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
R.D. Olson Breaks Ground on AC Hotel Wailea on the Southside of Maui County
R.D. Olson Construction | April 11, 2019
Irvine, Calif. – April 11, 2019 – R.D. Olson Construction, an award-winning general contracting firm in California, today announced the ground-up construction of AC Hotel Wailea, a 70,000-square-foot, four-story estate hotel located on the southside of Maui County in Wailea. Situated on a three-acre lot, the 110-room hotel will include one-bedroom suites and studio options, a business center, fitness area and infinity-edge pool complete with a poolside tiki bar and cabanas. The property is located at the corner of Wailea Ike Place and Wailea Ike Drive adjacent to the Wailea Tennis Club. It is in close proximity to The Shops ...
Ready, Set, Go! Boston Lodging Market Eagerly Awaits Another Marathon Weekend
Sebastian J. Colella | April 11, 2019
By Sebastian J. Colella One of Boston's long-standing traditions, the Boston Marathon, will take place the third week of April this year drawing around 30,000 registered runners, both amateur and professional, and over 500,000 spectators made up of vendors, volunteers, staff, and media from all over the world. Hosted by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), it is the world's oldest annual marathon and takes place every Patriots Day, a State Holiday in Massachusetts. The Boston and Cambridge lodging market thrives during the weekend surrounding the Boston Marathon and this year, the 123rd annual, will be no different. Over time, the ...
GuestTek Focuses on International Growth Strategy With Promotion of Scott Watts as Global Chief Operating Officer
GuestTek | April 11, 2019
Don Moore Takes On Role of Global President Calgary, Alberta – April 11, 2019 – GuestTek Interactive Entertainment Ltd., the global leader in providing innovative and interactive technology solutions for the hospitality industry, has appointed Scott Watts as Global Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, Watts will provide strategic direction in all regions with a focus on the overall global vision, while also remaining in his role as Managing Director, EMEA. Watts joined GuestTek in August 2016 as Vice President Global Operations, Installations and has since assumed progressive roles including VP, Operations, Americas, M...
Avison Young Closes 260 Million YTD 2019
Avison Young | April 11, 2019
ATLANTA – April 11, 2019 – Avison Young Hospitality Group announced today the firm closed on its 15th hotel transaction of the year with year to date sales totaling 260 million. Since 2013, the Avison Young Hospitality Group has closed 106 Marriott branded hotels, 72 Hilton branded assets, 49 IHG branded assets and 158 historic, upscale boutique, resort and other branded hotels. ...
Courtyard Hotel to Open in West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Sage Agency | April 11, 2019
Courtyard by Marriott West Springfield is scheduled to open its doors in West Springfield, Massachusetts on Monday, April 15, 2019. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard's latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Located at 885 Riverdale Street, the 121-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Shield Hotels of Northampton, Massachusetts. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard West Springfield offers guests convenient access to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of...
PDSI Completes $75M Restoration Project of Puerto Rico’s El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
PDSI Inc. | April 10, 2019
ATLANTA, April 10, 2019 -- PDSI, a premier hotel development consultancy, is thrilled to announce the completion of the restoration of the El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, after extreme damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017. The El San Juan is not only the most beautiful hotel on the island of Puerto Rico, it now stands as the epitome of luxury throughout the entire region. The resort is comprised of 388 guestrooms, suites, and oceanfront villas, as well as 40,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including an 11,000 sq. ft. grand ballroom. PDSI previously managed a $65M renovation of the El San Juan Hotel that completed 2 ...
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel Names Euan Taylor as General Manager
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel | April 10, 2019
SAN FRANCISCO -- (April 10, 2019) -- The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, part of the diverse and distinctive portfolio of hotels known as Sonesta Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce Euan Taylor's appointment as their new General Manager. A hospitality executive dedicated to leadership, service, and financial development, Taylor has had a distinguished career at properties from high-end chains such as the Four Seasons to distinctive boutique hotels with strong local roots. He will be overseeing the restoration of The Clift and will assist in helping it achieve a broader appeal after the planned renovations are complete. "We are ...
IHG® Signs Two Holiday Inn Hotels in Saudi Arabia
April 10, 2019
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed two franchise agreements including Holiday Inn® Madinah King Abdulaziz Road with Loulouat Al Madinah Hospitality and Holiday Inn Jeddah Al Hamra with Al Hokair Group. The agreements were signed and announced at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) 2019 in Ras Al Khaimah. The signings consolidate IHG's strategy to expand its footprint across the kingdom, with its midscale offerings. Holiday Inn Jeddah Al Hamra will feature 253 rooms and a host of facilities for business and leisure travellers including three food and beverage outlet...
Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts Appoints Five New General Managers for Hotels in Egypt
Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts | April 10, 2019
Frankfurt am Main, 10 April 2019 The Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts brand is continuing to build upon the strong degree of commitment traditionally shown to Egypt by opening a total of three new hotels in the country this year. This expansion is being accompanied by the appointment of five new General Managers and one new Hotel Manager in order to drive group growth further. "Steigenberger has developed into one of the major hotel brands operating in Egypt over recent decades," said Thomas Willms, CEO of Deutsche Hospitality – umbrella brand of Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts. "We are confident that we can achieve more grow...
Balboa Bay Resort Appoints Vic Casanova as Executive Chef
Balboa Bay Resort | April 10, 2019
Newport Beach, CA (April 10, 2019) – Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach's premiere waterfront resort, is pleased to announce the appointment of Vic Casanova as its new Executive Chef. Drawing upon over two decades of culinary experience, Chef Vic will oversee the Resort's culinary portfolio, including banquets and catering, café, and two restaurants, A&O Kitchen+Bar and Waterline Newport Beach. "We are excited to welcome Chef Vic to our team," said Sam El-Rabaa, General Manager of Balboa Bay Resort. "With his wide-ranging experience and award-winning record of success, Chef Vic is a wonderful addition to our Resort and wi...
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Sells DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport
Hospitality Ventures Management Group | April 10, 2019
NASHVILLE, Tenn./ATLANTA (April 10, 2019)—Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, has announced it has divested ownership of the 138-suite DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport to a joint venture comprised of Wexford Lodging Advisors, a leading hotel asset management and investment firm, and Trinity Private Equity Group, one of the nation's top alternative asset management firms. HVMG will retain management of the hotel and oversee a scheduled $2.5 million renovation. "Having owned the property since 2003, HVMG knows both the property and t...
How Many Tourists Is Too Many?
JLL Real Views | April 10, 2019
The hospitality industry, benefiting from surging tourism worldwide, is scrambling to keep up with demand while remaining aware of the potential pitfalls from the deluge of tourists. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, tourism and travel spending grew 3.9 percent in 2018, compared to global economic growth of 3.2 percent. The sector generated US$8.8 trillion in revenue in 2018 and accounted for 10.4 percent of global economic activity. "Budget airlines, new technology promoting destinations, and a greater disposable income among a rising global middle class in countries like China and India have led to a travel boom," s...
Booking Engine Personalization to Adapt to the Experience Economy
Larry Mogelonsky | April 10, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) So much talk is made nowadays about the experience economy and how this affects the personalization of hotels, but how can we make these concepts a reality? We all know they are both important for driving satisfaction scores, loyalty and healthy return over the long run, but there doesn't seem to be a straightforward and one-size-fits-all path towards operationalizing these trends in a way that's meaningful for guests. To wrap your head around how these two concepts can drive each other in a virtuous and profitable circle, you must first understand what the experience economy is and...
New SiteMinder Study Reveals Economic Turmoil Is Not Holding Latin Americans Back From Traveling
SiteMinder | April 10, 2019
Dallas, USA – Latin Americans still plan to travel this year, even if only domestically to compensate for the socioeconomic turmoil across the Latin American region, a new study has revealed. El Turismo Nacional - La Tendencia Más Fuerte en Los Países de Latinoamérica en 2019 launched this week by SiteMinder, the global hotel industry's leading guest acquisition platform, surveyed more than a thousand travelers from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru who say they continue to allocate part of their savings to travel in spite of increased costs within the region. To overcome the heftier price tags, trav...
Shiji Group Opens New Office in Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area to Continue Expansion in the Americas
Shiji | April 10, 2019
(Beijing 10 April 2019) Shiji Group has recently expanded in the Americas by opening a new office in Bethesda, Maryland. With the first US office based in Atlanta, Georgia, the new office in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area will serve the growing number of US-based Shiji customers. The opening of the new office adds to the existing 41 offices around the world. The international expansion of Shiji Group is aligned with the company's mission to provide quality services to all existing and potential customers around the world. As Shiji Group continues to grow in the hospitality technology industry, the company is committed to ensuring...
Fairfield Hotel to Open in Virgin, Utah
The Sage Agency | April 10, 2019
The 100-room Fairfield by Marriott in Virgin, Utah is scheduled to open this Friday, April 12, 2019 with a new décor that provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at One Camino Del Rio, the Fairfield Virgin Zion National Park will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Stewart Ferber and managed by Stewart Management of Springdale, Utah. The property will add an additional 94 rooms in another building on the premises later in the year. Situated 15 minutes from the south entrance to Zion National Park, the Fairfield Virgin Zion National Park is a centrally located hotel when visiting Bryce Cany...
Why Hoteliers in the US Love Hotelogix
Hotelogix | April 10, 2019
The true test (and victory) for any software, in this day and age of rapid tech advancements, is when the users come forward to share their success stories with the world. And the sense of elation is even stronger when the system helps them attain their key business goals. Over the past decade or so, Hotelogix cloud PMS has helped thousands of properties the world over, conquer their business challenges and has gained the trust of several hoteliers in the process. This is especially true in the case of hoteliers in the United States, where our product is loved for various reasons. We are both humbled and thrilled to share with you some ...
Homewood Suites by Hilton Dover Completes $2 Million Renovation Project
Lafrance Hospitality | April 9, 2019
Homewood Suites by Hilton Dover Completes $2 Million Renovation Project Dover, NH (April 9, 2019) - The Homewood Suites by Hilton Dover has recently completed a $2 million renovation project to its 88-room, all-suite, hotel property. The project was led by Granite State Contract Furnishings and included a complete refresh to the property, both inside and out. All the guest rooms, hotel lobby, guest lodge, and outdoor patio and grill area have been recently renovated. Owned and operated by Lafrance Hospitality, the Homewood Suites by Hilton Dover appeals to guests who want to travel on their own terms. Homewood Suites by Hilton Dover of...
IHG Signs With SRG Holding for Staybridge Suites® Dubai Financial Centre and Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City
April 9, 2019
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed franchise agreements for two hotels, Staybridge Suites® Dubai Financial Centre and Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City, with the Dubai-based real estate development firm, SRG Holding. The agreements will see the conversion of two SRG-owned developments to IHG's extended-stay brand Staybridge Suites. The two franchised assets will be operated by SRG Hospitality, the group's hotel management arm with opening dates set for January 2020. The hotels are strategically located along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai's main commercial artery with conve...
Quore Is Driving Hotel Employee Engagement
Quore | April 9, 2019
Study shows engaging workers via mobile technology makes them more productive; Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Nashville employees share how they are engaging with Quore Franklin, Tenn. – April 9, 2019 – Hospitality technology is playing an important role in guest engagement today, but it's critical that hotel companies don't overlook the importance of providing robust tools to engage employees as well. Findings from "The New Digital Workplace Divide" show that technology has a vast impact on workplace positivity and retention. The study revealed that: "Workers are looking for agile, modern solutions that support their need to wo...
Events DC Helps Visitors Find Their Way With Volara-Powered Amazon Alexa
Volara | April 9, 2019
Visitors to the expansive Walter E. Washington Convention Center being guided around the facility and hosted events by new voice technology from Volara New York — April 9, 2019 — Through a strategic partnership between Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, and Volara, the voice hub for the hospitality industry, visitors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center are finding their way around the facility and hosted events easier than ever before. The new voice-based wayfinding solution atop Amazon Alexa is powered by Volara's market-leading enterprise-grade conversation mana...
How Google Reviews Is Crushing TripAdvisor
Vikram Singh | April 9, 2019
By Vikram Singh An interesting trend has been brewing in the travel business. Quietly but surely, Google Reviews has been expanding their online review market share for brick and mortar businesses. Since hotels, inns and B&Bs are a 100% location-driven business, this change directly impacts both their revenue and branding. Online reviews left by strangers have become almost as trusted as personal recommendations. However, placing this much trust in reviews requires the user to be able to filter real reviews from fake ones. This sorting process can be extremely frustrating, especially on websites like TripAdvisor where everything is ...
Château Élan Winery & Resort Unveils Plans for $25 Million Renovation Set for Completion in November 2019
HEI Hotels & Resorts | April 9, 2019
BRASELTON, Ga. – April 9, 2019 – Château Élan Winery & Resort the enchanting château and full-service winery nestled among North Georgia's picturesque foothills, unveils plans today for an extensive $25 million dollar renovation, scheduled for completion in November 2019. The complete transformation introduces a fresh, yet timeless, modernized design while delivering a unique, distinctly southern concept dressed in French undertones, honoring the existing estate's 16th century-style charm. Beckoning a new generation, the transformation will include a complete overhaul of 251 guest rooms and 24 suites, ...
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Expands in North Carolina With Summer Opening of Hotel Arras
McKibbon Hospitality | April 9, 2019
SAN FRANCISCO (April 9, 2019) – Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announces today it will open a new hotel in Asheville, North Carolina this summer. A historic conversion of the former BB&T Bank building, Kimpton Hotel Arras will transform the tallest building in the city into a 128-room boutique hotel and bring to life a modern mountain aesthetic with locally curated artwork, culinary craftsmanship and a laid-back-meets-luxe experience. The property, located in the heart of downtown Asheville at 7 Patton Avenue, also includes 54 residences and two independently owned restaurants, Bargello, offering Mediterranean fine dining, a...
