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StayNTouch and OpenKey Create Innovative Benefit for Hotel Staff and Guests
OpenKey | October 11, 2018
Automated Mobile Key Delivery empowers hotel staff to put the Guest Experience first DALLAS, TEXAS (October 11, 2018) – StayNTouch, an innovator in mobile technology and Property Management Systems (PMS) for hotels and lodging, along with OpenKey, the industry standard for universal mobile key in hotels have introduced Automated Mobile Key Delivery to their existing platform solution. Automated Mobile Key Delivery makes it incredibly fast and convenient for front desk agents to manage guest reservations and issue mobile keys. With this freedom comes precious time that can be focused on ensuring hotel guest needs are met. Many hot...
StayNTouch Partners With Event Temple to Integrate Hotel Sales and Catering CRM With Rover Property Management System
StayNTouch, A Shiji Group Brand | October 11, 2018
Bethesda, MD –October 11, 2018 – StayNTouch, an innovator in mobile technology and Property Management Systems (PMS) for hotels, is pleased to announce it has partnered with Event Temple and has successfully integrated its Rover Mobile Property Management System (PMS )with Event Temple's hotel sales and catering CRM. Event Temple is a modern hotel sales and catering CRM software platform based in Vancouver, BC, Canada that specializes in crm, sales, catering and event management software for both select and full-service hotels and conference centers. "Performance levels for hotel group and meeting revenue within the industry...
Make People Your Priority
Hotelivate | October 11, 2018
by Shruti Mathur This article explores two key dilemmas at the forefront of every organization committed to success, growth, and a dynamic and supportive work environment. Predictably, both of these are to do with finding and keeping the right people. The Recruitment Dilemma: Talent from Within or from Outside It is a well-known fact that thoughtful hiring is critically important for the wellbeing of an organization. Of the myriad factors considered before a final selection is made, the most controversial, perhaps, is to do with origin – should the employee be hired from within the company or from outside? Employers often resort t...
Hawaii hotel strike continues with no talks scheduled
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--Marriott hotel workers in Hawaii continued pounding drums and hollering chants as they entered day three of 24/7 picketing without an offer of new bargaining dates from Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts. Kyo-ya owns the Marriott-managed Sheraton Waikiki, The Royal Hawaiian, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui, where United Here Local 5 union workers began striking early Monday as contract negotiations, which started in June, reached an impasse. Kyo-ya said Monday that it was was committed to negotiating in good faith and hoped to resolve the situation in a timely manner. The company declined to commen...
With Hyatt buying Two Roads Hospitality will the planned Bell Works boutique hotel still be cool?
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--HOLMDEL -- With Two Roads Hospitality under its umbrella, Hyatt plans to create what it says will be a lifestyle division that will include the Bell Works hotel, Karolina Kielbowicz, a spokeswoman for Two Roads Hospitality, said. "There are no changes planned for the brand, programming or guest experience at this time," Kielbowicz said. "We're very much looking forward to the launch of this ground-breaking hotel project." Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp. said earlier this week that it would buy Two Roads Hospitality for $480 million, giving the hotel chain 85 properties that deliver singular experiences ...
Stamford Marriott property sells for nearly $32 million, about half of the balance on its distressed loan
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--The Stamford Marriott hotel's downtown site, at 243 Tresser Blvd., has sold for nearly $32 million, about half of the balance on its distressed loan. In one of the city's largest sales of the year, HD Realty Associates LLC sold the property to Stamford Hotel Propco LLC, according to city records. HD Realty has a "care of" address in Manhattan, state records show. Stamford Hotel Propco is also based in Manhattan. Officials at the two firms could not be immediately reached for comment. A message left for Marriott was not immediately returned. The sale netted the state about $395,000 in conveyance taxes. The mort...
New Tru by Hilton Adds to Duluth, Minnesota’‘s Hotel Boom
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--A trendy new hotel is opening in Duluth next year, testing the limits of a market already awash in new places to stay. Tru by Hilton, billed as "vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart," is now under construction at the corner of Central Entrance and Blackman Avenue. The hotel will have 106 rooms over four stories, according to planning documents filed with the city last winter, and a Hilton representative said the franchise is set to open in the fall of 2019, "though opening dates can fluctuate over time." Hilton launched the Tru brand in 2016 to compete with other midscale offerings such as Comfort Inn. Wit...
Planning Commission Approves New 84-Room Holiday Inn Express near Frederick, Maryland
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--The Frederick County Planning Commission has approved a new 84-room Holiday Inn Express and Suites just south of Frederick. The five-story, 42,000-square-foot hotel would replace a motel that would be demolished on the 1.2-acre lot at 6021 Francis Scott Key Drive, which is near the Interstate 70 and Md. 85 interchange. The entire 3.03-acre site contains three one-level buildings, each with 34 rooms. The applicant, Luthra Rupali & Havish Trustees, proposed 68 parking spaces for the lot, a modification from the 88 parking spaces currently required. The zoning ordinance requires the hotel to supply one parking spot per sleepin...
Walt Disney Co. Pulls the Plug on Proposed Luxury Hotel in Anaheim Citing the Loss of a Tax Break
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--The Walt Disney Co. has canceled plans to build a 700-room luxury hotel near its Anaheim resort, citing the city's elimination of a tax rebate agreement that would have saved the media giant $267 million over 20 years. The cancellation of the hotel -- what would have been the fourth at the resort -- highlights growing tensions between the Burbank company and the city of Anaheim, once considered a reliable business partner for Disney. "While this is disappointing for many, the conditions and agreements that stimulated this investment in Anaheim no longer exist and we must therefore adjust our long-term investment strate...
Daytona’s $192 million hotel project gets new contractor
October 11, 2018
Oct. 11--DAYTONA BEACH -- Gryffin Construction Corp. is the new general contractor on the $192 million Protogroup hotel-condominium project, Protogroup Alexey Lysich said Wednesday. "This is a good company and I believe it will be a good general contractor for this project," Lysich said by phone. "I'm sure they will be able to get it finished." But records with the Florida Secretary of State office indicate Gryffin Construction became inactive in late 2016, and only became active again Oct. 6. Court records also show the company was sued in 2016 over construction of a hotel that has never been built. That lawsuit...
Tharaldson Hospitality Development Plans New 103-Room Residence Inn in Novato, California
October 10, 2018
Oct. 11--Redwood Boulevard is set to become the home of a 103-room Residence Inn after getting the green light from the Novato City Council this week. City Manager Regan Candelario said the project is "filling a dire need for an underutilized site" and would provide more than $425,000 to city coffers annually -- $400,000 of which is transient occupancy taxes. Don Cape, the project developer from the North Dakota- Illinois-based Tharaldson Hospitality Development, said every hotel they build is a community project and that the Residence Inn will draw in further development of retail. "I can almost guarantee that you're...
Small but Sexy: The New Chicago Hotel Julian Near Millennium Park Combines Past and Present
October 10, 2018
Oct. 11--As the just-concluded design war over Union Station suggests, putting a modern addition on top of a historic building is fraught with peril. Last month, developers withdrew their widely derided plan to plop a metal-and-glass box atop the classically inspired railroad station. The move came a dozen years after Soldier Field's Klingon-meets-Parthenon mashup got the lakefront stadium stripped of national landmark status. Against that backdrop, the rebirth of a once-crumbling Chicago office building as a stylish boutique hotel stands out -- not because its glassy, five-story addition blends in with its beautifully renovated ter...
Two Pakistani Companies, Tabani Group and the Hashoo Group, Interested in Creating Joint Hotel Business in Azerbaijan
October 10, 2018
Oct. 11--Azerbaijan and Pakistan could cooperate more closely in the hotel industry in order to significantly increase the incomes of economies, well-known Pakistani public figure Muhammad Asif Noor told Trend Oct. 11. Asif Noor noted that there are a number of leading companies in Pakistan which are interested in implementing joint business projects with Azerbaijan in the hotel industry. "The hotel business is considered one of the most profitable sectors of economy, especially for the economies of those countries where optimal conditions have been created for the implementation of projects that have economic feasibility. In this ...
Tambourine – Hotel SEO: How Will Google’s New EAT Algorithm Affect Your Property?
Tambourine | October 10, 2018
Google rolled out a new algorithm update that is already causing widespread changes in both organic and local search engine rankings. In August, Google rolled out a new algorithm update that is already causing widespread changes in both organic and local search engine rankings. Although some specific types of websites appear to be affected more than others, all websites—including hotel and travel-related sites—should factor the latest criteria into their ongoing development and content plans. Centered on the acronym E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness), the latest update is placing still-more emphasis on ...
Marriott International Expects to Expand Its Portfolio in the UAE to More Than 80 Hotels by 2023
Marriott International, Inc. | October 10, 2018
Marriott International continues to reinforce its position as a leading hospitality company in the UAE with the expected addition of 11 new properties by year-end and a robust development outlook over the next five years. Year-to-date, the company has added six new properties and is scheduled to add five more in the country – bringing its portfolio in the UAE to 59 properties and over 17,000 rooms across six Emirates by the end of the year. Two of the company's openings this year feature regional brand debuts – the eco-conscious Element Hotels brand, which opened earlier this year in Dubai, and the EDITION brand, which is sc...
Hard Rock International Partners With ASG for 2019 Opening of 159-Room Hard Rock Hotel Madrid
Hard Rock International | October 10, 2018
With a presence spanning more than 74 countries, Hard Rock International announces the expansion of its hotel portfolio, with the opening of Hard Rock Hotel Madrid in 2019. Working in collaboration with European real estate specialists, ActivumSG Capital Management Ltd. (ASG) Hard Rock will bring its signature vibe to this historic metropolitan city with the development of the new 159-room music-centric hotel. "We are pleased to join forces with ASG, a company who shares in our vision, integrity and dedication to quality," states Todd Hricko, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Hotel Development. "Hard Rock Hotel Madrid will bring ...
Presidio Companies Breaks Ground on Hyatt Centric Hotel in Downtown Sacramento City Center Slated to Open Summer 2020
Presidio Companies | October 10, 2018
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – (October 10, 2018) – Presidio Companies and Hyatt announce the groundbreaking of the highly anticipated Hyatt Centric hotel in downtown Sacramento's City Center, slated for opening in Summer 2020. Perfectly located in the heart of the vibrant redevelopment currently underway downtown, the Hyatt Centric hotel will be located at 1122 7th Street, directly adjacent to the new world-class sports and entertainment venue Golden 1 Arena. The building represents an important part of downtown Sacramento's rich past and its promising future. It was first opened in 1911 as the Hotel Clayton and then by its more w...
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Grows Leadership Team With Four New Executive Appointments
Davidson Hotels & Resorts | October 10, 2018
ATLANTA, Oct. 10, 2018 -- Davidson Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation's premier hospitality management companies and its lifestyle and luxury division, Pivot Hotels & Resorts, announce the appointments of Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage, Greg Griffie; Senior Vice President of Design & Construction, Kevin Filer; Vice President of Sales, Vanessa Claspill; and Director of Restaurant & Bar Development, Garron Gore. With the acquisition of several lifestyle and culinary-focused properties in city center and resort destinations over the past year—including Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way in Chicago, Marg...
PM Hotel Group Promotes Fran Owen to Regional Director of Sales and Marketing
PM Hotel Group | October 10, 2018
Chevy Chase, MD. – (October 10, 2018) – PM Hotel Group, an award-winning leader in the hotel management industry, has promoted Fran Owen to Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. Fran has most recently been the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hilton Knoxville. Since joining PM Hotel Group four years ago, Fran has been an unparalleled force, leading her team to revenue and RevPAR growth. In 2018 Fran and her team were named Sales Director of the Year, Revenue Manage of the Year, Group Sales Manager of the Year, Best Catering Director of the Year and won Best STR Performance of the Year. Fran began her hospitality ca...
Hotels to Face New Accounting Regulations That Could Impact Bottom Line
Clark Nuber | October 10, 2018
(Bellevue, Wash., October 10, 2018): Hotels, motels and inns should prepare now for changing accounting regulations that will impact how they recognize revenue. "These new Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) may significantly impact the bottom line of hospitality businesses," said Julie Eisenhauer, a CPA and shareholder of Clark Nuber, PS, in Bellevue, Wash. "Although the new rules won't take effect for private companies until 2019 and 2020, businesses would be wise to start planning for them now." One significant change involves customer loyalty programs, which allow customers to acquire additional accommodations or service...
Hotel Equities and Tapestry Collection by Hilton Unveil Plans for Iconic United Artists Tower on Nashville’s Music Row
Hotel Equities | October 10, 2018
Tapestry Collection by Hilton to preserve landmark's historic significance, transforming famed UA Tower into vibrant hotel accommodations in the lively downtown Nashville market Atlanta, GA and McLean, VA – (October 09, 2018) Hotel Equities (HE), the hospitality industry's premier hotel management and development company, and Tapestry Collection by Hilton, revealed plans to transform Nashville's iconic United Artists Tower into an upscale, 185-room boutique hotel under Tapestry Collection by Hilton brand. The property, owned by Sai Ram 009 LLC, is located at 50 Music Square West in the heart of Nashville's famed Music Row in close...
How Marijuana Legalization Impacts Hotels
Larry Mogelonsky | October 10, 2018
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) With national legalization of marijuana in Canada coming into effect on October 17, 2018, it raises quite a few lucrative opportunities for hotels to capitalize on this new market, as well as a few cautionary notes. Further, with numerous states already adopting similar policies and even more soon to join the fold, this trend is one you must pay attention to. For starters, you must ask whether or not there is any money to be made in marijuana tourism. While you can certainly draw affirming statistics from the likes of anomalies like Amsterdam or Copenhagen's Christiania District, a ...
The National Conference Center Celebrates October With “Halls of Horror” Screambuilding Meeting Package
Shocktober | October 10, 2018
Features Gothic Mansion "Shocktober" Benefit for Children of Arc of Loudoun Leesburg, Virginia, October 2018 …The National Conference Center, the largest conference center on the East Coast, has partnered with the wickedly fun and haunted, Shocktober, featuring an authentic 19th Century Victorian Gothic Mansion, to create a Halls of Horror Screambuilding meeting package this October. The National enhances the learning experience by offering value-add amenities, creative teambuilding and a hyper-local culinary program to meetings. The National's Halls of Horror Screambuilding package includes all the components of the Complete Mee...
Avison Young Hospitality Group Debt, Equity and Structured Finance Team Announces Closings
Avison Young | October 10, 2018
ATLANTA – October 10, 2018 – Avison Young Hospitality Group announced today that its capital markets team recently closed seven new hotel debt transactions totaling $148,250,000. The Debt, Joint Venture and Structured Capital team is led by Justin Piasecki and John Bralower from the New York Avison Young offices. "There has been a big void in the hospitality finance space over the past few years due to tight banking regulations," said principal Justin Piasecki. "We made a strategic decision to make sure that we know who all of the first mortgage financing, Mezzanine/Preferred Equity groups are who are focused on the hotel se...
