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Industry Happenings
IntercityHotel Partners with East Consulting Engineering Center for IntercityHotel Riyadh Malaz Opening Late 2018 in Saudi Arabia
IntercityHotel | January 24, 2018
Frankfurt am Main, 24 January 2018 The IntercityHotel brand is continuing its course of expansion on the Arabian Peninsula. The IntercityHotel Riyadh Malaz, which will open for business before the end of the year, represents the company's first move into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. IntercityHotel's contractual partner is East Consulting Engineering Center, one of the country's leading consultancy firms. The IntercityHotel Riyadh Malaz will be a new build project that will accommodate a total of 86 rooms including four suites. The hotel is located in the Al Malaz district, which is a well-known business area. The Prince Faisal bin Fahd ...
SpaSoft Unveils Latest Version of Spa & Activity Management Solution
SpaSoft and Springer-Miller Systems | January 24, 2018
Enhanced Technology Platform and Reporting Engine Included in New Features STOWE, VT — January 24, 2018 — Stowe, VT— Springer-Miller Systems (SMS), the leading provider of guest-centric hospitality and spa management systems, announced today the general availability of the latest release of the SpaSoft Spa and Activity Management Solution. SpaSoft version 6.5 leverages a new technology and development platform to enhance the overall system performance as well as allow for a faster and improved user experience. These technology updates allow SpaSoft to continue to scale and grow to serve the ever-changing needs of the s...
Sonesta International Opens Sonesta Hotel Ibagué in Colombia Under Management of GHL Hotels
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation | January 24, 2018
Newton, MA (January 24, 2018) – Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is thrilled to introduce Sonesta Hotel Ibagué, the latest addition to the brand's expanding international portfolio and its seventh property in the country of Colombia. Located within the city's Acqua Commerical complex, Sonesta Hotel Ibagué is key to the area's commercial, business and tourist development. The capital of the Department of Tolima, Ibagué is the 7th most populous city of Colombia, and a hub for business and leisure travelers alike. Sonesta Hotel Ibagué marks the 15th Sonesta hotel in South America, under the managem...
Dream Hotel Group to Develop Three New Hotels in Mexico and Central America
Dream Hotel Group | January 24, 2018
NEW YORK, NY (January 24, 2018) – Renowned hotel and brand management company Dream Hotel Group today announced the development of three new hotels in Mexico and Central America: Unscripted Tulum, Unscripted Belize and Dream Belize. The signings represent a major milestone for Dream Hotel Group, positioning them as international hospitality leaders and paving the way for new growth in the Mexico and Belize region. "We are thrilled to announce the development of three new hotels in two of the world's most desired destinations," said Jay Stein, CEO of Dream Hotel Group. "We are honored to partner with Luke and Mauricio to bring both...
Beekeeper’s ‘Bee School’ is Back in Session
Beekeeper | January 24, 2018
'If Not You, Who? Cracking the Code of Employee Disengagement' will kick off the 2018 Webinar Series on January 31 taught by Best-Selling Author and Employee Engagement Expert Jill Christensen SAN FRANCISCO, CA JANUARY 24, 2018 - Employee engagement is a big buzz word in hospitality, but few hoteliers truly understand its meaning. It's not just about satisfying employees; satisfied employees are there to "get" something from employment, but engaged employees are there to "give" something to the organization and its customers. In hospitality, an engaged employee will do everything possible to ensure an exceptional guest experience. It's ...
OD Hotels Acquires Cavalière Sur Plage Hotel on the French Riviera for EUR 11 Million ($36M)
OD Hotels | January 24, 2018
Madrid, Spain (January 24, 2018) -- Balearic boutique hotel group OD Hotels has finalized the purchase of the Cavalière Sur Plage Hotel on the French Riviera with plans to renovate and open OD Côte d'Azur in 2019. Just under 20 miles from Saint-Tropez, the property will be the group's sixth hotel and the first one to be located outside of Spain. Led by Marc Rahola, OD Hotels made the purchase for 11 Million Euros (approximately $36 Million USD). OD Hotels specializes in the renovation of abandoned buildings in unbeatable locations bringing in a cosmopolitan character, art-centric philosophy, and commitment to sustainabi...
Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago Appoints Gabriel Constantin As General Manager
January 24, 2018
Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago is pleased to announce the appointment of Gabriel Constantin to general manager of the Forbes five-star property following a successful, five-year tenure with Trump Hotels. Constantin joins an award-winning team that prides itself on superior customer service and guest experiences. Prior to joining Trump Hotel Chicago, he served as the manager for Trump Hotels' Old Post Office in Washington, D.C., whose highly acclaimed restoration and luxury status has earned international acclaim. The property opened in September 2016 and quickly established a reputation for its outstanding loc...
Learning from Sushi Master Jiro
Larry Mogelonsky | January 24, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) I trust that many of you have seen the beautiful, 81-minute documentary called "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" which was produced in 2011 (if not, look for it on Netflix). The film discusses the life and opus of Jiro Ono, the 85-year-old proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 12-seat sushi restaurant located within Tokyo Ginza subway station. The restaurant does not even have its own washroom, and yet it has been awarded three Michelin stars, with Jiro being the oldest chef ever to obtain this level of prestige. How did he do this? While the movie will explain his methodology and philosophy in de...
Timothy Hentschel ’01 Named Cornell Hospitality Innovator for 2018
| January 24, 2018
Timothy Hentschel '01, cofounder and CEO of HotelPlanner, the world's largest online group travel provider, has been named the recipient of the 2018 Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award, an honor given annually by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Hentschel will receive the award at the 10th annual Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator Awards gala, Tuesday, June 5, at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. HotelPlanner was established in 2003 by Hentschel and his business partner, John Prince, a software engineer and COO. HotelPlanner w...
Tambourine Shares Turnover: The Hidden Killer of Hotel Marketing (and What to Do about It)
Tambourine | January 24, 2018
Sometimes, one of the greatest obstacles to successful hotel marketing lurks within your own office… Staff turnover, especially when it's excessively high, can be an absolute killer for most businesses, and your hotel marketing team is no exception. So learning to attract, cultivate and retain marketing staff—instead of churning through them—may have a wider impact than even the smartest of ad campaigns. At hotels, specifically, there are a number of reasons why turnover of marketing staff makes it hard to achieve ownership's revenue targets: 1. Consistency Is Vital to Success In the hotel business—which is buil...
Listen and Do: A Mantra for Keeping Hotel Personalization Simple
Robert Reitknecht | January 24, 2018
By Robert Reitknecht Back in 2015, a guest staying at Starwood Hotels tweeted that his room was cold. A few days later, he walked into his room to find an alpaca throw, a box of tea and a handwritten note waiting for him on his bed. He immediately took to Twitter to share a picture, tagging the hotel in the post, with the caption: "Above & Beyond!!!" This story perfectly illustrates how easy it is to personalize the guest experience. You see, the concept of personalization has evolved in an interesting way over the years. In my opinion, it has been unnecessarily painted as an intimidating and costly initiative for hospital...
Research Uncovers Increased Intermediation in Groups and Meetings Market Segment
Kalibri Labs | January 24, 2018
January 24, 2018, Los Angeles, CA – Today at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) held at the JW Marriott & Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Kalibri Labs previewed their latest study that encompasses the groups and meetings market segment of the hotel industry. This in-depth look at a critical component of the hotel business mix provides key metrics that reveal the increased intermediation the groups and meetings segment has been experiencing and where it is expected to go next. The full report will be released in the coming weeks, but the preview contained five key takeaways uncovering the size, process and c...
Maestro PMS Extends System Innovation, Announces 2018 Development Roadmap
Maestro PMS | January 24, 2018
Tablet Full-Front Office Operation, Strengthened Direct Online Booking, Spa Tablet Capability and 2-Way Guest Service Texting Lead List Markham, Ontario – January 24, 2018 – When there is a revolution in technology, it reshapes how hoteliers do business. Maestro PMS is a leader in adapting emerging technologies and property software. Maestro's newest solutions make hotel operations more efficient, staff more productive, and properties more profitable. Maestro PMS's 2018 Product Development Roadmap includes versatile mobile processes, online booking innovations that drive revenue, and flexible 2-way mobile guest engagement th...
hospitalityPulse Launches eBook to Help Hoteliers Make A Lot More Money
hospitalityPulse | January 24, 2018
Hotel technology innovator introduces breakthrough best practices every hotelier needs to know to drive direct bookings, monetize features, be more competitive with OTAs and vacation rentals, as well as deliver on guest expectations Santa Cruz, CA (January 24, 2017) – Increasing profits and exceeding guest expectations are among the top goals for any hotel executive. That is what inspired hospitalityPulse™, a leading provider of next-generation technology solutions for the hotel industry, to develop an eBook that goes beyond the same old strategies to explore the paradigm of what it means to sell a hotel room. The insightful...
Ventus Group Launches Search for Joint Venture Equity Partners for $300 Million Planned Mixed-Use Development in LA
| January 23, 2018
Ventus Group, a Southern California developer of innovative core real estate destinations, launched its search for joint venture equity partners for "The Fig," a 4.4-acre, $300 million mixed-use development, located south of L.A. Live/Los Angeles Convention Center and walking distance to the University of Southern California campus and the 160-acre Exposition Park. Eric Bergstrom of Bergstrom Capital Advisors, Inc. was selected as the exclusive real estate capital market advisor for Ventus Group. The seven-story project will feature approximately 408 residential units for 931 student housing, market-rate, and affordable residents, over ...
PwC’s Lodging Outlook for U.S.: Hospitality Directions for 2018
PwC | January 23, 2018
Compelling economic and industry fundamentals suggest continued momentum for 2018 Less than a month into 2018, the eight-year growth cycle in the lodging industry lumbers on. While RevPAR performance in the third quarter of 2017 appeared to take a breather, the combined impacts of improving economic fundamentals and the regional increase in performance associated with the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma resulted in a stronger fourth quarter, driving home a solid finish for the year. Going forward, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is reportedly providing a boost in business and consumer sentiment, and is expected to contribute to GDP gr...
Fontainebleau Miami Beach Appoints Mary Rogers as Vice President and General Manager
Fontainebleau Miami Beach | January 23, 2018
Miami Beach, Fla. – January 23, 2018 – Fontainebleau Miami Beach announces the appointment of Mary Rogers as Vice President and General Manager of the iconic 1,504-guestroom Miami Beach property. Designating Rogers as the first female general manager of the resort, her new role will involve overseeing all day-to-day operations of the 20-acre beachfront hotel. "We are thrilled to have Mary Rogers take on a new role as Vice President and General Manager," says Philip Goldfarb, President and Chief Operating Officer, Fontainebleau Miami Beach. "Having excelled for nearly a decade at the resort, Mary has played an integral role i...
The Adelphi Hotel Appoints Helen Watson to General Manager
The Adelphi Hotel | January 23, 2018
NEW YORK – January 23, 2018 – The Adelphi Hotel, a revitalized iconic Saratoga Springs property, is pleased to announce Helen Watson, a results-driven and highly respected luxury hotel professional with over 20 years of experience, as the new General Manager. Prior to starting her new role with The Adelphi Hotel, Watson was recently the Director of Rooms at The Adelphi Hotel where she gained valuable insight in the beautiful city of Saratoga Springs and was integral in helping to shape the brand and re-open the hotel. Prior to this, she held a leadership role within the concierge department at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Pre...
HVMG Names Jason Kern General Manager for Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort
Embassy Suites by Hilton | January 23, 2018
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2018) – Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) announced today the appointment of Jason Kern as general manager of the all-suite Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort, scheduled to open late summer (2018). Kern will oversee the hiring of new staff and day-to-day operations of the resort, which is currently being constructed oceanfront along the Atlantic shoreline in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. The new resort will feature onsite dining, an oceanfront Splash Park, waterfront meeting space and other surprising guest amenities. Key International – prominent Mia...
Northwood Hospitality Appoints Raj Radke as General Manager of The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte
The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte | January 23, 2018
Charlotte, NC (January 23, 2018) - Northwood Hospitality is pleased to announce the appointment of Raj Radke as General Manager of The Ballantyne. In this new role, Radke will oversee ongoing performance, daily operations and continued revenue growth for the luxury hotel located in a thriving business community. With over 25 years of global, luxury hospitality experience, Mr. Radke began his career in his native India at The Leela Beach Resort. Prior to joining The Ballantyne leadership team, Radke refined his luxury hospitality experience through tenures with the Four Seasons and St. Regis brands, gaining significant managerial experie...
Riant Capital Unveils Details of Development of Taipei Sky Tower to Include Dual-Branded Park Hyatt Taipei and Andaz Taipei
Riant Capital | January 23, 2018
TAIPEI/ HONG KONG/ SINGAPORE (January 23, 2018) After the long awaited completion of review process, Riant Capital unveiled its final selection of hotel operator, architect and designers for the highly anticipated development Taipei Sky Tower (TST). Catered to high-end travelers looking for different types of experiences, TST today announced its collaboration with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts for Asia's first large scale lifestyle-driven development which will house two Hyatt-branded luxury hotels – Park Hyatt Taipei and Andaz Taipei. This will be the first dual-branded luxury hotel development for Hyatt in Asia. Situated in Taipei'...
New Study Finds U.S. Millennial Travelers Still Prefer Hotels Over Airbnb
Resonance Consultancy | January 23, 2018
Full-service hotels are preferred to short-term apartment rentals by margin of more than 2-to-1 Millennial travelers. NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2018 -- According to a new report on the future of U.S. Millennial travel, American travelers between 20 and 36 years of age prefer full-service hotels to an Airbnb rental, even as the home-sharing service expands in 65,000 cities and in preparation for an imminent IPO. Resonance Consultancy, a leading advisor in real estate, tourism, and economic development for countries, cities and communities, reveals this and many other insights in the 2018 Future of Millennial Travel Report: A survey of America&#...
Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Selected to Manage the Newly-Opened Murieta Inn and Spa in Rancho Murieta, California
Marcus Hotels & Resorts | January 23, 2018
MILWAUKEE -- Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized hotel owner and management company and division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), announced it has been selected to manage the Murieta Inn and Spa in Rancho Murieta, California, which opened today. The newly constructed luxury inn and spa is located southeast of Sacramento among the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range in what is known as Gold Country. Found within the development containing the renowned Murieta Equestrian Center, the largest equestrian facility in California, the 83-room hotel features The Gate, a one-of-a-kind restaurant and bar that offers fr...
Area Vice-President and General Manager Gottfried Bogensperger Welcomes Guests to New Grand Hyatt Manila
Grand Hyatt | January 23, 2018
CHICAGO (January 23, 2018) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today the opening of Grand Hyatt Manila, the first Grand Hyatt hotel in the Philippines. The 461-room luxury hotel tops the tallest skyscraper in the Philippines at 1,043 feet, offering breathtaking and unobstructed panoramic views of the Makati skyline and Manila Bay. Located at the crossroads of the financial, commercial and entertainment districts of Taguig, Bonifacio Global City, the hotel offers superior service, first-class accommodations and an abundance of options within a multicultural backdrop of dramatic architecture and innovative design. Grand Hy...
