An Old Soul With a Fresh Twist, Crystalbrook Kingsley Embraces Technology and Sustainability With Solutions From McLaren Technologies
McLaren Technologies Asia Pacific | July 20, 2021
Hotel Call Centers and Storytelling
Travel Outlook | July 15, 2021
Operations
An Old Soul With a Fresh Twist, Crystalbrook Kingsley Embraces Technology and Sustainability With Solutions From McLaren Technologies
McLaren Technologies Asia Pacific | July 20, 2021
Sophisticated and with a nod to the area’s history, the new hotel is offering a fully contactless and paperless guest experience. Sydney, Australia (July 20, 2021) - A commitment to responsible luxury by Newcastle’s first five-star hotel, Crystalbrook Kingsley, has prompted a partnership with Asia Pacific’s leading hospitality solution specialist, McLaren Technologies. The new hotel was keen to embrace mobile-first guest experience technology and environmental change to enhance, not compromise, the quality of its guest experience. The new hotel, which opened its doors on June 9, worked with McLaren to tailor its approach to techno...
UniFocus Upgrades Employee Engagement Surveys to Deliver Instant and Frequent Insights Into Hotel Performance
UniFocus | July 20, 2021
Innovator of workforce management technology provides hoteliers with real-time and actionable feedback into how to maximize staff retention and engagement. DALLAS, Texas – (July 20, 2021) – UniFocus, the leading provider of workforce management systems, has launched upgrades to employee pulse survey capabilities, providing hoteliers with an invaluable opportunity to connect to and interpret employee engagement. Sidestepping time-consuming processes associated with annual employee surveys, the new staff engagement abilities now made available through UniFocus ensure that hoteliers can continually and accurately gauge their operating env...
Hotel Call Centers and Storytelling
Travel Outlook | July 15, 2021
How Independent Hotel Call Centers are Outshining Many Hotel Brands Using Customer Feedback When you think of call centers, your first thoughts may be of elevator music hold tunes, generic pre-recorded dial-in options, and of course, insincere agents. When it comes to properly trained hotel call centers, that could not be further from the truth. As I’ve written in a previous story, The Return to Genuine Hospitality, call centers and call center agents are valuable tools for hoteliers that have the potential to increase bookings significantly, while freeing up hotel staff to focus on the current guests' experiences. Additionally, p...
Vacation Ownership Management Group SunStream Hotels & Resorts Making a Strong Comeback With Maestro Cloud PMS
Maestro | July 13, 2021
Maestro’s complete property-management system is streamlining operations for seven of SunStream’s Southwest Florida properties, from owner reservation controls to accounting, and adding more with plans to completely digitalize the entire guest journey Markham, Ontario — July 13, 2021 — Although the pandemic has disrupted travel, the vacation rental market is strong. SunStream Hotels & Resorts, operator of eight condo hotels in Southwest Florida, is seeing high occupancy rates with all properties in Fort Myers Beach, Naples, and The Everglades surpassing budget projections and outpacing revenues from prior years. Helpin...
Chatham Bars Moves Into Summer Recovery With Knowcross
Knowcross | July 7, 2021
Chatham Bars Inn opts for the Knowcross platform to manage and streamline their operations so that they can focus on what matters most, the Guests. As the summer kicks off at the Chatham Bars Inn and the Veranda tables are full, with families having lunch and admiring the view of Chatham Harbor, the far dunes and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. Commercial fishing boats moor next to sailboats, creating an impossibly picturesque view. Just inside the hotel’s front doors, the lobby is a flurry of activity and in the beautifully appointed salon and library, all chairs and tables are occupied with families playing board games and talking....
Controlling Telecommunication Costs
Robert Mandelbaum | July 6, 2021
Although telecommunications costs account for a small percentage of expenses, data during 2015 through 2019 revealed a significant upward trend in telecom-related expenditures. To achieve more efficient hotel operations and survive the changing landscape, hotel owners and operators are finding new ways to control telecommunications expenses. By Robert Mandelbaum & Michael Kane To gain a better understanding of telecommunication expenditures at U.S. hotels, CBRE analyzed the costs of phone and internet service within the Information and Telecommunications Systems Department (IT Department) of nearly 3,000 hotels that participated in ...
Caesars Bluewaters Dubai Enhances Their Operations With Knowcross
Knowcross | July 1, 2021
Knowcross, the world’s leading service quality management platform is excited to announce that Caesars Bluewaters Dubai has activated the Knowcross platform including KNOW Maintenance, Knowcross’ newest solution for hotel engineering. The beautiful 575 room property will be utilizing KNOW Maintenance to streamline all their engineering functions like Preventive Maintenance, Work order management and internal communication. Caesars Bluewaters Dubai is nestled on Bluewaters, Dubai’s most sought-after island oasis. Caesars Bluewaters Dubai is an immersive destination featuring iconic hospitality, world-class dining experiences, awe-in...
Bluestone National Park Resort Partners With Knowcross
Knowcross | June 30, 2021
Unique Welsh Resort Selects Global Service Operations Leader Washington DC, June 2021 – Knowcross, a respected innovator in service optimization solutions for hotels and resorts, is happy to announce that Bluestone National Park Resort has installed its service management software. The resort consists of 344 studios, cottages, and lodges on 500 scenic acres in Pembrokeshire, Wales. “We were looking to enhance the operations of the resort, so we searched for a management software that could integrate with our Opera PMS,” said Eirian Price, Acting IT Implementations Manager. “While many industry colleagues had recommended Knowcros...
Autohost and Streamline Vacation Rental Software Partner to Provide Increased Security for Property Managers as Travel Rebounds
Autohost | June 29, 2021
Toronto, Canada, JUNE 29, 2021 - Guest-screening and verification software provider Autohost today announced a partnership integration with best-in-class property management software provider Streamline Vacation Rental Software. The relationship provides increased security to Streamline customers, including access to Autohost’s unique guest verification and online check-in automation platform. This partnership comes just in time as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and property managers prepare for a surge in revenge travel. With an increase in travellers comes an increase in risky bookings that can lead to parties, property damage...
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection Selects StayNTouch as a Preferred PMS Partner
StayNTouch | June 28, 2021
BETHESDA, MARYLAND [June 28th, 2021] StayNTouch, a global leader in guest-centric and cloud hotel property management systems (PMS), was selected by Curator Hotel & Resort Collection (“Curator”) as a preferred PMS partner for their growing portfolio of independent boutique hotels. Curator is a distinct collection of hand-picked independent lifestyle hotels and resorts across the United States and the globe. The partnership between StayNTouch and Curator enables Curator member hotels to leverage StayNTouch’s guest-centric cloud PMS and contactless solutions to facilitate smoother operations, streamline staff training and productiv...
The Future of Independent Hotels
Travel Outlook | June 23, 2021
Why Some Travelers Will Go the Extra Mile for a Unique Hotel Experience As travel has slowly returned to normal, it’s clear that we are on the brink of an enormous travel boom. Of all the recent travel trends that have emerged, one is particularly promising for independent hotel owners, and that is that more and more travelers are straying away from hotel chains. Travelers in 2021 no longer want the same travel experiences as their friends and neighbors. They want a unique vacation handcrafted for their trip. Travelers are moving away from large chain resorts and towards individually owned and operated hotels. The trend of seeking out ...
Manor Vail Lodge Selects Agilysys Solutions to Improve Operations & Enhance Guest Experience
Agilysys | June 8, 2021
Resort Selects Industry-Leading Agilysys InfoGenesis® Point-Of-Sale (POS) SaaS, IG Flex, IG OnDemand and Agilysys Pay Connect ALPHARETTA, GA. — June 8, 2021 — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-native SaaS and on-premise hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that Manor Vail Lodge in Vail, CO has selected the award-winning innovative InfoGenesis POS solution, as well as IG Flex for Mobile POS, its modern cloud-native SaaS IG OnDemand for self-service F&B ordering and payment, and Agilysys Pay Connect for secure payment processing. Located at the base of Vail...
Using an On-Demand Worker Platform to Thrive When Groups Return
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | June 2, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky When are groups coming back? This is undoubtedly a question on many hoteliers’ minds, but perhaps the better question is, how are you going to manage operations when they do come back? Right now, the industry is narrowly focused on two central issues – the post-pandemic surge in leisure guests (as epitomized by the concept of ‘revenge travel’) and the labor shortages resulting from so many furloughed staffers permanently leaving the industry (amongst other factors). Both of these matters not only influence the groups segment, but also compound many of their underlying problems. To help navigate th...
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection Adds Five New Member Hotels
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection | May 28, 2021
BETHESDA, MARYLAND (MAY 28, 2021) -- Announced today, Curator Hotel & Resort Collection added five new member hotels to its rapidly growing portfolio, giving these independent hotels and resorts access to Curator’s best-in-class operating agreements, services, and non-proprietary technology that collectively generate significant cost-savings. The list of new member hotels includes Inn at the Market, the first non-Founding Member hotel to join Curator, The Edgewater Hotel from Noble House Hotels & Resorts, and three Provenance properties: The Revolution Hotel, The Bradley, and Woodlark. “Maintaining individuality is in...
Selecting the Right Call Center
Travel Outlook | May 27, 2021
How to Outsource Your Reservation Department without Sacrificing the Personal Touch Your Guests Know and Love As a hotelier and a business owner, it can be hard to let go of certain aspects of your business. After all, it’s hard enough to find hardworking employees who care about your business like it’s their own, let alone outsourced workers. Outsourcing typically has a negative connotation surrounding it. When people think of outsourcing, they think of cookie-cutter call scripts, aloof call center agents, and long hold times accompanied by nauseating elevator music. As it turns out, there are ways to outsource your reservation depar...
More Tech Needed for Managing Group Contracts
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | May 26, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky The rumors are true…groups are already starting to rebound. You may not be seeing that in the form of RFPs and spikes in search traffic. Rather, it’s happenings amongst friends and corporate executives. “Hey, we’re all vaccinated now, and the government is saying we’ll be able to gather soon, so let’s start planning something for this fall because we all haven’t seen each other in a long time,” said the CEO to the CFO during their latest fireside Zoom chat. True, large-scale conventions with thousands of attendees intermingling will be the last segment to return, but smaller meetings and regi...
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Maestro PMS Continue Growing Together Over Two Decades
Maestro | May 25, 2021
Leading developer, manager, and marketer of independent hotels and resorts continues to migrate to Maestro Web PMS Solution for its flexible deployment options and ability to support the diverse needs of this multi-property enterprise with game-changing mobile and contact-free tools Markham, Ontario, May 25, 2021 — “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” These words, spoken by American industrialist and business magnate Henry Ford, are the ideal representation of the two-decade relationship between Benchmark®, a global hospitality company, and Maestro, the preferred browser-based ...
Groups360 Launches Direct Booking Solution for Groups With Omni Hotels & Resorts
Groups360 | May 25, 2021
GroupSync Engage will provide real-time rates and availability for planners seeking to book meetings at all Omni Hotels & Resorts locations NASHVILLE, Tenn.--May 25, 2021--Groups360 today announced the launch of GroupSync Engage, the hospitality industry’s first integrated direct booking solution for groups, at Omni Hotels & Resorts. Through GroupSync, anyone booking a meeting or event will be able to instantly book group rooms and meeting space online beginning with Omni’s four managed Dallas-based hotels and extending to almost all properties in North America by end of summer of 2021. GroupSync Engage is reshaping the ...
RDP Integrates With PointCentral for Seamless, Contact-Free Access to Hospitality Properties
RDP | May 24, 2021
Vail, CO. (May 24, 2021) – RDP today announced a new integration with PointCentral, a cloud-based property automation platform that hospitality businesses use to offer a premium smart home experience with contactless access. Following over 30 years of tailored service in the hospitality industry, this integration with PointCentral is RDP’s next evolution in its full suite Property Management Software solution. In response to a trying 2020 for properties, RDP has developed a full Touchless Check-In and Check-Out platform that will change the nature of guest-staff interaction on partner properties in the future. By integrating with RDP, Poi...
The Customer Service Ritual That Takes Place at Every Meeting
Shep Hyken | May 20, 2021
By Shep Hyken Every Monday morning – or at least the first day of the week I’m in town – we have a team meeting. We begin each meeting with a ritual. We each share a Moment of Magic with the team. This is simply a positive experience we created for either a customer or team member at Shepard Presentations. It can be as simple as returning a call quickly or stepping in to help in a crisis. The point is we all share a story. It helps us keep customer service “front-of-mind” and is a positive way to start a meeting. By the way, this is the same exercise we teach in our customer service training programs. We have clients that hav...
Are Millennials Ready to Be the Next Generation of Hospitality Leaders?
Joshua Bergen | May 20, 2021
By Joshua Bergen Across industries, millennials have steadily transformed the workplace. Born between 1981 and 1996, millennials come to the table with a unique set of priorities, motivations, and commitment to political awareness. They are innovative, value-driven, curious, and, despite any stereotypical assumptions perpetuated through the ranks, they are a hard-working group. As Morley Safer once said, “Millennials have the upper hand because they are tech-savvy, with every gadget imaginable almost becoming an extension of their bodies. They multitask, talk, walk, listen and type, and text. And their priorities are simple: they come fi...
Tharaldson Hospitality Management Raises Minimum Wage in California Hotels
Tharaldson Hospitality Management | May 19, 2021
CA – May 19, 2021 – Tharaldson Hospitality Management (THM) is excited to announce that in May of 2021, they have increased minimum wage for all associates in California to $15 an hour. This change comes seven months ahead of the state-wide minimum wage increase, which the state of California has slated to begin on January 1, 2022. “We are increasing the minimum wage in California to $15 an hour now—seven months ahead of the California mandate—as our way of thanking our essential employees,” says Aimee Fyke, Chief Operating Officer of THM. “Our company could not have survived the pandemic without our essential staff member...
Hospitality Lodging Systems Adds 3 Budgetel Properties
Hospitality Lodging Systems | May 19, 2021
Three hotels have joined the Budgetel portfolio as conversions from other brands: South Point, Ohio -- 142-room conversion from Country Hearth located at the junction of the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia Paducah, Kentucky – 120-room conversion from Country Hearth located midway between Nashville and St. Louis Marietta, Georgia – 59-room conversion from Motel 6 located in north Atlanta suburb adjacent to the home field of baseball’s Atlanta Braves Budgetel now operates 36 properties. It is one of three brands offered by Atlanta-based Hospitality Lodging Systems (HLS), together with AmeriVu Inn & Suites with 2...
Besides Higher Wages, What Else Can Businesses Do to Address Labor Shortages?
Linchi Kwok | May 18, 2021
By. Linchi Kwok Last week, COVID-19 cases in the U.S. hit their lowest rate since September. Deaths were also at the lowest point since April last year. Moreover, close to 60% of adults in the U.S. have already received at least one dose of a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on May 13 that: People who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear face covers or maintain a social distance in any setting unless they are required to do so by laws or specific guidelines. Fully vaccinated people can also refrain from testing following a known exposure (with a few exceptions). Some businesses...
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