News Top: November
How to Develop a Successful Hotel Concept
Patrick Landman | November 15, 2017
By Patrick Landman A hotel concept is much more than the design and physical layout of your hotel. It also encompasses the service you offer as a hotel management company, ambiance, attention to detail, the type of experience for guests, and the quality of your products. A hotel concept is what you want your hotel to be known and remembered for. Why do you need a hotel concept? Not only do you need one, in the modern hotel landscape you must carry out concept development that sets your property apart as unique and remarkable. Hoteliers face challenges today that hotels from twenty or even ten years ago didn't have to worry about. Compet...
Steel-Framed Modular Construction For High-Rise Hotels: What You Need To Know
Dale Stern | November 29, 2017
By Dale Stern I've spent more than three decades designing and managing the development of high-rise commercial buildings across the U.S., but only recently have I encountered steel-framed modular construction being used to build these types of structures. Although the use of wood-framed modular construction on low-rise buildings has become increasingly common in North America, the modular industry here is still in its infancy. More sophisticated modular products, like steel-framed modular units for high-rises - and the processes behind utilizing them – are still a rarity and have only recently begun to reach our shores from place...
2018 Trends in All-Inclusive Sector
Diego Lowenstein | November 13, 2017
By Diego Lowenstein 1. What sets today's luxury all-inclusive properties apart from the all-inclusive properties of the past? From food and beverage options to upgraded amenities, the luxury all-inclusive sector has greatly evolved in recent years. In the past, many all-inclusive resorts offered a three-star, mid-level experience that, while it was an affordable and attractive option, did not always wow travelers. But today's all-inclusive properties, at least the ones that are doing it right like Hyatt Ziva and Zilara and the AM Resorts brands, are focusing less on delivering a cost-effective all-inclusive experience and more on delive...
Thanks to Erika at Omni Resort at ChampionsGate for a Perfect Front Desk Welcome!
Doug Kennedy | November 6, 2017
By Doug Kennedy As a hotel industry hospitality trainer, I surely have a more critical eye for detail than the average guest, yet I still try to be patient regardless. As a lodging industry conference keynote speaker, I often stay at large resorts that cater to conventions., so I always remind myself to lower my expectations for hospitality, as they are rarely met. Typically, I find myself as the only guest in the lobby (checking outside of the mass arrival times), yet still having to wander through rope lines. After navigating the maze, I stand there staring at the top of someone's head as they seem to obsess on the computer screen. Fi...
U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey 2016/17
Stacey E. Nadolny | November 2, 2017
By Stacey E. Nadolny Hotel development activity correlates directly with the ebbs and flows of hotel-sector performance. As we reached the peak of the current cycle in 2016, developers pursued hotel construction and redevelopment at a pace we haven't seen since 2006 and 2007. HVS has tracked Hotel Development Costs for the last three decades, collecting data from actual hotel cost budgets during our assignments. This year's sample reflects the largest sample HVS has analyzed given the number of hotels in the pipeline, as well as our growing presence in 35 U.S. markets. The data in this survey reflect budgets from 2016. With the availabi...
Tavistock Development Reveals Plans for 2018 Groundbreaking of Lake Nona Resort in Orlando, Florida
Lake Nona | November 16, 2017
(Orlando, FL) NOVEMBER 16, 2017 – Tavistock Development Company, a diversified real estate firm owned by Tavistock Group, today announced details surrounding an iconic performance resort and spa at its master-planned Lake Nona community in Orlando, Fla. Arquitectonica, a leading Miami-based architecture firm, is designing the Lake Nona Resort, which is planned to break ground in 2018 with an opening date set for 2020. Located along the southern shore of Lake Nona and just steps away from the new USTA National Campus – the world's largest tennis campus with 100 courts – the eight-story Lake Nona Resort will feature cutt...
The Changing Needs of Millennials: New Implications for the Travel Industry
MyTravelResearch.com | November 13, 2017
Business travel, loyalty programs, food and beverage consumption, and travel marketing content are already feeling the impact By Bronwyn White Millennials are becoming responsible parents and business travellers with their own unique set of service expectations from hotels, restaurants, destinations, airlines and loyalty programs Millennials – also known as Gen Y or the Me Generation – are moving into a new life stage. The 18 to 35 year olds are becoming responsible parents and assertive business travellers. The travel industry needs to be aware of such changes because millennials are entering into 'peak influence' as busine...
Shifts In Revenue and Expenses Improve Hotel Food and Beverage Profits
Robert Mandelbaum | November 20, 2017
By Robert Mandelbaum Consumer dining trends tend to be more volatile than lodging trends. Recognizing this, hotel managers have made some significant changes in the way they offer food and beverage service to their guests. The traditional three-meal, all-purpose restaurants and room service are disappearing. Taking their place are self-service kiosks and grab-and-go concepts that provide quick-service for in-house guests. These changes help explain recent changes in hotel food and beverage department revenues, expenses, and profits. To understand recent trends in lodging food and beverage sales, we analyzed the financial performance of ...
Sundar Kamak Joins BirchStreet Systems to Head Marketing and Product Strategy
BirchStreet Systems Inc. | November 1, 2017
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – BirchStreet Systems Inc., the leading cloud-based Procure-to-Pay platform serving the hospitality industry, announced the hiring of Sundar Kamak as its senior vice president of marketing and product strategy. Kamak will have direct responsibility for leading and managing BirchStreet Systems marketing, product marketing, pre-sales and solution engineering/consulting activities. He will also act as a senior member of the BirchStreet executive team. "It's a groundbreaking opportunity," Kamak said. "Never before has there been a SaaS company that has delivered such a comprehensive P2P solution for F&B, and ...
Frontier Development Breaks Ground on Homewood Suites by Hilton in Largo, Maryland with Completion Slated for Late 2018
Frontier Development & Hospitality Group | November 6, 2017
LARGO MD (NOVEMBER 6, 2017) -- Frontier Development & Hospitality Group is bringing an award-winning extended stay hotel brand to the DC region. Homewood Suites by Hilton broke ground today -- Monday, November 6 -- at 9103 Basil Court in Largo, MD, a dynamic market just minutes away from the nation's capital. "We're delighted to partner with Hilton to bring the first Homewood Suites to Prince George's County," says Evens Charles, President/CEO of Frontier Development. "This Homewood Suites is designed to be the extended stay hotel of choice for business and leisure travelers who want upscale accommodations...
2018 Digital Marketing Plan & Budget Guide for Hotels
Cendyn | November 27, 2017
Insights for hoteliers One of the most important services we provide for hotels at Cendyn is preparing a yearly digital marketing plan and budget. The whole process includes a significant amount of data, analytics, and research. In this guide, we offer insight on the most important factors to consider when creating your annual plan, including: Historic reporting Expected changes and their potential impacts Goals for the next year What's working & what's new Best bets for the largest impact Download Now ...
Trump Organization Bought Out of Manhattan’s Trump SoHo Hotel
Trump Hotels | November 27, 2017
NEW YORK--November 27, 2017--Trump International Hotels Management and the Board of the Trump SoHo Condominium New York announced today the buyout of the remaining term of the management and license agreement of the Trump SoHo Hotel located at 246 Spring Street in Manhattan. The transition is anticipated to take place by year-end. "The hotel has achieved high ratings and earned many accolades including the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond award for five consecutive years under the management of the Trump Organization and the impressive efforts of the hotel's employees," said Gil Keinan, Vice President of the Board. "Under the seasoned manag...
Meliza Lessard Promoted to Director of Food & Beverage for Three Palo Alto Hotels
The Clement Palo Alto | November 13, 2017
PALO ALTO, CA (November 13, 2017) — The Clement Palo Alto has announced that Meliza Lessard, Director of Food & Beverage at The Clement, is now Director of Food & Beverage for The Clement, The Westin Palo Alto and Sheraton Palo Alto. All three hotels are owned by Pacific Hotel Management, LLC, based in San Mateo, California. Lessard has been Director of Food & Beverage at The Clement since September 2016. Prior to joining The Clement, Lessard was Food & Beverage Director from 2014-2016 at the Claremont Club & Spa, in Berkeley, California, and Assistant Food & Beverage Director at the Fairmont Mayakoba at Pl...
JHM Hotels Transitions into Four New Hotel Companies
JHM Hotels | November 6, 2017
Move Allows Family Founders to Pass the Baton to Second Generation Greenville, S.C., November 6, 201--JHM Hotels, one of the nation's largest hotel owner/operators, today announced that the company will transition into four new independent hotel companies, paving the way for the second generation of the successful family business. Effective November 1, the JHM Hotels' name has been retired, and four new companies have been launched to continue the family's lasting legacy. "The retirement of the JHM Hotels brand allows the numerous family shareholders involved to pursue their own visions and maintain their core values of integrity, relia...
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa Welcomes Doug Sears as New General Manager
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa | November 16, 2017
HONOLULU, HI (November 16, 2017) – Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa announces the appointment of Doug Sears as the new General Manager for the resort. A seasoned Hyatt veteran of 38 years, Sears brings to the resort a deep knowledge of the travel industry and the culture and values of the Hawaiian Islands, having previously served for a total of 19 years in positions at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa as well as Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, and the former Hyatt Regency Waikoloa. Prior to his appointment at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, Sears served as Gener...
S & H Hotel Yarmouth Acquires The Cape Point Hotel in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts for $5.65 Million
November 15, 2017
Nov. 16--WEST YARMOUTH -- The Cape Point Hotel, at 476 Route 28, sold recently for $5.65 million and its new owners plan a renovation that will being the 116-room property up to "the standards of a major national franchise," according to the real estate agent who brokered the deal. The hotel was purchased by S & H Hotel Yarmouth LLC, which Carey Commercial owner Chuck Carey said is part of a partnership that owns about 70 hotels. The deal closed Nov. 6. The property is on 2.95 acres and includes a 50-foot indoor pool, a whirlpool sauna, an outdoor pool, a video game room, an outdoor cabana bar and a picnic and barbecue are...
Fix the Debit Card Problem at the Front Desk
Tucker Johnson | November 9, 2017
By Tucker Johnson Many guests are unaware that at check-in a hotel is just authorizing their credit or debit card, not charging them for their stay. The charge occurs at check-out and is typically done on the same card that was originally authorized and used to check-in. In the case of a credit card, the authorization is easily released; the card is then charged, and the whole transaction is very smooth. This is not the case with the use of a debit card, however. When using a debit card, the initial authorization is also released when the card is charged. The problem occurs with the way the releases are processed. Debit card releases ca...
Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys, Damaged from Hurricane Irma, Elects to Embark on Phased Renovation
Hawks Cay Resort | November 7, 2017
DUCK KEY, Fla. – Nov. 7, 2017 – Hawks Cay Resort today announced that it will launch a renovation that will enhance the overall look and feel of the 60-acre resort. The Resort, which is currently closed due to impact sustained from Hurricane Irma, will reopen in phases throughout 2018 with the grand reopening anticipated to take place during the summer of next year. The Resort will welcome back guests with a soft opening in the second quarter of 2018. The grand reopening is expected to follow before the end of the summer. "We want to thank our friends, fans and guests for their patience since Hurricane Irma," said Sheldon Su...
US Hotel Industry Grows at Half Rate of Overall US Economy
e-forecasting | November 13, 2017
Durham, New Hampshire USA - Business activity for US hoteliers held steady at previous month reading of 118.8 in September according to today's release of the Hotel Industry's Pulse (HIP) indicator. e−forecasting.com's HIP - a predictive analytic which gauges monthly overall business conditions for hotels earlier than any industry indicator - stalled, posting a nil growth rate in September after a flat performance at a rate of 0% in August. The index is set to equal 100 in 2010. September US HIP Hotel Industry Pulse Real Time Index Stalls HIP's six-month growth rate, which has historically confirmed the turning poi...
Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka Appoints Moshi Perera as General Manager
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts | November 1, 2017
Hambantota, Sri Lanka, November 1, 2017 – Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka announces Moshi Perera as the resort's new general manager. Perera will be responsible for managing the 300-room property and will oversee all operations and teams within the resort. Perera will continue to establish Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa as one of the leading luxury hotels in Sri Lanka since its grand opening in June 2016. From London to the UAE, Perera has over twenty years of experience in the global hospitality industry at some of the world's leading hospitality brands. Perera joins the Shangri-La family f...
How Washington DC’s Development Boom Has Impacted Hotel Construction
Dermot Ryan | November 28, 2017
by Dermot Ryan I haven't seen a development boom of this scale in Washington DC since the mid-nineties. These days, it seems that you can't walk a block without passing a construction site or seeing a few cranes on the skyline. And the momentum shows no signs of slowing. Last year, the number of construction permits issued in the District reached a five-year record high of 16,500. As of October 2017, over 15,200 construction permits have already been issued. At this pace, the total number of permits issued by the end of 2017 is likely to exceed last year. These construction permits include over 30 major commercial and residential develo...
CEO Pay in Gaming: Founders vs Corporate Executives
Keith Kefgen, New York | November 6, 2017
By Keith Kefgen Besides technology, the gaming industry has one of the largest percentages of entrepreneurs running their respective companies. Larger than life personalities such as Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson actually cast a shadow well beyond gaming. But that is changing as entrepreneurs are slowly being replace by corporate execs such as Keith Smith at Boyd, Jim Murren at MGM, Tim Wilmott at Penn and Mark Frissora at Caesars. It is interesting to see how CEO compensation has changed as this process has unfolded. Generally speaking, the entrepreneurs took more of the compensation in equity, while corporate executive appear to have...
HMB Management Opens Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown Bethlehem Center Valley in Eastern Pennsylvania
Homewood Suites by Hilton | November 8, 2017
November 8, 2017 CENTER VALLEY, Pa. and MCLEAN, Va - Homewood Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) All Suites portfolio, announced today its newest property, Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown Bethlehem Center Valley. Designed for guests who want to travel on their own terms, Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown Bethlehem Center Valley offers guests all the comforts of home, whether they are traveling for work or enjoying a well-earned getaway. With 114 new suites, the hotel's opening complements rising tourism in Pennsylvania, where spending by tourists grew for the sixth straight year*. "Located a short distance...
Provenance Hotels Names John Price Southeast Regional Director of Operations
Provenance Hotels | November 2, 2017
November 2, 2017 – PORTLAND, Ore. – Provenance Hotels today announced the promotion of John Price to Regional Director of Operations for the company's award-winning independent lifestyle hotels in Tennessee and Louisiana. In his prior role as general manager of the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in New Orleans, Price oversaw the successful renovation, repositioning and launch that earned the property accolades like being named the nation's #7 city hotel by Travel + Leisure in 2016 and the #1 hotel in New Orleans in Conde Nast Travelers' 2017 Readers Choice Awards. In his new role, Price will assume responsibility for Nashv...
Attracting the High-Value Bleisure Traveler: Insights for Hotels
Expedia, Inc. | November 16, 2017
Seattle, Wash., November 16, 2017 - Combining business and leisure travel, known as a "bleisure" trip, continues to trend in the U.S. and it offers big advantages to properties that can attract this high-value guest. The length of stay for a business versus bleisure traveler jumps from 2 nights to 6-plus, according to a recent study conducted by Expedia Media Solutions and Luth Research. Further from the study, a massive 43 percent of business trips in the U.S. are bleisure today – and the key to bleisure business is of course appealing to the business traveler first. Seventy percent of business travelers who tack on a leisure por...
