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The 32nd Hunter Hotel Investment Conference Will Take Place in 2021
January 6, 2021
The Hunter Conference reschedules from March to May 10-12, 2021 Atlanta, GA: Back in March, we made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 conference with the hopes of resuming in March 2021. In our commitment to deliver the most relevant content, meaningful networking, and the opportunity to gather again safely—the 32nd Hunter Hotel Investment Conference will take place May 10-12, 2021 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Our focus remains consistent: a hotel real estate and finance conference designed for owners and investors. More than ever, we believe that it is vital to provide a place and time for the hotel industry to come toget...
Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center Salutes Maestro PMS Ease of Use, Service and Support
Maestro PMS | January 6, 2021
Sister property, Mansion on Delaware Avenue, also relies on the company’s cloud hosted browser-based property management system and its exceptional 24/7 Diamond Plus service Markham, Ontario, January 6, 2021 — In a post pandemic world, only the most service-oriented businesses will survive. Putting customers first, nurturing empathy, being proactive, prioritizing communications, boosting training, and practicing patience must be the fundamental ingredients of a customer service culture in the new normal. It is those components that Umit Uyghur, director of rooms and regional director of revenue and optimization at the Hotel Hen...
Cloud5 Strengthens Leadership With the Addition of Key Executives
Cloud5 Communications | January 6, 2021
Ajdelsztajn, McClure, and Reid Join Cloud5, Milano Promoted Chicago, IL. — January 6, 2021 — Cloud5 Communications, the leading provider of technology and communications solutions for the world’s top hotel brands and management companies, today announced the addition of several key executives to further strengthen its leadership team. In the fourth quarter of 2020, Cloud5 secured the talent of Alex Ajdelsztajn, Vice President, Professional Services; Beth McClure, Vice President, Marketing; and Jason Reid, Senior Vice President and GM, Contact Center Business Unit. Cloud5 also promoted Beth Milano to the position of Vice President, Sale...
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection Appoints Senior Leadership Team
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection | January 5, 2021
BETHESDA, Md. - January 05, 2021 - Curator Hotel & Resort Collection appointed Jennifer Barnwell as President and Austin Segal as Vice President. Ms. Barnwell will oversee all aspects of Curator with a specific focus on growing the membership of Curator and its strategic operating partnerships. Mr. Segal will focus on operations and the development of vendor relationships, agreements, and technology. “Curator is excited to appoint Jen and Austin to senior leadership positions to lead the growth of Curator,” commented Jon E. Bortz, Founder and Chairman of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection. “Jen has been one of the leaders...
Hersha Hospitality Trust Sells Courtyard San Diego for $64.5 Million
Hersha Hospitality Trust | January 5, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 05, 2021-- Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE: HT) (“Hersha” or the “Company”), owner of high-quality hotels in urban gateway markets and regional resort destinations, today announced it entered into a binding sales agreement on the 245-room Courtyard San Diego for $64.5 million resulting in a net book gain approximating $5.4 million. The Courtyard San Diego has no property-level debt and will result in net proceeds of $64.5 million which will be utilized to repay borrowings under the Company’s credit facilities. “After a highly competitive sales process, we are pleased to announce the sale of the Courtyard San Die...
Cambria Hotel Detroit-Shelby Township Opens in Michigan
Cambria Hotels | January 5, 2021
ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 5, 2021 -- Cambria Hotels, an upscale brand franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), continues its rapid expansion across the country with the opening of the Cambria Hotel Detroit-Shelby Township. This marks the brand's fifth new hotel since June, joining properties in Greenville, South Carolina; Madeira Beach, Florida; Ocean City, Maryland; and Sonoma, California. The four-story, 98-room hotel is the brand's second hotel to open in Michigan, joining the Cambria Hotel Traverse City, while the Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown is expected to open next year. The Cambria Hotel Detroit-Shelby T...
Technology at the Service of the Customer
Rémi Walbaum | January 5, 2021
By Rémi Walbaum Although fears that technology will wipe out jobs and human relationships in its wake, market trends show that as the world becomes more digitalized, consumers are looking for a real, concrete and personalized service. The hospitality industry has always been committed to putting people at the center of its concerns, and this is not about to change. However, it is clear that new technologies can help to further improve the customer experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) at the service of the customer Artificial intelligence (AI) unveils new data that can be analyzed to personalize the experience, predict behavior, ...
U.S. Hotel Profitability Worsened in November
STR | January 5, 2021
BROOMFIELD, Colorado—U.S. hotel profitability fell back to levels seen during earlier months of the pandemic, and year-over-year declines worsened from the previous month, according to STR‘s November monthly P&L data release. In a year-over-year comparison with November 2019, the industry reported the following: GOPPAR: -97.5% to US$2.13 TRevPAR: -73.5% to US$60.92 EBITDA PAR: -120.2% to US$-12.30 LPAR (Labor Costs): -61.4% to US$31.32 The industry’s GOPPAR was the lowest since June (US$-5.89). “Profitability data fell in line with the November performance metrics we released earlier this month, as U.S....
Vision 2050 – Hotel Recovery From COVID-19
Robert Rauch | January 5, 2021
By Robert Rauch The next 30 years begins with COVID-19 recovery. What does that look like? We pick up the pieces that were cracked, torn apart and ravished one by one. We will review demand, those elusive customers who are either mandated to stay at home, are afraid to travel or were planning to attend an event that was postponed or cancelled. We’ll discuss challenges we see on the horizon and review the economy, what guests are looking for, what hotel recovery may look like and the future. Short-Term Outlook Good times are ahead for those with about six months of patience. We will have a very soft Q1 despite the PPP dollars that...
Real Hospitality Group Assumes Management of Residence Inn Rehoboth Beach in Delaware
Real Hospitality Group | January 5, 2021
OCEAN CITY, MD — January 5, 2021 — Real Hospitality Group (RHG) has assumed management of the newly built Residence Inn Rehoboth Beach. Owned by Milton, Delaware-based Hudson Management, the recently opened property is the first all-suite hotel in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. "RHG enjoys a long and trusted relationship with Christian and Jamin Hudson," said Ben Seidel, president, and CEO of RHG. “We’re honored to add their second hotel to our managed portfolio of 106 properties in 16 states across the U.S.” Located at 18964 John J Williams Highway, the hotel has 104 suites, each with a fully equipped kitchen. Complimentary high-s...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 242: Hotel History: Fisher Island, Miami, Florida
Stanley Turkel | January 5, 2021
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Fisher Island, Miami, Florida Fisher Island is in Miami-Dade County, Florida, located on a barrier island of the same name. As of 2015, Fisher Island had the highest per capita income of any place in the United States. The CDP had only 218 households and a total population of 467. Named for automotive parts pioneer and beach real estate developer Carl G. Fisher, who once owned it, Fisher Island is three miles offshore of mainland South Florida. No road or causeway connects to the island, which is accessible by private boat, helicopter, or ferry. Once a one-family island home of the Vanderbilts,...
Peachtree Hotel Management Forms Strategic Partnership With Zenique Hotels
Peachtree Hospitality Management | January 5, 2021
ATLANTA, January 5, 2020—Officials of Peachtree Hotel Group, one of the nation’s fastest growing hotel investment and management platforms, and Zenique Hotels, a family-owned hotel owner, developer and operator based in Calif., today announced the two organizations have formed a strategic partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, Peachtree Hospitality Management (PHM), PHG’s operational division, will manage Zenique’s current portfolio of four hotels. The strategic partnership also makes PHM the operator of all Zenique’s future hotels as it continues to grow nationwide. “We continue to seek best-in-class partners such as...
Noble Investment Group Announces Senior Management Appointments
Noble | January 5, 2021
Atlanta, Georgia (January 5, 2021) – Today, Noble Investment Group ("Noble") announced senior management appointments as the firm enters its twenty-eighth year as a leading real estate investment manager. Ben Brunt has been named Chief Investment Officer, Jim Conley has been named Chief Compliance Officer, and George Dabney has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer. Together with longstanding Noble principals, Adi Bhoopathy, Executive Vice President of Capital Markets, Kevin Grass, Executive Vice President of Development, and Steven Nicholas, Executive Vice President of Asset Management, they have each been named to Noble's Management ...
Sunridge Hotel Group Opens 108-Suite Residence Inn by Marriott in La Quinta, California
unridge Hotel Group | January 5, 2021
La Quinta, CA – January 5, 2021 – The 108-suite Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in La Quinta, California opened its doors in December. Located at 79-675 Highway 111, the all-suite property will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by LQ Hospitality Group, LLC and managed by Sunridge Hotel Group of Mesa, Arizona. General Manager LaShan Pope and Director of Sales Emily Steiding lead the management team at the property for Sunridge Hotel Group. Situated in the Coachella Valley, less than 10 minutes from Old Town, the Residence Inn by Marriott La Quinta offers easy access to over 30 golf courses, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Joshua Tree N...
The Evolving Traveler Journey: 3 Trends Hoteliers Must Address Today
Paul Barron | January 5, 2021
By Paul Barron The hospitality industry is navigating through a time of unprecedented change. The shock of COVID-19 pushed what was once considered preferential traveler expectations into industry standards faster than anyone could have imagined. Trips are either increasingly spontaneous with short booking windows or intensely researched due to safety. On-trip interactions are digitizing, and loyalty has evolved far beyond points programs. Reviewing recent trends, hoteliers must prepare for three key shifts in the traveler’s journey: 1. Booking flexibility shifting from perk to expectation 2. Acceleration of the contactless ...
Win-River Resort & Casino Selects Agilysys Solutions to Streamline Guest Self-Service and Improve the Guest Journey
Agilysys | January 5, 2021
Customer Expands Agilysys Partnership With rGuest Express And IG OnDemand Cloud-Native SaaS Contactless Mobile Products ALPHARETTA, GA. — January 5, 2021 — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that Win-River Resort & Casino has expanded its existing Agilysys relationship with the addition of Agilysys’ modern cloud-native SaaS mobile solutions, rGuest Express for mobile check-in/out and IG OnDemand for contactless food and beverage ordering and payment, as well as IG KDS for kitchen order management. A longtime user of Agilys...
INTELITY Receives 4th Patent for Its Award-Winning Hospitality Technology Platform
INTELITY | January 5, 2021
The new patent reflects INTELITY’s deep commitment to innovation in the space of staff collaboration and platform integrations. Los Angeles, CA (January 5, 2020) - INTELITY®, the provider of hospitality’s most comprehensive guest experience and staff management platform, has today announced its fourth patent, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent was awarded to INTELITY for its staff collaboration and optimization tool GEMS® (Guest Experience Management System), and reflects INTELITY’s long history of leadership and innovation in hospitality technology. Founded in 2007, INTELITY was the first comp...
Hotel Okura Vladivostok to Open in the Second Half of 2021
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. and Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd. | January 4, 2021
TOKYO--January 4, 2021--Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., has announced it will open the Hotel Okura Vladivostok, the first Japanese-run hotel in the Russian Pacific port city, in the second half of 2021. Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd. and Joint Stock Company «Mnogofunkcionalnii Gostinichnii Kompleks «Zolotoi Rog» signed an agreement covering the operation of the new property on December 29, 2020. Hotel Okura Vladivostok will be located near the Golden Bridge, a popular tourist attraction from which visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the Zolotoy Rog, a sheltered horn-shaped bay on...
Penn National Gaming’s Chief Financial Officer, David Williams, Announces Decision to Step Down
Penn National Gaming | January 4, 2021
20-Year Veteran Gaming Industry Analyst, Felicia Hendrix, Named New Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer WYOMISSING, Pa.--January 4, 2021--Penn National Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) (“Penn National” or the “Company”) announced today that David (“Dave”) Williams, has stepped down as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) as of December 31, 2020. Taking his place, subject to customary regulatory approvals, will be Felicia Hendrix, who will be joining Penn National as Executive Vice President and CFO on March 2nd following more than 20 years as an equity research analyst covering the gamin...
Choice Hotels Partners With Gulf Coast Hotel Management for Conversion of 15 Hotels to MainStay Suites
Choice Hotels | January 4, 2021
ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 4, 2021 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has awarded franchise agreements to Gulf Coast Hotel Management, Inc. to convert 15 MainStay Suites hotels in major markets across the U.S., the largest multi-unit transaction in the brand's history. These properties, which have already begun welcoming guests, significantly increase the brand's foothold in the midscale extended stay segment. These 15 hotels combined add nearly 1,700 rooms to the Choice Hotels portfolio and are located in the following cities: Centennial, Colorado Meriden, Connecticut Altamonte Springs, Florida Hoffman Estates, Il...
Omni Hotels & Resorts Paid Out Over $50 Million in Payroll Expenses Directly to Its Associates
Omni Hotels & Resorts | January 4, 2021
Funds were appropriately used as intended by legislation As a privately held company, Omni Hotels & Resorts generally does not disclose financial information; however, as the president of a company I love so dearly, I cannot sit idle as our integrity is attacked. UNITE HERE, a union representing a limited number of Omni’s employees, has implied that Omni Hotels has misused government funds or otherwise abused the Payroll Protection Program loan program. This is simply not true. As we all know, COVID-19 has swiftly and significantly impacted the entire world, and has wreaked havoc on the hospitality industry. As a result, I, along ...
Janko Hospitality Plans April 2021 Opening of The Forester, A Hyatt Place Hotel, in Lake Forest, Illinois
Janko Hospitality | January 4, 2021
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (January 2021) – Janko Hospitality announced today that The Forester Hotel, a contemporary, chic new hotel located at 200 N. Field Dr. in Conway Business Park, is set to open in April 2021. The first hotel to open in the community since 1929, The Forester Hotel concept is inspired by the city of Lake Forest’s motto “Naturae et Scientiae Amor” which translates to “Love of Science and Nature.” The Forester Hotel will be at a crossroads safeguarding all the comforts of Hyatt, while at the same time blazing new trails with boutique offerings including an upscale bistro + bar and over 4,500 square feet of flexib...
2021 Design Trends for Commercial Buildings Shaped by COVID-19
Cicero Construction Group | January 4, 2021
PLAINFIELD, IL, JANUARY 4, 2021 -- Predicting design trends for the commercial building industry can be difficult in the most reliable of times, but following 2020, a year of widespread uncertainty, planning ahead has become more complicated than ever before. Despite this uncertainty, Cicero Construction Group has gathered trend insights to assist building owners in their renovation planning for 2021 and beyond. While the word “trend” may imply short-lived, many of these new ideas being driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as touchless tech, in-room fitness and enhanced HVAC systems, are likely here to stay. PHYSICAL DISTANCING: ...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: Chapter 14 – The How To vs. The Want To
David Lund | January 4, 2021
By David Lund The chapter below is an excerpt from my new book. It’s fiction but some of the characters and story lines are based on people I have worked with and events that have taken place in the hotels I have worked in. The book is a fable about a hotel manager who has some very bad habits. He must change in order to survive and the book takes him and you through the lessons needed to be a great hospitality financial leader. I’m writing ahead each month so I’m not sure how the book will end. I hope you enjoy it and if you missed any earlier chapters you can find them on my website blog tab. Mr. D returned the next morning ...
