The Drayton Hotel Savannah Joining Curio Collection by Hilton
Curio Collection by Hilton | July 31st, 2023
Cloudbeds Announces Partnership With Vrbo
Cloudbeds | July 27th, 2023
News Top: July
Hotel Heron to Open in Heart of Old Town Alexandria, VA in Early 2024
Hotel Heron | July 26, 2023
Adaptive reuse and thoughtful design brings new life to 1926 historic hotel, minutes from Washington D.C. ALEXANDRIA, Va. – July 25, 2023 – Opening in early 2024, Hotel Heron, a first-time partnership between Aparium Hotel Group, May Riegler Companies and Potomac Investment Properties, will transform the historic George Mason Hotel building in Old Town Alexandria, Va., just minutes from Washington D.C., into a vibrant social hub. Lauded as one of the finest examples of Colonial Revival architecture in the city, the building was originally constructed in 1926 and served as the George Mason Hotel for 45 years. It was one of the m...
Q2 2023 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | July 20, 2023
By Daniel Lesser Defying the expectations of many, the U.S. economy has demonstrated resilience driven in part by a solid employment report with stronger-than-expected wage growth during June, along with continued healthy levels of consumer spending. With this said, the U.S. economy has been slowed by the Federal Reserve’s aggressive drive to tame inflation through a series of interest rate hikes that began early last year. Although trending downward, with inflation remaining above its two percent target, the Federal Reserve is on track to raise interest rates again this month and mull another hike as soon as September. Despite elevate...
HVS U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey 2023
Luigi Major, MAI | July 27, 2023
By Luigi Major, MAI Each year, HVS researches and compiles development costs from our database of actual hotel construction budgets. This source provides the basis for our illustrated total development costs per room/per product type. INTRODUCTION After reaching an all-time low in 2020, attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the national lodging market quickly rebounded to an all-time revenue per available room (RevPAR) high in 2022. While occupancy levels in 2022 remained below 2019 levels, ADR exceeded 2019 levels that year, propelled by a combination of inflation and a surge of leisure travel in the post-COVID-19 era. Dat...
As Camping Popularity Surges, RV Resorts Look to Capitalize With Hotel-Like Comforts
Anthony DiPonio | July 12, 2023
By Anthony DiPonio, CHIA Summary Over the past several years, H&LA has seen a marked increase in interest from developers and investors in campgrounds and RV resorts. RV parks are rebranding as resorts as they add more amenities. Though camping is far from a new phenomenon, its uptick in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic helped introduce it to many first-time campers, which boosted participation to higher levels. One of the most popular pastimes in North America, camping has the added benefit for travelers of also being one of the most affordable and accessible vacation options. As camping continues to grow in popularity, ...
Travel + Leisure Announces Winners of 2023 World’s Best Awards Revealing the Top Cities, Islands, Hotels, Cruise Lines and More
Travel + Leisure | July 11, 2023
NEW YORK, July 11, 2023 -- Travel + Leisure announces the best travel destinations and organizations across the globe, according to the results of the 2023 World's Best Awards' reader survey. The 28th edition of the World's Best Awards highlight the leaders in travel, including top cities, islands, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, airports and more. The complete survey results are available now on TravelandLeisure.com and in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands July 21. Spanning 122 category lists, this year's survey results yielded many surprises, including a new airline claiming the #1 spot for Best I...
Charlotte, North Carolina: Queen City on the Rise
Janet Snyder | July 7, 2023
By Janet Snyder, Courtney Vris While growth in the life sciences, energy, education, and manufacturing industries is contributing to Charlotte’s rise, it’s the financial services/fintech industry that gives the city its power to the throne. Bank of America, Truist Financial, and Wells Fargo all have either a headquarters office or a regional hub in the Queen City. As of 2023, financial firms in the Charlotte-region MSA support over 100,000 jobs, which is more than ever recorded before, even prior to the pandemic. Yes, this sector’s return to the office was slow following the pandemic depths and the uncertain climate precipitated ...
Summer 2023 Trip Length and Spending Are Both on the Rise
Allianz Partners | July 18, 2023
RICHMOND, Va., July 18, 2023-- Americans are planning to set their status to "out of office" for longer stretches and open their wallets a little wider this summer, according to this year's 15th Annual Vacation Confidence Index from Allianz Partners USA. While the traditional week-long vacation is still elusive, new research indicates travel is becoming a priority again based on longer trips and increased spend. As both travel and confidence have rebounded in recent years, the average number of nights spent away has been steadily creeping up and now sits at 4.5 versus 4.3 (2022) and 4.1 (2021). The shift is beginning ...
Park Lane New York Welcomes Niles Harris as Managing Director & Vice President of Operations
Park Lane New York | July 12, 2023
New York, New York - July 2023 - Park Lane New York, a Highgate-managed hotel positioned on Billionaire’s Row, is thrilled to announce the appointment of its new Managing Director & Vice President of Operations, Niles Harris. The esteemed industry veteran is no stranger to the Highgate family, having previously spent four years as Managing Director of Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan, where his outstanding work and dedication was recognized with the coveted "Make Your Mark" General Manager of the Year Award. During his time there, Harris was also appointed as Chairman of the technology committee on the General Manager's Leadersh...
Bre Smith Appointed General Manager at The Georgian Hotel, Santa Monica
The Georgian | July 31, 2023
[Los Angeles, California | July 31, 2023] - The Georgian is pleased to announce the promotion of Bre Smith to General Manager at the landmark hotel. The new role follows the restoration and re-opening of the iconic oceanfront property in April 2023, where Smith first joined the team as Director of Operations. Bre joined the 84-key property with over 15 years of experience in hospitality and management, with a special focus on art, creativity, service. Her exceptional contributions have proven pivotal in the successful realization of eight hotel openings, ranging from their conception to launch. Her hospitality journey began in 2004 whil...
Rosewood Baha Mar Appoints Alvaro Acebal as New Director of Food and Beverage
Rosewood Baha Mar (Nassau, The Bahamas) | July 26, 2023
(Nassau, The Bahamas – July 26, 2023) - Rosewood Baha Mar announces the appointment of Alvaro Acebal to director of food and beverage. Acebal brings 24 years of global experience in the luxury sector to his new role in The Bahamas. “We are thrilled to welcome Alvaro to our team here at Rosewood Baha Mar,” says Managing Director Monica Ortiz. “He is passionate and possesses an incredible drive for service excellence. Alvaro is a wonderful addition to our esteemed culinary team, and he will ensure we continue to deliver the best hospitality in The Bahamas for our guests.” In his new role, Acebal is responsible for developing one-of...
Silversands Grenada Appoints Michele Giraudo as General Manager
Silversands Grenada | July 10, 2023
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada (July 10, 2023) – Silversands Grenada announces the appointment of Michele Giraudo as their new General Manager. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades in ultra-luxury hospitality, Michele brings a wealth of experience to his role at the prestigious ultra-luxury resort. Most recently, Michele served as the opening General Manager of One&Only Portonovi, a renowned European resort. He then collaborated with property developers in Montenegro and the Caribbean, showcasing his ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences. A graduate of Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne and Cornell University, Michele is ...
EOS Hospitality Appoints Barry Wabler as Chief Financial Officer
EOS Hospitality | July 12, 2023
New York, NY (July 12, 2023) – EOS Hospitality is pleased to announce the appointment of Barry Wabler as Chief Financial Officer. At EOS Hospitality, Wabler will be focused on financial strategy and planning and serve as the leader of the finance team. EOS Hospitality currently operates a portfolio of 50 hotels with more than 7,000 keys, making it one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the U.S. Wabler boasts 40 years of experience in finance focused on the hospitality, foodservice and business services industries. In his prior roles as Chief Financial Officer, Wabler’s responsibilities have encompassed leading the finan...
Sonnenblick-Eichner Company Arranges $100 Million Sale of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, California
Sonnenblick-Eichner Company | July 25, 2023
Beverly Hills, CA (July 25, 2023) -- Sonnenblick-Eichner Company, on behalf of Steve Hermann Hotels, has arranged a $100 million sale of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, an 85-room, full-service, luxury boutique resort located in north San Diego County’s exclusive enclave of Rancho Santa Fe, CA. The resort is undergoing an extensive “top-to-bottom” renovation. When fully operational in the fourth quarter of this year, it will be positioned as one of the most preeminent and exclusive destinations in California. The resort was purchased by an institutional investment fund. “We were able to generate interest in the acquisition given...
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour Appoints Karl Christian Aular as Executive Chef
Park Hyatt St. Kitts | July 27, 2023
ST. KITTS (July 27, 2023)– Set within Christophe Harbour on Banana Bay with unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring Nevis, the luxurious Park Hyatt St. Kitts is delighted to announce the appointment of Karl Christian Aular as Executive Chef. With his exceptional expertise and vast experience as head chef at leading restaurants around the world, Chef Aular will now oversee Park Hyatt St. Kitts’ three signature restaurants - Great House, Fisherman’s Village, and Stone Barn. He will also take on the task of enhancing the resort’s creative culinary programming with the mission to continue immersing guests in the i...
Ben Trodd Appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Aman
Aman | July 12, 2023
July 12, 2023 – Aman, the preeminent hospitality and lifestyle brand renowned for its collection of ultra-luxury hotels and branded residences, has announced the appointment of Ben Trodd as Chief Operating Officer, effective Tuesday, July 11, 2023. A seasoned professional in the hospitality industry, Ben brings over 25 years of experience to the position. In his role, Ben will oversee all facets of Aman’s intricate hotel and resort operations, to deliver the brand’s vision and strategy, working closely with Chairman and CEO, Vlad Doronin, whilst ensuring the unique characteristics and exceptional levels of service, for which the d...
Stay Hospitality Selects Mews to Automate Operations and Enhance the Overall Guest Journey
Mews | July 20, 2023
The American short-term vacation rental and hotel management group leverage Mews and its vast hospitality marketplace to upgrade their hotel operations. [NEW YORK– 20th of July 2023] Mews, the innovative hospitality cloud, has been chosen by Stay Hospitality to automate and enhance their growing hotel operations. As a hotel and short-term vacation rental management team, Stay Hospitality handles all aspects of the guest experience for visitors traveling to South Florida. “We love how Mews enables our guests to check in online, ahead of their arrival, saving us a lot of time and labor. Their incredible tech stack supports our visi...
Raul Aguilera Named New General Manager at Hilton Los Cabos
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | July 31, 2023
Los Cabos, MX – July 31, 2023 –Hilton Los Cabos, an award-winning beachfront resort, has announced Raul Aguilera as the resort’s new general manager. An industry veteran with more than two decades of experience, Aguilera oversees all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services, staff management, revenue management, and strategic planning. His visionary approach and innovative ideas are set to enhance the hotel's reputation as a premier destination for travelers seeking luxury, comfort, and a one-of-a-kind Baja experience. Aguilera joins Hilton Los Cabos from Hilton Tampa Downtown and Embassy Suites Downtown where he served as ...
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort Opens in Hawai‘i Following Reconstruction
Kennedy Wilson | July 11, 2023
Along Hawai‘i's Kona Coast awaits a captivating destination sought after by voyagers for centuries. Officially open to guests as of July 1, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is privileged to call this sacred land of Kaʻūpūlehu home. An inspired reimagination of the original Kona Village Resort, which first opened in the 1960s and subsequently shuttered in 2011, a familiar silhouette has returned to the island’s horizon. Kennedy Wilson, the innovative global real estate investment company renowned for its commitment to responsible and sustainable development in Hawaiʻi, took a light-on-the-land approach to reconstructing the resort an...
Signia by Hilton San Jose Names New Hotel Executive Leadership Team
Signia by Hilton San Jose | July 20, 2023
SAN JOSE, Calif. (July 20, 2023) – Signia by Hilton San Jose, a reimagined 541-room property set within the capital of Silicon Valley, announces the appointment of three accomplished professionals to its esteemed leadership team. Joining the hotel are General Manager Mark Ive, Director of Sales and Marketing Joe Alegre and Director of Marketing Diana Haven. These strategic hires represent a significant milestone in Signia by Hilton San Jose’s commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and continually elevating the guest experience. General Manager Mark Ive An industry veteran with more than 35 years of leadership experience, Ive j...
Kimpton San Antonio Celebrates Its Topping Out on Schedule
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants | July 20, 2023
SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 20, 2023) - White Lodging and its partners are pleased to announce that they have officially topped out the first Kimpton Hotel in San Antonio. The construction milestone on the 10-story building keeps the project on schedule after breaking ground in October of last year. Kimpton San Antonio, located at 423 S Alamo in downtown San Antonio, is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2024. As a part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, Kimpton San Antonio stands at the forefront of a new wave of hospitality destinations in the city, offering a truly exceptional luxury lifestyle hotel experience. N...
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake Appoints Hiomara van den Boogaart as General Manager
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake | July 24, 2023
AUSTIN, TX (July 20, 2023) – The Loren at Lady Bird Lake announces Hiomara van den Boogaart as the General Manager of The Loren at Lady Bird Lake. Known for its exceptional hospitality and breathtaking setting, The Loren at Lady Bird Lake has quickly gained recognition as one of the best luxury hotels on both a local and national level. Since its opening in the fall of 2022, the hotel has earned several highly-esteemed travel accolades including Conde Nast Traveler's and Travel + Leisure's 2023 List of Best New Hotels in the World. “Hiomara brings a great skill set and an innovative leadership style to our team,” said COO and CF...
Unlocking the Value of AI and Generative AI in Travel
Rathi Murthy | July 24, 2023
From grocery shopping to streaming music, AI has enriched many aspects of our lives, much like what the internet did in its early days, and travel is no different. At Expedia Group™️, we’ve been building with AI for years to simplify the travel experience for our travelers and B2B partners. But simplifying in the complex world of travel, where there are over 1.26 quadrillion variations on any given hotel search and tech debt everywhere you look, doesn’t happen overnight. It requires three critical elements to be successful — a solid tech platform, high-quality data, and an AI-first culture. We have all three. Like many compani...
Montage International to Develop Montage and Pendry Resorts in Punta Mita Along Bahia de Banderas in Nayarit, Mexico
Montage International | July 13, 2023
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIF. (July 13, 2023) – Montage International and DINE have reached an agreement for the development of both a Montage and a Pendry resort within the 1,500-acre, private peninsula master-development community of Punta Mita in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. Set to open in 2026, the new resorts will include Montage Punta Mita with branded Montage Residences and Pendry Punta Mita with branded Pendry Residences. The resorts will feature luxurious amenities including Spa Montage, Spa Pendry, an array of food & beverage offerings, outdoor sporting experiences, and a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces. Gu...
Coast Rehoboth Beach, Tapestry Collection by Hilton Celebrates Official Opening
Hilton | July 31, 2023
Rehoboth Beach, Del. (July 31, 2023) - Coast Rehoboth Beach, Tapestry Collection by Hilton today officially opened its doors to guests and the beach community. The 60-room hotel is located at 123 Second Street and Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Coast is Rehoboth Beach’s latest upscale boutique hotel and restaurant experience designed to celebrate one of the greatest natural treasures in one of the most unique, historic beach towns in North America. Located two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, Coast is a revitalized and reimagined property that embraces Delaware’s coastal lifestyle in the heart of Rehoboth Beach. Hotel offer...
Marriott International Announces the 2023 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence Honorees
Marriott International, Inc. | July 20, 2023
Today, Marriott International announced the winners of the 2023 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence. Established in 1987 and named after Marriott’s founder, the J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence honor the company’s finest associates who represent key characteristics: achievement, character, dedication, effort and perseverance. This year, Marriott will honor 10 associates for their tireless dedication to making a difference in the lives of guests, fellow associates and communities throughout the world. Additionally, four awards will be given honoring outstanding corporate citizenship, diversity and inclusion efforts, excelle...
