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AJ Capital Partners Acquires the Macdonald Randolph Hotel in Oxford, England
AJ Capital Partners | November 20, 2019
Oxford, England – Graduate Hotels, owned by Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners, announced today that it has acquired the Macdonald Randolph Hotel in Oxford, England. This marks the second Graduate Hotels property to launch outside of the United States, following the announcement in July 2019 of the forthcoming Graduate Cambridge. Renovations will begin in fall 2020, and the 151-key hotel will open as Graduate Oxford, part of the Graduate Hotels collection, in early spring 2021. Additionally, AJ Capital acquired the Rusacks Hotel, from the Macdonald Hotels & Resorts portfolio, in St Andrews, Scotland. Created for travelers who...
U.S. Lodging Industry Is Healthy, But Growth Is Slow Through 2021
CBRE Group, Inc. | November 20, 2019
Atlanta – November 20, 2019 – CBRE Hotels Research forecasts that revenue growth will continue to diminish, but the U.S. lodging industry will remain strong through the next two years. As outlined in the December 2019 edition of Hotel Horizons®, U.S. occupancy levels will dip slightly, but remain above 65.5 percent through 2021, 300 basis points greater than the STR long-run average. Concurrently, rooms revenue per available room (RevPAR) is forecast to increase at less than 1 percent per year during the same timeframe. “Throughout the recovery from the Great Recession, we have seen the U.S. lodging industry deviate from economi...
Travel Industry Apps and Websites Continue to Play Catch-Up With Digital Leaders in Other Industries
J.D. Power | November 20, 2019
COSTA MESA, Calif.--November 20, 2019--When it comes to customer satisfaction, many of the travel apps and websites created by legacy hotel, airline and rental car brands are lagging those of digital native online travel agencies (OTAs) and travel industry disruptors, such as Uber, Lyft and Airbnb. But that’s not all. According to the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Travel App Satisfaction StudySM and the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Travel Website Satisfaction StudySM, both released today, all travel industry websites—even those operated by digital natives—score substantially lower in customer satisfaction than do high-scoring websites in other industrie...
Separating Good From Great GMs in Two Questions
Larry Mogelonsky | November 20, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Working as an asset manager, one of my key responsibilities over the years has been to collaborate with the general manager to secure the underlying asset’s value as well as develop programs that will grow rate, occupancy and the hotel’s status within the community. Obvious enough, but just like something straight out of an old Soviet playbook, another primary duty is to assess the GM’s performance, offering guidance and mentorship where needed as well as giving the thumbs up or thumbs down on their employment contract renewal. While others will utilize a lengthy and formal...
Hotel Owner Vs. Debt Service, How to Prepare for the Downturn
James E. Fitzgerald | November 20, 2019
By James Fitzgerald The Uptrend Is Ending, Now What? Most people don’t see all the obstacles a hotel owner faces once their hotel revenues start declining; such as if the next travel recession strikes or new hotel competitors enter the market, cash flows fall, and tensions rise. This is particularly true for overleveraged hotels or those with balloon maturities. So, as this incredible hotel 11 year up-cycle begins to slow, the wise Owner will not solely rely on their management company but will consider all alternatives well in advance of a problem. Hotels really are a different animal, some may say, a bird, as the “Peacock”...
Serenade Caribbean Hotels to Debut Flagship Hotel With Opening of Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort
Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort | November 20, 2019
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (Nov. 20, 2019) - The newly-formed Serenade Caribbean Hotels has announced the launch of its flagship hotel with the new five-star Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort, a 603-room all-inclusive property scheduled to open in June 2020 in the pristine Punta Cana area of the Dominican Republic. Set along a premium section of Punta Cana, just 10 minutes from the Punta Cana Airport and 15 minutes from downtown, Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort will offer families, couples and guests of all ages a complete vacation experience highlighted by luxurious accommodations, gastronomic specialties at six re...
Dawn Taylor-Cole Appointed Executive Chef for The Clancy Opening Early 2020 in San Francisco
The Clancy, Autograph Collection San Francisco Downtown | November 20, 2019
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2019) – The Clancy, a new Autograph Collection property in downtown San Francisco Downtown, will open its doors in early 2020 in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, taking the place of the Courtyard San Francisco Downtown. But Dawn Taylor-Cole, the hotel’s new Executive Chef, is already transforming the property’s culinary offerings. In her new role, she will focus on The Clancy’s upcoming restaurant concept, Seven Square Taproom, creating artful Modern Californian cuisine. Bringing the back-alley craftsman to the forefront, Seven Square Taproom is approachable and instantly familiar – a perfect sto...
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC Taps Abe Liao as General Manager
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants | November 20, 2019
WASHINGTON (November 20, 2019) – Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC is proud to announce longtime Kimpton employee and native Washingtonian Abe Liao as general manager. Located amid the vibrancy and bustle of Dupont Circle, surrounded by Embassy Row and an array of fine art galleries, the 335-room Hotel Palomar with over 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space welcomes visitors from around the world with warmth and timeless sophistication. Known for its impeccable design, outstanding service and signature Italian restaurant Urbana, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC was named one of the Best Hotels in Washington, D.C., by U...
Castlerock Asset Management Appoints Thomas Roman as Corporate Director of Food & Beverage
Castlerock Asset Management | November 20, 2019
NASHVILLE, TENN. (Nov. 20, 2019) – Castlerock Asset Management, an acclaimed, Nashville-based hospitality ownership and management group, today announced the appointment of Thomas Roman as its corporate director of food & beverage. Roman will oversee development and execution of food and beverage strategy and operations for the group’s hotel properties including Nashville’s award-winning Bobby Hotel; The Westin Tampa Bay and The Westin Nashville. “Thomas’ experience is a perfect fit for this role,” said Kevin Fee, managing director at Castlerock Asset Management. He is a firm believer that success is not only about the ‘k...
Dan Briks Named General Manager of Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels | November 20, 2019
New York, NY — November 20, 2019 — Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza has announced the appointment of Dan Briks as the hotel’s new general manager of the 439-room property. Most recently, Briks held the title of hotel manager at The Lexington Hotel NYC, Autograph Collection. In his new position, he will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza, including hotel management, guest experience and day-to-day operations of the property. A seasoned New York City hospitality veteran with over 15 years of experience, Briks began his career at Waldorf Astoria New York where he started in the...
Courtyard Bucharest Floreasca Maximizes Guest Security and Convenience With ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions | November 20, 2019
New 259-guestroom hotel implements VingCard RFID door locks with Mobile Access alongside other ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions platforms to ensure a safe and seamless guest experience. Stockholm – November 20, 2019 – ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions has announced the successful implementation of its advanced security access platforms at the Courtyard Bucharest Floreasca. A recently opened hotel located within the business area of Bucharest, Courtyard Bucharest Floreasca is able to provide each guest with both seamless and secure access to their guestrooms using VingCard Signature RFID and VingCard Flex door locks equipped with Mobile Access func...
Shujaat Khan at Capital Hilton Tells Us Why He’s Not Looking for Another Concierge Platform
ALICE | November 20, 2019
Shujaat Khan, Head Concierge at Capital Hilton in Washington D.C., gives us an inside look at how ALICE has helped enhance the hotel’s concierge services. ALICE is the hospitality industry’s leading operations technology, connecting every department of the hotel with one platform for all staff communication and guest requests. ALICE's dedicated concierge module, ALICE Concierge, lets concierges track all requests with one system and allows for easy access of all relevant guest records through its PMS integration and Google vendor database. Khan has been welcoming hotel guests as a concierge at the 550-room Capital Hilton for more than ...
RIU Hotels & Resorts Acquires 531-Room Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
RIU | November 19, 2019
Palma de Mallorca, Spain -- November 19, 2019 -- RIU Hotels & Resorts has added a new hotel to its Riu Plaza brand in the United States through the acquisition of the 531-room Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The new Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf is located at 2500 Mason Street, in the heart of one of San Francisco’s most storied and vibrant neighborhoods and central to the city’s most iconic sites and attractions. “This project is great news for RIU and for the consolidation of our line of Riu Plaza urban hotels. San Francisco is a great city with a very competitive hotel market and this acquisition places u...
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels® Again Takes Top Honors in Stella Awards
Northstar Meetings Group | November 19, 2019
Named 2019 Best Overall Boutique & Lifestyle Hotel Brand The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 19, 2019… For the second consecutive year, BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company’s signature brand, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels®, has taken top corporate honors in Northstar Meetings Group’s prestigious Stella Awards. Meetings and events professionals and a panel of judges named it the Best Overall Boutique & Lifestyle Hotel Brand. Benchmark spans 80 exceptional properties in prominent domestic and international destinations. In a highly competitive field, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels was chosen over internationally pro...
Hersha Hospitality Management Debuts AC Hotel Pleasanton in California’s Tri-Valley Following $20 Million Renovation
AC Hotels by Marriott | November 19, 2019
Pleasanton, CA – November 19, 2019 – Revitalizing an idyllic suburban locale, AC Hotels by Marriott® and Hersha Hospitality Management announce the highly-anticipated arrival of AC Hotel Pleasanton to Northern California’s Tri-Valley. AC Hotel Pleasanton, formerly Sheraton Pleasanton, offers a thoughtfully-modern hotel following a more than $20-million comprehensive transformation which features 171-reimagined guest rooms, engaging communal spaces, and the debut of a new outdoor pool deck among the redesigned touches introduced to the property. “Pleasanton is one of the most vibrant destinations in the Tri-Valley, continually ex...
Marriott International Signs With Asset World Corporation for Three Hotels in Thailand
Asset World Corporation | November 19, 2019
November 19, 2019 -- Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced it has signed agreements with Asset World Corporation (AWC), Thailand's leading integrated lifestyle real-estate group, to introduce three of its global hospitality brands to Thailand. The agreement would fuel the company’s expansion in Thailand with the addition of three hotels comprised of nearly 1,550 rooms expected to open between late 2020 and 2024. Under the agreements, AWC is expected to open a 248-room Courtyard by Marriott in late 2020 in Phuket, as well as a 900-room Marriott Marquis hotel and a 398-room JW Marriott hotel both in Pattaya. “We...
Hotel St. Michel Adapts to Latest Guest Wi-Fi Trends by Partnering With Hotel Internet Services
Hotel Internet Services, Inc. | November 19, 2019
Historic and European style property leverages HIS expertise to cater to guest demands for high speed and multi-device compatible internet connectivity. CORAL GABLES, Fla. — November 19, 2019 — Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service provider of internet services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has announced the successful enhancement of guest Wi-Fi services at the Hotel St. Michel. Situated within a historic 1920s era building and providing its guests with a combination of classic charm and contemporary design, Hotel St. Michel recognized a vital need to leverage HIS resources and industry knowledge to update its Wi...
Aimbridge Hospitality Selected to Manage Three Marriott Properties in Indianapolis
Aimbridge Hospitality | November 19, 2019
DALLAS – NOVEMBER 19, 2019 – Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s leading third-party hotel management company, announces it has been selected to manage three Marriott International-branded properties located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The portfolio includes Marriott Indianapolis East, Fairfield Inn & Suites Indianapolis East and Delta Indianapolis East. The hotels are owned by U.S. OCG, a global investment firm based in Los Angeles. This management agreement marks the first partnership between U.S. OCG and Aimbridge Hospitality. “Aimbridge Hospitality has a renowned reputation as the leading hotel management firm, and we are lo...
Fuel Adds Robust In-App Functionality to Its AI-Powered Cross-Channel Marketing and Guest Engagement Platform
Fuel | November 19, 2019
Newly released platform update makes it easier than ever for hoteliers to create personalized marketing campaigns with in-app mobile and campaign building features. Myrtle Beach, SC – November 19, 2019 – Fuel, the premier provider of hotel marketing software and digital agency services for the hospitality sector, has announced the launch of a powerful new feature set that has been integrated into its AI-powered cross-channel marketing and customer engagement solution. Powered by Blueshift, the patented platform works by aggregating guest data from every hotel system touchpoint and making it actionable, in order to create more personal...
The Q4 Hotel Digital Marketer’s Whitepaper
November 19, 2019
Now available for viewing and download, the NextGuest Q4 2019 Whitepaper Edition: The Hotel Digital Marketer’s Whitepaper, covers current trends and industry insights hoteliers should be paying attention to in order to have a strong digital presence. The whitepaper takes a deep dive into strategies that will help to reach different audiences. Read the NextGuest Q4 2019 whitepaper to learn about: What’s Trending: The only way to stay ahead of the competition is by keeping up with the latest developments in digital. This month we look at the new resort fee legislation, Google’s push into vacation rentals, social media advertising,...
ME Dubai Partners With InnSpire to Offer Complete Digital Guest Journey Ahead of 2020 Opening
InnSpire | November 19, 2019
InnSpire, a leading provider of a comprehensive technology suite that helps drive a seamless, world-class guest experience for some of the world’s most iconic hotels and brands, has been selected by ME by Melia to implement its full stack of connectivity and guest engagement solutions at the much anticipated ME Dubai when the property opens in 2020. InnSpire’s award-winning digital solutions work collaboratively to allow for guest control over their entire travel experience, from guestroom access to temperature and lighting. As such, InnSpire’s offerings at the ME Dubai will include the company’s full-featured Guest Journey App, it...
The Digital Guest Journey Advances With Maestro PMS Mobile Check-Out and Tablet eFolio Display
Maestro PMS | November 19, 2019
Property-Branded Tablet eFolios and Mobile Check-out Give Guests Mobile Convenience that Supports Environmental Sustainability November 19, 2019 – Mobile operations and environmental sustainability are two of today’s top hospitality trends. Guests want to control as much of their hotel experience as possible on their mobile device. They also want to support hotels and businesses that demonstrate environmental sustainability. Maestro PMS’ integrated Tablet eFolio Display and Mobile Check-out hotel software applications give guests the mobile control they want while reducing the property’s wasteful paper consumption. “Maestro...
What Happens When Government Per Diems Change?
the Authors | November 19, 2019
By Bram Gallagher Ph.D. and Aman Patel Because federal government employees purchase a significant quantity of hotel rooms, the General Services Administration (GSA) has partnered with Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) compliant accommodations to provide federal travelers with per diem hotel room rates for select high-volume travel destinations in and outside of the Continental United States. These federal guidelines frequently serve to determine the hotel per diem allowances for state and local government travelers as well. Using the federal government per diem as guidance, individual properties and hotel chains set special room rates to...
The St. Regis Deer Valley Appoints Richard Wales as New General Manager
The St. Regis Deer Valley | November 19, 2019
PARK CITY, UTAH – November 19, 2019 – The St. Regis Deer Valley, a five-star resort located on the slopes of Utah’s Deer Valley announced the appointment of Richard Wales as General Manager, effective December 2, 2019. Richard brings more than 17 years of luxury hospitality experience to his new role overseeing all hotel operations for The St. Regis Deer Valley, one of the world’s most luxurious destinations. Richard comes to The St. Regis Deer Valley from 1 Hotels in Miami Beach, Florida. While there, he was instrumental in helping the hotel achieve a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating. Wales also helped 1 Hotels Miami ach...
