Thu.Mar 14, 2024

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A Matter of Trust

Lodging

What initially inspired you to get into the hospitality business? My journey into the hospitality business was somewhat accidental, sparked by my graduate thesis on Canadian Travel Patterns. This research opportunity led to a role in industry research, which fueled my career path into hospitality consulting and then into brand marketing and commercial leadership.

Business 299
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Ritz Carlton in Saudi Set to Be Most Expensive Hotel in the Middle East

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Twice the price of The Plaza, more than the Maldives and outdoing Dubai, Saudi Arabia means business with its luxury hotel expansion.

Hotels 326
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Hilton to Accelerate Expansion in Lifestyle Category With Addition of Graduate Hotels

Lodging

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced an agreement with Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (“AJ Capital”) to acquire the fan-favorite Graduate Hotels® brand, adding a significant growth opportunity for the global hospitality leader in the fast-growing lifestyle hotel market. Hilton will pay $210 million to acquire all rights to the Graduate brand worldwide, enter into franchise agreements for all existing and signed pipeline Graduate Hotels, and become responsible for the brand’s future developm

Pipeline 289
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Hilton Buys Graduate Hotels Brand in $210 Million Deal

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The hotel behemoth Hilton is acquiring the hip, localized Graduate Hotels brand for a cool $210 million. The boutique chain has rapidly expanded to 33 properties clustered around universities in the U.S. and U.K.

Branding 300
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Don't Let AI Pass You By: The New Era of Personalized Sales Coaching & Development

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales & Devyn Blume, Sr. Account Executive

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping sales coaching, learning, and development? Join Brendan Sweeney and Devyn Blume of Allego for an engaging new webinar exploring AI's transformative role in sales coaching and performance improvement! Brendan and Devyn will share actionable insights and strategies for integrating AI into coaching and development - ensuring personalized, effective, and scalable training!

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Marriott unveils plans for luxury Sheraton resort in Hervey Bay

Hotel Management

Marriott International is making plans to bring Sheraton Hotels and Resorts to Hervey Bay, in the form of a 223-room five-star hotel component of the AU$445 million Torquay waterfront development. The hotel giant has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with developer Sunny Beach Land confirming its intention to operate the proposed Hervey Bay Esplanade Resort.

Resorts 264
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Why Hilton Believes This is Going to Be Its Best Year in India

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Hilton seems to be taking a cue from its success in China and bringing a similar strategy to India. With the improving infrastructure, expanding airline services, and a large domestic market, the hotel company sees a perfect opportunity to expand its brand presence in India.

Services 291

More Trending

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Booking Versus Expedia on TikTok

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Booking.com and Expedia know they have to get out there and market where their potential customers are. In this case, millions are on TikTok.

Marketing 292
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South Yarra welcomes reopening of boutique five-star hotel

Hotel Management

Five-star boutique hotel, The Lyall, in South Yarra has reopened following a two-year redesign and refurbishment project. The ‘discreet’ property, situated on Murphy Street off Toorak Road, was purchased in 2021 by the team behind recently opened luxury private hotel, The Royce, who have undertaken a revamp of its 49 rooms and suites, and expanded its restaurant and wine bar.

Hotels 245
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London for Spring Break? International Destinations Grow in Popularity — Especially For Younger Travelers

Skift Blog

Skift Take: While destinations in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean are still the top choice for many spring breakers, cities in Europe are also becoming popular options.

Travel 279
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Breaking Barriers: Sustainable Hospitality Challenge 2024 Unleashes Innovation Worldwide

Hospitality Net

Amidst record-breaking participation from over 70 universities worldwide, the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC) by Hotelschool The Hague launches its 10th edition, signaling a new era of sustainable hospitality.

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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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No Hot Food in Economy on JetBlue’s New Dublin Routes: Here’s Why

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The prospect of an eight hour transatlantic flight without a hot meal may not receive a warm reception from everyone.

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Jeddah Historic District, ‘Al Balad’ Launches First Three Heritage Hotels with UNESCO World Heritage Status

Hospitality Net

Jeddah Historic District today launches the restoration and regeneration of three historic properties in Al Balad into heritage hotels, an area of great historical and cultural significance on the West Coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with UNESCO heritage protection. The hotels are part of Jeddah Historic District Program, under the Ministry of Culture, which has paved the way in the regeneration of the old town of Al Balad.

Hotels 264
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Some State Travel Offices Have Already Deleted TikTok: How They’re Marketing Now

Skift Blog

Skift Take: With TikTok out of the picture, behemoths like Facebook, Google and Instagram would be able to tighten their grip on travel marketing.

Market 282
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Generative AI Agents Promise to be a Boon for Hotel Operations

Hospitality Net

As of now, the common sentiment around Generative AI (genAI) and the use of large language models (LLMs) or generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) for hospitality is centered around chatbots and their ability to answer guest inquiries and, in some cases, complete standard room reservations. While we all inherently grasp that there are applications far more advanced than these already-advanced functionalities, standing above the rest are the AI agents that can be trained to perform specific a

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Beyond the Basics: How to Develop and Retain a Top-Performing Sales Team

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales at Allego

Maximizing sales rep performance is no easy task. 📈 Traditional sales training methods focus heavily on the first few weeks in the sales role. Companies dedicate time, resources, and budget to onboarding new hires, only for them to forget what was learned in those first few weeks, lose motivation, and struggle to come to grips with their role.

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Inside Amadeus’ Vision for Biometrics at Airports

Skift Blog

Skift Take: With nearly all airlines saying they want to implement biometrics at their airport service centers, there's money in helping them make that happen.

Services 255
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Hospitality organizations and resources for diversity, equity & inclusion

Hospitality Net

Previously, we published the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Defined article by Gissell Moronta, which gave you an understanding of the terminology and why DEI is important.

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Business Travel Could Stage a Full Pandemic Recovery in 2024

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Corporate travel remains below 2019 levels, but airlines and hotels see a steady recovery.

Travel 320
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Hilton to Accelerate Expansion in Fast-Growing Lifestyle Category with Addition of Graduate Hotels to Global Brand Portfolio

Hospitality Net

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced an agreement with Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (“AJ Capital”) to acquire the fan-favorite Graduate Hotels® brand, adding a significant growth opportunity for the global hospitality leader in the fast-growing lifestyle hotel market.

Branding 257
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ABM Evolution: How Top Marketers Are Using Account-Based Strategies

In times of economic uncertainty, account-based strategies are essential. According to several business analysts and practitioners, ABM is a necessity for creating more predictable revenue. Research shows that nearly three-quarters of marketers (74%) already have the resources needed to build successful ABM programs.

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The Man Who Built Marriott in Dubai, Guido De Wilde, Comes Out of Retirement

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Guido De Wilde is one of the great architects of Dubai hospitality, and now he's back.

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Home Away from Home: Why Serviced Apartments are Perfect for Business Travellers

Hospitality Net

Travelling, whether it is for business or leisure purposes, can be an opportunity to discover new and interesting places. But what every destination has in common is the unique option of accommodation, especially for business travellers - who may regularly be seeing the inside of a different hotel room.

Business 244
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Knowland: Tampa Leads Top Markets in Meetings and Events Growth

Lodging

ARLINGTON, Virginia—Knowland reported the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida, market led in meetings and events growth for the Top 25 markets in February with 20 percent year-over-year growth. Denver and Boston came in second and third, while national associations and technology groups led in four of the five top markets. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform.

Events 173
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To Save Lots of Money ($$$) in Federal & State Income Taxes You need an Appraisal/Valuation/Cost Segregation Team!

Hospitality Net

As Sophisticated Lodging Professionals, you know the Tax Savings strategy and benefits of a Quality Cost Segregation Study. You know, and understand, that a Quality Cost Segregation Study looks at all Commercial Non-Residential 39-Year Property, and all Commercial Residential 27.5-Year Property, and reclassifies a percentage (%) of that Property away from long-lived 27.5 & 39-year Tax Depreciable Property to short-lived 5, 7 & 15-year Tax Depreciable Property.

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Diving into Diversity: Decoding the Foundations of Inclusion in Hospitality Talent Acquisition

Speaker: Lauren Fernandez - CEO & Founder, Full Course

Companies all over the world, including Marriot International and Hilton Worldwide, are aware of the value of including DEI in their talent acquisition strategy. However, despite these initiatives, there is still plenty that the hospitality sector can do to promote DEI. When comparing the hospitality industries in India, Iraq, the UK, and the US, you will see that there is a consistent underrepresentation of persons from different ethnic, gender, and disability origins across all levels of the i

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This Week’s Comings & Goings

Lodging

Meyer Jabara Hotels announced Chas Henry joined the company as senior vice president of business development and acquisitions. Henry will assist in growing the company’s third-party management contracts. JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group announced the addition of James Escarzega as a managing director in its San Francisco office. Escarzega brings over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry.

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Now Open - Lucia Cannes by the Nikki Beach Global Team

Hospitality Net

Lucia Cannes (Lucia), a radiant new restaurant, bar, and "Bain de Soleil," has officially opened its doors on La Croisette as of March 9th. Crafted by the creative minds behind Nikki Beach Global, the international luxury lifestyle and hospitality company renowned for resorts and beach clubs around the world, Lucia promises to provide a fresh new dining experience on the coast of Cannes.

Dining 239
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State Tourism Boards Relying More on Instagram and YouTube

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Today's podcast looks at travel marketing sans Tiktok, the recovery of business travel, and the Middle East's most expensive hotel.

Tourism 144
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Janu unveils its inaugural hotel in Tokyo - The beating heart of a new urban community

Hospitality Net

Janu, meaning ’soul’ in Sanskrit, opens its inaugural hotel in Tokyo today, marking the inception of a robust and expanding pipeline of 12 properties. Reshaping the luxury hospitality landscape, Janu draws from the legacy of its revered sibling, Aman, while charting its own unique course with an innovative and inspiring vision. In harmony with Aman yet offering a distinctive touch, Janu radiates an uplifting spirit and playful design narrative, in contrast to the serene tranquillity and calming

Pipeline 239
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ABM Success Recipe: Mastering the Crawl, Walk, Run Approach

Shifting to an account-based marketing (ABM) strategy can be both exciting and challenging. Well-implemented ABM motions build engagement with high-value accounts and drive impactful campaigns that resonate with your audience. But where do you begin, and how do you progress from crawling to running? Watch now as Demand Gen experts delve into the essentials of each stage of the ABM process.

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Travel boost: Qatar Airways launches new codeshare with Aer Lingus

Hotel Management

Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus have launched a new codeshare partnership this week. The carriers say the codeshare will give customers greater access to more destinations across the UK and Ireland, and benefit passengers across the globe – including in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and New Zealand. Qatar Airways will add its codeshare on flights operated by Aer Lingus, the national carrier of Ireland, and Aer Lingus Regional, in a move which further strengthens Qatar Airways’ ongoing pa

Travel 130
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Brave Hearts of Ukraine: A Beacon of Resilience and Welcome in the Face of Adversity

Hospitality Net

Earlier this month at ITB Berlin, I had the privilege to meet up with Irnya Sidletska, President of the Ukrainian Hotel & Resort Association. My meeting with Irnya was part of a significant event where several Ukrainian Tourism stakeholders showcased the "We Are Here" campaign, a poignant message of presence and perseverance amidst adversity. Developed with the support of Debbie Flynn, the global travel practice leader at Finn Partners, this campaign represents a collective effort to spotlight U

Tourism 238
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Qantas commits $10 million to Great Barrier Reef

Hotel Management

Qantas and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have announced a new fund that will help accelerate the restoration of Australia’s reef systems, including investment in Coral IVF programs, corals with increased heat tolerance and world-first portable coral nurseries. Building on a 15-year partnership with the Foundation, Qantas will invest $10 million over 10 years in the Reef Restoration Fund to support scientists, Traditional Owners and local tourism operators restoring corals across the Great Ba

Tourism 130
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ESS Group selects Atomize RMS and initiates a technology innovation program

Hospitality Net

The recognized hospitality group, ESS Group, renowned for their distinguished destinations and resorts across 15 destinations and Atomize Revenue Management System are thrilled to announce a ground-breaking partnership.

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A Buyer’s Guide to Future-Proofing Your Restaurant Tech Stack

The race to 100% digital is on. With the restaurant industry still in the early innings of its digital transformation, brands need an airtight strategy when it comes to building out their tech stack. Download the buyer’s guide to learn where to prioritize your efforts and get the most out of every investment.