Tue.Sep 10, 2024

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Southwest Chairman Gary Kelly to Step Down Amid Activist Pressure

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Gary Kelly has been a part of the Southwest family for almost four decades. Will his departure and that of six other board members be enough to keep Elliott happy?

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Auckland welcomes 4.5 star Hotel Grand Chancellor, the group’s first new-build property

Hotel Management

Hotel Grand Chancellor is celebrating the arrival of its first new-build hotel with the opening of a 4.5-star property in Auckland’s CBD on Wednesday September 11. Located at 80 Wellesley St West – directly across from the soon-to-open New Zealand International Convention Centre in downtown Auckland – the hotel features 191 guest rooms, two F&B venues, dedicated meeting space and fitness centre.

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NewcrestImage Acquires DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Columbus Downtown

Lodging

NewcrestImage acquired the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Columbus Downtown in Ohio. The deal was brokered by Hunter Hotel Advisors, with Senior Vice Presidents Tim Osborne and Spencer Davidson representing the institutional seller. “This acquisition underscores our continued appetite for transactions that offer strong growth potential in both market share and asset value,” said Mehul Patel, managing partner and CEO, NewcrestImage.

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How Travel Brands Are Transforming TikTok Trends Into Real-World Getaways

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Today’s travelers engage with TikTok to discover new destinations, travel tips, and itineraries through authentic videos that engage communities of like-minded visitors. But TikTok is no longer just the platform where users build their travel itineraries — it's also where travel brands are building their businesses.

Branding 267
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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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Loews Hotels & Co Selects WorldVue as In-Room Entertainment Provider

Lodging

HOUSTON, Texas—WorldVue announced that it will be the designated in-room entertainment provider for Loews Hotels & Co properties by 2027. Four additional properties will be implemented this year, with the rest to follow throughout 2025 and beyond. Loews Hotels will eventually deploy the WorldVue HUB within its guestrooms. This new offering represents an advancement in in-room entertainment for New York-based Loews Hotels.

Hotels 264
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Rome Tourism Chief Says There’s ‘Total Chaos’ at Trevi Fountain — Changes Are Coming

Skift Blog

Skift Take: For Rome's tourism chief, cracking down on short-term rentals and managing visitor traffic at Trevi Fountain are the top priorities when it comes to combatting overtourism.

Tourism 259

More Trending

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Demand Surges for Festive Season Travel – India Report

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The upcoming festive season is driving a surge in demand for travel across India. Airfares remain stable due to early bookings and special discounts, but there could be a spike as travel dates near.

Travel 263
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Swissôtel debuts in Romania with Mountain Resort in Poiana Brasov

Hospitality Net

Swissôtel, a globally recognised symbol of Swiss hospitality excellence, today announces the opening of Swissôtel Poiana Brasov, which marks the entry of the premium brand in Romania. Nestled within the lush greenery of the Postăvarul Massif, this new property offers an ideal retreat for skiers, hikers and nature lovers in the country’s most popular mountain resort.

Resorts 246
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New Report: How Hoteliers Can Navigate the Complex B2B Tech Ecosystem

Skift Blog

Skift Take: How can hoteliers choose the right tech partnerships amid a plethora of options? A new study from ZS and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) provides insights on how to select partnerships strategically and make informed tech investments that achieve results.

B2B 255
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JW Marriott Debuts in Ho Chi Minh City with the Opening of JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon

Hospitality Net

JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, unveils its first property in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the opening of JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon. Located at the junction of Hai Ba Trung Street and Le Duan Boulevard, with a direct connection to the popular mPlaza Saigon, this 565-key, dual-tower property is nestled within District 1, the city’s commercial and cultural hub.

Hotels 246
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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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Announcing Ask Skift 2.0, the Travel Industry’s Answer Engine

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Meet Ask Skift 2.0 – your upgraded guide to smarter travel knowledge, powered by years of expertise and cutting-edge AI.

Travel 291
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The Hotelier’s Guide to Profitable Direct Booking and OTA Management

Hospitality Net

Balancing distribution channels between Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and direct bookings is essential for maximizing revenue and maintaining control over the guest experience. While OTAs can drive significant traffic and bookings, relying too heavily on them can lead to increased distribution costs and diminished profit margins. These easily accessible OTA discounts often reduce the perceived value for guests and add additional costs for hotels in the form of commissions, which typically range

OTA 262
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Airbnb: The Bears Were Wrong About Long-Term Stays

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Pundits predicted that people would return to cities once the pandemic subsided. They have but non-urban stays are still a strong Airbnb category.

Travel 260
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Your Data, Your Control: Ensuring Your Data is YOUR Data When It Comes to Hotel Technology

Hospitality Net

In the modern, data-centric, tech-reliant hospitality industry, hotels depend heavily on third-party vendors to streamline operations, enhance guest service, and maximize profits and productivity. This dependency, however, introduces a vulnerability as it involves sharing sensitive data with these external partners.

Services 245
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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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The State of Travel in 2024: Top 3 Charts

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The travel industry is rapidly evolving, and the State of Travel 2024 report provides comprehensive insights into the key trends and shifts shaping its future.

Travel 253
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DoubleTree by Hilton Tower of London Unveils Plans for Exciting Renovation

Hospitality Net

DoubleTree by Hilton London Tower of London, known for its skyline views, rooftop bar Savage Garden, and prime location near attractions like the Tower of London - is rolling out plans for a significant renovation this year. The investment will see the refurbishment and redesign of 200 bedrooms across three floors, making way for new Deluxe and Executive Rooms.

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Japan Now on Track to Open Its First Casino in 2030

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Japan's casino dreams are ramping up as Osaka IR takes a leap of faith, ditching its exit clause. But with rising costs and public doubts, the stakes are sky-high. Will this gamble succeed, or is Japan risking a costly blunder in a competitive market?

Casinos 245
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Core Hospitality to open first Marriott Bonvoy property in Esbjerg

Hospitality Net

Element by Westin, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of extraordinary hotel brands, makes its debut in Denmark with its first opening in Esbjerg. Core Hospitality has confirmed that the hotel A Place To will be rebranded to become Element by Westin Esbjerg at the beginning of 2025.

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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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One Week Until the Premier Travel Industry Conference

Skift Blog

Skift Take: It’s not too late to reserve your seat today for the most anticipated thought leadership conference in the travel industry: Skift Global Forum on September 17-19 in New York City.

Travel 234
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Red Roof® Continues to Invest in the Brand and Opens Newly Constructed 700th Hotel

Hospitality Net

Red Roof®, an award-winning leader in the lodging industry, continues to invest in new hotels and strengthen the brand and its business. The company opened its 700th property, a new build in Jamaica, N.Y., along with a new build and prototype, the HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof® Tampa - Airport, in Tampa, Fla. The dual openings reflect continued demand for the Red Roof economy lodging brand and underscore the company’s unwavering commitment to a quality experience and great value for budget-consc

Branding 244
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Ask Skift: Why Are Travel Brands Investing in Experiences?

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Travelers are increasingly eager to spend money on experiences than possessions, but that's far from the only reason why travel brands are eager to invest in the sector. They see an industry that's showing no signs of slowing down.

Branding 207
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Rocco Forte Hotels Announces The Opening Of Rocco Forte House Milan

Hospitality Net

Rocco Forte Hotels is delighted to announce the opening of Rocco Forte House Milan on 29th August 2024. Located in the heart of Milan, eleven exclusive apartments offer guests an extraordinary combination of luxury, privacy and personalised service.

Services 244
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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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Not Wasting Away: What Can Be Done to Reduce Refuse in Hotels

Lodging

Hotels got the memo a couple of years ago. The detritus of modern life—including those omnipresent plastic water bottles and miniature soaps and lotions found in guest bathrooms—were threatening our oceans and marine life and contributing to global warming. In response, many implemented waste-reduction measures such as replacing those plastic bottles with bulk dispensers and paper menus and brochures with QR codes to access information digitally.

Hotels 173
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Raffles Hotels & Resorts Unveils New Global Brand Campaign Celebrating Its World-Renowned Butler Service

Hospitality Net

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is proud to reveal ‘The Butler Did It,’ the newest campaign from the luxury hospitality brand. The project, which brings together exceptional creative talent, celebrates the brand’s legendary Butler Service and its role in creating an inspiring and unexpected guest experience.

Services 243
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Reducing Energy Consumption 

Lodging

Powering hotels can be expensive. Energy accounts for 6 percent of all operating costs; on average, U.S. hotels spend $2,196 annually per available room on this line item, according to a report from the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. For full-service hotels, reducing energy consumption by 10 percent is comparable to raising average daily rate by $1.35. But energy efficiency brings benefits beyond boosting the bottom line.

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Best Western Plus Dubuque Unveils New Cutting-Edge High-Speed Guest WiFi Network by Hotel Internet Services

Hospitality Net

Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a leading provider of advanced internet connectivity solutions for the hospitality sector, announces the successful completion of a major WiFi network upgrade at Best Western Plus Dubuque in Iowa. The full-service hotel property recently partnered with HIS to ensure that seamless internet access is available throughout all onsite areas of the property, including all 150 guestrooms and 8,500 square feet of meeting space.

Services 241
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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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Exclusive: inside Conrad Tokyo, one of Japan’s best business hotels

Hotel Management

In the heart of Shiodome, Conrad Tokyo stands out as one of the best business hotels in Japan and that’s thanks to fantastic Hilton hospitality, spacious suites and fantastic bars and restaurants. James Wilkinson checks-in and catches up with Conrad Tokyo General Manager, Neil McInnes. Neil, Conrad Tokyo is popular on so many levels, from the location to the club lounge, spa, rooms, and food and beverage on offer.

Business 162
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REPAY and Otelier DigiPay Integration Revolutionizes Hotel Vendor Payments

Hospitality Net

ATLANTA, September 10, 2024 - Repay Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: RPAY) (“REPAY”), a leading provider of vertically-integrated payment solutions, today announced an embedded integration with Otelier, a hospitality software and performance optimization platform, to create a one-stop shop for their clients to more efficiently execute vendor payments from the same platform they process and manage invoices, DigiPay.

Shopping 240
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Best Practice: Getting The Word Out On Green Efforts

Lodging

For hotels looking to take sustainability to the next level, they can’t get there without contributions from both associates and guests alike. For that reason, hotel executives continue to emphasize the importance of properties communicating and detailing their efforts both internally and externally. Mike Shutts, VP, engineering, security and sustainability, CoralTree Hospitality, reinforced the point.

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Dusit Thani Bangkok launches exclusive docuseries charting the iconic hotel’s bold reimagining as part of Dusit Central Park

Hospitality Net

Making its highly anticipated comeback on 27 September 2024, the iconic Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel is set to reaffirm its status as one of the city’s most beloved and recognised landmarks and a beacon of gracious Thai hospitality.

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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.