Long Live the New Business Center
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | February 25th, 2021
Auro Hotels Opens AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown
Auro Hotels | February 24th, 2021
News Top: February
The Problem Isn’t the Employee, It’s the System
Shep Hyken | February 3, 2021
By Shep Hyken Here’s a true story shared by my friend and speaking colleague Beth Terry. The short version is that there is a doctor, who is probably a good doctor. But he’s a terrible boss. When a patient – as in his customer – complains about something, he listens and then goes back to his employees, and in a knee-jerk reaction, he berates and punishes them by taking away their incentives. You can only imagine what that does to the morale of the team. And what happens next? The employees quit, which is understandable. There are plenty of employee surveys that point to the number one reason people quit their jobs. Many peo...
Accor Signs With Craig Road Property Holdings to Develop First Mondrian Property in Singapore
Accor | February 19, 2021
NEW YORK -- Feb. 19, 2021 -- Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, today announced Singapore's first Mondrian hotel will be built in the heart of the city's prominent Duxton Hill neighborhood and is set to open in early 2023. The property is being developed by Craig Road Property Holdings. This news comes on the heels of Accor's recent announcement regarding its planned venture with Ennismore, which will see the creation of one of the world's largest and fastest growing lifestyle and entertainment operators set to include Mondrian hotels. Mondrian Singapore, a luxury lifestyle hotel comprised of 300 guestrooms and suites, a resta...
5 Steps to Prepare Your Hotel Housekeeping Team for 2021 and Beyond
Amadeus | February 8, 2021
The challenges the hospitality industry has faced in the wake of COVID-19 reminds us how critical the housekeeping department’s role is to a hotel’s overall success. The urgency to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has accelerated change in our industry, including the need for new hygiene and cleaning processes. Even before the virus, 78% of hotel guests believed cleanliness to be the most crucial factor affecting their choice of where to stay, with hotel cleaning protocols moving up to the #1 top-ranked category for travel with COVID-19. As guests expect the highest standards of sanitation to feel at ease in a hotel and once again re...
Eugene Leonard Appointed General Manager of The Maybourne Beverly Hills
MAYBOURNE BEVERLY HILLS | February 3, 2021
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. - February 3, 2020 - Hotelier Eugene Leonard has been appointed General Manager of The Maybourne Beverly Hills, the first international property of the Maybourne Hotel Group, operators of London’s most legendary and prestigious hotels, Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley. Eugene who hails from Co. Clare, Ireland, has been a longstanding member of the Maybourne family, having worked across all three hotels for over a decade. Most recently, Eugene was Hotel Manager for four years at the iconic Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair, London. His role included supporting a major hotel restoration, the opening of super c...
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club Announces New Executive Team Members
Ohana Real Estate Investors | February 4, 2021
DANA POINT, Ca.– February 4, 2021 – Following the debut of Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club earlier this month as part of Hilton’s (NYSE: HLT) iconic luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, the hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of a new executive team led by George Munz as general manager. New additions to the executive leadership team also include Jean-Pierre Dubray as executive chef and Pat Rizco as director of engineering. “We are delighted to welcome these three incredibly talented team members to Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club’s leadership team,” said Dino Michael, se...
Continental Assets Management Signs With Marriott to Bring AC Hotel Brand to Honolulu
AC Hotels by Marriott® | February 10, 2021
Honolulu, HI – February 10, 2021 – Following its acquisition in January 2021 of the office building located at 1111 Bishop Street, also known as the “Remington College Building”, Continental Assets Management today announced it has signed an agreement with Marriott International to debut the company’s design-driven AC Hotels brand in Honolulu. The property is slated to debut in the heart of downtown Honolulu in the Central Business District and is expected to feature 104 rooms. Currently an existing office building, the conversion to the AC Hotel Honolulu is expected to begin late next year, with the anticipated opening in 2024. ...
6 Hospitality Trends to Watch in 2021
Amadeus | February 1, 2021
With the global roll out of COVID-19 vaccines underway, we are all hoping for brighter days ahead along with the return of travel. But it’s also important to acknowledge that the experiences and customs we once knew may look different – either temporarily or permanently due to the pandemic. As the year progresses, what will travel look like? How can the hospitality industry restore traveler confidence while demonstrating resilience? As COVID-19 wears on, 6 significant trends have emerged that will continue to shape hospitality for the months and years to come. Go big (near or far): making travel dreams come true As roads, skies, and ...
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Debuts Transformation
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island | February 11, 2021
AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. (February 2021) – Since opening in 1991, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island has remained at the forefront of Northeast Florida luxury with warm hospitality, nature-driven experiences and award-winning amenities. In honor of its 30th anniversary this year, the iconic barrier island resort will debut transformation that reflects the destination of unspoiled coastal beauty and Southern charm, an epitome of the classic beach vacation. The renovation includes upgraded rooms and suites, refreshed meeting and event spaces, three new restaurants, and renewed resort experiences. The resort is also celebrating its 30th anniversary...
Pacifica Hotels Transitions Four Properties Along the California Coast to Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Pacifica Hotels | February 1, 2021
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – February 1, 2021 – Pacifica Hotels, the largest owner and operator of independent, design-inspired hotels on the Pacific Coast is expanding further into the global brand category announcing the transition of four key California properties that joined Tapestry Collection by Hilton in January 2021. The properties that joined Tapestry Collection include The Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach, The Kinney in San Luis Obispo, Jamaica Bay Inn in Marina del Rey and The Redondo Beach Hotel in Redondo Beach. The coastal properties will retain the same look, feel and exceptional service that travelers have come to kn...
Naples Grande Beach Resort Appoints Elias Assaly as Area Vice President and General Manager
Naples Grande Beach Resort | February 8, 2021
NAPLES, FL. -- February 8, 2021 -- Naples Grande Beach Resort is pleased to announce today the appointment of Elias Assaly as Area Vice President and General Manager. In his new role at Naples Grande Beach Resort, Assaly will oversee day-to-day operations of the resort and its 474 guestrooms, ensuring ongoing initiatives and activations are aligned with the highest hospitality standards, bringing fresh innovative ideas to the resort and creating exciting new opportunities both on a local and national level. Elias will also provide his expert guidance and support to Naples Grande Golf Club, the legendary Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada,...
Suzie Yang Appointed General Manager of New Lake Nona Wave Hotel Opening in Orlando
CoralTree Hospitality Group | February 2, 2021
Denver, Colo. – February 2, 2021 – Tom Luersen, president of CoralTree Hospitality, recently announced that Suzie Yang has been hired as the general manager of the new Lake Nona Wave Hotel. The 234-room luxury lifestyle hotel, located in the vibrant Lake Nona Town Center in Orlando, Florida, is scheduled to open this fall. “We are thrilled to have Suzie rejoin our CoralTree family,” said Luersen. “She did a fantastic job with our properties in San Francisco for several years and we are excited to see her bring the vision of this new luxury hotel to life. Her experience managing award-winning, independent hotels is the perfect fit...
Waldorf Astoria and Canopy by Hilton to Debut in the Seychelles
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts | February 4, 2021
Seychelles and McLean, VA – February 4, 2021 – Hilton today announced the signing of management agreements to bring its iconic luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, as well as lifestyle brand, Canopy by Hilton, to the Seychelles. The properties are scheduled to open in 2023 and will build upon an already impressive Hilton portfolio on the archipelago, in addition to the soon-to-be-opened Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton said: “The Seychelles remains unquestionably one of the world’s most desirable destinations for...
Gearoid Lyons Named General Manager of Conrad Bangkok
Conrad Hotels & Resorts | February 5, 2021
BANGKOK, Thailand— February 5, 2021 — Gearoid Lyons has been appointed general manager of Conrad Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Lyons brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Joining Hilton in 2010 he has previously held various management roles in full service and luxury hotels across multiple markets including London, Sydney, Perth, Tokyo and Bangkok. In his most recent role as Hotel Manager at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Lyons was a key member of the leadership driving the launch of the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in South East Asia in August 2018. Lyons is a graduate of Shannon College of Hotel ...
Auro Hotels Opens AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown
Auro Hotels | February 24, 2021
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Auro Hotels is pleased to announce the opening of its AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown located at the corner of Main and Broad streets in the heart of Greenville, SC. The eight-story hotel features 196 guestrooms and suites, seven distinct food and beverage concepts, nearly 29,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and a private collection of art featuring more than 100 works by 35 local artists. Auro Hotels also celebrates the opening of the first of the hotel’s seven food and beverage concepts, Paloma, a Mediterranean-inspired tapas bar located on the ground floor with indoor and outdoor dining. The sp...
Sheraton Denver Downtown Unveils $80 Million Transformation
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel | February 4, 2021
DENVER, CO – February 4, 2021 – The Sheraton Denver Downtown revealed today a full-scale renovation of its guest rooms, lobby, public and meeting spaces as part of Sheraton’s worldwide transformation of its guest experience vision. As the most global brand within Marriott International’s portfolio sitting at the heart of communities around the world, Sheraton Denver Downtown boasts Sheraton’s new signature key elements that aim to create an environment where guests can feel comfortable and at ease, whether working, meeting or relaxing.Drawing on its roots as a community hub for locals and guests at flagship locations globally, th...
Frontline Staff Training: From Customer Service to Entertainment
EHL | February 3, 2021
The role of frontline staff is changing within the hospitality industry. Staff members are now expected to have an expanded role with additional service skills at their disposal. If you’re hoping to get into this industry, you should know that on top of proper customer service skills, you’ll need to up your game to deliver an entertaining experience to your guests. This is what gives modern guests the immersive experience they crave. Why has the industry changed? Hotels didn’t always need to provide an entertainment experience, as they were generally seen as a home base for relaxing and resting between going out to other destina...
Stephan Karl Appointed General Manager of Andaz Singapore
February 8, 2021
SINGAPORE – 8 FEBRUARY, 2021 – Andaz Singapore is pleased to announce German hotelier Stephan Karl as its newly appointed General Manager. With a career spanning over 24 years and a successful graduate of the famous Heidelberg Hotel Management School, he started at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Lindau as an apprentice. Over the next decade, he rose through rooms, food and beverage and banqueting roles at Carlton Hotel St. Moritz, Sheraton Suites Galleria-Atlanta and Castle Hospitality & Catering in Heidelberg, southwest Germany. In 2006, his Hyatt journey enriched with multiracial cultures began at Hyatt Regency Mainz followed by other...
AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise Announces Two Key Appointments Ahead of March 2021 Opening
AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise | February 22, 2021
SUNRISE, Fla - February 22, 2021 - AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise, the first hotel in Sunrise in 15 years and the first AC Hotel brand in Broward County, has appointed Michael Lauria as general manager and Christine Caraccia as director of sales and marketing. The pair will oversee the launch of the eight-story, 174-room hotel when it opens in March 2021. The hotel is located just steps from the iconic Sawgrass Mills Mall shopping center, one of the largest outlet and value retail shopping destinations in the US. “It is our pleasure to have two prominent industry leaders opening the AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mill...
Keystone Property Group and Concord Hospitality Enterprises Break Ground on Hotel West + Main
Keystone Property Group | February 10, 2021
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.-- February 10, 2021 --Keystone Property Group today announced it has broken ground on the new Hotel West + Main, a significant milestone in its 520,000-square-foot SORA West development. This $325 million mixed-use project includes a new global headquarters for Fortune 10 pharmaceutical distribution company AmerisourceBergen, the reuse of a 146-year-old historic firehouse, and a 12-story public and private parking garage. A groundbreaking event is scheduled for March 4, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. EST and will also be accessible via livestream here. Keystone has partnered with Concord Hospitality Enterprises to develop and ope...
BENCHMARK® Appoints Chris Steffich as General Manager for the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago
the David Rubenstein Forum | February 24, 2021
The Woodlands, Texas - February 24, 2021 - BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, formally announces the appointment of Chris Steffich as general manager for the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago, a new conference center recently opened on the Hyde Park Campus of the University of Chicago. Greg Champion, president and COO, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to formally announce Chris’ newest position within our company,” said Mr. Champion. “He is a proven leader, understands Benchmark’s Be The Difference service culture exceptionally well, and brings previous experience within the Chicagoland market t...
Kennebunkport Resort Collection Appoints Two New General Managers
Kennebunkport Resort Collection | February 18, 2021
KENNEBUNKPORT, ME — February 18, 2021 — The Kennebunkport Resort Collection, comprised of ten inns, resorts, hotels and rental homes as well as six award-winning restaurants in Kennebunkport, Maine, is pleased to announce appointments of seasoned hospitality leaders, Ophelia Muradian, Emily Nelson and John Nickulas to oversee various properties within the portfolio. “We are thrilled to grow our team with such successful and experienced hospitality professionals,” says Justin Grimes, Managing Director of Kennebunkport Resort Collection. “Their extensive leadership roles, areas of expertise and industry skill sets make them great ass...
Enthusiasm Is Building for Digital Tipping
Sarah Taveprungsenukul | February 2, 2021
Hospitality business owners say they are eager to begin rewarding frontline workers with new cashless, contactless, ‘appless’ gratuity solution By Sarah Taveprungsenukul Do you need a good laugh? Take just two minutes to watch comedian Larry David in this Curb Your Enthusiasm video clip as he deals with tipping missteps while at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Funny, right? We have all been there. No cash — or wrong dominations — to tip the valet … the bellman … the housekeeper. But today’s frontline hotel workers are not laughing. Throughout this pandemic, frontline staff at hotels across the globe have it rough. Man...
Soon-to-Open Thompson Hollywood Appoints Leadership Team
Thompson Hotels | February 24, 2021
LOS ANGELES – February 24, 2021 – Debuting this Spring, Thompson Hollywood is pleased to announce the appointments of new executive team members, Mathew Pargament as Managing Director and Sade Lee as Director of Sales & Marketing. As hospitality veterans, this team will usher in the exciting development within the Vinyl District, a historic project by Relevant Group that is breathing new life into the city. As Managing Director, Mathew Pargament will oversee overall operations and development of the hotel. He holds over two decades of executive leadership within celebrated lifestyle, luxury and independent hotel brands including...
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club Welcomes Tarun Rajain as Executive Director of Food & Beverage
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club | February 19, 2021
BREWSTER, MA — February 19, 2021 — From the Florida shores to Cape Cod Bay, Tarun Rajain has been appointed executive director of food & beverage at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club. Formerly a complex director of food & beverage at 24 North and Gates Resort in Key West, Florida, Rajain has over 15 years of experience in managing food and beverage departments. Prior to 24 North and Gates Resort, Rajain worked his way up to assistant complex director of food & beverage at the Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina and The Reach Resort where he rebranded the resort’s restaurant and helped lead it to become one of Key West’s most nota...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Names Tom Donovan Vice President & General Manager for Landmark Turtle Bay Resort
Turtle Bay Resort | February 8, 2021
The Woodlands, Houston, Texas - February 2021 - BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Thomas Donovan vice president and managing director for the landmark Turtle Bay Resort situated at the northern tip of Oahu’s legendary North Shore. The resort is currently undergoing a transformational renovation and is scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2021. “I am so pleased to welcome Tom to our company and to Turtle Bay Resort,” said Greg Champion, president and COO for BENCHMARK®. “This represents a return to the Hawaii market for him. Tom brings vast operational and marketing experience to his new position and a keen under...
