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
Multi-Million Dollar, Full-Scale Renovation Underway for Hyatt Regency Deerfield Slated for Completion April 2019
Hyatt Regency | February 7, 2019
(DEERFIELD, Ill.) February 7, 2019 – Phase one of a multi-million dollar, full-scale renovation is underway on the Hyatt Regency Deerfield, a luxury, full-service hotel located just minutes from downtown Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. The project caters to the Hyatt Regency brand loyalists' desire for 24/7 connectivity and comfort with 300 completely revamped guestrooms and suites, refreshed, tech-enabled meeting space, updated common areas including guestroom hallways, and lobby, as well as the property's signature restaurant and bar, Jaxx Bistro and Jaxx Lounge. Phase one, which includes a $14 million redo of all gues...
U.S. News & World Report Names 22 BENCHMARK® Properties to “Best Hotels List” for 2019
February 7, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is proud to announce that 22 of its luxury hotels and resorts have been named to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report "Best Hotels" list for 2019. The exclusive hotels spanned leading destinations in 15 states and the Caribbean and are part of the company's Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Collection brands. The honors included three Silver Badge winners that placed in the Top 30 percent of all ranked luxury hotels within a destination. They include Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, which placed 13th in the Orlando-W...
The Evolution Of Private Clubs
Chris Mumford | February 7, 2019
By Chris Mumford The desire to be with and around other people is an innate human characteristic. In evolutionary terms, humans quickly worked out that strength in numbers equalled survival, and this need to seek connections and to form bonds with others has remained within us over time, even as the threats to our existence have altered and diminished. The need to band together to fend off attack or to kill for food has been replaced by a want for social interaction and companionship. For most, school is the first place we begin to form relationships with like-minded fellow humans and where we form groups, teams, cliques and gangs. In 1...
Digital Inspo: What Creative Hotels Are Doing Online
HEBS Digital | February 7, 2019
By Kerryn Gower Coming up with fresh and creative marketing initiatives is never an easy task. Hotels all over the world face fierce competition regardless of their destination. Utilizing creative ideas to attract guests can help hotels stand out in the crowd and help them to gain new and repeat visitors. Our new article series, Digital Inspo: What Creative Hotels are Doing Online, dives deep into a recent original campaign idea developed by a hotel brand. The Campaign Last year, Hyatt Hotels partnered with then up-and-coming pop star Dua Lipa. The setting for the British musician's single "New Rules" was Hyatt's new boutique hotel, The...
Hyatt and S.D. Malkin Properties, Inc. Celebrate the Groundbreaking of Two Beachfront Hotels in Oceanside, California
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | February 6, 2019
SAN DIEGO (February 6, 2019) – Hyatt and S.D. Malkin Properties, Inc., an innovative developer and owner of iconic retail, hotel, and entertainment destinations, today will hold a groundbreaking ceremony in Oceanside, California on the site where two new properties are expected to open under the Joie de Vivre Hotels and Destination Hotels brands in late 2020. The adjacent hotels together will be the largest oceanfront development in San Diego County in over a decade. Located at the hub of Oceanside's booming renaissance, the 2.75-acre new-build project along Mission Avenue and North Pacific Street will offer guests immediate beach...
Merchandizing Romantic Getaways
Larry Mogelonsky | February 6, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) As we slide into February, the traditional low occupancy winter blues for hotels (outside of the sun destinations) is punctured by the healthy returns netted from Valentine's Day couples' getaways. While standard articles might focus on ways to drum up last minute purchases through packaging and promotional efforts, the next step is to ask yourself: how to capture more incremental revenue before guests arrive? The concept here is to maximize the profits from each customer so that this romantic time of year becomes a truly fantastic cash grab. And a great way to achieve this goal is ...
How to Get the Most Out of The New Google Hotel Search Interface
HEBS Digital | February 6, 2019
By Noor Eltahawy, SEO Specialist A few months ago, Google began unrolling a new design for their hotel search results. With the updated design, they now display four hotels instead of three and have updated the filters available to the user, all in an effort to help people easily find the hotel that best fits their needs. So, how can hotels make sure that they are in the best position possible when it comes to this new design? Read on to understand how a hotel can optimize their brand recognition, and ultimately drive more traffic to the hotel website using Google's new search results interface for hotels. Understanding the search queri...
New Research Finds a Majority of Hotel Guests Rank Unfriendly Staff as Most Frustrating Part of Their Stay
ALICE | February 5, 2019
ALICE, the hotel operations platform that empowers operational excellence and meaningful guest experiences, released new research uncovering what factors influence hotel satisfaction and found that almost two-thirds of guests (62 percent) with complaints said unfriendly staff are the most frustrating part of their stay. The "Hotels at Face Value" report, commissioned by ALICE and conducted by third-party research firm YouGov, also revealed the changing expectations of modern hotel guests. Modern Hotel Guest Priorities According to the research, when booking hotels nearly three in five (59 percent) guests who prioritize amenities care m...
Pacifica Capital to Open Japan’s First Fairfield by Marriott Summer 2020 in Osaka
Pacifica Capital K.K. | February 4, 2019
TOKYO--Namba Hospitality K.K., a 100% subsidiary of Tokyo-based Pacifica Capital K.K., has signed a franchise agreement with Marriott International to open the first "Fairfield by Marriott" in Japan. Construction of the 300-room "Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba" commenced January 2019 and the hotel is expected to open in summer 2020. At completion of construction, Namba Hospitality K.K. will lease the building from the owner and operate the hotel. The hotel is just a five-minute walk from Namba Station, the favorite accommodation destination in Osaka for international visitors, both because of its direct rail access from Kansai Intern...
Gaming CEO Pay in a Year of Reckoning
Keith Kefgen | February 4, 2019
By Keith Kefgen The last eighteen months has been a reckoning for powerful men in the business world and gaming has been no exception. The #MeToo Movement struck down one of the most recognizable names in the gaming industry when Steve Wynn stepped down from the company he founded, Wynn Resorts. These issues have continued to shine a spotlight on CEO pay, severance and golden parachutes. Four other CEOs in gaming are out or on the way out soon. Caesars recently announced that Mark Fissora is stepping down at the end of the year. All that said, it was a very solid year for casinos stocks, with many of the bigger companies outperforming t...
2019 and Lodging Technology: Is There a One-Size-Fits-All Approach?
Matt Peterson | February 1, 2019
By Matt Peterson Turning the page on another calendar year is always fun and reflective. As we look to 2019, there are some interesting trends and new technologies that should continue to impact the lodging industry. Following is a look into two specific groups, employee and customer experiences, and how we should continue to embrace technology so it can positively affect the bottom line. With higher costs and questionable growth over the next few years, employee costs and retention will continue to be a hot topic. It goes without saying that a "happy" or "satisfied" employee is more likely to stay with their employer, but how do we mak...
Rockbridge Acquires The Tennessean Hotel and Holiday Inn Knoxville Downtown Hotel
Rockbridge | February 1, 2019
Columbus, OH (FEBRUARY 1, 2019) – Rockbridge announces the acquisition of The Tennessean Hotel and the Holiday Inn Knoxville Downtown Hotel, both of which sit in prime locations in downtown Knoxville. Aimbridge Hospitality will manage both hotels. "We look forward to delivering a transformational renovation to the Knoxville Community that will bring economic prosperity to the region," said Jim Merkel, Rockbridge CEO. "Matt Welch, who led this investment for Rockbridge, was instrumental in delivering our core values, that will result in a win-win-win for our customers, the Knoxville Community, and our investors." The Tennessean fea...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Sells Ocean Front Gold Beach Inn, Ireland’s Rustic Lodges & RV Park and Ireland’s Commercial Income Property in OR
Paramount Lodging Advisors | January 31, 2019
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) has successfully executed the transaction of the Ocean Front Gold Beach Inn, Ireland's Rustic Lodges & RV Park and Ireland's Commercial Income property in Gold Beach, OR. Senior Managing Director Scott Griemsmann and Senior Associate Subu Thiagarajan represented the seller in the sale. This transaction presented the buyer a unique opportunity to acquire two independent hotels, an RV Park, and commercial rental units on several acres between the Pacific Ocean and coastal Highway 101. Upon completion of a property improvement plan (PIP), upgrading technology, and implementation of professional manageme...
Eden Hotels to Convert Amsterdam’s American Hotel to Hard Rock Hotel Amsterdam American Set to Open April 2020
Hard Rock International | January 31, 2019
LONDON, Jan. 31, 2019 -- With a presence spanning more than 76 countries, Hard Rock International announces the continued expansion of its hotel portfolio, with the opening of Hard Rock Hotel Amsterdam American in April 2020 — bringing the signature Hard Rock vibe to this exciting cultural capital. Located on the lively Leidseplein Square, Hard Rock Hotel Amsterdam American will be brought to life in one of the city's most famous Art Nouveau style buildings, built in 1900 and formerly known as the American Hotel. Showcasing 173 rooms and suites and newly-renovated interiors, the hotel will keep all vintage decorative features ...
Hotel Lawyer: Brand Franchise Owners Ask “What Happened to My Area of Protection?”
Jim Butler | January 31, 2019
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com Hotel Lawyer on Owners' concerns with hotel brand franchise agreements — Areas of Protection or Non-competition clauses My partner Bob Braun is a senior member of our Global Hospitality Group® and has experience with many hundreds of hotel management and franchise agreements. Bob is also co-author of the Hotel Management Agreement & Franchise Agreement Handbook (3rd edition), and has first-hand experience with branding and management for every major traditional hotel brand, including a number of multi-branded properties. Tod...
Quore Named No. 1 Housekeeping Management Solution by HotelTechReport for Two Consecutive Years
Quore | January 31, 2019
'Cleaning Plus' earns top ratings for ease of use, customer service, ROI and implementation Franklin, Tenn. – Jan. 31, 2019 – For the second consecutive year, Quore, America's fastest-growing provider of workforce communication and engineering/housekeeping management technologies, has been named a "2019 Top Rated Operations Product" by HotelTechReport for its Cleanings Plus solution that elevates housekeeping performance with real-time updates, detailed cleaning tracking and powerful insights. The company also was named "runner up" in the Engineering & Facilities Management category for its suite of engineering appl...
BENCHMARK® Expands in the Pacific Northwest With Management of Avenue Bellevue InterContinental Hotel
Fortress Development | January 30, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 30, 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is expanding its presence in the Pacific Northwest and will operate the newly announced Avenue Bellevue InterContinental Hotel. Part of a new billion-dollar condo, hotel and retail development in downtown Bellevue, Washington, the spectacular new property will be InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts' first venture in the Pacific Northwest. With construction set to start in mid-2019, the dramatic and elegant two-tower development will feature 332 luxury residences and 85,000 sq. feet of high-end retail, food and nightlife –...
Ten Marketing Questions for Q1 2019
Larry Mogelonsky | January 30, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Now that we are making headway into 2019, it's time to re-evaulate the budgets you devised last quarter and see if you are indeed on the best course for the year ahead. This process can be quite rewarding if you have a clear vision of where you want to take your hotel for beyond the current fiscal cycle. The key is to plan for a gradual and continuous change, and the first step towards this is to align with your team. As for the coming year, it is definitely not business as usual. There are disruptors lurking in the dark alleys of the travelsphere, and if you aren't careful you'll s...
5 Ways Hotels Can Drive Revenues in 2019
Hotelogix | January 30, 2019
As a hotelier, you focus on getting more bookings, increasing occupancy, and selling rooms at competitive rates to drive revenue for your property. But at the same time, you also need to understand how travelers are making their reservations, what they expect from you, and ultimately what makes them come back to your hotel. Here are some trends that can help you identify key areas, to fuel revenue growth at your property this year. #1 Keep an eye on millennial travelers As a hotelier, you can see many benefits if you understand millennial travelers' hotel booking pattern, and what they like. 1According to a report by Resonance Consultan...
Cendyn Is North America’s Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider & Data Driven Marketing Agency for 2019 as Voted by World Travel Awards
Cendyn | January 29, 2019
Boca Raton, Florida – January 29, 2019 – Cendyn, the leading provider of hotel CRM and hotel sales platforms in the hospitality industry, has been voted as North America's Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider and North America's Data Driven Marketing Agency for 2019. The prestigious World Travel Awards recognizes companies, organizations and brands that push the boundaries of hospitality industry excellence. Cendyn was presented with the accolades at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony at Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica. This is the second year in a row Cendyn has won top honors for these two ca...
Dream Hotel Group Plans Unscripted Catskills Featuring 100 Guest Rooms in Bethel, New York
Unscripted Hotels | January 29, 2019
NEW YORK, NY (January 29, 2019) – Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group announced today plans to open the second U.S. location of its new lifestyle brand Unscripted Hotels in New York's picturesque Catskill Mountains in early 2020. Centrally located within the new Shops at White Lake complex in Bethel, New York, Unscripted Catskills marks the company's first ground-up build using modular construction, incorporating both hotel and retail, and will serve as a prototype for the Unscripted brand moving forward. Set to open in late 2019, The Shops at White Lake development include an additional 75,000 square fee...
Radisson Hotel Group Signs New-Build 180-Room Radisson RED Located in Miami’s Brickell Neighborhood
Radisson Hotel Group | January 29, 2019
Minneapolis - January 29, 2019 -- Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of its second Radisson RED in Miami, Fla. The new-build hotel, located at 900 SW 2nd Avenue, will feature 180 guest rooms, along with the brand's signature amenities. Guests can unwind at the rooftop restaurant and bar, OUIBar + KTCHN, boasting panoramic views and a relaxing atmosphere. The lifestyle hotel brand inspired by art, fashion and music provides a bold take on hospitality for the connected traveler. Each Radisson RED hotel embraces its city by incorporating unique local elements to the stay experience. Located in the vibrant Brickell neighborhood, the ho...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Presents the “Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2019”
January 29, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, announces the "Top Meeting Trends for 2019" as observed by its diverse portfolio of properties. Benchmark is the leading U.S.-based global independent hospitality management company, operating 80 award-winning hotels, resorts, and conference centers within its Benchmark Resorts & Hotels,Gemstone Collection and etc.venues brands in locations coast to coast, off shore, and internationally. Benchmark's top meeting trends were announced by Ted Davis, Benchmark's chief sales and marketing officer. "We learn a lot from our guests,...
Choice Hotels Appoints Douglas Lisi as Vice President of Revenue Management
Choice Hotels International, | January 29, 2019
ROCKVILLE, Md. (Jan. 29, 2019) – Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel franchisors, announced Douglas Lisi has joined the company as vice president of revenue management. In this role, Lisi will lead the company's revenue management organization and functions, including trend analysis, forecasting, and price optimization, to help Choice franchisees maximize gross room revenue (GRR), manage their inventory, and increase profitability. In addition to managing Choice's proprietary revenue management tools, including SmartRates, he will also focus on growing the company's corporate and group b...
