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Reuben Brothers Acquire W South Beach from Tricap and Rfr

🏦 USA, Miami Beach, Florida—Reuben Brothers acquired W South Beach for over $400 million on December 31, 2024, expanding their US hospitality portfolio. Tricap and RFR, who developed the property in 2004, opened it in 2009 with 348 units. Advisor Jeffrey Davis of Eastdil Secured facilitated the sale. The Reuben Brothers also have stakes in Florida’s Chesterfield, soon The Vineta, and JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, with a recent $300 million renovation. They are developing Esencia in Puerto Rico, a $2.6 billion luxury community with conservation efforts, amenities, and over 2,000 local jobs anticipated.
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Park Hyatt New York Appoints Vincent De Croock as New Director of Sales & Marketing

🏡 Vincent De Croock appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Park Hyatt New York on December 30, 2024. The five-star hotel, celebrating its 10th anniversary, announces a transformative renovation and the new 3,500-square-foot Manhattan Suite. De Croock, with 15+ years in the Hyatt portfolio, aims to grow strategic accounts and enhance the hotel's luxury reputation. Past roles include Director of Sales & Marketing at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort and positions at Park Hyatt Madrid and Washington.
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Aluasoul Costa Adeje, Part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, Debuts in Spain’s Canary Islands

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation opened AluaSoul Costa Adeje in Tenerife on December 30, 2024, expanding its brand in the Canary Islands. The hotel features 226 guest rooms, multiple dining options, and amenities like an outdoor pool, spa, and meeting facilities for up to 300 guests. Local materials were used for renovations, emphasizing community support. The location offers access to beaches and attractions, catering to a range of travelers with all-inclusive, half-board, or bed and breakfast meal plans.
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Ennismore and Twg Partner to Bring 21c Museum Hotels to Indianapolis

📍 In Indianapolis, Indiana, Ennismore and TWG announced the signing of the 21c Museum Hotel, set to open in 2028. The hotel will feature 156 rooms, a 24/7 contemporary art museum with 16,000 sqft of gallery space, and three food and beverage destinations. The project includes the revival of the historic Old City Hall and 8,000 sqft of retail space, situated along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. 21c Museum Hotels currently operates eight locations in the United States.
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The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort Welcomes New Executive Chef Chris Johnson

🍴 In Simons Island, Georgia, on December 27, 2024, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort appointed Chef Chris Johnson as the new executive chef. Chef Johnson brings decades of experience from various cuisines, including Italian, Mediterranean, French-Asian fusion, and Floribbean, with a focus on seafood. He has worked at luxury brands like The Ritz-Carlton, EAU Palm Beach, and Sea Island Resorts, enhancing his commitment to high-quality service. Johnson is set to lead the culinary team at ECHO, the resort's signature restaurant, and expand banquet offerings.
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Griffin Hotel Management LLC Merges Into Meyer Jabara Hotels

🏨 USA, Danbury, Connecticut, December 27, 2024 – Griffin Hotel Management LLC merges into Meyer Jabara Hotels, transferring 14 assets with plans to expand the portfolio to 50 hotels by Q1 2025. Griffin's James Kirkland becomes Senior VP of Operations - Western Region, operating from Austin, Texas, while majority owner Jay Fishman takes a business development role in Chicago. The merger enhances Meyer Jabara Hotels' western presence, in states including Texas, Illinois, and Arizona, and brings in new capital partners. Fishman, a CPA with a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University, previously helmed Associated Hotels LLC and VMS Realty Partners, dealing with over 40 hotel transactions. Kirkland, with experience in Marriott International and Hilton, has opened over 30 properties in the U.S. and studied Business Administration at Texas State University.
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Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin to Launch $275 Million Transformation and Expansion Project

🏖️ In Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin announced a $275 million renovation and expansion project on December 27, 2024. The enhancement includes 120,000 square feet of additional event space, upgrades to existing meeting spaces and Swan guest rooms. This will increase total meeting space to 469,000 square feet, with the largest contiguous space being 175,000 square feet. A new annex will add 41,000 square feet of multipurpose space and a 41,000 square foot ballroom. Renovations of existing spaces and guest room remodels will be completed by summer 2025 and 2024, respectively. Groundbreaking for the expansion is set for November, with completion expected in late summer 2026.
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  • 2 min

HT Talks Tech with Kura Sushi

🤖 Kura Sushi utilizes a robotic arm to ensure compliance and reduce human error, maintaining disposal rates at 3%. Their growth exceeds 20% annually due to automation, which also reduces staffing needs to 60-70 employees per location, compared to typical restaurants with 80-100. Revenue averages $4 million. The Bikkura Pon Prize System gamifies dining by rewarding guests with a prize after depositing 15 plates. Collaborations with gaming brands for promotions have included Nintendo. Drink robots introduced in 2019 enhance service and the brand's fun, tech-forward image.
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  • 4 min

HT’s 10 Most Read Hotel Tech Articles of 2024

🏨 Turtle Bay Resort utilizes Salesforce’s Einstein 1 Platform for AI-driven guest personalization, experiencing a 40% revenue increase, 50% rise in activity bookings, and enhanced engagement rates. Hotels are adopting technologies like Wi-Fi 6 and OpenWiFi to meet challenges in connectivity, relying on IoT and cloud-based systems. Attribute-based selling (ABS) shows potential for revenue boost and guest satisfaction. Advanced tech like AI, IoT, and blockchain is integral for future hotels to ensure guest loyalty and data security. Spencer Mott, former Global CSO at Booking.com, warns against rising ATO cyber threats in hospitality. Amadeus's Francisco Pérez-Lozao stresses cloud-native solutions and consistent data architecture for competitive hospitality. Hilton enters the metaverse, partnering with Roblox for loyalty points and customer engagement. The 2024 Lodging Technology Study released in December 2023 offers data on IT implementation and trends influencing guest loyalty.
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Mastercard SpendingPulse: Total U.S. Restaurant Sales Surge 6.3%

🏨 Holoconnects, Mews, and CIC Hospitality introduced an AI holographic front desk avatar at Aiden by Best Western Lolland, Denmark on November 21. Developed with RAVATAR, the AI avatar facilitates hotel check-ins/outs, room key generation, and bookings. The Holobox provides a life-size 3D holographic experience in 4K resolution. The partners aim to improve hospitality through technology, leveraging Mews' automation for enhanced guest services. Feedback will inform improvements and integration of human-centric automated experiences.
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