LODGING Staff - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 85

2 min

Survey: 80 Percent of Travelers Disrupted by Odors in Hotels

🛈 LEBANON, New Hampshire—FreshAir Sensor's survey of over 200 regular hotel-goers found 80% encountered discomfort from smoke or odors during stays, with 90% valuing air quality room options. 84% had non-smoking rooms with signs of smoking, 95% would prefer hotels offering smoke-free room guarantees, and 56% consider a room "safe" after 60 smoke-free days. Over 60% would pay a 3% premium for such rooms. FreshAir Sensor launched FreshAir Certified to capitalize on demand, providing monitoring solutions for irritant-free rooms, enhancing guest experience and revenue.

3 min

Nobu Restaurant Launches At Grand Wailea

🏝 Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui, Hawai’i, launched Nobu Grand Wailea Maui. Nobu, co-founded by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, celebrates its first Maui and second Hawaii location. The restaurant spans 13,000 square feet and offers Chef Nobu’s Japanese-South American fusion dishes, plus Maui-exclusive items. Interiors are designed by Rockwell Group, featuring indoor and outdoor dining, a sushi bar, and private spaces. Signature dishes include local fish with black bean sauce and Black Cod with Miso. Grand Wailea's dessert exclusives include a Kona Coffee tres leches cake and a Laie Vanilla pavlova. The launch follows Grand Wailea’s $350 million renovation. Landscaping Manager Jim Heid oversees 600+ plant species on the 40-acre property. Executive Chef Kyle Marston leads the culinary team, joined by Head Sushi Chef Bora Oh. Blackstone Real Estate acquired Grand Wailea in 2018. The resort's dining options also include Olivine and Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. Nobu Grand Wailea Maui's debut aligns with the upcoming Nobu at BRE’s Hotel del Coronado.

2 min

BOB Hotels Deploys Combination of olive and Stayntouch

📌 In Venice Beach, California, BOB Hotels integrates Stayntouch's cloud-based PMS and olive's AI-powered booking engine for an enhanced, guest-centric booking experience. The partnership aims to boost conversion by personalizing booking journeys, optimizing offers in real-time, and accelerating revenue through upsells and group bookings. The AI-driven system is designed to improve guest experiences and drive smarter marketing strategies. Stayntouch CEO Jacob Messina and olive CEO Eric Lutz highlight the benefits of their technologies in creating seamless guest moments and business success stories.

3 min

This Week’s Comings & Goings

📅 Extreme Hospitality appoints Peter W. Hoffman as SVP of operations. Waramaug Hospitality names Nele Breitbart EVP & head of asset management. Gencom hires Margaux Mielcarek as SVP of development for Bermuda and the Caribbean. Ana Guzman becomes regional director, finance & business support for Mid-Atlantic, USA & Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown, having joined in July 2023. Trinity Investments promotes Rob Tanenbaum to managing director of strategic operations. Archer Hotel Napa appoints Chris Costas as general manager. The Eliza Jane names Nicole Maxwell as director of sales and marketing. Wayfinder Waikiki hires Scott Kawasaki as director of sales and marketing. Azul Hospitality Group brings on Giorgio Saturnino as VP of food and beverage with 20+ years of experience. Atlantic Hospitality appoints Joe Schafer as culinary director with 20 years of industry experience. The Stafford Collection hires Michael Caines, a Michelin-starred chef, as culinary strategist for The Stafford London. Vakkaru Maldives appoints Janne A. Ollikainen as executive chef. Marriott Marquis Houston names Edgar Maldonado as executive chef. Resolute Road Hospitality adds Doug Ableman as regional VP of operations and Kent Duncan as VP of revenue management. Schulte Hospitality Group appoints Anne Fischer as CMO. Pure Wellness promotes Haley Payne to chief commercial officer. Ensemble Investments’ Hospitality Division names Daisy Pinedo as

2 min

Placemakr Expands to Salt Lake City, Announces Launch of New Property

🌇 Placemakr, in partnership with High Boy Ventures, launched its first Salt Lake City property offering a mix of residential and hospitality-style stays. The downtown property features 100 studio, one-, and two-bedroom units for residential leasing and 45 units for short-term stays, some with balcony hot tubs. The luxury asset is within walking distance of local attractions and offers amenities like an outdoor lounge and gym. This marks Placemakr's first expansion into Salt Lake City, following nationwide growth in cities like Pittsburgh, San Antonio, and Santa Clara.

2 min

Fort Lauderdale Embassy Suites Completes Multimillion-Dollar Renovation

🏡 Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street completed a multimillion-dollar renovation, updating public spaces, 361 guestrooms, and dining experiences. The hotel, located in Downtown Fort Lauderdale near the Broward County Convention Center, now features a modernized atrium, contemporary lobby, redesigned pool deck, and a refreshed fitness center with new equipment. The new dining outlet, TASTE, offers South Florida cuisine, including coconut shrimp and a 12-ounce ribeye steak, along with crafted cocktails like a Chocolate Espresso Martini. Event spaces and ballrooms have been enhanced with new carpeting, lighting, and digital reader boards.

2 min

G6 Hospitality Partners with PaymentKey to Simplify Payment Solutions Across Motel 6 and Studio 6 Properties

💳 G6 Hospitality partners with PaymentKey to provide secure payment solutions across U.S. and Canada hotels. The integrated platform offers card processing, consolidated settlement, chargeback handling, and fraud protection. PaymentKey's PCI-compliant technology aims to increase transaction speed, real-time payment visibility, and guest satisfaction. It is optional for G6's franchisees and already live at select properties, with comprehensive support for transition without service disruption. CEOs of G6 and Natson Hotels highlight the partnership's benefit for operational excellence and technological advancement.

3 min

Loews Hotels & Co, in Partnership with Universal Orlando, Opens Universal Helios Grand Hotel

🌝 Loews Hotels & Co. opened Universal Helios Grand Hotel in Orlando, Florida, for Universal Epic Universe guest previews on April 17, 2025. This addition marks the 11th hotel in the Orlando portfolio, totaling 11,000 rooms. The Helios has 500 rooms, part of the Signature Collection, offering a rooftop bar, pool, cabanas, and early park admission. Features include Presidential to Kids' Suites, Mediterranean-inspired dining, and an event space with park views. Art and decor capture adventure and wonder themes, enhancing the guest experience.

1 min

Stonebridge Adds MC Hotel to Autograph Collection Portfolio

🏡 Stonebridge, a hotel management company, has added the MC Hotel in Montclair, New Jersey to its Autograph Collection Hotels portfolio. The property, owned in partnership with CSP MC Partners LP, features 159 rooms and stands eight stories tall, boasting a rooftop bar with Manhattan views, over 3,000 square feet of rooftop space, and more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is noted for its connection to the local arts scene and provides access to cultural events such as the Montclair Jazz Festival and the Montclair Film Festival.

2 min

Red Roof Partners With HotelIQ for AI-Powered Revenue-Management Platform

💻 Red Roof partnered with HotelIQ for HotelIQ Decision Cloud, an AI-powered platform for hospitality. Zack Gharib, Red Roof President, highlights AI's role in predictive pricing and revenue optimization across nationwide properties. The solution automates revenue management, streamlines operations, and enables data-driven decisions to increase efficiency and drive profitability. HotelIQ's CEO, Apo Demirtas, commends Red Roof's innovative approach to technology adoption.

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