Lodging Daily News

WASHINGTON—American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Chip Rogers released a statement after legislation that would have destroyed the hotel industry’s franchise model stalled in the New Jersey State Senate. “New Jersey state senators made the right choice in letting S3165/A1958 stall in the legislative session that concluded late Monday. The legislation would have severely limited hotels’ ability to enforce the quality, service, and safety guidelines guests know and trust. In doing so,

MCLEAN, Virginia—Hilton announced LivSmart Studios by Hilton as the official name of its studio apartment-style, extended-stay hotel brand. Created for the long-stay guest, LivSmart Studios has received interest from owners and developers and has more than 350 deals in various stages of negotiation. Construction in Kokomo, Indiana, broke ground less than five months after the brand was first announced, marking the first hotel under construction for the LivSmart Studios brand. “From luxury to premium economy,

MINNEAPOLIS—IDeaS updated its client experience with new enhancements to the IDeaS learning journey. This effort includes the implementation of live chat support, monthly live learning events, quarterly panels, and on-demand virtual training sessions. In an industry where timeliness is critical, resolving questions, concerns, and other system issues can’t wait. Support content and response speed are components of customer satisfaction, with most customers expecting companies to interact in real time. IDeaS now offers live chat support

PHILADELPHIA—HHM Hotels promoted Dani Elhachem to chief operating officer, effective immediately. Having held over 10 years of senior and executive roles at HHM Hotels, Elhachem has driven results for new and existing ownership partners, cultivated future leaders, and crafted approaches to commercial strategy, in particular around distribution, for both branded and independent verticals. The management and investment firm has a portfolio of hotels spanning the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas. Their operating portfolio includes

ORLANDO, Florida—Auro Hotels announced the newest addition to its portfolio: the Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Airport. This property acquisition adds to its base in the Orlando market, bringing the total to eight properties and 1,521 rooms. With ownership and operation in the Orlando Airport submarket since 1995, Auro is positioned to leverage its sales and revenue management teams to drive market share and operating efficiency. The Courtyard Orlando Airport is located two miles north of