Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 224: Hotel History: The Red Lion Inn
Stanley Turkel | December 23rd, 2019
IHG® to Bring InterContinental and Holiday Inn Hotels to Shanghai Pudong International Airport in 2024
IHG | December 18th, 2019
News Top: December
Pacifica Hotels Acquires Best Western Seacliff Inn in Aptos, California
Pacifica Hotels | December 10, 2019
More recently, the 148-room property has been owned and managed by Frank E. Giuliani, Lori Giuliani; and Kathy Graff at The Bei Scott Company Pacifica Hotels, a family owned business with a proud legacy of owning and operating boutique hotels in coastal communities such as Half Moon Bay, Cambria, and Pismo Beach for over 40 years, is expanding further along the California Coast with the acquisition of the Best Western Seacliff Inn in Aptos, California. Frank Sr. and Colleen Giuliani, TJ and Shirley Scott and Norman Bei were key partners in the initial development and operation of the Seacliff Inn in the 1980’s. More recently, the prop...
PAR or POR? A Guide to Interpreting Hotel Operational Ratios / Laura Resco
HotStats | December 23, 2019
Hospitality data is only as good as the ratio used to calculate it. Is it better to be on PAR or on POR? We explain the differences between per-available-room and per-occupied-room bases Data is king, but futile if you don’t know how to best interpret the numbers. Asking yourself, “What’s the best way to analyze my data?” is too broad and only adds to the confusion. A better approach is to start by setting goals for your analysis. What specific information do you want to extract from your data? When you have a clear understanding of this, you can choose the most relevant ratios accordingly. The two most popular ways to calculate...
Delray Beach Marriott Launches Renovation and Rebranding to Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa
Opal Collection | December 16, 2019
The newest property to join the Opal Collection, Opal Grand is perfectly poised in the heart of Delray Beach offering 277 guestrooms including 89 suites. The iconic Delray Beach Marriott announces the transformation to the Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa. Delray’s premiere oceanfront resort has been redesigned as a new contemporary hotel with spectacular ocean views, huge suites, more function space and parking. Opal Grand brings a new standard of luxury to Delray Beach’s premier location on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and the Ocean. The hotel creates a new paradigm of opulence in the reinvention of a beloved icon of modern...
4 Useful Positioning Strategies for Your Independent Hotel
Kacey Bradley | December 13, 2019
By Kacey Bradley People at the head of hospitality management know that work never seems to slow down. There are always things happening during the day to day activities, plus events to plan for and business decisions to be made. No one can do everything at one time, which is why sometimes management may forget to watch the market. Keeping an eye on the market is crucial. It dictates how a hotel is doing, who their guests are and how they should market themselves. In order to place your independent hotel in a more advantageous position, try these four useful positioning strategies. They'll help your business compete with other hotels...
Women in C-Suite: Navigating Invisible Obstacles
Juliette Boone | December 5, 2019
By: Juliette Boone, Boulder “Rather than a glass ceiling, many female executives are forced to navigate an invisible obstacle course of workplace and professional barriers to advance in the industry.” In 2013, some colleagues and I published a research study in the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly concerning the lack of advancement of women into the C-Suite in the hospitality industry. Our work was borne out of a curiosity about the reported career obstacles that modern female executives faced. In the present era of “Me Too,” it seems appropriate to revisit that research to shine a light again upon the issues that might hold women ...
NewcrestImage Acquires SpringHill Suites in Downtown Dallas, Texas
December 17, 2019
NewcrestImage has expanded its portfolio by acquiring the 148-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott on Lamar Street in the heart of the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas. The company will now operate four hotels and almost 600 rooms in downtown Dallas. The three other properties are a dual-brand 128-room AC Hotel and 121-room Residence Inn, and a 176-room Hampton Inn & Suites. “The SpringHill Suites has a prime location in a vibrant neighborhood that attracts both business and leisure travelers,” explained Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. “It complements our existing properties just a few blocks away an...
Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts Selects IDeaS G3 RMS to Optimize Revenue Across Seven Properties
IDeaS | December 12, 2019
Seaside Resorts implements IDeaS’ automated, demand-driven intelligence to streamline and optimize its revenue management processes IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the world’s leading provider of revenue management software and services, announced today it will implement IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) across Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts’ independent seven-property portfolio. Looking to improve a labor-intensive, manual revenue management process, Seaside Resorts will integrate IDeaS with Maestro’s rate rules engine, as well as complement its NAVIS system, to enhance its total connected hotel technology ecosystem. Automat...
Peachtree Hotel Group Launches Renovation and Rebranding of Four Points by Sheraton Knoxville Cumberland House
Peachtree Hotel Group | December 12, 2019
KNOXVILLE, TENN. DECEMBER 12, 2019 - Officials of Peachtree Hotel Group today announced the temporary transition of the Four Points by Sheraton Knoxville Cumberland House into the Cumberland House Knoxville while the hotel completes a $12 million, approximately six-month renovation to completely transform the hotel. Upon completion of the renovation in the early summer of 2020, the hotel will be rebranded as the Cumberland House Knoxville Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. “As we enhance the hotel to meet the requirements of upscale travelers to the Knoxville area, we will maintain operations as usual under a temporary, independent, bo...
Study Reveals 77% of Travelers More Likely to Book When Business Owners Respond to Reviews
TripAdvisor | December 13, 2019
Ipsos MORI Survey Shows 79% travelers said Personalized Responses from Owners Make Reviews More Useful, Highlighting the Importance of Management Responses 89% of Travelers Said a Thoughtful Response to a Negative Review Improved Their Impression of a Business, Showing the Effectiveness of Owners Responding to All Types of Reviews 84% of Travellers Said Polite and Respectful Response from Business Owners is Important to Them When Reading Reviews, and as a Result, They Plan a Better Trip NEEDHAM, Mass., Dec. 13, 2019 -- New research released today from Ipsos MORI in partnership with TripAdvisor has revealed that customers are mo...
Leadership Team Named for All New AC Hotel by Marriott Washington DC Downtown
AC Hotel Washington DC Downtown | December 3, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC (December 3, 2019) – OTO Development, the owner and operator of the all new AC Hotel by Marriott Washington DC Downtown, named the leadership team responsible for guiding the hotel and staff through opening and into operation. Nasur Almutairi has been named the general manager and Martha Valenzuela will serve as director of sales. Almutairi comes to the hotel after serving as general manager at two other Washington D.C.-area properties, the Capitol Hill Hotel and the Residence Inn Tyson’s Corner. He also served as the assistance general manager at three previous properties. “It is very exciting to be opening a c...
Six Warning Signs Your Hotel Is Overdue for a Renovation
Cicero's Development Corporation | December 2, 2019
PLAINFIELD, IL, DECEMBER 2, 2019 -- Perhaps you've been there before: After checking into a hotel, you head to your room and open the door only to find yourself in a decor best described as Early American Garage Sale. Carpets are dirty and frayed. Wallpaper looks dingy. The bathroom has mold. You vow never to return. It can happen to the best hotel. Hotels that enjoy higher occupancy experience greater use of their guestrooms, translating into more wear and tear. The environment also plays a role. For instance, resorts near the beach will be adversely impacted by sand, saltwater, and the sea air that can destroy carpeting, rust metal fu...
2020 United States Hotel Industry Outlook
Rodney Clough | December 19, 2019
By Rodney Clough The U.S. economy continues to hold strong, showing great resiliency. The overall strength in consumer spending and confidence has benefited the U.S. hotel industry, as well, driving gains in hotel demand, although not at quite a high enough level to balance the new supply that opened in 2019. As such, occupancy is forecast to decline slightly in 2019, while ADR gains will keep RevPAR change in the positive column. Projects that began construction when new supply starts intensified a couple of years ago are now readying to begin welcoming guests in 2020. Demand should continue to grow, but is not expected to keep pace wi...
Most Companies Host Their Holiday Parties in January, According to Tripleseat’s Recent Survey
Tripleseat | December 5, 2019
Award-winning hospitality software company releases top trends for venue bookings around this holiday season CONCORD, Mass., Dec. 5, 2019 -- Tripleseat, the leading web-based sales and event management platform, released today a holiday booking trend report highlighting the most popular days of the week, month, specialty cocktail, theme, among others. In surveying event and sales managers at venues using their software, Tripleseat found that majority of companies wait to hold their holiday company parties until January and most are scheduled on either Thursday or Saturday. With the mission to better understand how companies are plannin...
Randi Milewski Takes Helm as General Manager at Hammetts Hotel Opening Spring 2020 in Newport, Rhode Island
Main Street Hospitality Group | December 18, 2019
Most recently Milewski served as Director of Sales for the NYLO Hotels – Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Warwick, RI. Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality Group, announces the appointment of Randi Milewski as general manager of the new Hammetts Hotel in Newport, RI. Scheduled to open in spring 2020, Hammetts Hotel is Main Street Hospitality’s first management contract in Rhode Island. “We are delighted to have Randi Milewski join the leadership team of Hammetts Hotel,” said Eustis. “As an integral component of the launch and success of this property, her knowledge of Newport and broad experience in boutique hotels make...
20 Ways to Create an Amazing Customer Service Experience in 2020 (Part One)
Shep Hyken | December 13, 2019
By Shep Hyken With all the focus on how technology—including AI, data, personalization and more—can drive a better customer experience, I wanted to shift my focus back to basics. To this end, I recently published an article in Forbes about ways to create an amazing customer experience in 2020, and I thought it would be enjoyed by our Shepard Letter subscribers as well. It was quite long, so I decided to split it into two parts. If you want to read all twenty right away, you can do so here. Here are the first ten of twenty ideas as to how you can up your customer service game in 2020. Stay in touch. Too often companies focus all t...
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Presents Hospitality Leadership Summit 2020
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration | December 13, 2019
Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Hospitality World Friday & Saturday, March 20-21, 2020 Connecting established global leaders in hospitality with rising stars of the industry for this symposium designed to inspire, empower, and equip the next generation. (December 13, 2019) Boston, MA – Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) presents the SHA Hospitality Leadership Summit 2020, Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Hospitality World, Friday & Saturday, March 20-21, 2020 at The Hotel Commonwealth. This symposium features a dynamic line-up of speakers, sponsors, and panel topics on pressing issues and curr...
OTO Development Acquires Howard Johnson by Wyndham St. Pete Beach Resort Hotel
OTO Development | December 11, 2019
SPARTANBURG, SC (December 11, 2019) – OTO Development has jumped into the seaside hotel market in St. Pete Beach by purchasing the Howard Johnson by Wyndham St. Pete Beach FL Resort Hotel. The purchase was finalized on December 5 between the Reagan Family Trust and OTO Development. “We are continually surveying the market in key travel destinations for opportunities to expand our portfolio,” said Corry Oakes, CEO of OTO Development. “We are excited to have this St. Pete Beach property as part of our family and getting started on renovations to improve the guest experience.” Preston Reid, previously a senior director with JLL, ...
Politics to Steer Hospitality Landscape in 2020
AETHOS Consulting Group | December 17, 2019
(December 17, 2019) - AETHOS Consulting Group's UK and US Managing Directors have gathered their collective thought leadership and now share predictions, concerns and issues for the hospitality industry in 2020. For this monumental year, the issues, unsurprisingly, relate to finding labor, particularly in light of politics across the globe, and technology. Some of AETHOS's observations include: Development Programs Should Deliver More Predictable Talent Pipelines and Consistent Organizational Bench-Strength. Says AETHOS Managing Director and head of the firm's workplace psychology and 20|20 Assess survey and assessment practice, Jame...
The Hotel General Manager: Time for a New Job Description?
Demian Hodari | December 16, 2019
The hotel General Manager plays a crucial role in the hotel's performance. However his autonomy may vary depending on his education and the type of hotel he works in. By Demian Hodari The hotel General Manager (GM) is the person ultimately responsible for a hotel’s performance. A GM’s ability to make decisions and take action will thus have an important impact on his or her hotel’s operational and strategic results. GMs, however, may not always have the autonomy to make these critical decisions as the hotel’s owner and/or hotel management company (HMC) may in fact limit this through their own decision-making interventions. Th...
Garden of the Gods Resort and Club Appoints Thomas Hartwell as Executive Chef
Garden of the Gods Resort and Club | December 4, 2019
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – DECEMBER 3, 2019 – Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, Colorado Springs’ luxury resort, club and spa, announces the appointment of Thomas Hartwell as Executive Chef. Hartwell brings a distinguished career spanning the globe within the hospitality and culinary arts fields. Most recently, Hartwell served as Chef de Cuisine at Edgewood Tahoe Resort following culinary appointments at Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa, The Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder, ZuZu Napa and The Meritage Resort and Spa among others. He is also a gold-medal accoladed American Culinary Federation (ACF) competitor. As Executive Chef, Hartwel...
PHI Hotel Group Acquires Pacific Gateway Hotel at Vancouver Airport
PHI Hotel Group | December 17, 2019
Surrey, BC – December 17, 2019 – PHI Hotel Group today announced the acquisition of the 7-acre Pacific Gateway Hotel, Vancouver Airport. The 382 room Pacific Gateway Hotel is located on Sea Island, just minutes from Vancouver International Airport. Amenities include close to 25,000 sq. feet of versatile meeting and function space, a 158-slip marina, on a nearly 5-acre waterfront on the Fraser River, several food and beverage options, including waterfront dining and patio at The Deck Kitchen + Bar. “We are very excited about adding the Pacific Gateway Hotel to our portfolio,” said Sukhi Rai, President of PHI Hotel Group. “Our f...
Northwood Hospitality, Implements the Entire BirchStreet Systems Procure-to-Pay Automation Portfolio – Including New BirchStreet Pay – to
BirchStreet Systems, Inc. | December 4, 2019
NEWPORT BEACH, California - BirchStreet Systems, the market leader in procure-to-pay software for the hospitality industry, announces today that Northwood Hospitality has implemented BirchStreet’s full suite of modules, including new BirchStreet Pay. Northwood Hospitality already leveraged BirchStreet’s eProcurement and AP Automation modules. By adding Invoice Management, Capital Projects Management, Labor Management, and Recipe & Menu Management, Northwood Hospitality will have an end-to-end solution that improves spend compliance, drives back office efficiencies, expands food and beverage margins, and more. The company anticipate...
American Hotel Income Properties to Acquire 12 Premium Branded Hotels for $191.0 Million
American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP | December 2, 2019
AHIP also confirms completion of the previously announced profitable sale of the Economy Lodging portfolio for gross proceeds of $215.5 million Acquisition of the 12 Premium Branded hotels at an approximate 8% capitalization rate The hotels, all built in the last five years, are being acquired below replacement cost Transaction follows completion of the sale of the Economy Lodging portfolio; AHIP is now exclusively a premium branded hotel REIT The acquisition will be financed using proceeds from the sale of the Economy Lodging portfolio and a new interest-only fixed-rate term loan (All numbers are in U.S. dollars unless ot...
Teaching Sustainability in STEM and Hospitality Programs: Different Approaches…. Same World!
Laura Zizka | December 13, 2019
Sustainability is increasingly present in everyday life: what is the best way to include it in university courses to properly prepare students for the real world. By Laura Zizka It’s curious to write an article on two seemingly diametrically opposed educational programs. On the one hand, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM); on the other hand, hospitality. At first glance, there seems to be nothing in common with these studies. STEM students are scientists, engineers, techies, and mathematicians who base their decisions on facts and rigor; hospitality students ooze ‘people’ skills and find practical solutions to imme...
Makeready Appoints Leadership for New Emeline Hotel Opening in Charleston
Emeline | December 13, 2019
Charleston, S.C., December 13, 2019 – Makeready, a hotel, restaurant and retail operator and management company, together with Rockbridge, designs and delivers experiences with a particular point-of-view: creating a true sense of community led by people that believe in the mission of making personal connections. As the collection introduces Emeline, a brand new concept opening Spring of 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina, two key personnel have been added to the team to lead the launch. Brad Harvey, General Manager at Emeline An innovative and forward-thinking hospitality executive, Brad Harvey brings diverse expertise and contagi...
