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Jonas Chorum | April 17, 2024
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Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 238: Hotel History: The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco
Stanley Turkel | October 13, 2020
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA (592 rooms) The luxurious Grande Dame atop Nob Hill in San Francisco was named after U.S. Senator James Graham Fair (1834-1894) by his daughters, Theresa Fair Oelrichs and Virginia Fair Vanderbilt. When the silver king James Fair purchased the site back in the late 1800s, his interest was to build the largest mansion in the neighborhood. However, when he died in 1894, the lot was still undeveloped until 1907 when his daughters commissioned the architectural and engineering firm of Reid & Reid to design a large hotel in Italian Renaissance style. The Reid br...
GCommerce’s Performance-Based Fee Model Increases Website Production by 20% for Luxury Santa Barbara Hotel
GCommerce | October 8, 2020
Park City, UT, October 8, 2020 - GCommerce, a leading hospitality digital marketing agency, partnered with Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara's ultimate urban luxury resort destination, in order to boost the hotel's digital marketing efforts. Looking to drive increased revenue through its website, the property took advantage of GCommerce’s Performance-Based Fee Model, which provided access to GCommerce's full suite of digital marketing services for a nominal commission on direct bookings. Linked through Preferred Hotels & Resorts Alliance Partner program, the two launched their partnership in January 2020, and despite the effects of ...
Tapping Into the Next Normal of the Remote Workforce
Larry Mogelonsky | October 7, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) With no clear end to the COVID-19 craziness, many companies are considering permanent work-from-home policies. While this may be troubling news for commercial real estate owners, there is an opportunity for hotels to capitalize upon this post-pandemic trend. While there are some very strong benefits to this new way of life – such as saving time on commuting, more flexible work schedules and fewer Starbucks runs draining the wallet – a few stark drawbacks are starting to make themselves known. Namely, people can get somewhat stir-crazy from being isolated. We are social animals, ...
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) Leads the Sale of the Hampton Inn Houston NW
Paramount Lodging Advisors | October 7, 2020
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) is pleased to announce the sale of the Hampton Inn NW (Subject) located in Houston, TX. PLA was exclusively engaged to represent the seller in the transaction of the 62-room property. The marketing efforts were led by Managing Director Kami Burnette, Senior Associate Subu Thiagarajan and Associate Mason McDavid. The Houston hotel is located in the northwest Houston MSA and ideally situated at the intersection of US Route 290 and TX State Highway 6. The Buyer plans to renovate and maintain the Subject as a Hampton Inn for the remainder of the term. “There has been much discussion over the near-term...
Interior Design for Safe and Aesthetically Pleasing Hotel Spaces
Larry Mogelonsky | September 30, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) All the structural upgrades to your hotel are probably unsightly, but you put them in place because you had to in order to protect your guests. Still, with COVID-19 here to stay, it’s time to look at how to combine safety with interior design features that are pleasing to the eyes. Now that autumn and winter are here, hideous lobbies or other indoor spaces can mean decreased F&B revenues and lower overall guest satisfaction as all visitors won’t feel warm and cozy amidst so much gaudy viral safety mania. You don’t want your lobby bar or restaurants to look abandoned as a r...
Paramount Lodging Advisors Successfully Transacts the Spanish Garden Inn Santa Barbara
Paramount Lodging Advisors | September 30, 2020
Santa Barbara, CA - Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) has successfully executed on the sale of the Spanish Garden Inn. The Spanish Garden Inn is an award-winning luxury boutique hotel located within walking distance to many of Santa Barbara’s renowned cultural centers and restaurants. The hotel's 24 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites are spread throughout 5 buildings surrounding a central courtyard with fountain and lush gardens. Scott Griemsmann, Eric Gunderson and Subu Thiagarajan represented the Seller in the transaction. “In spite of the challenges surrounding Covid-19, this asset generated tremendous interest which is a...
AC Hotel Washington, DC Convention Center Set for October Opening
AC Hotels by Marriott | September 23, 2020
Washington, D.C. (September 23, 2020) — AC Hotel Washington, DC Convention Center, the third AC Hotels by Marriott to open in the capital region, offers the brand’s intuitive and timeless European-inspired travel experience to guests beginning October 5, 2020. Conveniently situated in the heart of DC’s bustling Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, this architecturally stunning hotel is located at 601 K St. NW, just steps from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and just a few blocks from both CityCenterDC and Capital One Arena. Built by DC-based Douglas Development, the hotel aims to interpret the AC brand’s spirit in a ...
Luxury Resort in Hawaii, Prince Waikiki, Selects Cendyn
Cendyn | September 17, 2020
Prince Waikiki selects Cendyn's Revenue Cloud products to power revenue management and business intelligence at their resort Boca Raton, FL, United States – September 17, 2020 – Cendyn, the leading innovator in CRM, sales, and revenue strategy for the hospitality industry, announces Prince Waikiki has selected rainmaker and revintel to power revenue management and business intelligence for their premier resort in Hawaii. Located in Honolulu’s heart, Prince Waikiki features 563 guest rooms, 33 luxury suites, top-rated restaurants, and nearly 20,000 sq. ft. of event space on Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. Choosing Cendyn as their revenue mana...
Top 5 Things You Need to Know Now in Hotel Digital Marketing: September Edition
Margaret Mastrogiacomo | September 16, 2020
By Margaret Mastrogiacomo As the holiday season swiftly approaches, it’s important to keep a pulse on the evolving digital landscape to keep your digital strategy ahead of the curve. This month, Microsoft Ads expands LinkedIn targeting availability, Connected TV advertising continues to grow, and mixing realism with illustration is a design trend that arrives just in time for the holidays. From Search to Social Media and Design, here are the top 5 things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing. 1. Search: Microsoft Advertising expands LinkedIn profile targeting to more countries. Microsoft first opened LinkedIn Profile data ...
This Is Why You Keep Your Restaurant’s Signature Dish
Larry Mogelonsky | September 16, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Chefs are creative individuals and I’m continually blown away by what these professionals can do when challenged to explore their passion. But a restaurant needs some marketing sensibility if it going to thrive, especially in a hotel or urban capacity where there are numerous other independent and more agile operations to compete with. While some executive chefs are themselves tremendous impresarios or, dare I say, celebrity chefs, many others need to be reined in so that the menus are in stride with what the market wants and so that they fit with the dining outlet’s theme for a...
Reputation Management for the Post-Covid Hotel
Larry Mogelonsky | September 9, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) How has reputation management for hotel brands evolved in the wake of the pandemic? Do travelers rely more or less on third-party reviews? Have their top criteria for judging a property changed? Can we attribute a specific dollar amount for how much a good or bad review will cost an organization? These are some of the questions I ask myself when confronting this relatively new field. So that we’re all on the same page, when we refer to reputation management we are discussing the capacity of user-generated content (UGC) stemming from a guest’s experience to alter another customer...
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) Leads the Successful Sale of the Houston Area Candlewood Suites
Paramount Lodging Advisors | September 9, 2020
Paramount Lodging Advisors (PLA) is pleased to announce the sale of the Candlewood Suites in Kingwood, TX. PLA was exclusively engaged to represent the seller in the transaction of the 73-room property. The marketing efforts were led by Managing Director Kami Burnette and Associate Mason McDavid. The 77-room property is in the heart of Kingwood and is ideally located near the Kingwood Medical District. Future plans include converting the property to an Extended Stay America branded hotel. “This is an unprecedented environment with numerous headwinds including COVID-related travel restrictions and frozen capital markets. We are excit...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 236: Hotel History: The Hermitage Hotel
Stanley Turkel | September 2, 2020
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee (122 rooms) Historic Hotels of America is proud to announce that the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee has been selected as the 2020 Historic Hotel of the Year. “Congratulations to the ownership, leadership, and many associates at The Hermitage Hotel,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “We are delighted to recognize this magnificent historic hotel and its historic hoteliers for their dedication, enthusiasm, stewardship, and leadership in preserving this iconic treasure and i...
The St. Joe Company Bringing New Hotel and Restaurant to Panama City’s Downtown Waterfront District
The St. Joe Company | August 28, 2020
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. Joe”) and the City of Panama City, Florida (“the City”) execute a long-term land lease to bring a new hotel and restaurant to Panama City’s downtown waterfront district. Under the terms of the lease St. Joe will lease a City-owned parcel to develop, construct and operate a waterfront hotel and standalone restaurant on a portion of the Panama City Marina property fronting beautiful St. Andrews Bay, which has a deep water channel to the Gulf of Mexico. This agreement comes after nearly two years of planning, discussions and public meetings between St. Joe, the City an...
Hotel Carmichael, an Autograph Collection Hotel Opens in Carmel, Indiana
Hotel Carmichael | August 27, 2020
Carmel, IN – August 27, 2020 – Hotel Carmichael has officially opened its doors joining Autograph Collection. The 122-room, six-story luxurious hotel located at 1 Carmichael Square, is owned by CCC Boutique Hotel, LLC and managed by Coury Hospitality of Kansas City, Missouri. Situated next to The Palladium, one of the greatest concert halls of its time and along the Monon Trail, the downtown Carmel hotel offers guests convenient access to Midtown Plaza, the Center for Performing Arts, Clay Terrace, Peace Water Winery and Sugar Creek Vineyard & Winery. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the stunning hotel is just a short dr...
The Hermitage Hotel Is Named 2020 Historic Hotel of the Year by Historic Hotels of America
The Hermitage Hotel | August 27, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC (August 27, 2020) – Historic Hotels of America® is proud to announce that The Hermitage Hotel (1910) in Nashville, Tennessee, has been selected as the 2020 Historic Hotel of the Year. This illustrious award is given annually to a historic hotel whose owners, leadership and employees are careful overseers of historic preservation, by stewarding history, heritage and stories for generations of guests to come. The Hermitage Hotel is receiving the honor of Historic Hotel of the Year for its unparalleled celebration of suffrage history and for demonstrating a long tradition of exceptional customer hospitality and service. “T...
Mergers Ahead for the Post-Pandemic Hotel Industry
Larry Mogelonsky | August 26, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Our industry is hurting. While we’re optimists, totally convinced that we can beat the two-year recovery our financial protagonists are forecasting, the world of Wall Street may soon see things very differently. I’m not a betting man, but I’ve got a hunch that mergers are in the offing and may even be essential to keep our industry afloat. Before we look at our near-future state of affairs, let’s backtrack to the largest hospitality M&A deal in the century so far. When announced in the spring of 2016, Marriott’s merger with Starwood was controversial. Would it be appro...
OTO Development Opens Hyatt Place National Harbor
OTO Development | August 26, 2020
SPARTANBURG, SC – August 26, 2020 – OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest hotel, Hyatt Place National Harbor. Located within the 350-acre shopping, dining and entertainment destination of National Harbor, Maryland, this 7-story, 156 room all-suite hotel has picturesque views of a lively waterfront, on-site dining, fitness center and 1,900 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The onsite restaurant, Bar Harbor, offers a casual dining experience featuring artisan pizzas and exceptional tacos paired with local microbrews. With spectacular views of the Potomac River, the spa...
Boutique Resort, Belvedere Hotel Mykonos Turns to IDeaS to Manage, Control and Maximise Data
IDeaS | August 25, 2020
Popular Greek hotel leverages IDeaS’ revenue technology and Advisory Services to enhance its revenue strategies LONDON—Aug. 25, 2020—One of the “Leading Hotels of the World,” the Belvedere Hotel Mykonos has selected IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) to manage, control and maximize data. It also selected Revenue Architect, a revenue performance analysis service conducted by the IDeaS Advisory Services team. By leveraging this service, the hotel will be able to better understand the right revenue opportunities to pursue and how to capitalize on them. With more than 15 different room types including luxury villas, rooms an...
ALICE Releases Free Hotel Preventative Maintenance Checklist
ALICE | August 25, 2020
New York, NY - ALICE, the hospitality industry’s leading hotel management and operations platform, has just published a free hotel preventative maintenance checklist for hoteliers. With more than 15 checklists in the downloadable document, hoteliers can easily print and start using them today. The comprehensive document, the second in a series of hotel checklists, includes preventative maintenance checklists for daily walk-throughs, guest rooms, public areas, and large pieces of equipment (elevators, HVAC systems, fitness equipment, etc.). As hotels resume operations after periods of low occupancy or temporary closures, saving on capital...
What Summer Search Data Really Tells Us About Post-Covid Travel
Larry Mogelonsky | August 19, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Travel behavior in the summer of COVID-19 has been erratic and still has a long way to go until it returns to pre-pandemic levels. However, the search data during this recovery period can offer strong clues as to what customers will want from their hotel experiences in the next normal so that operators can adjust their businesses accordingly. Notably, much has already been said about the recent Google Trends numbers which show that search share in many major Western countries for Airbnb and Booking have both trended disproportionately upward relative to Expedia, Hilton and Marriott ...
Hotel Carmichael Caters to Latest Guest Connectivity Trends Using BeyondTV With Voice Activated Technology and Enhanced Wi-Fi by Hotel Internet Servic
Hotel Internet Services, Inc. | August 18, 2020
New luxury property set to open in summer 2020 will provide guests with seamless content casting abilities and contactless control over hotel amenities while guaranteeing a fast and responsive Wi-Fi connection. CARMEL, Ind. — August 18, 2020 — Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service provider of internet services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has been selected by Hotel Carmichael, Autograph Collection to provide its guests with the latest in in-room entertainment and virtual assistant technology with the implementation of BeyondTV alongside advanced Wi-Fi capabilities. A newly built boutique hotel opening during ...
Five-Star Laguna Beach Property Finds Success With Digital Marketing During COVID-19
GCommerce | August 18, 2020
Park City, UT, August 18, 2020- Five-Star Laguna Beach property, Surf & Sand Resort, partnered with GCommerce to run digital marketing efforts during COVID-19 to maintain brand awareness in key markets in order to secure market share upon reopenings. The resort placed all efforts on digital channels, with an emphasis on targeting in-state markets. GCommerce leveraged messaging that focused on leisure getaways and escapes, which was relevant while travelers were confined to their homes. The top-performing ad focused on the property being a family-friendly destination and the perfect opportunity to escape city life. Marketing budgets wer...
How Hotels and Resorts Are Stepping up Marketing as Travel Rebounds
NextGuest | August 11, 2020
As travelers become more comfortable with new safety protocols and practices around COVID-19, we’re seeing travel start to rebound around the world. According to STR, hotel occupancy has been slowly recovering, especially in the US and Europe. While the travel industry is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2022, current research shows that consumer sentiment towards traveling will continue to improve throughout the year. Yet due to the quickly evolving nature of the pandemic and the possibility of a second wave, this is subject to change. In the US, a recent spike in COVID-19 cases has resulted in a decline ...
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