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Industry Happenings
Hilton Signs With Embassy Group to Develop 500-Room Dual-Branded Property in Bengaluru
Embassy | March 19, 2018
BENGALURU, India, March 19, 2018 - Hilton, today, announced a further expansion of its portfolio in India, following the signing of management agreements with Embassy Group to develop two hotels in Bengaluru. The 500-room dual-branded hotel that features a Hilton Hotels & Resorts and a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the same complex will be located within the 100-acre Embassy TechVillage Business Park near Marathalli on ORR South Bengaluru. Following the success of Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golf Links and the subsequent signing of the first dual-branded 620-keys twin hotels at Embassy Manyata Business Park, this is the third project with...
Condor Hospitality Trust Sells Non-Core Legacy Comfort Suites Hotel for $6.1 Million
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. | March 19, 2018
BETHESDA, Md. - March 19, 2018 - Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: CDOR), a hotel-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered and incorporated in the state of Maryland, today announced the closing on the sale of a legacy hotel asset, the 135-room Comfort Suites located at 52939 US 933 North in South Bend, IN for $6.1 million. Net proceeds from the sale will be applied to outstanding debt on the Company's $150 million secured credit facility. "With the closing of the sale of the Comfort Suites South Bend, we now own only three legacy hotels of the 55 that the Company owned at the beginning of 2015," said Bill B...
Finding & Recruiting Talent in Hospitality: Never More Than Two Degrees of Separation
David Lund | March 19, 2018
By David Lund Finding good people in our industry is a tough job, especially in certain economies. It is extra tough when you are looking for a particular skill set. Hospitality does not have the reputation for paying well. We have the reputation for long hours and working on weekends and holidays. Not exactly the millennial's picture-perfect career profile. Hospitality is special and either you get it and you drank the Kool-Aid or you don't. According to salary.com a hospitality degree is number four on the top eight college degrees with the worst return on investment. How is that for a hard pill to swallow. There is hope and there are...
Social Media Reviews Can Help Crack New Hospitality Markets in China and Beyond
Geoffrey Ryskamp | March 19, 2018
By Geoffrey Ryskamp Over the last decade, social media reviews have transformed from a minor element of brand monitoring to a significant indicator of consumer perception. The social media landscape for hospitality has changed dramatically in recent years: hotel social reviews have grown 20 times since the start of the decade, and in the last ten years, many new online review sites have emerged globally. In addition to Booking.com, TripAdvisor and Google--which account for more than 80 percent of hotel social reviews--China's largest online travel agency and review site Ctrip is now a major global player, achieving 16x growth betwee...
Social Media Hospitality Best Practices
Scott Cohen | March 19, 2018
By Scott Cohen Introduction The hospitality sector continues to be one of the world's fastest expanding industries – with global estimates reaching $1.6 trillion in 2018. The market is being driven both by more disposable income from emerging economies and also rising desire to travel more broadly in the developed world. The number of international travelers has doubled over the last 20 years with growth not only in developing countries, but also in established markets like the U.S. which is on pace for another record breaking year in 2018. Further, strong economies also mean a healthy demand for business travel so the sector is s...
Vincent Wallez Named Executive Chef at Grand Velas Los Cabos
Grand Velas Los Cabos | March 19, 2018
Vincent Wallez has been named Executive Chef of the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Los Cabos. In his new position, he oversees the resort's dining offerings, catering, 24 hour room service, pool and beach-side dining, and more. The appointment is effective immediately. Wallez has spent 14 years in the culinary field, most recently as the Executive Chef of NIZUC Resort and Spa in Cancun since opening. Prior to that, he was the Executive Chef of Belmond La Samanna on St. Martin in the Caribbean. During his career, he has expanded his culinary knowledge through travel, learning about different cultures and their traditions. Wallez is origina...
Measuring the Investment in Training
Robert Mandelbaum | March 19, 2018
By Robert Mandelbaum In 2016, the average property in our Trends® in the Hotel Industry survey sample spent 31.3 percent of its total revenue, or 42.8 percent of its total operating expenses on labor costs. This includes the salaries, wages, benefits, service charges, and bonuses paid to employees, as well as payments made for contracted labor. By far, labor related costs are the largest operating expense for hotels regardless of property type. Not only is labor a large expense, but it is a growing expense. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average total compensation for U.S. hospitality employees has increased more t...
Two Top Trends Transforming Hotel Loyalty
Brian Steele | March 19, 2018
By Brian Steele There's a new generation of travelers using points for much more than hotel stays. In order to keep their loyalty programs engaging, brands would be wise to take notice of two key movements affecting their consumers: liquid currency and generational shifts. Liquid Currency Liquid currency refers to the ability to spend loyalty points in a retail setting, as if it was actual money. This is a growing trend that can help hotel brands increase on-property spend outside of the portfolio. Some hotels may see value in having their points be totally liquid and spendable at any point of sale (La Quinta has already adopted this a...
Maxim Hotel Brokerage Announces Several California, Nevada, Arizona and Portfolio Hotel Closings
Maxim Hotel Brokerage | March 19, 2018
Newport Beach, CA – March 19, 2018 -- Maxim Hotel Brokerage is pleased to announce the sale of seven hotels and a casino in five separate transactions since December, 2017. 97-room Courtyard by Marriott Ventura Simi Valley, California; Maxim Hotel Brokerage represented the seller and original developer, Pacifica Madera LP. The purchaser was a Chinese owned, but locally based hotel management and ownership company. 120-room Fairfield Inn by Marriott Las Vegas Airport; Maxim represented the seller, Gan Eden LLC in the sale to a privately held ownership group. Twenty Four Seven Hotels will take over management. 490-room portfolio...
Lodging Interactive Publishes: Hospitality Social Media News
Lodging Interactive | March 19, 2018
PARSIPPANY, NJ - March 19, 2018 - Lodging Interactive, an award winning digital marketing and social media engagement agency exclusively serving the hospitality industry, today announced the inaugural issue of Hospitality Social Media News a bi-weekly publication reporting the latest social media news and recommendations for hotels and resorts. Hoteliers can click here to subscribe for free. "Our goal in publishing Hospitality Social Media News is to educate and to provide value within the hospitality marketplace. In any given week social media platforms announce new features and algorithm changes which could affect hotel marketing pla...
Why Your Hotel’s Marketing Plan Must Include TripAdvisor’s Sponsored Positions
Hotelogix | March 19, 2018
by Kashmira Lad A hotel's marketing plan would be incomplete without the mention of TripAdvisor. In the recent times, TripAdvisor has been making waves in the hotel industry. It was one of the sites that started promoting user-generated content early on. It provides free service to users who post reviews, photographs, rate and accommodation related information, etc. Users can also book hotels easily via TripAdvisor. Over the years, TripAdvisor has turned out to be an important resource for travelers. This is precisely why your hotel's marketing strategy for TripAdvisor must be your priority this year. TripAdvisor Sponsored Positions hav...
Where Is Hotel Technology Going?
HospitalityTechGuru | March 19, 2018
by Harvey Norman The majority of the hospitality technology that is getting developed and becoming available on the market is focused on several crucial things like simplifying processes, making everyday tasks easier and automated, integrating multiple products on a single platform as one single integrated platform, etc. Although a lot of people have their own opinions about hotel-related technology, the fact remains that new solutions can improve the business, improve management, increase productivity and revenues; and, well, this is what matters. One of the biggest reasons why people in the hospitality business aren't so open to new t...
Revisiting Chat Apps: What Messaging Platforms Are Best for Your Hotel?
Nancy Huang | March 16, 2018
By Nancy Huang Messaging platforms are fast becoming the new way for businesses to interact with customers. When communicating with brands, 54% of US social media users say they prefer messaging platforms to email, phone, and online chat. Much of this comes down to ubiquity. Millions of people use chat apps on a daily basis to talk with friends and family. By extension, this familiarity makes them a preferred way to communicate with their favorite brands and businesses. Including hotels. From making booking queries, to ordering room service, to firing off a question about the local dining scene, chat apps offer a streamlined way for gue...
Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association Honors Outstanding Lodging Employees and Properties
Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association | March 16, 2018
March 16, 2018 - The Annual Stars of the Industry Awards was held at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel & Conference Center in January. This program, presented by the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association, is designed to honor Oklahoma's outstanding hospitality professionals for their service and commitment to the guest service and hospitality industry. Our partners in support of this lodging award program include Auto-Chlor System; Clearwater Enterprises; Cox Business; HD Supply; Heartland; McGregor Insurance Group; STR; Total Beverage Services LLC; United Linen; and US Foods. This year, submissions resulted in nearly 40 nomine...
MKP Management Opens TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lexington Keeneland/Airport in Kentucky
TownePlace Suites by Marriott | March 16, 2018
Lexington, KY – March 16, 2018 – Get ready to be real and be you on long stays. Marriott International's TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lexington Keeneland/Airport will open for business today. On average, a TownePlace Suites opens every six days. Built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the Lexington area. The new extended-stay hotel located at 900 Midnight Pass, continues to exemplify the brand's rapid growth. The new 95-suite hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by MKP Management, Inc. of Lexington, Kentucky. "We are e...
PM Hotel Group, BPG and Federal Realty Open Canopy by Hilton Washington D.C., Bethesda North
Canopy by Hilton | March 16, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. and MCLEAN, Va. – March 16, 2018 – Today, Canopy by Hilton, Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) lifestyle hotel brand, alongside PM Hotel Group, a leading, national hotel management company; The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), a privately-held, full-service real estate acquisition, development and management company; and Federal Realty (NYSE: FRT) announced the opening of the brand's second North American property, Canopy by Hilton Washington D.C., Bethesda North. Situated within the mixed-use community of Pike & Rose, the property brings a new lifestyle hospitality offering to the energetic Washington D.C. suburb, located...
Steigenberger Hotels Appoints Gabriele Maessen General Manager of Berlin’s Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt and Area General Manager for East Regio
Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts | March 16, 2018
Frankfurt am Main, March 16, 2018 - Gabriele Maessen will take over the reins at the Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt in Berlin with effect from April 2018. She will also be responsible for Steigenberger Hotels in the East Region as Area General Manager. Alongside the Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt, her remit in this latter capacity will include the Steigenberger Hotel Berlin, the Steigenberger Hotel Sanssouci in Potsdam, the Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe in Dresden, the Steigenberger Hotel Esplanade and the Maxx Hotel in Jena. Gabriele Maessen can look back at over 30 years of experience in the international hotel business. She has a...
France’s Maison Heler Metz Joins Hilton’s Curio Collection
Curio Collection by Hilton | March 16, 2018
CANNES, France - March 16, 2018 - Metz Mayor Dominique Gros, internationally acclaimed creator Philippe Starck and Hilton unveiled plans for the distinctive, Maison Heler Metz, Curio Collection by Hilton. The 14-story hotel, which will operate under Curio Collection by Hilton in a landmark agreement unveiled at MIPIM, includes a €22.5 million investment led by Yvon Gérard and a consortium of investors. "Maison Heler Metz is a unique property, the design of which perfectly captures the spirit of our handpicked Curio Collection by Hilton hotels. This will be Metz's first high-end hotel opening in a number of years, and an impr...
Omni Hotels & Resorts Promotes Peter Strebel to President
Omni Hotels & Resorts | March 16, 2018
DALLAS (March 16, 2018) — Omni Hotels & Resorts announced the promotion of Peter Strebel, a 30-year-plus veteran of the hospitality industry, to president effective immediately. The former chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales has been appointed to the role after providing 20 years of senior leadership to the brand. As president, Strebel will continue to elevate the vision of Omni while insuring all operational areas within the company align with the long-term goals and objectives for the brand. He will work with teams to continue to enhance the existing high-level of guest service as well as oversee the g...
New York City’s Park South Hotel Appoints Justin Kellerman as General Manager
Park South Hotel | March 16, 2018
New York, New York - (March 16, 2018) – Park South Hotel, Joie de Vivre's recently-added, second boutique property in New York, announces the appointment of Justin Kellerman to the role of General Manager. With more than 10 years of management and leadership experience in the independent and boutique hotel space, Kellerman joins the Park South Hotel team, where he will oversee all day-to-day operations of the 131-key boutique hotel and culinary destination in New York City's NoMad neighborhood. Located on 28th Street between Park Avenue South and Lexington Avenue, the Midtown Manhattan gem is steps from the iconic Madison Square P...
BENCHMARK® Names Tifani Fox Director of Finance for Snow King Resort, Jackson, WY
Snow King Resort | March 16, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Tifani Fox director of finance for Snow King Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Jackson, Wyoming. Geoff Young, general manager, made the announcement. "I am very pleased to welcome Tifani to our resort," said Mr. Young. "She brings remarkable experience and superb credentials to her new role with us. We look forward to her strong financial leadership and active participation on our executive team." Tifani Fox previously served as senior assistant director of finance and accounting for the Westin ...
The BYOD Revolution and What it Means for Your Hotel’s Bottom Line
Dean Minett | March 16, 2018
By Dean Minett The supercomputers we carry in our pockets are easily taken for granted. They've become deeply engrained in everyday life, replacing a multitude of other objects and devices. Many of us already use our phones as house keys, wallets, light switches, garage door openers and thermostats, among other things. Oh yes, and we sometimes use them to call people or send messages. It makes sense that hotel rooms would come next. Recent surveys conducted by Expedia and Hotels.com suggest that taking a mobile device, for the average traveler, is now more important than taking a toothbrush. If this is true, why should guests use a spec...
AccorHotels Plans Four SO/ Hotels in Berlin, St. Petersburg, Auckland and Vienna Opening by End of 2018
SO/ | March 16, 2018
Paris, March 16, 2018 – SO/, a vivacious and expressive brand, announced the upcoming addition of four fashionable hotels to its growing line of vibrant, one-of-a-kind properties. This includes new European addresses in Berlin, St. Petersburg and Vienna, and the brand's first hotel in the southern hemisphere in Auckland, New Zealand. All are set to open under the SO/ banner by end of 2018. Set in high-demand, prime locations, these four additions will expand the SO/ portfolio to eight. They join an exclusive network that already includes two stunning SO/ properties in Thailand - Bangkok & Hua Hin, SO/ Mauritius and SO/ Singapo...
Traveler Sentiment on the Rise After Decline in the First Half of 2017
MMGY Global | March 15, 2018
Orlando, Fla. (March 15,2018) – After displaying a five point decrease from first quarter 2016 to first quarter 2017, Traveler Sentiment has increased one point from last year. Travel intentions are similar to the percentages we've seen in the first quarter of 2016 and 2017, according to the latest travelhorizons™ survey of 2,300 U.S. adults conducted by marketing services firm MMGY Global. Traveler Sentiment Displaying Improvements The overall Traveler Sentiment Index™ (TSI), which measures U.S. adults' interest in travel, time available for travel, personal finances available for travel, perceived affordability of tr...
