Hotels & Venues
Marriott and MGM enter into licensing agreement, creating ‘MGM Collection With Marriott Bonvoy’
Marriott International, Inc. and MGM Resorts International are entering into a long-term licensing agreement to create "MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy." The new partnership will launch in October of 2023 and will include 17 of MGM’s resorts, representing more...
MoonPass Lookouts showcase history of Great Fire of 1910
Kristie Wolfe, an airbnb owner who has created a number of unique experiences, including the Famous Idaho Potato airbnb (yes, you actually get to stay in a giant potato), has launched her latest property: MoonPass Lookouts. MoonPass Lookouts: An Elevated Forest...
Marriott International to enter the ‘affordable midscale’ extended stay market
Marriott International, Inc. will be adding to their extended stay market portfolio, currently being called Project MidX Studios — although it's officially unnamed. With the launch, Marriott plans to expand their affordable midscale lodging segment. According to...
Pacifica Hotels purchases Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle
Pacifica Hotels has purchased the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle for $33.7 million. Pacifica plans to undergo a renovation of the property, including 125 guest rooms, hotel restaurant, and lobby. Pacifica Hotels is the largest owner and operator of boutique hotels...
Marriott CEO to speak at Morgan Stanley Travel and Leisure Conference
Anthony Capuano, president and chief executive officer at Marriott International, Inc. will speak at the 2023 Morgan Stanley Travel and Leisure Conference on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Capuano will begin speaking at 8:35 a.m. (EDT) and will be webcast live. You can access...
Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort completes $8 million renovation
The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa has completed an $8 million renovation to its public spaces. The renovation began in July 2022 and was completed in May 2023. The renovation included the redesign of the 403-room resort's entry, lobby, reception areas,...
Hilton announces extended stay brand, Project H3
Hilton is adding an extended stay brand to their portfolio — to help meet the needs of the $300 billion workforce travel market. The brand will be for travelers looking for 20 nights or more in apartment-style accommodations. The new brand will launching in the U.S....
Cambria Hotels two open first 2 hotels in Pacific Northwest
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHI) is opening its first two Cambria Hotels in the Pacific Northwest. CHI has started construction on Cambria Hotel Pearl District in Portland, Oregon and Cambria Hotel Hillsboro in Hillsboro, Oregon. Both properties are expected to...
AHLA Report: Women gaining more roles in hospitality leadership
Women are increasingly becoming a part of hospitality leadership, according to a new report by the AHLA Foundation. The report found that women now hold one in four of all chief-level positions at hotel companies, although it is mostly in human resources and...
JW Marriott’s new Clearwater Beach resort ready for your next event
JW Marriott has opened its newest property in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is located on what has been called "America's Best Beach." The property is home to 20,000 sq. feet of event and meeting space. “We are excited to...
Choice Hotels rolls out meeting planner platform for instant bookings
Groups360 and Choice Hotels International are rolling out their GroupSync™ Instant Booking across Choice's global portfolio in 2023. The platform will allow meeting and event organizers to shop and book online group guest rooms at Choice Hotel properties within...
Topgolf to become officially-sanctioned Special Olympics event
Topgolf will become an officially-sanctioned event at the Special Olympics in 2024. It is the first time a brand has become a medaled event. Athletes at the 2024 Special Olympic games will be able to compete in Topgolf as an individual or as a member of a team. "We...
Hyatt launches Event Experience Guides for meeting planners
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has launched a new tool to help event planners plan their next event at a Hyatt property. Together by Hyatt is a series of Event Experience Guides, which will provide event planners with "an interactive, easy-to-navigate online platform with...
Atlantis Paradise Island to undergo complete renovations
Atlantis Paradise Island is embarking on multimillion-dollar renovations at their resort in The Bahamas. The renovations include redevelopment of the Beach Tower, all Royal Tower guest rooms and suites, the Atlantis Casino, and the addition of another Michelin-starred...
Omni Hotels adds instant booking for groups and meeting planners
Omni Hotels & Resorts, along with Groups 360, have announced a new instant booking experience for groups and meeting spaces. GroupSync is Group360's proprietary online booking marketplace, and is available now at the Omni Frisco Hotel in Frisco, Texas, and will...
Palms Las Vegas announces grand re-opening April 27
Palms Casino Resort has announced plans to reopen on April 27, 2022, with fireworks on opening night. They will be open for stays on April 28, 2022. The iconic hotel had undergone a more than $600 million renovation beginning in 2019. "Our goal is to deliver a truly...
Hyatt adds 100+ all-inclusive resorts to rewards program
Hyatt Hotels is adding to its rewards portfolio, with the addition of more than 100 luxury all-inclusive resorts across seven brands to its AMR Collection portfolio. The new resorts will join the program in phases, beginning with six Cancun resorts joining the World...
Map: What countries are open & what are travel restrictions?
With constantly changing travel restrictions around the world, Sherpa has put together an interactive map to help travelers and travel advisors stay up to date on the current requirements and restrictions. The interactive travel restrictions map allows you to see the...
Feature: Visit Sun Valley on the future of tourism, welcoming new types of visitors
Sun Valley, Idaho came to fame in the 1940s and 1950s when Hollywood arrived, with films from stars like Abbott & Costello, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, and Glenn Miller. The area was also home to Ernest Hemingway (he wrote For Whom The Bell Tolls there, as well...
Marriott CEO sees new desire for travel
Marriott is seeing the desire for travel — both domestic and international. Marriott International CEO Tony Capuano spoke during their third quarter earnings call, and is optimistic for the future. “It's been wonderful to see so many people traveling again and to...
IHG & PCMA introduce digital event course, on-site COVID testing
IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) to enhance their on-site and hybrid events, providing education for their employees by developing a Digital Event Strategist Introductory Certificate Course for...
CDC extends conditional cruise order until 2022, with some small changes
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has extended their Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), with some minor changes. The CDC said the cruise industry has a unique opportunity to monitor, detect, and respond to any cases of COVID-19. "As a result,...
Royal Caribbean launches their own world cruise
Following the success of world cruises, Royal Caribbean has decided to launch its own Ultimate World Cruise. The itinerary includes 274 nights, seven continents, 65 countries, and more than 150 destinations. The new Royal Caribbean Cruise will sail on Serenade of the...
CRVA opens expanded $127 million Charlotte Convention Center
The city of Charlotte's new Charlotte Convention Center expansion opened this week after nearly two years of construction. The $126.9 expansion was welcomed by the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). The new center broke ground in...
Hawaii begins easing restrictions on events
Hawaii is looking to ease restrictions on gatherings, according to a news conference held by Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Friday, Oct. 8. In August, after a spike in COVID-19 infection rates, Mayor Blangiardi restricted large gatherings,...
Marriott brings back their hot breakfast buffet
Marriott will be rolling out their hot breakfast options for a "limited number of hotels" in their brands, including Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott. Travel trend: Wellness is an...
MGM Resorts plans to acquire The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas
MGM Resorts International announced they will be acquiring The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas from Blackstone, for cash consideration of $1.625 billion. The Cosmopolitan opened in 2010, and was acquired by Blackstone in 2014. With the purchase, MGM will enter into a...
New York becomes first state to launch COVID passport for travel & events
New York has become the first state to launch a COVID vaccine passport, for travel, events, and restaurants. Excelsior Pass is a "free, voluntary platform" developed in partnership with IBM, according to a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office, "which utilizes...
Nevada is allowing 50 percent capacity for large events, with approved plan
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced that, as of March 15, the allowable capacity for large gatherings of more than 250 people will increase to 50 percent capacity — up from 20 percent that was announced in February of 2021. The 50 percent limit outlined in...
Hilton Grand Vacations to acquire Diamond Resorts
Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) has announced they will acquire Diamond Resorts International (DRI), which is managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management. HGV said the acquisition is expected to combine the brand and culture of Hilton Grand Vacations with Diamond,...
Travel brand KAYAK to open first hotel, in Miami Beach
KAYAK is planning to open their first hotel this year. The KAYAK Miami Beach is expected to open in April 2021. The company, which is a big name in the travel search industry, was founded in 2004 and has not yet ventured into the hotel owner field. “We see a big...
Hyatt Hotels launching Global Franchise and Owner Relations organization
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced a new Global Franchise and Owner Relations organization to help owners and operators improve guest relations and experience. The organization will create a key stakeholder group with the goal of expanding Hyatt's franchise...
Venues & event promoters may be eligible for new SBA grant
Although the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was meant to help businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, a new grant program is specifically looking to help venue operators. The Small Business Administration (SBA) set aside $15 billion from the latest stimulus for...
Marriott to open more than 100 new Asia Pacific hotels in 2021
Marriott International is expanding their presence in the Asia Pacific, with 100 hotels expected to open in the area in 2021. In 2020, the brand opened 75 properties in the region. “I am proud of the way we have continued to grow and have moved quickly to adapt to the...
Hyatt to offer free COVID-19 testing at Latin American resorts
Hyatt Hotels has announced that they will offer free on-site COVID-19 testing at all their Latin American resorts through May 31, 2021. The tests will be offered to guests traveling to the United States after their stay. The offer is for 19 Hyatt resorts in Mexico,...
Marriott implements new safety procedures to allow for events
Marriott International has announced a series of health protocol options to help event planners and guests into 2021. Those options include COVID-19 testing for groups and events, beginning in January 2021. Marriott recently announced their Connect with Confidence...
More hotels & venues receiving GBAC accreditation, helping them hold safe in-person events
A new certificate program is helping to rank event venues who are providing safe spaces during the COVID-19 crisis. The Global BioRisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a subset of ISSA, has been working with events venues to work through their cleanliness and safety...
CDC to require negative COVID test for all travelers to the U.S., including U.S. citizens
Air travelers arriving to the United States from foreign destinations will now need to show proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arriving back in the country, including U.S. citizens (ages 2 and older). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made...
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