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
The Rise of Nomadism and How Travel and Hospitality Are Responding
David Ryan | May 13, 2019
By David Ryan "The question you should be asking isn't, "What do I want?" or "What are my goals?" but "What would excite me?" Tim Ferriss Like the overall theme in Tim Ferriss's best seller "The 4 Hour Work Week", more and more people are becoming dissatisfied with spending their lives seemingly stuck in one place, working at the same job for years, while yearning for true experiences that connect deep in their soul. Following the great recession of 2008 and the increased effect of globalization, more and more people have the opportunity to combine travel and work. Who wouldn't want the chance to combine travelling, working, meeting new...
Marketing As Communication and What it Means for Your Business
Connex Digital Marketing | May 13, 2019
Marketing, as a general rule, is an incredibly broad discipline. Is it research, design, and production? Is it advertising and promotion? Is it pricing, sales, and support? The answers, as you surely guessed, are yes, yes, and yes. Most of all, though, marketing is communication. From what you develop to how you promote it, understanding how to communicate your message is a critical factor in your success. Although it sounds simple enough, knowing where to start and how to move your marketing initiatives forward is daunting. Further, if you are unable to convey these ambitions, it will prove disastrous to your bottom line, Let's simplif...
Owned and Managed by Baywood Hotels, Fairfield Inn & Suites Opens in Metairie, Louisiana
Fairfield Inn & Suites | May 10, 2019
Metairie, LA – May 10, 2019 – The 124-room Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites in Metairie, Louisiana is scheduled to open this Wednesday, May 15, 2019 with the Fairfield Inn & Suites newest design and décor. Located at 2710 Severn Avenue, the Fairfield Inn & Suites New Orleans Metairie will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Baywood Hotels of Columbia, Maryland. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Fairfield Inn & Suites New Orleans Metairie offers guests convenient access to the French Quarter, Louis Armstrong International Airport, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Tulane University, Loyola U...
Maya Hotels Celebrates Grand Opening of Hilton Garden Inn Gastonia / Charlotte West
Maya Hotels | May 10, 2019
Charlotte, North Carolina – May 10, 2019 –The newly opened Hilton Garden Inn Gastonia / Charlotte West celebrated its grand opening with a "Spring Into the Garden" event that featured a reception with garden-themed hors d'oeuvres, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, property tours, raffle prizes, and entertainment by the Synergy Twins. Special guests included Mayor Walker Reid, members of the Gastonia City Council, and members of the Gaston Regional Chamber. "The development of the Hilton Garden Inn Gastonia / Charlotte West is a testament to Maya Hotels' commitment to Gaston County. We are delighted to celebrate the addition of ...
Mr. C Coconut Grove Debuts in South Florida
Mr. C Hotels | May 10, 2019
MIAMI, Fla. - May 10, 2019 – The highly anticipated Mr. C Coconut Grove, the first Mr. C hotel to debut in Florida from the fourth-generation hospitality leaders, brothers Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani, has officially opened its doors to begin welcoming guests. Alongside their premier hotel, the brothers are additionally introducing their contemporary Italian restaurant, Bellini, which will be serving guests morning into night daily. Mr. C Coconut Grove is the third property operated by the Cipriani brothers, who currently operate a 138 key luxury property in Beverly Hills, California and a 66 key luxury property located in the lowe...
Royal Holiday Vacation Club Recognized by the American Resort Development Association
Royal Holiday Vacation Club | May 10, 2019
Selected as Finalists in Three ARDY Award Categories MEXICO CITY, MX (May 13, 2019) --Royal Holiday Vacation Club has been named a Finalist in the American Resort Development Association Award Program (the ARDYs) in three categories. This is the fourth consecutive year the company has been as a finalist in numerous ARDA Award Categories. Finalists are selected from hundreds of nominations. Shining a light on Royal-Holiday's extraordinary call center operations, ARDA named Angelica Vela as a top Call Center Leader and the Call Center itself also was awarded a Finalist slot. The Call Center team is made up of a very heterogeneous group of...
Global Connections Releases New Cabin Model at White Oak Lodge and Resort
Global Connections, Inc. | May 10, 2019
GATLINBURG, TN-- (May 13, 2019) – Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) a well-known resort developer, travel club fulfillment and service provider of Global Discovery Vacations has introduced a new single story cabin with double master bedrooms at White Oak Lodge and Resort. Located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the GCI owned White Oak Lodge and Resort, tucked against the Great Smoky Mountains, is ideal for families. An RCI Gold Crown Resort for its condominiums and winner of the TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence for the past four years, the resort features both log cabins and condos for a combination of rustic charm and modern el...
Civitas Capital Group Closes on Dual-Branded Hampton Inn by Hilton & Homewood Suites by Hilton in Silver Spring, Maryland
Civitas Capital Group | May 9, 2019
SILVER SPRING, Md., May 9, 2019 -- Civitas Capital Group ("Civitas"), a leading independent specialty asset management and financial services firm, has closed on the acquisition of a dual-branded Hampton Inn by Hilton Silver Spring and Homewood Suites by Hilton Silver Spring property in Maryland. Hampton Inn by Hilton Silver Spring and Homewood Suites by Hilton Silver Spring is a 239-room hotel that integrates the corporate and leisure icon Hampton Inn by Hilton with the top-tier, extended-stay brand Homewood Suites by Hilton. The property was originally developed as an office building in 1969 and converted to a hotel in 2009. "Silver S...
HVS Market Pulse: Cape Town
Lolwethu Luthuli | May 9, 2019
By Lolwethu Luthuli Market Profile Cape Town is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa. As of 2018, the city had an estimated population of 4.5 million. The CTICC CEO Julie-May Ellingson has announced a R900m CTICC 2 development, this planned all glass sky bridge between the two parts of Cape Town International Convention Centre could become the mother city's latest tourist attraction. Source: Airports company South Africa 2018 The economy is sophisticated, relying on the tertiary sector, primarily the financial and insurance sectors, ...
IIG Partners With Good Shepherd Hospitality for New Boutique Hotel in Downtown Clemson, South Carolina
Interior Image Group | May 9, 2019
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Good Shepherd Pavilion LLC, recently announced boutique hospitality design firm IIG as the company that will design The Shepherd Hotel, a hotel set to open to the public in late 2020. Located in downtown Clemson and within view of Clemson University, the hotel will provide an opportunity to employ a large percentage of its workforce to those with learning and intellectual disabilities. The design of the hotel will reflect The Shepherd Hotel mission to inspire and welcome all guests. The idea for the hotel originated with co-founder Rick Hayduk, a seasoned luxury hotel leader. His daughter Jamison, who has Down syndrome,...
How Hotels Are Meeting the Demand for Quality Meeting Space
JLL Real Views | May 9, 2019
Whether they're hosting a conference for 300 out-of-town guests or an away-day for a 30-strong team from a local company, hotel meeting and event spaces are in high-demand. The global market for meetings and events is currently growing at seven percent per year, in turn driving up prices for meeting space across North America, Asia, and Europe. Yet not all facilities are in the same league. As hotels look to gain the edge in winning new and repeat business, many are considering how they can modernize, refresh or add to their meeting and events spaces to extend their appeal to companies and business travelers. "Tired, old facilities won'...
Wyndham Debuts Trademark Collection in Latin America with Opening of Costa Blu Beach Resort
Trademark Collection by Wyndham | May 9, 2019
PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 9, 2019 -- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,200 hotels across more than 80 countries, today announced the arrival of its Trademark Collection® by Wyndham soft-brand to Latin America and the Caribbean with the addition of the Costa Blu Beach Resort in Belize. Located seven miles north of San Pedro Town on the scenic Ambergris Caye, the exclusive, 38-suite, adults-only beach-front resort is located in one of the region's most sought after vacation destinations and is just offshore of the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in...
Hyatt Signs With Shanghai Xintian Real Estate Co. for 186-Room Hyatt Centric Hotel in Minghang, Shanghai
Hyatt Centric | May 9, 2019
CHICAGO (May 9, 2019) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Shanghai Xintian Real Estate Co. Ltd., a joint venture by Shanghai Industrial Urban Development Group Limited (SIUD), Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP), and Shanghai Minhang Urban Construction Investment Co., Ltd. for a Hyatt Centric hotel in the rising southwestern Shanghai. The 186-room hotel will be situated in a pivotal location, ideal for socially connected guests to find shareworthy experiences in the heart of the fast-growing city of Shanghai. A world-class city that never sleeps...
IHCL Signs With Kalpsagar Private Limited for New Vivanta Hotel in Jaipur
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) | May 9, 2019
Mumbai, May 9, 2019: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), South Asia's largest hospitality company, today announced its seventh hotel in Jaipur with the signing of a new Vivanta hotel in Jawahar Circle through a management contract with Kalpsagar Private Limited. Commenting on the signing, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL said, "The signing of Vivanta Jaipur is in line with Aspiration 2022 and our domestic expansion strategy of consolidating presence in important capital cities. Jaipur is one of the key lodging markets in India. It offers immense potential for both leisure and business travel...
Customer Loyalty in a Hyper-Segmented Hotel Landscape
Agnes Pierre-Louis | May 9, 2019
By Agnes Pierre-Louis Travelers today have access to considerably more information than they did during the early days of loyalty programs and are more reliant on reviews and user-generated content (UGC) than on brand names alone when making hotel choices. Also, when it comes to rewards programs, travelers have increasing options, with a variety of point-earning opportunities such as credit cards with compensation schemes and online travel agencies (OTA) reward programs. In fact, consumers are usually members of multiple rewards systems and use them selectively. How then can hotel companies today expect to drive consumer loyalty and doe...
Travel Trends Index: International Inbound Travel Tumbles While Domestic Leisure Travel Remains Strong
U.S. Travel Association | May 9, 2019
WASHINGTON (May 9, 2019) — Travel to and within the U.S. grew 2.0% year-over-year in March, according to the U.S. Travel Association's latest Travel Trends Index (TTI)—marking the industry's 111th straight month of overall expansion. However, this growth was dampened by the news that international inbound travel fell a whopping 5.4% year-over-year in March—after edging down just 0.2% in February. The sharp decline in international inbound travel in March was likely due to the timing of Easter, which fell on April 1 last year and April 21 this year; the holiday has historically been a peak travel time for visito...
HSMAI Announces 2019 Revenue Optimization Lifetime Honoree and Professionals of the Year
HSMAI | May 9, 2019
Randy Smith, Nicole Young, and Sarah Kalin Churchill will be celebrated at ROC 2019 (McLean, VA, May 9, 2019) The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will celebrate three outstanding revenue optimization executives during HSMAI's ROC Americas in Minneapolis, June 18–19, 2019. HSMAI will be honoring Randy Smith with its prestigious Vanguard Award for Lifetime Achievement in Revenue Optimization. Additionally, Nicole Young and Sarah Kalin Churchill will be recognized with 2019 Revenue Optimization Professionals of the Year awards, which are co-presented by Rainmaker. Randy Smith, chairman, and co-founde...
Mid America Lodging Group Selects dormakaba to Provide Electronic Locks for 21 Properties
dormakaba | May 9, 2019
dormakaba's Secure Reliability and Excellent Support Build Trust at Mid America Lodging Group MONTREAL, QC, CANADA – May 9, 2019 – dormakaba, the provider of secure Saflok™ and Ilco™ electronic door locks, announced Mid America Lodging Group selected dormakaba to deploy locks in more than 3,000 rooms across 21-properties in its portfolio. Mid America Lodging Group operates Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Choice and other brands and is recognized as a leader in hotel management, acquisition, and development. dormakaba is a total solution provider for the hospitality industry and one of the top three companies in the global...
The Hotel Zags Portland Reimagines Portland With an Engaging Brand and New Website
HEBS Digital | May 9, 2019
The Hotel Zags Portland, formerly Hotel Modera, has launched a custom website in partnership with HEBS Digital to showcase its new, out-of-the-box brand. The Portland hotel's new brand appeals to young, creative travelers through a variety of engaging offerings and services. The Hotel Zags Portland worked with the HEBS Digital team to create a website as welcoming and vibrant as its new voice. The new website brings the best of Portland to life through custom page designs, including a neighborhood guide — featuring an interactive map and illustrated walking tours — and a page for its complimentary equipment rental service, t...
How Will the Hospitality Industry Benefit From the IoT
Ana Bera | May 9, 2019
By Ana Bera The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to be a gamechanger for those in the hospitality industry. Therefore, it is essential for managers, hotel owners, and other business leaders to try to make the most of it. However, according to research, 87% of people are not familiar with the concept of the Internet of Things let alone what this technology means for the hospitality industry. In this article, we have discussed this matter, and hopefully, you will learn more about the latest tech buzzword and how does it cater to client needs. What Is the Internet of Things? The term 'Internet of Things' refers to the idea of cre...
Angie Hospitality Acquires Roxy, Consolidating Advanced Voice-Enabled Solutions for the Global Hospitality Market
Angie | May 9, 2019
Creator of hospitality's award-winning guest room virtual assistant completes acquisition of leading competitor. San Jose, Calif. – May 9, 2019 – Angie Hospitality, developer of the industry's first 24-hour interactive guest room assistant purpose-built for the hotel environment, has completed its purchase of the assets of Roxy, a competing provider of speech-enabled virtual assistant technology for the hospitality industry. As part of the agreement, Angie Hospitality will assume management and support of all existing Roxy installations and customers worldwide. In an email to customers, Angie committed to a seamless experie...
Radisson Hotel Zurich Airport Opens Following Renovation and Rebranding
May 8, 2019
Radisson Hospitality AB, part of the Radisson Hotel Group, is pleased to announce the opening of the Radisson Hotel Zurich Airport following a comprehensive reconstruction and rebranding. Arriving in Switzerland's largest city, the hotel will be the second Radisson-branded property to open in Europe – and the first in the German-speaking region – when it opens on 15 May 2019. As part of a repositioning and rebranding strategy, the former Park Inn by Radisson Zürich Airport in Rümlang has reopened under the Radisson brand. This is all part of the group's plan to introduce the sophisticated upscale full-service hotel...
Hakkasan Group and MGM Resorts International Transition Las Vegas Venues to MGM Management
Hakkasan Group | May 8, 2019
LAS VEGAS, May 7, 2019 -- Hakkasan Group and MGM Resorts International, two leading hospitality companies, announced today that the management agreements between them for Stack at The Mirage; Fix, Yellowtail, and Lily Lounge at Bellagio, as well as Alibi Ultra Lounge and Herringbone at ARIA, will end effective May 31, 2019. These venues will continue to operate under MGM Resorts' control. Hakkasan Group will continue to manage JEWEL Nightclub and Liquid Pool Lounge at ARIA, 1OAK Nightclub at The Mirage, Wet Republic Ultra Pool, Level Up at MGM Grand as well as the Hakkasan Group-owned venue Hakkasan Nightclub and Restaurant. The str...
Hospitality Properties Trust Acquires Wisconsin’s Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West for $30 Million
May 8, 2019
NEWTON, Mass. -- Hospitality Properties Trust (Nasdaq: HPT) today announced it has completed the purchase of the 198-room Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West in Milwaukee, WI for $30.0 million, or approximately $151,500 per key. The hotel will be added to HPT's existing agreement with Intercontinental Hotels Group. "The Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West is ideally located in an economically vibrant suburban community just west of downtown," said John Murray, Hospitality Properties Trust's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Built in 2008, this full service hotel is supported by strong demand generators from the area's healthcare, technology and i...
