Knowland Wins 2023 Skift IDEA Award
Knowland | August 10, 2023
Industry Happenings
The Bahamas Resorts World Bimini to Become Part of Hilton Portfolio
Resorts World Bimini Resorts | March 5, 2015
March 05, 2015 - MIAMI and McLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide and Resorts World Bimini, the world's first cruise destination resort, have announced the newest luxury lifestyle hotel in the Bahamas will fly the Hilton Hotels & Resorts flag. The newly-built luxury marina hotel, slated to have its official grand opening at Resorts World Bimini in the Bahamas this summer, will operate as Hilton at Resorts World Bimini, and marks Hilton Worldwide's second hotel in the Bahamas. "With its white sand beaches, turquoise water and world-class casino, Hilton at Resorts World Bimini will be a premier destination in itself and an exciting addition t...
Chicago’s LondonHouse to Join Curio – a Collection by Hilton in Spring 2016
Oxford Capital Group, LLC and Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC | March 5, 2015
MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide today announced the addition of LondonHouse to Curio - A Collection by Hilton, a global brand of distinctive upper upscale and luxury hotels, hand-picked for travelers who seek local discovery and authentic experiences. LondonHouse will be located in Chicago's historic London Guarantee Building and new 22-story architecturally synchronized Modernist glass tower. Built on the site of historic Fort Dearborn in 1923 at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, the historic London Guarantee & Accident Building was home to the renowned jazz club "London House," which hosted jazz luminaries inclu...
Mandarin Oriental Confirms Credit Card Data Breach and Provides a Statement
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group | March 5, 2015
Mandarin Oriental can confirm that the credit card systems in an isolated number of our hotels in the US and Europe have been accessed without authorization and in violation of both civil and criminal law. The Group has identified and removed the malware and is coordinating with credit card agencies, law enforcement authorities and forensic specialists to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to fully protect our guests and our systems across our portfolio. We take the protection of customer information very seriously. Unfortunately incidents of this nature are increasingly becoming an industry-wide concern and we have therefore als...
AHLEI Announces Sponsors of 2015 HTMP International Competition
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | March 5, 2015
Orlando, Florida, March 2015-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has announced the sponsors of the 2015 HTMP International Competition. The 12th annual competition will be held April 23-25 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida, and will bring together teams of enthusiastic, motivated high school hospitality students who will demonstrate their skills and knowledge as they compete for scholarships to leading college hospitality programs. Competition sponsors provide fiscal and in-kind support and are also invited to send representatives to serve as event judges and mentors. This year's sponsors are: G...
Latest Version of InfoGenesis™ Includes Support of Apple Pay™, Mobility Improvements and More
Agilysys | March 5, 2015
Agilysys Point-of-Sale Solutions Include Enhancements that Boost Efficiency and Service ALPHARETTA, GA. - March 5, 2015 - Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative hospitality software solutions and services, today announced general availability of InfoGenesis™ POS v4.4.6 and InfoGenesis™ Flex v4.4.6, the latest version of its point-of-sale software solutions. The new version includes a number of enhancements designed to boost efficiency, increase revenue and improve guest service, including support of Apple Pay™, new mobility options and more. InfoGenesis is a comprehensive point-of-sale system that combines...
Jennifer Geiger Appointed General Manager Embassy Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center in Atlanta, GA
Embassy Suites Hotels | March 5, 2015
ATLANTA and MCLEAN, Va. – March 5, 2015 – Jennifer Geiger has been appointed general manager of Embassy Suites Atlanta – Perimeter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, according to Ted Ratcliff, Hilton Worldwide senior vice president of operations for Eastern U.S., effective March 9, 2015. Geiger will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of this 241 all-suite hotel located near Dunwoody, Georgia and two blocks from Perimeter Mall. Boasting the best location in Atlanta's Perimeter Center/Dunwoody-Sandy Springs area, Embassy Suites Atlanta - Perimeter Center is foot steps away from shopping, dining and offers complimentary...
Le Meridien New Orleans Debuts in the Big Easy Following $29 Million Transformation at Former W Site
March 5, 2015
NEW ORLEANS--- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the debut of Le Méridien New Orleans, following a comprehensive $29 million conversion of the former W Hotel. The renovation touched all aspects of the hotel, including a redesign of all 410 guestrooms, the debut of three new food and beverage outlets, the addition of the signature Le Méridien Hub (the brand's reinterpretation of the traditional lobby), and the modernization of the porte-cochere valet entrance. The multimillion dollar renovation added 1,600 square feet of new, flexible meeting space (for a total of 20,000 square feet of meeting and...
HRI Lodging Welcomes Kristen Jordan-Wood as VP Sales & Marketing
HRI Lodging | March 5, 2015
NEW ORLEANS (March 5, 2015) – HRI Lodging (HRIL) announces the appointment of Kristen Jordan-Wood as vice president of sales & marketing, effective Monday, March 2, 2015. She will have direct oversight of the entire HRIL/MWTH portfolio. Jordan-Wood previously served as vice president of sales & marketing for the MetWest Terra Hospitality (MWTH) portfolio, a position she had since July 2013. Under her leadership, the hotel group experienced significant success, including the relaunch of the high-end Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa. "Through Kristen's guidance, the MWTH sales teams continue to stand out among competitors and succee...
Preferred Hotel Group Rebrands to Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Moving to One Master Brand
Preferred Hotels & Resorts | March 5, 2015
CHICAGO, March 4, 2015 -- Preferred Hotel Group, a global collection of independent luxury hotels, today introduced its move from a multi-brand portfolio to one master brand, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Leveraging the strong heritage of the Preferred name, this rebrand represents the company's commitment to help travelers better identify the hotel that will provide them with a luxury experience in a fashion that meets their life and style preferences for each occasion. Travelers can now browse and book stays at any of the 650 hotels, resorts, and luxury residences represented within the Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio via a...
Post-Stay Survey Management 101 – Part One
RJ Friedlander | March 5, 2015
By RJ Friedlander The majority of hotels have been using some form of guest survey for years, but recently a shift has been happening in the way that hotels collect feedback. Early adopters of guest surveys have realized the need to replace long, complicated surveys with shorter, more personalized direct surveys. Most hotels that were previously using paper surveys have now implemented online versions and it is not uncommon to find smaller properties have bypassed the paper survey altogether to implement online post-stay surveys upfront. Guest surveys are a valuable tool for hoteliers; they provide the guest feedback necessary to identi...
The Rumors Are True – Viceroy to Debut in Chicago In 2017
Viceroy Hotel Group | March 5, 2015
LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2015 -- Viceroy Hotel Group confirmed today plans for the brand's hotly anticipated expansion to Chicago's renowned Gold Coast neighborhood with a scheduled opening set for 2017. Working in tandem with Convexity Properties, the powerhouse luxury hospitality brand will unveil the Goettsch Partners and TAL Studio-designed property, located conveniently for guests on State Street in the Gold Coast. The area occupies the central part of a flourishing neighborhood, quickly gaining momentum as one of the most sought-after modern luxury destinations in the city. Known for creating authentic and inspired experiences, Vicer...
Carlson President & CEO, Trudy Rautio, to Retire
Carlson | March 5, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS (March 5, 2015) – Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, today announced that Trudy Rautio, president and chief executive officer, will retire from the company effective May 1, 2015, after 18 years of service. During Rautio's tenure as Carlson CEO, the company achieved key milestones including launching two new hotel brands with Radisson Red and Quorvus Collection; the sale of the iconic TGI Fridays brand as well as acquiring 100 percent ownership of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), the world's leading business travel management company. "We are grateful for Trudy's many contributions over nearly two decades of se...
New Build 128-room Holiday Inn Express in Belem, Brazil Slated to Open Mid 2016
March 5, 2015
Owned and Managed by Price Investimentos e Participações Ltda. MIAMI – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], one of the world's leading hotel companies, announces the signing of a new-build Holiday Inn Express® hotel in Belem, Brazil. Slated to open mid-2016, the 128-room property will be located between the Nazaré and Umazairal neighborhoods, in a very well-known area near downtown Belem. The new property will be IHG's third property in the city, joining the Crowne Plaza® Belem hotel and Holiday Inn Express® Belem Ananindeua hotel. IHG has 17 hotels open and nine hotels in the development pipeline in...
Villa L’Auberge Awarded with RCI Gold Crown Resort® Property Designation Based on Guest Feedback
March 5, 2015
Resort honored for excellence in accommodations, hospitality and RCI subscribing member experience Del Mar, CA - March 5, 2015 - Villa L'Auberge announced it has earned the prestigious RCI Gold Crown Resort® designation by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange. A select number of RCI affiliated resorts meet RCI's requirements for recognition and have earned the RCI Gold Crown Resort award. These resorts have attained high levels of excellence in resort accommodations, hospitality, and member experience ratings as measured by RCI. Villa L'Auberge consistently receives glowing reviews from owners and guests, who appreciate the r...
Long-Term Associates Purchase McConnell Marketing
McConnell Marketing | March 5, 2015
(Canfield, OH) – McConnell Marketing, a hospitality marketing communications firm founded in 1991, has been acquired by two senior associates. The new owners, Katie Hively and Megan Sovik, have been with McConnell Marketing more than ten years each and have served as Senior Account Executives during that time. The new owners are equal partners and are committed to maintaining the company's commitment to integrity, creativity, service and social responsibility. The firm will continue to operate under the current name. Both Hively and Sovik graduated from Youngstown State University with Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration, ma...
Following 2011’s 75% Decline in New Hotel Openings, Trend Expected to Break by End of Decade Says LE
Lodging Econometrics | March 5, 2015
MARCH 5, 2015 - PORTSMOUTH, NH - Lodging Econometrics reported that new hotel supply growth bottomed in 2011 with the opening of only 347 Hotels/37,404 Rooms. The bottom in 2011 concluded a precipitous 75% decline in New Hotel Openings from a peak of 1,341 Hotels/154,257 Rooms established in 2008 at the onset of the Great Recession. Since then, new supply growth has been slow and incremental. New Hotel Openings were a paltry 412 in 2012, 488 in 2013 and 557 hotels with 63,352 rooms in 2014. LE forecasts that just 726 new hotels will open in 2015 and 797 hotels in 2016. The sharpness of the decline and the prolonged nature of the econom...
Wurzak Hotel Group Set to Build 300-room Dual-Branded Hotel in Fort Lauderdale
Wurzak Hotel Group | March 5, 2015
PHILADELPHIA, March 4, 2015 -- The Wurzak Hotel Group is pleased to announce that it is under contract to build a premium 300 room dual-branded hotel in a prime downtown Fort Lauderdale location. Construction on the 24 story development will begin in the late summer of 2015 with an opening scheduled for early 2017. The Property will also feature over 17,000 square feet of high quality retail space, a stylish lounge and restaurant as well as structured parking. The two hotels will add 300 rooms to the heart of Fort Lauderdale's urban core close to the famed Las Olas Boulevard shopping street, the City's business district and only 2.5 mil...
Marseilles Hotel South Beach Celebrates Miami Beach’s Centennial Birthday
Marseilles Hotel | March 5, 2015
Marseilles Hotel South Beach is celebrating Miami Beach's 100th birthday in 2015 with special rates. Guests will receive $20 off the best available rate and a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe oceanfront room during their stay at this Art Deco jewel in the heart of South Beach. The offer is available through March 15, 2015. Marseilles Hotel is in the heart of Miami Beach's art deco district, with international culture and nightlife from sunrise to sunset. Recent renovations are completed in all 112 guestrooms, including five oceanfront deluxe rooms and eight junior suites. Each room is equipped with double or king beds with 300 thread c...
Tryperion & Vesta Joint Venture Acquires Iconic Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center in Bend, Oregon
Tryperion Partners | March 5, 2015
March 05, 2015, LOS ANGELES -- A joint venture between Tryperion Partners and Vesta Hospitality has acquired the Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center, a 220-room full-service hotel and 53,000-square-foot state-of-the-art convention center strategically located along the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. In addition to its prime riverfront accommodations and unrivalled conference facilities, the Riverhouse offers guests access to walking and hiking trails surrounding the Deschutes River, close proximity to Bend's numerous retail districts and breweries, and a short commute to the famed Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. The joint venture will i...
AJ Capital Partners Acquires Former Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Richmond Downtown
AJ Capital Partners | March 5, 2015
Now Closed to Convert and Open as Graduate Richmond Hotel in Richmond, Virginia in Early 2016 Richmond, Va. - AJ Capital Partners is pleased to announce that it has acquired the former Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Richmond Downtown in Richmond, Virginia. As of today, the property will be closed to facilitate a comprehensive renovation and will open as the Graduate Richmond in early 2016. The 200 room full-service hotel is located on Franklin Street, ideally located one block from Virginia Commonwealth University, walking distance to the Virginia State Capitol, downtown Richmond and the Broad Street dining and entertainment district. Creat...
Leonardo Hotels to Open Newly Rebranded Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport
Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport | March 5, 2015
BERLIN, March 5, 2015 Leonardo Hotels opens its first UK hotel. The group has agreed a new 25-year lease with The Standard Life Investments Pooled Pension Property Fund. Opening on 16 March in the former Holiday Inn on Bath Road, Heathrow, the 230-room hotel has been re-branded as the Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport. It will benefit from a substantial refurbishment, bringing it in line with the distinctive Leonardo Hotels 'look and feel' that is already well established in a growing number of key European cities, such as Antwerp, Berlin, Bruges, Budapest, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich, as well as across Israel. Saar Sharo...
Africa Hospitality Investments to Open New DoubleTree by Hilton Kinshasa – The Stanley
DoubleTree By Hilton | March 5, 2015
A conversion from its previous designation as the French Embassy in the Capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo KINSHASA, DRC and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide, the world's fastest growing hospitality company, today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Africa Hospitality Investments to open the full-service DoubleTree by Hilton Kinshasa - The Stanley. Located in the bustling Capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the signing marks the arrival of Hilton Worldwide to one of Africa's largest urban areas. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development, Europe and Africa, for Hilton Worldwide, said, "Our f...
Hotelogix Cloud-Based PMS Helping Bond Hotel Boost Occupancy from 55 percent to 95 percent
Hotelogix | March 5, 2015
Independent hotel in Boise transitions transient roomnights to seven-day minimum extended stays - thanks to the raised occupancy [SAN JOSE, CALIF. - March 5, 2015] - When The Bond Hotel and Extended Stay in Boise, Idaho, was purchased by United Hospitality LLC, owner Jason Purkiss noticed that: the 57-room mixed-use ApartHotel was operating without a property-management system. Immediately, Purkiss began a search for a cloud-based PMS; his choice was Hotelogix. Almost immediately after installation, occupancy at the property jumped from 55 percent to 95 percent. "This property operated for many years without a PMS, and it proved to...
Led by GM, Marisol Colon, Phase One Renovation of Two Puerto Rico Embassy Suites Complete
Embassy Suites San Juan Hotel & Casino | March 5, 2015
San Juan, PUERTO RICO - Embassy Suites hotels in Puerto Rico announce the completion of the first phase of a renovation campaign at Embassy Suites San Juan Hotel & Casino and Embassy Suites Dorado del Mar Beach Resort, including a full renovation of all suites at the San Juan hotel and bathroom upgrades in all suites at the Dorado resort. "We are thrilled to welcome travelers to our newly renovated properties," said Marisol Colon, cluster general manager, Embassy Suites Hotels, Puerto Rico. "As part of our effort to continuously offer best in class service and a superior upscale product, both the Embassy Suites hotel in San Juan and...
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