News Top: March
Global Hotel Ranking 2015: A Second Chinese Operator Climbs Into the Top 10
MKG Group | March 26, 2015
The takeover of the French Operator Louvre Hotels Group by the Chinese group Jin Jiang, announced at the end of 2014 and finalized at the beginning of the year 2015, boosts the Asian group into 10th place in the global ranking of hotel operators with a total of 241,910 rooms operational as of January 1st. Jin Jiang is thus the second Chinese group to join the Top 10, after Home Inns which already ranked 9th last year. Methodology: Differences with respect to data published by certain groups listed on the Stock Exchange may be explained by the fact that the 2015 ranking is realized on a constant structure basis for all groups mentioned: ...
11 Hotel Waterpark Resorts Coming in 2015: 2015 Construction Report North America
Jeff Coy, ISHC | March 3, 2015
By Jeff Coy March 3, 2015 --- Developers and waterpark-loving families alike are watching for the excitement to unfold this year --- as brand names, like Lego, Nashville, Dollywood, Kalahari, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Genting open new properties and add to existing ones. Here's what coming in 2015: In January 2015, Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan WI added The Riptide, a double-wide indoor surfing ride called the Flowrider. About 70,000 gallons of water is pushed 30 mph up a 25-degree ramp by two pumps to create the wave. Installation was provided by Neuman Pools Inc of Beaver Dam WI. The new ride not only extends the surfing seaso...
Hotel Price Positioning With Strategy
Jana Love | March 9, 2015
By Jana Love, ProSolutions President/CEO What ProSolutions has learned about pricing in the last 9 years while doing competitive pricing analysis for hotels is that to capture your fair share in your competitive set, knowledge is power. There are so many factors that need to be considered and understood when deciding to lower or raise your prices. Knowing when to vary pricing to match demand patterns, and when to drive revenue and profits need to be key components of your operating strategy. Building a sustainable revenue stream is built by proper pricing strategies that drive revenue both in the short-term and long-term. Pricing optimi...
Can Revenue Management Resolve Conflict between GOP PAR and REV PAR as Hotel Performance Indicator?
Ahmed Mahmoud | March 25, 2015
By Ahmed Mahmoud Far in the past for the hotel industry analysis, there were two simple classic indicators used to measure the hotel performance: average room rate and % of occupancy. Then, in the 80s, yield management or "profitability management" started to be the main indicator, because it reflected how efficient the hotelier can manage occupancy and price at the same time, depending on demand. Some hoteliers decided not to stop in reasoning and developing theory and tried GOP PAR in practice. Since early 2002 Larkspur Hospitality Company of San Francisco, has been actively using GOPPAR as a measurement to provide a clearer picture ...
UNESCO City of Cartagena, Colombia Prepares to Welcome 15 New Hotels by 2017
ProColombia | March 13, 2015
CARTAGENA, March, 13 2015 -- Cartagena is becoming one of the top Latin American cities for hoteliers to set up according to data released by ProColombia, the body charged with looking after the country's trade, tourism and investment. The hotel industry has responded to the 13.5 percent spike in foreign visitors last year by announcing its intentions to locate more than 15 new hotels in the city of Cartagena by 2017. Familiar names establishing a base include the Radisson (just opened), Intercontinental, Sheraton and Wyndham (all opening 2015), with many more chains and luxury boutiques all choosing to locate their newest Colombian bas...
Priceline’s Acquisition of RocketMiles Should Have Hotels Worried
Pranav Patel & HotelUpgrade | March 2, 2015
by Pranav Patel Hotel operators need to be worried about Priceline's most recent acquisition. Expedia's recent acquisition of Travelocity and now Orbitz has overshadowed Priceline's tiny acquisition of RocketMiles. While the Expedia deals are certainly cause for concern as further consolidation means two major players control 95% of the OTA market, Priceline's acquisition has the potential to revolutionize their marketplace. Darren Huston quite possibly just made the most brilliant move of any OTA in recent history. Yes, even more brilliant than Priceline's acquisition of Booking.com during Jeff Boyd's tenure as CEO. Unfortunately, hote...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 138; Hotel History: Bedford Springs Resort & Spa (1806)
Stanley Turkel, CMHS | March 16, 2015
My New Book: "Hotel Mavens: Lucius M. Boomer, George C. Boldt and Oscar of the Waldorf" By Stanley Turkel, CMHS 1. Hotel History: Bedford Springs Resort & Spa, Bedford, Pennsylvania (216 rooms)* Few properties can boast the historic significance of Bedford Springs Resort, located in the Allegheny Mountains of south-central Pennsylvania. For more than 200 years, the eight mineral springs located on the resort's property served as an important gathering place. Eventually, the resort would be the site of many significant moments in American history, hosting a long list of celebrities, wealthy clientele, corporate magnates and dignitari...
Hotel Images Matter; An Empirical-Based Guide to Hotel Photos that Best Encourage Online Bookings
Expedia, Inc. | March 24, 2015
Expedia developed the following white paper as a tactical guide on the best- and worst- types of images for hoteliers to include online in order to maximize bookings. The study was conducted at Expedia's User Experience labs to discover which hotel imagery would perform best. As a technology company, we can focus on innovations that will drive more demand to our hotel partners, while providing them with the capability to target the demand that they want, and easy-to-understand analysis and data to refine their distribution strategy. Summary It is well known that the quality of a hotel's online brochure has a direct impact on sho...
Hotels See Increased Profits via Reinvented Room Service
Fridgeland | March 20, 2015
After the New York Hilton Midtown announced they would be ending room service back in 2013, the industry predicted massive change with regards to in-room dining. Today, amidst continued declining sales in room service, these predictions are coming true as hotels around the world reinvent in-room dining programs from the ground up. Global Hospitality Insights, a report by Ernst & Young, recently reported an increase in tourism across the globe during the next 12 months as a result of renewed efforts in destination marketing, increased use of technology and a growing interest in travel among the middle class in emerging economies. Thi...
PT Cahaya Warna Prima & Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas to Develop Six Senses Bali Resort
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas | March 10, 2015
BANGKOK – March 10, 2015 - Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has announced that it will develop a resort in the southwest of Bali at Uluwatu, a 35-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The resort is set atop a rugged cliff, sharing the spectacular ocean views with the island's famed Uluwatu Temple. Drawing upon the renowned Six Senses commitment of providing top-tier facilities wedded to environmental responsibility, the resort and spa has been brilliantly designed and when combined with the innovative spirit of the owners, PT Cahaya Warna Prima, it will result in a rare development. True to Six Senses inimitable style, Six...
Destination Hotels to Launch $9M Renovation/Rebranding for The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch
The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, A Destination Hotel | March 25, 2015
September 2015 Completion Planned March 25, 2015 - SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center, A Destination Hotel, will embark on a massive renovation July 1 that will transform the independent resort and revitalize its amenities. The resort is the newest property in the Destination Hotels portfolio and the only resort in the Phoenix metropolitan area to undergo a substantial renovation in 2015. In September, the property will be unveiled as The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, A Destination Hotel, and it will have a gorgeous, updated look to accompany its new name. The first phase of the renovation will inject ...
Hotel Occupancy to Hit Record High in 2015
PKF Consulting, USA | March 16, 2015
PKF-HR Forecasts A Shift In the Drivers Of RevPAR Growth March 16, 2015, Atlanta, Ga. - The U.S. lodging industry will continue to achieve very strong growth in rooms revenue per available room (RevPAR) during both 2015 and 2016 according to the recently released March 2015 edition of PKF Hospitality Research's (PKF-HR) Hotel Horizons® (PKF-HR is a CBRE company). The report further predicts that the composition of the factors driving the RevPAR is starting to shift with record-setting occupancy yielding ground to growing average daily rates (ADR). "In 2015, RevPAR growth will be achieved by healthy increases in both occupancy and ADR, ...
Crestline Hotels & Resorts to Manage 34 Hotels Acquired by American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust
Crestline Hotels & Resorts LLC | March 3, 2015
FAIRFAX, VA - March 3, 2015 - James Carroll, President & CEO of Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC ("Crestline"), announced today that Crestline has assumed management of a portfolio of 34 full, select and extended stay hotels in 15 states. Collectively, the hotels add 4,681 guestrooms to Crestline's managed portfolio, resulting in a company-wide portfolio of nearly 12,000 rooms. The 34 properties are located throughout the U.S. from California to Florida, and are comprised of upper upscale and upscale brands including - Embassy Suites, Hyatt Place, SpringHill Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfield Inns & S...
MCR Development LLC Acquires Portfolio of 18 Marriott and Hilton Hotels for $206 Million
MCR Development LLC | March 9, 2015
NEW YORK--MCR Development LLC ("MCR"), the seventh largest hotel owner-operator in the United States, today announced it has acquired a portfolio of 18 Marriott and Hilton hotels (the "Portfolio") for approximately $206 million. Collectively, the Portfolio represents 1,787 rooms across 11 states in growing cities including Charlotte, Savannah, Cincinnati, Tulsa and San Antonio. The Portfolio has an average age of less than 10 years and is unencumbered by management agreements. All hotels were acquired with fee simple title. This collection of premium-branded hotels further enhances the geographic diversity of MCR's portfolio and expands...
Baha Mar Opening Delayed Once Again
March 25, 2015
One week after confirming its flagship hotel would open on March 27 with three others to follow in a "phased" launch, developers of the $3.5 billion Baha Mar mega-resort in Nassau, Bahamas now say the resort will open in "early May." Officials at the mega-resort blamed this latest delay on the project's construction managers. "In setting our opening date for March 27, we relied in good faith on the representations of the resort's construction manager and lead contractor," said resort officials in a statement issued late Tuesday. For the full story please visit: http://www.travelpulse.com/news/hotels-and-resorts/baha-mar-opening-delayed-...
Sam Nazarian’s Company, SBE Entertainment, Cut from Related Co.‘s Downtown L.A. Development
March 7, 2015
March 07--The developer of a massive downtown Los Angeles retail and entertainment complex has cut ties with a company founded by Sam Nazarian, the nightclub mogul whose drug use and past ties to convicted felons came to light during a recent gaming license investigation. New York-based Related Cos. said in a statement that the development company will not be working with Nazarian's SBE Entertainment to develop and operate two towers and a large retail and entertainment complex designed by Frank Gehry on Bunker Hill. "We made the decision not to move forward with SBE in early January and shared that with city and county representatives ...
Leaving a Legacy – the Impact that One Person Can Make on Others; Remembering Jack Vaughn, CHA
John J. Hogan, CHA,CMHS, CHE, CHO | March 11, 2015
By John Hogan, CHA CHMS CHE CHO and Eight Others Who Knew Him Well "We must begin thinking like a river if we are to leave a legacy of beauty and life for future generations." David Brower Legacy This is a short six letter word, but its definition has meaning to many of us. We all hope and want to make a difference in the lives of those we interact with. We work to positively impact others in our time. I have written several hundred columns and articles in my career, yet I must share this one was not easy to write because it marked the passing of a hospitality professional who truly inspired me in my career. It saddened me to receive a...
In a Landmark Ruling, Hawaii Supreme Court Orders Online Travel Companies to Pay Millions in Taxes
March 18, 2015
March 18--The Hawaii Supreme Court decided Tuesday that nine popular online travel companies will pay the state a portion of $247 million in general excise taxes assessed since 2000. Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Orbitz, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Trip Network, Internetwork Publishing Corp. and Travelweb will be required to pay up to "tens of millions of dollars" in state taxes they failed to pay for selling Hawaii hotel rooms over the Internet. "This landmark ruling is the first time the Supreme Court ruled that online commerce may be just as subject to pay general excise taxes as local brick-and-mortar businesses," state Attorney...
AEG to Invest $500 million for Expansion Adding 755 Rooms to JW Marriott Complex at L.A. Live
March 5, 2015
March 05--Sports and entertainment giant AEG will make a $500-million expansion to its Marriott complex at L.A. Live as the demand for hotel rooms rises in downtown Los Angeles. AEG will add 755 rooms to the popular J.W. Marriott in a new high-rise connected to the existing hotel building by a bridge over Olympic Boulevard, creating the second-largest hotel in California with 1,756 rooms. The new rooms are expected to help fill a hotel shortage created by downtown's recent emergence as a place tourists want to visit and its status as a convention hub. "We have reached critical mass where we are really beginning to become an urban destin...
ARC Hospitality Trust Completes $1.8 Billion Acquisition of Equity Inns Lodging 116 Hotel Portfolio
ARC Hospitality | March 2, 2015
NEW YORK, March 2, 2015 -- American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust, Inc. ("ARC Hospitality") announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the Equity Inns Lodging Portfolio ("Equity Inns" or the "Portfolio") from affiliates of the Whitehall Real Estate Funds sponsored by Goldman Sachs. The total purchase price was $1.8 billion, exclusive of closing costs. The Portfolio consists of 116 hotels totaling 13,744 rooms across 31 states, all franchised by Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels and InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotels include leading brands such as Hampton Inn, H...
Benchmark Hospitality’s Benchmark Resorts & Hotels Reveal The “Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2015”
March 19, 2015
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2015 ... Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, a division of Benchmark Hospitality International, announces the "Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2015" as observed by its properties. Benchmark Hospitality International is a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, which operates 40 award-winning hotels, resorts, and conference centers coast to coast and off shore. Ted Davis, chief sales & marketing officer for Benchmark Hospitality, made the announcement. "We believe 2015 is shaping up to be a great year for the meetings industry," said Mr. Davis. "We're seeing strong demand growth from most indus...
Mandarin Oriental Confirms Credit Card Data Breach and Provides a Statement
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group | March 5, 2015
Mandarin Oriental can confirm that the credit card systems in an isolated number of our hotels in the US and Europe have been accessed without authorization and in violation of both civil and criminal law. The Group has identified and removed the malware and is coordinating with credit card agencies, law enforcement authorities and forensic specialists to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to fully protect our guests and our systems across our portfolio. We take the protection of customer information very seriously. Unfortunately incidents of this nature are increasingly becoming an industry-wide concern and we have therefore als...
OTO Development & Palmetto Hospitality Open the 174-room Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto
Hilton Garden Inn | March 9, 2015
PALO ALTO, Calif. and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's award-winning brand of upscale yet affordable hotels, announced today the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto, representing an addition to the brand's growing portfolio of more than 600 hotels worldwide. Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto is owned by OTO Development, LLC and managed by Palmetto Hospitality of Palo Alto. It is the brand's fifth property in Santa Clara County. "We are delighted to strengthen our presence in the major growth hub of Silicon Valley, expanding the brand's signature service, style and Satisfaction PromiseTM to its visitors," said Adrian Kurr...
Chesapeake Lodging Trust Acquires The Royal Palm-Miami South Beach for $278 million
Chesapeake Lodging Trust | March 9, 2015
ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Mar. 9, 2015-- Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE:CHSP) (the "Trust") announced today that it has closed on the previously announced acquisition of The Royal Palm located in Miami Beach, Florida for a purchase price of $278.0 million, or approximately $707,000 per key. The Trust entered into a new management agreement with HEI Hotels & Resorts to operate the hotel and a new franchise agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts ("Starwood") and will be affiliated with Starwood's new brand for independent hotels. "We are thrilled to announce our entrance into the Miami-South Beach market with the fee simple purchase of Th...
R.A. Rauch & Associates and PacVentures Expand Arizona Presence with Acquisition of Two Hotels
R.A Rauch & Associates | March 13, 2015
Following the recent opening of the Radisson Hotel Phoenix North, new hotels make a total of three Arizona properties for the San Diego-based hospitality management and consulting firm PHOENIX, Ariz. (Mar. 13, 2015)- In partnership with PacVentures, San Diego hospitality management and consulting firm R.A. Rauch & Associates acquired two Arizona hotel properties in February 2015. Combined with the January opening of its reflagged Radisson Hotel Phoenix North, R.A. Rauch & Associates' purchase of the Quality Inn & Suites Tucson Airport North and the Country Inn & Suites Deer Valley is quickly solidifying the firm's statu...
