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 Centerâ„¢ | October 2nd, 2024
Fodor’s Travel Names the 100 Most Incredible Hotels in the World for 2025
Fodor's | October 17, 2024
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2024-- Fodor's Travel, the leading name in travel recommendations for over 85 years, today announced the 2025 edition of its Fodor's Finest: The Most Incredible Hotels in the World list and detailed an all-new guidebook exploring the best wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the United States. 2025 Fodor's Finest: 100 Hotels We're Obsessed With This year's Fodor's Finest list consists of 100 extraordinary hotels around the world, hand-picked by Fodor's editors with input from 750 hotel experts from all corners of the globe – and absolutely no sway or sponsorship from outside parties. Counter to many ot...
Travelers in the Caribbean and Latin America Prioritize Wellbeing and Seek Authentic Experiences, New Marriott International Survey Reveals
Marriott International | October 17, 2024
The survey reveals key travel trends for 2025, highlighting the importance of sustainable tourism, personalized experiences, and the enduring allure of all-inclusive resorts. Plantation, Fla. – October 17, 2024 – A new survey of travelers in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) reveals insightful data about travel aspirations, priorities, and emerging trends for 2025. The survey, conducted by Marriott International CALA in partnership with the market research firm Appinio, provides a comprehensive look at the evolving travel landscape across generations, offering valuable insights for travel providers and industry stakeholder...
Why Handling Mistakes Well Is a Key to Amazing Customer Service
Shep Hyken | October 17, 2024
Good customer service becomes noticeable for two reasons: A company or brand can be known for amazing customer service and experience. Customers may notice the employees’ attitude, how easy they are to do business with and more. But sometimes they don’t, because it’s expected. However, over time, customers will notice that there are never problems. It may not happen right away, but eventually, customers will realize why they like the company. The experience is what they want and expect every time.  A customer’s complaint or issue is resolved in such a way that the customer notices. They are pleasantly surprised at how...
Growth Across Pacific Slows as Post-Pandemic Rebound Fades, Says World Bank
World Bank | October 17, 2024
By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Growth across the Pacific Islands is expected to slow to 3.6% this year, down from 5.8% in 2023, as a post-pandemic rebound fades and Fiji, contributing half of the region's output, slowed significantly, the World Bank said on Tuesday. A long-term slowdown was caused by weaker investment, increasing climate risks, and structural challenges, a report said. Without immediate action to ramp up investment, Pacific Island nations may struggle to reduce poverty and generate new economic opportunities, it added. The Washington-based global lender said investment had shrunk on average across Pacific Island coun...
Jamie Dimon Charts JPMorgan Expansion Plan Into Africa
JPMorgan Chase | October 17, 2024
By Nupur Anand NEW YORK (Reuters) -JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. lender, plans to enter Kenya and Ivory Coast this year and grow its footprint in Africa, CEO Jamie Dimon told Reuters. International markets are a growth area for JPMorgan, which has more than $4.2 trillion in assets and operates in over 100 countries. That compares with Citigroup, which does business in almost 180 countries and has the largest global footprint among U.S. banking giants. "We want to add a country or two (enter or deepen presence) in Africa, every couple of years or so," Dimon said by phone from New York on Friday before departing on a trip to Africa. The c...
UK’s Premier Inn Owner Whitbread Enjoys Bookings Boost After Lower Profits
Premier Inn | October 17, 2024
By Shanima A (Reuters) -Bookings at British hotel group Whitbread are picking up for the holiday season, the company said on Wednesday, after reporting a fall in first-half profit. Whitbread shares rose more than 4% in early trade after the group, which also owns restaurant and pub chains such as Beefeater and Bar+Block Steakhouse, raised its interim dividend and announced a share buyback programme worth 100 million pounds ($129.95 million). "After a slightly softer start in September we've seen trading pick back up and we're outperforming the market," CEO Dominic Paul told Reuters. UK revenue per available room (RevPAR) - an important me...
Sonoma, California’s MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa Welcomes New Executive Chef Eric Piacentine
MacArthur Place | October 16, 2024
SONOMA, CALIF. (October 16, 2024) – MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa, a 69-room luxury boutique hotel, announces the appointment of Eric Piacentine as Executive Chef. In this role, Chef Eric will oversee all culinary operations and menu curation for the property’s three culinary concepts — Layla, the dining centerpiece of the hotel, The Bar at MacArthur and The Porch, a marketplace featuring local purveyors — weddings and social events, poolside dining, and the hotel’s in-room dining program. With over 20 years of industry experience including work at world-class resorts and up-scale restaurants, Chef Eric brings a wealth of experien...
Mauricio Quezada Reyes Named as General Manager for the Marquis Los Cabos in Mexico
Marquis Los Cabos | October 16, 2024
LOS CABOS, MEXICO (Oct. 16, 2024) – Marquis Los Cabos, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort located on the tip of Baja California Sur, announces today the appointment of Mauricio Quezada Reyes as the new general manager. With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, Quezada brings a wealth of hospitality expertise and a passion for crafting unforgettable guest experiences to his new role. His leadership journey has traversed eight countries, where he has excelled in sales and general management within diverse hotel models, such as Club Cascadas de Baja in Cabo San Lucas, and an all-inclusive resort component for The Villa Group. H...
Bob W Appoints Hervé Deligny as Chief Financial Officer
Bob W | October 16, 2024
October 16, 2024 - Helsinki, Finland – Bob W, the tech-powered hospitality operator redefining the world of hotels and short-term rentals, has today announced the appointment of Hervé Deligny to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With over 25 years experience in financial leadership and scaling global businesses, Deligny brings with him a wealth of expertise across the hospitality and real estate industries. At Bob W, Delingy will be tasked with spearheading Bob W’s continued growth across Europe and beyond. Delingy started his career with PwC and spent more than 15 years at AccorHotels in Paris and London, working across finance a...
Regent Santa Monica Beach Opens in California
Regent Santa Monica Beach | October 16, 2024
October 16, 2024 (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) – The legendary Regent brand returns to the shores of the United States with the opening of Regent Santa Monica Beach. This elegant beachfront resort cements the reimagined Regent brand and the beauty of contrast by combining the glamour of Los Angeles with the splendor of the coast. Regent Santa Monica Beach, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, reintroduces the legendary Regent name to Los Angeles and becomes the brand’s first flagship property within the Americas. Originally located in Beverly Hills, and famously known as the setting for the film “Pretty Woma...
Berlin Hotels Posted All-Time High Performance for September
CoStar Group | October 16, 2024
WASHINGTON – 16 October2024 – The 2024 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology (InnoTrans) pushed Berlin’s monthly average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) to all-time highs, according to September preliminary data from CoStar. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets. September 2024 (year-over-year % change): Occupancy: 85.4% (+1.4%) ADR: EUR177.49 (+18.4%) RevPAR: EUR151.60 (+20.1%) In addition to the monthly records in ADR and RevPAR, Berlin’s occupancy was at its highest point since Septe...
Hotel Success Today – The GM Factor
Chuck Kelley | October 16, 2024
When you first walk into a hotel lobby do you get a sense of the hotel? A sense of positive or negative vibes. I have seen both lately and I firmly believe it starts with the Hotel General Manager – not rocket science. Of course, it starts with the sense that everything is fresh and clean. Then you notice the little things… The Guest Service Agent is headed to the back, sees an approaching guest and returns to engage the guest. Eye contact is always there with a genuine smile. Employees are always present where you expect them to be and not in the back talking story. Product quality is just there, everything from the condition o...
Hyatt Enters Joint Venture with China Resources Land to Expand Portfolio Across China
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | October 16, 2024
CHICAGO (October 16, 2024) Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today that affiliates of Hyatt and China Resources Land (CR Land, stock code: 01109.HK) have entered a joint venture and signed a strategic collaboration agreement to expand Hyatt’s brand presence across China. This is part of Hyatt’s asset-light expansion of its brands in Hyatt’s second largest market. Under the initial plans, the joint venture, Yuen Kai Holdings Limited, will develop and manage hotels including six existing Mumian hotels in Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Rizhao as well as two new Mumian hotels in Shaoxing and Shanghai that are set to open in t...
Delta to Pause Flights Between New York and Tel Aviv Through March
Delta Airlines | October 16, 2024
October 16, 2024 - Delta Air Lines said on Tuesday it will pause its flights between New York's JFK airport and Tel Aviv through March, due to escalating conflict and safety concerns in Israel. The airline said it has issued a travel waiver for all customers who were booked on its flights to travel to and from Tel Aviv before March 31, 2025. It had earlier suspended flights to Tel Aviv through the end of 2024. Several airlines globally have suspended their services to Israel and Lebanon, while also revising schedules to avoid the Iranian and Lebanese airspace, in an attempt to ensure passenger safety as security concerns rise in the region...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Taps into the Future of Travel Planning at SXSW Sydney 2024
IHG Hotels & Resorts | October 16, 2024
IHG Hotels & Resorts offered festival-goers and consumers a stress-free way to plan their next holiday at South-by-South-West Sydney (SXSW) October 14-20, thanks to innovative technology that taps into the subconscious mind. The aptly-named IHG Hotels & Resorts ‘Mind Lobby’ is a futuristic, experiential activation that launched on Sydney’s International Convention Centre Forecourt throughout the week-long event and sits at the heart of IHG’s official partnership with SXSW Sydney 2024. Using cutting-edge eye-tracking technology, the IHG Hotels & Resorts Mind Lobby is a cinematic experience that tracks and monitors userâ...
Pacific Terrace Hotel in Pacific Beach, California Completes $3 Million Renovation
Bartell Hotels | October 16, 2024
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 16, 2024-- Pacific Terrace Hotel, a 4 Diamond beachfront hotel in Pacific Beach, brings sophisticated, barefoot luxury to a new level with the recently unveiled transformation of the classic elegant hotel on the shores of San Diego's sandy beach.  The two-year, $3 million renovation project focused on luxury, exclusivity and comfort for guests at the iconic property. With the best oceanfront balconies and patios in the city, the hotel now features a chic residential-style lobby, a fresh and inviting Terrace Café, plus 73 reimagined guestrooms, including 27 suites and junior suites with custom designs crafted exclusiv...
Four Seasons Hotel New York is Set to Reopen This Fall
Four Seasons | October 16, 2024
NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2024-- Excitement continues to build as Four Seasons Hotel New York prepares to reopen its doors and welcome guests back this fall. Long a favoured address of both Manhattanites and travellers from near and far thanks to its iconic address on 57 East 57th Street, large residential-style suites and genuine care offered by its experienced staff, Four Seasons Hotel New York is a vibrant heartbeat in the City That Never Sleeps, placing guests at the centre of it all. "For more than three decades, Four Seasons Hotel New York has been a beacon of luxury hospitality for discerning guests from around the world – and around ...
Casa Loma Beach Hotel Reopens in Laguna Beach, California Unveiling a $15 Million Transformation
Casa Loma Beach Hotel | October 16, 2024
Laguna Beach, Calif. - October 16, 2024 – Casa Loma Beach Hotel, a 70-room bespoke, serene haven on the world-famous, rock-strewn cliffs of Laguna Beach, has debuted a $15 million renovation befitting the property’s location on the choicest slice of sea and sand on Main Beach. Renowned group Marc & Rose Hospitality enlisted the acclaimed Venice, California-based architecture and interior design studio Electric Bowery, as well as the lauded graphic and branding firm LAND, to reimagine what was formerly the beloved Inn at Laguna Beach. The celebrated oceanfront property’s transformation is influenced not only by the beauty of it...
Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa Opens in West Africa’s Benin
Sofitel | October 16, 2024
October 2024: Sofitel is proud to announce the opening of Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa, located in West Africa’s Benin. This prestigious addition to Sofitel’s portfolio in Africa reflects the brand's commitment to strengthening its presence across the continent, blending luxury with local heritage on Benin's scenic coastline. The hotel is set to redefine luxury hospitality in the region while aligning with Sofitel's dedication to cultural link and refined elegance. “A pioneer of French luxury hospitality for 60 years, Sofitel today embodies refined and committed luxury, blending French elegance with a strong local presence....
Landmark Hotels, Inc. Breaks Ground for Hyatt Place Sonoma Wine Country in St. Helena, California
Landmark Hotels | October 16, 2024
ST. HELENA, Calif., Oct. 16, 2024 -- Landmark Hotels, Inc. celebrated a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the Hyatt Place Sonoma Wine Country on Wednesday, October 9th with ownership, project team members and the Sonoma County community in attendance. The highly awaited start of construction follows more than five years of work to seek the necessary entitlements before final permitting in October. The 165-unit hotel will feature brand style accommodations with a regional design palate, where guests can enjoy thoughtfully designed guestrooms featuring distinct zones for sleep, work and play. These guestrooms have been ...
Mohari Hospitality, Omnam Investment Group and Pharrell Williams Partner to Acquire Historic Parisian 5-star Hotel in 1st Arrondissement
Mohari Hospitality | October 16, 2024
Investment marks the latest luxury venture by the strategic partnership between Mohari and Omnam, and the first co-investment with Williams LONDON, Oct. 16, 2024 -- Mohari Hospitality ("Mohari") and Omnam Investment Group ("Omnam"), along with Paris-based entrepreneur, musician and philanthropist Pharrell Williams, today announced the acquisition of an iconic historical property situated in the prestigious 1st arrondissement of Paris, on the right bank of The Seine. Formerly known as the Hôtel Saint-James & Albany, this trophy asset marks the latest acquisition by the Mohari and Omnam strategic joint venture, which was formed in ...
Unpack 2025: The Trends in Travel from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo
Expedia Group | October 16, 2024
TORONTO--Today, Expedia Group unveiled Unpack ’25, the annual data-driven outlook for what’s motivating travellers and where they plan to go next year. Expedia Group analyzed first-party travel data insights from 25,000 travellers, and the latest industry innovation to ‘unpack’ eight noteworthy travel trends for 2025 that include Detour Destinations, Hotel Restaurant Renaissance, and JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) Travel and One-Click Trips, which will take travellers from looking at their next trip on Instagram or TikTok to booking it. “Expedia Group continuously works to blend technology with travel, making journeys simpler and m...
AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in Austin, Texas Unveils Plans for $30 Million Renovation to Elevate Meeting and Event Spaces
AT&T Hotel and Conference Center | October 16, 2024
Austin, TX, Oct 16 – The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, located in the heart of Austin, is excited to announce a comprehensive $30 million renovation aimed at elevating both the guest and conference experience. Set to begin in Spring 2025, the project will focus on modernizing the hotel’s expansive 85,000+ square feet of meeting space to meet the evolving needs of today’s event planners and attendees. The renovation is timed to coincide with the upcoming closure of Austin’s Convention Center in late Spring 2025, positioning the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center as a premier venue for conferences and events. With advanced ...
A Hotel in a Hotel at the Fairmont Banff Springs
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | October 16, 2024
For Canadians, Fairmont is not just a hotel brand but a fixture of our nation’s history. In the decades following the country’s confederation in 1867, towns that connected the Eastern hubs of Montreal, Toronto, Quebec and Ottawa with the still-budding Western ports of Vancouver and Victoria were few and far between. It fell up Canadian Pacific – the company that would eventually sell its hotel division to Fairmont Raffles Hotels International then to Accor in 2016 – to not only build a transcontinental railway but to erect a series of what we now deem iconic hotels along the route. The Fairmont Banff Springs, first opened in 1888, ...
