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Starfleet Research | June 7, 2018
Starfleet Research and Duetto Collaborate to Share Best Practices for Building a Hotel Technology Stack Chicago, June 7, 2018 — Starfleet Research, the leading provider of best practices IT market research for the hospitality industry, and Duetto, hospitality's only Revenue Strategy Platform, will co-host a webinar that explores how leading hotels and resorts optimize their revenue results using next-generation technology. The research and insights are based on the strategies and experiences of hundreds of successful hotels. The webinar, "How to Evaluate and Select the Right Hotel Revenue Technology," will take place Wednesday, Ju...
Hilton Garden Inn Greenville Unveils Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Led by General Manager Barrett Alexander
SpringHill Suites by Marriott | June 7, 2018
Top-to-bottom renovation project yields 'like new' hotel in well-established location GREENVILLE SC (June 7, 2018) -- A $4-million project has totally revamped Hilton Garden Inn Greenville. The renovations include both interior and exterior upgrades to the six-story, 120-room property at 108 Carolina Point Parkway, near the intersection of I-85 and I-385 in Upstate South Carolina. "This was a full, top-to-bottom renovation," says Brandy Hardy, Director of Sales at Hilton Garden Inn Greenville. "It's like having a brand-new hotel in an already-established location." The project began last fall with exterio...
How Halal Tourism Is Reshaping the Global Tourism Industry
Paramount Lodging Advisors | June 7, 2018
By Yulia Belopilskaya Spending by Muslim travelers is expected to rise to US$220 billion by 2020, with the number of Muslim tourists growing to 156 million from 121 million in 2016. That's according to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GTMI) 2017, which was produced by Mastercard and CrescentRating, a 'halal-friendly' travel consultancy. 'Halal' tourism is clearly a growing market segment, with Muslim tourists seeking destinations which meet their needs, in terms of diet, dress or rituals. Translated from Arabic, 'halal' means permissible in accordance with Islamic teaching. Alcohol, pork, nudity and gambling are off limits. With a burgeo...
The Middle East and Africa Hotel Construction Pipelines Continue to Grow
Lodging Econometrics | June 7, 2018
June 7, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that the Construction Pipelines for the Middle East and Africa continue to grow resulting in 875 Projects/216,045 Rooms combined, according to LE's recent Trend Report. The Total Middle East Pipeline has 594 Projects/170,490 Rooms and is up 23% by rooms Year-Over-Year (YOY). This is the 16th consecutive quarter of pipeline growth seen by the Middle East. In the Middle East, there are 358 Projects/113,830 Rooms Under Construction, up 13% by projects YOY. Those Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 127 Projects/31,752 Roo...
FAUCHON, the Luxury French Food Purveyor, Launches a Collection of 20 Boutique Hotels, With a First Property in Paris Opening September 1
FAUCHON | June 7, 2018
PARIS--The name, FAUCHON, has long been associated with fine foods, patisserie, and other French delicacies, and in just a few months, the brand will mark its entrance into the hospitality industry with the much-anticipated September 1 opening of its first luxury boutique hotel: FAUCHON L'Hôtel Paris. The 54-room, five-star property is situated on the Place de la Madeleine, the home of the FAUCHON brand since 1886, and is already a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. FAUCHON L'Hôtel Paris is just the first step in FAUCHON's bid to become a global hotel group. Earlier this year, the FAUCHON Hospitality organization was...
Routier Helps Hotels Provide Real-Time Solutions for Real-Time Issues So That They Don’t Become Permanent Problems
Routier | June 7, 2018
Innovative new technology empowers hotels to resolve issues quickly before guests share their complaints with the world New York, June 7, 2018 – Imagine if you could communicate with your guests in real-time during their stay at your property. And imagine that they wouldn't need to download or install a thing. And imagine that you could actually find out if your guest is unhappy or happy and follow up with the right messaging, at the right time. Now stop imagining because it's real. Routier's seamless engagement, operational, and marketing solutions help hotels and hotel groups increase engagement with their guests in real-time i...
Hospitality 2020 – The Next Big Things
Robert A. Rauch, CHA | June 7, 2018
By Robert A. Rauch Hospitality's turnaround in both profits and technology over the past eight years has been rather phenomenal. Revenues and profits have grown steadily and there has also been a significant improvement in the use of technology. Previously, the hospitality industry lagged behind most industries when it came to technology. Today, that is rapidly changing. Rather than try to focus on everything that is going on with our industry like the blowing up of mobile, personalization of services, brands, soft brands, online travel agencies (OTAs), Airbnb, GDPR, 5G, cyber-crime and crisis management, I am focused on two big things....
Concilio Labs and The Rainmaker Group Announce New Technology Partnership
Rainmaker | June 7, 2018
Washington, DC (June 7, 2018) – Concilio Labs and The Rainmaker Group today announced a new technology partnership to deliver more actionable and meaningful guest insights to hoteliers. The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, will leverage the power of Concilio's proprietary Insights Engine technology to empower hoteliers to understand who their guests are on a deeper level, anticipate needs, predict outcomes and personalize interactions. The alliance and integration partnership will deliver benefits that are squarely focused on making it easier for h...
Agilysys Announces Latest Release of LMS With Modern User Interface and Launch of New rGuest Modules
Agilysys | June 7, 2018
New rGuest Book Web Booking Engine and rGuest Express Self-Service Kiosk Modules to Integrate with All Agilysys PMS Solutions ALPHARETTA, GA. — June 7, 2018 — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, today announced the release of its Lodging Management System® (LMS) property management system version 7.4.1. This version introduces several enhancements and new functionality, including a modern web-based user interface. The company is also launching rGuest® Book, a new web booking engine as well as rGuest® Express, a new self-service k...
ALICE Extends Their Core Operations Platform Through Innovative API Integrations
ALICE | June 6, 2018
ALICE will showcase the company's industry-leading technology at HITEC 2018. Stop by Booth 2319 for a live demo. ALICE, the hospitality industry's leading operations platform, uses their Open Application Programing Interface (API) infrastructure to streamline communication between technology solutions, and to provide the hospitality industry with cutting-edge integrations. ALICE's Open API integrates directly with your hotel's app, website, property management systems (PMS), and more, to provide comprehensive solutions to better enhance staff operations and the guest experience for our hotel partners. ALICE leads the way when it comes t...
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel Sale Handled by The Plasencia Group
The Plasencia Group | June 6, 2018
Tampa, Fla., June 6, 2018 - The Plasencia Group, a leading, privately-owned hospitality investment advisory firm, is pleased to announce the sale of the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, located in the Westshore Business District of Tampa, Florida. The firm represented Braemar Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: BHR), a real estate investment trust based in Dallas, Texas, in the sale of the 293-room, AAA Four Diamond hotel. A partnership between Clearview Hotel Capital ("Clearview"), a Newport Beach, California-based private investment firm, and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ("Oaktree") acquired the Renaissance, w...
HFTP Introduces Startups, Judge’s Panel and Mentors for Entrepreneur 20X at HITEC Houston
HFTP | June 6, 2018
E20X Houston will feature six expert judges, nine mentors and 16 startups Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), is pleased to announce the selected hospitality technology startups, expert judges panel and industry mentors that will participate in Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Houston. Sponsored by Amadeus, the E20X pitch competition will take place in room 342 on Monday, June 18, 2018 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. inside the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas USA; all registered HITEC attendees are welcome to atten...
Can I Book My Next Trip on Amazon? An Open Letter to Jeff Bezos
Alan E. Young | June 6, 2018
By Alan E. Young Dear Mr. Bezos, Amazon has long-since established itself as the fabric that holds together a world of consumers looking for an easy, effective and value-oriented environment to purchase almost anything - except for travel. As a veteran of the hospitality and travel technology industry, I believe Amazon should extend its footprint and offer travel and hotel products to deepen its relationship with customers and position itself as the ultimate end-to-end travel ecosystem. Though Amazon has offered flash deals and travel-related services in the past and Amazon Destinations tested the waters briefly, you have never really t...
Hyatt Expands Global Presence with 19 Executed Management and Franchise Contracts During March and April 2018
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | June 6, 2018
CHICAGO (June 6, 2018) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced executed management and franchise contracts for 19 hotels. The executed contracts, which represent important expansion in key markets or markets in which Hyatt brands are under-represented, are for the following hotels: Hyatt Regency Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including the space to work, engage or relax; notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; and expert event planners who can take care of every detail. Asia Pacific Hyatt Regency Kaohsiung in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Hyatt Rege...
Tourism Tidbits: Marketing Love and Marriage
Dr. Peter Tarlow | June 6, 2018
By Dr. Peter Tarlow June is known as the month of love. In the northern hemisphere it is also the most popular month in which to marry. In fact many people dream of a June wedding. Although there are specific locales that are known for weddings and romantic interludes, in reality with a small amount of creativity, almost any location can turn itself into a wedding or romantic destination. A major marketing tool that can apply to locations almost anywhere is the love and marriage market often connected with romantic tourism. In fact this market is so big that it is estimated that romantic tourism, including destination weddings and roman...
Let Your Guests Make Requests By Voice, And Give Staff A Way To Seamlessly Manage Their Requests, With The New Partnership Between ALICE And Volara
ALICE | June 6, 2018
Imagine a world where guests can use the power of their voice to order hotel service directly from their room without lifting a finger. Request an item: "Alexa, bring a Snuggie up to my hotel room." Schedule a service: "Alexa, ask the hotel to schedule turndown service for 5PM." Check on the Status of a Request: "Alexa, when will that coffee arrive in my hotel room." We are now living this reality. Guest requests, simply spoken in the hotel room, are now seamlessly routed through ALICE to the appropriate member of staff for completion, thanks to the the partnership between ALICE, the hospitality industry's leading operations plat...
BENCHMARK® Names Eileen S. Cole Director of Sales & Marketing For Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Chicago
Eaglewood Resort & Spa | June 6, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, June 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Eileen S. Cole director of sales & marketing for Eaglewood Resort & Spa, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Itasca (Chicago), Illinois. Eric Bates, Benchmark's general manager at the resort,made the announcement. "It is a great pleasure to welcome Eileen to Benchmark and to Eaglewood Resort & Spa," said Mr. Bates. "She brings significant sales leadership experience to our resort. She also has important business contacts and market awareness which will be vital to Eaglewood's success. We look forwa...
The Monkey Moved to Someone Else’s Back…
Georges Panayotis | June 6, 2018
By Georges Panayotis After battling against all forces to confront the profound changes in our sector, we react rather than act. And yet, Churchill once said, "We must take change by the hand or rest assuredly, change will take us by the throat." Aside from a few cosmetic changes for some, none of the current players has revolutionized its product or services. What we are seeing, however, is that the responsibilities are shifting… the monkey is changing backs… brand owners no longer own both the walls and the business. Today, franchisees support investment costs and must make up for years of backlog. Meanwhile, r...
Dual-Branded Courtyard and Fairfield Inn & Suites Opens in Fresh Meadows, New York Led by General Manager Jon Kozma
Courtyard by Marriott | June 6, 2018
Fresh Meadows, NY – June 6, 2018 – Marriott International, Inc. announced that a dual-branded 123-room Courtyard and 95-room Fairfield Inn & Suites property opened today in Fresh Meadows, New York. The hotels are owned by East West United Realty Development Group and managed by Great American Hotel Group of Dover, New Hampshire. General Manager Jon Kozma will lead the management team at both properties. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the properties offer easy access to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Citi Field, St. John's College, Queens College, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the A...
Driftwood Acquisitions and Development, Merrimac Ventures Break Ground on Dual-Branded Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton Hotel in Fort Lauderda
Driftwood Acquisitions & Development | June 6, 2018
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – June 6, 2018 – Driftwood Acquisitions & Development (DAD), an innovative hospitality industry leader with decades of experience and a strategic focus on hotel and resort acquisitions, has celebrated the groundbreaking of its $50M+ dual-branded Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Located at 315 NW 1st Avenue, the property will be managed by DAD's North Palm Beach management arm – Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM) – and is expected to open in early 2020, merging two of Hilton's popular brands in the vibrant Flagler Village neighborhood in down...
HOTEL and AMResorts Launch the Brand Reflect® Resorts & Spas
HOTEL | June 6, 2018
MEXICO CITY, June 06, 2018 -- Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, S.A.B. Of C.V. (BMV:HOTEL) ("HOTEL" or "the Company"), one of the leading companies in the hotel industry in Mexico, announces the signing of a strategic alliance with AMResorts. With this strategic alliance, a co-branding will be implemented between Reflect® Resorts & Spas brand and Krystal Grand® brand for the hotels in Punta Cancun, Los Cabos and Nuevo Vallarta that altogether, represent 1,329 rooms. With this alliance we expect to significantly increase sales of our three hotels, in addition to the opportunity to expand this partnership to more pr...
U.S. Hotel Deal Pace Going Strong
JLL | June 6, 2018
South Florida single-asset hotel trades to reach $2 billion by year-end, matching 2015 peak NEW YORK, June 5, 2018 – In the first trimester of 2018, U.S. hotel transaction volumes reached more than $11.9 billion – a 93.0 percent increase over last year, according to preliminary figures released by JLL. Deal pace is driven by South Florida and West Coast markets including Hawaii, resort properties, and portfolios of prime full service hotels. The exceptional transactions activity to date is underpinned by the acceleration in performance growth. Cap rates sharpened further due to the high profile of assets transacted and ongoi...
AccorHotels Tops Europe’s Construction Pipeline Followed by Marriott, Hilton and IHG
Lodging Econometrics | June 6, 2018
June 6, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH According to a recent Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report for Europe, analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that the top global hotel companies in Europe's Construction Pipeline are: AccorHotels with 209 Projects/26,936 Rooms, Marriott International with 187 Projects/31,855 Rooms, Hilton Worldwide with 170 Projects/26,870 Rooms and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 133 Projects/22,590 Rooms. The largest brands in the Pipeline for each of the these companies are: Accor's Ibis Styles with 50 Projects/6,498 Rooms, Marriott's Moxy with 56 Projects/10,302 Rooms, Hilton's Hampton Inn w...
Travel Trends Index: Business Travel Thriving as Travel Expands for 100th Straight Month
U.S. Travel Association | June 6, 2018
WASHINGTON (June 6, 2018)—Travel to and within the U.S. grew 3.6 percent year-over-year in April, according to the U.S. Travel Association's latest Travel Trends Index (TTI)—marking the industry's 100th straight month of overall expansion. Though the raw numbers are in positive territory, the U.S. continues to trail other global travel heavyweights in capturing share of the booming international travel market. The most noteworthy component of the April TTI was domestic business travel, which grew for a fourth consecutive month—the first four-month win streak for that segment since January-April 2015. Forward-lo...
