International Visitors Spent Nearly $20.1 Billion Traveling Within the United States in March
National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) | May 23rd, 2024
CBRE Expects RevPAR Growth to Improve in H2 2024, Driven by Holiday and International Travel
CBRE Group, Inc. | May 16th, 2024
HVS Market Pulse: Asheville, North Carolina
Janet Snyder | May 20, 2019
By Janet Snyder In 2017, Asheville attracted roughly ten million visitors who spent nearly $2 billion at local businesses, with approximately 40% of travelers requiring overnight accommodations. The city has always been a popular regional destination given its outdoor activities, temperate climate, arts culture, and kitschy downtown. In recent years, it has become better known for its foodie culture, thriving music scene, and offering of microbreweries, with about 50 small and large brewing operations throughout the city. With the city landing on the list of top destinations in numerous publications in recent years, it has become more o...
Sage Hospitality Appoints Joseph Steiskal Dual General Manager for Boulder’s Embassy Suites by Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn
May 20, 2019
Boulder, Colo. (May 20, 2019) – Sage Hospitality is pleased to announce that Joseph Steiskal is now serving as the Dual General Manager overseeing Boulder's Embassy Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn. Opened in November 2017, the hotels feature two five-story buildings offering a combined 376 guest rooms, along with 8,435 total square feet of meeting and event space, two state-of-the-art fitness centers, shared courtyards, two restaurants and a rooftop heated pool. With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Steiskal has held a variety of leadership positions in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Colorado with Marriott International a...
HVS Market Pulse: Downtown Omaha, NE
Sara Olson | May 17, 2019
By Sarah Olsen Local Economy and Redevelopment Projects A major revitalization period commenced in Omaha's Downtown Central Business District approximately 15–20 years ago when several high-profile projects were completed. Between 2002 and 2005, development projects included the construction of the First National Bank Tower (both the city's and the state's tallest building), the CHI Health Center, the Gallup Riverfront Campus, the Union Pacific Center, and the Holland Performing Arts Center. Another wave of redevelopment has hit the shores of the Missouri River in recent years, and several major projects are either currently under...
Canadian Lodging Outlook Quarterly 2019-Q1
HVS | May 17, 2019
May 17, 2019 -- HVS and STR are pleased to provide you with the quarterly report of the Canadian Lodging Outlook. Each report includes occupancy (occ), average daily rate (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR) for six major markets. If you would like a detailed hotel performance data for all of Canada, STR offers their Canadian Hotel Review. The Canadian Hotel Review is available by annual subscription. For further Information, please contact: info@str.com or +1 (615) 824-8664 ext. 3504. ...
Amy Johnson Named General Manager of The Confidante Miami Beach
The Confidante Miami Beach | May 17, 2019
Miami Beach, Fla. (May 17, 2019) – Amy Johnson has been appointed general manager of The Confidante Miami Beach, effective immediately. The Confidante Miami Beach is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, a portfolio of new and existing upper-upscale and luxury hotel properties that offer a truly differentiated stay, with personality, elegance and charm. The independent brand, which encompasses a wide range of unique properties, offers striking new adventures and unforgettable experiences. A celebrated hospitality professional with more than 30 years of industry experience, Amy most recently served as General Manager of Hy...
Drew Clarke Joins Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills as Director of Sales and Marketing
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills | May 16, 2019
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – May 17, 2019 – Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills announces the appointment of Drew Clarke as the new Director of Sales and Marketing, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the award-winning property. Clarke will oversee the sales and marketing teams, both dynamic divisions essential to the growth and success of the hotel. Clarke returns to his home state of California with his new position at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills after his career in luxury hospitality has taken him around the world. Over the last two decades, he has worked across various capacities including Food and Beverage, Huma...
How to Add Value to Your Hotel Asset
Carrie Russell | May 16, 2019
By Carrie Russell At the most basic level, the value of a hotel is based on the property's net income divided by a capitalization rate. As such, one has two possible levers to adjust as a means of increasing a property's value: either increase the property's net income or decrease the capitalization rate. The capitalization rate, which is a factor that represents both the risk and the desired return associated with a given asset, is in actuality difficult to influence. Firstly, returns are market driven, which means that the capitalization rate is determined by market forces, not the will of owners. Secondly, it is the buyer's perceptio...
Manuel Ferriol Appointed General Manager of Luxurious New Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort in Vietnam
May 16, 2019
HO TRAM, Vietnam (May 16, 2019) – A seasoned professional with substantial luxury hospitality experience in Europe and Asia and an enthusiasm for employee development and relations has been appointed to the helm of the new five-star Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort. Spanish-born Manuel Ferriol is spearheading the opening of the 17-hectare beachfront property at Ho Tram, a two-hour drive from Vietnam's biggest metropolis Ho Chi Minh City. Ferriol has worked for Meliá Hotels and Resorts for the past 15 years, steadily rising through the ranks before becoming an acting resident manager at Gran Meliá Fenix in Madrid, a ...
Auro Hotels Welcomes Kirby Smith as Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Auro Hotels | May 16, 2019
Kirby Smith, an industry veteran with a proven track record of over 32 years with Marriott International, will lead revenue generation for all Auro Hotels and support the company's commitment to customer satisfaction and profitability. GREENVILLE, SC (May 17, 2019) - Auro Hotels, a leader in hospitality, is proud to welcome Kirby Smith as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. After a 32-year career with Marriott International, Smith joins the Auro team with a proven track record in sales and marketing leadership positions. Focusing on revenue generation for all hotels and supporting the company's commitment to customer satisfaction an...
Montage Laguna Beach Appoints David Serus as Executive Chef
Montage Laguna Beach | May 16, 2019
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (May 16, 2019) – Montage Laguna Beach has appointed David Serus as the resort's executive chef overseeing the culinary operations for the resort's special events, meetings, weddings and banquets, as well as lending his culinary support and business acumen to the resort's restaurants. "David brings over 25 years of luxury culinary experience, talent and management skills to this position," said resort manager Anne-Marie Houston. "We know he will make valuable contributions to Montage Laguna Beach's acclaimed food and beverage team." Serus brings his refined approach to food preparation by outsourcing the best s...
Owned by Key International and Managed by LBA Hospitality, Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach Completes Major Renovation
Key International | May 15, 2019
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (May 17, 2019) - The Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach (214 Flagler Avenue) has recently completed an extensive renovation of all 112 guest rooms, 1,800 square feet of meeting space, and public spaces. The comprehensive enhancements provide leisure, business and group travelers an inviting and updated feel in the picturesque coastal city of New Smyrna Beach. The property held a post renovation celebration on Wednesday, May 15th to celebrate their refreshed and updated look. "We're very excited to welcome guests to this newly renovated property," said Farrah Adams, Chief Operating Officer of LBA Hospitality. "The upgrad...
Teneo Hospitality Group Names April Egloff Director of Sales Midwest
Teneo Hospitality Group | May 15, 2019
Eden Prairie (Minneapolis), MN, May 15, 2019… Teneo Hospitality Group, the premier Global Group Sales Organization, has appointed April Egloff as Director of Sales Midwest. Ms. Egloff will concentrate on the US Midwest region and comes to Teneo with an outstanding track record and exceptional network of professional and personal relationships in the Midwest and beyond. "We are thrilled to welcome April to the Teneo Sales family," says President Mike Schugt. "As Teneo continues to expand, our primary goal is to add significant value for our member hotels, resorts and DMCs by hiring best-in-class sales talent. April comes to us wit...
Sonesta Appoints Mark Ernst as General Manager for Sonesta Silicon Valley
Sonesta | May 15, 2019
Newton, MA (May 15, 2019) – Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is proud to announce the appointment of Mark Ernst as General Manager for Sonesta Silicon Valley. In this role, Ernst will be charged with reopening the property after a multi-million dollar renovation which includes significant updates to the common area and guest rooms, as well as a brand new food and beverage experience. Ernst takes on this new role after establishing a proven record of accomplishment in delivering outstanding guest experiences. He has a long-standing history with Sonesta, having worked for the global hospitality brand since 2014. Most recentl...
White Lodging Names Kevin Croy General Manager of the New Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Wayne Downtown Opening Mid-July
White Lodging | May 14, 2019
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., May 14, 2019 -- White Lodging has named Kevin Croy to lead the Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Wayne Downtown team as general manager. The new 136-room Hampton Inn & Suites is scheduled to open in mid-July, and is immediately adjacent to Parkview Field and the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Croy brings decades of local hotel experience to White Lodging and was most recently the owner and operator of Fleet Feet Fort Wayne, which was voted one of the 50 Best Running Stores in America for three years. Prior to his full-time role at Fleet Feet Fort Wayne, he was a general manager at a variety of hotel properties in Fort W...
IHG’s Holiday Inn Express, Hilton’s Home2 Suites, and Marriott’s Fairfield Inn Claim 20% of U.S. Construction Pipeline Projects
Lodging Econometrics (LE) | May 14, 2019
May 13, 2019 – PORTSMOUTH, NH -- In the Lodging Econometrics (LE) first quarter report for 2019, analysts detailed the leading franchise companies and their brands in the construction pipeline. Leading in the pipeline is Marriott International with 1,499 projects/196,771 rooms and Hilton Worldwide with 1,386 projects/154,349 rooms, both at all-time record highs. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) follows with 980 projects/99,115 rooms. These three franchise companies alone comprise 68% of the projects in the total pipeline. The leading brands in the construction pipeline by project count for each of these three companies are IHG'...
Fusion Appoints Hylton Lipkin as General Manager to Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion
Fusion | May 14, 2019
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (May 14, 2019) — Wellness-inspired hospitality brand Fusion hired former team member Hylton Lipkin earlier this year as GM of Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion, a natural hot springs resort and hotel on the outskirts of Vietnam's imperial capital Hue. Alba Wellness Valley, with its natural, mineral-rich hot springs, authentic Japanese-style onsen and open-air geothermal baths, is a member of Openasia group. Alba Wellness Valley joined the Fusion portfolio in December 2018, as the first existing hotel to be managed by the group. In the past Fusion has led the way from conception to construction to management ...
The Candler Hotel Appoints Executive Team in Anticipation of Summer 2019 Opening
The Candler Hotel | May 14, 2019
ATLANTA- (May 14, 2019)— Downtown Atlanta's newest destination for a stylish and one-of-a-kind experience, The Candler Hotel announces the appointment of its key executive team members, Martin Wormull as general manager and Ann Collins as director of sales and marketing. Wormull and Collins will spearhead the efforts in leading one of the most anticipated Atlanta hotel openings in many years. Located on famed Peachtree Street NE, the 265-room hotel will open in the iconic Candler Building. On the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel is a 17-story high-rise originally built in 1906 by Coca-Cola magnate Asa Griggs Candler...
Hotel Equities Promotes Bryan DeCort to Executive Vice President
Hotel Equities | May 13, 2019
ATLANTA, GA (May 13, 2019) – Atlanta-based hotel owner, operator and development firm, Hotel Equities (HE), named Bryan DeCort to the position of executive vice president. He reports directly to Brad Rahinsky, HE's president & CEO. Bryan has over 25 years of experience in hospitality and operations. Since joining Hotel Equities in 2017, he has helped restructure the organization's operational platform to aid in HE's growing portfolio of hotels. He worked closely with Hotel Equities' executive team to ensure a consistent approach to implementation and developed a long-term strategy to promote performance-based growth. His e...
Park Hotels & Resorts Appoints Christopher Akoury as General Manager of Hilton Short Hills
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | May 13, 2019
SHORT HILLS, NJ - Hilton Short Hills, owned by Park Hotels & Resorts and managed by Hilton Management Services, today appointed Christopher Akoury as the hotel's new general manager. Most recently, Akoury served as general manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Parsippany. In his new role, Akoury will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the newly redesigned property, including guest services, hotel administration and marketing efforts. Akoury began his career in food and beverage, working a variety of positions, such as director of food and beverage, banquet manager and fine dining restaurant manager at a number ...
The U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Continues to Grow in the First Quarter as the Economy Shows Surprising Strength
Lodging Econometrics | May 13, 2019
May 13, 2019 – PORTSMOUTH, NH - At the end of the first quarter of 2019, analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) reported that the total U.S. construction pipeline continued to expand with 5,647 projects/687,941 rooms, up a strong 7% by projects and 8% by rooms year-over-year (YOY). Pipeline totals are a mere 236 projects, or 4%, shy of the all-time high of 5,883 projects/785,547 rooms reached in the second quarter of 2008. The record should be pierced later in the year. Conversions and renovations are already at record levels. Projects currently under construction stand at 1,709 projects/227,924 rooms with projects scheduled to sta...
HVS Market Pulse: Cape Town
Lolwethu Luthuli | May 9, 2019
By Lolwethu Luthuli Market Profile Cape Town is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa. As of 2018, the city had an estimated population of 4.5 million. The CTICC CEO Julie-May Ellingson has announced a R900m CTICC 2 development, this planned all glass sky bridge between the two parts of Cape Town International Convention Centre could become the mother city's latest tourist attraction. Source: Airports company South Africa 2018 The economy is sophisticated, relying on the tertiary sector, primarily the financial and insurance sectors, ...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Names Orlando Ramos Director of Food and Beverage for The Ridge
May 9, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, May 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Orlando Ramos director of food and beverage for The Ridge, a Benchmark Conference Center® located in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Mike Taylor, Benchmark's general manager at the property, made the announcement. "I am thrilled to welcome Orlando to The Ridge," said Mr. Taylor. "He is immensely talented and credentialed as is evident through his previous success in food and beverage operations with celebrity chefs and large hotel brands. Orlando is a welcome addition to our executive leadership team." Orlando Ramos comes to The Ridg...
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI Appoints Chloe St-Cyr as New Executive Chef
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI | May 9, 2019
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (May 9, 2019) – Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI recently appointed Chloe St-Cyr as the new executive chef of the luxury, private island resort. As executive chef, St-Cyr will be responsible for managing the kitchen staff in the procurement, production, preparation and presentation of all food service outlets and front of house operations. St-Cyr brings more than 10 years of hospitality experience from six different countries. "We're so pleased to welcome Chef Chloe to Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, where she will draw on her years of experience and award-winning creativity to lead the resort's ta...
The Garden Court Hotel Palo Alto Appoints Connie Villeta as New Director of Sales and Marketing
Garden Court Hotel | May 8, 2019
Palo Alto, Calif. (May 9, 2019) –The Garden Court Hotel in downtown Palo Alto introduces Connie Villeta, an established sales and management professional, as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. Villeta, a 15 year veteran of California's hospitality industry, will use her experience to raise the hotel's awareness regionally and nationally. In her new role, Villeta will guide the property's day-to-day and long term sales and marketing goals along with overseeing the public relations and social media efforts. "We know Connie Villeta will be a key player in achieving strong sales and marketing growth at the Garden Court," said Ja...
