News Top: April
World’s Top 50 Hotel Brands by Value: Inaugural Report by Brand Finance
Brand Finance | April 26, 2016
World's top 50 hotel brands valued for the first time Data shows Hilton is the most valuable individual brand Marriott-Starwood merger will create world's most valuable hotel brand portfolio For now, Hilton Worldwide remains the most valuable group Every year, leading brand valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance scrutinises thousands of the world's top brands. They are evaluated and ranked to determine which are the most powerful and valuable and grouped into league tables by country and industry. The top 50 hotel brands by value comprise the inaugural Brand Finance Hotels 50. Hilton is by far the most valuable brand, wi...
Economic Factors that Influence Tourism in Africa
Josephine Wawira | April 29, 2016
By Josephine Wawira According to ADB's Africa Tourism Monitor 2015, global tourism has continued to grow prodigiously to 1.133 billion arrivals in 2014 – a 4.3% increase over 2013. The report further indicates that Africa saw 65.3 million arrivals, representing 5.8% of total international arrivals in 2014. With US$ 43.6 billion in receipts, Africa holds 3.5% of this market share. Tourism development is not only viewed as a key pillar for African development, but also as a major reflection of economic activities that directly or indirectly stimulate its growth. With vital contributors that influence tourism in Africa (both posi...
Royalton Luxury Resorts Introduces Four New All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica and Saint Lucia Opening Winter 2017
Royalton Luxury Resorts | April 28, 2016
TORONTO, ON, April 28, 2016 — Royalton Luxury Resorts is proud to announce four brand new modern and luxurious all-inclusive resorts in two of the Caribbean's most sought-after vacation destinations. Royalton Luxury Resorts for discerning travelers of all ages and Hideaway at Royalton, an adults-only oasis within a resort, will open on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Jamaica and in a private cove on the coast of Cap Cana, Saint Lucia, as of February 1, 2017. This award-winning hotel brand began welcoming guests of all ages to discover signature All-in Luxury® amenities and extras only a few years ago. In this time...
Global Hotel Ranking – Top 10: What Does the Future Hold After the Marriott-Starwood Merger
April 14, 2016
An analysis by MKG Group and presented by HospitalityOn The acquisition of American group Starwood Hotels & Resorts by Marriott International should be finalized after their respective shareholder meetings: the operation is another addition to the list of M&As recently undertaken by leading hospitality groups, such as AccorHotels and Jin Jiang. What consequences will these mergers have on the Top 10 hotel groups for 2016, on both a global and European scale? 2016 Top 10 hotel groups worldwide, before and post-M&A Prior to this operation, worldwide rankings had already changed from 2015. Previously ranked first, British opera...
Oliver Beckert Appointed Executive Chef for the Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C., Opening September 2016
Trump Hotels | April 7, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C., (April 7, 2016) – Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C., scheduled to open in September 2016, recently announced hospitality veteran and distinguished culinary artist, Oliver Beckert as Executive Chef. In his new role, Chef Beckert is responsible for overseeing food and beverage operations at the former Old Post Office turned luxury hotel, including in-room dining for 263 guestrooms, along with banquets and catering in over 38,000 square feet of meetings and events space. In his 27 year career, Beckert has worked with many luxury hotels including opening four high-profile projects in top destinations around...
How Hotels Can Compete for Revenue Against the Growing Threat of Airbnb?
Dr. Gabor Forgacs | April 14, 2016
Gabor Forgacs and Frederic Dimanche The Airbnb business model is driven by solid economic fundamentals but hotels can offer value as well Airbnb successfully delivers relevant and quantifiable advantages in saving time, defeating distance and generally finding a way to offer a solution for a "pain point" be it constrained travel budget or a preference for a given location. Airbnb also offers the perception of control for users, and a perceived authentic experience with locals. Airbnb is a disruptor that is able to impact the hospitality and tourism sector in a significant way. Its underlying economic drivers are powerful in a down econ...
Views of Augusta: Opened in 1889, the Bon Air Hotel Once Drew Wealthy Golf Tourists
April 8, 2016
April 08--EDITOR'S NOTE -- Even before the Masters, Augusta attracted visitors. Vintage postcards shared the sites they saw. The Bon Air, once Augusta's premier hotel, was long a symbol of tourism, hospitality and golf. The original hotel, with its hilltop view of downtown, opened in 1889 and was soon the place to stay for wealthy Northerners seeking moderate temperatures and golfing recreation. The hotel's golf course would eventually become the Augusta Country Club. "It was the unofficial home of the Masters in the early years," said Stan Byrdy, author of Augusta and Aiken in Golf's Golden Age. "Everyone...
The Best New Hotels in the World: Condé Nast Travelers Hot List 2016
April 21, 2016
For this 20th edition of the Hot List—our picks of the year's top hotel openings—editors and reporters crisscrossed six continents and 36 countries to review hundreds of new properties firsthand. We came back with 60 outstanding winners that represent not just the vanguard of the hotel world but where travelers are headed next—and why. Our editors vetted hundreds of recently opened hotels and resorts, from West Africa to Miami, and found that what stands out are the properties that combine old-school extravagance and service with just the right measure of modernity. Click thru to view the 60 best new hotels in the worl...
Industry Visionary Vikram Singh Joins The Rainmaker Group as VP, Hotel Demand Generation
Rainmaker | April 18, 2016
ATLANTA – April 18, 2016 – A global thought leader in the hospitality and travel industry, Vikram Singh is the new VP, hotel demand generation for The Rainmaker Group. In his new position, he is responsible for the formulation and execution of Rainmaker's demand generation strategy for the hospitality industry. According to Rainmaker President Tammy Farley, "Vikram is one of the genuine stars in our industry and a natural leader, whose vast knowledge in hospitality and technology is matched by the positive force of his personality. We are truly excited to put his insights and leadership to work for Rainmaker." Before joining...
Downtown Los Angeles – “The Next Great City”
Sandra Lien | April 12, 2016
By Sandra Lien Fifteen years ago, Downtown Los Angeles was best described as an urban wasteland, with 28 million square feet of available office space, an under-utilized convention center, and 10 struggling hotels surrounded by 30 acres of mostly vacant retail space, cheap motels (SROs), bars, strip clubs, and vacant lots. The daytime population was not much beyond office workers, pensioners, homeless, and semi-homeless hotel dwellers, and the streets of Downtown were virtually deserted after working hours. Even as recently as 2014, The Guardian reported that the residents of Skid Row made up over 33% of Downtown's residential populatio...
Customer Service: Say This, Not That
Jana Love | April 6, 2016
By Jana Love In an economy where the customer is becoming increasingly more demanding and competition is all around you, what can you do to stand out and give your customers what most are missing and many don't have? There are a million pages of research that shows that the customer values good customer service, even more than the quality of the products and services themselves. So getting it "right" seems more compelling than ever. Should you get it "wrong," any efforts made for improving your service are for nothing. I am a tough customer, I will admit it. Nothing frustrates me more than spending money for a su...
John “JP” Oliver Appointed Vice President and Managing Director of The New Confidante Hotel in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | April 11, 2016
CHICAGO (April 11, 2016) – John "JP" Oliver has been named vice president and managing director of The Confidante and vice president of lifestyle – Americas, Hyatt. Currently operating as Thompson Miami Beach, the hotel is expected to convert on April 25 to The Confidante, the newest property in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Oliver's hospitality career spans nearly 30 years, beginning with management positions at various Hyatt hotels. Most recently he served as regional vice president southeast for Morgans Hotel Group, overseeing the Delano, Shore Club and Mondrian hotels in South Beach. Previously, Oliver spent more than...
Starwood Signs with PT. Anugrah Karya Bangsa for Aloft Jakarta Simatupang Set to Open January 2020
Aloft Hotels | April 25, 2016
JAKARTA, Indonesia - April 25, 2016 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the signing of Aloft Jakarta Simatupang. Owned by PT. Anugrah Karya Bangsa, the hotel marks the fourth Aloft hotel in Indonesia and the third Aloft in Jakarta. Set to open on 1 January 2020, the hotel will bring its passion for live music and innovation to Indonesia's bustling capital. "We are thrilled to sign another Aloft hotel in Jakarta as we forge ahead with our vigorous expansion plans in Southeast Asia," said Charlie Dang, Regional Vice President, Southeast Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "A booming ar...
Is the Front Desk a Dinosaur?
April 28, 2016
By Jos Schaap, Founder and CEO - StayNTouch Should a hotel's guest check in be more like the guest experience at an Apple Store? The concept is not as farfetched as it seems. There have been many ups and downs in the development of PMS software in recent years. But for almost all hotels, the fundamental process for interacting with guests through the PMS at check-in has remained fundamentally unchanged for decades: The guest arrives on property; waits in a line, sometimes for a very long time; and a front desk clerk buries his or head in a computer to check him in, produce room keys and try to take care of his other immediate needs. But...
JV Creates Carver-Olson Hospitality Search
Carver Hotel Group | April 26, 2016
Brings Task Force and Executive Search Together ATLANTA, GA – April 26, 2016– Joel Carver, President and CEO of Atlanta based Carver Hotel Group, the hospitality infrastructure powerhouse, and Peggy Olson, President of St. Paul, MN based Olson HR Solutions, have announced the creation Carver-Olson Hospitality Search, which will function as a subsidiary of Carver Hotel Group. This joint venture will merge the hospitality faced executive search function of Olson into the Carver family of brands bringing all hospitality search and task force support under one umbrella; and providing a one stop shopping environment for both CHG ...
Hilton Signs with Belaga Management for Brand’s 2018 Serbian Debut of 242-Room Hilton Belgrade
Hilton Worldwide | April 19, 2016
BELGRADE, Serbia and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) today announced plans to enter Serbia with the signing of a management agreement with Belaga Management Company D.O.O. The agreement paves the way for an upscale Hilton hotel in Serbia's capital city, Belgrade, and was announced during a construction ceremony in the city to confirm the news Sunday, April 17. The 242 guest room hotel will offer travellers world-renowned Hilton hospitality in a prime location in Belgrade's historic Old-town. "Growing our presence in city destinations in Southeastern Europe has formed a significant part of our regional growth strat...
Carlson Hotels to be Acquired by Chinese Firm HNA Tourism
Carlson Hotels, Inc. | April 28, 2016
BEIJING AND MINNEAPOLIS (April 28, 2016) – HNA Tourism Group Co., Ltd. ("HNA Tourism Group"), a division of HNA Group Co., Ltd., a Fortune Global 500 company with operations across aviation, tourism, hospitality, finance, and online services among other sectors, and Carlson Hospitality Group, Inc. today announced they have entered an agreement ("Agreement"), for the acquisition of Carlson Hotels, Inc.("Carlson Hotels"), which owns the Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brands and the Club CarlsonSM global hotel rewar...
Despite Growth, Lodging Turns Cautious
Virginia Tech | April 13, 2016
by Daniel Lesser The US lodging market has experienced its 72nd consecutive month of positive albeit decelerating growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR). Modest US job and wage growth as well as strong consumer spending endure, however, during the past several months, fear of a global economic downturn coupled with investor perception that the lodging industry has peaked has for now rendered the sector a dimming star. Hotel investment sales and financings are taking longer to complete as apprehension about achievable debt levels has widened mortgage spreads and lender underwriting has become increasingly rigorous. Additional unce...
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate Reveals Plans for $40 Million Renovation & Expansion Project
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate | April 14, 2016
ORLANDO (APRIL 14, 2016)– Beginning a new chapter in its 12-year heritage, Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate breaks ground in spring 2017 for an extensive $40 million expansion project. The luxury golf resort and spa opened in 2004, quickly becoming the cornerstone of the budding ChampionsGate community. Continuing growth in the area, the significant redevelopment includes: 10,000 square feet of additional pool deck and recreational space, installation of Orlando's only resort wave pool, a new property villa building and a redesign of Trevi's Restaurant that will include an outdoor garden terrace and bar. The expansion will als...
New Report: Consumer Mega-Trends Impacting Hospitality in 2016
Sabre | April 27, 2016
Sabre report analyzes changing consumer behavior and emerging trends to identify what consumers will want next SOUTHLAKE, Texas – April 27, 2016 – Consumer shopping and buying behaviors are always evolving, but the most disruptive changes are still ahead. The latest research study from Sabre (NASDAQ: SABR) examines today's emerging trends to reveal what travelers will want tomorrow. Sabre Hospitality Solutions has partnered with TrendWatching, a company that tracks emerging patterns in consumer behavior, attitude and expectations, to identify the major consumer mega-trends that are expected to have the most impact on the tra...
The Hotel Industry – From the Humble Inn to a Multi-Billion Dollar Business
JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group | April 6, 2016
The hotel sector tells an exciting story; from the advent of air travel to robotic receptionists, we reflect on two centuries in four minutes. Check out our infographic: ...
Cornell Study: Hotels Managers Shouldn’t Overdo Responses to Online Review
the Center for Hospitality Research | April 19, 2016
Ithaca, NY, April 19, 2016 - A new study from Cornell University suggests that hotel guests appreciate substantive responses to negative reviews, but operators should go easy on review responses. The study found that revenue levels increase as the number of management responses increases, but only to a point. After about a 40-percent response rate, hotels seem to reach a point of diminishing returns. A full description of the study, "Hotel Performance Impact of Socially Engaging with Consumers," by Chris Anderson and Saram Han, is available at no charge from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research. Anderson is an associate...
Predictions in Hospitality Social Media Customer Care
DJ Vallauri | April 6, 2016
Best practices for meeting customers where they already are, and listening and engaging on a near real-time basis. by DJ VALLAURI Can you remember the days when your hotel's social media marketing was so simple, when you didn't have to pay Facebook to have your posts seen by your organic followers? And when "tweeting" meant that everyone who followed you on Twitter would see your posts in their Twitter streams? Those were the good ole days, indeed. Well, brace yourself and get ready to dig deep… real deep into your marketing coffers. Those days are gone, and they're not coming back. It was inevitable that Facebook and Twitter wou...
2016 and Beyond – Official Forecast by Robert A. Rauch
Robert Rauch | April 5, 2016
Executive Summary 2016 is looking to continue the trend line of 2015 albeit with a somewhat muted feel. While average daily rate growth (ADR) will be a solid 4.5 percent, occupancy levels look to remain relatively flat, up just one half of one percent with demand outpacing supply 2.2 percent to 1.7 percent according to Lodging Econometrics and STR respectively, so this translates to a 5 percent growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR). Coupled with capital availability and the analytics and trends discussed below, this will be an active and exciting year. Because all the headwinds we expect in 2017 will not have fully materialized,...
‘Hotel Impossible’ Host Anthony Melchiorri’s Secret to Success: Treat Everyone like a VIP
April 10, 2016
April 10--It's the seventh season for Anthony Melchiorri and "Hotel Impossible" on the Travel Channel. The New York-based hotel expert goes into troubled hotels and spends four days helping the owners turn their lodging disasters to success. He recently was in Detroit to meet with advertisers. We caught up with him for a few questions. QUESTION: What is your best piece of advice for hotel managers? ANSWER: Hire people whose mother and father trained them to be nice to other people. I always say, I don't train anybody to be nice. Find people who wake up in the morning to take care of other people. If you hire people who...
