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
Azul Hospitality Group Expands to Portland, Oregon With Addition of Woodlark Hotel
Azul Hospitality Group | October 2, 2024
San Diego, CA – October 2, 2024 – Azul Hospitality Group, a premier hospitality management platform providing innovative approaches to maximizing an asset's performance, announced today that the Woodlark Hotel has officially joined its distinguished portfolio of hospitality assets. Known for its blend of historic architecture and modern design, the Woodlark is an iconic asset that embraces Portland’s rich history while offering the contemporary amenities and style sought by today’s travelers. Located at the crossroads of SW Alder and 9th Avenue, the Woodlark Hotel is in the heart of the city. It seamlessly integrates two historic Por...
Driftwood Capital Breaks Ground on $420M Westin Resort & Spa in Florida’s Burgeoning Space Coast
Driftwood Capital | October 2, 2024
Cocoa Beach, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2024) – Driftwood Capital (“Driftwood”) announces the successful groundbreaking of the highly anticipated Westin Cocoa Beach Resort, Spa, and Conference Center, a 502-key oceanfront development located in Florida’s fast-growing Space Coast market. Located at 1300 North Atlantic Avenue on the coastal city of Cocoa Beach, the $420 million Westin Resort & Spa will be built on a 15.7-acre site, providing the largest conference center in the region. The resort will be managed by North Palm Beach-based Driftwood Hospitality Management once completed. The event was attended by notable figures, including Cocoa ...
BWH Hotels Appoints Bill Ryan as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
BWH Hotels | October 2, 2024
Phoenix, Arizona (October 2, 2024) BWH Hotels, a leading hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies including WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay® Hotels, today announced the appointment of Bill Ryan as its Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Reporting to Larry Cuculic, President and Chief Executive Officer of BWH Hotels, Ryan will oversee the Technology Management team and guide the brand’s overarching digital strategy and transformation. “Bill is an innovative and inspiring technology leader with a track record of building strong relationships and growing brand capabiliti...
Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort Debuts Multimillion-Dollar Property Renovation
Hilton Cabana Miami Beach | October 2, 2024
Miami Beach, Fla. – October 2, 2024 – Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort recently completed its multi-million-dollar renovation, unveiling transformed public spaces, refreshed guestrooms, a reimagined signature dining experience and more. Located in the exclusive Millionaire's Row neighborhood of Mid-Beach Miami, and part of the North Beach Resort Historic District, the boutique-style retreat is celebrating a decade as part of the Hilton’s Worldwide portfolio and, with a thoughtful approach to its recent renovations, continuing to pay homage to its storied history, which dates back to 1951. “This resort has served as an iconic dest...
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas Names Kathy Diamos as Spa Director
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas | October 2, 2024
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (October 2, 2024) – The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathy Diamos as the resort’s new Spa Director. With 18 years of experience in the luxury hotel and spa industry, Diamos brings an impressive background and wealth of expertise to elevate the resort's current wellness offerings. A seasoned spa professional, Diamos' passion for wellness and commitment to excellence will be instrumental in transforming the spa at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas. In her new role, Diamos will leverage her extensive knowledge to elevate the spa program at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, by focu...
Chef Andrew Zarzosa Appointed Executive Chef of EAST Miami
EAST Miami | October 2, 2024
Miami (October 2, 2024) – EAST Miami is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Zarzosa as the new Executive Chef. He will oversee all aspects of the culinary operation for the hotel, including Quinto, Sugar, Tea Room, Domain, as well as the banquet. Chef Andrew Zarzosa joined EAST Miami with an impressive track record in the culinary world. His career spans over 15 years, during which he has developed a reputation for delivering extraordinary international dining experiences at some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. Chef Zarzosa's career highlights include significant pos...
Sheraton Denver Downtown Appoints Siiri Lobe as New Director of Sales and Marketing
Sheraton Denver Downtown | October 2, 2024
(Denver, Colo.) – October 2, 2024 – Sheraton Denver Downtown, Denver’s largest and recently renovated 1,238-room hotel, announces several exciting updates at the property this fall, starting with the appointment of Siiri Lobe as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. Lobe brings 20+ years of hospitality experience to the leadership role and will develop and oversee group sales and marketing for the property. Additionally, the Sheraton Denver Downtown is proud to have received three prestigious industry awards over the last quarter thanks to the work of its stellar team and the impressive renovation including Smart Meetings Smart St...
How an Independent Chicago Inn Built a Great Sleep Program
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | October 2, 2024
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky When we think of sleep tourism, our first thought may be one of elaborate, expensive, multi-night wellness retreats at some glitzy ultraluxury resort in a tropical paradise where getting a good night’s rest is all but an inevitability. Or perhaps you’re thinking of one of the new high-tech sleep chambers brimming with cameras, monitor sensors and algorithmic insights, like the 9h nine hours capsule hotels over in Japan. But setting up these programs need not be out of reach for your hotel, where this stellar example shows just how to do it right while also making it part of something far bigger. The Deer...
Best Career Advice: FIU Founder and Hospitality Industry Legend Tells It Like It Is
FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management | October 2, 2024
50 years later, Rocco M. Angelo of FIU’s Chaplin School still mentors students and stays connected with the hospitality leaders he has taught over the decades. Learn his tips for professional success. Five decades ago, FIU Hospitality Professor Emeritus and current Associate Dean of Alumni Relations Rocco M. Angelo joined a small program that has morphed into what is today the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management on the Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University (FIU). This semester, the hospitality pioneer marks his 50th anniversary at FIU. At 93, he is the oldest faculty member still coming to work, and ...
Cogwheel Analytics Announces Launch of Hotel Digital Marketing Benchmarking Scorecard
Cogwheel Analytics | October 2, 2024
Denver, CO – We are pleased to introduce our latest innovation, the Benchmarking Scorecard. This enterprise tool is crafted to transform how hotels assess their digital marketing performance. Tailored to meet the needs of hotel management companies, ownership groups and digital marketing agencies for both branded and independent hotels. The Benchmarking Scorecard allows you to compare your hotels’ performance indexes against key performance indicators of similar hotels. The Benchmarking Scorecard leverages the latest advancements in automation technology and integrates seamlessly with our existing business intelligence and descriptive ...
Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | October 2, 2024
Santa Fe, New Mexico (October 2, 2024): Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™, proudly announces its latest partnership with Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino, a leading gaming and entertainment destination in the Pacific Northwest. This collaboration will enhance the resort’s guest services by providing seamless, high-quality call center solutions. Travel Outlook’s unique combination of advanced technology and personalized human touch aligns perfectly with Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino’s commitment to offering unforgettable guest experiences. Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino: An Unmatched Destination in the Pacific N...
The Hotelier’s Guide to Operational Excellence in 2025
Otelier | October 2, 2024
The operational landscape continues to shift as hotels increasingly rely on data and efficiencies to stay competitive and meet guest expectations. This whitepaper explores five key areas where hotels can optimize operations, improve guest satisfaction, and drive profitability by harnessing data-driven tools and strategies. By examining five key areas of hotel operations, this whitepaper serves as a comprehensive roadmap for hoteliers looking to thrive in a data-driven world. It highlights how leveraging data and technology can lead to more efficient processes, better decision-making, and improved profitability. Below, hotel managers...
Bespoke Hotels Expands UK Portfolio With Acquisition of Four Coast & Country Hotels
Bespoke Hotels | October 1, 2024
The group, a collection of over 70 independent hotels across the length of the British Isles, has purchased the Caledonian Hotel in Fort William, the Great Western Hotel in Oban, The Pitlochry Hydro Hotel, and the Marine Hotel in Llandudno. Haydn Fentum, chairman of Bespoke Hotels, commented: “I’m delighted to announce the acquisition of these four regional hotels, which represent a significant step forward in our growth strategy. These properties align perfectly with our vision of offering exceptional hospitality experiences across the UK. “We are confident that our management and operations expertise will enhance the value of t...
How Hotels Are Displaying Resort Fees in the Wake of CA’s Junk Fee Law
Genevieve Horchler | October 1, 2024
Not sure how to present resort or amenity fees on your booking engine? See concrete examples of how other hotels are adapting to the hospitality industry's new pricing regulations. By Genevieve Horchler In July 2024, the California Junk Fee Law was passed with the goal of eliminating the confusion surrounding hidden fees in the hospitality industry. This legislation requires hotels and other hospitality players to provide transparent pricing upfront, with mandatory add-ons like resort fees included in the advertised price. While hotels now need to show resort fees upfront, that doesn’t mean there’s only one way to do so. We too...
Small Pickup in Global Markets With RevPAR Growth, Special Events Continue to Move the Needle
STR | October 1, 2024
STR's global "bubble chart" update for the four weeks ending 21 September 2024 shows 63% of markets with year-over-year growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR). That was a two-point increase in the proportion of global markets experiencing matched period RevPAR gains in last month's update. — Source: STR Among countries with 50,000 rooms and sufficient hotel reporting levels, France, Greece, Singapore, Switzerland and Ireland posted the highest RevPAR on an actualized basis. That was mostly the same set of higher-priced countries as last month except for Singapore replacing Ireland. Greece led all nations with the highest ...
Cendyn Acquires Knowland and Announces Private Equity Partner Haveli Investments
Cendyn | October 1, 2024
Integrated hospitality solutions leader dives deeper into group sales, meetings, and events in its latest acquisition supported by its investors, including Haveli Investments Austin, Texas, USA – 1 October 2024: Cendyn, a global hospitality cloud-based technology company, has acquired Knowland, the US-based leader in data-as-a-service intelligence on meetings and events for hospitality. The strategic acquisition presents an opportunity to enhance sales prospecting by yielding greater bookings in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events) space. Knowland’s platform includes extensive market intelligence data on meetings ...
Gary Hernbroth Celebrates Release of New Book “Twist the Familiar”
Gary Hernbroth | October 1, 2024
Released on July 2, 2024, Twist the Familiar is chock full of curated stories that work as coaching lessons to help readers build their own playbook for success. It is designed to be a transformative resource for today's success-oriented business leaders, sales professionals, entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants a boost to find that extra gear. This book weaves diverse experiences of ordinary people doing extraordinary things by twisting the familiar - creating authentic success and standing out from the crowd. These colorful chapters include a collection of Gary’s experiences plus many others who also have stories to tell in a variety of ...
IHG Signs With Maxim Hotels and Resorts Management To Bring the Vignette Collection Brand to Egypt
IHG Hotels & Resorts | October 1, 2024
Egypt, 1st October 2024: IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Maxim Hotels and Resorts Management to bring the Vignette Collection brand to Egypt with a signing in Port Said. Scheduled to open its doors in December 2027, Vignette Collection Hotel Royal Maxim Port Said will seamlessly blend heritage and contemporary hospitality, offering guests a luxurious yet authentic experience. The 140-key hotel will feature two distinct sections, each featuring 70 rooms. The first section restored from a heritage building that once housed the Suez Canal Authorities, will prov...
W Hotels Unveils the Newly Reimagined West Coast Flagship, W Hollywood
W Hotels | October 1, 2024
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, raises the curtain on its iconic and reimagined W Hollywood. W Hollywood is pioneering a new, elevated playbook of distinct design, evolved passion programming, and refined service culture. The transformation marks a fresh chapter in the brand’s dynamic and storied evolution. With an expanded global footprint and robust portfolio growth, W Hotels continues to pull inspiration from the next generation of luxury travelers as the brand launches its new positioning and visual identity. Part of a multi-year brand evolution, W Hollywood officially ushers in the new era f...
Extended Stay America Premier Suites Debuts in Colorado
Extended Stay America | October 1, 2024
Charlotte, NC, October 1, 2024— Extended Stay America®, the leading mid-priced extended stay hotel brand in the United States, announced today the opening of the 45th Extended Stay America Premier Suites located in Pueblo, Colorado. Developed by BEP Pueblo Hospitality LLC, constructed by Integrated Hospitality Construction LLC, and managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, this new property will set the standard for the extended stay experience in the region. The four-story, 124-room newly constructed Extended Stay America Premier Suites - Pueblo hotel offers amenities to meet the needs of today's discerning travelers, including free Wi-Fi, com...
Frasers Hospitality Taps Chew Hang Song as Chief Operating Officer
Frasers Hospitality | October 1, 2024
SINGAPORE, 1 OCTOBER 2024 – Frasers Hospitality, a strategic business unit of Frasers Property, today announced the appointment of Chew Hang Song as Chief Operating Officer and Ian Loe as the Managing Director, Technology and Innovation, effective 1 October 2024. Mr. Chew will succeed Mark Chan, who is retiring from his role on 30 September after over four years with Frasers Hospitality. These executive appointments are intended to advance the organisation’s growth strategy and strengthen its market leadership in the lodging sector. Mr. Chan played an instrumental role in Frasers Hospitality’s journey, joining the organisation ...
NEWH, Inc. To Celebrate Official 40th Anniversary at BDNY 2024
NEWH, Inc. | October 1, 2024
Shawano, WI — November 1, 2024 — NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), a premier association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, will proudly celebrate its 40th anniversary at BDNY 2024, held at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. The organization will award multiple scholarships and accolades to hospitality professionals during engaging events from November 8-11, 2024. “Each year BDNY creates an atmosphere of camaraderie and excitement that allows both emerging and established professionals to connect, fostering opportunities to advance...
Omni Hotels & Resorts Breaks Ground on Omni Pontoque Resort at Punta de Mita
Omni Hotels & Resorts | October 1, 2024
DALLAS, TX (October 1, 2024) - Omni Hotels & Resorts has officially broken ground and construction is well underway on Omni Pontoque Resort at Punta de Mita, the brand’s first luxury resort in Mexico. Set to open in late 2026, Omni has assembled a seasoned design team to bring this dynamic concept to life, including Bob Glazier, HKS Architects, Farouki Farouki, Girvin Associates, and Waldrop + Nichols, with The Beck Group managing construction. Staying true to the brand’s mission of creating elevated places and spaces that are inspired by a destination, the resort’s exterior and interiors will pay homage to the local culture with a...
Cycas Hospitality Expands UK Portfolio With Management of YOTEL London Shoreditch
Cycas Hospitality | October 1, 2024
Leading European hotel management company Cycas Hospitality today announced its appointment to manage YOTEL London Shoreditch. The vibrant and contemporary hotel, located in the heart of East London, brings the organisation’s portfolio to nine hotels and over 1,000 rooms within the UK capital, and over 55 properties under management across Europe. The BREEAM Excellent design hotel was built in 2018 and acquired in a JV with Tite Street Capital and Crestline Investors in 2021. The 161-room hotel enjoys an enviable central location, with transport links and easy walking distance to the popular cultural, dining, and nightlife destinations of...
