Rosewood Shanghai to Break Ground in 2022
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts | July 30th, 2020
How Government Loan Assistance Has Helped Prop Up Hotel Profitability
HotStats | July 28th, 2020
News Top: July
Economic Theories on COVID-19’s Impact on Hospitality and Tourism
July 13, 2020
Fever, dry cough, and tiredness. These are the COVID-19 symptoms according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet those are also the textbook symptoms that the world economy is experiencing today. What is missing is a small footnote that says, “By the way, watch out for the return of the Say’s Law”. If we were at the doctor’s, we would then ask: “Is it serious?” The answer would be: “It depends, we don’t know much about it!” Well, why not? COVID-19's negative impact on the aggregate demand and aggregate supply The COVID-19 crisis, like the 2008 crisis, led to a substantial drop in demand: customers don’t consume, gu...
How to Enhance Customer Experience During COVID-19 to Differentiate Your Brand
Tom Riccio | July 22, 2020
By Tom Riccio Earning consumer confidence during the pandemic with a well-executed safety strategy is vital if hotels are to win back customers as the nation tries to reopen. With Covid-19 a major ongoing hurdle for the hospitality industry and consumers alike, the biggest opportunity for hotels is to protect and enhance their brand by implementing broad public health measures and communicating them effectively. A hotel’s health strategy will either put customers at ease and build trust or signal the establishment is disorganized and perhaps unsafe. Brands that provide comprehensive safeguards – plus variety and flair – will posit...
How Will the Hotel Industry Recover From COVID-19?
JLL | July 31, 2020
Hotels were hit fast and hard when the pandemic began to spread. What’s next for the sector? If Hollywood writers had written the script for how fast and hard the hotels industry was hit by COVID-19, most producers would have laughed them out of their office. Nearly overnight, many hotels went from “no vacancy” to “high vacancy.” But even before that, disruption had upended the sector. From Airbnb to VRBO and others like them, many outside forces were pushing dramatic change on the industry. Guests wanted an experience, not just a room. As Gilda Alverado-Perez, CEO of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Americas, tells James C...
Train Your Hotel Staff to Show Hospitality When Enforcing Mask Requirements
Doug Kennedy | July 14, 2020
By Doug Kennedy With most hotels around the globe requiring guests to wear facemasks in all public areas these days, it has fallen upon the frontline hospitality staff to enforce this policy, which in many cases is also municipal ordinance or decree. Although most guests comply voluntarily, a small minority are voicing their displeasure but still complying. An even smaller, but very vocal minority of hotel guests are challenging our staff’s authority to require compliance in a way that is confrontational and often demeaning. From what I am hearing, it’s the front desk staff who are most often the receptors of a verbal barrage, as th...
Is the Hotel Industry About to Self-Destruct? Media Exposes Shocking Hotel Fails and Growing Guest Distrust
Alan Young | July 21, 2020
By Alan E. Young At the onset of the pandemic, the fall-out was immediate; in the span of a few weeks, hotel lobbies and airport terminals that were once bustling with travelers were left empty. Fear and distrust spread quickly, as did the realization that international travel may be off the table for an extended period of time. In response, hotels have been quick to announce big plans for enhanced cleaning and sanitation programs and policies to help guests feel safe enough to return. Every hotel large and small seems to be promoting new practices to reassure guests. However, hotels face heightened speculation and scrutiny as their c...
Genuine Hospitality, LLC to Operate the Tru by Hilton – Naperville, IL
Genuine Hospitality, LLC | July 21, 2020
SAINT LOUIS, IL, July 21, 2020 – St. Louis, MO based hotel operator, Genuine Hospitality selected to operate the 121-room Tru by Hilton - Naperville, IL. Located at 1850 Diehl Road, Naperville IL 60563, the hotel is ideally located at the southwest corner of I-88 and Route 59, 6-miles northeast of downtown Naperville, IL and 33-miles west of downtown Chicago. The Tru by Hilton - Naperville, IL will open Spring, 2021 boasting the Build Your Own ‘Top It’ breakfast, more modern, and efficiently designed guestrooms with oversized windows for natural light; a multifunctional fitness center; and fast Wi-Fi. Premium snacks, light meal optio...
How Much Is a Hotel Worth?
Pinnacle Advisory Group | July 15, 2020
By Allison Fogarty In the case of property tax assessments in Florida, probably somewhat less than the county property appraiser assumes. A recent court decision invalidated the method used by many county property tax appraisers in Florida to develop “just” values for hotels. The Background Walt Disney Parks and Resorts successfully argued that the Orange County Property Appraiser improperly considered income from the business activities conducted on the premises in establishing the just value of the Disney Yacht & Beach Club Resort which includes restaurants, retail shops, a spa and convention center in addition to its 1,197...
The Glenmark, Glendale Appoints Executive Team for Hotel Opening
The Glenmark, Glendale, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel | July 28, 2020
Glendale, California (July 28, 2020) – Michael Tchakmakjian, Owner of The Glenmark, Glendale, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is pleased to announce Kevin Briggs as General Manager and Tony Trujillo as Executive Chef of Glendale’s newest boutique lifestyle hotel managed by Azul Hospitality Group. Briggs is responsible for all aspects of The Glenmark’s operations, while Trujillo oversees the dining concepts for the hotel’s signature restaurant, rooftop lounge and meeting spaces. Both play vital roles in the overall success of the hotel as well as heightening experiences for guests and locals alike. Briggs joins The Glenmark with a strong...
Industry Icon Steve Belmonte Joins US Investment Banking Firm, Amdel Associates Inc., as Managing Director of Its Hospitality Division
Amdel Associates, Inc. | July 14, 2020
July 14, 2020 – Holmdel, New Jersey - Hospitality industry veteran, Steve Belmonte, will be joining Amdel Associates Inc. as Managing Director of the hospitality, lodging and hotel systems segment effective August 1, 2020. Amdel Associates is an investment banking and corporate finance firm focused on upper middle market merger and acquisitions. Amdel specializes in bringing unique opportunities to their clients in a variety of industries. Through its Private Equity, Family Office, and Corporate Acquisition relationships, Amdel accesses over $10 billion in equity capital to purchase and/or merge with established companies with EBITDAs in...
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Appoints Doug Ridge as New General Manager
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa | July 2, 2020
SAN ANTONIO – July 2, 2020 – JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is proud to announce that Doug Ridge has been appointed as the resort’s new general manager for the 1,002-room resort. Ridge joined the resort team in March 2020 after previously serving as the general manager for Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Excited to begin his journey in San Antonio, Ridge brings an strong background and impressive expertise to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Ridge has more than 35 years in the hospitality industry, having served in nearly all hotel ...
The Most Important Hotel “Salesperson” Right Now Is Working Behind Your Front Desk
Doug Kennedy | July 22, 2020
By Doug Kennedy As my frequent readers know, I have long advocated for hoteliers to view the front desk as a revenue- generating position, not an operational expense. In previous posts I have provided training tips for upselling at registration, converting “property-direct” voice inquiries, converting those who booked via third parties to booking directly next time, and perhaps most importantly, sourcing leads that can be passed along for follow-up by the hotel sales team. In recent years so many hotel salespeople have forgotten about this “channel,” as there was always a steady stream of leads flowing in from digital sources su...
Mar Monte Hotel Appoints Ingrid Braun as General Manager and Nathan Lingle Executive Chef
Mar Monte Hotel | July 13, 2020
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. (July 13, 2020) – Mar Monte Hotel, located across from East Beach and just minutes from Downtown Santa Barbara, is thrilled to announce the appointments of Ingrid F. Braun as General Manager and Nathan Lingle as Executive Chef of the 200-room beachfront hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Ingrid F. Braun, General Manager, has spent the majority of her 17-year hospitality career in luxury lifestyle hotels in Southern California, overseeing several hotel renovations and openings. Most recently, she served as the opening Hotel Manager of the Santa Monica Proper Hotel where she oversaw all hotel operations a...
Azul Hospitality Group Opens The Glenmark, Glendale, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
The Glenmark, Glendale, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel | July 23, 2020
Los Angeles, CA (July 23, 2020) – The Glenmark, Glendale, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel is now open in California. The sophisticated yet approachable hotel will offer an authentic Glendale experience, inspiring social interaction in a playful environment. The first full-service Marriott International hotel in Glendale will feature 85 artfully designed guest rooms; signature restaurant Olia; Mila Rooftop Bar; Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters; a lobby bar; a state-of-the-art fitness center and 7,900 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Renowned Santa Monica-based firm Hirsch Bender Associates was tapped to design the ho...
Ram Hotels Set to Open New 104-Key TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Amarillo, Texas
TownePlace Suites by Marriott | July 23, 2020
Amarillo, TX – July 23, 2020 – The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Amarillo West/Medical Center is scheduled to open for business on Thursday, July 30th. The new 104-suite hotel is built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the Amarillo area. Located at 6807 Interstate 40 West, it will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Ram Hotels of Amarillo, Texas. All service team members are thoroughly trained on local knowledge and look forward to connecting guests to the local area. The hotel brand’s signature floor-to-ceiling TowneMap® also h...
Peachtree Hotel Group Opens SpringHill Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center Following Transformation and Rebranding
SpringHill Suites by Marriott | July 7, 2020
ATLANTA – July 7, 2020 – Marriott International announced today that the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia is now open for business. The 150-suite hotel, located at 1005 Crestline Parkway, will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Peachtree Hotel Group and managed by Peachtree Hospitality Management both located in Atlanta, Georgia. General Manager Jennifer Geiger spearheads the management team at the property for Peachtree Hotel Group. Located near Perimeter Mall and downtown Atlanta, the SpringHill Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center offers guests convenient access to the Art Institute of Atlanta, American InterConti...
The 7 Ps Marketing Mix of Home-Sharing Services: Insights From Over One Million Airbnb Reviews
Linchi Kwok | July 29, 2020
By Linchi Kwok The 7 Ps marketing mix framework is a widely used managerial tool that helps businesses identify the principal components of a service product. The 7 P elements include Product, Promotion, Price, Place, Participant, Physical Evidence, and Process. The 7 Ps framework can assist marketers in making decisions regarding segmentation, positioning, and differentiation. Even for the same type of products with different brands, marketers can still drive higher sales through the improvement of a product’s marketing mix. The empirical study about 7 Ps of home-sharing services Building upon the 7 Ps marketing mix framework, ...
Christophe Thomas Appointed General Manager of Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris
Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris | July 27, 2020
(PARIS, France) – Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris is pleased to introduce its new General Manager, Christophe Thomas. Two weeks following Thomas’s arrival, the Parisian Palace, much like the rest of the entire country, put its activities on pause. On June 12, the hotel reopened the doors and Thomas officially unveiled its Secret Garden terrace. Prior to his return to France, Thomas cultivated an extensive international career spanning from Europe to South America and throughout the Caribbean before settling in the United States for the past 20 years. This global journey began at the Strasbourg Hospitality School, where upon earn...
Casetta Group Relaunches The Pearl Hotel in San Diego, California
Casetta Group | July 9, 2020
LOS ANGELES (July 9, 2020) – The Pearl Hotel, operated by brand and hospitality management firm Casetta Group, reemerges as San Diego’s newest urban retreat and social hub following substantial renovations. Newly redesigned to celebrate the boutique hotel’s 1960s aesthetic paired with Casetta’s philosophy of sustainability without compromising style, The Pearl Hotel welcomes guests with refurbished guest rooms, lobby and public spaces along with an updated dining experience at onsite restaurant, Charles + Dinorah. “For more than 60 years, The Pearl Hotel has been an integral part of San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood,” said ...
Thinking for Yourself May Be the Only Regimen for a Full Recovery Part I
Steven Ferry | July 22, 2020
By Steven Ferry “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” Groucho Marx Do you personally accept the "New Normal" for the hospitality industry and society as a whole—which is based on the premise that Covid-19 is a singularly dangerous threat that requires a complete change in our lives, when (as it turns out) it is actually on a par with the common flu and (as it turns out) every other incorrectly declared pandemic? Or do you want to understand what has happened and do whatever is in your power, big or small, to return to the old, fun and life-f...
Concord Hospitality Appoints Executive Team for Renaissance Milwaukee West Opening August 2020
Renaissance Milwaukee West Hotel | July 14, 2020
Wauwatosa, Wis. (July 14, 2020) – Slated to open in August 2020, Renaissance Milwaukee West, along with the adjoining chef-driven destination restaurant Eldr+Rime, announces the appointments of Vik Khokhar as General Manager, Chantal Bazzoni-Boncher as Director of Sales and Marketing, Michael Laughran as Director of Beverage and Food Outlets, Gary Baca as Executive Chef and Alex Lyskowicz as Executive Sous Chef. Developed and set to be managed by Concord Hospitality, both venues and its leadership team aim to provide a welcoming, luxurious destination to Milwaukee’s metropolitan area, as well as inspire community confidence that the hosp...
Focus Hospitality Management Opens The Tuxon in Tucson, Arizona
Focus Hospitality Management | July 21, 2020
TUCSON, AZ — July 21, 2020 — Focus Hospitality Management, a full-service hotel management company with a total of seven properties in the Tucson metropolitan statistical area (MSA), has opened The Tuxon, a modern boutique hotel and member of Marriott International’s Design HotelsTM, a collection with over 300 independent hotels in more than 60 countries across the world. Managed by Focus Hospitality, The Tuxon, located in the heart of Tucson, the second most-populated city in Arizona behind Phoenix, the state’s capital, and known for its adventurous outdoor activities and authentic culinary offerings, is owned by Tucson natives Vi...
Hyatt Bringing Alila Brand to Southern California With First New-Build Resort in the Americas
Alila | July 9, 2020
CHICAGO (July 9, 2020) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today plans for the first new-build Alila resort in the Americas, located in Encinitas, Calif., a quintessential beach town in San Diego’s North County Coastal region. Developed by JMI Realty and Fenway Capital Advisors, Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas will add to Hyatt’s growing Alila brand portfolio, joining Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, as the brand’s second hotel in California and the U.S., along with 14 other luxury properties worldwide. The Alila brand features luxury hotels and resorts in unique locations, distinguished by innovative eco-design, a stro...
Gulph Creek Hotels Opens Residence Inn by Marriott in Middletown, New York
Residence Inn by Marriott | July 15, 2020
Middletown, NY – July 15, 2020 – The 125-suite Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Middletown, New York is now open for business with its upscale, stylish décor that offers flexibility and a unique environment. Located at 57 Tower Drive, the all-suite Residence Inn Middletown Goshen will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Orange Tower Drive LLC and managed by Gulph Creek Hotels of Wayne, Pennsylvania. General Manager Lisa Franklin spearheads the management team at the property for Gulph Creek Hotels. Located five minutes from LEGOLAND New York and 19 miles from Stewart International Airport, the Residence Inn Middletown Goshen o...
Owned and Managed by Halifax Hospitality the 118-Suite Residence Inn by Marriott Opens in Franklin, Tennessee
Residence Inn by Marriott | July 16, 2020
Franklin, TN – July 16, 2020 – The 118-suite Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Franklin, Tennessee is now open for business with its upscale, stylish décor that offers flexibility, while creating a unique environment. Located at 8078 Berry Farms Crossing, the all-suite Residence Inn Franklin Berry Farms will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Halifax Hospitality of Franklin, Tennessee. Situated in the historic Berry Farms area of Franklin, the Residence Inn Franklin Berry Farms offers its guests convenient access to the historic Carnton House, the Lotz House Museum, SOAR Adventure Tower, Natchez Trace Parkway Bridg...
The Watergate Hotel Appoints Jon Chocklett as Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development
The Watergate Hotel | July 28, 2020
Washington, D.C. (July 28, 2020) – Rakel and Jacques Cohen, owners of The Watergate Hotel, are pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Chocklett, to the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development. Chocklett will be responsible for oversight of the sales and business development for the hotel and future projects, as well as maintenance of all client relations. This role will be vital in the overall success of the hotel as the management team gets ready to once again welcome guests back following closure due to concerns about Covid-19. Chocklett re-joins The Watergate where he had previously held the titl...
