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
New Forecast Predicts United States will Continue to Struggle for International Inbound, Domestic Business Travel
U.S. Travel Association | January 18, 2024
United States Trailing Global Competitors; National Leadership Increasingly Critical WASHINGTON (January 18, 2024)—The U.S. Travel Association today released its biannual forecast for travel to and within the United States through 2027, showing international inbound travel and domestic business travel will continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels in 2024. The forecast, prepared by Tourism Economics, was released just days after U.S. Travel revealed the findings of a global competitiveness report conducted by Euromonitor International. The report found the U.S. ranked 17th out of 18 top markets for travel due to decades of underinves...
Arch Amenities Group Opens Newly Renovated 13,000-Square-Foot Privai Spa + Fitness Center at the Luxury Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Miami
Arch Amenities Group | January 18, 2024
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Jan. 18, 2024) – Arch Amenities Group, a full-service, global provider of wellness, amenity management and meeting services for commercial and residential properties, hotels, private clubs and pools, today announced the opening of its first Privai Spa + Fitness Center in a hotel: the 411-room, luxury Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Miami. The 13,000-square-foot, newly renovated facility incorporates a 5,000-square-foot fitness and wellness center and features a full range of innovative and restorative spa treatments, Technogym fitness equipment, group and private classes, a Wellness Lounge and programs designed to deliver worl...
Pivot Tapped by KHP Capital Partners to Manage Key West Historic Inns Collection
KHP Capital Partners | January 17, 2024
KHP Capital Partners taps leading lifestyle operator to oversee portfolio of five historic properties in The Florida Keys ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2024 -- Pivot, the lifestyle operating vertical of Davidson Hospitality Group, has been tapped by KHP Capital Partners to manage the Key West Historic Inns Collection, a portfolio of five historic and reimagined properties including: Winslow's Bungalows; Lighthouse Hotel; Ridley House; Ella's Cottages, and Fitch Lodge. Situated in the heart of Old Town Key West, the collection features seven outdoor pools and two distinctive pool bar experiences. "We are proud to build upon our longstanding relatio...
Hard Rock International and Pointe Vista Holding Company to Develop Hard Rock Hotel and Residences at Lake Texoma
Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos® | January 17, 2024
LAKE TEXOMA, Texas, Jan. 17, 2024 -- Today, Hard Rock International in partnership with Pointe Vista Holding Company announced development plans for the Hard Rock Hotel at Lake Texoma and The Residences at the Hard Rock Hotel Lake Texoma. Set to begin construction in March 2024, the Hard Rock Hotel and Residences will be located within the Pointe Vista development, joining a 2,700-acre master-planned resort community featuring over 19 miles of shoreline, a golf course, enclosed waterpark, family entertainment center, amphitheater, casino and more. The project is expected to create over 9,000 jobs in the area. With a planned Q2 2026 o...
Little Rock, Arkansas: New Developments and Opportunities for Hotels
Kathleen D. Donahue | January 17, 2024
By Kathleen D. Donahue Little Rock is experiencing growth, both recent and potential. Propelled by average rate growth, hotel RevPAR in Little Rock continued to improve in 2023, with occupancy meeting or exceeding prior pandemic levels at most hotels. In addition to a recovery trend in both business travel and group demand, tourism and leisure demand in the Natural State experienced significant growth after the pandemic. There is a push for a resurgence in Downtown Little Rock, focusing on enhancements to the River Market District, including creating a revamped meeting and group destination. A deck park, similar to Dallas’ Klyde Wa...
Hyatt Plans First Hyatt Centric Hotel in Nepal With Hyatt Centric Soalteemode Kathmandu
Hyatt Centric | January 17, 2024
Hyatt Place Kathmandu to be fully transformed into a 153-room Hyatt Centric hotel centrally located in the lively city of Kathmandu CHICAGO (January 17, 2024): Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced an agreement between a Hyatt affiliate and City Hotel Limited to transform Hyatt Place Kathmandu into the planned Hyatt Centric Soalteemode Kathmandu, fully rebranding into the first Hyatt Centric hotel in the country upon completion of a renovation. The rebrand will come with a renovated entrance and lobby area, a unique sky bar and lounge, and enhanced amenities. Every element of this transformation will be carefully curated t...
Ten Room Features to Help Guests With Insomnia Conditions
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | January 17, 2024
By Adam Mogelonsky, Larry Mogelonsky Sleep tourism is in vogue and will be for quite some time because many travelers now value getting good sleep to prioritize their health and wellbeing. With that in mind, we can look beyond just some of the fancier amenities that hotels are developing and look more specifically at insomnia-like conditions with these ten features. With a big emphasis to start, both of us are not trained medical professionals. These ten features are ideas that we’ve come up with after reading extensively on the root causes of insomnia and how hotel guestrooms or hotel spaces can be redesigned in a value-engineered wa...
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore Welcomes Jill Goh as General Manager
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore | January 17, 2024
Announcing the appointment of the property’s first female General Manager Singapore, 17 January 2024 – Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is delighted to announce the appointment of Jill Goh, the property's first female General Manager. A veteran hotelier with over three decades of experience in the global luxury hospitality industry, Jill brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge in hotel operations and management to her new role as she takes reins at the newly transformed Mandarin Oriental property in the iconic Marina Bay precinct in Singapore. Jill is no stranger to Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, having served as Resident Manager b...
White Lodging Set to Open Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa
AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION HOTELS | January 17, 2024
- Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa to open on Thursday, January 18 - - The luxury hotel features 253 oversized modern guest suites, elevated dining, a resort-style pool, expansive meeting spaces and more - SAN ANTONIO, TX (January 17, 2024) - San Antonio’s first Autograph Collection Hotel, Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, is set to open this Thursday, January 18. The new luxury hotel at the corner of South Alamo Street and East Cesar Chavez Boulevard features 253 oversized guest rooms, two restaurants/bars, expansive meeting space, and repurposed 19th century historic buildings that are home to a day spa and a one-of-a-kind bungalow s...
IBS Software Acquires APS® for $90 Million as It Targets Major Growth in Hospitality Sector
ABOVE PROPERTY SERVICES (APS®) | January 17, 2024
Acquisition allows IBS Software to add state-of-the-art CRS, PMS and RMS capabilities to its established booking engine and distribution platform, significantly increasing its addressable market in hospitality Atlanta, 17 January 2024 – IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has reached an agreement to acquire the ground-breaking hotel and travel technology provider Above Property Services (APS®). The $90 million transaction will further solidify IBS Software’s position in the hospitality market and strengthen the brand, to underpin an ambitious expansion of its reach in the hospitality i...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Appoints Leanne Harwood to Lead Luxury & Lifestyle Portfolio in the Americas
IHG | January 17, 2024
Company, Industry Veteran to Begin New Role as SVP, Managing Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas in March ATLANTA (January 17, 2024) – IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the appointment of Leanne Harwood as its new Senior Vice President (SVP), Managing Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas (LLA). Upon assuming her role on March 1, Harwood will oversee the daily operations of the LLA organization, drive performance and operations of IHG’s six Luxury & Lifestyle brands and support their growth in the region. An industry veteran with nearly three decades of hospi...
Everline Resort & Spa Announces Steve Uricchio as Director of Food and Beverage
Everline Resort & Spa | January 17, 2024
Olympic Valley, Calif. (January 17, 2024) – Everline Resort & Spa, a spacious mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe’s Olympic Valley, announces Steve Uricchio as Director of Food and Beverage. Uricchio joins the property from Cannery Casino Resorts in Las Vegas. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the resort’s dining experience including banquets and the property’s six on-site restaurants. “We are thrilled to welcome Steve Uricchio to our team at Everline Resort,” said Andre Priemer, Managing Director at Everline Resort & Spa. “Steve’s impressive background and unwavering commitment to curating incr...
Gencom Retakes Majority Ownership in Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne Resort in Miami
Gencom | January 17, 2024
The Gencom-led partnership is planning a $100M transformation and repositioning of the cornerstone hotel asset in 2025 MIAMI, FL – Jan. 17, 2024 – Affiliates of Gencom, an international owner, developer and manager of hospitality and residential properties, announced today that it has retaken majority ownership in the 291-key Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. The transaction was financed by Citigroup and affiliates of KSL Capital Partners, LLC for an undisclosed amount. Situated at 455 Grand Bay Drive, the 275,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton resort rises over 13 stories on Miami’s barrier island of Key Biscayne. The upscale resort f...
Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel Welcomes Gastón Javier as Executive Chef
KIMPTON SURFCOMBER HOTEL | January 17, 2024
MIAMI (JANUARY 17, 2024) – Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, a recently renovated boutique hotel situated oceanfront in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco District, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Gastón Javier as the property’s new Executive Chef. With an impressive culinary background and a passion for creating extraordinary dining experiences, Gastón will oversee the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Social Club, as well as its lively outdoor restaurant and bar, High Tide Beach Bar & Grill. “We are delighted to welcome Chef Gastón Javier to the Kimpton Surfcomber family,” said Mohan Koka, the hotel’s General...
Hotel Finance: Sign Up Today for Meet the Money 2024!
Jim Butler | January 16, 2024
Early Bird registration is now available for Meet the Money® 2024. Click here to register with a $200 discount off the regular rate of $1,495. Meet the Money® 2024 will be May 6-8, 2024 at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport hotel. More information is available on www.MeetTheMoney.com. Register now to secure your spot for the hospitality industry conference focused on 2024 hotel finance, investment, and deal-making. About Meet the Money® For 30 years, Meet the Money® has created an energetic environment to forge relationships, negotiate deals, and gain an in-depth understanding of hotel investment and finance. Our national ...
Sydney Hotels Posted Record-High Room Rates in December
CoStar Group | January 16, 2024
WASHINGTON – 16 January 2024 – Helped by New Year’s Eve, Sydney’s hotel industry recorded its highest monthly average daily rate (ADR) on record, according to December preliminary data from CoStar. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets. December 2023 (year-over-year % change): Occupancy: 77.1% (+9.9%) Average daily rate (ADR): AUD313.27 (+4.8%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): AUD241.66 (+15.3%) According to the daily data, Sydney hotels achieved their highest occupancy level on New Year’s Eve (94.0%), followed by Saturday, 2 Decem...
WaterWalk Opens LIVE | STAY Property in Huntsville
WaterWalk | January 16, 2024
Lodging Innovator Kicks of New Year with Opening of First Alabama Property WICHITA, Kan. – January 16, 2024 – Lodging industry innovator WaterWalk announced today the official opening of its newest property under the brand’s Gen 2.0 model, WaterWalk Huntsville. Located at 1550 Perimeter Pkwy in Huntsville, the property blends the best of an upscale extended-stay hotel and home with fully furnished ‘STAY’ units and ready-to-furnish ‘LIVE’ units. "Huntsville’s unique blend of industrial complexes, research laboratories, municipal parks and facilities for national defense and space exploration offer immense opportunities fo...
Texas Western Hospitality Opens TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Abilene, Texas
TownePlace Suites by Marriott | January 16, 2024
Abilene, TX – January 16, 2024 – Texas Western Hospitality of Addison, Texas today announced the opening of their newest property, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Abilene Southwest. Located at 3838 John Knox Drive in Southwest Abilene, the all-suite hotel is managed by Texas Western Hospitality. General Manager Denise Worley leads the management team at the 112-room property for Texas Western Hospitality. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Abilene Southwest offers convenient access to downtown Abilene, Mall of Abilene, Taylor County Expo Center, Abilene Zoo, Frontier Texas and Dyess Air Force Base. The four-story hotel is also close to the G...
Marriott Debuts in Japan’s Kyushu Island With Opening of Nagasaki Marriott Hotel
Marriott Hotels | January 16, 2024
Modern design and enriching experiences underscore the brand’s promise of ‘Wonderful Hospitality. Always’ in the historic city of Nagasaki Marriott Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of Nagasaki Marriott Hotel, marking the flagship brand’s debut in Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island, and the ninth Marriott Hotel to open in the country. The new hotel brings the brand’s rich legacy to Nagasaki, a destination with a fascinating blend of Japanese, Chinese and Dutch culture as the only port city open to foreign trade in 16th Century Japan. Directl...
Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre Unveils New Look
Mövenpick | January 16, 2024
Ready to open its doors to guests following extensive renovation plan HANOI, 16 January 2024 – Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre is pleased to announce its grand re-opening in early January 2024, following a remarkable renovation that has transformed the property. Embodying the essence of the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts brand, known for its inventive and genuine approach, Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre is dedicated to providing relaxed and heart-warming experiences, ensuring every moment is truly memorable. Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer of Accor’s Premium, Midscale and Economy Division, Asia, stated, "We are delighted t...
Noble Acquires Holiday Inn Express Downtown Nashville
Noble Investment Group | January 16, 2024
Urban city center hotel is centrally located in the heart of Music City Atlanta, Georgia (Tuesday, January 16, 2024) – Noble Investment Group ("Noble") today announced the acquisition of the Holiday Inn Express Nashville Downtown. Located on Broadway in the heart of downtown Nashville, the hotel is embedded within the city's entertainment district and steps away from over 100 live music venues, the Music City Center, Bridgestone Arena, more than 500 bars and restaurants, and over 100 shopping experiences. Downtown Nashville is a vibrant, walkable district with eight million square feet of Class A office space accommodating over 80,00...
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe Launches Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe | January 16, 2024
Santa Fe, N.M. (Jan. 16, 2024) – Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, an enchanting luxury boutique resort comprised of 65 intimate casitas surrounded by rugged mountainous beauty, today announced a multimillion-dollar revitalization, the first in the resort’s history, of all guest rooms and suites is now underway along with the introduction of sustainability-focused landscaping. The revitalization will be conducted in three phases in an effort not to impact the guest experience and is anticipated to be completed this spring. The extensive upgrades are led by Langlois Design, a boutique firm focused on sustainability and s...
Alpental Capital Acquires 187-Room DoubleTree Leominster in Massachusetts
Alpental Capital | January 16, 2024
Alpental Capital (“Alpental”), a hospitality investment group with offices in Colorado and Washington, announced the acquisition of the full-service DoubleTree by Hilton Leominster, Massachusetts in late December 2023. Located just off I-190, the DoubleTree Leominster provides both business and leisure travelers convenient access to nearby businesses, attractions, and outdoor recreation throughout the Leominster-Fitchburg area. The hotel boasts 187 spacious guest rooms, nearly 15,000 square feet of modern meeting space, an indoor pool and fitness center, and an on-site restaurant and bar. Alpental plans to invest in significant propert...
The Holy Grail of the Hospitality Industry: The Commercial Strategy Platform
Noelani Schroy | January 16, 2024
By Noelani Schroy The hotel industry is, once again, in a state of flux; the COVID pandemic forever changed how hotels operate, but we are currently in a second evolutionary phase, in which the convergence of technology and strong commercial leadership, is proving to be an operational imperative for hotels to ensure profitability over the long-term. An important first step in this new operational evolution is the implementation of a commercial leader to oversee all the internal departments responsible for revenue generation. In the past few years, commercial teams have started being established in big, branded properties, but today, it is i...
