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Industry Happenings
JMA Ventures Selects Interstate Hotels & Resorts to Manage Iconic Hayes Mansion San Jose
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | February 11, 2019
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 11, 2019 -- Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the premier global hotel management company, has been selected to manage Hayes Mansion San Jose, one of Northern California's most historic and impressive architectural gems recently acquired by JMA Ventures, LLC, a San Francisco based full-service investment and development firm focusing on real estate and leisure-lifestyle assets. An extensive multi-million dollar remodel and repositioning is anticipated to commence in late 2019, upgrading the landmark hotel by adding luxury design and amenities while maintaining its architectural character and charm. The new manage...
Avantgarde Hospitality Acquires The Ivy Boutique Hotel in Chicago, Illinois
broughtonHOTELS | February 11, 2019
Chicago, Ill. (February 11, 2019) – Avantgarde Hospitality LLC, a privately held hospitality investment firm, announced today the acquisition of the stylish Ivy Boutique Hotel, 233 E. Ontario Street in Chicago, Illinois, establishing its presence in the downtown area. The Ivy Boutique Hotel joins a roster of 4 Chicago hotels currently owned by the sponsors, broughtonHOTELS, who has been operating the property for the past year and introduced the Seller to Avantgarde. This brings the collaboration to 4 projects with broughtonHOTELS mid-west regional office based in Chicago. In an effort to provide enhanced quality products to the C...
Kingwood International Resorts Acquires Reunion Resort in Central Florida
| February 11, 2019
ATLANTA (Feb. 11, 2019) – Kingwood International Resorts has purchased the AAA Four Diamond-rated Reunion Resort, located on 2,300 lush acres in Central Florida, just minutes from Walt Disney World theme parks. Specializing in golf-centered clubs and resorts, Atlanta-based Kingwood International currently owns and operates Kingwood Country Club & Golf Resort and Achasta Golf Resort community, both in North Georgia, and the eco-friendly Plantation on Crystal River in Central West Florida. The purchase of Reunion Resort from real estate investment firm Lubert Adler was finalized Friday, Feb. 8. "Reunion Resort is a perfect compl...
Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. Completes Sale of Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort for $51.4 Million
Park Hotels & Resorts | February 11, 2019
TYSONS, Va.--Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. ("Park") (NYSE:PK) today announced that it has closed on the sale of the 563-room Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort (the "Hotel") located in Phoenix, AZ, for gross proceeds of $51.4 million, or $91,200 per key before customary closing costs. When adjusted for Park's anticipated capital expenditures ("capex") of $28 million for the Hotel, the sale price represents a 5.2% capitalization rate on the Hotel's projected 2018 net operating income (8.0% excluding capex), or 13.9x the Hotel's projected 2018 EBITDA. Proceeds from the sale will be used for general business purposes, which may include fundi...
Hotels Transform Dining Options for Time-Pressed Travelers
Kacey Bradley | February 11, 2019
One challenge frequent travelers have to deal with is figuring out how they'll eat while they're on a trip. Whether they're away on a family vacation or a work trip, at some point they'll need to eat and head out to their next stop. It's something that's easier to solve while out in a city that could have a fast food joint right around the corner, but then there are the moments where fast food doesn't work. Guests might realize they've become hungry once it's late at night and they've already settled into their room. Hotels are always looking for the next innovative way they can meet the needs of ...
5 Easy Ways to Reduce Turnover at the Front Desk
Cathy Cook | February 11, 2019
By Cathy Cook With one of my main roles at KTN being to conduct front desk hospitality training worldwide, one issue that always seems to surface is turnover at the front desk. Turnover everywhere in the hotel staff is a major challenge in tight labor markets most hotels operate within, however it seems to especially be an issue at the front desk. Certainly, working at the front desk can be a stressful job as we are dealing with guests who are arriving after a long day of travel disruptions and frustrations and therefore prone to over-reaction to even the smallest challenges. Also, regardless of where any gap in service occurs during a ...
Avison Young Hospitality Group Recent Closings
Avison Young | February 11, 2019
ATLANTA – February 11, 2019 – Avison Young Hospitality Group announced today the closing of four transactions since the first of the year. The properties include a full-service Marriott in south Florida that sold for $49 million, a Marriott branded hotel in Bossier City LA, a historic hotel on the water in Rhode Island and a mid-market hotel in the southeast. Since 2013, the Avison Young Hospitality Group has now closed 103 Marriott branded hotels, 71 Hilton branded assets, 49 IHG branded assets and 146 other braded hotels. ...
iVvy Expands Global Presence to Drive Continued Market Demand and Growth
iVvy | February 11, 2019
Leading new generation venue management technology innovator expands executive team to broaden reach in North America New York, NY and Queensland, Australia - (February 11, 2019) - iVvy Inc., the award-winning global Venue Management Software company, today announced the addition of two new executives to their executive team. Daniel Melnyk has been appointed to VP Sales for Canada and USA, Kristi White has joined the company as SVP of Operations, representing the Americas. With offices in the UK, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, the expansion emphasizes iVvy's commitment to providing its game-changing technology and support...
Dr. Bryan K. Williams to Receive the ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award
Bryan K. Williams | February 11, 2019
Monday, 11 February 2019 - The International SPA Association (ISPA) is pleased to announce Dr. Bryan Williams as the recipient of the 2019 ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. As an international speaker and author, Williams first spoke to ISPA members in 2006 and continues to inspire with his focus on service excellence and leadership effectiveness. "Bryan's passion to inspire leaders and elevate the importance of providing unparalleled customer service has left a lasting impression on the International SPA Association," said ISPA President Lynne McNees. "We are grateful for his continued support and dedication to the ISPA community." Wil...
2018: A Year of Growth and Profitability for Hotels
Hospitality Upgrade | February 8, 2019
By Fran Worrall, Hospitality Upgrade Editor Major brands saw increases in occupancy and ADR, along with expansion across the globe As 2017 came to an end, many industry forecasters predicted that the coming year would be a good one for hotels. And, for the most part, they were right. A strong economy, rising employment and higher consumer net worth translated into more travel (for both business and pleasure) as well as higher transaction volumes in 2018. Leading independent investment research firm Zacks reports that hotels saw increases in both occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) in 2018. As early as the first quarter, the industry ...
Multi-Million Dollar, Full-Scale Renovation Underway for Hyatt Regency Deerfield Slated for Completion April 2019
Hyatt Regency | February 7, 2019
(DEERFIELD, Ill.) February 7, 2019 – Phase one of a multi-million dollar, full-scale renovation is underway on the Hyatt Regency Deerfield, a luxury, full-service hotel located just minutes from downtown Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. The project caters to the Hyatt Regency brand loyalists' desire for 24/7 connectivity and comfort with 300 completely revamped guestrooms and suites, refreshed, tech-enabled meeting space, updated common areas including guestroom hallways, and lobby, as well as the property's signature restaurant and bar, Jaxx Bistro and Jaxx Lounge. Phase one, which includes a $14 million redo of all gues...
GCommerce and NAVIS Announce Strategic Partnership
NAVIS | February 7, 2019
Hoteliers will now have a turn-key marketing solution bringing digital reservation data and offline reservation data together. Park City, Utah, February 7, 2019 – NAVIS, the only complete hospitality CRM provider, and GCommerce, a leading, hospitality digital marketing agency, announced a strategic partnership today to bring a full-suite of marketing and customer engagement solutions to the hospitality industry. The two companies have worked closely together over the last 5 years, but today they officially announce their formal alliance. Hoteliers now have the opportunity to leverage the expertise of both companies to increase direct boo...
Hall Group and Crescent Hotels & Resorts Plan Fall 2019 Opening of HALL Arts Hotel in Dallas Arts District
HALL Arts Hotel | February 7, 2019
DALLAS (Feb. 7, 2019)— Dallas-based real estate developer Hall Group and Crescent Hotels & Resorts announced today the opening date of the highly-anticipated HALL Arts Hotel, which is currently under construction and set to open in the fall of 2019 in Dallas' Arts District. The first hotel to open in the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation, HALL Arts Hotel will channel the energy and vitality of the Dallas Arts District into an environment that celebrates the enriching, inspiring, transformative power of the arts. "We are pleased to announce the upcoming opening of the HALL Arts Hotel in the Dallas Arts Distri...
U.S. News & World Report Names 22 BENCHMARK® Properties to “Best Hotels List” for 2019
February 7, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is proud to announce that 22 of its luxury hotels and resorts have been named to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report "Best Hotels" list for 2019. The exclusive hotels spanned leading destinations in 15 states and the Caribbean and are part of the company's Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Collection brands. The honors included three Silver Badge winners that placed in the Top 30 percent of all ranked luxury hotels within a destination. They include Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, which placed 13th in the Orlando-W...
Oxford and Quadrum Global Launch $75 Million Renovation to Transform Chicago’s Iconic Essex Inn Into Hotel Essex
Oxford Capital Group, LLC and Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC | February 7, 2019
(CHICAGO; February 7, 2019)—Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC, the Chicago-based hotel management and branding affiliate of Oxford Capital Group, LLC and its joint venture partner Quadrum Global announce the comprehensive redevelopment, repositioning, and rebranding of an iconic Michigan Avenue hotel into Hotel Essex. Formerly known as Essex Inn, the hotel's extensive $75 million renovation, set to be complete in time for an early April opening, transforms the property into a luxury lifestyle destination in Chicago that is ahead of its time, again. "The Essex Inn has been a prominent fixture on Michigan Avenue since 1961, providing...
The Castell Project Releases 2019 Women in Hospitality Leadership Report
Castell Project | February 7, 2019
ATLANTA, February 7, 2019—Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today released the 2019 Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report. Following the inaugural 2018 study, the report tracks gender parity data at various upper levels throughout the hospitality industry. "While the discourse is improving since the previous Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report, we have quite a way to go to achieve equitable opportunity for women in upper leadership," said Peggy Berg, president, Castell Project, Inc. "Fo...
The Evolution Of Private Clubs
Chris Mumford | February 7, 2019
By Chris Mumford The desire to be with and around other people is an innate human characteristic. In evolutionary terms, humans quickly worked out that strength in numbers equalled survival, and this need to seek connections and to form bonds with others has remained within us over time, even as the threats to our existence have altered and diminished. The need to band together to fend off attack or to kill for food has been replaced by a want for social interaction and companionship. For most, school is the first place we begin to form relationships with like-minded fellow humans and where we form groups, teams, cliques and gangs. In 1...
Airline Hotels Installs Aptech’s PVNG Enterprise Accounting at 9 Properties
Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. | February 7, 2019
PVNG Upgrade Lifts Data to The Cloud; Lets Managers Instantly Compare Performance for Better Business Decisions PITTSBURGH, February 7, 2019 – Aptech Computer Systems announced that Airline Hotels upgraded its financial system to PVNG Enterprise Hotel Accounting Software at nine properties. Airline Hotels is a second-generation, family-founded, hospitality company, based out of Saskatchewan that owns and operates hotels. Browser-based PVNG hotel accounting software simplifies accounting operations and safeguards data in the cloud. Aptech is the leading provider of hospitality business intelligence, budgeting and forecasting, and e...
Getplanning, by Cendyn, Launches To Do Lists, a New Feature to Keep Hoteliers on Top of Their Tasks
Cendyn | February 7, 2019
Boca Raton, Florida – February 7, 2019 – Getplanning, by Cendyn, is excited to announce the launch of a useful new task management feature, To Do Lists, that allows you to easily manage workflows and deadlines within your hotel planning team. Getplanning is an event planning platform for all hotel planning stakeholders. It provides a collaborative space for team members to align on project management, timelines, budgets, communications, and now, task management. Getplanning lets multi-party teams share documents, publish information, and exchange messages in a secure environment with role-based permissions. The new feature, ...
Digital Inspo: What Creative Hotels Are Doing Online
HEBS Digital | February 7, 2019
By Kerryn Gower Coming up with fresh and creative marketing initiatives is never an easy task. Hotels all over the world face fierce competition regardless of their destination. Utilizing creative ideas to attract guests can help hotels stand out in the crowd and help them to gain new and repeat visitors. Our new article series, Digital Inspo: What Creative Hotels are Doing Online, dives deep into a recent original campaign idea developed by a hotel brand. The Campaign Last year, Hyatt Hotels partnered with then up-and-coming pop star Dua Lipa. The setting for the British musician's single "New Rules" was Hyatt's new boutique hotel, The...
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Partners With Plum to Bring On Demand In Room Wine By the Glass to Guests
the Arizona Biltmore | February 7, 2019
Palo Alto, California (FEBRUARY 7, 2019) - Plum, the hospitality industry's revolutionary new wine by the glass appliance, announced today that Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, will be featuring their next-gen on-demand wine experience in all Villa Suite accommodations, to surprise and delight guests and further elevate their stay. With its luxurious grounds and iconic architecture, the Arizona Biltmore has been a landmark destination and haven for celebrities, diplomats, presidents, and guests from all walks of life since opening in 1929. By leveraging Plum's innovative technology, the award-winning property will now offer a...
Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Debut in Central DC, Managed by Crestline Hotels and Resorts
Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC | February 7, 2019
Situated in the Shaw/CBD East End neighborhood, these dual-branded DC hotels feature locally inspired design, 504 beautiful guest rooms, elegant meeting spaces, a new destination restaurant, and sweeping rooftop views of the nation's capital Washington, DC (November 9, 2018) Quadrangle Development Corporation, Capstone Development, and Crestline Hotels and Resorts are pleased to announce the opening of the dual-branded Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center located at 901 L Street, NW, Washington, DC., adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The hotels include a combined 504 guest room...
Radisson Hotel Group Signs With Al-Rajhi Investments for Two Hotels in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Radisson Hotel Group | February 6, 2019
Brussels/ Dubai -- February 6, 2019 -- Radisson Hospitality AB, publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and part of Radisson Hotel Group, is proud to announce the signing of two new hotels in Saudi Arabia: the Radisson Hotel, Makkah Al Rahma and the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Makkah Al Rahma. The new agreement extends an existing partnership with renowned Saudi real estate developer and investor Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi and his real estate development company, Al-Rajhi Investments. The agreement increases Radisson Hotel Group's portfolio in Saudi Arabia to 43 hotels and more than 10,000 rooms in operation and under development. ...
Hyatt and S.D. Malkin Properties, Inc. Celebrate the Groundbreaking of Two Beachfront Hotels in Oceanside, California
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | February 6, 2019
SAN DIEGO (February 6, 2019) – Hyatt and S.D. Malkin Properties, Inc., an innovative developer and owner of iconic retail, hotel, and entertainment destinations, today will hold a groundbreaking ceremony in Oceanside, California on the site where two new properties are expected to open under the Joie de Vivre Hotels and Destination Hotels brands in late 2020. The adjacent hotels together will be the largest oceanfront development in San Diego County in over a decade. Located at the hub of Oceanside's booming renaissance, the 2.75-acre new-build project along Mission Avenue and North Pacific Street will offer guests immediate beach...
