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Operations
Hard Rock & All Inclusive Collection to Build the 1,800-room Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Cancun in MX
Hard Rock International | January 20, 2015
Opening in Late 2017 Orlando, Fla. - January 20, 2015 - Hard Rock International - owner of one of the world's most iconic and recognized brands - announces Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Cancun. The upcoming all-inclusive resort will be situated along the stunning shores of the Caribbean Sea, just a 15-minute drive from the Cancun International Airport. Set to open in late 2017, the oceanfront property will be the third Yucatan Peninsula property in the Hard Rock International portfolio and will feature 1,800 lavishly appointed oceanfront guestrooms. "We are excited to welcome our fifth property in Mexico and build upon our collaboration with...
Smart Hotelier’s Action Plan 2015 – How to Monetize Your Digital Marketing Resolutions
the Author and HeBS Digital | January 20, 2015
By Sara O'Brien In early January, in this year's Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions, presented by HeBS Digital for the 15th consecutive year, we provided an action plan to follow during 2015. Created to help alleviate the complexity of our industry's most recent innovations, this action plan was designed to help you concentrate on what's most important: engaging your key customer segments and increasing direct online conversions and revenues! We went a step further and last week we presented an interactive webinar "Action Plan 2015: The Smart Hotelier's Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions", attended by hundreds of hoteliers. We recei...
White Lodging Names Chris Anderson as Senior VP & Chief Revenue Officer, Full Service Hotels
White Lodging Services Corporation | January 19, 2015
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Jan. 19, 2015 -- White Lodging is pleased to announce Chris Anderson has been hired as Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of Full Service Hotels. "It's exciting to start a new chapter in my career with an industry icon like White Lodging," Anderson said. "This company is known for its standard of excellence and has an exceptional full service portfolio that I'm looking forward to working with and enhancing." In his new role, Anderson will be responsible for developing and executing the revenue strategy for the full service portfolio, providing strategic and tactical oversight of the sales and revenue man...
Mark Wanner Joins SHR as Chief Operations Officer
SHR | January 19, 2015
HOUSTON, TX, January 20, 2015- Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR), an innovative provider of advanced distribution technology and services for the hospitality industry, today announced the addition of Mark Wanner as Chief Operations Officer. In this role, Wanner will oversee the company's technology strategy, distribution platforms, and end-to-end operations for SHR. "SHR's growth demands the strengthening of our software development and operational processes as we embark on an ambitious expansion path in 2015. Mark brings very relevant experience that will allow our company to continue to grow without jeopardizing our ability to give ...
Fifth Avenue Capital and Waterford Hotel Group Partnership Purchases DoubleTree Little Rock
Waterford Hotel Group, Inc. | January 15, 2015
Waterford, CT (January 16, 2015) --- FAC-W Markham, LLC, a partnership of affiliates of Fifth Avenue Capital and Waterford Hotel Group, has finalized the purchase of the 288-room DoubleTree by Hilton in Little Rock, Arkansas. Fifth Avenue Capital is a New York City based private equity investment firm that is led by the principals of Pearson Partners, Inc. Waterford Hotel Group, a Connecticut based company with nearly 30 years of experience operating hotels and convention centers nationwide, has assumed management of the DoubleTree Little Rock. The hotel is the first acquisition for the venture and marks Fifth Avenue Capital's first hot...
Benchmark Hospitality International Releases Top Dining Trends for 2015
January 15, 2015
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 15, 2015 - Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company with two distinctive portfolios of properties, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels® and Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels®, has just released its Top Dining Trends for 2015. The trends were observed by Benchmark's executive chefs and culinary experts at the company's 40 luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants coast to coast and off shore. Dining Trend #1 Small Plates-Any Time! Expo-style cooking, including show kitchens, action stations, EVO grilling and mobile kitchens. What's hot? Slow cooked br...
Concord Hospitality and Kane Realty To Develop the 133-room AC Hotel Raleigh in NC; To Open in 2016
Concord Hospitality | January 15, 2015
RALEIGH, N.C. - (January 15, 2015) - Concord Hospitality Enterprises and Kane Realty Corporation today announced that they will develop and operate North Carolina's first AC Hotel, a Marriott International lifestyle brand, in Raleigh's North Hills section. The AC Hotel will be located in the Park District at North Hills near LEED Gold-certified CAPTRUST Tower. AC Hotel Raleigh, a 133-room upscale hotel is expected to open in 2016 and will be Concord and Kane Realty's third hotel joint venture in North Hills, the heart of Raleigh's Midtown innovative mixed-use district that includes high-end boutiques, well-known department stores, the T...
Hyatt Sells Five Hyatt Place Hotels for $53 Million; Hotels to Retain Hyatt Place Branding
Hyatt Place | January 15, 2015
January 15, 2015 - CHICAGO - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the sales of five select service hotels for a total gross sale price of approximately $53 million. The transactions closed in December 2014. As part of the sales, Hyatt entered into franchise agreements with the purchasers, with all hotels retaining their existing Hyatt Place branding. The purchasers intend to spend a total of approximately $6 million in additional capital expenditures at the hotels. These sales are consistent with the Hyatt's asset recycling strategy – selling selected hotels, maintaining brand presence by entering into new management or ...
Marriott International Will Not Block Wi-Fi Devices
Marriott International | January 14, 2015
January 14, 2015 - Marriott International listens to its customers, and we will not block guests from using their personal Wi-Fi devices at any of our managed hotels. Marriott remains committed to protecting the security of Wi-Fi access in meeting and conference areas at our hotels. We will continue to look to the FCC to clarify appropriate security measures network operators can take to protect customer data, and will continue to work with the industry and others to find appropriate market solutions that do not involve the blocking of Wi-Fi devices. ...
The Three Pillars of Hotel Customer Service
Larry Mogelonsky | January 14, 2015
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.lma.ca) Every good salesperson or individual working in guest service knows about guest expectations: you must first meet, and then exceed. This presupposes that you are actually able to meet a customer's expectations, because if you cannot, then it goes without saying that you will disappoint. However, meeting is just okay - mediocre at best. Being okay is not enough. Too many other hotels are already capable of this, so you aren't differentiating yourself from the herd. By exceeding expectations, you will surprise and delight your guests, both positive sentiments to have for your hotel. I want yo...
Hotel Equities Appoints Chuck Powell as Senior Vice President of Operations
Hotel Equities (HE) | January 12, 2015
ATLANTA, GA (January 12, 2015) - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) www.hotelequities.com recently promoted Chuck Powell to the new position of Senior Vice President of Operations. To manage Hotel Equities' rapid growth, Mr. Powell's responsibilities include oversight of operations, human resources and revenue generation efforts for the firm. He works closely with the Hotel Equities' executive team to ensure a consistent approach to implementation, improvement and results. He reports directly to Brad Rahinsky, Hotel Equities' President and Chief Operating Officer. "Chuck's strategic approach is to elevate our organization's processes and...
Hotel Equities Promotes Kevin Butler to Regional Director of Operations
Hotel Equities (HE) | January 12, 2015
ATLANTA, GA (January 12, 2015) - Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) www.hotelequities.com recently promoted Kevin Butler to the position of Regional Director of Operations. He reports to Rob Cote, the firm's Vice President of Operations. Kevin has responsibility for the oversight of multiple brands in his region including Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and mid-western states. "Kevin 's new role comes as a direct result of Hotel Equities' robust growth to over 60 properties in 2014, " said Mr. Cote. "Kevin's leadership, guidance and focus on success is unsurpassed. We continue to strengthen the depth of experience and leadership with his addit...
Complimentary Webinar, “Action Plan 2015: The Smart Hotelier’s Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions”
HeBS Digital | January 9, 2015
NEW YORK, NY January 9, 2015 - HeBS Digital, the hospitality industry's leading full-service digital technology and marketing firm, will present a concrete 2015 Action Plan and bring the 'Smart Hotelier's 2015 Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions' to life in a complimentary webinar on Wednesday, January 14th at 11am - 12pm PST / 2-3pm EST. Speakers will include Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mariana Mechoso Safer, and Senior Marketing Manager, Sara O'Brien. While hoteliers have a world of opportunities and next-generation technologies available to increase direct online bookings, there is a sense of confusion on where to begin. In ...
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-...
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...
Maestro PMS Launches Web Development Services to Boost Revenue for Independents
Maestro Property Management Solution | January 7, 2015
Maestro's Cost-Effective Services Create Quality Property Websites that Increase Direct Reservations, Strengthen Online Sales January 7, 2015 - Maestro PMS™ announced new website development services to increase online presence and boost revenue for independent operators. Maestro's web services include affordable, search-optimized website creation, content development, and simplified package promotion pages to drive sales. Maestro PMS Enterprise Property Management provides more than 20 hotel software and reservation software solutions for the industry's leading independent hotels, resorts, and multi-property groups. Click here to le...
SHR’s WindsurferCRS had Exceptional Year in 2014
SHR | January 7, 2015
Major improvements were made to help hotels meet and exceed their revenue goals HOUSTON, TX, January 7, 2015- Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR), an innovative provider of advanced distribution technology and services for the hospitality industry, reflects on the impact of its WindsurferCRS in 2014. The industry-leading Central Reservations System underwent many enhancements and feature releases in 2014 to better serve hotels and their guests. With the release of TopSail™, the responsive Internet Booking Engine from SHR, the first real shopping cart experience was available to guests when booking single hotel stays and multiple stay ...
Smart Hotelier’s 2015 Top 10 Digital Marketing Resolutions
the Authors and HeBS Digital | January 6, 2015
By Max Starkov and Mariana Safer Today's hotelier has a world of opportunities available to help them increase direct online bookings and revenues. Technology developments such as Responsive Website Design, Dynamic Content Personalization, Dynamic Rate Marketing, Reservation Abandonment Prevention techniques and more mean that, as an industry, we are not only more effectively reaching our target segments, but we are also improving the user experience and conversions on our websites. Yet, with all this opportunity there comes a sense of confusion on where to begin; reaching the guest throughout their travel research and purchasing journe...
The 243-suite Residence Inn New York Manhattan/World Trade Center Area Opens
Residence Inn | January 6, 2015
Managed by Sage Hospitality New York, NY - January 6, 2015 - The 243-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Lower Manhattan is now open for business. Located at 170 Broadway, the all-suite Residence Inn New York Manhattan/World Trade Center Area will operate as a Marriott franchise, and be managed by Sage Hospitality of Denver, Colorado. Located directly on Broadway and Maiden Lane in the heart of New York City's Financial District, the hotel is only steps from Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, Battery Park, the National September 11th Memorial, the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Fulton Street Center Station, trendy neighborhoods s...
Hospitality Management Corp. Names Christopher Dennis as GM for the 101-key Holiday Inn, Addison, TX
Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC) | January 5, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015 - Dallas, TX - Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), proudly announces the selection of Christopher Dennis to lead the team at the Holiday Inn located at 4960 Arapaho in Addison, TX. Dennis will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of this 101-room property located in a Northern suburb of Dallas which boasts a restaurant, state-of-the-art fitness center and outdoor swimming pool. HMC is one of the country's largest U.S. third-party privately held hotel management companies, ranked in the top 40 of all third party and owner operated hotel management corporations. Dennis...
Accor Opens New North America, Central America and Caribbean (NCAC) Headquarters in Miami, Florida
Accor | January 5, 2015
January 5, 2015 - Accor, global hospitality leader, announced the opening of its North America, Central America and Caribbean (NCAC) headquarters at One Square Park at Doral in Miami. Driven by the company's revitalized strategy and business model, the new location consolidates previously independent business units in Dallas and New York City into one office, strengthening its footprint in the region by providing a cohesive foundation for operational efficiency and sustainable, long-term growth. "We are very excited to call Miami our home. Uniting our regional operations, sales and support business leaders together will enable greater c...
Five Benchmark Hospitality Chefs Bring A Winter Feast to New York’s Legendary James Beard House
the James Beard Foundation (JBF) | January 5, 2015
Photo credit, Tom Kirkman New York, January 2015 ... Five acclaimed young chefs and a leading sommelier from Benchmark Hospitality International brought a delectable array of wild game, innovative regional dishes and fine wines to a sold-out James Beard House in New York City during the holiday season. The five-course chef's dinner, entitled "Game On" was a winter feast, showcasing wild game and local ingredients from Washington State, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and Virginia. Elk, bison, venison and pheasant were on the succulent tasting menu along with veal, goat and black cod. Featured chefs representing the signature fine dining rest...