Lodging Daily News

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Gearing Up for New Improvement Project

Posted by LODGING Staff on  April 1, 2013
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Category: Renovations
DESTIN, Fla.—Closely following a renovation of meeting space, accommodations, and the fine-dining Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood restaurant, the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has announced a new multi-million dollar capital improvement project. Scheduled to begin Oct. 1, the five-month project will include a number of enhancements, such as a redesign and refurnishing of all Spa Tower rooms, upgrade of the 11,000-square-foot Serenity by the sea Spa, and an enhanced entrance and lobby,

Ascend Hotel Collection Opens First Hotels in Baltimore

Posted by LODGING Staff on  April 1, 2013
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SILVER SPRING, Md.—Ascend Hotel Collection, part of Choice Hotels International, announced its debut in Baltimore with three boutique hotels in the waterfront neighborhoods of Inner Harbor and Fells Point. The properties—Inn at Henderson’s Wharf, Pier 5 and Admiral Fell Inn—expand Ascend Hotel Collection’s lineup to 80 independent hotels. The hotels are owned and managed by Meyer Jabara Hotels, a hospitality company that owns and operates more than 20 lodgings in 13 states. “Since its launch

Keys to a Successful Hotel Opening

Posted by Anne Taulane on  March 20, 2013
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From the outside, the January 2013 opening of The Alexander in Indianapolis went as smoothly as possible. Upon arrival at the new downtown property, the first guests enjoyed 209 state-of-the-art guestrooms, a modern mixology program at hip new lounge Plat 99, and an exquisite collection of 40 works of art selected by the Indianapolis Museum of Art, among other top amenities. What they didn’t see were all the problems that occurred during the new property’s

Wyndham Partners With Margaritaville Hospitality Group for Vacation Club Concept

Posted by LODGING Staff on  March 19, 2013
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Category: Uncategorized
Orlando, Fla.—Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) and Margaritaville Hospitality Group have jointly announced plans to redevelop the former Grand Beach Palace Resort, located on the northeast side of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Wyndham St. Thomas, a Margaritaville Vacation Club resort, is anticipated to open in late 2014 and will be the first resort of its kind. “There’s no lifestyle brand in the world that better represents what happens on vacation than Jimmy Buffett’s

Outsourcing Restaurant Operations in Hotels

Posted by LODGING Staff on  February 6, 2013
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Many hoteliers are reluctant restaurateurs, and for a good reason: Restaurants are even more labor intensive than hotels. A standalone restaurant is doing extremely well if it achieves a net operating income (NOI) of more than 20 percent, since the norm is 10 percent or less. Add these two elements together, which is the exact scenario we have in full-service hotels, and your NOI is negatively impacted from the drag caused by the food and