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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
Indoor and Outdoor Waterparks Show Growth in 2014
David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC | April 4, 2014
by David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC The amount of indoor and outdoor waterpark square footage will grow at a faster rate in 2014 than in any year since the Great Recession. Twelve indoor waterpark resorts or standalone indoor waterparks will be opened or expanded in 2014 compared to 9 in 2013. The projected 370,000 new indoor square feet in 2014 dwarfs the 68,000 indoor square feet added in 2013. Eight private outdoor waterparks are projected to open in 2014 compared to 5 in 2013. The World Waterpark Association estimated approximately 82.5 million attendees at North American waterparks during 2013, which compared to 85 million in 2012...
Educational Institute Signs Partnership Agreement with HEC Marbella, Spain
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute | April 4, 2014
Orlando, Florida, April 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) signed a Global Academic Partner (GAP) agreement with HEC Marbella, making the school the first EI partner in Spain. The school, which defines itself as a "boutique of excellence," offers EI's 12-course programs in hospitality management and food and beverage management, as well as the 16-course "dual diploma." The school also offers the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) and the Certified Hospitality Revenue Manager (CHRM) designation to students in the BBA and MBA programs. As an outreach to professionals in Spain's hospitality indus...
SONIFI Solutions Names Ken Dufault as Senior Director, Hospitality Product Marketing
MMGY Global | April 3, 2014
FALLS, S. Dak. – SONIFI Solutions, the leading provider of end-to-end interactive content and connectivity solutions for hospitality and healthcare businesses, announces the appointment of Ken Dufault as Senior Director, Hospitality Product Marketing. Dufault joins the SONIFI Solutions team from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. where he most recently served as Director of Global Property Technology Solutions. In his new role, Dufault will be responsible for ensuring that hospitality industry clients receive best of breed & industry leading solutions for their property needs. During his time with Starwood Hotels and Reso...
The New Service Recovery Paradox: Step it Up with Follow-up
Coyle Hospitality Group | April 3, 2014
The service recovery paradox is as simple as it is timeless: A dissatisfied guest who becomes satisfied is more loyal than the guest who never had a problem. What isn't so simple is the act of service recovery itself. The hospitality industry as a whole has been committed to service recovery for some time. The brands, operators and employees all understand that things happen and that part of the daily routine is handling guest complaints. What differs dramatically though is how hoteliers handle complaints, and the ones that do it well have a distinct advantage in creating loyalty. Our study reveals where the difference-makers excel. Hot...
AH&LA Along with the Hotel Industry Urges Passage Of Young 40-Hour Bill
American Hotel & Lodging Association | April 2, 2014
Redefinition of ACA full-time definition would provide stability for hotels, inns, and resorts Washington, D.C. - April 2, 2014 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, urges the U.S. House of Representatives to pass The Save American Workers Act (H.R. 2575), introduced by Congressman Todd Young (R-IN). This legislation will provide much-needed stability for hotels, inns, and resorts and allow the industry to continue as a driver of economic growth. The vote on H.R. 2575, scheduled for Thursday, April 3, comes immedia...
Bullying: Tale of Two Hotels
Gay Lynn Grigas, MA Psy. | April 2, 2014
by Gay Lynn Grigas, MA Psy. Once upon a time there were two hotels. In one it was the "Best of Times" and the other the "Worst of Times." Both hotels offered exceptional ambiance, comfort, and many amenities placing both of them in the class of luxury and highly rated places to stay for business travelers and other guests. Both hotels had policies in place for balancing a high standard of guest satisfaction while at the same time safeguarding the dignity and interests of all employees when it comes to bullying and harassment within all the ranks of the employees and from guests. Both hotel managements were rightly focused on policies t...
Horseshoe Bay Resort Goes Independent; NAVIS Reservation, Marketing Service Smooth Transition
Horseshoe Bay Resort | April 2, 2014
Thinking of Going Indie? Horseshoe Bay Resort Offers Conversion Tips on Reservation and Sales Prep, How to Educate Markets; Talks Benefits of Indie Operation Bend, OR - April 2, 2014 - NAVIS, the leading reservation sales system, marketing automation, data analysis, and CRM provider for the lodging industry, announced that Horseshoe Bay Resort implemented NAVIS Narrowcast for reservation call center sales and marketing data analysis services. The 349-room AAA Four-Diamond resort in the Texas Hill Country launched independent operations with NAVIS in December 2013. NAVIS assisted the property's independent transition with reservation sal...
SKS Group & Hilton Enter Agreement to Expand DoubleTree by Hilton Portfolio in Australasia
DoubleTree By Hilton | April 2, 2014
Sign a Multi-unit Management Agreement PERTH, Western Australia and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide has signed a multi-unit management agreement with SKS Group to manage two hotels, located in Perth and Fremantle, Western Australia. The hotels will be branded DoubleTree by Hilton and will join Hilton Worldwide's existing portfolio of 20 hotels in Australasia. DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront will be located at 351 Riverside Drive, Perth adjoining Barrack Square and fronting the Swan River. The 241-room hotel will boast stunning panoramic views of the Swan River and will include a restaurant, bar, executive lounge, business centre, g...
Altamira Grupo Inmobiliario & Marriott Open the 181-room Renaissance Santiago Hotel, Chile
Renaissance | April 2, 2014
Santiago, Chile – April 1, 2014 – Renaissance Hotels, a hotel brand recognized for inspiring travelers to Live Life to DiscoverSM, announced today the opening of the 181-room Renaissance Santiago Hotel, marking the third Renaissance Hotel to open in South America. The new hotel establishes a bold presence in the upscale neighborhood of Vitacura, surrounded by stylish boutiques and some of Santiago's finest restaurants. "Already exquisitely represented in the region with the Renaissance Caracas La Castellana Hotel and our flagship property in South America the Renaissance Sao Paulo, Renaissance Hotels has truly become a favorite amon...
IHG and Maplewood Hotels & Resorts to Develop 15 Candlewood Suites® Hotels in Canada
Driftwood Hospitality Management | April 2, 2014
Maplewood to Begin Canadian Development in 2014 Bedford, Nova Scotia – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] and Maplewood Hotels & Resorts today announced plans to develop 15 new-build Candlewood Suites® properties in target markets throughout Canada over the next few years. Formed in 2013, Maplewood is a joint venture between Driftwood Hospitality Management and Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. "Driftwood is eager to continue our expansion in Canada through our strategic partnership with Pacrim," said Carlos Rodriguez, EVP for Driftwood. "We're also keen on strengthening our relationship with IHG, whi...
nSight Launches New OTA Search and Booking Intelligence Solution for Hotels
Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | April 2, 2014
Solution Gives Heritage Hotels and Resorts the ability to measure the impact of rate changes on OTA booking performance NASHVILLE, TN - April 2, 2014 - With online travel sales expected to be greater than $600 billion in 2014, understanding the online consumer is more important than ever. nSight, the leading provider of online consumer shopping intelligence for the travel industry, today announced it will aggregate the fragmented online travel agency (OTA) landscape into an easy-to-use view for hotels, making competitor benchmarking simple and rate decision making easier. Heritage Hotels and Resorts is among the first management compani...
FelCor Lodging Trust to Sell the 208-room Doubletree Suites Hotel Charlotte-SouthPark for $37M
FelCor | April 2, 2014
IRVING, Texas--FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated (NYSE: FCH) today announced that it has agreed to sell the 208-room Doubletree Suites Hotel Charlotte-SouthPark for $37 million. The purchaser has paid a $900,000 non-refundable deposit toward the purchase price. FelCor expects the sale to close in May. FelCor continues to progress with its portfolio repositioning plan. The Company is currently negotiating contracts or has agreed to sell four other hotels for aggregate proceeds of approximately $80 million. FelCor will use the proceeds from selling these assets to repay outstanding debt. To date, FelCor has sold 26 non-strategic hotels as...
Carey Watermark Investors Acquires Hyatt Place Austin Downtown for $87 million
Carey Watermark Investors | April 2, 2014
NEW YORK, April 2, 2014 -- Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated (CWI), a non-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in lodging and lodging-related properties, announced that it has acquired Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, a 296-room upscale select-service hotel, located one block from the Austin Convention Center at 211 East 3rd Street in downtown Austin, for $87 million. Key Facts Strong market: Austin is one of the top performing hotel markets in the U.S. and for the third consecutive year, the city was ranked as No. 1 "Fastest Growing City in America" by Forbes Magazine in 2013. Austin benefits from many cor...
Stout Street Hospitality Selected to Manage Winter Park Mountain Lodge, Owned by White Lotus Group
White Lotus Group | April 2, 2014
Denver, Colo. - April 2, 2014 - Leigh Hitz, president and chief executive officer for Stout Street Hospitality, recently announced the company has been selected to manage the Winter Park Mountain Lodge. The 168-room hotel, owned by White Lotus Group out of Omaha, Neb., is conveniently located at the base of Winter Park Resort in Colorado, which is an hour and a half west of Denver International Airport. "We are excited to expand our growing portfolio of managed properties to the mountains of Colorado," said Hitz. "Our team has extensive experience in mountain properties and we are excited to apply that knowledge to Winter Park Mountain ...
Tropicana Entertainment Inc. Completes Purchase of Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels in St. Louis, MO
Tropicana Entertainment Inc. | April 2, 2014
LAS VEGAS, April 1, 2014 -- Tropicana Entertainment Inc. ("Tropicana") announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Lumiere Place Casino, HoteLumiere, and the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis ("Lumiere") from Pinnacle Entertainment for a purchase price of $260 million. With the acquisition, Lumiere becomes the ninth casino property in Tropicana's portfolio, joining the company's gaming resorts in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey and Aruba. With its prime downtown location, Lumiere becomes Tropicana's second-largest casino property, after its flagship Tropicana Atlantic City Casino and Resort. The property will...
The Providence Biltmore Completes Full Property Guest Room Renovations as Part of $13M Enhancement
the Providence Biltmore | April 2, 2014
PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 1, 2014 -- The Providence Biltmore, a landmark hotel in downtown Providence has completed a full property guest room renovation designed to bring back the authentic character of the hotel while adding the most desirable contemporary amenities. Under the direction of Parker-Torres, an international design firm, the historic hotel's 294 guest rooms and guest corridors have been transformed with a rich color palette, luxurious dark wood finishes, and unique furnishings. The mix of luxury and functionality is the perfect balance for business and leisure travelers alike. New features include the exclusive, custom made...
Strategic Hotels & Resorts Sells The Marriott London Grosvenor Square Hotel
the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | April 2, 2014
Additionally, Acquires Remaining 50% Ownership Interest In The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess The transactions effectively complete the Company's exit from Europe and enhance its industry leading United States hotel portfolio CHICAGO, April 1, 2014 -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE), today announced two significant transactions: The closing of the sale of the Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel and the acquisition of the remaining 50 percent ownership interest in the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Combined with the previously completed sale of the Four Seasons Punta Mita resort, the Company successfully executed over $7...
Eric A. Danziger Joins Hampshire Hotels Management as President and Chief Executive Officer
Hampshire Hotels Management, LLC | April 2, 2014
Industry Veteran To Lead Next Phase Growth Strategy For New York Based Hotel Group NEW YORK, NY--( Apr 1, 2014) - Hampshire Hotels Management, LLC, today announced that effective April 7, 2014, Eric A. Danziger has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the privately held group. Sant Singh Chatwal will remain Chairman of the Company. Chatwal said, "Eric is one of the most talented minds in the hospitality industry and I am pleased to welcome him to our company. Eric is a true leader with a passionate hands-on approach, and I am confident he will enhance the brand and drive our future growth." Danziger, who has more than 40...
Hyatt Regency Chongming Opens, Located on Chongming Island in Shanghai, China
Hyatt Regency | April 2, 2014
CHICAGO (April, 2014) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Chongming, located on Chongming Island in Shanghai, China. The hotel introduces the Hyatt Regency brand to Shanghai and the first international upscale resort to the island. Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River and the East China Sea, Chongming Island is the world's largest alluvial river island. Sparsely developed and dotted with organic farms, rural villages, national parks and wetlands, it is a coveted retreat destination for Shanghai urban dwellers seeking fresh air, nature adventures and excellent dining that uses local in...
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Appoints Achim Lenders to Oversee Global Food and Beverage Strategy
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | April 2, 2014
STAMFORD, Conn.-- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that Achim Lenders, an industry veteran with 30 years of experience, has joined the company as Vice President, Global Food and Beverage. Lenders, who most recently served as Corporate Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, will oversee the alignment and development of Starwood's multi-billion dollar global food and beverage strategy, reporting to John Peyton , Senior Vice President of Global Initiatives. In his new role, Lenders will lead the creation and execution of strategies to enhance Starwood's critically ac...
AH&LA Recognizes Hotels With National Achievement Awards
American Hotel & Lodging Association | April 2, 2014
Honors Innovative IT, Environmental, and Service Programs Washington, April 1, 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced the winners of the AH&LA Achievement Awards, part of the annual Stars of the Industry Awards. These awards, awarded annually since 1966, distinguish individual hotels that have developed outstanding programs, events, and campaigns. Winners were chosen in the categories of Community Service, Special Events, Guest Relations, Good Earthkeeping, and Technology Innovation. The winner for Outstanding Community Service in the small property category is the Holiday Inn Express Horsehead...
AH&LA Honors Outstanding Hotel Employees With Annual Stars of the Industry Awards
American Hotel & Lodging Association | April 2, 2014
Recognizes individual achievement in multiple property sizes, categories Washington, April 1, 2014- At today's American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Stars of the Industry Awards breakfast, hotel employees were honored for their outstanding accomplishments, service, and leadership in the lodging industry. The awards were presented to Outstanding Lodging Employees, Managers, and General Managers in three property size categories, as well as to the winner of the Women in Lodging Connect Leader of the Year Award, the Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year Award, and the Student Member and Student Chapter of the...
Jason Mier Joins Sceptre Hospitality as Director of Client Experience Management
SHR | April 2, 2014
HOUSTON, TX, April 2, 2014- Sceptre Hospitality Resources today announced that Jason Mier has joined the company as SHR's first Director of Client Experience Management. In this role, Mier will oversee all touch points between SHR and its clients as the company strengthens its focus on client satisfaction and support. Acting as a liaison between the sales and product teams, client services, and customers, Mier is a key addition to the company as SHR responds to its growth, rolls out their new Internet Booking Engine and enhances support features for its WindsurferCRS. "The addition of Jason to our team is the result of a long search for...
Bonaventure Resort Earns South’s Top 75 Resorts For Groups & Top 25 Business Meetings Resorts Awards
Bonaventure Resort & Spa | April 2, 2014
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 2014 ... Bonaventure Resort & Spa, a Benchmark Resort® and Benchmark Conference Center®, has announced that the property is a 2014 recipient of "The South's Top 75 Resorts For Groups" award and the "South's Top 25 Business Meetings Resorts" award. The recipients of both coveted awards are selected annually by the readers of ConventionSouth magazine, a multimedia resource to 18,000 meeting professionals located across the nation for planning events and meetings in the South. "This is indeed an honor for all of us at Bonaventure Resort & Spa," said Charles Reece, general manager. "The fact that th...
