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Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Announces Results of “Spring 2021 Industry Outlook Survey”
HAMA | April 30, 2021
BOSTON — April 30, 2021 — The Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) today released the results of its bi-annual survey of asset managers' thoughts, experiences and forecasts for the upcoming year as the hotel industry continues to deal with the on-going pandemic. With approximately 100 participants, topics ranged from “return to 2019” RevPAR levels predictions to the status of the lending market. Additional topics included current acquisition appetites, new brand/management plans and the leading issues of concern for asset managers right now. The survey was conducted in preparation for HAMA’s 2021 Annual Spring M...
Yannick Augy Appointed Director of Food & Beverage for Rosewood Miramar Beach
Rosewood Miramar Beach | April 30, 2021
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Southern California’s most luxurious oceanfront resort, is pleased to announce the appointment of Yannick Augy as director of food & beverage. In this role, Yannick is responsible for the overall operation and direction of the resort’s food and beverage programs and its distinct dining venues and bars. He also plays a pivotal role in ensuring the resort’s culinary and beverage programs continue to set the standard for exceptional service and experiences. Yannick comes to Rosewood Miramar Beach with more than twenty years of experience in the hospitality industry, working at top hotels and restaurant groups t...
A by Adina Sydney Opens in the Harbor City
A BY ADINA | April 30, 2021
SYDNEY - April 30, 2021 - TFE Hotels’ brand-new premium hotel experience, A by Adina Sydney, has officially opened its doors, becoming Sydney’s newest landmark CBD hotel. The crowning glory of an ‘elevated’ suite of apartment hotel properties, the new A by Adina Sydney heralds a golden new era for the Harbour City on multiple levels. The hotel’s approach to detailed simplicity in design extends beyond the arrival of Sydney’s first ever sky lobby – setting the city’s world-famous skyline aglow, 100 meters up, wrapped in a four-story, glass-encased ‘golden crown’. By design, A by Adina Sydney, breathes a vibrant new lease...
Aparium Hotel Group Opens Daxton Hotel in Birmingham, Michigan
Daxton Hotel | April 30, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, MI - April 30, 2021 - Daxton Hotel opens its doors in Birmingham, MI, located just 30 minutes north of Detroit. The hotel serves as a magnet for cultured locals and modern travelers alike within the vibrant city of Birmingham which has long been tied to luxury with its high-end shopping and dynamic art scene. Daxton is the latest hotel to launch in the Aparium Hotel Group portfolio and the group's first collaboration with owner, Mark Mitchell, a local entrepreneur and lifelong metro Detroit area resident. The 151-room Daxton Hotel brings a modern vision of Birmingham luxury incorporating some of the finest art, wellness, din...
Kimpton Hotel Fontenot Set for May Opening in New Orleans
KIMPTON HOTEL FONTENOT | April 30, 2021
NEW ORLEANS, LA - April 30, 2021 - Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is pleased to announce the opening of Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, a 202-room boutique hotel located in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District on the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas Streets. Guests are now able to book stays for its opening day, May 11, 2021. The opening marks the brand’s return after a sixteen-year absence from the Crescent City and comes at a time when cravings for cultural experiences, which New Orleans has in abundance, continue to rise. Inspired by iconic Creole fiddle player Canray Fontenot, Kimpton Hotel Fontenot pays homage to New Orl...
PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management to Host Smart Tourism in the Greater Bay Area Forum
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | April 29, 2021
Organized by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in collaboration with its Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre, School of Tourism Management (STM) of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) and Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), the Smart Tourism in the Greater Bay Area Forum will take place in Hong Kong on 21 May 2021. Held in both virtual and in-person format at the SHTM, the forum takes the theme “Big Data, AI and Ecosystem”. New technologies have been evolving very fast in the hospitality and tourism industry, which drive product innovations and connect various touris...
Hotel Franchise Lawyer: 5 Things to Negotiate in Your Next Franchise Agreement
Bob Braun | April 29, 2021
By Jim Butler, Bob Braun After a year of economic upheaval in the hospitality industry, hotels are making big changes as they look ahead to recovery. Oftentimes these changes involve a complete rebrand, and this leads to questions about what is negotiable in a franchise agreement. In the article below, Bob Braun, senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® and Co-Chair of the Firm’s Cybersecurity & Privacy Group, talks about 5 important franchise terms that can usually be negotiated. To say that the past year has been a shock to the hospitality industry is a gross understatement. While many believe that a recovery is in s...
Five PMS Features to Help Grow TRevPAR
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | April 29, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky In case you need a refresher on your acronyms, TRevPAR stands for total revenue per available room. The key difference between it and RevPAR is that it takes into account all other outlet purchases from each guest to give a more holistic picture of sales and growth. As a basic example, consider a couple traveling for a relaxing getaway versus two single occupancy business travelers, both midweek. While the couple may take up only one guestroom versus two, its utilization of the restaurant, spa and other amenities will be substantially higher than the corporate guests. Having differential data on these types ...
Hotel Buffets Are Out. Here’s What’s In.
HotStats | April 29, 2021
By Rayna Katz Hotel food and beverage operations have radically changed in the wake of the pandemic. From breakfast buffets to banquet dinners, service has drastically altered to keep guests safe and as stopgap against weaker demand. Several of the adjustments made due to immediate needs are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, according to some F&B authorities. “The buffet is gone,” said Steven Kamali, CEO of Hospitality House, which provides F&B solutions for the hospitality industry, and has worked with many major brands to fine-tune service and offerings. “Hotels are now thinking about how they can pro...
STR: U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 24 April
STR | April 29, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee — April 29, 2021 — U.S. weekly hotel occupancy remained flat from the previous week, according to STR‘s latest data through 24 April. 18-24 April 2021: Occupancy: 57.3% Average daily rate (ADR): US$108.10 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$61.93 Overall industry occupancy will likely remain plateaued until the summer leisure travel boom, but there has been noticeable uptick in weekday occupancy, which is indicative of increased business travel. ADR was up slightly from the previous week, and the Luxury, Midscale and Economy classes have each recovered more than 90% of their 2019 ADR level...
Commonwealth Hotels Appoints Carson Lethen as Director of Sales and Marketing of The Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver Conference Center
Commonwealth Hotels, LLC | April 29, 2021
COVINGTON, Ky. - April 29, 2021 - Commonwealth Hotels announced today that Carson Lethen has been appointed the director of sales and marketing of the Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver Conference Center. Mr. Lethen brings over 10 years of hospitality experience to his new role as director of sales and marketing having previously served as the director of sales and marketing of the Westin Westminster with White Lodging. "Carson brings extensive proficiency in generating best in class hospitality and is very knowledgeable," said Jennifer Porter, Chief Operating Officer for Commonwealth Hotels. "We are confident with his strategic sales approach...
Sunstone Hotel Investors Acquires the 130-Room Montage Healdsburg Resort for $265 Million
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. | April 29, 2021
IRVINE, Calif. - April 29, 2021 - Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., the owner of Long-Term Relevant Real Estate® in the hospitality sector, today announced the acquisition of the fee-simple interest in the 130-room Montage Healdsburg (the "Resort"). The newly constructed luxury Resort, which was completed in December 2020, was acquired for a gross purchase price of $265 million. The acquisition was funded from cash on hand and through the direct issuance of $66 million of perpetual preferred equity (the "Series G Preferred Equity") to the seller, affiliates of Ohana Real Estate Investors ("Ohana" or the "Seller"). Upon stabilization, the...
Summit Hotel Properties Names William (“Trey”) H. Conkling Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Summit Hotel Properties | April 29, 2021
AUSTIN, Texas - April 29, 2021 - Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. today announced that William "Trey" H. Conkling will join the Company as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer effective May 17, 2021. "We are extremely pleased to have Trey join our management team. I've had the privilege of working with Trey for over a decade and value his extensive capital markets and transaction advisory experience," said Jonathan Stanner, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Over the course of his career, Trey has established himself as a very effective strategic thought leader that brings a breadth of experience in lodging and rela...
IHG Signs With Choengmon Real Estate for Kimpton Koh Samui in Thailand
IHG Hotels & Resorts | April 29, 2021
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, is proud to announce the expansion of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants with the signing of Kimpton Koh Samui, the second Kimpton hotel in Thailand following the brand’s debut in October 2020. The 138-key luxury boutique beachfront property on Choengmon Beach will open later this year where guests will enjoy Kimpton’s signature heartfelt service and locally-inspired design features. A short drive to Chaweng Beach, Fisherman’s Village walking street and Koh Samui International Airport, domestic and international travellers alike will benefit from its convenie...
Are You Ready for Takeoff?
JC Thompson | April 29, 2021
By JC Thompson The pent-up desire to "hit the road" is forecasting a strong travel comeback. Are you ready? With hotels not fully opened and yet occupancies are at max capacity, the challenge will not likely be revenue or REVPAR. The challenge will be expectations. Customers will expect the same levels of service. They won't care much about your challenge with finding employees or that your customer service skills have been out of practice as they were replaced with COVID-19 regulations and survival skills. "You have got to be kidding me. I paid $350 for a room that no longer includes daily housekeeping services, there is a stain on the...
Mantra Terrace Hotel Brisbane Reopens After Complete Refurbishment
Mantra | April 29, 2021
Mantra Terrace Hotel Brisbane has reopened for guest stays after completing a multi-million dollar renovation across its guestrooms, public spaces, and restaurant and bar. Simple yet functional, the hotel's stylish new-look has been designed to appeal to both business and leisure guests seeking a new level of comfort, convenience and sophistication in the heart of Brisbane. The works were led by Singapore-based architectural designer, FDAT Architects, who have created a contemporary urban oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel’s city surroundings. All 85 guestrooms and suites have been upgraded to deliver an elegant new hotel ex...
Landmark Ocean Park Inn in Pacific Beach Unveils Phase Two of Property-Wide Renovation
Ocean Park Inn | April 29, 2021
Exterior enhancements, pool and lobby upgrades complement the 71 new guest rooms unveiled last summer SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – April 29, 2021 – Ocean Park Inn (OPI), a family-owned and operated hotel celebrating 30 years in the heart of Pacific Beach, is now open after a year-long property-wide renovation. The beachfront hotel, ideally situated on the iconic Pacific Beach boardwalk just steps from the sand, has unveiled a refreshed exterior, pool deck and lounge area as part of the second phase of a property-wide renovation. Set to flow with the property’s mid-century meets the beach vibe, the building exterior has a new look echoing t...
Nemacolin Selects Knowland to Expand Lead Volume and Increase Meetings and Events Revenue
KNOWLAND | April 29, 2021
Forbes Travel Guide and AAA award-winning resort turns to Knowland to proactively uncover new business and connect with meeting planners and prospects ARLINGTON, Va. — April 29, 2021 — Today Knowland, the innovator of AI-powered group data analytics for hospitality, announced that Nemacolin has selected Knowland to give its sales team the leverage it needs to be more proactive and productive in uncovering meetings and events business through recovery. As corporations begin to lift restrictions and pent-up demand for travel grows, resorts and luxury hotels are rebounding at a faster pace than other hotel segments – especially for ...
CEO Tammy Gillis Named Finalist for Women in Sales Award
Gillis | April 29, 2021
Woman-owned business founder and CEO of Gillis nominated for Professional Services Sales award DALLAS — April 29, 2021 — Gillis, a consulting, training and sales performance partner organization for hoteliers, announced today that its CEO and founder, Tammy Gillis, was selected as a finalist in the Women in Sales Awards “Professional Services Sales” category. The Women in Sales Awards is a prestigious award that celebrates the achievements of women in sales in North America. Finalists will present to a panel of judges on May 12, 2021 and winners will be announced on June 17, 2021. Under the leadership of Tammy Gillis, Gillis disru...
Hotel Investment Guide: How to Buy and Sell Hotel Real Estate?
Catherine Rey | April 28, 2021
By Catherine Rey It’s not on the average person’s to-do list to buy a hotel, or sell one, for that matter. Therefore finding trusted guidance and information on how to buy and sell hotel real estate can be difficult or outdated. Whether you’re interested in this topic because you’re doing research on how to go about buying a hotel property in the future, or whether you’re actively buying or selling a hotel at the moment and need to answer some burning questions, or you’re simply curious about the hotel real estate market and the hotel industry itself - this guide will put you on the right track. This article aims to answer t...
California Hotel Workers Laid Off Due to COVID-19 Get Rehire Rights
Travis Gemoets | April 28, 2021
By Jim Butler, Travis Gemoets On Friday, April 16, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom put new employer obligations into law by signing Senate Bill 93, requiring hotel, event center, airport hospitality and janitorial employers to first rehire workers laid off during the pandemic when jobs become available, essentially establishing “recall rights” more commonly associated with union collective bargaining agreements. Senate Bill 93 takes effect immediately after quickly making its way through the Legislature as a budget trailer bill and will be in effect until the end of 2024. Gov. Newsom vetoed a more expansive labor-backed bill last year. SB 9...
WTTC Launches Ground-Breaking Initiative to Support Women in Travel & Tourism
WTTC | April 28, 2021
CANCUN, MEXICO: The world’s leading Travel & Tourism leaders pledged to work towards women’s equality and boost female representation in leadership roles in an announcement before the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The commitment came as WTTC, which represents the Travel & Tourism private sector, launched its Women’s Initiative, at its Global Summit in Cancun, with the help of 18 Grand Slam singles title winner, Martina Navratilova. WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara unveiled the public-private-academic partnership to promote diversity and drive inclusivity which will help lead the way to achieving equali...
Hotel Industry & Union Join to Urge Congress for Aid AHLA, UNITE HERE Call on Congress to Pass ‘Save Hotel Jobs Act’ to Help Hotel Workers
AHLA | April 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – April 28, 2021 – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and UNITE HERE, the largest hospitality workers union in North America, today joined forces to call on Congress to pass the Save Hotel Jobs Act. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), provides a lifeline to hotel workers, providing the assistance they need to survive until travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, applauded Senator Schatz and Representative Crist for introducing this critical legislation to support hotel workers. “Every day, hotels...
Stop Reading From The Script!
Shep Hyken | April 28, 2021
By Shep Hyken This is why some companies get a bad rap! Our colleague here at Shepard Presentations, Nate Jones, shared a story about something that recently happened to his father. This is a great customer service training lesson. He bought a new car. About a month later he’s in a parking lot and the car won’t start. So, he calls the dealership’s customer service number, which was actually a support center for all of that brand’s dealerships in the U.S. – maybe even the world. The call started off okay but quickly derailed into one of those, “You won’t believe this” kind of stories. After a little troubleshooting o...
