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Industry Happenings
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 185: Hotel History: The Peabody (1869)
Stanley Turkel | October 6, 2017
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS 1. The Peabody Hotel (1869), Memphis, Tennessee (464 rooms) Following the Civil War, Memphis began the process of rebuilding. In 1869, Colonel Robert C. Brinkley opened a 75-room hotel which contained private baths, ballroom, saloon and lobby. Brinkley planned to name the hotel after himself but when he learned that his dear friend, philanthropist George Peabody, had died, he christened it The Peabody. Its lobby was soon filled with Memphis business and society leaders as well as plantation owners and riverboat gamblers. Presidents Andrew Johnson and William McKinley, Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee, Nathan Be...
StayNTouch Appoints Nisha Singh as Vice President of Sales
StayNTouch Inc. | October 6, 2017
Bethesda, MD – OCTOBER 6, 2017 – StayNTouch, an innovator in mobile technology and Property Management Systems (PMS) for hotels, today announced that Nisha Singh has been named Vice President of Sales. Nisha brings more than 15 years of sales management experience, with a focus on driving growth in cloud-based SaaS companies. "We are very pleased to welcome Nisha Singh to the StayNTouch management team," said Jos Schaap, CEO and Founder of StayNTouch, "The entire hospitality industry is being transformed through the power of cloud-based software, driving efficiency, cost-savings and an improved guest experience. Nisha's deep...
Aspire Named Stevie® Award Finalist in Innovation for 12th Year in a Row
Aspire | October 6, 2017
Stevie award winners to be announced in New York on November 17 PHOENIX – Aspire will ultimately be a Gold, Silver or Bronze winner in this year's Stevie® Awards for Women in Business in the Most Innovative Company of the Year category. Aspire has won a medal in each of the past 11 years of the 14 annual contests and this year's award will be announced Friday, November 17 in New York City. The gala event, which honors women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run will be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel and will include individual awards such as Executive of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Y...
Country Inns & Suites Opens Refreshed Hotel Near Cincinnati
Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM | October 6, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS - October 6, 2017 - Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, a leading upper midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Erlanger, KY – Cincinnati Airport. Located at 630 Donaldson Highway, the hotel is conveniently located within six miles of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The hotel recently completed a $2.5 million renovation which included upgrades to the guest rooms, lobby, breakfast area, business center and fitness center. "We are thrilled to welcome this refreshed hotel to our expanding portfolio of Country Inns & Suites hotels," said Jeff...
West Belmont Place, Loudoun’s Party Place, Announces Holiday Party Incentives & Giveaways, VA
The National Conference Center | October 6, 2017
For Events Booked by November 30 Leesburg, Virginia, October 2017 … It may still feel like summer in Northern Virginia, but West Belmont Place at The National Conference Center is already thinking about holiday parties. Research shows 80 percent of companies plan to host holiday parties this year, with over 21 percent budgeting more than last year for these events. West Belmont Place, Loudoun's Party Place, announces its Holiday Party Incentive Package that includes a donation to The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Project (formerly Toys for Tots). For every guest room that is booked (and fulfilled) in November and December, West Bel...
Zaplox Reinforces U.S. Presence with Appointment of Chris Clement as Vice President Sales, North America
Zaplox AB | October 6, 2017
Zaplox AB, a market innovator of advanced mobile key services for the global hospitality industry, today announced the appointment of Chris Clement as Vice President Sales, North America. The recent addition represents an important step for Zaplox in implementing its growth plans for the U.S. market, which were announced earlier this year. Clement is joining the Zaplox team, effective October 10, 2017. Zaplox provides a comprehensive platform developed specifically for the hospitality industry to help hoteliers implement a complete mobile guest journey. This consists of mobile check-in, mobile keys, and mobile checkout, as well as acces...
YTL Hotels Opens The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui on the Eastern Coast of Thailand
YTL Hotels | October 5, 2017
New York, NY - October 5, 2017 – YTL Hotels is delighted to announce the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui in Thailand today. The resort's opening has been highly anticipated and its debut on the eastern coast of Thailand marks the beginning of the discovery of inspiring and quintessential experiences. Koh Samui has long been renowned for its breathtaking tropical charms and pristine natural beauty on the Gulf of Thailand, and is a much sought-after destination by luxury travelers from around the world. The distinguished and personalized Ritz-Carlton service and legendary Thai hospitality are interwoven to create unique treas...
Hilton Launches Africa Growth Initiative with Expectation of Adding 100 Properties Over the Next Five Years
Hilton | October 5, 2017
MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has committed a total of $50 million over the next five years towards the Hilton Africa Growth Initiative to support the continued expansion of its Sub-Saharan African portfolio. These funds are intended to support the conversion of around 100 hotels (roughly 20,000 rooms) in multiple African markets into Hilton branded properties, namely into its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton and the recently launched Curio Collection by Hilton. Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton said: "Hilton remains committe...
Ciao Roma! W Hotels Worldwide Plans W Rome with Omnam Group, Set to Open in 2021
W Hotels Worldwide | October 5, 2017
ROME, Oct. 5, 2017 -- W Hotels Worldwide, the contemporary design-led lifestyle brand, today announced plans to open W Rome, offering a unique twist on La Dolce Vita in the capital city. Marking the first time that the iconic W sign will land in Italy, W Rome will be developed by Omnam Group through a real estate fund managed by Kryalos SGR. The hotel is set across two historic buildings in the energetic Via Veneto neighborhood and will connect guests to what's new and next in Rome as of 2021. "Rome is one of Italy's most stylish and fashionable cities, and therefore a perfect destination for the W brand," said Jenni B...
AccorHotels and SNCF Group Sign a Strategic Partnership for the Development of the Orient Express Brand
AccorHotels | October 5, 2017
134 years to the day after the first Orient Express trip between Paris and Constantinople (October 4th, 1883), SNCF Group, owner of the iconic "Orient Express" brand, teams up with AccorHotels to continue the development of Orient Express within the luxury hospitality sector globally. As part of this partnership, which will combine the expertise and savoir-faire of the two groups, AccorHotels will be acquiring a 50% stake in the share capital of Orient Express, until now fully-owned by SNCF. The Orient Express brand is a timeless symbol of the art of luxury travel, steeped in culture, splendor and refinement. The legendary tra...
Tilman Fertitta Names Jean Luc Royere as Executive Chef at The Post Oak in Houston
The Post Oak | October 5, 2017
HOUSTON, TX. – Tilman Fertitta today announced Jean Luc Royere as the Executive Chef at The Post Oak, the luxury mixed-use high rise located in Houston's Uptown district. In this role, he will oversee all aspects of The Post Oak's food and beverage offerings, including the property's multiple restaurants and banquet halls. "The Post Oak is a premier, one-of-a-kind property that demands management with the highest-level of expertise, said Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Post Oak. "I'm confident that Chef Royere will play a crucial role in The Post Oak's success." Chef Royere has a vast breadth of culinary experience as a classically ...
The Westin Riverfront Beaver Creek Promotes Ingrid Middaugh and Kristin Ligouri to New Roles Overseeing Spa Anjali and The Athletic Club at The Westin
| October 5, 2017
AVON, Colo. (Oct. 5, 2017) – The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain is thrilled to announce that Ingrid Middaugh has been promoted to serve as the Director of Spa Anjali & The Athletic Club at The Westin and that Kristin Ligouri has been promoted to Spa Director at Spa Anjali. Middaugh has been serving as the Director of Spa Anjali since 2013. A graduate of Central Michigan University, Middaughpreviously served as the Spa Director at the Vail Cascade Resort. Under her leadership, Spa Anjali has earned many industry kudos, including being named one of the "Top 25 U.S. Spas" by Conde Nast Traveler, a "Fa...
Hyatt Regency Austin Welcomes Reese Hay as New Executive Chef
Hyatt Regency Austin | October 5, 2017
Austin, Texas (October 5, 2017) – Hyatt Regency Austin, located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, has announced Reese Hay as its new executive chef. Hay joins the hotel from Hyatt Regency Columbus in Ohio. "I'm very excited to join the Hyatt Regency Austin team," said Reese Hay, executive chef at Hyatt Regency Austin. "When you look at the history of this hotel, it has a great reputation and is well known for a having quality product and presentation. As most of my career has been spent in smaller boutique hotels or resorts, I look forward to working in such a large volume hotel that features high-end dining for ...
Hotel Equities to Manage TownePlace Suites in Tallahassee, FL
Hotel Equities | October 5, 2017
ATLANTA–October 5, 2017–Atlanta-based Hotel Equities recently announced its selection as the management firm for the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Tallahassee, Florida. The Edgewater Group owns the property and Terry Foye serves as the General Manager. The extended stay hotel is located on Capital Circle NE between Centerville and Miccosukee Roads in Tallahassee, Florida. It stands less than a mile from Florida State University and directly across from Capital Regional Medical Center. It is also convenient to downtown Tallahassee, Florida A&M University, Governor's Square Mall and Maclay Gardens State Park. "We are ex...
Columbia Hospitality Launches $12 Million Renovation of Historic Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, Washington
Salish Lodge & Spa | October 5, 2017
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (October 5, 2017) — Salish Lodge & Spa, the iconic Pacific Northwest lodge, is renovating its 84 guestrooms in a $12 million project. The lodge will remain open to guests during the extensive two-part remodel, with the first stage scheduled for completion in January 2018. The renovation of all guestrooms—the largest the property has seen since 1988—is anticipated for completion in late spring 2018, enhancing the guest experience through new features and luxury amenities inspired by the lodge's distinctive heritage. "We are committed to maintaining and honoring the beloved history of Salish while i...
Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach to Be Unveiled in December 2017 Following $115 Million Transformation
Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach | October 5, 2017
HONOLULU--Nearing the completion of an extensive $115 million transformation, the current Pacific Beach Hotel today announces it will officially debut as the all-new Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach in December 2017. Introducing an alluring "aloha-chic" factor as Hawaii's sophisticated new modern resort in the heart of Waikiki, Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach will offer a stylish new way to stay and play in Hawaii's most iconic city beachfront that is transforming with unprecedented new cultural, culinary and shopping offerings. Alohilani Resort feature's star-studded collaborators for the 839-room modern resort and will include five new...
First Hospitality Group and Rockbridge Celebrate Opening of Hyatt Place Ann Arbor
First Hospitality Group, Inc. | October 5, 2017
Rosemont, Ill., October 5, 2017 – First Hospitality Group, Inc. (FHG), a leading hotel management, acquisition and development company, announced the opening of Hyatt Place Ann Arbor hotel, owned by leading investment firm Rockbridge and developed by Rockbridge's affiliate hotel development company, RBHD in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Tuesday, Oct. 3. FHG will manage the hotel; its President and CEO Robert Habeeb made the announcement of the hotel's opening. The new six-story hotel broke ground in April 2016, and is located at 3223 S. State Street. It features 142 over-sized guest rooms each with one or two king-size beds and some featur...
Pentahotels Appoints Peter Habelitz as Vice President Finance
pentahotels | October 5, 2017
FRANKFURT, Germany, October 5, 2017 Pentahotels, the lifestyle hotel group, has announced the appointment of Peter Habelitz as Vice President Finance, effective 4 October 2017. In this role, Peter will oversee the overall financial health and strategy of the hotel group. Peter brings strong financial management expertise to the group, and joins pentahotels from Lufthansa AirPlus, a financial provider, where he spent over 3 years as Associate Director Controlling. Prior to that, he was the Financial Controller at Videojet, a Danaher Corporation that manufactures coding and marking solutions, where he created and implemented strategies fo...
Modern Hospitality: Striking the Right Balance Between High-Tech and Human
JLL Real Views | October 5, 2017
By Natasha Stokes From iPad ordering to robot concierges, technology is automating many aspects of dining and hotel experiences – and freeing up staff to provide more personalized service. At some Aloft hotels, a robot butler known as Botlr delivers room service and towels to guests, leaving staff to deal with more complex queries. In CitizenM hotels, guests bypass front desk queues at self check-in kiosks with hotel ambassadors to answer any questions, while at the Andaz West Hollywood, personal greeters take guests through an iPad check-in over a coffee or glass of wine. "Technology has substantially improved both the behind-the...
Xenia Hotels & Resorts Acquires The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City For $105 Million
Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | October 5, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 5, 2017 -- Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: XHR) ("Xenia" or the "Company") today announced its acquisition of The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, a 365-room luxury hotel located in Arlington, Virginia, for a purchase price of $105 million, or approximately $287,670 per key. The acquisition was funded with cash available on the Company's balance sheet and its senior unsecured credit facility. The purchase price represents an estimated 11.3x multiple on 2017 forecasted Hotel EBITDA. The Company currently forecasts that the hotel will generate approximately $2 millionof Hotel EBITDA for the r...
NOVUM Hospitality Developing niu Bricks in Hamburg with S&P Commercial Development GmbH
NOVUM Hospitality | October 5, 2017
In the elegant Hamburg neighbourhood Eppendorf, NOVUM Hospitality is planning a new hotel of the millennial brand niu in the midst of imposing architecture and an abundance of water and green spaces. The niu Bricks in Eppendorf will be the third niu in Hamburg, after the niu Keg in Wandsbek and the niu Rough in Horn. Together with the S&P Commercial Development GmbH – a Sontowski & Partner Group company – the Hamburg Group is developing the 192-room niu Bricks in Osterfeldstrasse, to be completed by autumn 2019. The niu Bricks is the prelude to continued collaboration in the future. "We're on the same wavelength in o...
Hospitality Lodging Systems Adding Four AmeriVu Hotels in Wisconsin and Atlanta, Georgia
Hospitality Lodging Systems | October 5, 2017
October 5, 2017 - Atlanta-based Hospitality Lodging Systems (HLS) has added two properties to its portfolio of AmeriVu hotels, with an additional two scheduled to open within 90 days. All four locations are conversions from other brands or from independent status. The two already-open hotels are both in Wisconsin – in Cumberland, featuring 40 rooms, and in Prairie du Chien, with 42 rooms. The hotels scheduled to become AmeriVu properties are in northern Wisconsin, with 43 rooms, and in Atlanta, Georgia with 150 rooms. "We are attracting owners who want to offer value to travelers, while increasing cash flow for themselves," said D...
Xenia Hotels & Resorts Acquires Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch and Royal Palms Resort & Spa for $305 Million
Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | October 5, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 5, 2017 -- Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: XHR) ("Xenia" or the "Company") today announced its acquisition of Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch, a 493-room upper upscale resort located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Royal Palms Resort & Spa, a 119-room luxury resort located in Phoenix, Arizona that is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The Company acquired the two hotels from affiliates of Hyatt Hotels Corporation for a combined purchase price of $305 million, or approximately $498,350 per key. The purchase price represents an estimated 12.6x multiple on 2017...
Eldorado Resorts Mourns the Passing of Founder Don Carano
Eldorado Resorts, Inc. | October 5, 2017
RENO, Nev.--Donald Louis Carano, founder of Eldorado Resorts Inc., passed away peacefully on October 3, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was 85 years young. A pioneer in the gaming, law and wine industries, Mr. Carano was also an entrepreneur, hotelier, restaurateur, husband, father and grandfather. Don is celebrated as a family-oriented, passionate leader in his many businesses, including: Eldorado Resorts, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, and the McDonald Carano law firm. He was also known throughout his life as a longtime supporter of philanthropic endeavors in both Reno and his wine country home in Geyserville, Alexander Valley...
