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
Hilton Signs Nine Hotels in Mexico Representing Five Brands Including Company’s First Dual-Branded Property
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | January 12, 2017
MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of nine properties in Mexico that represent a number of Hilton brands, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton, as well as the company's first dual-branded property in the country. These newly announced properties contribute nearly 1,200 rooms to the hotel company's pipeline and will join the portfolio of more than 45 existing hotels in Mexico. "Mexico continues experiencing impressive tourism growth, and the addition of these hotels will help satisfy the increasing d...
This Year Means Screen Domination
Larry Mogelonsky | January 11, 2017
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Five hundred years from now when historians look back at the early modern era, they'll likely identify the advent of the screen-based technologies – that is, the still camera, the motion picture projector, the cathode ray tube and so on – as one of the most important discoveries right alongside the transistor, nuclear power and the theory of relativity. Understanding how humans lived prior to these inventions helps gives us some perspective. A friend of mine used to glibly remark, "A fire is nothing more than a caveman's TV," as we huddled together around a blazing pit late at n...
Maestro PMS Acquires Strategic Software Assets of Navicom Inc. to Strengthen Integrated Guest Engagement Offerings
Maestro | January 11, 2017
On-Property GEM Communication Tools Personalize Guest Relationship; In-House Service Requests Drive Guest Interaction January 11, 2017 – Maestro PMS, a leading provider of enterprise hotel management software for independent hotels, resorts and multi-property groups, announced it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the guest feedback software and service assets of Navicom Inc. Navicom's widely installed online Guest Experience Measurement (GEM) system captures guest feedback and is a key tool for improving both operational and reputation management strategies. The system helps hotels learn more about their guests' on-s...
HSMAI to Honor HeBS Digital with Nine HSMAI Adrian Awards, Including Two Gold
HeBS Digital | January 11, 2017
New York, NY (January 11, 2017) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has recognized HeBS Digital for excellence in digital technology, innovation and marketing with nine Adrian Awards for 2016. Now in its 60th year, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards is the largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition. The firm that has helped hoteliers drastically increase direct bookings and lower overall distribution costs has received the following HSMAI Adrian Awards in the Digital Marketing category: Gold Awards: Tsogo Sun Website Desi...
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson Opens Hotel Convieniently Located off I-69 in Evansville, Indiana
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson | January 11, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS (January 11, 2017) – Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM, a leading upper-midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Evansville, IN located off I-69 and Lloyd Expressway. The hotel offers 69 guest rooms and suites. "We are thrilled to add this hotel to our growing portfolio in the Midwest," said Jeffrey Freund, senior vice president, Midscale Brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. "The hotel's warm and welcoming approach to hospitality, along with its convenient location is guaranteed to satisfy guests while making them feel at home." Hotel guests have access to...
Winning the Direct Booking: A 2017 Action Plan to Combat the Effect of Airbnb on Your Hotel’s Bottom Line
the Author and HeBS Digital | January 11, 2017
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo It's no secret that Airbnb has drastically disrupted the travel industry and has positioned itself as a unique and local online travel agency for travel consumers. Yet, while Airbnb paves the way for a new niche in travel, the industry player is disrupting hospitality and affecting a hotel's bottom line in a major way. In these times of flat and even negative occupancy projections, and Airbnb satisfying a portion of the travel demand, hoteliers must fight for every guest inclined to stay at an Airbnb rental. Airbnb is taking 10-12% of travel demand in New York City, Paris, London and other major global metropol...
What Hotels Can Learn From the Airbnb CEO’s Twitter Exchange about What Guests Want
ALICE | January 11, 2017
When Airbnb's CEO asked his Twitter community for their Airbnb product wish list, what he got was a comprehensive look at what guests want from lodging today. by Alex Shashou When Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky asked his Twitter followers for Airbnb product recommendations in the late hours of Christmas day, Chesky said he expected about 10 people to respond. Instead, some 2,200 people offered their suggestions, with product recommendations still coming in. Chesky spent the rest of the 25th, and then many hours on subsequent days, responding to input from users. The Airbnb CEO facilitated a wide-ranging conversation about short and longer-ter...
Midas Hospitality Names Jim Brueggemann as New CFO
Midas Hospitality | January 10, 2017
(St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 10, 2017) Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group, recently appointed Jim Brueggemann, CPA, as the company's new Chief Financial Officer. Brueggemann will manage the company's central accounting office in order to deliver accurate and timely financial analysis. He will be accountable for the development of economic strategies and preparation of corporate growth plans. Brueggemann also will oversee both financial forecasting efforts and risk management operations. Prior to his new position, Brueggemann was the company's Vice President of Finance. He joined Midas Hospitality in May, 2013 with more than 18...
Dream Hotel Group Appoints Laura Mutterperl as Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Dream Hotel Group | January 9, 2017
NEW YORK, NY (January 9, 2017) – Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Mutterperl as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. With nearly a decade of experience in driving hotel strategy from a business and legal standpoint, Mutterperl will play a key role in advancing the company's growth. Home to Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels brands, Dream Hotel Group encompasses three business lines: Proprietary Brands, Hotel Management and Dining & Nightlife. "We are thrilled to announce the addition of Laura Mutterperl to our team,"...
Hilton Joins TripAdvisor Instant Booking Marketplace
Hilton | January 9, 2017
MCLEAN, Va. and NEEDHAM, Mass., Jan. 9, 2017 -- Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and TripAdvisor (NASDAQ: TRIP) today announced a partnership to make Hilton's portfolio of 13 world-class global brands accessible in the TripAdvisor instant booking marketplace. Beginning in early 2017, travelers around the world will be able to make a reservation at any Hilton property quickly and easily without leaving the TripAdvisor site or mobile app. Hilton, comprising nearly 789,000 rooms across 104 countries and territories, is the latest major hotel company to join TripAdvisor instant booking. The partnership will expand TripAdvisor's instant booking in...
Hospitality Management Corporation Adds Holiday Inn Express® Irving DFW Airport North to Portfolio
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | January 9, 2017
Dallas, TX – Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the addition of this 163-room Holiday Inn Express® in Irving, TX, to their portfolio of managed hotels. The company 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 Holiday Inn Express DFW North is adjacent to DFW International Airport and offers co...
SHR Developer of Windsurfer® CRS and Roomer Travel Announce Alliance to Drive Hotel Revenue and Enhance Guest Satisfaction using Life Happens™ Canc
SHR | January 9, 2017
HOUSTON, TX JANUARY 9, 2017—SHR, developer of the Windsurfer® CRS hotel reservation and distribution platform, today announced a partnership with Roomer Travel to offer Life Happens™, providing free added value to hotels utilizing its TopSail™ Internet Booking Engine (IBE). Life Happens™ is a revolutionary hotel cancellation protection that allows guests to cancel their non-refundable reservations and receive an 80% refund. At zero cost to hotels, the Life Happens™ integration into SHR's TopSail Internet Booking Engine empowers hotels to provide maximum flexibility to their guests without the risk of lo...
FCS Launches New Corporate Website with Streamlined Solutions and Enhanced Functionality
FCS | January 5, 2017
Redesigned web portal features mobile-friendly navigation and simplified product groupings with newly created informational videos. Singapore, 5 January, 2016 – FCS Computer Systems (FCS), a leading comprehensive hospitality solutions and services provider, is pleased to announce the launch of a fully redesigned corporate website aimed at providing visitors with all the tools needed to learn about the latest offerings in hotel operations technology. The new website features a restructured and streamlined grouping of FCS' comprehensive solutions portfolio that clearly demonstrates how each one functions to maximize efficiency with...
Midas Hospitality Promotes Chris Shinkle to Senior Director of Development
Midas Hospitality | January 4, 2017
(St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 4, 2017) Midas Hospitality, a premier hotel management group, recently promoted Chris Shinkle to Senior Director of Development. Shinkle will manage the day-to-day operations of the company's development team, which focuses on new hotels and acquisitions, as well as the organization's renovation life cycle. His responsibilities include overseeing a variety of services the company provides including project planning, procurement, information technology, scheduling, budget management, and project execution. Prior to this position, Shinkle served as the company's Director of Information Technology, as well as its Dire...
The Smart Hotelier’s 2017 Top Ten Digital Technology & Marketing Resolutions
the Authors and HeBS Digital | January 4, 2017
By Max Starkov and Mariana Safer Reflecting on 2016 and successful hotel digital marketing campaigns that impacted the industry, there was an obvious and substantial emphasis on 'Book Direct' strategies. Hoteliers have been testing out multiple strategies to increase bookings on their own websites, from loyalty member-only rates, special incentives, unique packages found only on the hotel website, and more. Why? With distribution costs rising steadily over the last five years due to OTAs increasing market share over 40% (vs. hotel direct bookings), hoteliers are starting to understand this is not a sustainable business model. In 20...
New Year’s Resolution – Read One Industry Article Every Day
Larry Mogelonsky | January 4, 2017
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) December is a time of gifts, holiday feasts and resolutions for the coming New Year. Instead of posting a listicle of sorts with a dozen viable self-improvement tips, I want you to focus on just one. And in order for it to properly sink in, unencumbered by the noise of thousands of other resolution articles, I'm giving it to you now. In order to be a smart hoteliers, you have to read the news and op-ed pieces. You have to stay abreast with the latest developments, keep up with what thought leaders are saying about the hot issues and familiarize yourself with trending industry jargon. Lookin...
RKJ Hotel Management Opens Radisson Hotel Detroit Metro Airport Following $10 Million Renovation
Radisson® | January 2, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS (January 2, 2017) – Radisson®, one of the best-recognized hotel brands, today announced the opening of Radisson Hotel Detroit Metro Airport. The hotel has a new sleek and modern look as it's been completely renovated. Guests can enjoy the vibrant rooms and lobby, along with an updated pool, restaurant and fitness center. Located just minutes from the airport at 31500 Wick Road in Romulus, traveling is made easy with the hotels complimentary shuttle service and parking. "As we continue to expand Radisson across the Americas we are focused on providing an exceptional guest experience guided by our Yes I Can!SM servic...
Best Western’s Ron Pohl Promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer
Best Western Hotels & Resorts | January 2, 2017
Ron Pohl has been a visionary leader for the brand for nearly a decade Phoenix, Ariz. (January 2, 2017) - Best Western® Hotels & Resorts' announced today the promotion of Ron Pohl to Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Pohl's promotion comes at the end of a historic year for the iconic brand, celebrating 70 years of providing quality care for its guests, rolling out a new breakfast program, launching a global responsive site, and achieving record-setting results in RevPAR. "Since joining Best Western in early 2007, as a leader with strategic vision, Ron has tremendously improved the member services and brand mana...
New Tilden Hotel Website Accentuates the Property’s Organic Aesthetic
HeBS Digital | January 2, 2017
Nestled in the historic Tenderloin District of San Francisco, Tilden Hotel welcomes guests to open, airy spaces, natural hues and raw materials. To greater reflect the aesthetic of the property and showcase the creative, authentic and varied elements found in this property's unique neighborhood, Tilden Hotel partnered with HeBS Digital to launch a user-friendly website. The new site features a striking, modern design which showcases the property's modern sensibility and stylish accents. The launch of this site helps Tilden Hotel adequately display information about the hotel and area with high-res photos and easy-to-use navigation - two...
Hotel Online’s Top Read News for 2016
Hotel Online | December 29, 2016
As we look toward 2017, here's a look back at each month's top headlines in 2016 from Hotel-Online! January 2016: 4 Ways Luxury Hotels Can Use Technology To Provide Better Customer Service / Alex Shashou Three Ways Technology Makes Payments Easier For Hotel Guests / Cristine Sommers 5 Game-Changing Hotel Industry Trends To Tackle in 2016 What's In and What's Out? Top 10 Travel Trends for 2016 The Restoration in Charleston, South Carolina Unveils $27 Million Yearlong Transformation and Expansion February 2016: 'Chef's Tables' Driving Market Differentiation for Meyer Jabara Hotels Hotel Lenders Tightening the Screws Four Seasons, ...
Five Benchmark Executive Chefs Infused the Future with a Cross-Country Culinary Adventure at the James Beard House
December 28, 2016
New York, New York, December 2016 … Five top chefs and a noted sommelier from BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, celebrated their takes on Regional American Cuisine at the legendary James Beard House in New York City earlier this month. The dinner's theme, "A Cross-Country Culinary Adventure", introduced a range of innovative dishes that blended a multitude of distinctive flavors, hearkening the recent joining and infusion of Benchmark and Gemstone, creating two extraordinary new resort and hotel portfolios: Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and the Gemstone Collection. Featured executive chefs representing signature Benc...
How to Jumpstart Your Hotel’s Direct Bookings through Search Engine Marketing
HeBS Digital | December 28, 2016
By Mariana Safer and Carmine Fischetti The Hotel Yearbook has just released its 2017 Special Edition on Digital Marketing, featuring expert insight from hospitality industry leaders, and HeBS Digital is proud to be featured in this year's publication. In "Smart Data Marketing in Hospitality: The Secret to Maximizing Direct Bookings", Max Starkov, President & CEO, and Margaret Mastrogiacomo, Senior Director Creative Strategy of HeBS Digital, outline the steps hoteliers can take to close the 360-degree customer engagement, retention & acquisition cycle and boost direct bookings. Starkov and Mastrogiacomo discuss how Smart Data Mar...
Aimbridge Hospitality Promotes Don Ayres to Vice President of Development
Aimbridge Hospitality | December 22, 2016
(December 22, 2016) — Aimbridge Hospitality announces the promotion of Don Ayres to Vice President of Development. Throughout Don's two-year tenure as a key member of Aimbridge Hospitality's development team, he has played a meaningful role in achieving company growth initiatives and its ongoing success. Additionally, he has been instrumental in expanding Aimbridge's management portfolio via the acquisition of new contracts as well as retaining hotels under Aimbridge management following a change in ownership. Don has established solid relationships with a wide range of key investors contributing to Aimbridge's impressive expansio...
AccorHotels Restructures Major Lease Portfolio with ADIA in Australia
AccorHotels | December 22, 2016
AccorHotels is pleased to announce that it has successfully reached agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA") to restructure a portfolio of 31 hotels (4,097 rooms) in Australia. The agreement involves a portfolio which was purchased by the ADIA subsidiary in 2013 and operated by AccorHotels. Under the restructure of the portfolio of 31 hotels: AccorHotels will convert 15 triple-net leases into 50 year management agreements and extend the management term of one hotel also to 50 years (total 16 hotels); AccorHotels (HotelInvest) will acquire the real estate of the remain...
