News Top: November
The Sea Ranch Lodge Appoints New Culinary Leadership Team
The Sea Ranch Lodge | November 1, 2024
SEA RANCH, Calif. (November 1, 2024) – The Sea Ranch Lodge is excited to announce the formation of its new culinary leadership team, bringing together exceptional talent to elevate the dining experience at the renowned coastal destination. The Lodge welcomes Darren McRonald as Executive Chef, Jay Wyant-King as Director of Food and Beverage, Chloe Tula as Wine Director, and Katrina Coffman as Farm Manager. “We are excited to welcome this talented culinary team to The Sea Ranch Lodge family, each bringing their unique expertise and vision,” says Kristina Jetton, General Manager, The Sea Ranch Lodge. “Together, they will not only e...
HFTP Announces 2025 HITEC North America Advisory Council
HFTP | November 1, 2024
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) producers of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has announced the 2025 HITEC Advisory Council. An expert group of distinguished industry professionals selected to develop and coordinate the education program for HITEC’s North American event. With over five decades of history, HITEC has become a must-attend event, drawing thousands of professionals to explore the latest trends, innovations in technology, best practices and solutions in the hospitality industry. HITEC 2025 will take place from June 16–19 at the Indiana Convention Center in I...
Mews Acquires Sales and Catering Innovator, Quotelo
Mews | November 4, 2024
Mews makes its first French product acquisition [Lyon, 4 November 2024]: Mews, the industry-leading hospitality cloud, has announced the acquisition of Quotelo, marking its first product acquisition in France. This milestone comes on the heels of Mews surpassing 1,000 French customers, further solidifying its presence and commitment to innovation in the region. Founded in 2021, Quotelo revolutionizes event hospitality by accelerating and simplifying event quotation, booking and management. Quotelo’s seamless solution supports independent hotels and resorts, as well as major hotel brands, to increase their revenue for groups and...
Is the Connected Trip the Next Big Thing?
Max Starkov | November 1, 2024
By Max Starkov, Hospitality & Online Travel Tech Consultant Booking has been working for five years to add air, experiences, car rental and other travel components, which in their view provides a better experience for travelers and better returns for the company. How promising is the connected trip concept? First of all, this concept is not new. For 175 years traditional tour operators have offered “connected trips” in the form of tour packages, and in the last 60 years - beach and ski vacations with charter flights. Booking.com’s main rival - Expedia - has been pushing the so called “connected trip” (a trip that includ...
Hudini and Orascom Hotels Management Begin Global Rollout of New Staff Connect Platform
Hudini | November 4, 2024
Dubai, 4 November 2024: Smart hospitality solutions provider, Hudini, has entered into an agreement with Orascom Hotels Management for the rollout of their new digital platform, Staff Connect, across Orascom’s portfolio of hotels globally. Orascom Hotels Management has chosen the Staff Connect platform by Hudini to create exceptional guest arrival experiences with tailored personal interaction. Orascom’s vision is to transform the arrival experience by completely removing the front desk. Upon arrival, the guests are welcomed and escorted to their rooms by an Experience Ambassador who is assigned to the guests for the entire stay. With th...
Sojern and Cloudbeds Announce New Integration at World Travel Market 2024
Sojern | November 4, 2024
LONDON – 4 November 2024 – Sojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for travel, and Cloudbeds, the premier hospitality management software platform, have today announced a new partnership to bring two leaders together within the hotel technology space, just ahead of the World Travel Market in London. This strategic partnership means that Sojern’s built-for-travel digital marketing and guest experience solutions are fully integrated with Cloudbeds’ system and deliver industry-leading accuracy and tracking capabilities. Sojern’s commission-based travel advertising helps hoteliers increase direct bookings while only pa...
Event Tourism: How Music, Sport, and Film Shape Destinations
EHL Insights | November 1, 2024
From Taylor Swift’s record-breaking concert tours to Mega-Sports events and the surge of screen tourism inspired by hit shows like HBO’s The White Lotus, these phenomena are transforming travel patterns worldwide. The allure of mega-events and on-screen destinations can generate substantial short-term economic boosts, yet they also bring challenges. Dr. Isabella Blengini, Associate Professor of Economics at EHL Hospitality Business School, delves into the complex and multi-dimensional impacts of event tourism and pop culture tourism. As the tourism industry rebounds from recent downturns, event- and pop culture-driven travel is playing...
Vista Hospitality Opens Doubletree by Hilton New York JFK Airport
DoubleTree by Hilton | November 1, 2024
JAMAICA/QUEENS NEW YORK – November 1, 2024 – The Doubletree by Hilton New York JFK Airport opened today. The 12-story hotel is located just minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport, and is a venture between the Vista Hospitality Group and Amaya Hospitality. Overseen by Vista Property Management, the Hotel underwent an extensive renovation for the conversion, and now features 385 beautifully-appointed Guest Rooms and Junior Suites. “The Doubletree JFK Airport is an iconic property within the New York JFK sub-market,” said George Drepaul, General Manager. “We are all very excited to represent the Hilton family of brands, an...
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort Debuts $115M Renovation
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort | November 4, 2024
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (November 4, 2024) –Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) is proud to announce Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort has completed its highly anticipated $115 million property-wide renovation. The property, formerly known as Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch, marks the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona. The newly reimagined luxury resort invites guests to connect with the captivating spirit of the American Southwest, complemented by six elevated dining experiences in partnership with celebrity chef Richard Blais, expanded pool and cabana offerings, a refreshed Spa Avania, expanded group meeting space capabi...
Loyalty Program Membership, Contribution, Liability, and Costs Continue to Grow
CBRE Hotels | November 4, 2024
By Rachael Rothman CFA, ISHC, Robert Mandelbaum, and Christine Bang Strong loyalty programs help hotel brands lower customer acquisition costs, increase direct-to-consumer access, and offset occupancy shortfalls during shoulder periods and weaker economic conditions. After analyzing publicly available data from five large hotel companies, we found that while growth in several key metrics slowed in 2023, loyalty members' overall contribution to occupancy increased, though marginal contribution per member contracted. Benefits The average number of loyalty program members at the subject five companies increased 11.3% in 2023, slower tha...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: What Are CAP Rates and How to Use Them
David Lund | November 4, 2024
A capitalization rate, or cap rate, is a measure of the income return on an asset, such as hotel or rental property, relative to its purchase price. It is calculated by dividing the net operating income (NOI) of the asset by its purchase price. That’s what this piece is all about. It also must be said from the get-go that understanding cap rates is not so difficult. “Normally” NOI is calculated using all income less all operating expenses but does not include costs for debt, depreciation, amortization, reserve for capital expense or income taxes. That’s the typical basis for the calculation of the hotel’s value, est...
Marriott International Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results
Marriott International | November 4, 2024
Third quarter 2024 comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR increased 3.0 percent worldwide, 2.1 percent in the U.S. & Canada, and 5.4 percent in international markets, compared to the 2023 third quarter; Third quarter reported diluted EPS totaled $2.07, compared to reported diluted EPS of $2.51 in the year-ago quarter. Third quarter adjusted diluted EPS totaled $2.26, compared to third quarter 2023 adjusted diluted EPS of $2.11; Third quarter reported net income totaled $584 million, compared to reported net income of $752 million in the year-ago quarter. Third quarter adjusted net income totaled $638 m...
Learn-by-Going: Study Abroad in Thailand
Cecilyah New | November 1, 2024
When I signed up for the 2024 Thailand Collins College Study Abroad Program, I did not anticipate a life-changing experience. I had no expectations beyond learning how to cook Thai food in Thailand for course credits, and I had not researched much about studying abroad before the trip. However, during my time at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), I immersed myself in Thai culture, gained new insights into the hospitality industry, and broadened my global perspective in a new environment. Participating in this study abroad program has significantly contributed to my academic journey, professional development, and personal...
Kolpin Hotels Launches New Hotel Brand, Roberta’s Society
Kolpin Hotels | November 1, 2024
November 1, 2024... Kolpin Hotels and Karim Nielsen, CEO of Kolpin Hotels are happy and excited to announce their partnership in the development of a new brand called Roberta's Society. It is a high-end, low-key budget hybrid concept and a meeting point for various target groups, where art, culture and activities will occur and create a place that you don't just want to come to live. Roberta's Society is created for travelers who want to stay in a lively, cozy and cool hotel with a strongly developed community. This new brand is aimed at guests between 18 and 50 years of age, and we want to accommodate both business and holid...
Newly Built Holiday Inn Express Opens in Hamilton, Ontario
Holiday Inn Express | November 1, 2024
Hamilton, Ontario November 1, 2024 Vrancor Hospitality Corporation, a leading Canadian hotel management company, announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express® hotel in Hamilton Ontario. Holiday Inn Express Hamilton - Upper James is owned and operated by 1276 Upper James Limited and managed by Vrancor Hospitality Corporation. This new hotel represents the latest addition to InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) more than 6,000 hotels across the globe. Ideally located on Upper James Street, on the Hamilton mountain. The 105 room, 6 storey hotel is ideally situated right off the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, steps away from a variety of...
Hilton Expands Presence in Italy With Two New Hotel Signings
Hilton | November 1, 2024
ROME and McLEAN, Va. – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced plans to expand its presence in Italy, with the signing of DoubleTree by Hilton Naples Oriente and Hampton by Hilton Rome St Peter´s, set to open next year. Alan Mantin, vice president, development Southern Europe, Hilton, said, “We continue to experience significant growth across Italy - with more than 2,000 rooms in our pipeline - and are pleased to announce two additional signings across our full and focused service brands. With nearly 60 million visitors to Italy in 2023, we are excited to offer travellers further accommodation options in the vibrant cities of Rome and Na...
Davidson Hospitality Group Tapped by Lennox Capital Partners to Manage Two Hotels
Davidson Hospitality Group | November 4, 2024
ATLANTA (November 4, 2024) – Davidson Hospitality Group, recently ranked #1 in Guest Satisfaction among Third-Party Hotel Management Companies by J.D. Power for the third consecutive year, has been selected by Lennox Capital Partners to manage two distinctive properties: The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton in Dallas, Texas, and The Westin St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Lennox Capital team on these two outstanding hotels in truly dynamic and vibrant cities,” said Thom Geshay, Chief Executive Officer & President, Davidson Hospitality Group. “We look forward to...
Reef Capital Partners Celebrates Grand Opening of The Boardwalk Hotel on Lake Anna by Kasa
Reef Capital Partners | November 1, 2024
November 1, 2024, Lake Anna, VA — Reef Capital Partners, is pleased to announce the grand opening of The Boardwalk Hotel on Lake Anna by Kasa. Situated on scenic Lake Anna, this boutique lakefront destination is now officially open, welcoming guests to enjoy a new standard of hospitality at the modern, coastal concept in a location known for its desirable natural beauty. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on October 25, was attended by local dignitaries and community leaders. The 34-room hotel, including two multiple-bedroom suites, provides an array of room options to suit a variety of travelers, from king and queen rooms to double queen c...
China Expands Visa-Free Policy to 9 More Countries Including South Korea
November 1, 2024
BEIJING (Reuters) - China will extend visa-free entry to citizens from nine additional countries, including South Korea, Norway and Finland, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Starting Nov.8, nationals from these countries, which also include Slovakia, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein, will be allowed to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days without a visa, the ministry said. The policy will be in effect through Dec.31, 2025. (Reporting by Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo; editing by Philippa Fletcher)...
Ryan Kingston Appointed to Area Managing Director for Noble House Hotels & Resorts’ Three Wyoming Properties
Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa | November 4, 2024
Jackson Hole, WY – November 4, 2024 – Noble House Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Kingston as the Area Managing Director for its three Wyoming properties – Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, and the newest addition to its impressive portfolio, Snake River Sporting Club. In this pivotal role, Kingston will oversee the strategic direction and operational excellence of these premier properties, ensuring that each delivers exceptional guest experiences in the breathtaking landscape of Jackson Hole. With a diverse and dynamic background in hospitality, Kingston brings a wealth ...
First-Ever GBTA Sustainability Benchmark Reveals Gaps to Decarbonize Business Travel Programs, Calls for Accelerated Corporate Action to Reach Net Zer
GBTA Foundation’s Sustainability Initiative | November 4, 2024
GBTA’s Sustainability Acceleration Challenge assesses emissions reduction efforts in corporate travel across all industry sectors, highlighting areas for immediate progress The GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), today unveiled findings from its Sustainability Acceleration Challenge, an industry-first global benchmarking initiative to evaluate the current state of business travel programs and the actions being taken by organizations to decarbonize them. The findings reveal that organizations have much work to do to accelerate the integration of practices if they are to materially reduce...
Questex and AHLA Celebrate Success of The Hospitality Show 2024: Driving Growth, Sustainability, and Industry Connections
The Hospitality Show | November 4, 2024
SAN ANTONIO (Nov. 4, 2024) – The Hospitality Show (The Show), produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), last week wrapped up its second annual event at The Henry B. González Convention Center with three days of groundbreaking insights, networking opportunities, and innovative solutions designed to elevate the hospitality industry. The Hospitality Show witnessed an impressive year-over-year growth attracting 4,800 attendees and 460 vendors, marking a 26% increase in attendance and a staggering 43% growth in vendors. “The Hospitality Show exists to convene our industry’s top operations and techn...
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel Appoint New Complex Director of Sales and Marketing, Robert Jone
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa | November 4, 2024
FRISCO, TX – November 4, 2024 – The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel announce the appointment of Robert Jones as the new Complex Director of Sales and Marketing. With nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and a track record of success in revenue growth, strategic partnerships, and brand innovation. Jones joins the properties after notable tenures with leading hospitality brands, where he implemented impactful sales strategies and led teams to achieve record-setting growth. His extensive background in luxury and lifestyle segments a...
Loews Corporation Reports Net Income of $401 Million for the Third Quarter of 2024
Loews Corporation | November 4, 2024
NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2024-- Loews Corporation (NYSE: L) today released its third quarter 2024 financial results. Third Quarter 2024 highlights:Loews Corporation reported net income of $401 million, or $1.82 per share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $253 million, or $1.12 per share, in the third quarter of 2023. Excluding the prior year third quarter's $37 million charge for the termination of Loews's defined benefit pension plan, net income grew 38% year-over-year due to increases at CNA, Boardwalk and investment income at the parent company, offset by a decrease at Loews Hotels. The following are key highlights: CN...
ME by Meliá Arrives in Malta With Opening in Seaside Town of St. Julian’s
ME by Meliá | November 4, 2024
Palma - November 4, 2024: November 1 marks the official opening of ME Malta, primely positioned in the seaside town of St. Julian’s on the island’s north-eastern coastline. Located on the water’s edge and designed by the globally acclaimed Zaha Hadid as part of the Mercury Towers development, ME Malta will become a cultural hub for travelers and locals alike, elevating the destination’s urban scene with its restaurants, bars, and cultural programming. The property is ME by Meliá’s Maltese debut and marks the brand’s second collaboration with Zaha Hadid, following the success of ME Dubai which opened in 2020. One of Europe’s ...
