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
AJ Capital Partners Acquires Hilton Eugene With Renovation and Conversion to Graduate Eugene Planned
AJ Capital Partners | June 12, 2018
Eugene, Or. – AJ Capital Partners announced today that it has acquired the Hilton Eugene in Eugene, Oregon. The hotel will continue to operate as Hilton Eugene until year end, after which, it will begin a comprehensive renovation to convert to Graduate Eugene, part of the Graduate Hotels® collection. The hotel will remain open during renovations and will be completed in summer 2019. The 12-story, 275-room hotel is in downtown Eugene and walking distance to University of Oregon's campus. AJ Capital selected Starwood Property Trust, Inc. to provide financing for the project. Ideally located on 6th Avenue in the heart of downtown...
Intelity Cites 5 Things to Consider When Buying Mobile- and In-Room Technology
Intelity | June 12, 2018
Before shopping HITEC, download Intelity's 'In-Room Solutions Checklist' and 'Mobile Solutions Checklist' to better shop the tradeshow floor; Visit Intelity in Booth 2127, June 19 to 21, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston [Orlando, Fla. — June 12, 2018] — Hoteliers will be flocking to Houston next week to attend HITEC, the world's largest hospitality technology show. Top of mind for many hoteliers is seeing the latest mobile and in-room technologies on display at this event, to be held June 18 to 21 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Before shopping the tradeshow floor, Intelity – the 2018 "Offi...
Beekeeper Achieves ISO Certification to Protect Hotels’ Data
Beekeeper | June 12, 2018
GDPR encourages the use of ISO 27001 to demonstrate that an organization is actively managing its data security; Visit Beekeeper at HITEC in Booth 1702 and Attend the Beekeeper Breakfast with Special Guest Sixty Hotels SAN FRANCISCO, CA June 12, 2018 - With the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) now in effect, Beekeeper is pleased to announce that it is now ISO 27001 Certified in addition to being GDPR compliant. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the ISO standard is protecting intellectual property, employee details, and informat...
ProfitSword Optimizes Sales Pace Data Tracking for a Leading Hotel Management Company
ProfitSword, LLC | June 12, 2018
ProfitPace, alongside a customized NorthStar solution, enhances sales team efficiency to outperform sales goal expectations for Interstate Hotels & Resorts ORLANDO, Fla. – June 12, 2018 – ProfitSword, a leading developer of business intelligence and data integration software for the hotel industry, announces the successful implementation of ProfitPace and its custom-built NorthStar platform by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, a global hotel management company with more than 500 properties around the world. A solution developed specifically to manage sales data, in order to provide effective forecasting and budgeting, Pro...
How This Palm Beach Hotel Creates Personalized Guest Experiences with ALICE
ALICE | June 11, 2018
The Colony Hotel has selected ALICE to upgrade their staff communications and back of house operations at their hidden oasis in the heart of Palm Beach. ALICE is the hospitality industry's leading operations technology, connecting every department of the hotel with one platform for all staff communication and guest requests. ALICE recently acquired concierge software provider GoConcierge to augment its technology and customer service offering. Before ALICE, the staff at Colony Hotel were using a handful of different methods to communicate with one another and manage their work, such as email, phone calls, walkie-talkies, internal report...
Raffles Europejski Warsaw Opens in Poland Following Four-Year Restoration of 160-Year-Old Neo-Renaissance Palace
Raffles Europejski Warsaw | June 11, 2018
Warsaw, June 11th, 2018 – Amidst the heady fragrance of purple and white lilac and bouquets of blossoming pink peonies sold on every street corner of this sprawling capital during early summer, comes the highly anticipated opening of Raffles Europejski Warsaw on June 1st. Bringing over 160 years of history and heritage to the culturally rich Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand, this fully restored Polish icon joins Paris and Istanbul as the third European destination where the inimitable Raffles experience can be found. PAYING HOMAGE TO THE NATION'S ARTISTIC RENAISSANCE Dating back to 1857, the neo-renaissance palace built by Enric...
Hilton Joins With GdF Hotel Srl to Open Grand Hotel Villa Torretta Milan Sesto, Curio Collection by Hilton in 500-Year-Old Milanese Villa
Gruppo Della Frera - Gdf Group Spa | June 11, 2018
MILAN, and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has signed a franchise agreement with GdF Hotel Srl to open Grand Hotel Villa Torretta Milan Sesto, Curio Collection by Hilton. The hotel will open later this year and joins two Curio Collection by Hilton hotels in Italy, including properties already operating in Rome and Tuscany. The hotel will be situated in a 16th century villa which was once the country retreat of Milanese aristocrats. Many of the renaissance building's historic features were restored in an extensive renovation in 2002, including priceless frescos which now adorn the hotel's public areas and some of its 77 guest rooms and ...
HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees Announced
HFTP | June 11, 2018
Tammy Farley and Jing Zhu will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at HITEC Houston Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to announce that Tammy Farley and Jing Zhu will be inducted into the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) in Houston, Texas USA next week. Both were recognized for their generous knowledge-sharing, using their expertise to further advance industry practices and move hospitality technology forward. Both will be recognized on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 in a ceremony at the commencement of that m...
Hospitality Financial Leadership – Business Acumen and Women
David Lund | June 11, 2018
By David Lund I may have caught your attention with this potentially explosive title, so I hope you will read this and either help change this inside your hospitality business or personally get your hospitality business acumen on, whether you're a woman or not. In my experience in the last 35+ years I know three things are true about women and business acumen. By the way, I think the word "acumen" is the wrong word simply because it has the word men in it. To my way of thinking it is a non-starter right out of the gate because it sounds sexist. To me the words to describe any manager who has their stick together with the numbers side of...
Montage Hotels & Resorts Appoints Casey Lavin as General Manager of Montage Palmetto Bluff
Montage Palmetto Bluff | June 11, 2018
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. (June 11, 2018)- Montage Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Casey Lavin as general manager of Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. With more than 15 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Lavin will oversee all daily operations at the coastal Carolina resort. "We are thrilled to announce Casey as part of the Montage Palmetto Bluff leadership team and welcome him to the Montage family," said Jason Herthel, president and chief operating officer of Montage International. "His creativity, vision and extensive leadership experience in luxury hotel and reso...
Crescent Real Estate Acquires The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, a Denver Landmark Since 1892
Brown Palace Hotel and Spa | June 11, 2018
Denver, Colo. – The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, a legend among Downtown Denver hotels since 1892, announces its official sale to Crescent Real Estate LLC (Crescent) of Fort Worth, Texas. Together with the historic hotel's newly appointed luxury management team, HEI Hotels & Resorts, Crescent will usher in a new era of luxury and refinement for the iconic property. Crescent plans comprehensive investments that will enhance the property's 241 exquisite guestrooms and Top of The Brown suites. Enhancements will retain the elegance of The Brown Palace's signature appearance while presenting a new level of luxury and sophistication,...
Cendyn Integrates With Sitecore via Hedgehog to Elevate Real-Time Marketing Personalization
Cendyn | June 11, 2018
Boca Raton, FL, June 11, 2018 – Cendyn, the leading provider of hotel CRM and hotel sales platforms in the hospitality industry, announced a new partnership with Hedgehog, a digital consultancy, to integrate Cendyn's eInsight customer relationship management (CRM) solution with the Sitecore® Experience Platform™ (CXP) to deliver powerful personalized digital experiences. The agreement will enable Hedgehog to tap Cendyn's guest intelligence engine to fuel live personalization and dynamic pricing based on marketing segmentation and guest profiles in eInsight across Sitecore's digital platforms. The CRM + CXP integration be...
Top Countries & Cities in the Middle East and Africa Hotel Construction Pipelines Are Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar
Lodging Econometrics | June 11, 2018
June 11, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – According to analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE), the top countries in the Middle East Construction Pipeline are: Saudi Arabia with 209 Projects/72,680 Rooms, United Arab Emirates with 208 Projects/58,930 Rooms and Qatar with 58 Projects/13,667 Rooms. Cities in the Middle East with the largest pipelines are: Dubai, UAE with 161 Projects/46,420 Rooms, Provincial, Saudi Arabia with 60 Projects/10,859 Rooms and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with 58 Projects/10,885 Rooms. The top countries in the Africa Construction Pipeline are: Nigeria with 38 Projects/6,561 Rooms, Ethopia with 30 Projects/5,31...
Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Rebranding to Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Marking Andaz Entry Into the Middle East
Andaz | June 11, 2018
CHICAGO--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi will rebrand to Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, turning the iconic 'Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi' into the first Andaz branded hotel in the Middle East. The hotel is owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) and is expected to be rebranded in late 2018. The word andaz means "personal style" in Hindi, and the Andaz brand is aimed at those well-traveled, guests who search for inspiration and enriching experiences that expand their perspectives. Aligned with the brand's ethos of bringing the local neighborhood to life, Andaz Capital Gate...
Owned by Westlakes Lodging and Managed by Gulph Creek Hotels, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Opens in Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Fairfield Inn & Suites | June 11, 2018
Berwyn, PA – June 12, 2018 – The 124-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Berwyn, Pennsylvania will open today with a new décor that provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at 1005 Westlakes Drive, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Philadelphia Valley Forge/Great Valley will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Westlakes Lodging, LP and managed by Gulph Creek Hotels of Wayne, Pennsylvania. General Manager Francis Worley leads the management team at the hotel for Gulph Creek Hotels. Located on Rte. 252 near the intersection of Rte. 202 in the Westlakes Office Park, the Fai...
TPI Hospitality and Margaritaville Holdings Sign Agreement to Develop Margaritaville Resort in Fort Myers Beach
TPI Hospitality | June 11, 2018
Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. – June 11, 2018 – TPI Hospitality and Margaritaville Holdings today announced they have entered into a partnership to develop a new 254-room Margaritaville Resort at the entrance to Fort Myers Beach, in the popular Times Square district. Designed with a clear focus on maintaining the authenticity and charm of the local area, the 'casual-luxe' resort will sit on seven acres of beachfront land, with direct access to the white sand beaches and stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. The property will boast low-lying open-air buildings that protect neighboring views, a walkable assortment of signature Margari...
Aimbridge Hospitality Promotes Lynne Roberts to Executive Vice President of Capital Markets
Aimbridge Hospitality | June 11, 2018
DALLAS, Texas (June 11, 2018) – Aimbridge Hospitality has promoted Lynne Roberts to the position of Executive Vice President of Capital Markets. In her new position, Roberts sources capital for sizeable transactions and structure both North America and off-shore inbound investment platforms. Additionally, she oversees a Capital Markets team growing Aimbridge's footprint of investors with large scale acquisition requirements in hotel real estate with longer term hold horizons. "My time at Aimbridge has been extremely gratifying since joining with eight hotels under management," said Roberts. "I'm particularly interested in leveragi...
The Rainmaker Group Partners With Sonesta Resorts St. Maarten and The Maho Group in Caribbean
Rainmaker | June 11, 2018
Company to provide revenue and profit analytics to Sonesta St Maarten properties affected by Hurricane Irma ALPHARETTA, GA – June 11, 2018 – The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker) has partnered with The Maho Group, operating the Sonesta Resorts in St. Maarten, to assist them in their re-opening phase and recovery in the wake of the impacts from Hurricane Irma. By providing revenue and profit analytics as well as pricing optimization for group and transient business, Rainmaker will assist Sonesta's aim of bringing tourism back to St Maarten and building the fastest possible path back to financial stability. Mike Cowles, CEO of R...
CBRE Hotels Arranges Sale of the West Inn & Suites Carlsbad
CBRE Group, Inc. | June 11, 2018
Newport Beach, California – June 11, 2018 – CBRE Hotels has arranged the sale of the 86-room West Inn & Suites in Carlsbad, California for an undisclosed price. CBRE Hotels represented the seller, West Real Estate LLC, who had developed the hotel along with the West Steak & Seafood Restaurant, Bistro West Restaurant, and a gas station/minimart at Cannon Road and Interstate 5 in 2006. The buyer was an affiliate of San Diego-based Pacifica Companies. The three-story upscale boutique hotel features high-end finishes and focuses on detail serving both the leisure and corporate markets. The proximity to LEGOLAND, Palomar ...
Hyatt Regency Houston Names Steven J. Smith as General Manager
Hyatt Regency Houston | June 11, 2018
Hyatt Regency Houston, downtown Houston's signature hotel, has named veteran hotelier Steven J. Smith as General Manager of the 955-room, AAA four diamond property. Smith comes to Hyatt Regency Houston with more than three decades in hospitality leadership, all with Hyatt Hotels, including his most recent experience as General Manager of Grand Hyatt Washington and Hyatt Regency Washington, both in Washington D.C. He was named the Hotel Association of Washington D.C.'s 2015 General Manager of the Year and is a five-time nominee of Hyatt Hotels General Manager of the Year Award. "Hyatt Regency Houston has a storied tradition in the hospit...
Owned by MJM Group and Managed by Midas Hospitality, Dual-Branded Courtyard and Residence Inn Opens in Charlotte, North Carolina
Courtyard by Marriott | June 11, 2018
Charlotte, NC – June 11, 2018 – Marriott International, Inc. today announced that a combined 94-room Courtyard hotel and 94-suite Residence Inn hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina is now open for business. Located at 9110 Harris Corners Parkway, the hotel is owned by MJM Group of Raleigh, NC and managed by Midas Hospitality of St. Louis, Missouri. The seven-story property will share a heated outdoor swimming pool, two patios for guest comfort and convenience, a fitness center and 1,386 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 154 people. Located just minutes from Northlake Mall and Lake Norman, the hotel...
Online Advertising for Hotels: 8 Fabulous Suggestions
Dreamweaver Brand Communications | June 10, 2018
As the average small business now spends around $75,000 a year on digital marketing, it's important to spend that budget wisely. Spending it in the wrong demographic or on the wrong strategy could leave you with nothing left over once you figure out who your market is. Online advertising for hotels is changing with every other aspect of digital marketing. Here are 6 strategies that are low-cost and highly yielding ways to implement your next ad campaign. 1. Make The Most of Your Instagram Account People find all kinds of reasons to waste their time on Instagram. It's a way to keep up with how celebrities live or what some of the...
Lefteris Tsikandilakis – Hospitality Design Trendsetter
Phil Butler | June 8, 2018
By Phil Butler Lefteris Tsikandilakis has risen to be one of the most respected architects in Greece. His work is recognized for both the scope of projects he's undertaken, and for the vision, elegance, and functionality of his designs. He and his growing team have managed to distinguish themselves even in the harshest of economic crises. And the functionality of the firm's aesthetic designs are a differentiator in the industry, identify the Tsikandilakis brand in a highly competitive field. I managed to catch up with Tsikandilakis some days ago to get his take on the current state of hospitality design. I approached the archite...
Opportunity Intersection: The Corner of Technology and Service
Glenn Wirick | June 8, 2018
Studies show 70 percent of customers will stop doing business with a company after one bad experience, while nine out of 10 say they would pay more to ensure a superior one. By Glenn Wirick We know the hallmark of our industry is service, and that it's at the very heart and soul of what properties across the globe deliver to guests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, day in and day out. But it also drives revenues. Studies show 70 percent of customers will stop doing business with a company after one bad experience, while nine out of 10 say they would pay more to ensure a superior one. A study by Harvard Business Review showed that customer...
