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Industry Happenings
Do Loyalty Programs Really Create Loyalty?
Shep Hyken | April 20, 2018
By Shep Hyken Lately, I've been asked about loyalty programs. Any company can create a loyalty program. But, there is some confusion around what exactly a loyalty program is. A Wikipedia definition of a loyalty program summed it up well: Loyalty programs are structured marketing strategies designed by merchants to encourage customers to continue to shop at or use the services of businesses associated with each program. "Structured marketing strategies." Now, that's an interesting way of putting it. Anything you do to get a customer to start to do business with you – and gets them to return – could fall under the concept of a...
Washington Court Selects KEYPR as Exclusive Guest Experience Technology Partner
KEYPR | April 20, 2018
Luxury Capitol Hill hotel goes live with the KEYPR platform, bringing the latest technology to guests and staff Los Angeles, CA (April 20, 2018) -- KEYPR®, the technology company whose enterprise cloud platform is the leader in guest experience and hospitality management, announced today that its system has been fully deployed at the iconic Washington Court Hotel located in the heart of Washington, D.C. "We pride ourselves in maintaining the highest service standard, and are committed to delivering a boutique hotel experience with all the modern amenities," said Washington Court's Operations Manager, Greg Askew. "The KEYPR platform...
Top Concerns Hotels Need to Know About the GDPR and How to Prepare Your Action Plan
HEBS Digital | April 20, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, Vice President Strategy By now you've probably heard of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and should have started considering the effects of this regulation on your hotel website, data strategy, and hotel digital marketing. With the GDPR just around the corner, we've put together an overview that includes an explanation of the GDPR, the top misconceptions, and the most important considerations that will need to be implemented on your hotel website and included in your digital strategy. What is the GDPR? The GDPR is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the...
Thayer Ventures Announces Katherine Grass as Venture Partner, Expanding its Global Focus in Travel and Transportation
Thayer Ventures | April 20, 2018
San Francisco, April 20, 2018 – Thayer Ventures, the only venture capital firm focused exclusively on innovation in travel and transportation technology, announced the appointment of Katherine Grass as Venture partner. Grass is based in Madrid and will help further accelerate the firm's alignment with global strategic investors and its investment reach to promising start-ups in Europe and Asia. Thayer Ventures had the first close of its Fund III last year. "We are very pleased to welcome Katherine Grass," said Chris Hemmeter, Managing Director. "Katherine brings a unique track record, which includes growing a global investment fun...
ALICE to Showcase Their Products and Speak About the Future of Connected Hotel Operations at Maestro User Conference
ALICE | April 19, 2018
ALICE, the hospitality industry's leading operations platform, will be showcasing its complete suite of hotel management and guest engagement products at the Maestro User Conference, April 23-26. Click here to schedule a meeting with our team. ALICE integrates directly with Maestro PMS (as well as most other Property Management Systems). The integration between ALICE and Maestro gives hotels a holistic view to the guest journey -- from booking to post-stay. By combining the booking and billing information collected by Maestro and guest preference and request history recorded by ALICE, hoteliers have actionable data to improve guest serv...
Authentic Design a Key Component to Middle East Hospitality
OBM International | April 19, 2018
By: Magd Fahmy, Managing Director Riyadh, OBM International It is an exciting time in the Middle East for the hospitality industry. It's booming. According to recent data, the region has 580 hotel projects under contract with specific hotspots being the UAE and Saudi Arabia. With large budgets, these projects offer unique opportunities to reflect the region's rich cultural history and natural riches. However, it seems that many times although the projects technically fit the location, they don't fit the design aesthetic and region, lacking authenticity and doing a disserve to the culture of the region in which they live. One...
Charlestowne Hotels Welcomes Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa to Management Portfolio
Charlestowne Hotels | April 19, 2018
TUSCALOOSA, AL, April 19, 2018—Charlestowne Hotels proudly welcomes Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa as the newest addition to the company's rapidly expanding portfolio. Boasting riverfront views, a rooftop lounge, and close proximity to the University of Alabama, The Indigo Tuscaloosa has, in its first year, made a significant impact in the market as the city's newest boutique hotel with wide acceptance and support of the municipality and University. The five-story hotel is comprised of 91 guestrooms, Shoals, a lobby restaurant and bar, and The Lookout, a rooftop lounge with sweeping vistas overlooking the Black Warrior River and the Tusc...
Harbor View Hotel Appoints Diana Rosure as General Manager
Harbor View Hotel | April 19, 2018
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – April 19, 2018 – The historic Harbor View Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Diana Rosure to the post of general manager. Rosure brings a wealth of knowledge to her position with 18 years of experience in the luxury hotel sector and travel industry. She made her foray into hospitality with two Southern California landmark hotels – the legendary Hotel del Coronado and historic The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa. Rosure refined and honed her management and leadership skills in the luxury market and has been a key player for events, brand repositioning, hotel transitions, luxury spas, wellness p...
It’s All About Soul: Why the Way Your Hotel FEELS Is Impacting Your Bottom Line
Dean Minett | April 19, 2018
By Dean Minett It seems like there's a TED Talk for just about everything these days, so I was excited (though not exactly surprised) to come across Mark Harmon's speech about "the soul of a hotel." Harmon is the founder of Auberge Resorts, a chain of luxury boutique properties with locations throughout North and Central America. In 2017, it was rated the world's third best hotel brand by Travel + Leisure Magazine. If you watch Harmon's speech while looking at the properties in the Auberge collection, it's fairly easy to see his ideas and philosophies in action. He says that a successful hotel needs to have...
Grace White Barn Inn & Spa Appoints Matthew Padilla as New Executive Chef
Grace White Barn Inn & Spa | April 19, 2018
April, 2018 (Kennebunk, ME): Grace Hotels (www.gracehotels.com), the award-winning luxury hotel group, announces the appointment of culinary and Relais & Châteaux veteran Matthew Padilla as Executive Chef at Grace White Barn Inn & Spa and the acclaimed White Barn Restaurant. Overseeing all of the culinary operations and programming at Grace White Barn Inn & Spa, Padilla is bringing his passion for seasonal cooking and embracing local purveyors to the property, where he aims to create exquisite food that entices guests to return for more. In his new role, Padilla is taking extra care to preserve the beloved, traditional...
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Opens New Hotel Near the Southern Shores of Lake Powell in Arizona
April 19, 2018
Minneapolis - April 19, 2018 - Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson, a leading upper midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Page, AZ. Located at 880 Haul Road, the hotel is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts with its convenient location near the hiking trails at Horseshoe Bend and the picturesque views of Glen Canyon and the shores of Lake Powell. The new hotel features the brand's latest design, which includes modern interiors, stylish furnishings and spacious guest rooms and suites. "We are thrilled to welcome this beautiful addition to our portfolio," said Aly El-B...
The National Conference Center Promotes Todd Goldian to Director of Food and Beverage
The National Conference Center | April 19, 2018
LEESBURG, VA, April 2018—The National Conference Center and West Belmont Place are pleased to announce the promotion of Todd Goldian to Director of Food and Beverage, effective immediately. Todd Goldian was previously Executive Chef for the property, where he superbly led the culinary program, including serving as many as 2,700 meals a day in the Guest Dining Room, and delivering award-winning catered events for private and public functions of 10 to 2,000 people in The National's 55,000 square foot West Belmont Place Event Center. Mr. Goldian greatly expanded The National's BuyVA farm-to-table program and has taken the Chef's Tabl...
Owned by Connell Hospitality LLC and Managed by Davidson Hotels and Resorts, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Berkeley Heights Opens
Davidson Hotels & Resorts | April 19, 2018
BERKLEY HEIGHTS, N.J. - Embassy Suites by Hilton, a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels from Hilton (NYSE: HLT), announced today the opening of a newly-built hotel in Berkeley Heights. Embassy Suites by Hilton prides itself on offering guests an approachable and stress-free experience at each of its hotel properties. The brand new urban oasis Embassy Suites by Hilton Berkeley Heights is set amidst the rolling hills of Berkeley Heights, in the heart of Central New Jersey's pharma country. It is conveniently located 15 miles away from Newark Liberty International Airport and guests can enjoy easy access to The Summit train stati...
IHG, Along With Al-Futtaim, Open the Holiday Inn Dubai Festival City and Enter Agreement for New Staybridge Suites Dubai Festival City
IHG | April 19, 2018
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has further strengthened its long term alliance with Al-Futtaim, one of UAE's most progressive business conglomerates, with the opening of the highly anticipated Holiday Inn Dubai Festival City, the largest Holiday Inn hotel in the UAE. On this occasion, the partners also announced the signing of a management agreement for Staybridge Suites Dubai Festival City, which will debut the brand in Dubai. To mark this twofold celebration, IHG's global leadership team including Global CEO, Keith Barr and CEO EMEAA, Kenneth Macpherson were present for the signing and...
Who Will You See at Meet the Money?
Jim Butler | April 19, 2018
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 18 April 2018 - It's almost May, so our annual Meet the Money® Conference is almost here! JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® will host the 28th year of our national hotel finance and investment conference May 7-9, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency LAX. This must-attend event gives you access to plenty of efficient networking and the latest insights into industry trends and strategies. The industry's top hotel owners, developers, operators, brands, investors, lenders, and other capital providers come together every year at Meet the Money to ...
Rezidor Hotel Group Signs Agreement With Rauðsvík ehf and S26 Hotel ehf for New Build 195-Room Radisson RED Reykjavik
Rezidor Hotel Group | April 19, 2018
Rezidor Hotel Group AB (REZT), publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and part of Radisson Hotel Group, is proud to announce the signing of the first ever Radisson RED in the Nordics, scheduled to open in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, by 2020. Radisson RED is Radisson Hotel Group's upscale, select service hotel brand that presents a playful twist on the conventional. Radisson RED hotels inject new life into hospitality through informal services where anything goes, a social scene that's waiting to be shared and bold design that kick-starts the fun. "We are thrilled to introduce our bold Radisson RED brand to another vibrant and urb...
YOTEL Selected by İGA, the Constructer and Operator of İstanbul New Airport, to Manage New Build 451-room Hotel at İstanbul New Airport
| April 19, 2018
LONDON, April 19, 2018 -- Excellent design and technical innovations: İstanbul New Airport announces modernistic hotel, to enhance passenger experience İGA, the constructer and operator of İstanbul New Airport (İNA) for 25 years, and YOTEL, the Londonbased hotel group, have signed an exclusive hotel management contract. The hotel will be one of the biggest airport hotels in the world with both airside and landside access to 451 rooms. Located conveniently inside the main terminal building, it will be easily accessible to business and leisure travellers, airline crew and businesses within the airport and local environment. "We a...
Diamond Resorts Acquires The Modern Honolulu
Diamond Resorts | April 19, 2018
LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2018 -- Diamond Resorts™, a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, has closed on the acquisition of The Modern Honolulu, a boutique hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. Rated a Forbes Travel Four-Star hotel, The Modern Honolulu adds to Diamond Resorts' collection of premier resorts, and is the company's first managed property on Oahu. The Modern Honolulu is typified by a modern Hawaiian vibe, ocean and marina views, multiple food and beverage offerings, a full-service spa and two swimming pools. In addition, guests have immediate access to Waikiki Beach, and world-class shopping and ...
RLH Corporation Closes Sale of Red Lion Inn & Suites Bend for $5.5 Million
RLH Corporation | April 19, 2018
DENVER (April 19, 2018) — RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today the sale of Red Lion Inn & Suites Bend for $5.5 million. The hotel marks the sixth of 11 hotels being marketed for sale previously disclosed in October 2017. All hotels, including Red Lion Inn & Suites Bend have signed franchise license agreements to retain their RLH Corporation brand. RLH Corporation's total gain on the sales is expected to be approximately $2 million, and $3.8 million of the proceeds of the sales were used for debt repayment at the closing. Together with the other five previously announced sales, RLH Corporation's gain of sales is appro...
Using Predictive Guest Intelligence to Drive Guest Retention and Revenue
Concilio Labs | April 19, 2018
New e-book from Concilio Labs explores the power of actionable insights to anticipate guest needs, increase sales and optimize hotel business performance Washington, DC (April 19, 2018) – Concilio Labs, a leading hospitality technology company, today announced the release of a new e-book titled, "Using Predictive Guest Intelligence to Drive Guest Retention and Revenue." As the gap between guest expectations and hotels continuing to grow, the revealing e-book uncovers actionable strategies to better understand and measure up against those expectations. Predictive Guest Intelligence (PGI) takes a high-level look at all the data avai...
Bookings Rise for Peru’s Most Influential Hotel Chain Following SiteMinder Deal
SiteMinder | April 19, 2018
Dallas, USA – Online bookings have risen 25 percent for Peru's largest and most influential hotel chain, Casa Andina, only months since rolling out enterprise distribution technology from the global hotel industry's leading cloud platform, SiteMinder. The reported success signifies the latest milestone for SiteMinder in Latin America, where the company has cemented its rapidly-growing position as one of the region's trusted providers of best-in-class hotel technology. "All of us at Casa Andina know that our hotels are not just properties, they are a window to our country of Peru. To remain competitive in the local tourism sector, ...
Evaluating the Hype Behind Mobile Keyless Entry for Hotels
April 19, 2018
By Jos Schaap CEO and Founder - StayNTouch With the ongoing evolution of technology and consumer preferences, we frequently bear witness to a trend of forced adaptation amongst businesses, both large and small. Across industries, business owners can often recognize the tides of change rapidly approaching their service offering. Hoping not to be left behind, they fervently work to prepare for those impending upsets by adopting responsive, small-scale changes to ride the wave of the bigger vision and more innovative players. Adapt and evolve is the key to survival in a competitive consumer market, after all. The only problem is, in today'...
BLLA’s Boutique Hotel Investment Conference Returns June 6 With Who’s Who of Hospitality & Beyond
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | April 19, 2018
Industry Luminaries Come Together in New York City to Discuss Next Generation of Boutique Money New York – Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association's (BLLA) most acclaimed event of the year, the Boutique Hotel Investment Conference, returns June 6 for a powerhouse lineup at The Times Center in New York. This year's distinguished conference brings together industry's most elite hoteliers, C-level executives, entrepreneurs and investors as well as the most creative minds in the general boutique space for a day of analysis and networking. As the clear leaders in the boutique lifestyle space, BLLA's mission is to g...
General Manager Jason Sandoval Welcomes Guests to New 120-Room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Open in Middle River, Maryland
SpringHill Suites by Marriott | April 19, 2018
Middle River, MD – April 23, 2018 – Marriott International announced today that the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Middle River, Maryland is scheduled to open this Monday, April 23, 2018. The 120-suite hotel, located at 6110 Greenleigh Avenue, will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Middle River Hotel Partners, LLP and managed by USA Management II, Inc. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the SpringHill Suites Baltimore White Marsh/Middle River offers guests convenient access to the White Marsh Mall, the White Marsh Town Center and the Chesapeake Bay. The hotel is just north of the Baltimore Inner Harbor, th...
