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Industry Happenings
Walton Street Capital Mexico to Transform the Former La Tranquila Resort in Punta de Mita, Mexico as Conrad Playa Mita
Conrad Hotels & Resorts | March 1, 2018
PUNTA DE MITA, Mexico — March 01, 2018 — Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) global affluent hotel brand, today announces plans to redesign and reopen the former La Tranquila Resort in Punta de Mita, Mexico as Conrad Playa Mita in winter 2019. Following a multi-million dollar investment, the re-imagined property will welcome guests to an exclusive tropical oasis. "As one of the most popular tourism destinations in Latin America, Mexico continues to be a priority market in our regional growth plans," said Juan Corvinos, vice president, development, Latin America and the Caribbean, Hilton. "With the recent signin...
Inner Circle Investments Signs 20-Year Franchise Agreements for Management of Ten RLH Corporation Hotels
RLH Corporation | March 1, 2018
DENVER (March 1, 2018) - RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today 10 new franchise license agreements with hotels owned by affiliates of Inner Circle Investments and managed by Inner Circle Management. The 20-year term franchise agreements include one Hotel RL and nine Red Lion Hotels, totaling 2,584 rooms bringing the company's mid and upscale brands to over 100 hotels. "RLH Corporation is committed to propelling our mid and upscale business," said RLH Corporation Chief Development Officer Paul Sacco. "These 10 hotels in conjunction with Inner Circle will play a significant role as we grow our mid and upscale brand...
TravelClick Launches Artificial Intelligence-Powered Campaign Advisor
TravelClick | March 1, 2018
NEW YORK – March 1, 2018 – TravelClick, a leading global provider of data and revenue-generating solutions for hoteliers, today announced the launch of Campaign Advisor on the Company's Guest Management Solutions (GMS) platform. Powered by data from billions of customer touchpoints across the entire guest journey, Campaign Advisor allows hoteliers to better target their marketing and drive more direct bookings. Campaign Advisor's AI-powered, predictive algorithm maximizes bookings for hotels by determining the best send time for each guest. Hotels can set allotted windows of time to send marketing campaigns, and Campaign Adv...
Hilton Appoints Noelle Eder as Chief Information and Digital Officer
Hilton | March 1, 2018
MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the appointment of Noelle Eder as executive vice president and chief information and digital officer. Effective March 19, Eder will oversee the continued digital transformation benefiting the guests and team members of the world's most hospitable company. "You don't get to be a leader in hospitality and digital technology without focusing first on your guests," said Jon Witter, chief customer officer. "From smartphone capabilities like Digital Key to connected rooms that allow for integrated entertainment, temperature and lighting controls, Hilton is leading the way...
Two Roads Hospitality Selected as Operator of New York City’s Park South Hotel
Joie de Vivre Hotels | March 1, 2018
DENVER, CO. – March 1, 2018 - Two Roads Hospitality, the international lifestyle company featuring an unrivaled collection of truly individual hotels, resorts and vacation residences, has assumed management of Park South Hotel in New York City as part of its Joie de Vivre Hotels brand. The 131-key boutique hotel and culinary destination is situated in the city's NoMad neighborhood on 28th Street between Park Avenue South and Lexington Avenue, steps from the iconic Madison Square Park and various cultural attractions. "We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Park South Hotel into our beloved Joie de Vivre collection as the brand's ...
Kyren Group and IHG to Reintroduce Crowne Plaza to Australia with Development of the Crowne Plaza® Adelaide
IHG | March 1, 2018
Crowne Plaza® Adelaide will return in 2020, bringing the leading upscale brand back to the city, bigger and better than ever at its new address in Adelaide's tallest building, Frome Central Tower One. The signing between IHG and Kyren Group will see Crowne Plaza Adelaide open in 2020 on Frome Street, between Rundle Street and North Terrace in the vibrant east end, giving guests unrivalled access to the city's retail, commercial office, education and iconic cultural attractions, including restaurants, museums, galleries, universities and gardens. Martin Haese, Lord Mayor of Adelaide commented on the announcement: "I welcome the addit...
AccorHotels Initiates Sale of Majority Stake in AccorInvest
AccorHotels | March 1, 2018
AccorHotels announces that it has signed agreements with a group of international investors with a view to sell a majority of the capital of AccorInvest. Under the terms of the agreements, AccorHotels would initially sell 55% of AccorInvest to Sovereign Funds, namely the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and GIC, Institutional Investors, namely Credit Agricole Assurances, Colony NorthStar and Amundi, and other investors. For AccorHotels, the sale would result in a cash contribution of €4.4 billion. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels, said: "These agreements represent a key milestone for the ...
GuestTek Promotes Scott Watts to Managing Director, APAC
March 1, 2018
Calgary, Alberta – March 1, 2018 - As major hoteliers embrace growth opportunities in the Asia Pacific Region, GuestTek Interactive Entertainment Ltd. is expanding to meet the burgeoning demand for world class hospitality technology. Leading the charge will be Scott Watts, newly appointed Managing Director of APAC. With extensive experience in both operations and the hospitality industry, Scott is well prepared to lead the APAC sales, operations and engineering teams. "Growth in the APAC region offers an unprecedented opportunity for the hospitality industry," said Arnon Levy, GuestTek's President and CEO. "As hotels open new prop...
JW Marriott Cusco Welcomes New General Manager Rodrigo Rizzi
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco | March 1, 2018
CUSCO, PERU – March 2018: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco announces the appointment of Rodrigo Rizzi to the position of General Manager. Mr. Rizzi arrives in Cusco with 18 years of hotel industry experience, including eight years of luxury experience acquired with The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott brands. A native of Brazil, Mr. Rizzi graduated from the Pontificial Catholic University of São Paulo before completing multiple post-graduate degrees in executive leadership, food and beverage, and restaurant branding at Cornell University. Throughout his career with Marriott, he has become well-versed in a number of the hotel chain...
Tambourine and Teneo Hospitality Group Announce Strategic Partnership
Teneo Hospitality Group | March 1, 2018
Sales and Marketing Leaders Combine to Boost Hotel Performance New York, NY, March 1, 2018 – Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier global firm representing 300+ independent and luxury branded hotels, resorts and DMCs, and Tambourine, a global leader in hotel ecommerce, have announced a strategic partnership. The two well-known firms, who currently represent more than 700 of the top hotels in the world, will integrate services to increase meeting, group and transient results for their common clients. "It's pretty simple, hotels want more group sales and more direct bookings," said Dave Spector, partner at Tambourine. "So, it made se...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Expands in Midwest Adds The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa | March 1, 2018
A Benchmark Resorts & Hotels Property The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 1, 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is expanding its presence in the Midwest by adding The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa to its Benchmark Resorts and Hotels® brand portfolio. Set on 90 wooded acres along the shores of Geneva Lake, the year-round resort draws vacationers, corporate groups and sports enthusiasts to its scenic location. Situated in Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, just 75 miles from downtown Chicago and 45 miles from Milwaukee, the area has a long history as a vacation retreat for wealthy industrialists and is known for its q...
IDeaS and protel Expand Partnership to Cloud Enable the Hotel Technology Stack
protel | March 1, 2018
Leading solution providers in revenue and property management expand their partnership to deliver a flexible, secure and integrated cloud platform Tweet: @IDeaS_RevOpt & @protel have expanded their partnership to empower hotels to break free from disparate systems operating in isolation to unite valuable data sources. https://ideas.com/news MINNEAPOLIS, March 1, 2018 – Cloud technology and next-level integrations are accelerating the hospitality industry's ability to access, store and leverage data across multiple systems. Since 2005, IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the leading provider of revenue management solutions (RMS) and advis...
Residence Inn Hotel To Open in Boulder, Colorado
The Sage Agency | March 1, 2018
The 155-suite Residence Inn by Marriott Boulder Canyon Boulevard in Boulder, Colorado is opening today. Located at 2550 Canyon Boulevard, the all-suite Residence Inn Boulder Canyon Boulevard will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Stonebridge Companies of Denver, Colorado. Located near downtown Boulder and 40 miles from Denver International Airport, the Residence Inn Boulder Canyon Boulevard offers its guests convenient access to the University of Colorado Boulder, Pearl Street Mall and the Flatiron Mountains. Rates vary depending on length of stay. "We are pleased with the continued growth of Residence Inn hotels in ...
Africa: On a Rollercoaster Ride
Trevor Ward | March 1, 2018
By Trevor Ward Towards the end of 2017, we witnessed the end of an era (a very long one) in Zimbabwe, as a soft revolution ousted President Robert Mugabe, and brought in Emmerson Mnangagwa. Shortly afterwards, we saw the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), on course to become the country's next president. Elections are very important for the hospitality industry in Africa, as political power tends to be more centralized than in more mature democracies and major shifts are not uncommon. Investors – those who stay in hotels, and those who invest in them – need sta...
Eldorado Resorts Enters Into Definitive Agreements to Sell Presque Isle Downs & Casino and Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg to Churchill Downs for $229.5 Mi
Eldorado Resorts, Inc. | March 1, 2018
RENO, Nev. -- Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI) ("Eldorado" or the "Company") announced today that it entered into definitive agreements to sell substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, Pennsylvania and Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg in Vicksburg, Mississippi to Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN). Under the terms of the agreements, Churchill Downs will purchase Presque Isle Downs & Casino for cash consideration of approximately $178.9 million and Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg for cash consideration of approximately $50.6 million, in each case subject to a customary working capi...
SWAYY WINS TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY EUROPE DISRUPT AWARD 2018
Swayy | March 1, 2018
Travel Technology Europe, Olympia London, 21-22 February 2018 www.traveltechnologyeurope.com Following our team's concerted effort, Swayy are delighted and deeply encouraged at having won the Travel Technology Europe Disrupt Awards 2018, after receiving over 1,000 nominations during a three-week online voting process and outperforming dozens of well established travel tech companies from the world over. On day one of TTE, Sway's CEO, David Gabriele, took part in a challenging five minute 'Dragons Den Style' Pitch competing with 4 other finalists; Protected Trust Services, Wanup, Live2Leave and Guidewiser where he won a full-size stand f...
Research Reveals the Misconceptions Turning Young Brits Away From Hospitality Careers
IHG | February 28, 2018
Less than a quarter (22%) of 16 to 21 year olds say they would consider a career in Hospitality One in three respondents believed it wasn't a career you'd enter into after obtaining a degree Over 40% admitted their perceptions were influenced by the attitudes of their parents Research comes as IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) launches National Hotel Takeover aimed at tackling misconceptions about the Hospitality industry 28th February, 2018 (LONDON, UK) – New research has revealed that less than a quarter of young Brits would consider a career in hospitality, with almost one in three (26%) admitting they didn't see i...
Somerset Development to Construct 200-Key Rooftop Hotel at Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey
Somerset Development | February 28, 2018
HOLMDEL, N.J. - (Feb. 28, 2018) – Somerset Development today announced that it has received approval to construct a hotel at Bell Works, the revitalization of the renowned two-million- square-foot Bell Laboratories into the iconic "metroburb" located in Holmdel, N.J. Granted by the Holmdel Planning Board, the approvals will allow Somerset to build a single-story, 200-unit hotel facility on the roof of Bell Works, adding a new use to its diverse mix of office, retail, childcare, health and wellness uses at the rapidly transforming campus. "This decision marks the latest development in our work to turn this formerly vacant, single-t...
Growth Remains Steady for China’s Construction Pipeline With Projects Up 6% YOY
Lodging Econometrics | February 28, 2018
February 28, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that according to the recent China Construction Pipeline Trend Report, the Total Pipeline has 2,471 Projects/548,628 Rooms, up 6% by project Year-Over-Year (YOY). There are 1,743 Projects/374,156 Rooms Under Construction, up 4% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 365 Projects/80,216 Rooms, up 28% by project YOY, while projects in Early Planning at 363 Projects/94,256 Rooms are down 5%. The top hotel companies in China's Construction Pipeline are: Hilton Worldwide with 327 Projects/77,270 Rooms,...
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Assumes Management of Sheraton Suites Plantation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Everwood Hospitality Partners | February 28, 2018
ATLANTA (February 28, 2018) – Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, today announced it has taken over management of the 263-suite Sheraton Suites Plantation in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The hotel recently was acquired by Everwood Hospitality Partners (EHP), a leading hotel owner/operator with a growing portfolio of full- and select-service hotels nationwide. "The Sheraton Suites Plantation marks our fourth hotel in the Sunshine State, with properties ranging from upscale, full-service hotels affiliated with well-respected and recognized brands to a n...
Courtyard Hotel Opens In El Cajon, California
The Sage Agency | February 28, 2018
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon now open for business in El Cajon, California. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard's latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Located at 141 North Magnolia Avenue, the 120-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by El Cajon Hotel LP and managed by Excel Hotel Group of San Diego, California. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard San Diego El Cajon offers guests convenient access to downtown El Cajon, The San Diego Zoo, Hollywood Casino, t...
IGroup Design Unveils a New Gem with the Willows Hotel & Spa
IGroup Design | February 28, 2018
Acclaimed firm's addition to the Viejas Casino & Resort is a standout luxe getaway Already renowned for creating extraordinary spaces, San Diego's IGroup Design has added another to its growing portfolio with the recent opening of the Willows Hotel & Spa at Viejas Casino & Resort. "With every project, our goal is to create a richer human experience; to use architecture and interior design to elevate the way people connect with each other and their surroundings," said Stephanie Lee, Design Director for IGroup Design. "That intention was infused into every aspect of the Willows Hotel & Spa, redefining what the casino hotel...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Selected to Manage 299-Room Marriott St. Louis West Hotel
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | February 28, 2018
St. Louis, MO (February 28, 2018) – Crescent Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage the 299 room Marriott St. Louis West hotel. 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. This business and leisure hotel offers ponds and scenic hiking trails to create a retreat-like setting, located just minutes from Spirit of St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Six Flags® St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Premium Outlets. "Crescent has tremendous experience operating...
Hyatt and Tianfu Minyoun Hospitality Join Forces for 50 Hyatt Place and Hyatt House in China Over the Next Five Years
Minyoun Hospitality | February 28, 2018
CHICAGO--Tianfu Minyoun Hospitality (Tianfu Minyoun) and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that Hyatt and Tianfu Minyoun entered into a strategic development agreement to drive the expansion of Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in China. The franchise agreements for the first three Hyatt-branded hotels under this strategic development agreement were also signed on the same day. As leading hospitality companies in China and the United States, Tianfu Minyoun and Hyatt will bring together their resources and leverage their respective strengths for the development of Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels, with plans to bring ...
