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
The Essex Resort & Spa Partners with Stash Hotel Rewards
Stash Hotel Rewards | April 28, 2014
Vermont's Leading Culinary Resort Now Part of Nation's Largest Points-Based Rewards Program for Independent Hotels ESSEX, VT – April 29, 2014 – The Essex Resort & Spa, located between the base of the Green Mountains and the shores of Lake Champlain, announced today that it has partnered with Stash Hotel Rewards, the nation's largest points-based rewards program for independent hotels. As a result of this new partnership, Stash members are now able to earn and redeem points at The Essex Resort & Spa, the only AAA Four-Diamond in the Champlain Valley. "Stash Hotel Rewards is perfect for travelers who appreciate properties that...
Florida’s 196-room Plantation on Crystal River Names David Bolaños as Executive Chef
Plantation on Crystal River | April 28, 2014
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (April 28, 2014) - A hidden gem on Florida's Nature Coast, the Plantation on Crystal River recently named David Bolaños as executive chef of the 196-room resort. Chef Bolaños will direct daily culinary operations at the resort's signature West 82 Bar & Grill and outlets, and oversee food and beverage offerings for the Plantation's 12,000 square feet of function space for meetings, corporate parties, local catering events and special occasions. "Chef Bolaños knowledge of French classic cooking accompanied with his flair for creative Floribbean recipes will build on our long-standing tradition of providing guest...
Hyatt and LATAM Hotel Corp. to Develop 10 Hyatt Place Hotels in Central America and Mexico
Hyatt Place | April 28, 2014
The first Hyatt Place hotels to debut as part of a master development agreement are located in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras April 28, 2014 - CHICAGO - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a master development agreement with LATAM Hotel Corp. to develop 10 Hyatt Place hotels in Central America and Mexico and that Hyatt affiliates have entered into franchise agreements with LATAM Hotel Corp. for the first five hotels: Hyatt Place Managua in Nicaragua, Hyatt Place Guatemala City in Guatemala, Hyatt Place San Salvador in El Salvador, and Hyatt Place San Pedro Sula and Hy...
Buying Bad Loans and Distressed Debt in Europe (and Italy)
Jim Butler | April 28, 2014
By Jim Butler For the latest articles on this subject, please click here. By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 28 April 2014 Some are calling it the "distressed real estate gold rush in Europe." Others who have been expecting 1990s-style opportunistic investment opportunities for several years, now are seeing a change in European banks' willingness to sell distressed loans at discounts to clean up their books. Several significant deals have been announced with big name investors and more are underway. What is happening? And what is the opportunity for investors? Is it too late ...
FSA Group & Hyatt to Build 150-room Hyatt Place São José do Rio Preto to Open Mid-2016 in Brazil
Hyatt Place | April 28, 2014
First of Nine Hotels in Brazil to be Co-Developed by the Joint Venture Entity CHICAGO (April 28, 2014) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and FSA Group S.A., a Libra Group company, announced today that a joint venture entity formed by a Hyatt affiliate and FSA Group has completed the acquisition of a site in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, and has entered into agreements with FSA Group to develop a Hyatt Place hotel and with Hyatt affiliates to provide management services in connection with the operation of the hotel. This is the first hotel to be announced under the landmark master development agreement between a Hyatt affiliate a...
Development Launched for 119-key Hyatt House Santa Fe to Open in Mexico City in 2016
Hyatt House | April 28, 2014
A Brand Debut in Mexico CHICAGO (April 28, 2014) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced plans to introduce its Hyatt House extended stay brand in Mexico with the signing of a franchise agreement between a Hyatt affiliate and Fideicomiso de Actividad Empresarial for Hyatt House Santa Fe in Mexico City. The hotel is expected to open in 2016, and it will be managed by Grupo Presidente, one of Mexico's leading hotel operators. Hyatt House Santa Fe will be located in Mexico City's Santa Fe neighborhood, a renowned business and commercial district in the western part of the city. The hotel will also be the first extended stay ...
Saint Light Investment Group and Marriott Open the 282-room Jixian Marriott in China
Marriott Hotels | April 28, 2014
Tianjin, China, April 28 2014 – Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today celebrated the opening of its 282-room Jixian Marriott Hotel, taking the total number of properties under its iconic Marriott Hotels brand in China to 16. Under a long-term management agreement with Saint Light Investment Group, the hotel is a pioneer in Greater China for embracing sustainable tourism. Download images. The hotel is located in Jixian which is in the northern part of Tianjin and also close to Beijing. With its proximity to a variety of leisure travel attractions including the Pan Mountain, Great Wall, golf courses, ski parks and natural par...
nSight Hosts Complimentary Webinar: How’s Your Hotel Performing On Third-Party Websites?
nSight | April 28, 2014
Benchmarking and improving performance for Hotel Revenue Managers and Marketers -- April 30 & May 1 NASHVILLE, TN - April 28, 2014 - nSight, the leading provider of online consumer shopping intelligence for the travel industry, will present a complimentary webinar to help hotels benchmark against their competitive set and improve performance on third-party websites by using consumer search and booking data from 5,000 global travel websites. Insights will be delivered by business intelligence industry expert, Jami Timmons, president and chief product officer at nSight. The 30-minute webinar will discuss how consumer shopping insights...
Sule Shangri-La, Yangon Opens in Myanmar Completing Extensive Renovation and Conversion
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts | April 28, 2014
Hong Kong, April 28, 2014 - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts today announced Traders Hotel, Yangon in Myanmar has rebranded to operate as Sule Shangri-La, Yangon following an extensive renovation that took two-and-a-half years to complete. The 484-room hotel, which is positioned on Sule Pagoda Road near the landmark namesake pagoda that is over 2,000 years old, has been a major fixture in the city's central business district since it opened in November 1996. Nearly two decades on, the hotel continues to be Yangon's most popular gathering and networking spot for business people and hotel guests. A key port in the British Empire, Yangon stil...
Eight of the World’s Hippest Hotels
TrustYou | April 28, 2014
Whether your definition of "hip" includes locavore cuisine, avant-garde art and design or the hottest new technogadgets, TrustYou's list of the world's hippest hotels has got you covered. Each of these bastions of cool has that elusive quality that makes them instantly recognizable to those in the know. Read on for a sampling of the best places to see and be seen. King and Grove (New York City, USA) Located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn - arguably the hipster capital of the world - King and Grove's 1970s-inspired minimalism makes it a suitable refuge for visitors exploring the area's vintage boutiques, restaurants and music ven...
Adara and Havas Media Announce an Agreement to Help Havas Media Reach Travelers Worldwide
Adara | April 28, 2014
Adara Becomes the Premier Travel Media Partner for Havas Media, Accelerating Already Strong Gains in Reach and Efficiency from the Partnership Mountain View, CA, April 28, 2014 - Adara, the leader in connecting brands to targeted audiences worldwide based on extensive partnerships with global travel suppliers, announced a marketing agreement with Havas Media, one of the largest communication groups worldwide. Under the agreement, Adara will provide first-party data and actionable insights, and manage targeted marketing campaigns to help Havas Media reach new audiences and further optimize its ad spend in the travel segment and beyond. H...
Acclaimed FCS e-Housekeeping Solution for “Smart Hotels” Receives Added Features in V2 Release
FCS | April 28, 2014
The highly praised e-Housekeeping solution from FCS is now available with more advanced features for hotel customers worldwide Atlanta, USA - April 28, 2014 - FCS Computer Systems (FCS), a leading comprehensive hospitality solutions and services provider, is pleased to announce the General Availability (GA) of FCS e-Housekeeping V2 with enhancements for executives, supervisors, and room attendants. The new version's upgraded functionality further heightens the benefits of the industry's already leading housekeeping solution, which has received accolades from hospitality trailblazers, as well as Singapore's Member of Parliament, Cabinet ...
Forbes Travel Guide & Porsche North America Gear Up to Launch Exclusive Five-Star Road Trip Packages
Forbes Travel Guide | April 28, 2014
ATLANTA, April 28, 2014 -- Guests at select luxury hotels can rev up their engines and get a head start on summer, thanks to a new program that allows registered guests at five Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotels to get behind the wheel of Porsche cars for two-hour, soul-stirring journeys. Beginning May 10th and offered through the end of 2014, guests at select Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels in Boston, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco and Scottsdale can choose from four dedicated Porsche vehicles, including the new Panamera S E-Hybrid, the 911 S Cabriolet or Cayenne GTS, for a localized area drive of up to two hours. Forbes Trav...
Mallory Voorheis Appointed National Sales Manager for the 47-key Hotel Ella in Austin, Texas
Hotel Ella | April 28, 2014
AUSTIN, Texas, April 28, 2014 - Hotel Ella has recently welcomed Mallory Voorheis as new National Sales Manager. In this capacity, she will lead leisure, corporate and group sales. "We are delighted to add Mallory to the Hotel Ella team," states General Manager Steve Shotsberger. "She has extensive experience, industry knowledge and a passion for the position that inspires us all." Voorheis brings 10 years of sales, service and hospitality experience to the Hotel Ella team, most recently serving as Corporate and Social Sales Manager for Vintage Villas Hotels & Events. Prior to that, she served as Event & Membership Director of t...
Brian Lee Appointed as Executive Chef for the 391-room Trump SoHo® New York
Trump SoHo New York | April 28, 2014
NEW YORK (April 28, 2014) - Trump SoHo® New York, the first Trump Hotel Collection property in downtown Manhattan and the neighborhood's only AAA Five Diamond rated hotel, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Lee as executive chef overseeing culinary operations for the 391-room hotel. With more than ten years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chef Lee has held leadership positions at several of the finest hotels, restaurants and private clubs in the New York metropolitan area. Widely regarded in the culinary industry for his talent and passion for local and seasonal fare, Chef Lee will oversee all in-room dining and...
Richfield Hospitality Names Peter Nichols as Senior Vice President of Business Development
Richfield Hospitality | April 28, 2014
DENVER, Colo. - - April 28, 2014 - Richfield Hospitality, a leading hotel management company, today announced that Peter Nichols has joined the company as senior vice president of business development. Nichols will head all business development efforts for the company, including third-party management and investment opportunities. "Pete has a tremendous history in this industry and brings a strategic discipline to our development processes and team." said Will Loughran Richfield Hospitality senior vice president, sales and revenue strategy. "His leadership and experience will be a great asset to the company and our aggressive growth st...
54-Room Bay Harbor Hotel Development Moves Forward in Planning
BuildCentral | April 28, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Add/Update 167 Hotel Projects to the New Hotel Construction Projects Database Chicago, IL. April 28, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have added or updated 167 hotel projects in the last two weeks to Hotel Construction, a nationwide database of hotel construction projects, openings, and key decision makers (Owner/Developers, Architects and Contractors). These proposed hotels are still in the planning stages. Now is the perfect time to have your product drawn into plans, or offer construction services: Sawmill Area Hotel (Albuquerque, NM) Caesars Resort (Woodbury, NY) Phipps Plaza Hotel (Atlanta, GA...
Dennis Meroney Joins Hotel Equities as Chief Investment Officer
Hotel Equities (HE) | April 28, 2014
Atlanta, GA - April 28, 2014 - Hotel Equities (HE), an Atlanta-based hotel management, ownership and development company, has recently appointed Dennis Meroney as its new Chief Investment Officer. Meroney, a 25-year veteran of the financial industry, has served on the Hotel Equities Board of Directors since 2007. As CIO, Meroney will join HE's day-to-day operation and assume the responsibility for financial planning, strategic fund raising and working with existing ownership groups on financial options. "I'm not only excited about Hotel Equities' owned assets but the fund raising of our second fund as well," said Meroney. "I look forwar...
Travel Was 2nd-Fastest Growing U.S. Industry in 2013 with Over 3% Growth
U.S. Travel Association | April 28, 2014
WASHINGTON (April 28, 2014) - Data released Friday by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) demonstrate anew that the travel industry is playing a pivotal role in leading the United States economic recovery. The BEA's first-ever estimates of GDP growth by industry show that travel posted the No. 2 growth rate of all U.S. industries in 2013, trailing only the agricultural sector. In the fourth quarter, overall real GDP growth slowed to an annual pace of 2.6 percent-off from a 4.1-percent pace set in the third quarter. Eleven of the 14 major industrial private sectors profiled in the BEA report slowed from the third ...
Brian Cernik Named Director of Meeting & Event Management at Sheraton New York Times Square
the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel | April 25, 2014
The Sheraton New York Times Square hotel has named Brian Cernik Director of Meeting and Event Management, charged with overseeing the hotel's newly renovated 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. With more than 17 years of experience in the hotel industry, a hallmark of Brian's style is bringing a personalized touch to each event, while creating seamless and memorable client experiences with the culinary, event management, banquet and sales teams. Prior to his appointment, Brian served as Director of Banquets at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. He joined the property in 2008 and has held previous positions as Banquet Direc...
MGM Resorts Appoints Anton Nikodemus as Chief Operating Officer of Regional Operations
MGM Resorts International | April 25, 2014
LAS VEGAS April 25, 2014 – MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) has announced the appointment of Anton Nikodemus to serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MGM Resorts International Regional Operations. In this new role, Mr. Nikodemus will report to Corey Sanders, COO for MGM Resorts, and oversee operations at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Miss.; Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss.; MGM Grand Detroit; development and operations at MGM National Harbor, scheduled to open in 2016 in Prince George's County, Md., and MGM Springfield in Springfield, Mass. The opening of MGM Springfield is pending state approvals. Mr. Ni...
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Reports First Quarter 2014 Results; RevPAR Grew 8.5%
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | April 25, 2014
BETHESDA, Md.--(April 24, 2014)--Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) (the "Company") today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Company's results include the following: (1) See tables later in this press release for a description of same-property information and reconciliations from net income (loss) to non-GAAP financial measures, including Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"), Adjusted EBITDA, Funds from Operations ("FFO"), FFO per share, Adjusted FFO and Adjusted FFO per share. For the details as to which hotels are included in Same-Property Revenue Per Available Room ...
Educational Institute Team Honors Shanghai’s Certified Hotel Administrators (CHA®)
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute | April 25, 2014
Shanghai, China, April 2014-Members of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute's executive staff kicked off their 10-day visit to China with a VIP dinner in Shanghai for hospitality professionals who hold the designation of Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®), the highest professional certification for hospitality industry executives. Robert L. Steele III, CHA, president and COO; Brenda L. Vazquez, CMHS, CGSP, senior vice president, marketing; Ed Kastli, CMHS, CGSP, vice president, international sales; and Leon Shi, CHE, EI's country manager of operations for China, are making the trip to celebrate EI's 10-year presence...
Robert Vance Appointed as Spa Director for Mii amo, a Destination Spa in Sedona, Arizona
Mii amo | April 25, 2014
April 25, 2014 (SEDONA, Ariz.) - Mii amo, a destination spa in Sedona, Arizona, announces the appointment of Robert Vance as Spa Director. Robert Vance will oversee the guest experience at Mii amo as well as daily spa operations, training of staff and implementation of retreats and workshops. "Robert brings extensive spa expertise and an engaging personality to this important position," says Chris Bird, General Manager of Mii amo. "Mii amo delivers a highly personalized, luxury experience to each guest, and I am confident Robert will help raise the bar ever higher for our service and operations." Robert's career of more than 12 years in...
