4 November 2025 - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

2 min

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Announces CFO Transition and Names Interim CFO

📈 Michele Allen, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' CFO, departs in November 2025 after 25 years. Kurt Albert, treasurer since May 2024, is interim CFO. Allen advises until late 2025. CEO Geoff Ballotti praises Allen's contributions and Albert's leadership. Albert, with 15+ years at Wyndham, will manage finances during the transition. Wyndham maintains its 2025 financial outlook.

2 min

Sweet Chick teams up with David Beckham’s son for limited-time sandwich

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, resides in Brooklyn, NY. He hosts "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Educated at Tufts University, Le Cordon Bleu, and studied in China in 1988-89. Thorn wrote for the New York Sun (2005-2008) and Asia Times (1995-1997). He was IFEC president in 2005 and joined Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. Thorn's expertise spans global cuisines and restaurant trends.

4 min

The hospitality leadership gap: why we are losing our best people

📈 In today's hospitality industry, a leadership gap is causing professionals to leave despite their passion. The core issues are a lack of presence, care, and consistent mentorship. Burnout isn't just from long hours; it's from a loss of meaning and connection. New hospitality workers seek genuine leadership, growth, and accountability. Leaders must balance expectations, listen, and demonstrate humanity. Effective leadership can reduce turnover and burnout, making teams stay longer and regain pride.

2 min

Crescent Hotels now managing The Westin Great Southern Columbus

📍 Crescent Hotels & Resorts, November 2025, Columbus, Ohio: Crescent Hotels & Resorts has taken over management of The Westin Great Southern Columbus, a historic hotel built in 1897. This property features 188 rooms and over 13,000 sq. ft. of event space, including Bar Cicchetti, an Italian restaurant. Crescent’s role includes hotel operations and food and beverage management, enhancing the guest experience. This move strengthens Crescent's presence in Columbus and aligns with Whitestone Companies' ownership goals.

1 min

Hilton Columbus Polaris Reopens

🏨 Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbus Polaris completed a $2.4 million renovation in Columbus, Ohio, after a five-month project led by Ivy Hospitality. The 92-room hotel upgraded guestrooms, lobby, dining area, lounge, fitness center, and outdoor furniture. Enhancements include new light fixtures, headboards, mattresses, artwork, and bathroom vanity lights. Tommy Holmes, CEO of Ivy Hospitality, expressed pride in the community partnership, while General Manager Bhaveen Patel emphasized commitment to guest satisfaction. Amenities include free hot breakfast, WiFi, and a 24-hour business center.

4 min

Doug Kennedy’s Next Staff Training Webcast: Hotel Sales Presentation Skills for Remote Buyers

📅 Doug Kennedy’s 40-minute training webcast is on Friday, November 21, at Noon EST. The session aids hotel sales teams in converting leads and mastering virtual meetings via platforms like Teams or Zoom. Webcasts are free, thanks to sponsors Travel Outlook and Track Hospitality Software, saving attendees from a $99 fee. Upcoming topics include 'The Value Pyramid Model' on December 19 and 'Hospitality IS...' on January 23, aiming to enhance sales and guest experience. Register at www.KTNwebcast.com.

5 min

On board with PPDS: Luxury cruise liner brings an ocean of guest entertainment on stunning new superyacht hotels with 110 x Google Cast Philips MediaSuite TVs

🚢 03 November 2025, PPDS installed 110 Google Cast and Netflix-ready Philips MediaSuite TVs on Vietnam's 6-star superyacht hotels, Grand Pioneers I & II, located in Halong Bay. Halong Bay, a booming tourist spot, saw visitors triple since 2010 to nearly seven million. Viet Thuan Group's twin superyachts each measure 110x19 meters and weigh 25,400 tons. The yachts focus on sustainability, featuring industrial wood interiors and energy-efficient BMS systems. The Philips MediaSuite enhances guest entertainment with advanced streaming capabilities.

2 min

Fair Per-Diem Rates: In an Environment of Rising Costs for Hotels, Per Diems for Government Travel Must Keep Pace

📌 The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that per-diem rates for FY2025 will remain at $178/day, with $110 for lodging and $68 for meals/incidental expenses. Despite cuts to government travel, these rates remain crucial for hotels, especially near military bases. Increases of $9/night for FY2024 and $3/night for FY2025 were made after advocacy from AHLA. The hospitality sector anticipates challenges with flat rates amid rising costs and upcoming global events like the FIFA World Cup and USA250.

3 min

Spire Hospitality’s Chris Russell on Catering to Sensory Differences Among Travelers and Employees

🏨 Chris Russell, CEO of Spire Hospitality, aims to make travel accessible for families with autism. Having a daughter with autism, Russell collaborates with Autism Double-Checked for hotel certification and employee training. As of now, four properties have been certified, including Cincinnati Marriott and Hotel Fera. Spire plans to certify all hotels by early 2026. The initiative includes empathy training and mock interviews for neurodiverse individuals, enhancing both guest experience and employee inclusion.

2 min

Omaha restaurateur David Utterback offers his take on Japanese food without a proper kitchen

🍽 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation's Restaurant News since 1999, is a key figure in spotting food trends. Thorn, a magna cum laude from Tufts University, studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu and spent time in China in 1989. He wrote for The New York Sun from 2005-2008 and won a Jesse H. Neal Award in 2006. Thorn authored works in the Oxford Encyclopedia and Oxford Companion, and was inducted into Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014.

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