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
Process Innovation As the Core Engine for Hotel Technology Implementation
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | May 8, 2024
By Adam Mogelonsky, Larry Mogelonsky Looking ahead to the latter half of 2024, it’s obvious to everyone except for those without the internet that the pace of the world keeps moving faster and faster, driven in part by advancements in technology like GenAI. These innovations, such as MyRealTrip’s AI Trip Planner developed in just two days using ChatGPT, are reshaping industries, especially travel and hospitality. As a result, travelers' expectations are evolving rapidly, and hotels must adapt to stay competitive. To navigate these changes effectively, hotels need to embrace business process innovation (BPI) to streamline operations ...
Choice Hotels International Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
Choice Hotels | May 8, 2024
Record Global Rooms Pipeline, up 10% Sequentially including a 36% Increase for Conversion Hotels Repurchases $196.6 Million of Common Stock Year-to-Date through April 30, 2024 Relaunches Park Inn by Radisson NORTH BETHESDA, Md., May 8, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's leading lodging franchisors, today reported its first quarter 2024 results. Highlights include: Net income was $31.0 million for first quarter of 2024, representing diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.62. As a result of one-time items, including due diligence and transaction pursuit costs, and the timing of net reimbursa...
McNeill Hotel Company (MHC) Names Irene Nelson General Manager at Marriott TownePlace Suites Hattiesburg, MS
McNeill Hotel Company | May 8, 2024
Germantown, Tennessee —May 8, 2024—Germantown, TN- based McNeill Hotel Company (MHC) today named Irene Nelson as General Manager at its TownePlace Suites Hattiesburg MS. MHC President Travis Murray made the announcement. With a strong background in the service industry, Nelson began her hospitality career with McNeill Hotel Company in 2018 in Housekeeping. She quickly moved to successive positions that have included Laundry Attendant, Houseperson, Breakfast, Front Desk Agent, Executive Housekeeper, and, most recently, Assistant General Manager at TownePlace Suites in Hattiesburg. In her new position, Nelson will be a direct report to M...
Vision Hospitality Group Breaks Ground on Dual-Brand Home2 Suites and Tru By Hilton in Cleveland, TN
Vision Hospitality Group | May 8, 2024
CLEVELAND, Tennessee – May 8, 2024 – Vision Hospitality Group, Inc. breaks ground on a dual-brand Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton in Cleveland, Tennessee. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on May 6, 2024, marks the commencement of construction on a dynamic hospitality venture set to drive further growth and meet the increasing demand in Cleveland. Strategically located at 4351 Frontage Rd NW, Cleveland, TN 37312, the forthcoming development will feature a combined total of 140 keys spanning five stories, promising guests a modern and welcoming environment. Notable amenities include 768 square feet of flexible meeting space and a refres...
Ashburton Hospitality Advisors Adds Ten Hotels to Hospitality Asset Management Portfolio
Ashburton Hospitality | May 8, 2024
Branded Hotels Span Midwest, Eastern Seaboard and Southeastern U.S. ATLANTA, Ga.., May 8, 2024—Officials of Ashburton Hospitality, a full-service consultancy firm focused on asset management, today announced the addition of ten hotels to its rapidly expanding portfolio. The Marriott-, Hilton- and IHG-branded hotels are located throughout the Midwest, Eastern seaboard and southeastern U.S. “We grow by expanding our partnerships with savvy hoteliers and well-respected brands,” said Carmen Almos, founder and CEO, Ashburton. “We pride ourselves on bringing seasoned expertise in revenue and cost management to deliver enhanced retur...
Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Weston Completes Extensive Renovation
Courtyard by Marriott | May 8, 2024
Weston, FL – May 8, 2024 – Marriott International, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of its recent redesign and renovation to the 176-room Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Weston. The makeover includes transformations to the guest rooms, exterior, lobby, meeting rooms and Bistro. The modernized hotel now offers a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere for guests to enjoy. The six-story hotel is situated off I-75 near I-595, 19 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and offers guests convenient access to Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall, Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, Flamingo Gardens, Hard Rock Casino ...
Emily Hotels Unveils Villa Torre Bianca in Polignano a Mare, Italy
Onni Group | May 8, 2024
Discover timeless elegance and tranquility at Emily Hotels’ newest European gem, ideal for group celebrations and luxurious villa vacations, offers paradise in Polignano a Mare POLIGNANO A MARE, ITALY (May 8, 2024) - Tucked among the stunning embrace of 2,400 olive trees and sprawling across a 20-hectare estate, Emily Hotels excitedly announces the opening of Villa Torre Bianca. Opening just in time for summer travels, celebrations or retreats, the historic villa was originally crafted as a resplendent summer abode in the 19th century. Villa Torre Bianca stands as a testament to timeless elegance and luxury and beckons discernin...
JW Marriott San Antonio Welcomes Doug Gennardo as General Manager
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa | May 8, 2024
SAN ANTONIO - May 8, 2024 - JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is pleased to introduce the resort’s new General Manager, Doug Gennardo. Doug Gennardo joins JW Marriott San Antonio as General Manager, following the retirement of Doug Ridge. Formerly Hotel Manager at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, Doug's leadership has consistently delivered record-setting results within Marriott International. With a 35-year career spanning various strategic roles at several of Marriott’s leading luxury brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott and EDITION Hotels, Doug most recently achieved record-setting result...
Pjey Mayandi Appointed General Manager for M Social Phuket
M Social Phuket | May 8, 2024
A former officer in the armed forces and a successful hotelier with 18 years’ experience, Pjey helped to create the M Social concept and now takes control of the brand’s flagship property in Thailand 8 MAY 2024 - PHUKET, THAILAND: M Social Phuket, the stylish, social and free-spirited new lifestyle hotel from Millennium Hotels & Resorts, has announced the appointment of Pjey Mayandi, the award-winning hotelier and brand concept creator, as its General Manager. A fitness guru and former commissioned officer in the Singaporean armed forces, Pjey leads by example and guides his team with courage, skill and precision to create fresh an...
Management Company Compensation Slows in 2023
Robert Mandelbaum and Tim Dick | May 8, 2024
By Robert Mandelbaum, Tim Dick Prior research conducted by CBRE Hotels Research revealed that hotel management companies were rewarded handsomely as the U.S. lodging industry recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. An analysis performed by CBRE in April 2023 found that total hotel revenue increased by 153% from 2020 to 2022, while Gross Operating Profits (GOP) grew by 437%. This resulted in a 68% increase in the fees paid to management companies and brought management fees back to pre-pandemic levels. The increases in fees were largely due to the improved performance of U.S. lodging properties, which in turn triggered the payment of incentiv...
Hospitality America Elevates Leigh Holloway to Chief Strategy Officer to Drive Growth and Innovation
Hospitality America | May 8, 2024
New strategic role will revolutionize organizational alignment at this leading third-party management company GREENVILLE, S.C. — May 8, 2024 — Hospitality America announces the promotion of Leigh Holloway to Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) under the leadership of President and CEO Ben Campbell. With a robust background spanning two decades in the hospitality sector, Holloway's appointment aims to fortify the company's strategic direction and bolster its competitive edge as a premier third-party hotel management company. Having joined Hospitality America in 2016, Holloway has demonstrated exemplary leadership across various roles w...
Vingcard Boosts Hotel Security, Sustainability and Scalability With MIFARE Ultralight® AES Compatibility for Door Lock Key Credentials
Vingcard | May 8, 2024
Vingcard locks able to utilize Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) offered by NXP Semiconductors while also providing hoteliers with enhanced flexibility in addressing evolving guest expectations. Stockholm –May 8, 2024 – Vingcard, an ASSA ABLOY company, has announced the enhancing of its door lock security abilities and features by ensuring compatibility with MIFARE Ultralight® AES from NXP® Semiconductors. The latest in contactless integrated circuit (IC) technology for door lock credentials, MIFARE Ultralight AES together with Vingcard locks are set to provide the advanced encryption and flexibility that today’s hotels need to ensu...
Cloud5 Appoints Frank Ziller as Chief Technology Officer
Cloud5 Communications | May 8, 2024
Chicago, IL — May 8, 2024, Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of IT solutions and services for more than 5,000 hotels across the Americas, has announced the appointment of technology expert and managed IT veteran, Frank Ziller, as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Ziller brings more than 25 years of experience leading global IT organizations in the business services, financial services, and legal industries. Prior to joining Cloud5, Ziller served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Frontline Managed Services, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that specializes in IT and financial managed services for midsize to large firms g...
Hapi Names New Head of Strategic Accounts to Ensure Customer Success
HAPI | May 8, 2024
MIAMI, May 8, 2024 – Hapi, the industry’s leading platform for fast and cost-effective connectivity between systems, is excited to announce the appointment of Chris Bram as Senior VP of Strategic Account Management. Bram’s hiring follows a series of strategic executive hires that solidify Hapi’s customer-centered growth plans, ensuring the right processes are in place to see customers through deployment to customer success. He will be tasked with overseeing the complete customer journey, ensuring expectations are met and exceeded in a timely and accurate manner. Bram brings a unique approach to enterprise-level account ma...
AI Powers Wisdom Work and Reduces Routine Tasks: Transforming the Workplace Landscape
HSMAI | May 7, 2024
In today’s digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal force across various sectors, and the hospitality industry is no exception. With its ability to process vast amounts of data, AI is becoming indispensable, with the power to significantly enhance operational efficiency and transform core functions within the sector. We explore this in the excerpt from the HSMAI Foundation Special Report: The State of Hotel Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization Talent 2023-2024. One of the key aspects of AI’s impact on the hospitality industry is its integration into various applications. AI is not a standalone entity bu...
The Next Achievement in Hotels: Quiet Luxury
Mandy Murry | May 7, 2024
By Mandy Murry “IFYKYK” is the unspoken acronym for quiet luxury. It has sprawled beyond HBO’s ‘Succession’ fashion and is now very much the center of travel. Where can one go to stay and experience the ultimate hospitality and great R&R without being looked up and down by others prying to see if their Louis Vuitton is this season? The idea of quiet luxury in hotel accommodations is not the Dubai’ish in your face pizazz, it is the opposite- a respite of sorts that brims with hospitality, modern conveniences, and promises an experience worth talking about. Not loud or in your face, it is understated and not labeled. Th...
NexGen Hotels Acquires the Hotel Versey in Chicago, Illinois
NexGen Hotels | May 7, 2024
CHICAGO – May 7, 2024 – NexGen Hotels, a hotel development and management company based in Itasca, Illinois, today announced the acquisition of the Hotel Versey in Chicago, Illinois. Located at 644 W Diversey Parkway, the 137-room hotel will be managed by Genuine Hospitality Group of St. Louis, Missouri. The boutique hotel is housed within the 1920s Diversey Arms building, a Northside Chicago landmark, that first served as a home to jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke. Later it was known as the “Rock and Roll Days Inn” due to its popularity with many iconic rock stars of the ‘90s such as Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Wilco...
Four Seasons to Expand Saudi Arabian Portfolio Alongside Dar Al Omran Company With New Hotel in Madinah
Four Seasons | May 7, 2024
Steps from the Prophet's Mosque, the Hotel will offer luxury accommodations to the city's tens of millions of annual visitors TORONTO, May 7, 2024 -- Leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons and Saudi-based development firm Dar Al Omran Company announce plans for continued expansion in the Middle East with Four Seasons Hotel Madinah, anticipated to open in late 2024. The new-build hotel will be located at the heart of Madinah and steps from one of the most historic and significant sites in the region: Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, also known as the Prophet's Mosque. The city has a storied history, drawing millions of visitors eac...
Black Oak Casino Resort Reveals Details of Renovation and Expansion of THE HOTEL
Black Oak Casino Resort | May 7, 2024
48 New Suites, Children's Pool with Splash Pad, and Renovations to All Existing Suites Highlight Black Oak Casino Resort's Continued Dedication to Creating the Ultimate Family Destination in Central California TUOLUMNE, Calif., May 7, 2024 -- As part of a sustained effort to provide families in Tuolumne County and beyond with a vacation destination that offers memorable entertainment options to guests of all ages, Black Oak Casino Resort is pleased to announce the details of a major renovation and expansion project at THE HOTEL. On track for a summer 2025 completion date, this substantial update includes the addition of 48 brand-new sui...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Launches the First voco Hotel in India With voco Jim Corbett
IHG | May 7, 2024
National, 7th May 2024 - IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,300 hotels worldwide across 19 brands, announces the opening of voco Jim Corbett - India’s first voco hotel. This also marks the introduction of the 7th brand from IHG’s global portfolio to the Indian market. Spread across 13.5 acres of lush greenery along the majestic Kosi Riverside, the resort in Dhilkuli region of Jim Corbett emerges as a sanctuary of tranquility and serenity, amidst dense forests and a symphony of foliage. Nestled on the foothills of the Mailani range, the hotel immerses guests in the captivating n...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Introduces Vignette Collection to Kuwait With Opening of Arabella Beach Hotel
IHG | May 7, 2024
KUWAIT, GCC, May 2024: IHG Hotels & Resorts introduces its first collection brand to Kuwait as Arabella Beach Hotel Kuwait, Vignette Collection opened on 6th May 2024. Prominently positioned on the Arabian Gulf shoreline, the 195 room property joins IHG’s growing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio – now the second largest in the world – to mark the GCC region’s second Vignette Collection, following Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort Vignette Collection’s opening in Summer this year. Central to Vignette Collection is the balance of individuality and belonging. A family of like-minded hotels, each Vignette Collection property is e...
Marriott International and KKR To Launch Midscale Hospitality Segment in Japan With Four Points Express by Sheraton
Marriott International | May 7, 2024
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) and KKR, a leading global investment firm today announced the launch of each company’s foray into the midscale hospitality space in Japan, which follows KKR’s completion of the acquisition of Unizo Hotel Company, Limited and a portfolio of 14 hotels in Japan from Unizo Holdings. The 14 hotels will be converted to Four Points Express by Sheraton. This marks Marriott’s entry into the affordable midscale segment in Japan and the brand’s debut in Asia Pacific following its global launch in this space in 2023. The portfolio of 14 hotels is located in major tourist destinations in 10 cities acr...
The Jeddah EDITION Opens in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
EDITION HOTELS | May 7, 2024
As Saudi Arabia sets its sights on creating a modern, thriving society through the goals outlined in its Vision 2030 roadmap, EDITION Hotels debuts in Jeddah, serving as a testament to this commitment of transformation. As Saudi Arabia sets its sights on creating a modern, thriving society through the goals outlined in its Vision 2030 roadmap, EDITION Hotels debuts in Jeddah, serving as a testament to this commitment of transformation. By capturing the vibrant spirit and unique character of Jeddah, EDITION Hotels is not just opening its first property in the region but introducing a category-defining concept that aligns seamlessly with the a...
Driftwood Capital Celebrates Rebranding of Its 245-Key Hotel Rumbao in Historic Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Driftwood Capital | May 7, 2024
Following a $21.8M transformation, the repositioned asset has been launched under Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio of boutique hotels. San Juan, Puerto Rico (May 7, 2024) – Driftwood Capital (“Driftwood”), a vertically integrated commercial real estate hospitality sponsor, announces the grand opening of Hotel Rumbao, a 245-key hotel and Paseo Portuario, a parking and retail complex in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Acquired by Driftwood Capital in 2021, the property has been repositioned to Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio of independent boutique hotels following a $21.8 million renovation of the property and its surroundings. Driftwood H...
