HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Travelers Want Meaningful Vacations in 2018, Not More of Them
MMGY Global | June 22, 2018
NEW YORK (June 22, 2018) – Today, MMGY Global released key findings from the 2018-2019 Portrait of American Travelers® study suggesting that travelers are seeking more meaning behind each vacation, rather than more vacations. The study reveals 30% of travelers plan to take fewer vacations next year, meaning travelers could take up to six million fewer vacations in 2018 compared to 2017. This is the first time there has been a negative variance in intent to travel (nine point decrease) in the 12 years this question has been asked. However, although people are traveling less, travel spending will hold steady into 2019, showing t...
Top Five Hottest Leisure Trends for Independent Hotels
| June 22, 2018
There is no doubt that global leisure travel has been on the increase over the past decade and there are no signs of slow down. According to howmuch.net, the five countries that spend the most on travel are China ($164.9 billion), the US ($145.7 billion), Germany ($106.6 billion), the UK ($79.9 billion) and France ($59.4 billion). Independent hotels are fantastically placed to capitalize on some of the hottest leisure trends. Below we review the top five trends that independent hotels should consider as they develop their sales and marketing plans. 1. "Bleisure": With the frequency of business trips increasing, corporate travellers have...
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts to Revamp & Rename Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar Blue
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts | June 22, 2018
MIAMI, Fla. (June 20, 2018) – Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, the leading all-inclusive resort chain with properties in the Caribbean, Mexico and Spain, will renovate Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar Blue, one of the brand's most distinct properties in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The 528-suite oceanfront hotel has closed and will reopen as Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar upon completion November 2018. Situated on the beautiful azure waters of Playa Bavaro and one of the brands seven hotels in the location, Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar will be the ideal adults-only retreat to make memories in paradise. Guests will be able to dip int...
Live From HEDNA Lisbon: Top Experts Share Practical Advice for Hoteliers
Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) | June 22, 2018
Washington, DC (June 22, 2018) There were many perspectives on the state of global distribution featured across three days of education, keynotes, and deep-dive panel discussions. From iterating your business models to understanding how payments continue to evolve, here are 7 observations from in and around HEDNA Lisbon 2018. On marketing to millennials – and anyone else online The most vivid keynote of the week came from Steve Bartlett, the founder of social media consultancy Social Change. Beyond the prototypical inspirational founder story, Steve offered some very specific advice for brands defined success selling to consumers ...
Newly-Released Videotel Digital VP90 4K Network Digital Signage Player makes an impact within the Commercial Real Estate Industry
Videotel Digital | June 21, 2018
Found essential for keeping commercial buildings and property management companies digitally on-trend, Videotel Digital has launched a new marketing must-have. Popular for updating directories and assuring that buyers in lobbies and waiting areas are aware of valuable information, the 4K VP90 has helped a Spokane, Washington development and management company do just that. The new 4K industrial digital signage player allows for client-specific, branded content to be played uninterrupted to customers. It has proved invaluable to TRW Development & Management for its interactive and remote-access compatibility, its built-in Wi-Fi, and ...
Soon-to-Open EVEN® Hotel Miami Airport Appoints Armando Hernandez as Chief Wellness Officer
June 21, 2018
EVEN® Hotel Miami Airport, which is slated to open October 2018 as the EVEN brand's first property in the Southeastern United States, announces the appointment of Armando Hernandez as Chief Wellness Officer. EVEN Hotels is InterContinental Group's newest lifestyle brand and is the first and only hotel brand created with wellness at its core. Equal to a general manager role at a traditional hotel, Hernandez's responsibilities include overseeing operations at the new property, as well as sales, marketing, and food & beverage. Additionally, as Chief Wellness Officer, he will also ensure the brand pillars – Eat Well, Rest Easy...
Avison Young Hospitality Group Expects Strong Transaction Market in 2018
Avison Young | June 21, 2018
By Keith Thompson Principal, Avison Young Hospitality Group ATLANTA – June 21, 2018 – The Avison Young Hospitality Group continues to see aggressive transaction levels during the first two quarters of 2018. Although we don't advertise each closing, we are expecting another strong transaction year for all brokerage shops. We currently have a healthy stable of hotel transactions lined up over the next several months and continue to see accretive value in the market cycle. For the past six months we have advised clients that the sale cycle has, or, is peaking and disposition decisions should happen now. If not, we tell them the...
Owned and Managed by MCR Development, Courtyard by Marriott Dulles Airport Herndon Opens in Herndon, Virginia
Courtyard by Marriott | June 21, 2018
Herndon, VA – June 21, 2018 – Courtyard by Marriott Dulles Airport Herndon is set to open its doors in Herndon, Virginia today. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard's latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Located at 13715 Sayward Boulevard, the 187-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by MCR Development, LLC of New York, NY. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard Dulles Airport Herndon offers guests convenient access to the Dulles International Airpo...
National Selfie Day: The Non-Millennial’s Guide to Taking Perfect Travel Selfies
OneTravel | June 21, 2018
NEW YORK, June 21, 2018 -- If you're not a millennial, the art of the selfie might seem a little intimidating. This pressure is only intensified for travel selfies, when you want to look great and also show off all the activities you're doing on your getaway. OneTravel, a leading online travel agency, has analyzed the many travel selfies to offer travelers the best tips for getting that perfect shot. Find the Right Angle – If you're tilting the phone at a weird angle to put your best face forward, here's the straight scoop: a high angle doesn't improve your photos. In fact, angling the phone too much can leave...
Cambria Hotels Debuts in Philadelphia With Opening of 223-Room Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown – Center City
Cambria Hotels | June 21, 2018
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 21, 2018 -- Cambria Hotels made its official debut in Philadelphia with the grand opening of the Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown - Center City. The 223-room, 15-story property will soon include a rooftop bar and restaurant with 3,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor space featuring one-of-a-kind city views. The Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown - Center City is located at 219 S. Broad St., on the Avenue of the Arts by the theater district and other cultural institutions. The hotel will house Del Frisco's Grille on the ground floor and is within walking distance to popular restaurants and retail shops as w...
AAA: Nearly 47 Million Americans Will Set New Independence Day Holiday Travel Record
AAA | June 21, 2018
ORLANDO, Fla., June 21, 2018 -- A record-breaking 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Independence Day holiday, an increase of more than 5 percent compared with last year and the highest number since AAA started tracking 18 years ago. For the 39.7 million Americans planning a Fourth of July road trip, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be twice as long than the normal trip, with Tuesday being the busiest day. "This Independence Day will be one for the record books, as more Americans take to the nation's roads,...
Sonesta Appoints Jill Plemons as Director of Sales and Marketing for The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel | June 21, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO -- (June 21, 2018) -- The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, the newest property to join the diverse and distinctive portfolio of hotels known as Sonesta Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jill Plemons as Director of Sales and Marketing. Plemons joins The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel with a distinguished 17-plus year career in hospitality and service operations, with a specialty in boutique and independent hotels catering to leisure, business and group travelers. In her new role, Plemons will continue to further elevate the property's sales and marketing initiatives as well as oversee all revenue and mana...
HVS Design and JN+A Release 2018 Hotel Cost Estimating Guide
HVS | June 21, 2018
HVS Design and Jonathan Nehmer + Associates (JN+A) are proud to announce the completion of the 2018 Hotel Cost Estimating Guide. The Guide is a comprehensive listing of capital expenditure construction and FF&E costs for hotel renovations in the USA. ...
Hoteliers Guide to Finding and Eliminating Bedbugs
Raymond Web | June 21, 2018
by Raymond Web Managing a hotel is a huge task and comprises of numerous activities. There can be many instances where you may hit the panic button — one of them being a bedbug infestation. Whether you have bedbugs or not, you need to have a plan of action so that you are prepared when the bedbugs do strike. In this article we will address how to find bedbugs and what to do to exterminate them. Steps to Inspect for Bedbugs in the Hotel Inspect the Complete Room Bed and Mattress Don't just flip the mattress to look for bedbugs. They tend to hide in the joints of the bed frame and along the slats. Inspect them with a flashlight...
Hyatt Signs With Rahat JSC for Development of 292-Room Hyatt Regency Almaty, Rahat Palace Slated to Open in 2019
Hyatt Regency | June 21, 2018
CHICAGO--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today a management agreement between JSC Kazakh-Austrian Joint Venture ("Rahat JSC") and a Hyatt affiliate for the development of Hyatt Regency Almaty, Rahat Palace. Slated to open in 2019, the 292-room hotel will be managed as Hyatt Regency Almaty, Rahat Palace. The former Hyatt Regency Almaty operated in the same building between 1995 and 2011. "We are delighted to announce the return of the Hyatt Regency brand to Almaty and bring a globally recognized brand to the city that will resonate well with the growing base of business travelers," said Takuya Aoyama, vice president, develop...
Spire Hospitality Promotes Antonio Jones to General Manger of DoubleTree by Hilton Annapolis
Spire Hospitality | June 21, 2018
Annapolis, Md. (June 21, 2018) -- Spire Hospitality, one of the nation's leading and most respected hotel management companies, proudly announces the promotion of Antonio Jones to the role of general manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Annapolis. Showcasing one of the Spire Hospitality pillars of internally promoting for available leadership positions, Jones joins the Annapolis team from DoubleTree Orlando at SeaWorld, where he served as assistant general manager for more than five years, driving significant success for the 1,000+ room property through its multi-million dollar transformation. Jones' hospitality expertise and passion for eleva...
New Women in Technology Luncheon Announced for HITEC 2019 Minneapolis
HFTP | June 21, 2018
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (June 21, 2018) — As HITEC® Houston wraps up its biggest week, plans for next year's North American event in Minneapolis are already in the works. New to the program is a Women in Technology networking luncheon designed to connect professionals and honor industry accomplishments. HITEC (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference), produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), is the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology event and is dedicated to recognizing those guiding the forward path of hospitality technology. The inaugural luncheon will be...
Luxury Resorts Appreciate Guest Privacy Enhancements Included in Version Update for Springer-Miller’s SMS|Host PMS
Springer-Miller Systems | June 21, 2018
Update Offers Tools for Compliance with GDPR STOWE, VT — June 21, 2018 – Springer-Miller Systems (SMS), the leading provider of guest-centric hospitality and spa management systems, announces that the latest update to their SMS|Host Property Management System, v.22.1, is now available and includes new functionality to conform to GDPR regulations. The fully-integrated SMS|Host Property Management System provides core property management tools as well as point-of-sale, owner management, online booking and other key resort functionality. In addition, SMS|Host interfaces with leading industry systems to ensure a seamless operati...
GuestTek Interactive Entertainment Likely to Demonstrate Two Nomadix Patents Invalid
GuestTek | June 21, 2018
Patent Trial and Appeal Board Issues Decision to Institute Trial on Two Redirection Patents Calgary, Alberta – June 21, 2018 – GuestTek Interactive Entertainment Ltd., an innovative leader in providing technology solutions for the hospitality industry, announced today that the United States Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has issued a decision to institute a trial on two Nomadix patents, U.S. Patent No. 8,266,266 (the '266 Patent) and U.S. Patent No. 8,725,899 (the '899 Patent"). Both the '266 and '899 patents purportedly relate to the redirection of a hotel guest's device to a captive portal page when connecting to the...
The Duniway Appoints Lemmy Cooper as Director Food & Beverage
The Duniway | June 21, 2018
PORTLAND, Oregon (June 21, 2018) – Today The Duniway announces the appointment of Lemmy Cooper as Director of Food and Beverage. In his new role, Cooper will provide strategic leadership to the culinary teams and oversee execution of the hotel's food and beverage concepts, including Jackrabbit and the new guest-only rooftop, Abigail's Hideaway. Cooper has nearly 20 years of hospitality experience to guide The Duniway's unique culinary programs, which are centered on creativity, innovation and guest satisfaction. Prior to his role at The Duniway, Cooper spent six years at Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants in Portland, Oregon as region...
Waterford Hotel Group Appoints Cory Amman as Director of Sales of Courtyard by Marriott Coatesville
Courtyard by Marriott Coatesville | June 21, 2018
WATERFORD, CT (June 21, 2018) – Cory Amman has been named Director of Sales for the Courtyard by Marriott in Coatesville, PA. The 125-room Courtyard Coatesville is managed by Waterford Hotel Group Inc., a national hotel and convention center management firm. In his new role as Director of Sales, Amman is responsible for the total sales efforts for the hotel, as well as supervising sales related personnel, and implementing sales and marketing strategies to maximize profits while also maintaining guest satisfaction. Amman joins the Courtyard Coatesville team with more than 15 years of hospitality and food and beverage experience. Hi...
Waterford Hotel Group Welcomes Erica Mcquesten as Director of Sales of Courtyard by Marriott Warwick
Courtyard by Marriott Warwick | June 21, 2018
WATERFORD, CT (June 21, 2018) – Erica McQuesten has been named Director of Sales for the Courtyard by Marriott in Warwick, RI. The 92-room Courtyard Warwick is managed by Waterford Hotel Group Inc., a national hotel and convention center management firm. In her new role as Director of Sales, McQuesten will be responsible for the total sales efforts for the hotel, as well as supervising sales related personnel, and implementing sales and marketing strategies to maximize profits while also maintaining guest satisfaction. McQuesten joins the Courtyard Warwick team with more than 10 years of experience. Her prior positions include Ope...
Top 5 Things You Need to Know Now in Hotel Digital Marketing: June Edition
HEBS Digital | June 21, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, VP Strategy This month, Google nudges SEO marketers in the right direction with clarifications to the mobile-first index as it rolls out to more websites; Bing pilots in-market audiences; and Instagram gets more serious with Stories by adding e-commerce features. From SEO to design, read on to learn the top five things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing, and stay informed. 1.SEO: Google announces clarification surrounding the mobile-first index and what it means for your website. As Google begins rolling out mobile-first indexing to more websites, it recently announced some clarifications as to h...
Softscribe Inc. Outlines 7 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Close Sales Leads From HITEC 2018
Softscribe Inc. | June 21, 2018
BENTONVILLE, AR – June 21, 2018 – Softscribe Inc., the leading hotel tech PR agency, outlined 7 ways technology vendors and HITEC attendees can leverage their LinkedIn Profiles to close sales leads at the show. HITEC is the world's largest hospitality technology conference. HITEC 2018 takes place in Houston, Texas, June 18 to 21. #HITECTX. Softscribe Inc. provides B2B public relations to the hospitality technology market and related industries. It creates public relations content, search and social media to help technology companies achieve their business goals. "LinkedIn is the new knowledge center in the texting age," said...
