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Industry Happenings
RLH Corporation Appoints Gary Sims Chief Operating Officer
RLH Corporation | June 6, 2018
DENVER (June 6, 2018) — RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today the appointment of Gary Sims as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Sims brings over 30 years of experience with notable brands around the globe including over ten years of franchise and management sales experience at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He will oversee all franchise operations, sales, hotel management and human resources. Sims will be based in the company's headquarters in Denver and is expected to begin in his position on June 25, 2018. Sims joins RLH Corporation from Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in southern California, where he ser...
Calistoga Ranch and Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection Appoint Jay Heidenreich Area Director of Sales and Marketing
Calistoga Ranch | June 6, 2018
CALISTOGA, CALIF. (JUNE 6, 2018) – Calistoga Ranch and Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection are pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Heidenreich as Area Director of Sales and Marketing. Heidenreich brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience along with his creativity and high energy to his new leadership role overseeing sales and marketing efforts for two of Auberge Resorts Collection's award-winning Napa Valley properties. "Auberge has deep roots in Napa Valley including the luxe, family-friendly Calistoga Ranch tucked in a wooded canyon, and the active and vibrant Solage that boasts the largest swimming pool in the V...
Elizabeth Grillos Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at The Estate Yountville
The Estate Yountville | June 6, 2018
Yountville, Calif. (June 6, 2018) – The Estate Yountville is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Grillos to the position of Area Director of Sales and Marketing of The Estate Yountville, which consists of the recently launched Vintage House and soon-to-open Hotel Villagio. In her new role, Grillos will focus on continuing momentum around Vintage House following its opening in October 2017, and spearheading the repositioning of Hotel Villagio which will be revealed in late summer 2018. Grillos will also oversee all sales and marketing initiatives for both high-end properties, V Marketplace, The Venues at The Estate, Th...
Loews Coronado Bay Resort Announces Brandon Walton as Director of Sales and Marketing
Loews Coronado Bay Resort | June 6, 2018
SAN DIEGO, CA (June 6, 2018) – Loews Coronado Bay Resort has announced the appointment of Brandon Walton as Director of Sales & Marketing. Located on a private peninsula on Coronado Island in San Diego, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is one of 24 Loews addresses across North America. With over a decade of sales experience and a passion for promoting San Diego, Brandon now directs all sales and marketing efforts for Loews Coronado Bay Resort. Formerly, he served as Director of Sales at the resort where he led the team to receive Loews Hotels "Sales Team of the Year" in 2015. Brandon has been responsible for the hotel's year-over-yea...
Playa Hotels & Resorts Completes Previously Announced Business Combination With Sagicor Group Jamaica
June 6, 2018
Fairfax, Virginia – (June 6, 2018) – Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA, "Playa"), announced today that it had completed a business combination with Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited ("Sagicor") whereby Sagicor contributed to Playa a portfolio of five all-inclusive resorts and two adjacent oceanfront developable land sites located on the desirable North Coast of Jamaica. The portfolio includes four existing resorts including the 495-room Hilton Rose Hall, the 268-room Jewel Runaway Bay, the 250-room Jewel Dunn's River and the 225-room Jewel Paradise Cove. It also includes an 88-room hotel tower and spa, two developabl...
Is an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Beneficial for Startups?
Dr. Margarita Cruz | June 6, 2018
By Dr. Margarita Cruz Innovation and entrepreneurship are clearly flourishing in Switzerland if the Global Innovation Index is anything to go by, as the report ranks Switzerland as the most innovative country in the world. Another study, the Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem report, puts the number of new firms created each year at some 12,000, with the cantons of Zurich and Vaud leading the field when it comes to high-growth startups. But what exactly is an entrepreneurial ecosystem and how can entrepreneurs benefit from it? We recently staged a panel discussion at Ecole hôteliere de Lausanne on the topic of 'Nurturing your entre...
Queens Plaza West Acquires Dolce Norwalk to Be Rebranded to LoKota Oaks
LaKota Hotels & Resorts | June 6, 2018
NORWALK, Conn.-- Queens Plaza West LLC officially announced the acquisition of Dolce Norwalk and a partnership with LaKota Hotels & Resorts to operate the property, renovate and upgrade the offerings and rebrand the facility LaKota Oaks. "We are thrilled to take on the management of this great property and we are extremely pleased to retain all the current members of the service team who will continue to take great care of our clients and guests," said Sam D. Haigh, President & CEO of LaKota Hotels & Resorts. Situated on 66 acres in the center of Fairfield County, the 120-guest room facility offers inspiring views of outdoor...
Why Hoteliers Must Defend the Necktie
Larry Mogelonsky | June 6, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) The office-casual nature at most contemporary workplaces seems to be far more amiable to the sweater and jeans attire, with nary a collared shirt even under the slightest of considerations. Given this trend spurred on by the younger generations, it would seem as though the necktie is on its way out from regular usage. Being of a more 'scholarly' age, donning a suit and tie comes naturally to me. Looking in the mirror, I selfishly feel at least a bit more professional in demeanor with a psychological boost in tow. What is equally refreshing is how often I encounter hoteliers who are ...
Brookfield Properties Selects Pendry Hotels as Hotel Operating Partner for Manhattan West Set to Open in 2021
Pendry Hotels | June 6, 2018
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., June 6, 2018 -- Pendry Hotels, in collaboration with Brookfield Properties, today announced it has been selected as the hotel operating partner for Manhattan West – an eight-acre, six-building mixed-use development located in Manhattan's Hudson Yards district. The brand's first New York City property, Pendry Manhattan West, will feature 164 guestrooms including 30 suites; a signature restaurant; a lounge and vibrant open-air terrace bar; and meeting and event space – complementing the defining Manhattan West development that sits directly between the soon-to-be redeveloped Penn Station and the ...
StayNTouch to Liven Up HITEC With a PMS Technology Showcase and an Exciting Game of Jeopardy-The Hotel Maven Edition! (Booth #1003)
StayNTouch Inc. | June 6, 2018
Bethesda, MD – JUNE 6, 2018 – StayNTouch, an innovator in mobile technology and Property Management Systems (PMS) for hotels, is pleased to announce its schedule of events at the 2018 HITEC Houston, on June 18-21. StayNTouch comes to HITEC on a wave of recent successes, with over 100 new hotel PMS installations completed in 2018 at brands such as First Hotels, Salt Hotels and Martins Hotels. Tuesday, June 19 – Thursday, June 21 One-on-one Consultations with our Hospitality technology experts and a game of Jeopardy: The Hotel Maven Edition, George R. Brown Convention Center | Booth #1003 Stop by Booth #1003 to see our P...
ASSA ABLOY Hospitality and OpenKey Bring Combined Keyless Entry Solution to Hotels Worldwide
ASSA ABLOY Hospitality | June 6, 2018
Leading providers of security technologies and mobile entry solutions for the hospitality industry complete successful installations of integrated digital key platform Stockholm – June 6, 2018 – ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, provider of advanced security technologies for the hospitality industry, announces the successful integration of its ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access keyless entry solution with OpenKey, a leading developer of hotel entry mobile applications. ASSA ABLOY Hospitality and OpenKey have implemented mobile key-based guest access at multiple properties across the globe, including The Cow, Victoria Inn Winnipeg Ho...
Canadian Vacation Ownership Association and Hotel Association of Canada Announce Alliance
HAC | June 6, 2018
VANCOUVER, CANADA (June 6, 2018) –The Canadian Vacation Ownership Association (CVOA) and The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) have announced they have reached a Memorandum of Understanding to begin working together as a unified force on complimentary objectives. The new agreement aligns two important industries that have the common goal of delivering hospitality and memorable hotel experiences to the travelling public. HAC is an industry-based association focused on enhancing the prosperity of the hotel industry through strong member engagement, effective advocacy and the provision of value added programs and services. CVOA is an...
BENCHMARK® Names Stephen Cullen Area General Manager for Boston’s Copley Square Hotel and Ames Boston Hotel
Copley Square Hotel | June 5, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, June 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Stephen Cullen area general manager for the Copley Square Hotel and the Ames Boston Hotel, a member of the Curio Collection by Hilton™. Both properties are located in the historic center of Boston, Massachusetts. Greg Champion, Benchmark's president and COO, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to announce Stephen's new position within our company," said Mr. Champion. "He has done an outstanding job leading the Copley Square Hotel and now also brings these skills to the Ames Boston Hotel. We look forward to his le...
Scandic Hotels Completes Rebranding of Restel’s Former Cumulus Hotels to the Scandic-Brand
Scandic Hotels | June 5, 2018
Today, Scandic Hotels has completed the rebranding of Restel's former Cumulus hotels to the Scandic-brand. In December 2017, Scandic acquired Restel's hotel operations with 43 hotels and around 7,600 rooms, most of which were operating under the Cumulus brand. The acquisition made Scandic the market leader in the hotel industry in Finland and gave the company a considerably stronger position in the growing leisure segment. "We now have a strong presence in Finland, which during the first quarter accounted for a quarter of Scandic's net sales. We are pleased to have completed the rebranding of Restel's hotels and we see great po...
Pacific Hospitality Group Appoints Paul McCormick as Chief Operating Officer and President
Pacific Hospitality Group | June 5, 2018
Irvine, Calif. (June 4, 2018) – Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG) announces the appointment of Paul J. McCormick as its President and Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, McCormick will oversee the operations of the current portfolio of 11 properties as well as activation of all new acquisitions for the growing hospitality company. "I look forward to continuing to assist with the development of a world-class team to diligently drive a strong performance at our hotels & resorts," said McCormick. "Our goal is to create a "Win-Win" relationship with our investors, community, guests and team members by developing exceptional g...
Caesars Entertainment Plans Resort Licensing & Brand Opportunities for Non-Gaming Hotels with Four Iconic Brands
Caesars Entertainment Corporation | June 5, 2018
LAS VEGAS, June 5, 2018 -- Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) has announced plans to create unique branding and licensing opportunities with four of its iconic brands - Caesars Palace, Flamingo, The Cromwell and The LINQ. The move allows Caesars and select strategic partners to expand the global reach of these distinct brands into gateway cities around the world. "Caesars Entertainment brings instant brand-recognition, category-leading customer loyalty, unique hospitality and entertainment amenities as well as decades of management expertise to world class partners seeking to deliver distinct lodging and resort experie...
Country Inn & Suites Opens Hotel Near the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Following a Nearly $2 Million Renovation
June 5, 2018
Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson, a leading upper midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, La Crosse, WI located at 2110 Rose Street. The hotel recently completed a nearly $2 million renovation featuring the brand's latest design, which includes modern interiors, stylish furnishings and spacious guest rooms and suites. Guests have the added convenience of being only four miles from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and the beautiful hiking trails along the cliffs at Grandad Bluff "As part of our 5-year strategic plan, we aim to accelerate the transformation of our Country In...
TripAdvisor Names 320 Guest Ranch to Its Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame, Big Sky, Montana
320 Guest Ranch | June 5, 2018
Prestigious Award Based on Travelers' Reviews Over Five Consecutive Years Big Sky, Montana, June 2018 ... TripAdvisor, the world's largest online travel community, has named the historic 320 Guest Ranch to its Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame. This prestigious award is presented to properties that have earned TripAdvisor's coveted Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years. The award is based on travelers' opinions and reviews of hotels, resorts, destinations, cruise companies and airlines. Founded in 1898, the 320 Guest Ranch offers an authentic Montana experience with 21st Century comforts and amenities. The ranch is s...
New Courtyard by Marriot, Managed by ONE Lodging Management, Opens in Prince George, British Columbia
Courtyard by Marriott | June 5, 2018
Prince George, BC – June 5, 2018 – Courtyard by Marriott Prince George is set to open its doors in Prince George, British Columbia 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 900 Brunswick Street, the 174-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by ONE Lodging Management of Vancouver, British Columbia. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard Prince George offers guests convenient access to Two Rivers Art Gallery, E...
HFTP Launches New F&B Bytes Site, an Addition to Its Online News Portfolio
HFTP | June 5, 2018
A daily, online news source for professionals working in the food and beverage industry Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) continues to build on its online news series with the addition of its F&B Bytes website. Powered by Hsyndicate, an electronic media-hub based in The Netherlands, F&B Bytes is an aggregated content destination where users will find the latest food and beverage news all in one place. Recognized as a global educator in the hospitality industry, HFTP now offers hospitality professionals online news resources specific to technology, clubs, finance, GDPR, F&B and its association at ...
Hotel Management, The New Hotel Guest and the Shared Hotel Room
DigiValet | June 5, 2018
By David Goldstone, President, The Americas - DigiValet What was the experience of staying at hotels twenty or thirty years ago? In most cases, it was a pretty straightforward affair. One checked into a property, entered the room. If all went well, the TV worked, you maybe had HBO and everything was clean and the room features and amenities were as promised. If it was the late 1990s and you were a savvy business traveler, you looked for a connection for the modem for your computer, plugged it in and you were hopefully on your way. (Most often, those modem connections did not actually work and rarely got you dialed up quickly and effecti...
Radisson Hotel Group Signs with Silkroad Hospitality Group for First Radisson Collection Hotel in Eastern Europe and Russia
Radisson Hotel Group | June 5, 2018
Radisson Hotel Group is excited to announce the signing of the first Radisson Collection hotel in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Tsinandali Estate, A Radisson Collection Hotel will open its doors in October 2018 in the iconic wine region of Kakheti, Georgia. True to Radisson Collection's pioneering ethos, the Tsinandali Estate will establish a new benchmark of quality in the country. A model of locally-inspired, contemporary design, the property will set out to shine a light on Tsinandali's rich history and build the region's profile as an emerging travel hotspot. A truly unique property, the hotel is set amidst the Tsinandali Estate's ...
Inuyama, in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, to Debut Hotel Indigo, Its First Internationally-Branded Hotel
IHG | June 5, 2018
Inuyama, in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, will get its first internationally-branded hotel, with IHG® and Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) signing an agreement to open Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen in the second half of 2021. No two Hotel Indigo properties are the same, with each drawing on the story of its local area to inspire every aspect of the hotel to help guests feel part of the destination. That's why Inuyama, with its rich history, castle, museums and teahouses, is the perfect fit for the brand. The 150-room hotel originally opened in 1965 and currently operates as the Meitetsu Inuyama Hotel, the leading hotel in the area. Building on...
La Corsha Hospitality Group Migrates to Aptech PVNG Enterprise Accounting
La Corsha Hospitality Group | June 5, 2018
At HITEC in Houston Visit Aptech in Booth #1519 JUNE 18-21, 2018 George R. Brown Convention Center 10-Property La Corsha Converts from Aptech's Profitvue Hotel Accounting Software to PVNG Web-Based Enterprise Accounting to Simplify Multi-Company Financials, Reporting and Data Access PITTSBURGH – June 5, 2018 – Aptech Computer Systems announced La Corsha Hospitality Group implemented the PVNG Enterprise Accounting System across 10 properties. La Corsha converted from Aptech's Profitvue hotel accounting software to web-based PVNG to enable remote accounting operations and greater financial reporting flexibility. La Corsha (LCH...
