Schanfarber brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to Alliance Hospitality, and prior to joining the company he served as President and CEO of Divi Resorts, overseeing development and management of destination resorts in the Caribbean. Mr. Schanfarber has also held executive level positions with Remington Hotels, Extended Stay America, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and other hospitality management firms. His ...
DIRECTV Drops The Weather Channel: What This Means to the Hotel Industry
Hospitality Upgrade | January 27, 2014
With the announcement on January 15, 2014, and the news of DIRECTV dropping The Weather Channel because of a disagreement on a market-based carriage deal, our Publisher Rich Siegel sought the opportunity to explore how this would affect the hospitality industry. Rich went straight to the source and interviewed the EVP/CIO of The Weather Channel, Bryson Koehler. "The intersection of weather and travel is tremendous," said Koehler. "In the dispute over a penny, DIRECTV has decided to drop us from their lineup. We are simply trying to ensure that there is the right communication and education out there about the impact this has for all DIR...
Inland American Real Estate Trust & Kessler Enterprises Form Two JVs to Develop Hotels in SC and AL
Inland American Lodging Advisor, Inc. | January 27, 2014
Both to be Affiliated with Marriott's Autograph Collection January 27, 2014 - OAK BROOK, Ill. - Inland American Lodging Group, Inc. (IALG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc. (Inland American), announced today that it has formed two new joint ventures for a combined investment of $68.5 million with Kessler Enterprises. The joint ventures will focus on developing two luxury boutique hotels, totaling 150 rooms, in Charleston, S.C., and Mountain Brook, Ala., a suburb of Birmingham. Both hotels will be affiliated with Marriott's Autograph Collection, a collection of high quality boutique hotels known for th...
Thor Urbana & Commune Hotels & Resorts Partner for New Thompson Playa del Carmen to Open in 2015
Thor Urbana Capital | January 27, 2014
New 125-room Luxury Hotel and Beach Club in the Heart of Destination Resort Area to Anchor Major Mixed-Use Project: Thompson Playa del Carmen To Open in 2015 PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico, Jan. 27, 2014 -- Commune Hotel & Resorts will bring its innovative and luxurious lifestyle hotel brand – Thompson Hotels - to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, as part of a transformative, mixed-use project from Mexico-based real estate development firm, Thor Urbana, executives from both companies announced today. Located on the paradisiacal shores of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Playa del Carmen has long featured local shops, fine dining, and exciting nightl...
Aqua Hotels & Resorts Names Mark Burson as Resort Manager for HI’s 350-room Aqua Kaua’i Beach Resort
Aqua Kaua'i Beach Resort | January 27, 2014
January 27, 2014 - Lihu'e, Kaua'i, Hawai'i - Aqua Hotels and Resorts® (www.AquaResorts.com), announced that Mark Burson has been named Resort Manager for the 350-room Aqua Kaua'i Beach Resort. "We are very pleased to have someone with Mark's talent on our team," said David Sosner, general manager. "He is an accomplished hospitality professional with extensive operations and food and beverage management experience that is a big plus for a full-service hotel like Aqua Kaua'i Beach Resort." In his role, Burson has overall responsibility for the direction and growth of the hotel's food and beverage operation, as well as assisting the opera...
Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives Elect Executive Committee For 2-Year Term
Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives | January 27, 2014
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (Jan. 27, 2014) - The Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Leadership Conference, sponsored by American Resort Development Association - Resort Owners' Coalition (ARDA-ROC), prior to Caribbean Travel Marketplace where members voted for its executive committee for the 2014-16 term. Association executives from 14 hotel associations met and elected the following individuals to the CSHAE executive committee: Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, executive director, Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association, was elected as president of CSHAE Neil Forrester, general manager, ...
HRI Lodging Names Jon Burckin Director of Business Development
HRI Lodging | January 27, 2014
NEW ORLEANS, LA (January 27, 2014) - Jon Burckin has been named director of business development for HRI Lodging, announced Gary Gutierrez, president of HRI Lodging. "Jon will be responsible for identifying new management opportunities as our company continues to expand across the country," Gutierrez said. "Jon's nationwide experience in the financial side of the hospitality industry perfectly fits our commitment to delivering extraordinary value to prospective partners," Gutierrez added. Before joining HRI Lodging, Burckin was the managing director of business development for Access Point Financial, a direct hospitality lending and adv...
Yue Xing Jin Jiang International Hotel Kashi, Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China to Open March 2014
Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Company Ltd. | January 27, 2014
SHANGHAI, Jan. 27, 2014 -- Jin Jiang International Hotels officially announces the opening of Yue Xing Jin Jiang International Hotel Kashi and is currently scheduled to open in March, 2014. The hotel is situated in Kashgar, Xinjiang province, China's westernmost city bordering five countries - Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Conveniently located in Kashgar, it will be within easy access to all the main transportation links and will serve as an ideal base from which visitors can explore the city. Kashgar is a large oasis and continues to be a key city and important trading point along the Silk Road, and has a lon...
Westin Brand to Debut in Mauritius with Spring ‘14 Opening of 190-key Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa
Westin Hotels & Resorts | January 27, 2014
January 27, 2014 - BRUSSELS - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that it will soon introduce its Westin Hotels & Resorts brand to the island of Mauritius. Owned by Blue Ocean Park Ltd., The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius is scheduled to open in spring 2014. The resort will enjoy a pristine beachfront location in the historic Turtle Bay of Balaclava – the former breeding grounds of the Mauritian green sea turtle – on the North West coast of Mauritius, offering captivating views on the turquoise waves of the Indian Ocean. "I would like to thank our long-standing partner Blue Oce...
NewcrestImage Introduces Courtyard & TownePlace Suites DFW/Grapevine Executive Team
The Hotel | January 27, 2014
First Dual-Branded Marriott Hotel In Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Features Modern Design, Upgraded Amenities, and Added Guest Services GRAPEVINE, TX (January 27, 2014) - As 2013 came to a close, the first dual-branded Marriott hotel in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex opened its doors and wished a happy new year to its first guests. One month into operation, the development by NewcrestImage, LLC has enjoyed a strong opening, with its new executive team welcoming guests in North Texas for both business and recreation. The Grapevine-based Courtyard & TownePlace Suites is situated just minutes from DFW International Airport, between the ...
The Newly Built 101-room Holiday Inn Express Jakarta Thamrin Opens in Indonesia
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | January 27, 2014
Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday 27 January 2014: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in the city of Jakarta, Indonesia. The brand new 101-room Holiday Inn Express Jakarta Thamrin is the first Holiday Inn Express hotel to open in the region this year and is situated in the heart of Jakarta's Central Business District (CBD), close to vibrant shopping and entertainment precincts. "The New Year has kicked-off to a great start with the opening of Holiday Inn Express Jakarta, making it the second Holiday Inn Express to open in Indonesia in the last three months. With 12 more Holiday Inn Express hotels...
Led by General Manager Jim Fournier, 93-room Hyatt Place Fredericksburg-Mary Washington Opens in VA
Hyatt Place | January 27, 2014
CHICAGO (January 27, 2014) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and Interstate Hotels & Resorts today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Fredericksburg-Mary Washington. The hotel, which is located on the campus of the University of Mary Washington, serves the university community, Historic Downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia and the Mary Washington Health System with its convenient centralized location. "Hyatt Place Fredericksburg-Mary Washington is located in a desirable and historic area, and we're looking forward to creating a positive experience for each and every guest that walks through our doors," said Jim Fournier, general ...
Customer Service: A Secret to Selling
Katie Scheer | January 27, 2014
by Katie Scheer You have heard it all before - to make a sale, you need to understand needs, have good product knowledge, find the "fit," and so on. All true; however, without delivering memorable customer service by showing that you genuinely care about the customer through treating him with respect and proving that he can trust you, you may still earn the sale, but you won't acquire a bigger sale or loyalty. This past weekend my husband, two young kids (2 and 5), and I dined at The Vineyard Grill at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. Typically, since they are so young, we would not bring our children to a restaurant this nice, bu...
Marriott Debuts in Sochi, Russia with Opening of the 428-key Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel
Marriott Hotels | January 27, 2014
Sochi, Russia - January 27, 2014 - Marriott International has opened a luxurious ski and spa hotel under its signature brand, Marriott Hotels, at the heart of the new Gorky Gorod ski resort in Krasnaya Polyana. The five-star Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel is ideally positioned at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains within walking distance of world-class ski slopes. The hotel is operated by an affiliate of U.S.-based Interstate Hotels & Resorts. Just half an hour from Sochi Airport by express train, Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana is situated next to a new, state-of-the-art convention centre. Offering breath-taking views o...
GF Management Affiliate Acquires the 334-key Embassy Suites Orlando – Lake Buena Vista in Florida
Embassy Suites Orlando - Lake Buena Vista | January 27, 2014
January 27, 2014 - Philadelphia, PA - GF Management, a leading national hotel ownership and management company, announces that its affiliate, ESLBV Property Owner LLC, has acquired the 334-room Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista located at 8100 Lake St, Orlando, Florida. The hotel will maintain its affiliation with the Embassy Suites brand and will be undertaking a renovation in excess of $13 million which will take place over the next 12 months. The acquisition of the Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista is the second Hilton branded acquisition this year for GF Management, finishing the Company's 25th anniversary year strong. B...
New Property Manager for Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel in Waikiki Beach
BuildCentral | January 27, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Have Updated 194 Hotels in the Last Two Weeks with Changes in Personnel, Property Management or Ownership Chicago, IL. January 27, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have reported 194 changes in personnel, property management and ownership in the Hotel Profiles database over the last two weeks. Many hotels are getting a fresh start with a new Owner, Property Manager or General Manager. Recommend your product or service to someone who might be looking for a change. Hotels Under New Management: Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing (Branson, MO) Luana Waikiki (Honolulu - Oahu, HI) Hampton Inn Canon City ...
