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Industry Happenings
Hyatt Appoints Julia Vander Ploeg Senior Vice President, Global Head of Digital
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | July 11, 2018
CHICAGO--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that Hyatt has selected Julia Vander Ploeg as senior vice president, global head of digital. Vander Ploeg will report to Mark Vondrasek, global chief commercial officer. "Julia is a dynamic and reputable leader in the digital space and will play a critical part in helping re-imagine Hyatt's digital capabilities and increase the frequency and depth of engagement with our guests," Vondrasek said. "Her proven track record of creating high-quality digital experiences across all touchpoints, particularly mobile, makes her an ideal fit for the role and will advance our ability to bui...
Intelity Celebrating a Decade of Hospitality Technology Development and Success
Intelity | July 11, 2018
Agility is the secret to Intelity's continued growth and ongoing success [Orlando—July 11, 2018]—Last month at HITEC Houston, Intelity began celebrating its 10-year anniversary, and it's a milestone deserving of considerable pomp and circumstance. Now hospitality's leading global provider of integrated mobile and in-room guest-engagement solutions, the company is reveling in an impressive list of accomplishments and numerous industry "firsts" that few technology companies can boast. Its innovative and in-demand technologies have won numerous industry awards, and the company is continuing down a path towards becoming the broa...
Lodging Econometrics’ Patrick H. Ford to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 24th Annual “The Lodging Conference” in Phoenix This September
Lodging Econometrics | July 10, 2018
Phoenix, AZ July 10, 2018—Harry Javer, Producer and Founder of The Lodging Conference, one of the industry's leading events for Hotel Owners, CEO's and Deal Makers, announced today that Patrick H. Ford, Chairman, CEO, and Founder of Lodging Econometrics (LE) and New England Hotel Realty (NEHR), has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented at The Lodging Conference on September 25, 2018. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding, life-long contributions to the hospitality industry. Past recipients include Minaz Abji,...
Mid-Year 2018: Brands, OTAs, Marriott, Blockchain, Robotics and Sustainability
Robert A. Rauch | July 10, 2018
By Robert A. Rauch Online travel agencies (OTAs) outspend brands by a wide margin and continue to steal market share from brands. As Marriott is becoming more of a global brand with 30 brands and a home-sharing company in their portfolio, we see a new war developing. Airbnb, a behemoth home-sharing company, is regularly getting beat up by cities who are adding regulations quickly. They will become an OTA by 2020 and begin to compete with Expedia and Booking rather than Marriott, Hilton, and the hotel community. After all, they only charge three percent for their services and could get 10 as an OTA! At the Lodging Industry Investment Cou...
Montage Laguna Beach Appoints Victor Casanova as New Chef de Cuisine
Montage Laguna Beach | July 10, 2018
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Montage Laguna Beach has appointed Victor Casanova as the new chef de cuisine of The Loft restaurant. With over 20 years of fine dining and hospitality industry experience at award-winning restaurants, resorts and hotels, Casanova will oversee all operations of The Loft, developing new menus and leading the team of chefs, sommeliers, servers and fromagiers at this all-day resort restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. "We are delighted to welcome Victor Casanova to helm the kitchen at The Loft," said Anne-Marie Houston, general manager of Montage Laguna Beach. "With his refined approach to setting the stag...
The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel Appoints Claude Costella as Opening General Manager and Francesca Gori as Director of Sales & Marketing
The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel | July 10, 2018
July 10, 2018 (Rome) – The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel has announced two executive-level appointments to its opening team, including Claude Costella as General Manager and Francesca Gori as Director of Sales & Marketing. Both bring extensive experience and a passion for fine hospitality to the new five-star property located steps from The Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain in the heart of the Eternal City. Claude Costella, General Manager In his new role, Costella has ultimate responsibility for all day-to-day operations of The Pantheon Hotel, including sales & marketing, food & beverage, and ensuring a luxuriou...
Tammy Pahel Named Director of Spa for Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort | July 10, 2018
MIAMI – July 2018 - Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, a world-class wellness property in Miami Beach, today announced the appointment of respected spa-industry leader Tammy Pahel as Director of Spa. In her new role, Pahel (pictured) manages a team of 100 professionals in the property's integrated spa, fitness, salon and wellness facilities. "With nearly three decades of notable experience in the spa industry, Tammy Pahel is respected for the successful relationships she creates between spas and top wellness brands," says Carillon Miami Wellness Resort Managing Director Paul Nash. "Pahel's expertise in negotiating collaborations amon...
The Hotel Business Rebuilds Servuction
Georges Panayotis | July 10, 2018
By Georges Panayotis What if it was all for nothing? What if living an unforgettable stay experience, which one will absolutely want to repeat, depended only on impalpable elements? A functional and attractive aesthetic product is now the bare minimum to attract and retain customers. While it is absolutely necessary, it is not enough. For the customer, these services are self-evident. Comfort, ergonomics, a sense of security are essential to good accommodations. But it is necessary to have a more global and far-reaching vision with a broader focus; offering an accommodations product now means providing a universe, a whole that can meet ...
BENCHMARK® Names Jerry Bindel GM for Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village | July 10, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, July 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Jerry Bindel general manager for Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village, located in South Lake Tahoe, California. Greg Champion, Benchmark's president and COO, made the announcement. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jerry to Benchmark and to our resort," said Mr. Champion. "He brings important local and regional market awareness and business connections to his new role, and a strong background of success in leading hotels and resorts." Jerry Bindel was previously general manager of the Aston Lakeland Village Resort of Sou...
Noble Investment Group Acquires the Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Great Valley | Malvern
Residence Inn by Marriott | July 10, 2018
Atlanta, GA – July 10, 2018 – Noble Investment Group ("Noble") today announced the acquisition of the Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Great Valley | Malvern. The all-suite, extended stay hotel, which opened in April 2016, is located in Great Valley/Malvern proximate to the Route 29 and Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange, within the King of Prussia/Valley Forge submarket. The Great Valley/Malvern subsection of the King of Prussia/Valley Forge submarket is home to some of the largest corporations in the suburban Philadelphia region, consisting of approximately 17 million square feet of office space, including t...
Owned and Managed by Monarch Family of Hotels, Fairfield Inn & Suites Opens in Charleston, West Virginia
Fairfield Inn & Suites | July 10, 2018
Charleston, WV – July 10, 2018 – The 95-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Charleston, West Virginia opened on Monday, July 9, 2018 with its smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting décor. Located at 402 2nd Avenue SW, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Monarch Family of Hotels of Charleston, West Virginia. Located eight miles from Yeager Airport and five minutes from downtown, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston offers guests convenient access to the Charleston Civic Center, the West Virginia St...
Is GDPR Legislation Coming to U.S. Hotels?
Jim Butler | July 10, 2018
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® 10 July 2018 Privacy legislation is dominating the news cycle these days–and it's unlikely to slow down. Now, as U.S. companies are adjusting to the requirements of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, the State of California has introduced new laws that will apply to California companies or companies doing business in California. Senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® and Co-Chair of the Firm's Cybersecurity & Privacy Group Bob Braun discusses the implications of the new legislation and how it will impact hotels, below. California Adopts th...
Concord Hospitality Names Nicole Porter and Chris Tyner as Regional Vice Presidents
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company | July 10, 2018
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 10, 2018) – A leading hospitality owner, manager, and developer, Concord Hospitality Enterprises is proud to congratulate two associates on their recent promotions. Nicole Porter has been promoted to Regional Vice President of Sales and Chris Tyner has been promoted to Regional Vice President. In each of their respective new roles, Porter and Tyner will support Concord's properties in the Mid-Atlantic region, including hotels in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. "Concord is proud to provide our high performing team members with advancement opportunities throughout their careers. We are thrilled to see Nic...
Beekeeper Improving Guest Service and Guest Satisfaction Scores at the Watergate Hotel
Beekeeper | July 10, 2018
Newest luxury hotel in Washington, D.C. is sharing is connecting more than 280 of the hotel's frontline workers; Response time to 'all-hands-on-deck' asks and safety alerts is up with Beekeeper SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 10, 2018 - In addition to completing an extensive $200 million renovation, the iconic Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., is making a big investment in its employees by adding the Beekeeper digital workforce communication platform. With 280+ workers responsible for delivering the ultimate guest experience, the hotel needed game-changing technology to ensure that service standards were at peak performance and employee mor...
Google’s Mobile-First Initiative: Everything Hoteliers Need to Do Now
HEBS Digital | July 10, 2018
By: Adam Lawley, SEO Specialist Google's mission as a search engine is simple and successful: provide web users with the highest quality search and surf experience available. Search queries completed on mobile recently surpassed desktop as the majority Google search type, a trend that is expected to continually rise as mobile searching becomes more ubiquitous with smartphone usage and the popularity of voice search continues to bloom. As the shift in the digital landscape moves through its many stages, Google has followed suit with the obvious and sustaining transformation that the mobile web is here to stay, placing a greater focus on ...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Appoints Robert Butler as Executive Vice President of Operations
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | July 10, 2018
Washington, DC (July 10, 2018) – Michael George, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, announced that the hotel and resort management company hired Robert Butler as Executive Vice President of Operations. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of premier hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Canada & Caribbean. Butler will have oversight of Crescent Operations & Crescent Culinary teams at all Crescent hotels & resorts. "Robert has demonstrated a career record of consistently leading top-brand hotels to exceptional performance through focus on quality and ...
Angie Hospitality to Participate in Industry Expert Tech Panel at NoVacancy Expo in Sydney
Angie Hospitality | July 10, 2018
Angie's Michael Vargosko to join other hospitality industry thought leaders in panel discussion on the state of hotel technology and what the future holds SYDNEY – July 10, 2018 – Angie Hospitality, developer of the world's first enterprise-class, cloud-managed interactive guest room assistant, built specifically for the hospitality environment, announces that its Head of Global Sales, Michael Vargosko, will participate in a "Tech Panel" educational session at the NoVacancy Accommodation Expo, taking place July 17th and 18th at the ICC Sydney Exhibition Centre in Australia. The presentation, entitled "What's New, What's Hot,...
Columbia Sussex Promotes Clifton Thiebaud to General Manager at Dallas Marriott Las Colinas
Marriott Hotels | July 10, 2018
DALLAS – July 10, 2018 – Columbia Sussex, which owns and operates the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas has announced that Clifton Thiebaud, previously Director of Sales for the 364-room Marriott hotel on Lake Carolyn was recently appointed to General Manager. In his new role, he is responsible for 150 employees and the daily operation of all aspects of the hotel, as well as the multi-million-dollar renovation currently underway. Guest rooms have been completed, and the hotel's public and meeting space is slated for completion in the fall. Mr. Thiebaud's rise at the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas hotel began in 2009 as a sales manage...
Newly Renovated Silversmith Hotel Teams Up With OpenKey For A High-Tech Guest Experience
OpenKey | July 10, 2018
DALLAS, TEXAS (July 10, 2018) – In the heart of the Windy City guests of the refined Silversmith Hotel can enjoy a high-tech experience, starting with a seamless keyless check-in process thanks to OpenKey's innovative technology. OpenKey is the industry standard for universal mobile access in hotels. The Silversmith Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel located in Chicago, focused on creating a distinct hotel experience through its renovation process, blending contemporary design elements with historic architecture. Each of the spacious 144-deluxe guestrooms feature 12-foot ceilings and high-tech amenities like complimentary high-speed W...
Palisades Hospitality Group Appoints Edmund Sulzman as President of Mosaic Hotel Group
Mosaic Hotel Group | July 10, 2018
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (July 10, 2018) - Mosaic Hotel Group (MHG), operators of an award-winning collection of boutique, curated hotels and subsidiary of Palisades Hospitality Group (PHG), announces the appointment of Edmund Sulzman as president of MHG. Sulzman is responsible for overseeing the hotel group's current portfolio of six boutique hotels, as well as spearheading developments and upcoming hotel launches in California and Mexico. "With exciting new developments on the horizon, this is a great time for Edmund to be back in the Bay Area leading Mosaic Hotel Group and ensuring memorable stays for guests at all of our properti...
Andaz Appoints Pedro Villalobos as Food and Beverage Manager of Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo | July 10, 2018
GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA (July 10, 2018) – Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo has appointed Pedro Villalobos as Food and Beverage Manager. The luxurious eco-retreat is located in the 1,400-acre private residential and resort community of Peninsula Papagayo, a lush, tropical wilderness community in Costa Rica surrounded by sapphire waters. Villalobos will lead the resort's food and beverage team at the award-winning property which operates multiple dining outlets including OSTRA, Chao Pescao, Rio Bhongo and the Andaz Beach House. "I am looking forward to working with the team at Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagay...
Hotel Magnolia Adopts Latest Standards in Security and Guest Convenience With Implementation of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Solutions
ASSA ABLOY Hospitality | July 10, 2018
Historic Chilean property leverages VingCard Classic RFID door locks to enhance guest convenience and maximize security Stockholm – July 10, 2018 – Hotel Magnolia, a luxury property located in a historic mansion in downtown Santiago, Chile, and winner of UNESCO's Prix Versailles 2017, has partnered with ASSA ABLOY Hospitality to implement state-of-the-art security and maximize guest convenience with the installation of VingCard Classic RFID door locks. Built in 1929, the property recently completed an extensive two-year long renovation. Hotel Magnolia's decision to install Classic RFID locks reflects management's goal of pro...
Duetto’s Michael Skinner Wins 2018 Rakuten Data Challenge at ACM SIGIR 2018
Duetto | July 10, 2018
Data Scientist to Present Findings at E-commerce Workshop During Prestigious Conference San Francisco, July 10, 2018 — Michael Skinner, the resident "Data Whisperer" at Duetto, hospitality's only Revenue Strategy Platform, placed first in the 2018 Rakuten Data Challenge and has been invited to present at the 2018 SIGIR Workshop on eCommerce, July 12 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The competition, organized as part of the 41st International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval, tasked data scientists with developing a large-scale taxonomy classification to accurately predict the category of hundreds of tho...
European Serviced Apartments Boom as Operators Head Towards New Markets, Says HVS Survey
HVS | July 10, 2018
10 July 2018, London: The European serviced apartment sector has boomed in the past year, with approaching 20,000 units planned for the next five years and some operators within the region interested in expanding into new markets such as Eastern Europe and even the US. According to a survey of leading serviced apartment operators undertaken by global hotel consultancy HVS, the sector saw impressive growth in 2017 with increases in RevPAR (rooms revenue per available room) in London, the UK regions and across the rest of Europe. While operators say their biggest challenge is competing against hotels for central sites, growing demand for ...
