Interior Design for Safe and Aesthetically Pleasing Hotel Spaces
Larry Mogelonsky | September 30th, 2020
Paramount Lodging Advisors Successfully Transacts the Spanish Garden Inn Santa Barbara
Paramount Lodging Advisors | September 30th, 2020
News Top: September
Evolution of Hotel Management Agreements and Rise of Alternative Agreements
Hala Matar Choufany | September 29, 2020
By Hala Matar Choufany and Ersin Yildirim Hotels are complicated investments and therefore selecting an appropriate hotel agreement for a property requires exhaustive research and investigation by an investor. The choice of an operator as well as the hotel operating agreement has a significant impact on the cashflow and the potential value of the property. Hotels and the hospitality market are constantly evolving as a result of brands consolidating, owner profiles changing, technology disruption, changing traveler behavior as well as hotel investment trends altering. The 2019 HVS Middle East Valuation Index highlighted declining hote...
FreshAir Announces Unique and Highly Effective Smoking Detection System for Hotels
FreshAir Sensors | September 30, 2020
FreshAir1 monitors for, detects, and proves tobacco smoking and marijuana smoking Lebanon, NH – FreshAir, an industry leader in the development of sensors to detect and alert for hazardous chemicals, announces its unique and highly effective FreshAir1 Smoking Detection System. The FreshAir system is ideally suited for use in hotels, casinos, and other hospitality industry settings. The only technology available to monitor for, immediately detect, and prove tobacco smoking and marijuana smoking, FreshAir1 Smoking Detection Systems are ideal for enforcing no-smoking policies, protecting infrastructure investments, securing cleaning fees...
The Future of Hotel Call Centers
Travel Outlook Hotel Reservation Call Center Services | September 8, 2020
Why Outsourcing May Be in Your Hotel's Best Interest As hotels slowly reopen in parts of the US, it’s time to question the future role of hotel call centers. In the following interview, we’re speaking with Travel Outlook’s CEO John Smallwood and its Vice President Operations Brett Puffenberger, about the challenge’s hotel-based call centers are facing today and in the coming months and maybe years. Can you talk about the challenges’ hotel-based call centers are facing today? John: A major issue for hotels that are starting to reopen is having enough on-property staff to field incoming calls. A lot of hotels still have employe...
Trump International Beach Resort Miami Appoints Danny Williams as New Managing Director
Trump International Beach Resort Miami | September 23, 2020
Sunny Isles, Fla. – (September 22, 2020) – The independently owned and operated Trump International Beach Resort Miami has appointed Danny Williams as Managing Director of the 360-room resort, conveniently located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale in the upscale enclave of Sunny Isles Beach. Williams, who joins the Trump International Beach Resort family with more than 30 years of hospitality experience, will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the resort’s day-to-day operations. “We are thrilled to have someone of Danny’s caliber and experience, especially at this key moment as we reopen our doors to travelers eager to ...
Original Group Breaks Ground On Temptation Miches Resorts in the Dominican Republic
Original Group | September 8, 2020
Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, (Sept. 8, 2020) - Original Group, the leading adult hospitality group in Mexico, broke ground today on Temptation Miches Resort and Temptation Grand Miches Resort in Miches, Dominican Republic. Slated to open Summer 2022, the two new properties will be Original Group’s first resort offering outside of Mexico. “We are thrilled to finally break ground on this highly anticipated project and are proud to establish our first property abroad in the Dominican Republic, a country that values hospitality and tourism as much as we do in Mexico,” said Rodrigo de la Peña, CEO of Original Group. “We are so thankf...
Hyatt Signs With Mani Brothers for Conversion of Travaasa Hana Into Hana-Maui Resort
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | September 1, 2020
CHICAGO - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Mani Brothers Real Estate Group, a leading Southern California based full-service commercial property firm that owns and operates one-of-a-kind landmark properties, to rebrand the 75-room Travaasa Hāna into Hāna-Maui Resort, under the Destination Hotels brand. Offering a diverse collection of independent hotels, resorts and residences across North America, Destination Hotels properties are individual at heart yet connected by a commitment to embody the true spirit of each location. “Hyatt is excited to welcome H...
Property Taxes Post COVID-19
Brian F. Bisema | September 28, 2020
By Brian Bisema, Suzanne Mellen After realizing record-high RevPAR levels with over 100 consecutive months of growth, the lodging industry continued to strengthen through 2019, albeit at a significantly more tempered rate. Then, in the first quarter of 2020, COVID-19 struck. The unimaginable pandemic erased years of RevPAR gains virtually overnight, leaving owners and operators scrambling to strategize the forthcoming steps. While logistics pertaining to reopening hotels, new sanitation standards, and controlling variable operational expenses are on the forefront of hoteliers’ minds, fixed expenses, particularly an asset’s property tax...
“Free” PMS API Integration Is the Key to Hotel Innovation
Jos Schaap | September 8, 2020
By Jos Schaap Ask any hotelier or hotel technology company about their biggest pain points, and inevitably they will mention integration. Interfacing between legacy hotel Property Management Systems (PMS) and third-party systems have plagued the hospitality industry for years. HTNG was created some 20 years ago to create a communication messaging standard for hotel systems and made some initial progress. But till today, connecting hotel systems is still mostly a pain. With the onslaught of COVID-19 upending the travel industry, the stakes for the hotel sector couldn’t be higher. Hotels need to change their service models to support ...
Aparium Hotel Group Set to Debut Hotel Haya in Tampa’s Famed Ybor City
Aparium Hotel Group | September 16, 2020
YBOR CITY, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2020) – Brick streets. Large, spacious courtyards. Ornate globe street lamps. Legendary cigar factories. Free roaming roosters. Historical architecture. Rich multicultural roots. Ybor City, the landmarked district just northeast of downtown Tampa - one of the City’s most celebrated neighborhoods - will soon have a hotel with a vibrant character to match: Hotel Haya. The property, which officially opens on Sept. 24, is the latest to be unveiled by Kevin Robinson and Mario Tricoci of Aparium Hotel Group, whose award-winning properties include Kansas City’s Crossroads Hotel, Detroit Foundation Hotel and Minneapol...
Jackson-Shaw Opens 16-Story AC Hotel Downtown Fort Worth
AC Hotel Fort Worth | September 28, 2020
FORT WORTH (Sept. 28, 2020) – Jackson-Shaw, a national real estate development company headquartered in North Texas, today announced that the 252-room, 16-story AC Hotel Fort Worth is now open. The first AC Hotels by Marriott® to debut in Tarrant County, the highly anticipated property is owned and developed by Jackson-Shaw and managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts. It is located 101 West 5th Street near Sundance Square on the southwest corner of Main and Fifth Street. “The AC Hotel Fort Worth is designed for creative, well-traveled, visionaries who appreciate a thoughtfully designed space. The hotel features gallery-like art insta...
Hyatt Plans 2022 Opening of 150-Room Thompson Monterrey in Nuevo León, Mexico
Thompson Hotels | September 8, 2020
CHICAGO (September 3, 2020) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced plans for Thompson Monterrey, the first Thompson hotel in Mexico’s state of Nuevo León. The 150-room lifestyle hotel is expected to open in 2022 and will mark the fourth Thompson-branded property in Mexico. “Thompson Monterrey comes at a time of significant growth for the Thompson Hotels brand and will represent the brand’s entry into a key new market,” said Alfredo Reynoso, director of development, Mexico, Hyatt. “The Thompson brand aligns very well with Monterrey’s position as a business and entertainment destination, and we look forward to intr...
Beyond COVID-19: Leadership Skills Fit for the Future
EHL | September 30, 2020
It is no secret that the current public health crisis has sent the economy into turmoil, leaving businesses large and small fighting for survival and a workforce living through exceptionally challenging times. Against the backdrop of uncertain markets and the UN’s forecast global economy contraction of 3.2% in 2020, it is particularly important to be equipped with pertinent leadership skills. As we emerge from this crisis, it may be tempting to cut spending on leadership development in an effort to balance the books. However, it is at this time more than ever that appropriately skilled leaders can play their part in righting the ship. Wi...
Highgate Opens New Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center
Tru by Hilton | September 3, 2020
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 3, 2020 -- Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) innovative hotel brand, Tru by Hilton, today announced the opening of its latest property, Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center. The 259-room hotel, located at 6461 Westwood Boulevard, is owned by Epelboim Development Group and managed by Highgate. The new hotel is conveniently located near the Orange County Convention Center and centrally located between Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal. Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center promises guests a simplified and spirited stay, rooted in value. Developed from the ground up using consumer and owner feedback, Tru by Hilto...
Raines Hospitality Selected to Manage The Foundry Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina
Raines | September 23, 2020
Raines, a premier hospitality management, development, and operating group based in South Carolina, is proud to announce the addition of The Foundry Hotel to its management portfolio. Asheville’s historic former steel foundry underwent extensive updates and renovations to open in 2018 as The Foundry Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton property. The 87-room boutique hotel offers an authentically Asheville experience complemented by Benne on Eagle, the award-winning Appalachian-inspired restaurant led by local chef and culinary pioneer John Fleer. “Asheville has become a leading destination in the Southeast and is consistently recog...
The Gettys Group Unveils The Hotel of Tomorrow Project With Five New Hospitality Concepts
The Gettys Group | September 25, 2020
Global Hospitality Think Tank Presents Ideas and Industry Experts Offer Feedback Chicago, IL (September 24, 2020) -- Robots serving drinks? Meeting rooms that resemble a giant terrarium? These are just some of the concepts guests may experience as hotel operators attempt to adapt and innovate amid the COVID-19 crisis according to The Hotel of Tomorrow Project, a global think tank consisting of 325 hospitality industry executives and spearheaded by The Gettys Group, a Chicago-based design, development and consulting firm. Since June, designers, manufacturers, owners, and operators from a wide range of brands - including Four Season...
The Hotel Group, Along With Kauri Investments and Washington Holdings, Opens Hilton Garden Inn Redmond Town Center
The Hotel Group | September 1, 2020
SEATTLE, WA (September 1, 2020) — The Hotel Group (THG), a leading national hotel management and investment company, announced today the opening of the 177-room Hilton Garden Inn Redmond Town Center in Redmond, Washington. The Hotel Group manages the new property on behalf of Kauri Investments and Washington Holdings, and is THG’s sixth Hilton branded hotel in the Puget Sound. “The Hilton Garden Inn Redmond Town Center marks The Hotel Group’s 50th new hotel opening in our 36-year history,” said Doug Dreher, President and CEO of The Hotel Group. “THG is thrilled to work with Kauri Investments and Washington Holdings on this ne...
Sage Hospitality Group Adds The Guild Hotel and The Lodge at Sonoma to Management Portfolio
September 2, 2020
Denver, Colo. – (Sept. 2, 2020) – Sage Hospitality Group announced today the addition of two California hotels to its portfolio of managed properties: The Guild Hotel, Tribute Portfolio in downtown San Diego and The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa in downtown Sonoma. “We are truly thrilled to welcome these two beautiful assets and their teams into the Sage family,” said Daniel del Olmo, President and COO of Sage Hotel Management, a Sage Hospitality Group company. “Both The Guild Hotel and The Lodge at Sonoma are perfect additions to our growing portfolio of lifestyle hotels, and we look forward to bringing the talent a...
Colony Capital Enters Agreement With Highgate to Sell Six Hospitality Portfolios for $2.8 Billion
Colony Capital, Inc. | September 25, 2020
LOS ANGELES - Colony Capital, Inc. (NYSE: CLNY) (“Colony Capital” or the “Company”) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell six of its hospitality portfolios to Highgate, a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company, in a transaction valued at $2.8 billion, including $67.5 million of gross proceeds on a consolidated basis and the assumption of $2.7 billion in consolidated investment-level debt. The six portfolios consist of 22,676 rooms across 197 hotel properties. As part of the transaction with Highgate, Colony will transfer (i) five of the six portfolios held in the Hospitality ...
StepStone Hospitality Assumes Management of Le Méridien Dallas by the Galleria
StepStone Hospitality | September 16, 2020
DALLAS (September 16, 2020) – Rhode Island-based StepStone Hospitality, a best in class hotel management company, announced today that it has assumed management of Le Méridien Dallas by the Galleria. The 258-room, all suite property recently underwent a $2.2 million renovation. The newly redesigned suites blend boutique flare with modern convenience and include updated locks for contactless mobile check-in. “This is an exciting opportunity for us, and our team is glad to be back in the Dallas community,” said Tom Russo, Founder and Executive Chairman of StepStone Hospitality. “We look forward to working with ownership and the M...
Dreamscape Names Amy Riley Director of Group Sales at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino
the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino | September 10, 2020
LAS VEGAS – Dreamscape Companies, owner of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, has named hospitality industry veteran Amy Riley as the resort’s Director of Group Sales. Dreamscape purchased the Rio in 2019 and will take over management in 2022, following a two-year leaseback agreement with former owner Caesars Entertainment. Riley joins Dreamscape from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), where she was the Senior Director of Business Development. “We feel extremely fortunate to have someone with Amy’s experience and industry relationships join our team at The Rio,” said Eric Birnbaum, Founder of Dreamsca...
Oxford Hotels & Resorts Opens Hotel Audrey in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile
Hotel Audrey | September 15, 2020
(CHICAGO; September 15, 2020) – Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC, the Chicago-based hotel management affiliate of Oxford Capital Group, LLC, proudly announces today’s launch of Hotel Audrey (166 E. Superior St.), in The Magnificent Mile shopping district and directly adjacent to other significant Chicago tourist attractions. Oxford worked closely with the investment firm Fillmore Capital Partners to implement the strategic repositioning of the hotel. “We, like everyone in the travel and hospitality industry, are experiencing extremely challenging times. As such, it’s particularly gratifying to be able to relaunch such a tremendous ...
How Turning to Benchmarking Can Stave Off Financial Ruin
HotStats | September 1, 2020
When the winds of crisis whip, and a hotel’s cash begins flying away, it’s easy to panic. During a crisis, it might feel like the whole market has been pulled out from under you. However, there is hope even in the worst financial crisis. With hotel benchmarking, it’s possible to fight off financial ruin, even in the middle or during the aftermath of financial turmoil. Wondering how? In this article, we dive into ways hoteliers can use benchmarking to keep a hotel out of the red and steer operations to long-term profit amid a nightmarish market. First, What Happens During a Financial Crisis? Every financial crisis will be diff...
Refined Hospitality Opens River House at Odette’s in New Hope, Pennsylvania
River House at Odette’s | September 30, 2020
September 30, 2020 (NEW HOPE, PA) – River House at Odette’s, a new luxury lifestyle hotel in New Hope, Pennsylvania, opened along the Delaware River on September 28, 2020. The new hotel features an edgy, yet elegant design, inspired by the hotel’s previous life as actress and musician Odette Myrtil Logan’s boisterous cabaret, Chez Odette. For over two decades, Chez Odette was the social hub of New Hope’s lively artistic community, attracting celebrities and locals alike from nearby Philadelphia and New York. River House at Odette’s weaves historic elements from Chez Odette’s colorful past into the contemporary architecture and ...
Ghost Kitchens in the Lodging Industry: A F & B Strategy for Hotels
Frederick J. DeMicco | September 29, 2020
By Frederick J. DeMicco, Ph.D. and Isaiah Morrow, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Northern Arizona University A Ghost kitchen is a professional food preparation and cooking facility that serves customers exclusively by delivery. Ghost kitchens do not have a physical location that customers can enter (yet). The concept of ghost kitchens strips down the traditional dining establishment by removing dining areas and fancy décor. Instead, they serve as kitchens for restaurants to prepare food to deliver to customers. Several restaurants can operate out of the same ghost kitchen, either working from the same facility or breaking the ...
Adero Scottsdale Appoints Bryan Dillon as New Director of Chef & B
CIELO Scottsdale | September 16, 2020
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (September 16, 2020) – The 177-room ADERO Scottsdale luxury resort, set to debut on Oct. 15 as the region’s only resort in a certified Dark Sky Community, has announced the appointment of Bryan Dillon, MCFE, CHM as its Director of Chef & B. Leading culinary operations across the resort, including the signature restaurant CIELO, Dillon will oversee menu development, in-room dining, and catering for special events and meetings. CIELO, meaning ‘sky,’ will offer an elevated dining experience and one of the best views in Arizona with ample outdoor seating overlooking the Sonoran Desert, a curated selection of tequi...
