Fairmont Zimbali Resort, Turns to Rainmaker, a Cendyn company, for Deeper Insights Into Their Business
Cendyn | September 30th, 2019
Radisson Hotel Group Signs With Europlan for New Radisson Blu Resort in Mazury Lakes, Poland
Radisson Blu | September 26th, 2019
News Top: September
AI in the Hospitality Industry: Pros and Cons
Donald Fomby | September 18, 2019
By Donald Fomby Over the last several years, AI-powered technologies like voice- and text-enabled assistants and chatbots have become a usual part of our lives. In fact, we should be approaching the point where we would be totally okay with AI managing our homes. Even though sci-fi movies have led us to believe that AI’s ultimate purpose is to take over humanity, its main goal is to serve us and make our lives better. Serving people and providing them with pleasant hospitality as some of the goals of AI make it a perfect fit for the hospitality industry. So, instead of taking over and telling us what to do, AI can assist hospitalit...
Oak Tree Development Group Opens The Wilbur Lititz, Set in the Former Wilbur Chocolate Factory
Tapestry Collection by Hilton | September 12, 2019
LITITZ, Pa. and MCLEAN, Va. - Today, The Wilbur Lititz, Tapestry Collection by Hilton joins Tapestry Collection by Hilton’s growing collection of stylish, upscale hotels. Drawing inspiration from its origins as a chocolate factory, The Wilbur Lititz will offer guests the unique experience of staying in the former Wilbur Chocolate Factory, originally opened in the early 1930s. The property is conveniently located next to the Wilbur Market, a unique food hall, and additional downtown eateries and bakeries, including the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery and the Wilbur Chocolate Museum. “The Wilbur Lititz is the brand’s first hotel in Penns...
JA Lake View Hotel Dubai Is the First Hotel in the Middle East to Voice-Enable Every Guestroom With Volara-Powered Alexa Solution
JA Resorts and Hotels | September 24, 2019
Volara’s conversation management tools, guest privacy protections, and powerful integrations, empower the hotel staff to fulfill guest requests instantly, securely, and on voice command (Dubai, September 24, 2019) — With its Grand Opening this week, JA Lake View Hotel Dubai becomes the first hotel in the Middle East to feature Amazon Alexa voice assistants powered by Volara in every guestroom. The solution, powered by Volara’s conversation management software and integrated with Amadeus Service Optimization and VDA Group, ensures guests of JA Lake View Hotel Dubai can receive personalized service and adjust the comforts of their gues...
8 Things That Affect Hotel Room Value
Kacey Bradley | September 6, 2019
By Kacey Bradley Your pricing strategy should be variable — something that can change and shift with time. You can't anticipate the market and the consumers within it with a rigid structure. To approach hotel room value, you need to consider a variety of factors, not just one. While some components are within your control, others are not. Discover eight things that affect hotel room value below. 1. The Economy It may seem like common sense, but the economy has a significant effect on hotel room prices. Over the last 20 years, the industry saw two major dips — one in 2001, following September 11, and a second in 2008 after the glob...
NewcrestImage Breaks Ground on AC Hotel by Marriott in Downtown Phoenix
NewcrestImage | September 5, 2019
Dallas-based NewcrestImage broke ground today for its first hotel in the western United States – a 199-room, 13- floor AC Hotel by Marriott in the heart of downtown Phoenix that is a joint venture with Las Vegas-based LaPour Partners. The hotel, scheduled to open in early 2021, is located at Arizona Center, a million-square-foot mixed use site that features shopping, entertainment, dining, and prime office space. “This property is a powerful new crown jewel for downtown Phoenix, and it is an important step in expanding our company’s leadership nationwide, beyond our traditional home in the south and southwest,” said Mehul Patel,...
Stolen Coffee Pot Wins New Orleans Local $15,000 Roosevelt Hotel Stay
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts | September 6, 2019
In celebration of its 125th anniversary, hotel held “giveback” contest and drew for grand prize winner NEW ORLEANS - (Sept. 6, 2019) - The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, is excited to announce Leigh Guglielmo, a New Orleans local, as the winner of its Historical Giveback Contest in honor of the hotel’s 125th anniversary. Guests were encouraged to bring in any and all items they took from the hotel in the past. The deadline to return an item was July 1. Guglielmo has won a seven-night stay in a Presidential Suite, private dinners cooked by the hotel’s executive chef, spa experiences and more. More than 70 items were...
The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center Set to Open This November in the New Orleans Arts and Warehouse District
The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center | September 12, 2019
NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 12, 2019) - The National WWII Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of its signature Hotel, The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton, which will officially open its doors this November. Bringing a storied era in American history to New Orleans’ Arts and Warehouse District, The Higgins Hotel and its state-of-the-art conference facility will serve as a premier destination for travelers as part of the exclusive Curio Collection by Hilton, the brand’s first in the state of Louisiana. The newest addition to the Museum’s growing campus is named after Andrew Higgins, the founder a...
U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey 2018/19
Luigi Major | September 23, 2019
By Luigi Major In 2018/19, the national lodging market continued to climb to new heights, albeit at a more moderate pace than in previous years. In 2018, hotels in the United States operated at the highest occupancy and average rates ever recorded, with both metrics registering additional growth during the year-to-date July 2019 period. While the pace of new hotel development and the entrance of new supply has remained tamed when compared with the previous cycle, this pace has been accelerating, as evidence by increases in supply in 2018 and 2019, as well as the number of hotel rooms under construction as of mid-year 2019. Through year-end...
BENCHMARK® Announces the Top Ten Dining Trends for 2020
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company. | September 9, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is looking to the future with its just-released Top Dining Trends for 2020. The trends were observed by Benchmark’s executive chefs and culinary experts at the company’s 80 luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants coast to coast, off shore, and internationally. “More than recognizing trends, Benchmark properties are evolving food and beverage programming to not only remain relevant amid consumer demand but ensure we are operating responsibly,” says Olivier Gaupin, Benchmark’s Director of Culinary Operations. Patrick Berwald, Benchma...
Revenue Management to Revenue Strategy: The Changing Role of RM in Hotels
Kevin Duncan | September 10, 2019
By Kevin Duncan, Senior Director, Strategic Commercial Initiatives at The Rainmaker Group, a Cendyn company With U.S. hotel occupancy levels registering record-breaking performance, hoteliers must get creative when it comes forging a path toward higher rates and greater profits. And they increasingly look to their revenue managers to chart the course. As a result, we’re seeing a transformation of the revenue management (RM) role – from revenue manager to revenue strategist. REVENUE MANAGEMENT OF THE PAST Hospitality revenue management (RM) began in 1972 when BOAC airlines (now British Airways) began offering discounted fares to ...
Lakeland Hospitality Group Celebrates Topping-Out of SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Lakeland, Florida
SpringHill Suites by Marriott | September 16, 2019
LAKELAND, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2019) – Lakeland Hospitality Group announced today the topping out construction milestone of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in downtown Lakeland. The topping out signifies the completion of the building’s preliminary structural framework with the placement of its final steel beam. The hotel broke ground on October 1, 2018 and is slated to open in mid-April 2020. “We are thrilled to bring the first SpringHill Suites by Marriott to downtown Lakeland, creating jobs and economic growth for the area,” said Wesley Barnett, manager of Lakeland Hospitality Group, and grandson of Publix Super Markets founder G...
Shawn Jervis Appointed General Manager of Yotel Washington D.C.
YOTEL | September 11, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 11, 2019) – YOTEL has appointed Shawn Jervis as General Manager of the brand’s recently acquired Washington D.C. property on Capitol Hill. Jervis is a seasoned hospitality leader, bringing over two decades of expertise in marketing, brand development and hospitality management. In his new role, Jervis will oversee the upcoming YOTEL brand transition of the Liaison Capitol Hill, a landmark property just steps from the U.S. Capitol Building and Union Station. “YOTEL is at the helm of innovation within the hospitality industry, and I look forward to bringing new energy to the Liaison Capitol Hill as we transi...
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Announces the Death of Barron Hilton
September 20, 2019
Chairman Emeritus of the Hilton Foundation, Retired Chairman, President & CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation Dies at age 91 Hotelier and philanthropist Barron Hilton died on Thursday, September 19, 2019, of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles. He was 91. He succeeded his father, Conrad Hilton, as chairman, president & CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation in 1966, and dramatically expanded his domestic hotel empire. He was also the founding owner of the Chargers of the American Football League, and helped forge the merger with the National Football League that created the Super Bowl. Hunting, fishing and flying were Hilton’s fa...
Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa Appoints Amanda Hill as New Spa Director
Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa | September 11, 2019
Moab, Utah, September 2019: Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa – a riverside oasis situated on the bank of the Colorado River, just on the edge of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah – proudly welcomes new Spa Director, Amanda Hill. In her new role, Hill will oversee operations, staffing, and the expansion of the spa’s programming. Hill brings more than 10-years of knowledge and experience to her new role, which began at Salter School of Massage Therapy, where she completed a 900-hour massage and bodywork program. After receiving her license in massage therapy, she was appointed as a contracted license massage therapist, performing i...
Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners, Valor Hospitality, Acquire D.C.’s Kimpton Rouge Hotel
Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners | September 16, 2019
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2019) – Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners (KWHP) today officially announced that they have acquired the Kimpton Rouge Hotel in Washington, D.C. Valor Hospitality (Valor), which owns, operates, asset manages and consults on over 60+ hotels worldwide, is co-investing and will oversee a complete rebrand and renovation of the property and will be adding a new restaurant and rooftop bar within the next 18 months. KWHP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kemmons Wilson Companies, is the hospitality investment arm of the Kemmons Wilson family, which founded Holiday Inn Hotels in 1952. After 65 years of leadership in the hosp...
How Hoteliers Can Create ADA Compliant Content
Paul DeHart | September 12, 2019
The internet was not what it is today when The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. This law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life – jobs, schools, transportation, access to areas that are open to the general public - and has been extended since then to include websites and web applications. Courts today are interpreting Title III of the ADA, which requires places of “public accommodation” like hotels, to ensure that their web presences are accessible. A study published by Open Doors Organization found that American adults with...
Taking the Pulse of the Nation’s Largest Hotel Markets
Rodney Clough | September 25, 2019
By Rodney Clough On recent visits to Las Vegas to host an internal training meeting at Mandalay Bay and then to complete a consulting engagement at a suburban limited-service hotel, I found the city to be extremely active. This was reflective in the statistics for the hotel market, with citywide occupancy approaching 90%, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association. There were no discernable signs of the city’s heightened activity slowing down, yet. With all this talk of a pending economic slowdown and lackluster RevPAR growth nationwide, I thought I would check with some of my firm’s C&V leaders to see what they...
McKibbon Breaks Ground on Two Hyatt House Hotels in Tampa and Orlando
Hyatt House | September 9, 2019
TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2019) — Tampa-headquartered McKibbon Hospitality and Georgia-based McKibbon Places announced today the groundbreaking of two new top-tier extended-stay hotels: Hyatt House Tampa Airport Westshore, located in Westshore’s Avion Park at the corner of O’Brien St. and Laurel St., and Hyatt House Orlando Airport, located in Orlando’s Gateway Village. As with all Hyatt Houses, guests of the Tampa and Orlando properties will have the option to book rooms and suites featuring separate areas to work and relax, in addition to a full kitchen with ingredients available in the 24-Hour Market. Amenities and everyday comforts...
Driftwood Hospitality Management Appoints Executive Team to Launch Canopy West Palm Beach Downtown
Canopy by Hilton | September 24, 2019
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 24, 2019) – Driftwood Hospitality Management has appointed three industry-leading executives to launch Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach Downtown, the brands’ first Canopy in Florida. The Canopy will feature a full complement of locally-inspired design features, amenities and menu selections from hyper-local, favorite food and beverage sources when the hotel opens in January 2020. It will offer 150 “Just-Right” rooms including spacious suites with large balconies, a magnificent rooftop bar, lounge and pool with sweeping views of Downtown West Palm Beach; 6,000 sq. feet of indoor/outdoor meeting spaces ...
The Hype Behind Blockchain: What Is it and Why Is it Important to the Travel Industry?
Rob Sudakow | September 16, 2019
By Rob Sudakow If you haven’t noticed Blockchain is one of the new catchphrases thrown around at every travel conference you go to, but it’s probable that most of those throwing the word around actually understand blockchain or how it could revolutionize the travel industry. The travel industry isn't alone in its excitement over blockchain. The buzzword is making its way into the vocabulary of many industries with good reason. But the big question is how and why. What is Blockchain: Wikipedia’s definition of blockchain “a growing list of records, called blocks, that are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptog...
The Growth of Micro Hotels in North America
Sirinthorn Ramchandani | September 18, 2019
By Sirinthorn Ramchandani The pod hotel concept that originated in Japan in the 1970s has evolved and become one of the latest innovative trends in hotel development and design. Pod-sized accommodation was initially intended for short-stay business travellers who required a private space with basic amenities. Fast forward to today and we see that the pod hotel idea has evolved to meet the growing demands of the mid-scale and millennial travel markets with the introduction of the “micro hotel.” In this article, HVS defines what a micro hotel is, describes how room characteristics differ across brands, and identifies the markets that t...
Atma Hotel Group Acquires Courtyard by Marriott and Sheraton Europa in Chapel Hill
Atma Hotel Group | September 6, 2019
Chapel Hill, N.C., Sept. 06, 2019 -- Atma Hotel Group, Inc., a hotel ownership and management company based in Chapel Hill, announced it has added the full-service Courtyard by Marriott and the Sheraton Europa to its existing Chapel Hill hotel portfolio. These hotels complement Atma’s existing Chapel Hill properties, which include two Hampton Inn & Suites, a Holiday Inn Express and a Quality Inn. “We are excited to bring our family atmosphere, commitment to quality and exceptional customer experience to the Courtyard and Sheraton Europa,” said Manish Atma, founder and CEO of Atma Hotel Group. “The Sheraton Europa will undergo a...
Hoteliers, Are You Offering the Highest Level of Service?
Karen O'Neill | September 12, 2019
By Karen O'Neill, President-Americas at Knowcross In this time, better known as the ‘Age of the Customer,’ what differentiates companies like Apple, Amazon, Zappos from the rest? The simple answer would be their never-ending efforts to exceed customer service expectations and create memorable, ever-lasting experiences. When it comes to the hospitality industry, while there is no shortage of sentiments that should guide a hotelier’s approach to success, there is one which arguably stands above the rest: great hospitality is defined by exceptional service. A recent Walker study, states that by the year 2020, customer experience will...
Cendyn Announces New Leadership Team
Cendyn | September 12, 2019
Thursday, September 12, 2019, Boca Raton, Florida – Cendyn, the leading innovator in CRM, sales, and revenue strategy for the hospitality industry, announces today a new leadership team to further drive innovation, development, and growth at Cendyn. The newly appointed additions to the team include: John Seaton as Chief Commercial Officer, Michael J. Bennett as Chief Marketing Officer, Olga Peddie as Chief Digital Officer, Steve Stearns as General Manager, APAC and Ron Lugo as General Manager for Rainmaker, a Cendyn company. "We are excited to announce our new senior leadership team today,” said Tim Sullivan, President at Cendyn. "Our ...
Le Méridien New York, Central Park Welcomes New General Manager and Director Of Sales
Le Méridien New York, Central Park | September 17, 2019
NEW YORK (September 17, 2019) – Le Méridien New York, Central Park is pleased to announce the appointments of two new team members at the recently opened Manhattan property: Shahram Khan, General Manager, and Mirian Ortega, Director of Sales. A self-motivated leader with over 20 years of hospitality experience, Shahram Khan comes to New York from Boston where he was General Manager at the Le Méridien Boston Cambridge. He played an active role in the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce and Tourism council and held a Marriott Advisory Board position for Children’s Miracle Network, which helped raise funding for the Boston Children’s Ho...
