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
5 benefits of adding widget to your hotel website
Our.Guide | March 9, 2018
Imagine that you are on a business trip to Berlin. On your way, you take your smartphone and open the application of the hotel. Several seconds are enough to check-in. A bit later, you remark a notification with the details of your booking. Having entered the door, you walk along the corridor towards your room unlocking it with the smartphone. Congratulations! You have just saved a lot of time due to the technology. Isn't it faster and more convenient than a traditional way of running formal errands? These days, the entire process of check-in or check-out is characterized by a huge flexibility thanks to the increasing technological prog...
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Opens 188-Room Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach in Indonesia
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. / Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd. | March 8, 2018
TOKYO - March 8, 2018 - Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., announced Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach has officially opened its doors today. This marks the return of the Hotel Nikko brand in Indonesia two years after the closure of a previous Hotel Nikko property in Nusa Dua, Bali. At approximately 15 kilometres away from the International Airport Ngurah Rai, Tanjung Benoa used to be a fishing village before evolving into an enclave that now houses exclusive resorts, villas, and water-sport operators - which is what the peninsula is famous for. Merely steps away from Tanjung Benoa shores, Hotel Ni...
U.S. Travel Unveils Tool to Measure Tourism’s Impact on State Economies
U.S. Travel | March 8, 2018
Increases or decreases in visitors can have a significant impact on public services WASHINGTON (March 8, 2018)—Amid calls by some state lawmakers to cut state and destination marketing budgets, the U.S. Travel Association today released the Travel Economic Impact Calculator (TEIC), a tool designed to show the direct impact of an increase or decrease in traveler spending on a state's economy—and how travel-generated tax revenues directly supports public sector jobs—like firefighters, police officers and public school teachers. Travel promotion plays an integral role in driving tourism to destinations. Increased inv...
Turn Data into Insights to Know What Your Guests Want, Creating Memorable Hotel Guest Experiences Along the Way
the Author | March 8, 2018
By Terri Miller, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at Concilio Labs Last week, I had a revelation while I discussed peanut butter. I chatted with a nice woman in the aisle at my local grocery store. We debated the merits of crunchy vs. smooth, natural vs. added sugar, and of course, generic vs. branded. We each left, satisfied, with different types of peanut butter in our carts. The options were seemingly endless, as the store stocked well over a dozen varieties across several brands and sizes. This small discussion illustrates an issue that hoteliers face every day. Beyond the obvious differences of luxury vs. budget, business v...
Consumer Behavior—Motivations, Emotions
Caitlin Hayes | March 8, 2018
Helen Chun's passion is to understand human behavior—the motivations and emotions of consumers—and strategies for marketing and consumer satisfaction. When we think of a good consumer experience, we're apt to think of the experience itself—going to a movie, eating a good meal, or staying at a nice hotel. But the pleasure of that experience, says Helen Chun, Cornell School of Hotel Administration, extends beyond the boundaries of the event itself. "I'm looking at what happens before the consumer arrives at your property, the pre-consumption stage, and then what happens after the visit, the post-consumption stage," Chun ...
Women in Leadership: a Rallying Cry
Dr. Sowon Kim | March 8, 2018
By Dr. Sowon Kim The financial services sector has finally begun shedding light on the gender pay gap within the industry, with Citi becoming the first major Wall Street bank to disclose internal data – albeit somewhat selectively – on gender pay, following activist shareholder pressure. The Financial Times (FT) reported earlier this month that, in a message to staff, Citi's head of human resources put the gender pay gap in the US, UK and Germany at just one percent. However, according to the FT's own research, while women account for up to 51 percent of Citi's global workforce, they make up only 42 percent of mid-level exec...
San Francisco’s Historic Serrano Hotel Completes $16 Million Renovation Debuting as Hotel Spero in April 2018
Hotel Spero | March 8, 2018
San Francisco, Calif. [March 08, 2018] – San Francisco's Hotel Spero, has completed a top-to-bottom renovation that honors the hotel's original 1923 Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Formerly known as the Serrano Hotel, the 236-room hotel is a well-known fixture of the Union Square neighborhood. The entire property, including the five meeting rooms and restaurant remained fully operational throughout the $16 million dollar renovation. "We are incredibly excited to announce that the brand new Hotel Spero will be unveiled next month on April 22, 2018," said Benjamin Malmquist, General Manager of the Serrano Hotel. "We found ins...
HVS Manhattan Lodging Report Q4-2017
Roland deMilleret | March 8, 2018
by Roland deMilleret and Nicole Roantree The New York City borough of Manhattan is among the strongest, most diverse, and most dynamic hotel markets in the world. Manhattan's resiliency has been borne out over the course of recovery from three national recessions since 1989. The following report examines the effects of past recessions on hotel performance in Manhattan, as well as the dynamics of hotel supply and demand and forecasts for the health of the local lodging industry in the near term. Historical Hotel Performance in Manhattan Through year-end 2016, demand growth modestly outpaced increases in supply; on a twelve-month moving a...
From Dreaming to Booking Part II: How to Capitalize on the Dreaming Phase of the Travel Planning Journey
HEBS Digital | March 8, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, VP Strategy This article is part two in a five-part series that uncovers top strategies for reaching potential guests in meaningful moments and increasing direct bookings throughout every stage of the travel planning journey. This article focuses on the first stage of travel planning: the dreaming phase. Let's face it. We all understand the need for our next vacation, and some of us may even be counting down the days. But as hotel marketers, how do we reach potential guests at the very beginning stage of the travel planning journey? Is reaching travelers early in the process important? And even more significan...
Autograph Collection Hotels Set for 2020 Debut in Belize With Opening of Alaia Following Conversion and Expansion
Alaia | March 8, 2018
Ambergris Caye, Belize (March 8, 2018) – Autograph Collection Hotels, in partnership with owner and developer Andrew Ashcroft, today announced the brand will debut in Belize with the 2020 opening of Alaia – a one-of-a-kind boutique resort, set amidst the beautiful and culturally rich southern part of Ambergris Caye island. Perfectly suited for Autograph Collection Hotels, Alaia will join the 135 independent hotels in the brand's diverse and dynamic collection - each celebrating the founder's passion, thoughtfulness of design, inherent craft and connection with the locale. "With the forthcoming opening on Alaia, I am thrilled...
Denver’s Hotel Teatro Completes Multi-Million Dollar Guest Room Renovation
Hotel Teatro | March 8, 2018
DENVER – March 2018 – Hotel Teatro, Denver's original boutique hotel, announces the completion of a $2.5 million property-wide guest room renovation. Since the project's start in late 2017, all 110 guest rooms have undergone significant updates and now feature custom-built hardwood furniture alongside stylish and comfortable décor. Guest rooms now offer guests custom-stained white oak cabinetry; a subtle grey fleece wall treatment; new 50-inch flat-screen televisions; new furniture, including a custom chaise lounge, lounge chair, nightstands and coffee table; updated, design-forward soft goods; new lighting; creative ...
HFTP Renews Sponsorship Agreement With Keystep Solutions for 2018 London Interest Meeting
HFTP | March 8, 2018
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to announce Keystep Solutions as the exclusive sponsor of the upcoming HFTP London Interest Meeting. Keystep Solutions is a family owned British company specializing in access control systems – they include: electronic keycard locks, access readers, energy-saving room switches and lift controllers. The event will take place Monday, 12 March 2018 at the Rosewood Hotel in London. Guests are invited to join HFTP and top European hospitality executives for an evening of interesting speakers and discussion. Those interested in attending the complimentary event ca...
Margaritaville Nashville Hotel Reveals Exterior Renderings of $82 Million Hotel Set to Open Summer 2019
Margaritaville Nashville Hotel | March 8, 2018
Nashville, TN – March 8, 2018 – Margaritaville Nashville Hotel, the highly anticipated Music City property slated to open in summer 2019, today revealed new renderings. The renderings showcase the exterior of the 217-room property, Margaritaville's first urban destination, which will be a perfect addition to the rapidly expanding Nashville skyline. Margaritaville Nashville Hotel features a prime position at the corner of 5th Avenue S. and Peabody Street, in the heart of the city's emerging "SoBro" district. The property is just steps away from Music City Center and popular attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame and ...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Selected to Manage and Convert Extended Stay Vaughan to Staybridge Suites Vaughan, Ontario
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | March 8, 2018
Vaughan, ON (March 8, 2018) – Crescent Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage and convert the Extended Stay Vaughan to a Staybridge Suites and will oversee the complete renovation and rebranding of the property. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of major hotels, resorts and conference centers throughout Canada and the United States. Crescent assumed management of the property on March 1, 2018, and renovations will begin immediately. The hotel will remain open and operate as Extended Stay Toronto Vaughan during the renovation and convert to the Staybridge Suites Vaughan this summer. ...
Houston-Based Hotel Consulting Firm Rebrands and Expands, Hires Longtime Advisory Expert to Head New Practice Areas
DPC Hospitality | March 8, 2018
Christian Abbate, formerly director at CBRE Hotels and vice president of PKF Consulting Houston's office, has been named senior vice president in charge of DPC Hospitality's new advisory and valuation practices HOUSTON, TX (March 8, 2018) – DP Consulting, a Houston firm well known in the hospitality industry for completing feasibility studies for hotel operators and municipalities across the southwest, has created a new identity while branching out into new service areas. Now known as DPC Hospitality, the firm has added Christian Abbate, formerly director at CBRE Hotels and vice president of PKF Consulting Houston's office, where ...
R.D. Olson Breaks Ground on AC Hotel by Marriott in El Segundo, California
R.D. Olson Construction | March 8, 2018
Irvine, Calif. – March 07, 2018 – R.D. Olson Construction, an award-winning general contracting firm in California, commenced construction on the AC Hotel by Marriott, a 98,728-square-foot property located at 2130 Maple Ave in El Segundo, California. The ground-up construction will feature European-inspired rooms and meeting spaces that are designed with the contemporary traveler in mind. Situated in a newly developed office park near the Los Angeles Lakers training facility, the six-story AC Hotel will consist of 180 guest rooms, a 24-hour fitness center, meeting rooms and a host of outdoor spaces including the first roofto...
With Beekeeper, ‘No Employee is Left Behind’ at 1 Hotel Central Park
Beekeeper | March 8, 2018
Workforce communications tool is a must-have for celebrating employee successes, onboarding new staff, posting daily events and making everyone an integral part of the 1 Hotels family SAN FRANCISCO, CA MARCH 8, 2018 - Eco-chic brand 1 Hotels has been experiencing great success with internal team communication since it launched the digital workforce platform Beekeeper. Today three properties are using this tool as the hub of its internal communications operation, and each is finding new uses for staff engagement. Managers at 1 Hotel Central Park, located at 1414 6th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, say Beekeeper is engaging – and even ...
Conrad Hong Kong Welcomes New Executive Chef Claudio Rossi
Conrad Hotels & Resorts | March 8, 2018
HONG KONG, March 8, 2018 -- Conrad Hong Kong is pleased to announce the arrival of Claudio Rossi as the hotel's executive chef. Having worked in various countries around the world, Chef Claudio will bring his excellent culinary and management skills to the hotel, as he oversees all its food and beverage outlets and catering services. Coming from Milan, Italy, Chef Claudio inherits the attuned sense towards food and flavours from his mother, who boasts deep knowledge in cooking. He apprenticed in the fine dining restaurants across the country under such masters as Gualtiero Marchesi and Claudio Sadler, and grew into an accomplished c...
Allison Lomax Appointed Spa Director at Spa Anjali at Colorado’s Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa | March 8, 2018
AVON, Colo. (March 8, 2018) – The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley is pleased to announce that Allison Lomax is now serving as the Spa Director at Spa Anjali. Lomax most recently served as the Spa Director at the award-winning Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa. Dedicated to advancing holistic health and wellness, Lomax started her spa industry career as a licensed Massage Therapist more than a decade ago at the Vail Cascade's Aria Spa and Club. She then moved on to manage multiple Vail Valley Simply Massage locations. Spa Anjali at The Westin Riverfront features 27,000 square feet of ...
Cheeca Lodge & Spa In Islamorada Appoints Phillip Lowd as Executive Chef
Cheeca Lodge & Spa | March 8, 2018
Islamorada, FL (March 8, 2018) – Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, Florida Keys, recently announced the appointment of Chef Phillip Lowd as the Executive Chef of the property's reimagined signature restaurants, Atlantic's Edge and Nikai Sushi Bar, as well as the newly debuted Neapolitan Italian Bistro, Mia Cucina. With over nine years' experience on property, where he formerly served as Banquet Chef prior to the hotel's closure, Chef Lowd will spearhead culinary operations, stepping into his new role with the property's post-Hurricane Irma reopening on March 30th, 2018. An alumnus of New York Palace Hotel's 2-Michelin star res...
Montage International Appoints Patrick Huey as Corporate Director, Spa Operations
Montage International | March 8, 2018
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. (March 8, 2018) - Montage International is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Huey as corporate director, spa operations. Huey is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in the health, wellness, and spa industries. In his new role, he will be responsible for working with all spa directors and managers at each property within Montage Hotels & Resorts and Pendry Hotels to deliver high quality spa offerings for guests. "We are excited to welcome Patrick to the Montage International family, as he will lead all spa and wellness efforts across the company," said Jason Herthel,...
NAVIS Leaders Conference 2018 Sets Attendance Record, Exceeds Expectations
NAVIS | March 8, 2018
NAVIS clients explore new trends, share experiences and discover strategies to drive performance and profits at annual event BEND, Ore. (March 8, 2018) – Attendees from previous years understand why NAVIS Leaders Conferences (NLC) always attracts such a large and inspired audience. With over two hundred attendees, the 2018 event celebrated a record number of participants with featured expert guest speakers from companies including MMGY Global, Marketo, TripTease, Flip.to, Miles Partnership, STR, and Hotel News Now as the exclusive media partner. Attendees were also treated to the unveiling of NAVIS Reveal, a business intelligence...
Agilysys to Highlight Next-Generation Hospitality Software Solutions at HT-NEXT in San Diego
Agilysys | March 8, 2018
HT-NEXT Conference to Focus on the Role of Technology in Delivery of Superior Guest Experiences ALPHARETTA, GA. — March 8, 2018 — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that the company will exhibit at HT-NEXT on March 12-14, 2018 in San Diego, showcasing its innovative hospitality solutions that improve operational efficiency, increase revenue and deliver a superior guest experience. The annual conference combines Hospitality Technology's Hotel Technology Forum and HTNG's North American Conference, creating a must-attend educa...
The Future of Technology, Content and the Hotel Guest Experience
Nikolay Malyarov | March 8, 2018
By Nikolay Malyarov To address one of the strategic priorities of the guest experience — access to quality content (e.g. newspapers and magazines) — PressReader partnered with Forbes Travel Guide to survey executives of hotels from around the world to gain insights into their plans for the future. Here are some of the highlights: According to Ben Peacock, founder of the sustainability and innovation company Republic of Everyone, millennials prioritize purpose and sustainability over financial rewards, "if companies fail to prove that they are sincere about environmental and social sustainability, they risk alienating th...
