Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
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Operations
Benchmark Hospitality Names Jenae Christiansen Executive Chef for the Gilchrist Club in Trenton, FL
September 25, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 26, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Jenae Christiansen executive chef for the Gilchrist Club, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels® property located in Trenton, Florida, nears Gainesville. Bob Edwards, Benchmark's general manager at the Club, made the announcement. "It is such a pleasure to welcome Jenae back to the Benchmark Hospitality family, and to the Gilchrist Club," said Mr. Edwards. "A gifted chef who is largely self-taught through unique culinary opportunities in the US and in Europe as well as a natural aptitude ...
Best Western Sets Brand Record With Two Consecutive Years of North American RevPAR Index of 110
BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC | September 25, 2014
Best Western International continues to see strong growth in system-wide revenue, new construction projects and Best Western Rewards. PHOENIX (September 25, 2014) - Best Western International announced today that it is on track to set a brand record of three consecutive years with a North American RevPAR index of 110. System-wide net revenue through August 31, 2014 is up 5.8 percent as compared to the same period in 2013 o Central Reservations System (CRS) RevPAR increased 9.1 percent o Property-direct revenue increased 4.7 percent o BEST WESTERN® revenue increased 5.9 percent o BEST WESTERN PLUS® revenue increased 12.6 per...
Benchmark Hospitality Names Catterina Calderon Director of Human Resources for Naples Bay Resort
| September 25, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 25, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Catterina Calderon director of human resources for Naples Bay Resort, located in Naples, Florida. Rikki Boparai, managing director of the Personal Luxury collection of Florida, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Catterina to Benchmark Hospitality and to our resort," said Mr. Boparai. "She comes to us with significant human resources leadership experience gained at luxury properties throughout the eastern United States." Catterina Calderon has held senior-level leaders...
HeBS Digital and Google to Co-Present Webinar on Maximizing Hotel Website Revenue in 2015
HeBS Digital | September 24, 2014
New York, NY (September 24, 2013) - HeBS Digital, the leading hotel digital technology, full-service digital marketing and website revenue optimization consulting firm today announces it will co-present a webinar with Google on Wednesday, October 1 at 3:30pm-4:30pm EST (12:30pm-1:30pm PST). The webinar, to be held at Google's Mountain View headquarters, will cover travel industry trends, how to tailor current digital marketing initiatives to achieve greater results, how hoteliers can use digital marketing tactics to increase revenue throughout the travel planning journey, and much more. Speakers will include Dan Stein, Agency Developmen...
InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta and Park Hyatt Chicago Upgrade to InvoTech RFID Uniform System
InvoTech Systems | September 24, 2014
Long-time InvoTech Customers Upgrade their Uniform Systems with RFID Technology for More Efficient Operations and Cost Saving Benefits LOS ANGELES, CA - September 24, 2014 - InvoTech Systems, Inc. announced two leading city center hotels upgraded their uniform management and control processes with InvoTech's UHF-RFID Uniform System. The InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta and Park Hyatt Chicago have both benefited from the control and accountability established by the InvoTech Uniform System for more than ten years. The RFID upgrade will provide cost saving benefits with more efficient operations by automating manual tasks. Click here for...
Hotel Room ‘Hauling’
Larry Mogelonsky | September 24, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Have you heard of 'hauling' or, to be a little more precise, a haul video? For those of you who aren't wholly up to date on the latest internet lingo, let me explain. Used mostly for retail purposes, a haul video is when a person records what items they purchased from stores, displaying each as they are unpacked, and then posts it to the internet, most likely onto YouTube. During the brief video, the purchaser might go over basic product details, prices and his or her own opinions of the goods. Although this trend has its roots in the 'unboxing' of the latest hi-tech gadgets, especially gam...
Hotel Equities Names Stacey Morgan as Corporate Revenue Manager
Hotel Equities (HE) | September 23, 2014
ATLANTA, GA - September 24, 2014 - Hotel Equities (HE), an Atlanta-based hotel management, ownership and development company, recently named Stacey Morgan the Corporate Revenue Manager. Ms. Morgan will assume responsibility for setting the day-to-day sales strategy for a portfolio of hotels to maximize revenues and profitability. She will also assist in the training and development of the hotels' revenue teams using a variety of new tools such as social media as the discipline of revenue management becomes more and more complex. Stacey is a highly-skilled financial professional who understands the importance of revenue management to the...
GEO-Location by RoamingAround is Stimulating Mobile App Use and a Quick ROI
RoamingAround | September 23, 2014
Hoteliers can now push relevant and micro-targeted messages to guests' cell phones encouraging them to make impulse purchases in real time based on their proximity to outlets and services BOSTON, MASS. - SEPT. 23, 2014 -Hoteliers looking to enhance their current mobile strategy and increase guest engagement with their branded mobile app are turning to GEO-Location. Through targeted hotel-to-guest messaging based on location (indoor or outdoor), hotel marketers are finding that mobile app use is on the rise. This not only drives incremental revenues and provides a faster mobile app investment return; it simultaneously increases guest sat...
Value Place Appoints Kelly Poling as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Hotel Equities (HE) | September 22, 2014
September 22, 2014 - WICHITA, Kan. - Value Place, the largest economy, extended-stay hotel brand in the U.S., has named Kelly Poling as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. As the leader of Value Place's brand, marketing, and distribution strategies, Ms. Poling will be focused on strengthening the positioning of the brand and driving more guests to its hotels across the country. "It's an amazing time to be joining Value Place," said Poling. "The Company has such a strong foundation and growth trajectory. I'm looking forward to furthering the value proposition for both guests and hotel owners with an additional focus on ...
HMC Assumes Management of The 260-key Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo, Texas
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | September 22, 2014
September 22, 2014 - Dallas, TX - Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), proudly assumes the management of the The Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo, TX. This 260-guestroom and suite property is located conveniently close to downtown Amarillo and is only a short 15-minute commute from Amarillo International Airport. In addition, $4MM has been allocated for renovations to the hotel as part of this transition. HMC is one of the country's largest third-party privately held hotel management companies, ranked in the top 40 of all third party and owner operated hotel management corporations. The Ambassador Hote...
Beauport Gloucester Hotel Moving Toward Construction
BuildCentral | September 22, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Add/Update 335 Hotel Projects to the New Hotel Construction Projects Database Chicago, IL. September 22, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have added or updated 335 hotel projects in the last two weeks to Hotel Construction, a nationwide database of hotel construction projects, openings, and key decision makers (Owner/Developers, Architects and Contractors). These proposed hotels are still in the planning stages. Now is the perfect time to have your product drawn into plans, or offer construction services: 3rd Avenue Hotel (New York, NY) Convention Center and Hotel (Katy, TX) 6080 Collins Hotel (Mia...
Hyatt to Sell Portfolio of 38 Hyatt Place & Hyatt House Hotels for $590M; To Remain Hyatt Branded
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | September 19, 2014
September 19, 2014 - CHICAGO - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that Hyatt affiliates have agreed to sell 38 hotels to a company organized by Lone Star Funds (the "Purchaser") for approximately $590 million. The portfolio of 38 hotels (the "Hyatt Portfolio") consists of Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels totaling 4,950 rooms. As part of the sale, Hyatt will enter into franchise agreements with the Purchaser, with all hotels maintaining their existing Hyatt Place and Hyatt House branding. The Purchaser intends to spend approximately $50 million in additional capital expenditures across the Hyatt Portfolio over the next ...
Judge Approves Sale of Menomonee Falls, WI Backed 135-room Radisson Hotel for $8.5 Million
Wyndham Hotel Group | September 19, 2014
Sept. 19--A Waukesha County judge on Friday approved the sale of the Menomonee Falls-financed Radisson Hotel for $8.5 million to an Illinois group owned by investors from Belarus. Randall D. Crocker, an attorney representing the village, said the sale of the property to Izabella HMC-MF LLC, which was approved by Circuit Court Judge James R. Kieffer, is expected to close by Oct. 15. The sale price leaves the community about $8.4 million short of its debt on the hotel, which fell into problems during the financial crisis. The difference between the sale price and the debt are expected to be covered by property taxes generated by the hotel...
Accor, Goldman Sachs, & GEM Realty Reportedly Selling Sofitel New York for $272 million
September 18, 2014
According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Accor, and its partners Goldman Sachs Group and GEM Realty Capital, enter agreement to sell Sofitel New York to Asian real estate investor Keck Seng Investment Ltd. for $272 million. Accor will continue to manage the 398-room property. ...
Best Western Signs Deal for Q3 2015 Opening of 108-room Best Western Hotel in Mandalay, Myanmar
Best Western International, Inc. | September 17, 2014
(Bangkok – September 17, 2014): Best Western International has embarked on the next stage of its expansion in Myanmar, with the signing of its first hotel in Mandalay. Mandalay is Myanmar's second largest city and economic hub in the northern region of the country. The Mandalay opening will continue Best Western's recent expansion in Myanmar, which commenced in 2013 with the opening of the BEST WESTERN Green Hill Hotel in Yangon. This opening made Best Western the first US-based hotel group to re-enter Myanmar since the country opened up to the international community. "Myanmar has made remarkable progress in recent years and Best Wes...
Strategist or Tactician?
Larry Mogelonsky | September 17, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Which one are you, strategist or tactician? Or, do you even know the difference? It's subtle, but very important to remember. Strategists are the big picture idea generators and recommenders of this world. They are the ones who get the prestige for coming up the winning concept that reaped a heavy payload down the road. Oftentimes a single thought or suggestion can save a whole company or launch it into an entirely new marketplace. Strategic planners, consultants and corporate advisors all fit this role for the purpose of helping an organization find that 'next big thing' to propel it forwa...
Loyalty is Golden: Indies Rely on Maestro PMS to Build Repeat Business with Personalized Services
Maestro Property Management Solution | September 17, 2014
NORTHWIND-Maestro Teams with Independents to Create Fully-Integrated Loyalty Solutions that Simplify Reward Point Programs, Support Personalized Service, and Provide Online Tracking Markham, ON - September 17, 2014 - Loyalty programs work. Guests who feel valued return to a property and tell their associates about it. Guests who promote your property are your most credible and effective sales team. Independent operators understand this and many work with NORTHWIND-Maestro to develop the most creative, personalized and effective loyalty programs. NORTHWIND-Maestro specializes in helping independent operators create and implement flexible...
Hotel Equities Assumes Management of 77-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Marianna in Florida
Hotel Equities (HE) | September 17, 2014
Atlanta, GA-September 17, 2014 - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (www.hotelequities.com) recently assumed management of the 77-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott hotel in Marianna, Florida. "Growing our management portfolio in Florida is both significant and exciting for our firm," said Joe Reardon, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Hotel Equities. "We're pleased to create additional opportunities for our associates and a strong partnership with the ownership group. We will begin a renovation on this six-year-old property to continue to ensure our guests the best level of service and quality they've come to ...
Wyndham Signs Deal with Pronobis for the 146-key Wyndham Quito Airport Gran Condor in Ecuador
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts | September 16, 2014
Opening Late in 2015 QUITO, Ecuador (Sept. 16, 2014) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the signing of a franchise agreement for the Wyndham Quito Airport Gran Condor, the first Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® property in Ecuador's capital city. The full-service, 146-room property, which is owned by Pronobis, is the only hotel on the new international airport grounds. The property is part of an existing deal to develop and franchise eight hotels in the country under Wyndham Hotel Group brands over 10 years. Upon op...
HeBS Digital’s CMS Technology Wins 2014 Gold Stevie® Award
HeBS Digital | September 16, 2014
HeBS Digital's CMS Premium, the industry's most advanced Content Management System (CMS) technology, takes home the prestigious Gold Stevie® Award in the Best Software Programming/Design category in The 2014 American Business AwardsSM . New York, NY (September 16, 2014) - HeBS Digital, the industry's leading hotel digital technology, full-service digital marketing and website design firm today announces its proprietary content management system technology - The CMS Premium -- has won the prestigious Gold Stevie ® Award in the Best Software Programming/Design category in the 2014 American Business AwardsSM. The Stevie® Awards are the ...
Development Begins in Texas for 100-key Aloft El Paso Downtown with July 2016 Opening Planned
Aloft Hotels | September 16, 2014
Owned by Bassett Partners EP and Managed by Aimbridge Hospitality September 16, 2014 - STAMFORD, Conn. - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announced plans for its leading-edge Aloft brand to debut in El Paso, Texas. Owned by Bassett Partners EP and managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, Aloft El Paso Downtown is scheduled to open in July 2016, featuring 100 spacious, loft-like rooms, forward-thinking technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere. "Aloft is a great match for the dynamic city of El Paso and will appeal to the next generation of travelers with its urban design, live music at the W XYZ bar, and unbe...
Waldorf Astoria Naples Rebranded to Naples Grande Beach Resort
BuildCentral | September 15, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Have Updated 120 Hotels in the Last Two Weeks with Changes in Personnel, Property Management or Ownership Chicago, IL. September 15, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have reported 120 changes in personnel, property management and ownership in the Hotel Profiles database over the last two weeks. Many hotels are getting a fresh start with a new Owner, Property Manager or General Manager. Recommend your product or service to someone who might be looking for a change. Hotels Under New Management: Best Western Plus BWI Airport North Inn & Suites (Baltimore, MD) SpringHill Suites Chicago Bolingbrook (...
RLJ Lodging Trust Acquires the 215-room DoubleTree Grand Key Resort in Key West, FL for $77 Million
RLJ Lodging Trust | September 15, 2014
September 15, 2014 - BETHESDA, Md. - RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RLJ) today announced that it has acquired the 215-room DoubleTree Grand Key Resort (the "Hotel") located in Key West, FL for a purchase price of $77.0 million, or approximately $358,000 per key. "We are excited to add an additional Key West asset to our portfolio at a significant discount to both replacement cost and recent per-key trades," commented Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect that our knowledge of the market along with the implementation of various initiatives will create additional upside at this strategically...
Benchmark Hospitality Appoints David Batson, CPA as Controller for Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV
Stonewall Resort | September 12, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 12, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named David Batson, CPA, controller for Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resort® located in Roanoke, West Virginia. Mike Hager, Benchmark's general manager at the property, made the announcement. It is with pleasure that I welcome David to Benchmark Hospitality at Stonewall Resort," said Mr. Hager. "He brings extensive financial management experience to our resort, gained at multiple properties within our industry." For nearly 20 years, David Batson has held leadership positions for a variety...
