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NOW is the Best Time to Buy or Sell a Hotel in Many Years
September 23, 2013
For the most recent update on this topic, click here By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 23 September 2013 A version of this article was first published in the September 21, 2013 issue of Hotel Business. The number of hotel transactions is up by more than 50% for the first 6 months of 2013 over the comparable period last year, and is expected to top $18 billion for 2013, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. And HVS reports that the sales transaction volume of hotels is now intersecting its 22-year moving average, and predicts that hotel values will continue to grow at an average o...
New Castle Names Sonia Flores Director of Sales of the 125-room Hampton Inn Shelton in Connecticut
New Castle Hotels & Resorts | September 23, 2013
SHELTON, Conn. - September 23, 2013 - Officials of New Castle Hotels and Resorts, a leading hotel owner, operator and developer, today named Sonia Flores director of sales of the 125-room Hampton Inn Shelton, Conn. Flores is a proven sales leader who most recently served as the catering sales manager for another Hilton-branded hotel in nearby Stamford, Conn. She has served in similar capacities throughout her 10 year career and has received several accolades including 2007 Manager of the Year during her tenure at the Hilton Stamford Hotel and Executive Meeting Center. "Sonia brings a track record of consistent achievement and solid know...
IHG and TAJ RP Sign Deal to Open the 280-room Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina in 2016
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) | September 23, 2013
Dubai, UAE, 23 September 2013: IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed an agreement with TAJ RP International Limited, part of RP Group of Companies, to open Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina in 2016. Located in the cosmopolitan Dubai Marina area, the 3,037 square-metre hotel site sits next to Dubai Marina Mall and within walking distance of the picturesque pedestrian promenade, which borders the waterway lined with vibrant cafes and restaurants. The property will also be in close proximity to the business hub made up of Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City and Knowledge Village. In line with...
Scheduled to Open in 2016, the 218-room Hyatt Regency Cali is Under Development in Colombia
Hyatt Regency | September 23, 2013
CHICAGO (September 23, 2013) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Fideicomiso FAFP-Promover-Hotel Cali- Fiduciaria del Pa's S.A. for a Hyatt Regency hotel in Santiago de Cali, Colombia. This agreement marks the third Hyatt-branded hotel under development in Colombia, joining Grand Hyatt Bogota and Hyatt Regency Cartagena, which are both slated to open in 2016. "Cali represents an important destination for a Hyatt Regency hotel because it is a Colombia's second largest city and a gateway to Latin America," said Pat McCudden, senior vice president, real ...
Inland American Real Estate Trust Acquires Two Andaz Hotels Located in Napa, CA and Savannah, GA
Inland American Lodging Advisor, Inc. | September 23, 2013
Oak Brook, Ill. - September 23, 2013 – Inland American Lodging Group, Inc. ("IALG"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc. ("Inland American"), and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that IALG has acquired a portfolio of two Andaz hotels for approximately $115 million. The hotels, both part of Hyatt's acclaimed boutique lifestyle brand, are located in Napa, CA, and Savannah, GA. These will be the second and third Andaz hotels in Inland American's portfolio, following the purchase of Andaz San Diego completed earlier this year. A Hyatt affiliate will continue to manage both hotels. "We are...
Paulson & Co. Acquires the 139-room St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
Paulson & Co. | September 23, 2013
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2013 -- Paulson & Co. Inc. ("Paulson"), a New York-based investment firm, today announced that on behalf of its Recovery Funds it has acquired a majority interest in The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico and the Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico is located in a master-planned community situated on 483 acres of pristine coconut palms 25 minutes away from San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. In addition to the AAA 5 Diamond 139 room St. Regis® hotel, the community features luxurious ocean front and ocean view villas and golf and ocean view condo...
MetLife & Thayer Lodging Group Acquire 365-room Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in MX in a JV
MetLife, Inc. | September 23, 2013
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2013 -- MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) and Thayer Lodging Group announced today that they have acquired the 365-room Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in a joint venture. MetLife and Thayer Lodging Group purchased the luxury resort from Oasis Cabo LLC. The purchase price was not disclosed. MetLife is the majority investor in the joint venture with Thayer Fund VI. "MetLife is pleased to add the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort to our portfolio of hotel properties in Mexico," said Robert Merck, senior managing director and global head of real estate investments for MetLife. "Our long...
Hollywood Consults Hilton College’s Hospitality Industry Archives for New Ron Howard Film “Rush”
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management | September 20, 2013
HOUSTON—"Rush," the latest movie from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, tells the real-life tale of 1970s-era Formula One drivers James Hunt and Nikki Lauda. Included in the story of their racing rivalry and famed 1976 championship season is a history lesson from the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. "The art directors contacted me interested in images of hotel rooms and lobbies, circa the 1970s, in hopes of recreating those in their sets," said Dr. Mark Young, Hilton College's historian and director of the Hospitality Industry Archives. "They were interested in images of the Tokyo Hil...
White Lodging Names GMs for Eight Properties; Hotels in Maryland, Florida, Texas and Arizona
White Lodging Services Corporation | September 20, 2013
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Sept. 20, 2013 -- White Lodging is pleased to announce the following individuals have been named general managers within the last month across the company. Kristy Nase has been promoted to general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Silver Springs in Maryland. Previously Nase was the operations manager at the Courtyard Collegeville in Pennsylvania. Prior to her role of operations manager at the Courtyard Collegeville, she served as the assistant general manager at the same hotel. Nase also brings extensive front office experience from the Courtyard Malvern, Crowne Plaza in Philadelphia and the Courtyard Collegeville. "I...
Thayer Ventures Announces an Investment in tripBAM, a Fast-Growing Online Shopping Platform
Thayer Ventures | September 20, 2013
Drawing on Continued Participation from Strategic Limited Partners, Institutions and Family Offices, Thayer Ventures Continues Strategic Investments in Disruptive, Innovative Technologies Sees Additional Opportunities Internationally and in the U.S. San Francisco, September 20, 2013 - Thayer Ventures, which funds innovative emerging technology companies in the $10 trillion global travel and hospitality industry, provided $1m in seed round funding to tripBAM (www.tripBAM.com), a fast-growing online shopping platform that is changing the way consumers, agencies and corporations shop for hotels. The funding follows the first closing of its...
Park Hyatt Saigon to Begin Renovation Project with Completion Planned for Early April 2014
Park Hyatt Saigon | September 20, 2013
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, September 20, 2013 - Since opening in 2005, Park Hyatt Saigon has earned a reputation of delivering authentic hospitality and providing superior service and facilities. In keeping with the ever-changing needs and lifestyles of guests, Park Hyatt Saigon is excited to announce it will undergo a luxury upgrade of all facilities and guest rooms during 2014. Renowned Malaysian interior designer, EDC, will give the hotel a facelift to epitomize the French colonial residential feel, complementing the hotel's positioning as Saigon's premier address. The French-inspired ambiance will be blended with modern conveniences...
Three Steps to a Better TripAdvisor Rating By Jean Francois Mourier
REVPAR GURU | September 20, 2013
By Jean Francois Mourier September 20, 2013 Booking a hotel room online requires a strong level of trust on the part of the consumer, because they aren't able to see the property until they arrive on their check-in date. This makes sites like TripAdvisor a very valuable tool for consumers. In fact, 86% of respondents to a recent MSNBC survey said that they rely on the reviews that they find on TripAdvisor (or other similar travel sites) before they make a purchasing decision. According to ehotelier, an increase in your property's TripAdvisor rating can have a drastic impact on your revenues. If a hotel increases its TripAdvisor review s...
Robert T. Koger—Hotel Lawyer with the FBI Affidavit that Helped Put Koger Behind Bars
September 20, 2013
For the most recent update on this topic, click here By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 20 September 2013 The hotel world has been fascinated by the civil litigation and criminal actions swirling around the former President and owner of Molinaro Koger, Robert T. Koger. In response to many inquiries, the hotel lawyers of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® has posted the 17-page affidavit sworn to by an FBI special agent with more than 17 years of experience, most of it in investigating white collar crimes like those charged against Koger. If you just want the highlights, see th...
Benchmark Hospitality International Named A “Top 100 Privately Held Company in Houston”
September 20, 2013
~Ranked at #31~ The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, September 20 2013 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has announced that for the third time, the Houston Chronicle has named Benchmark one of the Top 100 Privately Held Companies in Houston. The company placed 31st on the list, up from its 44th place ranking previously. A company's standing on the Top 100 list is determined by revenues achieved during the previous calendar year. Benchmark Hospitality International reported $505 million across its management portfolio of 39 properties distributed between two luxury hotel brands: Benc...
John Q. Hammons’ Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas – Mesquite in Texas Completes Public Space Renovation
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts | September 20, 2013
Appoints Lawrence Williams as General Manager MESQUITE, Texas - September 20, 2013 - The Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas – Mesquite invites guests to enjoy the southwestern ambiance and enhanced functionality of its newly renovated public spaces, including the integration of Mesquite history and arts into its lobby décor and exhibit space. The 160-room/54-suite hotel recently completed a nine-month, nearly $1 million dollar makeover focused on improved convenience for hotel and convention guests. The Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas – Mesquite is owned and operated by Springfield-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, the large...
$22 Million Renovation Completed for the Kansas City, MO Crown Center Sheraton and Westin Hotels
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts | September 20, 2013
Kansas City, Mo. - Sept. 20, 2013 - Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center and The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center recently announced its completion of a two-year $22 million renovation of both hotels including significant upgrades to Sheraton's guest rooms and improvements to both Sheraton and Westin's meeting rooms and lobbies. The hotel complex now offers a total of 1,454 guestrooms featuring Kansas City skyline views and 150,000 square feet of meeting space. The renovation to Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is part of an ongoing effort to enhance Sheraton hotels across the globe, following the recently completed $6...
Colorado’s Sheraton Steamboat Resort & Villas Invests an Additional $8.25 Million in Renovations
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts | September 20, 2013
Nears Completion of $8.2 Million Redevelopment Adding 56 Suites September 20, 2013 - STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO - Officials at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort & Villas have announced they will be investing an additional $8.25 million in property renovations and upgrades this fall. This new project is in addition to the resort's current $8.2 million redevelopment, which will result in the addition of 56 new, luxury Mountain Suites set to debut in December 2013. The latest round of improvements is scheduled to begin September 23, and will bring a more welcoming, relaxing and enjoyable ambiance to several areas of the resort. One of the...
Carlson Rezidor to Open the New-Build 207-room Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Bahrain in Q4 2015
Rezidor Hotel Group | September 20, 2013
September 20, 2013 - Carlson Rezidor, one of the ten largest hotel groups worldwide, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Bahrain. The mid-market property featuring 207 keys is scheduled to open in Q4 2015. It is the second hotel for Carlson Rezidor in the Kingdom following the successful Radisson Blu Diplomat Hotel, Residence & Spa, Manama, which opened in 2000. The government of Bahrain is currently taking steps to diversify its economy and has established the country as a regional hub for the rapidly growing Islamic finance industry. "We are delighted to strengthen our presence in the Kingdom of Bahrain and to further extend ...
The 108-room Hyatt Place Dewey Beach Opens on the Rehoboth Bay in Delaware
Hyatt Place | September 20, 2013
CHICAGO - September 20, 2013 - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), Meyer Jabara Hotels and Dewey Beach Enterprises (DBE) today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Delaware. "Hyatt Place is designed for a lifestyle, not a demographic, and as a result, we are confident that everyone from business travelers to families on vacation will appreciate the intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food and beverage availability," said Christine Strouss, general manager, Hyatt Place Dewey Beach. Located on the Rehoboth Bay and footsteps from the Atlant...
IHG Opens 104-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Phoenix North/Scottsdale in Arizona
Holiday Inn Express | September 20, 2013
20 September, 2013 - ATLANTA - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Phoenix North/Scottsdale. The four-story 104-room hotel adds to IHG's portfolio in the Phoenix and Scottsdale areas. The hotel is located at 4575 E. Irma Lane at the intersection of Loop 101 & Tatum Blvd. in Scottsdale, Ariz. "Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers," said Heather Balsley, senior vice president, Americas Holiday Inn® brand family. "With more than 2,200 properties worldwide and 45...
Next Week Marks Opening of the 82-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott | September 19, 2013
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - September 19, 2013 - The 82-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is scheduled to open on Thursday, September 26, 2013. Located at 4035 Bobhalla Drive, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Sioux Falls Airport will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by TMI Hospitality of Fargo, North Dakota. Adjacent to the Pentagon Sports Complex and four miles from Sioux Falls Regional Airport, the hotel offers guests convenient access to Sioux Falls University, Falls Park and Empire Mall. "We are pleased with the continued growth of Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in the Sioux ...
Scott Boyer Named as Director of Sales & Marketing for Maui’s Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort | September 19, 2013
WAILEA, HI., September 19, 2013 - Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort on Maui, names Scott Boyer as its new director of sales and marketing. Boyer will lead and direct the development and execution of strategic sales and marketing plans and initiatives to maximize Grand Wailea's service and profitability. "Boyer's more than 20 years of global senior sales executive experience is what made him the right person for this very important position," said Jerry Gibson, Hilton Worldwide area vice president. "We know his expertise will help us grow presence in the international markets while retaining our visibility and core client in the U.S...
Don Fraser Appointed as General Manager of the 761-room Park Central Hotel New York
Park Central Hotel New York | September 19, 2013
NEW YORK, NY - (September 19, 2013) - Park Central Hotel New York is pleased to announce the appointment of Don Fraser as General Manager. A historic New York landmark whose name pays homage to nearby Central Park, the newly renovated property is ideally located in midtown Manhattan, just steps away from many of the City's most popular attractions, including Carnegie Hall. Fraser will utilize his extensive leadership experience to update and refine the overall guest experience following the property's multi-million dollar transformation, while overseeing all hotel operations, finances and administration of the 761-room hotel. A 25-year ...
First Hospitality Group Completes Renovation of Springhill Suites by Marriott Warrenville, Illinois
First Hospitality Group, Inc. | September 19, 2013
ROSEMONT, Ill., September 19, 2013 - Rosemont, Ill.-based First Hospitality Group, Inc. (FHG) today announced the completion of renovations at its SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Warrenville, Ill. President and COO Robert Habeeb made the announcement. Every aspect of the 128-room SpringHill Suites, from furniture and lighting to colors and fabrics, has been thoughtfully renovated to offer calm and refreshing spaces. The recharged lobby-featuring warm colors, accent fabrics and walnut-stained wood-provides a great setting for conducting casual meetings or simply socializing in an open, inviting environment. The larger than typical guest...
