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Industry Happenings
CEO Pay in Gaming: Founders vs Corporate Executives
Keith Kefgen | December 6, 2017
By Keith Kefgen Besides technology, the gaming industry has one of the largest percentages of entrepreneurs running their respective companies. Larger than life personalities such as Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson actually cast a shadow well beyond gaming. But that is changing as entrepreneurs are slowly being replace by corporate execs such as Keith Smith at Boyd, Jim Murren at MGM, Tim Wilmott at Penn and Mark Frissora at Caesars. It is interesting to see how CEO compensation has changed as this process has unfolded. Generally speaking, the entrepreneurs took more of the compensation in equity, while corporate executive appear to have...
Massimiliano Musto Appointed General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Four Seasons Resorts Thailand | December 6, 2017
Massimiliano Musto - known as Max - General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle has all the reasons to be elated about his new role in Thailand, leading the teams of two of the most awarded and widely recognised Resorts of the Four Seasons brand. "Thailand is where my Four Seasons journey began, nearly two decades ago - it is a sort of 'homecoming'!" he smiles. To be among a team that understands the Four Seasons style of customer service and at a Resort that introduced Northern Thailand to the luxury traveller over 20 years ago, is truly satisfying. He says, with nota...
Trends in Reservations Inquiry Call Volumes: Is There More to the Numbers?
Doug Kennedy | December 6, 2017
By Doug Kennedy As a hotel reservations consultant and sales trainer, I'm often asked for my perspective on the current trends regarding the number of inquiry reservations call received vs. previous years. Many hotel marketers seem to think this is a simple question and I suppose that on one level it should be. It certainly is possible to just ask a large sample of hoteliers for their number of calls received YTD vs. previous YTD and then average the percentage of change either way. However, based on my experiences in consulting with a multitude of very different lodging operations throughout North America, I would say that such a simpl...
Experiencias Xcaret Opens Hotel Xcaret Mexico in Cancun/Riviera Maya
Hotel Xcaret Mexico | December 6, 2017
Riviera Maya, Mexico – December 6, 2017 – Experiencias Xcaret, the leader in sustainable tourism and socially responsible recreation in Mexico, is pleased to announce the grand opening of Hotel Xcaret Mexico, the company's first five-star hotel that celebrates the best of Mexico and redefines the all-inclusive concept to include the most comprehensive offering in the market. A carefully designed, nature-centric destination just 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport, Hotel Xcaret Mexico introduces the ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE® concept that blends luxurious accommodations, first-class service and amenities, as well as comp...
Hospitality Trends 2018 – What’s Happening in Hospitality
Robert A. Rauch, CHA | December 6, 2017
By Robert A. Rauch Each December, we come out with my trends for the following year. Last year we led with Artifical Intelligence and Robotics. In May, 2017, we hired our first robot as Employee #25 at our Fairfield Inn & Suites. Designed by Savioke, Relay the Robot (we call him Hubert) has been a big hit! This year we are leading with the lobby design side of the business—every hotel seems to be doing something to encourage the "millennial mindset" traveler to "hang out!" So, feel free to comment, here are our picks for 2018: Hotel lobbies become the center of the hotel universe akin to those found in communal work spaces s...
Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline Excluding China Up 15% by Projects YOY
Lodging Econometrics | December 6, 2017
December 6, 2017 – PORTSMOUTH, NH The most recent Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline Trend Report, excluding China, states that the Total Pipeline has 1,798 Projects/364,579 Rooms, up 15% by projects Year-Over-Year (YOY) according to analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE). There are 966 Projects/207,100 Rooms Under Construction, up 11% by projects YOY. Projects Scheduled to Start Construction in the Next 12 Months are at 380 Projects/76,977 Rooms, up 15%, while projects in Early Planning at 452 Projects/80,502 Rooms, up 25% YOY. The top three countries in the Asia Pacific Construction Pipeline, excluding China, are: ...
Guests and The Great Outdoors
Chamberlin | December 6, 2017
A hotel's rooftop used to be just that – a rooftop, and in terms of revenue, wasted space. Not any longer. Hotels are getting more creative and transforming outdoor areas into immersive experiences that not only offer additional amenities for guests, but also generate serious income. What's more, outside spaces are becoming just as important to attracting guests as their interior counterparts. There are lots of ways to create an effective outdoor space that will be both popular and profitable. Here are some of our favorite options that guests love. Maximize Your View Getting fresh air at city hotels used to be challenging but not ...
Over 30 Hotels and Commercial Laundries Each Have Saved More Than One Million Gallons of Water Using Xeros Polymer Cleaning
Xeros Cleaning Technologies | December 6, 2017
Two Hotels Saved Over Five Million Gallons and Eleven Saved More than Two Million Gallons with Xeros Manchester, NH – December 6, 2017 – Xeros, the innovator of polymer cleaning technologies, today announced that thirty-three hotels and commercial laundries have now joined the Xeros Million Gallon Club, each saving more than one million gallons of water using Xeros' award-winning polymer cleaning laundry system. The patented, award-winning system uses up to 80% less water, up to 50% less energy, and approximately 50% less detergent than traditional systems while delivering superior cleaning performance. Environmentally cons...
Parks Hospitality to Develop Waldorf Astoria Cancun and Hilton Cancun in Mexico
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts | December 6, 2017
CANCUN, Mexico and MCLEAN, Va. – December 6, 2017 – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announces plans to welcome the luxury Waldorf Astoria Cancun and the all-inclusive Hilton Cancun resort to the global hospitality company's growing portfolio in Mexico. Developed by Parks Hospitality and set to open in 2021, the neighboring properties will feature distinct characteristics and amenities across 100 acres of Caribbean beachfront. "With more than half of our Latin America portfolio present in Mexico, we are proud to announce the plans for Waldorf Astoria Cancun and Hilton Cancun as we continue to introduce distinguished properties in th...
G6 Hospitality Signs with HKV Hospitality to Develop First Dual-Branded Motel 6 and Studio 6 in Austin, Texas
G6 Hospitality LLC | December 6, 2017
DALLAS--G6 Hospitality, known for its iconic economy lodging brands, Motel 6 and Studio 6 in the U.S. and Canada, announced the signing of a franchise agreement with HKV Hospitality, LLC to develop a new property in Austin, TX. The new construction will feature both Studio 6 and Motel 6 brand offerings in the same location, and it is currently slated for completion in early 2019. Conveniently located outside downtown Austin, the brand-new Motel 6/Studio 6 property will consist of four floors with 98 total rooms and features enhanced architecture along with a large social area for optimum guest relaxation and enjoyment. The modern accomm...
Using Gamification to Sell Guestroom Upgrades
Larry Mogelonsky | December 6, 2017
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Selling room upgrades is a vital tactic for generating incremental revenue and filling unused inventory. Most websites that I've visited attempt to outline the advantages of better rooms, be it through size, view, bed type, floor level, amenities or a combination of these elements. But once the consumer purchases a specific room type, how do you entice them to spend a little extra to get something even better than what they've already confirmed? While there's the age-old approach of prompting them either through a pre-arrival email or phone call, or once they are physically at the f...
AccorHotels Signs with Nakheel for Raffles Hotel and Residences at PALM360 on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Nakheel | December 6, 2017
Cannes, France - December 6, 2017 - AccorHotels, the world-leading travel and lifestyle group, signed a management agreement today with leading Dubai-based master developer Nakheel for the expansion of AccorHotels' globally-renowned luxury brand, Raffles Hotels & Resorts. The agreement, recognized by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah and AccorHotels Chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin at a signing ceremony at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes (France) will lead to the opening of PALM360, a spectacular two tower development on the world famous Palm Jumeirah comprising of the Raffles The Palm Dubai Hotel...
Differentiating Lifestyle Hotel Brands in an Increasingly Competitive Category
Court Williams | December 6, 2017
By Court Williams The millennial's idea that they have everything they need and nothing they don't (lyrics from Homegrown by the Zac Brown Band) has caught on among travelers of this generation, and they have embraced lifestyle-focused options within established hotel brands like Marriott's Moxy wholeheartedly. Is this a just a passing trend, though, or is it a shift in philosophy that's here to stay? To determine the answer, I believe we need to look at who makes up the bulk of the travel market, and why they travel. Millennials Making Waves Statistics from Mintel show 83% of millennials took a leisure trip during 2016, compared with o...
Sonnenblick-Eichner Company Arranges $22,000,000 of First Mortgage Financing for Shops at the Pier, on Behalf of Provenance Hotels and Bolour Associat
Provenance Hotels | December 6, 2017
Beverly Hills, CA, December 6, 2017 -- Sonnenblick-Eichner Company has secured $22 million of interim first-mortgage financing for the Shops at the Pier, on the renowned beachfront, The Strand, in Hermosa Beach, California. The property is owned by a joint venture comprised of Portland, Oregon-based Provenance Hotels and Bolour Associates, Beverly Hills, California. Located at the base of the Hermosa Beach Pier, the Shops at the Pier is a mixed-used project, which includes 18,192 square feet of fully leased retail space and nine apartment units. Hermosa Beach is an affluent beach community in Southern California, which attracts millions...
Marriott and YTL Hotels Sign Agreements to Develop JW Marriott and EDITION Hotels in Malaysia
Marriott International | December 6, 2017
Marriott International and YTL Hotels today announced agreements for new hotels across Asia, strengthening both companies' presence in the world's fastest growing region. During an official ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, the two companies agreed to develop two new luxury hotels in Malaysia under the JW Marriott and EDITION brands and signed Memorandums of Understanding for two hotels in Japan, an EDITION and a W Hotel in Niseko Village, Hokkaido. Tan Sri Dato' (Dr) Francis Yeoh, Managing Director of YTL Group of Companies said: "We're delighted to expand our hospitality footprint in Asia through Marriott International....
BENCHMARK Appoints Julie Davis-Petit Director of Sales and Marketing for Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia
Stonewall Resort | December 6, 2017
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 2017 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Julie Davis-Petit director of sales and marketing for Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Roanoke, West Virginia. André D'Amour, general manager, made the announcement. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Julie to our resort," stated Mr. D'Amour. "Not only does she have strong leadership skills and an important familiarity with our resort and the West Virginia Market, she also brings hotel management company experience to her new position. We look forward to her active participati...
Maestro PMS Localised Capabilities, International 24/7 Support Wows UK Clients
Maestro PMS | December 6, 2017
Maestro VAT Processes Add to 'Meaningful' Bottom Line for UK Hotel Company Markham, Ontario – December 6, 2017 – Maestro PMS continues to add valuable property software and services to support its independent UK hotel company clients, offering its leading PMS suite to UK clients on-premise or in the cloud. Maestro's decade of experience providing solutions that adapt to the UK's unique VAT and other business and accounting processes perfectly support more profitable and efficient hotel company operations. "Rudding Park installed Maestro PMS in 2007 following in-depth research to find a system that would meet the demands of o...
The Rainmaker Group Closes Sale of Multifamily Housing Assets
Rainmaker | December 6, 2017
Company to focus exclusively on continued growth of its hospitality business ALPHARETTA, GA – December 6, 2017 – The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced the closing of its sale of Rainmaker LRO multifamily housing business and product portfolio to RealPage, Inc., a Texas-based provider of software and data analytics to the real estate industry. The sale allows Rainmaker to strengthen its position as the leading provider of revenue management solutions for the hotel and gaming industry. "We have partnered with the hospitality comm...
Guest Relationship Building is a Key Differentiator for Our Hotel: An Interview with the GM of Portfolio Hotels & Resorts
December 6, 2017
Imran Jivani shares how Rover Mobile PMS by StayNTouch has amplified the success of Hotel Chicago West Loop In an interview, Imran shares his insights about how the decision to implement StayNTouch's Rover™ Mobile PMS technology has raised the bar for service and helped Hotel Chicago West Loop stay ahead of the competition. Background Imran Jivani is the seasoned General Manager of Hotel Chicago West Loop based out of Chicago. He has been in the hotel industry for 22 years and began his hospitality career on the front lines working primarily for boutique hotels. Imran explains that he enjoys working in the boutique space due to i...
Interstate Hotels & Resorts Executes Agreement to Acquire the Management Agreements of 83 Properties from White Lodging
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | December 6, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va., December 6, 2017—Interstate Hotels & Resorts ("Interstate" or the "Company"), the global leader in third-party hotel management, announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire the management agreements of 82 premium-branded, select- and full-service hotels, plus one restaurant, from White Lodging. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of January 2018 at which time Interstate will begin managing the hotels. "We will operate this portfolio of high quality assets under long term agreements, helping the respective owners achieve increased long term value," said Michael Deitemeyer, Interstate's p...
Newly-Built 122-Key WoodSpring Suites Tampa Brandon Opens in Florida
WoodSpring Hotels | December 5, 2017
Charlotte, N.C., December 5, 2017 - WoodSpring Hotels, the nation's fastest growing extended-stay hotel company, today announced the grand opening of WoodSpring Suites Tampa Brandon. The hotel, owned by Liberty Investment Properties, will be operated by Overland Park, Kansas-based Hotel Management & Consulting, LLC (HMC). The hotel is located at 2450 S. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, Fla., 33619. "Since our first project together in 2005, Liberty Investment Properties has been a tremendous growth partner, and we look forward to maintaining and expanding our relationship going into the future," said Ron Burgett, executive vice president of ...
Conrad Hotels & Resorts Opens Conrad Cartagena Marking Brand First in Colombia
Conrad Hotels & Resorts | December 5, 2017
CARTAGENA, Colombia (December 2017) — Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) smart luxury hotel brand, today announces the opening of Conrad Cartagena, the brand's first hotel in Colombia and third in Latin America. The oceanfront oasis on the north side of the iconic Walled City welcomes guests to the shores of the Caribbean Sea. "With Cartagena being the second-most popular destination in the country, we are proud to announce the opening of Conrad Cartagena as the newest addition to our luxury portfolio in the region," said Tom Potter, senior vice president, operations, Latin America and the Caribbean, Hilton. "We rec...
Remington Hotels Selects Springer-Miller’s PMS, POS and Spa Solutions for its Luxury-Independent Portfolio
Remington Hotels | December 5, 2017
Hosted Solutions Offers Flexibility, Extensive Integration and Guest Service Enhancements STOWE, VT — December 5, 2017 – Springer-Miller Systems (SMS), the leading provider of guest-centric hospitality and spa management systems, is pleased to announce that Remington Hotels has selected Springer-Miller Systems as their PMS, POS and Spa Management systems provider for their independent, luxury properties. More than a PMS, Springer-Miller Systems offers a complete hospitality management platform with a fully integrated property management system, point-of-sale system and spa management system. Springer-Miller's guest-centric f...
Owned and Managed by OTO Development, Home2 Suites by Hilton Mt. Pleasant Charleston Opens in South Carolina
Home2 Suites by Hilton | December 5, 2017
December 5, 2017 MT. PLEASANT, S.C. and MCLEAN, Va. - Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) All Suites portfolio, announced today the opening of Home2 Suites by Hilton Mt. Pleasant Charleston. This newest property brings the brand one step closer to its 200th property milestone. Designed for travelers who want to maintain their normal routine, the pet-friendly hotel features 122 suites and a range of value, tech-focused and eco-conscious amenities. Home2 Suites by Hilton Mt. Pleasant Charleston caters to the five million visitors who travel to the greater Charleston area every year.* "In the same way Mt. Pleasant...
