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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Don’t Budget for Costly Hotel Check-In/Out Apps; ‘Widget’ is the Way to Go!
Tal Nathanel | October 24, 2017
A front-desk widget offers maximum functionality at a minimal cost By Tal Nathanel If your hotel is planning to add software to your 2018 budget that will enable guests to check in, view their folio, and check out with just a click via your website, mobile web or hotel app, you're not alone. Being able to "wow" your guests with the latest mobile tools is key to attracting and retaining today's travelers; it can also be very expensive. Before allocating thousands of dollars to develop an app or hire someone to do it for you, there are three little words you need to get familiar with first: Front Desk Widget. Yes, "widget." A widget is a...
Vimana Franchise Systems Bringing Centerstone Plaza Hotel & Suites to Arizona
Vimana Franchise Systems LLC | October 24, 2017
Conversion from Lexington Hotel & Suites Fountain Hills is underway; Property to open as Centerstone Plaza Hotel in January 2018 [Birmingham, Ala. – October 24, 2017] — Vimana Franchise Systems LLC is pleased to announce that it will be bringing a Centerstone Plaza Hotel & Suites to Fountain Hills, Ariz., in January 2018. The 104-room hotel, operating today as the Lexington Hotel & Suites – Fountain Hills / North Scottsdale, is the largest hotel in the market. Located at 12800 N Saguaro Blvd., the soon-to-be Centerstone Plaza Hotel is expected to become "the place" to dine, stay and hold functions in Founta...
Intelity Continues Strong Growth Trajectory with New Customers in 2017
Intelity | October 24, 2017
Millennial travel is contributing to the demand for Intelity's technologies [Orlando, Fla. – October 24, 2017] —Intelity, the creator of the world's first and most widely used integrated Guest Services Platform, is announcing continued record-setting performance and growth, deploying its solutions at properties that include hotels, resorts and casinos throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. "There are several factors contributing to the continued growth and success of Intelity, the main one being our commitment to ongoing research and development of new technologies," said David Adelson, Intelity president and...
What’s Happening with Rate Parity in the Hotel Industry?
trivago Hotel Manager Blog | October 24, 2017
Recent developments in legislation throughout the world have made rate parity an important topic in the hospitality industry. But despite its frequent appearance in the news, rate parity remains a complicated issue, and one that takes a different form from one market to the next. To understand what exactly is happening with rate parity in the greater hotel industry, our researchers examined it on a global scale. Presented here, their findings offer a comprehensive look at rate parity from its origins to its current legal status in countries around the world. What is rate parity? Rate parity is a legal agreement between hotels and online...
The Buccini/Pollin Group Acquires DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington, Delaware
The Buccini/Pollin Group | October 24, 2017
Wilmington, Delaware, October 24, 2017—Officials of The Buccini/Pollin Group, a privately held, full-service real estate acquisition, development and management company (BPG), today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the 244-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington. PM Hotel Group, a leading, national hotel management company based in Washington, D.C., will operate the hotel. "BPG's recent acquisition of the beautifully renovated DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington evidences our deep commitment to the Northern Delaware community. We now own and operate six hotels in New Castle County, Delaware and continue to b...
HITEC Dubai, Officially Endorsed by DTCM, Aims to Facilitate Tourism Vision 2020
HITEC Dubai | October 24, 2017
As part of Dubai's Tourism Vision 2020, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, Dubai plans to attract 20 million visitors per year by 2020. Dubai is renowned for raising the bar and making the impossible happen. EXPO 2020 will bring a huge influx of international visitors into the UAE and the hospitality industry plays a vital role in securing Dubai's position as one of the world's premier tourism hubs. To help realize this vision, HITEC®, the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand is debuting in the Mid...
Viceroy Chicago Implements InvoTech’s RFID Uniform Management System to Reduce Operating Costs
InvoTech Systems, Inc. | October 23, 2017
Viceroy Opens New Hotel in Chicago with InvoTech RFID Uniform Management System to Increase Efficiency LOS ANGELES, CA – October 24, 2017 -- InvoTech Systems Inc. announced the recent implementation of its Uniform System at the new Viceroy Chicago that opened September 1, 2017, located in the Gold Coast neighborhood. InvoTech Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that integrate the latest RFID technology to increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centers and theme parks. The InvoTech System installed at the Viceroy Chicago joins Inv...
BLLA’s 2017 Stay Boutique Awards Presented to Industry Executives & Innovators
BLLA | October 23, 2017
Each fall, the boutique community comes together to honor the finest people and projects on their contributions that are disrupting the industry Los Angeles, October 19, 2017 - The Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) presented the 8th annual Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Awards at a ceremony and celebration on October 5th during the organization's annual Stay Boutique Leadership Conference. The Awards, now branded as the Stay Boutique Awards, recognize leaders, innovators and icons in every corner of the boutique, lifestyle and luxury worlds. Founded in 2010, the Stay Boutique Awards originally served to recognize lea...
Marriott International Debuts 106-Room Four Points by Sheraton in Tanzania Following Renovation and Rebranding
Four Points | October 23, 2017
ARUSHA, Tanzania, October 23, 2017 -- Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Arusha, The Arusha Hotel, marking the debut of the brand into Tanzania. Founded in 1894, The Arusha Hotel, has emerged as a city landmark playing host to many dignitaries and well known personalities over more than 120 years. Rebranded after renovation, the hotel retains its unique charm reminiscent of a bygone era and a fabled past. Located steps away from the famous Clock Tower, known to mark the center point from Cairo to Cape Town, it is easily accessible from both Arusha as well ...
Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport Completes Full Renovation Led by General Manager Robb Blythe
Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport | October 23, 2017
Tucson, Arizona (October 23, 2017) — The Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport has just completed a full renovation, it was announced today by Robb Blythe, General Manager. The 125-room hotel opened in 2008 and is owned by Apple Hospitality REIT and managed by Texas Western Hospitality. According to Mr. Blythe, the property now offers a completely different guest room experience including new furnishings, soft goods, a soothing color palette of grays and blues, and updated lighting. The lobby furnishings have a trendy new look including contemporary seating, lighting, and artwork which features a desertscape theme throughout the proper...
HMC to Manage 104-Room Holiday Inn Express in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | October 23, 2017
Dallas, TX – Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the addition of this 104-room Holiday Inn Express® in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to their portfolio of managed hotels. HMC will be working in partnership with new ownership group Newstream Commercial®, headed by Scott Tarwater, President of the company's Hotel and Resorts Division. HMC continues its ongoing business expansion which is made up of full service, conference center, select service and limited service hotels. HMC is one of the country's largest third-party privately held hotel management companies, ranke...
Apple Hospitality REIT Acquires 136-Room Residence Inn by Marriott® Salt Lake City Murray for $25.5 Million
Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. | October 23, 2017
RICHMOND, Va.--October 23, 2017--Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) ("Apple Hospitality" or the "Company") today announced that it acquired the 179-room Residence Inn by Marriott® Portland Downtown/Waterfront and the 136-room Residence Inn by Marriott® Salt Lake City Murray. "We are pleased to enter the Portland, Maine market and to strengthen our exposure to Salt Lake City through the acquisition of these hotels, further diversifying the range of corporate and leisure demand generators for our portfolio," said Nelson Knight, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Apple Hospitality REIT. "In addition to ...
Virgin Hotels Plans New 178-Key Virgin Hotels Washington D.C. Union Market Set to Open Fall 2019
Virgin Hotels | October 23, 2017
MIAMI, Oct. 23, 2017 -- Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, has announced plans to open and operate a new hotel in Washington D.C. Expected to open in fall 2019, the brand's first Washington D.C. property will reside in the city's emerging Union Market area. It will be managed by Virgin Hotels and developed by D.B. Lee Development & Construction and Brook Rose Development. "We're thrilled to bring Virgin Hotels to Washington D.C.'s travelers and residents with an energetic, lifestyle hotel experience unlike anything currently offered in the city," said Raul ...
Golden Entertainment Completes Acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties for $850 Million
Golden Entertainment, Inc. | October 23, 2017
Golden Entertainment Expects to Generate Pro Forma 2017 Net Revenue of Approximately $847 Million and EBITDA of Approximately $180 Million Following Addition of Four New Casinos Addition of Iconic Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower and Two Arizona Charlie's Casinos in Las Vegas and Market-leading Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin Complements Golden Entertainment's Existing Operations and Positions Company to Further Benefit from Nevada's Strong Economic Trends LAS VEGAS--October 23, 2017--Golden Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:GDEN) ("Golden" or the "Company"), announced today that it completed its previously announced acquisition of Am...
BIM Group in Partnership with IHG to Develop the First Holiday Inn Hotel in Vientiane, Laos
IHG | October 23, 2017
InterContinental Hotels Group® (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with BIM Group to develop the first Holiday Inn hotel in Vientiane, Laos. This will be IHG's third project with BIM Group, who also owns Crowne Plaza® Vientiane and the upcoming InterContinental® Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort & Residences. Set to open in 2019, the 250-room Holiday Inn & Suites® Vientiane, which includes 50 long-stay suites, will be part of a mixed-use development consisting of the existing Crowne Plaza® Vientiane, office towers and a retail mall. Located within the vicinity of the ...
Sabre Launches First AI-Powered Business Intelligence Solutions for the Hospitality Industry
Sabre Corporation | October 23, 2017
Combining artificial intelligence, big data, and modern visualizations, SynXis Analytics Cloud offers predictive analytics and pattern recognition to recommend strategies that increase hotel revenue across channels SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Oct. 23, 2017 -- Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) has developed the hospitality industry's first analytics platform to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help maximize total hotel revenue. SynXis Analytics Cloud is Sabre's new data and analytics platform built from the ground up for the hospitality industry. Without an industry-grade automated solution, many hoteliers are hamstrung with a number of ...
Hospitality Financial Leadership – Food Cost and the 80/20 Rule
David Lund | October 23, 2017
By David Lund We have all heard of the 80/20 rule. But I am willing to bet most of you have not heard it in conjunction with the words "food cost." A good friend of mine who was an executive chef explained it to me and I am going to share it with you. So first off, the 80/20 rule states that 80 percent of any result comes from 20 percent of the activity. In food cost, what Chef taught me is the 80 percent of the food cost comes from only 20 items. That's right—the top 20! What he explained was so simple and powerful. Identify the top 20 food items your hotel buys using the dollar value of those items. It takes a bit ...
AJ Capital Partners Acquires Providence Biltmore Hotel; Plans Renovation and Conversion
AJ Capital Partners | October 23, 2017
Providence, Ri. – AJ Capital Partners announced today it has acquired the Providence Biltmore Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. The hotel will undergo a comprehensive renovation to convert to Graduate Providence by spring 2019. The 294-room hotel is located in downtown Providence near five universities: Brown University, Johnson & Wales, Rhode Island College, Providence College and Rhode Island School of Design. Situated in the geographic center of downtown Providence, the hotel boasts the most desirable location for lodging, proximate to the city's healthcare hub, primary modes of transportation, 140,000-square-foot conventi...
Serviced Apartments: An Ever-Growing Sector?
Stuart Pallister | October 23, 2017
By Stuart Pallister In the first of two pieces on serviced apartments, we examine the drivers of growth in the extended-stay sector. In the second article, to be published next month, we will examine innovations in serviced apartments in the face of increasing land prices. Call them what you will – serviced or extended-stay apartments or aparthotels – major operators in this sector are looking to differentiate their properties from traditional hotels and Airbnb. That means trying to innovate with new products, while apartment and studio sizes continue to shrink due to rising land prices. And while operators are generally opt...
Paul Smart Appointed Executive Chef of Vietnam’s Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
| October 23, 2017
HANOI, Vietnam (October 23, 2017) — Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has named Australian Paul Smart as the hotel's new executive chef. Prior to joining the landmark Hanoi property, Smart was the executive chef at SO Sofitel Bangkok for five years, where he was crowned winner of the Iron Chef Thailand TV program in 2012 and 2013. As the hotel's new executive chef, Smart will oversee operations at the French restaurant, Le Beaulieu; Vietnamese restaurant, Spices Garden; Italian eatery, Angelina; and in the hotel's three bars, Bamboo Bar, La Terasse, and at the newly revamped, Le Club. The Adelaide-native, who has worked in some of th...
AD1 Global Acquires Three Florida Hotels
AD1 Global | October 23, 2017
Hollywood, FL, October 23, 2017 -- It seems hotel companies have been busy acquiring properties lately, focused - not surprisingly - on location. AD1 Global, an award-winning South-Florida hotel investment company, has been particularly busy in this regard, adding three hotels in a month to their expanding portfolio – 2 of them in the hot Orlando market and 1 in the state's capitol. And it's not only AD1 Global that sees a bright future for Orlando, and Florida in general. The privately funded Brightline high-speed rail company announced a week ago that is has begun work on a $2 billion-dollar project to connect Miami to Orlando, ...
Hospitality Funding, Inc. Arranged Funding for the Acquisition of the Comfort Suites Arlington, Texas
Hospitality Funding | October 23, 2017
Arlington, Texas – Hospitality Funding, Inc. arranged funding for the acquisition of the Comfort Suites Arlington, Texas. Waramaug LS Hotels LLC acquired the hotel in a joint venture with high net worth investors. When assessing the deal, Hospitality Funding and Waramaug Hospitality considered the following: The property is located near Six Flags Theme and Water Park, Rangers Ballpark, AT&T Stadium, Arlington Convention Center and more The property is a 108-room, all-suite hotel with high ceilings throughout that opened in 2009 The hotel's amenities include complimentary breakfast, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a busi...
INTEREL Appoints Alana Witte as VP Global Key Accounts
INTEREL | October 22, 2017
Dubai, October 2017: INTEREL, a leading provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for the hospitality industry, has appointed Alana Witte as the company's VP Global Key Accounts, responsible for leading INTEREL's strategic relationships with global hotel brands and driving large-scale projects. Prior to joining INTEREL, Alana led the global growth of Revinate, a SaaS start-up that built one of the hospitality industry's leading online reputation and guest satisfaction technologies, in the Middle East & Africa, where she launched Revinate's Dubai and Cape Town offices. Florian Gallini, Group CEO of INTEREL, said: "INTEREL's solu...
Shaner Hotels Wins Big in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards
Diamond Public Relations | October 20, 2017
STATE COLLEGE, PA – October 2017: Condé Nast Traveler released its annual Reader's Choice Awards, revealing its 2017 picks for the best hotels and destinations around the globe, as chosen by its loyal readers. Three Shaner Hotels properties, from the Florida Keys to the Bahamas to Tuscany, are among the winners, earning key recognition in their respective categories. Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection Award: #1 in 'Top Resorts in The Florida Keys' A little over a year after its grand opening, Playa Largo Resort & Spa earned the #1 spot in the 'Top Resorts in The Florida Keys' category. The first full-se...
