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Owned and Managed by Axis Hotel Group, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Fresno Clovis Opens in California
TownePlace Suites by Marriott | June 17, 2020
Clovis, CA – June 17, 2020 – The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Fresno Clovis has officially opened for business. The new 114-suite hotel is built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the Clovis area. Located at 580 West Shaw, it will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Axis Hotel Group of Fresno, California. “We are excited to introduce the TownePlace Suites brand to the Clovis area,” said Diane Mayer, Vice President and Global Brand Manager, TownePlace Suites at Marriott International. “At TownePlace Suites, we get it. We want ...
Preparing the Year Ahead for Post-Covid Hotel Luxury
Larry Mogelsonsky | June 17, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) As hoteliers work tirelessly to reopen their properties in an uncertain world and with many new Covid policies that must be implemented, who has the time to look ahead at what will be required for the rest of the calendar year and into 2021? Particularly at the luxury end where close contact is a hallmark of great guest service, changing rapidly takes a sound mind to steer the ship as the hospitality world ebbs and flows through the post-pandemic cycle. To help understand where this segment is headed, I’ve recruited four veteran GMs: Franck X. Arnold, General Manager of the R...
Global DMC Partners Hosts Free Virtual Industry Panel on the ‘New Normal’ for Meeting Planners
Global DMC Partners | June 17, 2020
Washington, D.C. – June 17, 2020 – While meeting and event planners have always bravely faced challenges and risen to the occasion, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the MICE industry like no other previous crisis. To help the industry come together and face these new challenges head on, Global DMC Partners (GDP), the leading global network of independently owned destination management companies (DMCs) and creative event experts, is hosting a free virtual open forum at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 24. Facilitated by GDP President and CEO Catherine Chaulet, the panel discussion, The Meeting Planner’s New Reality in the “New...
Gov. Hogan, Marriott CEO Kick Off New AHLA Leadership Series
AHLA | June 17, 2020
WASHINGTON (June 17, 2020) – Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) and Marriott International president and CEO Arne Sorenson will kick off a new series launched by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and hosted by president and CEO Chip Rogers. The Forum, a series of thought-provoking conversations brings together the nation’s top business and political leaders to discuss forces that will shape the hotel industry of tomorrow. This new series is an expansion of The Forum, an AHLA Experience™, and will be an on-going speaker series tackling critical issues that are front and center for the hospitality industry. “In a time...
Milestone Inc. Develops New Digital Recovery Framework to Accelerate Business Stability and Growth
Milestone Inc | June 17, 2020
Milestone Inc, a leader in omnichannel digital marketing software and services, announces a proven program to help businesses recover and rebound as the economy reopens. Born out of its Covid Crisis-Recovery-Growth framework and webinar series, the Recovery Framework redefines new steps in the marketing funnel before purchase to address the significant disruption the pandemic has had on consumer sentiment and the possibility of exposure. The new sub-steps include, 1. Building Confidence, 2. Building Demand, 3. Driving Conversions, and 4. Building Trust. “Businesses must play an active role in evangelizing confidence and safety and...
JW Marriott Charlotte Reaches Construction Milestone, Names General Manager
White Lodging | June 17, 2020
Charlotte, North Carolina (June 17, 2020) – First announced in November of 2018, the first JW Marriott in the Carolinas is on track for completion in the first half of 2021. White Lodging and Crescent Communities, co-developers of the project, and their construction partners recently celebrated the completion of the structural framework of the 22-story hotel. “The construction has remained on track as we adjusted to appropriately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Terry Dammeyer, president and CEO of Investments and Development at White Lodging. “We’re excited to be part of Uptown’s resurgence and bring the JW Marriott br...
Circa Resort & Casino to Open in Downtown Las Vegas Ahead of Schedule on October 28, 2020
Circa Resort & Casino | June 17, 2020
LAS VEGAS – Today, CEO and developer Derek Stevens announced his newest Downtown Las Vegas property, Circa Resort & Casino, will debut October 28, 2020. Previously slated for a December 2020 launch, the 1.25 million-square-foot integrated casino-resort will open with its first five floors of amenities and state-of-the-art parking hub – Garage Mahal – ahead of schedule. Upon completion, the resort will have approximately 1,000 employees. To achieve this expedited timeline, Stevens reallocated construction resources from Circa’s hotel tower to the first five floors. Slated for completion at the end of 2020, the tower will...
New Study: Travel Spending in U.S. to Plunge 45% This Year
The U.S. Travel Association | June 17, 2020
WASHINGTON (June 17, 2020)—Total travel spending in the U.S. is predicted to drop 45% by the end of this year, spurring renewed calls for federal measures to support the industry that was one of the top U.S. employers and exporters prior to the pandemic. According to a forecast prepared for the U.S. Travel Association by Tourism Economics, domestic travel spending is forecast to drop 40% (from $972 billion in 2019 to $583 billion in 2020) while international inbound spending is expected to freefall a whopping 75% ($155 billion to $39 billion). Total domestic trips taken by U.S. residents are expected to fall 30% from last year to 1....
Key Management Group Rebrands As “Key Hotels & Resorts” With Four Luxury Properties in the Dutch Caribbean
Key Hotels & Resorts | June 17, 2020
Hilversum, Noord-Holland (Amsterdam), The Netherlands, June 17, 2020 - A leading international hotel management company with offices in The Netherlands and the United States, Key Management Group LLC, announces it has rebranded as Key Hotels & Resorts. The company also announced that one of Aruba’s most prominent resorts, La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino Aruba, an award-winning four-star property located on Eagle Beach, has joined Key’s portfolio of top resorts in the Dutch-Caribbean. Key Hotels & Resorts specializes in offering hotel development, management, marketing and culinary solutions for independent, branded, bou...
Creativity and Flexibility Become Key for the Hotel Sector’s New Normal
HVS | June 17, 2020
17 June 2020, London: An international hotel webinar held last week [10th June] to discuss the hotel industry’s journey out of lockdown, warned of the long road ahead for hotel operators to reach full recovery, and the likelihood that the hotel sector and the way it operates will be forever changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The webinar, organized by global hotel consultancy HVS, legal firm Bird & Bird and EP Hospitality, attracted nearly 700 industry executives from across the world, with 18 senior industry experts presenting as speakers, panellists and moderators. A session addressing post-lockdown re-opening strateg...
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Elevates Presence in Japan, Introduces Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Garden Brands
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | June 17, 2020
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (June 17, 2020) – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,300 hotels across 90 countries, today announced the continued expansion of its portfolio in Japan, converting two hotels to its Wyndham Grand® and Wyndham Garden® brands: the 60-room, all suite, Wyndham Grand Awashima and 95-room, all suite, Wyndham Garden Nagaizumi. Both hotels, which have recently undergone upgrades, mark the debut of their brands in the country and make Wyndham the first global hotel company to expand into the emerging destinations of Awashima and Nagaizumi. They also further eleva...
Thailand’s Tourism Recovery Hinged on Tapping Into 227 Million Strong Domestic Marketplace
C9 Hotelworks | June 17, 2020
BANGKOK - Thailand’s domestic-led tourism recovery was at the forefront of a virtual online event “TTF2020 – Special Bangkok Edition” today that tapped more than a 1,000 leading domestic and international travel and hotel industry participants. Research from hospitality consulting group C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia Communications focused on domestic inter-Thailand visitor market whose size at more than 227 million in 2019 stole the limelight versus 39.8 million international visitors. This set the event stage for a compelling look into the pent-up demand of local travelers who are now being targeted by Thai ...
COVID-19 Threatens to Ruin a Record Year for Africa’s Hotel Developers
W Hospitality Group | June 17, 2020
LONDON, United Kingdom, June 17, 2020 - African hotel development had returned to growth at the start of 2020, with more than 78,000 rooms in 408 hotels in the pipeline, according to the 12th annual survey by W Hospitality Group, acknowledged as the industry’s most authoritative source. However, the COVID-19 outbreak is now shattering the dreams of Africa’s hotel industry. W Hospitality Group’s Managing Director, Trevor Ward, said: “The growth of the chains’ presence in Africa has been a very positive story since we started this analysis in 2009. It is quite clear from the numbers that the chains, the developers, the investors ...
STS Cloud Sales and Catering System Primed for Remote Sales With ProposalPath Video
SalesAndCatering.com LLC | June 17, 2020
SalesAndCatering.com’s STS Cloud Integrates with ProposalPath’s video Function for Personalized Remote Selling MOUNT PLEASANT, SC, June 17, 2020 – The SalesAndCatering.com STS Cloud ProposalPath Premium Media Package is proving itself a highly effective sales tool in today’s social-distant business environment. Why? Businesses are planning third-quarter company meetings now, and groups that have put social gatherings on hold are scheduling summer events. This makes personalized property video presentations a must have as hotels and event venues ramp up sales efforts. STS Cloud is a full-function, cost effective hotel sales and cate...
Founders Close Softscribe Inc. After 20 Years
Softscribe Inc. | June 17, 2020
Board of Directors of Award Winning Tech PR Company Planned Closure Independent of Pandemic BENTONVILLE, AR – June 17, 2020 - Softscribe Inc., a 20-year-old tech PR and marketing company with a vertical market focus, announced it is ending its run. Both founders confirmed the current pandemic was not the main reason for the decision, the timing is coincidental. “Our Board of Directors began discussing closure during our annual meeting in 2019,” said Michael Squires, Softscribe Inc. president and co-founder. “Closure was timed to support our clients through 2020 HITEC, which is traditionally in June. Bentonville, Arkansas, where ...
American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP Provides Business Update
American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP | June 16, 2020
Occupancy rates continue to improve, with nine consecutive weeks of growth and total portfolio occupancy of approximately 48% in the past week Given the current pace of occupancy growth, AHIP is approaching breakeven cashflow and currently anticipates generating positive cashflow by the end of Q3 2020 Successfully restructured payments on approximately 70% of its CMBS loans Achieved waiver of financial covenants through Q1 2021 on its credit facility All financial figures are presented in US dollars, unless otherwise noted. VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2020 - American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP ("AHIP" or "the Company") (...
RIU Hotels & Resorts Launches RIU Protect, a New Healthcare Service for Its Customers
RIU Hotels & Resorts | June 16, 2020
The RIU Hotels & Resorts chain presents RIU Protect, a new service for its customers that provides medical assistance to its guests, including any affected by COVID-19 infection during their holidays. This is a unique and differentiating product, designed with insurance support from AXA XL and the guidance of Mercer Marsh Benefits, with which the hotel chain wants to offer extra safety to its customers when they take their holiday trips during this crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessing the service will be very easy. When booking with RIU through its website or call center, the customer will automatically receive this servic...
Updates Announced to 2020 Hotel Data Conference
Hotel Data Conference | June 16, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The 2020 edition of the Hotel Data Conference will feature a hybrid format and limited in-person attendance to accommodate for social distancing measures and travel challenges around the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are confident that this updated format will provide the value expected by our industry while placing non-negotiable emphasis on safety,” said Patrick Mayock, an STR VP and co-lead of the HDC Planning Committee. “At the same time, we understand that HDC will be one of the first industry events out of the gate and can provide a template for conferences set for later this year and early in 2021.” ...
Swiss-Belhotel International Signs MOU for New Resort in Mui Ne, Vietnam
June 16, 2020
Swiss-Belhotel International, one of the world’s fastest-growing hotel management groups, is continuing to expand its comprehensive footprint in South East Asia with new development in the exotic beach destination of Mui Ne, Vietnam. Swiss-Belhotel International remains confident in the exciting tourism market of Vietnam which they have been involved in since 1994. Mr. Edward J. L. Faull, Swiss-Belhotel Senior Vice President Operations and Development – Vietnam and Thailand, said Vietnam’s economic elasticity has always been strong and its ability to bounce back after a crisis is impressive, post-COVID will be no different. Partne...
Cambria Hotels Awards New Franchise Agreements, Expands With New Groundbreakings
Cambria Hotels | June 16, 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 16, 2020 - Cambria Hotels, an upscale brand franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), continues its impressive year of growth having recently surpassed 50 open hotels. Cambria has signed several franchise agreements since the beginning of the year, adding to its robust pipeline in major markets such as Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Atlanta, Georgia. The brand also broke ground on three new hotels in Austin, Texas; downtown Minneapolis; and Somerville, Massachusetts, which join 26 other Cambriahotels currently under construction. Choice continues to demonstrate its commitment...
Allied for Action: Tourism’s Restart Brings Hope for Millions
UNWTO | June 16, 2020
Global tourism has never been more united than it is now. Both in assessing the impact of COVID-19 and in looking at how we can restart tourism in a responsible way, based on the best that our sector has to offer: sustainability, innovation, collaboration and solidarity. It’s more than three months since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis continues to threaten jobs and livelihoods in tourism and beyond. Changing gears to #RestartTourism The UNWTO led Global Tourism Crisis Committee supported our guidelines to restart tourism, and we are now transforming this determination into concrete actions ...
Hilton Update on Corporate Response to COVID-19
Hilton | June 16, 2020
McLEAN, Va. - The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has created unprecedented challenges for the travel and tourism industry. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HLT) took early and decisive action to boost liquidity and reduce corporate expenditures. Hilton today announced additional measures to reduce its cost structure, including the intended reduction of approximately 2,100 corporate roles globally, and the extension of previously announced furloughs, reduced hours, and corporate pay reductions for up to an additional 90 days. Christopher J. Nassetta, President & Chief Executive Officer of Hilton, said, “Never in Hilton’s 10...
Generate More Revenue by Looking at Your Hotel Like an Owner
ROOMDEX | June 16, 2020
By Jos Schaap In both economics and business decision-making, “sunk cost” refers to costs that have already happened and cannot be recovered. These are different than ongoing costs that are spent on salaries, subscriptions, insurance, etc. The concept is important because sunk costs will stay the same regardless of the outcome of any action or decision you make in the future. In the area of hotels, the cost of construction (and/or hotel purchase) falls into the category of sunk cost. Let’s think of a hotel from the owner’s perspective. They want to maximize the value of the real estate they have purchased – every inch of it. ...
Cloudbeds’ Global Sentiment Survey of Independent Hoteliers Reveals That Caution Remains but 64% Expect Doors to Be Open by August
Cloudbeds | June 16, 2020
(San Diego) June 16, 2020 - Cloudbeds, a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions for more than 20,000 hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals across the globe, released the results of a sentiment survey with responses from more than 1,000 independent owners and operators across 65 countries. The goal of the survey is to equip Cloudbeds’ customer base with key market level indicators that will be integral to decisions they make as part of their recovery plans moving forward. The survey incorporated everything from the timing of restriction liftings to demand channels. The majority, 64%, said they expected to be open by late Au...
