News Archive: September
Be Inspired By Hotel Interior Design Trends 2018
Kacey Bradley | September 22, 2017
By Kacey Bradley Domestic interior design gets all of the attention, but we know better: the hotel industry has its own scene that's just as exciting and ever changing. As such, it's up to hospitality professionals and hotel owners to keep tabs on design trends and, in the process, wow clients with modern updates and fresh décor choices. To make that task a bit easier, we've gathered the following list of five of the industry's soon-to-be trending design tips. Get ahead so that, by the time 2018 rolls around, your accommodation exudes the modernity that you and your customers seek. 1. Don't Be Afraid of Brights Many interior d...
An Analysis of Franchise Fees
Robert Mandelbaum | September 20, 2017
By Robert Mandelbaum In the current market environment of modest growth in revenue, hotel owners and operators are paying extra attention to their operating expenses. Per the June 2017 edition of Hotel Horizons®, RevPAR growth in the U.S. is forecast to remain under 3.0 percent from 2018 through 2021. Therefore, it will be management's ability to control expenses that will enable profits to grow. One expense that management has less control over are franchise fees. Most of the fees charged by the franchising companies (brands) are assessed as a percent of a source of revenue. Therefore, owners and operators have mixed emotions when ...
Hyatt Selects Mark Vondrasek as Executive Vice President, Global Head of Loyalty & New Business Platforms
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | September 25, 2017
CHICAGO (Sept 25, 2017) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the selection of Mark Vondrasek as executive vice president, global head of loyalty & new business platforms, reporting to Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer. In this newly created leadership position, Vondrasek will direct Hyatt's integrated experience strategy, which currently includes the World of Hyatt loyalty platform as well as Hyatt's wellness initiatives including Miraval and exhale. Vondrasek will also be charged with creating and scaling new business opportunities, products and services. "Mark's successful track record, ...
Routines for Emergencies: 9 Ways Hotel Security Must Prepare Emergency Procedures
Mac Segal | September 13, 2017
By Mac Segal Fortunately for most hotels, emergencies rarely occur. Most security teams can usually rely on routine procedures. Unfortunately, emergencies do occur – and many hotel security teams are woefully unprepared to deal with them effectively. In this article, hotel security expert Mac Segal takes a hard look at emergency procedures, and how and why security managers must prepare them. Routine procedures are what security professionals spend most of their time performing. By far. Let's face it: Most days are routine, thankfully, and emergencies are rare. It's therefore no wonder that security teams focus on routine,...
Ranking Hotel REITS 2017: Dividends, EBITDA & Overhead
Hans Detlefsen | September 19, 2017
Which Hotel REITs Generate the Highest EBITDA Margins and Pass Along the Most Money to Investors? By Hans Detlefsen and Matthew Glodz Hotel Appraisers & Advisors (HA&A) is pleased to announce our second annual ranking of hotel real estate investment trusts (REITs). HA&A currently monitors 16 hotel REITs, discussed throughout this report. Some hotel REITs are more effective than others at generating earnings and passing profits on to investors. In this year's report, we rank each of these hotel REITs according to three metrics: (1) dividend yields; (2) EBITDA margins; and (3) overhead expenses. Our 2017 rankings are based on...
Is Room Service Dead?
Chamberlin Public Relations | September 7, 2017
Not yet, but it seems to be on the way out. While plenty of hotels still offer traditional room service, guests' tastes are evolving, and food and beverage programs must change to suit new demands. Many hotels are limiting costly room service, or completely scrapping it in favor of new F&B concepts that give guests more convenience at lower prices, plus opportunities to experience local fare. Hoteliers, here are the newest F&B trends you need to consider now. Special Delivery Room service can take many forms, and while many midscale and upscale hotels already have restaurant space on-site, not every kitchen has time (or staff) t...
Four Seasons and Astir Palace Vouliagmeni to Transform Legendary Astir Palace into First Four Seasons Hotel in Greece
Astir Palace Vouliagmeni S.A. | September 6, 2017
TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2017 -- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world's leading luxury hospitality company, and Astir Palace Vouliagmeni S.A., the Greek hospitality market leader, have announced plans to bring the first Four Seasons hotel to Greece on the Astir Palace peninsula. Following extensive upgrades to the existing hotel, the new hotel will debut as Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens in spring 2018. Conveniently located 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Athens and 24 kilometres (15 miles) from the Athens airport in the area of Vouliagmeni along a pristine shoreline of the Aegean coast, the new Hotel will bring Four Season...
Sadly, Hurricane Harvey Claims Life of Jill Renick, the Director of Spa Services at the Omni Houston Hotel
September 7, 2017
Sept. 07--The body of the Galleria-area Omni Hotel's missing spa manager was found Thursday morning. Jill Renick, 48, was last heard from about 5:40 a.m. on Aug. 27, calling the front desk of the hotel for help while trapped in, what her family believes, was one of the building's elevators. Renick's body was found inside of the hotel, off of South Post Oak, according to a statement from her family. "It is with heavy hearts that the search for my sister, Jill Renick, has concluded with the confirmation of her death," said Renick's sister, Pam Eslinger, 62, in the statement. "We are heartbroken. To know Jill...
