Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
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Debunking Common Myths About AI: Why Human Hotel Staff Are Still Irreplaceable
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Hospitality Management Corporation to Manage Hampton Inn & Suites Pleasanton in Texas
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | August 8, 2016
Dallas, TX – Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the Hampton Inn & Suites Pleasanton will now be part of the company's growing portfolio of managed properties in the state of Texas. The hotel is ideally located just minutes from prime locations in the Eagle Ford Shale Gas and Oil area and Coast Bend College, as well as local shops and restaurants. The company continues its ongoing business expansion which is made up of full service, conference center, select service and limited service hotels. HMC is one of the country's largest third-party privately held hotel man...
Michele Farkas Appointed Regional Director of Human Resources
The Grove Resort & Spa | August 5, 2016
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 2016 … The newly merged Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Hotels & Resorts, recognized global leaders in the management and marketing of resorts, hotels and conference centers, have appointed Michele Farkas regional director of human resources. Ms. Farkas will be based at The Grove Resort & Spa, an 878 room all-suite property opening January 9, 2017, near Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She will have additional oversight of Benchmark/Gemstone properties in the Midwest and along the east coast. Bill Lee, The Grove's general manager, made the announcement. "I am thrill...
Best Western Hotels & Resorts Opens Eleven Hotels in July 2016
Best Western Hotels & Resorts | August 5, 2016
PHOENIX (August 5, 2016)— Property name Property location # of rooms BW O'Hare / Elk Grove Village Hotel Elk Grove Village, IL 122 Conversion (from Quality Inn & Suites) Property name Property location # of rooms BW Plus The Hammondsport Hotel Hammondsport, NY 61 New Construction Property name Property location # of rooms BW Eagles Inn Morehead, KY 50 Conversion (from Holiday Inn Express) Property name Property location # of rooms BW Plus Menomonie Inn & Suites Menomonie, WI 68 Conversion (from Country Inn & Suites) Property name Property location # of rooms BW NW Corpus Inn & Suites Corpus Christi, TX 61 Conversi...
What if Airbnb Built a Hotel?
ALICE | August 4, 2016
What if Airbnb built a hotel? Ian Schrager said on stage at this year's BLLA conference that, in some ways, Airbnb is the boutique hotel of one. So, what if Airbnb became the boutique hotel of many? If Airbnb builds a hotel they will leverage their platform to provide accommodations and services more uniquely tailored to guests and with much greater cost efficiency. What might that look like…? 100% Direct Booking... In the case of most hotels there is no significant advantage for the traveler to book direct, rather than through an OTA, and hotels have lost customer loyalty and revenue as a result. However, just as Airbnb now fac...
RLJ Lodging Trust Reports Q2 2016 Increase in Net Income of 4.1% to $58.7 million; Lowers Outlook for Remainder of 2016
RLJ Lodging Trust | August 4, 2016
- Net income increased 4.1% - Pro forma RevPAR increased 1.9% - Pro forma Hotel EBITDA Margin of 39.2% - Pro forma Consolidated Hotel EBITDA increased 5.3% BETHESDA, Md.----RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RLJ) today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Highlights Net income increased 4.1% to $58.7 million Pro forma RevPAR increased 1.9%, Pro forma ADR increased 1.6%, and Pro forma Occupancy increased 0.4% Pro forma Hotel EBITDA Margin of 39.2% Pro forma Consolidated Hotel EBITDA increased 5.3% to $123.9 million Adjusted FFO increased 4.2% to $102.1 million Refinanced $800.0 million of unsecu...
HRI Properties Acquires 229-Suite DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis; Renovation Planned
HRI Properties, LLC | August 4, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS and NEW ORLEANS, La – August 4, 2016 – HRI Properties, LLC (HRI) announced today it has acquired DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis. The hotel is located at 1101 LaSalle Avenue, six blocks from HRI's owned and managed Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Downtown opening September 2016. HRI Lodging, LLC (HRIL), a subsidiary of HRI will manage the new property. "DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis is an excellent fit for our portfolio," said Gary Gutierrez, HRIL President and HRI COO. "We are poised for success in the downtown Minneapolis market holding a majority of the all-suite product in t...
Hotel Equities Names Wesley Ludloff as General Manager for Island House Hotel in Orange Beach, Alabama
Hotel Equities | August 3, 2016
Atlanta, GA–August 03, 2016 – Atlanta-based Hotel Equities announced Wesley Ludloff as the General Manager of the Island House Hotel, a 161-room beach front, full service property in Orange Beach, Alabama. The hotel begins a comprehensive renovation following the summer season converting to a DoubleTree by Hilton. Located at 26650 Perdido Beach Blvd. in Orange Beach, Alabama, the hotel overlooks sugar sand and the turquoise Gulf in the heart of Orange Beach's finest golf, fishing, restaurant and shopping. Just a short drive from the Pensacola International and Mobile Regional Airports, it is conveniently accessible to bo...
Humility Is A Virtue With These Three Words
Larry Mogelonsky | August 3, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Our industry is currently facing some highly complex issues with no obvious answers – the OTAs, third-party review sites, alternate lodging websites, dilutive brand expansions, thrifty millennial purchasing habits and many more. Managers and consultants are all under the gun, expected to weather these storms like a titanium-hull icebreaker with a clear trajectory that cracks through any obstacle. While it would be great if to have a crystal ball and speak with absolute confidence as to how events will unfold, alas that is never the case. We mortals can never say for certain that a giv...
Choice Hotels Reports Q2 2016 Net Income of $38.8 million Compared to $35.8 million in Same Period 2015
Choice Hotels | August 2, 2016
Second Quarter Domestic RevPAR Increases 4.3% ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 2, 2016 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) today reported the following highlights for the second quarter 2016: Net income and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") for the three months ended June 30, 2016, totaled $38.8 million and $0.68 per share, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS for the three months ended June 30, 2016, which exclude certain special items as described below, increased 12 percent and 15 percent, respectively, over the prior year period. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortiza...
RLJ Lodging Trust Appoints Ross H. Bierkan as President and Chief Executive Officer and Leslie D. Hale as Chief Operating Officer
RLJ Lodging Trust | August 1, 2016
BETHESDA, Md. - August 1, 2016 - Robert L. Johnson, Executive Chairman of RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") (NYSE:RLJ), today announced that the Board of Trustees ("the Board") has appointed Ross H. Bierkan as President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company and Leslie D. Hale as Chief Operating Officer ("COO") of the Company. In addition, Mr. Bierkan has been elected to the Company's Board of Trustees. Mr. Bierkan was initially appointed as interim President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2016 following the departure of Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr. In response to Mr. Bierkan's appointment, Robert L. Johnson, Executive Chair...
Benchmark Hospitality International Named to 2016 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® Elite Winner Awards List
July 29, 2016
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, July 2016 … Benchmark Hospitality International has been named to the prestigious "Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in Houston Elite Winners List" for 2016. The distinctive award competition is presented annually by the National Association for Business Resources. "It is truly an honor for us to receive this award, and to be a part of this important list," said Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark Hospitality. "It is an endorsement of the importance we as a company place on our employees, on our work enviroment, and on Benchmark's unique 'Be the Difference' service culture. This award is s...
5 Key Points to Consider When Shopping For a Hotel Management Company
Joe Zarrahy | July 29, 2016
By Joe Zarrahy, HMG Choosing the right hotel management company is imperative to the success of your hotel. Here's what to consider. Whether you have a hotel already, are in the process of acquiring one or have plans to build one in the near future, you're going to want to do everything within your power to maximize your investment, right? Of course, and there are numerous methods and strategies to do so, but there is one key step that must be taken first – hire a hotel management company. Where to Begin When Seeking a Hotel Management Company But, where to begin? There are many companies to choose from, begging the question &ndas...
Chris Steffich, Director of Operations for Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Receives the 2016 Bob Zappatelli Award for Culinary Excellence
July 28, 2016
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, July 2016 … Benchmark Hospitality International has announced that Chris Steffich, director of operations for Eaglewood Resort & Spa, is the recipient of the 2016 Bob Zappatelli Award for Culinary Excellence. Eaglewood Resort & Spa is a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels-brand property located in the Chicago market. Benchmark Hospitality International announced the merger of Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Hotels & Resorts earlier this month. Benchmark Hospitality presents the Bob Zappatelli Award for Culinary Excellence each year in memory of Mr. Zappatelli, who was the company...
Michele Caniato Joins sbe as Chief Brand Officer
sbe | July 28, 2016
LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2016 -- sbe, the Los Angeles-based leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hospitality venues, announced today it has hired design industry power broker Michele Caniato as its Chief Brand Officer. Starting September 1, 2016, Caniato will be responsible for sbe's brand and image development across all subsidiaries. Caniato will also advance the marketing, design and advertising for sbe. He will be based in New York. "I have worked closely with Michele for the past 15 years and he has helped bring critical brands to sbe during the course of our previous partner...
AccorHotels Reports Solid First-Half 2016 Results Driven by Transformation Plan
AccorHotels | July 28, 2016
Revenue up 2.0% (LFL) to €2,598 million EBIT down 4.0% (LFL) to €239 million Net profit, group share of €74 million * * * Full-year 2016 EBIT target: between €670 million and €720 million Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels, said: "With several of our key markets, including France and Brazil, shaken by crises and violent events, the Group showed remarkable resilience in the first half of 2016. We continued to invest heavily in order to grow, transform and gain a foothold in new businesses that are destined to become fundamental for the Group. We will pursue this ...
Marriott International Reports Q2 2016 Net Income of $247 million, a 3% Increase Over Prior Year Results
Marriott International, Inc. | July 28, 2016
Highlights: Second quarter reported diluted EPS totaled $0.96, a 10 percent increase over prior year results. Excluding transition and transaction costs related to the Starwood acquisition, second quarter adjusted diluted EPS totaled $1.03, an 18 percent increase over prior year results; North American comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR rose 3.2 percent in the second quarter. On a constant dollar basis, worldwide comparable systemwide RevPAR rose 2.9 percent in the second quarter; At the end of the second quarter, Marriott's worldwide development pipeline increased to more than 285,000 rooms, including approximately 33,...
Duetto Brings its Revenue Strategy Solutions to Dream Hotel Group
Duetto | July 28, 2016
Ten Luxury Hotels in Unique Destinations Benefit from Open Pricing to Drive Better Pricing Decisions New York, July 28, 2016 – Duetto, the market leader in hotel profit optimization technology, announced an agreement to implement its Revenue Strategy solutions for Dream Hotel Group, bringing new insights on pricing and demand to the company's Dream, Time, and Unscripted hotels totaling close to 2,000 rooms in urban and resort destinations in New York, California, Florida and Phuket, Thailand. The agreement further accelerates rapid adoption of GameChanger, Duetto's cloud-based predictive analytics platform, which provides hotels ...
AccorHotels Acquiring a Concierge Group to Counter Airbnb Challenge and Own Another Part of the Booking Journey
AccorHotels | July 27, 2016
AccorHotels announces today it has begun exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of John Paul, the leading player in premium customer and employee loyalty services. The company's Enterprise Value should be close to 150 million dollars i.e. a 2017e EV/EBITDA multiple of c. 11X. Accorhotels should acquire about 80% of John Paul, the remaining stake being kept by David Amsellem, the founder of the company, who will remain as CEO. After Wipolo, Oasis Collections, SquareBreak and onefinestay, the acquisition of John Paul, world leader in the customer loyalty and concierge markets marks a major new step in transforming AccorHotels into...
What The Rio Olympics Means For Your Hotel
Larry Mogelonsky | July 27, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Rio 2016 is upon us, and that means two solid weeks of having a reason to actually watch broadcast again instead of tuning in to Netflix or trying your luck at Pokemon Go. With the television landscape becoming increasingly fragmented by cable, satellite, social media and internet streaming options, reaching many people at once via traditional, 20th century media placement methods comes with its fair dose of anxiety. One interesting effect of this channel nichification is that large-scale events and compressions are now all the more precious. Think nationwide and world-sweeping live broadca...
RoamingAround Update Allows Hoteliers to Use Location Based Services without Annoying Guests
RoamingAround | July 26, 2016
Available in August, RA2, the upgraded version of its Location Based Marketing Platform, will enable resorts, hotels, casinos and destinations to truly optimize hotel operations and guest engagement Boston, Mass. — July 26, 2016 — With demand for location and preference-based services growing across world-class resorts, hotels and destinations, hospitality's mobile engagement expert RoamingAround set out to improve its popular Location Based Marketing Platform to increase revenues and mobile engagement even futher for owners and operators – and do it without annoying guests. In August, the company will reveal RoamingAr...
Hotel Equities Opens 122-Room Hilton Garden Inn Ardmore in Oklahoma
Hilton Garden Inn | July 25, 2016
ARDMORE, Okla. - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) upscale global brand of hotels, today announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Ardmore. The property, located at 710 Premier Parkway, brings 122 new rooms to the Hilton Garden Inn brand. It is managed by Hotel Equities. "The hotel is poised to welcome guests to "Lake and Trail Country" known as Ardmore," said Barry Werthwine. "Guests will enjoy our welcoming hotel whether they are visiting for leisure or for business." Hilton Garden Inn Ardmore is adjacent to Interstate 35 and near Lake Murray State Park. Business offices including Mic...
“Specific Curiosity” – The Trick for Building Innovation Bench-Strength for Organizations
Georgianne Fsadni | July 25, 2016
By Georgianne Fsadni A New Reality for Businesses There has been much discussion lately about disruptors – present and future – to the hospitality industry and what this means for leaders and strategic planning. What measures should an organization take to position itself to compete in this "continuously disruptive" environment? A quick answer that comes to many is "better use of technology" – to digitally transform the business. However this begs a more fundamental question – does your organization have the appropriate talent to drive this transformation? Today's definition of "talent" must expand beyond salient...
AccorHotels Appoints Kevin Frid as Chief Operating Officer for North & Central America
AccorHotels | July 21, 2016
Global hospitality leader AccorHotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Frid as Chief Operating Officer for North & Central America. As a key leader within the company, Frid's position is one of the first senior management appointments since the recent acquisition of FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) and its three prestigious luxury hotel brands: Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel. The appointment of Frid, with his vast experience and expertise in the United States, Canada and Mexico, underscores AccorHotels' commitment to one of its key strategic objectives: building long-term growth and profitability in a region th...
Roaring Through HITEC 2016
Larry Mogelonsky | July 20, 2016
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) This is something I find myself saying almost every day now. Senior hotel managers must understand technology or they're dead! And for good reason, technology will save your property if you are smart about it. And so, this brings us to late June in New Orleans, Louisiana for HITEC 2016 to learn about the latest and greatest in hospitality technology. While the evenings would find my stomach hungering for crayfish remoulade and Cajun-spiced gumbo, my two days at the eponymous tradeshow were a flurry of amazing new devices and software that can help hotels solve their business needs. Unlike p...
