Philadelphia based HHM has completed its acquisition of the Sheraton Miami Airport Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, which features 405 rooms, 17,000 square feet of updated meeting space, an 1,800 square foot fitness facility, plus multiple food and beverage outlets.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) officially opened the AC Hotel Miami Beach, with an evening of art, design and architecture hosted by Nigel Barker, celebrated fashion photographer, New York Times Best-Selling author and TV personality, and Rem D. Koolhaas, co-founder and creative director of the architectural footwear brand United Nude. The opening of AC Hotel Miami Beach furthers the AC brand's U.S. expansion in the lifestyle space, catering to the creativity and passions of travelers with a millennial mindset.
Winners of the prestigious Development of the Year and Single Asset Transaction of the Year Awards were announced at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS). CHRIS was held April 27-28, 2015, at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Miami in Miami, Florida, USA.
Palace Resorts - the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations- is pleased to announce the addition of three new Business Development Managers to the brand’s Field Sales Department. Gina Lavoice, Christina Kemp and Cindy Gongora will now manage the Eastern and Western markets, respectively. Following a record-breaking 2014, with a reported increase in travel demand, Palace Resorts is strengthening their sales department in an effort to continue this upward trend. Before joining the Palace Resorts team, Lavoice worked as a Front-Line Sales Executive at Wyndham Vacation Ownership for more than two years, where she was recognized as a key contributor for her outstanding sales accomplishments. Lavoice earned her dual Bachelor of Marketing and Bachelor of Wealth Management degrees from Coastal Carolina University’s Wall College of Business.
Palace Resorts - the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations- is pleased to announce the addition of three new Business Development Managers to the brand’s Field Sales Department. Gina Lavoice, Christina Kemp and Cindy Gongora will now manage the Eastern and Western markets, respectively. Following a record-breaking 2014, with a reported increase in travel demand, Palace Resorts is strengthening their sales department in an effort to continue this upward trend. Prior to her post at Palace Resorts, Kemp created a solid foundation in social media and digital communication at Weber Shandwick, developing and analyzing digital campaigns. Her prior experience also includes event planning and media relations.
Palace Resorts - the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations- is pleased to announce the addition of three new Business Development Managers to the brand’s Field Sales Department. Gina Lavoice, Christina Kemp and Cindy Gongora will now manage the Eastern and Western markets, respectively. Following a record-breaking 2014, with a reported increase in travel demand, Palace Resorts is strengthening their sales department in an effort to continue this upward trend. As Business Development Managers, Lavoice and Kemp will focus their efforts on relations with valued travel agents based in the Eastern territory, working closely to ensure Palace Resorts remains top-of-mind. As part of their responsibilities, the new executives will assist travel professionals and keep them abreast of marketing tools and product updates including the newly relaunched Palace PRO Specialist program. Lavoice will collaborate with travel agents from Southern New Jersey, Staten Island and Delaware while Kemp will work specifically with agents in the Greater D.C. area, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Gongora, an additional source for agents, will focus on the Western territory with the goal of expanding travel agent partnerships for the brand.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the opening of its eco-wise Element brand in Doral, Florida, just minutes from downtown Miami. Element Miami Doral joins Aloft Miami Doral as part of a dual-branded Starwood hotel development owned by Eurocon, LLC. The new Element hotel features 139 stylish, light-filled rooms designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. Element Miami Doral is the brand's second hotel in the greater Miami area and one of eight new Element hotels slated to open worldwide by the end of 2015.
Accor North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NCAC) region has announced the promotion of Balendra Nagesvaran to vice president of operations for Accor luxury and upscale brands in the region. The segment encompasses all Sofitel (luxury), Pullman (upscale), and MGallery (upscale) hotels throughout the region, excluding Cuba and the Dominican Republic. His role will also include the development of the luxury and upscale segment in the region, including Sofitel Mexico Reforma, set to open in 2017.
Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (www.hotelequities.com) announced the hiring of Sean McKeen as the General Manager of the new Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Beach-Surfside. The $52 million resort-style hotel recently topped out at 92nd Street and Collins Avenue in the Surfside area of Miami Beach. Hotel Equities who has an ownership position in the project is also managing the 175-room upscale property for their JV partner Hotel Development Partners (HDP) of Atlanta.
Alex Caceres recently joined the AC Hotel Miami Beach team as General Manager. The 150-room design-led hotel, scheduled to open April 13, is the AC Hotels flagship property and one of the first to open in the United States.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced it has sold The Miami Beach EDITION hotel for cash proceeds of $230 million. Today's sale is the second in a series of three anticipated sales of Marriott-owned EDITION hotels to companies ultimately owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). The agreement with ADIA for the sale of these three EDITION hotels was announced when the first, The London EDITION, was sold to ADIA in January 2014. Marriott expects to sell the third, The New York EDITION (5 Madison Avenue) to ADIA in the first quarter of 2015.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) in conjunction with Miami-based development group Robert Finvarb Companies and its partner David Martins, today announced the anticipated April 2015 opening of Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami, ideally located at the lively intersection of 16th Street and Collins Avenue. This groundbreaking development is one of the most anticipated hotel openings of the year, coinciding with Miami Beach's centennial anniversary.
Olivere will lead the sales team in their role as ambassadors of Club Med’s unique value proposition contributing towards the brand’s global vision to be the worldwide leader in upscale, all-inclusive vacations.
Mr. Omeish joins the St. Regis Bal Harbour from the Hotel Monte Carlos & Casino Las Vegas where he was VP of hotel operations. Prior to that, Mr. Omeish spent 2 years at the MGM Grand Las Vegas and 8 years at several Four Seasons properties internationally and in the US, including the awarded Four Seasons Beverly WIlshire in Los Angeles.
Host Hotels & Resorts, the nation’s largest lodging real estate investment trust, in conjunction with Destination Hotels, the largest operator of independent hotels and resorts in North America, announced today the appointment of Nicole Whitaker as Director of Sales and Marketing at the new YVE Hotel Miami (YVE). The 243-room property which launched December 2014 is ideally situated in the heart of downtown Miami at 146 Biscayne Blvd.
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) has announced they are accepting nominations for the Rising Star Award Caribbean. This will be the fifth year the two organizations have joined together to recognize emerging talent in the Caribbean region.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) announced today the expected April 2015 opening of AC Hotel Miami Beach on the 2900 block of Collins Avenue, the area that has been grabbing headlines as the trendiest destination in the city. The property, developed in partnership with Miami's Robert Finvarb Companies, will be AC Hotels' first property in South Florida following the lifestyle brand's debut in New Orleans and its growing portfolio of over 50 hotels expected to open in the next few years.
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.
YOTEL Aria Development Group, together with AQARAT, announced its latest development in the heart of Downtown Miami's burgeoning urban core. The mixed-use project, set to open in 2017, will feature luxury apartments and Miami's first YOTEL hotel.
Mr. Meli will focus primarily on expanding our select service/middle market investment sales practice throughout the southeast region, with a specific focus on the state of Florida, by continuing to work with Managing Directors Al Calhoun and Mark Fair in Atlanta, as well as with Managing Director Gregory Rumpel in Miami.