News Archive: August
What’s So Great About Wellness Hotels?
Tucker Johnson | August 28, 2018
By Tucker Johnson When the first wellness-inspired 'EVEN Hotel' by IHG opened in 2014 I remember thinking, "It's not for me but there must be a bunch of people that are looking for something like this." In retrospect, I guess my assessment wasn't too far off as four years later they have only nine hotels open and 14 in the pipeline. These growth numbers seem especially weak when compared to 'avid', IHG's answer to Millennial-focused brands Tru (Hilton) and Moxy (Marriott). The 'avid' brand was announced in 2017, and now has one hotel open and 126 hotels in the pipeline. I often read about new wellness-inspired hotels and amenities a...
Becky Oldani Promoted to Director of Food & Beverage at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids
AHC+Hospitality | August 6, 2018
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – August 6, 2018 – JW Marriott Grand Rapids is pleased to announce the promotion of Becky Oldani from general manager of Ruth's Chris Steak House Grand Rapids to director of food & beverage for the hotel. A nine-year AHC+Hospitality veteran with experience working at Amway Grand Plaza and the Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids, Oldani will now oversee day-to-day operations of the JW Marriott Grand Rapids' three signature food and beverage outlets: six.one.six, Mixology Lounge and jdek. "With experience working at multiple AHC+Hospitality managed hotels and restaurants, Becky is the ideal candidate for th...
Another Move by the OTAs That Is Harmful to Hotel Profitability – What You Need to Know
HEBS Digital | August 22, 2018
By Max Starkov Background: Two recent events in hotel distribution created a mild media buzz, but unfortunately were ignored by some hoteliers and quickly forgotten by the industry: Expedia's Add-On Advantage and Booking.basic. Below we will discuss the issues with these two new initiatives by Expedia and Booking.com, reminiscent of the old Wild West times of hotel distribution and the early years of unruly OTAs, before rate parity and best rate guarantees. Both OTA initiatives use package or wholesale rates in clear violation of package and wholesale rates contract terms. We feel compelled to remind hoteliers how detrimental these new ...
Laurus Corp. Defaults on $23.1 Million Loan for the Marriott San Antonio Northwest; Property Enters Foreclosure
August 21, 2018
Aug. 21--The Marriott San Antonio Northwest hotel that overlooks the intersection of Interstate 10 and Loop 410 is in foreclosure after its owner, Los Angeles investment firm Laurus Corp., defaulted on a $21.3 million loan. The foreclosure comes after three contractors filed lawsuits against the subsidiary that Laurus formed to buy the 296-room hotel in 2014, alleging they weren't paid for nearly $500,000 worth of work they did as part of a $16 million renovation Laurus undertook for the hotel. Several mechanic's liens have also been filed against the hotel over the last few years, including one for $266,116 by Michigan company ...
Virtual Reality – The Next Game Changer for Hotels
Chamberlin Public Relations | August 1, 2018
Virtual reality has quickly gone from niche to ubiquitous in the travel sector, with professionals in every facet of the industry finding a purpose for the technology. Two uses stand out for the hospitality industry — attracting guests to a hotel or destination, and keeping them engaged once they're there. Hotels across the country have already invested in VR, and guests are learning to expect a high-tech experience both before and during their stays. Here are a few ways hotels are already taking advantage of virtual reality to get heads in beds. Virtual Guests, Real Bookings Virtual reality can give potential guests a taste of a ...
Start Thinking About Your Hotel’s “Off-Season” in a Whole New Way
Gary R. Hernbroth | August 13, 2018
By: Gary R. Hernbroth Training for Winners Many things in our world have annual cycles or seasons, such as sports leagues, holiday shopping, the school year, farm crops, you name it. There is usually a slow (or slower) season and a busy (or busier) season, two very different activity levels in play. This industry certainly has its cycles too, where business levels fluctuate between in-season crazy/busy/zany/frantic times and the "wake me up when a customer comes around" slower times. The latter condition is commonly and insufferably known by most as the off-season. "Come and visit during the off-season, our rates are much lower be...
All-Inclusive Hotels: Looking Beyond RevPAR
Dan Skodol | August 13, 2018
By Dan Skodol, Vice President of Revenue Analytics at Rainmaker When people think of all-inclusive resorts, they may conjure up images tied to bland buffet food, endless banana daiquiris, and conga lines of partying singles dancing around the poolside – all for one budget-conscious package price. Today's all-inclusives still tempt travelers with comprehensive packages that include meals, lodging, and entertainment options. But the all-inclusive business model has evolved significantly from its 1950s origins.1 Today, gourmet meals are often made from sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, and served along with handcrafted cockta...
3 Hotel Website Designs That Are Inspiring Guests to Book
Nina Simons | August 16, 2018
By Nina Simons A hotel website is not a pretty banner that showcases the facility's best assets – it's actually the place where the guest experience begins nowadays. Through design and content, the website can present your hotel and the experience it offers effectively, making it your best tool for establishing trust and encouraging direct booking. Now, we can have different opinions on which website "looks good" and which details of its design we like. But our subjective opinions on the intricacies of design are completely irrelevant to the question of conversion. The user experience is what essentially drives conversions, and a good...
