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
Highgate Appoints Kelly Sanders as Vice President of Operations
Highgate | February 26, 2018
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (February 26, 2018) — Highgate, a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company, has appointed Kelly Sanders as Vice President of Operations, Hawaii. In this role, Sanders will oversee the management of Highgate's expanding portfolio of properties in Hawaii — currently comprised of six assets in Honolulu, including the newly-launched 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. "We are excited to have Kelly join the Highgate team. His background, achievements in hospitality and passion for guest experience will further the success of our Hawaii portfolio," said Steve Barick, Chief Operating Officer...
Prentice Hospitality Group Selects Hay Creek Hotels to Manage Maine’s Chebeague Island Inn
Prentice Hospitality Group | February 26, 2018
Exeter, New Hampshire (February 26, 2018) Hay Creek Hotels announced today that it has been selected to manage the iconic Chebeague Island Inn off the coast of Portland, Maine. Set in the heart of Casco Bay on picturesque Chebeague Island, the elegant 21-room Greek revival-style Inn serves as an idyllic shoreline getaway for travelers and locals alike who are seeking to relax and unwind. Offering full service accommodations and dining on a seasonal basis, the Inn has welcomed generations of vacationers to the coastal beauty of Casco Bay since the 1880s and holds a special place in the hearts of Maine residents thanks to its rich history...
Prestige Hospitality Group Names Bill Gomez as Chief Operating Officer
Prestige Hospitality Group | February 26, 2018
ALBANY, NY – James C. Frenis, CHA, Chief Executive Officer of Prestige Hospitality Group, LLC (PHG) is pleased to announce the promotion of Bill Gomez to Chief Operating Officer effective March 1, 2018, a newly created position for the rapidly growing hospitality development and management company. Mr. Gomez first joined PHG eight years ago and most recently served as Vice President of Organizational Development responsible for building and implementing comprehensive leadership tools designed to help hospitality teams achieve superior results in sales and marketing, profitability, and guest satisfaction. In addition, his responsib...
Waramaug LS Hotels LLC Acquires Candlewood Suites Athens, Georgia; Renovation Planned
Waramaug LS Hotels LLC | February 26, 2018
Boca Raton, FL, February 26, 2018 — Waramaug LS Hotels LLC, a private investment group focused on acquiring legacy branded assets throughout the United States, announced today the acquisition of the Candlewood Suites, Athens, Georgia. The four-story 97-suite hotel features spacious rooms with fully equipped kitchens, free Wi-Fi, fitness and business center, on-site laundry service, outdoor gazebo, grill and picnic tables. "The Candlewood Suites Athens is well positioned in this market near numerous business, retail, medical, and educational demand generators," said Craig Nussbaum, Senior Vice President, Waramaug Hospitality. "An e...
The Liquidation Sale of the Hyatt House Hotel, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Opens Thursday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m.
NCL/ National Content Liquidators, Inc. | February 26, 2018
Everything Must Go! Gaithersburg, Maryland (February, 2018) – The Gaithersburg Hyatt House has contracted with NCL/National Content Liquidators, Inc., the leading expert in hotel liquidation management, to clear the hotel of its current contents as a prelude to the property's redevelopment. The 140 room hotel liquidation is being held on-site at the Hyatt House, located at 200 Skidmore Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD., 20877, and is open to both the hospitality industry and the general public. The sale begins at 10:00 am, Thurs., March 1st, and will continue until sold out, Monday-Saturday, 10:00 am-7:00pm and Sundays, 12:00 pm-5:00 pm. ...
Atlantic Hotels Group Appoints Anthony Baxter and Brian Tigner as General Managers for New Dual-Branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn Dallas by the Galle
Atlantic Hotels Group | February 26, 2018
Atlantic Hotels Group has hired Anthony Baxter and Brian Tigner to oversee the opening of the new 256-room dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn Dallas by the Galleria. Baxter has been named general manager of AC Hotel Dallas by the Galleria and Tigner is the general manager for Residence Inn Dallas by the Galleria. Scheduled to open this spring, AC Hotel and Residence Inn Dallas by the Galleria will anchor Dallas' Midtown redevelopment plan, a $3.5 billion mixed-use development containing 6.5 million square feet of office tower space; 9,000 residential units; 1 million square feet of retail, restaurants and entertainment; and an 18-a...
Hospitality Financial Leadership – Create the Monthly Financial Circle!
David Lund | February 26, 2018
By David Lund It's A Circle – Create the Monthly Financial Circle! Practice is what we are missing. Practice with the financial piece is somehow a foreign concept. "Everything we do is practice for something greater than where we currently are." – Adam Kirk Smith If you and I worked in banquets and we were both rookies, we would show up every day and listen, work and learn, and in a relatively short period of time, we would both be pretty good at setting up, servicing and tearing down the banquet. How is this different from learning the financial piece? It is not, that's the illusion. It looks different because it is money a...
Going Local – How to Attract Locals to Your Hotel’s Restaurant & Why It’s Key in Today’s Hospitality Landscape
Diego Lowenstein | February 26, 2018
By Diego Lowenstein 1. As a hotel owner/developer, why is it important to engage locals as well as travelers? When you own and develop hotels, you're always looking for the "next big thing" that will separate your property from your competitors' properties and bring excitement to the community. This often manifests itself in new restaurant outlets, a singular lobby, and pieces of technology or design updates that 'wow' potential customers. However, updates like this typically only cater to those who stay at the hotel, segmenting off a huge potential market a property can tap in to: locals. When a property engages locals at a high level...
HFTP Sells Out Exhibition for Upcoming HITEC Amsterdam 2018, A 20 Percent Space Increase from Previous Year
HITEC | February 26, 2018
European extension to the world's largest and oldest hospitality exposition and conference brand Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), an international nonprofit association and producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has sold all exhibit spaces for the upcoming HITEC Amsterdam 2018. HITEC Amsterdam will feature 84 exhibiting companies – a 20 percent increase from the inaugural 2017 event. A floorplan with a list of participating companies is available on the HITEC Amsterdam website. HITEC Amsterdam will take place from 11-13 April at the RAI Amsterdam Conventi...
Powered by Intelity, the Forbes Travel Guide ‘Verified Summit’ App is Now LIVE on the App Store and Google Play
Intelity | February 26, 2018
As the 'Official Mobile and Technology Provider of Forbes Travel Guide,' Intelity develops a digital brochure for the 2018 Star Award Winners celebration in Beverly Hills [Orlando, Fla. – February 26, 2018] — Forbes Travel Guide 2018 Star Award Winners will convene in Beverly Hills tomorrow for "Verified: The Forbes Travel Guide Luxury Summit" to celebrate their recognition as one of the world's finest Five-Star and Four-Star hotels. Also in attendance will be Forbes Travel Guide's 2018 Brand Officials, the top service and amenity providers for each segment of the hospitality industry. To help navigate the event, attendees ...
Europe Hotel Construction Pipeline Booming With 22% YOY Growth and Middle East Pipeline Up With 11% YOY Growth
Lodging Econometrics | February 26, 2018
February 26, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – In line with its surging economic recovery, a recent Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report for Europe states that the Total Pipeline is booming with 1,316 Projects/205,650 Rooms, up 22% by projects Year-Over-Year (YOY) according to Lodging Econometrics (LE). There are 636 Projects/103,736 Rooms Under Construction, up 19% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 412 Projects/63,815 Rooms, up 45%, while projects in Early Planning at 268 Projects/38,099 Rooms are up by 2%. The top countries in the Europe Construction Pipeline are: United Kingd...
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Game for the Hotel Industry
Hotelogix | February 26, 2018
Artificial Intelligence has already made a mark across varied businesses and the hospitality industry is fast catching up with this trend. While the hotel industry is an already crowded market, innovation is the key element for hotel owners to stay ahead of the competition. Technologies such as artificial intelligence are vital to maintain a constant growth and to generate more revenues. Hoteliers are already striving for new methods to reach out to customers, know them better, engage them to earn their loyalty. If you are a hotelier, the sooner you embrace smart technologies, the better it would be for your success. Wouldn't it be grea...
AD1 Global Completes Multi-Million Dollar Renovation of the Holiday Inn Viera-Melbourne, Florida
AD1 Global | February 22, 2018
AD1 Global, a South-Florida based hospitality development and management company, has completed a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Holiday Inn Viera-Melbourne. The comprehensive property-wide renovation featured a complete revamp of the guestrooms and inviting public spaces to provide sleek, contemporary furnishings, as well as modern interior design. The landscaping and exterior setting was also enhanced to showcase the property's stunning Florida scenery. State-of-the-art Tesla and electric car-charging stations were also installed to accommodate environmentally friendly guests. "The extensive renovation underscores our ability ...
AHLA Responds to Airbnb Plus & Boutique Program Announcement
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | February 22, 2018
The following statement is from Troy Flanagan, Vice President of State & Local Government Affairs at American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), in regards to Airbnb's announcement today about its new Airbnb Plus and Boutique programs. "Whether it's called Plus or Boutique program, Airbnb's latest scheme is just further proof the company is trying to play in the hoteling space while evading industry regulations. If Airbnb wants to enter the hoteling business, then it needs to be regulated, taxed and subject to the same safety compliances and oversight that law-abiding hotel companies adhere to each and every day." "The...
Bristol Hospitality Group Opens The Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort in Panama City, Panama
February 22, 2018
BETHESDA, MD – February 22, 2018 – The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts today announced the brand's debut in Panama with the opening of The Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort, Panama City, located minutes from the capital's city-center. An urban oasis operated by Bristol Hospitality Group, The Santa Maria is a five-star Luxury Collection resort delivering exceptional experiences to discerning travelers seeking an authentic connection to the destination. With this exciting opening, The Luxury Collection expands its footprint in South America where it now operates six unique and indigenous hotels an...
Peachtree Hotel Group (PHG) Opens 98-Room Hilton Garden Inn Jackson in Tennessee
Peachtree Hotel Group | February 22, 2018
JACKSON, Tenn., February 22, 2018—Officials of Peachtree Hotel Group (PHG), one of the nation's fastest growing hotel investment and management platforms, today announced the grand opening of the 98-room Hilton Garden Inn Jackson in Tenn. "While we continue to seek both acquisition and third-party management candidates, we have a healthy appetite for ground-up development projects, as well," said Brent LeBlanc, senior vice president, Peachtree Hotel Group. "With many hoteliers focused strictly on top MSAs, hotel deals in those markets are becoming harder and harder to come by with multiple groups fighting for the same property, wh...
The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa Appoints Abhay Singh as Director of Food & Beverage
Westin Hotels & Resorts | February 22, 2018
LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA, 22 February 2018 – Abhay Singh is appointed Director of Food & Beverage for The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa. In his new role, he will be managing the overalls operations and services of all F&B venues and the resort's banquets. Abhay attended the University of Huddersfield and obtained a BA (Hons) in Hotel Management. His dedication and passion for the hospitality industry have led him to garner experiences of more than 9 years in various hotel brands in India. Abhay began his career in 2008 as a part of the Voyage Trainee Management Programme with Marriott International. The hunger to attain i...
Salamander Hotels & Resorts Appoints Ty Brassie as Director of Sales & Marketing at Hammock Beach Resort
Salamander Hotels & Resorts | February 22, 2018
MIDDLEBURG, VA. – February 22, 2018 - Salamander Hotels & Resorts - the luxury management company founded by Sheila C. Johnson – has appointed Ty Brassie as Director of Sales & Marketing to Hammock Beach Resort, northeast Florida's premier oceanfront destination located in Palm Coast. In his new role, Brassie will oversee the property's sales and marketing strategies – driving business, revenue and overall brand awareness to the resort. As a veteran with more than two decades of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, Brassie brings with him a rich background in management, leadership and sales ex...
Host Hotel Systems’s Property Management System Integrates into TravelClick’s Central Reservations Platform
TravelClick | February 22, 2018
Allows Hotels to Seamlessly Transmit Rates, Availability and Reservations to Maximize Revenue NEW YORK – February 22, 2018 – TravelClick, a leading global provider of data and revenue-generating solutions for hoteliers, and Host Hotel Systems, a visionary developer of Front Office and Back Office Management Systems, today announced the joint integration of iHotelier® Central Reservations System (CRS) and Hostpms Property Management System (PMS). This integration allows hotels to instantly update inventory across channels when a booking is made. These automated updates ensure that hotels are always in rate parity across a...
Hard Rock International Names Danielle Babilino Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos
Hard Rock International | February 22, 2018
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Feb. 22, 2018 -- Hard Rock International announces the appointment of Danielle Babilino as senior vice president of global sales and marketing for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos. In her new position, Babilino will have overall responsibility for the Hard Rock Hotel sales division, as it supports the expanding global portfolio of Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos. Babilino will report to Jon Lucas, Hard Rock International COO. She will manage all hotel sales and marketing incentives, sales training, customer events, sales program implementation and the recruitment and retention of sales professionals. "An aggressive, r...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Names Jerry Gibson Vice President and Managing Director for Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu
Turtle Bay Resort | February 22, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Jerry Gibson vice president and managing director for Turtle Bay Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Greg Champion, president, made the announcement. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jerry to Benchmark and to Turtle Bay Resort," said Mr. Champion. "I can't think of anyone more qualified to lead this magnificent property to even greater levels of success, and to continue the resort's active involvement with Oahu's North Shore community. He is a terrific addit...
TJM Appoints John Lowe General Manager and Kevin Cushing Director of Sales and Marketing for The Claridge – A Radisson Hotel
The Claridge - A Radisson Hotel | February 22, 2018
Atlantic City, NJ, February, 2018 ... Continuing to expand its management team and sales force, The Claridge - a Radisson Hotel, has appointed hospitality expert John Lowe as General Manager and Kevin Cushing as Director of Sales and Marketing. "We're delighted to welcome John to The Claridge," says Cem Erenler, Vice President Operations and Development at TJM Hotels and Resorts. TJM is the owner of the Claridge and several properties in the Northeast and Florida. "He brings 30 years of invaluable experience in the New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware markets and a stellar reputation in the hotel and conference indus...
Will Other Asian Retailers Follow Muji’s Move Into Hospitality?
JLL Real Views | February 22, 2018
By Serene Lim American furniture retailer West Elm has done it, as have luxury brands such as Armani and Bulgari. Now Japanese lifestyle giant Muji, which is known for its minimalist aesthetics, is taking a step into the hospitality business. The first Muji hotel opened in Shenzhen last month, and it has two other properties lined up for launch in Beijing and Tokyo later this year and next. Rooms will feature Muji homeware products, allowing guests to lounge on the furniture and try out homewares in private. Stores within the hotels then allow them to purchase their favourite items. "Muji is one of the retailers that successfully starte...
Investing Into Brands of the Future
Pascal Gauvin | February 22, 2018
By Pascal Gauvin , Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), IHG Today, investors ultimately select brands based upon strong operations, distribution, production, revenue management, ADR, occupancy, and RevPAR achieved. However, in the immediate future and beyond, investors should be looking at hotel brands with more granularity. As competition across the industry becomes more fierce and more disruptors enter the market, investors should assess which hotel brands are more receptive to the changes in consumer behaviour and are likely to adapt and consistently remain relevant to the traveller of the future. Brands that will...
