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Operations
In Partnership With Tanmiyat Real Estate, IHG to Rebrand Qatar’s M Doha Hotel as Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay
IHG | March 20, 2018
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay in partnership with Tanmiyat Real Estate. Currently operating as the M Doha Hotel, the hotel is expected to be rebranded by August 2018, aligning with IHG's strategy to grow the Crowne Plaza brand across the region. Dr. Braik Bin Samikh, Chairman of Tanmiyat Real Estate, signed the agreement for Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay with Mr. Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG. The signing ceremony was held at the M Doha Hotel in the presence of dignitaries from Embassies, EU &n...
Top 5 Things You Need to Know Now in Hotel Digital Marketing: March Edition
HEBS Digital | March 20, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, VP Strategy By now, your digital marketing strategy should be in full swing. This month, Google My Business listings are getting an upgrade with the ability to add a property description, Facebook announced a new ad targeting option called Trip Consideration that allows hotel brands to reach potential guests in the early stages of travel planning and reaching people with online display ads based on their TV consumption (yes, Netflix included) is all the rage. From SEO to design, read on for the latest trends in hotel digital marketing. 1. SEO: Google is adding business descriptions to Google My Business. It a...
Hotel Equities Selected to Operate New-Build Courtyard by Marriott in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Hotel Equities | March 20, 2018
ATLANTA - (March 20, 2018) – Atlanta-based Hotel Equities announced its selection as the management firm for a new-build Courtyard by Marriott as part of a development project in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Developed by Commercial Realty Advisors, LLC of Winston-Salem and Clarendon Properties of Wilmington, NC, the 126-room property is scheduled to break ground in May. Located at 640 W. 4th Street in the heart of Winston-Salem, NC, the Courtyard will feature a rooftop bar with views of the surrounding downtown area. As the home of Wake Forest, University as well as the corporate headquarters of the prominent banking fi...
HMC Selected to Manage SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Houston’s Westchase District
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | March 19, 2018
Dallas, TX – Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the management of this 112-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott® in Houston, Texas, 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 favorably located to several industry leaders including Jacobs Engi...
BENCHMARK® Names Tifani Fox Director of Finance for Snow King Resort, Jackson, WY
Snow King Resort | March 16, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Tifani Fox director of finance for Snow King Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Jackson, Wyoming. Geoff Young, general manager, made the announcement. "I am very pleased to welcome Tifani to our resort," said Mr. Young. "She brings remarkable experience and superb credentials to her new role with us. We look forward to her strong financial leadership and active participation on our executive team." Tifani Fox previously served as senior assistant director of finance and accounting for the Westin ...
AccorHotels Plans Four SO/ Hotels in Berlin, St. Petersburg, Auckland and Vienna Opening by End of 2018
SO/ | March 16, 2018
Paris, March 16, 2018 – SO/, a vivacious and expressive brand, announced the upcoming addition of four fashionable hotels to its growing line of vibrant, one-of-a-kind properties. This includes new European addresses in Berlin, St. Petersburg and Vienna, and the brand's first hotel in the southern hemisphere in Auckland, New Zealand. All are set to open under the SO/ banner by end of 2018. Set in high-demand, prime locations, these four additions will expand the SO/ portfolio to eight. They join an exclusive network that already includes two stunning SO/ properties in Thailand - Bangkok & Hua Hin, SO/ Mauritius and SO/ Singapo...
BENCHMARK® Names David Nadolny Director of Finance for High Hampton Resort in Cashiers, NC
High Hampton Resort | March 15, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named David Nadolny director of finance for High Hampton Resort. The property, located in Cashiers, North Carolina, is a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels® property. Tom Garcia, Benchmark's vice president and general manager, made the announcement. "I'm very pleased to welcome David to the executive team here at High Hampton Resort," said Mr. Garcia. "He brings important operational and senior-level hotel finance experience to his new position, which will benefit our property significantly." An accomplished hotel executive, David Nadoln...
Two Roads Hospitality Appoints Craig A. Waterman as Vice President of Openings & Transitions
Two Roads Hospitality | March 15, 2018
Denver, Co., March 15, 2018 – International lifestyle company Two Roads Hospitality has appointed Craig A. Waterman as Vice President of Openings & Transitions. In this role, Waterman will oversee new and transitioning projects across the company's portfolio. Waterman joined Two Roads Hospitality in 2014 as General Manager of Hotel Kabuki, a Joie de Vivre property in San Francisco, and Regional Director of Operations, overseeing the Northern California, Arizona and Hawaii regions. "Craig has contributed to the success of many Two Roads Hospitality properties, ensuring operational excellence, guiding seamless transitions, and m...
Siddharth Narang Appointed Chief Development Officer at sbe
sbe | March 15, 2018
London – 15 March 2018 - sbe, the leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning international hospitality brands, announced today the appointment of Siddharth Narang as Chief Development Officer. Sid's arrival marks the company's latest senior hire as it continues on unprecedented global growth over the next few years. Sid will play a key strategic role at sbe, driving sbe's development pipeline, real estate investments and growth globally. He and his team will partner with owners and developers to grow sbe's footprint in key markets throughout the US, Middle East, Europe, ...
Hyatt Appoints Stephen Ho as President – Greater China, Global Operations
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | March 15, 2018
CHICAGO (March 15, 2018) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Hyatt) today announced the appointment of Stephen Ho as President - Greater China, Global Operations, in line with plans to accelerate growth in Greater China. Effective April 16, 2018, Stephen will be responsible for the growth and operations of the hotel network, talent development and owner relations in the Greater China region. He will also refine and reinforce Hyatt's China outbound strategy from a commercial and operations perspective. Prior to joining Hyatt, Stephen was Chief Executive Officer, Greater China Region at Marriott International, Inc., where he oversaw all...
How the New Airbnb Offerings Impact the Hotel Industry and What Hotels Brands Can Do to Win in the Sharing Economy
Kyle Killion | March 15, 2018
Boutique Hotels Beware: The Hotel Industry Gets a New Frenemy By Kyle Killion Longtime hotel industry rival, Airbnb, continues to make headlines with its latest offering. In an effort to own more vacation accommodation bookings, the company, which built its business on being the anti-hotel alternative, now offers more boutique hotel listings than ever before. But, even as Airbnb adds more hotels into the mix, hotel brands are not featured. Despite this, there is a lot that hotel brands can do to stay competitive in the sharing economy. Why are hotel brands letting Airbnb win? Hotels have experienced strong growth since 2008, but alterna...
If Your Hotel PMS Doesn’t Include These 6 Things, Your Competition May Be Winning
March 15, 2018
Jos Schaap CEO and Founder StayNTouch What differentiates your hotel from your competition? Is it your personal service, your amenities, or something else? No matter what your differentiator is today, our changing world forces hoteliers to always be looking for ways to further improve on what sets them apart. One way to boost your competitive advantage is through updating to a modern, advanced hotel PMS to help you increase efficiency, productivity, service and revenue. The world of hotel property management systems (PMS) has become somewhat confounding lately. There are a myriad of new entrants, and the legacy systems are trying to han...
From Dreaming to Booking Part III: The Planning Phase – How to Capitalize on the Planning Phase of the Travel Planning Journey
HEBS Digital | March 15, 2018
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, VP Strategy This article is part three in a five-part series that uncovers top strategies for reaching potential guests in meaningful moments throughout every stage of the travel planning journey to increase direct bookings. This article focuses on the second stage of travel planning: the planning phase. The moment you decide to take the plunge on planning a vacation can be just as exciting as the vacation itself. Once someone chooses a travel destination, the dreaming phase starts to become a reality, setting the travel planning phase in motion. Read on for part three of our five-part series titled, "How to C...
Agilysys to Sponsor Crescent Hotels & Resorts Leadership Conference
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | March 15, 2018
ALPHARETTA, GA. — March 15, 2018 — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that the company is a sponsor of the 2018 Crescent Hotels & Resorts Leadership Conference to be held March 19-21 at the Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Florida. Crescent Hotels and Resorts is an award-winning, premier hotel management company in North America. The annual Leadership Conference is attended by a variety of corporate as well as regional leaders in hospitality, such as general managers and sales directors, and the three-day event features a tr...
IHG Acquires 51% Stake in Regent Hotels & Resorts Through Joint Venture With Formosa for $39 Million
IHG | March 14, 2018
InterContinental Hotels Group ("IHG") [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announces that it has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Regent Hotels and Resorts ("Regent") for $39 million in cash. IHG will have the right to acquire the remaining 49% interest in a phased manner from 2026. IHG will bring Regent into its brand portfolio at the top end of the luxury segment and will accelerate its growth globally, supported by IHG's powerful enterprise. IHG's intention is to grow the brand from six hotels today to over 40 hotels in key global gateway city and resort locations over the long term. Synonymous with timeless modernity, understa...
Cloud5 Adds Vertical Booking USA to Its Growing Roster of Contact Center Clients
Vertical Booking | March 14, 2018
Fast, seamless takeover of voice reservations for select Vertical Booking USA properties ensures guest service, increases revenue Chicago, IL (March 14, 2018) — Cloud5 Communications Contact Center, the leading provider of voice reservations and enhanced agent services exclusively for the hospitality industry, today announced that Vertical Booking USA has implemented Cloud5 Voice Reservation Services across 45 of its properties. The addition of these properties expands Cloud5's established relationship with Vertical Booking USA, making it one of the company's largest distribution and revenue management partners. Cloud5 provides hi...
Amazon’s Influence on Online Travel Agencies
HEBS Digital | March 14, 2018
By Max Starkov Background: A recent analysis of Amazon's ability to disrupt online travel agencies by Morgan Stanley was recently in the news with a number of opinion articles on the subject being published. "Online travel has proven immune to Amazon disruption so far. But as we have seen with other categories, that doesn't mean Amazon won't try again, and they should. Amazon's focus on selection/service, pricing, and frictionless payment that drive conversion and stronger user economics also translate directly to travel," said analyst Brian Nowak from Morgan Stanley. Many hospitality industry experts chimed on the subject, with opinion...
Country Inn & Suites Opens New Hotel Near the University of Kansas
March 14, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS - March 14, 2018 - Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson, a leading upper midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Lawrence, KS located at 2176 East 23rd Street. The new hotel features the brand's latest design, which includes modern interiors, stylish furnishings and spacious guest rooms and suites. The hotel is also located within three miles of the University of Kansas adding convenience for visiting sports teams and the friends and family of students. "Not only are we proud to announce the opening of this newly constructed hotel, but we are also thrilled to open it un...
A Story of How Handwritten Notes Increase Service
Larry Mogelonsky | March 14, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) On a recent domestic flight, I was surprised by a folded paper napkin handed to me by the flight attendant. Odd, I thought, as I had not made any requests. Handwritten was a simple instruction providing details regarding my connecting flight. Legibly signed, I could not help but be both appreciative and duly impressed. Handwritten notes are an excellent way to build a rapport with guests – this we should all be well-familiar with by now. But they can also be counterproductive if done wrong. Looking back, there was nothing out of the ordinary on that flight. As expected, the bu...
Thunder Valley Casino Resort Shifts to RFID Technology for High-Efficiency Uniform Operations
InvoTech Systems, Inc. | March 13, 2018
Thunder Valley Casino Resort to Upgrade Existing InvoTech RFID Uniform System for Additional Inventory Management Efficiency LOS ANGELES, CA – InvoTech Systems Inc. announced the recent upgrade of its Uniform System at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. InvoTech Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that integrate the latest RFID technology to increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centers and theme parks. The InvoTech System installed at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort manages the Uniform inventory for over 2,000 employees, and th...
Australia Gives Go Ahead for AccorHotels Acquisition of Mantra Group
AccorHotels | March 13, 2018
AccorHotels welcomes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decision to clear the acquisition of Mantra group Ltd. The acquisition still requires approval from Mantra shareholders as well as approvals from the Federal Court and the Foreign Investment Review Board. Mantra is one of Australia's largest hotel and resort marketers and operators with 127 properties and over 20,000 rooms in hotels, resorts and serviced apartments across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Hawaii, under three key brands: Peppers (28 properties), Mantra (75 properties) and BreakFree (24 properties). Mantra has more than 5,500 employees. The...
BENCHMARK® Names Tory Enriquez Director of Sales & Marketing for Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels | March 13, 2018
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Tory Enriquez director of sales & marketing for Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, which is currently under construction in College Station, Texas. The Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property is expected to open in Fall of 2018. Jay Rocha, vice president of operations for Benchmark, made the announcement. "I am so pleased to welcome Tory back to Benchmark and to this exciting new property on the campus of Texas A&M University," said Mr. Rocha. "In addition to being a seasoned hospitality executive, and a former stud...
7 Reasons Hotels Choose StayNTouch Over Other PMS Solutions
StayNTouch | March 13, 2018
Free guide reveals why Rover PMS has quickly become the preferred PMS solution for independent hotels, resorts and chains worldwide (March 13, 2018) - Hotels rely on their PMS for managing their operations, their marketing and every stage of the guest journey—from planning to check-in, during the stay, at check out, and after the visit. However, choosing a property management system goes much deeper than features and functions. There are several other considerations. Most importantly, you must keep in mind that the software the invest in will impact how efficiently your employees perform, the quality of guest service you provide, ...
Mobile-First Index Is Approaching – How Can You Prepare?
HEBS Digital | March 13, 2018
By Max Starkov The massive shift from desktop to mobile and tablet devices continues at a rigorous pace. Over 59% of web visitors and more than 51% of page views were generated from mobile devices (smartphone and tablet), compared to 38% of web visitors and 40% of pageviews only two short years ago. In 2017, nearly 27% of bookings and 24% of room nights came from mobile devices (smartphone and tablet), compared to 21% of bookings and 17% of room nights in 2015 (HEBS Digital Client Portfolio Data). As we continue to see the travel planning process become increasingly complex, hoteliers need to find ways to engage their best potential gue...
