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
Is Mammoth ready for YotelPad? The micro hotel brand plans inexpensive vacation rentals in the Sierra ski town
October 26, 2018
Oct. 26--Yotels' micro-style rooms at airports and urban centers may be coming to a ski resort near you. The British-based hotel brand plans to apply its compact concept to the vacation rental market in the U.S., specifically in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. YotelPad Mammoth plans to build 177 condominiiums at Minaret Drive and Main Street, providing easy access to nearby Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, a recent company news release said. It's set to open in early 2021. Visitors can stay a day or a year in the rentals, which are for sale but will be run like a hotel. Nightly stays are estimated to start at about $240. Studio and family furni...
Hotels Are Expected to Reap a Record $2.93 Billion in Extra Fee Charges This Year, an 8.5% Increase From 2017
October 26, 2018
Oct. 26--Hotels will bring in a record $2.93 billion this year in extra charges beyond the basic room rate for things that many travelers still expect to get free. That total, which represents an 8.5% increase from 2017, comes from Bjorn Hanson, an adjunct professor at New York University School of Professional Studies and a hospitality expert who has been tracking hotel fees for years. He predicts such charges will continue to rise in 2019 to help hotel operators keep up with higher payroll and real estate costs. "Fees and surcharges are highly profitable," Hanson said in an annual assessment of hotel industry fees. As much a...
4-star hotel could be coming to historic downtown Transport Life Building in Fort Worth
October 26, 2018
Oct. 26--FORT WORTH -- A hotel developer specializing in historic renovations is eying downtown Fort Worth's Transport Life Building. Plans are in the early stages for DSG, a Memphis-based developer, to take ownership of the former XTO Energy office building at 714 Main St. The Fort Worth City Council next week will consider $6 million in hotel tax incentives to help make it happen. The project will involve a $56 million investment. DSG CEO Gary Prosterman said his company is under contract to buy the 24-story building, and details haven't been finalized. The space will accommodate a 232 room, four-star hotel with room for a res...
Seven-Year Grassroots Effort for Virginia’s Mountain Lake Lodge, Site of Original ‘Dirty Dancing’ Movie, Propels Miracle Comeback
Mountain Lake Lodge | October 25, 2018
PEMBROKE, VA (Nov 7, 2018)– It endured more than a decade of neglect and an empty, bone-dry lake – a hopeless, rundown place that no one thought could ever succeed again. But when old-fashioned hospitality, tenacious teamwork and a refocus on the "have's" rather than the "have-not's" took over, there was no stopping this once forgotten treasure where the cult classic Dirty Dancing was filmed. Now, an extensive seven-year grassroots effort has saved Mountain Lake Lodge and transformed it into a thriving, award-winning lodging destination. Said Betty Massey, Executive Director of the Mary Moody Northen Endowment, the private G...
Cloud5 Seeking Vice President of Business Development
Cloud5 | October 25, 2018
Cloud5 Communications is in a growth mode and looking for a talented and proven industry pro to lead our Technology Sales Team. As leaders in the hospitality-technology industry, we value the importance of our biggest asset, our employees. We maintain an open, dynamic and fun atmosphere. Read on to see if this is the right opportunity for you. ROLE SUMMARY: The Vice President of Business Development will manage and motivate the Cloud5 Technology Business Unit sales team and related activities to ensure all new sales growth targets are met or exceeded. In addition to sales management and administration, including renewals and Inside sale...
Owned and Managed by Tharaldson Hospitality Management, Residence Inn by Marriott Set to Open in Sparks, Nevada
Residence Inn by Marriott | October 25, 2018
Sparks, NV – October 25, 2018 – The 104-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Sparks, Nevada is scheduled to open this Friday, October 26, 2018. Located at 300 Legends Bay Drive, the all-suite Residence Inn Reno/Sparks will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Tharaldson Hospitality Management of Decatur, Illinois. Located just steps from the Sparks Marina and 10 minutes from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, the Residence Inn Reno/Sparks offers its guests convenient access to downtown Reno, Wild Island Family Adventure Park and The Outlets at Legends. "We are pleased to introduce Residence Inn hotels in the Sp...
Heritage Hospitality Management Opens 98-Room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Staunton, Virginia
Fairfield Inn & Suites | October 25, 2018
Staunton, VA – October 25, 2018 – The 98-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Staunton, Virginia opens with its smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting décor. Located at 114 Crossing Way, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Staunton will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by Heritage Hospitality Management. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Staunton offers guests convenient access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, Mary Baldwin College and historic downtown Staunton. "Delivering both function a...
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Makes Its UK Debut With Opening of Kimpton Fitzroy London
IHG | October 25, 2018
(London, 25th October2018) Kimpton® Fitzroy London, the first UK hotel from boutique luxury brand, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, opens its doors today in London's Bloomsbury neighborhood. The hotel combines late-Victorian heritage with a quirky, modern vibe. The existing glamour of the building paired with Kimpton's signature heartfelt service brings a new hotel offering to London that delivers exclusivity for everyone. Set on Russell Square within an iconic Grade II listed heritage building dating back to 1898, design-led Kimpton Fitzroy London features 334 luxurious rooms and suites, a large ballroom, various restaurants ...
Innovation and Ease of Use Set Maestro PMS Apart, Proves Perfect for River Bend Casino Hotel Operated by Wyandotte Tribe
Maestro PMS | October 25, 2018
Maestro's Konami Gaming Interface Simplifies Cross Property Charge Posting; Direct Booking Makes Online Reservations a Breeze for Guests Markham, Ontario – October 25, 2018 – When the Wyandotte Tribe decided to develop the River Bend Casino Hotel in 2016 it started property software shopping. The Tribe asked its new GM to attend a national gaming conference to evaluate casino back office gaming solutions and hotel property software systems. "My business is casino hotel operations and I have worked with several property software systems at other casino hotels. We saw Maestro PMS at the show and included them in the systems we...
What Hotel Owners Need to Know About Using Out-of-State Contractors for Renovations
Cicero's Development Corporation | October 25, 2018
PLAINFIELD, IL, OCTOBER 25, 2018 -- A quality renovation is essential to the success of any hotel. Despite this, many hotel owners think that 'reno' is a four-letter word. This is a mistake that comes with serious consequences, especially when it comes to selecting a general contractor. More concerned about cutting costs than a positive outcome, a hotel owner may select a less qualified, inexperienced local contractor rather than an out-of-state "GC" with extensive expertise in hotel renovations and PIP requirements. Local knowledge is a bonus with access to labor and the municipal approval process. On the other side of ...
AJ Capital Partners Acquires Atherton Hotel in State College, Pennsylvania, to Become a Graduate Hotel
AJ Capital Partners | October 25, 2018
State College, Pa. – Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners announced today that it has acquired the Atherton Hotel in State College. The hotel will operate independently while renovations take place. Once complete in fall of 2019, the hotel will be converted to Graduate State College, part of the Graduate Hotels® collection. The 150-room hotel is conveniently located in downtown State College, just a few blocks from The Pennsylvania State University's campus. Prominently situated on Atherton Street, the hotel is a short walk from Old Main and the sprawling Penn State University Park campus, and just steps from College Ave...
Banyan Tree and Angsana Lang Co Appoints Justin Wermers as New Area Director for Food and Beverage
October 25, 2018
LANG CO, Vietnam (Oct. 25, 2018) – With 280 hectares of prime oceanfront real estate, Laguna Lang Co offers plenty of scope for special guest experiences. And it is this potential for creativity that most excites Justin Wermers, who has just been appointed as Area Director for Food and Beverage at Banyan Tree and Angsana Lang Co – the two award winning luxury resorts currently on the books at the integrated project in Central Vietnam. Wermers, a Dutch national with more than 15-years of experience in F&B and hospitality, comes to Lang Co following stints in the Middle East with InterContinental and, most recently, at the...
Jeremy Keller Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at New York’s Hotel Indigo Lower East Side
Hotel Indigo Lower East Side | October 25, 2018
NEW YORK, NY (October 25, 2018) - Hotel Indigo Lower East Side is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Jeremy Keller to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing. With over a decade of sales and hospitality experience at branded properties, Keller brings with him an immense amount of knowledge in financially beneficial strategic planning. "We are extremely excited to have Jeremy join Hotel Indigo Lower East Side as Director of Sales and Marketing," says Ashish Bhasin, General Manager of Hotel Indigo LES. "As a well-respected leader with extensive hotel sales experience, I trust his outstanding record will play a pivotal r...
Pyramid Hotel Group Opens DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown in New Hampshire Following Multi-Million Renovation and Rebranding
Pyramid | October 25, 2018
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Following a multimillion-dollar revitalization project, Manchester's iconic venue for business travelers, presidential candidates, weddings, conventions and business events opens today as DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. The DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown team, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and representatives from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce took part in a ceremony today to unveil the new DoubleTree by Hilton sign and introduce the hotel to the community. Along with renovated guest rooms, a reconfigured lobby and a Hilton Honors Executive Lounge, the new DoubleTree by Hilton Mancheste...
KB Hotels, LLC and Choice Hotels to Develop New Cambria Hotel Waco University Riverfront in Waco, Texas
Cambria Hotels | October 25, 2018
ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 25, 2018 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has signed an agreement with Kiran "Kenny" Bhakta of KB Hotels, LLC, to develop the new Cambria Hotel Waco University Riverfront in Waco, Texas. Slated to open in 2020, the four-story, 135-room upscale hotel will be one of several Cambria properties to join the brand's growing portfolio in the state, with hotels already open in Dallas, McAllen, Plano, and Southlake, and opening soon in Austin and Houston. Situated along the Brazos River at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Bridge Street, the new Cambria Hotel Waco University Riv...
How to Effectively Communicate With Unionized Labor
Jodi Beaubien | October 25, 2018
By Jodi Beaubien Though it varies depending on the industry and the unique functions of the work performed, companies and HR professionals in particular continue to face challenges around communicating effectively with unionized labor or in hybrid union and non-union environments. One of the biggest obstacles is encapsulated by this key question: how do we effectively track if employees are reading and receiving the mission-critical information we send? As an employer, there is certain information required by law to deliver to employees. It is your obligation to ensure your workforce receives said information during compensable time. Bu...
How 5 Hotels Compete With OTAs by Showcasing Unique Local Experiences
Nancy Huang | October 25, 2018
By Nancy Huang Today's travelers are no longer content with merely visiting a destination and have the same experience as everyone else. They increasingly yearn for something unique and want to explore the places they visit through a local perspective. This emerging need represents a huge opportunity for hotels. By creating in-depth destination guides, or by hosting their own locally-led tours, hotels can make their properties more desirable to drive more direct bookings. The following post highlights five hotels that are promoting their destinations with engaging neighborhood guides and authentic local experiences. But before diving...
World Travel Awards Recognizes TravelClick for Best-in-Class Booking Engine
TravelClick, an Amadeus Company | October 25, 2018
TravelClick Wins "Australasia's Leading Hotel Booking Solutions Provider" at 2018 Awards NEW YORK, October 25, 2018 – TravelClick, an Amadeus company, today announced that the Company has been awarded "Australasia's Leading Hotel Booking Solutions Provider" by the World Travel Awards this year. "Winning this prestigious award for our booking engine in Australasia, based on industry votes, is a validation of our significant investment in and focus on creating best-in-class reservation solutions," said Curtis Brewer, Senior Vice President, Reservations and Web Solutions, TravelClick. "With TravelClick's Booking Engine 4.0, hoteliers...
TravelClick Featured as Key Speaker at 2018 Google Travel Executive Forum
TravelClick, an Amadeus company | October 25, 2018
Highlights How the Right Data Helps Hoteliers Drive Better Business Results NEW YORK – October 25, 2018 – TravelClick, an Amadeus Company, participated as a featured speaker at Google's seventh annual Travel Executive Forum in Dublin, Ireland, which took place on Sept. 19th and 20th. This follows TravelClick and Google's announcement earlier this year of their expanded strategic partnership that enables hoteliers all over the world to drive more direct bookings and revenue with early access to new beta products and differentiated data. TravelClick's panel, titled, "Data First: In Conversation with TravelClick and Partners,"...
Conrad Indianapolis Launches Intelity Guest Service Platform to Great Success
Intelity | October 25, 2018
The downtown, luxury Indianapolis hotel sees its numbers of engagements, clicks, requests, and orders soar Los Angeles, California (October 25, 2018) – Intelity, the leading integrated mobile and in-room technology provider for the global travel industry, has announced its full guest service platform is now live at the luxurious Conrad Indianapolis hotel. The award-winning hotel, located just a three-minute covered walk from the downtown Indianapolis Convention Center, launched the Intelity Guest Service Platform, which includes in-room tablets, and Intelity's staff-facing service management system along with Conrad Concierge thro...
Canadian Vacation Ownership Association Joins with Hotel Association of Canada for Hotel Hill Day 2018
CVOA | October 25, 2018
OTTAWA, CANADA (October 25, 2018) –The Canadian Vacation Ownership Association (CVOA) joined forces with Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), as the latter hosted its second annual Hotel Hill Day. HAC is an industry-based association focused on enhancing the prosperity of the Canadian hotel industry through strong member engagement, effective advocacy and the provision of value-added programs and services. CVOA is an industry-based association dedicated to furthering vacation ownership in Canada and throughout the world. HAC's Hotel Hill Day 2018 brought 30 industry leaders from across Canada to Ottawa for meetings with more than 55...
Massachusetts Gaming Commission expects hearing on Wynn Resorts investigation sometime in early December
October 25, 2018
Oct. 25--The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is expected to schedule a hearing sometime in early December, after investigators complete their look into Wynn Resorts. Ed Bedrosian, the commission's executive director, said the agency's investigations and enforcement bureau is still finishing its report on whether Wynn Resorts is suitable to hold the eastern Massachusetts casino license in the aftermath of a Wall Street Journal report outlining accusations of sexual misconduct against company founder Steve Wynn. Steve Wynn denied the allegations but stepped away from the company Feb. 6. Wynn Resorts later changed the name of the $...
Charge a Rolls to your room, or bring your own helicopter to Houston’s Post Oak Hotel
October 25, 2018
Oct. 25--Go big or go home. When free mini bottles of shampoo and a mint on your pillow just won't do, look no further than the five-diamond rated Post Oak Hotel. Open since March, the $350 million, 38-story tower at 1600 West Loop South comes to you courtesy of Houston billionaire restaurateur Tilman Fertitta, who also happens to own Golden Nugget Casinos and the Houston Rockets. With a ballin' owner like Fertitta, it's little wonder the posh 250-room hotel, set on 10 oak-studded acres near The Galleria and River Oaks District, oozes extravagance. Yes, the 250 ultra-plush and ultra-modern guest rooms and suites, 20 executiv...
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project ‘to have 40-50 hotels’
October 25, 2018
Oct. 25--RIYADH -- As many as 50 hotels will be part of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project, for which investment partners are due to be courted over the next few months, its CEO said on Thursday. Plans for the ambitious tourism development, which will span 50 islands off the Red Sea coast, include a nature reserve and heritage sites. John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company, said work would begin on the project next year, with the first phase set to open in 2022. "The project is going to have many hotels -- probably 40 or 50," he told Arab News on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riya...
