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
Trends in Training: Simulating Engagement With Tech
Christina Tavares | December 17, 2019
The hospitality industry is incorporating more and more technology to facilitate employee training in different departments and levels. Virtual reality, augmented reality and simulation software are just some examples By Christina Tavares Innovation is creating or trying something new. It is a frequently used term in the rapidly-changing field of educational technology. For a teacher, innovation has many meanings. It can involve trying a new technology or teaching method, but also applying an existing technology or teaching method to a new context. This year, I used a simulation software in class for the first time. The softw...
10 Resolutions Every Marketer Should Make for 2020
Michael Del Gigante | December 17, 2019
By Michael Del Gigante It’s time to make some work-related New Year’s resolutions. For most marketers, that’s no easy task. There are now so many different channels and tactics in the mix that having to choose just a few areas to focus (or refocus) on can feel overwhelming. So, where should you start? Which approaches should you consider embracing to make your marketing efforts more efficient and effective in the year ahead? To help, we’ve pulled together this list of 10 resolutions that every marketer should consider making in 2020 to have a more productive and prosperous year: 1. I will remember that social networks a...
Growth or Authenticity? A Difficult Choice for Rural Tourism
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | December 17, 2019
Owners of small business accommodation in rural China face a difficult choice over whether to expand or retain their authenticity, according to the findings of a study by Dr Honggen Xiao of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his co-researchers. In a recently published study, the researchers aim to settle a long-standing debate over whether business expansion is beneficial or harmful to rural tourism businesses, and conclude that entrepreneurs must make a “trade-off” between “enhancing guest experience and achieving economic goals” because growth brings both advantages and disa...
The Landings Resort & Spa Appoints Arturo Zarraga as Executive Chef
The Landings Resort & Spa | December 17, 2019
ST. LUCIA – DECEMBER 17, 2019 – The award-winning Landings Resort & Spa by Elegant Hotels in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, has tapped Arturo Eduardo Avila Zarraga as Executive Chef to take the helm and elevate the resort’s international culinary program. Born in Mexico, trained by Japan’s best, and experienced in leading world-class culinary programs throughout the Caribbean, Zarraga has his sights set on earning his first Michelin Star at The Landings. Zarraga, an epicurean and visionary who served on the opening teams of several of the largest hotel developments and cruise launches in the Caribbean and Latin America, got his star...
Melbourne’s Trendy Richmond Suburb to Welcome a New 160-Room Holiday Inn in 2023
IHG | December 17, 2019
A new-build Holiday Inn will open in the trendy inner-Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 2023, following the signing of a long-term management agreement between IHG® and a joint venture between Pelligra Group, PrimeLand Group and Diamond Hospitality Singapore.. The stylishly designed 160-room hotel will be part of a mixed-use development and will feature IHG’s signature Open Lobby, combining the front desk, lobby, all day dining and bar, lounge area and business centre into an open space with fresh, modern design. Directly opposite Burnley Station and a short 10-minute walk from the MCG and Rod Laver Arena, Holiday Inn Melbourne Richm...
Hyatt Signs With Primehotels OY to Develop Gran Hansa Hotel in Finland
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | December 17, 2019
CHICAGO (December 17, 2019) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Primehotels Oy for the first Hyatt property in Finland. Expected to open in 2022, the 224-room Grand Hansa Hotel will become the first The Unbound Collection by Hyatt property in the Nordics as the brand enjoys continued momentum across Europe. Incorporating references to Finnish folklore and mythology, Grand Hansa Hotel’s historical façade will represent the city’s fascinating past. Combined with Helsinki’s vibrant atmosphere, the hotel will provide independently minded guests with one-of-a-ki...
Aramark Executive Javid Baig Named Conti Professor in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management
School of Hospitality Management | December 17, 2019
The Penn State School of Hospitality Management has named Javid Baig, senior vice president and chief client offer, North America at Aramark, as the 2019-20 Walter J. Conti Visiting Professor. The Conti Professorship Program was established by alumni and friends of the Penn State School of Hospitality Management in 1987 to honor alumnus Walter J. Conti for his contributions to the school, Penn State and the hospitality profession. Industry leaders have served as Conti Visiting Professors each year since 1988. As a Conti Visiting Professor, Baig will teach and advise students and faculty members in their fields of study or areas of expe...
NewcrestImage Acquires SpringHill Suites in Downtown Dallas, Texas
December 17, 2019
NewcrestImage has expanded its portfolio by acquiring the 148-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott on Lamar Street in the heart of the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas. The company will now operate four hotels and almost 600 rooms in downtown Dallas. The three other properties are a dual-brand 128-room AC Hotel and 121-room Residence Inn, and a 176-room Hampton Inn & Suites. “The SpringHill Suites has a prime location in a vibrant neighborhood that attracts both business and leisure travelers,” explained Mehul Patel, Chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. “It complements our existing properties just a few blocks away an...
Hilton Signs Agreement for First Motto by Hilton in the Caribbean and Latin America
Motto by Hilton | December 17, 2019
LIMA, Peru and MCLEAN, Va. – December 17, 2019 – Hilton announced the signing of a franchise agreement for a new Motto by Hilton hotel in Lima, Peru, representing the brand’s debut in the Caribbean and Latin America. Launched in October 2018 as Hilton’s newest lifestyle hotel brand, Motto by Hilton introduces a fresh approach to modern travel, bringing together efficient, micro-guest rooms, activated social spaces, locally inspired design, and a communal vibe in centrally located urban destinations to cater to travelers looking for value and one-of-a-kind experiences. In partnership with Compañia Hotelera CINSA S.A, Motto by Hilt...
PHI Hotel Group Acquires Pacific Gateway Hotel at Vancouver Airport
PHI Hotel Group | December 17, 2019
Surrey, BC – December 17, 2019 – PHI Hotel Group today announced the acquisition of the 7-acre Pacific Gateway Hotel, Vancouver Airport. The 382 room Pacific Gateway Hotel is located on Sea Island, just minutes from Vancouver International Airport. Amenities include close to 25,000 sq. feet of versatile meeting and function space, a 158-slip marina, on a nearly 5-acre waterfront on the Fraser River, several food and beverage options, including waterfront dining and patio at The Deck Kitchen + Bar. “We are very excited about adding the Pacific Gateway Hotel to our portfolio,” said Sukhi Rai, President of PHI Hotel Group. “Our f...
High Street Real Estate Partners and WHI Real Estate Partners Acquire Charleston’s Iconic King Charles Inn
Davidson Hotels & Resorts | December 17, 2019
ATLANTA (December 17, 2019) – Davidson Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation’s premier full-service hospitality management companies, announces the addition of King Charles Inn to its growing portfolio. Operated by Pivot Hotels & Resorts, Davidson’s lifestyle and luxury vertical, the 91-room boutique hotel is centrally located in downtown Charleston’s Historic District with convenient access to shopping on King Street and the city’s celebrated dining and entertainment scene. Beginning in 2020, the property will undergo a transformation that will include renovations to all guestrooms and public spaces as well as a rebranding to...
Texas Western Hospitality Partners With ProfitSword to Gain Seamless Access to Data Management and Business Intelligence Abilities
ProfitSword, LLC | December 17, 2019
Hotel Management company maximizes business planning efficiency by leveraging ProfitSage, ProfitPlan and ProfitWizard to obtain real-time granular insight on all financial performance ProfitSword, hospitality’s premier developer of business intelligence and data integration software, has been credited with streamlining and maximizing the financial and strategic business planning abilities of Texas Western Hospitality since its implementation of advanced data management solutions: ProfitSage, ProfitPlan and ProfitWizard. A third-party hotel management company, Texas Western Hospitality now possesses the real-time analytical insight needed...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Adds Marriott LaGuardia Airport Hotel to Portfolio
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | December 17, 2019
New York, NY (December 17, 2019) – The Marriott LaGuardia Airport Hotel in New York City is now being managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of major hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Canada. With a commanding presence directly across from LaGuardia Airport, the Marriott LaGuardia Airport Hotel offers free shuttle service to and from LaGuardia Airport, and convent location to Manhattan and top destinations in Queens, such as Citi Field and Arthur Ashe Stadium. “The Marriott LaGuardia Airport Hotel aligns well with our expertise in operating...
Royalton Park Avenue Leverages HIS Expertise to Cater to Latest Guest and Business Meeting Wi-Fi Needs
Hotel Internet Services, Inc. | December 17, 2019
Upscale and trendy New York property updates Wi-Fi service abilities in order to provide guests and meeting attendees with a fast and reliable online experience Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service provider of internet services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has been credited with successfully enhancing guest and business meeting Wi-Fi services for the Royalton Park Avenue. A luxury establishment situated in the heart of Manhattan, Royalton Park Avenue offers stylish and spacious guestrooms while now also able to fully cater to the diverse online needs of its guest and business meeting demographic. Previously exper...
Midas Hospitality Adds Two Tulsa Hilton Hotels to Management Portfolio
Midas Hospitality | December 17, 2019
St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 17, 2019 - Midas Hospitality—a leading hotel development, management and investment firm—recently added two Oklahoma hotels to its growing management operations. The two Hilton properties are the Hilton Garden Inn located at 420 W. Albany St. and the Homewood Suites located at 4900 W. Madison Place. Both are situated in Broken Arrow, Okla., which is the largest suburb of Tulsa. Midas Hospitality also manages an Aloft in Tulsa, Okla. and the Hampton Inn in Duncan, Okla. The Hilton Garden Inn is a 107-room hotel that is only 13 miles from downtown Tulsa and the airport. The 99-suite Homewood Suites features ...
Luxury Hotels: Elevated Occupancy and Expenses
the Authors | December 16, 2019
By Mark Woodworth and Robert Mandelbaum Despite the relatively high cost of construction and complexity of operations, developers are still attracted to owning and managing luxury hotels. As of August 2019, STR reports that just 0.7 percent of the hotels (2.3% of rooms) in the United States are chain-affiliated luxury hotels. Concurrently, the STR pipeline report shows that 1.2 percent of the properties (2.9% of rooms) either under construction or planned for development meet this criterion. The reasons for this attraction vary: Luxury hotels do achieve premium occupancy and ADR levels, that result in greater than average levels of...
Sustainable Hospitality Brand, Shepherd Eco, Launches in Wynwood, Florida
Shepherd | December 16, 2019
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 16, 2019 - Lucky Shepherd announces the launch of its Shepherd Eco sustainable hospitality brand with a flagship location in Wynwood, Miami. The project, developed by Shepherd Atma and Hoar Program Management (HPM), with Touzet Studio as architect and Gensler as interior design, is slated to open late 2022. Shepherd Eco offers extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences - thoughtfully designed and curated to withstand the test of time. The brand finds its roots in the deeply intertwined concepts of sustainability and humanity - the dual heartbeats that drive these Eco-systems - thriving, dynamic communities weavi...
The Hotel General Manager: Time for a New Job Description?
Demian Hodari | December 16, 2019
The hotel General Manager plays a crucial role in the hotel's performance. However his autonomy may vary depending on his education and the type of hotel he works in. By Demian Hodari The hotel General Manager (GM) is the person ultimately responsible for a hotel’s performance. A GM’s ability to make decisions and take action will thus have an important impact on his or her hotel’s operational and strategic results. GMs, however, may not always have the autonomy to make these critical decisions as the hotel’s owner and/or hotel management company (HMC) may in fact limit this through their own decision-making interventions. Th...
Wyndham Signs With Fiesta Winery Founders to Develop Dolce Hotel in Texas Hill Country
Dolce Hotels and Resorts by Wyndham | December 16, 2019
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 16, 2019 - Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – the world's largest hotel franchising company with more than 9,200 hotels in over 80 countries – today announced the signing of a new-construction Dolce Hotels and Resorts by Wyndham® hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas. The new hotel is owned by the Baxter Family, founders of Fiesta Winery®, and will be managed by Wyndham's management arm. The new construction hotel, expected to break ground in early 2020, will be situated on 70 acres adjacent to a Fiesta Winery and will offer 150 rooms with approximately 9,000 square feet of event space, including a tasting room. "...
Gencom-Led Partnership Acquires Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda From AccorInvest
Gencom | December 16, 2019
MIAMI, Dec. 16, 2019 - An affiliate of Miami-based Gencom, a leading domestic and international investment and development firm, has acquired Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda. The hotel will remain under the brand and management of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. News of the acquisition comes with the announcement that the U.S.-based investment firm has committed to a long-term investment in the property, returning one of Bermuda'sleading resorts to its original glory. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition marks Gencom's second investment in Bermuda. In 2017, a Gencom-led affiliate acquired the 200-acr...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: I Never Worked a Day in My Life
David Lund | December 16, 2019
By David Lund That’s the calling card for a famous quote by Thomas Edison and a popular song by Tony Bennett not to mention a plethora of other pop culture about doing something with your life and choosing work that is not really work. That is what I found on the Internet when I went looking, however, for me it was a bit different. During my life— working in hotels for more than 30 years—I often told myself the same thing. I really felt like I had it all. A great job, a cool place to work, a solid group of people to collaborate with and above all the feeling that I was making a difference. That difference-making is what this piece...
Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection Appoints Logan Miller as General Manager
Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection | December 16, 2019
PACIFIC HARBOUR, FIJI (December 2019) – Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection, the award-winning South Pacific paradise set along the legendary and adventurous coastline of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, is pleased to announce the appointment of hospitality professional Logan Miller to General Manager. The intimate resort welcomes Miller back to his country of origin to act as an industry and destination expert for the five-star resort. In addition to Miller’s appointment, the property has had much to celebrate this year with the unveiling of 13 brand new contemporary Auberge Beach Villas, a top placement in Condé Nast Traveler’s Read...
Cycas Hospitality Appoints Peter Habelitz as Chief Financial Officer
Cycas Hospitality | December 16, 2019
As Cycas Hospitality’s expansion across Europe continues to gather pace, the hotel management company has appointed a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and invested in its finance leadership team through three additional positions. Peter Habelitz joined Cycas Hospitality’s Executive Team as CFO in December, with additional responsibility for Information Technology, and brings more than 15 years’ commercial finance experience to the role. Peter joins the fast-growing Cycas team from Penta Hotels where, as Vice President Finance, he led the hotel group’s financial function and was instrumental in improving performance and helping ...
Europe’s Hotel Construction Pipeline Continues Its Expansion Amidst Economic Turbulence
Lodging Econometrics | December 16, 2019
December 16, 2019 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that in the third quarter of 2019, Europe’s hotel construction pipeline climbed to record high counts with 1,710 projects and 264,080 rooms, an 18% increase in projects and a 16% increase in rooms year-over-year (YOY). This is the seventh year of pipeline expansion for the region. This growth has been driven primarily by the substantial growth of the major global hotel companies who have acquired the brands of others or created new brands to bolster their existing portfolios throughout the last decade. Projects under construction stand at 830 projects ...
