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Industry Happenings
Who Are the Pacemakers in Hospitality These Days? Have We Become a World of Leaders or Followers?
Dr. John Hogan | August 7, 2013
by Dr. John Hogan, CHA CHMS CHE CHO The two questions posed in this article were prompted from the news of the last week in the American media. They both dealt with purchases, which while large in numbers, were substantially lower than the sale of these same assets over the last decade. I am referring of course to the sale of the Boston Globe to John Henry, the somewhat laid back owner of the Boston Red Sox for $70 million and that of the Washington Post to the founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos for $250 million. While nothing in his background suggests what kind of newspaper owner he will be, Henry has earned a reputation as a pioneerin...
Home2 Suites by Hilton Opens in Center City Philadelphia; The 248-suite Hotel is the Brand’s Largest
Home2 Suites by Hilton | August 7, 2013
PHILADELPHIA - August 7, 2013 - Home2 Suites by Hilton, the award-winning mid-tier, all-suite hotel brand designed for modern business travelers and extended-stay guests, today announced the opening of its 20th U.S. hotel in Philadelphia, Pa. Co-developed by Philadelphia-based Wurzak Hotel Group and Parkway Corporation, and owned by a joint venture that includes DoveHill Partners, Parkway Corporation and New York-based investment fund Glenmont Capital Management, LLC, the property represents the largest Home2 Suites to open since the inception of the brand in 2011. The nine-story, 248-suite hotel, located across from the Pennsylvania Co...
Sabre Hospitality Solutions Extends RateGain Partnership
Sabre Hospitality Solutions | August 7, 2013
Channel management tool provides deeper reach into distribution channels to meet the needs of any hotel SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Aug. 7, 2013 -Sabre Hospitality Solutions, a leading technology provider to the global hotel industry expands core Channel Connect offering to provide hotels with an intuitive channel management solution - a new tool to reach more online distribution channels and social media sites globally. Building on an established and successful partnership with RateGain, the addition of a simplified channel management solution enables hotels to supplement their existing distribution strategy with hundreds of niche and market sp...
Colorado’s 230-room Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center to Open Late in 2013
the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center | August 7, 2013
DENVER, COLO. - August 7, 2013 - One of Denver's most iconic structures, the historic Colorado National Bank building, will welcome travelers as the new Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center in late 2013. The hotel will feature 230 guestrooms, 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and Range, an original concept restaurant and bar, serving locally-purveyed cuisine inspired by the Rocky Mountain West. Imbued with a series of 16 original murals from the iconic western muralist Allen Tupper True, the property showcases historic elements from the building's initial construction in the early 20th century, juxtaposed with the accommodations, amenit...
COMO Hotels and Resorts to Open the 74-room Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach in December 2013
the COMO Group and COMO Hotels and Resorts | August 7, 2013
August 7, 2013 - COMO Hotels and Resorts will open its first US property, Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach in December. The 74-room hotel occupies an original 1930s building in the heart of the city's Art Deco District. The new hotel will have direct access to the beach and a private swimming pool, two restaurants, and a COMO Shambhala Urban Escape spa. Located on Collins Avenue and 24th Street, the property has views that stretch across the Atlantic to the east or the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, flooding rooms with light. Interiors are by the Italian designer Paola Navone, who preserved the hotel's Art Deco heritage and contras...
Waterpark, Adventure Park Planned for Pflugerville, Texas; Expects to Draw 300,000 Visitors Annually
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown | August 7, 2013
Aug. 07--Hawaiian Falls, a $21.5 million waterpark and adventure park, appears to be on its way to Pflugerville, with an opening date likely set for spring 2014. The project's developer, Horizon Family Holdings, is teaming with the city of Pflugerville and the Pflugerville Community Development Corp. to make the project a reality, the American-Statesman has learned. It will be located on a 25-acre site at the southwest corner of the Texas 130 toll road and FM 685, near the Stone Hill Town Center shopping center. At a meeting Tuesday evening, the Pflugerville City Council approved a series of economic development agreements that would cl...
Service Excellence: Find a Way To Make It Happen / Bryan Williams
B.Williams Enterprise | August 6, 2013
"As long as it is legal, ethical, and moral, find a way to make it happen". That was the directive which was programmed into my brain very early in my career. I remember it vividly. It was on my first day of work at new employee orientation at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in 1996. The general manager passionately spoke about the need "to move heaven and earth to delight" our guests and creating memorable experiences everyday. Although I worked in a luxury property before, it was obvious that this was another level of service excellence altogether. I love exceptional service, and I love people who are passionate about giving exceptional ...
Property Improvement Plan (PIP) & Capital Expenditure Decisions for Canadian Hoteliers
Graham Coe, of HVS | August 6, 2013
By Graham Coe This article discusses recent trends in the Canadian lodging industry and their impact on capital expenditure and property improvement plan (PIP) requirements. Elements of an effective PIP and different PIP scenarios are also examined. Property Improvement Plan (PIP) & Capital Expenditure Decisions for Canadian Hoteliers The physical condition of a hotel property is one of the most important determinants of operating performance and, ultimately, market value. When faced with capital expenditure, property improvement plan (PIP), or re-branding decisions, hotel owners must make the right decisions in order to maximize op...
AAA Inspectors Select Favorite Hotels that Celebrate America’s History; Typically 75 years or Older
AAA Inspections and Historic Hotels | August 6, 2013
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 6, 2013 -- To help travelers connect with our nation's history, AAA inspectors assembled a list of their favorite historic hotels — structures of notable record or architecture, typically 75 years or older. Artifacts range from an opulent pre-Depression luxury hotel to a flamboyant Old West rail stop to a sprawling mountain resort with a Prohibition speakeasy. Here are America's hotel experts' 10 top picks for evoking an atmosphere of days gone by. Travelers can read about additional AAA Inspectors' Favorite Historic Hotels on the AAA TravelViews blog, visit AAA's historic hotels board on Pinterest and find more th...
Adriane Elrod Appointed Group Sales Manager at The 199-key Chattanoogan Hotel in Tennessee
The Chattanoogan | August 6, 2013
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (August 6, 2013) -- The Chattanoogan, Chattanooga's only AAA Four Diamond-rated full-service hotel, has hired Adriane Elrod as the hotel's new group sales manager. Ms. Elrod is responsible for securing new and existing group rooms business at the upscale hotel. Elrod has worked in sales for the past decade, most recently in the hospitality industry as thedirector of sales for Candlewood Suites in Tuscaloosa, Ala. In that role, she led her sales team to producing the highest sales records to date at the hotel. Ms. Elrod spent almost four years as a marketing associate with Sysco Gulf Coast, where she was honored for he...
CDC Houston’s Phase I Plan for Houston Springwoods Village Town Center Includes Full-Service Hotel
CDC Houston | August 6, 2013
HOUSTON - August 6, 2013 - CDC Houston, Inc., a subsidiary of Coventry Development Corporation, New York, announced today that the phase one development of Springwoods Village Town Center will include a full-service hotel, luxury apartments, office space and retail shops. Located adjacent to the ExxonMobil Springwoods Village campus, Town Center will be on Town Lake and will include a public plaza on the lakefront to make it a focal point for the Springwoods Village community and the region. Springwoods Village is a $10-billion, 1,800-acre, mixed-use community situated along the west side of Interstate 45 between Springwoods Village Par...
Agreement Finalized for Trump International Hotel, the Old Post Office Building, Washington, D.C.
August 6, 2013
Construction to Begin in Spring 2014, with Grand Opening Slated for the End of 2015 WASHINGTON, DC--(Aug 6, 2013) - Today, The Trump Organization finalized its deal with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on plans to redevelop the iconic Old Post Office Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. now that Congressional review has finished. Donald J. Trump's wholly owned company, the TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™, is planning a $200-million redevelopment of this national landmark into a super-luxury hotel. The property will be managed by the award-winning TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION as the new Trump® International Hotel, The ...
Carlson Rezidor to Open the 114-key Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Göttingen in Germany in Q4 2013
Rezidor Hotel Group | August 6, 2013
August 6, 2013 - Carlson Rezidor, one of the ten largest hotel groups worldwide, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Göttingen. The property featuring 114 keys and offering 4-star standard brings Carlson Rezidor's portfolio in Germany to 52 hotels with more than 11,000 rooms. It is scheduled to welcome the first guests in Q4 2013. "We are pleased to strengthen our German network and to extend the co-operation with our strategic franchise partner Provent. The Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Göttingen is our 6th joint hotel project, and we look forward to further growing our relationship", said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO a...
Chad Minton Appointed as Executive Chef for Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City
Andaz 5th Avenue | August 6, 2013
New York, (August 6, 2013) - Andaz 5th Avenue, the boutique lifestyle hotel in Midtown Manhattan, proudly announces the new executive chef of its seasonally inspired restaurant, the shop. Chad Minton, most recently Executive Chef at the acclaimed Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in California, joins the team at Andaz 5th Avenue this month. Chef Minton will also oversee the bar downstairs, located in the hotel's cellar and serving seasonal, pre-prohibition style cocktails and delectable Latin-style small plate dishes. The culinary offerings at the hotel's meetings, events and entertaining space, Apartment 2E, will also be under Chef Minton's tute...
MGM Resorts International Reports Q2 2013 Net Loss of $93 million; Domestic RevPAR Up 2.5%
MGM Resorts International | August 6, 2013
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 6, 2013 -- MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. Loss per share for the second quarter of 2013 was $0.19 compared to a loss per share of $0.30 in the prior year second quarter. Comparability of the current and prior year consolidated results was affected by certain items discussed below. View the full press release with supporting tables. "We continue to see broad-based Las Vegas improvement as our Strip EBITDA increased 15%, driven by a 7% increase in casino revenues and a 5% increase in hotel revenues," said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International Cha...
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago Appoints Gordon Taylor III as Director of Sales and Marketing
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago | August 6, 2013
CHICAGO (Aug. 6, 2013) - The Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago today announced Gordon A. Taylor III has been appointed as director of sales and marketing. In this role, Taylor provides leadership, direction, and management to the sales teams of the upper-upscale hotel to achieve all sales and revenue objectives. "Gordon's exceptional knowledge of the hospitality industry and out-of-the-box ideas make him a valuable asset to the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago," said General Manager Pierre-Louis Giacotto. "I am thrilled to have him join our team and I am confident he will help drive the hotel's continued success in years to come." Taylor...
Noble House Names Bruno Oakman as Executive Chef for The Commons Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Noble House Hotels & Resorts | August 6, 2013
SEATTLE, Wash. - August 6, 2013 - Noble House Hotels & Resorts (NHHR) proudly announces the appointment of Bruno Oakman as Executive Chef to The Commons Hotel, located close to downtown Minneapolis on the University of Minnesota campus. In this role, Oakman will oversee all culinary operations for the hotel and its signature restaurant, The Beacon Public House, which features superior regional cuisine and reinvented classic cocktails in a contemporary, gastro-pub setting. "We're extremely excited about the level of passion for savory cuisine that Chef Bruno Oakman brings to The Beacon Public House," said Duane Rohrbaugh, general man...
Sunstone Hotel Investors Reports Q2 2013 Net Income of $15.1 M; RevPAR Up 2.6%
Sunstone Hotel Investors | August 6, 2013
ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Aug. 5, 2013 -- Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company" or "Sunstone") (NYSE: SHO) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013. View the full press release with supporting tables. Second Quarter 2013 Operational Results (as compared to Second Quarter 2012) (1): •Adjusted Comparable Hotel RevPAR increased 2.6% to $156.78. ?Adjusted Comparable Hotel RevPAR increased 3.3% to $154.05 (excluding the following hotels in which significant renovations were underway and completed during the second quarter: Hilton Times Square, Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach and Rena...
First Two Hotel Openings for EVEN™ Hotels Brand to be in Rockville, Maryland & Norwalk, Connecticut
August 6, 2013
ATLANTA, Aug. 6, 2013 -- IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] today announces the signing of two EVEN™ Hotels properties, confirming locations for the highly-anticipated first hotels and continuing development momentum for the holistic wellness brand. The hotels, located at 1775 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Md., and 426 Main Avenue in Norwalk, Conn., are strategically located in major feeder markets for Washington, D.C. and New York City, and are well-suited to meet the demands of the large population of wellness-minded people living in and traveling to those areas. "We are excited to add these two new prop...
Morgans Hotel Group Reports Q2 2013 Net Loss of $16.2 million; RevPAR Up 10.6%
Morgans Hotel Group | August 6, 2013
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2013 -- Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) ("MHG" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. View the full press release with supporting tables. Highlights Adjusted EBITDA was $12.6 million in the second quarter of 2013, a $6.2 million, or 98.0% increase over the same period in 2012, due primarily to an increase in EBITDA at Hudson. Operating margins at the Company's Owned Hotels and leased food and beverage operations increased approximately 600 basis points during the second quarter of 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012. Revenue per available room ("RevPA...
Why Data and Analytics is Revenue Management’s Reason for Being
EyeforTravel | August 6, 2013
August 6, 2013 - Revenue management professionals acknowledge that change is afoot and are gearing up to move with the times as the discipline enters new territory. Ritesh Gupta gets a look into the future in this exclusive interview with Ankur Randev of Highgate Hotels. In the next decade change in the discipline will accelerate, says Ankur Randev, vice president - revenue and distribution, Highgate Hotels. He believes the role of a revenue management professional will continue to evolve from rudimentary pricing and inventory management to having a more defined focus on total product management. This will include having responsibility ...
Ryman Hospitality Reports Q2 2013 Net Income of $16.4 M; RevPAR Down 3.9%; Updates Outlook for 2013
Ryman Hospitality Properties | August 6, 2013
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), a lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT") specializing in group-oriented, destination hotel assets in urban and resort markets, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013. View the full press release with supporting tables. Colin V. Reed, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Ryman Hospitality Properties, stated, "We continued to face near-term challenges in the second quarter, as the headwinds related to the management transition to Marriott, as well as overall weakness in the group sector, impacted our results. As comm...
Hospitality Properties Trust Reports Q2 2013 Net Income of $37.3 million; RevPAR Increased 7.1%
Hospitality Properties Trust | August 6, 2013
NEWTON, Mass.--Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT) today announced its financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2013. View the full press release with supporting tables. Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2013: Normalized funds from operations, or Normalized FFO, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 were $108.6 million, or $0.78 per share, compared to Normalized FFO for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 of $93.0 million, or $0.75 per share. Net income available for common shareholders was $37.3 million, or $0.27 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 compared to $27.0 million, or $0.22 per share, fo...
Hotel Westminster Expands Relationship with Infor
Hotel Westminster | August 6, 2013
Infor EzRMS Simplifies Revenue Management for Luxury Hotel in France NEW YORK - Aug. 6, 2013 - Infor, a leading provider of business application software serving more than 70,000 customers, today announced that the Hotel Westminster, a luxury hotel situated on center of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, has selected Infor EzRMS to manage the property's revenue management function. The Hotel Westminster is an existing Infor customer for property management (PMS), and the cloud-functionality of the Infor EzRMS application is expected to help the Hotel Westminster drive faster turnover and higher profit margins and increase revenue to ac...
