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Industry Happenings
October 2013 Opening Planned for the 100-room Cubita Boutique Resort & Spa in Panama
| August 15, 2013
PANAMA CITY, Aug. 15, 2013 - On October 12, 2013, the Azuero Peninsula will open a new chapter with the official inauguration of the highly acclaimed Cubita Boutique Resort & Spa, a first-of-its-kind project in the Republic of Panama. The brainchild of Panamanian finance specialist Ivan Eskildsen and wife Maria Amelia Pezzotti, Cubita Boutique Resort & Spa represents a unique marriage of world-class amenities with the colonial charm of the Azuero Peninsula, long considered the cradle of Panamanian culture and folklore. Since the groundbreaking in 2012, construction of the Cubita Boutique Resort & Spa has proceeded at an unpr...
Kempinski Hotels Opens the 363-room Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan in China’s Old Dragon City
Kempinski Hotels | August 15, 2013
Toronto - August 14, 2013 - Kempinski, Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, unveiled its 19th mainland hotel today in Taiyuan, China. As the first international five-star hotel in the city, Kempinski presents brand new luxurious concepts through modern facilities, superb European service and international gourmet offerings. An old saying goes, "Beijing represents the last 1,000 years of Chinese history and Shanxi represents the last 3,000 years." Located in the centre of the Dragon City, Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan is a contemporary hotel that blends European flair with Chinese tradition. The hotel is close to the city's main shopping centre...
The 152-room BEST WESTERN PLUS Bakkah Awan Hotel Opens in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Best Western International, Inc. | August 15, 2013
Phoenix, AZ - August 15, 2013 - Best Western International has announced the opening of its first property in the Saudi Arabian Holy City of Makkah. Located in the cultural center of Makkah (also known as Mecca), just a few minutes' drive from the Holy Mosque, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Bakkah Awan Hotel is perfectly situated for the millions of travelers visiting the city for the two annual pilgrimages, the Hajj and Umrah. "Tourism in Saudi Arabia is booming. Religious and pilgrimage travel is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the industry, and Makkah is at its heart," said Glenn de Souza, Best Western's Vice President International Ope...
TrustYou Expands Into Restaurant Space Bringing Its 360-Degree Approach to ORM to Culinary World
TrustYou | August 15, 2013
Superior Semantic Technology Covers Over a Dozen Sites - From Yelp! to OpenTable - & Social Media to Deliver Increased Customer Intelligence, Feedback Trends & Ease of Response Dallas, USA and Munich, Germany - August 15, 2013 -TrustYou, an online reputation management (ORM) market leader specializing in the hospitality industry, has expanded into the restaurant space. Bringing its 360-degree solution to aggregating and analyzing increasingly important online reviews and social media content to the culinary world, TrustYou's holistic approach delivers superior semantic analysis and a proven track record of increasing reviews, di...
California’s Courtyard San Diego Downtown Caters Completes Renovation of Public Spaces
Courtyard San Diego Downtown | August 14, 2013
(San Diego) - August 14, 2013 - San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter is home to many unique and historic places, and now visitors to this downtown district can add THE LOBBY, a distinct hotel space unlike any other, to their list of discoveries. HHM recently assumed management of the Courtyard San Diego Downtown, which completed a $6.4 million renovation of all public spaces, known as THE LOBBY, meeting rooms and guestrooms in April. THE LOBBY's concept, which features a restaurant, lounge, Starbucks espresso bar, Billiard room and general seating areas, is designed to cater to the changing tastes of today's traveler. THE LOBBY is a must-see - i...
Carey Watermark Investors Acquires the 400-room Raleigh Marriott City Center in North Carolina
Carey Watermark Investors | August 14, 2013
NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2013 -- Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated (CWI) today announced that it has acquired Raleigh Marriott City Center, a premier full service hotel located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The 400-room, 17-story hotel opened in 2008 in conjunction with the opening of the 500,000 square foot Raleigh Convention Center. The Convention Center was developed by the city in the heart of the Fayetteville Street District in order to attract convention and meeting business and according to the city has generated significant economic activity in the downtown core and greater Raleigh area. CWI's total investment in the prope...
Petter Stordalen, Sole Owner of Nordic Choice Hotels, Bans Porn From Pay-TV in All of his 171 Hotels
Nordic Choice Hotels | August 14, 2013
OSLO, Norway, August 14, 2013 - Petter Stordalen, sole owner of Nordic Choice Hotels, has decided to remove pay-tv-porn movies from all his 171 Scandinavian hotels. At his new flagship hotel The Thief in Oslo he is replacing porn with contemporary video art. "We believe it is a natural part of our social responsibility to not support an industry that contributes to trafficking, which is why this decision will be implemented with immediate effect" says Petter Stordalen. At Oslo's waterfront luxury hotel The Thief they have taken the concept one step further. As a world's first, the interactive TVs in each room offer "art on demand" with ...
Research Into Hotel Technology in the United Kingdom
Guest-tek | August 14, 2013
The standard of in-room technology in the UK is going under the microscope in new research launched by Guest-tek. The world's largest provider of IP-based technology for the hospitality industry is keen to gather the industry's view on hotel technology, and has a survey live and ready to be completed. To thank respondents for taking the time to participate, there will be a draw to give away an iPad Mini. At the end of the survey they will be asked to provide an email address for the chance to win. Here is a link to the quick, multiple choice survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/guest-tek ...
Chef Alain Derouin Named Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director of Hotel El Ganzo in Mexico
Hotel El Ganzo | August 14, 2013
Hotel Launches Chef In Residence Program San Jose del Cabo, Mexico (August 14, 2013) - Cabo's newest hot spot, Hotel El Ganzo Design Boutique, Arts, Live Music, Marina and SPA, announced today the appointment of Alain Derouin as Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director. The chef will elevate the property's culinary offerings through his approach, which mixes the techniques and flavors of Mexican and French cuisine, as well as by sourcing the finest local and sustainable ingredients. Furthermore, Chef Derouin's appointment comes at the same time the property announces an exciting Chef in Residence program that will welcome respect...
Benchmark Hospitality International Names Gary Harnist Vice President of Construction & Design
Benchmark Hospitality International | August 14, 2013
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 14, 2013 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Gary Harnist vice president of construction & design. Alex Cabañas, Benchmark's president, business development & finance, made the announcement. Mr. Harnist will be based in Benchmark's Home Office in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. "It is an honor and a pleasure to welcome Gary to Benchmark Hospitality International," said Mr. Cabañas. "This is a new position for our company and will be important as we continue to grow and add new projects that require specialized exp...
CSM Lodging Names Shand Luce as Director of Operations for The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel
The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel | August 14, 2013
Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 14, 2013 - CSM Lodging, a division of CSM Corporation, has appointed Shand Luce director of operations for The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel. Michael Clark, general manager, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Shand to The Depot," said Mr. Clark. "This is our company's flagship property, and Shand brings to us important experience in operating first rate, full service hotels within major destination markets. We are glad he is a part of our executive team." A hospitality executive with extensive experience with luxury properties, Shand Luce was previously general manager of the Newport...
Florida’s 517-room W Fort Lauderdale Welcomes Cesar Wurm as Director of Sales and Marketing
W Fort Lauderdale | August 14, 2013
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - August 14, 2013 - W Fort Lauderdale is proud to announce the appointment of Cesar Wurm as the new director of sales and marketing. A Starwood veteran, Wurm will be responsible for continuing to drive occupancy and overseeing all marketing and public relations efforts at the oceanfront resort. "Cesar is an accomplished sales and marketing professional and we are so thrilled that he has chosen W Fort Lauderdale to further showcase his talents," said Tara Whitmire, director of human resources at the hotel, "We're eager to apply his expertise to our incredible team that strives to offer the best guest experience possib...
T.R. ENGEL Group (‘TRE’) Adds Two Hotels to Portfolio
T.R. ENGEL Group, LLC - TRE | August 14, 2013
Boston, Massachusetts - August 13, 2013 - Today, the T.R. ENGEL Group, LLC ('TRE') announced the addition of the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, in Schaumburg, IL and the former Marriott Charlotte Executive Park in Charlotte, NC to its asset management portfolio, bringing its total full-service hotels under third-party asset management to nine properties and over 4,800 rooms. At the 500-room Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, TRE will focus on establishing the Convention Center as the premier Midwestern destination for groups and exhibitors, expanding the asset's regional and national draw. Meanwhile, at the...
Hay Creek Hotels Adds the Historic 114-room Redmont Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama to its Portfolio
Hay Creek Hotels | August 14, 2013
EXETER, New Hampshire (August 14, 2013) - Hay Creek Hotels announced today that it has been selected to oversee the total renovation The Redmont Hotel, an historic 114 room full service hotel located in Birmingham, Alabama. Hay Creek Hotels will also manage the property when renovations have are complete in early 2014. The Redmont Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and benefits from its central location in the heart of Birmingham's business district and its close proximity to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The hotel features Birmingham's only rooftop bar and easy access to the city's many attractions. ...
At Your Service: An Affordable Hotel App that Engages Guests and Increases Revenue
HandHeld Hospitality, LLC | August 14, 2013
Hotel Managers and Management Companies are under constant pressure to maximize total spend per room night, especially when room rates are continually challenged. On a daily basis hotels are in need to maximize their revenues and to engage in-house guests in every service and activity offered. Much revenue is lost due to activity- and dining cancellations that do not get rebooked and due to unawareness by guests of what is going on and general misinformation. This inefficiency costs hotels millions of dollars per year in lost revenue opportunities, not to mention the resulting negative impact on guest satisfaction. HandHeld's mobile app...
Growing Hostel Brand, Generator, Acquires Properties in Paris and Rome; Secures Further Investment
Generator | August 14, 2013
New hostels in Paris and Rome set to open in 2014 as further investment from Patron Capital accelerates Generator Hostels rapid expansion plans August 14, 2103 - Generator, the award-winning group of urban design hostels, has acquired two further sites in Paris and Rome as part of its on-going European rollout. The Paris site will be the brand's largest to date with 950 beds. The acquisitions mark the growth of Generator's portfolio from two properties to ten in less than three years, making Generator the world's fastest growing hostel brand. The expansion, which will take the company's total bed stock to in excess of 6,400, follows on ...
Chatham Lodging Acquires 111-room Hampton Inn & Suites in Exeter, New Hampshire for $15.2 Million
Chatham Lodging Trust | August 14, 2013
PALM BEACH, Fla., August 13, 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 111-room Hampton Inn & Suites in Exeter, New Hampshire for a purchase price of $15.2 million, plus customary pro-rated amounts and closing costs. The Hampton Inn & Suites opened in August 2010 and is located in the seacoast area of southern New Hampshire. With convenient access to Interstate 95, the LEED-certified hotel is proximate to Phillips Exeter Academy and strong corporate ...
eRevMax Becomes the First Channel Manager to Complete Interface with GTA
eRevMax | August 14, 2013
London, UK, August 14, 2013: Global wholesale travel provider GTA and eRevMax, the automated online distribution and channel management specialist, have established a two-way XML connection for rate, inventory and reservation distribution between properties on GTA's booking systems and subscribers of eRevMax. Following its interface certification with RateTiger, GTA is now incorporated into eRevMax's Channel Ecosystem. Properties on GTA's booking systems will benefit from eRevMax's Reservation Delivery service, which facilitates automatic transfer of reservations data booked through GTA's online sales channels directly to the hotel prop...
The Smart Hotelier’s Guide to 2014 Digital Marketing Budget Planning
The Authors and HeBS Digital | August 14, 2013
By Max Starkov & Mariana Mechoso Safer Hoteliers, we have just passed the mid-year mark and it's time to plan your digital marketing budgets for next year. Budgeting season is the ideal time to assess your business objectives, as well as audit the performance of the initiatives you invested in this year. 2014 is expected to be another great year in hospitality. To start with the good news, travel demand is projected to be up by 3.3 percent while supply will be up only one percent (PKF). All three key performance metrics are expected to experience positive growth over the already robust growth in 2013. The U.S. hotel industry's occup...
Lodging Econometrics Releases its 2015 Forecast for New Hotel Openings Predicting 739 U.S. Projects
August 13, 2013
August 13, 2013 - Lodging Econometrics' (LE's) forecast predicts New Hotel Openings of 739 Projects/ 82,587 Rooms for 2015, representing a growth rate for new supply of 1.6%. This is a slow, moderate but steady uptrend improvement over 2011's cyclical bottom of 346 Projects/ 37,193 Rooms. Despite these increases, the industry is still far away from the peak for New Openings of 1,341 Projects/ 154,258 Rooms set in 2008, a feat that will not likely be repeated until late this decade, if at all. The 2015 forecast is contingent upon two factors; that the hotels already in the Pipeline continue to migrate forward at the quickened pace establ...
VirtualHotel by Cardola is Improving Service Delivery, Loyalty and Revenues
Cardola | August 13, 2013
Built by hoteliers for hoteliers, the custom mobile concierge app makes requesting services and amenities easy, and tracks delivery in real time to ensure satisfaction and a stellar reputation [ATLANTA - AUGUST 13, 2013] - What happens when a development company, owned by a hotel group, creates a flexible, customizable and affordable mobile concierge platform? It results in a reliable and robust mobile app featuring personalized modules to access and maximize hotel services. VirtualHotel by Cardola is the newest mobile app for the North America hotel market designed to enhance communication and revenue channels by facilitating multiling...
White Lodging Names New General Managers for Eight Properties Including Hotels in FL, IN, NY and IL
White Lodging Services Corporation | August 13, 2013
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Aug. 13, 2013 -- White Lodging is pleased to announce the following individuals have been named general managers within the last month across the company. Brian Dickson has been promoted to general manager of the Embassy Suites Tampa Brandon. Previously, Dickson was the director of operations at the Marriott Austin South. Dickson started his hotel career with Hilton Hotels at the Embassy Suites Austin Townlake property as a guest services associate, before being promoted to night manager and assistant front office manager. Dickson also spent two years with John Q. Hammons (JQH) Hotels at the Embassy Suites East Peori...
The Sereno Group Names Samy Ghachem as General Manager for Le Sereno St. Barth’s in the Caribbean
| August 13, 2013
NEW YORK - August 13, 2103 - The Sereno Group, owner and operator of Le Sereno St. Barth, Le Sereno Villas and the soon to be unveiled Le Sereno, Lake Como in Italy, is pleased to announce the appointment of Samy Ghachem as the new general manager for Le Sereno St. Barth's. Ghachem has accumulated more than 19 years of extensive experience in the travel industry with a strong focus in luxury marketing. "It is with great pleasure that we introduce Samy Ghachem as our new general manager," says Luis Contreras, owner of Le Sereno. "Recognized for his dedication and commitment, Ghachem demonstrates an unparalleled level of service and profe...
Wyndham Hotel Group Rebrands 219-room Hotel and Conference Center Near HQ; $10 Million Redo Planned
Wyndham Hotel Group | August 13, 2013
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (August 13, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,410 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), has rebranded and taken on the day-to-day management of the Hamilton Park Hotel and Conference Center in Florham Park, N.J., converting the property to the upper-upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® brand. Wyndham Hamilton Park Hotel and Conference Center, owned by Hospitality Properties Trust, is scheduled to undergo a $10 million renovation project over the next three years to enhance public spaces, dining facilities and guest rooms. The 219-room property i...
