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Spire Hospitality Assumes Management of Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Lake Oswego
Spire Hospitality | March 18, 2021
IRVING, TX — March 18, 2021 — Spire Hospitality has assumed management of the Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Lake Oswego. Adjacent to the intersection of Interstate 5 and Highway 217, the busiest intersection in Oregon, the 179-room Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Lake Oswego is within walking distance of a wide range of restaurants; in proximity to Bridgeport Village, an outdoor shopping complex known for its array of exclusive restaurants and boutiques, and Kruse Woods Corporate Park, a 20-building office campus located in Lake Oswego; and a 10-minute drive from Downtown Portland. Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Lake Oswego's amenities include ...
Hawkeye Hotels Closes Three Acquisitions in Midwest, Sunbelt Regions
Hawkeye Hotels | March 18, 2021
This week Iowa-based Hawkeye Hotels acquired Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cambridge, Ohio, for an undisclosed sum, days after closing on the acquisition of Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown -- Bricktown. These are the company’s second and third acquisitions of 2021. In January, Hawkeye Hotels acquired the Staybridge Suites in Lafayette, Louisiana. Hawkeye Hotels continues to actively seek new opportunities to grow its portfolio and looks forward to expanding further in these regions in the coming years. “Despite all the challenges that we have had to navigate as an industry over the last 12 months, Hawkeye Hotels is positioned to continue s...
Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District to Open Summer 2021
Hilton Garden Inn | March 18, 2021
NEW ORLEANS – March 17, 2021 – The Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District, a joint venture between Rockbridge and HRI Properties, LLC is expected to debut Summer 2021. Managed by HRI Lodging, LLC, the 214-room property will feature guestrooms with sweeping city views, a ground-level bar and lounge, a breakfast room, an expansive rooftop deck and close to 3,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Located in central Austin, the property is within walking distance of a number of key sites, including the state capitol, University of Texas Austin, Blanton Museum, Museum of the Weird and many cit...
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Promotes Jonathan Newbury to Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific
Preferred Hotels & Resorts | March 18, 2021
NEW YORK, U.S.A. – March 18, 2021 – Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest global provider of sales, marketing, and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, has promoted Jonathan Newbury to Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific. Newbury brings 30 years of international independent hotel experience to his new position, which carries the responsibility to drive the strategic direction and evolution of the Preferred brand in Asia Pacific, ensuring the success and retention of more than 150 member properties across the region and overseeing the company’s associates who are based in offices across 10 cities. ...
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Selects Cloud5 to Deliver Fast, Dependable HSIA Services
Cloud5 Communications | March 18, 2021
Chicago, IL. — March 18, 2021 — Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of communications solutions for the world’s top hotel brands and management companies, today announced that Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Western North Carolina recently deployed the Cloud5 HSIA solution into their 1,100 room property and will now be extending the deployment as part of their expansion project scheduled to open later this year. Located on 56 acres in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort also features over 3,000 games, the Le Fu Men gaming area, nine restaurants, the luxurious 18,000 square foot Mandara...
Sonesta Names Garine Ferejian-Mayo as Chief Commercial Officer
Sonesta | March 17, 2021
NEWTON, Mass. - March 17, 2021 - Sonesta International Hotels Corporation (Sonesta) has appointed Garine Ferejian-Mayo as the company's new Chief Commercial Officer. In this newly created position, Ms. Ferejian-Mayo will leverage more than 25 years of industry experience to drive the execution of Sonesta's commercial operations while leading the company's Sales, Revenue, Distribution, Call Center, and Field-Marketing teams. Ms. Ferejian-Mayo will work closely with Sonesta President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlos Flores, and Chief Operating Officer, Vera Manoukian to craft the company's commercial strategy aimed at positioning...
WTTC Welcomes European Commission’s Proposal for the EU Wide Digital Green Certificate
WTTC | March 17, 2021
March 17, 2021 - Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and its Members say the proposal from the European Commission, which would see all EU member states adopt the Digital Green Certificate, is a major step towards the recovery of Travel & Tourism in the region. “The introduction of the new certificate to travel could see member states welcoming travellers with proof of vaccination, a negative test or a positive antibody test, in time for the busy summer period. This would provide a significant and much needed boost to economies and save millions of jobs and livelihoods. ...
Burt Cabañas, Founder and Chairman of BENCHMARK®, A Global Hospitality Company, Named Chairman of the FIU Foundation
FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management: | March 17, 2021
The Woodlands, Houston, Texas - March 17, 2021 - Burt Cabañas, founder and chairman of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has been named chairman of the Florida International University (FIU) Foundation. A 1976 graduate of FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Mr. Cabañas served on FIU’s Chaplin School Industry Advisory Board from 2002 – 2014 and in the role of Chairman from 2009 – 2014. He joined the FIU Foundation Board in 2014, serving as vice chair from 2018-2020, and becoming chairman this year. "It is an honor to serve in this capacity and give back to an industry and to a university that...
Jason Guyot Named President and Chief Executive Officer of Foxwoods Resort Casino
the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation | March 17, 2021
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. - March 17, 2021 - The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Guyot as Foxwoods Resort Casino's new President and Chief Executive Officer. With nearly twenty years of resort management experience as a gaming and hospitality leader, Guyot assumed the role of Interim CEO in April, 2020 and was instrumental in effectively leading Foxwoods through one of its most challenging and difficult years. He assumes the role at a pivotal time as the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation sought to redefine its post-pandemic resort experiences and propel Foxwoods toward its 30th Anniversary mileston...
Capstone Equities Launches New Hospitality Management Division, Rebel Hospitality
Capstone Equities | March 17, 2021
NEW YORK - March 17, 2021 - Embracing the continually evolving landscape of 2021, Capstone Equities, a leading New York-based private equity firm, today announced that it will take the bold step to self-manage their portfolio of hotels with the launch of Rebel Hospitality. With the goal of aligning asset financial performance and owner interests, this self-management model epitomizes the investor-centric mindset of Capstone Equities. Rebel Hospitality offers absolute transparency between operations and investment teams with a technology-oriented management platform that can also be applied in partnership with other hotel owners or invest...
How to Care More About the Customer Than the Sale
Shep Hyken | March 17, 2021
By Shep Hyken It seems that most of the companies that customers love to do business with have something in common. They focus more on the customer than they do the sale. Sure, they want to make the sale, add more revenue and get higher ratings. What company doesn’t want that? But when they focus on the customer’s needs, the rest seems to fall into place. A great example of this comes from Dawn Mushill, one of our Shepard Letter subscribers. She emailed me a great story worth sharing. The short version is this: Dawn ordered a product from a vendor. Since she is working remotely, she gave her home address. The company recognized t...
Host Hotels & Resorts Acquires Hyatt Regency Austin for $161 Million
Host Hotels & Resorts | March 17, 2021
BETHESDA, Md. - March 17, 2021 - Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., the nation’s largest lodging real estate investment trust (“REIT”), today announced that it has acquired the fee simple interest in the 448-room Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas for approximately $161 million in cash. The purchase price represents a 10.0% capitalization rate and an 8.8x EBITDA multiple based on 2019 actual results(1) and reflects a 20-25% discount to pre COVID-19 pricing based on comparable publicly-disclosed hotel sales.(2) Hyatt will continue to manage Hyatt Regency Austin under a long-term management agreement. James F. Risoleo, President and...
Maverick Hotels and Restaurants Opening Sable at Navy Pier Atop Chicago Historic Landmark
Sable at Navy Pier, Curio Collection by Hilton | March 17, 2021
CHICAGO – March 17, 2021 – Sable at Navy Pier, which marks the 100th property milestone for Curio Collection by Hilton, a portfolio of one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts in premier destinations around the world, is officially opening its doors to the public on Thursday, March 18, 2021. Sable at Navy Pier is the first hotel to break ground and make waves on one of the city’s most iconic and historic landmarks, offering sweeping, unparalleled views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, truly unlike any other. Developed and operated by Maverick Hotels and Restaurants and led by ACRON USA, this remarkable project that only comes around on...
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Opens in Macon, Georgia
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson | March 17, 2021
Minneapolis - March 17, 2021 - Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, a leading upper midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Macon West, GA. Situated 20 minutes west of downtown Macon at the junction of Interstate 475 and state Highway 80, the hotel serves as a convenient respite for those visiting Macon or just passing through town. Additionally, the hotel is only 11 miles from Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) for guests flying into the area. The newly constructed hotelfeatures the brand’s latest design featuring 67 guest rooms and suites. During their stay, guests can take a relaxing swim...
Final Tally: Travel Lost $1.1 Trillion in U.S. Economic Output in ‘20
U.S. Travel Association | March 17, 2021
WASHINGTON — March 17, 2021 —Travel’s economic footprint in the United States shrank a staggering 42% last year, from $2.6 trillion to $1.5 trillion, according to new end-of-year totals prepared for the U.S. Travel Association by the research firm Tourism Economics. The employment devastation was similarly massive: travel-supported jobs fell by 5.6 million in 2020 (16.7 million to 11.1 million)—a whopping 65% of all American jobs lost to the economic fallout of the pandemic. Travel and tourism had supported employment for 11% of the U.S. workforce prior to the onset of COVID. The new data on travel’s dramatic losses arrives as...
Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites Opens on the Chesapeake Bay
Commonwealth Lodging | March 17, 2021
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – March 17, 2021 – Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites, an all-suite, 295-room property, opens today on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The nine-story hotel focuses on delivering the fundamentals of a good travel experience and features a clean aesthetic and a modern take on comfort. Guests will be able to enjoy spacious, efficiently designed one- and two-bedroom suites, a signature restaurant with an expansive outdoor patio, robust meeting and event capabilities, and lifestyle amenities such as a Bayfront pool, private beach and watersport rentals. The Delta Hotels by Marriott brand is ro...
Royal Hotel Investments Breaks Ground on Home2 Suites in Covington, Georgia
Home2 Suites by Hilton | March 17, 2021
March 17, 2021 - Royal Hotel Investments (RHI) has broken ground for a Home2 Suites by Hilton in Covington, Georgia, which is located 35 miles east of Atlanta. “This hotel emphasizes our company’s long-term commitment to the community,” said Navin Shah, Chairman of RHI. “When our country comes back from the current COVID crisis, we will offer a safe, comfortable place for people to come together – a trusted site to collect their thoughts, rest their bodies, and gather with friends and family.” The hotel will have 100 rooms, including eight one-bedroom suites, and is expected to open in July of 2022. It is located immedia...
Phocuswright Founder Philip Wolf Dies at 64
PhocusWire | March 17, 2021
March 17, 2021 - Phocuswright founder Philip Wolf died yesterday following a brief illness. He was 64. Wolf, a champion of online travel since the late-1980s, launched Phocuswright, the internet travel research authority, in 1994. After graduating Duke University with a BA in Public Policy Studies and Vanderbilt University with an MBA, cutting his teeth as assistant to the CEO of a New York Stock Exchange retailer and working in the lamp manufacturing business, he entered the travel industry in 1989, as the head of a small agency inside Travelmation. Subsequently, as CEO, he made a name for himself in travel, tourism and hospitality. ...
Zemi Beach House Appoints Antoine Alsayah as Director of Sales & Marketing
Zemi Beach House | March 17, 2021
SHOAL BAY EAST, Anguilla – March 17, 2021 – Zemi Beach House (Zemi), an award-winning LXR Hotels & Resorts boutique property, today announces that Antoine Alsayah has been appointed as its Director of Sales & Marketing. In his new role, Alsayah will lead the sales and marketing for the hotel, including the planning and implementation of modern, tech-forward sales strategies for maximizing hotel revenues and occupancy. He will also oversee revenue operations and reservations alongside Zemi’s General Manager, Paulo Paias. “I’m looking forward to joining the Zemi Beach House team at a very opportune time as we prepare for ...
PROVision Partners and Plan A PR Join Forces to Offer Comprehensive Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Business Advisory Services to Hospitalit
PROVision Partners International, LLC | March 17, 2021
Hospitality industry marketing and advisory firms consolidate operations to expand service offerings to mutual clients in the B2B hotel technology sector worldwide New Smyrna Beach, FL and Winter Garden, FL — March 17, 2020 — PROVision Partners, a leading global strategic growth, marketing, technology, and commercial services advisory firm to the travel and hospitality industry (PROVision), and Plan A PR & Marketing, Inc. (Plan A PR), an established full-service public relations and marketing agency specializing in hotel technology providers, today announced that the companies have finalized an agreement to merge their operations. ...
What Your Direct Bookings Can Learn From Streaming Services
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | March 17, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Streaming services will be a hallmark of modern culture for the next decade. But just as important as the content on platforms like Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime is the user interface through which subscribers access said content. Therein, what we advise is to learn from the best and apply some aspects of what streaming services do great to increase guest engagement on your own booking engine. Some of the elements on these streaming services that are worth investigating to see how they can be applied to your brand.com include but are not limited to: Fast load times Image-first browsing Near end...
Knighthead Funding Originates $61 Million Loan to Refinance Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
Knighthead Funding LLC | March 17, 2021
Greenwich, CT (March 17, 2021) – Knighthead Funding has provided a $61 million first mortgage loan secured by Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico. The five-year, floating-rate, non-recourse loan from Knighthead Funding refinances maturing debt. As the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve Hotel in the Americas and one of only five in the world, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is one of the most luxurious properties under the Ritz-Carlton Reserve flag. Opened in 2012, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is situated in the exclusive gated neighborhood of Dorado Beach, on the former Laurence Rockefeller estate...
Hospitality Upgrade Announces 2021 Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Upgrade | March 17, 2021
In-Person Industry Event Will be Held June 9-11 in Nashville ATLANTA, March 17, 2021 – Hospitality Upgrade Magazine has announced that its 16th Annual Executive Vendor Summit (EVS) will be held in person at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., from June 9-11, 2021. The Executive Vendor Summit is a unique invitation-only industry event that brings together senior technology executives from the hospitality industry for learning, thought leadership and networking. The host hotel is located in Nashville’s popular West End, across from Vanderbilt University and just minutes from the city’s most renowned attractions. The Loe...
Knowland Introduces GroupAdvantage 2021 to Enable and Empower Hotel Sales Teams Into Recovery
Knowland | March 17, 2021
Bringing together actionable meeting intelligence with sales and revenue management expertise to re-engage sales teams ARLINGTON, Va. — March 17, 2021 — Group business continues to be a key driver for profitability in the hospitality industry, especially in this year of unprecedented challenges. To empower hoteliers, Knowland, the leader in AI-powered meetings and events data for hospitality, today announced Knowland GroupAdvantage 2021, a program that brings together the core prospecting and sales training tools needed to help hoteliers win emerging group business. Meeting intelligence, combined with expert sales training and reven...
