HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
UNLV Hospitality College Unveils One-of-a-Kind Gaming-Focused Graduate Degree
Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV | March 13, 2018
Las Vegas – In January 2018, the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV launched the world's first master's degree program centered on gaming. The Master of Hospitality Administration (MHA) Gaming Management Track was designed to boost professionals who are trying to widen the scope of their expertise to include gaming, which is becoming more pervasive across destination markets and online platforms throughout the world. Students eligible for the program, which is offered totally online, include mid-level professionals with more than three years of experience in a management capacity in the hotel-gaming industry. Graduat...
Thunder Valley Casino Resort Shifts to RFID Technology for High-Efficiency Uniform Operations
InvoTech Systems, Inc. | March 13, 2018
Thunder Valley Casino Resort to Upgrade Existing InvoTech RFID Uniform System for Additional Inventory Management Efficiency LOS ANGELES, CA – InvoTech Systems Inc. announced the recent upgrade of its Uniform System at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. InvoTech Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that integrate the latest RFID technology to increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centers and theme parks. The InvoTech System installed at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort manages the Uniform inventory for over 2,000 employees, and th...
Southeastern Development Opens 195-Suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Orlando, Florida
Southeastern Development | March 13, 2018
Orlando, Florida – March 14, 2018 – Southeastern Development is excited to announce the opening of the new 195-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Orlando, Florida. This unique waterfront site, just a short walk from the main gates of Universal Orlando Resort™, provides guests the opportunity to stay in a Marriott Residence Inn facility with immediate access to one of Florida's foremost recreational venues. Victor Mills, CEO of Southeastern Development, stated that "We could not be more excited to be able to open a Residence Inn by Marriott adjacent to Universal Orlando Resort™ under the direction of a world class...
French Hotels & Restaurants: Fruit Bearing Trees Must Be Tended To!
Georges Panayotis | March 13, 2018
By Georges Panayotis Will we play the third wheel on the wagon forever? Why is it that all politicians rush to the agriculture fair while only a few of them make the trip to events organised by the tourism and hotel industry? Agriculture represented 714,000 jobs in 2014 compared to 899,000 jobs for hotels and restaurants. France's granary brings in 32.1 billion euros per year, or 1.5% of the GDP, compared to 7.2% for tourism, which brings in 160 billion euros of domestic consumption. The agriculture sector - which is essential to the health of our economy and to our health in general - has been subsidized since the birth of the com...
Milestone Announces Milestone Pages: Schema-Powered Local Pages for Location-Based Businesses
Milestone Inc | March 13, 2018
Milestone Pages, dynamic local pages with locator engine, powered by Milestone CMS and Milestone Local for retailes, automotive suppliers, banks, medical industry and any location-based business Voice-search enabled local pages with features like automated geo identification Advanced SEO-friendly features that help local pages outrank content by 3rd party review sites AMP support Advanced engagement features like products and services, FAQ pages, local events, tips and team pages Embedded location-specific reviews to provide greater confidence to consumers Custom designs that are brand-friendly and seamless with your website pre...
Hilton Debuts in Serbia With Opening of 242-Room Hilton Belgrade Located in the Capital City’s Old Town
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | March 13, 2018
BELGRADE, Serbia and MCLEAN, Va. - March 13, 2018 - Set in Serbia's capital city, between the idyllic Danube and Sava rivers, Hilton Belgrade opens its doors today as the first Hilton hotel in the country. The newly built and expertly appointed property will deliver Hilton's signature hospitality to one of Europe's most historic and exciting travel destinations. Ideally situated in Belgrade's charming Old Town, the hotel is centrally located just moments away from the famed Slavija Square. Hilton Belgrade places guests near some of the most visited tourist attractions and historical landmarks in the country, including th...
Gold Key | PHR Completes Four-Year $85 Million Renovation of Virginia Beach Icon, The Cavalier Hotel
The Cavalier Hotel | March 13, 2018
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA (March 13, 2018) - Virginia Beach icon, The Cavalier Hotel, officially opened its doors March 7, 2018 after a massive four year renovation with a price tag of nearly $85MM. Originally completed in 1927, every detail of The Cavalier Hotel has been meticulously restored revealing the glorious architectural elements and design from its glamorous past while incorporating modern-day luxury amenities. Developed by Gold Key | PHR, the newly reimagined 85-room, 21-acre property is the latest luxury class member of Marriott's distinguished Autograph Collection bringing five-star service to the mid-Atlantic. The Cavalier ...
HTNG Delivers GDPR for Hospitality White Paper
Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) | March 13, 2018
HTNG's GDPR for Hospitality Workgroup produced a framework and a self-assessment tool to help the hospitality industry prepare for the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR goes into effect on May 25, 2018; at that time, it will replace the EU's earlier Data Protection Directive (1995). This law governing PII will affect global hospitality chains, trading partners and vendors who conduct business within the European region, whether or not they are located in the European region. The executive-level white paper describes key considerations, use cases and impacts of these regulations for the hosp...
Tilman J. Fertitta Opens The 250-Room Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston in Texas
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston | March 13, 2018
HOUSTON, TX (March 13, 2018) — Businessman Tilman J. Fertitta is setting a new standard of luxury, comfort, and elegance in the nation's fourth largest city with The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, an opulent soon-to-be five-star property with such unique features as a two-level Rolls Royce dealership inside the 38-story tower, a dazzling lobby with art by iconic American artist Frank Stella, and a glittering 16,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom with a private entrance now debuts as the premier gathering spot for high society galas this spring. Fertitta, Chairman, CEO, and sole owner of Landry's, Inc., Golden Nugget Casinos and the...
Australia Gives Go Ahead for AccorHotels Acquisition of Mantra Group
AccorHotels | March 13, 2018
AccorHotels welcomes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decision to clear the acquisition of Mantra group Ltd. The acquisition still requires approval from Mantra shareholders as well as approvals from the Federal Court and the Foreign Investment Review Board. Mantra is one of Australia's largest hotel and resort marketers and operators with 127 properties and over 20,000 rooms in hotels, resorts and serviced apartments across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Hawaii, under three key brands: Peppers (28 properties), Mantra (75 properties) and BreakFree (24 properties). Mantra has more than 5,500 employees. The...
Regent Porto Montenegro Appoints Kai Dieckmann as New General Manager
Regent Porto Montenegro | March 13, 2018
[Tivat, March 2018] Regent Porto Montenegro is delighted to announce the appointment of Kai Dieckmann as General Manager. Mr. Dieckmann joins Regent Porto Montenegro from the legendary Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados, where he was positioned as Resident Manager. With 19 years of extensive experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Mr. Dieckmann has worked for some of the most well-known names in the hotel business – many of whom are members of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World. Recent posts include Resort Manager at Six Senses Yao Noi and Executive Assistant Manager at Soneva Kiri Resort, both in Thailand. Kai started h...
BENCHMARK® Names Tory Enriquez Director of Sales & Marketing for Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels | March 13, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Tory Enriquez director of sales & marketing for Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, which is currently under construction in College Station, Texas. The Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property is expected to open in Fall of 2018. Jay Rocha, vice president of operations for Benchmark, made the announcement. "I am so pleased to welcome Tory back to Benchmark and to this exciting new property on the campus of Texas A&M University," said Mr. Rocha. "In addition to being a seasoned hospitality executive, and a former stud...
Greg O’Stean Named Chief Development Officer-North America of Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | March 13, 2018
ARLINGTON, Va. – March 13, 2018 – Interstate Hotels & Resorts – the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company – announces the appointment of Greg O'Stean as the chief development officer, North America, reporting to Chief Investment Officer, Leslie Ng. Greg will be responsible for helping the company continue its successful expansion by driving overall business growth in North America. "Greg joins our development team at an important time as we are realizing growth across the full spectrum of hospitality verticals," said Ng. "His breadth of experience in development, joint ventures, hotel finance, fr...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Selected to Manage 234-Room AC by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | March 13, 2018
Seattle, WA (March 13, 2018) – Crescent Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage the 234 room AC by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized award-winning manager of premier hotels, resorts and conference centers throughout the United States and Canada. The recently opened lifestyle hotel in downtown Bellevue, WA celebrates classic, modern design. This AC Hotel by Marriott is conveniently located near some of Seattle's most popular attractions, including Pike Place Market and Wine Country. "Crescent has extensive experience operating beautiful lifestyle hotels and ...
Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Appoints Maria Sitanggang Director of Sales & Marketing and Wuthivet Vetchabutsakorn Director of Finance
| March 13, 2018
BANGKOK (March 13, 2018) — The general manager of Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit continues to round out his staff ahead of the hotel's scheduled opening in September. In recent weeks, Sammy Carolus has appointed Maria Sitanggang Director of Sales & Marketing and Wuthivet Vetchabutsakorn Director of Finance. Both Sitanggang and Vetchabutsakorn have more than 20 years of experience in their respective areas of expertise. Sitanggang joins Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit after spending seven years at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin & The Barai as its director of sales and marketing. She has also worked for Hyatt properties in Bali. "It...
The Siegel Group Nevada Acquires Four Extended-Stay Properties for $14 Million to Operate Under Siegel Select Brand
The Siegel Group Nevada, Inc. | March 13, 2018
LAS VEGAS — March 13, 2018 — The Siegel Group Nevada, Inc. (www.siegelcompanies.com), a real estate investment and management company announced today that it had acquired a 500-unit portfolio of four extended-stay properties previously operated under the Crossland Economy Studios brand for $14 million for an average of $28,000 per key. This portfolio acquisition brings the total of Crossland locations to five that the Las Vegas-based company has acquired in the past fifteen months and increases the number of Siegel-branded properties throughout the United States to 46. With these acquisitions, The Siegel Group expands its Si...
Aptech Computer Systems Announces Strategic Partnership With Inova Payroll
Aptech | March 13, 2018
Partnership Brings New Level of Convenience and Expanded Service to Customers of Both Companies Pittsburgh, PA., March 13, 2018 – Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., one of the leading hospitality accounting and business intelligence technology companies, announced a strategic partnership with Inova Payroll, a national payroll and human resources service provider. Aptech customers who select Inova's payroll and HCM technology will be able to view payroll expenses in Aptech's accounting systems, PVNG and Profitvue, and see labor information in Aptech's hospitality business intelligence application, Execuvue®. "This partnership bring...
Del Lago Resort & Casino is Engaging Guests With Intelity
Intelity | March 13, 2018
With nearly 10,000 engagements each month, guests of the Finger Lakes destination are interacting with Intelity's ICEapp and placing requests daily via ICEbedside tablets [Orlando, Fla. – March 13, 2018] —The Del Lago Resort & Casino is proof that the right mobile app will drive guest engagement and revenues. Since opening the hotel in July, which includes a European-style Spa and a 3,700-square-foot banquet facility, guests are initiating approximately 10,000 engagements a month with the property through the Intelity ICEapp and ICEbedside tablets. Analytics show that people are looking at resort and casino information d...
Beekeeper Offering 31 Point GDPR Assessment Checklist to Hoteliers Preparing for Compliance
Beekeeper | March 13, 2018
Already GDPR compliant, the Beekeeper digital workplace app protects employees and hotel guests against data threats SAN FRANCISCO, CA March 13, 2018 - Beekeeper, a GDPR compliant developer of a digital workplace app, is offering a "31 Point Assessment to Ensure GDPR Compliance" white paper to assist hoteliers in preparing for the European General Data Protection Regulation deadline that goes into effect May 25, 2018. GDPR protects European Union (EU) residents' personally identifiable information against security breaches. Any hotel that does not comply is risking heavy fines. "If you operate a hotel in North American, GDPR directly af...
7 Reasons Hotels Choose StayNTouch Over Other PMS Solutions
StayNTouch | March 13, 2018
Free guide reveals why Rover PMS has quickly become the preferred PMS solution for independent hotels, resorts and chains worldwide (March 13, 2018) - Hotels rely on their PMS for managing their operations, their marketing and every stage of the guest journey—from planning to check-in, during the stay, at check out, and after the visit. However, choosing a property management system goes much deeper than features and functions. There are several other considerations. Most importantly, you must keep in mind that the software the invest in will impact how efficiently your employees perform, the quality of guest service you provide, ...
Digital Signage Expo 2018 to Offer Education, Networking & the Most Extensive Collection of the Newest Cutting-Edge Technologies – All in One Place
DSE | March 13, 2018
Atlanta – Digital Signage Expo (DSE), the world's largest international trade show and educational conference dedicated to digital displays, interactive technology and digital communications networks will present new educational opportunities designed specifically for hotel operators, system administrators and technologists March 27-29, 2018, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The seminar programs are part of DSE's educational conference designed to help attendees learn about the newest technologies available, how successful digital signage strategies are being implemented and how to best take advantage of them to strengthen gues...
Mobile-First Index Is Approaching – How Can You Prepare?
HEBS Digital | March 13, 2018
By Max Starkov The massive shift from desktop to mobile and tablet devices continues at a rigorous pace. Over 59% of web visitors and more than 51% of page views were generated from mobile devices (smartphone and tablet), compared to 38% of web visitors and 40% of pageviews only two short years ago. In 2017, nearly 27% of bookings and 24% of room nights came from mobile devices (smartphone and tablet), compared to 21% of bookings and 17% of room nights in 2015 (HEBS Digital Client Portfolio Data). As we continue to see the travel planning process become increasingly complex, hoteliers need to find ways to engage their best potential gue...
Luxury Hospitality Daily names Anne-Laure Hecquet as Communication and International Development Manager
Luxury Hospitality Daily | March 13, 2018
Troyes, France – (March 13, 2018): Luxury Hospitality Daily announced today the appointment of Anne-Laure Hecquet as Communication and International Development Manager. Luxury Hospitality Daily, is in a phase of international expansion. It aims to reach and collaborate with an international community of luxury hotels, hotel chains, hospitality training centres, alumni, and professional associations. In order to better serve the needs of all on our growing list of international partners, we have appointed Anne-Laure Hecquet as LHD's primary contact. Anne-Laure will be the dedicated English-speaking contact both for editorial activ...
