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
$20 Million Renovation Completed for 275-key Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter in Georgia
September 25, 2013
ATLANTA - Sept. 25, 2013 - Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter's 12-month, $20 million renovation is complete. The first Le Méridien hotel to open in the Atlanta metropolitan area and one of nine new Le Méridien hotels slated to open within the year, celebrates its grand opening this September. Located in the bustling Perimeter Center business district, just minutes from downtown Atlanta, the hotel is owned by RockBridge Capital and managed by Wischermann Partners. "Guests are invited to discover the Dunwoody community where Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter is located," General Manager Peter Dunn said. "We are equally exhilarated to be a res...
Nor1 Announces Acquisition of Flextrip
Flextrip | September 25, 2013
September 25, 2013 - Santa Clara, CA - Nor1, Inc., the technology leader in upsell solutions, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Flextrip, Inc.™, a strategic player in the online distribution of tours and activities, based in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 2011, Flextrip enables travel companies to monetize existing bookings by offering a unique comprehensive selection of tours and activities via its automated interface. By acquiring Flextrip, Nor1 will leverage the technology and expertise of both companies, thereby enhancing the upsell and cross-sell capabilities it provides its hotel customers, in a way that ha...
Group Business for 2014: Old Tricks in a New Environment by Brenda Fields
Brenda Fields | September 25, 2013
September 25, 2013 The latest technology has afforded meeting planners greater efficiency when researching venues, making a booking, and when communicating with attendees. Technology has also enhanced the actual meeting experience for both attendees on property as well as off site with live feeds and video streaming, and real time social media feedback. Meeting attendees take notes on tablets and take photographs and videos of presentations with their smart phones, almost eliminating the need for paper and pencils! To stay competitive and current with the changing trends, hoteliers are adding technological enhancements to the entire boo...
Las Vegas Sands Names David Horton as New Chief Marketing Officer
Las Vegas Sands Corp. | September 25, 2013
Las Vegas, NV (September 25, 2013) - Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) announced today that David Horton has joined the company as chief marketing officer. He will have overall responsibility for all sales and marketing functions, including revenue management, distribution strategies, guest experience, and product development. Mr. Horton began his career working with independent hotels and resorts in sales, then quickly rose through the ranks assuming responsibility for all sales and marketing functions of large complex resorts. He joined Hilton Hotels almost fifteen years ago and for the past four years, has been responsible for the Hi...
Baha Mar Names Paul V. Pusateri COO of $3.5 Billion Destination Gaming Resort in the Bahamas
Baha Mar | September 25, 2013
NASSAU, The Bahamas, Sept. 25, 2013 -- Baha Mar Ltd. today announced that Paul V. Pusateri has been named Chief Operating Officer of Baha Mar, effective immediately. In this new role, Mr. Pusateri will be responsible for all day-to-day operations at the $3.5 billion destination gaming resort, which is the largest single-phase luxury resort project in the history of the Caribbean. Baha Mar, a stunning 1,000-acre destination resort along 3,000 feet of pristine beach in Nassau, will also be home to Rosewood at Baha Mar, Mondrian at Baha Mar and Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar and offer 2,200 new luxury rooms, suites and residences. Discerning trav...
New Hilton Dining Concept, Herb N’ Kitchen Restaurant, Makes Global Debut at New York Hilton Midtown
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | September 25, 2013
MCLEAN, Va. & NEW YORK - September 25, 2013 - Hilton Hotels & Resorts the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, today announced the launch of Herb N' Kitchen, its new dining concept that infuses fresh, local gourmet food into an upscale restaurant and convenient culinary market. Now open inside New York Hilton Midtown, the largest hotel in Manhattan, the first Herb N' Kitchen offers locals and travelers healthy fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and the choice of restaurant dining at their leisure, meals packaged to take away or in-room delivery for hotel guests. With a shift in the way today's travelers dine, the quick service...
Concord Hospitality Appoints Dean Wendel as Corporate Director Food and Beverage
Concord Hospitality | September 25, 2013
RALEIGH, N.C., September 25, 2013 - Officials for Concord Hospitality Enterprises, one of the top-ranked hotel operators in North America, today announced the appointment of Dean Wendel as the company's new corporate director of food and beverage. Formerly the executive chef/director of food and beverage for Concord's award-winning Renaissance Raleigh Hotel, Wendel will assume responsibility for the continued evolution of the culinary programs at the company's 14 full service and 84 select service hotels. "Few chefs have both a passion for quality food and an effective management style that brings out the best in the operation and its p...
Maestro Users Conference Gives Independent Operators Strategies to Maximize Profit and Productivity
Maestro Property Management Solution | September 25, 2013
NORTHWIND Provides Maestro Users with Business Strategies, Profit-Generating Tools, and Interactive Sessions that Improve Revenue, Operations, and Guest Service Across All Property Departments Markham, ON - September 25, 2013 - NORTHWIND, provider of Maestro™ Enterprise Property Management hotel software and reservation software solutions for the industry's leading independent hotel, resorts, and multi-property groups, hosted its 2013 Maestro Users' Group conference in San Antonio, Texas. The event, held at the Hotel Contessa September 16 - 19, was jam packed with interactive sessions, networking opportunities, hands-on labs, partner ...
The 112-room New-Build Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville/University Opens in Tennessee
Hilton Garden Inn | September 25, 2013
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - September 25, 2013 - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's award-winning brand of upscale, yet affordable hotels, announced the opening of the 112 room Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville/University, representing an addition to the brand's growing portfolio of more than 570 hotels worldwide. The new Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville/University is owned by Knoxville Hotel Associates LLC. and managed by Paramount Hospitality Management LLC. Situated adjacent to the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus, Cumberland Avenue Strip, and Tyson-McGhee International Airport, the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville/University provides the amenitie...
Hyatt Key West Gains Tech Advantage with ElevenGC for Mac
Eleven | September 25, 2013
Eleven provides Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa with complimentary and premium guest computing 9/25/13, Portland, Ore. – Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa has added Eleven's iMac guest computing solution to its list of upscale amenities. ElevenGC gives the resort the ability to offer guests limited complimentary computer access alongside a guest-pay model for additional usage and printing. The flexible payment options coupled with sleek and sophisticated Apple hardware, made Eleven the clear choice for this high-end property. Since becoming a preferred Hyatt standard in 2012, ElevenGC has been deployed at a majority of Hyatt full servic...
Owned and Managed by TMI Hospitality, the 90-room Courtyard Kalamazoo-Portage to Open in Michigan
Courtyard by Marriott | September 25, 2013
Kalamazoo, Michigan - September 25, 2013 - Courtyard by Marriott is rolling out its innovative lobby and room design in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This is the first 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 on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, the 90-room Courtyard Kalamazoo-Portage also offers a refreshing and stylish room design that helps guests stay connected, productive and comfortable. Thoughtfully ...
Agilysys Announces Availability of Insight™ Mobile Manager Solution
Agilysys | September 25, 2013
Supported by iOS7, Dashboard Application Provides Instant Overview of Property ALPHARETTA, GA. - Sept. 25, 2013 - Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative information technology and hospitality software and services, today announced general availability of the Agilysys Insight™ Mobile Manager application. The solution can be seen at Global Gaming Expo 2013 in Las Vegas. Insight Mobile Manager is a mobile dashboard application that enables hotel managers to view key information about the property quickly and easily from a mobile device. The application contains panels of strategically organized data, including re...
UNH Lodging Executives Sentiment Index Surges on Strong Business Conditions and Employment Outlook
The UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics | September 25, 2013
DURHAM, N.H. - September 25, 2013 - The University of New Hampshire Lodging Executives Sentiment Index (LESI) surged to 78.1 in August 2013 from 65.8 in July 2013, fueled by strong business conditions and a more positive employment outlook. "These results represent lodging executives' strong and positive sentiments of the present general business conditions for their properties, which increased 8.7 on the sentiment scale, combined with a strong sentiment about general business conditions 12 months in the future, which increased by 16.0," said Nelson Barber, associate professor of hospitality management, who manages the index. "This robu...
Kirk A. Rose Resigns as President of Marcus Hotels & Resorts; Search for Replacement is Underway
The Marcus Corporation | September 25, 2013
MILWAUKEE - September 25, 2013 - The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS) today announced the resignation of Kirk A. Rose, president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts. Rose, who joined the company in January 2013, is leaving to pursue an opportunity to return to his roots in finance as the chief financial officer of a family office based in Chicago. Gregory S. Marcus, president and chief executive officer of The Marcus Corporation, said a search for a replacement is already underway. During the search process, Thomas F. Kissinger, senior executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, will lead the Marcus Hotels & Resorts division. ...
White Lodging Celebrates Groundbreaking for the 366-room Westin Austin Downtown in Texas
White Lodging Services Corporation | September 25, 2013
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Sept. 25, 2013 -- White Lodging Services Corporation hosted a groundbreaking celebration for a second Westin hotel in Austin, Texas. The Westin Austin Downtown broke ground Aug. 5 and is scheduled to open in Spring 2015 on the northeast corner of East Fifth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. The 20-story, 366-room Westin hotel is a joint venture between White Lodging Services Corporation, the Harry Whittington family and REI Real Estate Services, LLC. Once open, the hotel will be the 24th White Lodging managed hotel in the Austin area. "This hotel represents yet another example of our commitment to continued growth wi...
PAR Springer-Miller Wins 2 Bronze Stevie Awards for Pars’ Atrio Guest Experience Management Software
The Stevie Awards | September 25, 2013
Bronze Award for "The Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year" and Bronze Award for "Tech Innovation of the Year" Regarding ATRIO Software New Hartford, NY -- PAR Springer-Miller, a subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE:PAR) announced today that they received two Bronze Stevie® Awards for their ATRIO® Guest Experience Management Software in two separate categories: the Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year - Up to 2,500 Employees and Tech Innovation of the Year - At Organizations With Up to 1,000 Employees at The 11th Annual American Business Awards held on September 16th in San Francisco. The American Business Awards ...
Marriott Chief Operations Officer Robert “Bob” McCarthy to Retire in February 2014
Marriott International, Inc. | September 25, 2013
Other Senior Executives to Assume Broader Responsibilities BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 25, 2013 -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) announced today that Robert J. McCarthy, chief operations officer of the company, will retire at the end of February 2014 after 38 years of distinguished service. McCarthy began his career as a waiter in a Marriott restaurant outside Philadelphia while attending Villanova University. He was promoted into increasingly higher level positions, including senior vice president, Northeast Region; executive vice president, operations planning and support; president, North American lodging operations; and group pr...
Interstate Hotels & Resorts Acquires Chardon Management Ltd., Expands United Kingdom Portfolio to 47
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | September 25, 2013
ARLINGTON, Va./LONDON - Sept. 25, 2013 - Interstate Hotels & Resorts - the leading U.S. based global hotel management company - announced today the acquisition of Chardon Management Ltd., a highly respected independent management company in the United Kingdom, elevating Interstate's total U.K. portfolio to 47 hotels either open or under development. On the heels of the Company's entrance into the U.K., this transaction creates a formidable executive team and dedicated base of operations in the region for hotel owners and investors, fully supported by Interstate's industry-leading systems. The Company's U.K. team will be complemented...
GCommerce Expands to South Pacific EMarketing Firm to Deploy Local Strategy to Develop Tourist Trade
GCommerce | September 25, 2013
PARK CITY, Utah, September 25, 2013 - GCommerce Solutions, a hospitality-focused digital marketing company known for driving significant incremental revenue for branded and independent hotels worldwide, is expanding its own global footprint with new contracts for two hotels, the Equus Hotel, Marina Tower Waikiki, and a new restaurant, Park, in Waikiki, Hawaii. The announcement comes on the heels of the news that Principal Hayley Hotels and Coast Hotels, comprising 63 hotels in North America, France and the U.K., engaged GCommerce for their digital marketing endeavors. Firmly establishing its footprint in the Waikiki hotel market, GComme...
Hakkasan Limited to Begin Construction of its First Hotel, a Resort on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah Island
Hakkasan Ltd. | September 25, 2013
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 25, 2013 -- Global restaurant and nightlife group Hakkasan Ltd.( http://www.hakkasan.com ) has announced plans to open its first luxury resort on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah Island. The property, which is being conceptualized and developed by HKK Hospitality( http://www.hkkhospitality.com ), is scheduled to begin construction in 2014. The project will establish a state of the art beach-front hotel on the exclusive crescent of The Palm Jumeriah. The property will feature a diverse array of opulent amenities, all of which will embody the core elements of Hakkasan's signature DNA - world-class cuisine, elite en...
Cascade Investment Acquires the 468-key Four Seasons Hotel Houston in Texas
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | September 25, 2013
Houston, Texas - September 25, 2013 - Privately-held Cascade Investment today announced the acquisition of Four Seasons Hotel Houston, the city's premier luxury hotel. Financial terms were not disclosed. Cascade is buying the asset from Maritz, Wolff & Co. who has owned it since 2000. The transaction is anticipated to close on October 1, 2013. Located at 1300 Lamar Street in the heart of Houston's business and financial district, featuring 404 rooms and suites and 64 rental apartments, the world-class AAA Five-Diamond hotel has been offering travelers the finest accommodations and a full range of high-end amenities and services sinc...
Infor Wins Partner Award from Gaming & Leisure
Gaming & Leisure | September 25, 2013
Infor Hospitality Helps Organizations Increase Flexibility, Collaboration NEW YORK - Sep 25, 2013 - Infor, a leading provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, today announced that the company was recognized by Gaming & Leisure in its 2013 Gaming & Hospitality Awards this week at the Gaming & Leisure Roundtable as the winner in the Partner category. Given annually, the Partner award winner best illustrates a granular understanding of the real problems faced by their customers, and takes steps within their offerings to address those challenges. In the last year, Infor revealed Infor 10x for ...
De Jongh: Government Issues Expression of Interest for Potential Hotel Development on Water Island
REVPAR International | September 25, 2013
Community input into development that affects residential communities is an issue that Governor John P. de Jongh Jr. admits is personal to him. Water Island is no exception to that rule and earlier this month, de Jongh held a meeting with Water Island residents to address management issues and to announce the issuance of an Expression of Interest for potential hotel development on the island. "We believe that a boutique hotel on Water Island not only provides for further economic activity on the island but a first-step on rebranding our offerings through a public-private partnership that leverages government resources. But, success is o...
Work Has Begun in the UK for the 452-room InterContinental London The O2 to Open in 2015
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | September 25, 2013
25 September, 2013 - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) is proud to announce the signing of its third InterContinental property for London: InterContinental® London The O2. The new hotel is scheduled to open in 2015 when it will take its place alongside its sister properties InterContinental London Westminster, which has been open for less than a year, and InterContinental London Park Lane which is a long-established luxury destination in the Capital. The 452-room InterContinental London The O2 will operate under a franchise agreement with Meridian Hotel Operations Limited and will be managed by Arora Hotels. The hotel will feature ...
