The Tricycle of Guest Service Excellence: A Perfect Model For Remarkable Experiences
Doug Kennedy | October 4th, 2024
Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | October 2nd, 2024
Choice Hotels Provides Update on Exchange Offer and Proposal to Acquire Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Choice Hotels | March 11, 2024
Announces Expiration of Exchange Offer and Withdrawal of Independent Director Candidates for Election at Wyndham's 2024 Annual Meeting Increases Share Repurchase Authorization Projects to Continue Delivering Strong Earnings Growth NORTH BETHESDA, Md., March 11, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) (the "Company" or "Choice") today announced the expiration of the exchange offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: WH) ("Wyndham"). The Company is also withdrawing its nomination of the highly qualified, independent director candidates for election at Wyndham's 2...
OTO and Simon Property Group Open AC Hotel Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center in Florida
AC Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center | March 11, 2024
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA (Friday, March 11, 2024) — AC Hotels by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, has opened its newest property, bringing the signature AC Hotel experience to Florida’s First Coast. AC Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center — located within Northeast Florida’s premier outdoor shopping, dining, and lifestyle destination — welcomed its first guests on Wednesday, March 6. The four-story hotel comprises 118 sophisticated, modern guest rooms; a well-equipped fitness center; 1,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a private boardroom; an activ...
Aqua-Aston Hospitality Debuts Dual-Branded Fairfield Inn & Suites and TownePlace Suites Hotels in Tempe, Arizona
Aqua-Aston Hospitality | March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024 - Hotel management company Aqua-Aston Hospitality opens Fairfield Inn & Suites Tempe and TownePlace Suites Tempe, two brands under one roof in Tempe, Arizona. Led by California-based EKN Development, the four-story, 80,816 square-foot property shares common spaces – including The Way Station restaurant and bar, outdoor pool and hot tub and 24/7 fitness center. While 83 guest rooms at Fairfield Inn & Suites cater to short-term leisure travelers, the 65 guest rooms at TownePlace Suites Tempe are thoughtfully designed for extended stays. Located across from bustling mixed-use retail hub Tempe Marketplace, the proper...
Soul Community Planet Hotels Celebrates Opening of Laguna Surf Lodge in Laguna Beach
SCP Hotels | March 11, 2024
Iconic Beachfront Hotel Reimagined as New Eco-Conscious Surf Lodge Laguna Beach, Calif. (March 11, 2024) – Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels, a holistic hospitality company serving those who value wellness, social good and the environment, today announced the opening of the Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP, a classic, beachfront experience in one of California’s most iconic destinations. Located in the heart of Laguna Beach, Calif., the 41-room eco surf lodge sits directly on the sand of the town's legendary beach, an easy walking distance to the acclaimed art galleries, eateries, and boutiques of Laguna Beach village. The hotel immerses gu...
Raines Adds Springhill Suites Cheraw and Hilton Garden Inn University District Greenville to Management Portfolio
Raines | March 11, 2024
FLORENCE, SC — March 11, 2024 — Following a landmark year, Raines has added two more properties to its management portfolio: Springhill Suites Cheraw in Cheraw, SC, and Hilton Garden Inn University District Greenville in Greenville, NC. Co-X Holdings has a majority stake in both properties. “Raines is simply the best at what they do,” said Paul Adkison, co-founder of Co-X Holdings, a private, boutique investment firm based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. “They’re known for maximizing ROI for owners while also delivering memorable guest experiences, all while strategically growing their own portfolio of properties, and their com...
Minor Hotels Celebrates Appointment of Estelle Vassallo as General Manager of Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel
Anantara Hotels | March 11, 2024
March 6, 2024, Global hospitality group Minor Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Estelle Vassallo as General Manager at Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel. With two decades of expertise in the hospitality industry, Estelle brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic vision to this unique property, situated 262 feet above the stunning town of Amalfi. Estelle's journey in the hospitality sector has been one of continuous growth and accomplishment. Her most recent role as Hotel Manager at sister property Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam served as a testament to her leadership skills and dedication to quality....
First Hospitality Celebrates Strength of Its Talent and Culture; Robust Growth Drives New Sales and Performance Accolades
First Hospitality | March 11, 2024
CHICAGO (March 11, 2024) – Following a record portfolio growth year of nearly 40%, First Hospitality, a national hotel operating and development company, kicks off 2024 by celebrating its 3,500 associates at the company’s annual First Honors Awards Gala that took place in February in Toledo, OH. The First Honors Gala honored over 35 hotel properties across First Hospitality’s diverse portfolio of more than 70 independent and branded properties. There were 36 categories ranging from “Hotels Ranked #1 on STR” to “Top Guest Services Scores.” The Drake Oak Brook was named Hotel of the Year for being the highest-performing hotel ...
Franchising Model Restored, as AHLA and Business Groups Prevail in Joint-Employer Lawsuit
AHLA | March 11, 2024
WASHINGTON (March 11, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey released the below statement today after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas blocked a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule to change the way joint-employer status is determined. In its decision, the court also reinstated a 2020 NLRB rule that protects businesses from undue liability for employees over whom they do not have direct control. “This decision is a huge win for hoteliers, the lodging industry, and franchised businesses. The ruling will critically reestablish franchisees' control ov...
AHLA Leads Coalition Letter Supporting Overtime Pay Flexibility Act
AHLA | March 11, 2024
WASHINGTON (March 11, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Executive Vice President, Federal and Political Affairs & Counsel Chirag Shah released the following statement today after AHLA joined dozens of organizations in urging Congress to support the Overtime Pay Flexibility Act (H.R. 7367): “AHLA joined with the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity and 83 employer organizations in a letter to Congress urging support of H.R. 7367, the Overtime Pay Flexibility Act. H.R. 7367 would prohibit the Department of Labor (DOL) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing its proposed rule on increasing the ove...
AHLA Statement on Resolution To Overturn Independent Contractor Rule
AHLA | March 11, 2024
WASHINGTON (March 11, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey issued the following statement today after Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-LA, and Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Department of Labor’s independent contractor rule. “In one of the toughest labor markets in history, the Labor Department’s new rule would limit opportunities for individuals to work as independent contractors and hurt hotels’ ability to maintain operations,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “AHLA applauds Sen. Cassidy ...
Registration Is Now Open for The Hospitality Show October 28 – 30, 2024
AHLA | March 11, 2024
NEW YORK (March 11, 2024) - The Hospitality Show, produced by Questex and The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), announces today that registration is open for the second annual event, which will be held October 28-30, 2024 at The Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. The inaugural event in Las Vegas successfully brought together over 3,800 attendees from across the entire hospitality ecosystem, including owners, operators, management companies, senior executives from hotel brands, general managers, and technology leaders, and sold out every vendor space in the expo. The Hospitality Show has solidifi...
Hunter Hotel Investment Conference Announces Exclusive Conversation With Ed Bastian, CEO at Delta Air Lines, at This Year’s Event
Hunter Hotel Investment Conference | March 11, 2024
ATLANTA (March 11, 2024) – Officials of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference (“HUNTER”) today announced a new session in this year’s programming. Titled “A Conversation with Ed Bastian,” the session will feature a captivating dialogue between Ed Bastian, chief executive officer, Delta Air Lines, and interviewer Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO, Peachtree Group. This session will merge the distinct perspectives of a prominent figure in travel and a seasoned hotel owner, offering insight into Bastian’s leadership approach steering the world’s premier international airline. Rooted in principles of prioritizing people,...
European Hotel Values See Modest Rise in 2023 but Fail to Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels, Reveals Latest HVS Valuation Index
HVS | March 11, 2024
11 March 2024, London: Hotel values across Europe remained steady in 2023 buoyed by the consolidation of the post-pandemic recovery and a steady desire to travel keeping average room rates strong, according to the annual European Hotel Valuation Index (HVI) published this week by global hotel consultancy HVS. These influences combined to offset the impact of a number of geopolitical challenges including the war in Ukraine, the war between Israel and Hamas and the shaky Chinese economy as well as increasing operating costs and high interest rates. The result was a modest uplift in hotel values of around 1% across Europe keeping them...
How To Get Revenue Management Right for 2024
Ahmed Mahmoud | March 11, 2024
By Ahmed Mahmoud The hotel industry is an ever-changing landscape, like many other industries, it has been unpredictable over the past few years, especially in regards to revenue management with unprecedented growth and innovation. From advanced reservation systems to personalized guest experiences, technological advancements have played a crucial role in shaping the way hotels, resorts, restaurant and others provide their services to customers. As we approach the year 2024, it is time to look ahead and explore How to Get Revenue Management Right for 2024 with the top trends set to further transform this dynamic industry, where the sec...
Avison Young Closed 12 Hotel Transactions Over Last 90 Days
Avison Young | March 11, 2024
ATLANTA – March 11, 2024 – Avison Young announces today that the firm has closed 12 hotel transactions over the last 90 days. Four of the sales were Hilton-branded hotels, two were Marriott-branded hotels, and an IHG and other brands made up the balance. Geographically the hotels were located in the following states – IN, KY, PA, CO, VA, AR, MA, GA, and TN. Of special note, Thierry Roch and Rick George closed a sale on a boutique hotel in the Cape Cod area for close to 1m per room and Chris Kilcullen closed the sale for the upscale Ascent on Main in Parker, CO. Chris Stark, Brad Sinclair, Mike George, Thierry Roch and Rick George were t...
The Broadmoor Promotes Ann Alba Vice President and General Manager
The BROADMOOR | March 7, 2024
Colorado Springs, CO— March 7, 2024 — The Broadmoor is proud to announce the promotion of longtime employee Ann Alba, a 37-year leader of the resort's unmatched hospitality team, to vice president and general manager. Ms. Alba has been a member of The Broadmoor team since 1987. Ann has only had one path to pave during her lifetime: serving others in the highest form of hospitality, upholding the recognition of the longest consecutive recipient of the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awards hotel worldwide. Hailing from Michigan, she grew up in her family's bar and restaurant business. Thirty-seven years ago, she walked through t...
CoralTree Hospitality to Manage Hospitality Operations at Tamarack Resort in Idaho
Tamarack Resort | March 7, 2024
DENVER – March 7, 2024 – Tom Luersen, president of CoralTree Hospitality, today announced that the company will manage hospitality operations at Tamarack Resort in Idaho including restaurants, bars and residential resort rentals in The Village at Tamarack, as well as lodging, spa and golf operations at The Lodge at Osprey Meadows and marina operations on Lake Cascade. “We are so excited to be a part of one of the newest alpine villages in North America,” said Luersen. “Tamarack offers a great year-round vacation experience from skiing and snowboarding on 2,000 acres of terrain in the winter to golf, mountain biking, ziplining, La...
Hilton Los Cabos Appoints Ruben Avila as New Food & Beverage Director
Hilton Los Cabos | March 7, 2024
Los Cabos, MX (March 7, 2024) – Hilton Los Cabos, an award-winning beachfront resort, has announced Ruben Avila as the resort’s new food and beverage director. An industry veteran with more than three decades of hospitality experience, Avila oversees all aspects of the resort’s restaurant operations including dining services, staff management, revenue management and strategic planning. In this role, Avila will manage the resort’s day-to-day operations for the culinary division, overseeing chefs, service staff, and ensuring exceptional guest experiences across all six (6) culinary concepts offered on property. Avila joins Hilton Los C...
Virginia’s Mountain Lake Lodge Welcomes Executive Chef Stephen DeMarco
Mountain Lake Lodge | March 7, 2024
PEMBROKE, Va., March 7, 2024 -- Mountain Lake Lodge is celebrating a new culinary tradition as it welcomes Executive Chef Stephen DeMarco to the award-winning resort. Long a visionary leader in the area's culinary scene, DeMarco brings sumptuous, inventive fare and the highest culinary standards to resort guests and area residents alike, overseeing culinary operations at Harvest Restaurant, Stony Creek Tavern, Salt Pond Pub, themed weekends, meetings and special events. Following a grand 10-year association with The Hotel Roanoke, Chef DeMarco's classical training and innovative style feature menus rich in locally sourced ingredien...
How Better Personalization Builds Relationships That Last
Amanda Cole | March 7, 2024
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Hoteliers Caution New Jersey Lawmakers Against Job-Killing Anti-Hotel Legislation
AHLA | March 7, 2024
WASHINGTON (March 7, 2024) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), hoteliers, and other hospitality stakeholders met with more than 25 New Jersey legislators in Trenton, N.J., Monday to caution that legislation under consideration in the Garden State would drive hotels out of the state and destroy thousands of jobs. The bills in question, A3495 and S2336, would destroy the hotel industry’s franchise model by making it harder for hotels to enforce the quality, service, and safety standards that guests have come to trust. They could also disrupt the popular loyalty programs that many hotel brands use and even force the t...
U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 2 March
CoStar Group | March 7, 2024
WASHINGTON – 7 March 2024 – U.S. hotel performance was mostly positive year over year, according to CoStar’s latest data through 2 March. 25 February through 2 March 2024 (percentage change from comparable week in 2023): Occupancy: 62.5% (-0.3%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$155.29 (+2.7%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$97.12 (+2.4%) Among the Top 25 Markets, Seattle reported the largest year-over-year occupancy increase (+12.1% to 66.5%). Las Vegas, helped by the NAHB International Builders’ Show, posted the highest growth in ADR (+25.4% to US$249.30) and RevPAR (+36.5% to US$217.82) The steepest...
Do You Give Your Customers an Experience – Or Just a Transaction?
Shep Hyken | March 7, 2024
By Shep Hyken In the past few months, I’ve been to several concerts. I’d say the entertainers were legends in the industry. Two of them were Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr (of the Beatles). Both are talented beyond words. They both have successful careers. They have both been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s important for you to know this, just in case you don’t know who they are. It’s a generational thing. If you were born in this century, you probably don’t know either of them, but trust me, they are rock stars and legends! There was a difference in their shows. Bob Dylan came out and played. He barely spoke ...
Everhome Suites Makes Its Debut on the East Coast With Opening in Newnan, GA
Everhome Suites®: Closer to Home | March 7, 2024
NORTH BETHESDA, Md., March 7, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announced the opening of Everhome Suites in Newnan, Georgia, marking the midscale extended stay brand's debut on the East Coast. Everhome Suites Newnan is located on a dual-site property alongside the economy extended stay brand WoodSpring Suites, making it the first side-by-side location for two of Choice Hotels' four extended stay brands. Both hotels, owned by Turnstone Group, will serve the Newnan market, including the City of Hope Cancer Center, and are less than 40 miles from downtown Atlanta. Everhome Suites has 66 properties in its pipeline, as of t...
