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STR: U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 13 February
STR | February 18, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee — 18 February 2021 — U.S. hotel occupancy increased more than 4 percentage points from the previous week, according to STR‘s latest data through 13 February. 7-13 February 2021 (percentage change from comparable week in 2020): Occupancy: 45.1% (-29.0%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$99.21 (-25.7%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$44.72 (-47.2%) Boosted by Valentine’s Day and the long weekend with Presidents’ Day, U.S. weekend occupancy (Friday/Saturday) came in at 58.5%, which was the highest level in the metric since mid-October. Elevated occupancy during the weekend of Presidents’ ...
JLL appoints Gilda Perez-Alvarado as Global CEO, Hotels & Hospitality
JLL | February 18, 2021
NEW YORK – Feb. 18, 2021 – JLL announced today Gilda Perez-Alvarado has been promoted to Global CEO of its Hotels & Hospitality Group to succeed Mark Wynne-Smith, who will continue as Global CEO of Valuation Advisory. These appointments advance the company’s corporate purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world and be the most connected, strategic and creative team of advisors across all businesses. Previously, Wynne-Smith had dual global leadership of both JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group and Valuation Advisory business. With over 10 years of building a significant platform for the global hotels sector, W...
Tiered Marketing Approach to Hotel Recovery
Stephanie Smith | February 18, 2021
By Stephanie Smith Hotel markets across the US are behaving differently. They are rebounding at a different pace. Even hotels within the same market are not seeing the same patterns. While you cannot predict the future, you still need a plan. A tiered plan will give you what you should be doing now, then when there are positive signals demand is returning, have that plan ready. Here is a 3-step approach to creating a plan that works for your specific situation. 1 – Analyze the Data While your own hotel reports will show you what segments are traveling to our hotel and your direct competitive set, that may not be forward looki...
Juniper Capital Partners Opens Rebranded Hotel Nyack as Part of Hyatt’s Joie de Vivre Brand
Juniper Capital Real Estate | February 18, 2021
NYACK, N.Y. – February 18, 2021 – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and Juniper Capital Partners today announce the opening of Hotel Nyack, previously The Time Nyack Hotel in New York’s Hudson Valley. Recently acquired by Juniper Capital Partners, Hotel Nyack now joins Hyatt’s Joie de Vivre lifestyle brand today inspiring the spirit of playful travel through neighborhood connections. Located in Hudson Valley’s Rockland County, Hotel Nyack will provide picturesque views of the Hudson River and newly reconstructed Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, and is primed to welcome guests and locals with the Joie de Vivre brand’s joy-driv...
Hospitality’s ‘Hot Seat’ Leadership Series: COOs – A Tale of Two Fortunes
Andrew Hazelton | February 18, 2021
By Andrew Hazelton, Thomas Mielke Part II In our roles as organizational advisers to the hospitality industry on all HR-, talent- and recruitment-related aspects, we are frequently being asked: “What can we [or I] do differently to stay ahead of the curve?”, often followed by, “What profiles, backgrounds and leadership skills are currently most sought after by the market?”. This natural curiosity about the ‘hot functions’ is keeping both organizational leadership teams as well as individual executives preoccupied. How can one best reshuffle or complement one’s existing leadership team? Are there specific experiences or ...
IHG and Proinvest Build Brisbane CBD Presence With Two Premium Hotel Conversions
IHG Hotels & Resorts | February 18, 2021
The huge momentum behind the popular Hotel Indigo and voco brands continues, as IHG Hotels & Resorts and Pro-invest Group build on their partnership with the signing of two high-profile conversion hotels in the Brisbane CBD. voco Brisbane City Centre and Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre will become the latest additions to the River City’s hotel scene, as Mercure Brisbane and ibis Brisbane rebadge under IHG’s world-class upscale brands following a repositioning and extensive refurbishment. voco Brisbane City Centre, which will overlook the Brisbane River and some of the city’s best cultural institutions, promises to bring ...
Marriott International Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Results
Marriott International, Inc. | February 18, 2021
BETHESDA, MD — FEBRUARY 18, 2021 — Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today reported fourth quarter 2020 results, which were materially impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic and efforts to contain it (COVID-19). Leeny Oberg, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said, “We are all deeply saddened by Arne Sorenson’s unexpected passing. We are grateful to have been able to work with such an inspiring and talented leader and will always treasure our memories of working with him. Our leadership team is committed to honoring him by building on his incredible legacy as we move the company forward.” Stephani...
Kennebunkport Resort Collection Appoints Two New General Managers
Kennebunkport Resort Collection | February 18, 2021
KENNEBUNKPORT, ME — February 18, 2021 — The Kennebunkport Resort Collection, comprised of ten inns, resorts, hotels and rental homes as well as six award-winning restaurants in Kennebunkport, Maine, is pleased to announce appointments of seasoned hospitality leaders, Ophelia Muradian, Emily Nelson and John Nickulas to oversee various properties within the portfolio. “We are thrilled to grow our team with such successful and experienced hospitality professionals,” says Justin Grimes, Managing Director of Kennebunkport Resort Collection. “Their extensive leadership roles, areas of expertise and industry skill sets make them great ass...
Noble Opens Element by Westin Nashville Vanderbilt West End
Element by Westin® | February 18, 2021
Nashville, Tennessee – February 18, 2021 – Noble Investment Group (“Noble”) today announced the opening of the new LEED-certified Element Nashville Vanderbilt West End, the newest addition to Marriott International’s eco-conscious Element by Westin® brand. The upscale hotel is a part of the vibrant oneC1TY community in the renowned West End neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. Element by Westin has redefined the longer stay experience featuring an open and modern outdoor-inspired design which includes an open-air terrace, saline infinity pool, and street-level dining and retail. The hotel's 175 spacious studio and one-bedroom s...
TPG Marinas Appoints Michael Hartman as General Manager of Champlin’s Marina & Resort on Block Island
TPG Marinas | February 18, 2021
RHODE ISLAND – February 18, 2021 – TPG Marinas, the nautically-anchored hospitality and marina management affiliate of TPG Hotels and Resorts, is pleased to announce the appointment of seasoned hospitality expert Michael Hartman as the Director of Integrations & Operations for TPG Marinas and as the General Manager of Champlin’s Marina & Resort, Block Island. Champlin’s is TPG Marinas’ inaugural portfolio asset. Hartman will lead the team overseeing resort and marina operations, as well as the upcoming property-wide renovation which includes refreshed hotel rooms, updated landscaping, elevated service offerings and new food ...
Stonebridge Companies Opens Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Watertown Boston
Stonebridge Companies | February 18, 2021
Watertown, MA – February 18, 2021 – Boylston Properties and Stonebridge Companies today announced that the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton™ Watertown Boston is now open and welcoming guests at the brand new hotel in the heart of Arsenal Yards. The property is operating as a Hilton franchise, owned by a joint venture of Boylston Properties and the Stonebridge Companies, and managed by Stonebridge Companies. The hotel staff and development team will invite a small group of constituents to a private “virtual ribbon-cutting” on March 1, and encourages all interested guests and visitors to contact or stop by the hotel for a socia...
Joint Venture of NewcrestImage and LaPour Partners Opens AC Hotel at Arizona Center in Downtown Phoenix
NewcrestImage | February 18, 2021
February 18, 2021 - The 199-room, 13-floor AC Hotel by Marriott that opens today at Arizona Center in Phoenix is a double first – it’s the first upscale select service boutique hotel in the city’s downtown, and it’s also the first joint venture between Dallas-based NewcrestImage and Las Vegas-based LaPour Partners. “The word ‘phoenix’ symbolizes renewal, progress, and hope,” said Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. “This new hotel in the heart of downtown Phoenix is a powerful symbol of our company’s and our industry’s renewal, progress, and hope – we’re providing travelers with the comfort they want...
Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort Unveils US$80 Million Transformation
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts | February 18, 2021
BANGKOK – Outrigger Hospitality Group today announced a grand new voyage – the US$80 million transformation of the brand’s flagship property, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, located directly on the golden sands of world-famous Waikīkī Beach. The investment transforms the resort into a contemporary beachfront retreat, rooted in Hawaiian culture. With a focus on wellness and unmatched hospitality, sophisticated property enhancements include upscale residential-style rooms and suites, chic poolside experiences and a fully reimagined Kani Ka Pila Grille and stage – the home of Hawaiian music. “As a premier beach resort br...
The Langham, Boston Welcomes Executive Chef Stephen Bukoff
THE LANGHAM, BOSTON | February 18, 2021
BOSTON, MA – February 18, 2021 – The Langham, Boston is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Bukoff as Executive Chef. In this role, Stephen will lead the culinary team at The Langham, Boston, overseeing not just Private Kitchen (in-room dining) and banqueting but also the hotel’s highly anticipated new restaurant, GRANA and charming new destination bar, The Fed. “We are so excited to bring this native son back to Boston for our exciting re-opening,” said Michele Grosso, managing director of The Langham, Boston. “We anticipate our bar and restaurant both becoming iconic celebration destinations in Boston where patron...
Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts Promotes George Gomes Jr. to Regional Executive Chef
Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts and Hogan Hospitality | February 18, 2021
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – Feb. 18, 2021 – Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts announced today the promotion of George Gomes Jr. as its regional executive chef for the Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii Island and Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui. The two iconic resorts reopened after expansive renovations encompassing guest room enhancements and upgrades to common areas and restaurant outlets. Appointed the executive chef for Royal Kona Resort in 2019, Chef Gomes successfully elevated the Kona dining experience for hotel guests and local residents, featuring locally sourced and seasonal ingredients on his menu. In his new role, Chef Gomes will oversee the culi...
HSMAI Foundation’s COVID Relief Fund Opens With Generous $150,000 Donation From the Carolyn Smith Foundation
HSMAI Foundation | February 18, 2021
McLean, VA - February 18, 2021 - The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation is opening its COVID Relief Fund for grant applications following a generous donation of $150,000 from the Carolyn Smith Foundation on behalf of STR Founders Carolyn and Randy Smith. The HSMAI Foundation COVID Relief Fund was established in 2020 with the generous support of benefactors including the Carolyn Smith Foundation, IDeaS Revenue Solutions, and individual donors including past and present leaders Hoyt Bacon, Mike Leven, and Flo Lugli. The fund provides HSMAI membership and educational grants for HSMAI programs to mem...
W Washington DC Hotel Manages Their F&B Inventory With Clear Sky Software’s Bar Code Based Solution
Clear Sky Software | February 18, 2021
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – February 18, 2021 – Clear Sky Software, Inc. ® announced today that the W Washington DC Hotel has installed the company’s food & beverage inventory control system to help manage and track all food & beverage products. Located in the heart of DC, the W has been busy taking advantage of the features of this industry-leading F&B inventory system. Called Clear Sky FOOD & BEVERAGE, this is a comprehensive, perpetual inventory system that tracks and controls all F&B products. Functions include purchasing/ordering, receiving, electronic requisition, outlet transfers/issues/returns and phy...
Cloud5 and SABA Hospitality Bring Humanized Virtual Guest Service to the Americas
Cloud5 | February 18, 2021
Chicago, IL. — February 18, 2021, Cloud5 Communications and SABA Hospitality today announced that they are bringing personalized guest services to hospitality operations in the Americas. The solution combines completely digitized compendium, self-service food and beverage ordering, and A.I. driven chatbot functionality, with the option of click-to-chat/click-to-call service featuring Cloud5's world-class contact center services. “We’re excited to partner with SABA to bring hoteliers a solution that helps them personally engage their guests while improving their bottom line, particularly critical during this challenging time,” said ...
Valor Hospitality Partners Opens The Valley Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama
THE VALLEY HOTEL | February 17, 2021
HOMEWOOD, Ala. – February 17, 2021 – Valor Hospitality Partners announced today the opening of The Valley Hotel, a 129-room upper upscale boutique hotel in the heart of charming downtown Homewood, Ala., minutes south of Birmingham. As the latest addition to Curio Collection by Hilton™, The Valley Hotel blends Southern charm and contemporary lifestyle with subtle nods to Birmingham’s history across its spacious rooms and suites and public art offerings, chef-driven dining venues and over 7,000 square feet of meetings and event space. An urban retreat located in bucolic Homewood, The Valley Hotel boasts 129 tailored guest rooms, in...
The ER Strategy 2.0: Small Improvements Add Up
Shep Hyken | February 17, 2021
Not long ago I wrote about how small improvements can make a big difference. Even just a 1% improvement can make an impact. And, if you focus on 1% (or more) again and again, over time you will make big improvements that will have a positive impact on your customers, employees, internal processes, and your bottom line. You’ll find ways to save money, make money, develop better ways of doing business and much more. One of our team members at Shepard Presentations reminded me of an article I wrote a long time ago, and that maybe it was time to revisit the concept. The article she was referring to was written almost 10 years ago and w...
Will the Hospitality and Travel Industry Recover in 2021?
Linchi Kwok | February 17, 2021
By Linchi Kwok Spring will soon be here. People are celebrating the Lunar New Year. Do you see a brighter future in 2021? Without a doubt, 2020 was a challenging year for most. Besides lockdowns, many companies let employees work from home permanently. When many business activities were put on a break and supply chains were interrupted, the global economy collapsed. COVID-19’s impact on the hospitality and tourism industry has been devastating and unprecedented. How tough was it in 2020? The aviation industry According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, global air traffic dropped from 4.5 billion in 2019 to 1...
Arne Sorenson, In Memoriam
Michael Frenkel | February 17, 2021
By Michael Frenkel I did not know Arne Sorenson well. Met him at some private industry events - collaborated at a distance on Thought Leadership projects. Like the rest of the industry, I mourned his death upon learning of it, though I was not shocked at the outcome or the timing: my mom was lost to late stage cancer a few years back, and one learns to read the signals, signs and pronouncements, even if from a distance. It spares few, and makes an ineluctable beeline toward its intended conclusion. Apart from the obvious business impact - the industry lost the head of its flagship and most influential company - Arne’s passing ...
BENCHMARK® Appoints Eric J. Bates as General Manager, Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center
Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center | February 17, 2021
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 2021 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, formally announces the appointment of Eric Bates as general manager for Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels conference center hotel located in Racine, Wisconsin. Ellen Sinclair, Benchmark’s senior vice president, operations, made the announcement. "It is a real pleasure to formally announce Eric’s newest position within our company,” said Ms. Sinclair. “He is a proven leader and actively embraces Benchmark’s Be The Difference service culture. He is also a native of Wisconsin and ...
NextGuest Merges With Cendyn
Cendyn | February 17, 2021
Boca Raton, FL – February 17, 2021 – Today Cendyn, the leading provider of cloud software and Digital Marketing services for the hospitality industry, and NextGuest, a New York and Munich-based CRM and Digital Marketing leader, combine under the Cendyn brand to become the largest scalable CRM and Digital Marketing provider in the hospitality industry. The merger expands Cendyn’s global reach, as it helps hoteliers drive demand and revenue performance by optimizing every touchpoint of the guest journey through data intelligence and automation. With unparalleled industry experience and expertise, combining both companies enables them t...
