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
“She Has a Deal” Announces Pitch Competition Winning Teams
“She Has a Deal” | October 30, 2020
McLEAN, Va., October 30, 2020—Officials of “She Has a Deal,” an annual hotel investment pitch competition for early-career women, today announced the winners of its event held Saturday. Over the last year, participants completed more than 12 hours of intensive hotel investment education to learn how to source, evaluate and raise capital for a real hotel deal. Out of a field of 17 teams, five were selected at a virtual preliminary round to move forward to the finals, where they pitched live to a judging panel of top-level hotel business executives, entrepreneurs and investors. Held at Hilton’s Innovation Gallery at the Hilton McLea...
Midas Hospitality Appoints Mat Meadows as General Manager of Aloft Milwaukee Downtown in Wisconsin
October 30, 2020
St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 23, 2020 - Leading hotel development, management and investment firm Midas Hospitality recently named Mat Meadows as the General Manager at Aloft Milwaukee Downtown. In this position, he will oversee all aspects of the hotel’s daily operations while ensuring the ultimate guest experience. His leadership responsibilities, which include the continuous promotion and strategic business development of the downtown hotel, will focus on quality service in a customer-centric environment. Meadows has nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Midas Hospitality, he worked as the General Man...
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Selected to Manage the Le Meridien Houston Downtown in Texas
Pivot Hotels & Resorts | October 29, 2020
ATLANTA (October 29, 2020) – Premier hospitality management company Davidson Hotels & Resorts has been selected by Development Service Group (DSG, Inc.) to manage Le Méridien Houston Downtown. Situated in downtown Houston near Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center, the 255-room hotel is housed within the historic Melrose Building, which was the first Houston skyscraper designed in the International style and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Le Méridien Houston Downtown is defined by its modern style with touches of European history, featuring 11,027 square feet of meeting and event space and three F&...
Marriott Announces Opening of AC Hotel Stockholm Ulriksdal
AC Hotels by Marriott | October 29, 2020
AC Hotels by Marriott®, Marriott International’s design-led lifestyle brand, has expanded its Europe, Middle East and Africa footprint with the opening of its first property in the Swedish capital, AC Hotel Stockholm Ulriksdal. Built with a perfect blend of form and function, the hotel offers travellers the ideal base to discover the striking architecture and Scandinavian design Stockholm has to offer. Led by world-renowned design company, Living Design, the interior design features a walnut colour scheme creating a delicate balance and flow through colour, texture, and arrangement. The hotel takes shape with clean modern lines, aesthet...
Marriott International Plans 2021 Opening of The Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection Hotel, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection hotel | October 29, 2020
JACKSON, WY (October 29, 2020) – Set to open spring 2021 on Jackson’s historic Town Square, The Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection hotel, will draw upon the town’s signature Western style, while bringing understated luxury and a refined, yet relaxed sensibility to the valley. Rooted in the destination, people, and soul of Jackson Hole, The Cloudveil name gives both a nod to the Cloudveil Dome within the Teton Range, while also invoking the veil of clouds lifting to reveal the transformational journey guests will undoubtedly embark on as they experience the natural wonder and enduring character of Jackson Hole. The Cloudveil will als...
Urgo Hotels & Resorts Assumes Management of Two Ohio Marriott-Branded Hotels
Urgo Hotels & Resorts | October 29, 2020
BETHESDA, Md./Dayton, OHIO/Toledo, OHIO, October 29, 2020—Officials of Urgo Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel company that develops, owns and operates hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, today announced that it has added two Marriott-branded hotels, the 146 room Courtyard Dayton South/Mall and the 149 room Courtyard Toledo Airport Holland to its expanding portfolio of managed hotels. The two hotels are owned by Skyline Investments, a Canada-based hotel real estate investment group with a portfolio spanning the U.S. and Canada. “With the addition of these Courtyard by Marriott hotels, Urgo Ho...
Milestone Inc. Will Host Digital Transformation Thought Leaders and Marketing Trailblazers at Engage2020 on November 12
Milestone | October 29, 2020
Santa Clara, CA. October 29, 2020. - Milestone Inc, a premier provider of digital marketing software and solutions for enterprise and hospitality opens registration for its digital transformation summit, Engage2020: Transform. Rebound. Accelerate. The pandemic in 2020 has accelerated digital transformation, and that makes an effective digital strategy and website an even more essential component of the business strategy and marketing plan. This is the right time to leverage Milestone's thought leadership, deep experience, and proprietary product-service solution. "2020 is a transformational year and maybe the most imp...
Renaissance Hotels Expands Its Portfolio in Southern China with the Opening of Renaissance Shenzhen Bay
Renaissance Hotels | October 29, 2020
Marriott International today announces the opening of Renaissance Shenzhen Bay Hotel in Nanshan, an affluent district to the southwest of Shenzhen. The area is home to Shenzhen High-Tech Industrial Park, comprising China's largest technology headquarters and international companies. The opening marks the second Renaissance hotel in the city. With a brand philosophy that inspires guests to “Discover This Way”, Renaissance Shenzhen welcomes global travelers and locals to discover unexpected gems that are off-the-beaten-track in this booming tech hub. “As China’s most successful economic zone and a driving force of the Greater Bay Area ...
Zoox Smart Data Appoints Sandy James as Director of Business Development
Zoox Smart Data | October 29, 2020
Established IT and hospitality expert to spearhead market expansion aimed at providing North American organizations with disruptive smart data and guest behavior analytics Alpharetta, GA, October 29, 2020 — Zoox Smart Data (“Zoox”), an international provider of technological solutions that easily harnesses big data to build and monetize customer profiles from existing Wi-Fi networks, announced today the appointment of Sandy James as Director of Business Development. James’ primary objective is to accelerate Zoox’ commercial growth in North America and to achieve a leading presence in the region as the go-to provider for guest behav...
TraknProtect Appoints Page Petry to Board of Advisors
TraknProtect | October 29, 2020
Chicago, Illinois, October 29, 2020 – TraknProtect, a pioneer of location-based technology purpose- built for the hotel industry and a leading employee safety button provider for several major hotel brands, announces the appointment of Page Petry to the company’s Board of Advisors. In her role, she will work closely with the executive management team in providing her expertise and assistance as the company continues to expand, define and implement new offerings and assist in TraknProtect’s global go to market initiatives. Prior to starting PDPetry Consulting in 2020, Petry served as the Chief IT Officer of the Americas at Marriott In...
Case Study: Hotel Paso Del Norte Re-Opens as One of the First Autograph Collection Hotels Using Bipolar Ionization for Air Purification
Greenwood Hospitality | October 29, 2020
When the historic Hotel Paso Del Norte began a full-property renovation three years ago, the hotel’s leadership had a vision to restore the property to its former glory. In addition to completely new furniture, fixtures, and amenities in guestrooms and public areas, the historic hotel is now one of the first Autograph Collection hotels in Marriott International’s portfolio to make use of bipolar ionization to purify and sanitize air on-property at all times. The bipolar ionization system works differently from traditional air filtration systems, which gradually replaces air within a property over time. The system at work in the Hotel...
ALICE Launches a Hotel Technology Buyer’s Guide
ALICE | October 29, 2020
ALICE’s guide provides tips for evaluating and purchasing the best hotel technology solutions. NEW YORK, New York – ALICE, the hospitality industry’s leading operations technology company, has released “The Hotel Technology Buyer’s Guide: Top Tools to Support Lean Teams.” More than 2,500 hotels and thousands of hoteliers around the world have chosen ALICE to streamline operations and communication with a single platform. The benefits of hotel technology software are as varied as the providers that are constantly innovating in the industry. Navigating the vast market of hotel technology solutions requires an understanding of...
How Hotel Sales Performed in Q3
Daniel H. Lesser | October 29, 2020
Long term opportunistic investors that bet big, at the right basis, and early in the cycle will likely reap tremendous financial rewards. By Daniel H. Lesser Today’s global travel sector, which many characterize as being “on the brink of collapse,” is simply unprecedented. Seven months into a 100-year worldwide pandemic which caused a swift, wide, and deep economic recession has decimated key travel and leisure related industries including airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, ridesharing, and tour operators. While stock markets have rebounded to near record levels, the US lodging industry continues to experience crippling stress...
Marriott, Hilton and IHG Comprise 68% of Projects in U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline
Lodging Econometrics | October 28, 2020
October 28, 2020 – PORTSMOUTH, NH - In the recently released quarterly United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), the franchise companies with the largest construction pipelines at the end of the third quarter of 2020 are Marriott International with 1,390 projects/184,450 rooms, followed by Hilton Worldwide with 1,351 projects/155,626 rooms, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 873 projects/89,375 rooms. Combined these three companies account for 68% of the projects and 66% of the rooms in the total pipeline; roughly the same percentage it’s been quarter-over-quarter throughout 2020. Hilt...
Twin River Acquires Operations of Tropicana Evansville Casino from Caesars for $140M
Twin River | October 28, 2020
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Oct. 27, 2020 - Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TRWH) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Tropicana Evansville casino operations from Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) for $140 million. As a result of the transaction structure, Twin River will make the acquisition without any cash outlay. As part of the acquisition, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI"), a publicly traded gaming-focused real estate investment trust ("REIT"), will acquire the Evansville casino real estate for $340 million and lease it back to Twin River for $28 million/year in rent, subject to e...
Hilton Signs With Referência Arrojada to Open First Tapestry Collection Hotel in Portugal
MERCAN Group of Companies | October 28, 2020
PORTO, Portugal - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced an agreement to open Sé Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection by Hilton – a unique 77-room property that will bring an exciting new guest experience to Portugal’s second-largest city. The hotel is owned by Referência Arrojada SA, a subsidiary of Mercan Group of Companies, and will operate under a franchise agreement with Hilton, with the opening planned for early summer 2021. It will be Portugal’s first Tapestry Collection property. Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, EMEA, Hilton said: “Sé Catedral Hotel Porto will be an impressive debut for Tapestry C...
How to Better Manage Conference and Banqueting When It Returns
HotStats | October 28, 2020
Let’s face it: Even discussing conference and banqueting business right now drips of tone deafness. We get it: There’s not much of it on the books. According to HotStats data, year-to-date revenue from conference and banqueting is down 72% to $8.38 per available room compared to the same period last year. The days of the iced-over raw bar are over, for now. The regret is that conference and banqueting, based on normal times, has the potential to bring in a heaping helping of revenue. One study by Oxford Economics saw that eventgoers spent $38 billion in direct sales in 2016. Those events also generated 300 million room nights. ...
Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas Appoints Claudette Zepeda as Executive Chef
Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas | October 28, 2020
ENCINITAS, Calif. (October 28, 2020) – Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas today announced San Diego-based James Beard Award semifinalist Claudette Zepeda as Executive Chef. In this role, she will oversee the opening of multiple food & beverage concepts and lead the culinary team at the highly anticipated hotel that is slated to open in early 2021. Located in one of Southern California’s most iconic seaside towns along the coastal bluffs, the opening of the 130-room Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas will mark a significant milestone, as the Alila brand’s first new-build resort in the Americas and only the second Alila property in ...
More Hotel Mogel: Essays in Hotel Marketing & Management
Larry Mogelonsky | October 28, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic represents a watershed moment for hotels around the world. Weathering the short-term consequences of a global travel shutdown required a deft hand in management, while navigating any organization toward success in the recovery period demands even more intellect and creativity. There are now so many new challenges facing the hospitality industry and the situation is changing almost every day. With technology playing a pivotal role in the hotel of the future, all managers must also have a firm grasp of how each platform and device works in order to determine what is best for their organizations while still operating on ...
Delta Hotels by Marriott Dallas Southlake Appoints Enam Chowdhury as Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage
Delta Hotels by Marriott Dallas Southlake | October 28, 2020
SOUTHLAKE, Texas (Oct. 28, 2020) – Delta Hotels by Marriott™ Dallas Southlake announced today that Enam Chowdhury has been appointed Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage for the Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar. This announcement is culminating with the highly charged buzz around town that “Father of Southwestern Cuisine” Dean Fearing collaborated with Chowdhury on the development and design of the hotel’s signature Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar. This includes Fearing’s signature influences on restaurant menus, brunches, weddings and special events. Scheduled to open in late November, the Delta Hotel by Marriott Dallas Southlak...
Support Grows for Hotel Industry’s Safe Stay; Former CDC, WHO Official, & Infectious Diseases Society of America Endorse Guidelines
AHLA | October 28, 2020
Washington (October 28, 2020) — Support for the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Safe Stay initiative continues to grow with endorsements coming from leading scientists, physicians and public health experts in epidemiology and infectious disease. The new endorsements come from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Linen Management which represents the personnel involved in the textile care industry, as well as a certified industrial hygienist and former infectious diseasesepidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and World Health Organization...
Summarizing the Financial Consequences of the Pandemic
Larry Mogelonsky | October 28, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Is COVID-19 the Armageddon for the hotel industry? That’s the first question I asked Dr. Donald W. Wise, co-founder and senior managing director of Turnbull Capital Group. With over 36 years of investment banking experience in the hospitality industry, he and this firm have been involved in roughly $20 billions of advisory, consultation, note sales, preferred equity and debt placements, and transactional engagements on both the buy-side and the sell-side. Given our current state of affairs, it behooves all senior executives and aspiring hoteliers to know a bit about the behind-clo...
Camelback Resort Appoints Gaman Guadagni as Vice President of Operations
Camelback Resort | October 28, 2020
TANNERSVILLE, Penn. – With over 13 years of innovative hospitality experience including property and business management positions at prestigious resorts throughout the U.S., Gaman Guadagni has been appointed vice president of operations at Camelback Resort, a KSL Resort nestled in the Pocono Mountains, Penn. Guadagni’s appointment includes supervising all operations (excluding food and beverage and the resort’s arcade) connected with Camelback Lodge, an eight-story modern mountain hotel with 453 guest suites. In addition, he helms the running of Pennsylvania’s biggest outdoor waterpark, Camelbeach, the resort’s year-round Aquato...
Aparium Hotel Group Plans November Debut of Surety Hotel in Downtown Des Moines
Aparium Hotel Group | October 28, 2020
DES MOINES, Ill. (Oct. 28, 2020) – Surety Hotel opens its doors on November 11, 2020 in the Des Moines’ downtown district, heralded as the Midwest’s burgeoning financial center and fastest growing metropolitan city. Just a walk to the idyllic farmers’ market, boutiques, galleries and cafes, Surety Hotel is the latest property to launch by Aparium Hotel Group’s Kevin Robinson and Mario Tricoci, whose award-winning portfolio includes Kansas City’s Crossroads Hotel, Detroit Foundation Hotel, Minneapolis’ Hewing Hotel and more. A brilliant adaptive reuse of the historic century-old Hippee building, the soon-to-debut 137-key hotel m...
