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Industry Happenings
PolyU Study Reveals Motivation for Family Vacations With Young Children
January 2, 2019
Families with young children have rather different motivations for going on holiday than families with older children, according to the findings of a study by Dr Mimi Li, Dr Dan Wang and Ms Wenqing Xu of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-researcher. Having analysed online travel reviews and blogs, the researchers found that parents believe "travelling as a family contributes positively to family bonding and interaction" and that providing young children with new experiences and lasting memories is the most important part of a successful trip. Tourism promoters should thus ...
Continuing Professional Development for Housekeepers
Larry Mogelonsky | January 2, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) While new legislation is emerging from all corners of the world to better safeguard workers, and more specifically housekeepers, from harm and thereby generate new applicants for these roles. Two prominent examples are the widespread mandate for employee safety devices, often called the panic button, as well as the new musculoskeletal injury prevention regulations in California. I see these trends as part of a bigger issue, though. Namely, we aren't doing enough to make this particular line of work rewarding over a long stretch of time. Housekeeping can be grueling, monotonous and o...
Do This to Gain Instant Trust With Hotel Website Visitors
Tambourine | November 9, 2018
Build trust with hotel website visitors by showcasing SOCIAL PROOF. Social proof is critical to easing the worries of potential guests. In fact, a study in the Washington Post showed social proof had more influence over customers than a discount. This is why a guest review site like TripAdvisor is so popular and impactful on purchase behavior. As travelers and meeting planners are faced with more and more hotel options, it's vital to win their trust first, to win their heart and their wallets. Here are the four core methods of leveraging social proof online: 1. Awards, Accolades and Media Labels Prominently display any accolades...
The Alpina Gstaad Appoints Tim Weiland General Manager
The Alpina Gstaad | November 9, 2018
GSTAAD, Switzerland, November 9, 2018 – The Alpina Gstaad has appointed Tim Weiland as its new General Manager. An experienced hotelier with more than 20 years of luxury hospitality expertise, Mr. Weiland will join the award-winning luxury hotel on November 1. He succeeds Eric Favre who has retired after serving as managing director of The Alpina Gstaad since October 2013. Mr. Weiland has spent ten years in general manager positions with the renowned Aman Resorts and is well positioned to manage one of the most successful five-star resorts in the Swiss Alps. His luxury hotel experience gained in eight countries including China, France, I...
Ahead of November 2018 Opening, California’s Moxy San Diego Appoints Executive Team
Moxy San Diego | November 9, 2018
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 9, 2018) – Opening this November 2018 as the first California hotel under Marriott International's experiential, millennial-minded Moxy Hotels brand, the 126-room Moxy San Diego announces its executive team to lead the bold, yet playful, boutique hotel. Designed for the next generation of travelers, Moxy San Diego will embrace the destination's coastal roots while showcasing the eclectic and vibrancy of downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. Leading the team as Captain – the brand's twist on the traditional General Manager position – will be Lindsay Jones who will oversee all facets of the day-to-day hotel ...
Chartwell Hospitality Finalizes Purchase of Tennessee’s 300-Room Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
Chartwell Hospitality | November 9, 2018
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – November 2018 – Chartwell Hospitality LLC, an integrated hotel operations and development company, recently finalized its purchase of the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Tenn. In addition to the full-service Marriott, Chartwell will also manage the 30,000-square-foot Cool Springs Conference Center, which is connected to the hotel and is co-owned by the City of Franklin and Williamson County. "This purchase illustrates our long-standing commitment to the Franklin-Williamson County area and we are thrilled to announce this substantial addition to our growing portfolio of hotels," said Chartwell's Founder ...
Marriott International Names Liam Brown President and Managing Director of Europe
Marriott International, Inc. | November 9, 2018
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) announced today that Liam Brown, President, Select Brands and Owner and Franchise Services, North America, will take on the role of President and Managing Director of Europe, a division within Marriott International that encompasses the United Kingdom, Ireland and Continental Europe. Brown will replace Amy McPherson, who announced last week that she will be retiring from the company in early 2019. "Liam is the perfect choice to lead Marriott's next chapter of growth in Europe," said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. "Liam has an extraordinary ability to ...
Franchise Companies and Brands Dominating the U.S. Construction Pipeline
Lodging Econometrics (LE) | November 9, 2018
November 9, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – According to the third quarter report by analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE), the franchise companies dominating the U.S. construction pipeline with the largest pipelines are Marriott International with 1,380 projects/181,907 rooms, Hilton Worldwide with 1,350 projects/150,698 rooms, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 939 projects/95,312 rooms. The construction pipelines for these three franchise companies comprise an impressive 68% of the total construction pipeline projects with Marriott and Hilton again setting all-time highs for their companies. The leading brands by project count in ...
Omni Houston Hotel Completes $30 Million Renovation
Omni Hotels & Resorts | November 9, 2018
HOUSTON (November 9, 2018) – Omni Houston Hotel has reopened its doors and is welcoming guests after undergoing a $30 million renovation that elevates the guest experience. The transformation positions the hotel as the perfect luxury oasis in the prestigious Uptown Houston area. "Throughout this renovation, we collaborated with the design team to showcase Houston's natural surroundings while also giving a nod to the city's rich history," said Laura McKoy, vice president of interior design and creative director for Omni Hotels & Resorts. "Each space is a testament to Omni's 'local flavor' and you'll see various colors, material...
Oxford Capital Appoints General Manager Clay Andrews and Hotel Manager Konstantine Kabilafkas to Lead Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood | November 9, 2018
(LOS ANGELES; November 2018)—The forthcoming Godfrey Hotel Hollywood—set to open spring 2019—announces the appointment of General Manager Clay Andrews and Hotel Manager Konstantine Kabilafkas; Andrews also serves a dual role as Director of Operations for the West coast region of Oxford Hotels & Resorts. Bringing nearly two decades of experience each, directing food and beverage teams, as well as managing hotels both boutique and corporate, the leaders have a clear vision for the operation of The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood including staffing logistics, on-site amenities, creating an atmosphere to differentiate it in the...
The St. Joe Company Plans New Branded Hotel at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
St. Joe | November 9, 2018
WATERSOUND, Fla.—November 9, 2018--The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) ("St. Joe") today announces plans to construct, own and operate a new branded hotel, immediately adjacent and convenient to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). Following St. Joe's business strategy of expanding its portfolio of income producing properties, as well as growing its resorts and leisure segment, the Company plans the development of a 110-125 room hotel with a full service restaurant and bar, as well as meeting space. This new hotel will be located adjacent to the airport which is located within St. Joe's 110,500 acres known as the...
Another Minneapolis Hotel Installs Clear Sky’s Beverage Inventory Management Software
Clear Sky Software | November 9, 2018
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – November 9, 2018 –Clear Sky Software, Inc. ® announced today that the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America has installed its beverage inventory control system. This Minneapolis hotel, connected to the famous Mall of America, selected Clear Sky Software to help control all beer, liquor and wine inventory. Called Clear Sky BEVERAGE, this system is a comprehensive, perpetual inventory system that tracks and controls all beverage products. Functions include purchasing, receiving, outlet transfers/issues/returns and physical inventory. Also installed is Clear Sky's Fintech Interface which automat...
Sarasota County Has Numbers Showing Terrible Effect of Red Tide: Crash of Hotel Occupancy and Bed Tax Collections
November 9, 2018
Nov. 09--Sarasota County now has numbers showing just how terrible the red tide toll has been. --Hotel occupancy in September plummeted to 39.9 percent, the lowest since reliable records began to be collected in 2005. That figure was 61.9 percent last September, that was unusually high because hotels filled up after Hurricane Irma and because of the World Rowing Championships. --Tourist development tax collections, the best available measure of the local industry's health, hit a four-year low in September. --Collections of the tourist development tax, a levy on short-term rentals also known as the bed tax, in August dropped to the...
Market Snapshot: Asia Pacific 2018
Jeremy Teo | November 8, 2018
By Jeremy Teo , Ho Mei Leng , Hok Yean CHEE Transactions in Asia Pacific Transaction activity has been observed to be on a downward trend from 2013 until 2017, owing to the transactions of Dalian Wanda China portfolio to R&F Properties. Since then, the frequency of transactions have been high, with 228 recorded transactions from 4Q2017 to 3Q2018, slightly lower than the 251 recorded the previous four quarters. Geographically, the pick up in transaction activity can be attributed to the North Asia and South-East Asia markets, while Australia markets witnessed a slowdown. Reasons for the increase in transaction activity could plau...
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa Appoints Roberto Vazquez Pulido as New Executive Chef
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa | November 6, 2018
LAKE ARROWHEAD, Calif. – Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, Autograph Collection, nestled high in San Bernardo National Forest along the shore of picturesque Lake Arrowhead, has announced Roberto Vazquez Pulido will serve as its new executive chef. Pulido will oversee all operations of the signature restaurant BIN 189 and its Magnum Private Dining Room, as well as be in charge of catering, banquets and weddings. He will be creating new menus for BIN 189 that reflect his penchant for contemporary American steakhouse comfort food including seafood and vegetarian/vegan options – all prepared with modern twists and inspired by the s...
Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora to Leave Company
Caesars Entertainment | November 5, 2018
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 5, 2018 -- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Mark P. Frissora is leaving the Company, having led a successful operational and financial transformation and established a platform for future growth. To support a seamless transition, Mr. Frissora will remain in his current role until February 8, 2019. The four members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee as well as the Chairman of the Board will work with a nationally recognized search firm to identify Mr. Frissora's successor. "The Board of Directors thanks Mark for his instrumenta...
Selenta Group’s Hotel Sofia Barcelona to Join the Unbound Collection by Hyatt
The Unbound Collection by Hyatt | November 5, 2018
CHICAGO (November 5, 2018) Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today plans for Hotel Sofia Barcelona to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a global collection of unique and story-worthy stay experiences. A Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Selenta Group for the hotel to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in January 2019. The 465-room property is located in central Barcelona and owned and managed by Selenta Group. Launched in 2016, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand comprises unique and independent properties for the modern traveller. Whether it is a captivating past, an exclusive location, fa...
2018 Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence Winners Celebrated
November 5, 2018
Historic Hotels and Recipients Honored at the Awards Ceremony and Gala at The Broadmoor (1918) Washington, DC – November 5, 2018, Historic Hotels of America® and Historic Hotels Worldwide® are pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Awards of Excellence. Recipients were honored at a special ceremony and gala at The Broadmoor (1918) in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Thursday, November 1. Awards were presented before an audience of more than 200 industry leaders, owners, senior management, and representatives of the finest historic hotels from across America and from around the world. Honors were given in multiple categor...
San Francisco fines couple $2.25 million for illegal Airbnb rentals
November 5, 2018
Nov. 05--Airbnb crime doesn't pay. That's the message San Francisco wants to send after a well-heeled couple who turned 14 city apartments into illegal hotels through the vacation-rental service agreed to a $2.25 million settlement. Darren and Valerie Lee agreed to pay that amount for penalties and investigation costs. In addition, they are barred for at least seven years from offering short-term rentals in any of the 17 San Francisco buildings they own or manage. The couple had to pledge their real estate as collateral to make sure they pay the fine and comply with the injunction, which was approved Monday in San Francisco Supe...
Booming hospitality industry creates more than minimum-wage opportunities in Florida
November 4, 2018
Nov. 04--When leaders here and around the state talk economic development, they're usually boasting about manufacturing or technology jobs, which seem to be the most prized. But without all the cheerleading, it's the hospitality industry that's revving in tourist destinations like St. Johns County. According to the latest release from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the leisure and hospitality industry has seen a 9-percent increase in new jobs from September 2017 to September 2018 in the state, a total of 105,000 jobs. While many deride the growth of the industry as being full of entry-level, low-paying posit...
Red Tide is back, chasing people from restaurants along Intracoastal Waterway
November 2, 2018
Nov. 02--Frank Thiesen runs a St. Pete Beach restaurant called the Blue Parrot that faces the Intracoastal Waterway. On Monday night he had an 18-piece band playing. As the night wore on 15 people left the restaurant because they could no longer stomach the smell wafting in from the water and from a nearby Dumpster that's used to collect dead fish. His main waitress usually makes $100 a night in tips. Not that night. "She went home with $5," he said. Red Tide is back in Pinellas' waterways and the toxic algae is as bad for the economy as ever. The Red Tide bloom that's been characterized as the worst to hit Florida...
The Need for True Careers in Housekeeping
Larry Mogelonsky | October 31, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) A widespread problem that hotels are currently facing pertains to staffing shortages. Lensing our discussion to the housekeeping department where turnover is often at resource-exhaustive rates, a common thread I've seen and heard from executive housekeepers and human resource directors is that this line of work is not seen as desirable, only attracting those candidates who desperately need a job and who are not motivated to stay beyond the base need for a weekly stipend. Some room attendants end up staying from lengthy breadths of time – decades even – and become cheris...
How Wellness Became Big Business in America
JLL Real Views | October 26, 2018
During a '60 Minutes' segment on health in 1979, anchor Dan Rather said, "'Wellness': there's a word you don't hear every day." Four decades later, the word is ingrained into the paces of modern life, from a spirulina-infused smoothie in the morning, to an evening sound-healing session at the office, offered as part of a corporate wellness program. "Wellness went from a niche concern – something 'granola' – to something that is mainstream," says Carl Muhlstein, who leads a landlord agency leasing team at JLL. With mass appeal comes mass profit. The wellness industry is now valued at US$4.2 trillion, having grown 12.8 perce...
How 5 Hotels Compete With OTAs by Showcasing Unique Local Experiences
Nancy Huang | October 25, 2018
By Nancy Huang Today's travelers are no longer content with merely visiting a destination and have the same experience as everyone else. They increasingly yearn for something unique and want to explore the places they visit through a local perspective. This emerging need represents a huge opportunity for hotels. By creating in-depth destination guides, or by hosting their own locally-led tours, hotels can make their properties more desirable to drive more direct bookings. The following post highlights five hotels that are promoting their destinations with engaging neighborhood guides and authentic local experiences. But before diving...
