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Industry Happenings
Flip.to Joins OPMA, Together Sparking New Conversations in Travel Marketing
OPMA | February 14, 2018
Advocacy platform pairs with Onsite Rental Management Association to foster education and partnerships in the diverse vacation rental market ORLANDO, FL — February 14, 2018 — Flip.to—the advocacy marketing platform that helps reach, inspire and convert travelers worldwide—announced its membership with the Onsite Property Management Association (OPMA), a nonprofit and advocate for the rental management and condo hotel sectors representing a select 53,000 resort accommodation units. Flip.to will work in tandem with a collection of minds together aimed at bettering the travel space. Flip.to is thrilled to be joining...
Bedderman Lodging Appoints Sarah Jordan as Brand Food & Beverage Director
Bedderman Lodging | February 14, 2018
CHICAGO (Feb. 14, 2018) - Carving out a niche sector in the travelsphere, Urban Holiday Management, the pioneers in hyper-local alternative lodging, becomes Bedderman Lodging. The lodging company, dedicated to creating distinctive experiences in travel while establishing community, lends an array of properties with varying room types designed to accommodate every type of traveler ensuring affordability and approachability in a cultural and creative setting. With that, the team is thrilled to announce the hire of acclaimed Chef Sarah Jordan as the hotel brand's Food & Beverage Director. With current properties including boutique hote...
The Knickerbocker Hotel Appoints Karim Abdelhamid as Hotel Manager
The Knickerbocker | February 14, 2018
NEW YORK – Feb 14, 2017 –The Knickerbocker Hotel announces the appointment of Karim Abdelhamid to Hotel Manager of the landmark luxury-lifestyle hotel. Effective immediately, Abdelhamid is responsible for managing guest experiences as well as overall operations throughout the 330-room hotel, including the signature restaurant and bar, Charlie Palmer at The Knick; St. Cloud rooftop bar and lounge; ground-level café and eatery, Jake's Coffee Roasters; and a 2,200-square-foot event space. "Karim is a natural fit for the Hotel Manager position and brings extensive knowledge of the luxury hospitality industry," said Holly ...
McKibbon Hospitality Promotes Executive Erik Rowen to President of Development and Renovation
McKibbon Hospitality | February 14, 2018
Tampa, FL (February 14, 2018) – McKibbon Hospitality is pleased to announce the promotion of Erik Rowen to President of Development and Renovation Services. In his new role, Rowen will be responsible for McKibbon Hospitality's development and renovation services divisions and will focus on third-party development opportunities. A registered architect who joined McKibbon Hospitality in 2003 as a Project Manager, Rowen most recently served as Vice President of Development. Under Rowen's leadership, McKibbon's development and renovation services teams will be more closely aligned, allowing the company to better leverage resources, re...
ALICE Named a “2018 Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech”
ALICE | February 13, 2018
ALICE is excited to share it has been named a '2018 Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech' by HotelTechReport, for creating and maintaining a culture that fosters employee satisfaction along with business growth. HTR surveys thousands of hotel tech employees around the world about what it's like inside the operations of the industry's greatest technology companies. Being on this list is truly and honor and a testament to our commitment to our people. Like the industry we serve, hospitality is one of our core values. We continually aim to anticipate needs, build empathy, be generous, and most of all, be genuine. We believe it's important to a...
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association’s President and CEO, Marc Gordon, to Retire After 21 Years
IHLA | February 13, 2018
CHICAGO (February 13, 2018) – The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) announces today the retirement of President and CEO, Marc Gordon, at the end of 2018. Gordon joined IHLA in 1997 and under his leadership, the Association has grown significantly in annual revenues, financial reserves, and number of programs and benefits offered to members. "After 21 years as CEO, I feel very proud of what we have accomplished and what I have contributed to the growth and success of our organization. I am excited to see what 2018 brings and how my successor will take the Association to the next level," said Gordon, when asked about h...
Two Roads Hospitality Publishes Results of ‘State of the Meetings Industry’ Survey With 2018 Trend Forecast
Two Roads Hospitality | February 13, 2018
DENVER, Feb. 13, 2018 -- Two Roads Hospitality, an international lifestyle company featuring an unrivaled collection of individual hotels, resorts and vacation residences, has announced the top meetings trends for 2018 based on data from its recent "State of the Meetings Industry" survey. With more than 300 corporate, association, government and independent planners contributing to its sixth-annual survey - 66 percent of whom control more than $100,000per year in guest room, meeting space and food and beverage spend for their organizations - the hospitality leader has garnered key learnings around meeting planning, execution, ...
Rights Need a Helping Hand
Georges Panayotis | February 13, 2018
By Georges Panayotis More than 400 years ago Molière said: it is not always enough to be on the right side; sometimes a little extra help is needed, a little nudge that makes it possible to go further and succeed. The tourism industry reports an impressive bill of health with 20 years of steady growth that can be expected to continue for years to come. Just over 60 years ago, 50 million travelers journeyed the world around. Today, there are more than 1.3 billion. The tourism sector represents 5% annual growth on average, 1 in 10 jobs worldwide and 8 to 15% of the GDP of developed countries. In France in 2016, the sector accounted...
Grupo Cappuccino Enters Hotel Business with Debut of HOTEL MAMÁ in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Grupo Cappuccino | February 13, 2018
HOTEL MAMÁ, the first hotel from Grupo Cappuccino, is set to open this spring 2018 at the heart of Palma's historic quarter, Plaza De Cort. The hotel will be a first from Spanish company Grupo Cappuccino, known for its premium restaurants and cafes located in prestigious locations including Mallorca, Ibiza, Madrid, Valencia, Marbella, Jeddah and Beirut. The property has been designed by celebrated Parisian interior designer Jacques Grange, considered one of the best interior designers and decorators in the world, and famed for creating properties including the beautiful Palazzo Margarita in Southern Italy and The Mark Hotel in Ne...
Hyatt Enters Agreement with Promotora Comercial Abadan for 144-Key Hyatt Place Aguascalientes in Mexico
Hyatt Place | February 13, 2018
CHICAGO--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement for the 144-key Hyatt Place Aguascalientes with affiliates of Promotora Comercial Abadan, S.A. de C.V. The hotel will be managed by Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, one of the most respected hospitality companies in the Mexican hotel industry. Upon its expected opening in 2019, Hyatt Place Aguascalientes will be Mexico's sixth Hyatt Place hotel. "It is our great pleasure to expand the Hyatt Place brand into Aguascalientes, the most populous city in the state bearing the same name and one of the fastest growing destinations i...
Hilton and Zagreb City Hotels Developing Canopy by Hilton Zagreb Opening in Croatia Late 2018
Canopy by Hilton? | February 13, 2018
ZAGREB, Croatia and MCLEAN, VA – February 13, 2018 – Hilton (NYSE:HLT) and Zagreb City Hotels d.o.o announced today development plans for Canopy by Hilton Zagreb. The project, featuring Hilton's hotel brand that redefines the lifestyle hotel category, is scheduled to open in late 2018. The property will provide a comfortable stay for guests in search of thoughtfully local experiences in Zagreb's vibrant downtown neighborhood. The hotel will be the first Canopy in continental Europe. Situated in downtown Zagreb, close to the city's main rail station, the hotel is expected to welcome its first guests in late 2018, and will be ...
Playa Largo Resort & Spa Appoints Kerem Kendigelen as General Manager
Playa Largo Resort & Spa | February 13, 2018
KEY LARGO, FL – February 2018 – Playa Largo Resort & Spa, an Autograph Collection beachfront luxury property situated on the Florida Bay in Key Largo, Florida, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kerem Kendigelen as General Manager. In his new role, Kendigelen will be responsible for overseeing all resort operations, fostering staff development, budgeting and financial planning, increasing sales and revenue, and ensuring total guest satisfaction. With over 15 years of hospitality experience working within top hotel brands, Kendigelen brings a track record of effectively leading and managing all aspects of the luxur...
Atrium Hospitality Appoints Hector M. Jeyakaran General Manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston, WV
Atrium Hospitality | February 13, 2018
Charleston, W.Va. – Feb. 13, 2018 – Rising star Atrium Hospitality has appointed Hector M. Jeyakaran the new general manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston, WV, a 253-suite hotel in the heart of the capital city's lively downtown. Jeyakaran brings more than two decades of hospitality management experience to his new role, including 16 years at Hilton-branded hotels in North Carolina. Jeyakaran's appointment to Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston, WV represents his return to the brand after a year as general manager of Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Downtown in North Carolina. For 13 years prior, he served in a dua...
Taras Ettl Named Managing Director and Vice President of Middle East and Asia Operations at Steigenberger DMCC in Dubai
Deutsche Hospitality | February 13, 2018
Frankfurt am Main, 13 February 2018 Taras Ettl has been appointed new Managing Director and Vice President of Middle East and Asia Operations at Steigenberger DMCC (SDMCC) in Dubai. SDMCC is a subsidiary of Steigenberger Hotels AG and is responsible for all activities outside Europe. Its portfolio includes properties such as the Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai, the IntercityHotel Salalah in Oman and the Steigenberger Kantaoui Bay Sousse in Tunisia. Further Steigenberger Hotels are also in the pipeline in Doha (Qatar), Bangalore (India) and Bangkok (Thailand), and new IntercityHotels are being planned for Riyadh (Saudi Arabia),...
KDG Capital Acquires Oregon’s 100-Room Eagle Crest Resort from Northview Hotel Group and Oaktree
Northview Hotel Group | February 13, 2018
SAN DIEGO, CA – February 13, 2018 – Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. (HFF) announced today that it has closed the sale of Eagle Crest Resort, a 100-room destination resort hotel in Central Oregon's high desert in the greater Bend-area community of Redmond. HFF marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a partnership between Northview Hotel Group and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P. ("Oaktree"). KDG Capital purchased the hotel free and clear of existing debt and unencumbered of a management contract. Situated on more than 1,700 acres between the Willamette National Forest and the Deschutes River at 1522 Clin...
Projects in Canada’s Construction Pipeline Up 17% YOY
Lodging Econometrics | February 13, 2018
February 13, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH According to Lodging Econometrics (LE), the total Construction Pipeline in Canada currently has 244 Projects/32,170 Rooms, up 17% by projects Year-Over-Year (YOY). There are 87 Projects/11,286 Rooms Under Construction, up 19% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 91 Projects/10,536 Rooms, up 15%, while those in Early Planning are at 66 Projects/10,348 Rooms, up 18%. The top hotel companies in Canada's Construction Pipeline by projects are: Marriott with 54 Projects/7,764 Rooms, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 43 Projects/4,436 Rooms, and H...
2018 HEDNA Distribution Conference Exceeds Expectations
Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) | February 13, 2018
Conference held in Austin closes with record attendance, sets stage for upcoming European June event in Lisbon Washington, DC (February 13, 2018) – The HEDNA Global Distribution Conference concluded its annual event in Austin, Texas with a record number of attendees, captivating keynotes, educational sessions, interviews and engaging discussions. The overwhelming sentiment from all at the event was how relevant and important HEDNA conferences are for hoteliers to participate in if they want to stay informed, understand and compete in today's dynamic landscape. "We are extremely happy with the turnout and the amazing content th...
Digital Signage Expo 2018 to Offer Educational Opportunities in Digital Signage for Hotel Operators, System Administrators, Marketers and Technologist
DSE | February 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...
CooperWynn Real Estate Completes the Sale of the Holiday Inn Express Albuquerque -I 40/Eubank
CooperWynn Real Estate | February 13, 2018
Park City, UT – February 14, 2018 – As exclusive agent to Express Investments, Inc., CooperWynn Commercial Real Estate, is pleased to announce the sale of the 104-room Holiday Inn Express located at 10330 Hotel Circle in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Dallas based Newstream Hotels & Hospitality, a subsidiary of Newstream Commercial. Built in 1994, the property is well located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Interstate 40 and Eubank Blvd NE proximate to major demand generators such as Kirkland Airforce Base and Sandia National Laboratories. "The property was in excellent physical condition and garnered signific...
Rainmaker’s revcaster® Powers Newly Enhanced Market Intelligence for Omni Hotels & Resorts
Rainmaker | February 13, 2018
revcaster's next-generation platform recently implemented across the Omni brand ALPHARETTA, GA – Feb. 13, 2018 – The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced that it has expanded its partnership with Omni Hotels & Resorts (Omni) by transitioning them to the recently launched, next-generation of revcaster® across the brand's portfolio of properties, covering more than 20,000 rooms across 60 properties in North America. In addition to being a revcaster customer since 2015, Omni is a longstanding customer of Rainmaker's guestrev&...
RFPMaker.com Can Save You Both Time and Money – Just Ask JSYK Super Store!
RFP Maker | February 13, 2018
RFP Maker Can Save You Both Time and Money – Just Ask JSYK Super Store! The travel industry is saturated with long processes, time-consuming tasks, and inefficient communication between partners. This has been the case for many years, and no-one has attempted to streamline anything within the travel niche. That was until CEO and Founder of RFP Maker, Niels Kollerup Nielsen, decided to try and make a difference. For those that don't know, RFP Maker is an online platform that allows companies and travel planners to save money by finding a hotel in their desired location and seeking a great deal from them. But, it's also a brilliant ...
NewcrestImage Begins Construction of Adaptive Reuse Property in Downtown Houston to Become AC Hotel by Marriott
NewcrestImage | February 13, 2018
NewcrestImage has begun transforming a 104-year-old building in downtown Houston into a 195-room, 10-floor AC Hotel by Marriott, with Houston-based Arch-Con Construction serving as general contractor. Opening is expected during the summer of 2019. The property, located at 723 Main Street, will feature a large fitness center; business center; cocktail lounge; and dining area, which will be integrated with the Zoe Theatre, originally opened in 1914 as a silent movie theatre on the building's ground floor. There will also be approximately 4,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space with the latest technology for large screen presentati...
The Gates Hotel South Beach Appoints Nicolas Bour as Executive Chef
The Gates Hotel South Beach | February 13, 2018
Miami Beach, Fla. (February 13, 2018) – The Gates Hotel South Beach – a DoubleTree by Hilton proudly announces the appointment of Nicolas Bour as Executive Chef of the newly reimagined hotel. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Bour will manage culinary operations and direction at the hotel's newly launched Mexican-inspired restaurant Agaveros Cantina, as well as in-room dining, banquets, and special events for the 235-room boutique lifestyle hotel. "We're excited to welcome Chef Bour to the Miami culinary scene with his new position," said Brent McNally, General Manager of The Gates Hotel South Beach. "Bour's ex...
Playa del Carmen’s Playacar Palace Reopens Following $14 Million Transformation
Palace Resorts | February 13, 2018
MIAMI, Fla. (February 13, 2018) – Palace Resorts - the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations - is pleased to announce the reopening of Playacar Palace, the brand's luxury retreat in Playa del Carmen, following an extensive, $14 Million Dollar, multi-phase remodel. This picturesque all-inclusive resort for couples, families, and groups rests alongside the turquoise waters and powdery white sands of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, just steps away from the world famous, Quinta Avenida. Since opening its doors to guests in December 2005, this is the hotel's second phase of renovations. The transfor...
