Why Legacy Systems Can Limit Revenue Potential When It Comes to Attribute-Based Selling
Aaron Shepherd | November 28th, 2023
Ten Ideas to Add Memorable Details to Your Hotel
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | November 15th, 2023
News Top: November
Maine-Based Hotelier Tim Harrington Acquires The Dunes on the Waterfront in Ogunquit
November 10, 2023
OGUNQUIT, ME, November 10, 2023 - Tim Harrington, hotelier, real estate developer, entrepreneur and owner of several award-winning properties, has acquired The Dunes on the Waterfront, adding to his number of boutique properties in Maine. Harrington purchased the property with his Batson River Partner Kevin Lord. Set to open for the summer 2024 season, The Dunes overlooks Ogunquit Beach and is situated among sandy dunes, providing inspiration for its namesake along with an ideal setting for a seaside getaway. Originally purchased in 1935 as farmland, The Dunes property is one of Maine’s original cottage colonies, and has welcomed gues...
Ruling Against Google Chromecast Has Major Implications for Hotel Industry
Mark Munger | November 8, 2023
By Mark Munger With my work in the hospitality industry, I have designed and implemented a variety of in-room technology. One piece of this technology is the guest’s ability to “cast” the video from a local device to the TV in their room. Chromecast is the most popular method for casting and a court ruling earlier this year raised concerns about the legality of using Chromecast. A July 2023 court ruling found Google's Chromecast devices infringe patents held by Touchstream Technologies, a New York based company. While few took notice, this could have wide-ranging impacts on the hospitality sector. Google filed an appeal in Septemb...
Soon-to-Open AC Hotel Naples 5th Avenue Introduces Executive Leadership Team
AC Hotel by Marriott Naples 5th Avenue | November 1, 2023
SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA (Tuesday, November 1, 2023) — The soon-to-open AC Hotel by Marriott in Naples, Florida, has recruited an executive leadership team that blends dynamic brand experience with deep community connections. OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, is developing and will manage AC Hotel by Marriott Naples 5th Avenue, which is slated to open mid-December 2023. Jacob Kucinski is General Manager of the new AC Hotel in Naples and Kimberly Hilty is Director of Sales. Douglas Gaquer is Food & Beverage Director with oversight of Limón, the hotel’s signature rooftop restaurant and bar. “Bringing this new ho...
Ten Ideas to Add Memorable Details to Your Hotel
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | November 15, 2023
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky “It's attention to detail that makes the difference between average and stunning.” (Francis Attenbury, 1663-1732) To put this into an adage that we prefer and have used, “The story is in the specificity.” As a thought, how many times have you stayed at a hotel where the interior of the guestroom offers no distinctive finishes so much so that you could wake up and not know what brand or city you are in? While this may be fine for the economy and midscale hotels-in-beds operations, if you want to chart a course for above-market ADR increases, your hotel needs an identity. Some of this comes through ...
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village Appoints Jennifer Trapani as Director of Sales and Marketing
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village | November 15, 2023
Cape Coral, FL – November 15, 2023 – The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Trapani as Director of Sales and Marketing. An experienced hospitality industry leader, recognized for her work across Marriott International for nearly three decades, Jennifer will oversee all sales and marketing initiatives for the waterfront resort. Additionally, Jennifer will be responsible for identifying innovative business-generating strategies, implementing targeted sales techniques to broaden guest outreach, and optimizing revenue growth. “Jennifer’s expertise in sales and marketing, parti...
Sea Breeze Beach House, Barbados Appoints Charles Anthony Johnson as General Manager
Sea Breeze Beach House | November 14, 2023
Saint Lawrence Gap, Barbados – November 14, 2023 – Sea Breeze Beach House, an all-inclusive resort and haven for laid-back luxury, part of Barbados’ prestigious family-owned Ocean Hotels Group, has announced the appointment of Barbadian, Charles Anthony Johnson as General Manager. In his role, Johnson will lead his teams in creating and delivering in all aspects of hospitality at Sea Breeze Beach House. Johnson is a dynamic and motivational hospitality executive. His results focused mindset and passion for hospitality will shine in this new role, as will his skills in operation management, strategic planning and more. “We are delig...
Boston/Cambridge Lodging Market – Outlook Is for Positive Growth for 2024
Rachel J. Roginsky | November 15, 2023
By Rachel Roginsky After spending the last 32 years tracking and analyzing the Boston/Cambridge (“the City”) lodging market, Pinnacle Advisory Group (“Pinnacle”) is quite comfortable forecasting top line (occupancy and ADR) revenue for the City. But projecting the future with precision can be complicated. Here’s our perspective on the City’s lodging market for 2024: • Convention and Group Demand – This segment of demand comprises approximately 23% of total demand in the City. According to Signature Boston, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center will generate approximately 500,000 room nights in 2024, which will be a...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Successfully Transacts Chicago Renaissance OHare Hotel
Paramount Lodging Advisors | November 7, 2023
CHICAGO, IL - Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) has successfully executed the sale of a Marriott-branded Renaissance Hotel situated minutes from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Managing Director Mike Schlictman and Director Andrew Makhlouf, along with Partners Bennett Webster and Brent Clemens represented the seller in the transaction. The full-service 362-key Renaissance Hotel opened in 2005 and features over 9,000 SF of meeting space and the Asado Urban Grill restaurant. The upscale property is ideally located in the top 3 MSA market of Chicago....
Economic Headwinds and Geopolitical Tensions Will Likely Impact Hotel Performance Through 2024 According to PwC
Hospitality Directions | November 13, 2023
Leisure demand, while still strong, began to soften in the back half of this year for US hotels, as other parts of the world continued to reopen their vacation destinations and leisure travelers began to once again feel safe traveling abroad. Increases in individual business travel and group business have not yet been able to fully offset this softening. As a result, occupancy levels have declined in each of the past seven months, relative to comparable 2022 levels, and are expected to continue to be down during the remainder of this year and through at least the first quarter of 2024. Room rate growth had played a significant role in the ini...
How To Train Your Staff To Meet Luxury Service Standards Without Sounding Scripted and Insincere
Doug Kennedy | November 14, 2023
By Doug Kennedy Hoteliers in the upscale, luxury, and ultra-luxury segments of the lodging industry not only have to be concerned with the preferences of their actual guests, but also with the sometimes-ambiguous standards imposed on them by their brand, soft-brand, membership/affiliation, or by third party luxury hotel rating services. Indeed, achieving and maintaining those stars, diamonds or other merit-based symbols has never been easy and always represents a significant accomplishment. Surely, meeting these standards is important, and therefore it is essential that all staff are well-versed in the requirements. However, too many ho...
Hyatt and Extell Development Company Partner to Bring Grand Hyatt Brand to Utah
Grand Hyatt Hotels | November 10, 2023
Expected to open late 2024, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley will expand Hyatt’s brand presence in a vibrant resort market CHICAGO (November 10, 2023) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) and Extell Development Company today announced the planned expansion of the Grand Hyatt brand in Park City, Utah. Expected to open late 2024, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley will mark the debut of the Grand Hyatt brand in Utah and will be located at the famed Deer Valley Resort. Uniquely designed as a captivating destination within a destination, the property will open as the first luxury hotel within Deer Valley Resort’s forthcoming expansion. Situated 40 minu...
BH3 Management Completes Multimillion-Dollar Makeover of Hillsboro Beach Resort
BH3 Management | November 14, 2023
91-room beachfront hotel located on “Millionaire Mile” has undergone a top-to-bottom renovation that has elevated a dilapidated property into a 4-star boutique. Hillsboro, FL (November 14, 2023) – As South Florida bolsters its position among the world’s top tourism destinations, a 91-key hotel in Hillsboro Beach is getting a new lease on life following a multi-million-dollar renovation. Hillsboro Beach Resort, formerly Hillsboro Beach Resort Mile Hotel, was acquired by BH3 Management in 2017. In the years since, BH3 has undertaken an eight-figure overhaul that has ushered in new guest rooms, event spaces, food and beverage outl...
2024 Hotel Group, Events, and Meetings Trends & Stats That Every Hotelier Should Know
Mike Pavicich | November 15, 2023
By Mike Pavicich | Director, Global Sales | SalesAndCatering.com As the calendar pages turn, we bid farewell to 2023, a year that saw our steady stride back to normalcy within the hospitality sector. But as we look to 2024, we're not just walking; we're poised to leap into an era marked by the potential for unparalleled growth. The once turbulent waters of the hospitality industry have calmed, and now it's time for hotel brands to chart a course for uncharted territories of opportunity. The spotlight shines on the group sales and meetings sector, which is anticipated to accelerate in the coming year. In the world of hospitality, group...
Dreamscape Companies Acquires Holston House Nashville From HRI Properties
Dreamscape | November 16, 2023
Holston House Nashville Will Make Dreamscape The Largest Hotel Owner In Downtown Nashville, With Three Hotels Totaling Over 900 Rooms Nashville, TN (November 16, 2023) – Dreamscape Companies, a New York-based real estate and investment firm, completed the acquisition of the Holston House Nashville from HRI Properties, a recently redeveloped hotel situated in the heart of Downtown Nashville. This purchase marks Dreamscape’s third hospitality transaction in the city in the last three years, having acquired The Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown and Holiday Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown. The purchase of this 191-room hotel undersco...
Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre Debuts in Malaysia With 513 Guestrooms
Four Points by Sheraton | November 28, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – November 28, 2023 – Debuting as the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and the fourth in Malaysia, Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre celebrates its opening just in time for the year-end festivities. The opening comes hot on the heels of the recent reopening of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre in October 2023, together forming Marriott Bonvoy’s first dual-branded property in Malaysia. Under the ownership of Ventura International Sdn. Bhd., Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre sets the home base for independent travellers and famil...
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa Appoints Milan Drager as New General Manager
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa | November 7, 2023
Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond Resort Appoints Hospitality Veteran Milan Drager SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 7, 2023) – Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Southern California’s only Relais & Châteaux property, has announced the appointment of Milan Drager as the new General Manager. A leader in the hospitality industry with over two decades of experience inclusive of Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond properties, Drager will be leading the award-winning resort and spa which spans 45 sprawling acres with wide open spaces, lush gardens and olive and citrus groves. “It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the addition of M...
106 Jefferson Hotel Appoints Laura Morgan as New Director of Sales and Marketing
106 Jefferson | November 30, 2023
Laura Morgan will spearhead the sales and marketing efforts at Huntsville's Luxury Boutique Hotel HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – November 29, 2023 – 106 Jefferson, a Curio Collection hotel by Hilton, managed by Valor Hospitality Partners announced today the appointment of Laura Morgan as director of sales and marketing. The 115-room lifestyle hotel in downtown Huntsville pays homage to the history, culture and charm of the city, featuring design nods to its space roots. Morgan brings over 25 years of hospitality experience to the property. As Director of Sales and Marketing, she will work with all departments at the hotel to plan and promo...
How Hotels Are Turning to AI
JLL | November 6, 2023
Hotel rooms are starting to feel like they were made just for you. Personalized music plays when you open the door. Lighting and air-conditioning are set to your ideal levels. A menu of the family’s favorite movies pop up on the TV, while the mini fridge is free from any food allergies. Behind it all: a hotel industry racing to deliver unique guest experiences fuelled by new technologies and artificial intelligence. “If knowing your guest is a priority to winning loyalty and increasing spend, then AI has tremendous potential in helping build guest profiles,” says JLL’s hotel asset management expert Ross Beardsell. “If a gue...
Carlisle Bay Antigua Appoints Andrew Hedley as Managing Director
Carlisle Bay | November 27, 2023
CARLISLE BAY, ANTIGUA (November 27, 2023) – Carlisle Bay Antigua, the iconic, five-star luxury resort, is proud to welcome back Andrew Hedley. Hedley previously served as General Manager, joining shortly after the resort’s initial opening, playing an integral role in leading and developing the team from 2004 – 2009 and is thrilled to now be back on property as Managing Director, as the resort celebrates its twentieth anniversary later this year and ushers in a new era of luxury with exciting developments to come. Hedley has been a resident on the island of Antigua for 19 years, with dual British and Antiguan nationality, he brings an...
CBRE Hotels Expects RevPAR Growth Recovery Following Summer Slowdown
CBRE Group, Inc. | November 16, 2023
Dallas – November 16th, 2023 – CBRE is forecasting revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth to recover in 2024 as inbound international travel further improves and sector-specific headwinds moderate. CBRE’s forecasts 3.0% RevPAR growth in 2024, driven by a 40 basis-point (bps) occupancy improvement and a 2.3% average daily rate (ADR) increase. RevPAR in 2024 is expected to be 14% greater than 2019 levels. CBRE’s baseline forecast anticipates 0.8% average GDP growth and 2.9% average inflation in 2024. Given the strong correlation between GDP and RevPAR growth, stronger or weaker economic growth will directly impact lodging indu...
STR, TE Upgrade U.S. ADR and RevPAR Forecast
STR | November 20, 2023
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—STR and Tourism Economics lifted year-over-year growth projections for average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the final U.S. hotel forecast revision of 2023. For 2023, growth in RevPAR was raised by 0.3 percentage points, due to a 0.6ppt lift in ADR growth. Recent RevPAR trends demonstrate that rate continues to be the primary driver of performance. Occupancy was downgraded slightly (by 0.2ppts). For 2024, the growth projections for each of the key performance metrics remained flat from the previous forecast due to the above long-term average trends beginning to stabilize. ...
Key PMS Features Independents Must Consider Budgeting for in 2024
Warren Dehan | November 28, 2023
Six game-changing PMS capabilities hoteliers are leveraging for success in 2024 By Warren Dehan The end of the year is fast approaching. Hoteliers are setting their goals for 2024, with increased communication and transparency between departments high on their list of goals for new technology. The current state of hospitality is leading operators to embrace a fast, reactive approach to hotel management, which thrives on nimble decision-making supported by technology and light automation. Technology now exists to help hoteliers run their properties in a lean, more efficient manner than ever before—if their Property Management Syst...
Sunscape Coco Punta Cana Celebrates Grand Opening in the Heart of the Dominican Republic
Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt | November 30, 2023
The 1,059-room family-friendly resort offers guests an enchanting backdrop of coconut palms and the natural beauty of Laguna Bavaro Reserve in the idyllic Cabeza de Toro region CHICAGO (November 30, 2023) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Sunscape Coco Punta Cana, the newest addition to the Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt. The newly remodeled 1,059-room family-friendly resort expands the Inclusive Collection’s portfolio in the Dominican Republic to 15 resorts and marks the opening of the second Sunscape Resort & Spa branded property in the country. Nestled along the pristine Bavaro ...
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows Appoints Sammy DeMarco as Executive Chef
Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen | November 21, 2023
The Brooklyn native brings 29 years of culinary experience to Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen at Andaz Scottsdale Scottsdale, AZ; November 21, 2023 – Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows announces the appointment of Sammy DeMarco, “Chef Sammy D,” to executive chef. DeMarco brings an impressive 29 years of global food, beverage, and hospitality expertise to his new role at the restaurant. “We are thrilled to welcome Chef Sammy to the Andaz team,” says Carlos Morales, general manager of Andaz Scottsdale. “The first thing I noticed about Chef is that he is very passionate, and that shine...
Onyx Hospitality Group Signs Amari Vientiane in Laos
ONYX Hospitality Group | November 22, 2023
London, November 2023 – ONYX Hospitality Group, a prominent player in the Asian hospitality industry, has achieved a significant milestone with the signing of Amari Vientiane in Laos, marking the group's second Amari brand property in the country, complementing Amari Vang Vieng. The signing ceremony took place on 16th November 2023 at Tang Chareon (TCR) Group's office in Laos, with Mr. Houa Sengaroun, Chairman of Tang Chareon (TCR) Group, Mr. Pheutsapha Phoummasak, President of Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co., Ltd., and Mr. Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group, reaffirming ONYX's commitment to exp...
