Author Archives: Ida

by | May 21, 2014 · 9:00 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Marriott Bids for Gen Y Business With AC Hotels”

“…Personalization will be key to success as the next generation will guard their privacy except with a handful of brands,Image and then they will expect the company to know and meet their expectations. ‘Loyalty, big data and digitiization. You combine all the those and the epicenter of that is where you get personalization,’ Jhunjhunwala said. The key operating word is ‘trust’…”

As hotels are learning it’s going to take more than free Wi-Fi, a Facebook account and extra sockets to please the millennial traveler, Marriott is bringing the AC brand to the United States with hopes of locking in the loyalty of the Gen Y business traveler.

It has so far approved plans for 33 hotels in the United States, with the first set to open in New Orleans in September, followed by Kansas City and Miami, said Callette Nielsen, brand vice president for AC Hotels by Marriott.

For more: http://cnb.cx/1lQmlsQ

4 Comments

Filed under Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Social Media, Technology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 20, 2014 · 8:48 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Texas Teen Found Dead in Hotel Room After Her High School Prom”

“…When police arrived at Gomez’s hotel room, they found evidence of that after party, including what police referred to as ‘an indication of alcohol.’ ImageInvestigators are also looking into the possibility that prescription painkillers may have been involved…Another teen guest staying at the Hyatt Friday night said he could hear partying going on all night in Gomez’s room. ‘We knocked on the door to see if anything was going on, but they didn’t answer,’ he said…”

On May 18, homicide police in north Houston are still investigating the death of a high school senior found dead in a Hyatt Hotel room yesterday morning following her MacArthur High School prom.

The deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Jacqueline Gomez, a senior at MacArthur High, according to ABC News. Gomez has been described by other news outlets as being 18.

For more: http://exm.nr/1jn8ufg

 

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Texas Teen Found Dead in Hotel Room After Her High School Prom”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 19, 2014 · 8:32 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Your Hotel”

“…When working with contractors, make sure to check references and ensure that the company has the proper permits before starting construction on a project, says Stephen Barth, the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com and professor of hotel law at the University of Houston…ImageNew requirements from the International Code Council (ICC) for the International Building Code and the International Fire Code state that carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in any location that includes a device that could potentially produce carbon monoxide…”

Last spring, three people died from carbon monoxide poisoning after staying at the Blue Ridge Plaza Best Western Hotel in Boone, N.C. The victims—elderly couple Daryl and Shirley Jenkins and 11-year-old Jeffrey Williams—visited the property seven weeks apart and all stayed in room 225.

Though the initial investigation following the Jenkins’ deaths was inconclusive, toxicology reports eventually revealed that the deadly gas was to blame for the tragedies. The pool heater’s exhaust pipe, which ran directly under room 225, was the source of the lethal leak.

For more: http://bit.ly/1khYBQb

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Your Hotel”

Filed under Claims, Guest Issues, Health, Hotel Industry, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Pool And Spa, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 16, 2014 · 8:33 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Hotels Working On Concierge App For Check-in Via Smartphones”

“…Marriott Hotels, for instance,offers mobile check-in for select members who can check in via the mobile app and collect their key card from a designated mobile check-in desk. Image‘This technology will change the guest arrival experience and streamline the entire check-in process,’ said Prasad Iyer, head-cluster e-commerce, Indian subcontinent and Maldives at Marriott Hotels…”

Come 2015, guests arriving at the Aloft and W Hotels will be able to bypass the traditional check-in desk and enter their rooms using their smartphone as the room key.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which owns the two boutique brands, is working on collaboration with locking and security solutions provider Assa Abloy to develop keyless checkin technology that will allow the guests to check in and out of their rooms using their mobile phones.

For more: http://bit.ly/1n4iwRN

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Hotels Working On Concierge App For Check-in Via Smartphones”

Filed under Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Technology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 15, 2014 · 8:36 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Roving Prostitution Ring Busted in Hotel Sting”

“…Detectives then watched as the women received texts from Tatum, police said, and peered through a peephole of the hotel room’s door as Tatum paced outside in a hallway. ImageFinally, police arrested Tatum along with one of the women, a 19-year-old described as helping Tatum oversee the other women. She faces a charge of promoting prostitution…”

Armed with a handgun, a convicted felon slipped from state to state in recent months with several prostitutes forced to work for him, according to Indianapolis metro police.

Terrence Tatum ran Internet ads that lured men to enjoy sex with five women for $500, police said, or choose from several other less expensive options with women nicknamed “Marvelous,” “Candy” or “Vegas,” among others.

For more: http://indy.st/T6NeB6

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Roving Prostitution Ring Busted in Hotel Sting”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 14, 2014 · 9:02 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Benton Police Bust Crime Ring Based Out of Hotel”

“…Police said detectives found four stolen vehicles, a large amount of stolen property and numerous articles of evidence related to identity theft and forgeries in the suspects’ possession.Image Methamphetamine, prescription medication and ecstasy were also found on the scene…The suspects purportedly used multiple rooms at the hotel to avoid detection and used stolen license plates and vehicles to avoid being caught, the release states…”

The arrest of a burglary suspect on Monday led Benton police to discover and bust a Saline County criminal enterprise ring, officials said.

Officers responded to a burglary in progress around 12:45 p.m. Monday on River Heights Drive. While police were unable to locate the suspect — identified as Jason Hamilton, 33, of Benton — at the time of the burglary, Hamilton was later located in Pulaski County and taken into custody, the Benton Police Department said in a news release.

For more: http://bit.ly/1gE0r9o

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Benton Police Bust Crime Ring Based Out of Hotel”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 13, 2014 · 8:18 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Lawsuit Seeks to Invalidate Massive Hotel Subsidy”

“…The suit claims that Kring illegally received $7,250 in contributions from entities and people connected to O’Connell, including Anaheim Park Place Inn, Orangewood, LLC, Image Stovall’s Inn, LLC and members of the Support Our Anaheim Resort (SOAR) advisory board, among others…”

A $158 million hotel tax subsidy — one that triggered a contentious Anaheim City Council split and a wave of political activism — is once again the target of a lawsuit that, if successful, could invalidate the deal.

For more: http://bit.ly/1spS9XL

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Lawsuit Seeks to Invalidate Massive Hotel Subsidy”

Filed under Crime, Hotel Industry, Legislation, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 12, 2014 · 8:21 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Living Green at OTO Development’s Newest Georgetown Area Hotel in Downtown Washington D.C.”

“…Forward-thinking in its design and construction, the hotel is seeking LEED Silver certification. Upon opening, the Hilton Garden Inn will begin participating in the LightStay program, Imagea Hilton Worldwide initiative to save energy by continuous measurement and reduction of electric, gas and water consumption…” 

Opening late May, the Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/Georgetown Area brings environmentally friendly accommodations to Washington, D.C.’s high-end Georgetown neighborhood. Perfect for the savviest business and leisure travelers alike, the hotel gracefully blends modern technology, plush furnishing and a desirable location while keeping green.

Managed by the experienced hospitality company OTO Development, the Hilton Garden Inn is dedicated to providing guests a fantastic Washington, D.C. experience while staying environmentally conscious.

For more: http://bit.ly/1jSvRxe

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Living Green at OTO Development’s Newest Georgetown Area Hotel in Downtown Washington D.C.”

Filed under Green Lodging, Hotel Industry, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Technology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 9, 2014 · 8:29 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Sex Predator Busted at Cleveland Hotel Trying to Arrange Sex With Teen Girls”

“…Marquand is currently serving a five year prison sentence for attempted rape and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor….ImageAssistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Brett Kyker is the task force Director and warns, ‘We aren’t sitting waiting for crime to be committed, we’re going out, actively trying to identify predators living among us.’…”

An exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation reveals a sex predator caught on tape during an undercover operation by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

James Marquand, 31, traveled from his home in Flint, Michigan to a Cleveland area hotel where he believed he had arranged to have sex with two young girls ages 12 and 14.

For more: http://bit.ly/1iyvByL

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Sex Predator Busted at Cleveland Hotel Trying to Arrange Sex With Teen Girls”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | May 8, 2014 · 9:00 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risk: “Environmental Heat Solutions Warns That Bed Bug Cases Could Rise Due to Increase in Travel and Lack of Awareness”

“…One of the most important places to check for bed bugs, according to experts, is in hotel rooms. This is because of the amount of movement through them. Bed bugs can ‘hitchhike’ on clothing and take up residence in mattresses. Image From there, they can attach to new hosts and ‘hitchhike’ out...Individuals who are dealing with bug infestations should consider methods like bed bug heat treatment and canine bed bug detection to remedy the problem...”

Environmental Heat Solutions is spreading awareness about the rise of bed bug infestations and the reasons behind them.

There’s a silent epidemic that is sweeping the United States, and that epidemic is bed bugs. Due to a number of circumstances and a lack of proper education, more and more businesses and families are struggling with getting rid of bed bugs.

For more: http://bit.ly/1gbWqIR

4 Comments

Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Hotel Industry, Maintenance, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,