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Industry Happenings
Choice Hotels and KAJ Hospitality Break Ground for the 103-room Cambria Suites in West Fargo, ND
Cambria Suites | July 1, 2013
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 1, 2013-- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, and KAJ Hospitality today celebrate the groundbreaking of a new four-story, 103-room hotel, which will be connected to the future 15,000-square-foot conference center in West Fargo, one of North Dakota's fastest growing communities. KAJ Hospitality, led by the father and son development, ownership and management team of Kevin and Aaron Johnson, has corporate offices in Sioux Falls, S.D., Mitchell, S.D. and Wichita, Kansas, and will be the owner/developer of both greatly anticipated real estate development projects. "...
White Lodging Names Mary Pat Hartmann Regional Director of Operations For Kentucky and Ohio Hotels
White Lodging Services Corporation | July 1, 2013
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., July 1, 2013 -- White Lodging Services is pleased to announce Mary Pat Hartmann has been promoted to regional director of operations where she will be responsible for overseeing the operations of hotels in Kentucky and Ohio. "I am grateful to White Lodging for giving me this opportunity to advance my career and further contribute to the success of our company," said Hartmann. "I look forward to working with the very talented team in my region as we execute the White Lodging mission daily." Previously, Hartmann was the general manager of Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inn and Suites in Louisville, Ky., where she was ...
Stefano Ruzza Appointed as General Manager for the Conrad Koh Samui in Thailand
Conrad Koh Samui | July 1, 2013
KOH SAMUI, Thailand - July 1, 2013 - Conrad Koh Samui announced the appointment of Stefano A. Ruzza as the resort's General Manager. Ruzza will be responsible for overseeing all of the resort's management, operations and will lead Sales & Marketing team to position Conrad Koh Samui as one of the best luxury resorts in the Gulf of Thailand. Ruzza joins Conrad Koh Samui from Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort in South Korea where he held the position of general manager and was responsible for leading the team in improving overall service standards as well as introducing new food and beverage concepts to enhance guest experiences. Pri...
Midas Hospitality Names Kim Tolbert as Director of Sales for Candlewood Suites in Greenville, SC
Midas Hospitality, LLC | July 1, 2013
SAINT LOUIS, MO, July 1, 2013 - St. Louis-based hotel owner, operator and developer, Midas Hospitality announces the hiring of Kim Tolbert, Director of Sales - Candlewood Suites - Greenville, SC. Known for their recent portfolio growth and successful asset repositioning, Midas Hospitality recently announced the hiring of General Manager, Michael Heater to the 97-room Candlewood Suites scheduled to open October, 2013. On the heels of this announcement, Midas Hospitality adds Kim Tolbert as Director of Sales for the Candlewood Suites - Greenville, SC. Midas EVP & Principal - Sales & Marketing, Kurt Furlong, states "We are extremel...
Strand Development Company Names Gail Perry as Regional Director of Sales
Strand Development | July 1, 2013
Myrtle Beach, S.C.) July 1, 2013 - Strand Development Company, LLC recently announced that Gail Perry has been hired as a Regional Director of Sales. Perry will oversee the sales efforts for several Strand properties in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. "I am very thankful to Strand Development Company for giving me this opportunity," said Perry. "This is a very exciting time to be a part of Strand and I look forward to being a part of their growth in 2013 and beyond." Previously, Perry worked as the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Evergreen Hospitality Management in Maryland and held sales leadership role...
European Budget Brands Face New Competition from Growth of Improved Hostel Offer, Says HVS Report
HVS | July 1, 2013
July 1, 2013 - Hotel groups straddling both the hostel and hotel markets are likely to emerge as new investment opportunities and become viable alternatives to budget hotels, according to a new report from global hotel consultancy HVS London. The report, The Sharing Market: Commercial Hostels in Europe, outlines the growing popularity of hostels and a movement by larger operators into this segment with hostels sitting alongside their more traditional hotel offer. The trend is typified by the recent takeover of Meininger by Cox & Kings, an acquisition designed to create a leading hotel group across the hotel and hostel market. "UK ho...
The Carlyle Group and The Dow Hotel Company Acquire the 269-room Hilton Orrington/Evanston, Illinois
The Carlyle Group | July 1, 2013
EVANSTON, Ill./SEATTLE, Wash., July 1, 2013 - The Dow Hotel Company, LLC (DHC) , a hotel ownership, investment and management company, today announced that it has acquired in a joint venture with The Carlyle Group's (NASDAQ: CG) Carlyle Realty Partners VI, the 269-room, Four Diamond-rated Hilton Orrington hotel in Evanston, Ill. It is the third property acquired by DHC and its investment partners in the past nine months. DHC will operate the hotel. The hotel will undertake an approximate $6 million renovation/upgrade over the next 12 months. The improvements will focus primarily on guest rooms, corridors, upscale lounge and coffee conce...
Thayer Lodging Group Acquires the 338-room Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Thayer Lodging Group | July 1, 2013
NEW YORK, July 1, 2013 -- Thayer Lodging Group, a privately held investment company that produces strong Alpha Returns for investors in hotel real estate, announced the first investment of Thayer Fund VI – the acquisition of the 338-room Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, from Host Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST). As part of a proprietary approach that helps enhance the appeal and increase the value of high profile hotels in major urban markets, Thayer intends to invest up to $17 million in the property in its first twenty-four months of ownership. Similar to the J.W. Marriott San Francisco, which Thayer acquired in 2011, Thayer's appro...
Shortened Booking Windows – The New Normal? By Jenny Lee and Sandra Lien
the Authors | July 1, 2013
July 1, 2013 With "recovery" being the ultimate buzzword in the hospitality sector over the past two years, we are noting one major trend that has yet to revert to its former, pre-recessionary ways: shorter booking windows in the meetings and conventions market. Not only are group booking windows shorter, but so are average stays, and even room blocks are downsizing. Operators can no longer rely on pace reports to predict group business volumes ninety days in advance. Although the booking windows may increase as recovery progresses – especially in the more highly sought after group destinations – the general consensus is that shorte...
Gay Wedding Institute Certification Courses Announced for Hotel Staff
14 Stories | July 1, 2013
Registration Open for July Dates July 1, 2013 -- Nearly 300 wedding and hospitality professionals from top hotels around the world are graduates of the world's first gay wedding certification course, presented by the 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute (GWI). In response to the recent Supreme Court rulings about marriage equality, the course will be offered again via webinar on July 8, 15 and 22. Registration is now open and the early bird rate expires at the close of business today! This groundbreaking GWI certification course is open to everyone in the industry – and attendees can participate directly from their office. This course di...
MSI Announces New MSI CloudCRS™ Powered by Windsurfer
Sceptre Hospitality Resources | July 1, 2013
MSI and Sceptre Hospitality Expand Partnership, Combine Technologies in MSI CloudCRS™ Phoenix, AZ - July 1, 2013 - Multi-Systems, Inc. (MSI), a cloud services hospitality technology solutions provider, today announced its new cloud-based central reservation system solution, MSI CloudCRS™. MSI's new offering is powered by Windsurfer, the trusted technology solution of MSI partner Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR). MSI CloudCRS™ was featured alongside MSI's newest cloud-based solutions at HITEC in Minneapolis, June 25-27, 2013. MSI CloudCRS™ was created by the MSI | SHR partnership and developed largely to extend a one-call cus...
Architect Named for SBE Hotel Development in Seattle
BuildCentral | June 29, 2013
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Add/Update 139 Hotel Projects to the New Hotel Construction Projects Database Chicago, IL. July 1, 2013 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have added or updated 139 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: Greenwich Street Hotel (New York, NY) Convention Center Hotel (Jackson, MS) Element by Westin Hotel (...
CSM Lodging Names Ryan Brailean Assistant General Manager for TownePlace Suites in Livonia, Michigan
CSM Lodging | June 28, 2013
Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 28, 2013 - CSM Lodging, a division of CSM Corporation, has named Ryan J. Brailean assistant general manager for TownePlace Suites, located in Livonia, Michigan. Denise Wilson, general manager, made the announcement. "I am so pleased to welcome Ryan to TownePlace Suites," said Ms. Wilson. "A dedicated hotel professional, he brings an important managerial background in multiple departments to his new position with us." Ryan Brailean previously served as guest services supervisor for the Hilton Garden Inn in Novi, Michigan. During his tenure with the property, Mr. Brailean held positions of increasing responsib...
Orient-Express Hotels Appoints Roland Hernandez as Chairman of the Board
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. | June 28, 2013
HAMILTON, Bermuda--June 28, 2013--Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE; OEH, www.orient-express.com) (the "Company") today confirmed the election of eight directors to its Board of Directors at the Company's 2013 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, including a new independent director, Roland Hernandez, who was also named Chairman of the Board. Incumbent directors re-elected are Harsha V. Agadi, John D. Campbell, Mitchell C. Hochberg, Ruth Kennedy, Prudence M. Leith, Georg R. Rafael and John M. Scott. Following his election as director, Roland Hernandez was appointed Chairman by the Board of Directors. The addition of Mr. Hernandez unde...
Midas Hospitality Names Management Team for the Aloft Cleveland/Beachwood to Open in Ohio in October
Midas Hospitality, LLC | June 28, 2013
Names John Gaydos, General Manager and Darlene Figlioli, Director of Sales for the 135-room Property SAINT LOUIS, MO, June 28, 2013 - St. Louis-based hotel owner, operator and developer, Midas Hospitality names John Gaydos, General Manager and Darlene Figlioli, Director of Sales for the Aloft Hotel - Cleveland / Beachwood, Ohio. Recently announcing the construction of a 135-room Aloft Hotel - Cleveland / Beachwood, OH, Midas Hospitality hires John Gaydos as General Manager and Darlene Figlioli as Director of Sales. Midas President - Robert Willard, states "We are extremely pleased to add these two seasoned hospitality veterans to the Mi...
Miramar Hotel and Investment Co. Appoints Gerhard Aicher as General Manager of The Mira Hong Kong
Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, Limited | June 28, 2013
28 June 2013, Hong Kong: Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, Limited (HKSE stock code: 71, hereunder referred to as The Group) has announced the new appointment of Gerhard Aicher as General Manager of The Mira Hong Kong. A seasoned international hotelier whose passion for the industry sprouted from his upbringing in a family run hospitality business in Austria and has resulted in an impressive career in hospitality management spanning Asia and Europe for over 20 years, Aicher has numerous years of experience in the various hospitality disciplines, from Finance through Operations to Sales and Marketing. He started his career in finance...
The 85-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Houston The Woodlands South is Set to Open in Spring, Texas
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott | June 28, 2013
Spring, Texas - June 28, 2013 - The 85-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Spring, Texas is scheduled to open in early July. Located at 24485 I-45 South, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Houston The Woodlands South will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Tri-Stars Hotels Investments, Inc. Located 22 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Houston, the hotel offers guests convenient access to The Woodlands Mall, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands Waterway and Market Street. "We are pleased with the continued growth of Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in the The...
Aimbridge Hospitality Chosen to Manage Sugar Bay Resort & Spa in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Aimbridge Hospitality | June 28, 2013
DALLAS, June 28, 2013 -- Aimbridge Hospitality announced that it has been selected to manage the iconic Sugar Bay Resort & Spa on the island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, effective immediately. Sugar Bay, located only eight miles from the international airport, is nestled on 31 lush acres of a beachfront mountainside, overlooking some of the most panoramic oceanviews in the Caribbean. The 294 rooms and suite all-inclusive resort is just minutes away from world-acclaimed Magens Bay and a short drive from the cruise docks, Red Hook ferry, St. Thomas duty-free shopping and an 18-hole championship golf course. A known leader in the o...
Ultima Hospitality Acquires the 202-room Boston Marlborough Courtyard by Marriott; Plans Renovation
Ultima Hospitality | June 28, 2013
CHICAGO, Ill. (June 28, 2013) - Ultima Hospitality, an industry-leading investment and hotel management company, announces the purchase, renovation and management of the Boston Marlborough Courtyard by Marriott. Located in the heart of Central Massachusetts, the 202-room hotel will undergo $2 million dollars in improvements including a redesign of meeting space, which will complement the recent renovation of the lobby, guestrooms, restaurant and public space. "The Greater Boston market is an area we have been, and remain focused on as a result of its existing demand and infrastructure, as well as its near and long-term growth potential,...
Lightstone Value Plus REITs Buy Four Marriott and Starwood Arkansas Hotels for $29.1 Million
LVPR | June 28, 2013
NEW YORK - June 28, 2013 - Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. ("LVPR") and Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc. ("LVPR II") announced today the acquisition of four Marriott and Starwood hotels in Arkansas for $29.1 million. LVPR acquired the Marriott Fairfield Inn in Jonesboro and the Aloft Hotel in Rogers, a Starwood property, for $18.4 million. They have a combined 213 keys. LVPR II purchased two Marriott TownePlace Suites in Little Rock and Johnson, which have a combined 184 keys, for $10.7 million. "We believe these are four well-located premium branded hotels in diverse markets," said Da...
Chesapeake Lodging Trust Acquires California’s 171-room Hyatt Santa Barbara for $305,000 per key
Chesapeake Lodging Trust | June 28, 2013
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (June 28, 2013) – Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE: CHSP) (the "Trust") and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) ("Hyatt") announced today that the Trust has acquired the fee simple interest in the Hyatt Santa Barbara and two adjoining properties totaling 200 rooms from a Hyatt affiliate for $61.0 million, or approximately $305,000 per key. The Trust entered into a management agreement with HEI Hotels and Resorts to operate the hotel under a franchise agreement with a Hyatt affiliate. "We are very excited to acquire the recently renovated Hyatt Santa Barbara while we continue to grow our relationship with Hyatt," stated Jam...
HITEC Celebrates the Latest Technology Innovations in Minneapolis, Minnesota
HFTP | June 28, 2013
Austin, Texas (June 28, 2013) - The hospitality technology community came together this week to see and discuss the latest industry innovations at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). In attendance were over 4800 hospitality professionals from 45 countries. The conference addressed important issues, including digital marketing, mobile apps, in-room entertainment, strategic IT planning, data security, HSIA and more. HITEC 2013, a service of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), was held June 24-27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. It offered a one-stop sh...
Rategain Expands its Footprint in Russia and Ukraine with Befighter Business Group
RateGain | June 28, 2013
June 28, 2013 - RateGain and Befighter Business Group have announced a strategic partnership to bring RateGain's full range of hospitality technology solutions to hotels in Eastern Europe (Russia and Ukraine). The region has been dramatically developing over the last two decades with new hotels opening every year reflecting economic growth in a positive way. Russia now attracts the most inbound travelers of any Eastern European country. Hotels are increasingly aware of the need to deploy technology in order to take advantage of market expansion and stay ahead of competition and RateGain's solutions are a perfect fit. Konstantine Baybarz...
$85 Million Renovation Underway for the Novotel New York Times Square; September Completion Planned
Novotel | June 28, 2013
June 28, 2013 (New York, NY) - Novotel New York is making a dramatic mark on its centrally-located Times Square address with an exciting $85 million revamp financed by the owners, real-estate asset management companies Charters Lodging Group, LLC and Apollo Global Management, LLC. Led by the design firm Stonehill & Taylor, the complete renovation will create an inviting ambiance in the heart of the city to dazzle contemporary travelers, complete with the new restaurant, Supernova, and an exclusive outdoor Terrace, offering unparalleled views of Times Square. Novotel, Accor's North American flagship brand, will continue to welcome gu...
