News Top: September
How Silent Are Your Hotel Rooms?
Larry Mogelonsky | September 28, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) I'm fascinated by the sounds of a hotel or, should I say, the distinct lack of sound. But before I delve into this topic, here is a quick basic primer. Sound travels in waves and you can't see them. The amplitude of a sound wave is a measurement of how forceful the sound wave is. This measurement is expressed in decibels, or dB of sound pressure. A decibel meter allows you to measure just what level of sound exists in any environment. We all hear (pun intended) about extremely loud noises and the dangers of prolonged exposure to such cacophony. In fact, there are maximums to the acceptable ...
Best Western Hotels & Resorts Unveils New “White Label” Franchise, Sure Stay Hotels
Best Western Hotels & Resorts | September 27, 2016
Phoenix (September 27, 2016) – Best Western® Hotels & Resorts today made a bold move, introducing SureStay Hotels - a revolutionary new 'white label' franchise model in the hotel industry. SureStay will operate as a separate subsidiary while plugging hotel owners into the company's infrastructure and distribution channels. With three distinctive brands – SureStay Hotel (Premium Economy), SureStay Plus Hotel (Lower Midscale) and SureStay Signature Collection (Midscale Soft Brand) – Best Western aims to provide options in the marketplace for franchisees who are disillusioned by one-sided contracts that do not del...
Gold Key | PHR Prepares for Spring 2017 Launch of The Main, a Hilton Hotel, in Downtown Norfolk, VA
Gold Key | PHR | September 8, 2016
(September 2016) Virginia Beach, VA – Situated next to the Elizabeth River at the corner of Granby & Main Streets, The Main is set to become Norfolk's premier cultural epicenter in March 2017. From one-of-a-kind art to state-of-the-art, The Main, a Gold Key | PHR property, is a modern social experience offering luxury hotel accommodations, innovative meeting spaces and signature restaurants and bars all at one address. At The Main, business will be a pleasure. Standing 21-stories tall, The Main joins downtown Norfolk's skyline of exquisite modern and historic buildings. With a glass curtain wall, The Main features an astoundin...
Jorge Gutierrez Named General Manager of Mexico’s Maya Tulum Resort
September 27, 2016
Tulum, Mexico (Sept. 27, 2016) – Maya Tulum Resort is thrilled to announce that it has named Jorge Gutierrez to the position of General Manager. Gutierrez is a dynamic leader who has risen to top management positions in demanding, competitive environments, consistently building and leading successful teams that optimized processes and business practices. He most recently opened the Indura Beach & Golf Resort as the General Manager, the first luxury property in Honduras. He previously served as the Resident Manager at Mukul Beach, Golf & Spa in Nicaragua and at Arenal Nayara in Costa Rica. He also spent more than five years...
PeachState Hospitality Breaks Ground in Lithia Springs, GA on Dual Marriott Branded Hotels Development
PeachState Hospitality, LLC | September 8, 2016
Warner Robins, GA, September 9, 2016: PeachState Hospitality, LLC, one of Georgia's best known hotel management companies is continuing its rapid development growth with the ground breaking of its twelfth and thirteen properties in Lithia Springs, Ga. Lithia Springs is part of the greater Atlanta market. The Lithia Springs dual project is a Marriott branded development with two properties under one roof; a Courtyard with 89 keys and a Fairfield Inn & Suites with 72 keys. PeachState's sister company, Divine Development is the project developer. The construction is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017. The hotels are expected ...
Scott Stuckey Appointed General Manager at The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Chicago
The Gwen | September 15, 2016
(CHICAGO, IL; September 15, 2016) — The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Chicago, (521 N. Rush St.) announces Scott Stuckey has been appointed general manager, effective immediately. Bringing more than 27 years of hospitality experience to the role, Stuckey will be overseeing all aspects — from operations to revenue strategy to sales and marketing — of the 300-room luxury hotel located on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. He will also be responsible for managing The Gwen's 15,000 square-feet of meeting and event space, Circa restaurant and lounge, and the hotel's outdoor terrace, Upstairs at The Gwen. Stuckey most rece...
Five Scary Facts About Millennial Travel Purchases
Larry Mogelonsky | September 14, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) The rate at which consumer purchasing behavior is changing is downright scary. What worked only five years ago is now something for the junkyard. It's a difficult world to understand and, importantly, you must be keen to grasp the elusive spending habits of millennials – the generation that is destined to become the primary influencer in the hospitality industry within ten years' time, if not already! A recent focus group of a dozen late-stage millennial travelers – that is, between the ages of 27 and 33 with no children and healthy median salaries – yielded some exception...
Seekda Acquires Regatta Travel Solutions
Regatta Travel Solutions LLC | September 7, 2016
Charlottesville, Virginia (September 7, 2016) – Regatta Travel Solutions announced today that it has been acquired by Seekda. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Together, the two companies will focus on increasing direct booking volume for hotels through optimized meta-search and a powerful hotel booking engine. Seekda will also expand on Regatta's work with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs). Ashwin Kamlani, the Founder & CEO of Regatta Travel Solutions, has been appointed President of Seekda. His team will be expanding their offices in Charlottesville, Virginia over the next few weeks as they prepare to lead Seekda'...
How Hotels Can Use Urgency Like the OTAs to Drive Bookings
Tris Heaword | September 26, 2016
By Tris Heaword Many people have a natural tendency to procrastinate, choosing to put things off until the very last minute. But in the world of e-commerce, brands work tirelessly to convince customers that delaying a buying decision isn't a good thing. This is something commonly achieved by creating a sense of urgency. Studies conducted by internet-based research lab MarketingExperiments have found that urgency can have a huge influence on conversion rates. One of their tests resulted in a staggering 992% sales uplift. So why can urgency have such influence on buying behavior? Without it, customers know they can delay a purchase, confi...
Hersha Hospitality Trust Enters Agreement to Sell 5-Hotel Portfolio for $185.0 Million or $244,000 Per Key
Hersha Hospitality Trust | September 13, 2016
September 13, 2016--PHILADELPHIA--Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE: HT, "Hersha" or the "Company"), owner of upscale hotels in urban gateway markets, announced the Company has entered into a definitive agreement to sell a 5-hotel suburban portfolio totaling 757 rooms for $185.0 million, or $244,000 per key. "The sale of this high-quality portfolio highlights Hersha's capability to successfully execute accretive capital recycling and opportunistically upgrade the portfolio with newly built, higher growth hotels. These five hotels performed very well during our 10-year hold period, delivering a levered IRR in the teens at 50% leverage and a...
Omni Bedford Springs Resort Appoints Bill Liedholm General Manager and Michael McDonald Spa Director
The Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa | September 28, 2016
Bedford Springs, Pa. (September 28, 2016) - Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania's scenic Allegheny Mountains has enhanced its leadership team with the announcement of two executive appointments. Both appointees combined bring nearly four decades of experience in the hospitality industry to the historic mountain resort. Bill Liedholm, general manager An accomplished leader with more than 30 years of industry experience, Liedholm is responsible for all day-to-day operations of Omni Bedford Springs Resort, including managing the resort's approximately 290-member team and establishing and maintaining positive relationships w...
New Market Force Study Finds Marriott and Hampton Are America’s Favorite Hotel Chains
Market Force Information | September 13, 2016
LOUISVILLE, Colo., Sept. 13, 2016 — According to a large-scale consumer study conducted by Market Force Information® (Market Force), a leader in customer experience management, Marriott is consumers' favorite brand among major hotel and motel chains. The study also found that, while many are using mobile apps to find and book hotels, newer technologies such as check-in kiosks aren't yet enjoying the same level of success. More than 9,000 consumers were polled for the study, which was designed to uncover which hotel and motel brands are excelling, competitive differentiators, hospitality technology usage and satisfaction with t...
When You Check Into a Hotel, Could You Be Sleeping on Dirty Sheets?
INSIDE EDITION | September 12, 2016
New York, NY — September 12, 2016 – The thought of sleeping in a hotel bed with dirty sheets is completely gross, but that's exactly the dirty secret INSIDE EDITION exposes when we checked in at certain hotels. In an investigation airing on Tuesday, INSIDE EDITION puts hotels to the test – the program came up with a unique way to find out whether you may be sleeping on dirty sheets - and the results might make you think twice before getting under the covers. The program booked rooms at nine different hotels and each time sprayed a harmless and washable fluorescent paint onto the bed sheet, using a stencil that reads, "...
Solara Hospitality Developing 108-Room Residence Inn by Marriott in Lexington, South Carolina
September 28, 2016
Sept. 29--A local developer is hoping his new Lexington County property can tap into downtown's hotel boom. The new 108-room Residence Inn by Marriott is being built on U.S. 378 across from Lexington Medical Center. Clancy Cipkala, managing partner & CEO of Columbia-based Solara Hospitality, said he hopes the hotel will not only service the needs of the hospital, but reach out to the growing town of Lexington and downtown Columbia s well, which he said has a void in extended stay properties. "The hotel will only be minutes from the I-20 Lexington business district and only two miles from the ... Vista," he said. The fo...
The End of the Branded Hotel
Kerry Cannon | September 2, 2016
By Kerry Cannon While the newest generation of travelers – the oft written about Millennials – may not yet have the discretionary spending muscle of Gen Xers and Boomers, they are having a decidedly pronounced impact on the evolution of the branded hotel space. Unique experiences, lifestyle, design, and authenticity rule the day now. Does that sound the death knell of the branded hotel? Vaunted brand names like Marriott, Starwood, Hilton, and Hyatt have given way to Andaz, Aloft, Curio, Canopy, and Moxy. Despite sounding oxymoronic, the terms "consistent," "dependable," and "predictable" (read: ...
Florencia Rotemberg Appointed General Manager of the JW Marriott Marquis Miami and Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts | September 20, 2016
MIAMI (September 21, 2016) – The JW Marriott Marquis Miami and Hotel Beaux Arts Miami today announced the appointment of Florencia Rotemberg as General Manager. In her new role, Rotemberg will oversee the management and day-to-day operation of both hotels. With more than 20 years of hospitality experience, Rotemberg most recently served as the General Manager of the JW Marriott Miami where she directed the management and daily operations of the property. Prior to the JW Marriott Miami, she served as the Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing for MDM Hotel Group where she spearheaded the sales efforts for the firm's hotels befor...
Red Lion Hotels Corporation Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Substantially All of Vantage Hospitality Group
RLHC | September 14, 2016
~ Acquisition Adds Approximately 1,000 Franchise Hotel Agreements Nationwide ~ ~ Combined Company to Operate or Franchise over 73,000 rooms ~ ~ Coral Springs Office to Lead RLHC Select Service Brand Operations ~ SPOKANE, Wash. and CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Sept. 14, 2016 -- Red Lion Hotels Corporation ("RLHC" or the "Company") (NYSE:RLH), a growing hospitality company that operates and franchises upscale, midscale and economy hotels, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the global brands and brand operations of Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. ("Vantage") based in Coral Springs, F...
Carver Companies Complete Branding Merger
The Carver Companies | September 13, 2016
Companies Launch Newly Branded Websites Joel Carver ATLANTA, GA – September 13, 2016– In a forward move designed to anchor their position as the preeminent human capital organization in North America, Atlanta-based Carver Companies in partnership with Bultman Media, launched newly developed websites for all three business units. Created as a task force organization, the Carver Companies have quickly become the driving force in hospitality human capital in the hospitality arena. Composed of the Carver Hotel Group, Carver-Olson Hospitality Search, and Carver World Temps, the organization's primary focus is to understand the s...
Dream Hotel Group Appoints Kevin Rohani as Vice President of Development
Dream Hotel Group | September 22, 2016
New York, NY (September 22, 2016) – Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Rohani as Vice President of Development. Rohani brings over a decade of experience in portfolio expansion and expertise in hotels, restaurants and nightlife to Dream Hotel Group. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the development of new projects and sourcing new deals globally. "We are pleased to have Kevin Rohani join our team as we expand our brand and undergo new developments in 2017," said Jay Stein, Chief Executive Officer at Dream Hotel Group. "He is a remarkably talent...
Emilio Fabico Appointed General Manager of Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark
September 9, 2016
Tannersville, PA – Sept. 9, 2016 – Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, the biggest indoor waterpark in the northeast is pleased to announce the appointment of Emilio Fabico as General Manager. In his role, Fabico is responsible for the overall successful operations of the 453-suite lodge and the 125,000 square foot indoor waterpark, which opened in May, 2015. Fabico's experience and background in the hospitality and theme park industries is extensive, spanning more than 30 years. Most recently, Fabico spent six years as General Manager for Disney's Epcot in Orlando, FL. Additionally, Fabico's experience include...
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Completes Extensive Multi-Million Phased Renovation
Hyatt Regency San Francisco | September 27, 2016
San Francisco, Calif (September 27, 2016)—Hyatt Regency San Francisco has recently completed a thorough transformation beginning at the Porte Cochere, continuing through the Lower Lobby/Bay Level and Lobby areas, and finishing with room and suite redesigns. Originally designed by famed architect John Portman in 1973, Hyatt Regency San Francisco is an iconic and well known fixture on San Francisco's famed Embarcadero. Hyatt Regency San Francisco boasts the world's largest hotel lobby—encompassing 42,000 cubic feet and the 'Eclipse' sculpture by Charles O. Perry—and will continue to stun the public with its new design, w...
Sabre Names Hospitality Leader Alex Alt to Executive Vice President
Sabre Corporation | September 8, 2016
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Sept. 8, 2016 – Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) has promoted Alex Alt to executive vice president of Sabre, and president of Sabre Hospitality Solutions. Under Alt's leadership, Sabre has developed an aggressive growth plan for its Hospitality Solutions business. In 2015, Sabre announced its first enterprise-wide global central reservations system services agreement and is currently in the midst of successfully migrating the 7,800 properties of the Wyndham Hotel Group to its industry-leading SynXis solution. Earlier this year, the company announced the acquisition of the Trust Group, which has further expanded i...
Starwood Capital to Launch Principal, New Urban Lifestyle Hotel Brand, Following £150 Million ($194M) Capital Investment
Barry S. Sternlicht - Chairman & CEO, Starwood Capital Group | September 20, 2016
September 20, 2016-- Starwood Capital Group, a leading global private investment firm, announced today that it will launch PRINCIPAL, a new urban lifestyle hotel group, on 1st November 2016, following a capital investment in the portfolio of approximately £150 million. Principal is a collection of city-centre hotels based in landmark buildings in exceptional locations across the United Kingdom. The distinctive heritage and resulting relationship between the properties and their surroundings are the cornerstones of the Principal brand. Each of the hotels has a story to tell—of its history, its design and architecture, its qui...
FAU’s Hospitality & Tourism Management Program Breaks Into The Best Schools Top 30 for Hospitality
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) | September 5, 2016
Boca Raton, Florida - The hospitality & tourism management program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has moved into the Top 30 Best Hospitality Schools. It is the youngest program to do so. According to Dr. Peter Ricci, Director, it's due to three key factors: 1) an incredibly unique location surrounded by every segment of the industry from cruise lines to casinos and private country clubs to world class resorts, 2) a world class faculty who have the distinct blend of years of industry experience combined with excellent graduate pedgrees, and 3) an employer base that has warmly welcomed the alumni and consistently recruits. I...
1 Hotel South Beach Names Alena Stavnjak as Spa Director
September 10, 2016
September 12, 2016 Miami, Florida: The highly competitve market of luxury hotel brands along South Beach sees trends come and go. For 1 Hotel, the ambition to bring a sustainable, LEED certified 5 star hotel to the area and make it a success has proven that the right leadership can make anything possible. With the addition of Alena Stavnjak as Director of Spa, the outlook for 1 Hotel looks set to be the location to stay for years to come. Alena was the Executive Director of Spa & Wellness at Viceroy Hotel across Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami before her move. Her expertise and natural ability to create the luxury style won her Best ...
