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
IHG Signs With Barnes Capital to Develop 160-Room Holiday Inn & Suites Dandenong in Australia
March 26, 2019
Martyn Barnes has signed his third IHG®-branded hotel, bringing Holiday Inn & Suites to Dandenong, the so-called 'capital' of Melbourne's south-east. Headlining a mixed-use development that includes two levels of office space, the 160-room, design-led Holiday Inn & Suites Dandenong will rise to 11 levels when it opens in 2021, affording great views of the city. It will offer guests an all-day dining and bar experience, a gym, conference and meeting facilities, and retail shopping via separate access. It will also feature a long stay suite component targeting the corporate traveller who is looking to stay for extended periods...
Hyatt Plans Three Hyatt Centric Hotels in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas
Hyatt Centric | March 26, 2019
CHICAGO (March 26, 2019) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today strong U.S. growth for its Hyatt Centric brand portfolio, including development plans to build Hyatt Centric hotels in downtown Memphis, Tenn., downtown Nashville, Tenn., and downtown Austin, Texas. Designed for a growing segment of savvy explorers seeking shareable moments to inspire others, the Hyatt Centric brand currently has 26 properties across 11 countries, including Chile, France, India, Japan, Spain and more. "We couldn't be more pleased to see the Hyatt Centric brand grow and offer millennial-minded guests an opportunity to explore dynamic dome...
Operated by Atlific Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott Opens in the Calgary Downtown/Beltline District
Residence Inn by Marriott | March 26, 2019
Marriott International, Inc. has announced the highly anticipated opening of Residence Inn Calgary Downtown/Beltline District, the largest property in the brand's global portfolio. The Residence Inn Calgary marks the 800th hotel for the brand. With properties located in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Central America, Residence Inn is the global leader in the longer-stays lodging segment. Located in one of the city's most dynamic neighbourhoods, the Residence Inn Calgary Downtown/Beltline District was thoughtfully-designed to capture the unconventional charm of the city. Standing 33 stories high, the property feat...
Range Developments Enters Agreement With Government of Grenada for Development of Six Senses La Sagesse in St. David’s
Six Senses | March 26, 2019
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, March 26, 2019 -- Range Developments has entered into an agreement with the Government of Grenada to develop the La Sagesse area in St David's. This is an unspoilt area of remarkable natural beauty with two beautiful beaches. The first of the luxury hotels will be the Six Senses La Sagesse, set on a promontory boasting two beaches and a lake, one of which has been described by The Sunday Times as 'one of the top ten beaches in the Caribbean'. La Sagesse will be an incomparable master-planned development on one of the best locations in the Caribbean, just 15 minutes' drive from Grenada's airp...
Condor Hospitality Trust Closes Sale of Quality Inn & Marina in Solomons, Maryland
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. | March 26, 2019
BETHESDA, Md. -- Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: CDOR), a hotel-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered and incorporated in the state of Maryland, today announced the closing on the sale of a legacy hotel asset, the 59-room Quality Inn & Marina in Solomons, Maryland for $4.3 million. Net proceeds from the sale will be applied to outstanding debt on the Company's $150 million secured credit facility. "We are delighted with the closing of the sale of our last remaining legacy hotel, the Quality Inn & Marina in Solomons, Maryland. This concludes our initiative that began 4 years ago and has resulted...
Hermitage Hotel Becomes the First Hotel in Nashville to Offer Wine by the Glass With Plum
Plum | March 26, 2019
Award-Winning Luxury Hotel to Bring Innovative Wine-On-Demand Technology Plum to their Suites, Restaurant, and Bar Nashville, Tennessee (March 26, 2019) - Plum, the first wine by the glass technology revolutionizing the hospitality industry, is proud to welcome the historic Hermitage Hotel to its rapidly growing list of new clients. By introducing Plum, the award-winning property will be the first location in Nashville to offer guests the perfect pour in the comfort of their hotel suite, while dining at the Capitol Grille or relaxing at the world-famous Oak Bar. "Our guests value a sophisticated experience that is designed with their pe...
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Installs dormakaba BLE Enabled RFID Electronic Locks at 2,000-Room Destination
dormakaba | March 26, 2019
Casino Resort Smoothly Upgrades from Magstripe Locks to dormakaba MT RFID Electronic Door Locks MONTREAL, QC, CANADA – March 26, 2019 – dormakaba, the provider of secure Saflok™ and Ilco™ electronic door locks, announced Grand Sierra Resort and Casino successfully upgraded its magstripe guestroom door locks to dormakaba's secure MT BLE-enabled RFID locks. A team of dormakaba-certified installers converted over 2,000 magstripe guestroom door locks to RFID in less than a month. dormakaba is a total solution provider for the hospitality industry and one of the top three companies in the global market for access and...
2019 RD Musser Hotelier of the Year for the State of Michigan
The Inn at St. John's | March 26, 2019
PLYMOUTH TWP., Mich. — Mar. 06, 2019 — Paul C. Wegert, CHA, Managing Director/Area Manager at The Inn at St. John's, received the RD Musser Hotelier of the Year award at the 2019 Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism. Wegert was recognized at the Stars of the Industry dinner on March 6, 2019 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The RD Musser Hotelier of the Year award is presented annually to the Michigan hotelier who is "a visionary owner or general manager who has maintained the highest standard of inn-keeping over the expanse of their career." The award recognizes "an innovator who has continually sough...
Hilton University of Houston Receives $30.4 Million Bond for Renovation and Expansion of Teaching Hotel
March 25, 2019
HOUSTON – March 25, 2019 – A $30.4 million project to expand and renovate the Hilton University of Houston, the teaching hotel for students at UH's Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, has been approved by the University of Houston System Board of Regents. The project is financed through a revenue bond issued by the UH System, which will be repaid with additional revenue generated by the hotel. Preliminary design plans include the addition of a five-story tower consisting of 71 guest rooms above the south wing, increasing the hotel's total number of rooms to 151. Six suites on the second floor will be...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: RevPAR vs. GOPPAR and Why We Need a New Champ
David Lund | March 25, 2019
David Lund I have been around awhile and it's not like I'm ancient or anything, but I have seen some BIG changes in how we as an industry look at numbers and what numbers we focus on. What's important and what people are talking about for metrics is always changing—albeit slowly. Inside the current look is the driver for how we operate. For the longest time RevPAR has been the king. However, it was not always that way and I think it's time for the king to move on. I can remember when we didn't even use RevPAR; it was only occupancy and rate. Long gone are those days. I can also remember when we didn't have anything more complex th...
The Castell Project Launches $1 Million “Ladder Up” Capital Campaign
The Castell Project | March 25, 2019
ATLANTA, March 25, 2019 – Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today launched its "Ladder Up" capital campaign. With a goal to raise $1 million dollars, the organization also announced that Hilton has signed on as the lead sponsor with a $100,000 donation to launch the campaign. "While myriad international studies show that companies with gender diverse leadership drive higher profits, female representation at the higher levels of the hospitality industry is lacking," said Peggy Berg, president, Castell Project...
HSMAI Foundation Launches New Initiative to Build Hospitality Industry Talent Pipeline in Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management
The HSMAI Foundation | March 25, 2019
New Chairman, Seasoned Board Members to Drive New Initiatives in 2019 (McLean, VA, March 25, 2019) The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation today announced a new mission to tackle head-on a compelling, timely issue the hospitality industry is facing: talent and leadership development in sales, marketing, and revenue management. The foundation's reenergized efforts include an initiative with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Hiring our Heroes, a new partnership to help better qualify interest with Aethos' respected skill assessment psychometrics, and a joint effort with International CHRIE t...
PolyU Study Revealed Mainland Chinese Visitors’ Motivations for Shopping
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | March 25, 2019
Mainland Chinese tourists visiting Hong Kong tend to visit different shopping outlets to buy luxury goods according to their different motivations, conclude Dr Sam Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his co-researchers. In a recently published study the researchers revealed that mainland tourists who shop for luxury goods are motivated by "materialism, a desire for social status or to conform with others", and these differences in their nature influence not only what they buy, but where they buy. Shopping is a major driver of tourism worldwide, and cities such as Las Vegas, D...
Teneo Hospitality Group Surveys Meeting Planners and Hoteliers; Targets Five Challenges Confronting Meetings Industry in 2019
Teneo Hospitality Group | March 25, 2019
Time Pressures, Budget Limits, Creativity Concerns Cited as Major Challenges Eden Prairie (Minneapolis), MN, March 2019 … Tight meeting budgets, time pressures, organizational issues, a lack of creativity from hotels, increasingly complex and costly mandates in catering, a need for more dynamic and enriching experiences and resistance to change – these are among the major challenges confronting the meetings industry in 2019. Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier group representation firm, surveyed 150 meeting planners and hoteliers on the challenges they faced in effectively competing in today's changing and complicated mark...
Hotel Spas: Not Just for Resorts Anymore
the Authors | March 25, 2019
By Mark VanStekelenburg and Jenna Finkelstein According to the December 2018 edition of CBRE's Hotel Horizons®, the annual growth in RevPAR for U.S. hotels is forecast to decelerate from 2.8 percent in 2018 to 0.1 percent in 2021. As the main source of hotel revenue is plateauing, hoteliers are looking up and down their operating statements to find alternative sources of income. For hotels that operate a spa, this department has stood out as a bright spot not only for growth in revenue, but gains in profits as well. The slowdown in revenue growth will be particularly acute in the nation's major markets. Since 2010, the majority of n...
iVvy Venue Technology and Coastal Gaming Announce Strategic Partnership
iVvy Venues | March 25, 2019
NEW YORK, NY (March 25, 2019) – iVvy, the hospitality industry's most innovative sales and catering technology provider, and Coastal Gaming, a trusted leader in casino and hospitality advising, today announced a new strategic alliance. Together, the companies will help casino resorts better automate their operations with powerful additional capabilities specifically aligned to drive profitability and reduce costs by replacing legacy systems and automating processes. Coastal Gaming is a consulting firm which offers clients a broad range of services with a focus on revenue improvement, operating results, as well as guest and team me...
One Simple Word to Overcome These 6 Hotel Operational Bottlenecks
Hotelogix | March 25, 2019
Hospitality professionals are often under immense pressure when it comes to standing their ground and saying 'no'. For some reason, the industry has become synonymous with accommodating any and all requests and practices, almost inclining towards powerlessness! But your hotel's growth depends just as much on going against the norm and saying 'no', as it does on saying 'sure!'. It might sound counterintuitive but when you really think about it, being a 'yes, please' person can result in a lot of internal stress and external chaos. In an industry where saying 'yes' equals good service, you owe it to yourself, your staff and your business ...
Helix Hospitality Acquires Hampton Inn by Hilton - Wausau, Wisconsin
Helix Hospitality | March 25, 2019
March 25, 2019 (CHICAGO, IL) - Helix Hospitality, a Chicago based hotel group with properties throughout the United States, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Hampton Inn by Hilton located in Wausau, Wisconsin. Located at 615 S. 24th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin, the 87-room Hampton Inn was built in 1997 and underwent a complete renovation in 2017. This property marks the ninth in the Helix Hospitality portfolio and the third in Wisconsin, which includes the Hampton Inn Milwaukee-Airport, and the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Little Chute. "The Hampton Inn - Wausau represents the addition of another high-quality ass...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Arranges the Sale of the DoubleTree by Hilton – Pruneyard Plaza Hotel in Campbell/San Jose California
Paramount Lodging Advisors | March 22, 2019
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) is pleased to announce the successful sale of DoubleTree by Hilton Campbell – Pruneyard Plaza, located at 1995 Bascom Avenue, Campbell, CA. The hotel is part of the 30-acre landmark Silicon Valley mixed-use Pruneyard development, and enjoys excellent accessibility to all of the Valley. In addition to the hotel, there is approximately 365,000 square feet of office, 260,000 square feet of retail, and 2,115 parking spaces. The hotel is located just over five miles from downtown San Jose and San Jose International Airport, with excellent accessibility to all regional demand generators, including Levi's...
Choice Hotels Opens Clarion Hotel The Hub in Oslo, Norway, Marking Largest Hotel in Portfolio
March 21, 2019
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 21, 2019 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is pleased to announce the opening of the largest hotel in its portfolio – the Clarion Hotel The Hub in Oslo, Norway. The hotel offers 810 rooms, unique design, two bars, and a premium rooftop restaurant with stunning views in the heart of Norway's capital city. "Clarion Hotel The Hub is a destination for those seeking creativity, inspiration, and enriching experiences in the center of Oslo. This is the largest hotel in the city, but it still curates a warm atmosphere, with people who are passionate about diversity, sustainability and going th...
Luxury Hotels: What’s Their Digital IQ?
Meng-Mei Maggie Chen | March 21, 2019
By Meng-Mei Maggie Chen In response to existential threats posed by disruptors like Airbnb and Google, luxury hotels continue to grow digitally through reinforced loyalty programs, digital visibility and content production efforts and differentiating technologies on their online or on-property experiences. According to New York-based consulting firm Gartner L2, Four Seasons, Hilton, The Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont account for some of the smartest hospitality groups online. The firm released its annual report - The Hospitality Digital IQ Index - ranking the digital competency of 75 of the biggest hospitality players. We rounded-up three ke...
Cambria Hotels Inks Deal With Koucar Management to Develop New Cambria Hotels in Detroit and Portland, Maine
Cambria Hotels | March 21, 2019
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 21, 2019 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) inked agreements with Koucar Management to develop new Cambria hotels in Detroit and Portland, Maine. The upscale hotels are slated to open in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Located at 600 W. Lafayette Boulevard, the new 154-room Cambria Hotel in Detroit will be in a bustling downtown neighborhood that has played a vital role in the city's ongoing renaissance. Just a short drive away, guests can easily travel to many national corporate headquarters, including Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and Quicken Loans. The hotel's proximity to Wayne State Univer...
HVS Market Pulse: Los Angeles, CA
Luigi Major | March 21, 2019
By Luigi Major Los Angeles now ranks as one of the most economically powerful cities in the world, supported by a robust office market, a growing tech sector, and of course, a near-perfect, year-around climate that continues to drive high levels of visitation. This has resulted in healthy hotel occupancies and average daily rates (ADR) despite a 3.1% increase in supply in 2018. In 2018, L.A. added approximately 56,800 jobs, representing a 0.9% increase over the prior year. The city's economic drivers continue to be the entertainment industry, the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, leisure and hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and educati...
Sunseeker Resorts Breaks Ground on Charlotte Harbor Development in Punta Gorda, Florida
March 21, 2019
PUNTA GORDA, Fla., March 21, 2019 -- Today, dozens of Florida business leaders, dignitaries and Allegiant Travel Company representatives celebrated the official groundbreaking of Sunseeker Resorts Charlotte Harbor, a first-of-its-kind destination resort that is expected to transform hospitality, dining and tourism in the area (B-roll and photos from the event). The ceremony marked a key milestone for the resort, which is the first to be built under Allegiant's Sunseeker Resorts imprint. After enjoying pastries and coffee, the crowd witnessed the ceremonial shoveling of the "first" mound of dirt. The initial phase will feat...
