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
PolyU Study Finds Focus on Accessibility Key to Exhibition Market Development
December 27, 2017
When choosing whether to attend an exhibition, exhibitors will go almost anywhere there is potential for successful business but visitors prefer destinations with good accessibility and an attractive leisure environment, according to Dr Karin Weber of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and her co-researcher Dr Xin Jin. Their recently published research study explores the attractiveness of exhibition destinations from visitor and organiser perspectives, providing practical guidelines that destinations and organisers can use to evaluate and develop destination resources. The researche...
Owned and Managed by Kalyan Hospitality, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Opens in Virginia
Fairfield Inn & Suites | December 27, 2017
Salem, VA – December 27, 2017 – The 113-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Salem, Virginia is now open for business with its smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting décor. Located at 121 Sheraton Drive, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Roanoke Salem will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Kalyan Hospitality of Glen Allen, Virginia. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, 10 minutes from the Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport, Fairfield Inn & Suites Roanoke Salem offers guests convenient access to the Salem Convention Center, t...
Ames Boston Hotel Earns “Conversion of the Year” Award From Hilton’s Curio Collection
Ames Boston Hotel | December 27, 2017
BOSTON, MA (December 27, 2017) - The historic Ames Boston Hotel, a member of the Curio Collection by Hilton™ and of Gemstone Collection by BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, today announces that it has received the coveted "Conversion of the Year" award from Hilton. Earlier this year, the 15-story Ames Boston Hotel completed a $6 million renovation, which saw a redesign of the hotel's public spaces, including the Lobby, whose tiled mosaic arched ceiling was preserved, and The Library, which serves as new communal workspace for guests. With the addition of the Ames and Oliver & Oakes meeting rooms and their pre-funct...
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena Appoints Paul Leclerc as New Managing Director
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles | December 26, 2017
PASADENA, Calif. - December 27, 2017 - The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Southern California's iconic landmark hotel, proudly announces Paul Leclerc as managing director. In his role, Leclerc will be responsible for managing the hotel's day-to-day success and overseeing all operational aspects of the 377-room property. A seasoned leader and innovator in hospitality with more than 25 years of service in the hotel industry, Leclerc joins The Langham Huntington, Pasadena after a 16-year career with Loews Hotels & Resorts. During his tenure with Loews, Leclerc spearheaded successful initiatives including the multi-faceted projec...
Hospitality Specialist Inc. Opens Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo Cedar Falls in Iowa
Courtyard by Marriott | December 26, 2017
Waterloo, IA – December 26, 2017 – Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo Cedar Falls opened its doors in Waterloo, Iowa last week. 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 250 Westfield Avenue, the 166-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Hospitality Specialist Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard Waterloo Cedar Falls offers guests convenient access to the University of Nort...
Okura Nikko Hotel Management to Operate Hotel in Indonesia to Be Rebranded as Hotel Nikko Bali
P.T. KARYA TEHNIK HOTELINDO | December 22, 2017
TOKYO--December 22, 2017--Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., announced it has agreed to begin operating one of the Bali, Indonesia hotel properties of P.T. KARYA TEHNIK HOTELINDO from January 1, 2018. The hotel will be rebranded as Hotel Nikko Bali* in April 2018. The Hotel is located on the coastline of Badung peninsula in south-eastern Bali, within a half-hour drive to Denpasar Airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport). While being close to Bali's main airport, visitors will also have convenient access to popular coastlines for water sports including parasailing. "It will be a great pleasur...
Guillermo Carmona Named Executive Chef of Velas Vallarta
Velas Vallarta | December 22, 2017
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (December 22, 2017) – Guillermo Carmona has been named Executive Chef of Velas Vallarta, an all-inclusive family resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In his new position, he is responsible for the resort's three restaurants; poolside snack bar; lobby bar; crepe and ice cream stations, and the Mexican Fiestas held every Sunday. The appointment is effective immediately. Carmona has spent a decade in the food industry, most recently as Executive Chef of AMResorts in the Dominican Republic. Prior to that, he's spent time in the kitchens of leading hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean, including Le Blanc Spa Resort ...
Kelly Wilson Named Director of Sales & Marketing at Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center
the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center | December 22, 2017
DENVER – Dec. 22, 2017 – The Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel, housed in one of the state's most famous and historic buildings – the former Colorado National Bank Building – has announced the appointment of Kelly Wilson as its director of sales and marketing. Wilson joins the team with nearly 20 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing and a multitude of industry accomplishments: she received the Sage Hospitality Sales Leader of the Year award in 2004, saw year-to-date growth in many of her sales roles and started her own task force consulting company, Bloom Hospitality, in 2008. While ...
Waterford Hotel Group Appoints Michael Stocker as General Manager at DoubleTree Little Rock
DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock | December 22, 2017
LITTLE ROCK, AR (December 22, 2017) – Waterford Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Michael Stocker as General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Little Rock, Arkansas. The 288-room DoubleTree is professionally managed by Waterford Hotel Group, Inc., a national hotel and convention center management firm. In his new role as General Manager, Stocker is responsible for all of the hotel's operations, sales, administration, and human resources. Stocker joins the DoubleTree team with a depth of industry knowledge. He began his hospitality career in the kitchen holding various positions and working his way up to Executive C...
Waterford Hotel Group Appoints Deon Weathers as General Manager at Fairfield Inn & Suites Boca Raton
Fairfield Inn & Suites Boca Raton | December 22, 2017
BOCA RATON, FL (December 22, 2017) - Waterford Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Deon Weathers to General Manager of the 119-room Fairfield Inn & Suites in Boca Raton, FL. Fairfield Inn & Suites Boca is managed by Waterford Hotel Group, a national hotel and convention center management firm located in Waterford, CT. In his new role as General Manager, Weathers is responsible for all of the hotel's operations, sales, administration, and human resources. Weathers comes to Waterford Hotel Group with more than 10 years of experience. Previously, he served as Business Development Manager for Marriott International where he...
How to Encourage Guests to Write Hotel Reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google and Facebook
Nancy Huang | December 22, 2017
by Nancy Huang Online guest reviews are more important than ever. In researching hotels, potential customers are proactively seeking information about the experiences of previous guests. Reviews and star ratings on websites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google, and Facebook all play an extremely important role in getting new customers to book. The more reviews available, the more trustworthy a hotel will appear. Today's traveler arrives well-informed, with a huge 95% reading online reviews before they book their accommodation. Furthermore, younger generations are more communicative than their predecessors, so building a strong online reputati...
Hyatt Debuts Hyatt Centric La Rosière in France and Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid in Spain
The Hyatt Centric Experience | December 22, 2017
CHICAGO--December 22, 2017--Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced expansion of the Hyatt Centric brand with several consecutive international hotel openings in two of Europe's most coveted destinations. Hyatt Centric La Rosière, the first Hyatt Centric hotel in France and first Hyatt ski resort in Europe, opened its doors on December 15, 2017. Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid opened its doors on December 20, 2017, marking the first Hyatt hotel in mainland Spain. Together, these anticipated openings continue to drive new momentum for the brand's growth worldwide. "Since its launch in 2015, the Hyatt Centric brand has proven to ...
Chatham Lodging Trust Sells Homewood Suites by Hilton Carlsbad, California for $33 Million ($228K Per Suite)
Chatham Lodging Trust | December 22, 2017
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--December 22, 2017--Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels, today announced that it has sold the 145-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton Carlsbad, Calif., for $33 million, or approximately $228,000 per suite. Chatham sold the hotel at an approximate 6.5 percent net operating income capitalization rate (after an assumed annual capital reserve of 4.0 percent of total hotel revenues) based on trailing 12 months performance. "This is the first sale under our capital recycling initiative ...
Condor Hospitality Trust Executes Agreement to Purchase the Home2 Suites Summerville/Charleston in South Carolina for $16,325,000
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. | December 22, 2017
BETHESDA, Md.--December 22, 2017--Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: CDOR), a hotel-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered and incorporated in the state of Maryland, today announced that it has executed an agreement to purchase the 93-room Home2 Suites by Hilton located in Summerville, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston. The contracted purchase price for the hotel is $16,325,000. The hotel will likely be managed by a new addition to the Company's group of management company alliance partners. "The Home2 Suites Summerville fits squarely within Condor's investment strategy. The hotel, newly-opened in 201...
Rockbridge Opens Reimagined 224-Room Noelle in Former Home of Noel Place
MAKEREADY | December 21, 2017
(NASHVILLE, TN; December 22, 2017)— Rockbridge announces the opening of Noelle, a reimagined 224-room hotel housed in the former home of one of downtown Nashville's first luxury properties, Noel Place. Rockbridge has called upon the property's Art Deco roots and location on historic Printers Alley to create a new cultural epicenter in the Nashville community. Located on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Church Street, Noelle sets itself apart from other hotels on what has recently become known as "Boutique Row" by offering guests an authentic, considered experience curated by leaders of Nashville's thriving creative community. Going...
HVS Market Pulse: Detroit, MI
Brandon Leversee | December 21, 2017
By Brandon Leversee The Detroit metropolitan area has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, fueled by a strengthening auto industry as well as the continued diversification of the local employment landscape. The hotel sector is benefitting from existing employers expanding operations locally and new entrants to the market. The Big Three automakers continue to invest in the region, while companies like e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. are building large warehouse facilities. Revenue gains for hotels were accordingly robust during the 2010–2016 period. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) during that stretch grew n...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Appoints Jay Rocha Vice President of Operations
December 21, 2017
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 2017 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Jay Rocha vice president of operations. Greg Champion, president and COO, made the announcement. "It is with great pleasure that I formally announce Jay's promotion within our company," said Mr. Champion. "His on-property operational experience will be invaluable in his new role working with multiple hotels and resorts. Jay is a great example of how Benchmark helps build careers." Jay Rocha was previously general manager of Cheyenne Mountain Resort, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prior to this he held senior leadership ...
AHLA Applauds Final Passage of Tax Reform Legislation
the American Hotel & Lodging Association | December 21, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 21 – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today issued the following statement after tax reform legislation passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. "Our industry is proud to support legislation that will reform U.S. tax policies and create a pro-growth tax environment," said AHLA president and CEO Katherine Lugar. "Tax reform will enable hoteliers to expand their businesses, create more jobs and help keep our economy strong. Tax cuts will contribute to the overall economic growth of our nation and strengthen our economy. We applaud the White House, Congression...
Downtown Camper by Scandic Plans Mid-January 2018 Opening in the Heart of Stockholm
Scandic | December 21, 2017
(New York, NY; 20 December 2017)—Downtown Camper, a signature hotel within the Scandic portfolio, opens its doors to the adventurous traveler in early 2018. Located in the heart of one of Stockholm's most unexplored neighborhoods, and adjacent to Brunkeburg Square, the hotel is the ultimate basecamp for urban explorers and global travelers. Downtown Camper takes an outdoorsy and social approach to hospitality with a focus on spontaneity, relaxation, and togetherness, empowering guests to discover the wonders of Stockholm. Guests are encouraged to pluck a complimentary kayak from the lobby and explore Stockholm's breathtaking archi...
Caribbean Hotels Reporting Strong Holiday Season
Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association | December 21, 2017
MIAMI (December 21, 2017) - Holiday travelers are escaping to the Caribbean, with hotels in most destinations not impacted by this year's hurricanes reporting occupancies in excess of 90 percent over the holiday season. "More than 70 percent of the Caribbean was not impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria and travelers are discovering the incredible diversity of destinations and offerings throughout the region, as they explore its many vacation options," stated Frank Comito, CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). CHTA canvassed a number of the region's destinations this week to se...
Matt Jergens Joins Chicago’s The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, as Executive Chef
The Gwen, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago | December 21, 2017
(CHICAGO; December 21, 2017)— Chicago's The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel is proud to welcome Matt Jergens as Executive Chef. Previously of the The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston, Chef Jergens brings over six years of luxury hotel culinary experience. Chef Jergens revamps The Gwen's food and beverage program with a modern takes on classic dishes such as the Grilled Skirt Steak with green beans, fried green plantains, chimichurri, lime crème fraiche; and the Pan Roasted Salmon with roasted mushrooms, snow peas, bok choy, warm miso vinaigrette. Additionally, Chef Jergens introduces the first weekend brunch menu ...
CBRE Hotels Arranges Sale of the Radisson Hotel San Diego-Rancho Bernardo
CBRE Group, Inc. | December 21, 2017
CBRE Hotels' Fifth Southern California Hotel Transaction in the Last Three Months San Diego, California – December 21, 2017 – CBRE Hotels arranged the sale of the 178-room Radisson Hotel San Diego-Rancho Bernardo, located at 11520 West Bernardo Court in San Diego, California for an undisclosed price. CBRE Hotels represented the seller, an affiliate of San Diego-based Pinnacle Hotels USA Inc., while the buyer, KASHL Corp, represented themselves. The buyer has selected RAR Hospitality to manage the hotel. Opening in 1989, the three-story hotel sits on 3.61 acres and offers approximately 4,000 square feet of meeting space, an o...
Montage International Appoints Vice President, Acquisitions and Development
Montage International | December 21, 2017
December 21, 2017 (ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF.) - Montage International has announced the appointment Vai Cahoon to the position of vice president, acquisitions & development. In this role, Cahoon will support the Acquisitions & Development team in the continued growth of Montage International - including both the Montage Hotels & Resorts and Pendry Hotels brands. "Vai has an outstanding track record of success in hotel development," said Jason Herthel, president and chief operating officer of Montage International. "We are thrilled to have her join our team and play a key role as we continue to expand our portfolio...
PM Hotel Group Assumes Management of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington in Delaware
PM Hotel Group | December 21, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 21, 2017—Officials of PM Hotel Group, a leading, national hotel management company, today announced the company has signed a management contract to operate the 244-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington in Del. The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), a privately held, full-service real estate acquisition, development and management company, acquired the hotel in October of this year. "With the inclusion of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington, we add our sixth hotel in Delaware to our ever-expanding third-party hotel management portfolio," said Joseph Bojanowski, president of PM Hotel Group. "We continu...
