Patrick Mullinix, the Group President of Signature Inn®, was appointed to the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association's (BLLA) Advisory Board at the organization's Boutique Hotel Investment Conference on June 8 in New York City.
Airbnb, the world's leading community-driven hospitality company, today announced the launch of a new tool that allows employees to book business travel for co-workers. As business travel has tripled in growth on Airbnb in 2016, this new feature allows business partners like travel managers and executive assistants to be able to book Airbnb listings on behalf of other employees. This new tool adds a whole new dimension to the way companies are able to book listings for all their business travel needs.
Ishwar Naran, President and CEO of Premier Resorts and Management has been elected to the Best Western® Hotel & Resorts Board of Directors. Naran has more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, having developed, acquired and managed over 30 hotels throughout his career.
The recent I-CHRIE (International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education) North Eastern/North American Federation Regional Conference was held at Boston University's prestigious School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA), April 1-3, 2016. IHG Owners Association members David Shamoian, Partner of Boston- based Distinctive Hospitality Group (Association Chair 2004-2005) and Wayne West, COO of Virginia-based Newport Hospitality Group joined Pyramid Group's SVP of Acquisitions John Hamilton on the owners and developers panel. BU SHA Professor Suzanne Markham-Bagnera served as moderator for the candid discussion among nearly 60 hospitality educators from the northeastern United States, about issues impacting hotel ownership and development.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) ("Starwood") today announced that its Board of Directors has set a record date of March 28, 2016, for the proposed spin-off of its vacation ownership business, Vistana Signature Experiences, Inc. ("Vistana").
True North Hotel Group has for an unprecedented sixth time received Marriott International's highest owner/franchisee honor, the Partnership Circle Award. Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorensen presented the award to True North Chairman and CEO Lew Wiens, President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Merkel, and Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Wiens at Marriott's CONNECT Conference, held recently in Orlando.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today applauded Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) for their leadership and partnership with the hotel industry introducing bipartisan legislation to ensure 911 direct dial capabilities. The hotel industry and AH&LA, the sole national association representing all segments of the nearly 2 million-employee lodging industry, have been working closely with lawmakers to ensure hotel guests and employees can dial 9-1-1 and directly reach emergency personnel on any phone. Representatives Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) have introduced a companion bill in the House.
Business travelers who sign up for TSA PreCheck, to avoid the hassles and delays of the security screening process, are significantly more satisfied with air travel than their peers who have yet to enroll in the program. In fact, two thirds (66 percent) of travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck are satisfied with getting through airport security, compared with just 47 percent of business travelers not enrolled in the program.
The IHG Owners Association, which represents InterContinental Hotels Group® (IHG) franchise hotel owners worldwide, has announced that Steve Ehrhardt has assumed chairmanship of its Board of Directors for 2016. Ehrhardt is owner and operator of Ehrhardt Properties and SJS Hospitality, operating 11 hotels in Missouri and Oklahoma, and is part of a family business that includes a portfolio of 27 hotels. Included in this mix are numerous hotel companies and three Intercontinental Hotel Group brands: seven Candlewood Suites, two Holiday Inn Express and a Hotel Indigo which is under development.
RLHC (Red Lion Hotels Corporation) (NYSE:RLH) today announced the company has signed its fifth location and first franchise license agreement for Hotel RL, its upscale lifestyle brand. Following a multi-million dollar renovation incorporating signature design elements, Hotel RL St. Louis Airport is expected to open in the second quarter of 2016.
Today, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), a global association created to further the knowledge and advancement of industry professionals, announced an exciting new service to its members and the industry at large — a fully searchable directory of consultants specializing in accounting, finance, technology, human resources and legal issues.
Magnuson Hotels, America's fastest growing hotel brand, announced today the complete rebranding of the Magnuson Hotel Howell. Formerly the Best Western Howell, Michigan, the hotel will upgrade its local, regional, and national market to attract travelers via an affiliation with Magnuson Hotels' global portfolio of over 1,000 hotels.
Magnuson Hotels Worldwide reports today year on year revenue growth of 65% across the Magnuson branded portfolio. The company also reports a very significant 61% increase in occupancy, and an 8% increase in average daily rate.
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced that Homewood Suites by Hilton received the highest segment ranking in the 19th annual J.D. Power 2015 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM in the upper extended stay segment. This marks the 12th award for Homewood Suites since J.D. Power began its hotels study*.
Behind every great business moment, there was business travel. For example, in 1953, C.R. Smith, president of American Airlines and R. Blair Smith, a senior sales representative for IBM, were introduced on a flight by a flight attendant. The two men were seated next to each other and spent the next several hours talking. During that flight they would agree on the framework of Sabre Corporation, which was co-founded by American Airlines and IBM in 1960.
BridgeStreet Global Hospitality – the leading solution for international serviced apartment experiences – today reveals new intel into global professionals' preferences when it comes to living and working remotely, a trend termed as the "digital nomad" lifestyle. The company's upcoming BridgeStreet IQ Report: Digital Nomads was announced today at the Serviced Apartment Summit in London, featuring insights from a poll of more than 30,000 professionals globally.
Vacation rental travelers know how to kick back. Cost savings, peace of mind and flexibility are among the reasons why 92 percent find vacation rental stays more relaxing than other lodging accommodations. These are among the findings of a recent study of more than 11,000 vacation rental travelers conducted by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, the world's largest professional manager of vacation rental properties and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN).
For visitors to New York who are looking for a night on the town or a place to stay and park their cars before a flight or cruise, M&R Hotel Management today announced a number of value-added packages at its New York hotels, available through Sept. 30.
Magnuson Hotels, America's fastest growing hotel brand, announced today the complete rebranding of the Magnuson Hotel Burleson.
M&R Hotel Management today announced the appointment of Edward Malone as general manager of its 105-room, full-service Holiday Inn Staten Island. Malone, a 27-year hospitality industry veteran who has served hotels in Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, will oversee all aspects of the hotel's operations, including sales, marketing, security, maintenance, housekeeping and accounting.