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Industry Happenings
How Hotel Brands Are Cracking the Home Rental Market
JLL Real Views | May 24, 2018
By Natalie Holmes With homesharing apps now a firm fixture on the smartphones of many travelers, big name hotel brands are increasingly looking to build their own presence in the home rental market – and are doing it in their own way. Marriott International is the latest major hotel group to enter the market, launching a six-month pilot project in partnership with home rental management company Hostmaker, to offer a selection of over 200 vetted homes in London. Just days before, Choice Hotels, which has been running a Vacation Rental program since 2016, significantly expanded its offerings to cover 20,000 additional properties acr...
CNBC Investigates – Unwelcome Guests: Airbnb, Cities Battle Over Illegal Short-Term Rentals
| May 24, 2018
By Scott Zamost | Hannah Kliot | Morgan Brennan | Samantha Kummerer| Lora Kolodny The SUV slowly approaches an apartment complex in a quiet residential section of Miami Beach, Florida. On the second floor balcony, a group is gathered. Code Compliance Officer Vijma Maharaj approaches, her body camera recording, and tells them she has bad news. The apartment they rented on Airbnb is illegal. While tourist-dense South Beach, where the major hotels are located, largely allows short-term rentals, it's a different story in large portions of the residential areas of Miami Beach, where rentals under six months and a day are banned. The eigh...
Rancho Pescadero in Todos Santos, Mexico to Close in July for Property-Wide Renovations
Rancho Pescadero | May 24, 2018
TODOS SANTOS, MX (May 24, 2018) – Rancho Pescadero, set amidst the natural beauty of organic farms, empty beaches and the Pacific surf, will temporarily close its doors July 1 to embark on property-wide enhancements. Maintaining its hidden-gem charm and continuing a sustainable design, Rancho Pescadero will reopen with 95 guest rooms and suites in December 2019 timed for its 10-year anniversary. The design will continue to embrace the authentic beauty of Baja and connect guests to its stunning 30 acres of beach and farmland. Upon completion, Rancho Pescadero will debut an oceanfront restaurant and lagoon pool, a new 20,000 sq. ft....
Red Roof® Names Ted Hutchins as New Chief Information Officer
May 24, 2018
Columbus, OH – May 24, 2018 – Leading Upscale Economy® hotel brand Red Roof announces Ted Hutchins will join the brand as Chief Information Officer. Hutchins brings a stellar track record in Information Technology (IT) strategy, management and development, with an extensive resume that includes significant experience in the hospitality sector. At Red Roof, Hutchins will be responsible for establishing overall IT strategy and directing daily IT operations. He will oversee a broad range of technological advancements for the brand, with a major focus on self-service development. "Ted's proven track record of innovative Info...
Radisson Hotel Group Appoints Ramzy Fenianos as Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific
Radisson Hotel Group | May 24, 2018
Radisson Hotel Group has appointed Ramzy Fenianos as Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific. Joining on 11th June 2018, Ramzy will be based at the company's Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. He will also be a member of the Asia Pacific executive committee. In this key role, he will oversee all aspects of the group's regional development activities, including leading the Asia Pacific development team in identifying new opportunities to drive growth and strategic expansion of our hotel portfolio. "In line with Destination 2022, our company's new strategic and operating plan, we have ambitious goals for the expansion of our Asia Pac...
Hyatt Signs with Realmside for Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin, Marking Brand First in Ireland
The Hyatt Centric Experience | May 24, 2018
CHICAGO--Hyatt Hotel Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced plans for the first Hyatt property in Ireland, Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin. A Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement for a Hyatt Centric hotel in Dublin with Realmside Ltd, an affiliate of Hodson Bay Group, an Irish hotel and property group owned by the O'Sullivan family. The 234-room hotel will be managed by Hodson Bay Group Management Ltd and is expected to open in May 2019. "We are excited about our first hotel in Ireland," said Nuno Galvao Pinto, regional vice president, real estate and development, Europe and North Africa for Hyatt. "The deal for a Hy...
LuMINN Hotel Minneapolis Is Elevating Guest Engagement via Intelity/INNCOM Integration
Intelity | May 24, 2018
Guests are controlling room lighting, temperature, alarm clock and more PLUS accessing hotel services and information directly from the Intelity bedside tablet [Orlando, Fla. and Niantic, Conn, – May 24, 2018] — Guests staying at the LuMINN Hotel Minneapolis, an Ascent Hotel Collection Member, are controlling their room environments and engaging with the property in exciting new ways. Since adding Intelity ICEbedside tablets to each guestroom – which are interfaced to the INNCOM by Honeywell Integrated Room Automation Systems (IRAS) – guests are controlling room temperature, lighting, and alarm clock directly fr...
Ryman Hospitality Properties Reveals Plans for $150 Million Expansion of Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. | May 24, 2018
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 24, 2018 -- Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE:RHP), a lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT") specializing in group-oriented, destination hotel assets in urban and resort markets, today announced plans for a $150 million expansion of Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla. The planned expansion will add 303 guest rooms to the resort's current 1,416 room inventory and 90,000 square feet of carpeted meeting and pre-function space. Once complete, the planned expansion will bring the total convention, meeting and pre-function space at Gaylord Palms to approximately 490,000...
Experience Hospitality’s ‘Most Innovative Technology’ at HITEC Houston With Beekeeper
Beekeeper | May 24, 2018
Engaging multi-lingual employees without emails is crucial for reducing turnover, boosting staff engagement, driving efficiencies and improving guest satisfaction; Visit Beekeeper in Booth 1702 and Attend the Beekeeper Breakfast with Special Guest Sixty Hotels SAN FRANCISCO, CA May 24, 2018 - Next month C-level hotel executives will meet in Houston to attend HITEC, the world's largest hospitality industry technology exposition and conference. One of the hottest solutions on the market today, Beekeeper, voted the "Most Innovative Technology" for 2018 by HTNG, will showcase its simplified, secure, and easy-to-use tool that stores in one c...
Paramount Hotel Group Adds Courtyard By Marriott Columbus West To Portfolio
Paramount Hotel Group | May 24, 2018
Columbus, Ohio, May 24, 2018 – Paramount Hotel Group, a growing full-service third-party hotel management company, announced today that it has been awarded the management contract for the Courtyard by Marriott Columbus West hotel. Ethan Kramer, President of Paramount, made the announcement. Located at 2350 Westbelt Drive in Columbus, Ohio, the Courtyard by Marriott Columbus West is ideally situated off Interstate 70 and 270 and located just minutes from downtown Columbus and Ohio State University, as well as other area attractions. The 150-room hotel boasts 8,790 sq. feet of meeting space between eight rooms. The Grand Ballroom, t...
The Rainmaker Group Now Integrates With Hotel Property Management System, RoomKeyPMS
Rainmaker | May 24, 2018
ALPHARETTA, GA. — May 24, 2018 —The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced that the integration between RoomKeyPMS and revintel®, Rainmaker's business intelligence (BI) solution, is now officially live. An early adopter of this new integration is The Spectator Hotel, a boutique property in Charleston, SC, managed by Charlestowne Hotels. "We're excited to finally have a best-of-breed BI platform in our toolkit and look forward to rolling this out to additional Charlestowne properties," said Johnathan Capps, Vice President of Reve...
TravelSmart VIP to expand portfolio for members with two brand new resorts
TravelSmartVIP | May 23, 2018
TravelSmart VIP, Sunwing Travel Group's exclusive vacation membership, has proudly announced two brand-new Royalton Luxury Resort all-inclusive properties in highly sought-after travel destinations — Royalton Cancun is set to open late 2018 and Royalton Antigua will début in early 2019. Located in one of the World's most popular vacation destinations, Royalton Cancun will offer oceanfront luxury suites and Royalton's first Rooftop SkyClub. Guests will be able to travel from the airport to Royalton Cancun and the vibrant Cancun Strip in only 30 minutes. This new generation, all-inclusive resort will also feature the Agav...
Opening in August, the Doug Pitcock ‘49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center Now Booking Meetings, Weddings, Individual Guest Reservations
May 23, 2018
New Hotel & Conference Center Will Offer the University's Resources to All Markets College Station, Texas, May 2018 … Rising on the legendary campus, the new Doug Pitcock '49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center(www.TexasAMHotelCC.com) is nearing completion and now booking reservations for group meetings, weddings and individual guests. Scheduled to open in August 2018, the 250-room property will offer the university's exceptional academic, cultural and athletic resources to all markets regardless of affiliation or event theme. Under the management of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, the new property will be...
New Owner, the Shinn Family, Unveils Plans for The Lancaster Hotel’s Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation
The Lancaster Hotel | May 23, 2018
Houston, TX –The Lancaster Hotel has unveiled plans for the iconic hotel's multi-million-dollar renovation, taking place under new owners, the Shinn family of Dallas. The redesigned hotel will place a new focus on the visual arts, complementing the property's location in Houston's vibrant theater and performing arts district, while acknowledging its legacy as a Texas Historic Landmark. In July 2017, the group of second and third-generation hoteliers purchased The Lancaster Hotel from the Lusk family, longtime owners and descendants of the 1926 hotel's owner, Michele DeGeorge. With initial plans to renovate the hotel over a two-yea...
Delta Hotels Debuts in Germany with Opening of Delta Hotels by Marriott Frankfurt Offenbach
Delta Hotels by Marriott | May 23, 2018
Delta Hotels, part of Marriott International, today officially launched Delta Hotels by Marriott Frankfurt Offenbach marking the European debut of the hotel brand. The opening is a significant landmark in the global rollout of the highly regarded Delta Hotels portfolio – one of the company's fastest growing brands. "We are delighted to welcome Delta Hotels Frankfurt Offenbach into our portfolio and offer a quality accommodation option that reflects travellers desire for a simple, yet full-service premium hospitality experience," said John Licence, Vice President Premium and Select Brands, Europe at Marriott International. "We prov...
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg Set to Open Mid-Summer 2018 in Tennessee
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg | May 23, 2018
Gatlinburg, Tenn. (May 23, 2018)—Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg, the anticipated new riverfront resort in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, today announced its mid-summer 2018 opening with a new general manager at the helm. Ideally situated for endless exploration, Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and within walking distance of top area attractions such as Anakeesta Outdoor Theme Park, shops, and restaurants. When it opens, the five-acre, 163-room resort will incorporate a casual-luxe design found throughout guestrooms and public spaces, including a variety of accommodatio...
“Maestro PMS Is at The Heart of Our Business” Guest Preference and Stay History Across Multiple Modules Drives Personalized Service, Increases Sta
Maestro PMS | May 23, 2018
"Now our guests have a more positive stay… thanks to Maestro." Markham, Ontario – May 23, 2018 – For hundreds of independent resort, hotel, conference center and multi-property operators, the Maestro Property Management Solution is the hub of operations. Maestro's property management software centralizes a rich supply of guest information across 20+ seamlessly-integrated modules. "Maestro is more than one of the most sophisticated, stable and reliable property management systems for independents on the market today," said Warren Dehan, Maestro PMS President. "It is also a uniquely flexible, scalable solution that offe...
Suning Real Estate and MGM Plan June 2018 Launch of New Bellagio Shanghai
Suning | May 23, 2018
SHANGHAI, May 23, 2018 -- Suning Real Estate - a subsidiary of China's commercial giant Suning Holdings Group - and MGM will officially launch a new Bellagio Shanghai on 8 June 2018, marking the first international hotel to follow the famous Bellagio Towers of Las Vegas. Ideally located on the banks of the Suzhou River, the art-deco inspired Bellagio Shanghai boasts panoramic views of the futuristic Pudong skyline, the Bund's famed waterfront promenade and the Lujiazui financial district. With nearby locations including Nanjing Road, one of the world's busiest shopping streets, and China'stallest building, the 632 metre ...
Boston’s XV Beacon Hotel Appoints Kara Smith as Director of Sales & Marketing
XV Beacon | May 23, 2018
BOSTON, MASS. (May 23, 2018) – XV Beacon, the award winning boutique address located atop Boston's Beacon Hill, has named Kara Smith as Director of Sales & Marketing. Drawing upon nearly a decade of business travel and catering sales experience earned at properties in and around Boston, Smith now leads all sales and marketing efforts for XV Beacon, including planning and implementing innovative sales, marketing and product development initiatives. In her new role, Smith also serves as the main point of contact for existing group, meetings and incentive clientele; leads outreach to expand the hotel's current and prospective cli...
Hilton and Country Garden Hotels Group Form Strategic Partnership for Conversion of Properties to Hilton Brands
Hilton | May 23, 2018
SHANGHAI and McLean, Va., May 23, 2018 -- Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Country Garden Hotels Group have announced a strategic partnership which will see numerous Country Garden hotel properties managed by Hilton, primarily with its DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brands. The partnership, formalized during a signing ceremony attended in Shanghai by Hilton CEO Christopher J. Nassetta and Country Garden Vice President Xie Shutai, sees an initial six hotels owned by Country Garden now trading as Hilton branded properties or in the pipeline. As one of China'slargest property developers, Country Garden has an existing portfolio of ov...
Ratanakorn Asset and IHG Sign Agreement for Development of Eight New Properties in Thailand’s Key Resort Destinations
IHG | May 23, 2018
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, in partnership with Ratanakorn Asset, has announced the momentous signing of eight new properties in Thailand's key resort destinations of Pattaya, Rayong, Phuket, Khao Lak and Koh Samui. The multi-brand signing, consisting of new-builds and a conversion across the Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express® and Staybridge Suites brands, will add more than 2,000 rooms and ramp up IHG's presence in the country, which already boasts the group's largest system size in the region. The hotels are set to open from this year to 2027. Clarence Tan, Managing Director...
What Should Hotels Learn and Copy From AirBnB
Patrick Landman | May 23, 2018
By Patrick Landman The hotel industry generally suffers from a victim mentality. AirBnB is the big bad wolf that is not playing according to our rules. Them and other sharing economy business models are bringing damage to our hotels, and it isn't happening in a fair way. But let's turn the game around and find out what we can learn from them to become better at our own business, hotel management, a.k.a. hospitality … Let's have a look at their strategies to find some disruptive ideas and see how we can apply them in our hotels. Ready? Innovative Strategies for Hotels in the Sharing Economy Age 1.USE OF EXPERIENTIAL HO...
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives Appoints Candice Barwell as Director of Sales & Marketing
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts | May 23, 2018
Maldives, May 22, 2018 – Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives is delighted to announce the appointment of Candice Barwell as the resort's new director of sales and marketing. Set to join the team this month, Barwell will be responsible for planning and implementing the sales and marketing strategy, optimizing the hotel's revenue and market share, and will continue to establish Shangri-La's Villingili as one of the leading luxury resorts in the Maldives. Barwell has over 20 years of experience in the luxury hotel and hospitality industry having worked with some of the world's leading hotel brands across Europe and the...
Tips to Fill Your Urban Hotel This Summer
Larry Mogelonsky | May 23, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Every North American resort owner knows that the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is peak. The kids are out of school by mid-to-late June, making it family time for the beach, the great outdoors or a meticulously planned European vacation. For a moment, though, let's focus on urban properties. Bricks and mortar are depreciated all 12 months of the year. There are no summer breaks in your debt obligations even as the meetings and conference segment wanes. Yes, weekend occupancies may be buoyed by weddings or other citywide events, but you still can't thrive off two nights of r...
