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
Guestware Hosts the Hotel Technology Next Generation Software Forum October 8 & 9
Guestware | October 9, 2013
October 9, 2013 - Guestware, the developers of the Guest Experience Management system that collects, manages, and reports on all hotel guest information, will host the HTNG Software Forum meeting on October 8 & 9 at Guestware's headquarters in Seattle, WA. Guest speaker Konstantin Dotchkoff, Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, will discuss issues and opportunities surrounding the movement of software applications into an above-property cloud solution. The attendees will take a tour of the on-site TierPoint Data Center, a 20,000 square feet secure hosting center, and discuss the HTNG Secure Payments Framework document. Guestware Pre...
Benchmark Hospitality Names Alex Cabañas President & CEO and Greg Champion Executive VP & COO
Benchmark Hospitality International | October 9, 2013
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, October 9, 2013 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company for over 30 years, has announced the promotion of Alex Cabañas to President & CEO, and the promotion of Greg Champion to Executive Vice President & COO. Both positions will include Board of Director responsibilities and will officially take place January 1, 2014. Burt Cabañas, the company's Founder and Chairman, who will remain active in Benchmark's future strategic development and growth, made the announcement. "Alex's contributions to our company over the last eight years have enabled B...
HeBS Digital’s Winning Streak Continues with Five Silver W³ Awards
HeBS Digital | October 9, 2013
HeBS Digital won five Silver Awards in the annual W³ Awards, which honors the most creative designers and marketers in web content creation. HeBS Digital's five sites taking home honors in the "Hotel and Lodging" category were designed for The Roger New York, Le Parc Suite Hotel, Indian Wells, Vacation Rentals Virginia Beach, and Swissôtel Chicago. New York, NY - October 8, 2013 - HeBS Digital, the leading digital technology and marketing firm, proudly announces that it has won five Silver 2013 W³ Awards within the "Hotel and Lodging" category. The W³ Awards honors the most creative designers and marketers in web content creation, a...
Lodging Industry Urges Change of Definition of Full-Time Employment in Affordable Care Act (ACA)
the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) | October 9, 2013
Increasing 30-hour Minimum Seen as "Win-Win" for Workers and Employers Washington, D.C. - October 9, 2013 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) issued the following statement on today's hearing of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health and Technology to examine the current definition of full-time employment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as 30 hours per week, and the impact of this definition on small businesses nationwide: "Increasing the healthcare law's current definition of full-time status would be a win-win for hard-working Americans and their employers, and would benefit our entire economy," sa...
The 353-room Ritz-Carlton Chengdu Opens in South Western China
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC | October 9, 2013
CHENGDU, China, Oct. 9, 2013 -- Chengdu's newest and most anticipated hotel officially opens its doors today. Located in the heart of the city that was once the site of an imperial palace, the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu marks the official arrival of luxury hospitality in South Western China. Towering above Tianfu Square in the city's cosmopolitan heart, the 353 room property will be the ninth in China for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and the 19th in Asia Pacific. With interior design inspired by traditional Chinese courtyard homes, oriental motifs have been skillfully blended into a contemporary luxury hotel. The Rit...
Work Begins in Saudi Arabia on Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh and Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Al Salamah
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | October 9, 2013
October 9, 2013 - The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, adds two hotels to their growing portfolio in Saudi Arabia: The mid-market Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh (170 rooms) is scheduled to open in Q1 2016; and the upper upscale Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Al Salamah (142 rooms) will welcome the first guests in Q2 2015. "Saudi Arabia is a key focus country for our group. We already operate six hotels with over 1,200 rooms in the Kingdom and have further nine hotels with 1,700 rooms under development – we see a considerable potential for further projects in the country which shows posi...
Vizergy® Expands with Several New Leadership Roles
October 9, 2013
Digital Travel Marketing Provider Continues to Grow in 15th Year Jacksonville, FL (October 8, 2013) - Vizergy - Digital Travel Marketing is pleased to announce the addition of several new members to its team. The company, recognized as a leader in hotel Internet marketing, now has clients in over 20 countries, continuing their trend of rapid growth and business development. Joining the Vizergy team is Paul Fraser, Director of Product Management, Sean Taylor, Senior Manager of Creative, Danielle Stumpff, Director of Accounting and Finance, Steve Buckler, Regional Director of Sales in New England, and most recently Piper Perry Farr, Manag...
Delta Hotels & Resorts Tops Off Delta Toronto at Southcore Financial Centre, Canada To Open Q4 2014
Delta Hotels and Resorts | October 9, 2013
TORONTO, October 9, 2013 - Delta Hotels and Resorts unveiled its flagship hotel in Toronto's South Core neighbourhood during a topping off event, marking the completion of the hotel's 46th floor. Scheduled to open in late 2014, the Delta Toronto at Southcore Financial Centre will usher in the next generation of four-star full-service hotels for the Delta brand. Delta Hotels and Resorts is in the midst of a major transformation to better serve Canadian and international travellers. Designed to exceed the evolving expectations of the modern traveller, the Delta Toronto will serve as the flagship brand standard for Delta's growing portfoli...
Investment Volume for Select Service Hotels Increased 145% Through August 2013; 2014 Outlook Robust
Jones Lang LaSalle | October 8, 2013
ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2013 – It's not just leisure travelers who are lining up for the select service hotel breakfast buffet these days. The increase in demand from budget-conscious vacationers, who seek economical lodging, has propelled select service hotels values and enticed yield-seeking investors, according to Jones Lang LaSalle's recent analysis of select service hotel demand. It's a byproduct of post-recession lessening demand from leisure travelers in the United States for extra amenities and luxurious services, resulting in a 55 percent increase in select-service hotel accommodations, according to MMGY Global's 2013 Portrait of Am...
Formerly the Fontana Park Hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisbon – Fontana Park Opens in Portugal
DoubleTree By Hilton | October 8, 2013
LISBON, Portugal and MCLEAN, Va. - October 08, 2013 - DoubleTree by Hilton is offering travelers the opportunity to experience the vibrant culture of Lisbon, with the opening of the upscale brand's first hotel in Portugal. Formerly the Fontana Park Hotel and located in Saldanha Square, DoubleTree by Hilton Lisbon - Fontana Park, with its design-led interior, is ideal for experiencing the historic Portuguese capital in style. Offering 139 guestrooms, the hotel retains much original character including various elements in homage to the building's previous function as a small iron factory, and the beautiful interior open-air courtyard, com...
DCG Development Breaks Ground on the 149-suite Embassy Suites Saratoga Springs in New York
Embassy Suites Hotels | October 8, 2013
McLEAN, Va. - October 08, 2013 - Embassy Suites Hotels and DCG Development Co., the largest owner/developer of commercial property in Saratoga County, announced today that construction has begun on a 149-suite hotel at 86 Congress Street in Congress Plaza. Embassy Suites Saratoga Springs, scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2014, will be the third Embassy Suites in the state of New York and the first Embassy Suites in the state to feature the brand's latest design concept, Design Option III. The full service, all-suites hotel will also feature 5,000 square feet of meeting space and an on-site restaurant. The ceremonial groundbreak...
Tourism Tidbits: The Threat of Terrorism in Planning Major Event Security / Dr. Peter Tarlow
Dr. Peter E. Tarlow | October 8, 2013
Recent events around the world have proven once again that holding a major event is no easy matter. Not only must a community deal with the event itself but there are always logistics, marketing, and public relations that go hand in hand with a major event. To make matters even more challenging we live in a world of political unrest. Major events are of course targets for terrorism. They also may incite local protests that have nothing to do with terrorism. These demonstrations are byproducts of the event and may occur before or during the event. The demonstrators then use the event as a means to vent frustrations or as a means to piggy...
Huntington Hotel Group Completes Renovations at Two Hotels in Carlsbad, California
Huntington Hotel Group | October 8, 2013
IRVING, Texas - October 8, 2013 - Huntington Hotel Group completed total renovation of two of their hotels in Carlsbad, California—a Courtyard by Marriott and a Residence Inn by Marriott. The 145-room Courtyard by Marriott located at 5835 Owens Avenue in Carlsbad, CA, now features the brand's intuitive Refreshing Business lobby concept, with open and flexible space, media pods and Wi-Fi. Each room features plush bedding, a functional work space, spacious bathrooms, a separate seating area and complimentary in-room high-speed Internet. Providing a warm, sophisticated environment, the hotel's rooms accommodate guests' desire to stay con...
The 116-room Hampton by Hilton Gdansk Airport Opens in Poland
Hampton Hotels | October 8, 2013
GDANSK, Poland and MCLEAN, Va. - October 8, 2013 - Hampton by Hilton today announced the opening of its third hotel in Poland, Hampton by Hilton Gdansk Airport. After entering the Polish market last year, Hampton by Hilton is now operating in Gdansk, Warsaw and Swinoujscie. Hilton Worldwide's award winning mid-priced brand is recognized by a growing number of guests across Europe for its comfortable accommodation and friendly service. Hampton by Hilton Gdansk Airport is conveniently located only 200 metres away from Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk, one of Poland's most important transport hubs, which offers direct flights to the biggest c...
OTAs, Reviews and the New Comp Set: A Case Study for Hotels
Daniel Edward Craig | October 8, 2013
by Daniel Edward Craig New York's 155-room Distrikt Hotel was performing well on the major online travel agencies in terms of booking volume, but its default ranking was low, and management wanted greater visibility. "New York City has about 430 hotels competing to be on the first page of the major OTA sites," general manager Jennifer Rota told me during a recent ReviewPro webinar, Optimizing Reviews, Ratings and Revenue on OTAs. "Traditionally, we are given an algorithm stew from OTA market managers to explain why we are not in those coveted spots," she said. "But internally, we were convinced that placement is determined by how much ...
The 213-room Hyatt Place Minneapolis Opens in Minnesota Completing a Renovation and Rebranding
Hyatt Place | October 8, 2013
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (October 8, 2013) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) today announces the opening of Hyatt Place Minneapolis Downtown, which has just completed a rebranding and renovation. "We are excited to add to the momentum in the Minneapolis community by welcoming the first Hyatt Place hotel to the downtown area," said Jay Sloboch, general manager, Hyatt Place Minneapolis Downtown. "Whether we are catering to business or leisure travelers, we know our guests will appreciate the comfortable and functional amenities such as free Wi-Fi, made-to-order fresh food around the clock and the StayFit@Hyatt fitness center." Connected to ...
SAI’s SynergyMMS Aiding Starwood Hotels with StarGuest Response+
Systems Associates Inc. | October 8, 2013
The Systems Associates Inc. workflow and communications tool for engineering and housekeeping staff is now integrated with the brand's guest-response program to eliminate redundant tasks associated with tracking and dispatching customer requests and complaints BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - OCTOBER 8, 2013 - Systems Associates Inc. is once again aiding Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) by improving communication and creating efficiency through integration. By tying its SynergyMMS maintenance management solution with Starwood's StarGuest Response+ application that tracks on-premise guest requests and complaints, company own...
Infor Listed as Champion in Info-Tech Research Group’s 2013 Rev Management Systems Vendor Landscape
Info-Tech Research Group | October 8, 2013
Cloud Deployment and Integration Capabilities Contribute to Position NEW YORK- Oct. 8, 2013 - Infor, a leading provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, today announced that Infor EzRMS has been listed as a Champion in this year's Info-Tech Research Group Revenue Management Systems Vendor Landscape. Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape reports recognize outstanding vendors in the technology marketplace. Assessing vendors by the strength of their offering and their strategy for the enterprise, Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscapes pay tribute to the contribution of exceptional vendors in a pa...
Benchmark Hospitality Names Timothy Ralphs as Executive Chef at Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Cheyenne Mountain Resort | October 8, 2013
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, October 8, 2013 - Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Timothy A. Ralphs executive chef for Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Todd Felsen, general manager for the property, a Benchmark Resort® located at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain, made the announcement. "It is a thrill to welcome Timothy to Benchmark Hospitality at Cheyenne Mountain Resort," said Mr. Felsen. "He comes with important culinary experience gained in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and with an impressive set of credentials. We look forward to his leadership in our food and beverage departm...
Teresa Reynolds Named General Manager for 164-Room Holiday Inn Kansas City Northeast in Missouri
Holiday Inn Kansas City Northeast | October 8, 2013
KANSAS CITY, MO. - October 8, 2013 - Teresa Reynolds has been named General Manager of the Holiday Inn Kansas City Northeast, a recently renovated 164-room full service hotel located next to I-435 in Kansas City, MO. Teresa, having worked in full-service and limited-service hotels in the United States and Europe, brings with her 15 awards from her career, including: Hotel Of The Year, GM Of The Year, Most Improved Hotel as well as the Gold Circle Award from Marriott and the Spirit Award from Hilton. "We are excited to have Teresa aboard in Kansas City," said Robert Holsten, Executive Vice President Of Operations, First Call Hospitality,...
Deadline Approaches for Claims Against BP for Deepwater Horizon Business Economic Losses
ClaimsComp | October 8, 2013
New engagement rules allow previous filings to resubmit claims for all affected areas Atlanta, GA. ClaimsComp, Inc., a comprehensive claims services company managing Deepwater Horizon claims, announced today that businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations in the areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are still eligible to file claims against BP even if they had previously filed emergency or interim claims. "It is important that all businesses, be they hospitality, retail, service, food service, or other, file their claims as soon as possible", said John Pawlak, CEO of ClaimsComp. "The claims process has a definite e...
Marylouise Fitzgibbon Appointed as General Manager for the 517-key W Fort Lauderdale in Florida
W Fort Lauderdale | October 8, 2013
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - October 8, 2013 - With over 20 years of Starwood experience, Marylouise Fitzgibbon has joined W Fort Lauderdale as General Manager. In this role, Fitzgibbon will be responsible for managing hotel staff while implementing new strategies to elevate awareness and attract new clientele for the beachfront hotel. "Marylouise's extensive hospitality and record-setting management experience with the W brand makes her a tremendous asset to W Fort Lauderdale," says Tara Whitmire, director of human resources at the hotel. "We are extremely fortunate to have her leading our team, and are excited to see the hotel grow as one of...
HTNG Elects New Members to its Board of Governors and its Vendor Advisory Council
Hotel Technology Next Generation | October 8, 2013
CHICAGO (October 8, 2013) - Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), the membership association that unites the world's hospitality companies and technology innovators to solve industry challenges, today announced that several hospitality technology executives from across the globe have been elected to positions on the organization's Board of Governors and Vendor Advisory Council. Christian Palomino, CIO for Meliá Hotels International and Stan Repetta, Vice President of Enterprise Applications & Innovation, Hilton Worldwide, were elected to HTNG's Board of Governors. Palomino and Repetta join 16 of their senior IT executive peers f...
Duetto Appoints Scott Edgington Chief Revenue Officer
Scott Edgington | October 8, 2013
Senior Sales Leader is Creating a Development and Distribution Organization to Drive Duetto's Continued Worldwide Growth San Francisco, October 8, 2013 -- Duetto, the only cloud-based technology firm focused on revenue management for the hotel industry, further accelerated its rapid worldwide growth, by appointing Scott Edgington to the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer. Based out of the company's San Francisco headquarters, Edgington leads, and is building, Duetto's worldwide sales, third party distribution, and business development teams. He is charged with creating a world-class organization skilled in addressing speci...
