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Industry Happenings
Marriott Sells London EDITION; Executes Agreements for Sale of Miami EDITION and New York EDITION
Marriott International, Inc. | January 7, 2014
Retains Long-term Management Agreements Bethesda, Md. - January 7, 2014 – Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced it has sold the London EDITION, and signed binding agreements for the sale of two other company-owned EDITION hotels currently under development in Miami Beach and Manhattan. The total purchase price for the three EDITION hotels is approximately $815 million, roughly equal to the aggregate estimated total development costs of all three hotels. The hotels will each be operated by Marriott under long-term management contracts with their new owners, which are companies ultimately owned by the Abu Dhabi Inve...
Omni Hotels & Resorts Acquires Scottsdale, AZ’s Montelucia Resort & Spa from KSL Capital Partners
Omni Hotels & Resorts | January 7, 2014
To Rebrand as the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia January 07, 2014 - DALLAS - Omni Hotels & Resorts and KSL Capital Partners, LLC, a leading private equity firm, today announced the closing of the purchase and sale of the Montelucia Resort & Spa. The resort will be reflagged under the Omni brand as the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, extending the Omni's Resort Collection in the Western United States. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The Montelucia Resort & Spa is a top-rated luxury Scottsdale hotel that features 253 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, 38 suites and two pr...
The Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, N.H. Appoints Laurent Géroli as Executive Chef
Omni Mount Washington Resort | January 7, 2014
BRETTON WOODS, N.H. (Jan. 7, 2014) - The Omni Mount Washington Resort has appointed Laurent Géroli as executive chef. Arriving in Bretton Woods, N.H., with past experience acquired at highly rated properties across the U.S. and Canada, Géroli is responsible for all culinary operations at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, including menu creation for the AAA Four Diamond-rated Main Dining Room, AAA Four Diamond-rated Bretton Arms Inn Dining Room, Stickney's Restaurant, The Cave, Rosebrook Bar and the Princess Room. Géroli also oversees in-room dining as well as banqueting for meetings and special events. Géroli holds an impressive res...
Rhode Island’s Ocean House Appoints Jane Galosic as Director of Leisure Sales
Ocean House | January 7, 2014
For a Newly Created Alliance of Relais & Châteaux Properties of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic WATCH HILL, RI (January 7, 2014) - The Ocean House is pleased to announce the addition of Jane Galosic as Director of Leisure Sales for a newly created Relais & Châteaux of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic Alliance, including the Ocean House (Watch Hill, R.I.), the Weekapaug Inn (Weekapaug, R.I.), The Inn at Little Washington (Washington, Va.), Blantyre (Lenox, Mass.) and the Charlotte Inn (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.). In her newly created position, Galosic will be responsible for both travel industry and direct leisure consumer relation...
Bennett Hospitality Opens the 150-key Embassy Suites Savannah Historic District in Georgia
Embassy Suites Hotels | January 7, 2014
SAVANNAH, Ga. - January 7, 2014 - Perfectly placed in the historic downtown district of Savannah, Georgia, is the new Embassy Suites Savannah, which opened its doors to guests just in time to ring in 2014. The staff of the 150-suite hotel welcomed their first guests on December 30th to this beautiful old-world charm area in what is one of America's favorite cities, according to Travel & Leisure's 2013 survey and Conde Nast Traveler's Readers Choice awards. "We're delighted to expand our presence in Georgia and particularly in the heart of downtown Savannah," said John Rogers, global head of Embassy Suites Hotels. "This is the second...
Hay Creek Hotels to Develop and Manage Porter Square Hotel, Opening in Cambridge, MA in Spring 2015
Hay Creek Hotels | January 7, 2014
(Exeter, NH) January 7, 2014 - Hay Creek Hotels announced today that the new Porter Square Hotel is now under construction with plans for a grand opening in the spring of 2015. The hotel is the product of an extensive, community-based design that resonates with the vibrancy of the local neighborhood and the city itself. The property is situated in the heart of Porter Square, close to both MIT and Harvard University, as well as numerous commercial and tourist destinations. The hotel will consist of 70 upscale creative guest rooms, each containing amenities designed exclusively for today's business and leisure traveler. As a full service ...
Educational Institute Launches Online Course to Increase Awareness of Human Trafficking at Hotels
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute | January 7, 2014
Orlando, Florida, January 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has partnered with ECPAT-USA to develop a new online training program for hotel employees, "The Role of Hospitality in Preventing and Reacting to Child Trafficking." The 30-minute course provides hotel staff and managers with the information they need to identify and respond to crimes of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). It explains the risks trafficking can pose to properties, provides a list of signs and behaviors that may indicate child trafficking, and offers steps to respond to the situation in ways that...
The Hotelier’s Invisible Enemy By Jean Francois Mourier
Jean Francois Mourier | January 7, 2014
January 7, 2014 Although it's only the first week of 2014, a new enemy for the hotel industry has surfaced. While the majority of hotels are aware of its existence, most haven't realized the negative effect that it could have on hotels' revenues in the year to come (and beyond). This enemy has now grown larger than any of the international branded hotels and continues to grow even larger at great speed. This invisible enemy dramatically expands room inventory in cities worldwide and does not discriminate based on property type, star rating or geographical location. So what is this invisible enemy? Although I'm sure many hoteliers might ...
Knowland Completes Key Target Net Integrations in Q4
The Knowland Group | January 7, 2014
CVENT, SocialTables and other key partnerships added to the growing list of integrations in Target Net and Insight, the world's most full-featured, cloud-based sales and catering offering Washington, DC (Jan 7, 2014) - The Knowland Group, a leading provider of business development solutions for the hospitality industry, is proud to announce a series of new partnerships with CVENT, SocialTables, and one of the world's largest cloud based CRM provider that will further integrate Target Net and Insight with key vendors associated with event planning. Integrations with such prominent vendors will dramatically improve user productivity and e...
To Brand Or Not To Brand….Or Something In Between? By Rosemary Rowen
Pinnacle Advisory Group | January 7, 2014
January 7, 2014 The decision on whether to pursue a brand affiliation or to operate independently is one that hotel owners and developers need to weigh when considering options for new hotel development. There are numerous considerations to be made, based on a variety of factors including the hotel's target audience, marketing benefits, design and operating guidelines, and costs associated with branding. However, the hard lines between branded versus independent are continuing to blur, as the emergence of quasi-brand options, or "soft brands" continues to become an attractive option on a number of levels. Maintaining the independence an...
Hotel Company Execs: What Keeps Them Up, What Reports are Important, Are They Going Mobile?
Aptech Computer Systems | January 7, 2014
Executives Share Top of Mind Thinking About Priorities, Challenges, and How They Do Business January 7, 2014 - After a year of recovery and growth, hotel company executives took a break to talk about challenges and what is important. Aptech's team spoke with managers from three operators who agree that taming data overload is at the top of their "challenges" list. We interviewed Brian Cornell, CIO for Concord Hospitality; Felicia Matula, Director of Finance for Pinnacle Hotel Management; and Dave Spangrud, Regional VP Operations for Highpointe Hotel Corporation. Hotel companies continuously apply new technology to their operation to inc...
Accor to Develop Four Brand Hotel Complex in Seoul, South Korea to Open in 2017
Accor | January 7, 2014
January 7, 2014 - The Accor Group has just announced the signing of a brand-new hotel complex in Seoul's Yongsan neighbourhood for 2017. The beautiful complex will house emblematic brands: Novotel, Suite Novotel, ibis Styles, and to top it all off, Grand Mercure. These four exceptional hotels will have a total capacity of around 2,000 rooms and will make up the largest hotel complex in the country. Ideally situated between a shopping centre and the Yeouido financial district, the site is also a stone's throw from the centre of the South Korean capital. This signing is important because the site will host the first ibis Styles, Suite Nov...
How Hotels Can Be Less Dependent on OTAs in 2014
Lodging Interactive | January 7, 2014
In 2013, hoteliers regained control over their reviews, rates and reputations by partnering with award-winning digital marketing agency Lodging Interactive PARSIPPANY, N.J. - JANUARY 7, 2014 - Year after year, Lodging Interactive has worked diligently to develop breakthrough services with robust business models to help hotels take power away from the Online Travel Agencies and place it back in the hands of owners, operators and marketers. In 2013, three proprietary programs emerged as leaders in this effort: Lodging Interactive's Guest Review System, HotelFAQs.com, and HotelWebPages.com. "Hotels that have partnered with Lodging Interac...
Mobile Key by OpenWays Now LIVE at two Personality Hotels in San Francisco
Personality Hotels | January 7, 2014
Mobile technology deployed by OpenWays reseller RoamingAround is enabling guests to bypass the front desk and go straight to their rooms using their mobile phones as a digital room key Los Angeles - JANUARY 7, 2014 - Personality Hotels has equipped its Hotel Diva and Hotel Union Square boutique properties in San Francisco with Mobile Key by OpenWays to expand on its strategy to offer an inventive urban experience with all the comforts of home. Mobile Key is now LIVE and enabling guests to optionally skip the traditional check-in process by opening their room doors using any of the 6.5 billion cell phones in the world - any make, any mob...
Kana Hotel Group Assumes Management of Hilton Garden Inn – Atlanta West/Lithia Springs in Georgia
Kana Hotel Group | January 7, 2014
Springs, GA – (January 7) – Kana Hotel Group announced today that it has been awarded the management contract for the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta West / Lithia Springs located in Lithia Springs, GA. The 112 Hilton Garden Inn features 2,600 square feet of meeting space and is located only fifteen miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The property is in close proximity to the popular Six Flags over Georgia theme park, and enjoys easy access to many other local attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium and the New World of Coca Cola. The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel is perfectly located in close proximity to many local...
Ensemble Hotel Partners to Open the 172-room Courtyard Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard
Courtyard by Marriott | January 6, 2014
Philadelphia, PA - January 6, 2014 - Courtyard by Marriott is rolling out its innovative lobby and room design in Philadelphia, PA. This is the first hotel to open at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the newest Courtyard in the area featuring the Refreshing Business lobby environment, where guests can enjoy an open and flexible space. Along with media pods, Wi-Fi and a variety of seating zones, the redefined space is ideal for everything from pop-up meetings to social gatherings. Scheduled to open tomorrow, the 172-room Courtyard Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard also offers a refreshing and stylish room design that helps guests stay co...
The 829-room Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center Officially Opens
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | January 6, 2014
ISTANBUL and MCLEAN, Va.- January 6, 2014 - Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, Istanbul's largest hotel, today welcomes guests for the first time. With 829 guest rooms and suites, as well as 12,000 square meters of event space, the hotel builds on Hilton's legacy of almost 60 years in Turkey, extending its world renowned service to travelers in one of Istanbul's most thriving neighborhoods. The stylish hotel, designed by award winning GA Design of London, offers significant scale and stretches a magnificent 34 floors high. Hilton Istanbul Bomonti is adjacent to a new shopping and entertainment destination which is be...
Owned by CHPH, LLC, the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport Opens Following Conversion & Renovation
January 6, 2014
ATLANTA – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], today announced the 290-room Crowne Plaza® Phoenix Airport hotel as the newest addition to the portfolio of Phoenix hotels in the IHG family of brands. The 10-story property, a conversion from an independent hotel, has undergone a significant multi-million dollar renovation and is the third hotel for the Crowne Plaza brand in Phoenix. "We are pleased to expand the Crowne Plaza brand in a major U.S. market, especially in such a convenient location for business travelers," said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Americas Brand Management, Upscale Brands, IHG. "We kn...
Anura Dewapura to Lead Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in BVI as New Managing Director
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI | January 6, 2014
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (Jan. 6, 2013) - Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, the first luxury resort development in the British Virgin Islands in more than 15 years and first member of the Autograph Collection® in the Caribbean, has announced the appointment of Anura Dewapura as the resort's new managing director. A highly respected and accomplished veteran of luxury hotels around the world, Dewapura will utilize his nearly 30 years of executive leadership experience to oversee every aspect of island operations and development, while leading the resort to the highest levels of service and guest satisfaction. "Anura's appointment unde...
Grand Hyatt San Francisco Names Judy Cronkhite as New Director of Sales and Marketing
Grand Hyatt San Francisco | January 6, 2014
San Francisco, California (January 6, 2013) - Grand Hyatt San Francisco announces the appointment of Judy Cronkhite as the hotel's new Director of Sales and Marketing. After 13 years as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Cronkhite returns to the Union Square hotel, where she previously served as Director of Sales and Marketing from 1997 to 2000. Cronkhite brings with her 32 years of experience with Hyatt, a keen understanding of marketing and sales goals, and a strong connection to and investment in the San Francisco community. "We are thrilled to have Judy Cronkhite join Grand Hyatt San Francisco to lead ou...
Marriott Honors Top Owners & Franchisees for 2013; Partnership Circle Award Given to Four Companies
Marriott International | January 6, 2014
January 6, 2014 - Marriott International honored top owner and franchise companies at the annual MINA & Full Service Owners Conference held recently at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Four companies – Concord Hospitality, The Kessler Collection, Sage Hospitality and White Lodging Services – were awarded the Partnership Circle Award, the highest honor Marriott presents to its owner and franchise partners for hospitality excellence. Marriott's Partnership Circle Award honors owners and operators who have a strong alignment with Marriott in a number of different areas, from overall culture to sharing a long-term commitment with Mar...
Welcome Hotel Group Completes Lafayette Yard Hotel & Conference Center Acquisition
Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | January 6, 2014
Plans Call for Hotel to Be Upgraded and Rebranded TRENTON, N.J./SALISBURY, Md., January 6, 2014 )--Welcome Hotel Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Edison Broadcasting, today completed the acquisition of the 197-room Lafayette Yard Hotel & Conference Center in Trenton, N.J. from Lafayette Yards Community Development Corporation. The company paid $6 million for the bankrupt hotel as the winning bidder at a public auction. "To make sure that we match the best brand for downtown Trenton's only upscale hotel, we are reviewing all of our options with the major first-class hotel franchise brands," said Mike Marshall, president and CEO of Marshal...
HSMAI Names 2013 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds In Sales & Marketing
HSMAI | January 6, 2014
Top-25 Recipients to be Recognized Feb. 24 at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala McLean, Va. (January 6, 2014) - The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) today announced its list of the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing" as part of its annual Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis set to take place on Feb. 24, 2014. In its 11th year, the "Top 25" list is annually compiled to highlight those who have made a sizeable influence on the hospitality, travel and tourism industries, and this year's awardees will be recognized during a private ceremony co-sponsore...
TSA Solutions Helps Hotel Missoni Kuwait Grow RevPAR By 7.2% in First Month
TSA Solutions | January 6, 2014
To maximize guest satisfaction, luxury Middle East property implements TSA's industry-leading hotel front-desk upselling training and technology solutions Dubai- January 6, 2014 - TSA Solutions, a leading global provider of measurable and sustainable revenue performance enhancing solutions for the hotel industry, welcomes Hotel Missoni Kuwait to its growing client portfolio in the Middle East. With the addition of this luxury property, as well as four other prestigious hotels in the region in recent months, there are now more than 80 properties in the Middle East benefitting from TSA's front-desk upselling solutions, which are based on ...
