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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
The 110-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton Opens in Southington, CT; Owned by The Briad Group
December 6, 2013
SOUTHINGTON, Conn. and MCLEAN, Va. - December 6, 2013 - Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's international brand of upscale, all-suite, extended-stay hotels, announces today the opening of its newest property in Southington, Connecticut. Creating 30 permanent jobs, the four-story, 110-suite hotel is owned by The Briad Group, and will be managed by Briad Hospitality Management, LLC. General Manager Kim Jackson has been in the hotel industry for 25 years, and will be supported by Director of Sales Jeremy Starr. "Southington's proximity to major business and leisure attractions makes it an ideal location for our newest property in...
Pegasus Solutions Launches the Pegasus Academy
Pegasus Solutions | December 6, 2013
Interactive Library of Client Learning Tools Tailors Client Support to Hotelier Needs DALLAS (December 5, 2013) – Pegasus Solutions has launched the Pegasus Academy, an interactive library of client learning presentations available to Pegasus Connect+ clients. Viewable on both desktop and all mobile devices, the Pegasus Academy expands global access to support tailored to the busy hotelier's needs. "Our number one commitment is to our hotel clients," said Ges Doran, senior vice president and managing director, client services for Pegasus Solutions. "It's not enough to make client support available. You have to ask what the hotelier w...
Karisma Hotels & Resorts Launches Allure Hotels, by Karisma; Opens Two Allure Hotels in Colombia
Karisma Hotels & Resorts | December 6, 2013
MIAMI (December 6, 2013) - Karisma Hotels & Resorts, an award-winning luxury hotel collection which owns and manages properties in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, today announced the launch of Allure Hotels, by Karisma and expansion of its portfolio with the introduction of two boutique hotels in Colombia. Located in the heart of Cartagena, Allure Bonbon and Allure Chocolat are now welcoming travelers. Allure Bonbon (formerly Arsenal Hotel) and Allure Chocolat (formerly Arsenal Hotel Boutique) are properties owned by the Char Muvdi family, renowned Colombian entrepreneurs and real estate developers, and managed by Karisma H...
Chatham Lodging Acquires 160-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Savannah Downtown/Historic District
Chatham Lodging Trust | December 6, 2013
SAVANNAH, Ga.,/PALM BEACH, Fla., December 6, 2013 - Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels, today announced that it has acquired the 160-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Savannah Downtown/Historic District for $39.8 million, plus customary acquisition and closing costs. Chatham funded the purchase with available cash and borrowings on its secured revolving credit facility. Following the acquisition, the company's leverage ratio is 37 percent, calculated as net debt to hotel investment at cost. Chath...
TrustYou Selected By Hotel Leader Sonesta for Online Reputation Monitoring & Social Media Solution
TrustYou | December 6, 2013
TrustYou to Power Sonesta Portfolio To Increase Online Awareness and Customer Sentiment MUNICH, DALLAS - December 5, 2013 - Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, the 5 brand hotel operator and market leader across 8 countries, has chosen TrustYou for its social media monitoring and reputation management worldwide. Sonesta will use TrustYou to monitor online reviews, tweets and posts for 55+ of its properties worldwide and gain customer specific-insights about their properties. TrustYou's sophisticated technology detects sentiment in user-generated content to uncover trends, strengths, and challenges. "As a global leader in hospitali...
Pricing Systems 2.0 – Part Two
Jean Francois Mourier | December 5, 2013
By Jean Francois Mourier Last week, I wrote Part One of this article series, which provides a checklist for hoteliers to determine whether your revenue management system is up to par for 2014. As I'm sure you know, the online and mobile channels are growing rapidly so if your RMS is not optimized for both of these channels, you will be leaving money on the table. Let's take a look at some other items on the checklist! As a reminder, the first three were: 1 - Does your property analyze and provide rates based on historical data, AS WELL AS rate shopping market data? 2 – Does your RMS use pricing parameters to ensure that your rates he...
2013 Construction Report North America; 23 Hotel Waterpark Projects Open in 2013
Jeff Coy | December 4, 2013
By Jeff Coy, ISHC December 6, 2013 --- Twenty-three (23) waterpark resort projects opened in the USA during 2013, a 8.0% increase over last year. This compares with 20 in 2012, 27 in 2011 and the record high of 40 in 2007. Thirteen (13) projects were brand names such as Hyatt, Marriott, Great Wolf, Wet 'n Wild, Carnival Cruise and Norwegian Cruise Lines, and 10 projects were independent owner projects. Fourteen (14) projects were new openings, and 9 were expansions of existing properties. While money is just beginning to loosen up for hotel developers, new hotel construction is still rather flat, but resort acquisitions and expansions a...
Will the Hotel Industry Become a White Label? by Georges Panayotis
MKG Group | December 4, 2013
Given the speed of ongoing changes in the hotel industry, digital marketing and public communication will be entirely taken over by OTAs who have the means to mobilize the hundreds of millions that are needed to convey a global strategy. Facing this firepower, hotel communications need to rely on a strong message, based on the originality of the product, on the strength of the concept to gain client loyalty to the symbolic values of a brand. In other words, we must stop putting the cart before the horse and worry more over about brand content before seeking to compete with OTAs at all costs. The modern hotel industry began with the impo...
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas to Expand Portfolio Opening 8 New Properties in 7 Countries
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas | December 4, 2013
Six Senses Home Office, Bangkok – 3 December 2013: True to its heritage of creating exceptional resorts and spas featuring unique, crafted guest experiences in places of incredible natural beauty, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas announces eight new development concepts set to open over the next 36 months. Growth also includes the addition of four incredible Six Senses Spas and the brand's broadening expansion into the lifestyle of wellness. "The rapid brand expansion of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas ignited in Asia, Europe, Northern Africa and the Caribbean allows us to redefine ourselves on a global scale with the addition of our fir...
Underwriting Your PIP by William G. Sipple
William G. Sipple | December 4, 2013
Ask any hotelier about their experiences with financing and you'll likely get a mixed-bag of answers, but most will point out that hotels remain one of the hardest asset classes to capitalize. To complicate matters, a number of the branding companies have recently announced either renewed efforts to bring lagging properties up to current standards, or new standards programs intended to differentiate their brands from the pack. As a result, many hotel owners today face major capital expenditures or risk losing their brand affiliation, which potentially triggers a default under their existing financing. Typically, there are a couple of co...
Ultima Hospitality Assumes Management of the 188-room Westin Columbus Hotel in Columbus, Ohio
Ultima Hospitality | December 4, 2013
CHICAGO, Ill. (December 4, 2013) - Ultima Hospitality, an industry-leading investment and hotel management company, announces today that they have taken over the management of The Westin Columbus Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The quickly growing hotel management firm has been awarded the contract as its real-estate affiliate, Waterton Commercial Properties takes 100 percent ownership of the property today. "The Westin Columbus Hotel underwent a dramatic $15 million renovation in 2008. This is a great advantage, granting Ultima Hospitality the opportunity to take the hotel to the next level in terms of guest satisfaction," says Mark Zettl, ch...
Waramaug LS Hotels Acquires the 108-key Comfort Suites in Arlington, Texas
Waramaug LS Hotels | December 4, 2013
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, DECEMBER 4, 2013 - Waramaug LS Hotels, LLC, a private investment group and its institutional capital partner, announced today they have acquired the 108-key all suite Comfort Suites in Arlington, Texas. This transaction continues Waramaug's strategy to deploy $150 million over the next 12 months in the acquisition of high quality select service hotels. The Comfort Suites is located just two miles from Six Flags Over Texas theme park and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Water Park. It also offers convenient access to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Museum of Art and the Arlington Convention Ce...
TigerTime by eRevMax – a Hit with Hoteliers and OTAs
eRevMax | December 4, 2013
Channel management specialist plans more such treats for the industry London, 4th December 2013: eRevMax's TigerTime with leading OTAs proved to be a hit at WTM 2013. The sessions generated significant interest among the travel industry with a 'standing room only' turnout. WTM 2013 witnessed TigerTime participation from Agoda, GTA and Ostrovok - all part of the eRevMax Channel Ecosystem - who delivered relevant presentations to hoteliers looking for superior connectivity, new distribution markets and updates on new technology developments. "TigerTime by eRevMax was the perfect platform for us to present our value proposition to a varied...
HCAA Releases Chinese Language Interpretation Guide to the USALI
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) | December 4, 2013
Hong Kong (December 4, 2013) - The Hotel Controllers and Accountants Association of Hong Kong (HCAA) is pleased to announce the release of the Chinese language version of the Hong Kong Guide to the 10th Edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). This edition is a follow-up to the English version which was released in November 2011. The publication is a guide to the widely adopted USALI, tailored made to the business practices of hospitality companies in Hong Kong, and eventually in China. "The objective of the Hong Kong Guide is to educate the local community about the Uniform System and to identify sele...
Video: What’s Hot Culinary Forecast Predicts Locally Sourced Food as Top Menu Trend of 2014
National Restaurant Association | December 4, 2013
National Restaurant Association survey of professional chefs also shows environmental sustainability and healthful kids' menu as top trends Washington, D.C., December 03, 2013 — The National Restaurant Association (NRA) each year prepares its What's Hot culinary forecast of menu trends for the coming year. The NRA surveyed nearly 1,300 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) – to find which food and beverage items will be hot trends on restaurant menus in 2014. Top 10 food trends for 2014: Locally sourced meats and seafood Locally grown produce Environmental sustainability Healthful kids' meals...
Rim Hospitality Names Lisa Kershner as Area General Manager for Oakland, California Marriott Hotels
Oakland Marriott City Center | December 4, 2013
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 4, 2013 -- Rim Hospitality has announced the addition of a new area general manager who will oversee the Oakland Convention Center and two Marriott properties in the Oakland area. Lisa Kershner, a San Francisco native, took the lead at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Courtyard Oakland Downtown and Oakland Convention Center on Nov. 18, 2013. She most recently managed The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa, a Marriott corporate hotel. Previous stints as the general manager of the Renaissance San Francisco Stanford Court Hotel and interim executive director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco solidify he...
The New-Build 91-key Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites® Orlando East – UCF Area Opens in Florida
The Zimmerman Agency | December 4, 2013
ATLANTA (Dec. 4, 2013) - InterContinental Hotels Group, (IHG) announced the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites® Orlando East - UCF Area located a short distance from the University of Central Florida, Central Florida Research Park and Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation, PEO STRI. This is the first new hotel to be opened in East Orlando in eight years. IHG currently has 3 hotels in the pipeline and twelve open hotels in Orlando. Located at 12250 E. Colonial Drive, the new hotel features 91 guest rooms, including 28 suites, and is located close to the Brighthouse Networks Stadium, ...
Brian Morris Joins Sheraton and Westin Kansas City at Crown Center in Missouri as Director of Sales
Sheraton and Westin Kansas City Hotels at Crown Center | December 4, 2013
KANSAS CITY, MO - Dec. 4, 2013 - Sheraton and Westin Kansas City at Crown Center has appointed Brian Morris as director of sales. In this role, Morris is responsible for sales and marketing in support of Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center and The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Morris is a 25-year hospitality veteran whose most recent role was director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California. There, Morris was responsible for top line sales in room revenue and assisted in growing food and beverage and ancillary revenues. Prior to that role, Morris was the Director of Sales and Marketi...
Rainmaker Recipient of Info-Tech Research Group’s Trend Setter Award
Waramaug LS Hotels | December 4, 2013
Of Seven Revenue Management Systems Evaluated, GuestREV® Called the Perfect System for Cutting-Edge Casino-Hotels ATLANTA, GA - December 4, 2013 - In its 2013 Vendor Landscape: Revenue Management Systems report, Info-Tech Research Group, Inc., a global leader in providing IT research and advice, listed Rainmaker's GuestREV® system as the Trend Setter Award recipient, calling it "the perfect system for cutting-edge casino-hotels looking to make decisions based on total guest value." Info-Tech Research Group also recognized Rainmaker for its "innovative approach of introducing gaming revenue to revenue management modeling." Trend Setter...
Kennedy Training Network Announces Hotel Reservations QUEST Video and Training Program
Kennedy Training Network | December 4, 2013
A contemporary new approach for today's over-informed, multi-tasking reservations callers who have shopped multiple channels before calling. Hollywood, Florida - December 4, 2013 - KTN announced today the launch of a contemporary new lodging industry reservations training program available in all formats including video (DVD), private webinars, on-site training and train-the-trainer versions. "When it comes to information, the balance of power has shifted to the caller's side of the equation over the last decade or so" says KTN President Doug Kennedy, the instructional designer of Hotel Reservations QUEST. "In the past most had very lit...
Will Kernahan Appointed as Sales Manager for Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, Illinois
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa | December 4, 2013
GALENA, Ill. (Dec. 4, 2013) - Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa (www.eagleridge.com) is pleased to announce Will Kernahan as the new sales manager for the renowned resort located in Galena, Ill. Kernahan is the new Chicago-based sales manager responsible for all aspects of sales for the resort including the 63 holes on four award-winning golf courses, accommodations that range from quaint Inn rooms to more than 200 villas and distinctive homes, over 15,000 square feet of meeting space, award-winning restaurants, and spa. Founder of the GolfRadio Network, Kernahan has an impressive background in the hospitality industry with a niche in golf a...
John Rovie Named as VP Sales & Marketing for The 779-key Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO
The Broadmoor | December 4, 2013
Colorado Springs, Colorado -(December 4, 2013) - President and CEO of The Broadmoor, Steve Bartolin, announced today that as of January 2014, The Broadmoor's Vice President of Marketing, Dennis Lesko, will retire from his position and John Rovie, currently The Broadmoor's Director of Sales, will assume the role. Pepper Dombroski will replace Mr. Rovie as Director of Sales. Dennis Lesko, who has been with The Broadmoor for over 12 years, built a successful marketing platform for the Five-Star, Five-Diamond resort rooted in The Broadmoor's exceptional guest service standards. John Rovie, who joined The Broadmoor in 2010, will now guide Th...
Hyatt Regency Maui, Hawaii Welcomes John Yeadon as Director of Sales and Marketing
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa | December 4, 2013
LAHAINA, HI (December 4, 2013) - Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa announces the appointment of John Yeadon as the new Director of Sales and Marketing for the 806 room resort. A seasoned hospitality professional with 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Yeadon brings to the resort a strong knowledge of leisure travel markets and a history of sales and marketing successes throughout the industry. Yeadon has been with Hyatt for eight years, most recently serving as Director of Sales and Marketing for Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. "We are thrilled to welcome John to Maui and to our ohana here at the Hyatt" says Allan Farwell, G...
Knowland Data Now Includes Revenue for Group Events
The Knowland Group | December 4, 2013
Proprietary Algorithms Generate Estimated Room Night Spend for Hundreds of Thousands of Events Washington, D.C. (Dec. 4, 2013) - The Knowland Group, the largest data company in the global meeting and event industry, announced today the release of its newly enhanced Estimated Room Night Revenue feature. This enhancement makes it easier to quickly assess the value of group business by looking at estimated total revenues from past events. This feature is designed to provide the company's Readers and Insight users with additional information regarding average room rates and estimated revenues for past events in the Knowland database. For an...
