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
Meriton Suites Continues Portfolio Expansion With Properties Secured by Latest in Hotel Security Technology From Vingcard
Vingcard | May 14, 2024
Australia’s largest owner of apartment-style hotel accommodations deploys more than 6,000 Vingcard locks supported by the Visionline access management system to ensure maximum guest safety, satisfaction, and peace of mind. Stockholm – May 14, 2024 – Vingcard, an ASSA ABLOY company and leading provider of advanced technologies for the hospitality industry, is honored to today share details regarding its expanding relationship with Meriton Suites, Australia’s largest owner of apartment-style hotel accommodation. With the recent expansion of its portfolio to 23 locations to include Canberra and Melbourne, the Australian group can impo...
Sojern Expands Its Guest Experience Solutions to Europe
Sojern | May 14, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO – 14 May 2024 – Sojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for travel, today announces its suite of Guest Experience Solutions are now available in Europe. The launch will kick off in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, with France and Portugal to follow. In 2023, Sojern acquired VenueLytics, hospitality’s most integrated guest experience platform, and incorporated VenueLytics’ capabilities as an extension of the Sojern Travel Marketing Platform, known as Guest Experience Solutions (GES). In North America, Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) spoke highly of the increased guest satisfact...
Junk Fees Are Banned in California as of July 1, 2024! What Does the California Junk Fee Law (SB 478) Mean?
Mark Adams | May 13, 2024
By Mark Adams California businesses brace for Senate Bill 478‘s impact. SB 478 was signed by Governor Newsom in October 2023 and became effective July 1, 2024. It cracks down on hidden fees, often referred to as “junk fees” and “drip pricing” (because the full cost is only disclosed drip by drip). It will likely change how businesses approach pricing strategies. Many say it is part of a nationwide response to President Joe Biden’s call to eliminate Junk Fees. What’s in a name? SB 478 or California Junk Fee Law? The confusion starts with how to reference the new law. Many refer to it by the Senate Bill number assigned w...
Nearly 44 Million Travelers Leaving Town for Unofficial Start of Summer
AAA | May 13, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC (May 13, 2024) – AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers. “We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summe...
Unlocking Success: Why Your Hotel Needs a Lightning-Fast Website
Cendyn | May 13, 2024
In the digital era where speed is the norm, it’s critical to the success of your establishment to provide users with a fast-loading website. In a connected world and thanks to globalization, travelers from all over the world are likely to visit your website to learn more about your hotel and make a direct booking. That’s why it’s important to have a fast-loading website, across all media (mobile and desktop) and around the world. According to a Google study, 75% of users consider that the most important element of a website is its speed. More surprisingly, it is considered much more important than the attractiveness of the website. M...
Comstock Celebrates Topping Out of Virginia’s First JW Marriott Hotel and Residences
Comstock | May 13, 2024
Distinguished Guests Gather at Reston Station to Celebrate Major Milestone RESTON, Va.--Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHCI) (“Comstock”), a leading asset manager, developer, and operator of mixed-use and transit-oriented properties in the Washington, D.C. region announced the celebration of the topping out of Virginia’s first-ever JW Marriott Hotel and Residences on Wednesday, May 8th. The event, held on-site at 1800 Reston Row Plaza, commemorated the significant progress that has been made on the development of The Row at Reston Station. The JW Marriott Hotel and Residences will offer upscale accommodations and resid...
Putting People First: Business Success With a Human-Centric Approach
EHL Graduate School | May 13, 2024
It's no secret that many employees feel unappreciated and undervalued in today’s workforce. Competition for good jobs is fierce, AI will replace some jobs in the coming years, and the size and complexity of some businesses makes some employees feel insignificant. Embracing a "people-first culture" has become vital as modern talent won't hesitate to seek better benefits and flexibility elsewhere. What is a people-first culture? Organizations must adopt a human-centric approach to workforce management to counteract today’s uncomfortable, and sometimes even toxic, employment landscape. Many studies show that humanizing the workplace improv...
Everhome Suites Debuts First Hotel Reflecting Brand Standard Prototype in Nampa, Idaho
Everhome Suites®: Closer to Home | May 13, 2024
Everhome Suites Continues to Grow with its Third Opening and Over 60 Hotels in the Pipeline NORTH BETHESDA, Md., May 13, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announced the opening of Everhome Suites in Nampa, Idaho, marking the midscale extended stay brand's third opening, with more than 10 open hotels forecasted within the next year. The Nampa hotel exemplifies the brand's Closer to Home design package, incorporating local community touches into signature spaces. The property is anticipated to meet hotel demand resulting from the booming commercial development and population growth in the Boise area. "With over 60 Eve...
Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles Opens in Iconic 109-Year-Old Property Following Extensive Renovation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | May 13, 2024
Following extensive renovation, the five-star hotel opens in Zimbabwe in an iconic 109-year-old property located in the charming city center of Harare CHICAGO (May 13, 2024) - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today the first Hyatt hotel in Zimbabwe has opened with the opening of Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, marking a significant milestone in the hospitality landscape of the country. The five-star property aims to offer an unmatched guest experience, combining elements of Zimbabwean hospitality with the Hyatt Regency brand’s signature excellence. Guests can expect contemporary rooms, diverse dining options, and an expansiv...
Naples Grande Beach Resort Appoints New General Manager David Cesario
Naples Grande Beach Resort | May 13, 2024
David Cesario brings over three decades of experience from top travel destinations across the United States to the iconic Naples resort Naples, FL. (May 13, 2024) -- Naples Grande Beach Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of David Cesario as General Manager. In this position, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of the independent lifestyle resort and its 474 guest rooms. Customers, guests and associates will benefit from his innovative ideas and thoughtful opportunities to ensure that the resort’s guest experiences are operating to the highest of standards. Most recently, Cesario served as the Vice President and Opening G...
Tourism Tidbits: Travel As an Educational Tool
Dr. Peter E. Tarlow | May 13, 2024
By Dr. Peter Tarlow In the northern hemisphere, the months of May and June not only represent the dawn of summer but the end of the academic year and the start of tourism’s high season. From the tourism industry’s perspective as the academic year wanes, tourism enters into its high seasons. It is also at this time of the year that new tourism educational opportunities begin to emerge. Educational tourism is one of the fastest-growing areas of the travel and tourism industry. It is also one that is too often overlooked by tourism professionals and marketers. Educational tourism is not only for young students. People of all ages...
Upscale and Upper Midscale Chain Scales Reach New Highs as China’s Construction Pipeline Grows
Lodging Econometrics (LE) | May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – Lodging Econometrics’ (LE’s) Q1 2024 Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report reveals steady growth in China's construction pipeline, with 3,775 projects encompassing 695,212 rooms. The total pipeline in the country continues to expand, increasing 3% by projects and 2% by rooms year-over-year (YOY). At the close of the first quarter, China has 2,691 projects and a record-high 488,560 rooms under construction. Additionally, there are 377 projects/65,193 rooms scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months, while 707 projects/141,459 rooms are in the early planning stage. Projects in early plann...
The Junto Welcomes Joe Shonce as New Executive Chef
The Junto Hotel | May 13, 2024
Joe Shonce to oversee all culinary operations at Award-Winning Hotel in Columbus, Ohio COLUMBUS, OHIO, May 13, 2024— The Junto, Columbus, Ohio’s first independent lifestyle hotel, is honored to announce Joe Shonce as its new Executive Chef. With his exceptional accomplishments and commitment to culinary education and advancement, Chef Shonce is well-equipped to enrich the dining experience at The Junto’s renowned concepts. As Executive Chef, Shonce will oversee all culinary operations at The Junto’s onsite eateries including Little West Tavern, Little West Poutine, Brass Eye, Maudine’s and The Trade Room. With over two decade...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Debuts Two Luxury & Lifestyle Brands in Vietnam
IHG | May 13, 2024
Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection will launch in market this year as IHG’s growth continues A country portfolio of eight IHG brands increases choice for domestic and international guests Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – 13 May 2024: IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel operators, is proud to debut two Luxury & Lifestyle brands in Vietnam this year as it introduces Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection to the market as part of its growth strategy. Lifestyle brand Hotel Indigo will soon welcome guests in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City as Hotel Indigo Saigon The City brings the neighbourhood’s sights...
The Hollywood Roosevelt Appoints Andrew Jay as General Manager
The Hollywood Roosevelt | May 13, 2024
Seasoned Hospitality Industry Veteran Brings Decades of Leadership and Managerial Experience to the Iconic Hotel in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 13, 2024) – The Hollywood Roosevelt, the glamorous boutique hotel in the heart of Hollywood, announces the appointment of Andrew Jay as its new General Manager. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jay brings a profound passion for hospitality and an impressive career managing restaurants and hotels spanning the U.S., including properties awarded with the prestigious Relais & Châteaux and Forbes Five-Star distinctions. In this new role, Jay will oversee all operational aspects of the ho...
Agilysys POS Platform Approved for Marriott International Properties in U.S. and Canada
Agilysys | May 10, 2024
– Cloud-Native InfoGenesis® Point-of-Sale Platform Approved as Option Across Marriott’s Luxury, Premium and Select Property Tiers – ALPHARETTA, GA — MAY 10, 2024 — Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGYS), a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions and services, today announced Marriott International has selected the Agilysys point-of-sale platform InfoGenesis as an option for hotels in its portfolio across the U.S. and Canada. Hotels across Marriott’s Luxury, Premium and Select tiers in the United States and Canada can now leverage the guest-facing and staff-facing advantages of InfoGenesis across food-and-bever...
Melissa Sims Appointed General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe
Four Seasons | May 10, 2024
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe welcomes Melissa Sims as General Manager, following her most recent appointment as Hotel Manager at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. Sims brings a diversity of management experience to her new role at the helm of the brand’s Santa Fe property, recently ranked the #1 Best Resort in New Mexico by U.S. News & World Report. “I fell in love with Santa Fe and the idyllic surrounding when I was here last year for a relaxing girls’ weekend,” says Sims. “I left rejuvenated and relaxed.” Adds Sims, “My journey with Four Seasons has provided me the opportunity to work in m...
Travel & Tourism Set To Add a Record QAR 81BN to Qatar’s Economy
The World Travel & Tourism Council | May 10, 2024
Sector set to break all records in 2024 Dubai, UAE: The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) has revealed the Qatari Travel & Tourism sector reached new heights last year, with GDP contribution, jobs and domestic traveller spend all surpassing previous peaks. Last year, the Travel & Tourism’s GDP contribution grew by 31% to reach a record-breaking QAR 81.2BN, representing 10.3% of Qatar’s total economic output, demonstrating the sector’s importance to the national economy. The sector also proved to be a vital source of employment, creating more than 20,300 new jobs, and rais...
U.S. Hotel Performance Showed Mixed Results Through 4 May
CoStar Group | May 10, 2024
WASHINGTON – 10 May 2024 – U.S. hotel performance showed mixed results from the previous week, according to CoStar’s latest data through 4 May. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. 28 April through 4 May 2024 (percentage change from comparable week in 2023): Occupancy: 64.4% (-0.8%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$159.97 (+1.3%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$103.09 (+0.5%) Among the Top 25 Markets, Seattle reported the highest year-over-year increase in occupancy (+8.1% to 69.4%). Dallas posted the largest lift in ADR (+5.8% t...
CEO Carmen Riu to Retire From Roles With RIU Hotels & Resorts
RIU Hotels & Resorts | May 10, 2024
Palma de Mallorca, 10 May 2024–RIU’s CEO, Carmen Riu, has taken the decision to retire before the summer of this year, when she will leave her executive and institutional representation roles at RIU Hotels & Resorts. She currently shares her position with her brother Luis Riu, who will now continue as the company’s sole CEO. Moreover, Carmen Riu is now Chair of the Group's Governing Board in order to strengthen corporate governance. All members of the fourth generation of the Riu family have now also joined this body. This marks the beginning of generational handover at RIU Hotels, a process that will be led by the family ...
Overcoming the IT Challenges in Hospitality Operations
Nandika Udupihilla | May 10, 2024
By Nandika Udupihilla Digitalisation is not a new trend within hospitality operations in 2024. In fact, technology adoption and smart solutions has been the backbone of successful hotel operations in the last few years, changing how guest needs are met. Technology plays a key role in streamlining service delivery within hospitality. Technology integration within office operations is also pivotal in ensuring the smooth functioning of hospitality businesses. However, the convergence of smart technology and hospitality operations does not come without challenges. While technology enhances employee capabilities and redefines hospitality ope...
Hilton Appoints Dale MacPhee as General Manager of Conrad Washington, DC
Conrad Washington, DC | May 10, 2024
WASHINGTON – (May 10, 2024) – Today, Conrad Washington, DC announced Dale MacPhee as the new general manager of the luxury 360-room property. Boasting more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and with Hilton, MacPhee joins the property from Cairo, Egypt, where she most recently led the successful opening of Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis – the first Waldorf Astoria opening on the African continent. In her new role, MacPhee will lead the team in all aspects of hotel operations, from marketing and hotel administration to luxury hospitality, while delivering on Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to purpo...
Amsterdam Market Pulse – Full Recovery In Sight
Maxime Gauthier | May 10, 2024
By Maxime Gauthier With a population of more than 930,000 , the capital city of Amsterdam lies on the coast of the province of North Holland. The city – known for its historic canals, the famous Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the coffee shops of the Red Light District – is also a significant financial and business centre in Europe. There were more than 3,500 international companies in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (AMA) in 2023, representing more than 30% of the private-sector jobs. The city is highly accessible via local, national and international transport links. Amsterdam has excellent domestic and international connecti...
PODCAST: Why Global Investors Are Returning to Luxury Hotels
JLL | May 10, 2024
The pandemic was difficult for hotels, with lockdowns and health concerns keeping people from traveling too far from home. When and whether they’d recover was questionable. But the turnaround for the luxury end of the sector has been noteworthy. Zach Demuth, JLL’s Global Head of Hotel Research, says that the global hotel liquidity finished at $51 billion last year, noting that more than 20% of the single-asset liquidity was derived from luxury assets. It was one of the highest ever recorded in the hotel sector, according to JLL data. Now, he says, “Global investors are setting their s...
