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
General Manager Jennifer Cottgias Tapped To Lead The Maven Hotel in Denver
The Maven | September 11, 2024
Denver, CO (Sept. 11, 2024) – The Maven is thrilled to announce that Jennifer Cottgias is now serving as General Manager of the award-wining downtown Denver hotel. The anchor of LoDo’s Dairy Block micro-district, The Maven is owned and managed by Denver’s Sage Hospitality Group. Cottgias joins The Maven from the Courtyard Portland City Center, where she served as General Manager. She previously spent over six years at The Nines, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland, rising to serve as the Hotel Director. A passionate leader who is dedicated to developing a strong team, Cottgias co-chaired the Women’s Leadership Development pil...
Claire Johnsen Promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing at Kimpton Sawyer Hotel
THE KIMPTON SAWYER | September 11, 2024
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (September 11, 2024) – The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Johnsen as Director of Sales and Marketing for the 250-room hotel located in the vibrant Downtown Commons (DOCO) area. With nearly a decade of experience at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Johnsen brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth, spearheading innovative group and leisure sales strategies, cultivating strong client relationships as well as delivering exceptional marketing and public relations strategies. In her new role, Johnsen will continue to oversee all sales ...
The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills Appoints Terry Buchholz as New General Manager
The London West Hollywood | September 11, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 11, 2024) -- The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills is pleased to announce Terry Buchholz as the new General Manager for the modern luxury hotel. In his role, Buchholz will oversee all aspects of the hotel's operations, ensuring the seamless flow of day-to-day activities, optimizing processes, and upholding the renowned standard of excellence for which The London West Hollywood is known. “I am delighted to join the team at such an iconic property in West Hollywood," said Terry Buchholz, General Manager of The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. "I look forward to working alongside this talented team, to...
Societal Factors Can Shape How Companies Best Respond After Customers Misbehave
Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management | September 11, 2024
Apologizing to customers who witness other patrons misbehave may not always be the best response for hospitality businesses, researchers find UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From rule breaking and theft to verbal abuse and foul language, one customer’s behavior can negatively affect another customer’s experience. How hospitality businesses can best respond to instances of customer misbehavior can depend on the strictness of societal norms, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. The study, published in the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, found that customers who observe m...
June 2024 Total International Travel Volume To and From the United States
International Trade Administration | September 11, 2024
Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office show that in June 2024, International Arrivals to the United States Total non-U.S. resident international visitor volume to the United States of 5,639,831 increased 13.2 percent compared to June 2023 and represents 89.1 percent of the pre-COVID total visitor volume reported for June 2019. Overseas visitor volume to the United States of 2,901,542 increased 7 percent from June 2023. June 2024 was the thirty-ninth consecutive month that total non-U.S. resident international arrivals to the United States increased on a year-over-year basis. June 2024 was th...
Hospitality America to Manage Element by Marriott North Charleston
Hospitality America | September 11, 2024
Scheduled to open in 2025, this deal marks the second management contract awarded by Contender Development and the eighth Marriott hotel in the company’s portfolio Greenville, S.C., September 11, 2024 — Hospitality America has been selected by Contender Development to manage the Element by Marriott Charleston Airport in North Charleston, S.C. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2025, the 123-room upscale extended-stay hotel will feature a restaurant, 24/7 motion fitness center, all-natural saline outdoor pool, and 500 square feet of meeting space. This is the eighth Marriott hotel in the Hospitality America portfolio and the...
BLLA Announces Winners of the 2024 Boutique Hospitality Awards
BLLA | September 11, 2024
Celebrating Excellence in Boutique Hospitality Worldwide Los Angeles, CA (September 11, 2024)—The Boutique Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), the original boutique hotel association established in 2009, is proud to announce the 2024 BLLA Awards winners. Now in its fourteenth year, the BLLA Awards continue to honor the most daring and innovative achievements in the global boutique hospitality industry, recognizing the world's finest hotels, visionaries, and partners. 2024 Award Winners In the Best Boutique Hotel Under 50 Rooms category, Hotel 1928 in Waco, Texas, claimed the top prize, celebrated for its unique charm and dedication...
NewcrestImage Acquires DoubleTree Suites in Downtown Columbus, Ohio
NewcrestImage | September 10, 2024
NewcrestImage has acquired the full-service DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Columbus Downtown in Ohio. The deal was brokered by Hunter Hotel Advisors, with Senior Vice Presidents Tim Osborne and Spencer Davidson representing the institutional seller. “This acquisition underscores our continued appetite for transactions that offer strong growth potential in both market share and asset value,” said Mehul Patel, Managing Partner and CEO of Dallas-based NewcrestImage. Located in the heart of downtown, the 15-floor DoubleTree Suites features 194 all-suites guestrooms with some of the largest square footage of any hotel in the Columbus mark...
Hotel Room Innsights Report: Hotels.com Pulls Back the Covers on the Surprising World of Hotels
The Hotels.com | September 10, 2024
Lost and Found: A pet lizard, $6 million watch and car tire are some of the oddest items left in hotel rooms around the world Room Service: An Evian filled bathtub, burnt toast, 4lbs of bananas and a caviar hotdog top the most bizarre room service orders Hidden Hotel Perks: A 400-year-old Japanese garden and guitar concierge are among the hotel perks you never knew you needed September 10, 2024, AUSTIN — Today Hotels.com launches its annual Hotel Room Innsights Report*, uncovering surprising services and stories from more than 400 partner hotels worldwide. This year’s report reveals the astonishing items left behind by guests, w...
Choice Opens Radisson Hotel Fairview Heights – St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois
Radisson | September 10, 2024
NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 10, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc., the industry's player to watch in the upscale segment, further expanded its upscale portfolio with the opening of the Radisson Hotel Fairview Heights - St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois. With nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting spaces and amenities including a heated indoor pool, state-of-the art fitness center, and on-site bar and restaurant, the property is ideal for business and leisure travelers alike who are planning a visit to the St. Louis area. Conveniently located near downtown St. Louis, the newest Radisson is less than 30 minutes from both St. L...
The Hospitality Show Announces Additional Program Highlights
The Hospitality Show | September 10, 2024
NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2024) – The Hospitality Show, the industry’s leading technology and operations event produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), has revealed new highlights that have been confirmed for the 2024 program. The Show will feature three distinctive keynote sessions from industry heavy hitters: On Monday, Oct. 28, famed chef, author, educator, and humanitarian José Andrés will lead a presentation titled, “Changing the World Through the Power of Food.” On Tuesday, Oct. 29, author and franchise expert Scott Greenberg will discuss the game-changing steps to elevate franch...
JM Hospitality Opens Spark by Hilton Toronto Markham Marking Brand Debut in Canada
Hilton | September 10, 2024
TORONTO and McLEAN – Hilton and JM Hospitality Inc. today announced the opening of Spark by Hilton Toronto Markham, marking the brand’s entry into the Canadian market. Situated in the vibrant tech and business hub just 28 kilometers north of Toronto, the opening of the first Spark in Canada signals an important growth milestone for the rapidly expanding premium economy brand. Spark by Hilton Toronto Markham joins eight other Spark hotels in various stages of development across Canada, highlighting the brand's impressive growth and appeal in the market. Spark opened its first hotel in Mystic, Connecticut in September 2023, just nine ...
Marriott International and Grupo Fametro Sign Agreement to Bring the Tribute Portfolio Brand to Manaus, Amazonas
Marriott International, Inc. | September 10, 2024
Manaus, Brazil. September 10, 2024. – Marriott International, Inc. and the Fametro Group, led by Wellington Lins and Maria do Carmo Seffair, announced a signed agreement to convert an iconic property in the capital city of the Amazonas to a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, a collection brand within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio known for providing hotels that are designed to reflect the character and community of their surrounding locations. “As the capital city of the Amazonas, Manaus serves as the gateway for local and international travelers to access the natural beauty of one of the world’s most spectacular biomes: the Amazon rainfore...
SH Hotels & Resorts Appoints Jonathan Heath as Executive VP of F&B and Hotel Operations
SH Hotels & Resorts | September 10, 2024
Miami, FL (September 10, 2024) - SH Hotels & Resorts, the hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels & Homes, Baccarat Hotels & Residences, and Treehouse Hotels, announces the appointment of Jonathan Heath as Executive Vice President of Food & Beverage and Hotel Operations. Heath will collaborate with operational leaders across the company and contribute to all facets of SH Hotels & Resorts operations, enhancing both hotel and dining experiences as the brand continues its global expansion. With over two decades of international hospitality experience, Heath is an expert in hotel openings, critical path timeline...
Sun Siyam Resorts Welcomes Pasan Wijewardana as Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing
Sun Siyam Resorts | September 10, 2024
Maldives & Sri Lanka – Sun Siyam Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Pasan Wijewardana as the new Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing for Sun Siyam Pasikudah and Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. Wijewardana brings over a decade of rich experience in the hospitality industry, having held key leadership roles across luxury, lifestyle, and full-service hotels in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Oman. Most recently, he served as Director of Sales and Business Development at Shangri-La Muscat, where he played a pivotal role in driving business growth and strategic development. Before that, Wijewardana was Cluster Director of Sales for Sh...
Courtyard by Marriott, Pune Chakan Appoints Amol More as New General Manager
Courtyard by Marriott | September 10, 2024
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Amol More as General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Pune, Chakan. Amol brings with him over twenty-five years of rich and diverse experience in the hospitality industry, with a remarkable journey within Marriott Hotels brands across India and Indonesia. Amol started his career as a Management Trainee with Accor Hotels and joined the Marriott family in 2003 Sous Chef at Renaissance Convention Center Powai, Mumbai. Since then, he has held various key positions including Executive Sous Chef & Director of Events Management & Banquet Operations at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Director of Food &...
Your Data, Your Control: Ensuring Your Data Is YOUR Data in Hotel Technology
Mike Pavicich | September 10, 2024
By Mike Pavicich | Director, Global Sales | SalesAndCatering.com In the modern, data-centric, tech-reliant hospitality industry, hotels depend heavily on third-party vendors to streamline operations, enhance guest service, and maximize profits and productivity. This dependency, however, introduces a vulnerability as it involves sharing sensitive data with these external partners. Recent and many high-profile cybersecurity breaches have underscored the inherent risks in such arrangements, where hotels can be held accountable for any data breaches. Consequently, the critical task for hotels is to ensure that their data ownership remai...
Mapping the Guest Journey to Technology to Enhance the Guest Experience: Is Your Tech Stack Up to Par?
Gregg Hopkins | September 10, 2024
by Gregg Hopkins, Founder & Principal Consultant of Get Hoppy Consulting Hospitality is about people helping people, a process that technology can enhance and support through robust infrastructure and tools the workforce can learn and enjoy using while delivering the experience guests have grown accustomed to when on vacation or a business trip. It is essential for every hospitality organization to prioritize the evaluation of its current technology stack, process workflows, data infrastructure, and security. This is to ensure that they effectively support internal distribution, sales, operational controls, and the desired customer...
Best Western Plus Dubuque Unveils New Cutting-Edge High-Speed Guest WiFi Network by Hotel Internet Services
Hotel Internet Services, Inc. | September 10, 2024
Full-service Iowa property teams up with leading hospitality connectivity specialists to deliver ultra-fast, seamless internet access for today’s tech-savvy travelers. DUBUQUE, Iowa — September 10, 2024 — Hotel Internet Services, a leading provider of advanced internet connectivity solutions for the hospitality sector, announces the successful completion of a major WiFi network upgrade at Best Western Plus Dubuque in Iowa. The full-service hotel property recently partnered with HIS to ensure that seamless internet access is available throughout all onsite areas of the property, including all 150 guestrooms and 8,500 square feet of ...
U.S. Open Serves Up Growth for New York Events Industry Increasing Year-Over-Year Volume by 30.2 percent in August, Knowland Reports
Knowland | September 10, 2024
Las Vegas led the top 25 markets boasting seven consecutive months of double-digit growth ARLINGTON, Va. — Sept. 10, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reported that New York ranked second among the top 25 markets, with over 30 percent year-over-year (YoY) meeting volume growth driven primarily by sports tourism for August. Las Vegas ranked first with 36 percent YoY growth. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform designed to help hoteliers protect and grow their revenue base. While Las Vegas headed the top 25 markets list, ...
Maestro All-In-One PMS and Data Plus Collaborate To Provide Seamless End-to-End Integrations for the Famed Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort
Maestro | September 10, 2024
The historic sports training destinations is now benefitting from improved access to financial management technology and enhanced integrations across all operations departments MARKHAM, Ontario, Sept. 10, 2024 — Maestro PMS, the hotel industry’s leading Web Browser-based cloud and on-premises all-in-one property-management system, has teamed with industry-leading financial management platform Data Plus to elevate the technology offerings at the famed Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort. The seamless end-to-end integration is giving the property valuable insights into their financial performance, including occupancy rates, revenue s...
HSMAI Announces 2024 Sales Leader Forum
HSMAI | September 9, 2024
McLean, VA (Sept. 9, 2024) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) 2024 Sales Leader Forum, will take place on Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington, DC. Organized by HSMAI’s Sales Advisory Board, this year’s event focuses on advancing the hotel sales discipline by providing off-property sales leaders with essential knowledge on top trends, strategic insights, and best practices in today’s evolving landscape. Held annually, the Sales Leader Forum is an HSMAI Commercial Strategy Event that aims to equip attendees with practical information, insights, and strategies designed to enhance their action plans ...
IHG Signs With Satyadeo Hotels To Develop Holiday Inn Resort Pushkar
IHG | September 9, 2024
9th, September 2024, India: IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Satyadeo Hotels Pvt Ltd to develop Holiday Inn Resort Pushkar, Rajasthan. Scheduled to open in January 2029 in the prominent tourist and spiritual destination of Pushkar, the resort will bring world-class hospitality to guests visiting the city. A pioneer brand with a rich heritage, Holiday Inn has continued to evolve through the years, keeping the guest at the heart of all innovation and earning its status as one of the world’s most loved, trusted and recognized hotel brands. In India, the Hol...
Debdyuti “Dev” Dasgupta Tapped as General Manager of Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa Ahead of Opening
Marriott Bonvoy | September 9, 2024
Bangkok, Thailand - September 9, 2024 – Marriott International, Inc. has appointed Mr. Debdyuti “Dev” Dasgupta as General Manager of Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa, the beautiful new seafront retreat which is set to open its doors in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking the debut of the flagship Marriott Hotels brand in Khao Lak. Dev is a talented hotelier who joins this new resort following his previous role as General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok. He has transitioned into the GM’s position following a successful career in the fields of financial management, auditing, compliance and accounting, with almost tw...
