GCommerce Partners With Jonas Chorum as Its Preferred Metasearch Provider
Jonas Chorum | April 17, 2024
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Where Should Hotels Start When Budgeting Tech for 2023?
Steve Lapekas | October 6, 2022
Why Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is one of the most important metrics when it comes to hotel technology and how to lower it without sacrificing best-in-class system capabilities or service By Steve Lapekas, Chief Operations Officer and EVP, Business Development for Above Property Services (APS) For the sake of this article, let me introduce you to a hypothetical young couple who, after four years spent living together in a rented condo in the city, plan to purchase their first home together. After meeting with their financial advisor, they’ve determined a comfortable budget that considers their combined income and monthly spending ha...
Zero-Cost Guest Experience Enhancements for 2023
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | October 5, 2022
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky Budget season is upon us, and 2023 is offering up quite a few question marks as to where to allocate resources. Protecting the bottom line is a perennial goal, but it’s hard to do with rising wages and labor shortages that force hotels to throttle service offerings. The following is based on past client work on the ground with full service hotels and resorts, looking specifically at initiatives that can drive cost savings or topline growth without proportional labor requirements. To start, we advise you to put yourself in the guest’s shoes amidst the recovery of Summer 2022. Rates were yielded through th...
Everything You Need to Know About GA4 / GCommerce Solutions
GCommerce | September 29, 2022
By now, many of you have heard us talk about Google Analytics 4 (GA4). This new analytics update is part of a series of steps that will bridge the divide between database driven analytics and privacy concerns. The GCommerce team has been implementing GA4 for our clients over the past year and now Google has officially announced that the existing Google Universal technology will no longer receive new data as of July 2023, the clock is truly ticking. Download our free ebook that will tell you everything you need to know about GA4 - what it is, what to expect and why it’s important to your business....
Wine as a Quick Win for Hotel Revenues in 2023
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | September 28, 2022
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky Heading into budget season for next year, there’s a lot of uncertainty as to how hotel executives can best divide the bucket amongst labor, equipment and capital investments. The industry is still in a recovery period from the pandemic and possibly entering a recession with all of the implied knock-on effects for travel numbers. It’s a forecasting disaster. While hardly a panacea to this complex scenario, we hope that this passion of ours can be a profit center for your property. Anyone who has chatted or worked with us knows that wine is our favorite alcoholic beverage. In essence, it’s just fermented...
PPDS Confirms Commitment to Chromecast built in™ as a Steadfast Feature on All Philips MediaSuite TVs and Philips B-Line Displays Into the Future
PPDS | September 27, 2022
Amsterdam, September 2022: PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips professional displays, is delighted to confirm its long-term strategic commitment for the inclusion of Chromecast built-in™ wireless streaming technology on all current and future Google certified, Philips MediaSuite hospitality TVs, as global sales are projected to surge to 300,000 before the year end. Part of its deepening strategic partnership with Google across its evolving portfolio of Android powered solutions, including digital signage, interactive displays and hospitality and business TVs, today’s important announcement reinforces Philips MediaSuite’s p...
NewcrestImage, Dabu & Countrywide Form JV to Acquire Best Western Plus in Page, Arizona
September 27, 2022
The Best Western Plus in Page, Arizona has been acquired by a new joint venture of NewcrestImage, Dabu Hotels, and Countrywide Hospitality in a transaction that was completed yesterday. The 130-room hotel will be operated by Terrapin Hospitality. The property is strategically located in the heart of a major leisure destination area that is visited by more than 4.5 million visitors. Among nearby outdoor attractions are the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend. “This hotel is a key stop for travelers who are making the ‘grand circle’ tour of western national parks such ...
SH Hotels & Resorts to Open First U.S. Treehouse Hotel in Sunnyvale, California
Treehouse Hotels | September 26, 2022
Miami, FL [September 26, 2022] SH Hotels & Resorts, the sustainable brand management company founded by Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, today announced the first Treehouse Hotel to open in the U.S. in Sunnyvale, CA, in the high-tech heart of Silicon Valley, in late 2023. The free-spirited, environmentally conscious lifestyle brand creatively captures the carefree comfort, freedom, nostalgia and fun of childhood. Every Treehouse Hotel is founded on the adventurous ideas that inspire a child to build their “treehouse” and hang with real and imaginary friends. Treehouse Sunnyvale will fuse the creativity, innov...
Five Principles to Guide Hotel Tech Evaluations for 2023
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | September 21, 2022
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky As we descend into Q4, every hotel brand is starting to set up strategic planning meetings to determine what adjustments to make and what new initiative to take in 2023. Without knowing your specific brand, its customers, your finances and your locations, we can say: Labor issues will continue next year for (almost) the entire industry as will the need for improved employee wellness programs Automation and other forms of efficiency-improving tech are critical to maintaining service levels There are many permanent effects from the pandemic that will persist, such as the need for workcation and exte...
The Kessler Collection Opens Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville in South Carolina
The Kessler Collection | September 19, 2022
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Kessler Collection celebrated the highly-anticipated grand opening of its second property in South Carolina, Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville, today. Adding to its portfolio of artistically inspired boutique hotels, the newest hotel offering is a boutique modern lodge overlooking the iconic waterfalls and Falls Park on the Reedy River. “After years of planning, we’re proud to see our vision of natural beauty and tranquil ambiance come to life in downtown Greenville,” said Richard C. Kessler, chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection. “We look forward to introducing the luxurious Grand Bohemian Lodge to our bel...
Wine in Nine Steps for Revenues in Autumn 2022
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | September 14, 2022
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky If you’ve spoken to us before or we’ve broken bread together, then you know that the two of us are wine nuts. Not only does the beverage never cease to amaze in its production and regional variations, but we write about it for hotels because we see it as a great way for any restaurant to boost revenues. This running column has been all about wine, but alas this age-old alcohol is only a subset of the overall F&B program for any hotel property. After all, a wine strategy is part of a bigger picture – the F&B program – and it must serve the role of generating profit. As well, wine, like all ...
The Top 5 Reasons Why Hotel Guests Look But Don’t Book
Brett Thoreson | September 14, 2022
By Brett Thoreson We are all familiar with ‘buyer’s remorse’ – but what about a buyer’s hesitation? The moment a consumer stares at their digital shopping cart, consumed with quiet contemplation before making the final decision to purchase. As a consumer, we’ve all been there, but as a hotel brand, this moment represents a critical obstacle. Within the hospitality industry, in particular, booking hesitation is incredibly high; in fact, conversion rates for hotel websites average between 1.7% and 2%. Although the travel industry spends billions of dollars every year driving traffic to their websites, 81% of visitors reporte...
S Hotels Turns to IDeaS to Drive Demand and Increase Profitability Across Three Properties in Thailand
IDeaS | September 14, 2022
Luxury hotel group selects IDeaS to obtain greater levels of forecast accuracy and enhanced daily pricing optimisation SINGAPORE — Sept. 14, 2022 — IDeaS, a SAS company, the world’s leading provider of hotel revenue management software and services, announced the luxury hotel group S Hotels has implemented its software to enhance the profitability of three key properties in Thailand. The hotels - Santiburi Koh Samui, SAii Phi Phi Island Village, SAii Laguna Phuket – will implement IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) to provide greater levels of forecast accuracy, enhanced daily pricing optimisation by room type, and automa...
Winston Hotels Set for October Opening of AC by Marriott in Downtown San Antonio
Winston Hotels | September 13, 2022
SAN ANTONIO—September 13, 2022. Winston Hotels LLC—a leader in hotel development, repositioning, and reuse across the U.S.—announced AC by Marriott’s opening date of October 6th. A once mixed-used office space will be converted to a fully renovated, upscale home of two hotels—AC by Marriott and Element by Westin—and 1 Watson, a rooftop bar and lounge. Element by Westin and the rooftop bar and lounge are slated to open later this year. Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, AC by Marriott and Element by Westin are transforming the space into a sanctuary for savvy travelers featuring modern design details while preserv...
Helping the Hotel Industry’s Staffing Shortage Problems With Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent™
Travel Outlook | September 8, 2022
Over the last decade, labor costs have risen sharply. In 2022, labor shortages are plaguing businesses across the world, and the hospitality industry is no exception. Demand for workers has never been higher, yet universal labor shortages persist, causing problems for hotels, despite the sharp rise in travel. Two-plus years removed from the pandemic, and travel has come back in a big way. Hotels everywhere had a record-breaking summer of travel, but they did so with reduced capacity thanks to ongoing labor shortages. With rising wages and the supply of workers still at historically low levels, hotels are struggling to stay afloat during...
Manchebo Beach Resort Leverages Stayntouch PMS to Heighten Warm, Personalized Service on a Pristine Aruban Island
Stayntouch | September 7, 2022
Manchebo Beach chose Stayntouch PMS to empower staff to seamlessly deliver high-touch service Bethesda, MD | September 7, 2022 – Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technologies, has partnered with Manchebo Beach Resort, an intimate luxury boutique resort located in the heart of Aruba, to deliver their intuitive and guest-centric mobile PMS. Located on Aruba’s pristine and secluded Eagle Island, Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa has served as the gold standard for Caribbean hospitality for over five decades. Unlike some of the more mainstream Aruba resorts, Manchebo Beach focu...
Knowland Reports Meetings and Events Increase 136.1 Percent in August
Knowland | September 7, 2022
Data shows industry recovery at 85.3 percent of August 2019 levels ARLINGTON, Va. — Sept. 7, 2022 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, released its monthly meetings and events data for August, reporting 136.1 percent growth over August 2021. Additionally, August increased 6.7 percent over July 2022. • Average attendees per event increased – The average number of attendees per event for August 2022 was 108, compared to 68 in August 2021 and 92 in August 2019. • Average space used per person decreased over 2021 – The average space used in Augus...
The Travel Surge Highlights the Need for Great Prearrival Communication
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | August 31, 2022
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Picture yourself going through this small, yet frustrating, scenario as a business guest. During some free time between meetings, you decide to use the hotel’s fitness center. You head up to your room, change into your gear, then walk over to the gym. The entrance is unlocked via keycard, though, and yours somehow doesn’t work. Confused, the nearby receptionist tells you that gym access is an additional $10 per day. While not extortive, it’s nonetheless a shock because there was no prior mention of this fee. This is in fact a real situation that we’ve experienced firsthand, and it highlights the impo...
NewcrestImage Completes Purchase of LaQuinta Inn & Suites LAX
August 30, 2022
NewcrestImage has finalized its purchase of the LaQuinta Inn & Suites LAX with a closing today on the 281-room, 10-floor property that is located less than one mile from Los Angeles International Airport. This hotel, which will be managed by Highgate Hotels, is part of NewcrestImage’s acquisition of four LaQuinta properties that together have 696 rooms. Closing on the other three hotels took place earlier in August – the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Irving DFW North; LaQuinta Inn & Suites Anaheim; and LaQuinta Inn Phoenix North. “These four hotels symbolize our company’s strategy of investing in properties and in markets ...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 270: Hotel History: Hotel Martinique (1910)
Stanley Turkel | August 25, 2022
Nobody Asked Me But… The family of Stanley Turkel would like to share that Stanley Turkel passed away on Friday, August 12th, 2022 after a brief illness. Stanley had completed his 270th article for this newsletter which is below. It was a great pleasure for him to have you, a receptive readership, over the last 20-plus years. Thank you. Stanley’s obituary can be found on his website. If you are so inclined, Stanley would appreciate donations to The Southern Poverty Law Center or the ACLU in his name. by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Hotel Martinique (530 rooms) The Hotel Martinique (560 rooms) at the northeast corner...
Travel Outlook the Premier Hotel Call Center™ Expands Agent Sales Training
Travel Outlook The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | August 24, 2022
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO (August 2022): Travel Outlook, the Hotel Call Center as a Hotel Profit Center™, announces an expansion of the hotel sales training of its reservations specialists provided by the Kennedy Training Network (KTN). “We have always used the KTN training resources during our new hire and ongoing education,” said John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook, “But these recent enhancements by KTN take us to an entirely new level of excellence, in both sales and guest hospitality.” “This summer, we committed to having all new reservations sales specialists participate in KTN’s online, self-study ve...
Cendyn Names Kendall Gallagher New Chief of Staff
Cendyn | August 23, 2022
Results-driven professional set to manage the company’s organizational priorities Monday, August 23, 2022 – Cendyn, a catalyst for digital transformation in the hospitality industry, is excited to announce the appointment of Kendall Gallagher as the new Chief of Staff for the company. Kendall is a seasoned professional with a history of cultivating meaningful relationships backed by a consultative approach. Her strong interpersonal skills and deep analytical capabilities have led to successful outcomes bringing systems and processes together to streamline operations. As the new Chief of Staff, she will help establish both long-term o...
Nimbus® Debuts Reusable, Plant-Based Makeup Removing Towel That Reduces Laundry Costs and Contributes to ESG Efforts in the Hospitality Sector
Nimbus Eco Inc | August 22, 2022
SAN DIEGO, CA – Hotels and resorts struggling with loss of towels have a new option for their guest’s makeup removal and hygiene needs. Continuing in its spirit of innovation, Nimbus has debuted a new plant-based towel that can be used on the face, body, and even surfaces to clean away dirt and germs while also carrying a number of eco-friendly credentials including being FSC Certified, compostable, reusable, plastic-free, and flushable. These towels come in a compressed form when shipped and expand when water is added so companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their ESG ratings stand to benefit by replacing the...
Vast New Profit Opportunities With Integrated Business Intelligence
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | August 17, 2022
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Business Intelligence (BI) platforms have become instrumental due to a need to gain more visibility on all the different variables affecting hotel operations by feeding loads of data into one system then generating comprehensive reports for executives to make better decisions. Coming out of HITEC in late June 2022, we can report that hotel-focused BI is about to experience a seismic shift in its decision-making sophistication. Leading the way is the new company Actabl which brings together software solutions ProfitSword (enterprise-level business intelligence), Hotel Effectiveness (labor management), ALICE (...
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