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Operations
AccorHotels Launches Transformation of Sofitel Copacabana into South America’s First Fairmont Hotel
AccorHotels | May 18, 2017
AccorHotels, a leader in travel, lifestyle and digital innovations, announces the transformation of Sofitel Copacabana into the first hotel with the Fairmont flag in South America. The renovation begins this month and is expected to finish in 14 months. "It is an honor to inaugurate the region's first Fairmont in Brazil. Located in one of Rio de Janeiro's prime spots, the hotel will certainly bring even more visibility to the city, attracting tourists from all over the world," said Patrick Mendes, CEO of AccorHotels South America. The Fairmont brand has a special connection with the essence of the destination where it ...
SMS Lodging Assumes Management of Hotel Astor in Miami
SMS Lodging | May 18, 2017
MIAMI, FL – MAY 2017 – With a proven hands-on approach to maximizing efficiency and revenues, the family-owned and operated South Florida-based management company, SMS Lodging, has recently added the iconic Hotel Astor in South Beach to its growing roster of properties. Under the new agreement, SMS Lodging will oversee all aspects of the property, including reservations, operations, sales, and marketing. Directly following the deal, SMS Lodging implemented a handful of positive changes to streamline productivity and improve the guest experience, including the addition of complimentary enhanced continental breakfast for guest...
How Hotels Can Aid In Biodiversity
Larry Mogelonsky | May 17, 2017
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) As an avid supporter of the locavore movement, there is one other related and seldom discussed food initiative your property can take to both elevate your cuisine and to further help the environment. Firstly, the advantages for promoting local foods are clear. They strengthen your bonds to the community (which can result in additional business via word of mouth), they help reduce food miles as less petroleum (or other form of energy) is devoted to their transportation and, above all, they taste better. The moment you uproot a vegetable or pluck a fruit from a tree, the flavor clock ...
Best Western Acquires Sweden Hotels
May 17, 2017
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has purchased the largest hotel group in Scandinavia, Sweden Hotels. Together, the pair will manage a portfolio of 135 hotels in Sweden and 180 properties across Scandinavia as a whole, under the Best Western och Sweden Hotels chain. Commenting on the merger, Best Western's chief executive officer in Scandinavia, Johan Kukacka, said, "The acquisition of Sweden Hotels is a strategically important deal and a logical development for us. As Sweden's largest hotel chain, we will be even better positioned to successfully develop the chain in the future, and to deliver even stronger results for our hotels." ...
Should Hospitality Embrace or Ignore Google AMPs?
HeBS Digital | May 17, 2017
By Max Starkov and Samra Seifu Background Introduced in 2016 as Google's response to other mobile publishing platforms like Apple News and Facebook Instant Articles, Google's AMP (short for Accelerated Mobile Pages) began to spark interest amongst online retailers across industries. In hospitality, some website developers have been trying to convince hoteliers that they need to have AMP version of their website. What is Google AMP? It is an open platform with the sole objective to help publishers create mobile content (articles and commentary, quick opinion postings, etc.) that download fast on mobile and other devices. AMPs are charact...
AccorHotels in Talks to Acquire the FCDE’s Stake in Groupe Noctis, a French Events, Catering and Entertainment Specialist
Groupe Noctis | May 16, 2017
AccorHotels and the FCDE (Fonds de Consolidation et de Développement des Entreprises) today announce that they are in exclusive talks about acquiring 100% of the latter's minority interest in Groupe Noctis. Laurent de Gourcuff, Groupe Noctis' Chairman, CEO and majority shareholder, established the company in 2008 and has since grown it into a key player in the hospitality market covering three segments, namely events, catering and entertainment. It has almost 800 employees and a collection of exclusive venues in Paris, wider France and abroad. It treats its French and international customers to a choice of upscale and emblematic ...
LUMA Hotel Times Square Establishes Efficient Operations with InvoTech RFID Linen Inventory Management System
InvoTech Systems, Inc. | May 16, 2017
InvoTech Linen System Maintains Quality Control and Reduces Operating Costs for New NYC Hotel Los Angeles, CA - May 16, 2017 - InvoTech Systems, Inc. announces its new system installation at LUMA Hotel Times Square, recently opened in Times Square, New York. InvoTech Systems, Inc. increases profitability for clients by providing systems for efficient operations. InvoTech is a leading provider of software management and control systems for uniforms and linens, and laundry operations. Click here for more information on InvoTech Systems. LUMA Hotel Times Square uses the InvoTech RFID Linen System to manage their high-quality guestroom line...
McWHINNEY Acquires 123-Room Hyatt House Denver Airport
McWHINNEY | May 15, 2017
Colorado real estate investor expanding hospitality portfolio with 123-room hotel located close to Denver International Airport DENVER, COLO. — May 15, 2017 — McWHINNEY, a Colorado-based real estate investor and developer with expertise in mixed-use, commercial, multi-family and hospitality assets – is pleased to announce that it recently expanded its hospitality portfolio with the acquisition of the 123-room Hyatt House Denver Airport Hotel. Denver's Sage Hospitality will manage the property. The purchase price was not disclosed. Located just a short distance from Denver International Airport, the extended stay Hyatt...
Accubase Introduces Core Services for the Hospitality Industry
Accubase Inc. | May 13, 2017
Nokomis, FL - May 15, 2017 - Accubase, a marketing technology research and services company, announces the availability of its research, planning and implementation coordination services specifically designed for the hospitality industry. Accubase recently customized its offerings to meet the needs of the hotel, restaurant and golf club management segments of the industry to provide each subscriber a cost effective resource for creating the technology aspects of their marketing initiatives. The compiled research covers thousands of solutions and services to assist teams responsible for both marketing and architecting the necessary marke...
Dream Hotel Group Appoints Cory Ingram to Senior Vice President of Creative
Dream Hotel Group | May 12, 2017
Cory Ingram is Senior Vice President of Creative for Dream Hotel Group. In this role, he oversees design direction for all FF+E, OS+E and brand image, as well as creative programming, partnerships and activations, for Dream Hotel Group and its portfolio of brands: Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels. He will also spearheading the launch of our new in-house creative studio and design atelier Reverie Studio. Prior to joining Dream Hotel Group, Mr. Ingram served as founding principal and chief creative officer of Identity Atelier (I/A), an innovative, creative agency that specialized in building on-brand experience...
Dream Hotel Group Appoints Christian Cooper as Vice President of Information Technology
Dream Hotel Group | May 11, 2017
NEW YORK, NY (May 11, 2017) – Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group appoints Christian Cooper as Vice President of Information Technology. In this role, Cooper will lead the innovation and implementation of several large-scale IT initiatives to support the rapid growth and expansion of Dream Hotel Group and its portfolio of brands – Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels. Key responsibilities include harmonizing, standardizing and integrating the IT infrastructure and applications across the brand, as well as identifying and implementing new information technologies and systems t...
Concord Hospitality Begins Construction on the 160-room Hyatt Place Jacksonville with Opening Schedule for Late 2018
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company | May 11, 2017
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--Concord Hospitality announced today that construction has started on Hyatt Place Jacksonville. Located across the street from St. Johns Town Center, the 160-room hotel is scheduled to open in late 2018. The property will be located at The Strand at St. Johns Town Center, a new 45-acre, mixed-use development with retail, restaurants and apartment homes. Hyatt Place Jacksonville will feature a five-story design with 160 guest rooms; the Gallery, complete with 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space; an outdoor pool and fitness center; and an outdoor deck for social and private events. "As the area continues to grow...
Eric De Neef Appointed as the Executive Vice President, Global Chief Branding & Commercial Officer of Carlson Rezidor
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | May 11, 2017
Brussels, Minneapolis & Singapore - May 11, 2017 – Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Eric de Neef as the Executive Vice President, Global Chief Branding & Commercial Officer effective immediately. In his new role, Eric de Neef, currently Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer of Rezidor Hotel Group (EMEA), will assume additional responsibilities and lead the Branding and Commercial organization for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group globally. In addition to his team in Brussels, the global Branding and Commercial teams based in Minneapolis (Americas) and Singapore (Asia Pacif...
Ocean House Management and Wykeham Rise Hotel Partners to Develop Wykeham Rise, a Luxury Inn and Residence in Washington, Connecticut
AccorHotels | May 10, 2017
WASHINGTON, Conn., May 10, 2017 -- Ocean House Management (OHM), owner and operator of boutique luxury hotels, including the famed Forbes Triple-Five Star Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, announced it will assist Wykeham Rise Hotel Partners in developing Wykeham Rise and subsequently manage the property upon opening. The 27-acre luxury inn broke ground on April 1st, with an anticipated opening date in summer 2019 in Washington, Connecticut, 80 miles north of New York City. "We are honored to expand our collection of hotels in New England's most desirable locations with the addition of Wykeham Rise in Washington, Connect...
Anaheim Breaks Visitor Volume Record for Fourth Year in a Row
Ames Boston Hotel | May 10, 2017
Hotel Development Continues to Rise in Anaheim Resort District; 13 Hotel Projects Planned or Underway in 1,100-Acre Tourism Hub ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 10, 2017) – Visit Anaheim, the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Anaheim, finalized visitor numbers for 2016, releasing record setting visitor volume for the fourth year in a row. The Southern California business and vacation destination welcomed 23 million visitors to the destination (source: CIC Research, Inc.), an increase of 2.4 percent from the previous year. International visitation was also up by 5.8 percent, resulting in 2.86 million international visitors ...
Managed by Sage Hospitality, Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center Completes Renovation
Sage Hospitality | May 9, 2017
Denver, Colo. (May 9, 2017) – The Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown - Convention Center is pleased to announce that it has recently completed a major property renovation. Upgrades to the full-service hotel included new modern furniture, lighting, carpet and soft goods in tones of blue-gray and camel in each of the 403 spacious guest suites. Additionally, a commissioned two-story art and water feature welcomes guests to the soaring lobby, which features a 14- story sky curtain that provides an abundance of natural light. The hotel's 27,000 square feet of meeting space – which can host up to 650 people - now features fr...
AETHOS and 20|20 Assess℠ Launch Global Psychometric Study to Identify Elusive “Hospitality X-Factor”
"Dr. Jim" Houran | May 9, 2017
May 9, 2017 - In response to requests from industry operations professionals, human resources executives and hiring managers, AETHOS Consulting Group has launched an unprecedented global study to uncover the "X-factor" in hospitality employees using the latest psychometric testing. In this dynamic era of consolidation and disruption, it is anticipated that the most successful non-management employees in hospitality have a unique and specific combination of core competencies, characteristics and attitudes compared to other team members or even to the skill sets of earlier workforces. AETHOS is testing these ideas with the coope...
NewcrestImage Names Taylor Jacobs as Director of Acquisitions & Development
NewcrestImage | May 9, 2017
NewcrestImage continues to position itself for growth with the addition of Taylor Jacobs to the newly-created position of Director of Acquisitions and Development. His responsibilities will include a special focus on expediting the company's expansion into western states. "After historically operating very successfully in the southeast and midwest, we now want to pursue opportunities to create distinctive, niche properties in western markets, especially along the West Coast," said Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. Jacobs has held positions with RLJ Lodging Trust, where he supported the acquisitions and portfolio analysis t...
RLJ Lodging Trust Sees Net Income Decrease to $21.8 Million in Q1 2017; RevPAR and Occupancy Decreased Slightly for Quarter
RLJ Lodging Trust | May 9, 2017
BETHESDA, Md.---RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RLJ) today reported results for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Highlights Net income decreased 14.1% to $21.8 million Pro forma RevPAR decreased 0.6%, Pro forma ADR increased 0.1%, and Pro forma Occupancy decreased 0.8% Pro forma Hotel EBITDA Margin of 32.9% Pro forma Consolidated Hotel EBITDA of $85.6 million Adjusted FFO of $64.4 million "Our results this quarter were slightly better than our initial expectations and highlight the advantages of a diversified portfolio. Strong performance in markets such as Washington, D.C. and Southern California and growth in Hou...
Sage Hospitality Appoints Tobias Arff General Manager and Kelly McCourt Director of Sales & Marketing for The Darcy, Washington, D.C.
The Darcy Washington D.C., Curio Collection by Hilton | May 9, 2017
May 9, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) - Sage Hospitality has announced the appointments of two top-flight executives to lead the team at The Darcy Washington D.C., the stylish new Curio Collection by Hilton hotel located near Dupont Circle and Embassy Row in the heart of the Nation's Capital. Tobias Arff, General Manager A veteran of the Washington, D.C. hotel scene, Tobias Arff oversees all operations of The Darcy Washington D.C., including assuring an exceptional guest experience reflective of the property's striking style and the cosmopolitan sophistication of the city around it. "I couldn't be happier with this great oppor...
Marriott International Reports Q1 2017 Net Income of $365 Million, a 67% Increase Over 2016; RevPAR Rose 3.1% for the Quarter
Marriott International | May 9, 2017
Highlights First quarter reported diluted EPS totaled $0.94, an 11 percent increase over prior year results. First quarter adjusted diluted EPS totaled $1.01, a 38 percent increase over first quarter 2016 combined results. Adjusted 2017 first quarter results exclude merger-related costs. Combined 2016 first quarter results assume Marriott's acquisition of Starwood and Starwood's sale of its timeshare business had been completed on January 1, 2015; Both North American and worldwide comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR rose 3.1 percent in the 2017 first quarter; The company added more than 17,000 rooms during the first qua...
Motif Seattle, a Destination Hotel, Completes $10 Million Renovation of Its 319 Guestooms
Motif Seattle | May 8, 2017
SEATTLE – May 9, 2017 – Motif Seattle, A Destination Hotel, announces the unveiling of a comprehensive $10 Million guestroom redesign. The makeover includes all 319 guestrooms of the design-driven boutique hotel, as well as enhancements to its corridors, giving the property a sleek urban style while maintaining a residential comfort. The fresh redesign is distinctive to the Seattle market, complete with striking art walls that serve as bold representations of the Seattle cultural scene and artwork all created by local artists. "Motif Seattle's design aesthetic and ethos reflect this beautiful city, with thoughtful details wa...
The Secret to Giving Hotel Guests What They Want
May 8, 2017
By Jos Schaap, CEO, and Founder StayNTouch Gazing into a crystal ball to see the future has always been alluring. Imagine if a person could truly see the future. What an incredible impact this would have on our world. Hoteliers today are all trying to gaze into their own distinct crystal ball to better understand what guests want and how they can deliver on these guest needs and desires. In a recent Phocuswright Research Report titled, U.S Traveler Technology Survey Sixth Edition, travelers are looking for more engagement with the hotel property and those who run the hotel. When it comes to apps, 49% of travelers wanted to use their mob...
sbe Appoints Sebastien Silvestri as Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, Hotel Division
sbe | May 8, 2017
NEW YORK, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- sbe, the leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hospitality venues globally, announced today that Sebastien Silvestri will be joining as Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, Hotel Division. In his new role, Silvestri will oversee the food & beverage venues in sbe's Hotel division across the entire platform. He will be based in Miami, Florida. "sbe continues to expand its senior leadership team at a rapid pace and we are thrilled to add Sebastien to our powerful group of executives," stated Jorge Giannattasio, Chief Operating O...
