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Delta Hotels Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites Appoints Kevin Dubel as Executive Chef
Delta Hotels Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites | September 17, 2020
Virginia Beach, VA (September 17, 2020) – Delta Hotels Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites, opening in November 2020, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Dubel as Executive Chef and Director of Outlets. In his new role, Chef Dubel will oversee all food and beverage venues at the new hotel, including the soon-to-open all day restaurant Tin Cup Kitchen + Oyster Bar, the 56-seat alfresco lounge, Tin Cup Conservatory, and the Grab ‘N Go called Café 2800. Chef Dubel will also develop and manage in-room dining services, lead menu development, oversee sustainable kitchen practices, supervise culinary presentations and protocols, and ...
How Technology Can Save Hotel Staff Time & Prioritize Guest Safety
Amy Jeffs | September 17, 2020
By Amy Jeffs The pandemic has put the hotel industry in a tough position. 70% of hotel employees have been furloughed or laid off. Even though occupancy is down, staff have been struggling to balance their workload, because navigating new safety and sanitation guidelines while still providing guests with a great experience is not an easy task. However, hoteliers that are open and willing to adapt to changing times and invest in the right technology can continue to provide the top-notch services and experiences for their guests. By investing in technology such as environmental monitoring and communication systems, hotels can improve their o...
MMGY Global’s Latest Traveler Research Shows a Significant Jump in Confidence in the Safety of Domestic Travel
MMGY Travel Intelligence | September 17, 2020
KANSAS CITY, MO (September 17, 2020) – MMGY Global has announced the latest findings from MMGY Travel Intelligence's Travel Intentions Pulse Survey Wave VIII (TIPS) and MMGY Global’s Travel Safety Barometer, which are designed to track how COVID-19 is impacting travelers’ attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. As we near the end of a summer where domestic road trips were the preferred way to vacation, despite COVID hot spots also continuing to pop up around the country, perceptions of safety for domestic travel, transportation, lodging and even business travel are at their highest since the start of the pandemic. “We’re seeing this...
Asset Owners/Managers: Your Path Forward
Robert Post | September 16, 2020
By Robert Post Congratulations! If you are reading this and still have your properties operating at some level, you've survived the first wave of COVID-19 and the economic recession/depression that has accompanied it. As much as I would like to announce that bad news is largely behind us, we actually face something much more complicated for the next 24+ months: uncertainty. Uncertainty around the virus, how the public will respond, therapeutics vs. vaccine, but the endless amount of speculation is frankly wasted effort. In human history this isn't the first time a pandemic and recession have impacted the human race. So, although we may w...
How Much Does It Cost to Give Great Customer Service?
Shep Hyken | September 16, 2020
By Shep Hyken I recently wrote an article in Forbes about how to get customers to pay more. The focus, of course, was on customer service and experience. Research has irrefutably proven that customers will pay more for a better experience. Research also has irrefutably proven that customers will leave you for your competition if you don’t give them the service they expect. One of my Forbes readers, Daniel Rodriguez, sent in an interesting comment. He said, “What’s interesting is that better service is correlated to a higher willingness for the customer to pay, but that doesn’t mean that a business has to spend more on CS to...
Boutiques May Be Adapting Faster Than Other Hotel Sectors, but Still Hurting
Jim Butler | September 16, 2020
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com The theme of the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association’s (BLLA) upcoming Boutique Lifestyle Digital Summit is “Dare to Adapt” and there are some compelling arguments as to why the boutique space may be able to adapt to the current economic crisis faster than other sectors in the hotel industry. “Boutiques can pivot easily,” said Frances Kiradjian, Founder and CEO of the BLLA. “They can make decisions quickly without checking in with brands.” Take cleaning, an area of great to concern to guests in the current COVID-19 env...
Daly Seven Opens Hampton Inn & Suites Charlotte Northlake
September 16, 2020
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 16, 2020 - Daly Seven, Inc. announces the opening of the Hampton Inn & Suites Charlotte Northlake. The 130-room hotel is located just off I-485 in Charlotte, NC, less than a mile from the Northcrest Shopping Center and Northlake Mall. Guests can enjoy popular attractions including golf at Sunset Hills or Oak Hills Golf Club about 10 minutes away and Mountain Island Lake, only seven miles from the hotel. The hotel offers extraordinary value with uniquely designed spaces to accommodate the most discerning guests. "We opened our first Hampton Inn in 1992 and we have enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Hilton,"...
New Radisson Hotel Opens in the UNESCO City of Literature, Ulyanovsk, in Western Russia
Radisson | September 16, 2020
Brussels/Ulyanovsk - September 16, 2020 - Radisson Hotel Ulyanovskis ideally located in the heart of the city, close to the main administrative and business centers. This upscale, full-service hotel with Scandinavian-inspired hospitality offers guests the opportunity to discover this historic city located on the banks of the Volga River near cultural attractions, museums and shopping malls. Ulyanovsk has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature since 2015 due to its rich connection with leading Russian writers and painters. Radisson Hotel Group’s Area Senior Vice President, Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey, Yilmaz Yildir...
Top 5 Things You Need to Know Now in Hotel Digital Marketing: September Edition
Margaret Mastrogiacomo | September 16, 2020
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo As the holiday season swiftly approaches, it’s important to keep a pulse on the evolving digital landscape to keep your digital strategy ahead of the curve. This month, Microsoft Ads expands LinkedIn targeting availability, Connected TV advertising continues to grow, and mixing realism with illustration is a design trend that arrives just in time for the holidays. From Search to Social Media and Design, here are the top 5 things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing. 1. Search: Microsoft Advertising expands LinkedIn profile targeting to more countries. Microsoft first opened LinkedIn Profile data ...
This Is Why You Keep Your Restaurant’s Signature Dish
Larry Mogelonsky | September 16, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Chefs are creative individuals and I’m continually blown away by what these professionals can do when challenged to explore their passion. But a restaurant needs some marketing sensibility if it going to thrive, especially in a hotel or urban capacity where there are numerous other independent and more agile operations to compete with. While some executive chefs are themselves tremendous impresarios or, dare I say, celebrity chefs, many others need to be reined in so that the menus are in stride with what the market wants and so that they fit with the dining outlet’s theme for a...
IHG’s voco™ Brand Arrives in the Americas With First Locations Planned for New York City, Florida and Missouri
IHG | September 16, 2020
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced that its highly anticipated upscale voco™ brand has arrived in the Americas with first locations planned for New York City; St. Augustine, Florida; and Columbia, Missouri. Initially launched outside of the Americas in 2018 with the first hotel in Australia, the voco brand combines the informality and charm of an independent hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. With a focus on conversion opportunities, voco Hotels allows guests to enjoy an upscale experience with the freshness of a one-of-a-kind hotel under...
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to Manage Historic San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Italy
Gruppo Statuto | September 16, 2020
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, together with Gruppo Statuto, one of the leading hotel development companies, is happy to announce that the celebrated San Domenico Palace in Taormina is under an extensive renovation program and will be unveiled as San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel. San Domenico Palace is ideally placed on the hilltop town of Taormina on the eastern shores of Sicily, overlooking the Bay of Taormina and the Ionian Sea. The Hotel features multiple terraces with clear views of the surrounding waters, as well as Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a beac...
Adero Scottsdale Appoints Bryan Dillon as New Director of Chef & B
CIELO Scottsdale | September 16, 2020
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (September 16, 2020) – The 177-room ADERO Scottsdale luxury resort, set to debut on Oct. 15 as the region’s only resort in a certified Dark Sky Community, has announced the appointment of Bryan Dillon, MCFE, CHM as its Director of Chef & B. Leading culinary operations across the resort, including the signature restaurant CIELO, Dillon will oversee menu development, in-room dining, and catering for special events and meetings. CIELO, meaning ‘sky,’ will offer an elevated dining experience and one of the best views in Arizona with ample outdoor seating overlooking the Sonoran Desert, a curated selection of tequi...
CIM Group Completes Gallery Tower — First New Hotel Constructed in Downtown Las Vegas in More Than 10 Years Adding 495 Rooms to Downtown Grand H
CIM | September 16, 2020
LAS VEGAS - CIM Group announced today the completion of Gallery Tower, an eight-story hotel tower that adds 495 contemporary guest rooms to Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. Gallery Tower is the first new ground-up hotel constructed in more than 10 years in Downtown Las Vegas and is set to debut on September 22, offering Downtown Grand Hotel’s guests a total of 1,124 rooms in an assortment of room configurations including three new 1,500-square-foot penthouse suites. Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino spans two full city blocks between Casino Center Boulevard and North 4th Street, and East Ogden and East Stewart Avenues. The 250,000-squ...
Radisson Hotel Group Appoints Americas Development Team
Radisson Hotel Group | September 16, 2020
Minneapolis MN - September 16, 2020 - Radisson Hotel Group today announced the appointment of Bill Hall and Jason Yarbrough as senior vice presidents of development for the Americas. Hall will lead a team of franchise sales and development directors covering the western U.S., and Yarbrough will lead a team of franchise sales and development directors covering the eastern U.S. Hall has spent more than 30 years in a variety of leadership roles in the franchising business. He most recently served as senior vice president of franchise operations at Red Roof, where he played a key role in improving operating performance to increase hotel and roo...
StepStone Hospitality Assumes Management of Le Méridien Dallas by the Galleria
StepStone Hospitality | September 16, 2020
DALLAS (September 16, 2020) – Rhode Island-based StepStone Hospitality, a best in class hotel management company, announced today that it has assumed management of Le Méridien Dallas by the Galleria. The 258-room, all suite property recently underwent a $2.2 million renovation. The newly redesigned suites blend boutique flare with modern convenience and include updated locks for contactless mobile check-in. “This is an exciting opportunity for us, and our team is glad to be back in the Dallas community,” said Tom Russo, Founder and Executive Chairman of StepStone Hospitality. “We look forward to working with ownership and the M...
Loews Hotels & Co Names Alex Tisch President
Loews Hotels & Co | September 16, 2020
NEW YORK (September 16, 2020) – Loews Hotels & Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Loews Corporation (NYSE: L), announced today that Alex Tisch will assume the role of President. In his new role, Tisch will work closely with Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loews Hotels & Co along with the executive leadership team in developing and executing the company’s strategy, prudently managing capital and resource allocation, and overseeing general operational effectiveness. Additionally, Tisch will continue to lead the Commercial, Acquisitions & Development, and the Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando Resor...
Aparium Hotel Group Set to Debut Hotel Haya in Tampa’s Famed Ybor City
Aparium Hotel Group | September 16, 2020
YBOR CITY, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2020) – Brick streets. Large, spacious courtyards. Ornate globe street lamps. Legendary cigar factories. Free roaming roosters. Historical architecture. Rich multicultural roots. Ybor City, the landmarked district just northeast of downtown Tampa - one of the City’s most celebrated neighborhoods - will soon have a hotel with a vibrant character to match: Hotel Haya. The property, which officially opens on Sept. 24, is the latest to be unveiled by Kevin Robinson and Mario Tricoci of Aparium Hotel Group, whose award-winning properties include Kansas City’s Crossroads Hotel, Detroit Foundation Hotel and Minneapol...
Alexandre Frenkel Appointed General Manager of Santiburi Koh Samui
Santiburi Koh Samui | September 16, 2020
Koh Samui, THAILAND – Santiburi Koh Samui, the high-end, experience-driven beachfront retreat on Samui’s north shore, has appointed Mr. Alexandre Frenkel as its new General Manager, effective 1stAugust 2020. A highly-skilled Swiss hotelier with almost three decades of experience, Alexandre has worked with leading hotels and resorts in five countries. He also has a deep knowledge of the Thai hotel sector, having spent the last 16 years living and working in the Kingdom. It was destiny that Alexandre would become a hospitality expert; he was born and raised in his family’s 24-room hotel in the countryside near Geneva, in his native ...
Beekeeper Webinar to Showcase Some Technology Must-Haves of the Next Normal
Beekeeper | September 16, 2020
Together with its marketplace partners Lua and SalesBoost, employee communication hub Beekeeper will showcase some of the tools every hotel needs on the road to recovery Oakland, Calif., Sept. 16, 2020 — COVID-19 is fundamentally changing the way hoteliers are operating their businesses. Physical distancing requirements, increased compliance demands, and razor-sharp attention to managing costs are accelerating the adoption of technology in the next normal. While the way to recovery is likely long and sinuous, a property’s technology stack can help alleviate some of the pain points. As part of its ongoing COVID-19 Webinar Series, Beeke...
Oxford Hotels & Resorts Opens Hotel Audrey in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile
Hotel Audrey | September 15, 2020
(CHICAGO; September 15, 2020) – Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC, the Chicago-based hotel management affiliate of Oxford Capital Group, LLC, proudly announces today’s launch of Hotel Audrey (166 E. Superior St.), in The Magnificent Mile shopping district and directly adjacent to other significant Chicago tourist attractions. Oxford worked closely with the investment firm Fillmore Capital Partners to implement the strategic repositioning of the hotel. “We, like everyone in the travel and hospitality industry, are experiencing extremely challenging times. As such, it’s particularly gratifying to be able to relaunch such a tremendous ...
5 Key Points on Europe Hotel Performance, 10 September
STR | September 15, 2020
Knowing you might not have time to watch our full webinars, we are pleased to continue our series of COVID-19 webinar summaries. In this latest edition, we talk performance in Europe as well as our latest forecast updates. How does Europe compare to other regions in the recovery cycle? China hit a 69.4% occupancy level on 18 August, the highest level during the time of the pandemic. Since that date, however, China has started to fall back a bit. During the first weekend of September (4-6 September), the market posted 57.6%, 57.5% and 57.9% occupancy levels, respectively. Europe saw its lowest occupancy level during the firs...
International Tourist Numbers Down 65% in First Half of 2020, UNWTO Reports
UNWTO | September 15, 2020
International tourist arrivals plunged 93% in June when compared to 2019, with the latest data from the World Tourism Organization showing the severe impact COVID-19 has had on the sector. According to the new issue of the World Tourism Barometer from the United Nations specialized agency, international tourist arrivals dropped by 65% during the first half of the year. This represents an unprecedented decrease, as countries around the world closed their borders and introduced travel restrictions in response to the pandemic. Over recent weeks, a growing number of destinations have started to open up again to international tourists. UNWTO repo...
Donohoe Hospitality Set for Fall Opening of Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point
Donohoe Hospitality | September 15, 2020
BALTIMORE, MD (September 15, 2020) — Canopy by Hilton, Hilton’s lifestyle hotel brand, will open its first Baltimore location this fall at 1215 Wills Street. Located at Wills Wharf in the heart of the Harbor Point neighborhood, the forthcoming hotel has recruited local experts to cultivate an authentic Charm City experience for travelers. A total of 156 guestrooms split across 24 room types, each offers floor to ceiling views of the city’s skyline and waterfront, as well as convenient access to a range of exciting cultural attractions around the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Harbor East. Canopy will open with Hilton’s CleanStay with L...
