Knowland Wins 2023 Skift IDEA Award
Knowland | August 10, 2023
Industry Happenings
Toilet Tourism: Spend a Penny or Two and Make a Marketing Splash
MyTravelResearch.com | January 9, 2015
By Bronwyn White, co-founder of MyTravelResearch.com At MyTravelResearch.com we often see a disconnection between what travellers want and what the travel industry delivers. Destinations obsess about their product or service in a way that customers don't. They lose sight of the basics and what is important to customers. Perhaps the ultimate basic experience that unites all tourist experiences is the loo. Yes, toilets, bathrooms, lavatories, rest rooms, bogs, dunnies and loos are a constant source of traveller apprehension. Clean, reliable, functioning toilets are still hard to find. Forget advertising and big bucks, the humble toilet i...
Pennsylvania’s 189-room DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh – Cranberry Opens With Renovations Underway
Elmhurst Group | January 9, 2015
The Former Four Points by Sheraton is Owned by Elmhurst Group and DiCicco Development, Inc., and Managed by Prospera Hospitality January 09, 2015 - PITTSBURGH and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh - Cranberry. Located in the heart of Cranberry Township, the hotel marks the brand's sixth property in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area. Formerly a Four Points by Sheraton, the hotel has commenced a multi-million dollar transformation as part of its rebranding effort that includes contemporary design updates across the property, a new food and beverage concept...
Nine New Hotels Opening in California’s Anaheim Resort District Adding Over 1,500 Guest Rooms
the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau | January 9, 2015
Area Investments in Hotel Development and Renovations Nearly $200 Million ANAHEIM, CA. (Jan. 9, 2015) - Anaheim Resort District hotel development is moving at a vigorous pace with nine brand new hotels being added in 2014 -2015. The new additions will offer Anaheim area convention and leisure travelers more options, such as the return of the Hyatt brand to Anaheim and a portfolio of new and engaging family-friendly hotels. Collectively, these properties will bring more than 1,500 guest rooms and suites to the Anaheim Resort area. "Nearly $200 million dollars is currently being invested by major hotel brands into Anaheim Resort District ...
The 419-room Boston Marriott Burlington Completes Final Phase of Multi-Million Dollar Renovation
Boston Marriott Burlington | January 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, MASS. (January 9, 2015) - Boston Marriott Burlington is excited to announce the completion of an extensive 18-month, multi-million dollar renovation. Now open to guests, the project's final phase brings major improvements to the hotel's meeting space and function rooms as well as the fitness and pool areas which now boast state-of-the-art exercise equipment, design updates and improvements to the fitness areas and locker rooms, and upgrades to the hotel's indoor and outdoor pool areas. "After undergoing more than a year of significant updates, the Boston Marriott Burlington now emerges as a world-class hotel uniquely positio...
Aimbridge Hospitality to Manage Courtyard by Marriott at Alliance Town Center in Fort Worth, Texas
Aimbridge Hospitality | January 9, 2015
Dallas, Texas (January 9, 2015) - Aimbridge Hospitality announces it has been awarded the management contract for the new Courtyard by Marriott hotel located in Fort Worth. The developer, Hillwood Properties, a Ross Perot company, chose Aimbridge Hospitality as the management firm for the property, continuing an already well-established relationship between the two companies. The 127-room property broke ground in October at the northeast corner of Interstate 35W and Heritage Trace Parkway at Alliance Town Center, conveniently located near many retail, restaurant and entertainment attractions. The four-acre property will feature a 3,500-...
Hotel Industry Praises Senate Passage of Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA)
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) | January 9, 2015
Washington, D.C. - January 9, 2015 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today praised the U.S. Senate for passing legislation to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) in the wake of House passage yesterday, sending the bill to the President's desk for signature. AH&LA, as the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, made reauthorization of this critical program one of its top legislative priorities. "We applaud the United States Senate for moving so quickly at the start of the year to pass legislation to reauthorize TRIA, a fundamental prior...
AWH Partners and Starr Companies Joint Venture Acquires 488-key Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport
AWH Partners, LLC | January 9, 2015
Spire Hospitality to Manage NEW YORK (January 9, 2015) – AWH Partners, LLC, a privately held real estate investment, development and management firm, and joint venture partner, Starr Companies, a global insurance and investment organization, announce today the closing and acquisition of Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport. With this acquisition, AWH Partners pushes its firm past the half billion mark in hospitality investment over the past three years. AWH Partners will complete the remainder of a $13.5 million renovation of the hotel and convention center and Spire Hospitality will operate the property under a franchise agreement w...
Penn State Hospitality Successfully Implements Industry Leading Labor Management System by UniFocus
Penn State University | January 9, 2015
UniFocus is pleased to announce that Penn State Hospitality Services has successfully implemented the industry's leading Labor Management System (LMS) at The Nittany Lion Inn and The Penn Stater. Having already provided multiple survey solutions to PSHS, UniFocus was delighted to expand its relationship with PSHS to include the workhorse of their product set. As the organization is now six months from implementation of UniFocus' Labor Management System, Penn State Hospitality Services is confident of the effectiveness of the investment and its potential to have a positive impact on organizational profitability. While Jim Purdum, General...
Tourism Tidbits: Tourism Facing New Challenges in a New Year; Part 1 of 2
Dr. Peter Tarlow | January 9, 2015
by Dr. Peter Tarlow Now that the December holidays are past, and the parties have ended, just like almost everyone else, tourism professionals must return to a world of work and new challenges. From health issues to economic issues, from issues of social unrest to all too often substandard customer service, tourism officials face a host of problems. Some of these problems are within the tourism and travel industry's control. Although others are not in the industry's direct control their consequences directly or indirectly the industry and must be taken into account. Below is a summary of some of the issues with which tourism officials m...
Hotels for Humanity New Organizer for the Meetup Group, No Tolerance for Human Trafficking
Hotels For Humanity | January 8, 2015
Scottsdale, Arizona (January 9, 2015) – Judson Uhre, owner of Hotels for Humanity, an American hotel supply company, stepped up as the new organizer of the meet-up group, No Tolerance for Human Trafficking. The meet-up group is aimed at continuing the conversation to generate awareness to prevent and protect victims of trafficking while prosecuting trafficking criminals. ...
Hilton Garden Inn Honors Outstanding Brand Performers of 2014
Hilton Garden Inn | January 7, 2015
MCLEAN, Va. - January 7, 2015 - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's award-winning brand of upscale yet affordable hotels, recently recognized its highest achieving properties. Nearly 50 individual and hotel awards were presented to recipients chosen from the brand's growing portfolio of more than 600 hotels worldwide. The 2014 Hotel of the Year and Connie Award winners were presented to North American winner, Hilton Garden Inn Mobile East Bay/Daphne, AL, who received this honor for the second consecutive year, and international winner Hilton Garden Inn Krasnodar, Russia. The Connie Award, named after Hilton Worldwide's founder Conrad ...
Content Marketing Slush Piles
Larry Mogelonsky | January 7, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) With so much emphasis on the sharing and distribution of content, we tend to neglect the content itself. The most important aspect of content marketing is not the sharing, but the raw content itself - every idea, concept, sticky fun fact or quirky nugget of value that you give your fans in return for their continued appreciation. It comes down to the value you give, and providing this every week is a daunting task. Introducing the Slush Pile Approach The best I can do is share with you the method I use to keep the content marketing pipeline flowing. It's called The Slush Pile Approach. Gene...
HeBS Digital Invites Hoteliers to Boost On-Property Revenues and Guest Satisfaction
HeBS Digital | January 7, 2015
HeBS Digital, the award winning hotel digital technology, website design, full-service digital marketing and website revenue optimization consulting firm, is offering a free Guest Portal to clients who purchase a Responsive/Adaptive Design Package in the first quarter of 2015. The Guest Portal allows hoteliers to boost revenues and guest satisfaction from their on-property guests. NEW YORK, NY January 7, 2015 - HeBS Digital, the industry's leading digital technology, full-service hotel digital marketing, website design and direct online channel consulting firm, invites hotel marketers to go beyond the three screens (desktop, tablet, an...
JW Marriott Austin in Texas Nears February 2015 Opening; Names Culinary Team for its 3 Restaurants
the JW Marriott Austin | January 7, 2015
Austin, Texas (January 7, 2015) - JW Marriott Austin announced today the names and concepts behind the hotel's three restaurants: Osteria Pronto, Corner and Burger Bar. New culinary team members and the food and beverage director were also announced. Executive Chef Juan Martinez was appointed in July 2014 and will oversee culinary operations for the three restaurants as well as banquets and events. Osteria Pronto is a full-service regional Italian restaurant. Using a thoughtful approach to cooking from scratch and a sincere commitment to fresh, local ingredients, Osteria Pronto's menu is designed to offer a twist on classic Italian dish...
Hotel Industry Welcomes Senate Bill to Restore 40-Hour Work Week
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) | January 7, 2015
Washington, D.C. - January 7, 2014 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, today applauded Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) for introducing the bipartisan Forty Hours is Full Time Act. This legislation would fix a flaw in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by restoring the traditional definition of full-time employment back to the 40-hours per week which the American workforce has lived by for decades. "We applaud Senators Collins and Donnelly for their leadership and willingness to work across the ai...
A Brand Debut in Nova Scotia, The 120-key Hollis Halifax – a DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Opens
DoubleTree By Hilton | January 7, 2015
January 07, 2015 - HALIFAX, Nova Scotia & MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the opening of The Hollis Halifax – a DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel, the brand's first property in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The former Radisson Suite Hotel Halifax debuts a $7 million dollar renovation that includes sleek, modern design updates throughout the property. Only 33 kilometers south of Halifax Stanfield International Airport, the nine-story hotel is situated in the heart of downtown Halifax, just one block from the historic Halifax Waterfront where travelers discover the rich cultural experi...
Hyatt Names Maryam Banikarim as Global Chief Marketing Officer
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | January 7, 2015
CHICAGO (January 7, 2015) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the appointment of Maryam Banikarim as the company's global chief marketing officer. In this role, Banikarim will be responsible for driving the company's individual brands and the experiences they offer online and offline while working across the organization to facilitate innovation around the guest experience. Banikarim will assume her new role at Hyatt effective January 26, 2015, reporting to Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer. "Maryam is an exceptional leader. She brings to Hyatt a wealth of experience working with brands that are ...
AC Hotels by Marriott Welcomes its First Danish Hotel – the 812-room AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen
AC Hotels by Marriott | January 7, 2015
January 7, 2015 – AC Hotels by Marriott, a lifestyle brand belonging to Marriott International, announced today its debut in Denmark, welcoming the impressive 812-room Bella Sky Hotel to the portfolio as the AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen on December 15, 2014. The news follows major global expansion of the brand, aimed at the lifestyle oriented business traveller, with the opening of the first AC by Marriott property in the U.S. - the AC Hotel New Orleans Bourbon - and recent openings in Istanbul and Valencia. Located just ten minutes by metro from Copenhagen city centre, the AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen impresses with its dramatic mo...
Westin Buckhead Atlanta Implements INNCOM to Meet its Starwood 30/20 by 20 Environmental Initiatives
Westin Buckhead Atlanta | January 7, 2015
Westin Buckhead Manages Guestroom Energy Use; Reduces Room Cooling Cost by 35%, Winter Energy Use by 55% with INNCOM System ATLANTA, January 7, 2015 - The Westin Buckhead Atlanta implemented an INNCOM Energy Management System as part of a comprehensive strategy to support its Starwood Hotels & Resorts' "30/20 by 20" environmental initiatives. The 358-room property installed e4 Smart Digital Thermostats with the patented ecoMODE® feature, INNcontrol 3 Central Room Management software, and a full INNCOM property management system interface. Westin Buckhead taps advanced system to achieve energy conservation standards "The goal of Sta...
Starwood Hotels Debuts in Tajikistan with Opening of the 148-room Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts | January 7, 2015
Owned by CJSC CHL International January 07, 2015 - DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - Powering ahead in dynamic markets worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced it has entered Tajikistan with the opening of Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel. Owned by CJSC CHL International, a subsidiary of CHL Limited (BSE:CHL), Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel boasts a central location within Tajikistan's capital city and features 148 rooms, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, three restaurants and all of the Sheraton brand's signature amenities and services. "We are thrilled to mark Starwood's entry into Tajikistan with the launch of our...
Transformation Complete at the Madeline Hotel and Residences in Telluride, Colorado
Madeline Hotel and Residences Telluride | January 7, 2015
January 7, 2015 (Telluride, Colorado) - Step off the slopes and into the freshly transformed ski-in/ski-out experience awaiting travelers in Telluride, Colorado, at the re-imagined Madeline Hotel and Residences Telluride. The only Four-Diamond full-service resort in Telluride, Madeline Hotel and Residences is thrilled to unveil a wide variety of enhancements property-wide, just in time for this year's ski season. With new dining, unique ski services, several new on-site activities, there's something for everyone. Best of all, soon the new Owners will be making a limited number of recently upgraded Residences available for sale. STAY: Ma...
Agilysys Attains Gold Certified Status in Microsoft Partner Program
Agilysys | January 7, 2015
Company Recognized as a Leading Software Solutions Provider ALPHARETTA, GA. - Jan. 7, 2015 - Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program, with a competency in the Independent Software Vendor (ISV)/Software Solutions category. Gold competencies demonstrate best-in-class capabilities within specific Microsoft solution areas. Gold Certified Partner status recognizes Agilysys' skill and proficiency in the technology marketplace. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a number...
Provenance Hotels Names Executive Team for the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in New Orleans
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery | January 7, 2015
Appoints John Price as General Manager and Keith Normand as Director of Sales January 7, 2015 - NEW ORLEANS, La. - Provenance Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of John Price as General Manager and Keith Normand as Director of Sales for the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. Located in New Orleans' Arts District at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets, just four blocks from the French Quarter, the 167-room hotel is slated to open in spring 2015. As General Manager of the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, Price will oversee operations, revenue generation, cost and quality management and capital planning to en...
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Appoints Fred Schwartz Vice President of Owner Relations in the Americas
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group | January 7, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS (January 7, 2015) - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups, today appointed Fred Schwartz as vice president, Owner Relations, Americas. He will report directly to Philip Silberstein, executive vice president, Development, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Americas. "Fred is a highly respected industry leader and joins us after an impressive 18-year career as president of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), where he helped grow the organization from 3,000 to 14,000 members who own more than 40 percent of U.S. hotels," said Silberstein. "Today AAHOA is recognized as th...
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