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IHG Signs Agreement with Al Arabiya Real Estate Company for Staybridge Suites in Kuwait
IHG | November 6, 2018
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with the Al Arabiya Real Estate Company, owned by the leading Kuwaiti conglomerate, The Bukhamseen Group to debut Staybridge Suites in Kuwait, with the development of Staybridge® Suites Kuwait Salmiya. The new hotel is due to open in January 2022 and will add to IHG's growing portfolio in the Middle East. Located in Salmiya, close to the commercial and upscale residential blocks beside the Persian Gulf coastline, the 120-keys Staybridge® Suites Kuwait Salmiya will offer long-stay guests a choice of one-bedroom ...
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Opens Hotel in Erie, Pennsylvania
November 6, 2018
Minneapolis - November 6, 2018 - Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson, a leading upper midscale hotel brand, today announced the opening of Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Erie, PA located at 8050 Peach Street. The newly renovated hotel features the brand's latest modern design with updated interiors and spacious guest areas. The hotel's convenient location near U.S. Route 19 and Interstate 90 makes it the perfect spot for guests visiting the indoor waterpark at Splash Lagoon, soaking up the sun at Presque Isle State Park, spending a night out at the Presque Isle Downs and Casino or catching a game at Erie Bank Sports Park. G...
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels® Takes Top Honors in 2018 Stella Awards
Northstar Meetings Group | November 6, 2018
Meetings Professionals Name the "Best Overall Boutique & Lifestyle Hotel Brand" The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 6, 2018… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, announces its signature brand, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels®, has taken top honors in Northstar Meetings Group's prestigious 2018 Stella Awards. Meetings and events professionals and a panel of judges named it the Best Overall Boutique & Lifestyle Hotel Brand. The distinguished brand portfolio of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels spans 26 distinguished properties in unique domestic and international d...
Hotel Technologies to Showcase Qi Wireless Charging Clock with Bluetooth at ‘HX’
Hotel Technologies, Inc. | November 6, 2018
New iHome® bedside clock is capable of wirelessly powering all Qi charging devices including all newer Samsung and iPhone models; includes two rapid-charge USB ports, Bluetooth Speaker, Alarm Clock with Single Day Alarm and more; Visit Booth #3137 Nov. 11 and 12 in New York Rahway, N.J. (November 6, 2018) — Hotel Technologies Inc. will unveil a new iHome® Qi wireless charging solution at HX: The Hotel Experience next month that will power all Qi charging devices including newer iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, and others. With wireless charging for mobile devices in guestrooms becoming a standard amenity, the HW4 Qi Wireles...
Beekeeper to Reveal the Secret to Guest & Employee Engagement at HX: The Hotel Experience
Beekeeper | November 6, 2018
Beekeeper will display an operational communication platform proven to drive retention and make deskless hotel employees and guests happier; Visit Beekeeper in Booth 2839 at HX November 11 – 12 in New York San Francisco, Nov. 6, 2018 — Beekeeper, the leading communication and operations platform for connecting a hotel's non-desk workers across locations and departments, will be at HX: The Hotel Experience next month revealing the secret to guest and employee engagement. Named the Most Innovative Technology of 2018 by HTNG, the "People's Choice 2018" by HFTP, and ranked No. 59 on the SaaS 1000, Beekeeper has discovered the Ho...
Knighthead Funding Originates $8.5 Million Loan to Complete Construction of Holiday Inn & Suites Near Savannah, GA
Knighthead Funding | November 6, 2018
Greenwich, CT (November 6, 2018) -- Knighthead Funding, LLC has funded an $8.5 million construction loan for the completion of a 104-room Holiday Inn & Suites in the Savannah submarket of Pooler, GA. The sponsor, a Georgia-based hotel development and management company whose portfolio currently includes flags such as Hilton, Marriott and Holiday Inn had funded the entire development with all equity prior to Knighthead's involvement. Due to liquidity constraints, the Sponsor needed a creative source of capital to get comfortable in funding a project that was approximately 50% completed. The Greenwich, CT-based lender was able to reco...
General Manager Zoe Scheer Set to Welcome Guests to Open New TownePlace Suites in Baytown, Texas
TownePlace Suites by Marriott | November 6, 2018
Baytown, TX – November 6, 2018 – Get ready to be real and be you on long stays. Marriott International's TownePlace Suites by Marriott Houston Baytown is scheduled to open for business this Thursday, November 8, 2018. On average, a TownePlace Suites opens every six days. Built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the Baytown area. The new hotel located at 7238 Garth Road, will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by Baytown Equities LLC of League City, Texas. "We are excited to introduce the TownePlace Suites brand to the Baytown area," ...
Shamin Hotels prepares for extensive renovation of Portsmouth, VA Renaissance Hotel
November 6, 2018
Nov. 06--PORTSMOUTH -- One of the most recognized fixtures along Portsmouth's waterfront is about to get a new look. The Renaissance Hotel is scheduled to undergo renovations starting early next year. The building will get a new sign and a coat of slate-gray paint that will transform the exterior look. Inside, the hotel will be modernized to a cleaner, brighter look for the hotel, which was built in 2001. Chester-based Shamin Hotels, the largest hotel management company in Virginia, bought the hotel in February 2017 from Ashford Hospitality Trust for $9.2 million. When the hotel first opened, it did so with an upfront public investm...
Tourism to Israel maintaining record levels
November 6, 2018
Nov. 06--485,500 tourists visited Israel in October, 14% more than in October 2017. The Ministry of Tourism estimates that they contributed over NIS 2.5 billion to the Israeli economy. 3.4 million tourists visited Israel in January-October 2018, 15% more than in the corresponding period last year, and the Ministry of Tourism is aiming to increase this number to four million a year. The increase in tourism and the prosperity of hoteliers and the tourist industry also depends on the relative tranquility in the regional security situation. According to Ministry of Tourism figures, tourists stay in Israel for an average of eight days. The n...
Related Cos., developers of Grand Avenue’s Gehry $1 billion project, say work will begin this month now that financing is secured
November 6, 2018
Nov. 06--Since Related Cos. first got the contract in 2004 to build the massive Grand Avenue project, there's been a housing boom and bust, a financial crisis and a new explosion of residential construction downtown. Yet throughout that period, the $1-billion complex designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry has failed to materialize at its coveted site across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall. On Monday, the New York developer took a giant step to finally kick off the project considered by many to be the last large piece of the redevelopment puzzle that is Bunker Hill. Related said it has $630 million in construction financi...
What a new transatlantic flight means for Strand golf and tourism. Is Myrtle Beach next?
November 6, 2018
Nov. 06--The first nonstop transatlantic flight from South Carolina to Europe was announced last month. British Airways will have two flights per week from Charleston International Airport to London's Heathrow Airport from April 4 to Oct. 24. The Grand Strand is sure to attract some of the travelers to its golf courses, beaches and other attractions, and flights to Europe will be more accessible for residents, so there will be a benefit to the area. But Strand tourism officials believe this flight could be just the beginning of a much bigger connection between the S.C. coast and Europe, including a transatlantic flight emanating fro...
Amazon may split HQ2 between two cities, WSJ reports
November 6, 2018
Nov. 06--More than a year after announcing a search for a city to place a second headquarters campus, Amazon may be close to a decision that, instead, would split its second home between two cities. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Amazon planned to divide its second headquarters staff evenly between two locations instead of picking a single site for what it calls HQ2. The Seattle company is widely expected to announce its HQ2 decision within the next few weeks. Amazon in September 2017 said it aimed to put some 50,000 workers in a second headquarters city and spend up to $5 billion on a new corporate campus in a build-out b...
ALICE Co-Founder and President Alex Shashou Awarded as “Next Gen Leader” by the Hospitality Media Group
ALICE | November 5, 2018
ALICE President and Co-Founder Alex Shashou has been selected for the "Next Gen Leader" award, by the Hospitality Media Group (HMG), which recognizes the brightest young leaders shaking up the hospitality industry. The award will be presented at this year's HX: The Awards ceremony. The "Next Gen Leader" is awarded to a young professional making a difference with at least five years of experience in the field. It celebrates a leader who thinks differently to contribute positively to the hospitality industry and consistently asks "why" and "why not" in order to spark conversation, inspire others, and reimagine what's next. Alex's achievem...
Vision Hospitality Group Unveils Plans for New Boutique Hospitality Brand, Kinley
Humanist | November 5, 2018
Chattanooga, Tennessee (November 5, 2018) – Today, Vision Hospitality Group unveiled plans for its newest boutique hospitality brand, Kinley. Providing a contemporary approach to the hotel experience that is both warm and effortless, Kinley will be part of the overarching company's new Humanist lifestyle portfolio, debuting in Cincinnati in late 2019, followed by Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2020. Humanist will also be comprised of The Grady Hotel, set to open next year in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, in additional to other lifestyle properties. Launching in November, the mission of Humanist is to foster meaningful human interactio...
Now Available: The Q4 Hotel Digital Marketer’s Whitepaper
HEBS Digital | November 5, 2018
Now available for viewing and download, the HEBStrategy Q4 2018 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 HEBStrategy Q4 2018 whitepaper to learn about: What's Trending: Stay in the loop with the must-know trends of the quarter, including the growth in popularity of loyalty programs, updates to Google Hotel Ads, and tips for capitalizing on intent. From the Design Studio: Get inspiration fro...
Radisson Hotel Group Shares Update on $50MM Radisson and Country Inn & Suites Renovations With Hospitality Properties Trust
Radisson Hotel Group | November 5, 2018
Minneapolis - November 5, 2018 - Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce the completion of the renovations to its Country Inn & Suites by Radisson hotels owned by its longstanding partner, Hospitality Properties Trust (HPT). During the past two months, HPT completed extensive renovations to Country Inn & Suites by Radisson hotels located in Brooklyn Center, Minn.; San Diego, Calif.; and Bothell, Wash. These updates bring each of the properties to the brand's latest Gen 4 design featuring a modern look, convenient amenities and spacious guest rooms and suites. In addition, Radisson Hotel Group is announcing that HPT has kicked-...
sbe, in Partnership With PPG Development Group, to Rebrand Former Diplomat Golf & Tennis Club to SLS Resort Residence & Marina Hallandale Be
sbe | November 5, 2018
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2018 -- sbe, a leading international hospitality group that develops, manages and operates award-winning global hospitality brands, today announced a partnership with PPG Development and its principal Ari Pearl to continue expansion of the SLS brand in South Florida with SLS Resort Residence & Marina Hallandale Beach. This announcement comes on the heels of AccorHotels' recent acquisition of a 50% stake in sbe. SLS Resort Residence & Marina Hallandale Beach will mark the 12th sbe resort and 4th SLS branded property in South Florida. Set to open in 2022, the project will offer 290 hotel rooms including 50 co...
Hotelogix Rolls Out Exciting Year-End Offer for Independent Hotels
Hotelogix | November 5, 2018
Hotelogix, a leader in cloud-based Property Management Systems has announced the launch of its exciting year-end offer. Under this new plan – 'Lock now & Use later', independent hotels can pay for 6 months to get 6 months free usage. Hotels can avail the deal by paying a small lock-in amount of USD 250. This offer is valid for first 100 customers. According to Aditya Sanghi, Co-founder & CEO at Hotelogix, with this offer, the company wants to help independent hotels to leverage the power of cloud to grow their business. "To make more out of today's online travel, independent hotels must compete with their big and known riv...
It took more than 20 years but the $330 million renovation of Dana Point Harbor is now inked & includes two new hotels
November 2, 2018
Nov. 02--DANA POINT -- After more than 20 years, plans to renovate the 47-year-old Dana Point Harbor are in place. On Friday, Nov. 2, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett joined other county officials and developer Dana Point Harbor Partners at Coffee Importers, in the harbor, to announce that the 66-year lease was signed Oct. 29. "The Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan is the result of over 20 years of collaborative efforts," said Bartlett, who was a councilwoman in Dana Point when talk of renovation first came up. "Our collaboration and partnership with Dana Point Harbor Partners, the city of Dana Point and community stakeholder...
Positive Work Environment Makes Marriott’s Renaissance Austin Employees Stick Around
November 1, 2018
Nov. 02--Marriott International is a staple in any major city, but the company's Renaissance Austin hotel stands out among the city's top employers. Marriott ranked No. 3 among midsized employers in the American-Statesman's 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. The company's Renaissance Austin, a luxury hotel near the Arboretum in Northwest Austin, has more than 240 employees. More than half of those employees have been with the hotel for more than 10 years, according to Jill O'Neal, human resources director for the hotel. O'Neal has been with Marriott for 12 years -- and she attributes that to the compa...
$150 Million ‘World Class’ Resort and Convention Center Proposed in Biloxi
November 1, 2018
Nov. 02--Talk about building a second convention center in East Biloxi -- close to the thousands of hotel rooms at Biloxi casinos -- has turned into a proposal for a &qquot;world class, waterfront, mixed use convention center and retail project." The project would encompass the historic Tullis Manor site. The hotel was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina and the waterfront property, owned by the city, remains empty. Details of the new resort proposal will be part of Tuesday's Biloxi Council meeting, and the council will vote whether to approve: -- A joint feasibility study to look at whether a convention center and retail comple...
Duration of Hawaii’s Hotel Workers’ Strike Surpasses 1990 Walkout
November 1, 2018
Nov. 02--A Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers strike marked its 25th day Thursday, making it the union's longest-running hotel strike in nearly three decades. The strike began Oct. 8 when negotiations between Local 5 and Kyo-ya, which owns the Marriott-managed Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui, reached an impasse. Unite Here Local 5, which represents 2,700 striking hotel workers in Hawaii, and Kyo-ya Hotels &Resorts returned to the bargaining table Oct. 26 and Saturday but emerged without a new contract. Representatives from the local unit also are bargaini...
As Seattle Area Keeps Building Hotels, There Soon May Be Too Much Room at the Inn
November 1, 2018
Nov. 02--When it officially opens in December, the Hyatt Regency at Eighth Avenue and Howell Street will be both the largest hotel in Washington state and among the most closely watched. With its 1,260 rooms, spacious conference facilities, and proximity to the planned expansion of the Washington State Convention Center, the Hyatt is key to Seattle's ambitions to play in the big leagues of the convention business and bid for massive corporate events that only a handful of American cities can currently handle. But the enormous property is opening just as the Seattle area's hotel market -- currently one of the hottest in the count...
It’ll Be Christmas Every Day in Cripple Creek With Reopening of Landmark Hotel and Casino
November 1, 2018
Nov. 02--Cripple Creek -- Yes, there are eight reindeer at the new Christmas Casino & Inn in Cripple Creek, but they aren't tiny and they don't fly. And just by chance, the casino is less than two blocks from the Hotel St. Nicholas, which is under separate ownership and does not have a Christmas theme, despite the name. The parent company of Bronco Billy's Casino and Hotel bought the longtime Cripple Creek landmark Imperial Hotel and spent six months and $1 million turning it into a Christmas-themed gambling hall and lodging property that opened Thursday. Full House Resorts, which bought Bronco Billy's in 2016, plans...
