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
Attracting the High-Value Bleisure Traveler: Insights for Hotels
Expedia, Inc. | November 16, 2017
Seattle, Wash., November 16, 2017 - Combining business and leisure travel, known as a "bleisure" trip, continues to trend in the U.S. and it offers big advantages to properties that can attract this high-value guest. The length of stay for a business versus bleisure traveler jumps from 2 nights to 6-plus, according to a recent study conducted by Expedia Media Solutions and Luth Research. Further from the study, a massive 43 percent of business trips in the U.S. are bleisure today – and the key to bleisure business is of course appealing to the business traveler first. Seventy percent of business travelers who tack on a leisure por...
Parallel Capital Partners to Develop AC Hotel by Marriott at Mixed-Use Arizona Center
Arizona Center | November 15, 2017
PHOENIX (Nov. 15, 2017) San Diego-based Parallel Capital Partners – which acquired the Arizona Center in a joint venture in late 2015 – has announced plans to add a 200-room AC Hotel by Marriott to the Class A, mixed-use property, located at 3rd St. and Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. Las Vegas-based LaPour Partners is currently under contract for an undisclosed amount for the 49,190-square-foot parcel on 5th Street between Fillmore Street and Van Buren Street with construction of the hotel slated to begin in April 2018. "Downtown Phoenix is a true destination, and soon Arizona Center will be able to host out-of-town visitors...
Tourism Tidbits: Sports Tourism
Dr. Peter Tarlow | November 15, 2017
by Dr. Peter Tarlow One only has to examine the controversies surrounding professional sports to know that sporting events play a major role in tourism. In much of the world newspapers devote more space to sports news than to foreign news and major sporting events such as World Cup Soccer, the Olympic Games, the World Series and the Super bowl have become more than national pastimes but also real or quasi real national holiday. Both young and old alike idolize sports figures as role models, so much so that when a sports figure ends up on the wrong side of the law or in a moral crisis that too becomes major news. Perhaps nothing underlin...
Afsi Bird Promoted to Resort Manager at Montage Deer Valley
Montage Deer Valley | November 15, 2017
PARK CITY, Utah (November 15, 2017) - Montage Hotels & Resorts has announced the promotion of Afsi Bird to resort manager at Montage Deer Valley. A two-year veteran of Montage Deer Valley, Bird is now responsible for the resort's day-to-day operations including lodging, food and beverage management, human resources, attractions, and guest services. "It is with great pleasure that we announce the promotion of Afsi Bird to resort manager," said Allen Highfield, general manager, Montage Deer Valley. "Afsi's dedication and passion for the industry has allowed her to gain extensive experience, and we look forward t...
IHG Appoints Vivek Bhalla as the New Regional Vice President, South West Asia
IHG | November 15, 2017
Bangalore, 15 November 2017: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's leading hotel companies announced today the appointment of Vivek Bhalla as the Regional Vice President, South West Asia (SWA), effective from 1 January, 2018. Vivek succeeds Shantha de Silva who will progress his journey with IHG as Senior Director, New Hotels - Australasia and Japan. Vivek will be responsible for spearheading strategic growth for the company and operational performance of 31 hotels in South West Asia, across four brands: InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Express®. He will also play an i...
JQH Promotes Nick Larsen to Corporate Director of Revenue Optimization
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts | November 15, 2017
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--November 15, 2017--John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) today announced that Nick Larsen has been promoted to corporate director of revenue optimization. With 15 years of revenue management experience at JQH, Larsen will be dedicated to the Hilton and independent brands within the company's award-winning national portfolio. Larsen will report to Jennifer Torsleff, JQH's senior director of revenue optimization. Springfield, Missouri-based JQH is a leading private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States, including operating more than 1 million square feet of superb meeting space. "Nick has ext...
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Adds Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa to Management Portfolio
Davidson Hotels & Resorts | November 15, 2017
ATLANTA, Ga. – November 15, 2017 – Davidson Hotels & Resorts has announced the addition of Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa to its growing portfolio. The sophisticated 550-room full-service resort in Monterey, Ca. is situated in the heart of one of the most beautiful coastal cities in California. The property, which will continue to operate under the Hyatt Regency brand, will be managed by Davidson Hotels & Resorts and will be owned by an affiliate of Fairwood Capital LLC – a real estate investment firm specializing in hospitality-related real estate. "We are excited to embark on our third project with Davi...
HFTP Announces Global Industry Research Project by Forrester Group
HFTP | November 15, 2017
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (November 15, 2017) — The leaders of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) used its inaugural HITEC Dubai to announce an extensive global research project today that will provide guidance on the state of the industry; provide existing industry stakeholders with additional resources, and enrich the association's understanding of financial and technology trends that will shape the industry's future. "HFTP has just celebrated its 65th anniversary as a not for profit association, and our leadership intends to offer this foundation and provide a platform for the industry to build...
HEBS Digital’s “Closing the Loop on the Travel Journey” Article Featured in The Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Technology
HEBS Digital | November 15, 2017
Summary: HEBS Digital's "Closing the Loop on the Travel Journey" article, which details comprehensive 360-degree past and future guest engagement, retention, and acquisition strategies, has been featured in The Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Technology. The Hotel Yearbook has just launched The Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Technology, an e-book offering technology insights from hospitality industry thought leaders, and HEBS Digital is proud to be featured in this respected publication. In "Closing the Loop on the Travel Journey," Max Starkov, President & CEO, and Margaret Mastrogiacomo, Vice President, Strategy at HEBS Digital, share str...
Marriott Signs with Landmark Africa Group for Renaissance Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments in Nigeria
Landmark Africa Group | November 15, 2017
LAGOS, Nigeria, November 15, 2017 -- Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) and Landmark Africa Group (www.LandmarkAfrica.com) today announced the signing of Renaissance Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments. Slated to open in 2020, the hotels will be located within the Landmark Village precinct, a premier mixed-use, business, leisure and lifestyle development along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront in Victoria Island, the central business district of Lagos. "We are excited to partner with the Landmark Africa Group on this project. With the rapid pace of urbanization more and more guests are looking for the value, t...
Deutsche Hospitality Bringing New IntercityHotel to Flensburg, Germany in 2020
IntercityHotel | November 15, 2017
Frankfurt am Main, 15 November 2017 - An IntercityHotel will open at the main railway station in Flensburg in 2020. It will feature the design concept of the Italian architect Matteo Thun, whose work can already be admired at the IntercityHotels in Braunschweig and Duisburg. The planned hotel, a new build earmarked for development at Bahnhofstraße 40, will offer 152 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, three conference rooms and an underground garage. It will be operated via a lease agreement with IntercityHotel's partner company JARA Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. Located less than ten kilometres from the German-Danish bord...
Piazza Hospitality Plans 2018 Opening of Two New California Hotels, Harmon Guest House and Hotel San Luis Obispo
Piazza Hospitality | November 15, 2017
HEALDSBURG, Calif. (November 15, 2017) – Piazza Hospitality, developers of the sustainably-chic h2hotel and the acclaimed Hotel Healdsburg in Northern California's Sonoma County, is pleased to announce new details about its newest developments, Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg and Hotel San Luis Obispo located in the Central Coast. Harmon Guest House is scheduled to open in spring 2018 and Hotel San Luis Obispo is scheduled to open in winter 2018. The forthcoming boutique hotels will serve as environmentally-friendly chic retreats, inviting visitors to relax, recharge and play. Harmon Guest House will be located just steps away fr...
The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina Appoints Jenny Lorenz as Sales & Marketing Manager
The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina | November 15, 2017
KEY WEST, FL — November 2017 — The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina has announced the appointment of Jenny Lorenz as Sales & Marketing Manager. The 100-room boutique hotel opened its doors this summer on the private, 220-slip Stock Island Marina with features that include spacious guest rooms with waterfront views, two seafood-driven restaurants, and a posh pool deck with hammocks, a fire pit and direct marina access. In her new role, Jenny will be responsible for implementing operational objectives to drive sales, developing field sales action plans, analyzing The Perry's target markets and executing marketin...
Procaccianti Companies Acquires The Postcard Inn on The Beach in St. Pete Beach, Florida
TPG Hotels & Resorts | November 15, 2017
TPG Hotels & Resorts to Manage Hotel Cranston, R.I., November 15, 2017 — Procaccianti Companies, the nation's premier privately-held owner & developer of quality hospitality assets, today announced the acquisition of the 196-room Postcard Inn on The Beach in St. Pete Beach, Fla., for an undisclosed amount. TPG Hotels & Resorts, Procaccianti Companies' wholly owned operating company, will manage the property. This marks the 5th acquisition completed this year, putting the company on track for a record year in 2017. "With its irreplaceable beachfront location, the Postcard Inn is a wonderful addition to our national port...
New Openings Growing Steadily as the Cycle Matures
Lodging Econometrics | November 15, 2017
November 15, 2017 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – By the end of the third quarter, 701 Hotels/82,484 Rooms had already opened in the U.S. with another 278 Projects/29,532 Rooms forecast to open by year-end according to analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE). The Total 2017 Forecast is 979 Projects/112,016 Rooms, representing a 12% increase over the actual number of Hotel Openings in 2016, which stood at 850 Hotels/99,881 Rooms. With slight increases in occupancy being recorded, new supply in 2017 should be easily absorbed. Demand growth, however modest, still continues to exceed supply growth. Almost half of the hotels expected to open t...
How to Develop a Successful Hotel Concept
Patrick Landman | November 15, 2017
By Patrick Landman A hotel concept is much more than the design and physical layout of your hotel. It also encompasses the service you offer as a hotel management company, ambiance, attention to detail, the type of experience for guests, and the quality of your products. A hotel concept is what you want your hotel to be known and remembered for. Why do you need a hotel concept? Not only do you need one, in the modern hotel landscape you must carry out concept development that sets your property apart as unique and remarkable. Hoteliers face challenges today that hotels from twenty or even ten years ago didn't have to worry about. Compet...
For the Best Results, Prepare Your Resort for the Worst
November 15, 2017
By Antonio Fungairiño For hotel and resort owners and operators across the Caribbean hurricanes, typhoons and other potential natural disasters are an unavoidable reality – and an essential part of the business equation. In fact, if they are not a core consideration in your operational plans, or if you are not experienced, focused, and relentless in the way that you prepare for them and recover, then your investments - and most importantly your guests - are in critical danger. When it comes to resorts in hurricane-prone locations, particularly beachfront properties, expertly-implemented disaster preparation and recovery pla...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 187: Hotel History: Hotel Galvez & Spa, Galveston, Texas
Stanley Turkel | November 15, 2017
1. Hotel Galvez & Spa (1911)*, Galveston, Texas (224 rooms) The Hotel Galvez opened on June 10, 1911, a little more than a decade after Galveston was decimated by the great hurricane of 1900 which claimed more than 6,000 lives. The Hotel Galvez was named after Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish Colonial Governor who first chartered the Texas Gulf Coast and for whom the city of Galveston was also named. A year after it opened, the Hotel Monthly newsletter billed the Galvez as one of the "best arranged and most richly furnished seaside hotels in America." It was known as the "Queen of the Gulf" and "The Playground of the Southwest." The ...
Key Takeaways: Lodging Conference
J. Carter Allen | November 15, 2017
By J. Carter Allen Economic Outlook – Baring political and geopolitical uncertainty, the economy is anticipated to continue to expand by 2.5% to 3.0% annually for the next two years. Lodging Fundamentals – Demand continues to outpace supply, a relationship that is forecast to change in 2018. New Supply – The supply pipeline continues to grow, but remains well below the peak set in 2008. Brand Growth – Brand companies continue to look for opportunities to increase scale in order to provide consumers with more options, which present both opportunities for new development and concerns over market saturation for owne...
Using Microlearning and Training Tech to Boost Team Morale
Larry Mogelonsky | November 15, 2017
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Making guests happy is a noble pursuit for any hotel as we all know this translates into higher occupancies, the ability to grow rate, more asset value and quite a few other monetary advantages. While we can talk to no end about physical and operational upgrades that contribute to this goal, perhaps none is more impactful than having motivated and attentive associates servicing your customers. After all, this is a people business, so your guests' experiential satisfaction will ultimately be influenced by the happiness of your very own employees. This leads to the question about how ...
Rainmaker Ends Q3 2017 with High-Growth Momentum
Rainmaker | November 15, 2017
Company wraps up quarter with 30 percent growth in number of customers year-over-year ALPHARETTA, GA – Nov. 15, 2017 – The Rainmaker Group (Rainmaker), a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced that it ended the third quarter of 2017 with record-setting performance and growth, advancing its position as a global technology leader. Since July 1, Rainmaker has expanded its reach in both the number of customers and the number of properties using its groundbreaking solution suite, which include guestrev®, grouprev®, revcaster®, and revintel®. Year-over-...
New 165-Key TownePlace Suites Miami Airport Opens in Florida Led by General Manger Edgardo Rodriguez
TownePlace Suites by Marriott | November 15, 2017
Miami, FL – November 15, 2017 – Get ready to be real and be you on long stays. Marriott International's TownePlace Suites by Marriott Miami, Florida is scheduled to open for business today. On average, a TownePlace Suites opens every six days. Built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the Miami area. The new TownePlace Suites Miami Airport located at 4021 NW 11th Street, continues to exemplify the brand's rapid growth. The new hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Hotelex Airport, LLC. and managed by Naples Hotel Group of...
Brilliant Closing Tactics Every Hotel Sales Manager Should Know
Groups360 | November 14, 2017
The most successful hotel sales managers and directors don't wait until the end to make the close. They're working the close from Day One. Modern meeting planners are savvy buyers and aren't easily swayed by standard tactics. So, don't stop viewing the close as a 'make it or break it' moment. Provide value, grounded advice, the right tools and reinforce your hotel's unique assets, amenities and service culture throughout the ENTIRE sales process. We turned to our own team of meeting advisors, who are responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in group bookings, for their smartest 'closing' tips for hotel sales teams. Showcase What ...
Hospitality Technology Sales & Media Specialist Leigh Sansone Joins ALICE to Continue Company Expansion into the Midwest
ALICE | November 14, 2017
ALICE, the hospitality industry's leading operations technology, welcomes travel technology sales leader and digital marketing professional Leigh Sansone as Senior Sales Executive for the Midwest and Toronto. Leigh joins ALICE at a time of rapid growth for the company, following its $39M Series B funding in August, and the company's acquisition of concierge technology rival GoConcierge the following month. Leigh will help ALICE grow the brand and open new markets for the company. Leigh comes to ALICE from TravelClick, where for the past five years, Leigh consistently scaled company ranks, becoming an expert in hotel e-commerce, distribu...
