Hoteliers: An API-First PMS Is Integral to Your Property’s Success – Here’s Why
Nicole Dehler, Vice President of Product Management StayNTouch, A Shiji Group Brand | October 31st, 2019
News Top: October
Condé Nast Traveler Reveals Winners of the 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards
Condé Nast Traveler | October 7, 2019
The World’s Best Hotels, Resorts, Spas, Countries, Cities, Islands, Airlines, Airports, Trains, and Cruise Lines Ranked by 600,000 Readers New York (Oct. 7, 2019) – Condé Nast Traveler today announced the winners of its annual Readers' Choice Awards, ranking the best hotels, resorts, destination spas, countries, cities, islands, trains, airlines, airports, and cruise lines in the world. The Readers' Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. In its first year as one global brand, Condé Nast Traveler combined the annual surveys in the U.S. and U.K. into one global Re...
Partnership Between Three Wall Capital and Guggenheim Investments Completes Acquisition of 18-Asset Extended Stay Hotel Portfolio
Three Wall Capital | October 22, 2019
NEW YORK -- October 22, 2019 -- A partnership between Three Wall Capital and Guggenheim Investments, the global asset management and investment advisory business of Guggenheim Partners, completed the acquisition of an 18-asset extended stay hotel portfolio. Clients managed by Guggenheim Investments also provided the mortgage debt for the portfolio acquisition. The national portfolio includes hotels located in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia, and the assets are affiliated with brands in the Hilton, IHG, and Choice systems. The hotels are all well positioned in their respective markets and are proximate to dens...
Leadership Lessons: Pull the Weeds
Bryan K. Williams | October 29, 2019
By Dr. Bryan K. Williams Do you know what annoys a gardener more than anything else? A weed. They hate weeds. As soon as a weed rears its head the gardener pulls it out! In my analogy, the "gardener" is the leader and the "weed" is not the problem employee... it is the undesirable behavior (blaming other depts, bad attitude, etc). If your goal is to have a thriving garden (team), here are some keys to note regarding weeds: *You never have to try to make weeds grow. *Weeds don't start big. They always start small. *It's always easier to pull weeds when they are small. *Weeds are a sign of neglect. Whenever you see weeds, it mean...
10 Items to Include in Your Hotel Marketing Budget
Stephanie Smith | October 21, 2019
By Stephanie Smith Now is the time to ask for funds for your 2020 hotel marketing budget. Here are some must-have digital marketing items to include and how to think through that process. Note for branded hotels: be sure you understand what the brand does for you, and what you need to handle at the hotel level. The brand sets aside funds for branding but generally does not make its way down to promote specific hotels. For Marriott, you have the option to opt into Marriott Digital Services. If you are a Hilton, you are automatically enrolled in Hilton Advance and can opt into Hilton Amplify and Elevate. Gather Reports and Analyze Tre...
Aimbridge Hospitality Acquires Canadian Hotel Management Company, Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, Ltd.
Aimbridge Hospitality | October 11, 2019
DALLAS (October 10, 2019) – Aimbridge Hospitality, North America’s largest independent hotel investment and management firm, announces its Canadian affiliate has acquired Canadian condo-hotel management company, Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, Ltd. Founded in 2003, Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, Ltd., manages luxury destination resorts across western Canada. The company ensures each managed property maintains its unique individuality with a corporate mission of exceptional experiences for guests, owners and employees. “I am excited to pass the torch to Aimbridge Hospitality, a company just as dedicated to innovation and revenue g...
Is Your Hotel Budgeting for Voice Technology?
David Berger | October 22, 2019
New revenue opportunities and operational efficiencies derived from a well implemented guestroom voice assistant are measurable By David Berger October 22, 2019 -- Seventy-nine percent of hoteliers and 45 percent of travel brands reported voice-enabled technology investment plans this year. Devices from Amazon, Google and Smartbeings are competing for a spot on the bedside table as more and more hotel brands and independent boutique hotels work with solutions providers on new ways to use these smart speakers to engage guests, drive revenues and improve operational efficiencies. Hoteliers on the fence about adding voice to th...
What to Know About Wellness Travel Trends (And How They Influence Hospitality)
Nina Simons | October 21, 2019
Not so long ago, the hospitality industry was the one setting travel trends. The hotels and their offer defined what guests will do, while every country highlighted its greatest landmarks. But now, this situation has drastically changed. People are well-informed and know what they want to experience in their travels. So very quickly, travelers became the ones dictating the direction hospitality market will take and now the offer is richer than ever. Wellness travel trends have singled out as the ultimate experience offering an escape from the chaotic technological society. It is a perfect way to recharge and get in contact with nature and ...
How Hotels Can Overcome the 3 Worst Guest Pain Points
Karen O'Neill | October 16, 2019
By Karen O'Neill, President-Americas at Knowcross There is little debate that guests today are more 'experience-loyal' than 'brand-loyal,' and guest experience is quickly becoming a far more influential factor in building guest satisfaction, revenue, and loyalty. Yet, many hotels are blowing it with long lines, slow responses, maintenance issues, poor service quality control, and unhelpful or uninformed staff. Another problem lies in that many guests will say nothing, then follow up their stay with a rant on social media or a damaging review on TripAdvisor. So how can hoteliers readily anticipate and remedy the common pain points experi...
Aimbridge Hospitality and Interstate Hotels & Resorts Complete Merger
Aimbridge Hospitality | October 28, 2019
DALLAS and ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 28, 2019 - Aimbridge Hospitality ("Aimbridge"), North America's largest independent hotel management firm, announces that it has completed its merger with Interstate Hotels & Resorts ("Interstate"), a leading independent multinational hotel operator on October 25, 2019. The combined company will manage a portfolio of more than 1,400 branded and independent properties in 49 states and 20 countries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With this merger, Aimbridge and Interstate will create enhanced offerings for hotel owners benefiting from a scaled, global platform: enhanced data and analy...
3 Reasons You Can’t Trust RevPAR
HotStats | October 14, 2019
Revenue per available room, or RevPAR, has historically been the most widely used metric for benchmarking performance in the hospitality industry. Its success as a key performance indicator or KPI is the result of its efficiency and simplicity. RevPAR is efficient because it combines the results of both occupancy and average rate into one number. And it’s simple, because all you need to calculate it is occupancy and average rate: RevPAR = Occupancy * ADR But its simplicity and straightforwardness conceal its faults and limitations. Here are three reasons you can’t put all your eggs in the RevPAR basket: 1. RevPAR does not measure...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 221: Hotel History: Hotel Florence
Stanley Turkel | October 22, 2019
By Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Hotel Florence The Hotel Florence is a former operating hotel located in the Pullman Historic District on the far south side of Chicago, Illinois. In 1880, the railroad pioneer George Pullman purchased a site of 3,500 acres near Lake Calumet on the Illinois Central Railroad. With demand exploding for his sleeping railroad cars. Pullman decided to build the largest factory to produce them and a company town to house his employees and their families. Pullman believed that if he built a town without saloons and agitators, his workers would be forever loyal to the Pullman creed. Pullman City ultimately...
Hospitality Meetings and Events Professional Predicts 2020 Meeting Trends
Stefanie Rowe | October 9, 2019
As the current Director of Sales and Marketing at Hotel EMC2, which opened in 2017, I have seen it all when it comes to hotel meeting and events. Throughout my current role, I have learned how important it is to incorporate the property’s identity to provide a unique atmosphere. As an art and science inspired hotel, we have many of one-of-a-kind features including our on-site library of 12,000 books and robot concierges, which I make sure to highlight when meeting potential clients. From small corporate meetings to elaborate receptions, I have been a part of the planning process from beginning to end for a diverse array of events. Throughou...
Winter Opening Planned for New AC Hotel Atlanta Airport Gateway Led by General Manager Jeff Fowler
AC Hotels by Marriott | October 30, 2019
ATLANTA (October 30, 2019) – AC Hotels by Marriott® announces today the newest addition to its Atlanta portfolio, AC Hotel Atlanta Airport Gateway, with plans to open this winter in the developing Gateway Center in College Park, Ga. Set just beside the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) and a few steps off of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s ATL SkyTrain, the new-build property provides unprecedented convenience and affordable luxury for both weekday and weekend Atlanta travelers alike. AC Hotel Atlanta Airport Gateway is thoughtfully designed for today’s entrepreneurial business travelers alongside vac...
Construction Underway on Ambiente, North America’s First Landscape Hotel
Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel | October 23, 2019
SEDONA, Ariz. (Oct. 23, 2019) – North America’s first “landscape hotel” is now underway with sitework and construction amidst the red rocks of Sedona, Ariz., offering a new way for travelers to embrace sustainable tourism in one of the rarest and beautiful places in America. Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel, will begin to take shape following the official site dedication yesterday by developer Two Sister Bosses and the City of Sedona. The highly anticipated hotel features 40 cube-shaped, luxury guest Atriums elevated above the ground by steel piers and encased in bronze glass to give the appearance that the structures are floating. Ambi...
Q3 2019 U.S. Lodging Market Update
Daniel Lesser | October 30, 2019
By Daniel Lesser While the U.S. continues to be in the midst of its longest uninterrupted economic expansion in modern history, slowing growth metrics along with abundant geopolitical uncertainties are heightening perceived risk of impending recession. Concerns include: • U.S. GDP growth is decelerating and during the near-term increases are anticipated to remain modest; • The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 125.1 in September, down from a revised August 2019 reading of 134.2; • Trade with Canada and Mexico falls into the same uncertainty now gripping U.S. relations with China and Europe. A failure of ...
NYC’s The Mark Appoints Manuel Martinez as New General Manager
The Mark Hotel | October 24, 2019
New York, NY -- Oct. 24, 2019 -- The Mark is pleased to announce the appointment of Manuel Martinez as General Manager. With over 20 years of experience in international luxury hospitality, Mr. Martinez has held leadership positions at some of the most prestigious hotels in the world. He began his career at The Palace Hotel in Madrid, Spain, later moving to The Essex House and Ritz-Carlton Central Park South hotels in New York City and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastián, Spain. His extensive experience includes roles as Hotel Manager at The St. Regis New York and General Manager at The St. Regis Washington D.C. Most recently, he was G...
Why Universities Are Bringing Hotels on Campus
October 29, 2019
Universities are regularly pulling in visitors for big games, graduations and symposiums. Then there’s the steady flow of prospective students that come to tour, and families that need a place to stay when visiting their children. Often, there’s a shortage of accommodation nearby. So, to help fill the gap, universities have started building their own hotels. “Given their size and the academic and athletic events generated by many institutions, there are real opportunities for colleges and universities to build hotels on campus,” says Matthew Do, Senior Vice President at JLL. “We’re finding this approach can make a lot of...
Vesta Hospitality Acquires Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa in Astoria, Oregon
Vesta Hospitality | October 7, 2019
Vancouver, Washington, October 7, 2019 – Vesta Hospitality announced today that it has acquired Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, an independent luxury boutique property on Astoria, Oregon’s Columbia River Basin. The announcement was made by Vesta Hospitality Chairman & CEO Rick Takach. Built on the site of the former Union Fish Cannery, the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa projects 600 feet into the Columbia River, offering guests unparalleled views of a real working river, as well as views of Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and nearby Washington. Each room has a private balcony and is lavishly appointed with a fireplace, hardwood floors a...
Joseph Mattioli Appointed General Manager of Montage Deer Valley
Montage Deer Valley | October 9, 2019
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. -- October 9, 2019 -- Montage Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Joseph Mattioli as general manager of Montage Deer Valley. With over 40 years of luxury hospitality and culinary experience, Mattioli will be responsible for all daily operations of the Park City, Utah resort. "I am delighted to welcome Joseph Mattioli to Montage Deer Valley as general manager and an executive leader of the resort," said Jason Herthel, president and chief operating officer of Montage International. "Joseph brings decades of impressive hospitality experience earned across the U.S. and abroad, and we are honored to h...
McWhinney to Begin Construction of New Hyatt Centric Hotel in Austin, Texas
McWHINNEY | October 30, 2019
AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 30, 2019) – McWHINNEY a Colorado-based real estate investor and developer with expertise in mixed-use, hospitality, commercial, multifamily and residential assets, will begin construction next month on Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, a new full-service lifestyle hotel in a prime downtown Austin location. Expected to open in Fall 2021, Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin will offer 246 modern guestrooms, including a nearly 1,400 square foot Presidential Suite that will also be available as private event space. The hotel will be managed by Hyatt. The hotel’s interior spaces will be inspired by Austin’s b...
Edwardian Hotels London Plans June 2020 Opening of Flagship Hotel, The Londoner
Edwardian Hotels | October 22, 2019
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- October 22, 2019 -- The newest property and flagship hotel under Edwardian Hotels London, The Londoner will open in June 2020 as the world’s first super boutique hotel, situated within the heart of London’s West End in the world-famous Leicester Square neighborhood. Boutique in feeling yet staggering in scale, The Londoner offers a multifaceted experience combining the best aspects of a luxury boutique hotel with a thoughtful range of bespoke meetings and events spaces, to deliver an enhanced new concept that meets the needs of travel buyers and corporate travelers. The hotel will set a new standard for contempora...
Vision Hospitality Group Breaks Ground on Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Downtown Huntsville, Alabama
Hampton by Hilton | October 9, 2019
HUNTSVILLE, AL – October 9, 2019 – Chattanooga-based Vision Hospitality Group, Inc., is pleased to announce the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in downtown Huntsville Alabama has broken ground. The 150-room hotel marks Vision’s entrance into the Huntsville market and is slated to open in early 2021. “We are excited to partner with Hilton to develop the Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Huntsville,” said Mitch Patel, Vision Hospitality Group President & CEO. “Huntsville continues to see significant growth with new developments such as the Toyota/Mazda and Blue Origin manufacturing plants, which create a demand for qua...
Gold Key | PHR Appoints Michael Platt as Managing Director of Its Cavalier Resort
The Cavalier Complex | October 16, 2019
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (October 16, 2019) — Gold Key | PHR, a leading hospitality company based in Coastal Virginia, announces the appointment of Michael Platt as Managing Director of the company’s Cavalier Resort. Platt will bring his extensive hospitality management expertise to the sprawling premier hospitality Complex. In his newly appointed role, Platt will oversee the day-to-day operations for the company’s award-winning hotel, The Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club, the soon-to-launch Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, six signature food and beverage outlets, and private residences. “We are very fortunate to have s...
Routier Unveils MessageHub™ for Hoteliers, a Centralized, Omni-Channel, AI-Powered, Guest Messaging and Communications Hub
Routier | October 3, 2019
Unified communications hub leverages AI to drive in-stay guest engagement and increase guest satisfaction, while streamlining hotel operational efficiencies. NEW YORK & TEL AVIV, October 3, 2019 — Routier, Inc., a leading provider of AI-enabled hotel operations, marketing and guest engagement solutions, today unveiled MessageHub™, a cloud-based unified communications platform that empowers hoteliers to truly connect, engage and communicate with their guests during their stay. With seamless integration to the hotel CRM, PMS and CRS, MessageHub™ enables multilingual, AI-driven, interactive two-way communication and provides a devic...
9 Travel Trends and Habits of Baby Boomers
Alan Young | October 3, 2019
By Alan E. Young Anyone who has watched Dirty Dancing remembers the iconic line, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” Well, hoteliers, what about baby boomers? Over the last few years, millennials have captured a great deal of attention across industries, with hospitality being no exception. Their unique travel behaviors and impressive buying power have generated sizeable interest from hoteliers around the globe, who are eager to tap into their psyche and earn the loyalty of this generational group. With that said, however, millennials only account for those born between 1980 and 1999. Although influential, they do not comprise t...
