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GHM Plans The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, Doha, Qatar
TRIPLE A | March 8, 2021
SINGAPORE — March 8, 2021 — GHM has announced plans to open a new luxury resort, composed of 59 rooms and suites as well as 32 chalets and villas at Katara Cultural Village in Qatar’s capital city, Doha. Developed by the Qatari real estate consortium, Triple A in partnership with Katara Cultural Village, The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, Doha, Qatar shall occupy a beachfront setting within the landmark 100-hectare (247 acre) Katara Cultural Village district that includes theatres, concert halls, exhibition galleries, mosques, restaurants, shops, a park and an open amphitheatre. The area is a magnet for well-heeled travellers and Qa...
ASAP Holdings Selects Remington Hotels to Manage Hampton Inn NY-JFK
REMINGTON HOTELS | March 8, 2021
DALLAS – March 8, 2021 – Remington Hotels, a leading third-party management company, announced today its management of the Hampton Inn NY-JFK in Jamaica, New York. The recently renovated 216-key hotel features modern king and double-queen guest rooms, an on-site bar, business center, fitness center, complimentary airport shuttle and 1,250 square-feet of meeting and event space. The property is five minutes away from John F. Kennedy International Airport and centrally located off of Belt Parkway, with access to I-678 and some of the state’s top attractions including Flushing Meadows Corona Park, USTA National Tennis Center an...
Rosewood Partners With Qatari Diar to Develop The Chancery Rosewood in London’s Mayfair District
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts | March 8, 2021
Rosewood Hotels and Resorts®, in partnership with renowned real estate developer Qatari Diar, is pleased to announce the latest plans for the brand’s second London property, set to open in 2024 in the city’s distinguished Mayfair district. Officially named The Chancery Rosewood, the new hotel will realize Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ signature A Sense of Place® philosophy, which takes the local sensibilities of a destination to inform the property experience provided there, in myriad ways, including expert-led design and décor. Balancing the rich history of the iconic building with contemporary comforts prioritized by today’s lu...
Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Appoints Executive Team
VICEROY L’ERMITAGE BEVERLY HILLS | March 8, 2021
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – March 8, 2021 – Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, the 116-room all-suite luxury hotel renowned for its legendary elegance, is pleased to announce two new team appointments. The hotel welcomes Scott Berger as General Manager and Daniel Ben-Efraim and as Executive Director of Sales & Marketing. “We are thrilled that Mr. Berger and Mr. Ben-Efraim are joining our team at the Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. As seasoned hospitality leaders, they will provide key insights and bring fresh perspectives to the property via their exceptional careers. We look forward to working together to continue our mission to p...
SH Hotels & Resorts Bringing Treehouse Hotel to Brickell, Miami
SH Hotels & Resorts | March 8, 2021
MIAMI, March 8, 2021 -- SH Hotels & Resorts, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group led by Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, today announced that it will open its award-winning Treehouse Hotel in Miami, the brand's first U.S. location, in 2023. Treehouse Hotels debuted in London in 2019. Treehouse Hotels are about freedom and fun—the wondrous, childhood feeling of climbing into a treehouse and making up your own rules. Designed to appeal to the child in all of us, Treehouse Brickell will be imaginative and nostalgic—inspired by simple joys. Urban yet earthy. Responsible and caring. Dreamed a...
The Importance of Diversity at All Levels of the Hospitality Industry
Glenn Skolnick | March 8, 2021
By Glenn Skolnick As our world becomes increasingly diverse, the hospitality industry recognizes the need to reflect this in the way it operates. The multicultural and multinational market would benefit from hotels and leisure properties appointing diverse management teams that understand their backgrounds, needs, and desires, and can effectively reach a diverse target market. This trend is getting support from an increasing number of directions including the Nasdaq, which recently filed a proposal to adopt new listing rules related to board diversity and disclosure. But how far along are we in these endeavors, and how much further do ...
6 Ways to Keep Your F&B Costs in Check
HotStats | March 8, 2021
Outside of fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, which are predicated on familiarity and uniformity, no two food and beverage operations are the same. Each has its own characteristics; its own challenges. It’s these variables that keep managers up at night wondering how to tweak the revenue side and reduce operational costs without adversely affecting product quality and delivery. It’s a lot to juggle. F&B is the second-most important revenue stream in a hotel after rooms. It is imperative, then, to control the cost structure to ensure a healthy bottom-line. Let’s not forget: F&B is highly volatile, which is to say we all ea...
Hospitality Financial Leadership – Disco Dick Hatfield
David Lund | March 8, 2021
By David Lund My hometown is St Andrews, New Brunswick in eastern Canada. The town overlooks Passamaquoddy Bay and to the south we are flanked by the great state of Maine. Every year in this part of the world the US governors and the Canadian provincial premiers get together for bilateral talks, some good food, and fun. This story is about one of those meetings, The Algonquin Hotel, and how I met our then Premier, Richard Hatfield who is partially responsible for my hotel career. A little history about Mr. Hatfield. He was the premier of New Brunswick for 17 years, from 1970 to 1987. Best known for his flamboyant lifestyle including bei...
How Women Are Confronting the Gender Gap at Work
JLL | March 5, 2021
Just over a year ago, while steep challenges around gender equality remained, the number of women in the workplace was on the rise. Fast-forward 12 months and the picture has changed, with the pandemic and ensuing economic slump disproportionately affecting women. Women this past year have left the workforce at a greater pace than men, while inequalities they already faced have been compounded. Part of this is because women are over-represented in professions like childcare, hospitality and entertainment, which rely on person-to-person contact. And because women still tend to handle childcare and domestic duties, working from home has ...
PROVision Partners Welcomes Mims Wright as Senior Advisor
PROVision Partners | March 5, 2021
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, March 5, 2020 — PROVision Partners (“PROVision”), a leading global strategic growth, marketing, technology, and commercial services advisory firm to the travel and hospitality industry, announces the appointment of Mims Wright as a Senior Advisor. Mims is Co-Founder & Managing Partner of the travel advisory firm, Black & Wright LLC, specializing in travel industry business, technology and equity. His clients have included leading online travel brands, traditional travel distributors, airlines, hotels, tour operators, publishers, and travel industry start-ups. Wright and Susan Black founded a practic...
The Best of Both Worlds: Five Things to Consider When Organizing Hybrid Events
CWT | March 5, 2021
Mar 5, 2021 - Throughout 2020, the world was inundated with Zoom meetings and virtual events to keep businesses operational – in-between getting our fresh loaves of sourdough out of the oven, of course. Being able to meet in person has been tricky with looming threats of continued virus outbreaks and little to no travel opportunities. So, what does 2021 have in store for corporate meetings and events? My guess is it’s going to be a big year for hybrid meetings. Even as face-to-face meetings gradually resume – as we are already seeing in some parts of the world – travel restrictions and various safety requirements will likely remain i...
Pandemic May Allow VR to Shake Off ‘Gimmick’ Image in Tourism
GlobalData | March 5, 2021
The impact of COVID-19 may allow VR to permanently shake off its image of being a gimmick in the tourism sector. Hype behind the technology in recent years has often been greater than actual usage, especially for leisure purposes. However the longer this pandemic impacts travel for, the higher the chance that consumers and organizations adopt this technology on a more permanent basis, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Spending considerably more time indoors with an abundance of spare time, combined with an urge to travel, has meant that asp...
Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index Jumped 22.4% in February
Baird | March 5, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee, and MILWAUKEE — 5 March 2021 — The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index jumped 22.4% in February to a level of 5,141. Year to date through the first two months of 2021, the stock index was up 12.4%. “Hotel stocks posted huge gains in February as the reopening and reflation trade momentum caused many hotel brands and hotel REITs to reach new post-pandemic highs,” said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. “Investors appear willing to pay up today for several years of expected growth, and improving vaccine distribution and declining case counts have caused investors to become eve...
SALA Hospitality Group Unveils sala bang pa-in on an Island in the Chao Phraya River
SALA Hospitality Group | March 5, 2021
BANGKOK, THAILAND - March 5, 2021 - SALA Hospitality Group, Thailand’s homegrown design-led hospitality company, has unveiled the latest addition to its curated collection of beachfront resorts and boutique hotels: sala bang pa-in, a chic and stylish new riverside retreat that allows guests to escape the city, unwind in nature and learn about Thai history. With a fleet of boats awaiting to transport guests on immersive excursions, including complimentary transfers to and from the Summer Palace, every traveller can uncover the rich heritage of a charming yet relatively undiscovered part of the Kingdom. Scheduled to open its doors on 1st M...
Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne Set to Open in Southern Vietnam
CENTARA | March 5, 2021
Bangkok, Thailand – March 5, 2020 – Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, expands its popular family-themed resort brand with the world’s second Centara Mirage, opening in a popular beach destination in southern Vietnam. Located a few hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh City, Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne will be a Spanish Mediterranean themed waterpark resort inspired by nautical adventures and voyages of discovery. Opening in late April 2021, the 984-key resort will infuse the guest experience with elements of fantasy, wonder and awe. Fantastic family-friendly facilities include diverse dining, an observa...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Latest Job Figures
U.S. Travel Association | March 5, 2021
WASHINGTON — March 5, 2021 —The U.S. Leisure & Hospitality sector gained 355,000 jobs in February and the industry’s unemployment rate now stands at 13.5%—compared with 379,000 jobs gained and a 6.2% unemployment rate for the overall economy, according to the monthly employment report released Friday by the Department of Labor. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following comment: “While today’s report shows travel industry jobs heading in the right direction, the fact remains that the Leisure & Hospitality sector’s total jobs are still at just 80% of the levels we saw last February—a sta...
At Year-End 2020, the Global Hotel Construction Pipeline Decreased Slightly Year-Over-Year
Lodging Econometrics | March 5, 2021
PORTSMOUTH, NH – March 05, 2021 – The latest Global Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE) states that the global hotel construction pipeline stands at 13,943 projects/2,312,410 rooms. Year-over-year (YOY) the total global pipeline decreased 7% by projects and 6% by rooms. Projects under Construction at year-end 2020 stood at 6,513 projects/1,169,418 rooms. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months were at 3,920 projects/573,352 rooms and there were an additional 3,510 projects/569,640 rooms in the early planning stage to round out the total pipeline. Globally during 2020, 2,562 ...
Hotel Florence Completes Renovations and Joins Tapestry Collection by Hilton
March 5, 2021
FLORENCE, SC – March 5, 2021 – Hotel Florence, a unique boutique hotel located in the heart of historic downtown Florence, South Carolina, is pleased to announce the completion of their interior renovations and conversion to Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Owned and operated by Raines since 2013, the property began the renovation process in October 2020. Guests of the hotel can now experience extensive room renovations, including major bathroom upgrades, new furniture, fixtures, and equipment, new carpet and paint, updated artwork, and more. The property’s existing restaurant, Victors, also received an upgrade, including new sea...
Leisure in the Time of Covid
Craig Jacobs | March 5, 2021
By Craig Jacobs Competition for local and regional leisure business among hotels is unusually intense for the painfully obvious reason that COVID has curbed everything else. To generate leisure demand, properties invest in digital marketing including social media, SEO, paid search, and display advertising. They also engage with on-line travel agencies to capture discounted business. While there are reliable key performance indicators to measure results from these marketing tools, creating an acceptable financial return on investment is challenging. Keeping up with the latest trends surrounding marketing technology requires a major commitme...
Sightline Hospitality Selects ProfitSword to Deploy Customized Business Intelligence and Performance Forecasting Solution
ProfitSword, LLC | March 4, 2021
Full-service hotel management company uses market slowdown to upgrade internal systems and partners with ProfitSword to provide hotel ownership with maximum performance transparency. SAN FRANCISCO – March 4, 2021 – ProfitSword, a premier developer of hospitality-related business intelligence and data integration software, has announced the successful implementation of their customizable, fully intuitive business intelligence platform for Sightline Hospitality. A rapidly expanding hotel management company that adopts an outside the box approach to maximizing revenue for its hotel owners, Sightline Hospitality’s partnership with ProfitS...
The St. Regis Almasa Opens in Egypt Following Rebranding From Almasa Hotel
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts | March 4, 2021
CAIRO, Egypt - March 4, 2021 - St. Regis Hotels and Resorts (www.StRegis.com), part of Marriott International (www.Marriott.com), today announced the opening of The St. Regis Almasa with the rebranding of the Almasa Hotel. Located in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, The St. Regis Almasa is poised to become the best address in the heart of the up-and-coming city, which is slated to be the new face of Cairo and the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. “We are delighted to bring our iconic St. Regis brand to the New Administrative Capital together with the National Authority for Management & Investment,” said Guido De W...
Poll: Only 12% of Americans Plan Spring Break Travel
U.S. Travel Association | March 4, 2021
WASHINGTON — March 4, 2021 — The spring break season is traditionally the first major travel period of the year—but only about one in eight Americans plans a spring break trip this year, according to polling data by Destination Analysts. And despite the nationwide progress on vaccines, spring break travel intentions actually appear to be dropping: the 12% who plan to travel for spring break is down from 16% the week prior—the first time that question was polled. The data suggests that Americans remain wary about traveling amid the COVID pandemic—and that they may prefer to defer their travel plans until the process of vaccinat...
STR: U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 27 February
STR | March 4, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee — 4 March 2021 — U.S. weekly hotel occupancy dipped slightly from the previous week, according to STR‘s latest data through 27 February. 21-27 February 2021 (percentage change from comparable week in 2020): Occupancy: 47.5% (-25.8%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$96.72 (-25.2%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$45.90 (-44.5%) The week-over-week decrease was the country’s first since late January. Florida, California, and New York reported the largest drops in demand. Texas, on the other hand, led the nation in room nights sold as hotels continued to house residents displaced by winter sto...
Taormina’s Legendary San Domenico Palace to Reopen as a Four Seasons Hotel This Summer
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | March 4, 2021
TAORMINA, Italy - March 4, 2021 - Perched high above the deep blue waters of the Ionian Sea and in the magnetic presence of Mount Etna, one of Europe's most storied hotels will soon be reborn as San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel. "This is truly a jewel in our crown of historic properties throughout the Mediterranean region, and the perfect complement to our beloved Four Seasons hotels in Milan and Florence," says Simon Casson, President, Hotel Operations - Europe, Middle East and Africa. "San Domenico Palace is a legend in European hospitality, and it is our honour to welcome the hotel into our portfolio on the occa...
