Hotel Tech Update Your Update on Hotel Tech, Daily!

December, 2019

• 12 December

  A Mobile PMS and POS is More than an Operational Advantage: It Could Wow Your Guests and Transform Your Group Business

  

  There’s a saying that reads, “Innovation is seeing what everyone has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” Over the last few decades, we’ve witnessed an incredible burst of innovation. The era of Blockbuster and DVDs gave way to a media landscape ruled by streaming services like Netflix and Crave …

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• 12 December

  Joy To The World

  

  Merry Christmas To All Of You From All Of Us One year old Henry is the great-grandchild number eight for Baxter Media founders Edith and the late William (Bill) Henry Baxter. Young Henry’s mom, Caitlin McClung (husband David Thornton), is the daughter of company execs Wendy and David McClung. The …

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• 11 December

  Developers search for hot emerging hotel submarkets

  

  While developers often ask “where’s the next Nashville?” or “where’s the next Austin?” there is still ample opportunity in the established hotel markets. The efforts of major urban centers to expand their downtown footprints through new developments (convention centers, sports venues, etc.) and revitalization projects continue to create more demand …

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• 11 December

  Restaurant Trends – Growing And Emerging Concepts – Change and Activity December 11, 2019

  

  Growing Concepts of Multi Unit Operators Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units). Whitefish Bay, WI-based BREADSMITH (founded 1993) has increased by 3 units, from 32 to 35 (9% growth) and entered into NC. This quick serve bakery/cafe is open for breakfast and lunch, with a $4-$12+ …

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• 11 December

  Apple Leisure Group, Hesperia open Europe’s second Secrets resort

  

  The Secrets Lanzarote Resort has opened as Europe’s second Secrets Resorts & Spas-branded property in Spain’s Canary Islands.  The Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa was developed by Apple Leisure Group’s AMResorts company and Spanish hotel group Hesperia Hotels & Resorts, and opened following a €10 million renovation of the former …

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• 11 December

  CheapOair Predicts 6% Global Travel Increase in 2020

  

   According to CheapOair, 2020 will be a very strong year for the airline industry. After analyzing year-over-year data, the flight focused online travel agency has announced that they expect to see a global passenger increase of 4-6% while considering factors such as fuel cost, traveler demographics, and the economy. “We’re …

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• 11 December

  What is a Chatbot and Does Your Hotel Need One?

  

  Whilst you may not be familiar with the term, you have no doubt interacted with a chatbot one way or another. Think about Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa – these are all advanced forms of chatbots. Or put simply, computer programs powered by artificial intelligence (AI) …

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• 11 December

  Blue Magnet Interactive Partners with Pegasus

  

  Blue Magnet Interactive, a full-service, hospitality digital marketing agency, has joined Pegasus’ global partner network to provide hotels with a comprehensive, end-to-end digital marketing, reservation, and distribution platform for hotels.Through this partnership, Blue Magnet integrates its holistic approach to SEO, social media, paid search, metasearch, and email marketing with Pegasus’ …

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• 11 December

  The Westin Prince Hotel Rebranding to Pan Pacific Toronto

  

  SINGAPORE — Pan Pacific Hotels Group is expanding its footprint in North America with the rebranding of The Westin Prince Hotel to Pan Pacific Toronto. This addition will mark the company’s fifth hotel in North America, joining other hotels in Vancouver, Whistler, B.C. and Seattle. “We are delighted to fly …

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• 11 December

  The Hazelton Hotel to Embark on Major Renovation

  

  TORONTO — The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto has announced a forthcoming renovation project that will include a transformed guest experience and a renewed approach to food and beverage at chef Mark McEwan’s signature ONE Restaurant. The hotel and restaurant will remain open during the renovation, which is set to be …

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• 11 December

  What Does the Expectation Economy Mean for Hoteliers in 2020 and Beyond?

  

  Within the hospitality industry, we are frequently introduced to new, wide-spread economic trends. First, it was the “Mobile Era,” then we got to know the “Age of the Consumer” and the “Experience Economy,” and now, the term on everyone’s mind? The “Expectation Economy.” As we open our doors and usher …

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• 11 December

  Beonprice Redesigns Hotel Quality Score to Improve Revenue Strategies

  

  Challenging the adage of ‘quality over quantity’, travel technology company Beonprice (www.beonprice.com) has redesigned the hospitality industry benchmark assessment to help hoteliers better qualify rates and competitor set in their revenue management strategies. The new Hotel Quality Index™ (HQI™), developed by Beonprice, is a unique way of assessing a hotel’s …

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• 11 December

  A Little Holiday Help From Trafalgar

  

  In celebration of International Volunteer Day, the Trafalgar Canada team came together to support Holiday Helpers Canada, a charity whose mission is to provide a one-time customized Christmas package to over 750 families with young children, who are living in low-income situations. Each sponsored family receives an artificial tree, decorations, …

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• 11 December

  The Deal Is Done

  

  Onex Group Completes WestJet Acquisition Onex Corporation and its affiliated funds (the “Onex Group”) and WestJet Airlines Ltd. have announced that they have completed their transaction (the “Arrangement”) valued at approximately $5 billion including assumed debt. The closing comes following the receipt of the final regulatory approval by the Canadian …

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• 10 December

  Headquarters hotels prove their supply will be absorbed

  

  When it comes to headquarters hotels, the narrative seems to be “build it and they will come.” HQ hotels are associated with operations of a convention center and serve as the primary hotels to host conference attendees. Typically, HQ hotels are comprised of 500+ rooms and developed with public subsidies …

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