News Top: July
5 Reasons Why Hotel Business Intelligence Is the Future
Hotelogix | July 23, 2018
It should come as no surprise that hospitality business intelligence is fast becoming the most sought-after technology in the hotel industry. And why not! Expecting miracles by merely collecting data is not the smartest way to go about doing things, today. Exploiting all the available BI technologies to derive insights that are most relevant to you, at the right time is what will fetch you results. But here's the catch. Even though it has become a buzzword, have we ever truly understood what Business Intelligence means, and why adoption of BI in hotel industry is as important? What is Business Intelligence? "The term Business Intelligen...
Overview: The Increasing Costs of Hotel Customer Acquisition
Allison Handy | July 9, 2018
By Allison Handy When we talk about red flags and concerns about increasing acquisition costs, some might be inclined to dismiss any worries and point to continued growth and prosperity—both in the industry and across the larger economy. And it is certainly true that we are in the midst of a sustained period of strong performance. The Prosperity Trap: Consider the following recently released data from TravelClick. As of this May, committed occupancy for the second quarter of 2018 through the first quarter of 2019 is up at 1.6% compared to a year ago. The pace of new commitments is continuing to edge upward, increasing by 0.1% over...
The Secret Sauce to Profitability for All-Inclusives: Understanding Total Guest Value
Dan Skodol | July 17, 2018
By Dan Skodol, Vice President of Revenue Analytics at Rainmaker The evolution of all-inclusive resorts reads a lot like the fairytale of Cinderella. From humble beginnings catering to a dollar-stretcher crowd – with mediocre buffet food, mid-level accommodations, and events centered around boisterous pool activities – to today's transformation into a bright, rising star in the hotel industry. From 2011 to 2014, demand for all-inclusives rose from 8 to 14 percent,1 and now they are one of the fastest growing segments in vacation lodging. Hundreds of all-inclusive resorts now span the globe, moving beyond beachside havens to i...
Christian Metzner Appointed General Manager of W Kuala Lumpur
W Hotels Worldwide | July 16, 2018
Kuala Lumpur, July 2018 – W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International has announced the appointment of Christian Metzner as General Manager of the highly anticipated W Kuala Lumpur, as the iconic brand prepares to debut its unique style of modern luxury in the Malaysian capital this summer. Metzner recently joined W Kuala Lumpur from The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi, where he has been the General Manager since 2014, and brings with him a wealth of experience having been part of Marriott International for the past 15 years. German-born Metzner's career with Marriott International began in 1996 at the Arabell...
Palisades Hospitality Group Appoints Edmund Sulzman as President of Mosaic Hotel Group
Mosaic Hotel Group | July 10, 2018
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (July 10, 2018) - Mosaic Hotel Group (MHG), operators of an award-winning collection of boutique, curated hotels and subsidiary of Palisades Hospitality Group (PHG), announces the appointment of Edmund Sulzman as president of MHG. Sulzman is responsible for overseeing the hotel group's current portfolio of six boutique hotels, as well as spearheading developments and upcoming hotel launches in California and Mexico. "With exciting new developments on the horizon, this is a great time for Edmund to be back in the Bay Area leading Mosaic Hotel Group and ensuring memorable stays for guests at all of our properti...
Hotel Housekeeping On Demand: Marriott Cleaners Say This App Makes Their Job Harder
July 1, 2018
July 02--It was supposed to make the housekeepers' jobs easier. The iPod they got every morning featured an app that would tell them which rooms they had to clean. They wouldn't have to worry about losing the piece of paper where they kept track of their day. They wouldn't have to dial a code into the room telephone to let the front desk know the room was done -- now, they could just press a button. But two years later, housekeepers at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown say the new tool, which allows managers to give them room assignments on-demand, has actually made their job harder. It takes away their ability to organize ...
Flagship Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Slated for October 2018 Opening on Gulf of Papagayo in Costa Rica
Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica | July 19, 2018
Barbados, July 19, 2018 – An iconic lifestyle brand born of the 1990's, Planet Hollywood is excited to announce its foray into the all-inclusive space with with its first resort, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, slated to open October 1, 2018 on the Gulf of Papagayo Gulf in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province. Located at the base of tony, exclusive Peninsula Papagayo, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica is set amidst one of the most extraordinary coastal landscapes and biological corridors on the planet. A hill-side property, the resort takes advantage of its natural setting with a design based on the understanding of the local en...
Ritz-Carlton operating as Great Bay Resort during hurricane repairs
July 10, 2018
July 11--ST. THOMAS -- The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is operating under a different name while hurricane repairs are under way. The USVI/Caribbean Emergency Housing and Safe Waste Summit is scheduled for Aug. 13-14, and attendees are directed to reserve a room at "the Great Bay Resort (formerly the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas)," according to the website www.UsviSws.com. The Ritz-Carlton website is not accepting reservations, and the property, located at 6900 Great Bay, also is listed on a Marriott website as "Great Bay Resort." The website lists the property as a "new hotel" under the Fairfield Inn & Suites ...
Seeing Hotel Industry Threats as Opportunities Opens Up Revenue Strategy
Mark Brandau | July 23, 2018
By Mark Brandau The hospitality universe is constantly shifting and, more importantly, growing. In his opening message at RSS 2018, Duetto CEO Patrick Bosworth encouraged the hoteliers, asset managers and technologists gathered there to see opportunities for better Revenue Strategy, where others might only see obstacles. Properties are fragmented across several different stakeholders. Hotel brands and online travel agencies are racing to consolidate their size and power. Distribution could change significantly if Google, Facebook or Amazon go from having a toe in the water to jumping into the deep end in earnest, as Airbnb has done. "Th...
BirchStreet Systems Announces Steve Markle as the New CEO to Drive Scale, Growth and Execution
BirchStreet Systems, Inc. | July 24, 2018
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – BirchStreet Systems Inc., the leading cloud-based Procure-to-Pay platform serving the hospitality industry, is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Stephen Markle to Chief Executive Officer. Markle will replace Sushil K. Garg, Founder and CEO, who will remain Chairman of the Board and will continue in his role driving the Company's technology innovations and working with its major enterprise customers. In his new position, Mr. Markle will work closely with the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors to drive the Company's strategic plan to scale for revenue growth and profitability. As CEO, Mr. M...
How Hotels Are Upping Their Game on Food and Drink
JLL Real Views | July 23, 2018
By Emily Perryman From partnering with world-renowned chefs to letting guests order room service via Amazon Alexa, hotels are increasingly offering innovative food and beverage (F&B) experiences. F&B is an important revenue generator for hotels, with overall consumer spending in the U.S. alone rising by 5.5 percent annually since 2011, according to Technomic. The biggest driver of F&B, however, is a desire among hotels to tap into today's experience-led economy. "Having a memorable experience is especially important among today's young people," says Alexis Marcoux-Varvatsoulis, Consultant – Hotels F&B Specialist at...
The Inside Story of Hilton’s New High-Tech Hotel Rooms – and What It Will Mean for Travelers
Hilton | July 30, 2018
Imagine being able to set your favorite TV channels, optimal room temperature and turn the lights off from the comfort of your hotel room bed, all on your own mobile device. It's not a pipe dream: Welcome to Hilton's Connected Room. Through the award-winning Hilton Honors app, guests can use their mobile device as the in-room remote to control their television programming, lighting, and temperature controls –personalizing their preferences just as they do at home. Josh Weiss, Vice President of Brand and Guest Technology at Hilton, explains how and why Connected Room came to life and where it's going next: Q: What inspired the ...
Vail Marriott Mountain Resort Launches $25 Million Renovation
Vail Marriott Mountain Resort | July 25, 2018
VAIL, Colo. (July 25, 2018) – Currently underway, Vail Marriott Mountain Resort will launch the property's approximate $25 million reimagination this summer with a new guest room experience and transformed meeting spaces. The complete makeover will infuse modern amenities and luxurious Vail sophistication into the landmark resort. The comprehensive project is geared towards travelers with high-tech attributes and indoor-outdoor design that embraces the year-round destination with its chic, mountain modern aesthetic. "With this extensive reimagination, we are looking to infuse Vail's charm throughout the resort and truly connect gu...
Markos Tzamalis Appointed General Manager of JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa | July 23, 2018
VENICE, Italy (July 23, 2018) - JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Markos Tzamalis as the resort's new General Manager. In his role, Tzamalis oversees all the day-to-day operations of the luxury private island resort located on Isola delle Rose in Venice, Italy. Tzamalis brings a wealth of luxury hospitality experience to his role as General Manager. He arrived at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa from the Sheraton Rhodes Resort, where he was the General Manager for four years and consistently delivered results that contributed to the property's success. Prior to his position as General Manage...
Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide Honor 35 Hotels
Historic Hotels of America | July 31, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC – July 31, 2018 11 hotels have been inducted into Historic Hotels of America® and 24 hotels have been inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide® in 2018. The hotels accepted into Historic Hotels of America date from the 1770's to 1965 and include hotels located in eight states. Six of the 11 hotels are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and one has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Hotels approved for induction into the prestigious Historic Hotels Worldwide registry represent seven countries and date from the 11th century to the early 1930s. His...
In Focus: Malaysia – Reinvigorated Opportunities
Jeremy Teo | July 5, 2018
Jeremy Teo and Hok Yean Chee The Federation of Malaysia, located in Southeast Asia, comprises 13 states and three federal territories covering a total area of 329,847 square kilometres across Peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia. Malaysia's population is approximately 31.4 million (2017 government estimate) with 62% being of Malay heritage. The country's diversity is reflected in the share of different ethnic groups, such as Chinese, Indians and Indigenous, in its total population. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the direct and total contribution of Travel & Tourism to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (G...
Staying Aware of New Housekeeping Legislation
Larry Mogelonsky | July 18, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) The housekeeping department more often than not represents the heart of a hotel's operations as a clean room is an essential part of guest service delivery. Moreover, it's backbreaking work with wages that aren't exceedingly high, while the room attendants themselves can be put in compromising situations as they roam the corridors by themselves. It would appear, though, that labor unions throughout the United States are starting to gain ground with new legislation in several territories that mandate enhanced protocols for housekeepers' safety. Given this momentum, no matter your mu...
Five Real Ways to Personalize the Guest Experience
Chamberlin Public Relations | July 2, 2018
In spite of the impressive growth of loyalty programs and the stacks of membership cards we all have in our wallets, travelers don't want to be just a number in a business' computer. Hotel guests want to be recognized as individuals with unique tastes when they check in, and throughout their stay. While it used to be hard to personalize the guest experience, the abundance of information that guests share both directly and indirectly with hotels has made it easier than ever to learn what a guest's preferences are, and to personalize their stay to their tastes. 1. Use the property management system and loyalty program to keep notes on wha...
MMI Hotel Group Executive Team Grows with Addition of Dave Jenner and Rich Byrd
MMI Hotel Group | July 21, 2018
Founded in 1956, MMI Hotel Group has been involved in the advancement of an industry, experienced numerous economic cycles, and established a service culture that continues to exceed the ever-increasing expectations of travelers. More than sixty years of serving others could wear others down, but this full-suite hotel management company has enjoyed the preservation of its values, financial performance of its portfolio and tenure of its team members over the long haul. The combination of a solid track record and a new generation's energy are what attracted new executives to the company. MMI recently gained two, new key leaders who are al...
Reviving the Spirit of Innovation in the Hospitality Industry
Olivier Harnisch | July 12, 2018
By Olivier Harnisch The hospitality sector is one of the world's most dynamic industries. Yet over the past decades it has lost much of its innovative edge, given the advances in technology that are fast-transforming the way we live and work. There are new models in the business, no doubt, but in pure-play hospitality, there is a definite need to look at how technology can be better and more effectively integrated. In the 1950s and 1960s, hotels stood out for the 'modern' conveniences they offered – from design to technology incorporation, hotel rooms had an advantage over private homes with the provision of amenities such as colo...
Dream Hotel Group Partners With Cartel Properties for Dream Atlanta, Buckhead Slated to Open in 2021
Dream Hotel Group | July 11, 2018
NEW YORK, NY (July 11, 2018) – Renowned hotel and brand management company Dream Hotel Group today announced plans to debut Dream Atlanta, Buckhead in 2021. Designed by Atlanta-based architecture firm Cooper Carry, Dream Atlanta, Buckhead, will feature 200 guest rooms and suites, 90 private residences, a dynamic spa and wellness concept and five highly activated dining and nightlife venues, including a 17,000-square-foot rooftop pool bar and lounge. The dual-tower development will also include 80,000 square feet of additional office and retail space. "We found a great partner in Cartel Properties, a company that plays an important...
New Orleans’ Le Pavillon Hotel Appoints Parker Sams as General Manger
Le Pavillon Hotel | July 18, 2018
New Orleans, La. (July 18, 2018) – Le Pavillon Hotel – a landmark gem located in the heart of New Orleans, blending the glamour of its storied history and curated décor with the allure of its modern design – welcomes Parker Sams as General Manager. Drawing on more than a decade of hospitality experience, Sams will direct all operations of the historic, remodeled 226-room hotel, elevating service standards and enhancing the renowned guest experience at Le Pavillon Hotel. "We are so excited to welcome Parker to the team at Le Pavillon Hotel," said Jale Hashimi, divisional vice president of operations for Remington...
IHG Signs With Pearl Grand Tower Hotel for InterContinental® Colombo Slated for 2019 Opening in Sri Lanka
IHG | July 16, 2018
India ,16th July 2018: InterContinental Hotels Group® (IHG), one of world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Pearl Grand Tower Hotel (Private) Limited, to bring back the InterContinental brand to the Sri Lankan capital. Due to open in 2019, InterContinental® Colombo will feature 307 rooms including 47 suites. This iconic development will be spread across 480,000 sq. ft. and the luxury hotel is expected to be the tallest hotel tower comprising 42 floors, in Colombo 3, an important and established commercial area of the city. InterContinental® Colombo will be located centrally along Galle Road, o...
Is GDPR Legislation Coming to U.S. Hotels?
Jim Butler | July 10, 2018
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® 10 July 2018 Privacy legislation is dominating the news cycle these days–and it's unlikely to slow down. Now, as U.S. companies are adjusting to the requirements of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, the State of California has introduced new laws that will apply to California companies or companies doing business in California. Senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® and Co-Chair of the Firm's Cybersecurity & Privacy Group Bob Braun discusses the implications of the new legislation and how it will impact hotels, below. California Adopts th...
Soon-to-Open Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Appoints Frederik Farina as Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage
Hyatt Regency | July 5, 2018
BANGKOK (July 4, 2018) — A 47-year-old Sicilian who has worked in Southeast Asia for 16 years is now the Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage at the first Hyatt Regency in Bangkok. Frederik Farina assumed both roles last month at Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, which is scheduled to open this fall not far from where he started with Hyatt Hotels in 2005 — Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. "It's great to be back," said Farina, who spent most of the last seven years in similar roles at Hyatt Regency Danang in Vietnam. "I was in Bangkok for almost 10 years the first time around. It's like coming home." While Farina will...
