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
HEBS Digital Wins Record-Breaking 21 HSMAI Adrian Awards, Including 10 Gold
HEBS Digital | December 11, 2017
Summary: HEBS Digital has been recognized with 21 awards from the 61st HSMAI Adrian Awards Competition. The Adrian Awards honor the outstanding achievements of hospitality brands and agencies for creativity and innovation in advertising, public relations, and digital marketing. New York, NY (December 11, 2017) – HEBS Digital, a leading authority in hotel digital technology and marketing innovation, has been honored with a record-breaking 21 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards for 2017. These awards mark a new record for HEBS Digital, beating their previous record of 17 awards. Now in i...
Following a Year-Long Renovation, the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur Reopens
JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts | December 11, 2017
New York, NY - December 11, 2017 – December 5, 2017 marked a new chapter for this shining star as it celebrated the official re-launch after a complete yearlong refurbishment of the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur. Officiating the auspicious occasion was Tan Sri Dato' (Dr.) Francis Yeoh, Managing Director of YTL Group of Companies, Dato' Mark Yeoh, Executive Director of YTL Hotels and from Marriott International, Inc. - Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer and Craig Smith, President and Managing Director of Asia Pacific. The JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur opened its doors on July 12, 1997 and went on to set a new standard in ho...
Emaar Hospitality Group Appoints Eliza Artiaga as General Manager of Vida Downtown in Dubai
Vida Hotels and Resorts | December 11, 2017
Dubai, UAE; December 11, 2017: Emaar Hospitality Group has appointed Eliza Artiaga as General Manager of Vida Downtown, the upscale lifestyle hotel in Downtown Dubai under Vida Hotels and Resorts. With 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Eliza is responsible for implementing creative strategies that align with Vida Downtown's brand image, and ensuring the guests continue to receive unrivalled service. She will also drive the business strategy for the hotel and manage the overall operations. Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: "Vida Downtown is a flagship property under our Vida Hot...
Cendyn is the World’s Leading Data Driven Marketing Agency
Cendyn | December 11, 2017
December 11, 2017 - Cendyn, the leading provider of hotel CRM and hotel sales platforms in the hospitality industry, has today been voted as the World's Leading Data Driven Marketing Agency, 2017. The prestigious World Travel Awards recognizes companies, organizations and brands that push the boundaries of industry excellence. "It's an absolute honor to win this award" says Tim Sullivan, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Cendyn. "We see day-in-day-out how many of our customers are now embracing the ability to use their data to enhance their digital marketing efforts to get more guests through the door. Not only d...
IHG Enters Franchise Agreements for New Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza Hotels in Varanasi
IHG | December 11, 2017
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies has signed a franchise agreement with the JHV group for two new properties in the heritage city of Varanasi. A 300-room Crowne Plaza will be owned by M/s Mall Hotel Ltd, a subsidiary of JHV and will accommodate guests filtering in through the business traffic at Mall Road. The 180-room Holiday Inn will be owned by M/s HLA Hotels Ltd, a subsidiary of JHV and is located well to serve the Buddhist Circuit and will offer excellent connectivity to the airport. Serving a wide range of leisure and business travellers between them, both hotels are expected to be ope...
Marriott International Set to Debut Nearly 40 Luxury Hotels Across Eight Distinct Luxury Brands in 2018
Marriott International, Inc. | December 11, 2017
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced the company is set to open nearly 40 luxury hotels in 2018 as the company continues to cater to a new affluent traveler, offering an unmatched variety of transformative travel experiences. Providing globetrotters with a truly global perspective and an unparalleled portfolio of eight distinct luxury brands, Marriott International Luxury Brands include world-renowned hospitality hallmarks The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION and JW Marriott. With an unrivaled network of landmark hotels and resorts in 60 countries today, Marrio...
Hamilton Hotel Washington, D.C. Names Mark J. Driscoll as Managing Director and Brian R. Atkins as Director of Sales and Marketing
Hamilton Hotel Washington DC | December 11, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 11, 2017) – Hamilton Hotel Washington, D.C. announced today the appointment of Mark J. Driscoll as Managing Director and Brian R. Atkins as Director of Sales & Marketing. Each will play key roles in the transformation of the 318-room property, formerly known as the Hamilton Crowne Plaza and recently purchased by EOS Investors LLC. Additional details on the hotel's impending renovation will be announced soon. Driscoll returns to Washington, D.C., where he began his hospitality career more than 20 years ago. In his new role at Hamilton Hotel Washington, D.C., he will oversee the overall operations of ...
Best Western® Hotels & Resorts Outlines Vision for the Future at 11th Asian Members’ Meeting
December 11, 2017
(Bangkok – December 11, 2017) Best Western Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the successful conclusion of its 11th Asian Members' Meeting, which gathered delegates from all across Asia to Bangkok for two days of immersive meetings, discussions and networking opportunities. Running under the theme "BW® & Beyond", this year's event provided a vision for Best Western's future as it embarks on an exciting new era. The company has launched eight new global brands since 2015, including a series of cutting-edge concepts catering for the millennial market. So, this year's Asian Members' Meeting focused on the company's bright fu...
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Completes Sale and Retains Management of Embassy Suites Winston-Salem
Hospitality Ventures Management Group | December 11, 2017
ATLANTA, December 11, 2017–-Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, today announced it has completed the sale of the 146-suite Embassy Suites located in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. HVMG will retain management of the property. "We are excited to remain as manager of the Embassy Suites Winston-Salem," said Robert S. Cole, president and CEO, HVMG. "The Embassy Suites retains fantastic upside potential, and we are confident our familiarity with both the hotel and the marketplace will continue to allow it to enjoy market dominance. With six properties ...
HK CTS Hotels and Kew Green Hotels Partner with IHG to Manage Hotels in Mainland China
HK CTS Hotels | December 11, 2017
BEIJING, Dec. 11, 2017 -- On 27th November 2017, HK CTS Hotels Co., Ltd. and Kew Green Hotels signed a strategic partnership with IHG to manage hotels in mainland China. This deal will see Kew Green Hotels manage the existing 466 bedroom Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido from early 2018 and convert the 433 bedroom Metropark Beijing Lido into a Holiday Inn during 2018. The signing of this strategic partnership will enable Kew Green Hotels and HKCTS to work with other owners in mainland China seeking to franchise brands from IHG. Stephen Woodhouse Operations Director commented: "This is a hugely exciting opportunity for us in growing our por...
Hyatt Debuts Andaz in Southeast Asia with Opening of Andaz Singapore Led by General Manger Olivier Lenoir
| December 8, 2017
SINGAPORE, Dec. 8, 2017 -- Hyatt Hotels Corporation(NYSE: H) announced the opening of Andaz Singapore, the first Andaz to open in Southeast Asia. Andaz Singapore furthers the brand's mission to create inspiring, indigenous experiences that immerse guests in the local culture of each unique destination. The hotel marks the seventeenth property for the brand and joins other Andaz hotels in gateway cities and top resort destinations around the world. Located at a cultural crossroad, where Marina Bay, Kampong Glam, Little India and Bras Basah Bugis districts meet, the hotel draws inspiration from its lively surroundings--alleyways fille...
Melia Hotels International and Omniyat Plan Late 2018 Debut of Me Dubai in the Opus Building
December 8, 2017
(Miami, December 8 2017) - Luxury lifestyle hotel brand, ME by Meliá, has announced its debut property in the Middle East with the launch of ME Dubai at the end of 2018. ME Dubai is set to become a legacy hotel. ME Dubai will take residence in the breath-taking, 300 foot-high, Opus building, which is the newest architectural icon in the Dubai skyline. Situated in the heart of the upcoming Burj Khalifa district in Downtown Dubai, The Opus building is managed by leading Middle East real estate developer, Omniyat. ME Dubai will consist of 93 rooms and suites, across 19 floors, the ultra-luxurious 'Suite ME', as well as 98 serviced a...
Inn at Dos Brisas Welcomes Back Executive Chef Zachary Ladwig
Inn at Dos Brisas | December 8, 2017
Washington, TX (December 2017) – Inn at Dos Brisas, a nine-room Relais & Châteaux property in the foothills of the Texas Hill Country, welcomes back Executive Chef Zachary Ladwig to lead the culinary charge at Texas' only Forbes Five-Star restaurant. Chef Ladwig previously served as the inn's Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chef from 2011-2013, and returns to the property where he will be deeply entrenched in its organic farmland and orchards. Already engrained in the Inn at Dos Brisas' culinary capabilities from his previous time on property, Chef Ladwig will be responsible for the food and beverage operations at the sign...
DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Rapids Names Executive Chef Colin McPhee
Spire Hospitality | December 8, 2017
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Dec. 8, 2017) – DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Rapids Airport, welcomes Colin McPhee as executive chef for the hotel restaurant – Ganders. Bringing years of experience, dynamic culinary talent and a creative approach to developing unexpected dishes featuring local fare, McPhee will oversee menu development and culinary creations for the hotel and restaurant as well as catering for on-property events and in-room dining. As the first DoubleTree by Hilton in Grand Rapids, Mich., the 226-room property is just minutes away from popular Grand Rapids attractions and Gerald R. Ford International Airport. "We are thr...
Tulio Baruch Named Director of Sales of Grand Velas Los Cabos
Grand Velas Los Cabos | December 8, 2017
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (December 8, 2017) — Tulio Baruch has been named Director of Sales of the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Los Cabos. In his new position, he is responsible for the "Beyond All-Inclusive, Beyond All Compare" resort's development and implementation of worldwide sales. The appointment is effective immediately. With over 20 years' experience in luxury hotels, Baruch most recently served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya. Prior to, he acted in the same position for Nizuc Resort & Spa in Cancun. He has also held sales positions within Rosewood Hotels and Resorts and Int...
Highgate Appoints Gabriel Perez as General Manager and Louis Escoto as Director of Sales and Marketing at Washington Park Hotel
Washington Park Hotel | December 8, 2017
Miami, FL (December 8, 2017) – Washington Park Hotel, a newcomer to South Beach's piping hot hotel scene, has announced the immediate appointments of Gabriel Perez and Louis Escoto as General Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing, respectively. Washington Park Hotel is a collection of five Art Deco buildings, built circa 1943 at the height of the South Beach Art Deco boom, which have been reimagined to create a lifestyle boutique hotel in the center of Miami's SoFi District. Both with extensive experience in the Miami Beach hospitality market, Perez and Escoto have been tapped to carry out the hotel's mission of being an app...
The Irvine Company Rebrands California’s Island Hotel Newport Beach to Fashion Island Hotel
Fashion Island Hotel | December 8, 2017
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Reinforcing and reflecting its connection to the greater Fashion Island area, Island Hotel Newport Beach has changed its name to Fashion Island Hotel. "Adding 'fashion' to the hotel name bolsters the alignment between these two important properties while emphasizing Fashion Island as an iconic and luxury destination," said Ralph Grippo, president of Irvine Company Resort Properties. Irvine Company owns and operates both Fashion Island and Fashion Island Hotel. "We are always looking for innovative ways to engage with and meet the needs of our guests – packaging the hotel and Fashion Island together is...
Margaritaville Nashville Hotel Celebrates Groundbreaking in the City’s SoBro Downtown District
Margaritaville Nashville Hotel | December 8, 2017
Nashville, TN – December 8, 2017 – Margaritaville Nashville Hotel, a 217-room new-build hotel perfectly positioned in Nashville's thriving "SoBro" district, celebrated its groundbreaking earlier this week. A festive event took place on Tuesday, December 5, welcoming nearly a hundred attendees for the milestone moment, including representatives from Safe Harbor Development and Margaritaville Holdings, as well as local members of the tourism industry. "The groundbreaking of Margaritaville Nashville Hotel marks the arrival of an entirely unique vacation concept for the area, combining a metropolitan latitude with Margaritaville...
The National WWII Museum Breaks Ground on The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center in Louisiana
The National WWII Museum | December 8, 2017
NEW ORLEANS (December 8, 2017) – The National WWII Museum and its Board of Trustees, joined by Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, officially broke ground today on The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center. The 230-room Hotel, which is scheduled for completion in 2019, will operate as part of the exclusive Curio Collection by Hilton, one of Hilton's 14 market-leading brands. The first Curio Collection hotel in Louisiana, the property will support the Museum's expanding educational programs while offering guests the unique experience of full-service hotel accommodations with a convenient way to maximize their time at the...
Westmount Capital Group and EKG Acquire Charlottesville’s Historic Clifton Inn; Scout Hotel & Resort Management Tapped to Operate
Westmount Capital Group, LLC | December 8, 2017
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Dec. 8, 2017 – Washington, D.C.-based Westmount Capital Group, LLC and Richmond, Va.-based EKG, LLC have acquired the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia, and have retained Scout Hotel & Resort Management as its operator. Woodmont Lodging, LLC provided advisory services to Westmount Capital Group, LLC and will continue to have asset management responsibilities. EKG, LLC, led by the McGeorge Family, was advised by Richmond, Va.-based Canal Capital Management. The boutique inn, which opened its doors to overnight guests in 1983, occupies the historic 1799 estate of Thomas Jefferson's daughter, M...
Global Hotel Construction Pipeline Up 8% YOY with 12,427 Projects
Lodging Econometrics | December 8, 2017
December 8, 2017 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – Lodging Econometrics' (LE) Global Construction Pipeline Trend Report, which compiles the construction pipeline for every country and market in the world, states that the Total Pipeline stands at 12,427 Projects/2,084,940 Rooms, up 8% by projects Year-Over-Year (YOY). There are 5,885 Projects/1,086,966 Rooms Under Construction, up 9% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months, at 3,723 Projects/538,061 Rooms, are up 6% while projects in Early Planning at 2,819 Projects/459,913 Rooms are up 8% YOY. The leading franchise companies in the Global Constru...
Don Moore Chief Operating Officer of GuestTek
December 8, 2017
Calgary, Alberta – December 8, 2017 – GuestTek intensifies international focus, announces Don Moore as Chief Operating Officer. In a move to focus on increased global consistency, GuestTek Interactive Entertainment Ltd. announces that Don Moore will move to the company's Chief Operating Officer role, effective today. Mr. Moore joined GuestTek in early 2005, and he has been a key player in the company's growth. In his most recent role as Chief Marketing Officer and President of the Americas, Mr. Moore instituted measures which consistently improved GuestTek customers' guest satisfaction scores. During Mr. Moore's tenure in th...
Automate the Receiving of Your Beer, Liquor & Wine Products with Clear Sky Software and Fintech
December 8, 2017
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – December 8, 2017 –Clear Sky Software, Inc. ® announced today the release of a new software interface between the company's beverage inventory control system, called Clear Sky BEVERAGE and Fintech. This interface is available immediately. Through the company's Fintech interface, users of Clear Sky BEVERAGE have a beverage tracking system that automates the process of receiving beer, liquor and wine products. Once alcohol orders arrive at a customer site, users select the Clear Sky BEVERAGE receiving function and import electronic invoices from their alcohol vendors. Product pricing is updated t...
Best Practices in Creating and Completing Construction Knock-out Punch Lists
Cicero's Development Corporation | December 8, 2017
PLAINFIELD,IL, DECEMBER 8, 2017 -- Punch lists are a part of a construction contract that helps to meet and ensure the quality of the project. Throughout each phase of the construction process, a checklist is maintained by the contractor that details any unfinished and/or unacceptable work. Items that are found to not meet quality standards or do not conform to the scope as outlined in the contract documents are to be corrected by the contractor in a timely fashion and typically prior to receiving final payment on the project. A common practice in the construction industry is that contracts are written in such a way that allows ownershi...
