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
Two Roads Hospitality to Debut Bell Works Hotel as Part of Destination Hotels Collection
Destination Hotels | September 6, 2018
DENVER, CO. – September 6, 2018 – International boutique and lifestyle company Two Roads Hospitality today announced the debut of a new Destination Hotels property opening in Bell Works, located in Holmdel, New Jersey's largest "Metroburb." The hospitality brand will debut an extensive conference center and reception ballroom in Fall 2018, with a hotel launch to follow. Steeped in history, Bell Works is located in the former Bell Labs research building, a vast, 2-million-square-foot development originally designed in the 1960s by world-renowned modernist architect Eero Saarinen. Listed on the National Register of Historic Pl...
Now Available for Download: Technical SEO on the Hotel Website eBook
HEBS Digital | September 6, 2018
Why It's One of the Most Important Online Revenue Drivers In hospitality, technical SEO is one of the least understood and very much ignored digital technology and marketing disciplines. Technical SEO plays a major role in influencing Google and other search engines to rank your hotel website higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), which results in qualified website visitors and bookings. Google has frequently stated that it is using more than 200 major ranking "signals" with many thousands of sub-signals and variations. The following three categories are well within hoteliers' control, and if the hotel website is optimized t...
RLJ Lodging Trust Sells The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club for Total Consideration of $188.5 Million
RLJ | September 5, 2018
BETHESDA, Md.--RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RLJ) today announced that the Company has sold the 362-room Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club for total consideration of $188.5 million, consisting of the contractual sales price of $185.0 million and the release of $3.5 million in member deposits. The total consideration represents approximately $521,000 per key. "We are very pleased with the highly accretive valuation this iconic hotel garnered, which further underscores our ability to maximize value from the sale of our non-core assets," commented Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our ...
Radisson Hotel Group Signs Two Hotels in Wuhan, China: Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone and Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley
Radisson Hotel Group | September 5, 2018
Radisson Hotel Group™ will be introducing its globally renowned Radisson Blu® and Radisson® brands to central China, with the signing of two new hotels, Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone and Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley in the city's high-tech business and development zones. These two hotel properties will provide high-quality accommodation and world-class facilities for the rising number of domestic and international visitors attracted to Wuhan's economic zones. The capital of Hubei province, Wuhan is a bustling metropolis that is home to approximately 10 million people. Nicknamed the "Detroit of the East," this city has one of...
Midas Hospitality Opens New Hampton Inn by Hilton in Sikeston, Missouri
Midas Hospitality | September 5, 2018
(St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 5, 2018) A Midas owned and operated Hampton Inn by Hilton recently opened at 1240 Commerce Dr. in Sikeston, MO. The 57,000-square-foot four-story hotel cost $11 million. The 92-room hotel, located off Highway 60 and Interstate 55, is just minutes from historic downtown. Hampton Inn by Hilton Sikeston is the third tenant at the new 100-acre Cotton Ridge Development, which will include restaurants, shopping and entertainment. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, meeting rooms, a 24-hour Treats Shop and business center. Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group, will ...
Ongoing Training Is the New Normal
Larry Mogelonsky | September 5, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) As hoteliers continue to search for operational efficiencies and new technologies that reveal actionable guest insights, there appears to be a substantial hidden expense that we aren't collectively working hard enough to mitigate. Training is an exhaustive pursuit, both in terms of time spent by supervisors and managers to onboard fresh employees as well as the interim knowledge gaps that may invite service errors. At the frontline and non-managerial levels, some hotels can have annual turnover rates so high that training becomes a perpetual obligation that detracts senior team memb...
Key Management Group LLC Moves to The Netherlands
Key Management | September 5, 2018
Expanding Portfolio in Dutch Caribbean, Leading Hotel & Resort Management Firm Will Target European Market Hilversum, Noord-Holland (Amsterdam), The Netherlands, September 2018 … Expanding its hotel & resort management and marketing presence to Europe, Key Management Group LLC has relocated its corporate headquarters from Absecon, New Jersey, USA, to the city of Hilversum in North Holland, The Netherlands, near Amsterdam. The leading international hospitality management company specializes in the development, operation and marketing of independent, branded, boutique and condo-hotels, including several properties in the Du...
It’s Peak Season in the Mountains From Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Collection With Savings and Fall Packages
September 5, 2018
Elevated Escapes at 13 Luxurious Mountain Properties up to 50% Off The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 2018 … Ride the rails in Tennessee and Virginia. Walk on the wild side in Wyoming. Go jump in a mountain lake. Admire breathtaking foliage. Catch a cruise over Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay. Hike or bike through the stunning rocks that make up the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Link up with a llama in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Raise a glass in a California vineyard. Find fabulous entertainment at Dollywood Theme Park. Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Collection are offering exclusive experiences at 13 premie...
IHG and SAMHI Inaugurate the Holiday Inn Express Gurgaon Sector 50 as the First of 14 Properties to Be Rebranded as HIE Hotels
IHG | September 4, 2018
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today inaugurated the Holiday Inn Express Gurgaon Sector 50, the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Gurugram. As a part of IHG's partnership with SAMHI for a portfolio of 14 Holiday Inn Express hotels, this property will be the first to open its doors to guests on September 15th. Marking this celebration, IHG®'s regional leadership team including CEO, EMEAA, Kenneth Macpherson and MD, IMEA Pascal Gauvin were present at the ceremony. The launch also marked the unveiling of a new Holiday Inn Express brand campaign in India, centered around 'More Than...
Park Inn by Radisson to Debut in Thailand With 2020 Opening of Park Inn by Radisson Phuket Town
Radisson Hotel Group | September 4, 2018
Park Inn® by Radisson, the upper midscale brand from Radisson Hotel Group™, will make its debut in Thailand with the launch of a brand-new hotel in Phuket Town, the island's provincial capital and cultural heart. Phuket welcomed a record 8.4 million international visitors in 2017, making it Thailand's most popular resort destination. The island's expanding international airport receives travelers from across the globe, including direct flights from Beijing, Sydney, London, Dubai and Moscow. Scheduled to open in Q1 2020, the three-story Park Inn by Radisson Phuket Town will form part of a mixed-use development featuring shops a...
AccorHotels Completes Acquisition of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
AccorHotels | September 4, 2018
AccorHotels announces the completion of its acquisition of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. The Enterprise Value (EV) represents CHF 560M (€482M) and encompasses 100% of Mövenpick company's share capital, as well as ownership of the Mövenpick brand for all activities related to the hospitality business. The transaction illustrates AccorHotels' ambition to seize tactical opportunities to strengthen its positions and consolidate its leadership, as well as to leverage growth. As an asset-light business, the acquisition of Mövenpick is perfectly aligned with AccorHotels' strategy. Comprised of 84 properties with over...
The Ultimate Guide to TripAdvisor for Hotels
Vikram Singh | September 4, 2018
By Vikram Singh When TripAdvisor was founded in February 2000 in a small office above Kostas Pizza on 315 Chestnut Street in Needham, Massachusetts, I don't think anyone could have predicted the amount of time and energy it would consume, and the strong emotions it would conjure. Since I started my blog in 2013, I have consistently fielded questions about TripAdvisor. Looking back at the sheer volume of time I spent answering these complex emails, I think it's time to for me aggregate my knowledge, experience and advice in one place. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, along with my responses. Is my competition trying ...
Noble Investment Group Acquires 193-Room Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center
Hilton Garden Inn | September 4, 2018
Atlanta, Georgia (September 4, 2018) – Noble Investment Group ("Noble") today announced the acquisition of the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center and will complete a comprehensive guest room and public area upgrade and renovation. The Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center hotel is situated in the heart of the Perimeter Center, one of the largest office markets in the southeast with nearly 29 million square feet of office space. Perimeter Center is home to the world headquarters of United Parcel Service, Cox Enterprises, AT&T Mobility, Haverty's and Newell Rubbermaid and major hubs for State Farm, Auto Tr...
The Case for Reading MORE About the Hotel Industry (yes more!)
Dean Minett | August 31, 2018
By Dean Minett How did hoteliers know about industry trends before the Internet came about? Cyberspace may not have existed in 1970, but there were plenty of trade journals and books to go around. Travel Trade, Travel Week, Travel Digest, Hotel Weekly…. The list goes on. Promotional materials from other hotels were another way to collect valuable information and if all else failed, we could book a room at that hotel and see for ourself what the competition was doing. Of course travel and hotels were also featured in newspapers and reading magazines from Conde Nast made hotels seem magical. Here in 2018, it's impossible to keep tr...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Names Jackie D. Johnson, Jr., Director of Facilities for Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu
Turtle Bay Resort | August 31, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Jackie D. Johnson, Jr., director of facilities forTurtle Bay Resort. The Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property is located on Oahu's legendary North Shore. Jerry Gibson, Benchmark's vice president and managing director for the resort, made the announcement. "I am very pleased to welcome Jack to Benchmark and to Turtle Bay Resort," said Mr. Gibson. "His career credentials are unsurpassed, and we are fortunate to have him lead our facilities management team and join our resort's executive leadership team. Given Jackie's previo...
Karisma Hotels & Resorts to Manage Irotama Resort in Colombia
Karisma Hotels & Resorts | August 30, 2018
MIAMI (August 30, 2018) - Karisma Hotels & Resorts, an award-winning luxury hotel collection which owns and manages properties across Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with the Irotama Resort on Rodadero Beach in Santa Marta, Colombia. Under Karisma's management, the beloved Irotama Resort will become the destination's most luxurious offering, featuring an upscale all-inclusive experience, renovated rooms and restaurants, and a superior level of service. "We are proud to continue growing Karisma Hotels & Resorts and to strengthen our presence in Colombia with this new project in...
NewcrestImage Opens New 94-Room Tru by Hilton in Amarillo, Texas
NewcrestImage | August 29, 2018
NewcrestImage has expanded its portfolio with the opening of a 94-room, 4-floor Tru by Hilton in western Amarillo. It is the first property of a three-hotel, 300-room "hotel campus" located on a five-acre site at the intersection of I-40 frontage Road and South Soucy Road -- an intersection that is among the city's busiest, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. "Our appeal is to travelers with a millennial mindset – tech-savvy, design-conscious, contemporary in spirit, and on a budget," explains Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. "It's a hotel that is a game-changer for the area's mid-scale category." F...
BENCHMARK® Appoints Tyler Wilson Director of Finance for Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia
Stonewall Resort | August 29, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Tyler Wilson director of finance for Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Roanoke, West Virginia. André D'Amour, general manager, made the announcement. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Tyler to our resort," stated Mr. D'Amour. "He comes to us with extensive experience in financial management and an important understanding of the West Virginia market. We look forward to his leadership as part of our executive team." Tyler Wilson brings several years of progressive experience in fi...
Using Coffee to Illustrate the Concept of Hyper-Regionality
Larry Mogelonsky | August 29, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Although this article pertains to only coffee, the concepts presented apply to nearly all types of cuisine and F&B presentations. In today's world where Starbucks and McCafé are considered the baseline for what's tolerable, any café or hotel that wants to make an impression through its coffee service must exceed these two franchised products which, for our purposes, are where the current expectation is. Thus, success requires two key elements – superior quality and diversity of menu. As an example of how this works, suppose the nearest franchised coffeehouse ...
SCG Hospitality Acquires St. Pete’s Historic Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club From RLJ Lodging Trust
August 29, 2018
Aug. 29--ST. PETERSBURG -- SCG Hospitality, whose principal is Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owner Bryan Glazer, has bought the venerable Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg. The deed had not been recorded as of today and the price has not been revealed. The sale includes a marina and golf club as well as the 362-room hotel. "The Vinoy is a crown jewel for the City of St. Petersburg and the entire Tampa Bay area," Glazer said in a release. "I look forward to the Vinoy being just as iconic on its upcoming 100th anniversary as the day it opened in 1925." The seller is RLJ Lodging Trust, which ...
Texas A&M System and BENCHMARK®, A Global Hospitality Company, Debut the Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center at Ribbon Cutting C
August 28, 2018
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (August 28, 2018) – Rising on the legendary campus of Texas A&M University, the new Doug Pitcock '49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center (www.TexasAMHotelCC.com) officially debuted today with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. The ribbon cutting ceremony included a special guest, and the property's namesake, James D. "Doug" Pitcock, Jr., and it highlighted remarks from Chairman Charles W. Schwartz, Chancellor John Sharp, President Michael K. Young, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Philip Ray and Benchmark CEO Alex Cabañas. "Today marks a significant milestone for the University an...
The Top 5 Things You Need to Know Now in Hotel Digital Marketing: August Edition
HEBS Digital | August 28, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, VP Strategy The latest digital innovations this month include big announcements from Google, new Pinterest video opportunities, and geometrical shapes making a statement in website design for lifestyle brands. From SEO to design, read on for the top five things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing. 1. SEO: Google announces expandable featured snippets in search results. Providing more context to search results has always been Google's mission. Now, when a user submits a search query to Google, they may receive a variety of expandable snippets below the main snippet in the knowledge panel. This is cu...
Waterford Hotel Group Promotes Kristen Pikula to General Manager of the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport
the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport | August 27, 2018
WATERFORD, CT (August 27, 2018) – Kristen Pikula has been named General Manager of the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. As General Manager, Pikula is responsible for all aspects of the hotel's operations. The 237-room full-service hotel is the only hotel located within the Bradley International Airport complex. The hotel's asset manager is Konover Hotel Corporation and the operations manager is Waterford Hotel Group, both national hotel companies. Pikula has more than 10 years of hotel management experience with Waterford Hotel Group. She started her management career with the company as Director of...
Hotel Equities Selected as Managing Partner to Open Aloft in Oklahoma City
Hotel Equities | August 27, 2018
Atlanta, GA – August 27, 2018 – Hotel Equities (HE) just announced their selection as the operator of the new-build Aloft hotel located at 13111 Highland Park Blvd. in Oklahoma City, OK. This new addition to HE's lifestyle division of hotels is owned by Highland Hospitality, LLC. An expected completion date is scheduled for Q1 2019. "We are proud to partner with this ownership group to open the Aloft hotel in Oklahoma's capital city", said Joe Reardon, HE's SVP of Business Development & Marketing. "Our regional team will tap into their experience and knowledge of the market to ensure the hotel is fully ramped quickly upo...
