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
Hotel Development in Three Phases
Larry Mogelonsky | April 15, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Of late, our agency has been involved in several new property developments. All are coming along quite successfully and appear to be on track to meet their launch dates. To put it bluntly, the process of initiating a new property is not for the faint of heart. Far from it. It takes an excruciating toll from all those involved in the process. Many have asked me if there is a formula for success, to which I reply with a simple-yet-pervasive, three-part answer. 1. Vision It starts with a vision from the developer - what they hope to deliver to the marketplace. For a hotel/resort this includes ...
UniFocus Repositions to Expand Total Workforce Performance Platform Across Multiple Industries
UniFocus | April 15, 2015
Long proven in the field of hospitality, UniFocus now provides a globally integrated system of time and attendance, labor management, engagement and customer satisfaction tools to industries ranging from healthcare to family entertainment DALLAS - April 15, 2015 - At the epicenter of the "time is money" paradigm, UniFocus is repositioning with the goal of expanding its reach by tailoring its time and attendance, advanced labor management/scheduling, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction tools to benefit a variety of industries ranging from healthcare to restaurant companies and family entertainment. Time-tested over 16 years in...
HeBS Digital Named Top Agency Winner with Six Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards
HeBS Digital | April 15, 2015
HeBS Digital named Top Agency Winner with six Internet Advertising Competition (IAC Awards), including three Best of Industry Awards for Best Hotel & Lodging Application, Best Hotel & Lodging Online Ad and Best B2B Video for the smartCMS. New York, NY (April 15, 2015) - HeBS Digital, the industry's leading digital technology, full-service hotel digital marketing, website design and direct online channel consulting firm, was recently named a Top Agency Winner with six Internet Advertising Competition (IAC Awards) including three Best of Industry Awards for Best Hotel & Lodging Application, Best Hotel & Lodging Online Ad a...
Hotel Development Partners Acquires Portfolio of 7 Marriott-branded Hotels; 6 Located in Atlanta, GA
Hotel Development Partners | April 14, 2015
ATLANTA, GA (April 14, 2015) - Atlanta-based Hotel Development Partners (HDP) recently announced the addition of seven select-service Marriott hotels to its growing portfolio of properties. HDP purchased the properties from Houston-based Moody National for Atlanta-based Hotel Equities will continue to manage all seven hotels through its JV partnership with HDP. With well-established performance records and excellent locations in their various metro markets, the hotels bring financial success and award-winning customer service with the deal. The hotels included in the purchase are: Fairfield Inn & Suites, Alpharetta, Fairfield Inn &a...
Hospitality Digital Technology & Marketing Strategy Q2 2015 Whitepaper Now Available for Download
HeBS Digital | April 10, 2015
Now available for download, the HeBStrategy Q2 2015 Edition covers newsworthy hospitality digital technology and marketing moments in Q1, trends to pay attention to in Q2, and the latest digital marketing best practices supported with real-world data examples across our portfolio. The whitepaper also offers ideas to meet your property's upcoming business needs with multi-channel campaigns as well as easy-to- implement creative ideas designed to bring forth maximum direct online revenues and ROIs. The HeBStrategy Q2 2015 Edition Includes: The Q1 Shortlist & What's next in Q2: Is your strategy on-point so far this year? Are you read...
Mama Shelter joins Accor hotels on Accorhotels.com
Accor Bangkok Office | April 10, 2015
Mama Shelter's family will join the 3,700 Accor hotels on Accorhotels.com, the worldwide booking portal for the Group's hotels. Customers will therefore be able to book stays at the lively, atypical, collaborative, popular and modern facilities created by Mama Shelter (in Bordeaux, Istanbul, Lyon, Marseille, Paris and very soon in Los Angeles) on the website, the mobile site and using the Accorhotels.com application. This online visibility is part of the Accor and Mama Shelter partnership which was initiated when Accor acquired a stake of about 35% in the lifestyle hotel brand last October. The Accorhotels.com portal has been a key e-to...
Midas Hospitality, LLC Opens the New, Hampton Inn – Poplar Bluff, MO
Hampton Inn | April 9, 2015
SAINT LOUIS, MO, April 9, 2015 -Midas Hospitality, LLC announces the opening of a new, 79-room Hampton Inn - Poplar Bluff, MO. The hotel is owned by a local investment group, Ozark Hotel Associates 3, LLC, and Midas Hospitality, a St. Louis-based hotel owner, operator and developer will manage the hotel. Located at 2420 Crestwood Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, just of Hwy-67, the guests at the new Hampton Inn - Poplar Bluff, MO can relax in a large Studio Suite, Double-Queen or 1-King bedded room, all with 250 thread count sheets. Guests can take advantage of the many complimentary amenities including the Hampton Inn signature hot break...
White Lodging Addresses Data Breach Investigation at Select Food and Beverage Outlets
White Lodging Services Corporation | April 9, 2015
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., April 8, 2015 -- Officials of White Lodging Services Corporation, an independent hotel management company, announce the suspected breach of point of sales systems at food and beverage outlets, such as restaurants and lounges, from the period July 3, 2014 through February 6, 2015 at 10 properties. Systems other than the point of sales systems at the food and beverage outlets are not believed to be affected. The food and beverage outlets affected are located at: Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Indianapolis, IN Chicago Marriott Midway Airport, Chicago, IL Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac at Centerpoint, Pontiac, MI Au...
Panama City, Panama’s 391-room Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino Joins Autograph Collection
Autograph Collection | April 8, 2015
April 8, 2015 - Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International's (NASDAQ: MAR) exclusive portfolio of independent hotels, announced today the addition of the new and stunning 391-room Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino in Panama City, Panama. This marks the second hotel for Autograph Collection Hotels in Central America following the 2014 addition of Hotel Punta Islita in Costa Rica. The Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino combines a striking, ultra-modern architecture with hand selected high-end amenities and vibrant experiences for travelers and Panamanians alike. Each of the 391 rooms and suites feature luxury bedding, sofa beds, aromath...
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group to Launch its New Radisson Red Hotel Brand in India
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | April 8, 2015
DELHI, INDIA (APRIL 8, 2015) - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups, today announced the launch of its new Radisson Red hotel brand in India, a key market in which Carlson Rezidor is well established as the number one international hotel operator by number of hotels. The launch of this upscale Lifestyle Elect brand is part of Carlson Rezidor's aggressive expansion plans for India, which are aimed at extending the group's lead in a country where it currently has 74 hotels in operation and 43 more in the pipeline. "The economic outlook is optimistic and the demand for rooms in India has bee...
Where Have The Real Hotel Marketers Gone?
Larry Mogelonsky | April 8, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) In my role as hotel industry consultant, marketer and blogger, I am often asked to provide advice to hoteliers and suppliers. One such call came in a couple of weeks ago. The call's nature provides a keen insight into the current state of hospitality marketing. The call was from an advertising agency who was tasked with the requirement of building a traditional media plan for this hotel chain. The amount was in the multi-millions of dollars, not small change given the meager amounts spent these days. I was asked - pro bono I might add - to see if I could give any recommendations. My first q...
Currently Under Renovation in Richmond, VA, Quirk Hotel, A Destination Hotel, will Open in Q3 2015
Destination Hotels | April 7, 2015
Englewood, Colo. - April 7, 2015 - Destination Hotels announces today the addition of soon-to-open Quirk Hotel, A Destination Hotel, in Richmond, Va. to its dynamic urban collection. The locally-owned hotel, located in downtown Richmond at 201 West Broad Street and Jefferson Street in the historic J.B. Mosby & Co building, will undergo a comprehensive transformation to become an independent luxury lifestyle hotel under Destination management. Opening in time to coincide with Richmond acting as host city for cycling's international pinnacle event, World Road Cycling Championships (Worlds) in late-September 2015, the hotel is an exten...
Wyndham Introduces Major Quality, Technology & Marketing Initiatives to Benefit its Franchisees
Wyndham Hotel Group | April 2, 2015
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Aggressive marketing initiatives, including the announcement of an exciting new loyalty program, as well as access to better technology and a renewed emphasis on quality and brands were the central themes highlighted today at Wyndham Hotel Group's Global Conference as thousands of franchisees from around the world joined together for the opening session. Kicking off a three-day event at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the conference brings together more than 6,000 franchisees representing many of Wyndham Hotel Group's more than 7,600 properties across 70 countries. "It's absolutely vital for our fra...
Getting a Charge, Going Green! Three West Coast Hotels Team With Tesla to Offer Free Car Charging
April 2, 2015
Electric Car Charge at Bardessono, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Willows Lodge The Woodlands, TX, March, April 2015 ...Three Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® properties in California and Washington State are setting new standards in sustainability, partnering with Tesla Motors, America's premier manufacturer of electric cars, to offer the Tesla Destination Charging Program for guests with electric vehicles. The three properties include the LEED Platinum Bardessono in California's Napa Valley, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego and Willows Lodge in Seattle's wine country. These three Personal Luxury-brand properties join a rap...
Maestro Launches New Image and Branding for 2015
Maestro Property Management Solution | April 2, 2015
New Branding, Logo and Updated Website Spotlight Client Communication, Service and Leading Edge Solutions for Independent Hotel Operators April 2, 2015 - Maestro PMS™ launched a new look and feel to emphasize the company and its solutions are "like no other." The company's image, branding and website are completely new, but Maestro's team, professional services, and focus on developing solutions that drive success for independents will continue unchanged. Maestro's new branding extends to its marketing materials and user documentation, and will soon include Maestro PMS' browser-based solutions. Click here to learn more about Maestro'...
Hotelier’s Guide to the Google Mobile-Friendliness Update
the Author and HeBS Digital | April 2, 2015
By Asher Fusco Google is back in the news with another algorithm change - and this time it's a big one. The search engine announced recently its plans to roll out the Mobile-Friendly Algorithm Update on April 21st, 2015, a change expected to impact up to 40% of all mobile searches. What's the issue? Google's impending update is slated to be the search engine's most impactful change since the rollout of Google Panda in 2011. The coming update will place additional weight on mobile-friendliness as a search engine ranking factor, rewarding mobile-friendly sites and potentially docking un-optimized sites in Google's mobile search rankings. ...
Wyndham Launches Industry Leading, Automated Revenue Management System in Cloud-Based PMS
Infor | April 2, 2015
Collaborates with Infor, TravelClick and Elavon to offer franchisees exclusive, best-in-class, solutions PARSIPPANY, N.J. - April 2, 2015 - Building on its new approach of delivering industry leading technology solutions to its franchisees through the use of third party strategic partners, Wyndham Hotel Group-the world's largest hotel company and one of three hospitality business units of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN)- announced plans to deploy a new, automated, Software-as-a-Service, revenue management system from Infor across more than 4,500 of its franchised hotels within the U.S. and Canada. Unveiled at Wyndham Hotel Gro...
Wyndham Hotel Group to Migrate Central Reservations to Sabre Platform
Sabre | April 2, 2015
Furthers Wyndham's strategy of working with leading technology companies to deliver state-of-the-art solutions to franchisees PARSIPPANY, N.J. and SOUTHLAKE, Texas (April 2, 2015) - At its Global Conference in Las Vegas, Wyndham Hotel Group announced to thousands of franchisees that the company has entered into a global CRS services agreement to migrate its central reservations systems to Sabre Corporation's industry-leading SynXis Central Reservations solution. The agreement makes Sabre the exclusive global central reservation system provider for the world's largest hotel company and makes Wyndham Hotel Group the first global company t...
La Cantera Hill Country Resort, Managed by Destination Hotels, Appoints New Food & Beverage Team
La Cantera Hill Country Resort, managed by Destination Hotels | April 1, 2015
SAN ANTONIO – La Cantera Hill Country Resort announces the appointment of a dynamic food and beverage team comprised of William Primavera, director of food and beverage operations, John Zaner, director of culinary operations and Executive Chef Robert Carr. La Cantera Hill Country Resort, managed by Destination Hotels, will welcome back guests in April after a multi-million dollar transformation, including nine new restaurants and bar concepts. William Primavera, director of food and beverage operations, will be accountable for the creativity, innovation and operational excellence of the Resort's food and beverage concepts, working in ...
The Fourth-screen: Providing the Right Digital Experience for On-Property Hotel and Resort Guests
the Authors & HeBS Digital | April 1, 2015
By Jason Price and Mariana Safer Over 42% of website visitors and nearly 16% of hotel bookings came from tablet and mobile devices in the first half of 2014. Hoteliers must embrace the mobile-connected traveler by offering relevant and practical content while on property and within a local radius. Commonly referred to as the fourth-screen, the hotel can turn the website meant for the general public into a customer service channel and a revenue generating opportunity accessible to on-property guests only. Read on why hotels should consider the fourth-screen a simple and practical extension of the hotel's direct online channel. Connecting...
Learning to Cope with Airbnb
Larry Mogelonsky | April 1, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Despite what many have dismissed as a mere blip on the radar, Airbnb is a force to be reckoned with and we have yet to see just how widely it will impact our livelihoods. But before we discuss this disruptive company and its effects on the hospitality industry, let's look to Uber and how it is changing the way we utilize vehicles for hire. Starting out as a niche taxi service provider reliant on smartphone geolocation technology, it's now far more than just a trendy accessory for millennials living in San Francisco or Brooklyn. Founded in 2009, it has already expanded into over 200 cities a...
FCS Computer Systems Appoints Gary Etherington as National Sales Director for the United States
FCS | March 31, 2015
IT and network communications sales veteran to represent FCS across the region. Cumming, Georgia - March, 31, 2015 - FCS Computer Systems (FCS), a leading comprehensive hospitality solutions and services provider, has announced the appointment of Gary Etherington to the position of National Sales Director for the company's operations within the United States. As a result, Gary will represent FCS' continuing efforts to ensure that the company's industry-leading operational and guest satisfaction enhancing solutions are available for use by hospitality organizations throughout the country. "As a professional with more than 20 years of ex...
Does Investing in Social Media Advertising Pay for Hoteliers?
the Author and HeBS Digital | March 31, 2015
Five Tips for Navigating the Pay-to-Play Social Media Landscape By Margaret Mastrogiacomo Last week, I presented at the 2015 EyeForTravel Social and Mobile Strategies conference on "Navigating the Pay-to-Play Social Media Landscape." In this talk I discussed how to invest wisely in social media advertising to ensure return on investment, and ways to use social media advertising to reach the right audience at the right time throughout every touch point of the travel planning journey. Below are the top 5 takeaways to help hotel marketers succeed: 1. Invest in Social Media Advertising because it's where potential guests are spending the m...
Dual-Branded Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Denver Downtown Celebrates Topping Out; Q3 2015 Opening Planned
Hyatt Place | March 26, 2015
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., March 26, 2015 -- White Lodging Services and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that Denver's first dual-branded Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Denver Downtown has reached its final construction height or "topped out." Slated to open in November 2015, construction began on the 21-story, 361-room property in November 2013. A Hyatt affiliate and White Lodging will each own 50 percent of the joint venture and White Lodging will operate the hotels under franchise agreements with a Hyatt affiliate. "It's very exciting to bring the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brand to the downtown market," said General Manager Cha...
