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Industry Happenings
Grace Hotels Adds Mayflower Inn & Spa in CT and Sister Hotel The White Barn Inn in ME to Portfolio
| August 6, 2013
NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2013 -- Grace Hotels, the privately owned luxury boutique hotel group, has announced a partnership with an affiliate of Three Wall Capital LLC to acquire the celebrated five diamond/five star Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, Connecticut. Under the agreement Grace Hotels will become the majority owner of the Mayflower and will manage the hotel under the Grace brand which now has a presence on five continents. In a move designed to bring together under one marque some of the finest hotel, spa and restaurant properties in New England, the international boutique hotel group has also announced that its sister hotel, The...
Daniel Entenberg Appointed General Manager of Gramercy Park Hotel in New York
Gramercy Park Hotel | August 6, 2013
August 6, 2013 (New York, NY) - Gramercy Park Hotel in the Flatiron District of New York City, has announced the appointment of Daniel Entenberg as General Manager. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in the luxury hotel business, including success at stylish addresses in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Entenberg is responsible for all operations at the historic property set a stone's throw from the only private park in Manhattan. Gramercy Park Hotel is the third Manhattan address that Entenberg has worked with since he launched his career at W New York Hotel in 2001. He arrived from W New York Times Square, where he spent ...
Chesapeake Lodging Trust Reports Q2 2013 Net Income of $14.6 M; ProForma RevPAR Up 7.7%
Chesapeake Lodging Trust | August 6, 2013
ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE:CHSP), a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT), reported today its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. View the full press release with supporting tables. HIGHLIGHTS Pro Forma RevPAR: 7.7% increase for comparable 19-hotel portfolio over the same period in 2012. Pro Forma Adjusted Hotel EBITDA Margin: 170 basis point increase for comparable 19-hotel portfolio over the same period in 2012. Acquisitions: Acquired the 410-room W New Orleans for $65.0 million, the 313-room Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf for $103.5 million, and the 200-room Hyatt Santa Barbara for $61.0 mil...
Cornell Quarterly Study Finds Increasing Balance in Online Hotel Reviews
Cornell Hospitality Quarterly | August 6, 2013
Ithaca, NY, August 6, 2013 - The popular view of online hotel reviews is that many are unfairly negative, but a new study published in the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly (CQ) finds that as more reviews are posted on a site, the overall tone becomes more balanced. The study, "Online Customer Reviews of Hotels: As Participation Increases, Better Evaluation Is Obtained," by Santiago Melián-González, Jacques Bulchand-Gidumal, and Beatriz González López-Valcárcel, is the featured article in the August 2013 CQ. The journal is published by Sage Publishing on behalf of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. The authors, who are all on ...
Owned and Managed by CDB Hospitality, the 118-suite Springhill Suites Opens in Coeur D’alene, Idaho
SpringHill Suites by Marriott | August 6, 2013
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - August 6, 2013 - The 118-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho opened on Monday, August 5, 2013. Located at 2250 West Seltice Way, the SpringHill Suites Coeur d'Alene will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by CDB Hospitality, LLC of Spokane, Washington. Located two miles from downtown, 35 miles from Spokane International Airport and five minutes from one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Coeur d'Alene, the hotel offers guests convenient access to Centennial Trail, the Spokane River, and Silverwood Theme Park. Rates are seasonal. "We're delighted that the SpringHi...
Watermark Hotel Group Taps ZDirect for Hotel Marketing Automation in Australia
ZDirect | August 6, 2013
A successful eCRM program at the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast has the luxury hotel company extending ZDirect's ZMail® electronic communication platform to its Watermark Hotel Brisbane property [HALLANDALE BEACH, FL- AUGUST 6, 2013] - When the Australian division of Watermark Hotel Group needed to replace its outdated and labor-intensive eMarketing software, they turned to hotel marketing automation specialist ZDirect. Today, the ZMail® electronic communication platform is installed at the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast, and soon it will roll out to the Watermark Hotel Brisbane, making "the most refreshing hotel experien...
Chatham Lodging Reports Q2 2013 Net Income of $2.2 M; RevPAR Up 2.6%
Chatham Lodging Trust | August 6, 2013
PALM BEACH, Fla.---Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns wholly or through its joint venture approximately $1.5 billion of premium-branded, upscale, extended-stay and select-service hotels, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013. Second Quarter 2013 Highlights Hotel RevPAR – Rose 2.6 percent to $115 for the 20 hotels owned for the entire quarter. Excluding the Washington D.C. hotel, which currently is being renovated/rebranded, comparable RevPAR grew 6.1 percent (excluding the recently acquired Hyatt Place, RevPAR rose 5.3 percent). Adjusted EBITDA –...
UniFocus Donates Guest Survey System to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp | August 6, 2013
August 6, 2013 - The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is looking to amplify the experiences of the campers' families through the use of UniFocus' Survey Solutions, which will allow the Camp to gain insight from parents who attend their "Change of Pace Experience (COPE)" weekend programs to support their strategy to become a more research-based organization. UniFocus is proud to contribute its services free of charge to support the Camp's and community's efforts to lift the morale of parents of seriously ill children. GUESTScope provides the camp with the tools they need to deliver on their mission. Through the COPE program, the Camp strives t...
Personal Choice Holds Career Women Back Professionally More than Glass Ceiling Reveals New Study
HVS | August 6, 2013
A new study by HVS Executive Search and appearing in the August issue of the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly surveyed nearly 100 executive men and women in the hospitality industry about the traditional glass ceiling. Two key findings from this executive survey suggest an important shift in workplace trends: Men and women agree on home and career: Out of six categories of personal priorities, both sexes rated family first and career third. Men do not seem more career-focused than women, and women do not seem more household-focused than men. Personal choice outweighs the glass ceiling: Household and family responsibilities were rated as...
Great Revenue Management Isn’t a 9-5 Job
Duetto | August 6, 2013
by Anuj Jenveja, Director of Customer Success, Duetto August 6, 2013 Hotels do not receive bookings on a 9 to 5 basis. Reservations are made all times of day and night, shifting rate structures and demand patterns at hotels, even while hotel management sleeps. Pricing, therefore, and price optimization, are not "9 to 5" functions - they take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Yet we've all seen properties, where a revenue manager only monitors the property during regular business hours five days a week. Once 5 p.m. hits, they clock out and either hand over the keys to overworked front desk staff, or they don't do anything at all. This...
Jean-Paul Nel Named GM of Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, St. Thomas (USVI)
Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort | August 5, 2013
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (August 5, 2013) - Jean-Paul Nel has been named General Manager of Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort. In this position, he will oversee the overall operations of the iconic 450-room property on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A 30-year Marriott veteran, Nel most recently served as Area Vice President for the UK North region, which is a part of Marriott Europe. Prior to this, he held the position of Vice President of Operations for UKIMEA (United Kingdom, Ireland, Middle East, and Africa), where he oversaw all operational aspects of the region and played a key role in the developme...
Whitepaper: Hotel Distribution 500 Shades – Mostly Grey
RateGain | August 5, 2013
Hotel distribution often creates a confusing technology picture. As solutions proliferate and evolve, opportunities emerge to combine and simplify. Successful integration between previously separate applications and vendors is also becoming more common. This paper examines the background to the 500 shades of complexity and suggests options to help hoteliers equip themselves for more cost- effective and straightforward distribution by combining the strengths of channel management and CRS. Download Whitepaper. ...
Benchmark Names Diana Wellman as Director of Catering & Conference Services for Eldorado Hotel & Spa
Eldorado Hotel & Spa | August 5, 2013
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 2013 ... Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Diana Wellman director of catering and conference services for Eldorado Hotel & Spa. Norbert Relecker, Benchmark's general manager for the property, a Benchmark Hotel® located in the heart of Santa Fe, made the announcement. "I am delighted to welcome Diana to Eldorado Hotel & Spa," said Relecker. "We're thrilled to have her join our executive team. Her vast expertise in the hospitality industry coupled with her knowledge of and previous experience with Benchmark Hospitality make he...
Marshall Hotels & Resorts Appoints S. Lynn Mucciano to Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | August 5, 2013
SALISBURY, Md., August 5, 2013 - Officials at Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a leading hotel management and services company that operates properties nationwide, today announced that S. Lynn Mucciano has been appointed executive vice president of sales and marketing. In her new role, Mucciano will oversee the sales and marketing effort for the company's 50-plus hotel and resort management portfolio. "Lynn is a career hotel sales and marketing professional who has led highly effective, creative marketing efforts for hotels in every category, from select service to full service hotels and resorts," said Mike Marshall, president and ...
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Enters Agreement for Two Hotels in Turkey
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts | August 5, 2013
The 219-room Wyndham Izmir Özdilek Opens with the Wyndham Istanbul Levent to Follow in 2014 IZMIR, Turkey (August 5, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,410 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the addition of two new Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® properties in Turkey through franchise agreements with Özdilek Otel Turizm Isletmeciligi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, a company belonging to the Özdilek Holding group. Opened this week, the five-star, 219-room Wyndham Izmir Özdilek is the first Wyndham hotel in the country to open outside of Istanbul....
The 331-room TRYP by Wyndham Hotel Panama Albrook Mall Opens in Panama City, Panama
TRYP by Wyndham | August 5, 2013
PANAMA CITY, Panama (August 5, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,410 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the opening of the 331-room TRYP by Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall, marking the select-service hotel brand's largest hotel in Central America and second property in Panama City, Panama. Its addition further supports the company's steady expansion in the Latin America region. Owned by Corporacion Hotelera de Panama, S.A., and managed by Bristol Hospitality Group, the newly constructed hotel puts guests in the heart of Panama City, close to major...
Palacio del Inka in Cusco, Peru Completes Renovation and Joins Starwood’s The Luxury Collection
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | August 5, 2013
CUSCO, Peru -- August 5, 2013 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces the iconic Palacio del Inka in Cusco joins The Luxury Collection portfolio following an extensive $15 million renovation. Owned by Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco has been redesigned for a new generation of luxury travellers, offering discreet and personalized service in the in the iconic ancient capital of Peru. With this opening, Starwood expands its footprint in Peru where it now operates six hotels and resorts, including three under The Luxury Collection brand. "Latin Am...
The Ritz-Carlton, Herzliya to Open in Israel in Q4 2013
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC | August 5, 2013
LONDON - August 05, 2013 – The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., the leader in luxury hospitality, has confirmed their first hotel in Israel will officially open its doors in late 2013. The Ritz-Carlton, Herzliya is located in the exclusive residential seafront town north of Tel Aviv, and will be the first global luxury branded hotel in the country. "We are delighted to be opening this exceptional seafront property at a time of historic growth in incoming tourism to Israel. Global travellers will now have the opportunity to enjoy The Ritz-Carlton award- winning service and experience here as we establish the definitive luxury experi...
Commune Hotels & Resorts Transitions to Sole Ownership by Geolo Capital; Key Executive Hires Named
Commune Hotels & Resorts | August 5, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO (August 5, 2013) - Commune Hotels & Resorts, an international hospitality management company overseeing the Joie de Vivre, Thompson and Tommie hotel brands, announces an important transition today, having signed a definitive agreement to consolidate the company to sole ownership. In addition, the company is proud to introduce its new executive leadership team as it embarks on a new era. Geolo Capital, the private equity firm founded and led by John Pritzker, has purchased the 50% interest in Commune held by its joint venture partner. The joint venture, which formed Commune in 2011, brought together the Joie de Vivre an...
GuestREV® To Be A Key Technology Element Of Major Expansion Project At Mohegan Sun At Pocono Downs
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs | August 5, 2013
Addition of new seven-story hotel and adjacent convention center slated to open this fall ATLANTA, GA - August 5, 2013 - The Rainmaker Group a world leader in automated forecasting and profit optimization software and services for the Gaming & Hospitality industry, today announced that Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs has implemented its market-leading GuestREV® profit optimization system as a key technology element of its major expansion project at the Wilkes-Barre, PA, property, one of the largest and most distinctive entertainment, gaming, shopping and dining destinations in the Commonwealth. Tabbed Project Sunlight, Mohegan Sun at P...
Puerto Rico’s 571-room Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza Rebranded as The Condado Plaza Hilton
The Condado Plaza Hilton | August 5, 2013
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico and MCLEAN, Va. - August 05, 2013 - Hilton Hotels & Resorts announced today that the 571-room hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, formerly known as Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza, has been renamed and rebranded as The Condado Plaza Hilton. Joining more than 550 Hilton hotels and resorts in 79 countries across six continents, The Condado Plaza Hilton now represents the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand's fourth hotel on the island. Designed by renowned architect Morris Lapidus, the Condado Plaza - the hotel's original name - was inaugurated in 1963. Since then, the San Juan hotel has shared a wealth of names, includi...
Hotel Assets Group Closes Seven Hotel Transactions In July
Hotel AG | August 5, 2013
ATLANTA - August 5, 2013 - Hotel AG announced today the firm closed 7 hotel transactions in the month of July. The hotels sold consisted of a 15-story CBD hotel in a top 25 market; a 12-story full service hotel in North Carolina; 1 full service hotel in the North Central US; 3 select service hotels located in Florida; and 1 small conference center resort hotel. Keith Thompson, principal of the firm, commented, "These recent transactions are representative of the various practice groups within Hotel AG including full service and select service assets." ...
Schahet Hotels Adds 100-room Wingate by Wyndham in Indianapolis, Indiana to its Management Portfolio
Schahet Hotels | August 5, 2013
Indianapolis, IN - August 5, 2013 - Schahet Hotels, Inc., an Indianapolis based hotel management company, announced today that it is now managing the 100 room Wingate by Wyndham in INTECH Park on the northwest side of Indianapolis. "We are excited to launch a new chapter for this beautiful property. With over 20 years of hotel experience in the Indianapolis market, our proven "hands-on" philosophy and team building approach will assist us to attract new customers and grow share for this great hotel in INTECH Park", said Jeffrey Brown, CEO of Schahet Hotels. Schahet Hotels will be increasing their strong presence in northwest Indianapoli...
Aston Hotels & Resorts to Manage Tuscana Resort Orlando in Davenport, Florida
Tuscana Resort Orlando by Aston | August 5, 2013
HONOLULU - August 5, 2013 - Aston Hotels & Resorts, an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), today announced the addition of Tuscana Resort Orlando in Davenport, Florida, expanding its portfolio to 28 hotels and condominium resorts. "Tuscana Resort offers guests deluxe accommodations close to Orlando's best attractions," said Kelvin Bloom, president of Aston Hotels & Resorts. "With its beautiful architecture and exceptional amenities and services, Tuscana Resort is an excellent addition to our Aston Condominium Collection." Guests experience the magic of this special Mediterranean-style resort from the mom...
