LODGING Staff

📌 Hospitality America, based in Greenville, South Carolina, is enhancing its technology infrastructure for real-time insights and forecasting in hotel management, led by Wes Cargen, the new VP of Business Intelligence. Cargen, with a background from Actabl and ProfitSword, aims to utilize AI and automated tools for labor and operational efficiency. The tech upgrade involves integrating data into Microsoft 365 and creating dashboards for agile decision-making. This strategy will also aid in anomaly detection for performance, compliance monitoring, and long-term market forecasting to optimize resources and readiness for market changes. Cargen brings 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and aims to drive data-centric innovation at Hospitality America.

📌 Makeready expands leadership with Eric Gavin as President of Operations. HRI Hospitality appoints Adnan B. Virani as Senior VP. Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town names Nathaniel Johns General Manager. Lüm Hotel announces Stephen Chavez as General Manager. Otis Harbor Springs appoints Kamron Bijeh-Apple as General Manager. 106 Jefferson hires Sam Buchanan as Executive Chef. St. Regis Bora Bora appoints Nathan Barone as Chef de Cuisine. Mainsail Lodging & Development promotes Henry Tapia to Director of Food and Beverage at Epicurean Atlanta. Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay appoints Maurice Tax as Director of Food and Beverage. Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead names Girlie Joseph Director of Spa and Wellness. Fairmont Breakers Long Beach announces culinary team and Natalie Smith as Spa Director. Tanzerra Resorts hires Brett Briseno as VP of Sales and Marketing and Shannon Walters as Director of Sales and Marketing. Inspirato Incorporated promotes Michael Arthur to CFO as Robert Kaiden transitions out on November 8, with three new board members announced.

📌 In Parsippany, New Jersey, Wyndham's networking initiative for BOLD and Women Own the Room franchisees includes peer-to-peer connections and mentorship to advance hotel openings and performance. More than 90 hotel deals have been made with Black and women hoteliers, resulting in over 20 hotels now open. Wyndham's Accelerator Circle, kicking off this fall with WaterWalk CEO Mimi Oliver, will feature quarterly virtual meetups led by industry professionals. Mimi Oliver has raised over $100 million in equity and brings extensive hospitality experience to the initiative.

🏨 In Maryland, Choice Hotels introduced Lobby in a Box for Suburban Studios and MainStay Suites, promising lobby transformations in 120 days. The modular design enables hoteliers to cater to extended-stay guests with multifunctional, income-generating spaces. Following the success of Kitchen in a Box, which has been implemented in over 30 hotels since spring 2022, Lobby in a Box supports franchisees in expanding into high-barrier extended-stay markets. Hotel owner Rushi Vaidya reported a 43% increase in RevPAR and a 10.2% rise in guest satisfaction after conversion. Choice Hotels is set to open its 500th extended-stay property this year.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a 25% increase in its select service pipeline in the Americas over three years, now over 50% of its total pipeline as of June 30, 2024. Caption by Hyatt revealed design and operational enhancements, including a cost-effective prototype for expansion. Hyatt Studios, since its announcement 18 months ago, boasts over 4,000 pipeline rooms and 250 deals in negotiation, with two recent groundbreakings and four hotels under construction, targeting openings in 2025 and 2026. Hyatt House and Hyatt Place are being upgraded based on feedback, focusing on operational efficiency and cost reduction.