LODGING Staff - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 98

4 min

Paying It Forward

🏥 Carol Davies entered the hospitality business unexpectedly, taking a sales coordinator role during a college break and then transitioning to full-time, eventually moving up the career ladder. Mentored by Marie, who emphasized self-assessment and emotional control, Davies learned the importance of paying it forward, particularly in supporting other women in the industry. Despite progress in diversity over 30 years, Davies notes the hospitality industry still lacks diversity at the highest levels, with gender bias at all levels and a need for leadership development programs for underrepresented groups. More women are in leadership today, yet they are underrepresented in executive roles, with barriers such as unconscious bias and family obligations. Davies advocates for transparent promotion pathways and leadership training to foster better business performance and workplace culture.

2 min

Hotel Equities Announces Strategic Partnership With Pinnacle Hotel Group

🏨 Hotel Equities (HE) partners with Arkansas-based Pinnacle Hotel Group, integrating Pinnacle's portfolio into HE's management platform on May 1, 2025. The partnership includes Marriott, Hilton, IHG properties, and aims to expand growth and operational efficiencies. Pinnacle, led by Chet Patel, Rocky Govind, Shawn Govind, and Nayan Nagin, seeks to leverage HE's resources for long-term growth and career opportunities for its team. Transition involves clear communication with an initial town hall meeting before the official transition.

2 min

Stayntouch Partners With Revival Hotels

🏨 Stayntouch partnered with Revival Hotels in Bethesda, Maryland to provide a cloud-based property management system (PMS) for its independent hotels. The user-friendly PMS requires only two days for staff training. It offers cloud flexibility, automated workflows for various operations including check-in, and ongoing support. Revival Hotels chose Stayntouch for its intuitive design and operational efficiency, enhancing guest experiences. Saxton Sharad, CEO of Revival Hotels, and Priya Rajamani, VP at Stayntouch, both highlight the system's impact on streamlining operations and improving service.

3 min

Hyatt Forms Wellbeing Collective Advisory Board

🏁 Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the Wellbeing Collective Advisory Board to enhance wellbeing offerings, focusing on meeting and event gatherings in Chicago, Illinois. TJ Abrams, VP global wellbeing at Hyatt, aims to provide meaningful experiences for mental, emotional, and physical care. The board will strengthen Hyatt's event philosophy "Together by Hyatt" with care stations, meditation content, and transformative experiences globally. Distinctive experiences include Andaz 5th Avenue's wellbeing menu, Grand Hyatt Nashville's culinary journeys, "Sleep at Hyatt" program, and Miraval Resorts & Spas' inspired breaks. Group customers can participate in wellbeing retreats, access Headspace meditations, MasterClass courses, and earn World of Hyatt points with Peloton workouts. Advisory board members include mental health expert Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, CEO Ally Love, founder David Stewart, Deepak Chopra M.D., poet IN-Q, Dr. John Scott from MasterClass, and author Juliet Funt.

3 min

Marriott Opens First City Express Property in the United States

🏨 Marriott International, Inc. opens City Express by Marriott Duluth, Georgia in March 2025—first of its kind in the U.S. Offers guestrooms, internet, breakfast, 24-hour markets, pet-friendly policies, and fitness facilities. Over 45 agreements signed, 12+ properties opening in 2025 including New Orleans, Chicago, Orlando, and Port Hope. City Express brand acquired by Marriott in 2023, expanding in the affordable midscale segment with three brands across various regions. Planned expansion in CALA with eight new properties in the next three years and upcoming launches in Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru, and Brazil. Properties to join Marriott Bonvoy.

2 min

TPG Hotels & Resorts Expands Managed Portfolio with Canal House of Georgetown

🏡 TPG Hotels & Resorts, in collaboration with Douglas Development, opened Canal House of Georgetown in Dallas, Texas—Marriott International's one-millionth U.S. room. The Tribute Portfolio Hotel, situated in Washington D.C.'s historic area, is a 107-room property featuring a library lounge, private courtyard, fitness center, and local cuisine at the C&O Lounge. The opening marks a year of growth and continues Marriott's expansion, commemorating the milestone with an official ceremony.

3 min

Tripadvisor Releases Fourth Edition of Transparency Report

📈 Tripadvisor released its 2025 Transparency Report from Needham, Massachusetts, revealing a 9% increase in content submissions with nearly 80 million contributions in 2024, including 31.1 million reviews and a 45% surge in reviews for experiences, attractions, and activities. The company's content moderation utilizes automation (87.8% of reviews), human oversight, and community input, with 4.2 million reviews moderated. They combated fake reviews, removing 2.7 million in 2024, flagged 9,000 businesses for incentivized reviews, and removed 214,000 AI-generated reviews. Tripadvisor joined the Coalition for Trusted Reviews with major online platforms to establish standards against fake reviews.

1 min

Sonesta Introduces New Simply Suites Prototype

📌 In Newton, Massachusetts, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation unveiled its Sonesta Simply Suites prototype for modern extended-stay travelers. The prototype features two configurations: a four-story, 122-key layout, and a three-story, 89-key layout. Suites include in-suite kitchens, ergonomic workspaces, and storage. Amenities cover a 24/7 market, fitness center, guest laundry, and outdoor spaces. The design optimizes operational efficiency, which aids in cost reduction and streamlined staffing.

3 min

Strong Foundation

🎓 Allison Handy's hospitality career was inspired 25 years ago by a role model at the Newport Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. She learned the importance of knowledge and leadership from mentors who emphasized preparedness, strategic thinking, and self-guided problem-solving. Today, Handy observes progress in diversity with more women in leadership positions and advocates for work environments offering equal opportunities for all to balance family and career. At Aimbridge, female general managers exceed the industry average, yet executive leadership still lacks sufficient female representation.

2 min

Hunter Hotel Investment Conference to Move to Signia by Hilton Atlanta

🏢 The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference (HUNTER) after 36 years, moves from Atlanta Marriott Marquis to Signia by Hilton Atlanta in 2026. Signia by Hilton Atlanta opened in 2024 and is located downtown, near Georgia World Congress Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and State Farm Arena. The partnership with the Atlanta Marriott Marquis lasted 17 years. The next HUNTER event is from March 16-18, 2026, signifying the conference's growth and dedication to providing a premier experience. Nearby, the $5 billion Centennial Yards project is revitalizing downtown Atlanta.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.