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
U.S. Travel Honors Destination Marketers, Tourism Leaders at ESTO
the U.S. Travel Association | August 22, 2019
AUSTIN, TX (August 22, 2019) - The U.S. Travel Association announced the recipients of the 2019 Destiny and Mercury Awards and the State Tourism Director of the Year at its 36th annual ESTO conference (the Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations), held August 17-20 in Austin, TX. Twenty-three U.S. Travel member organizations were honored for excellence and creative achievements in destination marketing and inspiring the continued development of imaginative promotional programs. Destiny and Mercury Awards The Destiny Awards recognize excellence in destination marketing on the local and regional level, while the Mercury...
Pro-Active Prospecting Is the Only Way Hotel Sales Staff Can Do Their Most Important Job: Fill in “Gap” Dates
Doug Kennedy | August 22, 2019
By Doug Kennedy In the current market, most hotels, resorts and other venues are experiencing a significant softening in group demand. However, this does not necessarily mean that hotel salespeople are fielding fewer inbound leads, but rather multiple leads are coming in for dates that are in peak demand for transient and for other group business. Here in the era of electronic RFP’s, where one piece of business generates a proposal request for 8, 10 or more properties, hotel salespeople are perhaps busier than ever simply keeping up with what often feels like “lead spam.” Unfortunately though, the time spent responding to electron...
Avison Young Announces Recent 2019 Closings
Avison Young | August 21, 2019
ATLANTA – August 21, 2019 – Avison Young Hospitality Group announced that the firm recently closed seven hotel transactions ranging from a full service Marriott hotel to select service properties located from California to Vermont. Additionally, the firm expects to close six transactions over the next five weeks and 25 transactions throughout the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2019....
Avison Young Announces Recent Hires
Avison Young | August 21, 2019
ATLANTA – August 21, 2019 – Avison Young Hospitality Group announced today that Chris Kilcullen and Bill Shiver have joined the Avison Young Hospitality Group. Chris Kilcullen will operate from the Avison Young Denver office and Bill Shiver has joined in Atlanta. Chris Kilcullen - Christopher Kilcullen is an industry veteran with 25+ years of experience in the hospitality business. Most recently as SVP of Acquisitions for a non-traded REIT, where he completed over $160 million in transactions for it’s shareholders. Chris has led a distinguished career as VP of Development for one of the major hospitality franchise companies where he ...
Introducing the Concept of Micromentorship
Larry Mogelonsky | August 21, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Mentorship and training are consummately important aspects of any successful business, but one of the most salient rigors of hospitality is that no manager has the time to properly devote to this task. We are all too busy putting out the proverbial fires and managing the day-to-day that we neglect the long-term because we’re mentally and often physically drained. There are both obvious and lurking dangers, though, in sidelining formal mentorship and training that could result in a lack of succession planning or, worse, operational deficiencies that compromise guest service. One ot...
Valor Hospitality Partners Opens Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn
Hotel Indigo® Williamsburg Brooklyn | August 21, 2019
NEW YORK -- August 21, 2019 -- Hotel Indigo® Williamsburg Brooklyn, an upscale 187-room Valor Hospitality Partners and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) hotel, announced today it is officially open for business. The boutique hotel, located in the heart of Williamsburg Brooklyn, features ultra-contemporary architecture, sleek interior design, a stunning dual-level restaurant, open-air sundeck with a pool and the largest flexible event space in the neighborhood with nearly 20,000 square feet. The hotel caters to both leisure and business travelers, and is now available for booking on the IHG website. Designed by Kutnicki Bernstein Ar...
Why Hotels Are Taking Wellness Seriously
JLL | August 21, 2019
CHICAGO -- August 21, 2019 -- Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE: JLL) today reported operating performance for the second quarter of 2019 with diluted earnings per share of $2.40 and adjusted diluted EPS1 of $2.94. Record Real Estate Services revenue and fee revenue up 9% (11% local currency) and 7% (10% local currency), respectively Americas Leasing exceptional performance continued Corporate Solutions growth across all geographies strengthened annuity base Capital Markets investment sales outperformed decline in market volumes Margin increase reflected LaSalle contribution and continued expansion in Real Estate Se...
The Castell Project Releases Second Annual Women Speakers in Hospitality (WSH) List
The Castell Project | August 21, 2019
ATLANTA, August 21, 2019—Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today released its second annual “WSH List,” a list of prominent female hoteliers and hospitality real estate executives ready with the background required to be dynamic speakers at the industry’s numerous events. List referrals are made complimentary to all conference organizers seeking to add diversity to their lineups of highly qualified and sought-after presenters. “Less than one in six speakers at hotel investment conferences are women,” sa...
Up Closer and More Personal
Roger Wolkoff | August 21, 2019
By Roger Wolkoff I walk into the newest branch of my credit union, and I am immediately drawn to the design. Lots of open space, thick wood beams surrounded by steel, and lots of light thanks to the plethora of glass. Stunning only begins to describe how it looks. Intimate describes how it feels. As I approach the teller area, it becomes apparent that there is something different about this space. There is no wall separating tellers from customers. Camille stands in front of her station with a welcoming smile. She extends her hand to greet me and guides me to the table that juts out from the side of her station. I stand at a 90-degree a...
Canadian Lodging Outlook Quarterly 2019-Q2
About HVS Canada | August 21, 2019
HVS and STR are pleased to provide you with the quarterly report of the Canadian Lodging Outlook. Each report includes occupancy (occ), average daily rate (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR) for six major markets. Source: STR Source: STR If you would like a detailed hotel performance data for all of Canada, STR offers their Canadian Hotel Review. The Canadian Hotel Review is available by annual subscription. For further Information, please contact: info@str.com or +1 (615) 824-8664 ext. 3504. ...
IHG Signs With Devatva for Holiday Inn Dehradun Mussoorie Diversion Road, India
IHG ® | August 21, 2019
August 21, 2019 -- InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of world’s leading hotel companies has signed a management agreement with Devatva* for Holiday Inn Dehradun Mussoorie Diversion Road. Located on the main road that leads to Mussoorie, one of the most popular hill station in northern India, the hotel will open its doors and welcome guests in 2023. Popularly known as the gateway city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is home to some of the most prestigious education institutions in India and is a popular tourist destination attracting domestic travellers for holidays. The city has grown in popularity as a destination for MICE, attracting...
Penn State School of Hospitality Management and Alumni Society to Honor President and CEO of Hilton, Christopher Nassetta, in 2020
PSHRS | August 21, 2019
Barron Hilton receiving the PSHRS Hospitality Executive of the Year Award in 1969 from Walter J. Conti, PSHRS President UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- August 21, 2019 -- The Penn State School of Hospitality Management in the College of Health and Human Development and the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society (PSHRS) have named Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton, as the 2020 Hospitality Executive of the Year. Hilton is one of the world’s leading hospitality companies that owns, manages, franchises, and leases thousands of properties across the globe. The School of Hospitality Management and PSHRS...
Managed by HEI Hotels & Resorts, EnVue, an Autograph Collection Hotel, Opens in Weehawken, New Jersey
Autograph Collection Hotels | August 21, 2019
Weehawken, NJ – August 21, 2019 – EnVue has announced its opening, joining Autograph Collection, Marriott International’s newest collection of independent, characterful hotels that are each hand selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspective on design and hospitality, creating an Exactly Like Nothing Else experience. The 208-room, 10-story luxurious waterfront hotel located at 550 Avenue at Port Imperial is managed by HEI Hotels & Resorts of Norwalk, Connecticut. EnVue is owned and developed by Roseland Residential Trust, a subsidiary of Mack-Cali, one of the leading developers of luxury lifestyle-oriented multifamily...
Rainmaker, a Cendyn company, Ranks on Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Cendyn | August 21, 2019
Boca Raton, FL. — August 21, 2019 — Cendyn is proud to announce that The Rainmaker Group, a Cendyn Company, has ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S. for 2019. This marks the eighth year for Rainmaker to achieve this honor since 2010. With a continuously expanding customer base and an industry leading platform of revenue & profit solutions, Rainmaker continues to rank on the Inc. 5000 list due to its impressive growth in the hospitality space. Founded in 1998 by Bruce Barfield and Tammy Farley, Rainmaker was recently acquired by Cendyn. As the leading innovative cloud software a...
Organizational Resilience Eases Hospitality Reputation Management, Supports Global Economy
Tim Wren | August 21, 2019
By Tim Wren So many amazing places to visit, so little time. The travel and tourism industry are keenly aware that there are many enticing and fascinating destinations vying for your attention, and that reputation means everything when hotels and attractions strive to lure visitors — and welcome them back again. In some vacation spots, the local economy also depends heavily on the arrival of tourists who enjoy their stay, choose to return, and share with their friends on social media about a winning experience. The travel and tourism industry is a competitive and loyalty-driven business, tailor-made to benefit from international standard...
The ISO Resort on Kauai Launches the Full INTELITY Platform
INTELITY | August 21, 2019
Award-winning boutique hotel looks to hospitality’s broadest platform to help enhance the spirit of Aloha Los Angeles, CA -- August 21, 2019 -- INTELITY®, the provider of the broadest enterprise guest engagement and staff management platform for hospitality, announced today that its platform is now live at The ISO, an award-winning boutique hotel located in the lush Garden Isle of Kauai, managed by Castle Resorts & Hotels. The boutique oceanfront property now offers guests a custom mobile app with full mobile key support, in-room tablets, messaging, and casting, all powered by INTELITY. Using the customized mobile app, guests ar...
Home2 Suites by Hilton Woodbridge Potomac Mills Opens in Virginia With General Manager Jason Suh at the Helm
Home2 Suites by Hilton | August 21, 2019
August 20, 2019 WOODBRIDGE, Va. and MCLEAN, Va. - Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) All Suites portfolio, announced today its newest property, Home2 Suites by Hilton Woodbridge Potomac Mills. Designed for travelers who want to maintain their normal routine, the hotel features 126 suites and a range of value, tech-focused and eco-conscious amenities. Home2 Suites by Hilton Woodbridge Potomac Mills will complement the strong tourism popularity of the Washington, D.C. area, which received nearly 22 million visitors in 2018.* “We are pleased to offer accommodations in an iconic American location where visitors have con...
Teneo Hospitality Group Appoints Jon Clark Director of Sales
Teneo Hospitality Group | August 21, 2019
Eden Prairie (Minneapolis), MN, August 2019 … Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier Global Group Sales Organization, has expanded its presence in two key West Coast markets with the appointment of Jon Clark as Director of Sales. Mr. Clark joins Teneo’s Western regional team and will be primarily responsible for clients in the Seattle and San Francisco markets. He will be based in Snoqualmie, Washington, near Seattle. “We are delighted to welcome Jon to the Teneo family, and to have a hospitality professional with his skills and industry standing represent us in the thriving Pacific Northwest and Northern California markets,” says Te...
Hyatt Regency Austin Appoints Jeff Donahoe as General Manager
Hyatt Regency Austin | August 21, 2019
Austin, Texas (August 21, 2019) – Hyatt Regency Austin, located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, has named Jeff Donahoe as general manager. “I am thrilled to join the incredible team at Hyatt Regency Austin,” said Jeff Donahoe, general manager. “First and foremost, my goals are built on the foundation of Hyatt’s purpose of caring for people so they can be their best. This property is iconic to the downtown Austin skyline and has a history of performing very well. My goal is to ensure that the operation continues to perform at a high level while also addressing the changes in the city’s competitive environment...
Christian Ruge Appointed New General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko, Bulgaria
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko | August 21, 2019
Bansko, 21 August 2019 – Kempinski Hotels has appointed Christian Ruge as the new General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko, Bulgaria. Having worked in Germany, New York, Poland, Egypt, China, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Christian Ruge brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to his new position. Christian Ruge started his career at Hotel InterContinental Frankfurt in Germany, where he held various leadership positions in Front Office. In 2001 he moved to Hotel InterContinental in New York as Assistant Manager returning in 2003 back to Germany to take on the role of Assistant Front Of...
Crestline Hotels & Resorts to Manage the Hampton Inn & Suites Silverthorne, Colorado
Crestline Hotels & Resorts | August 21, 2019
Fairfax, Va., Aug. 21, 2019 -- Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC (“Crestline”), announced today its management of the 88-guestroom Hampton Inn & Suites Silverthorne, Colo. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, the hotel is conveniently located off I-70 and is the ideal Summit County Colorado skiing-snowboarding and year-round recreation basecamp for Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, plus nearby Vail, Beaver Creek, Loveland and Winter Park. The hotel is owned by an affiliate of Summit Hotel Properties. “The Hampton Inn & Suites Silverthorne is a small gem in the heart of the Rockies,” said James Carroll, Presid...
Texas Western Hospitality Set to Open Residence Inn by Marriott in Renton, Washington
Residence Inn by Marriott | August 20, 2019
Renton, WA – August 20, 2019 – The 146-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Renton, Washington is scheduled to open this Thursday, August 22, 2019 with its upscale, stylish décor that offers flexibility, while creating a unique environment. Located at 1200 Lake Washington Boulevard North, the all-suite Residence Inn Seattle South/Renton will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by Texas Western Hospitality of Dallas, Texas. Located next to Lake Washington and across from Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, the Residence Inn Seattle South/Renton is just eight miles from SeaTac International Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Seattl...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Adds 490-Room Marriott Inner Harbor Baltimore to Management Portfolio
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | August 20, 2019
Baltimore, MD -- August 20, 2019 – The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards is now being managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts. Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award winning, nationally recognized operator of major hotels and resorts throughout the United States & Canada. The 490-room hotel is nestled within the city's thriving Arts & Entertainment district, offering unparalleled access to Baltimore landmarks including the Convention Center, National Aquarium, M&T Bank Stadium, Royal Farms Arena and Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Under Crescent’s management, the property will undergo a comprehensive renov...
IHG Bringing 223-Key InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts to Cityplace Tower in Dallas, Texas, Opening Early 2022
IHG ® | August 20, 2019
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announces the development of a new InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts property in Dallas. With 205 InterContinental hotels open worldwide and another 61 in the global development pipeline, IHG continues to expand the brand’s portfolio in the most sought-after destinations around the world. Set to open in early 2022, the luxury hotel will be located in Cityplace Tower, a 42-story mixed-use building in the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas. Featuring 223 stylish rooms, the hotel will occupy eight of the building’s 42 floors and will include a re...
