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Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index Jumps 19.0% in August
Baird | September 9, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee, and MILWAUKEE—The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index jumped 19.0% in August to a level of 3,582. Year to date through the first eight months of 2020, the stock index was down 32.0%. “Hotel stocks significantly outperformed in August along with other travel-related stocks as investors cheered continued progress on the medical front and accommodative interest rate policies that are expected to be in place for the foreseeable future,” said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. “Both the Hotel Brands and the Hotel REITs outperformed their respective benchmarks by more than 10 perce...
Interstate Hotels & Resorts Appoints Jean-Charles Denis as Chief Operating Officer
Interstate Hotels & Resorts | September 9, 2020
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Aimbridge Hospitality’s international division, has expanded its senior management team with the appointment of Jean-Charles Denis to the role of Chief Operating Officer. With a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, Jean-Charles joins Interstate from IHG, where he held a variety of senior positions including Director of Operations, Vice President Commercial and Vice President Finance. Having been an owner and operator of his own portfolio of hotels, Jean-Charles brings a unique perspective to the newly created role, overseeing operations across all of Interstate’s 96 hotels in the UK, Ireland...
When Surprise and Delight Becomes Surprise Without Delight
Shep Hyken | September 9, 2020
By Shep Hyken We’ve all heard the expression surprise and delight. The intention is that we surprise our customers with better-than-expected service. The result is that they are delighted. But what happens when the intended surprise does not delight? That’s exactly what happened to my friend and fellow professional speaker, Beth Terry. She has a three-bedroom home. The third bedroom is used as an office. She hired a cleaning service to clean her home, and specifically told them not to go into the third bedroom. She told the cleaning crew where she wanted them to focus their efforts for the time they were there. She also told th...
SHVO Wins Approval to Move Forward With the Development of the Raleigh Masterplan in Miami Beach
SHVO | September 9, 2020
Historic Preservation Board approves restoration of the historic Raleigh, South Seas and Richmond hotels as well as construction of a new 175-foot residential tower. MIAMI, Sept. 9, 2020 - Real estate owner and developer Michael Shvo has won approval from the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) of the City of Miami Beach to move forward with the three-acre master plan development of The Raleigh Hotel, together with the South Seas and the Richmond, located on Collins Avenue and 18th Street in Miami Beach. The board approved The Raleigh Master Plan to fully restore the three properties and to unify them as one site in order to operate the...
PM Hotel Group Expands Lifestyle Portfolio With Addition of The Westin Baltimore
PM Hotel Group | September 9, 2020
CHEVY CHASE, Md., Sept. 9, 2020 - PM Hotel Group today announces that it has been selected to manage the Westin Baltimore Washington Hotel, a 260-room property conveniently located near Baltimore WashingtonInternational Airport. "We are excited to expand our lifestyle portfolio with the addition of the Westin Baltimore. Now more than ever, strengthening our relationship with Westin- a brand whose core DNA is dedicated to wellness- feels like perfect timing as we move into the next phase of recovery for the hospitality industry," said Joseph Bojanowski, President of PM Hotel Group. "With an optimal location, this addition is indicative of...
COVID-19: The Great Hospitality Reset
September 9, 2020
By Matthieu Mauguin Do you ever feel like time can go by at different speeds? While on vacation, an entire week may go by in a few hours, whereas at work, a bad day can sometimes feel interminable. This is often described as the elasticity of time which is strictly a matter of perception: your brain either produces stimulants which cause an overestimation of the flow of time, or depressants/anesthetics which have the opposite effect. However, in the last few months, it seems like this feeling took a literal turn. The COVID-19 outbreak warped the concept of time, both subconsciously and literally. Early 2020 already feels like a decade a...
Radisson Hotel Group Signs Master Franchise Agreement With Atlantica Hotels in Brazil
Radisson Hotel Group | September 9, 2020
Minneapolis MN - September 9, 2020 - Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce it has signed a Master Franchise Agreement with Atlantica Hotels in Brazil. The two companies have held a longstanding relationship for nearly 20 years. Atlantica Hotels was previously a licensee for Radisson Hotel Group’s brands in Brazil, including Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson and Park Inn by Radisson. The Master Franchise Agreement will cover all seven of Radisson Hotel Group’s brands. The signing of this agreement will extend this relationship for another 20 years while growing Radisson Hotel Group’s presence throughout the country. “After 20 ...
Hyatt Opens Andaz Xiamen in South China
Andaz | September 9, 2020
CHICAGO (September 8, 2020) –– Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Andaz Xiamen in south China. Situated in the heart of Xiamen, within the mixed-use development of The MixC and close to Xiamen Botanical Garden, Andaz Xiamen is where old meets new and east meets west, weaving in the sights, sounds and tastes of its local neighborhood to create a dynamic environment and an immersive experience for guests. “We are extremely excited to celebrate the opening of Andaz Xiamen and announce the introduction of the inspiring and unscripted Andaz brand experience to this beautiful garden city, which marks the deb...
Uniquely Yours: Personalized Offers for Your Guests
Vizergy | September 9, 2020
Often times we see specials and packages continually repeated while searching for a hotel. If you’re getting tired of seeing the same promotions, so are your potential guests. So get creative with your offers and generate far more interest in your hotel – from both new and returning guests. Here are some ideas how you can do this: Be “Something Different” What can your hotel offer that others can’t? Work creatively with local businesses for the win-win, showcase amenities unique to your property, and offer the little extras that just may make the difference. All of these are sure to pique the interest of potential guests. ...
Innovative Ideas for Keeping Guests Safe During the Pandemic
David Berger | September 9, 2020
From flying guests private and hosting balcony concerts to leveraging robotics and partnering with local tourism bureaus, hoteliers are finding new ways to help guests stay responsibly. By David Berger With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact occupancy rates of hotels across the U.S., hoteliers are doing what they can to signal to travelers that their properties are taking every precaution to keep them safe, but this messaging — even with the continued support of brands and industry associations — is often inconsistent with the narrative consumers are hearing from other sources. The confidence to travel again is predicated on...
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) Leads the Successful Sale of the Houston Area Candlewood Suites
Paramount Lodging Advisors | September 9, 2020
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) is pleased to announce the sale of the Candlewood Suites in Kingwood, TX. PLA was exclusively engaged to represent the seller in the transaction of the 73-room property. The marketing efforts were led by Managing Director Kami Burnette and Associate Mason McDavid. The 77-room property is in the heart of Kingwood and is ideally located near the Kingwood Medical District. Future plans include converting the property to an Extended Stay America branded hotel. “This is an unprecedented environment with numerous headwinds including COVID-related travel restrictions and frozen capital markets. We are excit...
Today’s New Employee Safety Culture Is Benefitting Hotel Workers, Guests in Big Ways
Robb Monkman | September 9, 2020
Hoteliers say hope is on the horizon and newly implemented procedures and technologies are helping them better protect their people and meet guests’ demands By Robb Monkman A new safety culture has emerged in hospitality that places employee protection at the core of operations. Prior to the global pandemic, hoteliers were already rolling out employee safety devices (ESDs) per legislative mandates and commitments to industry programs like the American Hotel & Lodging Assn.’s 5-Star Promise to better protect their people from sexual harassment situations and threats of violence. Today, as hotel employees put their lives on the li...
Economy Extended-Stay Hotels Hold Up Best During Q2 2020
Rodney Clough | September 8, 2020
By Rodney Clough, Chelsey Leffet The second quarter of 2020 was the low point for the hospitality industry, as the world was gripped by the pandemic and as travel lockdowns were widespread. HVS compiled the 2020 performance statistics of brands reported by public companies for the second quarter and compared the data to second-quarter performance of 2019. The data reflect the resiliency of economy, extended-stay brands during the first months of the pandemic. Average Q2 Occupancy Decline (Points of Occupancy) Source: Stock Filings Economy, extended-stay brands experienced the least amount of impact, albeit still a significant ...
6 Ways to Turn a Crisis Into an Opportunity
HotStats | September 8, 2020
When a crisis strikes an industry, most hunker down to reduce damage. Amid the chaos, it’s easy to overlook the opportunities a crisis turns up. As a hotelier, you don’t have to sit back and absorb financial hits. There are ways to go on the offense. Wondering how? We’ve picked out six ways to transform unexpected market turns into profit and exit a crisis in a stronger financial position than ever. Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity In the middle of a panic, there’s a simple fact most hoteliers overlook: If you can quickly adjust to the new conditions, you’ll be set up to outdo the competition. Here’s how: 1. Esta...
Tripadvisor Reveals Fall Travel Index: For Americans, Florida’s Recovery Bolstered by Improved Searches for Hotel Bookings
Tripadvisor | September 8, 2020
Key Largo, Key West and St. Pete Beach are among the fastest recovering U.S. destinations since last year NEEDHAM, Mass., Sept. 8, 2020 -- Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel platform, today released findings from its Seasonal Travel Index for Fall, providing travelers with insight into where Americans are traveling this autumn as tourism markets continue their path to recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Tripadvisor site data shows that globally, domestic travel for the fall season (September 1 - November 30, 2020) continues to gradually recover, with nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of all travelers planning domestic fall ge...
Travel Industry Inspires Americans to Plan a Future Trip
September 8, 2020
**Let’s Go There Coalition senior spokespeople will hold a virtual press conference Tuesday, September 8 at 1 p.m. ET. Click here to register and receive the Zoom link, and see more details below.** WASHINGTON (September 8, 2020)—As states and cities move to reopen, the American travel industry launched a major campaign today with a clear message for Americans: it’s OK to start planning your next trip—whenever it may be. The “Let’s Go There” campaign, which will extend into 2021, is the result of an industry-wide collaboration of more than 75 businesses and organizations that spent months examining the question: what is th...
Hurricane Laura Displacements Create Hotel Demand in Louisiana and Texas
STR | September 8, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Evacuations and displacements due to Hurricane Laura created hotel demand in markets throughout Louisiana and Texas last week, according to an analysis by STR. During the week of 23-29 August, Louisiana hotel occupancy rose 35.9% from the prior week to an absolute level of 55.7%. Texas hotel occupancy improved 17.0% to a level of 54.4%. “Different from the past natural disasters that have led to widescale evacuations, Hurricane Laura hit at a time when hotel performance is incredibly low because of the pandemic,” said Jan Freitag, STR’s SVP of lodging insights. “Usually with these analyses, we see dem...
American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP Appoints Jonathan Korol as New CEO
American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP | September 8, 2020
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 8, 2020 - American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP ("AHIP") (TSX: HOT.UN, HOT.U and HOT.DB.U) is pleased to announce that Jonathan Korol has been appointed its Chief Executive Officer effective October 7, 2020. Mr. Korol is a proven leader who brings a deep understanding of the North American hotel industry gathered over decades as an owner, operator and asset manager, making him the ideal candidate to assume the role of CEO. Mr. Korol comes to his new role from SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts ("SilverBirch"), where he has been President since February 2017. At SilverBirch, Jonathan oversaw one of Canada's largest...
hotelAVE Appoints Chris Hague as Chief Operating Officer
hotelAVE | September 8, 2020
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 8, 2020 - Hotel Asset Value Enhancement (hotelAVE), the premier hotel asset management company, today announced the appointment of Chris Hague as Chief Operating Officer. Chris will play a critical role in overseeing operations, furthering the company's commitment to exceeding client and partner expectations. The announcement was made by Michelle Russo, Chief Executive Officer. "We are honored to welcome Chris to the hotelAVE team, and we are beyond excited to have the privilege of working alongside him," said Russo. "During this pivotal time in the industry, it is imperative that we have a strong team of execut...
Caesars and VICI to Sell Harrah’s Louisiana Downs to Rubico Acquisition for $22 Million
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. | September 8, 2020
NEW YORK - Caesars Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars” or “CZR”) and VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) (“VICI Properties” or “VICI”) today announced definitive agreements to sell Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Casino, Racing & Entertainment (“Harrah’s Louisiana Downs”) to Rubico Acquisition Corp. for $22 million. The proceeds of the transactions shall be split $5.5 million to VICI Properties and $16.5 million to Caesars subject to customary adjustments for cash and net working capital. The annual base rent payments under the Regional Master Lease between Caesars and VICI will remain unchanged. The transacti...
Hyatt Plans 2022 Opening of 150-Room Thompson Monterrey in Nuevo León, Mexico
Thompson Hotels | September 8, 2020
CHICAGO (September 3, 2020) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced plans for Thompson Monterrey, the first Thompson hotel in Mexico’s state of Nuevo León. The 150-room lifestyle hotel is expected to open in 2022 and will mark the fourth Thompson-branded property in Mexico. “Thompson Monterrey comes at a time of significant growth for the Thompson Hotels brand and will represent the brand’s entry into a key new market,” said Alfredo Reynoso, director of development, Mexico, Hyatt. “The Thompson brand aligns very well with Monterrey’s position as a business and entertainment destination, and we look forward to intr...
IHG Signs With Evalona Limited for Two New-Build Hotels in Bangladesh
IHG | September 8, 2020
InterContinental Hotels Group® (IHG), one of world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Evalona Limited for two new build hotels in Bangladesh. The 200-room Holiday Inn Resort Kuakata is due to open in early 2026 and the 150-rooms Crowne Plaza Kuakata will open its doors to guests in Q1 2028. Located on the second largest beach in Bangladesh, both hotels will be best in class products in the country. Affirming an optimistic mid-long-term outlook despite on the ongoing global pandemic, this marks the third signing across four hotels for IHG in the SWA region since Q2 2020. Located approximately 280 kms fro...
The Future of Hotel Call Centers
Travel Outlook Hotel Reservation Call Center Services | September 8, 2020
Why Outsourcing May Be in Your Hotel's Best Interest As hotels slowly reopen in parts of the US, it’s time to question the future role of hotel call centers. In the following interview, we’re speaking with Travel Outlook’s CEO John Smallwood and its Vice President Operations Brett Puffenberger, about the challenge’s hotel-based call centers are facing today and in the coming months and maybe years. Can you talk about the challenges’ hotel-based call centers are facing today? John: A major issue for hotels that are starting to reopen is having enough on-property staff to field incoming calls. A lot of hotels still have employe...
IHG® Hotel Awards Recognize Excellence of More Than 700 Hotels Across the Americas
IHG | September 8, 2020
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, IHG and IHG-branded hotels have worked to best support local communities in their overall response efforts. In the spirit of this commitment, IHG is making donations to local food bank charities across the Americas in honor of award-winning hotels. These donations will support people in the community facing economic challenges due to Covid-19, including those in the hard-hit hospitality industry. Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG, said: “At IHG, the strength of our brands comes from the tireless efforts of dedicated local hotel teams who bring these experiences to life for our gu...
