News Top: February
SH Group and Barry Sternlicht, 1 Hotels Founder and Starwood Capital Chairman / CEO, Introduce 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, New York
1 Hotels | February 16, 2017
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (February 16, 2017) – 1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand, today opens the doors of its third property and first ground-up development, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Remaining true to 1 Hotels founder, Barry Sternlicht, core philosophy, "The world around us is beautiful, and we want to keep it that way." The property cultivates the best of eco-conscious design, sustainable architecture, cause-oriented partnerships, and unrivaled service. Situated at Pier 1, just south of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, in Brooklyn Bridge Park with sweeping waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline and the ...
Hilton Worldwide Reports a Q4 2016 Loss of $382 Million; Net Income for Full Year was $364 Million
Hilton Worldwide | February 15, 2017
MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ("Hilton," or the "Company") (NYSE: HLT) today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2016 results. The Company completed the spin-off of Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. ("Park") and Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. ("HGV") (the "spin-offs") in January 2017. All results herein present the performance of Hilton without giving effect to the spin-offs, unless otherwise specified. Additionally, all share and share-related information presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-3 reverse stock split of Hilton's outstandi...
Existing Hotel vs New Construction Hotel – Which is the Better Investment?
February 23, 2017
Hospitality entrepreneurs usually enter a dilemma when it is time to expand their portfolio of assets, particularly hotels. They are confused whether to invest in a newly constructed hotel or to invest into the renovation of an existing one; investments should be made after measuring the pros and cons of each situation. Sometimes looking at the bigger picture is more relevant than the current performance of an existing asset, so it's better to evaluate each option thoroughly. There are two types of investments available for hotel entrepreneurs; either investing in an existing hotel or laying down the groundwork for a newly constructed o...
Puerto Rico’s Landmark El San Juan Hotel Reopens Following $60 Million Renovation; Joins Curio – A Collection by Hilton
IMPRINT Hospitality | February 7, 2017
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico and MCLEAN, Va. - El San Juan Hotel, a landmark luxury, lifestyle and entertainment property in Puerto Rico, has joined Curio - A Collection by Hilton. As Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) rapidly-expanding global collection of distinctive upper upscale hotels, Curio caters to passionate travelers seeking local discovery and authentic experiences. Asset managed by LEÓN, MAYER & Co., who is also a co-owner of the hotel, and co-managed by IMPRINT Hospitality and Aimbridge Hospitality, the 388 guest room hotel marks the first property in Puerto Rico for Curio - A Collection by Hilton. "With the reopening today ...
Another Hit for the On-Line Travel Agents
David Lund | February 1, 2017
By David Lund The on-line travel agency world started exactly 20 years ago when Expedia was born inside Microsoft. Expedia with a valuation of over 10 billion at its spin-off was the most successful business born inside the software giant. OTA's add a valuable way for the hotel to reach customers that they just don't have the ability to by themselves. However, of late the costs that hotels are seeing on their P&L's has their managers and owners pulling their hair and scrabbling to find a way out, and a way to reduce these margin-eating commissions. What has made the on-line travel agency so popular is twofold. One, the hotels and th...
AccorHotels Reports Strong Earnings Growth in 2016; Outlines New Platform on AccorInvest
AccorHotels | February 22, 2017
Revenue up 0.9% to €5,631 million (+2.2% LFL) EBIT up 4.6% to €696 million (+3.8% LFL) Net profit up 8.1% to €266 million Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels, said: AccorHotels has posted an excellent performance for 2016 in a challenging environment, in particular with record levels of EBIT and numbers of hotel rooms opened. Thanks to the efforts made by our teams around the world, we have implemented strong operational levers, which enabled growth in earnings to outpace that in revenue. We have ventured out to conquer new markets and offer new services thereby consolidating our ...
Daniel Donahue Appointed President of Saunders Hotel Group
Saunders Hotel Group | February 15, 2017
Boston, MA: The Saunders Hotel Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel G. Donahue as President, where he will be responsible for all areas of management, operations and marketing for all Saunders Hotel Group's properties. With more than 25 years of experience, Donahue most recently served as V.P. and General Manager, Lenox Hotel. "Dan has been an exceptionally strong leader and member of our team for a number of years," said Jeffery Saunders,CEO of Saunders Hotel Group. "We are a family owned and operated business and our mission is rooted in our people and our community. Dan has always exemplified those ideals and inspir...
Travel +Leisure It List 2017: The Best New Hotels in the World
Travel + Leisure | February 15, 2017
by Travel + Leisure Staff At the end of every year, we at Travel + Leisure are busy taking stock of the past 12 months and putting together the It List, our annual collection of the best new hotels around the globe. This year, the competition was fiercer than ever. The 44 hotels and resorts ahead are making waves for different reasons—some for killer design, others for culinary bona fides or an unbeatable location—but all are inspiring the rest of the hospitality world to take note. The 2017 It List covers 31 countries and six continents. It took us to dizzying new heights (the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman sits on a c...
Houston Hotel Market: Will 2017 be Up or Down?
Nuresh Maredia | February 27, 2017
By Nuresh Maredia With Super Bowl 51 in the history books, Houston hotels are back to facing an uncertain future. The big question to answer in 2017 is, will this be a year of ups or downs for the local hotel market? 2016 was not a good year for the Houston hotel market as hotel occupancies declined 9.1%, ADR declined by 3.6%, and overall RevPAR declined by 12.4%. It was the worst performing among the top 25 hotel markets in 2016. Compared to Houston, the Dallas hotel market recorded a RevPAR increase of 5.7% in 2016. Despite Houston being such a diverse market, the recent downturn in the hotel market highlights the fact that the energy...
What Makes A Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star?
February 24, 2017
When Forbes Travel Guide's expert inspectors visit a property, they anonymously test it against up to 800 rigorous standards. Only the best of the best achieve the coveted Five-Star, our highest rating. With our 2017 Star Award winners announcement on February 22, we give you a peek into what it takes to earn a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star. Top-notch room service A Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel pampers you during room service. Did the order taker think about all aspects of your meal? Was the food beautifully presented, original and thoughtfully plated? Were there any elements of luxury, such as fresh flowers, a glass of wine pour...
Forbes Travel Guide Shares the 2017 Star Rating Awards with 175 Hotels Across the Globe Earning Five-Stars
Forbes Travel Guide | February 22, 2017
175 Hotels Across the Globe Achieve Coveted Five-Star Award; 38 New Properties Receive Top Honors for First Time Launching in 20 New Destinations, with the Largest and Most Diverse Group of Winners, Awards Continue Global Expansion into Australia and Pacific Rim Bali Emerges as a Luxury Hot Spot with Three Five-Star, 10 Four-Star and Three Recommended Hotels; Two International Hotels Earn A Record-Breaking Six Five-Star Awards ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2017 -- Forbes Travel Guide today unveiled its 59th list of worldwide Star Rating recipients, continuing its exceedingly selective approach for recognizing the world's finest properties and r...
What’s Your Opinion on Tattoos in the Hotel Workplace
Larry Mogelonsky | February 15, 2017
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) This is a topic you should definitely review with your HR director. Does a sentence appear in your hiring policy to specify whether or not a candidate is permitted to have any visible tattoos? Or, while unwritten, have you or someone within your organization ever dismissed potential applicants outright on this basis? If you have answered affirmatively to either of these two statements, it may be time to re-evaluate your hiring practices. While discriminatory cases involving skin art have yet to reach the spotlight in our court systems, modifying an outright ban in your internal policies is ...
David Arraya Appointed Resort Manager Four Seasons Resort Lanai
February 10, 2017
LANAI, HAWAII (February 10, 2017) – Tom Roelens, general manager, Four Seasons Resort Lanai, has announced the appointment of David Arraya as resort manager. Arraya joins Four Seasons Resort Lanai following a number of senior management positions at luxury resorts across the United States and Asia, such as EAST Miami, EAST Hong Kong, Fontainebleau Miami and The Pierre in New York City. "We are delighted to welcome David to Lanai," said Mr. Roelens. "We provide our guests exceptional hospitality, unforgettable experiences and have a genuine desire to share our culture and land with all who visit Lanai. We are confident that David's...
U.S. News & World Report Releases 2017 Best Hotels Rankings
U.S. News & World Report | February 6, 2017
Washington, D.C. – Feb. 6, 2017 – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced the 2017 Best Hotels. The rankings evaluate more than 3,000 luxury hotels across the USA, the Caribbean (now including Havana, Cuba), Canada and Mexico. In the Best Hotels in the USA rankings, Chicago's The Langham jumped to No. 1, followed by Hawaii's Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at No. 2 and The Jefferson, Washington, DC at No. 3. U.S. News awards the top 10 percent of ranked hotels with a Gold badge. These three U.S. cities are home to the highest number of Gold badge-winning hotels...
Atlantis, Paradise Island Appoints Audrey Oswell as Chief Operating Officer and Wendy Blaney as Senior Vice President of Sales
Atlantis, Paradise Island resort, The Bahamas | February 24, 2017
PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS (February 24, 2017) – Atlantis, Paradise Island announces the appointments of Audrey Oswell as Chief Operating Officer and Wendy Blaney as Senior Vice President of Sales for Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. Under the leadership of Howard C. Karawan, President and Managing Director of Atlantis, Paradise Island these dynamic executives will be working towards a new vision for the iconic resort. Set to re-launch in June 2017, Atlantis will introduce enticing experiences, lifestyle partnerships and distinct new amenities that will speak to a new generation of families, couples, friends and ...
The Hotel Group Expands Portfolio with Addition of Two Montana Properties
The Hotel Group | February 23, 2017
Seattle, WA, February 23, 2017 — The Hotel Group, a nationally recognized Top 40 hotel management company, announced today the addition of the 92-room Residence Inn by Marriott Billings and the 150-room Radisson Colonial Hotel Helena bringing its third-party management portfolio to 38 properties in 11 states. Both properties have been recently renovated. The Residence Inn by Marriott Billings, in Billings, Montana offers guests a choice of extended stay accommodations from a deluxe studio, one or two-bedroom suites. The pet-friendly property features fully equipped kitchens with modern appliances, flat screen TVs, free Wi-Fi along...
Mike Wehrle Named Culinary Director of the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne
February 24, 2017
LUCERNE, Switzerland, February 24, 2017 – Mike Wehrle has been appointed Culinary Director of the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Switzerland's newest luxury resort that will open this summer. He brings 23 years of experience with Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels in Europe, Southeast Asia and the U.S. Chef Wehrle will be responsible for the resort's 12 restaurants and bars which will feature French cuisine á la Escoffier and César Ritz, Swiss and regional Alpine cuisines, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Thai menus. He will also oversee the healthy cuisine in the spa as well a...
Salem Partners and Mandarin Oriental Plan Hotel to Anchor Mana’olana Place Under Development in Honolulu
Salem Partners | February 7, 2017
LOS ANGELES-February 7, 2017-Salem Partners, a leading Los Angeles-based investment bank and wealth management firm, has partnered with luxury hotel group Mandarin Oriental with intention to open a hotel and branded residences currently under development in Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Targeted to open in early 2020, the Mana'olana Place development provides an unmatched opportunity to introduce Mandarin Oriental's luxury hospitality to one of the most popular tourism and business destinations. Mandarin Oriental, Honolulu will be the crown jewel in Mana'olana Place, a 36-story mixed-use tower with extensive gardens and publi...
U.S. Virgin Islands Sees Tourism Decline as Region Overall Sees Growth
February 10, 2017
Feb. 10--The Caribbean Tourism Organization on Thursday reported historic tourism numbers for 2016, but the U.S. Virgin Islands saw a decrease in the annual number of visitors to the territory last year. In the region, "tourism continues to break new ground, surpassing 29 million arrivals for the first time in our history, and once again we have grown faster than the global average," said Hugh Riley, secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization in remarks released Thursday. "Despite political uncertainties, security and economic challenges in our main source markets, tourist arrivals to the Caribbean increased ...
Olshan Properties Appoints Vincent Bucci as Managing Director of Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa | February 24, 2017
Marco Island, FL (February 24, 2017) – Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa announced today the appointment of Vincent Bucci, as its new Managing Director. With an award-winning track record and an extensive background in hotel and food & beverage operations, he will be responsible for ensuring the successful re-launch of the storied 30-year-old resort as it finalizes a $40 million-dollar transformation re-defining island style with modern elegantly designed accommodations, a redesigned pool, and a brand-new dining experience, The Deck at 560 Bar & Restaurant. "Vincent's reputation for outstanding leadership and effe...
First Hospitality Group, Inc., Names Sylwia Oak General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Airport Mall of America
First Hospitality Group | February 20, 2017
Rosemont, Ill., February 20, 2017 – Rosemont, Illinois-based First Hospitality Group, Inc. (FHG) announced today that it has promoted Sylwia Oak from Director of Operations to General Manager at its Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Airport Mall of America. First Hospitality Group, Inc. President and CEO Robert Habeeb made the announcement. In this role, Sylwia will be responsible for running a smooth and profitable operation, and will serve as the key point-person for guests and associates, ensuring that service and hospitality standards are maintained. She will also oversee the hotel sales efforts and address all daily guest and ass...
Rob Palleschi Joins G6 Hospitality as New Chief Development Officer to Lead Global Expansion
G6 Hospitality LLC | February 15, 2017
DALLAS, Feb. 15, 2017 -- G6 Hospitality, a top hotel management company known for its iconic economy lodging brands, Motel 6 and Studio 6 in the U.S. and Canada, and Hotel 6 and Estudio 6 brands in Latin America, announced today the appointment of Mr. Rob Palleschi as Chief Development Officer (CDO), effective February 7, 2017. The newly created executive role is the result of the company's successful expansion and rapidly growing presence in international markets such as Latin America and India. In less than five years, G6 Hospitality signed nearly 700 franchise partners and opened 560 properties. In order to accommodate the increa...
Customer Service is the ‘New Marketing’
Lodging Interactive | February 1, 2017
PARSIPPANY, NJ – February 1, 2017 Lodging Interactive, an award winning digital marketing and social media engagement agency exclusively serving the hospitality industry, published a new article on Hotel Business Review explaining how customer service has become the NEW marketing. "The hotel business, frankly like any other business, is about creating relationships, human-to-human and it's your job as a hotel operator to humanize your hotel and your brand in order to gain the highest level of customer service as perceived by your guest", says DJ Vallauri, Founder and President of Lodging Interactive. The article highlights that pe...
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Welcomes Robert Purdy, New General Manager
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort Spa and Casino | February 1, 2017
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (Feb. 1, 2017) – Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino announces the appointment of Robert Purdy as the property's new general manager. A veteran in the hospitality industry, Purdy brings 31 years of hospitality experience with an extensive background in sales, marketing and operations. Purdy most recently served as general manager at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa in Colorado. "I am thrilled to join the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe family," says Purdy. "The resort and the area's recreational offerings are second to none, and I look forward to working with the fantastic hotel team here to promot...
The Kimpton Hotel Zamora, St. Pete Beach, Appoints Paul Romero as Director of Sales & Marketing
Kimpton Hotel Zamora , St. Pete Beach | February 9, 2017
St. Pete Beach, Fla. – February 9, 2017 – The Kimpton Hotel Zamora is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Paul Romero as the Director of Sales & Marketing of its boutique, urban oasis on St. Pete Beach. In this role, Romero will work to spearhead Zamora's marketing initiatives and sales plans for the hotel, oversee group, catering and banquet activities and work with the revenue team to increase total revenue and sales. Romero joins The Kimpton Hotel Zamora with more than seven years of hotel industry experience, most recently serving as a Senior Sales Executive at Hilton St. Petersburg. He also held previous r...
