News Top: July
Owners of Interstate Hotels & Resorts in Talks to Sell Company According to Wall Street Journal
July 29, 2015
The independent hotel operator could fetch more than $600 million, sources say By Craig Karmin And Dana Mattioli The U.S.-Chinese joint venture that owns Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the largest independent hotel-operator in the U.S., is in discussion to sell the company, according to people familiar with the matter. Hotel investor Thayer Lodging Group and Chinese hotel company Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. own Interstate through a partnership that acquired the company in a 2010 deal valued at $307 million. To view the rest of this article please visit: http://www.wsj.com/articles/owners-of-interstate-hotels-reso...
14 Hotel Waterpark Resorts Coming in 2015; 2015 Hotel Waterpark Construction Report North America
Jeff Coy, ISHC | July 20, 2015
By Jeff Coy, ISHC July 20, 2015 --- The big news is that two major hotel waterpark resorts, Kalahari Waterpark Resort and Camelback Mountain Resort, have opened in the Pocono Mountains, giving new life to the familiar destination. Hotel developers and waterpark lovers alike are watching for the excitement to unfold this year --- as brand names, like Lego, Nashville, Dollywood, Schlitterbahn, Kalahari, Courtyard and Norwegian Cruise Lines open new properties and add to existing ones. New hotel waterpark construction is upward bound. Twenty-seven hotel waterpark resorts are estimated to open in 2016. Kalahari Waterpark Resort in Pocono Ma...
Blackstone Acquires 15-Hotel Portfolio from Pinnacle Hotel Management for $203 million
Hunter Hotel Advisors | July 16, 2015
ATLANTA, July 16, 2015—Hunter Hotel Advisors announced today that it represented Pinnacle Hotel Management (PHM) in the sale of a 15-hotel, select-service portfolio comprised of Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels for $203 million to the Blackstone Group. Nine of the hotel transactions already have closed, with the remaining six scheduled to close in November. Hunter's Washington, D.C., and Atlanta offices worked together on the transaction, led by Teague Hunter, president, Mark Morris, senior vice president and Kyle Stevenson, senior vice president. "At this point in the cycle, premium, select-service portfolios are scarce, allowing ...
The World’s Best-Reviewed Hotels: Expedia.com Releases 2015 Insiders’ Select List
Expedia.com | July 14, 2015
650 Global Properties Named to the Annual Elite List, Resulting From Two Million+ Guest Reviews BELLEVUE, Wash., July 14, 2015 -- Today Expedia.com®, one of the world's largest full-service online travel sites*, announced the results of the Expedia® 2015 Insiders' Select® rankings, an annual crowd-sourced list of the world's best-reviewed hotels. This list represents a ranking of the world's best-reviewed hotels, reflecting direct customer feedback on Expedia.com. The 2015 list names 650 exclusive properties as Insiders' Select winning hotels from among bookable properties available on Expedia, Inc. websi...
To Rock At Customer Service, You Need To Know These 8 Statistics
Katie Scheer | July 10, 2015
By Katie Scheer It's no coincidence that companies that deliver rockin' customer service are industry leaders and innovators. So why aren't companies focusing on improving the service that they deliver? It seems like this is a no-brainer; however, companies get too lazy, caught up in the day-to-day, and/or don't want to invest the time and money on mandating a focus on service excellence. Don't be one of these companies- it's careless and brainless. We want you to ROCK at customer service! Still need some convincing about why customer service should be a top priority? From a Salesforce blog post by Kendall Thorton, "18 Interesting Stats...
Florida’s Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa Welcomes New Executive Team
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa | July 9, 2015
Hospitality Industry Veterans To Lead Iconic Ponte Vedra Beach Property PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (July 9, 2015) – The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa is proud to welcome a new executive team to their iconic property. In their new roles, the team will help lead the resort to continued successes following its transition into the Marriott International-managed brand portfolio. Todd Hickey leads the new team as their General Manager and is responsible for overseeing operations at the property, and brings more than 21 years of hospitality leadership experience. Previously, Hickey was Interim General Manager at the 1,511-room Gaylord...
The Dual-Branded Hotel: Operational Efficiencies, HR Cautions and Future Value
Leora Lanz | July 14, 2015
by Leora Lanz and Megan Carmichael The dual-branded hotel concept is speculated to have a number of origins; Looking at the hospitality industry as a whole, a comparison that comes naturally is one to dual-branded restaurants. Two restaurants under one roof could be viewed as a close similarity as housing two hotel brands under one roof, but in reality, the two are actually quite different. The level of complexity is the catalyst that distinguishes the two. Rather, the dual-branded hotel concept seems to have evolved from the premise of "owning all four corners of a highway exit." A company could own all four corners, yet have different...
Cendyn CEO Charles Deyo Named US Gamechanger™ of the Year in ACQ Global Awards 2015
July 27, 2015
ACQ5 (Acquisition Finance) Magazine Awards Deyo for Best-of-Breed Online Hospitality Marketing Solutions Boca Raton, FL– July 27, 2015 – ACQ5 magazine, a leading M&A magazine news site, recently awarded Cendyn® CEO and Founder Charles Deyo with its prestigious ACQ Global Awards 2015 U.S. Gamechanger of the Year award for hospitality marketing solutions. The ACQ Global Awards honor the leading deal teams, firms and professionals whose activities set the standards for major markets worldwide. Nominations are provided based on reader insight and experience. In 2015, companies and individuals representing every major mar...
9 Best Practices for Hotel Content Marketing Strategy
Shoofly Copywriting | July 23, 2015
Creating great content for your hotel and posting it to your social media pages doesn't necessarily mean that potential guests are engaging with it...or even seeing it. That's why it is so important to have a plan. Travel has almost limitless potential for content, but understanding how and where to share it is a huge factor in how successful it will be. Think of it like this: If your website is your hotel's front door, then your blog and social media channels are your lobby. It's that comfortable spot where stories are told, questions are answered, ideas are shared...and trust is built. So, how do you build that sense of comfort and tr...
Jin Jiang, Plateno and Starwood, a New Global Hotel Giant?
July 30, 2015
Plateno Group and Jin Jiang Hotels have agreed upon the terms for a merger of their two companies and together foresee the takeover of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. According to the journal China Travel News, Plateno Group and Jin Jiang Hotels were preparing to sign a merger agreement for their two companies, while keeping operations independent. The two actors would thus be on the point of creating the biggest group of hotels in China with a total of some 475,000 rooms operating or under development, including close to 298,000 for Plateno and 177,000 for Jin Jiang. Together the two groups would foresee a major operation on the intern...
AirBnB Could Change The World
John Hendrie | July 29, 2015
By John Hendrie Sometimes you can have a great notion, which will go nowhere due to a variety of constraints. Other times it is a "no brainer". AirBnB is already changing the face of lodging and the Visitor Experience. Now, it has that opportunity to change the world to "Green", and it would be so easy to do. Let's look at a few factors which might impact this dynamic. Firstly, their constituents, both Hosts and Guests. Opening up your home and/or your other abodes takes some courage, whereas a Guest is taking some chances, too. But, what brings them together is a feeling of adventure (and, of course, meaningful economics). So, both con...
Maritz, Wolff & Co to Re-Open Historic St. Louis Hotel as Courtyard by Marriott Following Renovation
Courtyard by Marriott | July 29, 2015
ST. LOUIS (July 29, 2015) – After being shuttered since 2011, the original Hotel Lennox – once known as St. Louis' tallest hotel – will re-open Sept. 2, the same day that the hotel originally opened in 1929, as The Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center Hotel. The newly revitalized hotel will be one of the most unique and historically significant Courtyard-branded hotels in the country. The hotel has undergone a significant renovation, with an investment of over $22M into the property during a 16-month restoration, and will operate as a Courtyard franchise, owned and managed by affiliates of Maritz Wolff & ...
Hotel Guest Satisfaction Reaches All-Time High; Incidence of Problems Hits Record Low
J.D. Power | July 15, 2015
The Ritz-Carlton; Omni Hotels & Resorts; Hyatt Place; Drury Hotels; Wingate by Wyndham; Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham; Homewood Suites by Hilton; and Candlewood Suites Each Rank Highest in Guest Satisfaction in Their Respective Segments WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 15, 2015 -- Hotel guest satisfaction has risen to a record high, while the number of guests experiencing problems during their stay has dropped significantly, according to the J.D. Power 2015 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM released today. The study, now in its 19th year, measures overall guest satisfaction across eight hotel segments: luxury...
Study Reveals Which Hotel Attributes Trigger Travelers to Book
TrustYou | July 1, 2015
Consumer research explains how travelers choose to book hotels within various travel contexts Munich, Germany and New York, USA - July 1, 2015 TrustYou, the inventor of the Meta-Review™ and global online reputation management leader, and Donna Quadri-Felitti, Director of the School of Hospitality Management at Pennsylvania State University, have released the results of a study to understand which hotel attributes have the biggest impact on travelers' booking decisions. The study used heat-mapping technology to understand which attributes prompted hotel bookings in eight different travel contexts (business travel, family vacation, etc....
Peninsula Hotel Planned for Hyde Park Corner in Belgravia, London
Grosvenor Britain & Ireland | July 16, 2015
LONDON, July 16, 2015 -- Plans have been submitted with Westminster City Council for a new 190-room hotel, to be known as The Peninsula London, at one of the city's most celebrated addresses. Joint venture partners Grosvenor Britain & Ireland (Grosvenor) and The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited are proposing a new landmark at 1-5 Grosvenor Place, Belgravia in the West End of London. Designed by British-based Hopkins Architects, the new building will replace the existing offices at the site, built in the 1960s, with a design that responds to the heritage of its immediate neighbours, providing a new focal point and vibrancy to Hy...
Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. Acquires Three Hotels for a Combined Total of $126 million
Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. | July 17, 2015
RICHMOND, Va.--July 17, 2015--Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) ("Apple Hospitality" or the "Company") today announced that it recently completed the acquisition of three hotels: a Hampton Inn® in Ft. Lauderdale, FL; a Hampton Inn® in Cypress, CA; and a SpringHill Suites® by Marriott® in Burbank, CA. The Company closed on the acquisition of the 156-room Hampton Inn® in the Las Olas area of downtown Ft. Lauderdale, FL, on June 23, 2015, for a purchase price of approximately $23 million. The property, convenient to Port Everglades and the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, is located in the heart of downtown Ft. ...
Hotels Should Copy These Airline Revenue Management Techniques
Doug Kennedy | July 14, 2015
By Doug Kennedy July 14, 2015 Although hotels have practiced some of the most fundamental basics of revenue management throughout the ages, such as adjusting rates according to seasonal demand patterns and planned special events, it is generally accepted that the modern era of RM began when hotels started copying the airlines yield management techniques they developed after airline deregulation. Although the lodging industry has since evolved its RM practices, there are still some opportunities for the industry to learn from our sisters in the travel industry. Offer Partial Credit For Cancelled Advance Deposit Or Pre-Purchase Rates. Mo...
Ascott Reit Acquires 411-key Element New York Times Square West for $163.5 Million
Ascott Residence Trust | July 2, 2015
Singapore, 2 July 2015 – Ascott Residence Trust (Ascott Reit) is expanding its footprint to the United States of America (U.S.) by acquiring the 411-key Element New York Times Square West hotel located in Midtown Manhattan for USD163.5 million (approximately S$220.7 million)(1). The accretive acquisition at an EBITDA yield of 6.2% is expected to increase Ascott Reit's distribution income in FY 2014 by USD0.8 million, translating to a rise in distribution per unit from 8.44 cents (2) to 8.51 cents on a pro forma basis. This acquisition comes hot on the heels of Ascott Reit's purchase of three quality serviced residences and four rental...
RLJ Lodging Trust to Acquire Two Premium, Focused Service Hotels for $105.9 Million
RLJ Lodging Trust | July 16, 2015
BETHESDA, Md.--July 16, 2015--RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RLJ) today announced it has acquired the 164-room Hyatt Place DC/Downtown/K Street in Washington, D.C. and will acquire within the next few days the 170-room Homewood Suites Seattle/Lynnwood in Lynnwood, WA for a combined purchase price of $105.9 million. The Company will use the cash available on its balance sheet for both acquisitions. "We are excited to add another high quality hotel to our Washington, D.C. portfolio and expand our West Coast footprint with our first hotel in the greater Seattle area," commented Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr., President and Chief Execut...
The Boulders & Spa in Arizona Begins Multi-Million Dollar Renovation
the Boulders & Spa | July 8, 2015
July 9, 2015 - The Boulders Resort & Spa has begun a significant renovation project with plans for completion by December 2015. Nestled in the lush high Sonoran Desert, this luxury hideaway is world-renowned for its dramatic and innovative architecture that blends seamlessly with the surrounding ancient rock formations. Now, a multi-million dollar restoration revives the luster of this celebrated resort with a fresh look that continues to draw inspiration from the serene desert environs. According to June Chun, lead designer for DiLeonardo, an award-winning Rhode Island-based design firm, "We are rejuvenating a relaxed resort enviro...
Felcor Announces Sale of Three Non-Strategic Hotels
FelCor | July 15, 2015
IRVING, Texas, July 15, 2015...FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated (NYSE: FCH) today announced that it sold the 274-room Embassy Suites Charlotte (which was owned 50% in a joint venture), the 216-room Embassy Suites San Antonio-NW I-10 and the 260-room Embassy Suites Austin-Central for aggregate gross proceeds of $90 million. FelCor is using asset sale proceeds to repay outstanding debt. FelCor has nearly completed its portfolio repositioning plan, with 38 non-strategic hotels sold for aggregate gross proceeds of $884 million. FelCor has executed contracts to sell the two remaining non-strategic hotels (both of which have non-refundable d...
Hotelier Bankruptcy Highlights Strain Brought by Oil and Gas Downturn
July 21, 2015
July 21--A bankruptcy case under way in Midland federal court highlights troubles facing hotel developers after a frenzy of building during the oil boom and plummeting rates now that industry activity wanes. The business isn't what it was last year, and that means a pinch for some of the developers who are newer to the local market. A group of companies managed as Dallas-Fort Worth-based RREAF O&G Portfolio owns eight Permian Basin hotels, with two in Midland. The company filed July 8 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing a business "closely tied to the oil and gas labor market, as many of the workers in these areas do not live in the a...
Great Wolf Resorts Buys Shuttered Renaissance Hotel in Colorado Springs for $18 million
July 25, 2015
July 25--A Wisconsin company that owns and develops family-style resorts has purchased the partially finished Renaissance Hotel on Colorado Springs' north side, where it's expected to build an adjacent indoor water park. Great Wolf Resorts on Friday paid $18 million to buy the 10-story hotel, according to documents filed with the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office. The shuttered, partially boarded-up hotel on nearly 20 acres east of Interstate 25 and InterQuest Parkway has stood idle since its original developer ran out of money nearly six years ago. Whether the $18 million represents Great Wolf's actual investment in the hotel'...
Hospitality is a Passion
Georges Panayotis | July 17, 2015
by Georges Panayotis As John Donne reminds us in his famous poem: "No man is an island". Every normal human being needs and is nourished by their relationships with their contemporaries, whether they are intimate, emotional, professional or casual. In this season, as everything revolves around vacations and travel, between one tragic event and the next, it is wise to remember a few essential truths that may go forgotten by hoteliers caught up in the confusion. The hotelier's job is first and foremost to offer welcome, with the ultimate goal of providing their guest with prolonged satisfaction after their stay by making it a memorable e...
What Women Want, With Ten Suggestions
Larry Mogelonsky | July 8, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) My dear bride of some 34 years travels with me for leisure, and sometimes business. To be expected, my work activities tend to be carried over into dinnertime conversations so this hybrid mode of travel makes sense. With her as critical input, we've come up with a short list of ideas that focus on women's hotel needs. Travel research indicates that the female head of household makes the bulk of leisure travel decisions – either directly or through "grocery list" male counterparts. So, while we're fussing over our operating costs to the barebones, we may be cutting corners that really cost...
