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
Jayesh Patel to Serve as Best Western Board Chairman
Best Western International, Inc. | December 19, 2014
PHOENIX (December 19, 2014) - Best Western International announced that its board of directors has elected Jayesh 'Jay' Patel as board chairman for 2015. He was elected a director in November 2010 and re-elected in 2013 to represent the interests of Best Western hotel owners in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He previously served one-year terms as vice chairman and secretary-treasurer of the board. Patel's history with Best Western goes back more than 30 years, and in that time he has developed five Best Western hotels in Louisiana. He currently has ownership interests in the BEST WESTERN Airport Inn in Monroe, La....
Wyndham Hotel Group Signs Deal with Costa del Sol to Open 7 Properties, 1,000 Rooms, in Peru in 2015
Wyndham Hotel Group | December 19, 2014
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (December 19, 2014) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,590 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with local partner Costa del Sol to open 1,000 rooms across seven Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® branded properties that will open within the next year in key destinations across Peru. The agreement includes the conversion of six properties, located in Tumbes, Chiclayo, Lima Airport, Trujillo, Cajamarca and Piura, to the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand as well as the construction of a new 144-room property...
Benchmark Names Erik Dombroski Director of Sales & Marketing of Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, WY
Snow King Resort | December 17, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 17, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Erik Dombroski director of sales & marketing for Snow King Resort. Geoff Young, Benchmark's general manager for the property, which is located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, made the announcement. "It is with pleasure that I welcome Erik to Snow King Resort and back to Jackson," said Mr. Young. "He comes to our property with tremendous all-season resort and destination experience. We look forward to his leadership in our sales and marketing programming as we continue repositioning this ...
Where Are Your ‘Wow’ Moments?
Larry Mogelonsky | December 17, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Did you ever notice that it is the little, unexpected nuances that grab your attention? From the world of statistics comes the normal curve of outcome distribution, also known as a bell curve because of its shape on a 2D graph. This simple curve identifies that, for most circumstances, the result is going to be somewhere in the middle, the hump of the curve so to speak. That is the expected. It is the two 'tails' of the curve - those outcomes that have deviated from the standard - that standout and differentiate your property for better or for worse. Dwelling on the 'for better', it's these...
TripAdvisor Names Winners of Its Exceptional Service Awards for 2014
TripAdvisor | December 17, 2014
NEWTON, Mass., Dec. 17, 2014 - TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its inaugural Exceptional Service Awards. TripAdvisor launched the awards first to U.S. and U.K. travelers asking them to nominate hospitality professionals who went above and beyond to deliver outstanding service in the past 12 months. After receiving more than 3,500 nominations in October 2014, TripAdvisor selected 40 winners across 21 countries worldwide. "Everyone who travels knows that the service you receive can elevate any trip to a memorable one," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "A recent...
Hotel Equities Adds the 220-room Wyndham Garden Inn Metairie/New Orleans to Management Portfolio
Hotel Equities (HE) | December 17, 2014
Atlanta, GA - December 17, 2014 - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (www.hotelequities.com) recently added the Wyndham Garden Inn Metairie/New Orleans to its growing portfolio, taking their number of hotels above 60. Located just four miles east of New Orleans International Airport, the 220-room full service property recently completed a conversion and extensive renovation. The hotel features an upscale restaurant and bar, offers over 5500 square feet of flexible meeting space, room service and 220 well-appointed guest rooms and suites. "We're delighted to manage this beautiful hotel located just nine miles west of the French Quarter," said ...
NewcrestImage to Develop a 132-room Hyatt House in Frisco, Texas; Late 2015 Opening Planned
NewcrestImage | December 17, 2014
FRISCO, TEXAS (December 17, 2014) - NewcrestImage announced plans to construct a 132-room, six-story Hyatt House Hotel in Frisco, Texas. Optimally located at the intersection of Parkwood Boulevard and Gaylord Parkway, the upscale extended stay hotel will be within walking distance of the Frisco Conference Center, the Dr Pepper Ballpark, the Dr Pepper Arena, and the Stonebriar Centre mall, in addition to the myriad restaurants in the vicinity. The hotel will be located less than a mile from the future practice facility and preseason training ground for the Dallas Cowboys, which is slated to open in 2016. The hotel will also be a mere two...
Dubai’s 446-room Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa to Join Marrriott’s Autograph Collection
Autograph Collection | December 16, 2014
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – December 16, 2014 – Marriott International, Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) has just signed up Dubai's luxurious Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa to its Autograph Collection. This represents the debut of the exclusive portfolio of the one-of-a-kind-hotels in the Middle East and Africa. "We are delighted to announce the exciting entry of the Autograph Collection portfolio into our continent, through the beautiful city of Dubai," said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Middle East and Africa. "Autograph Collection is known for creating authentic experiences that are centered in ...
Host Hotels Selects Sage to Manage Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Upon Conversion to Independent Hotel
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | December 16, 2014
BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 16, 2014 -- Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST), announced today that as part of the Company's efforts to reposition the Four Season's Philadelphia hotel to a third-party managed independent luxury hotel, the Company has selected Sage Hospitality to manage the hotel starting in June 2015. Sage is one of the largest privately held hospitality investment, management and development companies in the nation operating more than 60 premium branded and lifestyle hotels, as well as nine unique independent restaurant concepts. Sage will be an integral partner in transforming the current Four Seasons to a new luxury ho...
InnLink Certified as TripConnect Premium Partner by TripAdvisor
InnLink Central Reservation Services (an IHS company) | December 16, 2014
Continues Providing Hotels with More Low Cost Distribution Options Hendersonville, TN - December 16, 2014 - InnLink Central Reservation Services today announced that is has been certified as a TripConnect Premium Partner offering direct booking connectivity for independent hotels on TripAdvisor through the new TripConnect® instant booking feature. TripConnect instant booking allows travelers to make a hotel reservation on TripAdvisor without leaving the site experience. The reservation is delivered directly to the property via InnLink and includes all guest information. This is a powerful and competitive new tool for independent hotels...
2014: A Year of Digital Innovation and Success for HeBS Digital & Client Portfolio
HeBS Digital | December 16, 2014
NEW YORK, NY December 16, 2014 - As the year comes to an end, HeBS Digital, the industry's leading digital technology, full-service hotel digital marketing, website design and direct online channel consulting firm, once again demonstrated its ability to drive results and innovative strategies for its hospitality clients. With multiple established best practices and new revenue-driving digital technologies released this year, clients were set up for success in 2014 and the results speak for themselves. This year, HeBS Digital and its hospitality clients took home 29 major industry awards that ranged across the hotel digital marketing spe...
Benchmark Names Edita Matic Director of Sales & Revenue Management for FL’s Marenas Beach Resort
Marenas Beach Resort | December 15, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 15, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Edita Matic director of sales and revenue management for Marenas Beach Resort, located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, north of Miami. Rikki Boparai, managing director of the Personal Luxury collection of Florida, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to announce Edita's new position within our company and our resort," said Mr. Boparai. "She is a superbly talented professional who brings vast knowledge of our market and our property to her new role. We congratulate Edita on this new ...
Aimbridge Hospitality to Manage Gatehouse Capital’s New Midlothian Marriott Courtyard in Texas
Aimbridge Hospitality | December 15, 2014
Dallas, Texas (December 15, 2014) - Aimbridge Hospitality has been awarded the management contract for the new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Midlothian, Texas, to begin construction this month. Developed by Gatehouse Capital Corporation of Dallas, the hotel is located adjacent to the Midlothian Conference Center and will feature 105 guestrooms, flexible meeting space, a multi sport play court, swimming pool and children's outdoor play area. An accelerated construction schedule will result in a late 2015 opening. "Aimbridge Hospitality is delighted to be awarded this opportunity in Midlothian. Gatehouse Capital will deliver an excepti...
Accor and Huazhu Hotels Group Form Alliance in China with More than 2,000 Hotels
Accor | December 15, 2014
December 15, 2014 - Accor and Huazhu Hotels Group (also known as China Lodging Group) today sealed an extensive and long-term alliance to create the most prominent and diversified hotel company in China, with more than 2,000 hotels and the strongest pipeline in the country. "This ground-breaking collaboration will leverage the strengths of Accor's global brands with a leading player in Chinese hospitality," said Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor. "Joining Huazhu's unparalleled local expertise with our brands will create a hospitality powerhouse which will deliver unprecedented value to both groups and to our customers." Huazhu ...
HeBS Digital Wins IMA Best in Class Award for Panorama Restaurant Website
HeBS Digital | December 12, 2014
HeBS Digital has been awarded the coveted IMA Best in Class Award in the Restaurant category for the Panorama Parallax Mini-Site, an upscale authentic Italian restaurant and event venue in the heart of Old City Philadelphia located in Penn's View Hotel. New York, NY - December 12, 2014 - HeBS Digital, the industry's leading digital technology, full-service hotel digital marketing, website design and direct online channel consulting firm, has been honored with the Best in Class Award in the Restaurant category for the Panorama Parallax Mini-Site, by the Interactive Media Awards (IMA). The Best in Class award is the highest honor bestowed...
Host Hotels and Destination Hotels Open the 243-room YVE Hotel Miami in Florida
YVE Hotel Miami, A Destination Hotel | December 11, 2014
MIAMI, Dec. 11, 2014 -- Host Hotels & Resorts, the nation's largest lodging real estate investment trust, in conjunction with Destination Hotels, the largest operator of independent hotels and resorts in North America, announced today the opening of YVE Hotel Miami. A completely new hotel concept designed for savvy travelers, YVE Hotel Miami is located in the heart of downtown Miami's business and financial district. The 243-room hotel offers guests a stylish and charismatic experience that is synonymous with the city of Miami. Just steps away from major landmarks including the American Airlines Arena, Museum Park and Bayfront Park,...
NewcrestImage Acquires Two Hyatt Place Hotels In Texas
NewcrestImage | December 11, 2014
NewcrestImage has acquired two Hyatt Place hotels in Texas -- the 127-room property on Dallas Parkway in Plano and the 126-room property on Hyatt Park Drive in San Antonio. Each of the two acquired properties has six floors, a fitness center, a business center, a seasonal outdoor pool, and flexible meeting space -- 790 sq. ft. at the Plano hotel and 1,127 sq. ft. at the San Antonio hotel. "These hotels are consistent with our company's strategy of adding premium branded hotels in top-tier markets at attractive prices," said Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. "As importantly, these hotels are our first Hyatt properties and t...
Destination Hotels Reveals 2015 Trend Forecast In 3rd Annual ‘State Of The Meetings Industry’ Survey
Destination Hotels | December 11, 2014
Englewood, Colo. - December 11, 2014 - In its third annual "State of the Meetings Industry" survey of more than 185 meeting planners nationwide, Destination Hotels sheds light on the recent trends affecting the planning and execution of meetings and events. As the largest operator of independent hotels and resorts in North America, Destination asked an experienced group of corporate, association, government and independent planners-55 percent of whom control more than $100,000 per year in direct meeting spend for their organizations-about how their planning duties and their meetings themselves are changing. These changes stem from gener...
Expedia and Best Western Sign Global Partnership Agreement
Expedia, Inc. | December 10, 2014
BELLEVUE, WASH, December 10th - Expedia, Inc., one of the world's largest online travel companies, and Best Western International, Inc., the world's largest hotel chain®, have signed a global partnership agreement to distribute Best Western branded hotels on Expedia, Inc. sites. This partnership is truly global in nature. Expedia features more than 150 travel sites in more than 70 countries, while Best Western boasts more than 4,000 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. Melissa Maher, senior vice president of the Global Partner Group at Expedia, Inc. said "Best Western is one of the most recognizable and popular hotel...
Developing Your Sense of Departure
Larry Mogelonsky | December 10, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Most hoteliers intrinsically understand the concept of a sense of arrival. Broadly defined, this is that glorious moment (or what's intended to be glorious) when a guest arrives at the threshold of your establishment. The goal of this 'sense of place' is to quite literally bedazzle your arriving guest from the get-go to reaffirm their hotel selection. I am confident that most of you reading this have spent hours in planning committee meetings discussing this very topic. Your doormen are attired with distinctive uniforms designed to create a point of differentiation from the very moment a gu...
Hard Rock International Hires Daniel Cheng as Senior Vice President Development, Asia-Pacific
Hard Rock International | December 10, 2014
December 10, 2014 - Orlando, Fla. - Hard Rock International - owner of one of the world's most-recognizable and iconic brands - announces the hiring of Daniel Cheng as SVP of Business Development, Asia-Pacific. Cheng's appointment is a strategic move designed to accelerate momentum behind the brand's global gaming growth plans. Cheng will be responsible for identifying the appropriate casino investment and development partners within key countries, such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines. "Cheng's experience and strengths complement our company's development needs and we're looking forward to further growing the brand's Asian ...
Maestro PMS Partners with SiteMinder to Offer Global Distribution Channels for Hotel Customers
Maestro Property Management Solution | December 10, 2014
Independent Hotels to Benefit from Powerful Booking Tools with Maestro PMS' Two-way Interface to SiteMinder's Global Network of Distribution Channels December 10, 2014 - Maestro PMS™ Enterprise Property Management today announces it has partnered with the global hotel industry's leading provider of online distribution technology, SiteMinder, to provide its independent hotel customers with increased bookings and access to more than 200 distribution channels worldwide. Maestro PMS provides hotel software and reservation software solutions for the industry's leading independent hotels, resorts and multi-property groups. David Chestler, E...
Wyndham Hotel Group Enters Strategic Technology Partnership with Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation | December 10, 2014
Migrates to Sabre's Industry-Leading SynXis Enterprise Platform PARSIPPANY, N.J. and SOUTHLAKE, Texas (Dec. 10, 2014) - Wyndham Hotel Group and Sabre Corporation announced today a global strategic technology partnership which will provide cloud-based, cutting-edge Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) reservations, revenue management and enhanced security solutions to Wyndham Hotel Group properties, making the Hotel Group the first large global company to leverage Sabre's SynXis Enterprise Platform. Wyndham Hotel Group, a part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), is the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,590 properties ...
Give Your Guests a Gift that Keeps On Giving Throughout the New Year: Cell Signal Enhancement
RoamBoost | December 9, 2014
Adding the RoamBoost Cellular Signal Enhancement System to your 2015 Capital Budget will ensure that guests and staff receive a strong mobile signal whenever and wherever it is needed BOSTON, MASS. - DECEMBER 9, 2014 - Are your hotel guests able to send and receive phone calls and text messages while on your property? You had better hope so. Just because guests aren't complaining about dropped calls on comment cards as much as they are about slow or non-existent bandwidth, they are complaining -- on social media. If your customers can't make or receive calls on the devices they depend on the most, they won't come back. Show your guests...
