News Top: August
7 Trends for the Internet of Things in Hospitality
Telkonet | August 24, 2016
By: Jesse DePinto, Product Manager at Telkonet, Inc. There is no doubt that the Internet of Things will impact the way we do business today. Intel estimates that the number of connected devices will grow from two billion objects in 2006 to a projected 200 billion by 2020, or 26 smart objects for every human on Earth. Giants like GE are calling the Industrial Internet of Things the "Third Wave of Innovation" following the Industrial Revolution and the Internet Revolution. The hospitality industry possesses great potential for increasing revenue and decreasing expenses by integrating IoT technologies in their operations. For example, a s...
Austin, Still Not a Top 25 U.S. Hotel Market?
Chris Remund | August 17, 2016
By Chris Remund Over the past several years, Austin has been one of the fastest developing cities in the United States. Festivals such as South by Southwest, Formula One racing at the Circuit of the Americas, and its long standing reputation as the "Live Music Capital of the World" has propelled the city onto the international stage. Austin is a growing technology hub, home to major offices for multi-national companies such as Oracle, National Instruments, Dell, and IBM, to name a few. The city was once again named America's fastest growing city by Forbes magazine in 2016, taking the number one spot in five of the past six years. Home t...
Ranking Hotel REITS: Highest EBITDA & Lowest Overhead
Hans Detlefsen | August 10, 2016
Which Hotel REITs Achieved the Highest Hotel EBITDA Margins and the Lowest Management and Overhead Expense Ratios in 2015? By Hans Detlefsen, MPP, MAI Private equity funds, family offices, and other investors have several choices when seeking to increase exposure to real estate, specifically within the hotel sector. They can buy hotels, build hotels, invest in hotel mortgages, or invest in joint ventures that own or develop hotels. Perhaps one of the easiest methods of investing in hotel real estate, however, is simply to purchase shares of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that own hotels. Some REITs are more effective than other...
Hotel Guests Engaged During Stay 40% More Likely to Come Back
Local Measure | August 24, 2016
Local Measure, the leading location-based social media platform for hotels, today released the results of a 16 month study across 75 hotels and 56,000 customers. The study showed that hotels who engage with their guests during-stay see higher guest return rates than for those guests who are not engaged digitally. Speaking about the study, Local Measure CEO said "We've been telling our hotel clients for a long time that during-stay engagement and real time reputation management is just as important as a hotel managing post stay reviews. It's nice for us to now be able to back this up with data that shows those forward thinki...
Howard Karawan Appointed President and Managing Director of Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort in The Bahamas
Atlantis, Paradise Island resort, The Bahamas | August 30, 2016
PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS (August 30, 2016) – Brookfield Asset Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Howard C. Karawan as President and Managing Director of Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. Karawan will succeed Paul Burke, who recently resigned from the position to pursue new career endeavors in the United States. Karawan will assume his new position on September 19, 2016. A luxury hospitality and gaming veteran with over 30 years of experience, Karawan will make his return to Atlantis after previously holding the position of President and Chief Marketing Officer for Kerzner International, the pri...
US RevPAR Forecast Lowered to 3%-4% Amid Signs of Fatigue
Fitch | August 2, 2016
NEW YORK - August 2, 2016 - US lodging fundamentals are decelerating and signs of fatigue are signaling a negative turn could be ahead, according to Fitch Ratings. We had expected RevPAR to accelerate modestly during the remainder of the year. However, lodging fundamentals are softening and RevPAR growth continues to decelerate, with 2016 likely to come in below the low end of our original 4% to 5% estimate. Supply is growing but restrained by available capital. Fitch now projects that US RevPAR will increase by 3%-4% during 2016 and by 1%-2% during 2017, with monthly comparisons possibly turning negative during the latter half of the y...
Three Tips to Create a Memorable Experience For Your Guests
Bryan K. Williams | August 22, 2016
by Bryan K. Williams Could it be? Is it even possible? What are the chances that every touchpoint is memorable? Each team member is engaged. All leaders act as though they are not just managers, but rather CEOs of their respective departments. Vince Lombardi famously said…. "We will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence." The real leaders live and breathe that philosophy. Good is never good enough. Only excellence will do. It usually only takes a few minutes, but I can always tell when I've encountered a culture of ...
17 Things to Consider When Planning for 2017
Aspire | August 17, 2016
1. BUILD YOUR ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLAN Include as many of your leaders, supervisors and up-and-comers as possible in your planning process. Don't worry about tactics until you have the strategic direction defined. Many people think tactically. Tactics are only effective if you have the right strategies. Strategies answer the question "what will we do?" First, think about "what" (the key strategies). Then ask, "how can we be disruptive?" The strategic direction should be defined by your entire senior leadership and key department heads team. Take a strategic look at these 7 places: Guest experience Associ...
The Dark Side of Hotel Brand PIPs
Thomas Magnuson | August 25, 2016
By Thomas Magnuson, Co-Founder & CEO Magnuson Hotels It is claimed that PIPs (property improvement plans) exist to ensure all franchisees are brand compliant and to drive customer satisfaction. However, it appears big brands such as Choice, Holiday Inn, Wyndham and BEST WESTERN, often use them to push hoteliers out of a market to benefit corporate expansion strategies. So are PIPs really in the best interests of franchisees? Refreshing a Brand Brand refreshes, defined by Property Improvement Plans (PIPs), are initiatives that many major chains have undertaken in recent years and by default, are an essential part of branded hotel own...
Scott Grigelevich Tapped for Director of Sales and Marketing Role at Ames Boston Hotel
August 8, 2016
BOSTON, MA (August 8, 2016) – Ames Boston Hotel, a luxurious boutique property nestled in the heart of Boston's historic downtown, is pleased to announce the appointment of distinguished industry leader Scott Grigelevich to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing. Grigelevich joined the Ames Boston Hotel team in January 2016 and continues to oversee its transition to Boston's first Curio, a Collection by Hilton™. Previously, Mr. Grigelevich served as the Director of Sales and Marketing at the iconic Lenox Hotel in Boston's bustling Back Bay neighborhood. He managed all sales and marketing initiatives for the privatel...
Hotel Management Pioneer and Hospitality Industry Leader, Joseph DePalma, Sr., Leaves Behind a Legacy
DePalma Hotels and Resorts | August 21, 2016
22 August 2016 Arlington, TX – The hospitality industry lost a dear friend, Joseph "Joe" DePalma, Sr., Founder and Chairman of DePalma Hotels & Resorts, passed away August 15 while on vacation with his wife in Lakewood, Colorado. After serving his country with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, DePalma began his career in the hotel industry in 1966 in Windsor, CT. DePalma quickly moved up the ranks and in 1975, Americana Hotels transferred him to Dallas, TX to lead their hotel expansion efforts. It is there where he married his beloved wife, Tyra, and settled. DePalma joined Pratt Hotel Corporation in 1981 whe...
Carl Icahn to Close Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City After Labor Day
August 4, 2016
Aug. 04--ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Donald Trump has been gone from Atlantic City for years, but his name has lived on in glowing neon on the facade of a casino he no longer owns. But later this year, the GOP presidential nominee's name will disappear from the seaside gambling resort -- along with 3,000 jobs. The Trump Taj Mahal casino, opened 26 years ago by Trump, announced Wednesday that it will shut down after Labor Day. The business now belongs to Trump's friend and fellow billionaire Carl Icahn, who decided he can no longer support a casino losing millions of dollars each month amid a crippling strike. Icahn told The Associate...
Gzella Collection Launching Three Beachside Boutique Hotels in Fort Lauderdale Beach Following Multi-Million Dollar Renovations
Gzella Collection | August 15, 2016
Fort Lauderdale, FL (August 15, 2016) – Leading a new era in boutique lodging in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Gzella Collection is launching three beachside boutique hotels – Fortuna, Ikona and Mirra, following multi-million dollar renovations that combine modern interior design, smart technology and stylish amenities with historic architecture. Collectively, the properties showcasing individual charm and unique personalities, will introduce South Florida travelers to a new level of custom experiences and service intimacy found only in boutique lodging. The Gzella Collection Hotels are ideally situated steps away from the golden s...
Dream Hotel Group Appoints Key Members to Executive Team
Dream Hotel Group | August 11, 2016
NEW YORK, NY (August 11, 2016) – Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group today announced the appointments of Rika Lisslö as Vice President of Development & Acquisition and Katie Fontana as Vice President of Communications. In addition, Bridget Tran has been promoted to Vice President of Ecommerce. Rika Lisslö joined Dream Hotel Group in July 2016 and, as Vice President of Development & Acquisition, she is responsible for developing the company's burgeoning portfolio of brands, leveraging her extensive relationships in the U.S. and abroad. Lisslö has vast experience as a real estate exec...
FelCor Completes Sale of 560-Room Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort for $75.9 Million
FelCor | August 3, 2016
IRVING, Texas--August 3, 2016--FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated (NYSE: FCH) today announced that it sold the 560-room Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort for gross proceeds of $75.9 million. FelCor will use the proceeds to repay borrowings under its line of credit. FelCor continues to make progress on its planned asset sales. The Company remains committed to redeploying proceeds from asset sales to repay debt and strengthen its balance sheet and funding investments that generate enhanced returns, such as stock repurchases and high-ROI redevelopment projects. ...
Lazy Parents, Hallway Hellraisers and Loud Neighbors are America’s Least Favorite Hotel Guests
Expedia.com | August 9, 2016
BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 9, 2016 -- Expedia.com® today released the results of the 2016 Expedia Hotel Etiquette Study, which asked 1,018 Americans to identify the features and amenities they prioritize when booking a hotel, as well as the guest behaviors they find most aggravating. The study was commissioned by Expedia and executed by GfK, an independent global market research company. The study found that Americans who have stayed in a hotel at least once in the past two years disagree about the protocol of tipping hotel employees, but wholeheartedly agree on the importance of complimentary Wi-Fi. It revealed the behaviors that most i...
Hotel Development is Booming in California with San Diego Leading the State
August 4, 2016
Aug. 04--California, like the rest of the country, is in the midst of a hotel building boom, with more than 17,000 rooms under construction and 84,000 more in the pipeline. The surge in development, following a years-long drought in new hotels, is captured in a mid-year report released by Orange County-based Atlas Hospitality Group, which tracks the hotel real estate sector. San Diego County leads the state in the number of hotels that have opened so far this year -- six -- but Los Angeles dominates in the number of rooms under construction, with 6,772 in 37 hotels, reports Atlas. By comparison, San Diego trails far behind with four hot...
GSA Releases New Per Diem Rates for FY 2017
August 15, 2016
August 15, 2016 - The FY2017 per diem rates are now available. To view FY2017 rates click here and follow the instructions. The FY2017 rates are NOT the default rates until October 1, 2016. FY2016 is the fiscal year through September 30, 2016. Rates are set by fiscal year, effective October 1 each year. Find current rates in the continental United States ("CONUS Rates") by searching below with city and state (or ZIP code), or by clicking on the map, or use the new Per Diem tool to calculate trip allowances. FY 2017 Per Diem Highlights GSA establishes the per diem rates for the lower 48 Continental United States (CONUS), which ...
Eric Holder’s Next Challenge? Training 640,000 Airbnb Hosts About Unconscious Bias
Bashar Wali | August 19, 2016
by Bashar Wali, Principal / President & Chief Creative Officer, Provenance Hotels Good Luck, Mr. Holder. Seriously! Let me be clear: I'm not anti-Airbnb. I'm pro-Guest. To me, the sharing economy reflects a heartening and positive shift in collective values (from "mine" to "ours," hence the word "sharing") and an impressively agile and rapid pivot toward resourcefulness and efficiency (hence the word "economy"). Am I the only one who thinks humanity should be giving itself a high five right now? The sharing economy is really us. At our caring, clever best. The recent wave of discrimination lawsuits and horror stories about Airbnb ma...
Orange Lake Resorts and IHG Open New Holiday Inn Express® Hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Orange Lake Resorts | August 8, 2016
First Hotel Developed, Owned and Operated by Orange Lake Resorts GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE (August 9, 2016) – Orange Lake Resorts, home to the Holiday Inn Club Vacations® brand, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, announce the opening of the new-build 115-room Holiday Inn Express® hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The new hotel is a first for the 34-year-old vacation ownership company and is located next to the company's Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort. Near the Great Smoky Mountains, this hotel will become a top choice for travelers to the Gatlinburg and Seviervi...
Hotel Website Design and Usability: Top 10 Mistakes
Vikram Singh | August 9, 2016
By Vikram Singh Hotel website design, like any kind of design, is subjective. Nothing is more painful than a website design "discussion" where stakeholders talk for hours about colors, content and photos. For every extra person added to these meetings, more useless things get added and useful things get taken out. By the end of it, you have a website that is not usable for potential guests, which hurts your conversion rate and, more important, your revenue. So in this post, let's worry less about design and more about usability. To that end, here is a list of mistakes that can hurt your hotel website revenue, no matter how much you love...
HEI Hotels & Resorts Provides Notice of Data Breach
HEI Hotels & Resorts | August 15, 2016
HEI Hotels & Resorts ("HEI") recently became aware of a security incident possibly affecting the personal information of some customers who made payment card purchases at point-of-sale terminals, such as food and beverage outlets, at certain HEI managed properties. As a precaution, we are providing this notice, on behalf of our hotel property owners, to make potentially affected customers aware of the incident and call their attention to steps they can take to help protect themselves. We take the security of personal information very seriously, and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause. What Ha...
What if Airbnb Built a Hotel?
ALICE | August 4, 2016
What if Airbnb built a hotel? Ian Schrager said on stage at this year's BLLA conference that, in some ways, Airbnb is the boutique hotel of one. So, what if Airbnb became the boutique hotel of many? If Airbnb builds a hotel they will leverage their platform to provide accommodations and services more uniquely tailored to guests and with much greater cost efficiency. What might that look like…? 100% Direct Booking... In the case of most hotels there is no significant advantage for the traveler to book direct, rather than through an OTA, and hotels have lost customer loyalty and revenue as a result. However, just as Airbnb now fac...
Is Wi-Fi the Secret to Keeping Your Guests Happy?
Matthew FitzGerald | August 5, 2016
By Matthew FitzGerald The mobile revolution is continuing - some even say accelerating - and hotels continue to be on the front lines of the uprising. Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010, hoteliers have had to get smarter when it comes to Wi-Fi. They must adopt the latest standards, new access point placement designs and embrace all available spectrums. They also often find themselves coping with more services such as streaming video and voice as well as wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Customer demands fueling the revolution only continue to grow, and a slow down is nowhere in sight. Guests ...
Customer Service – Or Just Lip Service?
Gary Hernbroth | August 23, 2016
By Gary Hernbroth If you are a road warrior, things like this have happened to you. I placed a $20 bill on top of the front desk at a major brand hotel, and asked the front desk agent if she would please break it up for me, for tips and such. She immediately extended her arm and… pointed me in the direction of the other side of the lobby. "Sorry," she said, not too apologetically, "they don't give me a bank out here." I must have looked quite perplexed to her, as she added, "You see that Starbucks over there, across the lobby? They'll make change for you." It was the morning. We all know what the line at a Starbucks in the mornin...
