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: Bend, Oregon
Breanna Smith | January 23, 2019
By Breanna Smith and Kirsten Z. Smiley Bend is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon, situated along the Deschutes River. The city is a top leisure destination, known for its scenic setting near the Cascade Mountain Range and its year-round recreational opportunities. At an elevation of 3,625 feet, Bend enjoys the predominately dry climate of the Great Basin, characterized by sunny days, cool nights, and low humidity. In 2017, the United States Census Bureau reported that the Bend-Redmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was among the fifteen fastest-growing metro areas in the nation. In addition to tourism, t...
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa Names Ann Sutherland Lynch as Director of Sales & Marketing
Brown Palace Hotel and Spa | January 23, 2019
DENVER – Jan. 23, 2019 – The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, a legend among Downtown Denver hotels since 1892, proudly welcomes Ann Sutherland Lynch as Director of Sales & Marketing of the iconic landmark and the adjacent Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown, part of The Brown Palace hotel complex. With over 25 years of specific focus in the luxury hospitality segment combined with robust Colorado experience, Lynch will generate maximum revenue through developing and executing strategies that foster marketing efforts, as well as drive sales for this multi-faceted hotel. "As an accomplished sales and marketing leader, Ann is a...
HVS Market Pulse: Greater Fort Myers, FL
Brad Hoban | January 22, 2019
By Brad Hoban The greater Fort Myers market thrives on tourism given its resorts and beaches, as well as its other opportunities for leisure-related activities, such as fishing, golfing, and shopping, to name a few; moreover, the city hosts Spring Training for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins clubs, attracting fans to the area. Aside from tourism, the economic base is diverse in this market, including employers in the fields of healthcare, government, education, retail, and computer science. Fort Myers is also home to numerous colleges and universities, including Edison State College, Florida Gulf Coast Uni...
Tristan Harris Appointed Complex General Manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town and Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town King St. Me
Embassy Suites by Hilton | January 22, 2019
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town and Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town King St. Metro today announced Tristan Harris has been appointed complex general manager. Both properties are managed by Hilton Management Services. In his new role, Harris will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 288-suite Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town and the 109-room Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town King St. Metro. Harris will be responsible for guest services, hotel administration and marketing efforts. A 19-year hospitality veteran, Harris most recently served as general manager of ...
Dream Hotel Group Appoints Dimitri Mitropoulos as Vice President of Food & Beverage
Dream Hotel Group | January 22, 2019
NEW YORK, NY (January, 22 2019) – Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Dimitri Mitropoulos as Vice President of Food & Beverage, overseeing the seamless delivery of all food and beverage operations at Dream Hotel Group properties worldwide, including the soon-to-open Dream Nashville hotel featuring 168 guest rooms and suites, and six dynamic dining and nightlife venues. Based in New York City and bringing more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the role, Mitropoulos will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, guidance and dir...
Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel Appoints Joyce Wong as Director of Sales & Marketing
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts | January 22, 2019
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – 22 January 2019: Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Joyce Wong as Director of Sales & Marketing. Bringing over 10 years of corporate sales experience in the hospitality industry to her new position, Wong oversees all sales, marketing and public relations efforts for the new icon, a golden tower hotel in the business district of Petaling Jaya. Wong's hospitality career started in 2002, with the finance department of Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Soon after, sales and marketing have enticed Wong in 2005 where she transferred to the role of a coordinator in corporate ...
Many Hotel Sellers Won Big in 2018
Rodney G. Clough | January 21, 2019
By Rodney G. Clough On average, hotel prices increased significantly in 2018, as a strong pool of buyers with favorable outlooks kept downward pressure on cap rates. A strong bidding environment for hotels, particularly those in markets where barriers to entry were high and PIPs had already been completed, kept prices strong, resulting in some big wins for hotel sellers that purchased their hotels at the right time during the last downturn. We queried our database for hotels that were sold between $10 million and $20 million during 2018, and then we compared their prior sales price to the most recent one. For those hotels that were sold...
Virgin Hotels Appoints Owen Deignan as New Director of Food & Beverage Operations and Denise Walker as New Vice President of Information Technolog
Virgin Hotels | January 18, 2019
MIAMI, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Sir Richard Branson, is pleased to welcome two new members of the team: Owen Deignan as the new Director of Food & Beverage Operations, and Denise Walker as the new Vice President of Information Technology. Owen Deignan, who was based in Chicago, brings 24 years of experience to the brand, and will be responsible for the food & beverage operations of all Virgin Hotels, including the highly anticipated Virgin Hotels San Francisco, opening in 2019. Deignan will work closely with the senior leadership team to develop and execute Virgin's strategic plan to drive...
Eldorado Resorts Names Steve Callender Senior Vice President of Eastern Regional Operations
Eldorado Resorts, Inc. | January 18, 2019
Jason L. Gregorec to Succeed Steve Callender as Vice President and General Manager of Tropicana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City RENO, Nev.--January 18, 2019--Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI) ("Eldorado" or the "Company") announced today that Steve Callender has been named Senior Vice President of Operations for the East Region. Mr. Callender most recently served as General Manager of Eldorado's Tropicana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City, where he has held executive positions since 2010. Jason L. Gregorec, who most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of Greektown Casino-Hotel in Detroit, Michigan, will suc...
Australian Luxury Hotels Up Their Game for Chinese Tourists
JLL Real Views | January 18, 2019
With the Chinese now accounting for Australia's largest group of tourists, hotels are going the extra yard to make their visitors feel welcome. Congee at the breakfast buffet, Chinese signage, Chinese-speaking staff and bottled and hot water are common adaptations at some hotels as operators pursue the growing cohort of tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Expanding wealth in China has resulted in a booming number of tourists venturing out around the world. Australia pulls in more than 1 million visitors annually, a number that will continue to grow, based on projections of China's increasing prosperity. But as their spending capa...
Possessory Interests in Hotel Real Estate
Erich Baum | January 18, 2019
By Erich Baum What is a Possessory Interest? A possessory interest is created when a private-sector tenant is granted exclusive use of real property (land and/or building) that is owned by a tax-exempt entity, typically a municipality or a state or federal government agency. The right to occupy and use the land and/or building is usually conferred via a lease. Examples Please? Because of the federal and municipal government's extensive ownership interests in the nation's capital, many possessory interests have been created in Washington, D.C. Two examples involving hotels follow: The Trump International Hotel opened in September 2016...
HSMAI Announces 2019 Americas Board and Executive Committee
HSMAI | January 18, 2019
(McLean, VA, January 18, 2019) The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) proudly announces its 2019 Americas Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The board is composed of a diverse range of travel and hospitality executives from a representative mix of HSMAI members. "As we look to the year ahead, we're happy to report that the individuals on the 2019 HSMAI Americas Board are well suited to leading our organization during a time of innovation and rich possibilities for the hospitality industry," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president & CEO of HSMAI. "The Americas Board members are purposeful,...
Idu Ribeiro Appointed General Manager at Panama Marriott Hotel, Panama
Marriott International | January 17, 2019
Marriott International announces the appointment of Idu Ribeiro as the new General Manager of the emblematic Panama Marriott Hotel. Idu joins this new position from the Marriott Executive Apartments Panama City, Finisterre, where he was served as General Manager for the past four years. A 21-year industry veteran, Idu began his hospitality career at the Westgate Lakes Resorts in Orlando, as Activity Coordinator and held subsequent positions at the Royal Plaza Disney Village and Marriott Custom House. In 1999, he relocated back to South America where he held different leadership positions in operations at the Hotel Marriott Plaza, Buenos...
Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile Appoints Kathy Heneghan as General Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton | January 17, 2019
CHICAGO - Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile, owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, LP and managed by Hilton Management Services, today announced Kathy Heneghan has been appointed as the hotel's new general manager. Embassy Suites by Hilton is a global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels from Hilton (NYSE: HLT). In her new role, Heneghan will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 455-suite hotel including guest services, hotel administration and marketing efforts. A 29-year hospitality veteran, Heneghan has spent her career in Chicago. She started in food and beverage at Hilton Chicago, hold...
Hotel Cap Rates Hold Steady - Values Under Pressure
Suzanne R. Mellen | January 17, 2019
By Suzanne R. Mellen Following a year of robust transaction activity, hotel capitalization rates remain stable, while hotel NOI and values are under pressure due to slowing RevPAR growth and increasing operating expenses. This article looks at hotel sales and capitalization rate trends, the impact of slowing RevPAR growth on hotel values, and the outlook for 2019. [1] With a more business-friendly administration in place and the passage of the Tax Cut and Job Act (TCJA) in December 2017, the outlook for the economy and hotel performance became brighter in 2018. Hotels generate higher returns than other commercial real estate and reflect...
Cape Cod’s Chatham Bars Inn Promotes Simon Rodrigues to Director of Sales & Marketing
Chatham Bars Inn | January 16, 2019
New York, NY – January 16, 2019 – Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Cod's premier seaside resort, today announced the promotion of Simon Rodrigues to Director of Sales & Marketing following substantial and meaningful success in 2018. In his new role, Rodrigues will oversee marketing and sales initiatives to drive revenue, market share, and sales for Chatham Bars Inn, a longstanding historic resort that fuses effortless coastal New England elegance with authentic contemporary charm. In his previous role as Director of Sales at Chatham Bars Inn, Rodrigues lead top line revenue for the property in both transient and group sales, worki...
Choice Hotels Appoints Jason Simpson as Vice President of Engineering
Choice Hotels International | January 16, 2019
ROCKVILLE, MD; Jan. 16, 2019 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel franchisors, announced Jason Simpson has joined the company as vice president of engineering. In this role, Simpson will lead the company's corporate IT organization to support its ongoing business functions, including corporate operations, global sales, franchise services, finance and legal. "Jason is a transformative and hands-on leader bringing years of experience in this space, making him the ideal person to head our dynamic corporate technology organization," said Brian Kirkland, chief technology officer, Choice Hotels. "...
RLH Corporation Appoints Julie Shiflett as Chief Financial Officer
RLH Corporation | January 16, 2019
DENVER, CO. January 16, 2019 – RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today the appointment of Julie Shiflett as its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer effective immediately. Ms. Shiflett returns to RLH after having been its Chief Financial Officer from 2010 to December 2014. Ms. Shiflett will be responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the Company, including financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting as well as managing the tax, internal audit, treasury and investor relations functions. As Principal of NorthWest CFO, an outsourced financial expert consultancy, Ms. Shiflett spen...
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort Appoints Aaron Weegar as New Director of Sales & Marketing
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa | January 16, 2019
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Jan. 16, 2019 -- Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Aaron Weegar as the resort's new Director of Sales & Marketing. In his new role, Weegar will oversee the property's sales, marketing, public relations, and social media teams. He will also be responsible for planning and implementing innovative strategies to drive revenue from group, leisure and business clientele to the Ponte Vedra Beach hotel. "We are delighted to welcome Aaron Weegar to Sawgrass Marriott Resort," says Todd Hickey, General Manager of the award-winning property in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. "His extens...
The Dow Hotel Company Promotes Steve Griffin to EVP & Chief Financial Officer and Randall King to EVP & Chief Operating Officer
The Dow Hotel Company | January 15, 2019
SEATTLE, Wash., January 16, 2019—Officials of The Dow Hotel Company (DHC), a leading national hotel owner/investor and operator, today promoted Steve Griffin to executive vice-president & chief financial officer and Randall King to executive vice-president & chief operating officer in recognition of their continuing leadership with the company. "Having joined the Dow Company in 2001 and 2006 respectively, Randall and Steve have been instrumental in the growth and direction of this company," said Murray L. Dow II, founder and president, DHC. "With nearly 50 combined years of hotel experience between them, they are well pois...
Arthur Keith Joins Kalahari Resorts and Conventions as General Manager of Pocono Mountains Resort
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions | January 15, 2019
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis.--January 15, 2019--Kalahari Resorts and Conventions has named Arthur Keith as general manager for the company's Pocono Mountains resort. A hospitality veteran who has managed marquee properties throughout the world, Keith will oversee all day-to-day operations, as well as provide leadership and guidance to the Poconos on-site management team, while serving as liaison to the regional Poconos community. Keith assumed the position on Dec. 13, 2018. "Arthur Keith is a hospitality industry titan with great skill in leading teams to growth and success while never compromising on guest experience. Our company is strengthe...
HRI Lodging Appoints Molly Nelson-Sundermann as Director of Sales & Marketing of Holston House Nashville
HRI Properties | January 14, 2019
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 14, 2019) – HRI Lodging, LLC is excited to announce the appointment and promotion of Molly Nelson-Sundermann as the new Director of Sales & Marketing of Holston House Nashville, a 191-room premier boutique property in the heart of downtown Nashville. Located in an iconic 88-year-old Art Deco building just blocks from the Cumberland River, where the city of Nashville was born and next to many of Music City's signature attractions, Holston House has an ideal location for modern travelers to discover Nashville's vibrant streets and neighborhoods. The property is part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, a glob...
Hilton Miami Dadeland Names Rosa Albert as Director of Sales and Marketing
January 14, 2019
Miami, Florida—January 14, 2019- The Hilton Miami Dadeland, a full service 184-room hotel set to open in February on the Baptist Hospital campus in Miami, proudly announced it has hired Rosa Albert as its Director of Sales and Marketing. Albert has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and will be responsible for marketing, planning and implementing sales, and overseeing product development programs for the Hilton Miami Dadeland. Albert brings both branded and independent hotel experience with leadership roles in the opening of the B2 Hotel in downtown Miami, the Hyatt Miami at The Blue in Doral and overseeing th...
Hyatt Regency Maui Appoints David MacLean as Director of Sales and Marketing
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa | January 10, 2019
LAHAINA, Hawaii (January 10, 2019) – Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa announces the appointment of David MacLean as Director of Sales and Marketing. With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and 10 years working on properties in Hawaii, David brings extensive knowledge and passion to his new position. David was previously the Director of Sales, Marketing and Events at Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City and, prior to that, held the position of Associate Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regency Maui. These roles honed David's skills as a detail-focused strategist, team leader, and effective communicator. "I am thril...
