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
Hospitality Leadership Solutions Series: Is Self-Confidence Friend or Foe?
James Houran | September 19, 2018
By James Houran, Ph.D. and Keith Kefgen Noted hospitality thought leaders and corporate governance/ performance management experts Kefgen and "Dr. Jim" share common management challenges while providing time-tested, field-tested or just simple "quick-fix" ideas to keep professionals inspired, effective and successful. Self-confidence can be a friend and foe to emerging leaders and seasoned executives alike. In many cases, leaders must think and act against popular wisdom, and thus must exhibit confidence and grit in the face of severe—and even very public—opposition. Of course, self-confidence can also lead one down a very ...
BENCHMARK® Names Robert Gioia Executive Chef at Villas of Grand Cypress, Orlando
Villas of Grand Cypress | September 19, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Robert Gioia executive chef for Villas of Grand Cypress, a Gemstone Collection property located in Orlando, Florida. Mark Cox, BENCHMARK's general manager at the resort, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Robert to our outstanding team of hospitality professionals at Villas of Grand Cypress," said Mr. Cox. "His background in running multidimensional food and beverage operations will be a great asset to our resort. We look forward to his contribution in guiding the vision for the Villas' restaurant, in-room...
BENCHMARK® Names Dan Dolan Director of Sales & Marketing for The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa | September 19, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Dan Dolan director of sales & marketing for The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa. The Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property is located in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Michael Lucero, general manager, made the announcement. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Dan to our resort and back to Benchmark," said Mr. Lucero. "He comes to us with important understanding of our product and exceptional insights into our regional market. We look forward to his strategic leadership of our sales and marketing team." Dan Dolan was previously ...
Hogan Hospitality Group Acquires Marin Management Inc.
Hogan Hospitality Group | September 19, 2018
HONOLULU — (Sept. 19, 2018) — Hogan Hospitality Group (HHG), a hotel management company with flagship properties in the state of Hawaii, has obtained a majority interest in Marin Management Inc. (MMI), a California-based hospitality group managing properties in California, Arizona and Texas. With the acquisition, HHG adds 17 hotels, restaurants and spas to its diverse portfolio, with the majority of properties located in California. John Manderfeld, founder and president of Marin Management Inc., will remain president following the acquisition. HHG will work closely with MMI leadership to continue providing exceptional suppo...
Continuing the Post-Stay Relationship
Larry Mogelonsky | September 19, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) How do you spur past guests to return to your property or, at the very least, interact with a member of your team after they've left? Nowadays, the extent of most hotels' post-stay communications with customers pertains only to generic templated emails and hardly ever a phone call or a handwritten note. As this is the new normal, any property that breaks away from this mold will be much more likely at getting a lasting impression. And so, a recent UPS delivery brought an unexpected surprise – a package for my wife from a small property in Newfoundland called Fogo Island Inn th...
Courtyard by Marriott Paramaribo presents the Courtyard Children’s Foundation
Courtyard by Marriott | September 18, 2018
Inspired by the Marriott's sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, where associates across Marriott International work together to help Nurture Our World, the Courtyard by Marriott Paramaribo Hotel made an-step forward to help children in need in Suriname by creating the Courtyard Children's Foundation. The Courtyard Children's Foundation comes out to raise awareness and provide funds to Surinamese kids in need. "Nothing could be more important for a country that the health and welfare of their children, they represent the future", commented Egon von Foidl, General manager of the hotel. The F...
Now Under New Ownership, the Four Points by Sheraton Sacramento International Airport Embarks on Full-Scale Property Renovation
Aimbridge Hospitality | September 18, 2018
(SACRAMENTO, Calif) Sept. 21, 2018 – The Four Points by Sheraton Sacramento International Airport, located just three miles south of the airport, has been acquired by Santa Clara-based real estate company JMK Hotels, LLC and the Kehriotis family. Scott Griemsmann and Subu Thiagarajan of Paramount Lodging Advisors represented both Buyer and Seller in this transaction. Under its new ownership, the property will undergo a $2 million full-scale renovation to include an exterior refresh, plus all 100 guestrooms, common areas, 14,000 square-feet of meetings space, and The Gateway restaurant. The renovation commenced in July 2018 and is ...
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Adds Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel to Portfolio
Davidson Hotels & Resorts | September 18, 2018
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Celebrates 15th University Project, Welcoming Penn's Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel to its Diverse Portfolio ATLANTA (September 20, 2018) – Davidson Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation's premier management companies in the lodging industry, is proud to announce its 15th university-oriented property, with the addition of the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, owned by the University of Pennsylvania, one of the one of the world's leading teaching and research institutions, to its diverse nationwide portfolio. "Davidson is honored to manage a property owned by an institution as...
Choice Hotels Launches Virtual Pay Online
Choice Hotels | September 18, 2018
First Hotel Company to Eliminate Need for Faxed and Emailed Authorization Forms for Corporate Travel ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 18, 2018 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has launched a virtual payment option on ChoiceHotels.com to create a seamless booking experience for corporate travelers, becoming the first hotel company to adopt this payment method on its consumer-facing website. With one click during the checkout process, corporate travel managers now have the option to book reservations using a centralized form of payment, and without having to supply each traveler with a physical card or provide an authorization form. ...
HMC Assumes Management of Four Points by Sheraton Little Rock, Arkansas
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | September 18, 2018
Dallas, TX – Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the addition of this 263-room Four Points by Sheraton® in Little Rock, Arkansas, to their portfolio of managed hotels. HMC continues its ongoing business expansion which is made up of full service, conference center, select service and limited service hotels. 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 hotel is minutes from Little Rock's major attractions including Little Rock C...
Traditions Inspire Names of Meeting Rooms at the New Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center
September 17, 2018
History, Values, Leadership and The Aggie Experience Inform New Names College Station, Texas, September 2018 … Texas A&M University and its fabled Aggies claim a long and proud history, singular traditions and a deep commitment to country, state and alma mater. These traditions inform every aspect of university life and are an integral part of the unique Aggie Experience offered at the new Doug Pitcock '49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center(www.TexasAMHotelCC.com). Now open, the striking new 250-guest room hotel reflects the values and loyalties of the university from interior design and dining concepts to the technolo...
What Is RFM? Top 5 Ways to Elevate Your Digital Strategy & Increase Direct Bookings
HEBS Digital | September 17, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, VP Strategy The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Hotel digital marketers continue to seek more effective and cost-efficient ways to reach the right audience, at the right place, and at the right time. But do hotel marketers truly know the value of each and every guest and, more importantly, do they understand what motivates guests to choose their hotel, then choose to stay again? Understanding the lifetime value of guests, including the type of content and promotions that compels them to book direct, is crucial to an effective book direct strategy. So, what's the secret to understanding the value of y...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Sells Washington Red Lion Hotel
Paramount Lodging Advisors | September 13, 2018
Bothell, WA - Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) has successfully executed the sale of the Red Lion Hotel located 3850 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, Washington. PLA Senior Managing Directors, Scott Griemsmann and Brent Clemens, and Senior Associate Subu Thiagarajan represented the seller in this transaction. The 84-room Red Lion Hotel, former SpringHill Suites by Marriott, is ideally situated within the Seattle MSA and is proximate AT&T, EKOS Corp., Google, HaloSource, Philips, and a short drive to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC). "We were extremely pleased with the activity and level of interest in this opportunity, whi...
SHR Selected by GreenTree Inn Hotels as New Distribution Partner
SHR | September 13, 2018
SCOTTSDALE, AZ and HOUSTON, TX, September 13, 2018—SHR, Sceptre Hospitality Resources, a pioneer of advanced hotel distribution technologies and developer of Windsurfer® CRS, has been chosen by GreenTree Hospitality Group, a leading hotel owner, operator, and franchisor of the GreenTree Inn and GreenTree Inn & Suites branded hotels, as its strategic distribution technology provider. GreenTree Hospitality, the U.S. arm of GreenTree Inn, made the move in an effort to find a technology solution that could grow with their business, that was customer service-centric, and yet could offer their franchisees a cost-effective soluti...
Vail’s Hotel Talisa Joins The Luxury Collection Following $65 Million Renovation and Rebranding
Hotel Talisa | September 12, 2018
The Luxury Collection®, part of Marriott International, Inc., today announced that Hotel Talisa, a top luxury ski resort in Vail, Colorado, has joined the brand's ensemble of world-renowned hotels and resorts deeply rooted in their destinations. Introducing Vail's only true ski-in/ski-out luxury resort, Hotel Talisa is the newest addition to The Luxury Collection's portfolio of diverse hotels in North America. "Vail is one of the most luxurious and thrilling mountain towns in the U.S., making it a natural fit for The Luxury Collection and our Global Explorers who seek authentic experiences and connections to all types of destination...
BENCHMARK® Announces the Top Ten Dining Trends for 2019
September 12, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, with three distinctive brand portfolios, including Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, Gemstone Collection and the London-based etc.venues, has just released its Top Ten Dining Trends for 2019. The trends were observed by Benchmark's executive chefs and culinary experts at the company's 80 luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants coast to coast, off shore and in Europe. "Food and Beverage is an ever-evolving realm of experiences," says Patrick Berwald, Benchmark's vice president food and beverage. "The opportunity for us is not only to be ahea...
Hyatt Enters Agreement With Matmut S.A.M. to Develop Hyatt Place Rouen Set for 2021 Opening in the French Normandy
Hyatt Place | September 12, 2018
CHICAGO---Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with a subsidiary of Matmut S.A.M. to develop the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Rouen, the capital of Normandy, France. Managed by Cycas Hospitality, Hyatt Place Rouen will be the second Hyatt Place hotel in France, and will join the dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport that are currently under development. The Hyatt Place project in Rouen reflects the brand's strong momentum in the fast-growing select service category as Hyatt Place hotels continue to expand across Europ...
Do Travelers Read Press Releases Anymore?
Larry Mogelonsky | September 12, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Being a staff writer for several publications and a member of most travel writer associations with a highly visible email address, I'm the recipient of dozens of media releases per day. If ever I leave my cell phone at home for longer than half a day, my inbox is bombard by over a hundred of these 'important news bulletins', all of them 'urgently' awaiting my attention. While I'm annoyed to be receiving so many of these – most of them are irrelevant and more like spam, even though I am a business recipient and not a general consumer – what frustrates me more is how ineff...
Hotel Equities Joins Forces With Virtua Partners
Hotel Equities | September 12, 2018
Strategic partnership will fuel growth in acquisitions and investments in various platforms Atlanta, GA – (September 12, 2018) Hotel Equities (HE), the hospitality industry's premier hotel management and development company, announced today that it has created a strategic alliance with private equity firm, Virtua Partners. Virtua Partners is making a series of investments totaling more than $500 million into HE's hospitality platform. The new capital will be utilized to fuel growth through hotel management company acquisitions, organic growth and strategic investments into various hospitality assets. Hotel Equities provides manage...
Radisson Hotel Group Partners With Hainan Daye Industry Co. for New-Build 48-Story Radisson Blu Haikou Set to Open in Q2 2020
Radisson Hotel Group | September 11, 2018
Radisson Hotel Group™ has revealed plans to launch its globally renowned Radisson Blu® brand in Hainan, China with the signing of Radisson Blu Haikou. The new-build hotel, will be strategically located in a Free Trade Zone to be established by the Chinese government in the thriving island province of Hainan. Developed by Hainan Daye Industry Co., Ltd, the 48-story Radisson Blu Haikou will offer uninterrupted views of the sea of Haikou Bay and is scheduled to open in Q2 2020. "Radisson Blu Haikou will elevate the level of upper-upscale accommodation in Haikou, the capital of Hainan province," said Katerina Giannouka, President,...
Norlandia Hotel Group Signs for New Park Inn by Radisson Oslo Airport Hotel West in Norway
Radisson Hotel Group | September 10, 2018
Brussels/Oslo - September 10, 2018 - Radisson Hospitality AB, publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and part of the Radisson Hotel Group, is proud to announce the signing of the Park Inn by Radisson Oslo Airport Hotel West in Norway. Located near a critical hub of international travel, the hotel brings the group's portfolio in Norway to 24 hotels and more than 6,000 rooms in operation or under development. The upper midscale, full service, Park Inn by Radisson Oslo Airport Hotel West will provide guests with stress-free experiences, good food and upbeat environments – while acting as a convenient base for both leisure and bu...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: The Morning Meeting
David Lund | September 10, 2018
By David Lund The morning meeting is a mainstay in almost every hotel. All the key department managers and leaders gather, usually in the front office or sometimes an in-house meeting room, to devour the day's business at hand. It is a great way to distribute last minute information and highlight important changes to groups and business volumes. However, most morning meetings miss the most important pieces of information. The most valuable nuggets are stepped over and not seen or exposed for what they are. A rundown of the following is a typical morning meeting: Previous day's occupancy, rate, and RevPAR. Anticipated occupancy, rate,...
HOTEL Signs Management Contract for 142-Room DoubleTree by Hilton Toluca in Mexico
HOTEL | September 10, 2018
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 10, 2018 -- Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, S.A.B. Of C.V. (BMV: HOTEL) ("HOTEL" or "the Company"), one of the leading companies in the hotel industry in Mexico, announces the signing of a Management Contract for a 4-star hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Toluca with 142 rooms located in the industrial part of Toluca, Estado de Mexico. The hotel which is owned by a third party, is located on the Boulevard Industria Minera Avenue, very close to the General Motors, FCA, Coca-Cola FEMSA and Heineken plants. The hotel is in its final stages of construction and due to open by November 2018. This Management Contr...
Are Hotel Front Desks a Thing of the Past?
Dean Minett | September 10, 2018
By Dean Minett De-cluttering is a big business. Successful books like The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo demonstrate the world's appetite for simplified living, while consultants have popped up all over Australia to help the people get rid of what they don't need. Similar thinking has found its way into business and technology. The Economist ran a piece in 2014 called "De-Cluttering the Company" in which the costly entrapments of bureaucracy are discussed. Eliminating clutter is also a hallmark of commercial technology. Disk drives and cable ports on laptop computers are becoming extinct as data is transferred increasi...
