News Top: May
Just the Facts, Ma’am: Direct Bookings are 9% More Profitable for Hotels
Hospitality Upgrade | May 23, 2016
OTAs, metasearch, wholesalers and traditional travel agencies can be an important part of the mix, but they are no match for booking direct May 23, 2016 – Following the launch of book direct campaigns by a few of the major hotel brands, some articles have surfaced with unsubstantiated information questioning the value of the business through direct channels. Hospitality Upgrade sought the guidance of an industry expert to find out what the industry data actually shows. Kalibri Labs, a Rockville, Md. based big data firm maintains a growing database from more than 25,000 hotels and tracks all bookings, revenues and customer acquisi...
The “Internet of Things” Is Making Hotels Smarter
Aravind Chamarti | May 4, 2016
By Aravind Chamarti, Ph.D. Imagine a hotel experience in which guests' smartphones ask permission to access hotel preference settings hours before arrival, so when guests enter the lobby, they are checked in, greeted by name, and immediately given directions to their rooms. Guests open the doors to their rooms by waving their phones by a sensor, and walk in to find adjustable beds already set to their comfort level, the temperature and lighting is perfect for each individual, and the music that's playing is a favorite song. Turning to the big screen, customized entertainment is downloaded and ready for a private theater-like experience....
GoConcierge Takes Luxury to a New Level
GoConcierge.net | May 25, 2016
Web Based Application Adds Efficiencies Throughout Hotel Operations BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—May 25, 2016—GoConcierge, the lodging industry's leading guest service operations solution, is streamlining communication services at many of the top hotels around the world, including the iconic Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. Web-based GoConcierge, produced by Los Angeles-based GoConcierge.net, is primarily used for task tracking, whether it be a restaurant reservation, a lost and found item, or the logging of an incoming package. Using GoConcierge's Guest Task Calendar, a hotel associate can log and track guest and other requests...
Federal Judge Takes Decisive Action to Protect Hotels from ADA Abuse by a High Frequency Litigant: ADA Compliance and Defense Lawyer
Martin H. Orlick | May 3, 2016
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Author of www.HotelLawBlog.com 3 May, 2016 Federal Judge Takes Decisive Action to Protect Hotels from ADA Abuse by a High Frequency Litigant by Martin H. Orlick, Chair, JMBM's ADA Compliance and Defense Group In a rare and decisive action, a Central District Court Judge dismissed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit filed by an Arizona disabled plaintiff who has recently filed a wave of over 70 ADA lawsuits against Southern California hotels. The plaintiff, who claims she is confined to a wheelchair, called an Orange County hotel to book a room. She asked the hotel represen...
Interstate Hotels & Resorts Acquired by Kohlberg & Company from Thayer Lodging and Jin Jiang International Hotels
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | May 4, 2016
ARLINGTON, Va. / NEW YORK, N.Y. May 4, 2016 – Interstate Hotels & Resorts ("Interstate" or the "Company"), the global leader in third party hotel management, and Kohlberg & Company LLC ("Kohlberg"), a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York, today announced that Kohlberg has acquired Interstate from Thayer Lodging and Jin Jiang International Hotels. The transaction provides Interstate with a new strategic partner and positions the Company to enrich its value proposition in the hotel and hospitality industry, with enhanced global relationships and access to capital resources benefiting its third party manageme...
Hospitality Focus on Construction Costs
The Author | May 27, 2016
By Elaine Sahlins The feasibility of a new hotel is driven by a number of factors, foremost among them – the availability of sites, the costs to build, the price and accessibility of financing, and the demand for hotel rooms at a rate point that supports all these and other elements. With several of these items falling into place in many markets across the U.S., hotel construction continues to accelerate. Cushman & Wakefield's Hospitality & Gaming practice provides consulting and valuation services for new and existing hotel properties across the country. In recent years, the majority of new hotel projects we have worked o...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Overtime
U.S. Department of Labor | May 18, 2016
Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act On May 18, 2016, President Obama and Secretary Perez announced the publication of the Department of Labor's final rule updating the overtime regulations, which will automatically extend overtime pay protections to over 4 million workers within the first year of implementation. This long-awaited update will result in a meaningful boost to many workers' wallets, and will go a long way toward realizing President Obama's commitment to ensuring every worker is compensated fairly for their...
Marshall Jones Appointed Director of Sales & Marketing for Fairmont San Jose
Fairmont San Jose | May 5, 2016
SAN JOSE, CA – May 5, 2016 – General Manager Michael Musarra is proud to announce the appointment of Marshall Jones as Director of Sales & Marketing at Fairmont San Jose. Jones brings over 22 years of progressive hospitality experience to the position. As Director of Sales & Marketing at Fairmont San Jose, his leadership and vision will direct hotel market positioning, continue to drive revenue results and increase overall guest satisfaction. Jones will oversee all aspects of sales, catering, advertising, public relations, revenue management, social media and marketing at the hotel. "It is a great pleasure to welcome...
U.S. Hotel Revenue Growing, but Slowing
CBRE Group, Inc. | May 24, 2016
U.S. Hotel Operating Performance Takes a Breather in 2015 Atlanta – May 24, 2016 – U.S. hotel revenue growth is slowing down, while expenses are on the rise. According to CBRE Hotels' Americas Research's 2016 edition of Trends® in the Hotel Industry, operating performance continued to improve in 2015, but at a much slower pace. Trends® is the firm's annual survey of operating statements from thousands of hotels across the nation. The data for the 2016 survey was processed in accordance with the new 11th edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry. "After five years of strong increases in occupa...
SBE Acquires Morgans Hotel Group for $794 Million in an All-Cash Transaction
SBE | May 10, 2016
SBE broadens portfolio to include 20 world-class lifestyle hotel properties and more than 90 world-renowned entertainment and food & beverage offerings Cain Hoy Enterprises to contribute to recapitalization; Yucaipa Companies to take significant equity stake in SBE Jonathan Goldstein and Ron Burkle to join Sam Nazarian on SBE Board of Directors LOS ANGELES, May 10, 2016 -- SBE today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Morgans Hotel Group in an all-cash transaction, a move that will further strengthen SBE's position as a global leader in lifestyle hospitality management, entertainment, food & beverage, and developmen...
Fulcrum Hospitality LLC Appoints Veteran Hospitality Leader as Executive Vice President
Fulcrum Hospitality LLC | May 27, 2016
Prominent lodging industry expert Larry Kaminsky has joined Fulcrum's senior leadership team. New York, NY June 1, 2016 – This morning, Fulcrum Hospitality LLC ("Fulcrum") announced the appointment of hospitality industry veteran Larry Kaminsky to its senior leadership team as Executive Vice President. Mr. Kaminsky brings a 20-plus year background in hotel asset management and finance to Fulcrum's existing team of hospitality executives, and furthers Fulcrum's mission of dedicating senior-level leaders on every one its respective hotel engagements. Mr. Kaminsky was formerly the Senior Vice President of Asset Management at LaSalle ...
TravelClick’s iHotelier Web 3.0 Booking Engine Named Best Hotel and Lodging Interactive Application
TravelClick, Inc. | May 17, 2016
Innovative Reservations System and Merchandising Platform Wins Prestigious Web Marketing Association Award NEW YORK – May 17, 2016 – TravelClick, a global provider of innovative cloud-based solutions that enable hotels to grow revenue, is pleased to announce that it has won the Web Marketing Association's (WMA) award for Best Hotel and Lodging Interactive Application. This recognition highlights the Company's excellence in revolutionizing the online booking process, enabling hotels to customize the booking experience for users from start to finish. Part of the WMA's 2016 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC), the award reco...
John Johnstone C.M.C. Joins The Broadmoor as Vice President of Food & Beverage
The Broadmoor | May 11, 2016
Colorado Springs, Colorado – May 11, 2016 – As The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs approaches its Centennial in 2018, it is honored to announce the naming of John Johnstone, C.M.C., as Vice President of Food & Beverage. Mr. Johnstone will oversee not only the resort, but overall food and beverage operations at The Broadmoor Wilderness properties of The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Cloud Camp, The Broadmoor Fishing Camp and Seven Falls. Most recently, Mr. Johnstone served as Director of Club Operations at the esteemed Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters®. There he was in charge of club house operations, as well ...
Christophe Thomas Appointed General Manager of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills | May 17, 2016
Los Angeles, CA, May 17, 2016 - The award-winning SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is pleased to announce the appointment of Christophe Thomas to the position of General Manager. Thomas brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the property, where he will oversee operations for the 297-room hotel with 500 associates. Thomas initially joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2008 as General Manager of the W New York Union Square where he earned the hotel the second highest Guest Experience Index score and sustained it thereafter for several years. In 2013, Thomas moved west to lead the team at San Francisco's landmark The...
The Proper Usage of RevPAG
Larry Mogelonsky | May 5, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Any specialty, and hospitality is no exclusion, comes with its own set of technical jargon and acronyms. We hoteliers are bombarded daily with ADR and RevPAR as well as, to a lesser extent, the latter's two smaller siblings, RevPOR and RevPAG. Even though they are less common, they are still quite handy in certain situations, and today our focus will be on RevPAG. Let's get the acronyms out of the way so there's no confusion: RevPAR = Revenue Per Available Room RevPOR = Revenue Per Occupied Room RevPAG = Revenue Per Available Guest The first term, RevPAR, is the most commonly used thes...
Navy Lodge Program Honors 2015 Worldwide Award Winners
May 9, 2016
The Navy Lodge Program announced its 2015 award winners during its annual worldwide Training and Strategy Workshop. The awards highlight outstanding guest service in a variety of different facets of the Navy Lodge. "All our Navy Lodge general managers and associates work hard to provide PREMIER guest service each and every day for our guests," said Michael Bockelman, Vice President, Navy Exchange Service Command's (NEXCOM) Navy Lodge Program. "These awards are our way to honor them for all the work they do for our guests. Congratulations to each of the winners for a job very well done." The Carlson Award is given to a Navy Lodge for its...
Brookfield Hotel Properties Appoints Steve Davino as General Manager of The Vintage Estate
The Vintage Estate | May 11, 2016
Assumes Responsibility Overseeing the Iconic Napa Valley Estate Including Vintage Inn, Villagio Inn & Spa and V Marketplace Yountville, CA – (May 11, 2016) Brookfield Hotel Properties is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Davino to the position of General Manager of The Vintage Estate, a 22-acre Napa Valley property located in Yountville, CA. As General Manager, Davino will oversee all aspects of the estate, including its two luxury hotels, the Vintage Inn and the Villagio Inn & Spa; a 13,000 square-foot full-service spa; 30,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor function space; and more than 43,000 square-feet of...
Cheeca Lodge & Spa Appoints Robert LaCasse as General Manager
Cheeca Lodge & Spa | May 24, 2016
Islamorada, FL (May 24, 2016) – Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada's historic luxury resort destination, is pleased to announce Robert "Bob" LaCasse as General Manager. LaCasse joins the property with more than 25 years of experience and will usher the legendary resort through its milestone 70th anniversary year. In his new role, LaCasse will oversee all resort operations and lead the hotel staff to continually exceed guest expectations and instill a lasting impression of Cheeca's warm island hospitality. "It's an honor to join Cheeca Lodge & Spa during such an exciting time in the hotel's history," said LaCasse. "I look forwa...
Adam Sheff Appointed Executive Chef at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Opening Fall 2016
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa | May 5, 2016
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 5, 2016) – Adam Sheff has been named executive chef of the highly anticipated Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley, Arizona, opening September 1, 2016. Sheff has been a member of the Hyatt family since 2008, starting at the acclaimed Blue Duck Tavern at Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. During his six-year tenure at the hotel, he transitioned to sous chef and eventually culinary operations manager, overseeing both Blue Duck Tavern and banquet operations before relocating to Park Hyatt New York in an executive sous chef role for two years. He has worked in a number of esteemed restaurants across the...
Grupo Posadas to Launch Multimillion Dollar Renovation of Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun
Grupo Posadas | May 16, 2016
Cancun, Mexico (May 16, 2016) – Grupo Posadas, the largest hotel operator in Mexico, is excited to announce the upcoming multimillion dollar remodel of Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive beginning June 1, 2016 with an expected completion date of spring 2017. Part of the Fiesta Americana Resort Collection, the long-anticipated renovation of Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun, will result in an entirely upgraded experience with the improvement of the guest accommodations to a more modern, yet warm Mexican look at feel. The renovation will be conducted one tower at a time with the first phase of this project dedicated to Torr...
“There’s Nothing More Expensive than Cheap Managers:” How to Optimize Your Hotel Workforce
Alex Shashou, President and Co-Founder of ALICE | May 16, 2016
By Alex Shashou A well-trained staff will mean a well-run hotel. Labor is the principal operational expense in the hotel business, according to a survey of our GMs. This doesn't come as a surprise, as hospitality is first and foremost a service industry, with research pegging labor costs at roughly 32% of revenue. As one hotelier put it, "Everything comes down to people, your biggest variable cost is payroll." When we asked this same GM for his advice for succeeding in the hotel business, he told us simply, "Hiring the best people that you can find. There's nothing more expensive than cheap managers." Though employees are often the grea...
9 Hotel Waterpark Resorts Coming to Colorado
Jeff Coy | May 10, 2016
Three are under construction, 3 in development and 3 in planning By Jeff Coy, ISHC, May 10, 2016 Water is a precious resource. We drink it to hydrate our bodies. We irrigate our farms with it to grow food. We run our factories with it. We play in it for recreation. And we develop waterparks to attract tourists and vitalize our economy. In Colorado, where a lot of water originates in high country, there's even a water court and a judge to balance all these demands for water. Developers have to know a lot about water in order to get a project approved in Colorado. While Colorado may have lagged behind the national boom in indoor waterpark...
McWhinney and Sage Hospitality to Develop The 164-room Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins, CO
Sage Hospitality | May 10, 2016
Fort Collins, Colo. (May 10, 2016) – McWhinney, a Colorado based national real estate development company, and Sage Hospitality, a national hotel developer and operator, are proud to announce The Elizabeth Hotel as part of a new downtown development currently in progress at 354 Walnut Street in Fort Collins, Colo. The Elizabeth will be a modern upscale hotel focused on community, music, expert design and service. The 164 room hotel will feature locally curated art from students, professors and musicians. Music will carry through the building with accents in the interior design, programming, amenities and experiences to reflect the...
The Front Desk Is Not A Dinosaur – But Your “Brand” Might Be If You Completely Eliminate It (A Rebuttal)
Doug Kennedy | May 18, 2016
By Doug Kennedy Recently I read an article from the CEO of a technology company asking the question: "Is it time to remove the front desk from hotels?" The article cited a survey showing that 54% of respondents wanted to use their mobile device to check-in and 57% to check-out. One obvious question is what about the other 46% and 43%? The writer says that "The big granite front desk is really just a refuge for hotel staff. Hotel guests have no love for the front desk, and it generally proves to be an annoyance more than anything else." I have been reading articles such as this for over three decades now. When I launched my first trainin...
Mandatory Resort Fees – An Opinion by Steve Shur
Steve Shur | May 2, 2016
By Steve Shur What if you went to a retailer and purchased a TV, were told how much the extended warranty costs and then were informed that you MUST purchase the extended warranty, whether you wanted it or not? Requiring consumers to pay for services that they may not want or won't consume is patently unfair. This scenario is playing out in many hotels across America. Mandatory Resort Fees, disclosed to the consumer at the time of booking but not included in the room rate, are a recipe for consumer deception. The trend of hotels reducing the advertised room rates and tacking on a mandatory resort fee at checkout is often problematic for...
