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
Park Regis Birmingham Partners With IDeaS for Greater Forecast Accuracy and Committed Support
IDeaS | January 27, 2021
LONDON — Jan. 27, 2021 — IDeaS, a SAS company, the world’s leading provider of hotel revenue management software and services, announced today Park Regis Birmingham has switched revenue technology providers to implement IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS). Switch Hospitality Management sought an automated RMS vendor for their 253-room, four-star property that it could trust to work closely with them to enable a smooth transition in the short term and enhance long-term profitability and efficiency. A trustworthy partner – Park Regis Birmingham values the dedicated support, proactive system monitoring, and industry expertis...
Iconic St. James Hotel Reopens in Selma, Alabama Following Renovation and Expansion
Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund | January 26, 2021
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Jan. 26, 2021 -- The Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund, a high-impact commercial real estate Opportunity Zone fund established by Woodforest National Bank® and CEI-Boulos Capital Management, announced its $2 million equity investment in the redevelopment of the historic, long-shuttered St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama. The St. James Hotel, the only hotel in downtown Selma, will support the city's growing civil rights tourism industry and help revitalize the local economy, creating 45 permanent jobs with training, health insurance and other benefits (42 of these jobs will be accessible to people with low incom...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 243: Hotel History: Hotel Roanoke, Virginia
Stanley Turkel | January 26, 2021
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Va (332 rooms) Roanoke was a little town named Big Lick when enterprising railroad magnate Frederick J. Kimball chose it as the site of a major railroad juncture. After Kimball combined two of his railroads into the Norfolk and Western Railroad, he built a comprehensive community with the Hotel Roanoke as its grand centerpiece. Built in a wheat field on a little hill, the Hotel Roanoke began as a rambling wooden structure of less than three dozen rooms. As the city grew, the railroad consistently provided resources for hotel additions, remodeling and furnishings to maint...
Will Guests Say “I Do” Again? Survey of Tech’s Impact on Guest Satisfaction
Agnes DeFranco | January 26, 2021
By Agnes DeFranco and Minwoo Lee Technology is everywhere in a modern hotel, and in 2021 and beyond, it is not only about in-room Wi-Fi or booking a hotel room online. The reality is that the list of guest-facing technology is quite long. Plus, now hotel companies are leaning on technologies to limit personal contact in support of social distancing. This leads us to ask: are our guests satisfied with these new technologies? Does technology satisfaction carry over to the overall satisfaction of the hotel stay? More importantly, would guests rebook with the same hotel company in the future? This past August, we conducted a study that aime...
How Hotels Are Getting Back to the Business of Meetings
Fran Worrall | January 26, 2021
Although in-person events may look different, the outlook is optimistic By Fran Worrall With the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine, can the return of meetings and conferences be far behind? Although the pandemic has no doubt changed the way events will be held—at least for the foreseeable future—most hoteliers and industry experts are feeling optimistic. In fact, many properties and meeting planners are already glimpsing signs of life after COVID. “We’re seeing an increase in inquiries, especially in the second half of 2021,” said Blair McSheffrey, vice-president of global & hotel sales at Sonesta, who attributes the uptick...
AAHOA Reschedules 2021 Convention & Trade Show
AAHOA | January 26, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga., Jan. 26 – The 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show is being rescheduled to August 3-6. It will still be held in Dallas, Texas, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD). “AAHOA prides itself on delivering America’s hoteliers, vendors, and partners the best convention and trade show in the hospitality industry. With the end of the pandemic in sight, it is our goal that attendees to the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show be able to gather safely as we continue on the road to recovery and celebrate the resiliency of our industry. Therefore, we are rescheduling our Convention & Trade Show for A...
STR, TE Slightly Downgrade Latest U.S. Hotel Forecast
STR | January 26, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee, 26 January 2021—Worsened pandemic metrics and assumptions of limited early-year travel led STR and Tourism Economics to slightly downgrade their latest U.S. hotel forecast. Full recovery of demand remains on track for 2023, while close-to-complete RevPAR recovery is still projected for 2024. “While the recent COVID-19 surge has made for a challenging start to the year, our expectation that a strong rebound in travel activity will occur in the second half remains intact,” said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics. “As we emerge from the stiffest periods of the public health crisis and virus-relat...
The 2021 West Federation CHRIE Conference on February 18-20, 2021: Hospitality Stronger, Together
January 26, 2021
This virtual conference will provide insightful talks by key leaders in hospitality, travel, and tourism to spark creativity for leading our industry beyond the challenging COVID times. Speakers from Disney, Marriott, Hyatt, Smith Travel Research (STR), the Hilton College and many more. Please join us for the 2021 West Federation CHRIE Conference on February 18-20, 2021 sponsored by the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at Northern Arizona University. The theme of this year’s conference is "Hospitality Stronger, Together". This regional conference will offer a diverse array of opportunities, for both WFCHRIE members and non-...
Best Western Debuts GLo by Best Western Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood Airport Hotel in Florida
Best Western® Hotels & Resorts | January 26, 2021
Phoenix, Arizona (January 26, 2021) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts today announced the latest property to join its energetic and exciting boutique GLō brand – the GLō by Best Western Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood Airport Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Known for its stylish and bright design concept, GLō aims to make travelers stay in the sunshine state even brighter with its unique use of LED lighting, bold pops of color, sleek furnishings, and cutting-edge architecture. In addition to GLō hotels’ chic and fresh aesthetic, properties are designed to meet the needs of today’s connected travelers by offering modern amenities, ...
Wyndham Partners With The Thrash Group to Add Seven Hotels Managed by Charlestowne Hotels
the Thrash Group | January 26, 2021
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 26, 2021 -- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across 90 countries, today announced plans for further growth with seven new hotel franchise agreements for its namesake, upscale, Wyndham® brand in the U.S. The hotels are owned by national hotel development company, The Thrash Group, and managed by Charlestowne Hotels. The properties include The Thrash Group's Origin Hotel Collection, consisting of five lifestyle hotels as well as one historic hotel and a brand new construction hotel all of which will operate under the Wyndham umbrella. "We a...
Hyatt Signs With ESTMA HPT OU for First Hyatt-Branded Hotel in Estonia
Hyatt Place | January 26, 2021
ZURICH (JANUARY 26, 2021) – Hyatt announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management and related agreements with ESTMA HPT OU for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Estonia, Hyatt Place Tallinn. Expected to open in early 2023, the 168-room select service hotel will be located near the Old City Harbor, one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe. Situated in Estonia’s capital and cultural hub, Hyatt Place Tallinn will be near Tallinn’s picturesque Old Town, which is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage site. The surrounding neighborhood is set to undergo a large-scale renewal project and once complete, is exp...
Florida’s Historic Don CeSar Unveils Full Property Renovation Concluding Three-Year Restoration
THE DON CESAR AND BEACH HOUSE SUITES | January 26, 2021
Florida’s iconic Pink Palace®, The Don CeSar, has officially unveiled its highly anticipated, multi-million-dollar renovation dramatically enhancing and expanding the historic, award-winning resort. Managed by Davidson Resorts , The Don CeSar’s top-to-bottom renovation embraces its 93-year history as a beloved Gulf Coast icon while seamlessly fusing modern amenities, sleek design and world-class experiences to set the tone for generations of visitors to come. “We’re excited to usher in The Don of a new era while maintaining our resilient legacy as a global hospitality leader,” said Thomas Fraher, The Don CeSar’s General...
Shoreline Hotel Waikiki Appoints Jeff Perkins as New General Manager
January 26, 2021
Shoreline Hotel Waikiki, a tropicool boutique hotel situated in the heart of Waikiki in Oahu, Hawaii, is excited to announce their new General Manager, Jeff Perkins, effective January 13, 2021. Perkins will focus on establishing the brand and the market position, and mentor the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki team in perpetuating a culture of service that is authentic, anticipatory and consistent. A former United Airlines owned and operated hotel that once hosted their flying crews, Shoreline Hotel Waikiki went through major property renovation in 2018, concepted by Army of Moon People and designed by BHDM Design. The redesign features a colorful ...
Aimbridge Hospitality Appoints Thomas Song as Chief Financial Officer
Aimbridge Hospitality | January 26, 2021
Plano, TX – January 26, 2021 – Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading multinational hospitality management company, announced the appointment of Thomas Song as chief financial officer. Thomas Song will succeed Judy Hendrick, who has announced her retirement for the first half of 2021 after 13 years as CFO of Aimbridge. Hendrick will continue to support Aimbridge in a consulting capacity working with Executive Chairman Dave Johnson on transformational growth projects. As a member of the Executive Team, Song will be responsible for leading Aimbridge’s overall financial management and driving the Company’s financial strategies. He wil...
Alpine Investors’ ASG Acquires Visual Matrix, Adding a Third Market Leading Hospitality Software to Its Portfolio
Visual Matrix | January 26, 2021
RICHARDSON, Texas. & WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - January 26, 2021 - ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors that buys, builds and operates vertical SaaS companies, today announced that it has acquired Visual Matrix, an industry leading hotel property management software providing an all in one PMS with revenue management, channel management, and operational tools to maximize hotel profitability and efficiency. This deal marks the 31st acquisition for ASG and the 3rd in the ASG Hospitality Technology vertical. Visual Matrix joins Transcendent, acquired in 2019, and ProfitSword, acquired in 2020. David Awad, Founder of Visual Matrix, wil...
youtip Partners With Volara to Bring Digital Tipping to Guests via Google, Amazon Voice Assistants in Guestrooms
youtip | January 26, 2021
Chicago — January 26, 2021 — Today hotels with in-room voice assistants powered by Volara can enable their guests to leave a gratuity for hotel staff by simply scanning a QR code on Google’s Hotel Solution or uttering a voice command to Amazon’s Alexa. Through a new integration partnership between Volara, the voice hub for hotels, and youtip, a contactless, cashless and “appless” gratuity system for frontline hotel workers, guests now have a contactless way to reward good service without leaving cash or having to download an app. Not only does this solution enable operators to add more money to their employees’ paychecks, ...
Hotel Distribution – Why You Need to Be “Agile” as a Hotelier
Ellis Connolly | January 25, 2021
By Ellis Connolly The need for agile hotel distribution is more important now than ever, as the hotel industry continues to strategize and map out roads to recovery across every segment of the market amidst Covid. When was the last time a hotel revenue strategy team was able to rebuild their distribution and channel strategies from sub 50% occupancy levels? It’s been decades for most properties unless you are a new build. We, as an industry, should look at this as an opportunity to better position ourselves, while thinking about both short- and long-term distribution strategies. Hoteliers’ abilities to quickly move – and fail –...
Hospitality Upgrade Presents Free Leadership Webinar With Renie Cavallari Titled, Headtrash: The Leading Killer of Human Potential
HOSPITALITY UPGRADE | January 25, 2021
Learning how to dump your HeadTrash will awaken your potential and improve the quality of your life! (ATLANTA) Jan. 25, 2021 – Hospitality Upgrade and Hotel Online have partnered with Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) to launch a leadership webinar for the hotel industry. Dubbed a HU-inar, the 35-minute webinar will help you organize your thoughts and better manage your mind and more. It is guaranteed to be entertaining, educational as well as inspirational. Hospitality Upgrade President Rich Siegel talks with Renie Cavallari of Aspire, the recognized leading authority on shifting human behavior to unleash perfo...
Commonwealth Hotels Promotes Mike Hoelscher to Newly Added Field Director of Sales Position
Commonwealth Hotels | January 25, 2021
COVINGTON, Ky., Jan. 25, 2021 -- Commonwealth Hotels is excited to announce the promotion of Mike Hoelscher to the position of Field Director of Sales and Marketing. The 30-year hospitality veteran is tasked with driving hotel revenues through innovative sales, revenue management and marketing strategies. He will lead his property sales teams in Commonwealth properties located throughout Ohio and Indiana. Mike joined the Commonwealth team in August 2020, first as a Task Force Sales Manager. While helping sales efforts at hotels in Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati markets, he quickly proved himself a perfect candidate for the new...
Sage Hospitality Group Promotes Ed Blair to as Area General Manager Overseeing Four Denver Properties
Sage Hospitality Group | January 25, 2021
Denver, CO (Jan. 25, 2021) – Sage Hospitality Group is pleased to announce that it has promoted Ed Blair to the position of Area General Manager overseeing The Crawford Hotel, Denver Union Station, The Oxford Hotel and The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon. With more than 25 years of hospitality experience, Blair most recently served as the General Manager – or “Rebel Leader” - at Denver’s The Curtis – a Doubletree by Hilton. He previously served as the General Manager at Sage’s Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, where he was honored with the “Sage Passion Award” for 2017. He also spent almost a decade as the General Mana...
Aimbridge Hospitality Promotes Joe Isaac to Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions
Aimbridge Hospitality | January 25, 2021
[PLANO, Texas] (January 25, 2021) – Aimbridge Hospitality, the leading, global, third-party hotel management company, has promoted Joe Isaac to Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, where he will be supporting the Office of the Executive Chairman, focusing on transformational growth including capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, and new business opportunities. He will serve as a strategic cross-functional business partner and be responsible for evaluating and reporting on mergers & acquisitions, underwriting, and deal structuring, leading due diligence, and supporting integration planning. “I am excited to add ...
MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. Travel Association’s State of the Travel Industry Event
U.S. Travel Association | January 25, 2021
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1 p.m. EST | Webcast from the National Press Club Media Teleconference to follow at 1:40 p.m. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow will lay out his vision for continuing to rebuild America’s travel and tourism industry, which has been hit harder than any other U.S. economic sector by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dow will address the lingering challenges to travel, the prospects for reopening as testing and vaccines become more widely available, and the policy prescriptions that can lay the groundwork for a restoration of lost jobs and a return to travel norms. Among the policy topics that ...
Hilton Announces 2020 CEO Light & Warmth Award Winners
Hilton | January 25, 2021
MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today revealed its 2020 CEO Light & Warmth Award winners, the company’s highest form of global team member recognition. Each of the 13 team members and franchise employees being celebrated brings Hilton’s purpose to life and truly exemplifies the company’s vision, mission and values each day. In 2020, more than 650 team members from across Hilton’s global managed and franchise network were nominated by their colleagues. Finalists were selected by a committee of representatives from across the company, with the 13 winners chosen by Hilton’s President and CEO Christopher J. Nassetta. Since 201...
GR Hospitality Opens Radisson Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront in Michigan
Radisson | January 25, 2021
Minneapolis - January 25, 2021 - Radisson, one of the best recognized hotel brands, today announced the opening of Radisson Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront at 270 Ann Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Positioned in an unbeatable location near the DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center and just two miles from the city’s downtown, the hotel is a perfect home base for both business and leisure travelers alike. Additionally, the hotel is within 20 minutes of Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) for those flying into town. As an added convenience the hotel also provides a complimentary shuttle service for guests traveling within a three-mile r...
