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Kimpton Partners With Vista Capital to Develop New Resort on Roatán Island to Open in Early 2021
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants | August 20, 2019
San Francisco - August 20, 2019 – Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced today it will open a stunning boutique resort on Roatán Island’s exquisite West Bay Beach in early 2021. The new Kimpton resort in Roatán, Honduras will mark the third resort for the boutique hotel company in the Caribbean, joining the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman, which opened in November 2016, and the Kimpton Kawana Bay Resort in Grenada, which plans to open in late 2020. Owned and developed by Vista Capital, the new Kimpton Roatán will be a complete reimagining of the existing Grand Roatán Resort and mark the first internationally brand...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 218; Hotel History: Raymond Orteig and Charles Lindbergh
Stanley Turkel | August 20, 2019
By Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Raymond Orteig and Charles Lindbergh Raymond Orteig (1870-1934) was the New York City hotel owner who offered the $25,000 Orteig Prize to the first aviator to fly between New York City and Paris. In 1919, Raymond Orteig, a practically unknown New York City hotel owner, issued an extraordinary challenge to the fledgling flying world. Enthralled by tales of pioneer aviators, the French-born Orteig, who owned the Brevoort and Lafayette Hotels in New York City, offered a purse of $25,000 to be awarded to “the first aviator who shall cross the Atlantic in a land or water aircraft (heavier than air)...
U.S. Hotel Interest Coverage / Robert Mandelbaum and John B. Corgel, Ph.D.
Robert Mandelbaum | August 20, 2019
By Robert Mandelbaum and John B. Corgel, Ph.D. According to the March 2019 edition of CBRE’s Hotel Horizons® forecast report, RevPAR growth for the U.S. lodging industry will be limited to under 2.5 percent through 2020. Further, CBRE is projecting a 0.6 percent decline in RevPAR for 2021 as CBRE expects the economy to slow down during the year. The combination of modest increases in revenue and rising operating expenses (especially labor) make hotel owners and operators nervous about their ability to enjoy profit growth the next few years. While the profit growth story is concerning, it should it should be noted that current GOP...
Case Study: AKA, the Global Leader in Luxury Hotel Residences, Provides a Personalized Resident Experience Using Maestro Multi-Property Cloud PMS
Maestro PMS | August 20, 2019
AKA is a portfolio of 12 unique properties, located in prime locations including New York City, Los Angeles, London, Washington DC and Philadelphia. What makes the AKA Collection distinctive is its long-stay business model that offers sophisticated furnished residences with exceptional business, wellness, and lifestyle amenities. AKA balances the space and comfort of a fully appointed luxury residence with the style and hospitality of an intimate hotel. Its resident mix is comprised of business executives on extended assignments, entertainment companies on location for film shoots, and sophisticated travelers seeking more space and flexibilit...
Valor Hospitality Partners to Expand U.S. Portfolio With Three New Hotel Openings and One Acquisition
Valor Hospitality Partners | August 20, 2019
ATLANTA -- August, 20 2019 -- Valor Hospitality Partners (Valor), which owns, operates, asset manages and consults on over 75+ hotels worldwide, today officially announced plans to open three new hotels around the U.S, along with a new acquisition. These properties -- which will be located in Alabama, Tennessee and New Jersey -- are just the latest additions to Valor’s growing portfolio. The hotel management company provides a wide range of services to the hotels it owns and operates, including management, food and beverage concept, design & execution, capital raise and hotel development. The new properties include: Hotel Ind...
Watch Now: Content Personalization 2.0 On-Demand Webinar
NextGuest Digital | August 20, 2019
Providing one experience to fit all website visitors is no longer an option. With up to 98% of customers abandoning hotel websites without booking, the majority of data hoteliers can action lives within the 2% of guests who decide to book. With the Content Personalization Engine 2.0, hoteliers can leverage their website data and action it, enabling customized experiences to all guests. Redefine your definition of guests and capitalize on the 200 data points collected per browsing session on the website. Pair data with a comprehensive content strategy and fuel the guest journey to drive conversions and build loyalty. Click here to watch ...
BENCHMARK® Names Jamie Costa Spa Director for The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa
The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa | August 20, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas -- August, 20 2019 -- BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Jamie Costa spa director for The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa and a Gemstone Collection property, located in Essex, Vermont. Ron Droegmyer, general manager, made the announcement. “I am so pleased to welcome Jamie to Benchmark and to The Essex,” said Mr.Droegmyer. “She comes to us with exemplary qualifications and superb experience in spa management, current spa treatments and health trends, and with a keen understanding of the resort market. She is a terrific addition to our team.” Jamie Costa was previously...
Guests Reveal Their Top Priorities When Booking Hotels Which Could Help Hoteliers Reduce Cancellations
Guestline | August 20, 2019
Last year, a European wide study uncovered that almost 40% of all hotel booking in Europe were cancelled by guests1, prevailing the growing attention needed on customers attitudes to booking. Technology has become the forefront of how guests book their hotel and experience their customer journey, in fact a recent study conducted by Guestline revealed that 100% of people use or have used the internet to book their hotels. The study of 2,000 UK participants delved into how people book their hotels and their main priorities and desires when choosing one. In addition, a worldwide data analysis of over 7 million hotel booking data ...
The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Australia Now Using InvoTech UHF-RFID Uniform System
InvoTech Systems | August 20, 2019
InvoTech Uniform System Reduces Labor Expense, Automates Tracking for staff of 900 LOS ANGELES, CA -- August 20, 2019 -- InvoTech Systems Inc. announced the recent implementation of its UHF-RFID Uniform System at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre to automate uniform tracking, accounting and reporting for the uniforms. InvoTech Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that integrate the latest RFID technology to increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centers and theme parks. The InvoTech System installed at the Brisbane Conventio...
South Carolina’s Duane Parrish Named 2019 State Tourism Director of the Year
U.S. Travel Association | August 20, 2019
AUSTIN, TX (August 20, 2019) — Duane Parrish of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has been named national State Tourism Director of the Year for 2019. Parrish was announced as the honoree before more than 1,000 destination marketing professionals at the U.S. Travel Association's annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference, the premier annual gathering for destination and tourism leaders, held this year in Austin, TX. U.S. Travel's National Council of State Tourism Directors—a body representing the tourism offices of all states and U.S. territories—votes on the award annually ahe...
Barnsley Resort Celebrates 20th Anniversary by Upgrading to Knowcross
Knowcross | August 20, 2019
Washington D.C. -- August 20, 2019 -- KNOWCROSS, the global leader in providing service quality and optimization software solutions for hotels, is excited to announce that Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Georgia, has re-invested in their technology stack implementing the Knowcross platform in order to achieve operational excellence, improved productivity and enhanced guest service quality. Constantly considered as one of the ‘Top Resorts in The South’, this ultimate retreat to unplug and enjoy, has chosen to use Knowcross’ game changing technology to take their service quality deliverance to the next level. The resort has selected al...
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Names New Program Chairs for Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration | August 20, 2019
(August 20, 2019) Boston, MA - Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) Dean Arun Upneja, PhD, has named Leora Halpern Lanz, ISHC, as Program Chair of the School's Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH), and Dr. Suzanne Markham Bagnera as Chair of the School's undergraduate program. According to Dean Upneja, PhD., "With the championing of these two experienced professionals, our goal is to further elevate the successful curricula and industry integration of our renowned School." Leora Halpern Lanz, ISHC, who has for the last four years also served as Marketing Lecturer at the undergraduate and graduate levels, t...
Mercantile Hotel New Orleans Streamlines and Simplifies Guest Internet Connectivity With Hotspot 2.0 Wi-Fi by GlobalReach Technology
GlobalReach Technology | August 20, 2019
Hotspot 2.0 availability provides historic property's guests with an automatic yet fully secure Wi-Fi connection in hotel lobby and all 90 luxury suites. NEW ORLEANS -- August 20, 2019 -- GlobalReach Technology, a leading provider of high-performance Wi-Fi solutions, services and analytics, has partnered with the Mercantile Hotel New Orleans to implement a next generation guest Wi-Fi service through the implementation of Hotspot 2.0. An all-suites boutique property located in the historic Warehouse/Arts District of New Orleans, the Mercantile Hotel New Orleans’ adoption of Hotspot 2.0 gives guests an automatic connection to hotel Wi-Fi, ...
J Hospitality and Development Implements ProfitSword Portfolio-Wide to Streamline and Enhance Data Management, Forecasting
ProfitSword, LLC | August 20, 2019
Development and management company overseeing collection of independent hotels implements ProfitSage to maximize operational and decision-making efficiency. NEW ORLEANS – (August 20, 2019) – ProfitSword, hospitality’s premier developer of business intelligence software and data integration services, has announced the implementation of its ProfitSage operational and financial reporting solution by J Hospitality and Development LLC. A New Orleans-based development and management company that focuses on creating innovative solutions for hospitality, residential and commercial properties, J Hospitality now leverages ProfitSage to ensure ...
RM Strategies & Best Practices for Pre-Opening Your Property
Dan Skodol | August 20, 2019
By Dan Skodol, Vice President of Revenue Analytics at Rainmaker, a Cendyn company Despite reports of a weakening global growth rate through 2020,1 research from IBISWorld shows that the hotels and motels industry has outperformed the broader economy for the past five years, and total industry revenue so far this year has reached $206 billion.2 Globally, there are 100,535 businesses, with a slate of new project openings continuously being added to the lodging landscape. We saw an increase of 669,460 rooms in 2018 in the U.S. alone.3 Whether renovating a building, buying an existing hotel, or building from the ground up, a hotel owner is ...
BENCHMARK® Promotes Shaun Griffin to Regional Director of Finance
Benchmark | August 20, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has promoted Shaun Griffin to the position of regional director of finance. Mr. Griffin’s responsibilities will include overseeing the financial operations of several of Benchmark’s Florida properties, including Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa, Cardozo South Beach, Beachwalk Elite Hotel and Resort, and Marenas Beach Resort. Kirk Jones, chief financial officer, made the announcement. “It is an honor to congratulate Shaun on his promotion and his new position within our company,” said Mr. Jones. “He has proven to be exceptional...
Playa Hotels & Resorts Appoints Dean Sullivan, New Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations
Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. | August 20, 2019
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (August 20, 2019) – Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA, “Playa” or “the company”), the owner, operator and developer of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean has named Dean Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations. Sullivan will report to Kevin Froemming, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Playa Hotels & Resorts and will be based out of the company’s Ft. Lauderdale office. In his new role, Sullivan will lead all marketing initiatives that support the strategic and creative direction of Playa’s portfolio of all-inclusive resorts that includ...
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya Appoints Sylvia Smith as Director of Sales and Marketing
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Rivera Maya | August 20, 2019
RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO (August 20, 2019) – Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, a luxury resort located along the sparkling Caribbean beachfront of Riviera Maya, Mexico, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sylvia Smith as its Director of Sales and Marketing. In her new role, Smith will lead Andaz Mayakoba’s sales and marketing initiatives as well as generate revenue for the resort through room bookings, meetings, weddings and events. “We are excited to have someone of Sylvia’s caliber and expertise join us here at Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya,” said General Manager Pascal Dupuis. “With her Hyatt roots, excellent manage...
The Latin America Hotel Construction Pipeline Continues to Decline from Its 2016 Peak
Lodging Econometrics | August 20, 2019
August 20, 2019 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – According to the recent Latin America construction pipeline trend report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), the total construction pipeline is in its third year of decline by rooms and has 710 projects/123,392 rooms. 710 projects is the lowest number of projects in the pipeline since the fourth quarter of 2013. Projects presently under construction stand at 321 projects/56,228 rooms. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months stand at 208 projects/35,733 rooms, which is an all-time high for rooms, and those in the early planning stage are at 181 projects/31,431 rooms. In the secon...
Mortenson Development Begins Construction 176-Room Hilton Garden Inn Madison Adjacent to University of Wisconsin – Madison
Mortenson | August 19, 2019
Madison, WI – (August 19, 2019) – Mortenson Development has announced that it has completed the land purchase and hotel brand negotiations and that construction has started on the seven-story, 176-room Hilton Garden Inn Madison development project, located at 770 Regent Street. The site is strategically positioned adjacent to both the Southwest Commuter Bike Path and East Campus Mall, which connect pedestrians to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, providing convenient access to campus facilities including the Kohl Center, an arena and athletics center; Memorial Union, the student union on Lake Mendota; and Camp Randall Stadium, home to ...
IHG® Appoints Julienne Smith as Senior Vice President, Development in the Americas
IHG | August 19, 2019
Smith to lead development for Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo® and EVEN® Hotels brands in IHG’s largest region IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has appointed Julienne Smith as Senior Vice President, Development in the Americas region. In this role, Smith will lead a team responsible for increasing IHG’s presence in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean for new-builds and conversions to the Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo® and EVEN® Hotels brands. She will also lead the Transactions & Asset Management team, which is focused on growing and enhancing IHG’s relationship with owners...
Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables Appoints New Managment Team
August 19, 2019
MIAMI, Aug. 19, 2019 -- Recently recognized as one of the 2018 Reader's Choice Awards "Top Hotels in Miami" for Condé Nast Traveler, and located in the heart of the "City Beautiful," the Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables has gone through various changes. Most recently, the ownership of this four-diamond hotel has made major strides to take the property and brand into the new millennium. The storied property was added to the acclaimed Marriott "Autograph Collection," which celebrates boutique hotels, unique in design and thoughtful in spirit. Offering next-level customer service and overall white-glove guest experience, Hotel Colonnade invites...
Why There Is More Than Just Analyzing RevPAR Index
HotStats | August 19, 2019
By Laura Resco Financial performance in the hospitality industry is traditionally measured in absolute terms: actuals for the relevant KPIs are compared against their budgeted numbers and, from this assessment, action plans are developed to correct course when needed. Moreover, in the presence of changes in market conditions, budgets are revised to make goals reflect the new business environment. This absolute method measures a hotel’s performance against a backdrop of external factors. And although this knowledge is crucial, it by no means suffices to grasp the entirety of an operation’s financial health. The relative method, on th...
GCommerce Announces Will Ferris as Chief Technology Officer
GCommerce | August 19, 2019
PARK CITY, Utah (August 19, 2019) - GCommerce has announced that Will Ferris, former Senior Vice President of Operations, will be filling the role as the organization’s new Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Ferris started at GCommerce in 2006 doing work for business development until he quickly moved into the Search Marketing department. His work developed one of the largest paid search accounts at GCommerce. Mr. Ferris’ passion for innovation did not stop there. After his time working within the Search Marketing field, he assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Operations at GCommerce. In this position, he managed the day-to-day work...
