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Russel Storey Appointed as General Manager of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica
Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica | January 30, 2020
Geneva, 30 January 2020 - Kempinski Hotels has appointed Russel Storey as General Manager Cabrits Resort & Spa Dominica. Russel joins the luxurious resort hotel on the untouched island in the Caribbean from Egypt, where he held the position as General Manager at Royal Maxim Palace, Cairo. Having worked in various destinations and cultures such as Egypt, Jordan, South Africa and the UK, Russel brings to his new position a wealth of experience in luxury hotel business from around the globe. Before joining the brand new resort in Dominica, he also worked as General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Soma Egypt and at the Jordan Valley Marriott R...
Hilton’s Conrad Brand Will Debut First Resort in Mexico With Spring Opening of Conrad Punta de Mita
January 30, 2020
Coming to Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, the thoughtfully designed Conrad Punta de Mita will offer travelers an authentic, tranquil respite. Situated among the area’s serene natural landscapes and aquamarine waters, the new-build resort will deliver an inspired beach vacation, the Conrad way. Drawing influence from Mexico's rich history and unique culture, indigenous artwork will integrate with exceptional amenities to create a sense of barefoot resort elegance that highlights its local Mexican identity. All 324 guest rooms and suites will boast views of the Pacific Ocean, with suites offering large patios, plunge pools, freestanding so...
Marriott International Signs Agreement to Bring Iconic St. Regis Brand to New Administrative Capital of Egypt With St. Regis Almasa
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts | January 30, 2020
CAIRO, Egypt, January 30, 2020 - Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced that it has signed an agreement to open a St. Regis in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, just outside of Cairo. In the second quarter of this year, The St. Regis Almasa is expected to occupy an existing luxury hotel at the entrance of the up-and-coming city that is slated to become the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. “We are delighted to be working with the National Authority for Management & Investment on this exceptional conversion opportunity to bring St. Regis to Egypt’s New Administrative Capital,”...
Lifestyle Is the New Trend in Loyalty
Kenneth Purcell | January 30, 2020
By Kenneth Purcell Engagement was the word for the 2010s. Every major consumer brand spent countless hours and resources finding ways to get their customers to engage with their company- whether it be on social media, purchasing products or participating in loyalty programs. This strategy of corporate relationship-building has created a more competitive landscape for brands to gain the attention of consumers. Now in the roaring 20’s (that’s 2020’s), travel and financial services brands need to look outside of their core industry to best engage consumers. Everyday Rewards Travel and Finserv brands have a harder journey to gain lo...
Hotel Marketing: Tackling Challenges, Crushing Goals in 2020
Jennifer Andre | January 30, 2020
By Jennifer Andre Increasing customer engagement, acquisition, and sales leads. Shifting consumer landscape. We’ve hit a new year, and decade, though the challenges and pressures on digital marketers haven’t changed dramatically from the year we just left behind. But now, add the increasing demands from guests and unique challenges facing hotel owners and hotel marketers, and 2020 gets a bit more exciting. Sustainability. One of the most important issues facing the world today, and a key factor in successful brand management for hotels, as consumers make it a shopping priority. Expect to see even more hotels pledging to eliminate sm...
Boone Center, Inc. and Midas Hospitality Create Hospitality Program
Boone Center, Inc. | January 30, 2020
St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 30, 2020 - Boone Center, Inc. (BCI) and Midas Hospitality recently joined forces to establish a Hospitality Housekeeping program at BCI Skills Center, a first-of-its-kind vocational training facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in Jan. of 2019, the BCI Skills Center partners with local businesses like Midas Hospitality—a leading hotel development, management and investment firm—to create custom programs and, upon graduation, students move directly into the integrated workforce where they earn a competitive wage. The BCI Skills Center currently has two vocational programs...
2020 Portrait of American International Travelers™ Survey Shows No Sign of Travel Slow Down
MMGY Global | January 30, 2020
KANSAS CITY, MO (January 30, 2020) – The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and travel-focused, integrated marketing agency MMGY Global, have partnered to conduct the 2020 Portrait of the American International Traveler Survey™, which captures the underlying motivations and future intentions that influence travelers’ behavior. According to the survey, the outlook for 2020 is promising with American international travelers intending to take 2.2 international vacations in the next 12 months, and most notably, 37% wanting to travel more this year than last. The Portrait of American International Travelers Survey™ profiled ...
Marriott Development Projects Lead the U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline at the Close of 2019
Lodging Econometrics (LE) | January 30, 2020
January 30, 2020 – PORTSMOUTH, NH - In the Lodging Econometrics (LE) year-end report for 2019, analysts detailed the leading franchise companies and their brands in the construction pipeline. Marriott International tops the list, at an all-time high, with 1,579 projects/207,906 rooms, followed by Hilton Worldwide with 1,370 projects/152,832 rooms, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 943 projects/96,725 rooms. Sixty-eight percent of the projects in the total pipeline derive from these three franchise companies. The leading brands by project count for these three companies continue to be Hilton’s Home2 Suites by Hilton with 408...
To Serve Guests You Need to Understand Them
David Berger | January 30, 2020
By Dave Berger “Service with a smile” has always been a common hospitality practice in the United States. Welcoming some international guests with this non-verbal cue, however, can be problematic. In Japan, a smile often conveys anger, sadness, or embarrassment rather than joy or friendliness. In Russia, smiling at a stranger is considered insincere and impolite. In the U.S., people nod their heads in agreement or acknowledgement; in Greece, Turkey, and other nearby nations, a single nod of the head upward actually means “no.” And forget offering international visitors a thumbs up. For many cultures, this gesture is vulgar and rude...
Remarkable Hotels Sees 19 Percent Uplift in Rooms Revenue With IDeaS Revenue Management System
IDeaS | January 30, 2020
IDeaS also helped the 73-room property increase overall sales by 15 percent and average occupancy by 12.5 percent in a competitive local market Tweet This: Remarkable Hotels sees 19% uplift in rooms revenue with @IDeaS_RevOpt Revenue Management System. Get the details here: www.ideas.com/news LONDON—Jan. 30, 2020—IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the world’s leading provider of revenue management software and services, announced today that Remarkable Hotels has seen a 19 percent increase in rooms revenue since implementing IDeaS Revenue Management System (RMS). Remarkable Hotels’ Best Western Plus Nottingham Westminster Hotel is a 73-...
Want to Step Up Your B2B Lead Generation? You Need to Read This First!
Alan Young | January 29, 2020
By Alan E. Young I have a question for you. How do you get leads in this new economy? “A story is at its best when it's not intrusive, when it brings value to a platform's consumers, and when it fits in as a natural step along the customer's path to making a purchase,” explains Gary Vaynerchuk, in his bestselling book, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook. The overall takeaway of the book is that companies have to continually give value to their audience before asking them to buy their products and services. And so, the better question is this: how do we get there in the first place? Before anything else, shouldn’t we be considering those...
Make 2020 the Year Disruption Works for Your Hotel
Larry Mogelonsky | January 29, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) We no longer work in the hotel industry but rather the more broadly encompassing ‘accommodations industry’. Such is the real impact of the sharing economy and alternate lodging providers, as led by Airbnb, that they have so completely changed how the average traveler views their options when booking a place to stay. While we plebs in the traditional hotel sector have had a pretty good past couple of years from RevPAR and occupancy growth standpoints, rest assured that these numbers have been buoyed by a healthy economy and that we may suffer if another downturn is forthcoming, p...
Once Upon a Time in Businessland
Shep Hyken | January 29, 2020
By Shep Hyken Today I share with you a fable. Once upon a time a great genie paid a short visit to the town of Businessland, where he happened upon three entrepreneurs, each of whom wanted to open an ice cream shop. The great genie offered to grant each of them a wish, but only if that wish would absolutely guarantee the success of their venture. The first entrepreneur said, “I wish for the best tasting ice cream in all of Businessland.” The genie frowned and said, “I will not grant your wish. The best ice cream on earth won’t guarantee your success.” The second entrepreneur said, “I wish for the best location in Businesslan...
Silverwest Hotels Plans Summer 2020 Opening of Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton | January 29, 2020
(ST. LOUIS; January 29, 2020) – Silverwest Hotels announces plans today for Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, a new upscale hotel destination for creative and culturally-minded travelers and locals alike in downtown Clayton, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. Located at the corner of Bonhomme Ave. and Bemiston Street (7730 Bonhomme Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105), the 268-room hotel will open this summer after a multi-million dollar, full-scale transformation. Silverwest Hotels acquired the property over 18 months ago, and the new Marriott brand mark showcases the extensive investment into restoring the property as a destination for St. Louis. ...
City Center Hotels Opens Dual-Branded Marriott Hotels and Residence Inn in Downtown Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington Marriott City | January 29, 2020
Lexington, KY – January 29, 2020 – Marriott International, Inc. announced today that a dual-branded Marriott Hotels and Residence Inn by Marriott property opened in downtown Lexington, Kentucky on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Located on the 100 block of West Main Street, the hotels are owned by City Center Hotels, a joint venture between The Webb Companies and Greer Companies and will be managed by NorthStar Hospitality LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. The new property will offer a combined 337 guest rooms and will share some amenities including a rooftop relaxation pool, a fitness center, 11,171 square feet of meeting space and Infinity – a ...
Infor Broadens Relationship With Accor
Infor | January 29, 2020
New agreement expands Infor EzRMS functionality and service options throughout the Accor portfolio NEW YORK – January 29, 2020 – Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, today announced that Accor, a global leader in augmented hospitality, has extended its 13-year relationship with Infor by signing a global agreement to continue their collaboration with Infor EzRMS revenue management software. The application is currently used at more than 1,100 properties worldwide. Accor will be able to capitalise on the new functionality of the Infor EzRMS application such as mobile access, function space revenue...
BENCHMARK® Names Gregg Fracassa General Manager for Snow King Resort, Jackson, Wyoming
Snow King Resort | January 29, 2020
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2020 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Gregg Fracassa general manager for Snow King Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Jackson, Wyoming. Greg Champion, Benchmark’s president and COO, made the announcement. "It is a pleasure to welcome Gregg to Benchmark and to Snow King,” said Mr. Champion. “He brings great depth of leadership and operational experience to the property and an important understanding of maximizing the attributes of a resort hotel and its unique destination.” Gregg Fracassa previously held the position of regional managing...
Sandpearl Resort Uses Service Data to Achieve Operational Excellence
Guestware | January 29, 2020
Sandpearl Resort is one of the top beachfront vacation resorts on the gulf coast of Florida. With 700 feet of pristine white sand and crystal blue water beachfront, guests return over and over to escape and indulge in premium comforts and warm, personalized service. Like most great beach resorts, Sandpearl is bustling with activity keeping the staff busy all day long. Sandpearl Resort has 253 spacious rooms and suites designed with contemporary comfort to keep guests relaxed when they aren’t outside or dining in Clearwater’s only AAA Four Diamond restaurant, Carretta on the Gulf. The hotel implemented Guestware Suite, an industry leadi...
Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre Appoints Fino Babu as General Manager
January 29, 2020
Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Fino Babu as its new General Manager. Fino has been part of the IHG family for more than two years, having previously carried out the role of Executive Assistant Manager. Ever since he has been employed in this hotel, Fino has demonstrated leadership and efficacious, structured management in all aspects of the hotel’s functions. His strength lies in being able to manage a team consisting of diverse departments and he possesses the mental alertness to find solutions to issues in diverse nature. With considerable experience and a healthy forward vision Fino can b...
JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort Appoints Executive Team to Lead New Theme Park Area Hotel
JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort | January 29, 2020
Anaheim, CA (January 29, 2020) – Orange County’s highly anticipated luxury travel destination, the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, announces the appointments of its executive team: Scott Kimmel as Director of Food and Beverage, and Amol Agarwal as Executive Chef. Each bringing unique expertise, the executive team leads the hotel through its grand opening in April 2020. The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, owned by a joint venture between Prospera Hotels, Inc. and O’Connell Hotel Group, is located at the Anaheim GardenWalk, just steps from the Disneyland Resort®, Anaheim Convention Center and all the other attractions of Anaheim including A...
Paula McColgan Appointed Director of Sales & Marketing at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, London
Jumeirah Group | January 29, 2020
Jumeirah Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Paula McColgan as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, London. With 25 years experience in global luxury hotel sales and marketing, Paula will bring an unparalled combination of sales and marketing expertise together with a natural ability to recruit, motivate and nurture a dynamic team. Paula most recently headed up the Sales & Marketing team at Kimpton Fitzroy London, overseeing the launch in April 2018. From 2004 – 2016 she was Director of Sales & Marketing at The Lanesborough, repositioning and relaunching the hotel ...
ResortPass Data Reveals Daycation Guests Are the Fastest-Growing New Revenue Opportunity
ResortPass | January 29, 2020
Hotels and resorts of all types see big profits by inviting guests looking for wellness, relaxation, bleisure, romance, and family-friendly day experiences using property amenities without staying overnight Santa Monica, California (January 29, 2020) – The Santa Monica-based company, ResortPass, is at the center of an emerging daycation trend sweeping the hospitality industry. As the leading day guest program for hotels and resorts, ResortPass revealed their latest findings, validating that day bookings are one of the fastest-growing new revenue streams for properties of all types. Data released by the company indicates that ResortPas...
Fuel’s Stuart Butler Selected to Host Session on Google’s Impact on Hospitality at the Navigate Hospitality Leaders Conference
Fuel | January 29, 2020
Fuel COO to share insight on how data giant Google is changing the hospitality landscape worldwide by altering the booking journey Myrtle Beach, SC - January 29, 2020 – Fuel, the premier provider of hotel marketing software and digital agency services for the hospitality sector, has announced that Stuart Butler, the company’s COO, will present an expert session at the Navigate Hospitality Leaders Conference, taking place March 2-4 at the La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas. Fuel is a corporate sponsor of the three-day industry event, which connects marketers, reservation sales leaders, revenue management professionals, an...
The Guestbook Contributes to Caribbean Travel Marketplace Bahamas Relief Effort Fund During Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2020
The Guestbook | January 29, 2020
The Guestbook joins Bay Gardens Resort and other industry partners in donating to ongoing hurricane relief efforts in the Bahamas BAHA MAR, BAHAMAS — January 29, 2020 — The Guestbook, the world's largest rewards program for independent and boutique hotels, presented a donation to the Caribbean Travel Marketplace and Bahamas Relief Effort Fund last week, during a special ceremony at the opening of Caribbean Marketplace 2020. In addition to the direct contribution, The Guestbook also worked alongside Bay Gardens Resort in the development of a special charitable program following Hurricane Dorian that created widespread damage to the isla...
