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Industry Happenings
Pyramid Hotel Group Appoints Jim Mauer as Vice President/Managing Director for Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa
Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa | February 27, 2018
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - (February 27, 2018) - Hot off the completion of a top-to-bottom, $50 million transformation, the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Jim Mauer as Vice President/Managing Director. Mauer brings more than three decades of experience overseeing day-to-day operations, maximizing revenue and developing high-performance leadership teams. In his new role, Mauer continues to uphold the destination resort's values of delivering approachable luxury, world-class service and unique experiences. "We are confident Jim will make an exceptional addition to the newly ...
PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn. Berthed and Hyatt to Develop the First Park Hyatt hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Park Hyatt | February 27, 2018
Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur will top PNB 118 tower, expected-to-be tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia CHICAGO--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn. Berthed, an owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and Malaysia's largest fund-management company, for the first Park Hyatt hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The high-end hotel, designed to meet the needs of the discerning global traveler, will join the city's prestigious development – the PNB 118 tower. Anticipated to be completed in 2020, the tower is expected to be t...
Hilton Kota Kinabalu Appoints Linda Pecoraro as New General Manager
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | February 27, 2018
SABAH, Malaysia - Hilton today announced the appointment of Linda Pecoraro as general manager of the 302-room Hilton Kota Kinabalu. Pecoraro will support Jamie Mead, regional general manager, Hilton Malaysia to oversee the operation and lead the management team at the hotel located in Sabah's capital city, Kota Kinabalu. Jamie Mead, regional general manager, Hilton Malaysia said, "We are very proud to have Linda leading the team at Hilton Kota Kinabalu. We are very confident that under her leadership the hotel will reach new heights and raise the standard of hospitality within the area. Linda adds to the growing pool of female ...
DUR Hospitality, Via a Franchise Agreement with IHG, to Rebrand Riyadh Palace Hotel as Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace
IHG | February 27, 2018
Dur Hospitality, the Saudi grown hospitality company, and IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, have recently announced the signing of a franchise agreement for Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace, under the master franchise agreement signed in 2014 for 4 hotels. Currently operating as Riyadh Palace Hotel, the property is expected to be rebranded to Crowne Plaza by June 2018. Remarking on this, Mr Ahdab, President of Hotel Operations Dur Hospitality said: "We are delighted to partner with IHG® yet again, for their world class brand – Crowne Plaza®, making this our second hotel with them, f...
From Dreaming to Booking: How to Capitalize on the Full Travel Planning Journey to Increase Direct Bookings
HEBS Digital | February 27, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, Vice President Strategy This is the first article in a five-part series that focuses on reaching potential guests throughout the entire travel planning journey by addressing key digital micro-moments in each phase to shape and influence the booking decision. Travel planning. We all know from experience that a lot goes into planning the perfect vacation, and with so many devices and planning resources, the journey is complex. According to a leisure travel study conducted by Phocuswright, 60% of respondents reported that a vacation was their largest discretionary purchase. In light of this, before making this ...
Extended Stay America and Three Wall Capital Complete Sale of 25 ESA Hotels to Three Wall Capital Affiliate
Extended Stay America | February 27, 2018
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – February 27, 2018 — Extended Stay America, Inc. and ESH Hospitality, Inc. (NYSE:STAY) (together, the "Company") and Three Wall Capital, LLC today announced the completed sale of 25 Extended Stay America hotels ("ESA hotels") by the Company to an affiliate of Three Wall Capital, LLC. Extended Stay America, Inc. will continue to manage the 25 ESA hotels over a 20 year contract. The 25 hotels represent over 2,400 rooms and are located in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Texas. In conjunction with this transaction, Three Wall Capital, LLC has signed an agreement to build 15 additional ESA hotels over a seven year pe...
Asia Pacific Pipeline Excluding China Is Booming With Projects Up 13% YOY
Lodging Econometrics | February 27, 2018
February 27, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – The most recent Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline Trend Report, excluding China, states that the Total Pipeline has 1,760 Projects/362,826 Rooms, up 13% by projects Year-Over-Year (YOY) and establishing a new record peak for this cycle according to analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE). There are 971 Projects/211,827 Rooms Under Construction, up 15% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 393 Projects/78,881 Rooms, up 21%, while projects in Early Planning at 396 Projects/72,118 Rooms, up 3% YOY. The top three countries in the Asia Pacific Co...
Why a Mobile Cloud PMS is a Perfect Fit for Independent Collections, Groups, and Brands
February 27, 2018
By Jos Schaap CEO and Founder - StayNTouch When was the last time you gave your hotel a makeover? I'm not referring to the property itself; rather, the internal systems you have in place to maximize critical day-to-day efficiency. After all, ensuring you have a seamlessly integrated and user-friendly hotel property management system (PMS) in place can, in many ways, make or break the success of your hotel. The traditional hotel PMS systems that have been the go-to choice for independents and multi-properties in the past are quickly being overshadowed by more modern cloud-based PMS systems. Legacy systems require on-premise hardware, on-...
Playa Hotels & Resorts Enters Definitive Agreement with Sagicor Group Jamaica for Portfolio of Five All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica
Playa Hotels & Resorts | February 27, 2018
Fairfax, Virginia – (February 27, 2018) – Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA, "Playa"), today entered a definitive agreement for a business combination with Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited ("Sagicor") whereby Sagicor will contribute to Playa a portfolio of five all-inclusive resorts and two adjacent oceanfront developable land sites located on the desirable North Coast of Jamaica. The portfolio includes four existing resorts including the 489-room Hilton Rose Hall, the 268-room Jewel Runaway Bay, the 250-room Jewel Dunn's River and the 225-room Jewel Paradise Cove. It also includes a 88-room hotel tower and spa, two...
Manhattan Lodging Index – Fourth Quarter 2017
PwC | February 27, 2018
After ten quarters of continuous RevPAR declines, performance finally turned around in the fourth quarter of 2017. RevPAR increased 1.4 percent, driven entirely by resilient occupancy levels. While supply growth showed signs of deceleration, growth in average daily rate remained elusive. Looking back through 2017, top line lodging performance in Manhattan was all about room night demand. Despite an increase in supply of 2.6 percent, lodging demand grew at a 3.7 percent rate, driving a second year of occupancy growth. However, maintaining pricing power proved challenging in the face of this new supply, resulting in a 1.6 percent decline...
Turnberry Isle Miami Appoints John Rogers as Hotel Manager
Turnberry | February 27, 2018
Aventura, Florida, February 27, 2018: Turnberry Isle Miami, the iconic resort in the heart of Aventura, today announced the appointment of John Rogers as Hotel Manager. In this newly created role, Rogers will report directly to Jeff Klein, the Vice President and Managing Director of Turnberry Isle Miami, and help him manage all operations as the property doubles its capacity and introduces new amenities. The property is undergoing a significant expansion and upon completion, it will be rebranded as a JW Marriott, a member of Marriott's prestigious group of luxury brands. "I am thrilled to welcome John Rogers to Turnberry. John is an exc...
Social Media Madness Part One: How Actively Using Influencers Can Help Your Bottom Line
Dean Minett | February 27, 2018
By Dean Minett Have you ever had the experience of complimenting yourself in front of others? How about the experience of being complimented by someone else? Do the two experiences compare? Of course not. One is worth far more than the other. For example, we all know that happy guests are the most effective ambassadors for your hotel brand. As online reviews became more influential in the booking process, hospitality professionals have learned that curating a fantastic experience for every guest has far-reaching effects. This understanding grows deeper all the time because every detail and every interaction matters. But is it really acc...
Young Hoteliers Summit: Millennials at the Center of Attention
| February 27, 2018
The 9th edition of the Young Hoteliers Summit, taking place from March 12th to 14th, 2018, focuses on digitalisation and its future in the hospitality industry. With the objective of analysing the industry from different perspectives, the three-day summit consists of panel discussions and keynote speeches revolving around one central topic: "Eyes on the Future: Following the Momentum of Growth". With the panel "Redefining Luxury in the Age of the Millennial", the summit will commence with a discussion inspired by the challenge faced by many luxury brands in response to the millennial generation's emergence as a major customer segment. A...
Owned by Kennesaw Hotel Group and Managed by Peachtree Hotel Group, Courtyard by Marriott Opens in Kennesaw, Georgia
Courtyard by Marriott | February 27, 2018
Kennesaw, GA – February 27, 2018 – Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Kennesaw is scheduled to open its doors in Kennesaw, Georgia on Monday, March 5, 2018. 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 540 Greers Chapel Drive NW, the 100-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Kennesaw Hotel Group and managed by Peachtree Hotel Group of Atlanta, Georgia. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard Atlanta Kennesaw offers guests c...
Airbnb and Revenue Management: Hotels Still Maintain Upper Hand
University of Houston | February 26, 2018
by Jeanine Panzica We all know Airbnb is great for travelers, and within that statement are countless illustrations and some one-ups over hotels. Who doesn't love personal amenities left by actual home/apartment owners, even if it is a cat? Ultimately, Airbnb can insert a traveler into their destination in ways a hotel cannot and all for a relatively agreeable price. But when asked if the hotel industry is under threat of Airbnb, the answer is no. A plus for travelers, the bulk of the cost of an Airbnb stay is set by the host, they oversee nightly price, cleaning fees, and have discrepancy over extra guest and other fees. This limits th...
Four Winds Casinos Marks New Opening and Upgrades RFID Inventory Management System at Existing Properties
InvoTech Systems, Inc. | February 26, 2018
Long-time InvoTech Customer Implements RFID System at New Location and Upgrades Uniform Systems with RFID Technology for More Efficient Operations. LOS ANGELES, CA – February 27, 2018 – InvoTech Systems, Inc., the leading provider of linen, laundry and uniform inventory management solutions for hotels, casinos, resorts, and theme parks worldwide, announced that Four Winds Casinos® upgraded their existing uniform system at the Dowagiac, Hartford, and New Buffalo locations and implemented the uniform system at their newest property in South Bend. RFID technology will provide additional cost-saving benefits by automating ma...
AJR Hospitality and Hotel Equities Open Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Dublin, Georgia
Hotel Equities | February 26, 2018
ATLANTA/Dublin, GA – February 22, 2018 – Hotel Equities announced the opening of the 75-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Dublin, Georgia. Located at 620 Pinehill Road, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Dublin will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by AJR Hospitality LLC and managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta, Georgia. Malcolm Donseroux serves as the General Manager with Nicole Asbell as the Assistant General Manager. "We are excited to introduce the Fairfield Inn & Suites to the Dublin area," said Joe Reardon, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. "This is the first Marriott hotel...
How to Attract the Millennial Market? Watch the Trends
Lorraine Abelow | February 26, 2018
By Lorraine Abelow What draws the demanding Millennial market to luxury travel experiences? Since they work hard and play hard, these travelers seek adventure in an authentic environment – be it city or resort property. A digital PR agency that specializes in the field monitors the emerging trends worldwide to best position its clients for success with this ever-shifting market. In is vital to secure coverage in the outlets that are meaningful to them from Outside Magazine to Huff Post to Skift and social media influencer marketing is an absolute must, because statistically it has been shown to build brand awareness in a big way. ...
How the Blockchain Will Change the World of Hotel Distribution
Harvey Norman | February 26, 2018
By Harvey Norman Lowering costs is one of the biggest challenges that face the hospitality industry while considering opportunities for maximizing revenues. Hotel managers need to think of innovative ways to cut down on costs without affecting the quality of their services. Adopting the blockchain platform as a means of distribution is expected to lower the costs hotels endure directly and indirectly. But switching from the current system and traditional distribution channels is another challenge that lies ahead of hotel managers and their marketing teams. The Cost of Blockchain: As hoteliers consider the benefits of switching their dis...
Koucar Management to Develop New Build Cambria Hotel Southwest D.C.
Cambria | February 26, 2018
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 26, 2018 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, has signed an agreement with Koucar Management, LLC to develop a new Cambria hotel in Southwest Washington, D.C. Located at 69 Q Street SW, the 154-room, nine-story property will be the second Cambria in the District, joining the Cambria Hotel Washington, D.C. Convention Center at 899 O Street NW. Scheduled to open in 2020, the Cambria Hotel Southwest D.C. is designed to offer guests traveling to the area for business and leisure a new and distinct upscale lodging option. The new hotel will feature a spacious r...
Kerzner International Names Michael P. Wale as Chief Executive Officer
Kerzner International Holdings Limited | February 26, 2018
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 26, 2018 -- Kerzner International Holdings (the "Company"), the owner of the iconic Atlantis Resort and Residences and ultra-luxury One&Only Resorts brands worldwide, has announced the appointment of Michael P. Wale as its new Chief Executive Officer. The Company manages a portfolio of globally renowned, entertainment destination resorts, ultra-luxury hotels and residences and innovative entertainment experiences. Mr. Wale joins Kerzner International at a transformational time, with the accelerated growth of both destination-defining brands. The $1.6 billion Atlantis, Sanya resort in China...
Hyatt Names Mark Vondrasek as Chief Commercial Officer
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | February 26, 2018
CHICAGO (February 26, 2018) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the appointment of Mark Vondrasek as the company's chief commercial officer. In this role, Vondrasek will be responsible for the previously announced commercial services organization driving guest and customer engagement functions while working across the organization to enhance the frequency and level of engagement with guests. Vondrasek will assume his new role effective March 1, 2018, continuing to report to Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer. "Mark's track record as a transformational leader, his past experience and recent suc...
Interstate Names Rogier Hurkmans as Regional Vice President of Operations, Continental Europe
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | February 26, 2018
ARLINGTON, Va./LONDON, U.K. – February 26, 2018– Interstate Hotels & Resorts – a leading global hotel management company of franchised branded and independent hotels and resorts – announces the appointment of Rogier Hurkmans as a regional vice president of operations for Continental Europe. Reporting to Ken McLaren, Interstate's executive vice president of international operations, Hurkmans will help to build the company's regional, multi-lingual operating platform, ensure operational excellence and achieve optimal profitability for managed properties. "We are delighted Rogier Hurkmans has joined our executiv...
BENCHMARK® Names Greg Stafford General Manager for Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, A Benchmark Resorts & Hotels Property
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels | February 26, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Greg Stafford general manager of Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, currently under construction in College Station, Texas. The Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property is expected to open in the Fall of 2018. Jay Rocha, vice president of operations for Benchmark, made the announcement. "I am thrilled to welcome Greg to this exciting new property on the campus of Texas A&M University," said Mr. Rocha. "I can't think of anyone more qualified or prepared to lead the opening and management of this remarkable new hotel an...
