HOTELSMag.com - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 36

3 min

Personalized travel experiences can boost hotel revenue in APAC, finds study

📌 A study by Agilysys shows 68% of APAC travelers willing to increase hotel spending for personalized experiences, 73% would pay up to 30% more for room upgrades post-booking. 66% are likely to spend more with reduced wait times, 68% with good loyalty programs. High satisfaction (86%) yet only 37% would rebook, indicating the need for memorable experiences. Key spending drivers: 46% appreciate extra-mile staff efforts, 41% personalized activity recommendations, 30% staff recall of conversations. Personal touches, like preferred rooms, remembered restaurant preferences, and small surprises, impact spending. The survey included over 1,000 travelers from Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Singapore, emphasizing RevPAG over RevPAR for capturing guest spending.

2 min

Sam Nazarian launches luxury resort brand focused on wellness, longevity

🏠 Sam Nazarian launched The Estate, a new luxury hotel brand with Tony Robbins, Marc Anthony, and Richard Attias. The Estate plans to open 15 hotels, residences, and 10 urban centers by 2030. Launching in St. Kitts, the U.K., Trento, Italy, and Montreux, Switzerland in 2026; Los Angeles center to open in late 2025, with St. Kitts residential sales starting in Q3 2025. Nutrition is a focus with Michelin-starred chefs involved. Partnership with Clinique La Prairie for holistic treatments in select locations.

3 min

Briefs: SLS to open in Europe; Six Senses expands Americas portfolio

SLS TO DEBUT IN EUROPE: SLS Hotels & Residences, part of Ennismore, is making its debut in Europe with the upcoming opening of SLS Barcelona. Located in the waterside district of…

6 min

People on the Move: HQ Hotels & Residences, BWH Hotels, L+R Hotels, SH Hotels, Omni Hotels, The Resort at Pelican Hill

📈 Mike Metcalf named President of HQ Hotels & Residences as the brand prepares for its first hotel openings in Montreux, Switzerland, and Detroit, Michigan. Metcalf, with 40+ years in hospitality, joins from Crescent Hotels & Resorts. BWH Hotels appoints Harry Dong as President and CEO for China (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan), Mongolia, and Nepal, succeeding his father, William Dong. Cody Bradshaw is L+R Hotels' new Group CEO, overseeing global strategy, growth and performance. SH Hotels & Resorts promotes Shadi Omeish to VP of Operations, North America, and Milton Sgarbi to Regional VP of Operations. Omni Hotels & Resorts names Annette Bales VP of Sales. Christian Pertl is Shangri-La Group's new VP of Commercial. Kevin Kelly joins The Resort at Pelican Hill as General Manager, while Parag Athavale takes the helm at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. Simon Beaumont appointed General Manager of Avani+ Khao Lak Resort. Francisco García becomes General Manager of The Maybourne Riviera. Holger Flory to manage Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden, opening summer 2025. Great Oak Manor in Maryland welcomes Calin Taralunga as General Manager.

2 min

Gencom ventures into the Big Apple with Thompson Central Park acquisition

🏡 Gencom, a Miami-based investment firm, entered the New York City market by acquiring the Thompson Central Park for $380 million, including a $230 million loan from Ramsfield Hospitality Finance, Affinius Capital, and AB CarVal. The 587-key hotel, located on Manhattan's Billionaires’ Row, operates under Hyatt as a Thompson Hotels-branded property and features dining venues, meeting space, and a spa. It recently underwent renovation and reopened in 2021, with a fitness center slated to open later this year.

2 min

Briefs: Sofitel expands in the U.A.E.; Moxy arrives in N.C.

🏨 Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort opens in Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E., marking the brand's sixth hotel in the Emirates. It boasts 292 rooms, designed by Kristina Zanic Consultants, four swimming pools, seven dining venues, a fitness center, spa, and children's club. Moxy Hotels debuts in North Carolina with Moxy Asheville featuring 115 rooms, a rooftop bar, and shared amenities with Aloft Asheville Downtown. Sonesta International Hotels Corp. to launch five Sonesta ES Suites in the Dominican Republic, starting with Sonesta ES Suites ELEMENTS Jarabacoa in 2026, featuring 80 suites at 595 meters altitude. IHG's Vignette Collection to open in Alaró, Mallorca, Spain by 2025 with a 45-room hotel surrounded by vineyards.

3 min

GHA expands portfolio with addition of four new brands

🏨 Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) expanded in Norway, the U.A.E., Malaysia, and Greece, adding 32 hotels to its portfolio. GHA celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023; it has 40 brands with over 800 hotels in 100 countries. GHA Discovery, their loyalty program launched in 2010, reimagined in 2021, has 28 million members, generates $2.3 billion in revenue, and accounts for 10 million room nights. Partnerships include Regent Seven Seas Cruises in July 2023 and Plum Guide earlier in the year. Unike Hotels added 17 Norwegian properties, Sunway Hotels & Resorts manages 11 properties in Malaysia and elsewhere, Andronis brings boutique hotels in Santorini and Paros, and Paramount Hotels introduces two properties with Hollywood themes in Dubai.

5 min

How to address the challenge of delayed hotel property improvement plans

🏨 Hotels are deferring Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) due to financial constraints and market uncertainty, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the issue. PIPs are essential for maintaining standards and guest satisfaction, ranging from cosmetic to infrastructure improvements, with leisure hotels focusing on guest experience and business hotels on functionality. The industry sees an average of 7% annual revenue spent on CapEx, exceeding the typical 4%-5% FF&E reserve. The U.S. has seen a 20% increase in hotel brands since 2015, now totaling over 600. The delay of PIPs risks brand reputation and competitive edge, with an estimated $12-$15 billion in CapEx/PIPs needed in the next few years. Strategies include prioritizing essential upgrades and using phased renovation approaches to mitigate costs and disruptions.

2 min

Yes, there are too many hotel brands. Who cares.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation owns both Park Hyatt and Thompson Hotels. Procter & Gamble, with its portfolio of over 80 brands, owns popular detergents like Tide and Gain. In the lodging industry, companies like Accor have more than 50 hotel brands, often leading to confusion and a lack of understanding of the nuances between them. Dr. Chekitan S. Dev from Cornell University suggests differentiation exists and the best brands will resonate with specific customers, despite the abundance of options.

2 min

Briefs: The Ritz-Carlton arrives in Morocco; voco opens in Stockholm

🏦 The Ritz-Carlton enters Morocco, launching The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam; features 100 rooms, 17 suites, a 180-square-meter Royal Suite, dining venues, spa, and 2,200 square meters of outdoor space. Voco hotels opens voco Stockholm-Kista in Stockholm's tech hub, with 201 rooms and wellness facilities. Omni Hotels to manage a new 135-key hotel in Midland, Texas, including a rooftop pool and 15,000 square feet of meeting space. Hospitality America to manage the new Element by Marriott Charleston Airport, a 123-key hotel opening in Q2 2025, near Charleston International Airport.

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