LODGING Staff - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 99

4 min

Choice Hotels Introduces New Prototypes for Comfort and Country Inn & Suites

🏨 Choice Hotels International introduces new prototypes for Comfort and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in North Bethesda, Maryland, aiming to increase revenue for owners. Comfort, with over 2,100 locations and 122 in the pipeline, offers an open lobby and a "Comfort Way" service. The updated prototype can add three keys within the existing footprint and reduces FF&E SKU counts by 30%, speeding up hotel openings. Over 140 properties have adopted the Rise & Shine prototype. Country Inn & Suites introduces a residential ambiance and a welcome cookie for guests, plus a design gaining 18 keys and reducing land and FF&E costs. After acquiring Radisson Hotels Americas in 2022, Choice Hotels' Country Inn & Suites saw a 19-point RevPAR Index increase, a 20% rise in direct online contribution, and more revenue from group and business travelers. Two brands in the upper midscale segment opened 107 hotels.

2 min

RREAF Holdings and McNeill Form MxR Hospitality

🏨 RREAF Holdings and Philip McNeill, Sr. established MxR Hospitality focusing on extended-stay hotels nationwide. Phillip McNeill, Sr., opened the second Hampton Inn in 1984 and was once the largest Hampton franchise owner. With RREAF's team having over 150 years of real estate experience, they seek to improve extended-stay hotel management across the industry. Equity Inns, once led by McNeill, sold to Goldman Sachs for $2.2 billion in 2007, with 138 hotels in its portfolio.

1 min

Hotel Investor Apps Implements Software Across Peachtree Group

🏨 In Maryland, Hotel Investor Apps (HIA) implemented its financial management software for Peachtree Group's hospitality division, which manages over 120 hotels and restaurants. The software introduces advanced accounting, automations, and efficiencies, including intercompany functionality, approval workflows, and a global vendor structure. Utilizing HIA's ERP software, Peachtree Group enhances financial reporting and operational efficiency, with single sign-on capability through Microsoft Active Directory, improving user access and corporate oversight. This collaboration underscores Peachtree's commitment to technology and best practices in financial management.

5 min

Crafting Meaningful Moments

👨‍🏫 Colleen Weiss-Hanen's hospitality career began after her accounting degree, initially as a controller at a Vail lodge. She credits her parents and professional mentors with shaping her leadership approach, emphasizing integrity, treating people equally, and the importance of creating memorable experiences in hospitality. Weiss-Hanen notes that while the executive committee has equal gender representation, women hold less than 20% of C-Suite roles in hospitality. She argues that increasing women's leadership roles is not only a matter of fairness but a business imperative for profitability and innovation.

2 min

Vision Hospitality Group Names Mary Beth Cutshall as Chief Growth Officer

💼 Mary Beth Cutshall was appointed as chief growth officer by Vision Hospitality Group in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With 35 years of industry experience, Cutshall is tasked with expanding the company’s portfolio across the U.S. She was previously a managing partner at Amara Capital Group and held executive roles at HVMG, Hotel Equities, Inc., Hotel Investors Trust, and Marriott International. Cutshall is a founding member of the Castell Project and serves on councils for Marriott and AHLA. She holds a Bachelor of Science from UNLV.

2 min

stayAPT Suites to Develop Five New Modular Hotels With Capstone Stay, LLC

🏨 stayAPT Suites partnered with Capstone Stay, LLC for five new hotels in Midwest markets: Rossford, Ohio; Evansville, Indiana; Gardner, Kansas; Wentzville, Missouri; and Liberty, Missouri, focusing initially on Rossford and Evansville. By April 2025, stayAPT aims to open 40 hotels, featuring full-size kitchens, living rooms, sleeper sofas, separate bedrooms, and modern amenities like app-based contactless check-ins. Enclosed outdoor courtyards, fitness and laundry facilities enhance the guest experience. Modular construction by Capstone Stay will expedite development while ensuring quality.

3 min

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Announces Branded Debit Card

🏠 Travelers earning Wyndham Rewards points with the new debit card launched by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, targeting younger travelers and those who prefer a debt-free lifestyle. The card offers points on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and dining, redeemable for free nights at over 60,000 hotels and vacation rentals worldwide. 70% of Gen Z consumers use debit cards weekly, with 65% planning to spend more on travel in 2025. Card benefits include one point per dollar on eligible purchases, Gold level membership perks, a 2,500-point welcome bonus, up to 7,500 annual bonus points, booking discounts, and waived fees with conditions. Powered by Galileo Financial Technologies and Sunrise Banks N.A., backed by Mastercard.

1 min

TPG Hotels & Resorts Adds Hilton Garden Inn Dallas Market Center to Portfolio

📌 TPG Hotels & Resorts added Hilton Garden Inn Dallas Market Center to its portfolio, an eight-story, 240-room hotel with facilities like a fitness center, outdoor pool, a dining option, and over 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel, located a mile from Dallas Market Center and Market Hall, is in close proximity to downtown Dallas, American Airlines Center, and UT Southwestern Medical Center, with Dallas Love Field Airport just four miles away.

2 min

The Mining Exchange Hotel to Open Oro in Spring 2025

🍝 The Mining Exchange Hotel in Colorado Springs will open Oro, an Italian dining concept, in spring 2025. Chef Aaron Barnett, with Giant Squid Ink's concept, will offer an ingredient-driven menu featuring traditional Italian techniques and Colorado-sourced ingredients like lamb and bison. The menu will include dishes such as bison carpaccio and roasted bronzino. Joel Gunderson will curate a beverage lineup featuring Italian wines and cocktails with a Colorado twist. Oro complements the hotel's other offerings like the Golden Hour bar and BLK MGK coffee bar, enhancing the guest experience. Managed by Practice Hospitality, the hotel aims to be a gathering space for guests and locals.

2 min

Variety of Leadership Roles

👨 Leanne Harwood's hospitality career started in New Zealand where she became the first female hotel concierge, leading to roles across eight countries in sales, operations, and management. Emphasizing "freedom within a framework," Harwood encourages risk-taking and innovation. At IHG, she actively promotes diversity, mentoring women and supporting IHG's LGBTQIA+ group, Out & Open. While noting progress in women's leadership in hospitality, Harwood acknowledges the need for more initiatives to close the senior-level gender gap.

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