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
Marriott International Will Not Block Wi-Fi Devices
Marriott International | January 14, 2015
January 14, 2015 - Marriott International listens to its customers, and we will not block guests from using their personal Wi-Fi devices at any of our managed hotels. Marriott remains committed to protecting the security of Wi-Fi access in meeting and conference areas at our hotels. We will continue to look to the FCC to clarify appropriate security measures network operators can take to protect customer data, and will continue to work with the industry and others to find appropriate market solutions that do not involve the blocking of Wi-Fi devices. ...
The Three Pillars of Hotel Customer Service
Larry Mogelonsky | January 14, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Every good salesperson or individual working in guest service knows about guest expectations: you must first meet, and then exceed. This presupposes that you are actually able to meet a customer's expectations, because if you cannot, then it goes without saying that you will disappoint. However, meeting is just okay - mediocre at best. Being okay is not enough. Too many other hotels are already capable of this, so you aren't differentiating yourself from the herd. By exceeding expectations, you will surprise and delight your guests, both positive sentiments to have for your hotel. I want yo...
Hotel Equities Appoints Chuck Powell as Senior Vice President of Operations
Hotel Equities (HE) | January 12, 2015
ATLANTA, GA (January 12, 2015) - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) www.hotelequities.com recently promoted Chuck Powell to the new position of Senior Vice President of Operations. To manage Hotel Equities' rapid growth, Mr. Powell's responsibilities include oversight of operations, human resources and revenue generation efforts for the firm. He works closely with the Hotel Equities' executive team to ensure a consistent approach to implementation, improvement and results. He reports directly to Brad Rahinsky, Hotel Equities' President and Chief Operating Officer. "Chuck's strategic approach is to elevate our organization's processes and...
Hotel Equities Promotes Kevin Butler to Regional Director of Operations
Hotel Equities (HE) | January 12, 2015
ATLANTA, GA (January 12, 2015) - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) www.hotelequities.com recently promoted Kevin Butler to the position of Regional Director of Operations. He reports to Rob Cote, the firm's Vice President of Operations. Kevin has responsibility for the oversight of multiple brands in his region including Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and mid-western states. "Kevin 's new role comes as a direct result of Hotel Equities' robust growth to over 60 properties in 2014, " said Mr. Cote. "Kevin's leadership, guidance and focus on success is unsurpassed. We continue to strengthen the depth of experience and leadership with his addit...
Complimentary Webinar, “Action Plan 2015: The Smart Hotelier’s Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions”
HeBS Digital | January 9, 2015
NEW YORK, NY January 9, 2015 - HeBS Digital, the hospitality industry's leading full-service digital technology and marketing firm, will present a concrete 2015 Action Plan and bring the 'Smart Hotelier's 2015 Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions' to life in a complimentary webinar on Wednesday, January 14th at 11am - 12pm PST / 2-3pm EST. Speakers will include Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mariana Mechoso Safer, and Senior Marketing Manager, Sara O'Brien. While hoteliers have a world of opportunities and next-generation technologies available to increase direct online bookings, there is a sense of confusion on where to begin. In ...
Aimbridge Hospitality to Manage Courtyard by Marriott at Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth, Texas
Aimbridge Hospitality | January 9, 2015
Dallas, Texas (January 9, 2015) - Aimbridge Hospitality announces it has been awarded the management contract for the new Courtyard by Marriott hotel located in Fort Worth. The developer, Hillwood Properties, a Ross Perot company, chose Aimbridge Hospitality as the management firm for the property, continuing an already well-established relationship between the two companies. The 127-room property broke ground in October at the northeast corner of Interstate 35W and Heritage Trace Parkway at Alliance Town Center, conveniently located near many retail, restaurant and entertainment attractions. The four-acre property will feature a 3,500-...
Hilton Garden Inn Honors Outstanding Brand Performers of 2014
Hilton Garden Inn | January 7, 2015
MCLEAN, Va. - January 7, 2015 - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's award-winning brand of upscale yet affordable hotels, recently recognized its highest achieving properties. Nearly 50 individual and hotel awards were presented to recipients chosen from the brand's growing portfolio of more than 600 hotels worldwide. The 2014 Hotel of the Year and Connie Award winners were presented to North American winner, Hilton Garden Inn Mobile East Bay/Daphne, AL, who received this honor for the second consecutive year, and international winner Hilton Garden Inn Krasnodar, Russia. The Connie Award, named after Hilton Worldwide's founder Conrad ...
Content Marketing Slush Piles
Larry Mogelonsky | January 7, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) With so much emphasis on the sharing and distribution of content, we tend to neglect the content itself. The most important aspect of content marketing is not the sharing, but the raw content itself - every idea, concept, sticky fun fact or quirky nugget of value that you give your fans in return for their continued appreciation. It comes down to the value you give, and providing this every week is a daunting task. Introducing the Slush Pile Approach The best I can do is share with you the method I use to keep the content marketing pipeline flowing. It's called The Slush Pile Approach. Gene...
HeBS Digital Invites Hoteliers to Boost On-Property Revenues and Guest Satisfaction
HeBS Digital | January 7, 2015
HeBS Digital, the award winning hotel digital technology, website design, full-service digital marketing and website revenue optimization consulting firm, is offering a free Guest Portal to clients who purchase a Responsive/Adaptive Design Package in the first quarter of 2015. The Guest Portal allows hoteliers to boost revenues and guest satisfaction from their on-property guests. NEW YORK, NY January 7, 2015 - HeBS Digital, the industry's leading digital technology, full-service hotel digital marketing, website design and direct online channel consulting firm, invites hotel marketers to go beyond the three screens (desktop, tablet, an...
Maestro PMS Launches Web Development Services to Boost Revenue for Independents
Maestro Property Management Solution | January 7, 2015
Maestro's Cost-Effective Services Create Quality Property Websites that Increase Direct Reservations, Strengthen Online Sales January 7, 2015 - Maestro PMS™ announced new website development services to increase online presence and boost revenue for independent operators. Maestro's web services include affordable, search-optimized website creation, content development, and simplified package promotion pages to drive sales. Maestro PMS Enterprise Property Management provides more than 20 hotel software and reservation software solutions for the industry's leading independent hotels, resorts, and multi-property groups. Click here to le...
SHR’s WindsurferCRS had Exceptional Year in 2014
SHR | January 7, 2015
Major improvements were made to help hotels meet and exceed their revenue goals HOUSTON, TX, January 7, 2015- Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR), an innovative provider of advanced distribution technology and services for the hospitality industry, reflects on the impact of its WindsurferCRS in 2014. The industry-leading Central Reservations System underwent many enhancements and feature releases in 2014 to better serve hotels and their guests. With the release of TopSail™, the responsive Internet Booking Engine from SHR, the first real shopping cart experience was available to guests when booking single hotel stays and multiple stay ...
Smart Hotelier’s 2015 Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions
the Authors and HeBS Digital | January 6, 2015
By Max Starkov and Mariana Safer Today's hotelier has a world of opportunities available to help them increase direct online bookings and revenues. Technology developments such as Responsive Website Design, Dynamic Content Personalization, Dynamic Rate Marketing, Reservation Abandonment Prevention techniques and more mean that, as an industry, we are not only more effectively reaching our target segments, but we are also improving the user experience and conversions on our websites. Yet, with all this opportunity there comes a sense of confusion on where to begin; reaching the guest throughout their travel research and purchasing journe...
The 243-suite Residence Inn New York Manhattan/World Trade Center Area Opens
Residence Inn | January 6, 2015
Managed by Sage Hospitality New York, NY - January 6, 2015 - The 243-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Lower Manhattan is now open for business. Located at 170 Broadway, the all-suite Residence Inn New York Manhattan/World Trade Center Area will operate as a Marriott franchise, and be managed by Sage Hospitality of Denver, Colorado. Located directly on Broadway and Maiden Lane in the heart of New York City's Financial District, the hotel is only steps from Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, Battery Park, the National September 11th Memorial, the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Fulton Street Center Station, trendy neighborhoods s...
Hospitality Management Corp. Names Christopher Dennis as GM for the 101-key Holiday Inn, Addison, TX
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | January 5, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015 - Dallas, TX - Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), proudly announces the selection of Christopher Dennis to lead the team at the Holiday Inn located at 4960 Arapaho in Addison, TX. Dennis will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of this 101-room property located in a Northern suburb of Dallas which boasts a restaurant, state-of-the-art fitness center and outdoor swimming pool. HMC is one of the country's largest U.S. third-party privately held hotel management companies, ranked in the top 40 of all third party and owner operated hotel management corporations. Dennis...
Accor Opens New North America, Central America and Caribbean (NCAC) Headquarters in Miami, Florida
Accor | January 5, 2015
January 5, 2015 - Accor, global hospitality leader, announced the opening of its North America, Central America and Caribbean (NCAC) headquarters at One Square Park at Doral in Miami. Driven by the company's revitalized strategy and business model, the new location consolidates previously independent business units in Dallas and New York City into one office, strengthening its footprint in the region by providing a cohesive foundation for operational efficiency and sustainable, long-term growth. "We are very excited to call Miami our home. Uniting our regional operations, sales and support business leaders together will enable greater c...
Five Benchmark Hospitality Chefs Bring A Winter Feast to New York’s Legendary James Beard House
the James Beard Foundation (JBF) | January 5, 2015
Photo credit, Tom Kirkman New York, January 2015 ... Five acclaimed young chefs and a leading sommelier from Benchmark Hospitality International brought a delectable array of wild game, innovative regional dishes and fine wines to a sold-out James Beard House in New York City during the holiday season. The five-course chef's dinner, entitled "Game On" was a winter feast, showcasing wild game and local ingredients from Washington State, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and Virginia. Elk, bison, venison and pheasant were on the succulent tasting menu along with veal, goat and black cod. Featured chefs representing the signature fine dining rest...
Benchmark Hospitality International Honored with Dual Gold Adrian Awards from HSMAI
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International | January 5, 2015
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2015 ... Benchmark Hospitality International is the recipient of a pair of global Gold Adrian Awards for excellence in Public Relations programming. Benchmark was informed of the awards by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), which hosts the annual international competition. "It is once again a true honor for Benchmark Hospitality to win international Gold Adrians," said Ted Davis, chief sales & marketing officer. "We salute our sales & marketing team and our marketing partners in achieving these prestigious awards!" HSMAI's Adrian Awards annually recogniz...
Upselling Good, Drip Pricing Bad
Larry Mogelonsky | December 23, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) We all have a conception of what's implied by 'upselling'. Drip pricing is a little less understood, so bare with me through a broad definition. It's the practice of removing services out of what would normally be included in the regular nightly rate then offering them for an additional surcharge. Hence, the prices 'drip' from a customer's wallet as opposed to flushing out in the form of a single line item on the final bill. To look at it in black and white: drip pricing is bad; upselling is good. Getting into examples of drip pricing is where we need to properly distinguish both these term...
Aimbridge Selected to Manage the Thirty-eight Hyatt Hotels Portfolio Acquired by Lone Star Funds
Aimbridge Hospitality | December 23, 2014
DALLAS, TEXAS (December 23, 2014) - Aimbridge Hospitality, the nation's second largest independent hotel management and investment firm, announces the addition of thirty eight Hyatt Select Service Hotels to their management portfolio. These hotel properties span the United States and the portfolio includes twenty-seven Hyatt Place Hotels and eleven Hyatt House Hotels. These properties, previously owned and managed by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, will initiate renovation or refurbishment programs beginning next year. "This is a benchmark opportunity for Aimbridge Hospitality. We look forward to collaborating with the management teams at t...
Benchmark Names Curtis Bova and Tom Walker as Senior Sales Executives at Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Cheyenne Mountain Resort | December 22, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 22, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Curtis T. Bova director of sales & marketing and Thomas J. Walker director of sales for Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Jay Rocha, general manager for the property, a Benchmark Resort® located at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, made the announcement. "I am so pleased to announce the addition of both Curtis and Tom to our resort's professional sales and marketing leadership team," said Mr. Rocha. "I can't think of a pair of professionals better qualified to assume their ...
Hard Rock International & Palladium Hotel Group to Develop the 637-room Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife
Hard Rock International | December 19, 2014
Orlando, Fla. - December 19, 2014 - Followings its successful European debut with Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza earlier this year, Hard Rock International - owner of one of the world's most iconic and recognized brands - announces plans for the beachfront Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, set to open in mid-2016. The upcoming property is Hard Rock's second project in collaboration with leading operators, Palladium Hotel Group, who recently opened the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, the brand's first European hotel. Situated on Tenerife's sunny southern coast near Adeje, the resort will feature 637 rooms, including 236 suites, spread across two towers - offering...
SHR Announces Partnership with Flip.to, Helps Hotels Increase Marketing Reach & Generate New Guests
SHR | December 19, 2014
HOUSTON, TX, December 19, 2014- Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR), an innovative provider of advanced distribution technology and services for the hospitality industry, today announced its partnership with Flip.to, the brand advocate platform for hotels that turns hotel guests into a trusted extension of the hotel's marketing force, boosting brand awareness and earning new guests around the world. With the integration, users of SHR's WindsurferCRS who have deployed TopSail™ or the HTML booking engine can take advantage of Flip.to services. When the integration is activated by a property, existing guests now become influential brand ...
Radisson Signs Four North American Hotels; Located in Michigan, North Carolina, and Alberta, Canada
December 19, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS (December 19, 2014) - Radisson®, one of the best-recognized hotel brands, today announced the signing of four hotels in North America; Radisson Hotel Farmington Hills, Radisson Hotel High Point, Radisson Hotel Red Deer, and Radisson Hotel Charlotte Airport South. "We are pleased to announce four signings for the brand in December, these additions to the portfolio reinforce our commitment to expand in key markets in North America," said Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Americas. "We continue to see strong momentum in our growth as a powerful, globally consistent, first class-brand compl...
Case Study: HeBS Digital Generates Significant Revenues Targeting International Luxury Travelers
HeBS Digital | December 19, 2014
December 19, 2014 How can a hotel, resort or casino effectively reach a target audience through online media? One of the most pervasive challenges hoteliers face is how to effectively speak to and engage with their various customer segments online. Couples, families, business travelers, international travelers, and event planners all require customized messaging on the site and in advertising campaigns to address their individual needs. Online media and retargeting is the perfect advertising format to target specific customer segments and drive direct bookings and customer engagements. The following case study clearly shows that any hot...
