HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25th, 2024
McKibbon Hospitality Appoints Drew Walls as Aloft Asheville Downtown’s New General Manager
Aloft Hotels | April 16, 2019
ASHEVILLE, NC (April 16th, 2019) – With new leadership comes fresh perspective toward an already established and vibrant hotel concept. McKibbon Hospitality, the owner and manager of Aloft Asheville Downtown, welcomes Drew Walls as its General Manager following his 10-year stint at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. As a purveyor of homegrown community service, Walls abides by the warm-hearted personal motto of: "In a world where you can be anything…be kind!" And with that, Walls will lead the team at Aloft Asheville Downtown to create an authentic customer service approach. The newly appointed Walls began his journey in the ...
Safwan Abu Risheh Appointed Managing Director of Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Rosewood Hotel Georgia | April 16, 2019
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver's renowned luxury hotel, is pleased to announce Safwan Abu Risheh's return to the prestigious property as managing director. A key member of the hotel's opening leadership team, Mr. Abu Risheh is highly committed to upholding Rosewood Hotel Georgia's reputation as a legendary hotel in Canada and around the world. Boasting extensive experience in luxury hotel operations and a deep passion for the hospitality industry, Mr. Abu Risheh will oversee all facets of Rosewood Hotel Georgia in his new position as managing director. "Safwan's drive, tenacity and financial acuity combined with his deep understandin...
Ryan Wollman Joins Los Angeles Airport Marriott as Director of Group Sales
Los Angeles Airport Marriott | April 16, 2019
Los Angeles, CA (April 16, 2019) The Los Angeles Airport Marriott (LAX Marriott) announces the addition of Ryan Wollman to the hotel's executive team as the new Director of Group Sales. With the completion of a $50 million renovation wrapping up later this summer, this new role supports the Los Angeles Airport Marriott's accelerated performance in meetings and events and solidifies its place as the premier west coast airport property. In his new role, Wollman maximizes group revenue and profitability through the sale of guest rooms, catering and tours, and for directing, managing and coordinating all group sales activities. Additionally...
The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi Appoints Two Key Members to the Epicurean Team
April 16, 2019
LANGKAWI, KEDAH, MALAYSIA: The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi is pleased to announce the appointment of two new leaders who will work in tandem to heighten the dining experiences that The Andaman have to offer. As newly-appointed Epicurean Authorities of The Andaman, Quinn Pu and Stefano Micocci aim to bring global collectors from all walks of life an epicurean journey worth adding on to their collection of memories. Quinn Pu, a Chinese national, was appointed as the new Director of Food and Beverage. With a plate full of both hotel and resort experiences in Food and Beverage, Quinn will oversee and lead the whole Food an...
SpringHill Suites by Marriott to Open Doors in Dallas, Texas
The Sage Agency | April 16, 2019
Marriott International announced today that the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas Central Expressway is scheduled to open this Friday, April 19, 2019. The 128-suite hotel, located at 10111 North Central Expressway, will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Avail Hotels, LLC and managed by MOE Hospitality of Murphy, Texas. General Manager Lexi Han and Director of Sales Dean Johnson lead the management team at the property for MOE Hospitality. The SpringHill Suites Dallas Central Expressway is located just eight miles from downtown, and 10 minutes from Dallas Love Field. The hotel offers guests convenient access to Southern Method...
How Can Competition Benchmarking Help You Grow Your Hotel Business
Hotelogix | April 16, 2019
Understand what guests are talking about them Keep a track of their hotel online reputation on various review sites and hotel booking portals. See what guests are talking about them. Compare the same with the kind of reviews you have garnered. If guests have good things to say about the food or any other amenities, try to make changes if you find yourself lagging in those areas. Remember that guest reviews are an excellent source to help you understand your competition's performance. Try to know their marketing activities For this, you need to sign-up for their emails. It will help you understand how they communicate with their guests w...
Nobu Hospitality to Launch in London West End With 2020 Opening of Nobu Hotel London Portman Square
Nobu Hotels | April 15, 2019
NEW YORK, April 15, 2019 -- Nobu Hospitality, the globally established lifestyle brand founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, is delighted to announce the launch of its London West End hotel. Expected to open in spring 2020, Nobu Hotel is set in Portman Square W1, steps from Mayfair's vibrant restaurants and independent boutiques and on the edge of Soho's world-famous theatres in the heart of London's West End. The 239-guest rooms and suites, together with a Nobu restaurant, ballroom and meeting facilities are being conceptualized by London-based architecture and interior design firm, David Collins Studio,...
Hamilton Hotel Investors and Centerbridge Partners Complete Acquisition of Belgian Nine-Hotel Portfolio From WNE
Hamilton Hotel Partners and Hamilton Hotel Investors | April 15, 2019
LONDON, April 15, 2019 - Hamilton Hotel Investors and Centerbridge Partners have completed the acquisition of a portfolio of nine hotels located in Belgium and France from WNE Investor S.À R.L. The hotels comprise 1,120 keys in total and are located in some of Belgium's key commercial and tourism destinations (Antwerp, Hasselt, Ghent and Liege) and Calais in France. Five of the nine hotels operate under the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands, and Hamilton Hotel Partners will assume management of the portfolio going forward. "We are excited to acquire the Brabo hotels and to work in close partnership with the team at Hamil...
Waterparks: Growth Trends in 2019
David J. Sangree | April 15, 2019
Diving Into Waterpark Growth Trends in 2019: 2019 will bring growth to the U.S. & Canadian markets as waterparks continue to evolve their attraction mix. By David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC For the ever-growing waterpark industry, 2019 will be another year for robust growth as over $1 billion in investment is slated for indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts. We project 21 municipal and private outdoor waterparks will open and three resorts will add or expand outdoor waterparks. The indoor segment will total 629,200 square feet of new waterpark space in 12 properties. Three of this year's most anticipated and exp...
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) Launches New Brand, SeleQtions
April 15, 2019
Mumbai, April 15, 2019: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), South Asia's largest hospitality company, today, announced the launch of a new hotel brand - "SeleQtions", which is a collection of named and distinctive properties. SeleQtions was launched with 12 hotels across the country. The vision for the brand is to celebrate individuality, by offering unique experiences through landmark hotels that have their own legacy and charm. Speaking on the occasion, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL said, "SeleQtions will allow IHCL to cater to a broader audience of travelers who prefer staying in hotels wi...
Historic Hotels Worldwide Names Top 25 U.S. Gardens and Top 10 Worldwide
April 15, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 15, 2019, Historic Hotels of America have some of the most magnificent and beautiful storybook gardens. Numerous life-long memories of special occasions celebrated in the gardens of historic hotels include romantic getaways, romantic proposals, honeymoons, anniversaries, and family reunions. Multigenerational guests select a historic resort to explore, experience, and grow their own ever-blossoming memories in beautiful gardens located at historic hotels. Please visit HistoricHotels.org/Gardens for a complete listing of iconic historic hotels with beautiful historic gardens. Here is the 2019 Historic Hotel...
How Today’s Hotel Ownership Model Clashes With the Need for Green Energy Investments
HEBS Digital | April 15, 2019
by Jason Price, EVP, HEBS Digital April 15, 2019 The hotel industry was an early adopter in embracing energy conservation and other earth friendly practices. However, sizable capital investments like HVAC upgrades, energy generation, or smart materials in renovations exceeds the short-term revenue models for today's hotel investor. As of now, what a hotel can do has been done - switch to LED light bulbs, key entry-driven lighting, and reduced turnover of towels and linens. Although these efforts generate cost savings and matter to the environment, the investments are limited compared to what is being committed in residential and in new ...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: Nobody Gets to Be Wrong, Everyone is Wrong, No One Gets to Be Right, Everyone is Right
David Lund | April 15, 2019
By David Lund I use this quote to start many of my workshops. To me it's the way I want the participants to stand in their individual power during our time together. It's also how I see our industry. In the hotel business we all need to have an opinion and even more important we need to be able to share those thoughts. Reason being is, we all have something important to bring to the table. That's what I tell my workshop participants. To illustrate this, I often ask the following question. "What would you rather have to increase your GOP in your 300-room hotel that is currently operating at 75% occupancy with a $150 average rate, a $4 ro...
Apple Core Hotels, Inc. Selects Cendyn to Power CRM Across Hotel Group
Cendyn | April 15, 2019
Vibrant NYC boutique hotel chain selects Cendyn's flagship CRM solution for portfolio April 15, 2019 – Boca Raton, Florida – Apple Core Hotels, a New York City-based hotel ownership and management company, has selected Cendyn's eInsight CRM across their portfolio of properties. Conveniently situated in the heart of Manhattan, Apple Core Hotels includes four boutique locations: The Hotel at Times Square, The Hotel at Fifth Avenue, The Broadway at Times Square Hotel, and The Hotel at New York City. Cendyn will implement CRM at Apple Core's hotels, bringing to light intuitive marketing automation and guest intelligence. This w...
Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel to Open in Jasper, Indiana
The Sage Agency | April 15, 2019
The 84-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Jasper, Indiana is scheduled to open this Friday, April 19, 2019 with a new décor that provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at 333 River Centre Landing, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Jasper will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by River Centre Hotel Developers, LLC, partners Boxer Girl, LLC and General Hotels Corporation of Indianapolis, IN. General Hotels Corporation will manage the hotel. The property will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the business community on Thursday, May 9, 2019, followed by an open house and reception. S...
IntercityHotel Hannover Hauptbahnhof Ost Celebrates Topping-Out
IntercityHotel | April 12, 2019
Frankfurt am Main, 12 April 2019 The IntercityHotel Hannover Hauptbahnhof Ost is currently taking shape at the heart of Hanover. It will be the second hotel to be operated by the brand at this particular location. Today, just under a year after the formal laying of the foundation stone, about 300 guests and construction workers joined Mayor Stefan Schostok at Andreas Hermes Square to stage a topping-out ceremony. "Hanover is a trade fair city which is a perfect match for the IntercityHotel concept," said Joachim Marusczyk, founding Managing Director of IntercityHotel GmbH. "The central location, the free use of local public transport an...
Key Takeaways From the 2019 College and University Hotel Owners Symposium (CUHOS 2019)
Matthew Arrants | April 12, 2019
By Matthew Arrants Representatives of Colleges and Universities from across the country gathered at the Inn at Villanova University recently to discuss the state of the lodging industry. Participants included small liberal arts colleges like Williams College and Colby College, large Ivy League schools like Harvard, and state colleges such as the University of Virginia, Penn State, and the University of Ohio. Those that attended the symposium either owned hotels on their campus, or were interested in new hotel development. Prominent experts from management companies, including Pyramid Hotel Group, Charlestowne Hotels, Waterford Hotel Gro...
A Practical Introduction to Foreign Hotelier Investment, Management and Operation in Jamaica’s Tourism Market
Michel Morgan | April 12, 2019
By Michel Morgan With recent first quarter 2019 reports showing that Jamaica is the first Caribbean island to welcome 1 million visitors and reach approximately $800 million in foreign exchange earnings within the first 9 weeks of 2019, hospitality industry interests like real estate developers and investors can be assured that Jamaica is maintaining its status as one of the best islands for developing resorts. Indeed, back in 2017 Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, The Honorable Edmund Bartlett, confirmed a 5-year, 5 percent target growth per year goal, which would require bringing 5 million visitors to the island and earning $5 billion fr...
Olympia Hotel Management Properties Win Multiple Awards
Olympia Hotel Management | April 11, 2019
Accolades from Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler Join a host of Brand Awards Five properties managed by Olympia Hotel Management have been singled out for an array of industry awards and recognition in recent months, including SOPHY® Hyde Park, The Alfond Inn at Rollins, Hilton Garden Inn Durham-University Medical Center, Hyatt Place Cleveland/Westlake/Crocker Park and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Portsmouth. "These awards are a tribute to the incredible management teams we have at each of these properties," said Sara Masterson, SVP Hotel Management for The Olympia Companies. "It acknowledges great people who are always s...
Hilton Expands Presence in Colombia With Debut of New Hotel in Bogotá
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | April 11, 2019
BOGOTÁ, Colombia and MCLEAN, Va - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today officially announces the opening of Hilton Bogota Corferias, representing Hilton's 20th property in the country. As the first full-service hotel in the city's Fair & Convention District, the 410-room property features more than 13,000 square feet of flexible meetings and events space, including the largest terrace in the area that offers both indoor/outdoor space and spectacular mountain views. "Colombia's tourism industry continues to set records with a nine percent growth in visitor arrivals last year, maintaining a positive year over year momentum," said Jorge Gian...
Sales “Steps” and “Funnels” Are SO 1990’s; Here’s What It Takes for Hotel Sales Success in 2019
Doug Kennedy | April 11, 2019
By Doug Kennedy While the hotel sales environment has completely transformed, hotel sales training models seem to be stuck in the 1990's. When I meet hotel leaders at industry conferences it seems most recognize the profound changes such as the emergence of third-party planners and the migration to online RFP tools (CVENT, CVB Platforms and social sites such as The Knot.) Yet most leaders seem to be unclear on what it takes to outsell the competition these days. As a conference speaker, I often sit-in on sessions delivered by others as I'm always eager to learn. From what I see, most sales related training recycles one of three traditio...
Blue Sky Equity Partners Acquires Red Lion Inn & Suites Tucson North Foothills
Blue Sky Equity Partners | April 11, 2019
SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2019 -- Blue Sky Equity Partners today announced that it has added to its hotel portfolio by acquiring the Red Lion Inn & Suites Tucson North Foothills and has announced plans to rename and reposition the hotel as a boutique hotel called 3 Palms Tucson North Foothills. Located near the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in North Tucson, the 156-room hotel is the Tucson North hotel of choice for both business and leisure travelers, outdoor adventurers, family vacationers, and visitors to the University of Arizona. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "We are excited to acquire this o...
Negotiation-Based Pricing: The Future of Direct Bookings for Hotels?
Matthieu Mauguin | April 11, 2019
By Matthieu Mauguin Looking back on the history of hotel pricing strategies, nothing really stands out until the early 80s. Before the deregulation years, most hotels stuck to a traditional model of rates, based on economic fundamentals, such as cost price and profit margin. The rise of neo-liberalism allowed for ambitious and previously unseen business tactics. One of them, first developed in the context of airlines, was the variable pricing strategy known as Yield Management. Understandably, Yield Management was a true game-changer which quickly generated large profits for lots of companies in multiple industries, and was propelled to...
Hotel Valuation Index Middle East 2019
Hala Matar Choufany | April 11, 2019
HVS shares the first issue of the Middle East Hotel Valuation Index (HVI) which provides insight on regional values and investment opportunities. By Hala Matar Choufany The Hotel Valuation Index is a hotel valuation benchmark developed by HVS. It monitors annual percentage changes in the values of typical four-star and five-star hotels. The HVI combines the various factors affecting the economy and region at large with hotel-market specific demand and supply dynamics to derive indicative values and future growth trends. For this first edition of the HVI Middle East, we have analyzed 14 key hotel markets in the Middle East with a total ...
