Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | October 2, 2024
Debunking Common Myths About AI: Why Human Hotel Staff Are Still Irreplaceable
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | September 17, 2024
Operations
Waterford Hotel Group Promotes Nick Lorusso to General Manager of Hilton Hartford
Hilton Hartford | October 24, 2016
Waterford, CT (October 24, 2016) --- Waterford Hotel Group has announced the promotion of Nick Lorusso to General Manager of the 393-room Hilton Hartford in Hartford, CT. As General Manager, Lorusso is responsible for all of the hotel's operations, sales and administration, as well as the more than 200 associates employed at the property. Waterford Hotel Group, a national hotel and convention center management firm, professionally manages the Hilton Hartford, a state-of-the-art, luxury hotel with all the benefits and convenience of a downtown location. Lorusso joins the Hilton Hartford team from his most recent position as Director of O...
How to Use Online & Voice Channel Analytics to Fully Understand True ROI from Digital Marketing
HeBS Digital | October 24, 2016
Background As mobile bookings and website visits increased by 46% and 28% year over year (HeBS Digital Research), it is critically important to determine and track the contribution of digital marketing campaigns to voice reservations. Due to lack of easy mobile payment options, and slower adoption of mobile ecommerce by some demographics (ex. baby boomers), a significant part of the traveling public still prefers to call the property when booking a hotel or resort stay as opposed to making the reservation themselves via a mobile device. In many cases travelers make voice reservations after being "sold on" the property via digital market...
Destiny USA Partners with Hilton for $48 Million Embassy Suites Onsite Hotel at Syracuse Destination
Destiny USA | October 24, 2016
SYRACUSE, NY and MCLEAN, VA – October 24, 2016 – International tourist destination Destiny USA and Hilton formally announced their partnership to bring an Embassy Suites by Hilton, a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels, to New York's largest shopping, dining and entertainment destination. An Embassy Suites flag was raised today at Destiny USA to mark the announcement. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse - Destiny USA will be the first hotel located in the shopping destination complex. It will feature an onsite restaurant and pool, and be the go-to property for guests traveling to visit Destiny USA and experience ...
Playing Possum and Penguin: A Hotelier’s Guide to Navigating Google’s Recent Algorithm Updates
the Author and HeBS Digital | October 20, 2016
By Megan Harr The realm of organic search saw a very busy September marked by not just one, but two Google algorithm updates. Background: The realm of organic search saw a very busy September marked by not just one, but two Google algorithm updates. First, on September 1st the local search community and hoteliers alike played possum with their Google My Business listings. Immediately after the update, many local businesses reported that their Google My Business listings were gone. This is not necessarily the case as the update may have just filtered the listing out of search results. The "Possum" update appears to have only impacted the...
Trends and Takeaways on Compensation for Lodging GMs
David Mansbach, CCP | October 20, 2016
By David Mansbach Any expert will quickly corroborate what readers already know – that seismic shifts are underway within the hospitality industry. The sharing economy, industry consolidation and digitally-armed Millennials all confirm that we are entering extraordinary times, and optimistic entrepreneurs and leaders are embracing this chaotic environment to identify new paths and opportunities. Notwithstanding all this disruption we must not lose sight of the one simple fact that robots, at least in the foreseeable future, will not be running hotels. The General Manager (GM) is the undisputed business and cultural nucleus of the ...
HeBS Digital Recognized with 8 Interactive Media Awards for Website Design & Digital Technology, Including 2 Best-in-Class Awards
HeBS | October 20, 2016
New York, NY (October 20, 2016) – The Interactive Media Awards have recognized HeBS Digital, the firm that helps hoteliers drastically increase direct bookings and lower overall distribution costs by deploying industry best-of-breed digital technology, consulting and marketing, with eight Interactive Media Awards (IMA). This includes two Best-in-Class awards which is the highest honor bestowed by the Interactive Media Council. These awards recognize excellence in web design and development and showcases HeBS Digital's commitment to the highest standards among hospitality digital technology and marketing initiatives. To adapt to th...
Wyndham Hotel Group Signs Dolce Washington Dulles to Open Late 2018
Wyndham Hotel Group | October 19, 2016
LAS VEGAS (October 19, 2016) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with nearly 8,000 hotels under 16 iconic brands, today announced the signing of the Dolce Washington Dulles, part of trailblazing meetings brand Dolce Hotels and Resorts® and the latest in a series of new hotels with significant meeting and event space joining the company's leading portfolio. The new-construction Dolce Washington Dulles, scheduled to open in late 2018, will offer 243 guest rooms and more than 13,000 square feet (1,208 square meters) of meeting space. It follows the signing of The Summit, A Dolce Hotel, in Cincinnati earlier t...
Breakfast Foods for Lunch and Dinner
Larry Mogelonsky | October 19, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) In a very general sense, I'd like to make the case for you to offer breakfast foods on your lunch and dinner hotel restaurant menus. While I realize supply chains may be an issue, there is indeed a demand for this type of cuisine at all hours of the day and night. Think late night diners in New York City or 24-hour restaurants along the Las Vegas Strip. Next, consider McDonald's which experienced substantial fiscal growth in 2015 attributed to the expansion of breakfast foods beyond the 11am cut-off. Non-scientific in my sample base, I reviewed the collection of menus acquired from hotels I...
The Historic Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City Joins Radisson Following $25 Million Renovation
Radisson | October 18, 2016
Radisson®, one of the world's best-recognized hotel brands, welcomed The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City to its growing portfolio as part of a new partnership agreement. Now known as The Claridge - A Radisson® Hotel, the historic property, set on Atlantic City's fabled Boardwalk, is now part of the Radisson brand and poised to greatly expand its markets. "We are excited to welcome this iconic and historic hotel to our growing portfolio," said Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. "This partnership provides The Claridge access to Radisson's global reservations systems and marketing effo...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Arranges the Sale of the Former Residence Inn located NW Indianapolis, IN
Paramount Lodging Advisors | October 18, 2016
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) is pleased to announce the successful sale of the property at 3553 Founders Road, formerly known as the "Residence Inn" located in Indianapolis. Scott Griemsmann, Senior Managing Director and Adam Montufar, Managing Director, exclusively represented the owners in the transaction. "We continue to experience significant demand for lodging investment opportunities in the greater Indianapolis metro. This is our fourth successful sale in the market in the last year with an existing listing currently available in Castleton," commented Montufar. The two-story, 88-room, hotel opened in 1984 and was converted to ...
Hotel Distribution Cost: The Only Cost Driver That Can Save Your Property’s Bottom Line in 2017
the Author and HeBS Digital | October 17, 2016
By Max Starkov Bleak Picture Ahead for Hospitality At the recent Lodging Conference in Phoenix, AZ both STR and CBRE projected a rather bleak picture of where the industry is heading in 2017: supply outpacing demand, Airbnb "stealing" demand share from hotels, occupancy rates flattening and even declining (STR.) STR's 2017 projections for the United States expect occupancy to decrease by -0.3%, while ADR increases by 2.8% and RevPAR by 2.8% respectively. Interestingly, the average supply and demand will level off at 1.6%, with some markets experiencing significant increases in supply: New York +14%, Denver +10%, Seattle +8%, Houston and...
HMC Appoints Gary Hattendorf General Manager of Newly Constructed Country Inn & Suites by Carlson™, Anaheim, California
The Country Inn & Suites Anaheim | October 17, 2016
Dallas, TX – Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the hiring of Gary Hattendorf as General Manager of the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson™, Anaheim, CA. This driven and dedicated hotelier brings to the HMC team specialized skills not only in hotel operations and revenue management, but sales & marketing as well. The company continues its ongoing business expansion which is made up of full service, conference center, select service and limited service hotels. HMC is one of the country's largest third-party privately held hotel management companies, ranked i...
Smart Hotels Need to Get Smarter About Personalization
Dr. Michael Arner | October 13, 2016
Location-based Machine Learning gives hotels the power to meet the unique demands of all of their guests Click on the infographic above to see the whole picture By Dr. Michael Arner For hotels focusing on personalization, there is smart and then there is smarter. To stand out in a crowded market, many "smart" hotels are making big, bold moves to get personal with their guests. To win the loyalty game, some hotels are creating custom concierges – specialists hired to meet a unique niche of demands and services. A recent article in the Boston Globe titled, "Need a book, a crib, or running pal on vacation? There's a concierge for th...
The One Thing You Can Control With TripAdvisor Reviews
ALICE | October 12, 2016
The influence of reviews on traveler's booking behaviors is well established. Some 95% of travelers consult reviews before making a purchase. And data from TripAdvisor reveals almost all of their visitors consult some 6-12 reviews before purchasing a trip. Review sites' direct impact on a hotel's bottom line has also been well documented. One recent study by Cornell University found that if a hotel increased its review score by 1 point on a 5-point scale, it could increase its prices by 11.2 percent without sacrificing occupancy or market share. TripAdvisor is the undisputed king when it comes to online hotel reviews. The site reaches o...
The Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Website CMS Technology, a New eBook Just Launched by HeBS Digital
HeBS Digital | October 12, 2016
New York, NY – October 12, 2016 – A hotel website needs to be so much more than a pretty face for the property; it needs technology powering it that is built to drive direct hotel bookings. A successful hotel website must incorporate the right balance of excellent design, state-of-the-art website CMS (Content Management System) technology, robust merchandising capabilities and engaging visual and textual content, while providing optimum user experience from top to bottom. Created by HeBS Digital, The Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Website CMS provides hoteliers with concrete ways to evaluate this crucial website techno...
Putting Guest Interactions Into Accounting Terms
Larry Mogelonsky | October 12, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) To those who have taken a course in accounting or general finance, both of these four letter acronyms should be instantly familiar. Adapting these terms beyond bookkeeping and into the realm of hospitality, we can lever such terminology for a completely different purpose – guest interactions. First, a refresher for those who have been away from the financial texts for a while. FIFO, or 'First In First Out', is the generally accepted means of assessing the costs of inventory. With FIFO, inventory valuation is based upon a calculation that infers that products being sold are the oldest ...
Now Available: Q4 2016 Edition of HeBStrategy, HeBS Digital’s Hospitality Digital Technology & Marketing Strategy Whitepaper
HeBS Digital | October 10, 2016
New York, NY – October 10, 2016 – To help hoteliers better understand the most important hospitality technology and digital marketing news from Q3 and the biggest factors that should be shaping their strategy for the last quarter of the year, HeBS Digital created the Q4 Edition of HeBStrategy: Hospitality Digital Technology & Marketing Strategy Whitepaper. Download the HeBStrategy Q4 2016 Edition to learn about: Notable Events: With OTA revenues projected to surpass brand.com this year, hoteliers faced a budgeting season with more at stake than ever. On top of this, Airbnb continued to steal market share from tradition...
Carlson Rezidor Enters Angola with Five Park Inn By Radisson Hotels in Luanda, Cabinda, Benguela, Lubango and Namibe
October 10, 2016
BRUSSELS - October 10, 2016 - At the 2016 AHIF (Africa Hotel Investment Conference), Carlson Rezidor announced the signing of five new Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Angola's major cities of Luanda, Cabinda, Benguela, Lubango and Namibe. The agreement was concluded with the Instituto de Fomento Turistico de Angola (InfoTur), a public institution charged with promoting tourism in the country. The five hotels will be operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group. All five Park Inn by Radisson hotels are under construction and will open within 18 months, and jointly offer more than 650 rooms for domestic and international travelers to Angola. The fi...
Airbnb Guests Tend to Be Motivated by Low Cost, Use It as a Hotel Substitute: Ted Rogers School of Management Report
Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University | October 7, 2016
Professor Daniel Guttentag, a professor with the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, is the author of a new report that examined the motivations of tourists to book Airbnb over other accommodations. Travellers who use Airbnb tend to be motivated by the service's practical benefits (low cost, convenient location, and household amenities), and usually rent entire homes rather than sharing the accommodation with a host, finds a new report released by Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. "This is one of the first studies of its kind to examine the motivations of Airbnb tourists," says Daniel Guttentag...
Microtel by Wyndham Philippines managers achieve CHA certification
Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas), Inc. | October 6, 2016
The Philippine hospitality landscape got a significant boost recently when Microtel by Wyndham® became the first hotel group in the country to earn the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation for 14 of its hotel managers and corporate officers, from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). The accomplishment raises the bar for quality standards at Microtel by Wyndham in the Philippines. Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas), Inc. (MISPI) is the master franchise holder of Microtel by Wyndham, the largest international-brand hotel network in the country with 13 locations in key business and tourist hubs...
Hotel Equities Names Joe Fallis General Manager for the Residence Inn Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody
Hotel Equities | October 6, 2016
ATLANTA–October 6, 2016 – Atlanta-based Hotel Equities recently hired Joe Fallis to serve as the General Manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody. The hotel is currently under construction at 4695 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. in the heart of the Perimeter Center area of Atlanta. It is expected to open in early summer 2017. Mr. Fallis has responsibility and oversight of the operations of the hotel including food & beverage, sales & marketing and revenue management strategies. "Joe brings years of outstanding leadership experience many of which he spent working in the Marriott family of hotels," said...
Carlson Rezidor and Lords LB Asset Management to Develop Radisson RED in Vilnius, Lithuania
Radisson RED | October 6, 2016
VILNIUS/BRUSSELS - October 6, 2016 - Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel groups worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, is proud to announce the signing of the first Radisson RED in the Baltics, Russia & CIS region. The hotel will be in Vilnius city center, next door to the existing Radisson Blu Lietuva hotel and only a short walk from the historical Old Town. The around 200-room Radisson RED Vilnius is expected to open its doors by early 2020. The hotel will be an integral part of a new multifunctional complex, currently in development in the heart of the Vilnius business district, designed by world famous arc...
HeBS Digital Asks Hoteliers: How Can Your Property Boost Direct Revenues 25%, Guaranteed?
HeBS Digital | October 6, 2016
New York, NY – October 6, 2016 – With occupancies flat this year and even projected to decline in 2017 due to increased supply in most major markets and competition from non-traditional suppliers (Airbnb), and hotel operation costs increasing, HeBS Digital wants to help hoteliers see revenue increases year-over year in the only way possible: by lowering distribution costs. How much is 25% of more revenue? Hoteliers that use the 'Revenue Boost Calculator' to find out will also receive a complimentary Book Direct Action Strategy Plan. HeBS Digital, the firm that helps hoteliers drastically increase direct bookings and lower ov...
The Future of In-Room Technology
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company | October 5, 2016
From cord-cutters whose primary source for entertainment is streaming services to business travelers who demand high-speed internet, hotel guests are expecting more and more when it comes to in-room technology that seamlessly integrates into their lifestyle. That being said, in-room technology upgrades should be prioritized based on what impacts the guest's buying decision and return intent, and if prioritized correctly, can raise hotel revenue. For example, hotels are using new systems to move their printed guest room directories into an electronic compendium accessible through in-room TVs. This gives properties a new distribution chan...
