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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Zota Beach Resort Appoints Roy Padgett General Manager and Sandra Rios Director of Marketing & Communications
Opal Collection | November 10, 2017
LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2017) – Longboat Key's new beachfront, modern, boutique resort, Zota Beach Resort, announces its executive leadership team. Zota Beach Resort welcomes General Manager, Roy Padgett and Director of Marketing & Communications, Sandra Rios. At the helm of Zota Beach Resort, Roy Padgett is a beloved and familiar face in the communities of Sarasota and Bradenton. With over two decades of management experience, Padgett led operations of the prevailing Hilton property that Zota Beach Resort was built upon as general manager. Dedicated to honing his craft, Padgett earned Certified Food & Beverage Execut...
Hotel Technologies to Reveal Dual USB Charging for Timex LED Alarm Clock at ‘HX’
Hotel Technologies, Inc. | November 10, 2017
Visit Hotel Technologies in Booth #2837 and Check Out the New Website! Rahway, N.J. (November 10, 2017) — Hotel Technologies Inc., a trusted leader in hotel bedside solutions, continues to make a difference to travelers with its Timex alarm clock radios. This week at HX: The Hotel Experience, to be held November 12 and 13 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, Hotel Technologies will reveal its first Timex hotel unit with "Dual USB" ports for fast convenient charging, enabling guests to simultaneously charge multiple mobile devices at their bedside. The new Timex T260 will be on display in Booth #2837. "Travelers around the w...
The St. Anthony, A Luxury Collection Hotel Names Mark Yanke as the President & Managing Director and Libby Nations as the Director of Sales & Marketin
| November 10, 2017
(November 10, 2017 - San Antonio, TX) Hospitality industry veteran Mark Yanke has been named the new President and Managing Director of The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel. This San Antonio, TX staple owned and operated by BC LYND which is often referred to as the 'jewel of Texas' welcomes Yanke's expertise to the executive team. Yanke comes to The St. Anthony Hotel with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry having recently held a President and General Manager position at the Hotel Emma also located in San Antonio. As The St. Anthony Hotel has received a recent restoration and rebirth into the community, Yanke'...
The Ramble Hotel Appoints Andrew Guerra General Manager Ahead of Spring 2018 Opening
The Ramble Hotel | November 10, 2017
DENVER – (NOVEMBER 10, 2017) – The Ramble Hotel is proud to announce the appointment of Andrew Guerra as general manager. As general manager, Guerra will be responsible for developing processes and systems to successfully open the 50-room hotel, and upon opening will manage overall hotel operations. Located at 1280 25th St., just north of Downtown Denver, The Ramble Hotel will be independently owned and operated, and will be among the first to open in the burgeoning RiNo neighborhood. Known for its blend of urban grit and industrial revival, RiNo's historic warehouses and factories now house jazz bars, restaurants, brewpubs,...
Hotel Technologies to Unveil New iHome Solutions at ‘HX’ with Double the AC / USB Charging Capability
Hotel Technologies, Inc. | November 10, 2017
New iHome® products feature two AC outlets, two USB ports and more; Visit Hotel Technologies in Booth #2837 and Check Out the New Website! Rahway, N.J. (November 10, 2017) — Hotel Technologies Inc., a trusted leader in hotel bedside and charging solutions, will be unveiling three hot new iHome® hotel products this week at HX: The Hotel Experience, to be held November 12 and 13 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. In Booth #2837, attendees will see the industry's most attractive, functional and easy-to-use bedside audio and charging solutions that are equipped with dual AC courtesy outlets, dual USB ports and Bluetooth au...
Lido House, Opening Early 2018 in Newport Beach, Appoints Adam Beer as General Manager
Lido House | November 10, 2017
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (November 10, 2017) – Opening early 2018, Lido House is excited to announce the appointment of Adam Beer as General Manager. At this forthcoming Newport Beach destination, Beer is luring a new breed of travelers who prize social vibe over traditional ratings. Debuting as an Autograph Collection hotel and legacy project by local developer Robert D. Olson, Beer will oversee every aspect of Lido House's 130 guest rooms, including suites and high-designed private cottages, as well as the signature restaurant Mayor's Table and rooftop perch Topside. Beer's GM approach has been honed from his diverse background: He...
BENCHMARK Names Karen LaRue Director of Human Resources for Stonewall Resort
Stonewall Resort | November 10, 2017
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 2017… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Karen LaRue director of human resources for Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Roanoke, West Virginia. André D'Amour, general manager, made the announcement. "I am very pleased to welcome Karen to our resort," stated Mr. D'Amour. "She comes to us with broad experience within the Human Resource profession, which will serve our property well. We look forward to her active participation as part of our leadership team." Karen LaRue comes to her new position with more than 15 years of progre...
HVS Market Pulse: Indianapolis, IN
Jai B. Patel | November 10, 2017
By Jai B. Patel and Justin Kaminski Indiana's capital city, Indianapolis, is the state's largest and the third-largest city in the Midwest. The city is a primary industrial, commercial, and transportation center for the Midwest, as the most centrally located of the largest 100 cities in the United States. The city is well served by four interstates, six railroads, an international airport, and a foreign trade zone. Historically known for its concentration of major manufacturing operations and logistics, the city has evolved as a hub for advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and life science/healthcare, as well as amateur and p...
The “TRICK” to Navigating the Turbulent Seas of Transition: Traditional Lodging Makes Waves on the High Seas, Part II
Thomas Mielke | November 10, 2017
By Thomas Mielke Approximately a month ago, following Ritz Carlton's previous announcement about moving into the cruise line sector, I contemplated the issues that must have been discussed in the board room prior to committing to such an endeavour (click here for the original article). It stirred my thinking about a company's transition into a new business area that requires new skill sets and a firm's transformation from a company culture perspective to accommodate and welcome a new talent pool into its realms. Employers are acutely aware of the challenges they face nowadays, so they are pre-emptively having strategic discussions and p...
Atlanta’s 315-Room The American Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton, Completes $16 Million Renovation
Legacy Ventures | November 10, 2017
ATLANTA - (November 10, 2017) – Downtown Atlanta's first modern hotel has been restored to its original glory and will soon present a unique blend of the hotel's rich history. The American Hotel, A DoubleTree by Hilton, has been redefined and carries with it a rich history that brings the building to life. Ahead of its time when it opened in 1962, the hotel played an integral part in the Civil Rights Movement, welcoming all guests as the premier hotel in Atlanta. The American Hotel hosted notable public figures such as Elvis Presley, Carol Channing, Jimmy Carter, James Brown, Nelson Rockefeller and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "When...
BD Hotels in Partnership with CB Developers Opens Pod Brooklyn, New York City’s First Modular Hotel
The Pod Hotels | November 9, 2017
Brooklyn, NEW YORK — Pod Brooklyn has opened its doors in the heart of the lively Williamsburg neighborhood, introducing the next generation of innovative properties from BD Hotels in partnership with CB Developers. Following the successful models in Manhattan and Washington D.C. (Pod 51, Pod 39 & Pod DC), Pod Brooklyn takes the micro-hotel concept to the next level with modular guestrooms, built entirely in Poland and shipped here, making it the premier modular hotel in New York City. The property stands on the busy corner of Metropolitan and Driggs Avenue. 249 modular rooms, each about 100 square feet, include queen and bunk...
Atrium Hospitality Completes Multi-Million Dollar Renovation of Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay
Atrium Hospitality | November 9, 2017
Seaside, Calif. – November 9, 2017– Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay -- Seaside has completed a multi-million-dollar renovation evoking the coastal beauty of the California beachfront that lies just two blocks away. The stylish refresh encompasses the hotel's restaurant and lounge, all guestrooms, meeting space, and the open-air atrium lobby. A sea-inspired palette of sand, gray, blue and turquoise is carried throughout the hotel with accents of wood and stone enhancing the natural feel. Warm and inviting, the updated guest suites are stylishly furnished and feature local art work and textured finishings. The atrium is ...
Katara Hospitality with Minor Hotels to Open Three New-Build Hotels in Qatar in Spring 2018 Under Tivoli and Oaks Brands
Minor Hotels | November 9, 2017
Bangkok, November 2017: Minor Hotels, a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 157 hotels and resorts in 24 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, is pleased to announce that it will open three new-build hotels in Qatar in spring 2018 under its Tivoli and Oaks brands. The three properties are owned by Katara Hospitality, a globally recognized hospitality owner, developer and operator. Launching in April, Tivoli Al Najada Doha Hotel is in the final stages of development in the center of the Qatari capital. Facilities in the five-story property will in...
HFTP and Naseba Set Final Details for Inaugural HITEC Dubai Event
HITEC Dubai | November 9, 2017
International association Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), in partnership with Naseba, are bringing the world's largest and oldest Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference(HITEC®) brand to Dubai, UAE for the first time. HITEC Dubai will take place from November 14-15, 2017 at the Conrad Dubai in Dubai, UAE – serving as the third HITEC of 2017. HITEC Dubai is accessible to buyers from the lucrative Middle Eastern tourism and hospitality market, currently worth over $75 billion USD. Modeling the HITEC Amsterdam format, the show will offer an education program, exhibits as well ...
South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Names Midas Hospitality’s Michael Heater Hotelier of the Year
Midas Hospitality | November 9, 2017
(St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 9, 2017) Michael Heater, Regional Operations Leader and Brand Manager at Midas Hospitality, was recently named "Hotelier of the Year" by the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) and its Greater Greenville chapter. The award honors the best leaders in the area's hospitality industry. Heater has over 25 years of experience in hospitality and currently oversees nine hotels for Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Heater started his career with Midas when he opened the Candlewood Suites Hotel in Greenville, SC as General Manager. Due to the success of ...
Tilman Fertitta Names Pilar Florez Director of Marketing, Communications and Leisure Sales at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
The Post Oak | November 9, 2017
HOUSTON, TX. – Tilman Fertitta today announced Pilar Florez as the Director of Marketing, Communications and Leisure Sales at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. In this role, she will oversee and implement a strategic marketing, communications and public relations business plan for the International and Domestic Leisure and Business Travel segments. Pilar will also develop a comprehensive social media and digital campaign aligned to The Post Oaks goals and strategies. "Pilar Florez brings a wealth of knowledge to The Post Oak's elite management team, said Tilman Fertitta, owner of The Post Oak. "Her understanding of the Houston...
Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport Opens in Kenya with General Manager Vivek Mathur at the Helm
Four Points | November 9, 2017
NAIROBI, Kenya, November 9, 2017 -- Marriot International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced the opening of its second hotel in the "World's Wildlife Capital", Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport (www.FourPoints.com/NairobiAirport), further consolidating its presence in Kenya. Strategically situated within the main complex of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the hotel is within easy reach from major highways and overlooks the famous Nairobi National Park. It perfectly complements the Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham, located in the city's central business district which opened earlier this year....
Fix the Debit Card Problem at the Front Desk
Tucker Johnson | November 9, 2017
By Tucker Johnson Many guests are unaware that at check-in a hotel is just authorizing their credit or debit card, not charging them for their stay. The charge occurs at check-out and is typically done on the same card that was originally authorized and used to check-in. In the case of a credit card, the authorization is easily released; the card is then charged, and the whole transaction is very smooth. This is not the case with the use of a debit card, however. When using a debit card, the initial authorization is also released when the card is charged. The problem occurs with the way the releases are processed. Debit card releases ca...
Robert Cheng Joins Rosewood Hotel Group as Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications
Rosewood Hotel Group | November 9, 2017
Robert Cheng has been appointed vice president of brand marketing and communications for Rosewood Hotel Group. Cheng will spearhead the group's overall strategic branding and communications to further strengthen awareness and market positioning, drive revenue and enhance development of the individual brands. "In the next few years, as Rosewood Hotel Group expands its global footprint, Robert's international background and vast experience in luxury and hospitality will be an invaluable asset to our growing portfolio," says Thuy Tranthi Rieder, group vice president of sales and marketing of Rosewood Hotel Group. Cheng brings two decades e...
The Future of Casual Dining: What to Expect
Court Williams | November 9, 2017
By Court Williams Targeting future audiences is a longstanding marketing strategy, and that's exactly what the casual dining restaurant industry is doing in a current effort to survive. Cracker Barrel's Holler and Dash, is a new chain with a fast-casual concept built around fresh-baked biscuits. With bare-brick walls and concrete floors, H&D is targeting a younger demographic than its parent chain. This is part of an industry-wide shift by outdated restaurant chains to reinvent themselves, by creating "offshoot" brands under a new name and image that are aimed at Millennials and younger diners. Downward Drift A casual dining industr...
OTO Development Unveils Plans for 219-Room AC Hotel by Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland
OTO Development | November 9, 2017
BETHESDA MD (NOVEMBER 9, 2017) -- A new AC Hotel by Marriott is coming to the heart of downtown Bethesda MD -- part of an ambitious mixed-use development and just a few short blocks away from Marriott International's future global headquarters. "It's always exciting to announce plans for a new project," says Corry Oakes, President/CEO of OTO Development, a Spartanburg SC-based Johnson Management company, "and that's especially true of our AC Hotel Bethesda. The brand is vibrant. The design is exceptional. And the proximity to Marriott's headquarters provides us an incredible opportunity to be the flagship ...
Routier Launches Innovative Guest and Staff Engagement Platform in the U.S.
Routier | November 9, 2017
Israeli Innovator helps hotels empower staff and guests with seamless communication solutions for exceptional during-stay experiences New York and Tel Aviv, November 9, 2017 – Routier, a Tel Aviv-based start up founded by intelligence experts trained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), announced that it has built the first ever continuous communications solution to connect hotels with their guests at all times while they are on property – with no downloads or installations required. The company has opened a U.S. office in Manhattan to accelerate its growth, and has added branded hotel properties in New York, London and Tel A...
Secrets to Bringing Enhanced Comfort and Efficiency to Hotels
Kacey Bradley | November 9, 2017
By Kacey Bradley For many people, a hotel stay is a luxury. It's a vacation from home, and, as such, should envelop them in high-quality comfort that makes their stay relaxing and memorable. The same goes for business travelers who are traveling hundreds or thousands of miles away from home. They're working hard and they're on the move — all they want is a place that will let them rest in complete comfort. It's up to hotels to provide this feeling to its guests, and it's up to hotels to do so with efficiency so that they don't break the bank. Fortunately, this line has been successfully toed time and time again. The following are ...
Royal on the Park Hotel & Suites Selects KEYPR as Exclusive Guest Experience Technology Partner
KEYPR | November 9, 2017
Los Angeles, CA (Wednesday, November 8th) -- KEYPR®, the leading cloud-based technology platform for the hospitality industry providing an integrated end-to-end experience for guests and staff through embedded and mobile devices, announced today that Royal on the Park in Brisbane, Australia has deployed its hospitality platform. Royal on the Park, one of Brisbane's most iconic hotels, will use the KEYPR platform to dramatically enhance their guest experience. "As we see more and more millennials and mobile-first business travelers staying at the hotel, we need to find ways to cater to their preferences and meet them on their mobile...
