News Archive: January
Steady Cap Rates Support Strong Hotel Value Gains
HVS | January 30, 2015
By Suzanne Mellen, CRE, MAI, ISHC, FRICS Hotel values reached new peak levels in 2014, fueled by stellar hotel performance, and the availability and low cost of capital. Capitalization rates held steady as competition for quality assets remained strong. This article discusses these forces and presents data illustrating these trends. The strong performance of hotel assets continues to attract capital to our industry. Hotel values reached new peak levels and capitalization rates remained steady in 2014, fueled by hearty net income increases and a plethora of low cost, yet still disciplined, capital. This article, which is published bienni...
The Liquidation Sale of The Hilton Indianapolis North Hotel Opens Thursday, January 8th at 10:00 a.m
NCL/ National Content Liquidators, Inc. | January 5, 2015
Sale Conducted by NCL/ National Content Liquidators, Inc. Everything Must Go! (Indianapolis, Indiana, January, 2015) - Community Health Network has contracted with NCL/National Content Liquidators, Inc., the leading expert in hotel liquidation management, to clear the Hilton Indianapolis North of its current contents as a prelude to the property's redevelopment. The property's owner has decided to explore options better suited to meet the needs of the Community Hospital North, which sits next to the 9 acre piece of land the Hilton is sitting on. The liquidation is being held on-site at The Hilton Indianapolis North, located at 8...
The End of an Era: IHG Acquires Kimpton
Vikram Singh | January 5, 2015
by Vikram Singh How much is that boutique hotel in the window? Well, it's around $430 million. Yes, that's the price InterContinental Hotels Group (one of the biggest hotel companies in the world) paid to acquire Kimpton Hotels, the original boutique hotel group, which includes 62 hotels and 71 hotel-based restaurants and bars. The number might sound big, but in reality it's a drop in the IHG ocean of hotel brands and assets. Having lived in San Francisco, I saw the best and most vibrant years for the local Kimpton hotels. Now it's come to this: the latest and, I think, fatal blow to Kimpton as a boutique brand, and the Boutique Era its...
Marriott’s War on Wi-Fi: Hotels Need to Stop Fighting the Future
Vikram Singh | January 12, 2015
by Vikram Singh Big hotel brands have seen unprecedented growth over the past decade. Even when the global financial engines slowed down, they grew exponentially in global markets (ie, Asia, Middle East, Latin America). But unfortunately, they have forgotten what every Stan Lee fan already knows: with great power comes great responsibility. One of the leaders of the pack – Marriott – has decided to appropriate one of the most important aspects of modern human existence: Wi-Fi. Let's start with why Wi-Fi is such an integral part of guest experience in a hotel. Now, here are your Captain Obvious facts for the day: Wi-Fi's im...
2015 Hotel Industry Trends – from Mobile to Niche Markets
Bob Diener | January 13, 2015
Bob Diener – Co-Founder of Getaroom.com Hotel operators can expect 2015 to be a significant year, with the country jumping out of the recession, which in turn encourages people to travel more often. Rates and occupancy levels will be higher, especially for the upscale properties that will see continued demand from affluent consumers. What does the future hold for the industry in 2015? Here are four trends that will shape the New Year: Mobile technology transforms the hotel experience. Smartphones and tablets have fundamentally changed how consumers process information and conduct transactions and altered how businesses operate. The ho...
Accor Opens New North America, Central America and Caribbean (NCAC) Headquarters in Miami, Florida
Accor | January 5, 2015
January 5, 2015 - Accor, global hospitality leader, announced the opening of its North America, Central America and Caribbean (NCAC) headquarters at One Square Park at Doral in Miami. Driven by the company's revitalized strategy and business model, the new location consolidates previously independent business units in Dallas and New York City into one office, strengthening its footprint in the region by providing a cohesive foundation for operational efficiency and sustainable, long-term growth. "We are very excited to call Miami our home. Uniting our regional operations, sales and support business leaders together will enable greater c...
2015 Las Vegas Trends that are or Should be Universal
January 9, 2015
Experts Weigh in on 2015 Trends in Hospitality, Technology, Luxury, Entertainment, Food & Beverage and Spa LAS VEGAS - January 9, 2015 - Hospitality, technology, luxury, entertainment, food and beverage, fashion and spa experts are weighing in on what we can expect from Las Vegas in 2015. Contributors include industry insiders from Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Delano Las Vegas, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Shops at Crystals and internationally renowned chef Rick Moonen. From the rise of music festivals and new takes on alcohol-infused foods to how the destination is pursuing the millennial generati...
AAA Adds 14 Hotels and Restaurants to Exclusive Five Diamond List for 2015
AAA Inspections | January 16, 2015
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 16, 2015 -- AAA has unveiled 121 hotels and 63 restaurants that have earned the AAA/CAA Five Diamond Rating in the past 12 months, qualifying them for the 2015 Five Diamond Award lists. This exclusive group represents just 0.3 percent of the more than 58,000 AAA/CAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. AAA inspectors collectively visit approximately 1,200 hotels and restaurants each week, allowing them to identify emerging trends in the industry. "At the ultra-luxury level we're seeing an increasing number of hotels offering guests the choice of high-end service by white glove or touch screen — in per...
