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
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Appoints Thomas Hoeborn as General Manager
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | January 12, 2024
A hospitality veteran, Hoeborn will lead the team in all aspects of hotel operations and performance. MALE, Maldives – January 2024 – Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas Hoeborn as General Manager. A hospitality veteran with close to 40 years in the industry, Hoeborn’s new role will see him further drive Conrad Maldives Rangali Island's ongoing commitment to luxury and innovative guest experiences. Jamie Mead, senior director, operations, South East Asia, said, “Thomas’ seasoned leadership acumen and track record in luxury hospitality will go a long way in further cementing Conrad Ma...
CoralTree Hospitality to Manage theStelle Lodge in the Heart of Park City’s New SkyRidge Mountain Community
CoralTree Hospitality | January 11, 2024
New Lodge Expected to Open Late 2026 DENVER – January 11, 2024 – Tom Luersen, president of CoralTree Hospitality, today announced that the company will manage theStelle Lodge, a new four-season, boutique mountain resort in Park City, Utah. theStelle is located in the heart of the new SkyRidge Mountain Community, which is located lakeside on the Jordanelle Reservoir and across from Deer Valley Resort. The lodge promises to offer an intimate, luxury guest experience that includes three dining options, a spa and meeting space with access to all of the amenities SkyRidge has to offer including an equestrian center, golf course, shuttle to ...
Global Travel and Tourism Sector Deal Activity Plunges 31.9% in 2023, Finds GlobalData
GlobalData | January 11, 2024
Global travel and tourism sector witnessed the announcement of a total of 723 deals (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity (PE), and venture capital (VC)) during 2023, a decline of 31.9% compared to the 1,062 deals announced during the previous year, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that all the deal types under the coverage witnessed notable decline in volume during 2023 compared to the previous year. While the volume for M&A deals fell by 32.8%, the number of PE and VC deals were down by 40% and 27.9%, respectively, during 2023 c...
U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 6 January
CoStar Group | January 11, 2024
WASHINGTON – 11 January 2024 – U.S. hotel performance decreased from the previous week, while year-over-year comparisons improved, according to CoStar’s latest data through 6 January. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. 31 December 2023 through 6 January 2024 (percentage change from comparable week in 2023): Occupancy: 46.8% (-0.7%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$152.17 (+7.2%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$71.28 (+6.4%) Among the Top 25 Markets, New Orleans saw the largest year-over-year increases in each of the three key pe...
Stunning New Research Ranks United States Nearly Dead Last in Competition for Global Travelers
U.S. Travel Association | January 11, 2024
Due to slow recovery and declining U.S. global travel market share, U.S. Travel Association commissioned Euromonitor International to assess the competitiveness of the U.S. relative to other top countries for global travel. The U.S. ranked 17th out of 18 countries analyzed, stemming from decades of underinvestment and a lack of focus and coordination from the federal government. Inefficiencies in the U.S. travel system threaten the economy. One example: The U.S. risks losing 39 million visitors and $150 billion in spending over the next 10 years due to excessive visitor visa wait times (Tourism Economics). U.S. Travel launch...
Three Customer Service Lessons from a World Traveler
Shep Hyken | January 11, 2024
By Shep Hyken I’m always looking for good customer service stories that teach or remind us about creating an amazing customer experience. I experienced something worth sharing recently, and we can take at least three lessons from it. I booked an international trip for a speaking engagement. On the day of departure, I was dropped off at the airport and went directly to the ticket counter. It would take two flights on two airlines to get to where I was going, so I expected two boarding passes. The agent only gave me one and told me to get the next boarding pass when I landed. I’ve done this many times before and never had tro...
Senthil Krishnamurthy Appointed Executive Chef of Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection
Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection | January 11, 2024
Krishnamurthy Has Been Internally Promoted After Nearly 15 Years Serving The Park City Community DEER VALLEY, UT (January 11, 2023) - Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection, the Austrian chalet-inspired resort announced today the appointment of Chef Senthil Krishnamurthy to Executive Chef. With over two decades of fine dining experience, proficiency in eight languages and a passion for the greater Salt Lake and Park City communities, Chef Senthil exudes culinary excellence and cultivates a sense of community in the heart of Deer Valley. “We are delighted to promote Chef Senthil to the esteemed position of Executive Chef,” says Gen...
Coury Hospitality Promotes Andrew Casperson to Chief Operating Officer
Coury Hospitality | January 11, 2024
Coury Hospitality bolsters its leadership to support growing portfolio of lifestyle hotels and culinary concepts DALLAS (January 11, 2024) – Coury Hospitality, a leading full-service lifestyle hospitality management company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Casperson as Chief Operating Officer. Promoted from Executive Vice President of Operations, Casperson is an industry veteran whose leadership will be instrumental in fostering innovation to deliver guests exceptional experiences in culinary, entertainment, and overall operational excellence. Casperson joined Coury in the spring of 2023 and leads operations strateg...
The Hotel Group Celebrates Conversion and Renovation of Hampton Inn by Hilton in Pullman, Washington
The Hotel Group | January 11, 2024
The Hotel Group Celebrates Conversion and Renovation of Hampton Inn by Hilton in Pullman, Washington Pullman, WA – January 11, 2024 – The Hotel Group (THG), an affiliate of Hotel Equities (HE), and a leading national hotel management, investment and development company is delighted to announce the successful conversion of the former Holiday Inn Express in Pullman, Washington, to the Hampton Inn by Hilton brand. This strategic conversion and complete hotel renovation underscores The Hotel Group and Hotel Equities’ dedication to delivering elevated guest experiences. Launched under the leadership of General Manager Meghan Wiley...
Chatham Lodging Trust Announces Sale of Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center
Chatham Lodging Trust | January 11, 2024
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., January 11, 2024 —Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels, today announced the closing of the sale of the 180-room Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center for approximately $18 million. An approximate $6 million renovation of the hotel was planned for 2023 but was not completed due to the pending sale. Proceeds from the sale of the hotel will be used for corporate investments and to repay debt....
Wayside Investment Group Reopens Extended Stay America Suites in Baytown, Texas Following Renovation
Wayside Investment Group | January 11, 2024
Houston, TX, January 11, 2024 — Wayside Investment Group, a privately owned Texas-based real firm specializing in making opportunistic investments in the lodging and real estate sector, announced today the grand reopening of its Extended Stay America Suites located in Baytown, Texas, following a comprehensive renovation to provide more current amenities and services to long-term guests. The three-story, 82-room property renovations included significant upgrades to guest rooms, public spaces, a refinished exterior, and new signage. “We are thrilled to partner with Extended Stay America for the reopening of our Baytown property, replicati...
Conrad New York Midtown Names Jimmy Sarfraz as General Manager
Conrad Hotels & Resorts | January 11, 2024
NEW YORK (January 11, 2024) – Today, Conrad New York Midtown announced the appointment of Jimmy Sarfraz as the general manager of the 562-room, luxury property located in the heart of Manhattan. Boasting more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and with Hilton, Sarfraz joins Conrad New York Midtown from San Jose, California, where he most recently led the successful rebrand and opening of Signia by Hilton San Jose. In his new role, Sarfraz will oversee all aspects of hotel operations from the guest experience to food and beverage. Bringing multicultural and global experience within the hospitality industry, Sarfraz’...
Amadeus Brings Travel Technology Expertise to Membership in the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Amadeus | January 11, 2024
Amadeus is the first global travel tech company to join the industry body The Alliance seeks collaborative approach to building a more sustainable hospitality sector Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) to bring its travel expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector. As a leading, global player at the heart of the travel and tourism sector, Amadeus sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to the Alliance’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality – ensuring the indust...
W Barcelona Boosts F&B Guest Spend by 60% With IRIS’ Mobile Ordering
IRIS | January 11, 2024
The 5-star Barcelona hotel increases guest spend by two-thirds since upgrading and streamlining its mobile ordering capabilities with IRIS’ hospitality app W Barcelona, situated on the famous Barceloneta Boardwalk, partnered with IRIS, the leading provider of digital F&B and guest experience platforms, to offer a broader digital ordering experience resulting in a boost in revenue and efficiencies. It selected both its mobile dining solution to deliver an in-room dining service and a world of culinary delights direct to its guest’s doors, in addition to its digital guest directory solution to provide all guests with direct access ...
Sojern Named Finalist in the Hotel Digital Marketing Category in the 2024 HotelTechAwards
Sojern | January 11, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO – 11 January, 2024 – Sojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for travel, has been named a finalist in the Best Hotel Digital Marketing Agency category globally by Hotel Tech Report in the 2024 HotelTechAwards. Each year 2.5 million hotel industry professionals use HotelTechReport.com to make informed technology purchasing decisions. The HotelTechAwards indicate the best hotel software products across every category based on customer feedback and key proprietary data signals such as integration compatibility, organizational health, market share, partner network strength, and customer support quality. "Being...
Hotel Bardo Savannah Set to Open in February Following Transformation
LEFT LANE | January 10, 2024
Savannah, GA (January 10, 2024) — Hotel Bardo will serve as the Southeast’s newest jewel when it opens in February 2024. The highly anticipated adaptive reuse project transforms a 19th century Southern Gothic structure sitting at the heart of Savannah’s Forsyth Park into Hotel Bardo Savannah—a timeless urban resort and private club focused on creating community and connection. A new urban resort concept from New York City-based real estate development and hospitality firm, LEFT LANE, which specializes in the transformation of historic properties, Hotel Bardo Savannah is a magnetic cultural and social hub built on history, subtle mo...
New Labor Department Regulation Will Harm Hotels and Independent Contractors
AHLA | January 10, 2024
WASHINGTON (Jan. 10, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO Chip Rogers issued the following statement today after the Department of Labor released a new regulation that radically changes the way workers are classified as independent contractors or employees. The regulation, which is scheduled to take effect in March, will limit opportunities for individuals to work as independent contractors and hurt hotels’ ability to maintain operations. “We are extraordinarily disappointed that the Labor Department dismissed the concerns of the thousands of small business owners AHLA represents and ...
Anti-Franchise Bill Stalls in NJ Senate After AHLA Pushback
AHLA | January 10, 2024
WASHINGTON (Jan. 10, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President & CEO Chip Rogers released the following statement today after legislation that would have destroyed the hotel industry’s franchise model stalled in the New Jersey State Senate. “New Jersey state senators made the right choice in letting S3165/A1958 stall in the legislative session that concluded late Monday. The legislation would have severely limited hotels’ ability to enforce the quality, service, and safety guidelines guests know and trust. In doing so, it would have destroyed the hotel industry’s franchise model – a beacon of success...
San Antonio’s Historic El Tropicano Hotel Sells
JLL | January 10, 2024
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 10, 2024 – JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality group announced today that it arranged the sale of the historic El Tropicano River Walk Hotel, the first purpose-built hotel located on San Antonio’s famed River Walk. JLL worked on behalf of the seller, El Tropicano Hotel LLC, and procured the buyers, Trestle Studios, Sopris Capital and The Town Lake Company. Located in the heart of San Antonio's renowned River Walk district, this iconic property presents a unique investment opportunity in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. The 308-room hotel resides on a prime location in the north Riverwalk corrido...
Registration and Hotel Reservations Are Now Open for HITEC 2024
HFTP | January 10, 2024
HITEC North America will be held June 24–27 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has announced that attendee registration for this year’s North American event is now open alongside hotel reservations via HITEC’s official housing service. HITEC is the largest and longest-running show of its kind. Annually, HITEC highlights the industry's tech trends and current approach to integrating solutions into the hospitality sphere. HITEC in Charlotte is set to run ...
HRI Lodging Unveils Renovation of Aloft New Orleans Downtown
HRI Lodging | January 10, 2024
NEW ORLEANS, LA (January 10, 2024) – Located in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District just steps away from the Caesars Superdome, Smoothie King Center and Historic French Quarter, Aloft New Orleans Downtown announces the completion of an interior renovation including a redesign of the lobby and updates to the guestrooms, guest corridors and fitness center. “This renovation breathes new life into the Aloft New Orleans Downtown and we can't wait to showcase the refreshed and modernized spaces that reflect the dynamic spirit of the city,” said Adam Gaudry, general manager. “We are looking forward to welcoming guests bo...
Resilience Renewed: The Transformation of Portland’s Hotel Market
Eileen Bosworth | January 10, 2024
By Eileen Bosworth In 2023, Portland's hotel demand faced setbacks from public safety concerns and absorption of new hotel supply. However, initiatives like the Hotel Security District and a government task force addressing homelessness signaled change. The opening of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Residences and several upcoming events contribute to a cautiously optimistic 2024 outlook. Although Portland hoteliers’ hopes for 2023 were high due to a more robust convention calendar at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and a positive outlook for leisure demand in the summer, the year was challenging for the metro area. The difficulties...
Refreshing Hotel Fitness for 2024 With Mobility Training
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | January 10, 2024
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky Last year, wellness debuted as the next big thing for hotels. Within the broader banner of ‘wellness’ is fitness and exercise, where most hotels have focused on getting new weightlifting equipment, buying new cardio machines, making their gyms accessible 24/7, setting up some sort of healthy food outlet, and then programming in yoga, Pilates, step or another form of group class. What’s perhaps missed in this conversation is the importance of mobility (or substitute this word with balance training or flexibility) and how it can change one’s outlook on fitness, movement and preventing joint pain. There...
Choice Hotels Sets the Record Straight on Path to Regulatory Approval of Combination With Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Choice Hotels | January 10, 2024
Calls Out Wyndham's Campaign of Disinformation Reiterates Commitment to Completing Pro-Competitive, Pro-Franchisee, and Pro-Guest Combination NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) (the "Company" or "Choice"), today issued an investor presentation and infographic disputing the false and misleading antitrust claims made by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: WH) ("Wyndham") in connection with Choice's proposal to acquire Wyndham. The presentation has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is also available at CreateValueWithChoice.com. Patrick Pacious, Presi...
