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Industry Happenings
Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau Selects Regatta Travel Solutions
Regatta Travel Solutions Inc. | October 8, 2013
Powering Booking Engine on visitmadison.com Charlottesville, Virginia (October 8, 2013) - Regatta Travel Solutions announced today that the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau has chosen Regatta Travel Solutions to power the booking engine on their official destination website, visitmadison.com. "We chose Regatta because of their great reputation for customer service, their experience in the industry and creative marketing approach to drive bookings," said Diane Morgenthaler, Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Planning for the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The solution that Regatta has develope...
Hotel Equities Adds Boutique 63-room Wyvern Hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida to Management Portfolio
Hotel Equities (HE) | October 8, 2013
Atlanta, GA - October 8, 2013 - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (www.hotelequities.com) added the management contract for The Wyvern Hotel (www.thewyvernhotel.com), a 4-star boutique hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida, to its portfolio. This 63-room hotel, located on South Florida's Gulf Coast, delivers luxury without pretense as it provides upscale service and amenities. The Wyvern Hotel marks the first addition for Hotel Equities after the firm completed a joint venture with Alliance Hospitality that increased their portfolio to more than 55 hotels. With an artfully landscaped rooftop pool and lounge area, the hotel offers clear views of Char...
Ritz-Carlton Reserve on Pearl Island, a Private Island Resort in Panama is Under Development
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. | October 8, 2013
2016 Projected as Opening Date PANAMA CITY, Oct. 8, 2013 -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is expanding its collection of Reserve hotels with plans to open a luxury sanctuary on Pearl Island, a private island situated 45 miles south of Panama City. An exclusive leisure experience that blends intuitive individual service, exquisite indigenous design, and luxuriously relaxed ambiance, the resort is the sixth planned Reserve property, joining current locations in Phulay Bay in Thailand and Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, and upcoming locations including Molasses Reef in Turks and Caicos, Tamuda Bay, Morocco and Cabos San Lucas, Mexico...
Leading Indonesian Resort Group Multiplies Online Sales with eRevMax
Puri Bagus Villa Resorts | October 8, 2013
Leverages RateTiger's Channel Management Prowess Bali, 08 October, 2013: Puri Bagus Villa Resorts, one of the major players on the Bali hospitality landscape, has found the perfect distribution technology partner in eRevMax to boost its online bookings and expand its online presence. All its properties have been using RateTiger Channel Manager for several years with significant success. Indonesia is an upcoming market experiencing a surge in inbound tourism, while at the same time, domestic travel is on the rise due to growing disposable income. With a greater percentage of Indonesians using the internet for travel research, online trav...
The Hows and Whys of U.S. EMV
Shift4 Corporation | October 7, 2013
by Bob Lowe EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa), Chip Cards, Smart Cards, Chip and PIN, Chip and Choice – they can't even decide what we're going to call it, let alone how exactly it will work; yet they expect hoteliers to be working on implementation plans. Here's what we know, what we don't and what we can expect... What is EMV? EMV is an acronym for Europay, MasterCard, Visa. This association of card brands came together in 1994 to develop a new credit card payment method to replace the limited capabilities of the magnetic stripe. What they came up with was the chip card – a credit card wherein the magnetic stripe was replaced with a...
America’s Travel Community Tells Their Shutdown Stories
The U.S. Travel Association | October 7, 2013
"Tales From the Frontline" Captures First-Hand Accounts of Impact on Travel Businesses, Destinations and Visitor Sites WASHINGTON (October 7, 2013) - The U.S. Travel Association today released excerpts of stories from America's travel community that provide a frontline picture of the damage already being done to America's travel economy by the federal government shutdown. "Policymakers must understand that it's not just federal employees that are affected by the shutdown. Entire local economies are built around our national parks and historic attractions," said U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow. "We're hearing from family-owned b...
The Delta Prince George Hotel is Under Development in British Columbia, Canada to Open in 2015
Delta Hotels and Resorts | October 7, 2013
TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2013 - A Delta Hotels and Resorts property is being built in Prince George, British Columbia, that showcases Delta's reinvigorated brand through modern design and innovation. Slated to open in 2015, the Delta Prince George Hotel will become the city's first four-star upscale, full-service hotel. The Delta network of hotels and resorts is undergoing an extensive brand repositioning designed to deliver Canada's most upscale guest experiences in the four-star hotel category. All Delta properties are being built or renovated to modern design standards and techno-enabled guest spaces in the Canadian hotel marketplace. The De...
1375-Room Luxury, New York Hotel Confirms General Contractor and Brand
BuildCentral | October 7, 2013
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Add/Update 193 Hotel Projects to the New Hotel Construction Projects Database Chicago, IL. October 7, 2013 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have added or updated 193 hotel projects in the last two weeks to Hotel Construction, a nationwide database of hotel construction projects, openings, and key decision makers (Owner/Developers, Architects and Contractors). These proposed hotels are still in the planning stages. Now is the perfect time to have your product drawn into plans, or offer construction services: Johnnie Dodds Hotel (Mount Pleasant, SC) Boutique Hotel (Ocala, FL) Saxony Life Advocate Center ...
Driftwood Hospitality Acquires Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort in Florida; Renovation To Begin
Driftwood Hospitality Management | October 7, 2013
North Palm Beach, FL - October 7, 2013 - Driftwood Hospitality Management today announced its acquisition of the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort. Perfectly positioned on the white-sand shoreline of Florida's famous Cocoa Beach, the 295-room resort will undergo a phased $14M renovation, including upgrades to the guestrooms, public spaces and expansion of the pool bar. "One of the reasons Driftwood acquired the Hilton Cocoa Beach is due to the resort's location, just minutes from Cape Canaveral, which is the second busiest cruise port in North America, as well as Orlando, which welcomed more than 57 million tourists in 2012," said St...
The Oceanside Inn & Suites, Jekyll Island, Georgia to be Liquidated by Public Sale, Oct. 10, 2013
NCL, National Content Liquidators, Inc. | October 7, 2013
Sale Begins Thursday, October 10th At 10:00 A.M. GEORGIA (October, 2013)-- National Content Liquidators, Inc. (NCL), the leading liquidation management company for the hospitability industry, will open the doors of the Oceanside Inn and Suites, Jekyll Island, Georgia to the public on Thursday, October 10th at 10:00 A.M. for a liquidation sale. Hundreds of pieces of furniture, fixtures, equipment, décor and accessories will be sold at this oceanfront, 178-room hotel, located at 711 North Beachview Drive. The sale will continue for the next 30 days or until sold out. Early arrival is encouraged as the sale is first come, first serve. Adm...
The 191-key Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait Re-Opens after a Three Year Extensive Renovation
the Rezidor Hotel Group | October 7, 2013
07 Oct 2013 - Carlson Rezidor, one of the ten largest hotel groups worldwide, announces the re-opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait in September, 2013, after a three year renovation period. The property holds particular significance, both within the company history - as the first Radisson Blu hotel outside of Scandinavia, and as an iconic meeting place for the capital city. Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of The Rezidor Hotel Group, commented, "The re-opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait signifies the launch of a new chapter of history for the property, which opened in 1980 with my predecessor, Kurt Ritter, as General M...
Kay French Named as General Manager for Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler in LA
HRI Lodging | October 7, 2013
NEW ORLEANS, LA (October 7, 2013) - Kay French has been named general manager for the Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler, announced Gary Gutierrez, president of HRI Lodging, which manages the historic downtown property. French was most recently the general manager of The Hotel Highland at Five Points South in Birmingham. There, she assisted in the renovation and conversion of the hotel and managed all day-to-day operations. Prior to that, French worked for Integral Hospitality for three years as a human resources director for the Tutwiler Hotel and a general manager for the Hampton Inn in Rome, Georgia. She was also p...
Seeing the Industry Through Rose Colored Glasses by Fritz Kummer
Fritz Kummer, LLC | October 7, 2013
Has the hospitality industry turned the corner to improved prosperity? Recent studies and conference presentations surely suggest business is on the upswing. But after recently sitting through two days of presentations at The Lodging Conference 2013 in Phoenix and afterward personally experiencing the sub-par service everyday guests often receive, I sometimes wonder, 'Are we seeing the industry through rose-colored glasses?' An executive's perception often is not reality. With a significant portion of the attendees and general session presenters being C-level individuals and who run their own company or business unit I heard that the ne...
Robert Vitale Joins Prestige Hospitality Group as Director of Operations
Prestige Hospitality Group | October 7, 2013
ALBANY, NY, October 7, 2013 - James C. Frenis, CHA, Chief Executive Officer of Prestige Hospitality Group has announced that Robert Vitale has joined the company as Director of Operations. As Director of Operations, Mr. Vitale will focus on operational and financial strategies to improve performance and guest satisfaction at existing and new hotel management assignments across the Northeast. "Mr. Vitale brings two decades of experience with all facets of hotel management including financial, sales and marketing, training, and property operations," said Mr. Frenis. "We are delighted that he has joined our team." Mr. Vitale has nearly twe...
Defenders Lodge, Free Hotel for Veterans Undergoing Medical Care, to Open in Palo Alto, CA in 2014
the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (the PenFed Foundation) | October 7, 2013
To Offer 52 First-Class Private Rooms, 104 Beds for VA Patients October 7, 2013, WASHINGTON - The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (PenFed Foundation), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization working to meet the unmet needs of military personnel and their families, is putting the finishing touches on the nation's largest free hotel for short-term stay for veterans undergoing medical care. The Defenders Lodge, made possible through a generous donation by Lee and Penny Anderson, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony next week with doors to officially open for guests in January 2014. "For years, veterans and service members g...
The Southern Living Hotel Collection Welcomes Four New Hotels
the Southern Living Hotel Collection | October 7, 2013
The Willcox Inn, The Henderson Park Inn, The Swag, and The Inn at Willow Grove ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2013 -- The Southern Living Hotel Collection, (www.SouthernLivingHotelCollection.com) a small, curated group of independent, four-and five-star level hotels, resorts and inns that span 18 Southern states and offers the best in authentic Southern hospitality is pleased to welcome its newest members: The Willcox Inn (Aiken, SC), The Henderson Park Inn (Destin, FL), The Swag (Waynesville, NC), and The Inn at Willow Grove (Orange, VA). Since its launch this past July, the Collection has grown from its 15 premier hotels, resorts and inns to 19 car...
Hotel & Resort Digital Marketing Budgets: Avoid the Headaches & Get it Right! – Part 3 of 3
Vizergy | October 7, 2013
By: William Bellis III, Senior Corporate Marketing Manager at Vizergy®, with contributions from Joe Hyman, President & CEO, and Paul Fraser, Director of Product Management _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part one of this series helped you get confidently set up for your 2014 digital marketing budget planning. It shed light on key issues that you should consider. Part two highlighted primary digital marketing channels and initiatives vital to all property types in 2014. Part three will now recommend dollar percentage alloc...
Hotel Ella Opens in Austin, Texas Completing the Restoration of Historic Goodall Wooten Mansion
Hotel Ella | October 7, 2013
Austin, TX (October 7, 2013) - The highly-anticipated opening of Austin's Hotel Ella has arrived today, following a multi-million dollar restoration of the historic city landmark known as the Goodall Wooten Mansion. A gorgeous Greek Revival property built at the turn of the 20th century by notable Austinites, Dr. Goodall and Ella Wooten, it is only fitting that the hotel's grand opening coincides with what would be the couple's 116th wedding anniversary. "I'm most excited about paying homage to the couple through what we think their home would have been like today," says General Manager Steve Shotsberger. "I cannot wait to welcome guest...
Bernstein Companies & Bell View Partners to Open 135-room Aloft Raleigh in 2015 in North Carolina
Aloft Hotels | October 7, 2013
STAMFORD, Conn. - October 7, 2013 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its sizzling Aloft brand is set to arrive in Raleigh, North Carolina. Aloft Raleigh is slated to open in mid-2015 on Hillsborough Street, across the street from North Carolina State University's iconic bell tower. Owned by a joint venture between the Bernstein Companies and Bell View Partners, Aloft Raleigh will feature 135 spacious, loft-like rooms, tech-forward innovation and a buzzing social atmosphere. It will be the brand's fifth hotel in North Carolina. "We are delighted to debut Aloft in Raleigh and expect the hotel...
IHG and Bierwirth & Kluth Hotelmanagement GmbH to Develop Five Hotels Across Germany
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | October 7, 2013
7 October, 2013 - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's largest hotel companies, has concluded a multi-development franchise agreement with Bierwirth & Kluth Hotelmanagement GmbH to develop five hotels across Germany. The first hotel under the agreement – Holiday Inn Hamburg - City Nord – has already been signed. This is IHG's sixth multiple development agreement (MDA) with a partner in Germany, continuing the momentum of the growth of its brands in Europe. The hotels signed under this agreement will include up to four of IHG's hotel brands – Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Exp...
Dublin, Ireland’s The Burlington to Become DoubleTree by Hilton Dublin – Burlington Road
DoubleTree By Hilton | October 4, 2013
October 04, 2013 - DUBLIN, Ireland and MCLEAN, Va. - DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the rebranding of one of Dublin's most renowned hotels, formerly The Burlington, to become DoubleTree by Hilton Dublin - Burlington Road. A phased programme of investment is underway to renovate the hotel, expected to complete by spring 2014, rejuvenating it with all the hallmarks of the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand. DoubleTree by Hilton Dublin - Burlington Road is the largest hotel in the M50 belt, with 2,100 square metres of banqueting, ballroom space and conference facilities for up to 1,400 delegates. The introduction of a dedicated floor...
Man with Checkered Past Clears Slate; Renovation Going Forward for Metropolitan Hotel, Hilton Head
New California Hotels Corporation | October 4, 2013
HILTON HEAD, S.C., Oct. 4, 2013 - The Man with the Checkered past (as mentioned in an article dated by June 19, 2013 Island Packet) has cleared the slate to move forward on renovations of the Metropolitan Hotel Hilton Head, South Carolina. New California Hotels Corporation has paid $111,300 to the Beaufort County Treasurer as of Tuesday, October 1, 2013. The payment settled all of the property tax certificates that were outstanding on the property. "I'm clearing the way for development of our hotel, we've had a lot of challenges, and I feel like I'm playing chess navigating through the various setbacks such as code and fire issues, yet ...
Colin Sanderson Named Director of Sales & Marketing for Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, Illinois
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa | October 4, 2013
GALENA, Ill. (Oct. 4, 2013) - Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa (www.eagleridge.com) is pleased to announce Colin Sanderson as the new director of sales and marketing for the renowned resort located in Galena, Ill. As director of sales and marketing, Sanderson is responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing for the resort including marketing of 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. A 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Sanderson has a successful trac...
Embassy Suites Denver Downtown – Convention Center Names Mike Rayburn Director of Sales & Marketing
the Embassy Suites Denver Downtown Convention Center | October 4, 2013
Denver, Colo. (Oct. 4, 2013) - The Embassy Suites Denver Downtown - Convention Center is pleased to announce that Mike Rayburn is now serving as the Director of Sales & Marketing. Rayburn brings more than 15 years of diverse hospitality industry experience to the Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, which is managed by Denver's Sage Hospitality. Rayburn has worked for Sage Hospitality since 2009, most recently serving as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Denver Airport Marriott, where his team was named Sage's 2012 "Sales Team of the Year." A graduate of Purdue University, he also previously served as the Director of Group Sal...
