News Top: October
Airbnb Guests Tend to Be Motivated by Low Cost, Use It as a Hotel Substitute: Ted Rogers School of Management Report
Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University | October 7, 2016
Professor Daniel Guttentag, a professor with the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, is the author of a new report that examined the motivations of tourists to book Airbnb over other accommodations. Travellers who use Airbnb tend to be motivated by the service's practical benefits (low cost, convenient location, and household amenities), and usually rent entire homes rather than sharing the accommodation with a host, finds a new report released by Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. "This is one of the first studies of its kind to examine the motivations of Airbnb tourists," says Daniel Guttentag...
Beyond Tonight’s Occupancy What Every Great Hotel GM Knows
New Castle Hotels & Resorts | October 4, 2016
By Gerry Chase, President and COO, New Castle Hotels & Resorts A great hotel general manager is a diplomat, an accountant, a psychologist, an engineer, a janitor and a marketing maven, all rolled into one hospitable, can-do person who is eager to serve others. The best ones know they have one of the best jobs in the world and they have fun doing it. Here are a few other things every great hotel GM knows: 1. Owners' objectives. Sure, every owner or investor wants the hotel to make money, but beyond realizing an outstanding ROI, does the owner want the hotel to be the cornerstone of the community, or is it a real estate investment? I...
BookingSuite: A Lesson in Direct Revenue Strategy
Vikram Singh | October 19, 2016
By Vikram Singh Throughout my career in revenue optimization for the hospitality and travel industry, I have always stressed the importance of owning your digital assets. This means having control of your domain, your marketing campaign's analytics and history, and especially your website. As a strong supporter of open source technology, I have stepped in every time a marketing vendor ("expert") started trashing new and innovative options for hotels. Of course, vendors will always favor their outdated proprietary systems over new technology. They have made a huge investment and have to keep selling. But being tied to old technology is n...
The Emerging Trend of Total Hotel Revenue Management
Dr. Gabor Forgacs | October 11, 2016
By Alice (Chuyi) Zheng and Dr. Gabor Forgacs Revenue management seems to evolve towards total revenue management and hotels have begun to execute strategies using this concept. However, even though many hoteliers understand the importance of utilizing the total revenue management approach, in reality, few are making meaningful progress following this direction. We have studied some of the current practices and future trends of total revenue management in hotels and discussed them in our research paper for practitioners. This study was designed as a qualitative study utilizing a combination of both primary and secondary research. The rat...
The Kor Group and Stork/Alma Development Group Begin Construction on 148-Room Downtown LA Proper Hotel
The Kor Group | October 31, 2016
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 28, 2016) – The Kor Group, along with joint venture partner Stork/Alma Development Group, is proud to announce that the team has started construction on the Downtown LA Proper Hotel, a 148-room lifestyle hotel that will be managed and branded by luxury lifestyle operator Proper Hospitality. Financing provided by EB5 Capital, Bank of the Ozarks and Calmwater Capital. McGuire Builders is the general contractor and Kelly Wearstler is leading the interior design. The project, which was first announced in July 2015, is slated to open in Spring 2018. Housed in the former YWCA building on the Historic Bro...
Dual-Branding Hotel Trends
Colliers International | October 5, 2016
by Matthew Mintier While dual-branding a hotel is not new, its popularity among developers has definitely taken off in the last few years. Today there are fewer than 100 dual-branded hotels in the United States. Based on data collected from Hotel Market Data, there are currently 46 dual-branded hotels under construction in the US, with another 41 in the planning stages that will likely begin construction within the next 12 months. Dual-branded hotels, also known as two-in-one hotels, are simply two branded hotels generally in a single structure run by the same operator. However, the choices faced by developers and operators can be anyth...
Set to Open in 2020, Jabavu Village Developing $110 Million Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill in Africa’s Tallest Development
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | October 7, 2016
NAIROBI, Kenya, October 7, 2016 -- Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) (www.HiltonWorldwide.com) has signed a management agreement with Jabavu Village Ltd to open a 255 guest-room and suite hotel in Kenya's capital. The hotel is set to open in 2020 and joins 50 Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties trading or under development in 17 countries across Africa. "In recent years Upper Hill has grown to become a hub for international businesses and organisations, with a number of embassies and organisations setting up their regional offices in the district, including Cisco Systems, World Bank and the IMF," said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vic...
How the Marriott-Starwood Merger Will Affect Every Stakeholder in the Hotel Industry
Jim Butler | October 4, 2016
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Author of www.HotelLawBlog.com Most of the people we talk to in the hotel industry believe that consolidations, such as the recent Marriott-Starwood and Accor-Fairmont mergers, will have a big effect on their own hotel investments and other stakeholders in the hotel industry. JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® would like to know what you think about these events. Please click on the link below to tell us how these mergers will impact your business with this 6-question survey that should take you less than 3 minutes to complete. Click here to take our survey. We will s...
One Task Every GM or DOS Should Do Right Now to Increase Group Sales Revenues
Doug Kennedy | October 10, 2016
By Doug Kennedy With group demand growth having leveled off or declined in most hotel markets, General Managers and Directors of Sales are looking for ways to capture more of the market share of the business that is still out there. As I have explored many of my previous articles, the hotel sales environment has changed dramatically in recent years, yet hotel sales training and the related sales processes have not evolved fast enough at too many hotels. We all know that an ever-increasing number of meeting planners inquire electronically by sending emails; others use electronic request-for-proposal tools such as Cvent, Starcite, CVB spo...
Mexico’s Original Resorts Rebrands as Original Group
Original Group | October 24, 2016
Original Resorts, the leading Mexican expert of adult hospitality and creator of world-renowned collections, is rebranding as Original Group, as the company continues to grow and diversify its vast array of offerings. The company's branding relaunch includes a new name, a new logo, and an exciting new website, original-group.com, detailing its hospitality collections aimed at a discerning, sensual clientele. "Our new name reflects how we have come to grow over the years into a strong, successful brand, with an ever expanding array of offerings for our sensually oriented, high end clients who are always on the search for luxurious, secur...
Managed by Pyramid Hotel Group, The New $92 Million 450-Room Guest House at Graceland Opens in Memphis, Tennessee
The Guest House at Graceland | October 28, 2016
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--October 28, 2016--Graceland's® new, world-class, 450-room resort, The Guest House at Graceland™, welcomed its first guests today when Priscilla Presley joined Graceland executives to cut the "blue suede ribbon" to signify the official opening for the $92 million luxury property. Among the first guests to check in were Elvis Presley's™ family members, friends and musicians, along with Elvis fans and Graceland visitors from around the world. Inspired by Elvis' personal style and the iconic Graceland Mansion, The Guest House at Graceland is the most significant enhancement to Graceland since it opened to the...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Set for December 2016 Opening as DoubleTree New York Times Square West Nears Completion
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | October 25, 2016
NEW YORK, NY (October 25, 2016) – Construction of the new DoubleTree New York Times Square West, managed by Crescent Hotel & Resorts, is nearing completion and expected to open in December 2016. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of major hotels, resorts and conference centers throughout the United States and Canada. The 37-floor, 612-room DoubleTree hotel is a completely new building, located on 40th Street between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue, in the South West corner of Times Square. Rooms will offer amazing views of Times Square, the Hudson River, the Freedom Tower, and the Empire State B...
Main Street Hospitality Group Appoints Paul Clark as General Manager of Hotel on North in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Main Street Hospitality Group | October 7, 2016
PITTSFIELD, MA (October 7th, 2016) – Ann-Juliette Maurice, vice president of operations at Main Street Hospitality Group, announces the appointment of Paul M. Clark as the new general manager of Hotel on North in Pittsfield, MA. "We are excited to welcome Paul M. Clark, an accomplished and well-rounded hotelier, to Hotel on North," said Maurice. "With a proven track record for results, his managerial style and collaborative approach to business partnerships makes him an ideal leader for the hotel team and a valued liaison to the Pittsfield community," she continued. In his role, Clark is responsible for providing leadership, overs...
The Real Reason Airbnb is Eating into the Hotel Market Isn’t What You Think
Alex Shashou | October 21, 2016
By Alex Shashou Why has the seemingly simple accommodations-sharing concept grown so quickly? The answer has a lot to do with Airbnb's platform approach. The sharing economy is placing a new kind of pressure on the hotel industry. Despite being once ridiculed by the hotel industry, Airbnb has rapidly scaled to become a global provider of accommodation, with more rooms booked every night than the largest global hotel chains. The narrative is by now a familiar one: a service that boasts more than 60,000,000 guests and a $25.5 billion valuation by investors. But a more important question for hotels is why? Why has this seemingly simple...
Randy Zupanski Appointed General Manager Of The Westin St. Francis
The Westin St. Francis | October 13, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – October 13, 2016 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Randy Zupanski as General Manager of the iconic Westin St. Francis. As the hotel's leader, he will guide the strategy and vision for the 1195-room property, inspiring a culture of uncompromising excellence while driving market-leading guest experiences and financial performance. Zupanski will oversee a team of approximately 85 managers and 750 associates. "We are delighted to welcome Randy to our team," says Jon Kimball, area managing director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and former general manager of The Westin St. Francis. "Randy's lead...
Steven André Appointed General Manager of Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa Opening in November
Seafire Resort + Spa, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman | October 20, 2016
(GRAND CAYMAN) – October 20, 2016 – In the highly anticipated lead-up to its November 2016 opening, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, announces Steven André as General Manager. Seafire reflects Kimpton's first new build venture in a dedicated resort market and will be the first property outside of the continental U.S. within the brand's current portfolio. It also holds the honor of being the first new development along Seven Mile Beach in more than a decade. General Manager Steven André is no stranger to Kimpton Hotels, having served as General Manager of the Tideline Resort in Flori...
The Hoteliers Wake-Up Call
October 4, 2016
By Jos Schaap, CEO, StayNTouch The Wake-Up Call Alarm bells are ringing everywhere as new technology permeates the hotel industry in a big way. Hoteliers, at times, have tried to turn a blind eye to transformative change due to the old saying "If it is not broken, why fix it?" Well, technology is moving so quickly that embracing this change has to happen, and it has to happen now. Social has brought about a tremendous amount of change in the hoteliers' world. Most importantly, it has increased awareness of the hotel and its products as well as truly involving the guest in a conversation. Hotels are constantly being bombarded with feedba...
2016 African Hotel Valuation Index
HVS | October 10, 2016
By Tim Smith, Tshepo Makhudu, & Laura Dutrieux, HVS Highlights Welcome to the third edition of the African Hotel Valuation Index (HVI). We are thrilled that the number of markets included in the study continues to grow. In the first edition we had 14 cities, that grew to 18 last year and this year it has increased again to 21 cities in 16 different countries. A 50% increase in markets in such a short space of time is indicative of the ever increasing interest in the African hotel market. Moreover, and equally importantly it also illustrates an improved transparency and increase in data across the continent. CHART 1: TOP AND BOTTOM T...
Howard Hospitality Appoints Key Members to Leadership Team for New Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman
HHG Holdings | October 17, 2016
George Town, Cayman Islands – October 17, 2016 – Howard Hospitality Group (HHG), an international hotel investor, developer and operator, today announced the official opening of its new Grand Cayman office. The company has assembled an impressive team of new hires, including a Grand Cayman-based director of sales and marketing, hotel manager, food and beverage director and executive chef, who will collectively oversee several properties including the Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman. "We're thrilled to expand our global presence and to have a new office in Grand Cayman, supporting our aggressive growth program," said...
Stephen Bollenbach, Former Executive at Hilton, Disney and Trump Organization, Dies at 74
October 20, 2016
Oct. 20--Stephen F. Bollenbach, a financial whiz who helped engineer Hilton Hotels Corp.'s international expansion and negotiated a deal to help Donald Trump avoid filing for personal bankruptcy in the 1990s, has died. He was 74. Bollenbach, a Los Angeles native, died Oct. 8 after a long illness, widow Kimberly Bollenbach said. A graduate of UCLA and Cal State Northridge, Bollenbach held executive positions at Hilton, Disney, Caesars Entertainment and the Trump Organization, earning a reputation as a creative finance deal maker. His was so respected that shares of Hilton Hotels surged 13% in early 1996 when it was announced that he ...
Conrad Miami Welcomes New General Manager Chintan Dadhich
Conrad Hotels & Resorts | October 18, 2016
MIAMI - Oct. 18, 2016– Conrad Miami is pleased to announce the appointment of Chintan Dadhich as general manager of the upscale 36-story property located a block from Biscayne Bay in Miami's Financial District. Dadhich contributes more than 15 years of hospitality management experience to Conrad Miami, 13 of which have been with Hilton. In his new multi-faceted role, Dadhich will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations at Conrad Miami including operations, sales and marketing, revenue management, food and beverage, finance, and entertainment to ensure the highest quality standards and elevated service for guests. "Chintan...
Condé Nast Travelers 2016 Annual Readers’ Choice Award Winners of the World’s Top 100 Hotels & Resorts
October 19, 2016
More than 300,000 travelers took part in our 29th annual Readers' Choice Awards survey—yet another new record—submitting millions of ratings and over 75,000 comments to help us create a list of winning favorites. The breadth of their top-rated experiences was impressive, from elegant castles in the Irish countryside to tented safari camps trailing the Great Migration across the Serengeti. They chose tiny private islands in the tropics, small culture rich cities in Europe, and intimate river cruises. Most notably, they declared a passion for the authentic, the personalized, the unexpected—finding all three in both n...
Shifts in Hotel Revenues Reflect Changes in Development and Guest Preferences
Robert Mandelbaum | October 21, 2016
By Robert Mandelbaum Historically, revenue management within the lodging industry has focused on renting guest rooms in a profitable fashion. Revenue managers, aided by sophisticated computer programs, helped hotels determine the proper balance between the volume of guest rooms rented, with the price charged to rent those rooms. These decisions are now made round the clock, with room prices on any given day changing by the hour. As revenue management has evolved, other factors have been added to the equation. Now, it is not just rooms revenue that is evaluated. Hotels realize that an occupied room has the ability to generate other reven...
Lodging Conference 2016 Recap
Robert A. Rauch | October 4, 2016
by Robert A. Rauch This past week, many of us got together at the Lodging Conference in Phoenix. The forecast, depending on who you believe, is cloudy. Aran Ryan, Director of Lodging Analytics at Tourism Economics stated that business investment and the energy sector are down and the overall economy has plateaued. Having said that, he also noted that the CEO outlook has improved, consumer spending is up, jobs and income growth have improved and household debt is down. Net worth is up due to housing and stock prices and gas prices are down. Aran's forecast is for GDP growth of just over 2 percent. STR's Steve Hennis called for RevPAR gro...
The Marriott/Starwood “Back to the Future” Technology Decision
Israel del Rio, Fortune 500 CIO/CTO | October 18, 2016
To better understand the resulting Starwood's technology compared to industry legacy systems, think Tesla Model S versus a gas-guzzling 1975 Buick Electra. By Israel del Rio, Fortune 500 CIO/CTO Normally my blog articles deal with generic aspects of IT transformation without reference to specific company or industry news. However, I felt this article was needed not only because it deals with an area close to my heart professionally, but with the kind of decision-making that runs counter to the core philosophical values, and technology vision, I have championed in my various writings. You see, as a former SVP of Technology Solutions ...
