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Industry Happenings
Strand Hospitality Services Assumes Management of Two Kinston, North Carolina Hotels
Strand Hospitality | March 30, 2018
(Kinston, N.C.) April 2, 2018 – Strand Hospitality Services, a leading provider of hospitality operations, consulting and advisory services, recently announced that it has assumed management of the Hampton Inn-Kinston located at 1382 US-258, Kinston, N.C. and the Holiday Inn Express-Kinston which is located at 1156 Hill Farm Road, Kinston, N.C. The Hampton Inn-Kinston is situated just one mile from downtown Kinston and right off Highway 70 Bypass and Highway 258 South making it the perfect location for both leisure and business travelers alike. The hotel boasts 122 spacious guest rooms and eight flexible meeting rooms. Other ameni...
R.D. Olson Development Opens 271-Room Marriott Irvine Spectrum in Southern California Led by General Manager Chris Harrison
Marriott Irvine Spectrum | March 29, 2018
As the first new build, full-service hotel to open in Orange County in more than a decade, Marriott Irvine Spectrum's grand opening demonstrates the company's continued growth and development in Southern California. Located in the city's business and entertainment hub, the new hotel inspires guests throughout the building with unique artwork and design that embraces the Irvine Ranch. "Marriott Hotels has been on a transformational journey to push the boundaries of innovation in travel and to create experiences that inspire our guests," said Julius Robinson, senior vice president, Marriott International. "The Marriott Irvine Spectrum del...
Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Resort Completes Renovation of 338 Guestrooms and Suites
March 29, 2018
COUER D'ALENE, Idaho (March 29, 2018) – The Coeur d'Alene Resort is elevating its gorgeous lakefront experience by completely upgrading all 338 of its guestrooms and suites. The resort also revamped its conference center to enhance the group guest experience. Room Upgrades The entire in-room experience has been reconsidered with comfort in mind. The resort first researched the most comfortable sleeping environments by testing several bedding options with guests and asking for feedback over the past year. Every room is now updated with the plush bedding that resonated most with guests – new mattresses, toppers, pillows, s...
NewcrestImage Opens Hyatt Place in Oklahoma City’s Historic Bricktown Neighborhood
NewcrestImage | March 29, 2018
NewcrestImage has expanded its portfolio to 28 owned and operated properties with the opening of a five-floor, 134-room Hyatt Place in the industrial-chic Bricktown historic district just east of Oklahoma City's downtown business center. "Together with our partners at Hyatt Hotels, we have created a hotel that combines uptown style with down-home comfort," according to Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. "It is a distinctive destination that respects the neighborhood's past as a warehouse district, while emphasizing the area's repurposed and revitalized modern spirit." The Hyatt Place features a "cozy contemporary" style in ...
David Almany Appointed Chef de Cuisine of 1 Pico at Shutters on the Beach
| March 29, 2018
Santa Monica's premier beachfront dining destination, 1 Pico, has appointed David Almany as Chef de Cuisine. Following a globetrotting career that has taken him from his native Los Angeles to Singapore, Almany returns stateside to develop 1 Pico's new culinary program. Set to launch in April at the renowned Shutters on the Beach hotel, the refreshed menu of 1 Pico will feature light, coastal-Californian cuisine and market-fresh seafood. AROUND THE WORLD & BACK TO THE BEACH Chef Almany joins 1 Pico from his most recent position as Executive Chef and Partner at Angeleno, a Michelin-recommended, Italian-American restaurant in Singapore...
Hospitality Marketing in 2018: 5 Digital Trends to Watch [Infographic]
MDG Advertising | March 29, 2018
Hospitality marketing is in a state of flux in 2018. The continued growth of online platforms, increasing ubiquity of mobile devices, and shifts in U.S. demographics are fundamentally changing how accommodations are found, researched, and booked. What does this mean for brands? How should you be reshaping your marketing strategy? Which digital tactics and channels are worth watching closely this year? To find out, we went through a host of recent research and analyst reports. To see what emerged, take a look at the overview below, as well as MDG's new infographic, Hospitality Marketing in 2018: 5 Digital Trends to Watch. ...
IHG Signs With Watson Elite for Hotel Indigo Sydney Central Set to Open in 2021
IHG | March 29, 2018
Travellers will soon have a refreshingly local way to satisfy their curiosity when staying in Sydney, with the signing of Hotel Indigo Sydney Central by IHG® and Watson Elite. 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 Sydney's Central precinct, with its rich history, is the perfect fit for the brand. When it opens in 2021, Hotel Indigo Sydney Central's design, created by Bates Smart, will draw its unique identity from the neighbourhood's rich heritage and the nuances of the site. The cantil...
Viceroy Hotel Group Welcomes Kahi Arnaud as Director of Sales and Marketing of Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills
Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills | March 29, 2018
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 29, 2018) - Viceroy Hotel Group is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kahi Arnaud to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. Arnaud brings more than 17 years of hospitality experience in international luxury sales, customer retention strategies and daily sales operations with resort destinations and city properties. In his new role, Kahi will lead all sales, marketing and revenue generation efforts for the property. "We are delighted to have Kahi join our team at Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills as Director of Sales and Marketing," says Diego Heredia, General...
Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts Appoints Two New General Managers to Its Senior Leadership Team
Jumeirah Group | March 29, 2018
Dubai, UAE: Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian Resort of Dubai operated by Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, has appointed two new General Managers to its senior leadership team – Azar Saliba at Jumeirah Al Naseem and Pinar Kartal Timer at Jumeirah Al Qasr. The new appointments complete the current senior leadership structure at Madinat Jumeirah, headed by Managing Director Stefan Bollhalder and supported by the existing General Manager of Jumeirah Mina A'Salam Andy Cuthbert. Former Jumeirah Al Qasr General Manager Azar Saliba takes on the role of General Manager, Jumeirah Al Naseem, following the departure of Richard Alexander, who has mov...
Two Roads Hospitality Appoints Mitch Lazar as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Two Roads Hospitality | March 29, 2018
Denver, Co., March 29, 2018 – International lifestyle company Two Roads Hospitality has appointed Mitch Lazar as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. As part of the marketing team, Lazar will oversee business expansion through strategic alliances, sponsorships and brand partnerships to drive new customer acquisition while increasing guest engagement and retention. Most recently, Lazar was the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Craftsy, which Comcast NBC Universal acquired in May 2017. During his four-year tenure in this role, he built and managed over 100 partnerships with some of the world's leading brands,...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Names Rikki Boparai Vice President Operations
March 29, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Rikki Boparai vice president operations. Greg Champion, Benchmark's president and COO, made the announcement. "It is a real pleasure to congratulate Rikki on his newest promotion within our company," said Mr. Champion. "He has provided important leadership and operational acumen at properties coast to coast and has the unique ability to discover and help develop new hospitality talent for Benchmark in the future. Rikki is the personification of our company's Be The Difference service culture." Rikki Boparai's promotion builds on 1...
Effective Ways of Waste Management in the Hotel Industry and Its Importance
Erich Lawson | March 29, 2018
By Erich Lawson Hotels are chief consumers of resources, and they immensely contribute to the generation of waste. In the era of Green Economy and green strategies recycling would benefit not only the environment but also the industry. It is essential for a hotel industry to have an effective waste management system which focuses on reducing waste, reusing useful materials and recycling them. Commercial processes tend to generate a lot of waste and require regular maintenance and expensive waste disposal. Importance of Waste Management in Hotels Waste management in hotels is important as it is getting increasingly difficult to dispose o...
Rev Up Productivity: The Rise of IoT & Voice
Paul Van Meerendonk | March 29, 2018
By Paul Van Meerendonk Who didn't love the '90s? We had pagers, Spice Girls, video rental stores and paid for our internet connection by the minute. Two decades ago, a household would temporarily sacrifice their only phone line just to connect one stationary device to the World Wide Web. Today, it's difficult to count the number of devices simultaneously connected to the internet in a single home. From TVs, thermostats, doorbells, cameras, lighting, voice-controlled assistants, tablets and mobile devices, a family of four could easily have upward of 20 connected "things"—hence we now have the Internet of Thin...
It’s March Madness and Everything Is Awesome
Geneva Rinehart | March 29, 2018
Celebrating 30 years, Hunter packed the right amount of positive energy and insights for the hotel industry By Geneva Rinehart As more and more events are added to the schedule each year, too often we hear the same speakers rehash the same industry information. From the start, the Hunter Hotel Conference set itself apart. Celebrating its 30-year anniversary, you couldn't escape the overwhelming optimism in the ballroom and spilling out to the atrium as well as the occasional bumping into fans in Atlanta for the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship South Regional at Philips Arena. While this short summary won't do justi...
HITEC Amsterdam 2018 Entrepreneur 20X Participants and Judge’s Panel Announced
HITEC | March 29, 2018
HFTP selected 11 hospitality technology startups and four expert judges for E20X Amsterdam 2018 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), is pleased to announce the selected hospitality technology startups and expert judges panel that will participate in Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Amsterdam next month. All registered HITEC attendees are welcome to attend the action-packed pitch competition taking place on Wednesday, 11 April 2018 beginning at 14:30 in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. Participants will have access to a tea...
HVS In Focus: Singapore, Preparing for a Smart Future
Kyu Baek Kim | March 29, 2018
By Kyu Baek Kim and Hok Yean CHEE The Republic of Singapore is a metropolitan city-state and island country in Southeast Asia with a total land area of 714.3 square kilometres. It is situated at the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia. With an economy supported by its growing population of approximately 5.6 million, Singapore rose as an economy in the latter half of the 20th century and today serves as a global commerce, finance, and transportation hub. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the direct and total contribution of Travel & Tourism to Singapore's Gross Domestic Prod...
The Evolution of the Booking Journey
David Gabriele | March 29, 2018
By David Gabriele We've all done it… We've all stayed at a beautiful hotel, visited an amazing destination, or eaten delicious food at a first-class restaurant. We've also taken great pleasure in telling our friends and family about our experiences. That is to say, we have become influencers or trusted brand ambassadors. Conversely, we've also asked for, and received, recommendations from our friends and family, and acted upon these recommendations. In other words, we have been influenced by people we regard as trusted influencers. This, as we know, is word-of-mouth, however it is offline and unscalable. Every hospitality busines...
Crestline Hotels & Resorts Selected to Manage the Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Shiloh/O’Fallon, IL and the Hampton Inn & Suites Annapolis
Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC | March 28, 2018
FAIRFAX, VA – March 28, 2018 Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC has been selected to manage the 128-room Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Shiloh/O'Fallon, IL and the recently renovated the 117-guestroom Hampton Inn & Suites in Annapolis, MD. Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Shiloh/O'Fallon, IL Overlooking a picturesque six-acre lake with an exquisite fountain, the Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Shiloh/O'Fallon is adjacent to the Regency Conference Center which offers 13,500 square feet of conference space. The hotel is near many local companies including St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Health Center, Northrup Grumman, SAIC, Mitre Corpor...
LaSalle Hotel Properties Board of Trustees Confirms Unanimous Rejection of Unsolicited Proposal from Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
LaSalle Hotel Properties | March 28, 2018
Grossly Inadequate Proposal Significantly Undervalues LaSalle and is Not in the Best Interests of Shareholders LaSalle Reiterates Confidence in its Ability to Deliver Exceptional Value to Shareholders Emphasizes Commitment to Previously Announced Share Repurchase Program Announces Dividend Policy for 2018 BETHESDA, Md. - March 28, 2018 - LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) ("LaSalle" or the "Company") today confirmed that its Board of Trustees (the "Board") unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal received on March 6, 2018 from Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) ("Pebblebrook") to acquire all outstanding shares of LaSalle in...
Marriott International Collaborates With Local Hotel Adventures on New Boutique Property Hotel Bella Grace Set to Open Late Spring
Hotel Bella Grace | March 28, 2018
CHARLESTON - March 28, 2018 – Set to open in late spring in Charleston, S.C., Hotel Bella Grace is a new, custom designed 50-room boutique hotel located next to the circa 1830 Historic Delaney House, which will serve as the hotel's breakfast room and meeting space. Guest rooms feature European-style built-in kitchens, state of the art entertainment technology with streaming capability and engaging interior design and décor. Steeped in history but reimagined with progressive features and functionality, Hotel Bella Grace will be managed by Donald Semmler, founder of Local Hotel Adventures. The property is independently operat...
RLJ Lodging Trust Sells the Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill for $95.5 Million or Approximately $262,000 Per Key
RLJ | March 28, 2018
BETHESDA, Md.--RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE:RLJ) today announced that the Company has sold the 364-room Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill ("Sheraton Philadelphia") in Philadelphia, PA for $95.5 million or approximately $262,000 per key. "The sale of another non-core asset at a highly accretive valuation highlights the meaningful progress we have achieved in realizing the embedded value from the FelCor merger," commented Ross H. Bierkan, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Not only is this disposition highly accretive on a valuation basis, but it is also accretive to our portfolio RevPAR and EBITDA margin. With this trans...
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Releases Letters to LaSalle Hotel Properties Proposing Merger
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | March 28, 2018
BETHESDA, Md. - March 28, 2018 - Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) ("Pebblebrook") today released two letters, dated March 6, 2018 and March 20, 2018, to LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) ("LaSalle") in which Pebblebrook proposed a share-for-share merger. The proposal represented an implied merger price of $30.001 per LaSalle common share, representing a premium of 18.0% to LaSalle's trailing 10-day VWAP as of March 5, 2018, based on the proposed fixed exchange ratio of 0.8655 Pebblebrook common shares for each LaSalle common share. As of the close on March 27, 2018, the implied merger price was $29.952 per LaSalle common share...
Hotels Check-in with Customers Ever-Changing Needs
Bhupender Singh | March 28, 2018
By Bhupender Singh Bhupender Singh, CEO of Intelenet® Global Services, says the hotel sector needs to utilise innovative technologies in order to keep its head above water A decade ago, using a travel agent to book your hotel and entire vacation was not considered an antiquated process, reserved only for your grandparents. Fast forward to 2018 and the travel industry has undergone a seismic shift. There's an app for virtually every traveller's need, whether you want a luxury apartment – right now, this second - or a quaint cottage (complete with hot tub) in the back-of-beyond. Tech giants are rapidly expanding their footprint...
PolyU Study Finds Right Audience Critical for Destination Marketing Mini-Movies
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | March 28, 2018
Destination marketers interested in how to produce effective mini-movies to market travel destinations need to ensure that they target the right audience, according to BSc graduate Tianyi Gong and Dr Vincent Tung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In a recently published research paper, the researchers observe that mini-movies are an increasingly popular and effective form of advertising, but many current efforts are missing the mark. In some circumstances mini-movies may actually have the opposite of the intended effect on the destination's image. Mini-movies have recently beco...
