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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Pollock Financial Group Selects Broughton Hotels to Manage Park James Hotel in Menlo Park, California
broughtonHOTELS | May 3, 2018
(Anaheim, CA, May 3, 2018) Broughton Hotels has been awarded the management contract to operate the Park James, a 61-room luxury boutique hotel in Menlo Park, CA, and Oak + Violet restaurant by Pollock Financial Group, a northern California based realty corporation. Park James hotel will feature a California craft kitchen restaurant concept, Oak + Violet, along with a lobby bar, a landscaped courtyard to accommodate outdoor meetings and events, and 1,200 square feet of indoor meeting space. "The Park James is a true labor of love for the company, and our chance to give back to the community of Menlo Park," said Jim Pollock, President an...
Timothy Edgecombe Appointed Director of Sales at Rosewood Washington, D.C.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts | May 3, 2018
Timothy Edgecombe has been appointed director of sales at Rosewood Washington, D.C., the luxurious urban retreat located in the heart of Georgetown. In this role, Timothy will provide leadership and strategic direction to Rosewood Washington, D.C.'s sales team to achieve and exceed annual revenue goals. Timothy joins Rosewood Washington, D.C. with nearly 30 years of sales experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, Tim served as director of travel industry and entertainment sales at Rosewood Washington, D.C.'s sister property, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York City. Prior to that role, Timothy held the position of sal...
IHG to Rebrand and Operate 13 UK Hotels Through Agreement With Foncière des Régions Following Acquisition From Starwood Capital Group
IHG | May 3, 2018
IHG to become largest luxury hotel operator in the UK, deal to include first UK properties for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants InterContinental Hotels Group ("IHG") [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] has today announced plans to expand its luxury and upscale estate in the UK. IHG has entered into a conditional agreement with Foncière des Régions ("FdR"), to rebrand and operate 12 high quality open hotels (2.2k rooms) and one pipeline hotel (185 rooms) into its portfolio across the UK. This deal will establish IHG as the leading luxury hotel operator in the UK, taking it to more than 2k rooms in this valuable, fast grow...
New Research Shows Consumers Spend $5.2 Billion Annually in Fraudulent and Misleading Hotel Booking Transactions
the American Hotel & Lodging Association | May 3, 2018
Nearly one in four consumers say they were misled by a third-party travel company Washington, D.C. – May 3, 2018 – As Americans begin gearing up for the busy summer travel season, new research from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests that online booking scams and fraudulent and misleading travel websites and companies continue to mislead and confuse consumers. That's why AHLA is encouraging consumers to Avoid Shady Deals and Have a Sunny Stay by searching smarter for their hotel stays through the launch of their summer "Search Smarter" education and awareness campaign. In a new survey commissioned by...
Starwood Capital Group to Sell an £830m ($1.1b) Portfolio of U.K. Hotels to Foncière des Régions
Starwood Capital Group | May 3, 2018
MIAMI, May 3, 2018 -- Starwood Capital Group ("Starwood"), a leading global private investment firm, announced today that a controlled affiliate has agreed to sell a portfolio of 14 U.K. hotels that form part of The Principal Hotel Company to Foncière des Régions (through its subsidiary dedicated to hotel real estate, Foncière des Murs). Terms of the transaction, which is expected to be completed in June 2018, were not disclosed. The portfolio consists of 14 leading, full-service hotels comprised of 2,638 keys and split across two distinct landmark brands, Principal (12 hotels) and De Vere (2 hotels). The ...
Apple Hospitality REIT Acquires Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown for $44 Million, or $210,000 Per Key
Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. | May 3, 2018
The new hotel was developed by Mortenson and will be managed by North Central Group. RICHMOND, Va.--Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) (the "Company" or "Apple Hospitality") today announced that it acquired the newly constructed 210-room Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton® Phoenix Downtown for a purchase price of approximately $44 million, or $210,000 per key. "The new Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Downtown is a great addition to our portfolio of select-service hotels," said Nelson Knight, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Apple Hospitality. "The hotel is sure to benefit from its prime location in th...
Choice Hotels Reveals 2018 ‘Best of Choice’ Award Winners at 64th Annual Convention
Choice Hotels | May 3, 2018
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 3, 2018 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, announced its "Best of Choice" award winners last night at the company's 64th Annual Convention in Las Vegas. Winners are selected for each Choice Hotels brand for their commitment to superior guest service and operational excellence, and rank among the top properties in Choice Hotels' portfolio. Below is the full list of the 2018 Choice Hotels "Best of Choice" award winners: Inn at the Mill, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member (Springdale, Ark.) – The unique 46-room hotel, locat...
Barnes Capital and IHG® to Develop a 150-Room Holiday Inn in Melbourne’s Coburg Suburb
IHG | May 3, 2018
IHG® has signed a deal with Barnes Capital to open a striking Holiday Inn® in Coburg, Melbourne's up-and-coming northern suburb, in 2020. When it opens in 2020, Holiday Inn Melbourne Coburg will enjoy views across the town and its surrounding landscape, including Coburg Lake Reserve. It will feature a gym and large meeting facilities, as well as a bar and all-day dining, establishing it as the destination to sip, dine and unwind. The 150-room new-build hotel will show off a bold, new design statement for Holiday Inn, created by architects Hachem, with its mirrored glass design destined to become a landmark in the heart of Coburg...
Hilton and Hotelaria Brasil Sign Strategic Development Agreement to Open the First Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Brazil
Hampton by Hilton | May 3, 2018
SAO PAULO, Brazil and MCLEAN, Va. – May 3, 2018 – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Hotelaria Brasil today announced the signing of a strategic development agreement for Hotelaria Brasil to initially develop five franchised Hampton by Hilton hotels in Brazil – marking the brand's debut in the country. The announcement underscores Hilton's commitment to expand throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, and reinforces the upper-midscale brand's momentum with 139 openings worldwide in 2017, including Hampton hotels in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. As part of the agreement, the companies have confirmed the fi...
Hotels Have a Growing Guest Loyalty Problem … and They May Not Even Know It
Terri Miller | May 3, 2018
By Terri Miller "We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better." – Jeff Bezos The ability to inspire guest loyalty is, without a doubt, a valuable predictor of long-term success within the hospitality industry. Loyal guests bring recurring revenue, and positive reviews, feedback, and recommendations, inspiring a virtuous circle of reward. However, there has been much discussion as of late alluding to the steady demise of traditional loyalty programs. The question has become less about how to make incremen...
HEDNA Announces Diverse Speaker Lineup and Refreshing Program for Global Distribution Conference in Lisbon
Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) | May 3, 2018
Conference to showcase thought leaders, innovations, new ideas, and a different perspective on guest and customer engagement. Washington, DC (May 3, 2018) – HEDNA, the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association, has announced the speaker lineup and agenda for the 2018 Distribution Conference in Lisbon, Portugal from June 4 to 6, 2018. The gathering is the only event that connects the most innovative thinkers, hospitality professionals, technology providers and experts across the globe. Click here to register for the event which is already on the way to selling out. 'A Conversation with Tomorrow's Guest,' is the theme o...
TravelClick Announces New Partnership With SEH United Hoteliers
SEH United Hoteliers | May 3, 2018
Partnership Offers SEH One-Stop-Shop for Everything from Reservations and Guest Management to Web Solutions and Business Intelligence NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 – TravelClick, a leading global provider of data and revenue-generating solutions for hoteliers, today announced the Company's new partnership with SEH United Hoteliers, Europe's very first multi-brand hotel cooperative, to better connect its hotel customers around the world with a full range of digital services, all on one platform. SEH has over 600 properties overall, which is equivalent to about 23,000 rooms. TravelClick developed a tailor-made solution fully adapted to all ...
Cendyn Nominated for Two World Travel Awards 2018 Across Three Regions
Cendyn | May 3, 2018
Cendyn has been nominated for Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider 2018 and Leading Data Driven Marketing Agency 2018 in North America, Asia and Europe Boca Raton, Florida - Thursday May 3rd, 2018 – Cendyn, the leading CRM and sales platform in the hospitality industry, has been nominated for two World Travel Awards across three regions; Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider 2018 and Leading Data Driven Marketing Agency 2018 in North America, Asia and Europe. "It's a true honor for us to be nominated again for these awards, especially across some of our biggest growth regions – Europe and Asia" says Charles De...
How to Minimize the Cost of Emotional Labor
Sheetal Singh | May 3, 2018
By Sheetal Singh and Court Williams While we have come to accept emotional labor as a critical aspect of being a good hotelier, both hotels and hoteliers struggle with the outcomes associated with engaging in emotional labor constantly. Burnout, stress and emotional exhaustion are terms we are all but too familiar with. Why is There a Cost to Emotional Labor? Over three decades ago Arlie Hochschild (1983) introduced the concept of emotional labor that extended our understanding of work related challenges beyond physical labor. A majority of her work focused on understanding its impact on airline personnel and how they coped with it. She...
Four Points by Sheraton Opens in Mount Prospect, Illinois
The Sage Agency | May 3, 2018
POINT 1: Marriott International, Inc.® today announced the opening of Four Points Mount Prospect O'Hare. Catering to the needs of today's everyday traveler, the hotel offers approachable design, stylish comfort and all the brand's popular extras including a 24-hour fitness center, a heated indoor swimming pool, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and the Best Brews & BBQ™ program, detailed below. POINT 2: Asset managed by Midas Hospitality, Four Points Mount Prospect O'Hare, previously under the name Country Inn, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation including all 93 spacious guest rooms. Amenities include a 24...
What Will Your Front Desk Staff Do With All the Extra Time They Have After Adopting Text Messaging Automation?
ALICE | May 2, 2018
Hotels using automated text messaging have seen guest engagement increase by over 25% by Alex Shashou Texting has emerged as one of the most popular ways for hotels to communicate with their guests. However, the time-consuming nature of one-on-one text messaging makes it seem at times at odds with the busy atmosphere of the front desk. A tool such as guest messaging automation increases employee productivity as it enables hoteliers to spend less time doing the actual sending and more time communicating. In recent beta testing, hotels that have adopted guest message automation as a part of their communication strategy have seen an increa...
Owned by African Hospitality Limited, Accra Marriott Hotel Opens in Ghana
Marriott Hotels | May 2, 2018
Marriott Hotels, part of Marriott International, today announced its debut in West Africa, with the highly anticipated opening of Accra Marriott Hotel. Owned by African Hospitality Limited, the hotel is strategically located opposite the Kotoka International Airport, making it the perfect "Gateway to West Africa". Set in the heart of Airport City, a burgeoning urban development, the Accra Marriott Hotel is just a few kilometers outside of the central business district providing easy access to major corporate businesses, government entities and well known city landmarks. "We are thrilled to open the Accra Marriott Hotel, a highly anticip...
PT. Alam Bali International Opens Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa in Indonesia
Renaissance Hotels | May 2, 2018
Renaissance Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., today announced the debut of Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa, the brand's first hotel in Indonesia. Owned by PT. Alam Bali International, the hotel is the southernmost Marriott hotel on the island and overlooks Bali's Bukit peninsula, best known for the cliff-fringed coastlines. "The spectacular new Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa sets the stage for discovering the beautiful island of Bali," said George Fleck, Vice President of Global Marketing & Management, Renaissance Hotels. "With its artful design, vibrant authentic dining scene and engaging experience...
Hotel Check-In Has Never Been Easier
TTI Scanning Solutions | May 2, 2018
DESKO and TTI Scanning Solutions provide hotel solution to speed up check-in process Upon arrival at the hotel reception desk, guests provide extensive personal data, e.g. name or date of birth, before they will be handed over the room key. Most often the agent behind the desk populates these details manually, a time-consuming and error-prone process resulting in waiting times and faulty customer information. To streamline the check-in process and avoid queues in front of the reception desk, DESKO and industry leader TTI Scanning Solutions work together to automate and speed up data collection at check-in, thereby increasing accuracy an...
Labor Shortages and Inflation Identified as Key Concerns in Roundtable of Construction Executives
Cicero's Development Corporation | May 2, 2018
PLAINFIELD, IL, MAY 2, 2018 -- A roundtable discussion of construction executives revealed labor shortages, the rising costs for materials, and a dearth of qualified subcontractors to be issues that may hamper the industry's growth. Cicero's Development Corp., a general contractor specializing in commercial property renovations, hosted the roundtable at The Palmer House in Chicago on April 19, 2018. It included executives and owners of construction companies from Florida, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Sam Cicero, Jr., president of Cicero's, commented on the discussions: "What was immediately evid...
Your Hotel Website: What Are You Trying to Say?
Conor Kenny | May 2, 2018
By Conor Kenny It's very tempting to write something that sounds great but what if the person reading it doesn't understand? You might just run a great and beautiful hotel, a fantastic restaurant or an attractive attraction but if those simple messages are lost in language then you are tying your legs together before you even start the race. George Bernard Shaw said - "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" Not only is it a problem, it is also dangerous. You might like the 'sound' of what you write but I mightn't 'understand'. The goal, the only goal, of any communication is to ensure that the ...
IHG Signs With Focus Ventures to Develop Dual-Branded Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn in the Heart of Melbourne’s Retail District
IHG | May 2, 2018
IHG® will open its first Australian dual-branded hotel by 2022 with the signing of Hotel Indigo® Melbourne Little Collins and Holiday Inn® Melbourne Bourke Street Mall, in the heart of the CBD. Currently trading as The Walk Arcade, the site is arguably Melbourne CBD's most strategic retail destination and will allow the hotels to form a symbiotic relationship and capitalise on Melbourne's booming corporate and leisure demand. The property will front onto Bourke Street Mall on one side and Little Collins St on the other, allowing Holiday Inn to make the most of the pedestrianised retail haven and Hotel Indigo to bring the edg...
Health and Success in the Summer of 2018
Robert A. Rauch | May 2, 2018
By Robert A. Rauch, CHA I seldom write about success or health, typically favoring hotel operations, leadership, finance, marketing or forecasts. But today, I offer a summer check up on our success, health, wellness and overall fitness plan, one that I have just commenced. Because it is May, we have a full summer ahead of us. After reading Tom Brady's new book, The TB-12 Method, my colleague, Larry Broughton's book, Flashpoints for achievers and a book by Bob Burg and John David Mann, called Go-Giver, I decided this was the perfect time to set up a summer program for health and success. Brady's book is about pliability, flexibility, fi...
The Mayfair Hotel LA to Join Crescent Hotels & Resorts Latitudes Collection of Lifestyle Hotels
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | May 2, 2018
Los Angeles, CA (May 2, 2018) – The 296-room Mayfair Hotel in Los Angeles will join Crescent Hotels & Resorts "Latitudes" collection of lifestyle hotels. Crescent & Latitudes, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of major hotels, resorts and conference centers throughout the United States and Canada. The newly opened, completely renovated and beautifully appointed Mayfair Hotel is located in the financial district of downtown Los Angeles, The Mayfair Hotel is a short walk to the Staples Center, LA Live, and the 7th Street Restaurant and Shopping Corridor, including the 7th Street/Metro Center subw...
