News Top: August
What’s So Great About Wellness Hotels?
Tucker Johnson | August 28, 2018
By Tucker Johnson When the first wellness-inspired 'EVEN Hotel' by IHG opened in 2014 I remember thinking, "It's not for me but there must be a bunch of people that are looking for something like this." In retrospect, I guess my assessment wasn't too far off as four years later they have only nine hotels open and 14 in the pipeline. These growth numbers seem especially weak when compared to 'avid', IHG's answer to Millennial-focused brands Tru (Hilton) and Moxy (Marriott). The 'avid' brand was announced in 2017, and now has one hotel open and 126 hotels in the pipeline. I often read about new wellness-inspired hotels and amenities a...
Becky Oldani Promoted to Director of Food & Beverage at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids
AHC+Hospitality | August 6, 2018
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – August 6, 2018 – JW Marriott Grand Rapids is pleased to announce the promotion of Becky Oldani from general manager of Ruth's Chris Steak House Grand Rapids to director of food & beverage for the hotel. A nine-year AHC+Hospitality veteran with experience working at Amway Grand Plaza and the Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids, Oldani will now oversee day-to-day operations of the JW Marriott Grand Rapids' three signature food and beverage outlets: six.one.six, Mixology Lounge and jdek. "With experience working at multiple AHC+Hospitality managed hotels and restaurants, Becky is the ideal candidate for th...
Another Move by the OTAs That Is Harmful to Hotel Profitability – What You Need to Know
HEBS Digital | August 22, 2018
By Max Starkov Background: Two recent events in hotel distribution created a mild media buzz, but unfortunately were ignored by some hoteliers and quickly forgotten by the industry: Expedia's Add-On Advantage and Booking.basic. Below we will discuss the issues with these two new initiatives by Expedia and Booking.com, reminiscent of the old Wild West times of hotel distribution and the early years of unruly OTAs, before rate parity and best rate guarantees. Both OTA initiatives use package or wholesale rates in clear violation of package and wholesale rates contract terms. We feel compelled to remind hoteliers how detrimental these new ...
Laurus Corp. Defaults on $23.1 Million Loan for the Marriott San Antonio Northwest; Property Enters Foreclosure
August 21, 2018
Aug. 21--The Marriott San Antonio Northwest hotel that overlooks the intersection of Interstate 10 and Loop 410 is in foreclosure after its owner, Los Angeles investment firm Laurus Corp., defaulted on a $21.3 million loan. The foreclosure comes after three contractors filed lawsuits against the subsidiary that Laurus formed to buy the 296-room hotel in 2014, alleging they weren't paid for nearly $500,000 worth of work they did as part of a $16 million renovation Laurus undertook for the hotel. Several mechanic's liens have also been filed against the hotel over the last few years, including one for $266,116 by Michigan company ...
Virtual Reality – The Next Game Changer for Hotels
Chamberlin Public Relations | August 1, 2018
Virtual reality has quickly gone from niche to ubiquitous in the travel sector, with professionals in every facet of the industry finding a purpose for the technology. Two uses stand out for the hospitality industry — attracting guests to a hotel or destination, and keeping them engaged once they're there. Hotels across the country have already invested in VR, and guests are learning to expect a high-tech experience both before and during their stays. Here are a few ways hotels are already taking advantage of virtual reality to get heads in beds. Virtual Guests, Real Bookings Virtual reality can give potential guests a taste of a ...
Start Thinking About Your Hotel’s “Off-Season” in a Whole New Way
Gary R. Hernbroth | August 13, 2018
By: Gary R. Hernbroth Training for Winners Many things in our world have annual cycles or seasons, such as sports leagues, holiday shopping, the school year, farm crops, you name it. There is usually a slow (or slower) season and a busy (or busier) season, two very different activity levels in play. This industry certainly has its cycles too, where business levels fluctuate between in-season crazy/busy/zany/frantic times and the "wake me up when a customer comes around" slower times. The latter condition is commonly and insufferably known by most as the off-season. "Come and visit during the off-season, our rates are much lower be...
All-Inclusive Hotels: Looking Beyond RevPAR
Dan Skodol | August 13, 2018
By Dan Skodol, Vice President of Revenue Analytics at Rainmaker When people think of all-inclusive resorts, they may conjure up images tied to bland buffet food, endless banana daiquiris, and conga lines of partying singles dancing around the poolside – all for one budget-conscious package price. Today's all-inclusives still tempt travelers with comprehensive packages that include meals, lodging, and entertainment options. But the all-inclusive business model has evolved significantly from its 1950s origins.1 Today, gourmet meals are often made from sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, and served along with handcrafted cockta...
3 Hotel Website Designs That Are Inspiring Guests to Book
Nina Simons | August 16, 2018
By Nina Simons A hotel website is not a pretty banner that showcases the facility's best assets – it's actually the place where the guest experience begins nowadays. Through design and content, the website can present your hotel and the experience it offers effectively, making it your best tool for establishing trust and encouraging direct booking. Now, we can have different opinions on which website "looks good" and which details of its design we like. But our subjective opinions on the intricacies of design are completely irrelevant to the question of conversion. The user experience is what essentially drives conversions, and a good...
Hotel Price Wars – Impact and Value
Hotelivate Private Limited | August 8, 2018
Competition exists in every industry. Regardless of how niche a product/service you create, there will always be someone else who offers (or will eventually offer) something similar in the marketplace. This holds true for hotels as well. The emergence of competitors in a market alters the playing field from time to time and hotels, in an attempt to retain or gain market share, employ various competitive strategies. When faced with intense competition, the easiest one they tend to succumb to, unfortunately, is the 'price war'. Let's take a look at how this war plays out and is it always as harsh as it appears? 'Rate' or 'price' is the am...
Margaritaville Resort Orlando Appoints Scott Robbins as General Manager
Margaritaville Resort Orlando | August 22, 2018
Orlando, Fla. – August 22, 2018 – Margaritaville Resort Orlando, the highly-anticipated $750 million vacation destination set to open in early 2019, today announced the appointment of Scott Robbins (pictured left) as general manager. An industry veteran whose dedication and tenacity has propelled him through his 30-year career across the globe, Robbins will oversee all aspects of the hotel, including food & beverage, spa and fitness operations, sales, and guest relations. "I could not imagine a more exciting place to write the next chapter of my story," said Robbins. "Central Florida is booming, and Margaritaville Resort...
GSA Releases New Per Diem Rates for FY 2019
August 15, 2018
August 15, 2018 - The FY2019 per diem rates are now available. To view FY2019 rates click here and follow the instructions. The FY2019 rates are NOT the default rates until October 1, 2019. FY2018 is the fiscal year through September 30, 2018. 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 2019 Per Diem Highlights GSA establishes the per diem rates for the lower 48 Continental United States (CONUS), which ...
The Key to Hotel Operations Technology Lies in Single Guest Profiles
Kevin King | August 14, 2018
By Kevin King At the recent, CHAT 2018 (China Hotel and Tourism Forum) in Shanghai, Kevin King, COO of Shiji, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on "Hotel Operation Technology". As one of the largest hospitality conferences in China, CHAT aims to explore new ideas for hospitality industry future development with trade professionals. The conference, hosted by Horwath HTL and the China Tourist Hotel Association, was held at the W Shanghai. As the leader of hospitality total solution, Shiji was invited to participate in the forum to discuss the development of the hospitality and tourism industry. The conference attracted mor...
Greystone Hotels Appoints Brian Barden as San Francisco Area Operations Manager
Greystone Hotels | August 8, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 8, 2018) – Eric Horodas, President of Greystone Hotels, announces the selection of Brian Barden as the company's newest San Francisco Area Operations Manager. A motivated and highly-qualified addition to the team, Barden will oversee operations for Greystone's collection of San Francisco hotels, which includes the King George, the Hotel Griffon, and the Inn at Union Square. Before joining Greystone Hotels, Barden held the position of Director of Operations for Aegis Living. Constantly striving for excellence, Barden began his career as a Task Force Consultant for HEI Hotels & Resorts in 2003. Barden h...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 200: Hotel History: Cesar Ritz and Auguste Escoffier
Stanley Turkel | August 8, 2018
By Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Cesar Ritz (1850-1918) & Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935) Cesar Ritz was a Swiss hotelier whose name is more synonymous with hotel luxury and fine food than Conrad Hilton, J.W. Marriott or William Waldorf Astor. Along with his chef de cuisine, Auguste Escoffier, Ritz was already well known across Europe when they were invited to run the revolutionary new Savoy Hotel in London in 1889. The land on which the Savoy stands was bought in 1880 by the impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte to build the Savoy Theatre dedicated to presenting the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas which he produced. Impressed by the ...
Bill Boasberg, CEO of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Resigns After Less Than a Year on the Job
August 22, 2018
Aug. 22--BILOXI -- Just shy of a year since he became president and chief operating officer at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Bill Boasberg resigned Monday. His resignation is effective immediately and was for personal reasons, the Beau Rivage said in a statement. "Bill made this difficult decision after 13 years with MGM Resorts to be able to focus on family priorities," the company said. Paul Heard, Beau Rivage chief financial officer, will oversee the day-to-day management of the Beau Rivage while a replacement is found for Boasberg. Boasberg helped launch sports betting in Mississippi on Aug. 1, the 26th anniversary of t...
Construction of long-awaited Holiday Inn Express in Brunswick, Maryland slated to start soon
August 5, 2018
Aug. 05--Plans for a new hotel in Brunswick that have been in the works for nearly 15 years are beginning to come to fruition. Construction of a four-story, 93-room Holiday Inn Express at Brunswick Crossing on the corner of Lander Creek Drive and Jefferson Pike will likely begin in the next couple of months, according to the city's planning and zoning department. Plans for the hotel -- which will be double the size of the city's only other existing hotel -- were approved in 2002 by the Brunswick City Council. Developers are eying an opening date for the hotel next summer. The addition to the city, the new hotel will accommodate ...
How America’s Motels Became Hipster Havens
JLL Real Views | August 30, 2018
In the heart of Palm Springs, a once nondescript Howard Johnson motel with an on-site Denny's restaurant is now the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, replete with outdoor fireplaces, live music by the pool, a vintage photo booth and Middle East-meets-California fusion dining. The Drifter, once a rundown, dodgy edifice in New Orleans, now offers specialty coffees from La Colombe and poolside craft cocktails for guests staying in minimalist-style rooms. The Vagabond in Miami, a former dive motel built in 1953, today has rooms with hypo-allergenic Italian bedspreads and stenciled geometric wall art. Across the United States, hoteliers and develop...
Marriott, Hilton, and IHG Top Franchise Companies and Brands in U.S. Construction Pipeline
Lodging Econometrics | August 6, 2018
August 6, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH –In the second quarter of 2018, analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that the top franchise companies with the largest construction pipelines are: Marriott International with 1,351 projects/177,743 rooms, Hilton Worldwide with 1,327 projects/147,728 rooms, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 932 projects/95,018 rooms. Development projects in these three franchise companies comprise 66% of total construction pipeline rooms. The largest brands for each of these companies are Marriott's Fairfield Inn with 284 projects/27,584 rooms, Hilton's Home2 Suites by Hilton with 384 p...
Louis T Collection Names Robert C. Hauck Area Vice President and General Manager of The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
August 7, 2018
SINGAPORE – (7 August 2018) – Louis T Collection has named Robert C. Hauck general manager of the iconic Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka and Area Vice President for South Asia. In this new role, Hauck will oversee the operations of the legendary, 156-room historic seafront property in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, while supporting growth objectives and driving operational excellence for Louis T as it accelerates its strategic expansion in South Asia. "Robert is an exceptional hotelier with a career that has spanned some of the world's top luxury hotels and brands", said Mikael Svensson, senior vice president of Lou...
Why Asia Leads the Race in Smart Hotel Technology
Real Views | August 7, 2018
By Serene Lim Robots butlers, keyless entry and virtual reality-enhanced room bookings: Hotel guests are increasingly being greeted by these once futuristic tech features around the world. But hotels in Asia have been upping the ante, with a younger hospitality industry – and many guests in their 20s and 30s – quickly taking to new innovations. In Japan, for instance, self-parking slippers and furniture are able to return to their designated spots after use. A blockchain reward system introduced by Malaysian hospitality firm Hatten Group allows members to collect tokens in exchange for hotel packages and stays. Meanwhile, An...
Midwest Lodging Group Opens Fairfield Inn & Suites Ann Arbor Ypsilanti in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Fairfield Inn & Suites | August 28, 2018
Ypsilanti, MI – August 28, 2018 – The 100-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Ypsilanti, Michigan opened on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 with its smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting décor. Located at 326 James L Hart Parkway, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Ann Arbor Ypsilanti will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Midwest Lodging Group. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Ann Arbor Ypsilanti offers guests convenient access to historic downtown Ypsilanti, the Michigan Firehouse Museum, the Ypsilanti Automoti...
Reuben Brothers Acquires The Curtain Hotel and Members Club in London’s Shoreditch District
Reuben Brothers | August 27, 2018
Freehold of a Luxury Shoreditch hotel and members club is bought by Reuben Brothers who have entered into a long-term agreement with the current team, led by New York hotelier Michael Achenbaum. One of London's newest and most sought-after luxury lifestyle hotels and members' clubs, The Curtain Hotel and Members Club in Shoreditch (www.thecurtain.com), which was brought to the capital in 2017 as a new concept by Michael Achenbaum, also of Gansevoort Hotel Group (www.theghg.com ), has been sold to the Reuben Brothers. The sale is purely transactional and no changes will be made to the management or operations of the hotel and members clu...
Shiji Grows Distribution Platform Into International Hotel Market
Shiji Distribution Solutions | August 28, 2018
CHINAonline now known as Shiji Distribution Solutions is formally opening to the international hotel markets with dedicated teams in the US and Europe ATLANTA – Shiji launches Shiji Distribution Solutions team to accelerate international growth. Founded in 2007, CHINAonline was the first connectivity provider in China and the first to build connections between international hotel chains and Chinese OTAs. Today with over 100,000 hotels and 100+ channels, CHINAonline exists as Shiji Distribution Solutions and is formally opening to the international hotel markets with dedicated teams in the US and Europe, in addition to the Asia Pac...
Spire Hospitality Appoints Dawna Comeaux as Senior Vice President
Spire Hospitality | August 31, 2018
CHICAGO (Aug. 31, 2018) – Spire Hospitality, one of the nation's leading hotel management companies, proudly announces the addition of Dawna Comeaux as its senior vice president. Comeaux brings a wealth of experience having guided the sales, revenue management and operation teams of one of the largest third-party hospitality management companies. Alongside Chris Russell, Spire Hospitality's new chief executive officer, Comeaux will play a key leadership role in maximizing value through improved operations, sales, service and overall company objectives. "Bringing Dawna onboard to an already strong leadership team is indicative of t...
Data, Data and More Data – The Most Valuable Currency in Hospitality
Carson Booth | August 1, 2018
By Carson Booth With massive amounts of data now available to hotels, it's safe to say that all future technologies will rely on data and integrations. The need for an independent system to collect and connect all existing data for hotels has become inevitable. Enter the data platform, but what does that mean and how does it work for hotels? Data analytics. Data intelligence. Harmonized data. Big data. We've all heard about the endless facets of data, but data is essentially worthless unless it is properly stored, intelligently related to the various parts, and made accessible to users and other systems. Yes, we can see and store the da...
