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
U.S. Travel Co-Sponsors Fly-In to Call for Immediate Action on Immigration Reform
The U.S. Travel Association | October 29, 2013
Measures in Reform Package Would Modernize Critical Travel Services, Create "Massive" Economic Opportunity, Says Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorenson at Event Kick-off WASHINGTON (October 29, 2013) - The U.S. Travel Association is among the backers of Tuesday's "Americans for Reform: Immigration Reform for Our Economy, Faith, and Security" fly-in on Capitol Hill, which brings 600 public- and private-sector leaders from across the United States to meet with Members of Congress on the importance of immigration reform. "Today's event demonstrates the incredible groundswell of support for immigration reform across all sect...
Miracle Comeback for BEST WESTERN PLUS Seaport Inn Downtown New York City
BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC. | October 29, 2013
One Year After Super Storm Sandy the Seaport Area is Bustling NEW YORK (October 29, 2013) - On October 29, 2012, the Seaport area was devastated by high tides, resulting from Super Storm Sandy. Water rose up to 5 feet and destroyed many of the businesses in the area. Just days after the storm, the cleanup started and the true devastation of the event was realized. Like most business in the South Street Seaport area, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Seaport Inn Downtown lobby was flooded and destroyed. As soon as it was possible, General Manager ZB Moham and his team began major cleanup and repairs. Determined to get the hotel reopened, the team w...
IHG Army Hotels Portfolio Continues Growth with Ground Breakings and Openings
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | October 29, 2013
Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® Branded Hotels 29 October, 2013 - ATLANTA — IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the exclusive hotel manager and operator of the $1 billion Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program that has brought the first-ever branded hotels to U.S. military installations, announces continued progress on the IHG Army Hotels portfolio. IHG, along with Lend Lease (US) Public Partnerships – the asset manager, developer and design builder – and the U.S. Army have broken ground on three hotels this year, including the first Staybridge Suites® hotel ...
Franchisee, Mr. Shuping Chen, Opens Super 8 Fuzhou Jin Shan Wan Da; Brand’s 500th Property in China
Super 8 | October 29, 2013
HONG KONG (October 29, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,440 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the opening of the Super 8 Fuzhou Jin Shan Wan Da, the brand's 500th property in China. Nine years after the first Super 8 hotel opened in Beijing, the hotel brand, which provides quality and affordable accommodations for both business travelers and budget-conscious tourists, has made significant strides with a strong presence in almost 200 cities in China, cementing its position as an economy hotel leader in the country. "This is a tremendous achie...
HotelFAQS.com Helping Hotels Elevate Visibility on Google
Lodging Interactive | October 29, 2013
Lodging Interactive is helping hotels increase conversion rates, maximize organic search and boost SEO rankings via personalized FAQ pages; Watch this HotelFAQs.com Video PARSIPPANY, N.J. - OCTOBER 29, 2013 - Last month Google significantly changed its algorithm that determines search results. The new system interprets the "inferred meaning" of a search, rather than providing listings that contain exact keywords used in the query. Google's rational is this: by requiring sites to deliver improved content that answers searchers specific questions, it will provide a more reliable resource, and in turn, improve the site's visibility and vi...
The 146-key Holiday Inn Warwick Farm Opens in Sydney, Australia Completing Sunnybrook Hotel Makeover
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | October 29, 2013
Sydney, Australia, 29 October, 2013: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the 146-room Holiday Inn Warwick Farm in south west Sydney. The previously-named Sunnybrook Hotel has benefited from a multimillion-dollar makeover and refurbishment to become Holiday Inn Warwick Farm. Located at 355 Hume Highway Warwick Farm, the hotel is within easy access to a number of commercial and business park precincts and will meet the needs of the growing commercial and leisure based industries of south west Sydney. The hotel facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, gymnasium, meetings and events centre, heated outdoor swimming pool, a...
Susan Santiago Named Area VP and General Manager of Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza | October 29, 2013
Los Angeles, CA (October 29, 2013) - Susan Santiago has been appointed Area Vice President and General Manager of Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. In this role, Santiago is responsible for managing all operations for the 726-room Century Plaza hotel, while also overseeing the operations of additional Hyatt Hotels in the Los Angeles area. Santiago is Hyatt's first female Area Vice President and the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza's first female General Manager. Most recently, Santiago was Vice President of Food and Beverage -Americas operations for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, where she was responsible for the overall success of food and beverage...
The 297-key JW Marriott Bengaluru and the 523-key JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity Open in India
JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts | October 29, 2013
MUMBAI, India, October 29, 2013 – Marriott International, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: MAR) global luxury brand JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts is continuing to grow it's India portfolio with the opening of two new hotels – in Bengaluru and New Delhi –within weeks of each other. These will be JW Marriott brand's fourth and fifth hotels in India, and 61st and 62nd properties worldwide. "We are very excited to launch these two new, beautiful properties in India," said Mitzi Gaskins, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts Vice President & Global Brand Manager. "India is a compelling and dynamic market and we look forward to continuing to celebrate...
SAI’s CONTROLIQ Managing Energy, Monitoring Equipment in the Cloud
Systems Associates Inc. | October 29, 2013
Systems Associates Inc. is equipping hoteliers with 'cloud vision' to troubleshoot performance failures and schedule equipment maintenance remotely across the hotel enterprise; Data is backed-up, updated and protected off site BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - OCTOBER 29, 2013 -Systems Associates Inc. is taking the process of monitoring building equipment away from the four walls of the hotel and placing it in the cloud to give engineers and managers more real time control over energy consumption and associated costs. Combining the power of the Internet with the mastery of industry standard protocols, SAI's CONTROLIQ solution is giving hoteliers tr...
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires Completes Final Phase of USD $49 Million Renovation
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires | October 29, 2013
October 29, 2013 (Buenos Aires) - Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires has unveiled the final phase of a year-long USD $49 million renovation with a new summer outdoor venue "Nuestro Secreto," the first all-glass enclosed restaurant in Argentina, new CIELO Spa and seven new meetings and event spaces. New Restaurant, "Nuestro Secreto" Following the grand openings of the hotel's new Elena Restaurant and Pony Line Bar earlier this year, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires is now unveiling another new gastronomic surprise, "Nuestro Secreto" (translated to "our secret.") Situated on a rooftop garden between the hotel's modern tower and historic La Ma...
Lodging Industry Presses to End “Patent Troll” Lawsuits; Cites $80 Billion Annual Cost to US Economy
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) | October 29, 2013
Washington, D.C. - October 29, 2013 - In advance of today's hearing of the House Judiciary Committee to examine the recently-introduced Innovation Act (H.R. 3309), the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and 27 partner state lodging associations sent a letter to Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) to reiterate the importance of patent reform to the lodging industry and express support for the introduction of the bill. In the letter, the lodging industry highlights the fact that patent assertion entities (PAEs), otherwise known as patent trolls, purchase patents on inventions fo...
Treating Meta Search Marketing as a Distribution Channel Results in Loss of Revenues for Hoteliers
the Author and HeBS Digital | October 29, 2013
by Max Starkov We are currently witnessing an explosion of meta search sites and online publishers, facilitated by advancements in digital technology and advertisers' perceptions of these sites as "unbiased" online media players compared to the OTAs. The most popular meta search sites and publishers in the hospitality and travel space include: Google Hotel Finder (with tentacles across the Google universe), TripAdvisor Meta Search, Bing Meta Search (powered by TripAdvisor), Kayak.com, Trivago.com (Europe), WeGo.com (Asia Pacific), HotelsCombined.com (Australia), and others. The value proposition to travel consumers is undeniable: By add...
Global Corporate Bookings Increased Following Late Summer Stall, According to The Pegasus View
Pegasus Solutions | October 29, 2013
DALLAS (October 29, 2013) – Global hotel bookings for business travel increased by +4.4% over last year in September, according to data released today by Pegasus Solutions in The Pegasus View. Following a late summer stall that had bookings for the channel below prior year by -1.5% in August, September's booking values sustained the year-to-date pace of +3.0% over 2012. Average daily rates (ADR) remained a key contributing factor for business travel revenue driven to hotels from the global distribution systems (GDSs). Globally, they edged past prior year by +0.3% in September, inching to +0.6% year-to-date. The net result was revenue ...
HTNG’s European Conference Agenda Includes Data Security, Cloud, Smart TV & Reputation Management
Hotel Technology Next Generation | October 29, 2013
CHICAGO (Oct 29, 2013) - Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), the membership association that unites the world's hospitality companies and technology innovators to solve industry challenges, has announced the agenda and speaker details for its eighth annual European Conference, in London 12-14 November 2013. The event is open to all hoteliers for a nominal fee, and to non-hoteliers with HTNG memberships. Immediately following this year's conference, on the afternoon of 14 November, HTNG will facilitate a Hotel IT Leaders' Roundtable. This exclusive and free collaborative event is available to qualified senior level corporate hotel I...
ASFONA and AH&LA Confer in Atlanta to Address Key Hotel Industry Issues in Washington
October 29, 2013
Influential North American hotel industry associations align to strengthen advocacy of lodging and travel-related initiatives on Capitol Hill ATLANTA - OCTOBER 29, 2013 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has long been a strong advocate of the U.S. lodging industry in Washington, regarding key issues that affect the millions of hoteliers across the country each year. At the recent ASFONA (Association of Starwood Franchisees & Owners - North America) Associate Board meeting in Atlanta, AH&LA president/CEO Katherine Lugar presented the association's most recent governmental initiatives to the attending ASFON...
Regal Hotels International Adding Mobile Key by OpenWays to New Construction Hotel in Hong Kong
Regal Hotels International | October 29, 2013
In partnership with DOCOMO interTouch, the iclub by Regal Sheung Wan Hotel, scheduled to open first quarter 2014, will become the first hotel in Hong Kong to offer the 'iclub Mobile Key Check-in' service Los Angeles - OCTOBER 29, 2013 - Soon guests staying at the iclub by Regal Sheung Wan Hotel in Hong Kong will be unlocking their room doors via their personal smartphones and standard mobile devices. When the new select-service hotel from Regal Hotels International opens its doors in early 2014, all guestrooms will be equipped with Kaba Saflok RT™ RFID locks with Mobile Key by OpenWays built in. Regal's "iclub Mobile Key Check-in" pow...
eRevMax Hosts Networking Sessions for Hoteliers at WTM
eRevMax | October 29, 2013
Agoda, GTA and Ostrovok to Share Distribution Insights at TigerTime London, October 29, 2013: The leader in hotel channel management & XML connectivity space - eRevMax, will be hosting TigerTime sessions at WTM 2013 to celebrate a new milestone - that of serving 7000 customers worldwide. With key distribution specialists presenting, the sessions are aimed at providing an open platform for information sharing and will be beneficial for hoteliers looking for superior connectivity and updates on new technology developments. Agoda, GTA and Ostrovok are part of the eRevMax Channel Ecosystem which facilitates quality, certified connection...
Historic Glen Cove Mansion Joins “TAG Approved” LGBT-Welcoming Hotels & Resorts
Glen Cove Mansion | October 29, 2013
Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, October 2013 ... The historic Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center has made history again with the new status of "TAG Approved." One of the few remaining mansions on Long Island's legendary Gold Coast, made forever famous when F.S. Fitzgerald used it as the setting for The Great Gatsby, TAG-approved hotels are designated welcoming to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. TAG Approved was launched in 1997 to help lodging accommodations effectively reach and sensitively serve the LGBT community. Today, more than 2,000 hotels worldwide are involved in the program. TAG Approved sta...
Forbes Travel Guide Adds Clipix, Enabling Visitors to Gather, Organize and Share Travel Itineraries
Forbes Travel Guide | October 29, 2013
Easy to Use, Fully Customizable Clipboards Let Users Manage Travel Data in One Place, and Share it with Friends ATLANTA - (October 29, 2013) - Forbes Travel Guide is making it even easier for travelers to discover personally relevant content online, by integrating Clipix, a tool that lets visitors save and organize anything they see online in one central place, into its website, ForbesTravelGuide.com. Utilizing Clipix technology, Forbes Travel Guide travel experts are curating and organizing the best travel content on the web onto "clipboards" across a variety of topics -- giving people the ultimate jumpstart on building their own refer...
Northwood Hospitality’s Cheeca Lodge Turns to B4Checkin for High-Value Online Booking Solution
B4checkin | October 29, 2013
Iconic luxury oceanfront resort in the Florida Keys implements B4Checkin's flagship, fully customizable hotel reservations system. Islamorada, Florida - October 29, 2013 - B4Checkin, producer of the hotel industry's premier fully customizable reservations system and guest satisfaction feedback tool, announces that the iconic Cheeca Lodge & Spa has implemented the B4Checkin booking engine. The luxurious 214-room oceanfront resort in the Florida Keys went live with the new reservations system this summer. B4Checkin's value proposition, combining industry-leading booking capability with attentive client service and at an exceptional pr...
The AH&LEF Awards Scholarships to 24 Hospitality Students and Industry Professionals
AH&LEF | October 28, 2013
Washington, October 28, 2013 - The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), administers three scholarships on behalf of American Express, Ecolab, and PepsiCo. These scholarship programs, totaling $44,000, contribute to AH&LEF's total of $514,500 in academic scholarships awarded annually. Click on each scholarship's name in the following descriptions to view 2013 winners: o The American Express Scholarship Program awarded seven academic scholarships totaling $11,000. Founded in 1994 by American Express, it is designed sp...
David Shipman to Lead Southern California’s Rancho Valencia Resort And Spa as New General Manager
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa | October 28, 2013
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. (October 28, 2013) - Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, the only Relais & Chateaux property in Southern California welcomes General Manager, David Shipman. An established leader in the hospitality industry, Shipman brings more than 25 years of luxury hotel experience, including past key management positions at the upscale Auberge Du Soleil in Rutherford, California and the Ritz-Carlton in Aspen, Colorado. "David's vast experience with a collection of likeminded luxury properties, in addition to his keen understanding of the Rancho Valencia guest, are beneficial attributes to maintaining the high level of excel...
Michael Wurster Appointed Chef de Cuisine of Gordon Ramsay at The London in New York City
| October 28, 2013
New York, NY – October 28, 2013 - Gordon Ramsay at The London, set within The London NYC, announces the appointment of Michael Wurster as Chef de Cuisine. Chef Wurster comes to Gordon Ramsay at The London with nearly 15 years of experience and will be overseeing this accomplished fine dining establishment Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and The Chef's Table. A native New Yorker, Wurster initially set out to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. to pursue a career in law. Halfway through his pre-law studies, Wurster realized his true passion lay in the kitchen, not the courtroom. Wurster received his Degree in Culinary Arts from the famed C...
New Study by BrandVerity Details How Hotel Brands and OTAs Advertise on Hotels’ Branded Keywords
BrandVerity | October 28, 2013
BrandVerity has published a report on paid search marketing by hotel brands and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Centered around hotels' branded keywords (such as "Orlando Hyatt" or "Philadelphia Westin"), the study evaluates more than 100,000 advertisements that were triggered by these keywords. The study monitored 120 branded keywords in total, covering 12 brands across 10 different markets. Some of the study's key findings include the following: On Google, each Search Engine Results Page (SERP) averaged almost two OTA ads (1.82 per SERP) OTA ads outnumbered hotel brands' own ads on Google, Bing and AOL 87.5% of OTA ads on Bing incl...
