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
Benchmark Hospitality International Names Sietse Nabben General Manager for Hotel Zelos
January 11, 2016
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2016 … Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Sietse Nabben general manager for Hotel Zelos, a Personal Luxury property located in San Francisco, California. Greg Champion, president and COO, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Sietse to Hotel Zelos and to Benchmark Hospitality," said Mr. Champion. "He brings important leadership experience to our hotel and intimate knowledge of the San Francisco market." Sietse Nabben was previously area general manager for Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa, located in Sausalito, Califor...
NewcrestImage Plans Hotel for Part of Recently Acquired 3-Building Complex in Downtown Cincinnati
NewcrestImage | January 11, 2016
NewcrestImage has purchased Fourth & Walnut Centre, a three-building commercial office complex located in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio's resurgent central downtown business district. The three buildings include a 19-floor tower built in 1903; a 4-floor office building built in 1937; and a 6-floor office building built in 1961. The complex features two restaurants; a business center; a parking garage; and 375,000 sq. ft. of rentable space, with occupancy currently at 56%. The 1.06 acre site is within a few blocks of many business and leisure destinations, including two major sports attractions -- the Great American Ball Park, home o...
Choice Hotels Signs with Concord Hospitality and Robert Finvarb Companies to Develop New Cambria hotel & suites in Durham, NC
Cambria hotels & suites | January 7, 2016
ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 7, 2016 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, announced it has signed an agreement with Concord Hospitality and the Robert Finvarb Companies to develop a new Cambria hotel & suites in Durham, NC. The 146-room Cambria property will be located at 2306 Elba Street, and is expected to launch in fourth quarter 2016. "Durham has escalated the revitalization of its downtown area in recent years, and we're excited to bring the fresh and upscale hotel offerings of Cambria hotels & suites to a city that is quickly growing with business and leisure tr...
Laurus Corporation Acquires the 292-Room Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
Laurus Corporation | January 7, 2016
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7, 2016 -- Laurus Corporation, a private real estate investment and development firm, announced today that it has acquired Vail Cascade Resort and Spa, one of Vail's only true ski-in/ski-out hotels. Beginning April 2016, the 292-room Vail Cascade Resort and Spa will undergo a $35 million transformation to be completed for the 2016/17 ski season as it joins The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's most exclusive luxury hospitality brands. Destination Hotels, the largest owner and operator of independent hotels, resorts and residences in the United States, will continue to manage and op...
Benchmark Hospitality International Names Perry Goodbar Director of Sales & Marketing for Villas of Grand Cypress
Villas of Grand Cypress Resort | January 7, 2016
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2016 … Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Perry Goodbar director of sales & marketing for the Villas of Grand Cypress, a Personal Luxury property located in Orlando, Florida. Mark Cox, general manager, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Perry to our resort," said Mr. Cox. "He brings significant experience and industry contacts important to all areas of our property. We look forward to his leadership in our sales and marketing operations." Perry Goodbar was previously vice president of sales, services and b...
Hotel Equities Adds Two Regional Directors of Operations: Joe Sebestyen and Tim Goodman
Hotel Equities | January 7, 2016
ATLANTA, GA (January 07, 2016) –To manage its growing portfolio of assets, Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) added two Regional Director of Operations positions to its infrastructure and tapped industry veterans Joe Sebestyen and Tim Goodman to its roster of leaders. Mr. Sebestyen and Mr. Goodman report to Rob Cote, the firm's Vice President of Operations. Each has responsibility for the oversight of multiple brands in his assigned region of the country. An award-winning and successful hotel management professional with more than 30 years of operational and sales experience, Joe Sebestyen oversees a portfolio of the firm's hotels ...
The Secret to Great TripAdvisor Reviews
ALICE | January 6, 2016
Reputation is everything in business, but never has your most valuable asset been more fragile than in the age of the Internet. Will Rogers was before his time when he said, "It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute." He had no idea how literal that single minute would one day become with the advent of online business reviews. Today, with the click of a mouse, an angry or dissatisfied review can take on a billboard effect - drowning out all of the wonderful things past guests might have mentioned and inflicting irreparable harm on your brand. Sure, a hotel might handle the complaint quickly and gra...
Maestro Reveals 2016 Development Roadmap
Maestro PMS | January 6, 2016
Mobile and Social Media Features Engage Guests to Drive More Bookings; New eLearning, Website Functionality Boost Staff Productivity with Maestro Property Operations January 6, 2016 – Markham, ON – Maestro PMS announced its 2016 Development Roadmap to further expand its multi-module windows and cloud-based Multi Property Management System for independents. New features will include: Enhanced mobile guest communications Social media connections that simplify guest engagement PCI 3.1 and EMV updates Expanded easy-access eLearning tools. The Maestro Enterprise Property Management hotel software suite of 20+ modules is the...
Angry Guests Can Still Become Loyal!
Larry Mogelonsky | January 6, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Angry guests with insurmountable problems; we've all encountered them. Rivalry, opposition, antagonism, conflict or whatever other synonym you deploy to convey obstacles in the workplace like this would be better viewed as helping your business goals instead of detracting. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? When applying this adage to guest-staff interactions, it's all too easy to deem livid, annoying, testy, arrogant, needy, rude or whining guests as enemies to your organizational goals which are likely to be high guest satisfaction scores and the pursuit of higher occupancie...
HeBS Digital Announces 20% Website Revenue Increase Guarantee Promotion
HeBS Digital | January 5, 2016
NEW YORK – January 5, 2016 – HeBS Digital, the leading hotel digital technology, full-service digital marketing and website revenue optimization consulting firm, announces its 20% Website Revenue Increase Guarantee Promotion, applicable to new clients that partner with the firm in Q1 2016. HeBS Digital's confidence in its ability to boost website revenues by at least 20% year-over-year stems from over two decades of digital technology and marketing experience helping hoteliers achieve remarkable direct online channel revenues and shift share away from the OTAs. The award-winning technology, digital marketing and consulting s...
The Smart Hotelier’s 2016 Top Ten Digital Marketing Resolutions
the Authors and HeBS Digital | January 5, 2016
By Max Starkov and Mariana Safer On paper, 2015 was a great year for the hospitality industry. We saw general increases in all key growth metrics, and we expect continued growth in 2016. Next year, occupancy is expected to increase .1% to 65.8%, ADR by 6.1% to US $128.04, and RevPAR by 6.1% to US $84.19. Demand is expected to grow 2.3%, and supply by 2.2% (PWC May 2015). Yet this was also a year of conflicting results. If the industry saw this type of growth, why did hoteliers lose so much market share to the OTAs? How did we let the OTAs dominate hotel bookings in 2015? For major hotel brands, pre-recession (2007), 85% of all online bo...
Midas Hospitality, LLC Acquires the 74-key Holiday Inn Express – Urbana-Champaign in Illinois
Midas Hospitality, LLC | January 4, 2016
SAINT LOUIS, MO, January 4, 2016 - An investment group led by Midas Hospitality, LLC has acquired the 74-room Holiday Inn Express - Urbana-Champaign, IL. St. Louis-based hotel owner, operator and developer, Midas Hospitality, LLC will manage the asset. Opening in 2005, the Holiday Inn Express is located at 1003 Killarney St, Urban, IL, at exit 183 on I-74, just 2-miles north of the University of Illinois. Midas also operates the Candlewood Suites - Champaign-Urbana, just one exit west on I-74. The asset boast 74 guest rooms and suites, fitness center, free breakfast and a heated indoor swimming pool. The Holiday Inn Express - Urbana-Cha...
Five Benchmark Hospitality Intl Chefs Bring “Flavors That Cure All” to Legendary James Beard House
the James Beard Foundation (JBF) | January 4, 2016
New York, January 2016 … Five top chefs and a noted sommelier from Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading US-based hospitality management company, recently brought a modern interpretation of the age-old art of food preservation to the legendary James Beard House in New York City. The dinner's theme, Flavors That Cure All – A Fresh Take on Ancient Artistry, spanned fresh, local ingredients sourced from across the country, prepared using classic food preservation methods, including smoking, pickling and curing. Featured chefs representing the signature fine dining restaurants, resorts and hotels within Benchmark Hospi...
Managed by Hotel Equities the 70-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Houston-Pasadena Nears Opening in Texas
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott | January 4, 2016
Pasadena, Texas - January 4, 2016 - The 70-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Pasadena, Texas is scheduled to open this Friday with its smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting décor. Located at 3640 East Sam Houston Parkway South, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Houston-Pasadena will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta, Georgia. This is the newest Fairfield Inn & Suites in the area to feature the brand's new design and décor, which enhance the guest experience through flexible features, and a warm and welcoming environment. Locate...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Closes Out The Year With Over 80 Transactions
Paramount Lodging Advisors | December 31, 2015
CHICAGO, IL—Paramount Lodging Advisors had a successful 2015 with over 80 national hotel transactions. Accolades of 2015 include being recognized by INC Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. for two consecutive years and also being named one of the 2015 Top Brokers based on transaction volume by National Real Estate Investor Magazine. The Paramount Lodging Advisors team sold hotels throughout all segments of the industry including all major brand families. The transactions covered over twenty states in the U.S. "I'm proud of our continued growth. Our entire team is continually working collaboratively and tir...
Owned and Managed by NewcrestImage, Newly-Built Hilton Garden Inn Longview Opens in Texas
Hilton Garden Inn | December 29, 2015
LONGVIEW, Texas and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) award-winning brand of hotels, announced today the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Longview, representing an addition to the brand's growing portfolio of more than 650 hotels worldwide. Hilton Garden Inn Longview is owned and managed by NewcrestImage. "Set in the heart of Texas Lake Country, Hilton Garden Inn Longview is a stunning setting for a family reunion, work retreat, celebration or simple getaway," said Bobby Dyer, general manager. "Our expansive meeting space is equipped to host any occasion alongside our accommodating team w...
Benchmark Hospitality International Honored with Gold, Silver & Bronze Adrian Awards from HSMAI
Benchmark Hospitality International | December 29, 2015
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 2015 … Benchmark Hospitality International is the recipient of multiple 2015 Adrian Awards of excellence in Web Design and Public Relations programming. Benchmark was recently informed of the honor by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), which is the host of the annual, global competition. "We are thrilled with these awards from HSMAI and congratulate the members of our team," said Ted Davis, chief sales & marketing officer. "It is a high honor to be recognized in this way by colleagues within the hospitality industry at the global level!" HSMAI's Adri...
The 102-room Courtyard by Marriott Midlothian Conference Center to Open this Week in Texas
Courtyard by Marriott | December 29, 2015
The hotel is owned by an affiliate of Gatehouse Capital and managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. Midlothian, Texas - December 29, 2015 - Courtyard by Marriott Midlothian Conference Center is scheduled to open its doors in Midlothian, Texas this week. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard's latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Located at 3 Community Circle Drive, the 102-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by an affiliate of Gatehouse Capital of Dallas, Texas and managed by Aimbridge Hospita...
The 92-suite Residence Inn Lake Charles in Louisiana is Now Open for Business
Residence Inn by Marriott | December 28, 2015
Lake Charles, Louisiana - December 28, 2015 - The 92-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Lake Charles, Louisiana is now open for business. Located at 1591 West Prien Lake Road, the all-suite Residence Inn Lake Charles will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by LA Creole Hospitality 1 and managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta, Georgia. Located just minutes from downtown Lake Charles and five miles from Chennault International Airport, the Residence Inn Lake Charles offers its guests convenient access to the Golden Nugget Casino and L'Auberge Casino Resort. "We are pleased to introduce Residence Inn hotels in the Lake Charles a...
Owned by Majid Al Futtaim, the 370-room Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Mall of the Emirates Opens
Majid Al Futtaim | December 28, 2015
December 28, 2015 - DUBAI, UAE - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) award-winning brand of midscale hotels, and Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, today announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Mall of the Emirates - the second largest Hilton Garden Inn in the world and the largest outside of America and the first LEED Gold hotel by Majid Al Futtaim in Dubai. The new hotel, owned by Majid Al Futtaim and managed by Hilton Worldwide, is located just steps away from the Middle East's iconic premier shopping, leisure and entertainmen...
AccorHotels Unveils 356-Room Pullman Vung Tau, a Seaside Resort in Southern Vietnam
Pullman | December 23, 2015
23 December, AccorHotels opens Pullman Vung Tau, the first five-star international hotel in the seaside destination, just 1.5 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh city. Featuring the largest meeting facilities in Southern Vietnam and spectacular beach views, Pullman Vung Tau is perfect for business and leisure travellers seeking a quick getaway from Ho Chi Minh city. "Pullman is AccorHotels' upscale brand specifically catering to today's modern travellers," said Mr. Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia. "Half of Pullman's global hotel network is located in Asia Pacific, making it one of ...
Aimbridge Hospitality Assumes Management of Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa
Aimbridge Hospitality | December 23, 2015
Dallas, Texas (December 23, 2015) — Aimbridge Hospitality's Caribbean division has assumed management of the 150-room Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Owned by Carambola Northwest LLC, a U.S. Virgin Islands entity, the luxury Caribbean resort is located seven miles from the St. Croix Airport on the secluded white sand beaches of the largest U.S. Virgin Island. Originally constructed in 1986 by Lawrence Rockefeller, the lodge style beach retreat articulates the beauty of St. Croix. Visitors can enjoy a stress-free day of exploring the historical towns of Christiansted and Frederikst...
DNA-Based Wellness Programs at Your Hotel
Larry Mogelonsky | December 23, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) The 20th century was filled with prominent science fiction writers constantly throwing wild and prophetic ideas out to the world. The 21st century is where (some of) those ideas become reality. We've already seen the rise of smart phones, smart watches and tablets – all predicted in some way or shape long before their mass market acceptance – and many more useful devices will reach our consumerist in due time. Now it is time for hotels and smart hoteliers to be the true benefactors and incubators for all these emergent technologies. Those that survive and thrive tend to be those...
Missouri’s Joplin Hotel Begins $6 M, Full-Scale Renovation to Convert to DoubleTree by Hilton
Hotel Equities (HE) | December 22, 2015
A late April 2016 opening is planned for the hotel owned by Conor Acquisitions Group and managed by Hotel Equities. Atlanta, GA - December 22, 2015 - The Joplin Hotel began a $6 million, full-scale renovation process this week to convert the property to a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Conor Acquisitions Group, owner of the hotel, plans to reconfigure the guest rooms, meeting space and public areas of the five-story iconic hotel building on East Hammons Boulevard in central Joplin, Missouri. They anticipate a Grand Opening celebration in late April 2016. In June 2015, Conor tapped Atlanta-based Hotel Equities, their management partner, to ...
