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
Airbnb: The Hotel Disruptor Unconstrained by Real Estate
Bloomberg TV | August 29, 2014
Aug. 2014 (Bloomberg) -- Airbnb, the site upending the hotel industry, is the darling of the sharing economy. Can the old-world hotel industry do anything to hold off this juggernaut? Bloomberg's Cory Johnson looks at the numbers driving Airbnb. (Source: Bloomberg) ...
HeBS Digital to Speak on the Future Role of Intermediaries at EyeforTravel’s TDS North America 2014
HeBS Digital | August 29, 2014
HeBS Digital CEO Max Starkov will discuss the true cost of OTA distribution and present the hotelier's action plan for investing in the direct online channel at EyeforTravel's New York conference, "Travel Distribution Summit North America," September 11, 2014. NEW YORK, NY - August 29, 2014 - HeBS Digital's President & CEO, Max Starkov, will present on the "Future Role of Intermediaries and the Consequential Ripple Effect" at EyeforTravel's Travel Distribution Summit North America Conference on September 11, 2014 in New York City. Alongside Cheryl Scheideler, Head of Advertising & Business Development for Five Star Alliance and ...
How Netflix is Changing the Hotel Room
Larry Mogelonsky | August 29, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Until I subscribed to Netflix, I never gave it a lot of thought. Its share price, which has seen soaring increases since its IPO, is a hot topic amongst many investors. I, for one, sadly admit that I have no shares; although with performance at that level, I wish I had. For those who do not have Netflix or are not familiar with its utility, let me give you a quick primer. This is an online movie and television subscription service. For roughly ten dollars per month, subscriber gets unlimited access to thousands of movies and TV series. Your subscription allows you to set up multiple devices...
Peru’s Historic Presidente Hotel to Become Radisson Hotel Arequipa; Reopening Q2 2015 After Upgrade
August 27, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS (August 27, 2014) - Radisson®, one of the best-recognized hotel brands, today announced that the historic Presidente Hotel, an iconic hotel in the city of Arequipa, Peru will become the Radisson Hotel Arequipa. The hotel will undergo a complete renovation and will reopen as one of the most modern and refreshed hotels in the city at the end 2015. "As we continue to expand the Radisson brand in Latin America, it is important that we identify and develop in key locations that cater to both business and leisure guests," said Javier Rosenberg, chief operating officer, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Americas. "This is an iconic hot...
Independent Operators Use Maestro PMS 2-Way Expedia QuickConnect Interface to Save Time and Money
Maestro Property Management Solution | August 27, 2014
Why? The Expedia Interface Eliminates Manual Reservation Re-Keying, Maintains Accurate Real-Time Inventory Updates, Provides Optimized Rates to all Online Channels Markham, ON - August 27, 2014 - Independent operators are simply more independent than their chain-flagged colleagues. They rely on personal guest service, innovation, and online marketing and booking technology to be successful in their markets. Many indies rely on Expedia's 120+ travel booking websites such as Hotwire.com, Hotels.com, ClassicVacations.com and many smaller 'Affiliate Network" private-label websites for reservations. Automating Expedia inventory updates and ...
RoamingAround Making Guests’ Experiences More Engaging with RoamView
RoamingAround | August 26, 2014
Virtually placing guests in the center of each desired location and surrounding them with visual elements and interactive touchpoints will make your destination far more unique and appealing BOSTON, MASS. - AUGUST 26, 2014 - As part of its Mobile Engagement platform, RoamingAround is offering interactive virtual property tours enabling potential guests to remotely experience every aspect of the hotel, resort or even city, as if they were actually there. RoamView is enabling hoteliers, event sales teams and tourism bureaus to place travelers in the center of each desired location and surround them with visual elements that make their bra...
Accor Acquires 13 UK Properties in Line with HotelInvest Strategy; The Hotels Total 1,194 Rooms
Accor | August 26, 2014
August 26, 2014 - Accor announces that HotelInvest, the Group's hotel owner and investor business, has purchased a portfolio of 13 hotels from Tritax for a total consideration of €89 million (£71 million) in line with its stated strategy to consolidate the owned hotel base whilst strengthening its economy and midscale segments. The portfolio, which includes 12 ibis and 1 ibis budget, represents 1,194 rooms located across the UK in key regional locations: Coventry, Coventry South, Birmingham Holloway Circus, Birmingham Bordesley, Leicester City, Plymouth, Sheffield City Shude, Liverpool, Manchester Princess Street, as well as London S...
Benchmark Names Adam Montalvo Director of Food & Beverage for Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas
Hotel Contessa | August 25, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 25, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading US-based hospitality management company, has named Adam Montalvo director of food & beverage for Hotel Contessa. Les Utley, general manager for the property, a Benchmark Hotel® located on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Adam to Benchmark Hospitality at Hotel Contessa," said Mr. Utley. "He comes to us with a great deal of restaurant management, operations and training experience, which will be vital in running an effective food and beverage program. We are thrilled he is part of ...
City Approval Process Started for Hyatt House Hotel Austin
BuildCentral | August 25, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Add/Update 287 Hotel Projects to the New Hotel Construction Projects Database Chicago, IL. August 25, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have added or updated 287 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: Bella Rose Inn (Chandler , AZ) Stockyard Hotel (Fort Worth, TX) Embassy Suites (Ventura, CA) Wil...
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort Implements InvoTech RFID Uniform System
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort | August 25, 2014
High-efficiency UHF-RFID Tags, Mobile Readers, Automated Garment Identification and Processes Eliminate Unaccounted Loss, Establish Accurate Laundry Accountability LOS ANGELES, CA - August 25, 2014 - InvoTech Systems, Inc. announced Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort has implemented the InvoTech UHF-RFID Uniform System to automate management of the property's more than 7,000 custom uniforms. The InvoTech Uniform System reduces labor expenses associated with manual handling and increases employee accountability with automated uniform tracking. The Orlando resort is the ninth Four Seasons resort that utilizes InvoTe...
The Smart Hotelier’s Guide to 2015 Digital Marketing Budget Planning
the Authors and HeBS Digital | August 22, 2014
By Max Starkov and Mariana Mechoso Safer Summary For the ninth year in a row, HeBS Digital announces the launch of "The Smart Hotelier's Guide to 2015 Digital Marketing Budget Planning," just in time for the 2015 budget planning season. This article outlines how to structure your budget so that you can shift more bookings to the direct online channel, better utilize your marketing dollars by increasing campaign effectiveness, and generate the highest returns possible from your property website and digital marketing initiatives. We recommend that hoteliers frame their digital marketing plan within two main categories: Direct Response D...
Unifocus Achieves Ranking on Inc 5000 America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies 2nd Year in a Row
Inc. magazine | August 21, 2014
UniFocus would like to thank all of our client partners for trusting in us. Together we continue to reach new heights. Because of you - UniFocus is proud to announce it has earned Inc.'s 500|5000 exclusive ranking as one of the nation's fastest growing private companies in 2014. According to Inc. this list represents the most innovative, best run, and inspiring businesses, joining the ranks of powerhouses such as Microsoft, Pandora, Intuit, Under Armour, and Zappos. "The personalized service and solutions we provide to our customers increases performance, productivity, and therefore profit. Our newest technology integrates metrics to co...
Benchmark Hospitality Names Jerry Jensen DOSM for the 265-key Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas
Hotel Contessa | August 21, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 21, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading US-based hospitality management company, has named Jerry Jensen director of sales and marketing for Hotel Contessa. Les Utley, general manager for the property, a Benchmark Hotel® located in San Antonio, Texas, made the announcement. "We are pleased to welcome Jerry to Hotel Contessa," said Mr. Utley. "He brings with him an impressive background of success in sales leadership, and extensive knowledge of both group and leisure travel markets. He also fully understands the Benchmark 'Be The Difference' service culture, having been with our ...
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Hoteliers
Larry Mogelonsky | August 20, 2014
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) There's little doubt that you've read or at least heard of the famous business and self-help book entitled "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey. Fitting reminder as we head into the final months of the year, it's time for a little homage - adapting the title of this book and giving hoteliers seven ideals to strive for. This isn't the definitive, be-all-end-all 'Seven Habits' list for hoteliers; just something to start you off on the right foot. 1. Know Thy Customer. It's easy for consumers to break up with a faceless organization, but much harder for them to par...
Benchmark Names Rubin Sabater Director of Operations at ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, Miami Beach
August 19, 2014
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 19, 2014 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Rubin Sabater director of operations for ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, a Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® property located in Miami Beach. Rikki Boparai, general manager for Benchmark Hospitality at the resort and managing director for the Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels of Florida, made the announcement. "It is with the greatest pleasure that I congratulate Rubin on his new position with our resort and Benchmark Hospitality," said Mr. Boparai. "With this he assumes re...
Hotel Equities Breaks Ground on 92-rooom Residence Inn by Marriott Lake Charles, LA
Hotel Equities | August 19, 2014
Atlanta, GA-August 19, 2014 - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (www.hotelequities.com) broke ground recently on the 92-room Residence Inn by Marriott in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The new-build hotel will be located at1591 West Prien Road, beside the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, also managed by Hotel Equities. "We are happy to add a second property to our successful operation of the SpringHill Suites in the vibrant and growing Lake Charles market," said Joe Reardon, Vice President of Business Development for HE. "We are pleased to work with an ownership group who has such an entrepreneurial vision and a commitment to building another great ...
HMC Opens the Newly Built 83-key Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kenedy in Texas
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | August 19, 2014
Monday, August 19, 2014 - Dallas, TX - Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), proudly announces the opening of the newly built 83-guest room Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Kenedy, TX. This hotel property located 1-hour South of San Antonio, is the 16th acquired hotel in Texas and property currently managed by HMC. 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 Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kenedy is conveniently located close to San Antonio and loca...
FCS Computer Systems Expands to New Office Location in Mumbai, India
FCS | August 19, 2014
Company's growing regional presence results in new office location to better serve nation's rapidly developing hospitality market Mumbai, India - August 19, 2014 - FCS Computer Systems (FCS), a leading comprehensive hospitality solutions and services provider, has opened the doors to its newest office location in Mumbai, India, a regional center now tasked with overseeing all FCS activity throughout India. After identifying increasing interest from the nation's growing hospitality market, FCS made a decision to establish the new facility in Mumbai, which is expected to provide enhanced operations and customer service to all clients thr...
SEO a Journey, Not a Destination: How to Implement Ongoing SEO Strategy & Maximize Website Revenue
the Authors and HeBS Digital | August 18, 2014
By: Max Starkov and Erica Garza For years now hotel marketers have claimed that search engines are on the way out as a viable marketing and distribution channel in hospitality. These claims, of course, have been followed with boasts of "the next big thing" to save hotel distribution - from social media to the mobile channel and wearable devices. Why are we even talking about SEO in this day and age? HeBS Digital's own experience categorically shows that more than half of website booking revenue across our client portfolio comes as direct referral from the search engines, including organic and paid search. At the same time, there is a di...
Carlson Rezidor Appoints Andreas Flaig as Executive Vice President of Development
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | August 18, 2014
SINGAPORE (August 18, 2014) - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group today announced the appointment of Andreas Flaig as Executive Vice President, Development, Asia Pacific. Based in the Singapore office, Andreas reports to Thorsten Kirschke, President for Asia Pacific and will be a key member of the Asia Pacific Executive Committee. In his new role, Andreas will be responsible for driving the development strategies for Carlson Rezidor in Asia Pacific to further grow its hotel portfolio and enhance its presence in this region. He will oversee the regional teams based in Singapore, China, India and Indonesia securing new management contracts as wel...
Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st Street Temporarily Closes for Conversion
BuildCentral | August 18, 2014
Hotel-Online and BuildCentral Have Updated 184 Hotels in the Last Two Weeks with Changes in Personnel, Property Management or Ownership Chicago, IL. August 18, 2014 - Hotel-Online and BuildCentral have reported 184 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: TownePlace Suites Anaheim Maingate (Anaheim, CA) Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Kendall East-Miami (Mia...
Marriott International Names Brian King Global Officer of Marriott Signature Brands & Global Sales
Marriott International, Inc. | August 15, 2014
Bethesda, Md., August 15, 2014 - Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) has named Brian King Global Officer, Marriott Signature Brands & Global Sales. In his new role, King will be responsible for leading the Marriott Signature Brands and brand marketing teams, as well as leading the Global Sales Organization. "There is no executive better suited for this role," said Stephanie Linnartz, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Commercial officer, Marriott International. "Brian's experience and expertise along with his passion for brands, sales and customer engagement make him the ideal candidate to lead our Marriott Sig...
The Consistency & Standards of Your Local Holiday Inn vs. The Uncertainty of Airbnb
Bakulesh (Buggsi) Patel | August 15, 2014
by Buggsi Patel As an owner of hotels throughout Oregon and the northwestern United States — including Wilsonville, where I also reside — the timely topic of Airbnb and other short-term online rental properties is of huge concern to me. I'm sure many of you search for vacation rental properties or homes as alternatives for your own leisure or business travel. This alternative in the world of hotel accommodations is here to stay, but I am concerned about the safety, security and experience of guests. I am chairman of the IHG Owners Association, the organization that represents thousands of owners of IHG hotels such as Holiday Inn, Ho...
How ‘Engaging’ is Your Mobile Strategy?
RoamingAround | August 13, 2014
RoamingAround's Mobile Engagement Solution is helping hoteliers build lasting, personalized relationships with their guests through creative, targeted and engaging mobile offers BOSTON, MASS. - AUGUST 13, 2014 - It takes 90 minutes for the average person to respond to an email, but just 90 seconds for the average person to respond to a text message, according to CTIA - The Wireless Association®. This is just one of many reasons why hoteliers need to make mobile engagement with guests a priority in 2014 and beyond. RoamingAround, provider of hospitality industry mobile-engagement solutions, has designed a platform that will help hotel ...
