Iconic St. James Hotel Reopens in Selma, Alabama Following Renovation and Expansion
Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund | January 26, 2021
Inherit Hotel Group Opens the Colton House Hotel in Austin, Texas
Inherit Hotel Group | January 6, 2021
All Things Independent
Next Wednesday – Celebrated Boutique Investment Conference by BLLA
Stay | May 31, 2019
Stay Boutique Live, the Investment Edition, the only conference designed by and for the boutique community, will be held at the Times Center in New York, New York on June 5, 2019, powered by BLLA. Stay Boutique Live, the Investment Edition will feature incomparable networking opportunities amongst members of the boutique community as well as a selection of established speakers on-stage. Registration is open until the morning of June 5th. The conference begins with a networking breakfast at 9am. Unlike the average hospitality conference, Stay Boutique Live powered by BLLA boasts a relaxed, intimate atmosphere conducive to the development of...
20th Century New York Mansion Joins The Ascend Hotel Collection
May 21, 2019
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 21, 2019 -- The Ascend Hotel Collection by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), a portfolio of unique, boutique, and historic hotels and resorts that reflect their surrounding community, now has a century-old mansion in Johnson City, N.Y., among its members. Traditions at the Glen has welcomed the likes of Dwight Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bing Crosby to its halls, and today, invites all guests to experience its distinguished legacy. The 41-room Traditions at the Glen is located at 4101 Watson Blvd. along the Susquehanna River and 18-hole championship fairways once played by golf legends Ben Hogan a...
Best Western® Hotels & Resorts Celebrates Groundbreaking of Vib® Hotel in Orlando, Florida
March 14, 2019
PHOENIX, AZ (March 14, 2019) – In a groundbreaking ceremony held Tuesday, March 12, Best Western Hotels & Resorts celebrated the arrival of its upscale boutique hotel brand – Vīb – in Orlando, Florida. A perfect reflection of what Best Western offers today's travelers with a stylish design and focus on convenience and technology, Vīb Orlando will bring a fresh look and comfortable amenities to the heart of Central Florida's most popular tourism destination. "We are excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of our innovative and sophisticated Vīb brand in Orlando," said Ron Pohl, Senior Vice President and Chief Ope...
Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Debut in Central DC, Managed by Crestline Hotels and Resorts
Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC | February 7, 2019
Situated in the Shaw/CBD East End neighborhood, these dual-branded DC hotels feature locally inspired design, 504 beautiful guest rooms, elegant meeting spaces, a new destination restaurant, and sweeping rooftop views of the nation's capital Washington, DC (November 9, 2018) Quadrangle Development Corporation, Capstone Development, and Crestline Hotels and Resorts are pleased to announce the opening of the dual-branded Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center located at 901 L Street, NW, Washington, DC., adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The hotels include a combined 504 guest room...
Do This to Gain Instant Trust With Hotel Website Visitors
Tambourine | November 9, 2018
Build trust with hotel website visitors by showcasing SOCIAL PROOF. Social proof is critical to easing the worries of potential guests. In fact, a study in the Washington Post showed social proof had more influence over customers than a discount. This is why a guest review site like TripAdvisor is so popular and impactful on purchase behavior. As travelers and meeting planners are faced with more and more hotel options, it's vital to win their trust first, to win their heart and their wallets. Here are the four core methods of leveraging social proof online: 1. Awards, Accolades and Media Labels Prominently display any accolades...
The Alpina Gstaad Appoints Tim Weiland General Manager
The Alpina Gstaad | November 9, 2018
GSTAAD, Switzerland, November 9, 2018 – The Alpina Gstaad has appointed Tim Weiland as its new General Manager. An experienced hotelier with more than 20 years of luxury hospitality expertise, Mr. Weiland will join the award-winning luxury hotel on November 1. He succeeds Eric Favre who has retired after serving as managing director of The Alpina Gstaad since October 2013. Mr. Weiland has spent ten years in general manager positions with the renowned Aman Resorts and is well positioned to manage one of the most successful five-star resorts in the Swiss Alps. His luxury hotel experience gained in eight countries including China, France, I...
Ahead of November 2018 Opening, California’s Moxy San Diego Appoints Executive Team
Moxy San Diego | November 9, 2018
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 9, 2018) – Opening this November 2018 as the first California hotel under Marriott International's experiential, millennial-minded Moxy Hotels brand, the 126-room Moxy San Diego announces its executive team to lead the bold, yet playful, boutique hotel. Designed for the next generation of travelers, Moxy San Diego will embrace the destination's coastal roots while showcasing the eclectic and vibrancy of downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. Leading the team as Captain – the brand's twist on the traditional General Manager position – will be Lindsay Jones who will oversee all facets of the day-to-day hotel ...
Chartwell Hospitality Finalizes Purchase of Tennessee’s 300-Room Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
Chartwell Hospitality | November 9, 2018
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – November 2018 – Chartwell Hospitality LLC, an integrated hotel operations and development company, recently finalized its purchase of the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Tenn. In addition to the full-service Marriott, Chartwell will also manage the 30,000-square-foot Cool Springs Conference Center, which is connected to the hotel and is co-owned by the City of Franklin and Williamson County. "This purchase illustrates our long-standing commitment to the Franklin-Williamson County area and we are thrilled to announce this substantial addition to our growing portfolio of hotels," said Chartwell's Founder ...
Marriott International Names Liam Brown President and Managing Director of Europe
Marriott International, Inc. | November 9, 2018
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) announced today that Liam Brown, President, Select Brands and Owner and Franchise Services, North America, will take on the role of President and Managing Director of Europe, a division within Marriott International that encompasses the United Kingdom, Ireland and Continental Europe. Brown will replace Amy McPherson, who announced last week that she will be retiring from the company in early 2019. "Liam is the perfect choice to lead Marriott's next chapter of growth in Europe," said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. "Liam has an extraordinary ability to ...
Franchise Companies and Brands Dominating the U.S. Construction Pipeline
Lodging Econometrics (LE) | November 9, 2018
November 9, 2018 – PORTSMOUTH, NH – According to the third quarter report by analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE), the franchise companies dominating the U.S. construction pipeline with the largest pipelines are Marriott International with 1,380 projects/181,907 rooms, Hilton Worldwide with 1,350 projects/150,698 rooms, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 939 projects/95,312 rooms. The construction pipelines for these three franchise companies comprise an impressive 68% of the total construction pipeline projects with Marriott and Hilton again setting all-time highs for their companies. The leading brands by project count in ...
Omni Houston Hotel Completes $30 Million Renovation
Omni Hotels & Resorts | November 9, 2018
HOUSTON (November 9, 2018) – Omni Houston Hotel has reopened its doors and is welcoming guests after undergoing a $30 million renovation that elevates the guest experience. The transformation positions the hotel as the perfect luxury oasis in the prestigious Uptown Houston area. "Throughout this renovation, we collaborated with the design team to showcase Houston's natural surroundings while also giving a nod to the city's rich history," said Laura McKoy, vice president of interior design and creative director for Omni Hotels & Resorts. "Each space is a testament to Omni's 'local flavor' and you'll see various colors, material...
Oxford Capital Appoints General Manager Clay Andrews and Hotel Manager Konstantine Kabilafkas to Lead Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood | November 9, 2018
(LOS ANGELES; November 2018)—The forthcoming Godfrey Hotel Hollywood—set to open spring 2019—announces the appointment of General Manager Clay Andrews and Hotel Manager Konstantine Kabilafkas; Andrews also serves a dual role as Director of Operations for the West coast region of Oxford Hotels & Resorts. Bringing nearly two decades of experience each, directing food and beverage teams, as well as managing hotels both boutique and corporate, the leaders have a clear vision for the operation of The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood including staffing logistics, on-site amenities, creating an atmosphere to differentiate it in the...
The St. Joe Company Plans New Branded Hotel at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
St. Joe | November 9, 2018
WATERSOUND, Fla.—November 9, 2018--The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) ("St. Joe") today announces plans to construct, own and operate a new branded hotel, immediately adjacent and convenient to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). Following St. Joe's business strategy of expanding its portfolio of income producing properties, as well as growing its resorts and leisure segment, the Company plans the development of a 110-125 room hotel with a full service restaurant and bar, as well as meeting space. This new hotel will be located adjacent to the airport which is located within St. Joe's 110,500 acres known as the...
Another Minneapolis Hotel Installs Clear Sky’s Beverage Inventory Management Software
Clear Sky Software | November 9, 2018
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – November 9, 2018 –Clear Sky Software, Inc. ® announced today that the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America has installed its beverage inventory control system. This Minneapolis hotel, connected to the famous Mall of America, selected Clear Sky Software to help control all beer, liquor and wine inventory. Called Clear Sky BEVERAGE, this system is a comprehensive, perpetual inventory system that tracks and controls all beverage products. Functions include purchasing, receiving, outlet transfers/issues/returns and physical inventory. Also installed is Clear Sky's Fintech Interface which automat...
Sarasota County Has Numbers Showing Terrible Effect of Red Tide: Crash of Hotel Occupancy and Bed Tax Collections
November 9, 2018
Nov. 09--Sarasota County now has numbers showing just how terrible the red tide toll has been. --Hotel occupancy in September plummeted to 39.9 percent, the lowest since reliable records began to be collected in 2005. That figure was 61.9 percent last September, that was unusually high because hotels filled up after Hurricane Irma and because of the World Rowing Championships. --Tourist development tax collections, the best available measure of the local industry's health, hit a four-year low in September. --Collections of the tourist development tax, a levy on short-term rentals also known as the bed tax, in August dropped to the...
Market Snapshot: Asia Pacific 2018
Jeremy Teo | November 8, 2018
By Jeremy Teo , Ho Mei Leng , Hok Yean CHEE Transactions in Asia Pacific Transaction activity has been observed to be on a downward trend from 2013 until 2017, owing to the transactions of Dalian Wanda China portfolio to R&F Properties. Since then, the frequency of transactions have been high, with 228 recorded transactions from 4Q2017 to 3Q2018, slightly lower than the 251 recorded the previous four quarters. Geographically, the pick up in transaction activity can be attributed to the North Asia and South-East Asia markets, while Australia markets witnessed a slowdown. Reasons for the increase in transaction activity could plau...
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa Appoints Roberto Vazquez Pulido as New Executive Chef
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa | November 6, 2018
LAKE ARROWHEAD, Calif. – Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, Autograph Collection, nestled high in San Bernardo National Forest along the shore of picturesque Lake Arrowhead, has announced Roberto Vazquez Pulido will serve as its new executive chef. Pulido will oversee all operations of the signature restaurant BIN 189 and its Magnum Private Dining Room, as well as be in charge of catering, banquets and weddings. He will be creating new menus for BIN 189 that reflect his penchant for contemporary American steakhouse comfort food including seafood and vegetarian/vegan options – all prepared with modern twists and inspired by the s...
Best Western® Hotels & Resorts Introduces Two Boutique Brands, Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel
September 26, 2018
Phoenix (September 26, 2018) – Best Western® Hotels & Resorts today marked an industry first, introducing a pair of boutique brands – Sadie HotelSM and Aiden HotelSM. Sadie Hotel will compete in the upscale segments, and Aiden Hotel will compete in the upper midscale segment. These conversion brands offer developers an opportunity to reposition existing properties to improve their performance and enhance their asset value. These brands will offer hoteliers a design program with unprecedented flexibility. Sadie Hotel and Aiden Hotel's edgy personalities will be reflected across each hotel, starting from the moment tra...
Dissecting the Relationship Between Universities and Boutique Hotels
Frances Kiradjian | September 6, 2018
Why do University campuses lend themselves so well to bespoke hotel experiences? By Frances Kiradjian Boutique hotels are "it". After a struggle to be taken seriously as a hospitality vertical, boutique hotels are ahead of every curve when it comes to modern day lodging. Now more than ever there is a steep demand for accommodations that one can take back home with them in the form of a story. It makes sense then, that college towns (areas with particularly high volume of travelers whether they are students, prospective students, professors & staff or parents of students) are adapting and implementing boutique in their own ways. P...
What IS Boutique?
Frances Kiradjian | September 5, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian As representatives for a distinguished community of entrepreneurial spirits, we are often presented with a deceptively simple question: What is boutique? Some years ago, a new kind of lodging accommodation began to disrupt the trillion-dollar tourism industry. As the boundaries between business and leisure travel grew increasingly blurred, an emergence of a new type of traveler called for a more holistic approach to lodging. Thus, the boutique hotel was born. Perks like free wifi became givens, and in their absence demand for personalization grew exponentially. The traveler of today is looking for services and featu...
When Does a Hotel Become Not a Hotel?
Frances Kiradjian | August 23, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian As we march further into this exciting time in hospitality, the boundary lines between various lodging accommodations grow increasingly blurred. Now more than ever, mega-brands are adopting key pieces from the boutique handbook in order to stay competitive and increase occupancy rates. Conversely, brands who evolved from the hostel model are pivoting away from shared sleeping quarters to move toward a cross somewhere in-between a hostel and boutique vibe. Generator found their footing in the modern lodging world with their successful hostel model which can be found sprinkled throughout Europe. However, when pursuing...
How Do You “Boutique” Your Hotel?
Frances Kiradjian | August 14, 2018
Hospitality professionals can apply the best of boutique to any and all lodging accommodations. By Frances Kiradjian While we are the biggest champions of boutique you'll likely come across, at BLLA, we realize the transformation of the term from differentiator to buzzword. Today, it is not uncommon to find a property touting themselves as boutique even though they're a branded chain or an economic lodging solution like a motel. Boutique started as an underdog in the world of lodging solutions, particularly luxury accommodations. Now, after a long climb to legitimacy, professionals and non professionals in the lodging space ofte...
The Evolution of the Hotel Lobby
Frances Kiradjian | August 1, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian Hotel lobbies have evolved from portals where travelers are introduced to their lodging accommodations to places people gather to immerse themselves in culture and merriment. The evolution of the hotel lobby has been gradual, but the proliferation of lifestyle and boutique properties have shifted the design away from clinical hotel lobbies. Much like the sitting room in your childhood home where sitting was forbidden, lobbies formerly existed to curate good first impressions, and not much else. Nowadays, the opposite is true. Highly designed lobbies are more prevalent than ever before, but design has evolved to faci...
BLLA Abroad – the World’s Leading Boutique Association Launches Exclusive Boutique Social Club Dinner Series in London
the Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) | July 12, 2018
July 12, 2018 - New York – Since the beginning, the Boutique and Lifestyle Leaders Association's (rebranded from Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association) presence has been global. From our international members and early conferences in Paris and London, we have garnered support and cultivated communities all around the globe. Two recent excursions over the pond have solidified our foothold on the boutique community and will foster boutique developments in tomorrow's most sought-after vacation destinations. On May 1st, 2018 we successfully launched the first installment of the Stay Boutique Social Club Dinner Series. A s...
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