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Valor Hospitality Group Appoints Leadership Team for Soon-to-Open Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn | July 1, 2019
NEW YORK, July 1, 2019 – Hotel Indigo® Williamsburg Brooklyn, an upscale 187-room Valor Hospitality Partners and InterContinental Hotel Group hotel, announced today the appointment of Tracey Rucks as General Manager and Ryan Ocker as Director of Sales & Marketing. Both will play integral roles in the opening of the new boutique hotel, slated to open in July 2019 in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. As General Manager of Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn, Tracey Rucks is responsible for day-to-day hotel operations, guest relations and business and team development. A seasoned and award-winning hospitality ...
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort Appoints Javier Felipe Arango Salazar as Executive Chef
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts | July 1, 2019
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is delighted to announce the appointment of Javier Felipe Arango Salazar as Executive Chef of the beloved resort. Boasting extensive knowledge of the culinary and hospitality industry, Chef Arango brings a wealth of experience and artistic flavor to his new role at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, where he will oversee the culinary direction for the resort. Born and raised in Bogota, Columbia to a family of professional artists, Chef Arango’s interest in the culinary arts began at a young age when he started to view cuisine as a form of artistic expression. Chef Arango studied...
Obie Hospitality Names David Parker Director of Revenue
Inn at the 5th | July 1, 2019
Eugene, Oregon – July 1, 2019 – David Parker has been named director of revenue for Obie Hospitality, a new role for the growing Eugene, Oregon-based company which recently broke ground on the third property in its expanding portfolio of very special boutique hotels in Western United States communities. Obie Hospitality currently manages Inn at 500 Capitol in Boise, Idaho, as well as Inn at the 5th and the 5th Street Public Market in Eugene. As director of revenue, Parker is responsible for pricing and inventory management decisions to maximize revenue and market share for multiple properties across Obie Hospitality’s platforms, incl...
Courtyard by Marriott Las Cruces Set to Open in New Mexico With General Manager Amy Miller at the Helm
Courtyard by Marriott | July 1, 2019
Las Cruces, NM – July 1, 2019 – Courtyard by Marriott Las Cruces is scheduled to open its doors in Las Cruces, New Mexico this Friday, July 5, 2019. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Located at 456 East University Avenue, the 126-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, developed by a partnership between Allen Sigmon Real Estate Group and Total Management Systems both of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and managed by Total Management Systems. Adjacent to the Las C...
Renaissance New York Chelsea Coming to Manhattan Fall 2019
Renaissance Hotels | July 1, 2019
NEW YORK (July 1, 2019) - Come Fall 2019, Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel will officially open its doors as one of the tallest properties in Manhattan’s enchanting Flower District rising 430-feet-high. Located on the site of the former Antique Garage, a beloved indoor flea market, the impeccably appointed hotel is set to become the Chelsea neighborhood’s prime address. “This project brings together the past and present of Chelsea,” said General Manager of Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel Chris Rynkar. “Not only will guests experience the heart of the neighborhood, from the ground level to the skyline, every detail intentiona...
JW Marriott Coming to Orange County With 2020 Opening of 466-Room JW Marriott Anaheim Resort
JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort | July 1, 2019
Anaheim, CA (July 1, 2019) – JW Marriott, a member of Marriott International’s family of luxury brands, brings its first hotel to Orange County, CA with the opening of JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort. Set to become a centerpiece of the city and epitome of style and sophistication, the property will be the only luxury hotel outside the theme park and Anaheim Convention Center district. Scheduled to open in early 2020, the ground up build, owned by a joint venture between Prospera Hotels, Inc. and O’Connell Hotel Group, is located at the Anaheim GardenWalk, and just steps from the Disneyland Resort®, Anaheim Convention Center and all the ...
Travelodge Hotels Asia Expands in Seoul With Opening of Travelodge Myeongdong
Travelodge Hotels (Asia) Pte. Ltd. (“TLA”) | July 1, 2019
Singapore, 1 July 2019 – Travelodge Hotels Asia continues its rapid growth with the opening of Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro in the heart of Seoul’s tourism district. This is the Group’s second hotel in Seoul, bringing the Travelodge hotels portfolio to ten in two years. Like all Travelodge hotels in Asia, Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro is located at the centre of action – in this case, in close proximity to some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions – and promises a value-for-quality, no-fuss experience that delivers everything the independent savvy traveller needs. This select service hotel offers 224 rooms in thr...
What Is “Hospitality Financial Leadership Anyway?”
David Lund | July 1, 2019
By David Lund This is a question I have been asked many times. Exactly what is financial leadership and why hospitality? Finding the three words together “HFL” in a sentence three years ago was not possible. I know because I tried to google them and came up with a bunch of leadership consultants and courses. Even the words “financial leadership” revealed surprisingly little. Some tidbits about CEO’s and their role but nothing any broader. Financial leadership is in my opinion the cornerstone of any manager, executive or leader’s business acumen. It enables the individual to see the importance of being plugged into the strate...
The Top 5 Things You Need to Know Now in Hotel Digital Marketing
NextGuest Digital | July 1, 2019
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo, EVP Strategy This month, the latest digital innovations include new voice search and SEM studies presented at SMX Advanced, the rollout of Instagram branded content ads, and native advertising becoming a more impactful display format as it gains more traction. From SEO to design, find out the top five things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing. 1. SEO: According to a study revealed at SMX Advanced, voice search optimization is tied to high SERP placement, site speed, and content readability. In an SMX Advanced speaker session by SEMrush titled “Optimizing for Voice Search and Virtual Assistants,...
IHG Signs With Quality Group and Sunnyseeker Hotels for Hotel Indigo® Cyprus – Larnaca
IHG | July 1, 2019
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has today announced the signing of Hotel Indigo® Cyprus - Larnaca. Set to open at the end of 2019, the hotel is signed under a franchise agreement with Quality Group and Sunnyseeker Hotels, a rapidly expanding hotel management company which is currently operating a number of hotels across the country, and under the ownership of Quality Group, one of the premier property development companies in Cyprus. The Hotel Indigo® Cyprus Larnaca will be located in one of the best historic areas of Larnaca close to the city centre and airport, which is the largest i...
AJ Capital Partners Acquires The Franklin Hotel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
AJ Capital Partners | July 1, 2019
Chapel Hill, N.C. – Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners announced today that it has acquired The Franklin Hotel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The hotel will run independently as The Franklin Hotel prior to and during renovations, which will begin in January 2020. Once completed in April 2020, the five-story, 70-key hotel will debut as Graduate Chapel Hill, part of the Graduate Hotels® collection. Prominently positioned on Franklin Street, the bustling main thoroughfare of downtown Chapel Hill, the hotel will offer direct access to the city’s top restaurants, bars and shops, as well as the picturesque University of North Carol...
The Ritz-Carlton, Xi’an Debuts in One of China’s Most Historic Cities
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC | July 1, 2019
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C today announced the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Xi’an in one of China’s most historic cities, and the home of the country’s legendary 2,000-year-old Terracotta Warriors. Owned by Zhongda. Zhongfangxin Proprietary Company Ltd., the hotel elevates luxury by connecting guests to the destination’s rich way of life through a contemporary take on local culture, history and cuisine. Known as ‘the cradle of Chinese civilization’, Xi’an is the ancient provincial capital of Shaanxi located in the central-northwestern region of China. With a history that spans thousands of years, Xi’an is one of Chi...
The Lost Stone Villas & Spa Joins The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
The Unbound Collection by Hyatt | July 1, 2019
CHICAGO -- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that The Lost Stone Villas & Spa officially joined The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in Tengchong, Yunnan Province of Southwest China, marking the second property under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in Greater China. The resort, built using six types of natural stone used throughout the property’s paths, walls and roof of the buildings, received its namesake as it blends seamlessly into the nearby mountains, almost appearing lost in nature. “We are pleased to expand The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in China with The Lost Stone, an all-villa resort, located near the ...
What Price Loyalty?
July 1, 2019
Loyalty programmes have long been a feature of the hotel sector, but little evidence has traditionally supported whether they represent an operationally and financially beneficial form of investment. Yet a recent study by Dr Dan Wang of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and her co-researchers provides strong evidence that hotels are justified in making such investments, and provides suggestions for how hotels can further capitalise on the benefits. The researchers begin by highlighting the longevity of loyalty programmes – they were introduced almost forty years ago with American Ai...
Generation Z: What Do They Want From Their Hotel Stay Experience?
Court Williams | July 1, 2019
By Court Williams "The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers." Attributed to Socrates in 470 BC, this popular quote sums up how humanity has felt about its younger generation since the beginning of time. Generation Z is no exception. Born between 1995 and 2010, these digital natives have become an important influence on people of all ages and incomes, according to a McKinsey report...
Coyle Hospitality Group Reaches Milestone, Provides Mystery Shopping to Its 1000th Independent Restaurant
Coyle Hospitality Group | July 1, 2019
July 1, 2019, NYC – Coyle Hospitality Group, the world’s leading provider of customer experience consulting, quality assurance and mystery shopping, has been contracted for services by its 1000th independent restaurant. The milestone achievement comes after 23 years of consulting with restaurants located around the world and spanning all types of eateries, from fast-casual to fine dining, and from single location to multi-unit, multi-national operations. Coyle’s panel of independent restaurant mystery shoppers are professionals who measure performance and provide detailed, step-by-step narratives and photos of their dining experience...
Hotel News: At NYU Conference, It’s the Same Song, Just a Different Chord
David Eisen | July 1, 2019
By David Eisen If you’re like me, then you live for the next hospitality industry conference. Am I right? A chance to catch up with friends, pontificate on the health of the space, pound coffee with reckless abandon, chow down on conference chicken, and stay out way too late carousing so that you look like an extra from “Night of the Living Dead” on the morning of the second conference day. Yeah, it’s the best! In our industry, you could throw a ball blindfolded and hit a conference on practically any day of the week. Still, one of the more eagerly anticipated is the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference h...
Lodging Interactive Announces Website and Social Media Marketing Promotion
Lodging Interactive | July 1, 2019
Lodging Interactive, an award-winning digital marketing and social media engagement agency exclusively serving the hospitality industry, today announced its summer 2019 website and social media marketing promotion. For a limited time through August 31st, hotels entering into a new website design and digital strategy agreement will also receive comprehensive social media marketing and engagement services at no charge for one year. "Most properties and management companies have started to plan for their 2020 budgets. Our website and social media marketing promotion offers tremendous value for those properties looking to upgrade their website...
Hotel Market in Grand Rapids Continues to Boom
Joseph Pierce, MAI | July 1, 2019
By Joseph Pierce, MAI Michigan’s economy is growing again, and Grand Rapids is leading the way. Since 2009, Grand Rapids has had the fastest growing regional economy in the state, increasing 29.2% to $58 billion, according to Michigan-based Bridge Magazine. The Metro Grand Rapids area has also been recognized as one of the fastest growing economies in the country. Headlight Data ranked Grand Rapids the 7th fastest growing economy in the U.S., based on Gross Regional Product (GRP) over the previous five years. All of this is good news for the thriving Grand Rapids hotel market. According to Experience Grand Rapids, the area’s officia...
Radisson and Jin Jiang Launch First Co-Branded Hotel With Radisson Blu Hotel, Frankfurt Opening
Radisson Hotel Group | June 27, 2019
Frankfurt - June 27, 2019 - Following the Group’s acquisition by Jin Jiang International and Sino-Cee Fund late last year, Radisson Hotel Group and its shareholders have together identified several opportunities to realize the true potential of the Chinese market. Key initiatives have been defined, with the launch of co-branded hotels being a critical element of the project. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Frankfurt in Germany is the first property to be co-branded with Jin Jiang International. Federico J. González Tejera, President & CEO of Radisson Hospitality AB and Chairman of the Global Steering Committee for Radisson Hotel Group, said:...
Why Google Ratings Might Just Be Your Hotel’s Most Important Quality Metric
Daniel E. Craig | June 27, 2019
By Daniel E. Craig, Founder, Reknown Move over, TripAdvisor — there’s a new sheriff in town. Over the past couple of years, Google has revamped its review product, increased review volume exponentially, and made Google ratings more prominent in search, maps and hotel listings. As a result, Google ratings may have emerged as the most important measure of quality for hotels. Here’s why. In Search, Google Reigns Supreme Google’s role as chief gatekeeper to online travel planning difficult to dispute, but does it hold a monopoly on search? While company officials bristle at the suggestion, others aren’t so convinced. “Goo...
Why Historic Buildings Make Great Hotels
JLL Real Views | June 27, 2019
The UK’s rich history is a major draw for visitors – and the chance to stay in castles where former kings resided, or country homes fit for a Jane Austin novel, is the type of experience that resonates with many. Growing numbers of historic buildings in the UK are now enjoying a second life as high-end and mid-range hotels. Former mansion Cliveden House, near Windsor, was once home to royalty while Roch Castle, in Wales, has been given a boutique-style makeover and Solent Forts, near Portsmouth, offers an off-shore stay with a difference at former sea-based defences. For visitors, it’s all about the prestige of staying at a destin...
5 Ways to Drive Incremental Revenue to Your Hotel
Patrick Landman | June 27, 2019
By Patrick Landman In last year’s article on hotel ancillary revenue we shared insider tips on how to generate extra revenue at your hotel or resort. We explained, among other things, how to upsell and cross-sell your services and how to leverage underutilized areas to increase revenue. These main strategies will stay relevant during the coming years, but there are now novel ways of increasing revenue per guest too. In this article, we will go into detail about these new methods of using the strategies mentioned previously and discuss other tips and tricks to supercharge your revenue by getting your guests to spend more. 1. New Wa...
Omni William Penn Hotel Welcomes Gino Caliendo as General Manager
Omni William Penn Hotel | June 27, 2019
Pittsburgh, PA (June 27, 2019) – Omni William Penn Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Gino Caliendo to the post of general manager. A results-focused and strategic leader with a passion for excellence and over 20 years of experience building and leading successful hospitality businesses, Caliendo will oversee the hotel’s operations and lead more than 400 dedicated associates. Caliendo joins Omni William Penn Hotel following two decades with Hyatt. During his tenure, he served as general manager at hotels and resorts across the country, including Hyatt Regency Miami, Hyatt Regency Hill Country, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville an...
