DALLAS, July 2, 2018 -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") announced today that it has completed the previously disclosed acquisition of the 252-room Hilton Alexandria Old Town located in Alexandria, Virginia, for total consideration of $111 million. 

This acquisition of the Hilton Alexandria Old Town is expected to be Ashford Trust's first hotel acquisition to benefit from the Enhanced Return Funding Program (the "Program" or "ERFP"), which was announced on June 26, 2018.  In connection with this acquisition and subject to the terms of the ERFP, Ashford Inc. has committed to provide Ashford Trust with approximately $11.1 million of cash via the future purchase of hotel furniture, fixtures, and equipment ("FF&E") at Ashford Trust properties.  

Concurrent with the completion of the acquisition, the Company has financed the hotel with a $73.5 million non-recourse mortgage loan.  The interest-only loan has a term of five years and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR + 2.45%.  The property will continue to be operated as a Hilton under a management agreement with Hilton.

Inclusive of the funds provided by Ashford Inc. under the Program in relation to the Hilton Alexandria Old Town acquisition and assuming the Ashford Inc. funding were to occur at closing, the adjusted net purchase price per key equates to approximately $396,000, and represents, as of May 31, 2018, an estimated trailing 12-month capitalization rate on net operating income of 8.3% and a trailing 12-month EBITDA multiple of 10.9x according to the Company's estimates based upon unaudited financial data provided by the sellers¹.  The Company believes the ERFP would improve the estimated leveraged internal rate of return of the transaction by approximately 1,130 basis points², assuming leverage of 66% on the acquired hotel³.  

"We are pleased to complete the acquisition of the Hilton Alexandria as it is not only an accretive addition to our portfolio, but it is also the first transaction expected to benefit from the new Enhanced Return Funding Program with Ashford Inc. which we believe should further improve the returns to our shareholders," said Douglas A. Kessler, Ashford Trust's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Going forward, we expect this funding arrangement will be a clear competitive advantage for us as we continue to look for opportunities to grow our platform and increase stockholder value." 

Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing opportunistically in the hospitality industry in upper upscale, full-service hotels.

Ashford has created an Ashford App for the hospitality REIT investor community.  The Ashford App is available for free download at Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store by searching "Ashford."

Athens, GA – July 2, 2018 – Marriott International announced today that the SpringHill Suites Athens Downtown/University Area is scheduled to open this Monday, July 2, 2018. The 200-suite hotel, located at 220 South Hull Street, will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Motel Enterprises Inc. and managed by Benson’s Hospitality Group of Athens, Georgia.

The SpringHill Suites Athens Downtown/University Area is located downtown and adjacent to the University of Georgia. The hotel offers guests convenient access to the Classic Center, Sanford Stadium and the Georgia Theater.

“As a brand opening a new hotel every 10 days on average, we are delighted that the SpringHill Suites Athens Downtown/University Area is the latest addition to our growing number of properties across the United States and Canada,” said Callette Nielsen, vice president and global brand manager, SpringHill Suites. “Our all-suite offering, and convenient amenities offer guests a little extra to help them enjoy their stay. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, we understand that guests want to connect to the local area. We make it our business to help them do that by offering our local expertise, and bringing the community into the hotel through our 24/7 market, bar and at our Art of Local events.”

Ideal for business and leisure travelers alike, the new hotel offers a little extra space with suites larger than a typical hotel room. Separate living, working and sleeping spaces provide guests with flexibility and functionality. The hotel offers comfortable beds, soft linens and plush pillows to allow for an optimum night’s sleep. Each suite also features the SpringHill Suites’ custom, three-in-one, West Elm sofa which converts from a sofa to a daybed to a trundle bed – without sacrificing its stylish good looks offering additional space for relaxation, as well as hand-selected artwork with a local theme. The designated work space offers a well-lit desk space to ensure maximum productivity for those who need to get down to business. Each suite also comes with a microwave oven and a mini-refrigerator.

Featuring a new design that adds depth and sophistication to the décor, the hotel’s lobby is a great venue for conducting casual meetings or simply to socialize with SpringHill Suites’ enhanced evening experience. Guests can enjoy delicious food and beverage offerings, including local craft beer and premium wines available through the 1918 Lounge or the 24/7 Market.

Daily complimentary breakfast is filled with hot, healthy and indulgent choices including fresh strawberries, steel cut oatmeal, cold cuts, cheeses and much more. This is SpringHill Suites’ way of making sure guests have a good start to their day. The hotel also offers business services, complimentary Wi-Fi, same-day dry cleaning, guest laundry facilities, a fitness center and two outdoor patios, one that offers a fire pit as well as television. The property also offers 2,748 square feet of meeting space to accommodate meetings and functions of up to 160 people.

Cocoa Beach, Fla. – July 2, 2018 – Westgate Resorts announced today the opening of the first upscale all-suite resort in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort is an all-two-bedroom Polynesian-themed oceanfront resort located one mile from the iconic Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier on Orlando’s closest beach. Formerly known as Wakulla Suites, Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort has undergone a $15 million comprehensive renovation which includes full upgrades to every aspect of the property, including its 120 two-bedroom suites, hotel lobby, courtyard and pool.


“Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort has been completely transformed and reimagined into Cocoa Beach’s most luxurious resort and beachfront paradise,” said Westgate Resorts Founder & CEO David Siegel. “This resort sets the new standard for luxury beach vacationing on the Central Florida Space Coast.”

In addition to premium accommodations, the resort is further distinguished among Cocoa Beach resorts by Wakulla Falls - a new 75,000-gallon tropical-themed waterpark featuring a 335-foot lazy river, small slides and a Polynesian-themed children’s splash pad.

The resort’s on-site dining outlets, Aloha Tiki Bar and Beachside Café, will open in September, offering guests additional dining options onsite.

Each of the newly renovated, upscale two-bedroom deluxe villas at Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort accommodates up to six guests and features a king bed in the master bedroom, two twin beds in the second bedroom, queen sleeper sofa and a fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Nearly all the suites can be combined into four-bedroom deluxe villas.

In addition to its proximity to the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier, Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort provides convenient access to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Port Canaveral, one of the country’s top cruise ports. 

Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort joins the ever-growing list of new Westgate Resorts properties in premier vacation destinations throughout the United States. In June 2018, Westgate Resorts acquired the former Hilton New York Grand Central located in the historic Tudor City neighborhood within the heart of Midtown Manhattan’s East Side and rebranded the hotel as Westgate New York City.  

For more information about Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort, visit www.WestgateCocoaBeach.com.

DENVER – JULY 2, 2018 –  Anchoring downtown Denver’s thriving Union Station neighborhood, Hotel Indigo Denver announces the appointment of Scott Paradine as general manager. Paradine joins Hotel Indigo Denver with 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Spending the first five years of his career as an operational manager, Paradine moved onto sales for nine years. 

Most recently, Paradine spent four years as general manager at the Fairfax Marriott in Fairfax, Virginia, where he led the hotel to the top 12 percent in North America for GSS Overall Satisfaction in 2013, 2015 and 2016. He undertook several large projects during his tenure, including a complete renovation, restaurant construction and redesign, elevator modernization, pool-to-fitness center conversion and more. Paradine also helped the hotel to realize gross operating profit growth of more than 40 percent from 2013 to 2016. In 2017, he was elected to the Board of Directors for Visit Fairfax as a result of his achievements and commitment to the hotel and area.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Hotel Indigo Denver team, “said Paradine. “With an uncompromising focus on quality, I look forward to providing a refreshing and unique hotel experience that encourages our guests to get out and explore our neighborhoods.” 

Prior to his time at Fairfax Marriott, Paradine was the director of sales and marketing at Richmond Marriott in Richmond, Virginia; the associate director of sales at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Anaheim, California; and he served as the senior sales manager at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, where he booked more than $14.5 million in rooms sales in two years.

Originally from Colorado, Paradine is a self-proclaimed Broncos fan and an avid skier. He’s passionate about travel – citing a recent favorite trip through Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand – and live music.

Drive More Direct Bookings Without Sacrificing Your Bottom Line

By Mark Lewis-Brown, CEO & President at Vertical Booking USA

One of the best – and worst – things about the hospitality industry is how much most hotels have in common: they’re offering relatively similar products and have a great deal of competition within their immediate marketplace - other hotels, alternative accommodations and the OTAs - which, in most cases, leaves hoteliers waging an uphill battle to profitability.

But instead of thinking outside of the box when it comes to boosting direct bookings, decreasing the cost of acquisition and increasing overall RevPAR, most hoteliers continue to follow the old-school playbook (which probably smells as musty as my Great Aunt Tessie at this point) every day, every month and every year, hoping and praying for a different result.

Making an already difficult, competitive and complex market even more so, technology – and consumer demand – continue to evolve at a lightning-fast pace with the coming-of-age of the newest generation of travelers: Millennials (cue groans here!). 

So, obviously, that’s the bad part of our current shared experiences. But, wait… it’s not time to run for hills just yet!

Let’s not forget all the good happening in the hospitality industry now: legislations are changing that help hotels win back market share from the OTAs, Airbnb began allowing hotels to list their rooms on the site (giving hoteliers a new sales channel) and we, as an industry, are learning, each and every day, how to improve our operational strategies and, as a result, boost our bottom lines. Today, hoteliers also have access to a smorgasbord of operational technology that helps boost direct bookings and RevPAR, without even lifting a finger. Three cheers for automation!

All that is to say that today’s hoteliers have a great opportunity to use innovative, out-of-the-box reservations, revenue and channel management strategies that will differentiate your property from the hundreds or, even, thousands of direct and indirect competitors in your marketplace – which is the subject of our article, the third and final part of our Discounting is for Dummies article series. (If you’ve fallen behind on your reading, read Part One and Part Two here). Today, we will examine how automation - using technology that you may even already have - can help boost your property’s bottom line: more specifically, I will share tips and tricks that will help your property leverage the power of your CRS to improve your direct booking conversion rates AND boost your RevPAR.

Of course, we all know what a CRS is: it is the hub connecting all your distribution channels – including your brand.com website, metasearch engines, the GDSs and online travel agencies - to your property management system (PMS). You may (or may not) also be familiar with the top benefits of a CRS:

• An effective CRS gives your property access to ALL your distribution channels through a single platform, making it quick and easy to manage inventory, pricing, the property’s website, among many other valuable features.
   
• A good CRS grows as your business does. Whether your property gets a huge influx of reservations at one time (because of a special event) or because your property continues growing in popularity over time, your CRS should adjust its performance accordingly to ensure that it is as productive as possible – no matter how meteoric your growth becomes.
   
• Your CRS can make it much easier for your property to handle complex reservation requests (hello, bleisure travelers!) with no extra muss or fuss.
   

But, there is one additional, lesser-known benefit of using a CRS: by using a sophisticated, integrated, well-rounded CRS solution, your property can increase your direct booking conversation rates.

**MIC DROP**

Just kidding, I’ll pick it back up to tell you how to get your CRS started on boosting your direct bookings, TODAY. By adding these built-in CRS features into your reservation management strategy, your property will quickly see the impact that it can have on your property’s occupancy, ADR and RevPAR.

So, let’s get started now with the first CRS feature that you should leverage NOW: 

FEATURE: OTA Rate Comparison Pop-Up

The new and largest generation of travelers (read: Millennials) are primarily looking for a great travel experience, BUT they also prioritize value, as they often travel for much longer periods of time than previous generations did. Unfortunately, most consumers believe that the room rates on the OTAs are much lower than offered through properties’ websites, making it unlikely that a Millennial will book directly without double-checking rates offered by the OTAs and metasearch engines.

But there’s an app (platform?!) for that!

Your CRS can enable OTA Rate Comparison Pop-Ups to potential guests who are checking the availability and pricing of your rooms on your brand.com website; the pop-ups show real-time rates from the top OTAs and metasearch engines, making your potential guest comfortable that he/she is getting the best rate on their upcoming trip – and making them more likely to book directly.

This feature also benefits hotels; using OTA Rate Comparison Pop-Ups is a great way for your revenue management team to ensure that the property’s OTA room rates automatically match the lowest rate, while remaining in parity.

FEATURE: Persuasive Messaging & Tagging

While shopping online, have you ever seen a message in the corner of your screen saying: “Hurry, there is only one more of this item in stock!” If you’re like most people, you will click BUY immediately; the fact that it is almost out-of-stock made you realize that you CANNOT live without it.

The Persuasive Messaging & Tagging feature shows a potential guest that others are looking at and/or booking rooms, at that exact moment (social proof) and that the property is so popular that they are almost completely booked (scarcity). The combination of these two psychological triggers are powerful ones, and ones that your CRS can help your property leverage to boost direct bookings.

This strategy is especially effective when marketing to Millennials; experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out) is highly effective at driving action, as “the majority of adult Millennials stated that they want to say yes to everything due to the fear of missing out (as shown in a study done in the US and UK).”

And, the best part of using FOMO to boost direct bookings: vacations and travel are the one of the most FOMO-inducing experiences for Millennials, making this feature is a MUST if you want to boost bookings with this valuable demographic.

FEATURE: Secret, Locked Deals

This feature helps hotels to use the psychological trigger of reciprocity, in which the property gives the potential guest something special (access to lower rates) in exchange for their email address (and permission to add them to your email marketing list). Secret rates make potential guests feel like VIPs, which makes them more likely to book with you AND it gives you the opportunity to market to them regularly (a good way to increase repeat visits -  the most profitable ones for hotels!).

FEATURE: Abandoned Cart Recovery Strategy 

Like in the retail industry, this feature encourages guests who are about to abandon the reservation to complete the booking, using a fully customized pop-up message. Simple but also, highly effective!

FEATURE: Competitor's Rate Checker 

Are you always competing for guests with one (or many) direct competitors in your city? Looking for an easy way to compare their rates without having to search each property’s site manually? The Competitor’s Rate Checker feature makes it easy for the revenue management team to monitor the rates of your pesky competitors, in real-time, from the main online distribution portals; this enables rate changes on the fly and an increase in occupancy because your rates will continue to beat the rates of those dorks over at INSERT COMPETING HOTEL NAME HERE.

FEATURE: Metasearch Management Tool 

Consumers LOVE metasearch channels, as they are the OTA equivalent of the OTA Rate Comparison Pop-Up feature that we discussed earlier: they allow potential guests to see ALL of the available rates on ALL of the OTA sites and, therefore, feel more comfortable knowing that they got the best room rate possible.

But, I would bet than many hotels don’t feel the same way about metasearch channels. Managing, monitoring and updating rates on the OTAs, PLUS the metasearch engines can get tiresome; after all, revenue managers are already spending, what must feel like one million years, looking at data, making calculations and updating rates across all these channels.

Having a Metasearch Management Tool integrated into your CRS allows the property’s revenue management team to manage, monitor and connect with the top metasearch engines, all from one simple platform. Rates and availability are pulled from the booking engine and sent to the metasearch platform, with all clicks directed to the booking engine on the property’s website.

Metasearch, managed!

FEATURE: Alternative Offers 

Most hoteliers and revenue managers focus on two opportunities (during the consumer booking cycle) to boost revenue: when the guest chooses their room type and then once they have checked-in, with the possibility of buying additional services or food and beverage on-site.

But how many hotels are thinking about the opportunity to upsell (beyond the basic: “Want a fancier room? No? OK.”)? I’ll tell you, it’s not as many as there should be.

Major key alert: upselling is a huge revenue booster and your CRS should integrate functions that automate upselling for every customer who moves from looking to booking, via your brand.com booking engine. Instead of just offering a fancier room (as ALL hotels do, and which most customers rarely consider because it’s so unnecessarily expensive), the Alternative Offers feature in a CRS can automatically suggest special promotions for guests who choose to stay for additional nights and/or can offer bundle packages during the room selection phase of the booking cycle (among many other upselling options, designed according to your property’s business goals and amenities).

Upselling is basically free money, so shouldn’t you have a CRS who will handle that for you, with no muss and no fuss? (Hint: the only right answer is YES!!)

FEATURE: Flexible Date Calendar

My favorite airline booking tool is Google Flights; using their calendar feature, it’s never been easier to compare rates and determine which days make it most affordable to fly. Today, there are so many travelers (i.e. digital nomads and business travelers) who have the flexibility to choose their travel dates to decrease their overall spend – instead of making decisions based on a set date of travel, as was traditionally how people booked flights.

Until recently, there was no tool that allowed travelers the same flexibility when booking a hotel stay; now, sophisticated CRS solutions can show potential guests room rates for a specific date range on a calendar, making it easy for them to find and book the least expensive stay possible – no extra clicks required!

Now, I know that was a long one article so thanks for sticking with me all the way to the end! Let’s finish this article with one very simple question: does your CRS offer all these revenue-boosting features?

Once again, the only right answer is YES!!

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is officially accepting entries for its 2018 Adrian Awards, celebrating excellence in travel marketing. Now in their 62nd year, the Adrian Awards recognize standout brands and agencies for their innovation and creativity in hospitality advertising, digital marketing, and public relations campaigns.

“The Adrian Awards acknowledge the impressive work of the winners,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI, “but the full impact of these awards extends beyond that. By spotlighting the creative thinking that fuels the winning campaigns, the Adrians challenge and inspire the industry as a whole to think outside the box and ‘step up’ their marketing game.”

“This year’s theme for the Adrian Awards is ‘Just enter,’” said Fran Brasseux, CHSE, CHBA, executive vice president, HSMAI. “We’re playing upon the idea that to get the recognition you deserve for successful marketing campaigns—especially in a time where there is increasing competition for consumers’ attention—you can’t sit on the sidelines.”

Travel industry professionals and agencies compete in three divisions: advertising, digital marketing, and public relations. Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be given in each category. Platinum winners are selected as the most extraordinary entrants, and the highest distinction—“Best of Show” —is granted to the top Platinum winners.

In addition, HSMAI is introducing two new awards for 2018:

• Facebook Mobile Video Award (Digital Marketing Single Entry and Campaign) – The award given in partnership with Facebook will evaluate campaigns based on how their creative assets were built to capture attention on mobile and their usage of measurement solutions to understand impact on real business results.
   
• Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Entrants in this category will be asked to showcase their efforts in areas such as environmental impact, employee relations, community support, volunteering, and philanthropy.
   

The Adrian Awards’ early entry deadline is July 20, 2018 and the final deadline is August 22, 2018. All entries for the Adrian Awards must be submitted online. In addition, HSMAI is accepting nominations for “The HSMAI Top 25: Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization 2018,” and Lifetime Achievement honors. For submission guidelines and award information, visit http://www.adrianawards.com.

The Adrian Award entries will be judged by a broadened base of advertising, digital marketing and public relations experts and leading members of the travel industry. Professionals interested in being a judge must have at least eight years of hospitality, travel or tourism marketing, or specific media experience. For more information or to apply please visit: http://www.adrianawards.com/competition/judging.asp.

For more information on the Adrian Awards competition please contact Ellen Wilson at ewilson@hsmai.org, visit www.adrianawards.com, or follow Adrian Awards news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adrianawards. For information on becoming an Adrian Awards partner, contact Elise Rhinehart at erhinehart@hsmai.org.

PORTLAND, Ore. and MCLEAN, Va. – July 3, 2018 – Today, Canopy by Hilton, Hilton’s (NYSE: HLT) lifestyle hotel brand, alongside PM Hotel Group, a leading, national hotel management company and The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), a privately-held, full-service real estate acquisition, development and management company, announce the opening of the brand’s first West Coast property, Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District. Located in a revitalized industrial zone that has quickly become a hot neighborhood with indie boutiques, art galleries, microbreweries, green spaces and eateries, the property brings a new lifestyle hospitality offering to the Pearl District in the heart of downtown Portland.

“As our brand continues to develop in North America, we are thrilled to bring Canopy by Hilton to its first West Coast home in Portland,” said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. “The Pearl District neighborhood is a natural fit for our lifestyle brand and we look forward to our guests and neighbors enjoying a fresh, comfortable and welcoming experience.”

“We believe strongly in the Canopy by Hilton brand and the focus on delivering authentic travel experiences that are connected to the hotels and neighborhoods that they call home,” said Dave Pollin, co-president and co-founder of The Buccini/Pollin Group. “As a native of Portland, this project is personal for me. Portland Pearl District is the second North American Canopy by Hilton property that our team has launched with Hilton and we remain committed to the brand’s vision.”

Locally Inspired Design

The 153-room hotel is inspired by its surrounding neighborhood, featuring a thoughtful design for comfort and function. All guestrooms, including the 46 premium rooms, feature nine-foot floor-to-ceiling windows.

The hotel is a LEED Gold certified building that features industrial finishes such as hot rolled steel metal beams, brick walls and concrete floors in parts of the lobby, café & reception area, known as Canopy Central. The guest rooms will feature an interpretation of a “canopy,” which will extend over the front of the bed and is made of timber resembling the Oregon state tree, a Douglas Fir, creating a direct connection to the beauty and natural wonder of the Pacific Northwest. Guests of Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District can also take advantage of the only hotel rooftop fitness center in the city.

The hotel’s exterior acts as a symbolic bridge between the Pearl District’s old and new structures, thoughtfully incorporating materials that reflect and complement the neighborhood’s past and future. Casement windows at street level allow activities in the hotel to carry out onto the sidewalks of Glisan Street, creating outdoor seating and an inviting setting for both guests and passersby. Organically incorporating art throughout the hotel is an ongoing theme, reflected in common spaces such as the art wall in the guest reception area. The oiled bronze-inspired façade of the building – which is an art installation itself – changes its golden hue in synchronicity with the passing phases of daylight.

Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District’s art curator, Elizabeth Leach, selects works from local artists to showcase around the hotel. In addition to the property’s permanent art collection, the hotel is home to a rotating exhibition space. Guests may also relax and enjoy the two-story winter garden, blending nature into the hotel’s public space.

Eat, Drink, Smile

Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District provides an authentically local experience and energetic spirit where guests can start the day with an artisanal, complimentary breakfast highlighted by fresh local ingredients. The property is home to Canopy Central, led by Lead Culinary Enthusiast Sara Woods and featuring a regionally-influenced menu. At night, guests can unwind and sample the latest local drinks direct from the innovative beverage makers of Portland’s Distillery Row as part of the property’s complimentary evening tasting.

Just-Right Meeting Space

Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District also provides a prime destination for groups, meetings and special occasions with its convenient downtown location, nearby transportation options and proximity to business headquarters, startups, creative firms and technology companies. With 1,093 square feet of collaborative meeting space, the hotel offers unique settings accommodating small and medium sized groups in non-traditional areas, such as the community table in the lush winter garden or one of its four private meeting rooms. Each meeting space is named as a dedication and remembrance to a community or person who played a significant part in Portland’s history including Japantown, a settlement that existed before WWII in the Old Town-Chinatown neighborhood; The Hattie, named in honor of African-American suffragette Harriett “Hattie” Redmond; The Rutherford, named for civil rights activists, Otto and Verdell Rutherford, who championed civil rights legislation in Oregon a decade before it was on the national agenda; and The Henry, named for Henry Weinhard, Portland's first microbrewer and a pioneer in the city's craft brewing history. 

The fully equipped event space is ideal for hosting lunches, extended work sessions, cocktail parties and smaller functions – all with the ability to take in natural light from the winter garden’s skylight ceiling and open the floor-to-ceiling glass doors as desired.

At Canopy by Hilton every guest will experience an energetic, thoughtfully local stay. This experience begins upon check-in at Canopy Central, where travelers can unwind in an open, welcoming space with complimentary Wi-Fi and a nightly tasting of locally sourced brews, wine and spirits. Post check-in, guests enjoy the efficient design of their “Just-Right Room,” providing the highest level of comfort. Guests can also engage Canopy Enthusiasts – on-site neighborhood experts – for their insights, including recommendations on the best restaurants and experiences in the neighborhood available to explore on Canopy by Hilton complimentary bikes. The hotel is pet-friendly and offers its furry guests welcome gifts, orthopedic dog beds and more from Planet Dog. The hotel is located at 425 NW 9^th Avenue, Portland, Ore. 97209.

For more information about Canopy by Hilton, visit canopybyhilton.com or http://press.canopybyhilton.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter using the hashtag #PositivelyYours to explore fresh, forward thinking in travel, design and wellness.

By Stuart Pallister

Schools today face a dilemma. Should they focus on meeting the current needs of the industry or ensure their students will be able to adapt to uncertain futures?

Ted Teng, President and CEO of Leading Hotels of the World, put it succinctly at the recent Window 2 the Future event staged by Lausanne Hospitality Consulting at Ecole hôteliere de Lausanne.

“When I graduated in 1979, if I asked someone what technology I should master, the answer would have been PMS (property management system software) or POS (point of sale). They wouldn’t have said GDS (global distribution system), the PC (personal computer) … or internet.”

So how can schools make their students ‘future-proof’?

Institutions are currently exploring the use of a range of technological tools to support their teaching objectives, tools such as augmented or virtual reality, as well as digital courses or MOOCs (massive open online courses). But as the future will always remain somewhat unpredictable, schools will have to make sure students are ready for virtually anything.

"I really do think coming to an institution like EHL, it’s not just to learn the right ways,” Teng said.  “It’s to learn the right ways as being done now, so you can create the new right ways. You’re not just here to learn but you’re here to learn how to learn."

“Helping students build the foundation for 40 years of learning is really the purpose and the mission of an institution like this.”

Earlier, Professor James Larus, dean of EPFL’s School of Computer and Communication Sciences, also spoke about how his previous studies had little relevance in today’s world. Change in his field, he said, has been constant and remains constant.  

"Pretty much everything I learned in school is out of date. In the next couple of years it will be true of other fields because you’ve all jumped on the same bandwagon and technology moves forward incredibly rapidly."

Professors, he said, want to produce graduates who know the fundamentals – the theory, the math and ‘the ideas we hope will be true in 5-10 years, let alone 20 years.”

“Industry comes to us and says we need people who know the current programming language, how to use this particular piece of software.” In response, schools have said that would be a mistake. “We wouldn’t be doing the right thing by our students or the people who hire our students because they’ll be out of date in five years.”

Larus described this as a constant battle between what’s useful now and what would be good in the long term.

"You need to teach people how to think, how to learn, because the only way they’re going to be useful and relevant over their entire career of 30-40 years is if they change and adapt."

Larus was speaking during a panel discussion on the future of education at the Window 2 the Future event. During the session, panelists spoke about adapability and critical thinking being key. “What we need to teach (students) is to be able to anticipate and adapt,” said Nouria Hernandez, rector of the University of Lausanne. She added that it was important for students to conduct research projects, even if they were ‘very small’.

"Every student who gets a bachelor’s or a degree from a specialized school should have done a little bit of research and the research should be ‘honest’. What I mean by this is that we should not know the answer to the research we’re doing."

That, she said, would expose students to uncertainty.

Dominique Turpin, dean of external relations at IMD business school, spoke about the technological tools available, including the potential for mobile learning. However, he also pointed out that given the average age of faculty at the school is 50, his colleagues may “not be ready to get involved in this type of pedagogy.”

Although there had been a great deal of excitement around MOOCs a decade ago, he added, these digital courses had not proved to be as successful as many had expected. Professors who were able to communicate face-to-face were not necessarily good in front of a video camera. Plus attention spans had decreased.

The dean of business and economics school HEC Lausanne, Jean-Philippe Bonardi, also noted that although there had been ‘tremendous’ improvements through rankings and accreditation, there would also be ‘strong resistance’ to change. “We already know that some of the topics we teach routinely every day in our schools are probably not going to be that important anymore.”

“We’re going to have to change,” he said, adding that it’s going to be “very important to be interdisciplinary, much more than before”.

’Balkanization’ of fields in universities is very real,” Hernandez said, adding “there is a tendency to protect one’s turf against invaders.” But faculties at universities, she said, would have to ‘wake up to such things.’

Larus, who had worked for Microsoft after becoming a professor and then went back into academia, hopes we will see more faculty who have experience in industry going back and forth. This could clearly help narrow any gap between academia and what he calls the ‘real world.’

“To me this is a natural progression. What I learnt in one domain was incredibly useful to me in another domain. The future is very much that way, at least in my field that we see my colleagues feeling much more comfortable spending extended periods outside academia, call it the real world if you want, and learning something that you can’t learn by just doing research and not applying the research, and then coming back and teaching the students in a very different way than you would have before you left. So I’m hopeful that is a trend that can continue.”

The panel discussion on education was moderated by Dr Inès Blal, the new executive dean of EHL. Window 2 the Future, organized by Lausanne Hospitality Consulting, was held at Ecole hôteliere de Lausanne on April 30^th, 2018.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 3, 2018 -- The Hilton Charlotte University Place is thrilled to announce the appointment of Robert Benett to Executive Chef. Chef Benett brings exceptional culinary leadership and expertise to the property’s on-site dining options, Edgewater Bar & Grille and Fountainview Catering.

Hilton Charlotte University Place offers a tranquil lakeside escape near UNC Charlotte and the area’s best shopping destinations. Edgewater Bar & Grille features natural light with a stunning view of the beautiful Lake at University Place. The Hilton staff is happy to welcome Chef Benett and is confident he will continue to enhance the dining experience for each guest.

“We’re very excited to have Chef Benett join our team,” said Brandon Devoe, Director of Food and Beverage. “We are certain that he will continue to bring each and every guest a truly unique experience at Edgewater Bar & Grille.”

Chef Benett grew up in Suwanee, Georgia. He attended culinary school in New York City at the French Culinary Institute. After his studies Chef Benett had the privilege of interning with Mexican chef and Food Network star Aaron Sanchez in New York City. Since then he has held positions at 5-Diamond Resorts such as, The Phoenician and The JW Marriot Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona, most recently the Omni Charlotte Hotel, prior to joining the Hilton Charlotte University Place.

Chef Benett is an avid supporter of using fresh, locally grown ingredients in the kitchen. He is excited to combine his French culinary background with his Southern roots to produce an amazing experience for the Charlotte community.

To learn more about Chef Benett and the Hilton Charlotte University Place, or to make a reservation with Edgewater Bar & Grille, please call (704) 547-7444 or visit http://bit.ly/1hAQWLT.

Brussels/ Abidjan - July 3, 2018 - Radisson Hospitality AB, publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and part of Radisson Hotel Group, is proud to announce the signing of a new Radisson hotel in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The Radisson Hotel & Apartments Abidjan Plateau signing brings the group’s Africa portfolio to 86 hotels and almost 18,000 rooms in operation and under development.

Abidjan is one of the most populous cities in Africa and the largest business hub in the Francophone Africa.

Radisson Hotel & Apartments Abidjan Plateau will be located on the Boulevard de la République in the heart of the Plateau – the central business district – allowing easy access across the city for guests visiting for business and leisure.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Radisson Hotel & Apartments Abidjan Plateau is the second Radisson hotel signing in the country, and is part of our bigger plan to roll-out the Radisson brand across EMEA, building on the success of Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED and Park Inn by Radisson. The new Radisson hotel will be a hospitality leader in Abidjan offering the largest conference center in the city center, stylish accommodation and the city’s first roof top bar and restaurant.”

“Through the development of the Radisson Hotel & Apartments Abidjan Plateau, we are bringing our bold vision for Africa to life,” said Mohamed Ben Ouda, Managing Director of Palmeraie Development Group. “We’re proud to be partnering with Radisson Hotel Group and look forward to a longstanding relationship with an industry leader.”

The 152-room Radisson Hotel & Apartments Abidjan Plateau is a new construction and scheduled to open in 2021, offering 122 standard rooms, 24 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments. Other facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a sky bar and fitness room. The city’s largest conference space will have eight meeting rooms over 1,000 sqm area.

SAN DIEGO, July 5, 2018 - RAR Hospitality and El Cordova Hotel are proud to announce brand new accommodations and completed renovations at the 43-room boutique property, enhancing the affordable luxury guest experience. Hotel management firm RAR Hospitality managed the $1M hotel upgrade which was completed in early June 2018.

“The completion of this renovation is a milestone for the iconic El Cordova Hotel,” said Bob Rauch, founder and CEO of RAR Hospitality. “Nothing can replace the historic property’s natural beauty and charm, and El Cordova is dedicated to always providing guests with the utmost comfort, personalized service and the latest amenities.”

El Cordova Hotel offers an informal Spanish garden and courtyard environment, a heated outdoor pool, hot tub and attentive staff to ensure a memorable stay. New to the hotel are the updated lobby, standard and deluxe guest rooms, and spacious one to two-bedroom suites with comfortable bedroom furniture, modernized bathroom fixtures, thoughtful amenities such as free WiFi internet and flat screen televisions with complimentary HBO.

Standard rooms - Standard rooms are 200 square feet and include king-size beds, bathrooms, closets and study desks.

Deluxe rooms - The 250-square-foot Deluxe rooms feature a single king bed, walk-in closet and full bathroom.

One-bedroom suites - Ranging from 500 to 600 square feet, the one-bedroom suites have complete living room area with a sleeper sofa, full kitchen, small dining area, separate bedroom, and full bathroom.

Two-bedroom suites - The two bedrooms each include queen-size beds and the suites have one bathroom to share. Full kitchen with appliances such as a refrigerator, microwave, and in-room coffee maker, dining area, and living room with sleeper sofa make this suite ideal for small families or groups.

Deluxe two-bedroom suites - The Deluxe two-bedroom suites have two separate bedrooms with a king bed in one room and either a king bed or two queen beds in the other room. The suites include in-room kitchens, living rooms, dining areas and two full bathrooms suitable for larger families.

Casa Grande suite - With 1,500 square feet, the unique suite has a master and a secondary bedroom with specialty king beds and a very spacious living room. Accommodations include an 800-square-foot meeting room, formal dining room with conference table, complete kitchen, executive bathroom with vanity bathtub and separate shower, and balcony with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Located on Coronado Island’s quintessential Orange Ave., the hotel provides the ideal seclusion that the island has to offer for an idyllic getaway and a prime location near popular attractions. El Cordova is one block from majestic beaches of the “crown jewel” island, within walking distance to bohemian beach shops, art galleries, restaurants, and recreational activities including surfing, sailing, and biking, and just a short drive and ferry ride away from Downtown San Diego. Daily room rates start from $269.

El Cordova is part of RAR Hospitality’s boutique hotel collection including Carlsbad by the Sea Resort, The Keating Hotel and The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows. El Cordova Hotel is located at 1351 Orange Ave, Coronado and for more information, please visit www.ElCordovaHotel.com.

By Dr. Carlos Martin-Rios

Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) recently released a comprehensive Hospitality Innovation Industry Report, authored by Dr. Carlos Martin-Rios, an Associate Professor at EHL. 

Dr. Rios has been tracking hospitality innovation for the past several years, surveying hundreds of managers and interviewing more than 50 executives and thought-leaders to produce this report.

The key objective of this research is to increase knowledge about the adoption of innovative practices by global hospitality businesses, and to support the integration of innovation strategy into hospitality business strategy. 

Understanding what innovation is to cultivate it

Few would argue that innovation is essential to business growth. Yet, it seems surprising that for many hoteliers something as simple as defining innovation can be a challenge.

Innovation is both a process and an outcome.

• As a process, innovations can impact a corporation’s internal stakeholders (inward-facing), target end-users (outward-facing), draw from outside knowledge (open innovation) or respond to vertical integration and exclusive control (closed innovation).
   
• As an outcome, innovations are defined in terms of their degree of newness or radicalness. Solutions that are new to an organization are counted among ‘incremental innovations’. A ‘radical innovation’ provides solutions that are ‘new to the world’.
   

Yet, the hospitality industry is less prone to innovate than other service activities.

In the hotel industry, like in most service activities, the interplay between customers and firms broadens the scope of innovation and departs from the narrower technology-driven innovation dominant in manufacturing.

However, not only developing truly innovative concepts (i.e. ideas that add value to an existing service) and embedding them within a hotel’s operations, present their own sets of challenges - but as true innovations often breed copycats, creating strong differentiators and barriers to inhibit imitation, can be daunting for hotel operators.

Hospitality Innovation Report: Key Takeaways

Who are the biggest innovators in hospitality?

We put six innovation scenarios to test and asked hospitality industry executives what scenario(s) were more likely to take place in their organization within the next three to five years.

Two main groups emerged:

• One from innovators in big corporations, who intend to move beyond incremental improvements for sources of breakthrough innovation. Although hospitality corporate leaders in innovation remain in the minority and are unevenly distributed across geographies and ownership structures, a few standout companies are demonstrating that innovation can be a driver of renewal, efficiency and lasting business value.
   
• The other from small/medium-sized enterprises (SME) and family businesses, who tend to believe they do not have the resources to develop their own innovation strategies and for whom innovation management will remain elusive.
   

What factors can support driving innovative business practices?

The report identifies seven evidence-based factors that drive innovative business practices, regardless of size, ownership structure or region.

Innovation needs to be more strategic

This was the overwhelming conclusion drawn from the study. 

One leading innovation factor: highly innovative firms have typically engaged in non-technological innovation. Research results show that technological innovation alone will not be sufficient to hold competitive advantage over the long term, so harnessing the non-technical kinds of innovations (in organizational innovation, workplace, marketing strategy or business models) is critical.

One example: investing in technological innovations along with ‘creative workspaces’ where employees are empowered to develop new ideas and test new concepts.

In the short-medium term, innovation is what will determine the productivity perfor­mance and competitiveness of hospitality companies, whether independent hotels or national or multinational chain hotels.

Big hospitality innovators will look beyond incremental improvements for sources of breakthrough innovation.

However, a considerable proportion of executives consider that innovation strategy will remain one of the most elusive dimensions of organizational routine and performance.

• A quarter of leaders surveyed believe that innovation activities will be outsourced to third-party businesses and/or organizations.
   
• A majority of independent hotel owners believe they do not have the necessary resources within the company to develop their own innovation strategies.
   
• International multi-brand hospitality firms seem to be better prepared to develop innovation strategies and to deal with long-term conditions.
   

Nevertheless, the research shows that it must be demand-led, inclusive, sustainable, and open to external collaborations. 

Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s distinctive collection of passionately independent hotels, has unveiled its latest property with the opening of Eugenia de Montijo, situated in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Toledo in Spain. Inspired by the building’s impressive heritage, the hotel fits perfectly into the brand’s unique portfolio of one-of-a-kind boutique hotels around the world that champion the values of vision, design and craft.

“The hotel’s rich heritage, intimate size and chic, modern design creates a unique getaway experience exactly like nothing else,” said John Licence, VP Premium & Select Brands Europe at Marriott International. “We look forward to welcoming guests to Eugenia de Montijo as they discover the unique city of Toledo”.

Housed in the former palace of the Empress Eugenia De Montijo, from which the hotel takes its name, the hotel has 40 guest rooms and two luxurious bedroom suites; the Tiffany, offering a comfortable and spacious abode with a city view, and The Empress with glorious views of the Montes de Toledo, the beautiful mountain that surrounds the city. Designed by renowned Spanish architects Manuel Bernard and Sainz de Vicuña alongside Interior Design Leitmotiv, each space captures the traditional essence of the building’s heritage, with modern and chic finishing touches throughout, from design-led metallic fittings to deluxe velvet furnishings.

Three ancient coffered ceilings above the reception, bar and restaurant, feature elegant tones of graphite, deep blue and white marble and speak to the grandeur of the building. Situated beneath a breath-taking crystal dome is the lively lobby where guests can take a seat and relax at the Tiffany-blue tables and enjoy a range of delicious cocktails.

The hotel’s dining spaces include The Dressing, based on the Empress’ original dressing room where breakfast is now served, and the Mr. Worth Atelier Restaurant, a modern reinvention of a Toledo tavern where guests can indulge in traditional Spanish cuisine, featuring high quality, local market ingredients. If guests would prefer to sample the city’s delicacies in the comfort of the hotel, a local restaurant delivery service is available upon request.

Guests looking to be pampered are welcomed at the hotel’s spa and wellness centre, Eugenia’s Bath, a peaceful and private sanctuary, and the city’s only spa situated in the historical neighbourhood. The spa features a steam bath, sauna and jet-pool facilities, surrounded by breath-taking original Roman architecture. Guests can also treat themselves to a range of health and beauty treatments.

The perfect choice for a charming city retreat, Eugenia de Montijo is also equipped for intimate weddings and corporate conferences with two event spaces, offering a capacity up to 40 people. Additional facilities within the hotel include a small fitness centre.

Nestled within ancient Toledo, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Cathedral and Jewish Quarter, the hotel provides the ultimate destination for travellers and culture seekers to explore Toledo’s many iconic sites including El Greco’s masterpiece at the Church of Santo Tomé, the Cristo de la Luz Mosque, and the Alcázar Fortress. For more information and bookings, please visit https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/madft-eugenia-de-montijo-autograph-collection/

HAIKOU, China—July 6, 2018—HNA Group (“HNA”) today issued the following statement regarding the company’s succession and governance following the death of its co-founder and Chairman, Wang Jian:

“HNA Group’s Board of Directors recently met and has reaffirmed its commitment to the orderly continuity of the company’s strategy and operations, under the leadership of Chairman Chen Feng and Chief Executive Officer Adam Tan. The Board has determined that Chairman Chen will assume the duties of Chairman Wang. Adam Tan will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer.

HNA’s Board and senior management team are comprised of talented individuals with deep global experience, and a long track record of working together successfully. They remain focused on steering the company and its operations through this difficult period.

The disposition of the shares in HNA Group held by Mr. Wang at the time of his death will be addressed in due course, consistent with his pledge to donate them to charity, and in accordance with all applicable legal and regulatory guidelines. HNA Group is committed to providing timely updates, as appropriate, when they become available.”

Contacts

HNA Group
June Wang
jun.wang2@hnair.com
or
Sard Verbinnen & Co
Ron Low, +852-3842-2200
rlow@SARDVERB.com
or
Matt Benson or Robert Rendine, +1-212-687-8080
MBenson@SARDVERB.com
RRendine@SARDVERB.com

Summer is an incredible time of the year. The sun comes out, the days get warmer and longer and most importantly, people take time off to relax. Whether going for a nice relaxing spa break or a trip away from everyday life to a nice hotel, summer is a time where people take a pause to revive. Our partners at Hotel & Spa Tech Live however, have made the most of their time off to work on completely reviving the show’s brand ahead of the 2018 edition. The team behind the event have spent countless hours working to provide their visitors with an incomparable experience…

It all starts with their brand new website. The new layout of Hotel & Spa Tech Live’s web page gives you an exclusive first look at the show’s latest logo, which captures the excitement of new technological advances all while keeping glimpses of vintage hotel styles. New technology in the hotel and spa sector are a key aspect in the rebranding of the show and, as such, the new website boasts various features displaying some of the most forward-thinking products available on the market. With its bright arrangement of colours, the website highlights the exciting futuristic designs that are making their way into the industry. The new Hotel & Spa Tech Live website offers a much more interactive platform which makes it easier to access all of the information about the show. This innovative web page offers a unique experience from the moment it appears on your screen, foreshadowing what to expect from Hotel & Spa Tech Live itself. Have a look now and check for yourself! Go to www.hoteltechlive.co.uk now!

There’s more! The rebranding crosses over every aspect of the show including a completely revamped Hotel Business Insider e-magazine; however, the most significant facet of the new brand is the green and environmentally friendly approach that Hotel & Spa Tech Live has adopted. The show is looking to give back to the environment through partnerships with eco-friendly organisations such as Green Earth Appeal, who have promised to plant one tree for each exhibitor at the event, counterbalancing their footprint on the environment. In their quest to reduce food wastage, the show has joined forces with Too Good To Go, a revolutionary app that has helped hotels, restaurants and food stores “save” over 2.5 million meals already. Their partnership with the Soil Association encourages the setup of organic and ecological principles in the way people farm and eat. These are just some of several initiatives that Hotel & Spa Tech Live have taken in order to promote sustainability, which will be a key theme at the show this year.

With a new look and a brand new way of doing things, Hotel & Spa Tech Live 2018 is set to be the most exciting edition yet; with over 250 exhibitors revolutionising hotels and spas across the UK, 170 game-changing seminars held by the sharpest minds of the industry, unique networking opportunities with top-decision makers, industry-altering panel debates and plenty more features. This year marks the beginning of a new eco-friendly wave for Hotel & Spa Tech Live. Join us, on the 25th & 26th of September at the London ExCeL, at the future of the hotel and spa industries, go see the brand new website and register for your FREE ticket now!

MARSHALLTOWN, IA – This week, the Iowa-based firm Hawkeye Hotels opens the doors at the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 2012 Iowa Avenue in Marshalltown. This is the first InterContinental Hotels Group property in Marshalltown and surrounding areas. With this newest addition, Hawkeye Hotels now owns and manages 17 hotels in its home state.

“At Hawkeye Hotels, we look to invest in communities where a new property will make a positive impact on residents' lives and spur local economic development," said Om Patel, Director of Development for Hawkeye Hotels. "Our new Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Marshalltown is a prime example of this. Building the first IHG property in Marshalltown is a proud step for our team -- we look forward to serving the community, travelers, and all visitors in another great Iowa town."

The hotel is expected to generate a 20-year economic impact of over $200 million through consumer spending, taxes, and job creation. It will offer amenities that cater to a business-travel population with 93 guest rooms.

With $89.61 million dollars in estimated traveler expenditures, Marshall County ranked as the 16th most profitable county in the state in the U.S. Travel Association study “The Economic Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties 2016." Trends have continued to indicate positive economic development in the region.

This hotel is expected to assist in the city's business retention. Officials from Marshall Economic Development have stated that during outreach, they often hear requests for additional quality rooms for corporate travelers and business partners.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites will include a fitness center, bistro and bar, indoor swimming pool, free high-speed wireless internet and large outdoor patio. The hotel's aesthetic is rooted in the Formula Blue Concept, the IHG design prototype that prioritizes sleep quality, simplicity, and ease of maintenance.

Attractions and landmarks in close proximity include: the Bindford House, the Big Treehouse, the Glick-Sower House, Marshall County Historical Society and Marshall County Museum, Marshalltown Community College, and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Other demand generators include employers such as Alliant Energy's power plant, Emerson-Fisher Controls International Headquarters, KBR/Alliant Energy, Koch Nitrogen Co, Siemens Energy, and UnityPoint Health.

Marshall County also remains popular as a business meeting location partially due to the businesses and corporations that have two or more Iowa offices and require a central location to meet.

Austin, Texas – July 6, 2018 – Get ready to be real and be you on long stays. Marriott International’s TownePlace Suites by Marriott Austin North Lakeline is now open for business. On average, a TownePlace Suites opens every six days. Built for travelers looking for a simple and friendly place where they can settle-in, keep their routine, and easily connect to the North Austin area. The new hotel located at 13501 Lyndhurst Street, continues to exemplify the brand's rapid growth. The new hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Tharaldson Hospitality Management of Decatur, Illinois.

“We are excited with the continued growth of the TownePlace Suites brand in the Austin area,” said Diane Mayer, vice president and global brand manager, TownePlace Suites. “At TownePlace Suites, we get it. We want to go above and beyond to do everything we can to make our guests feel comfortable. We encourage our guests to be real, and help them to do so by providing a seamless residential atmosphere with a friendly staff who genuinely care about our guests. That is what our brand is all about, and this property is a great example of that.”

All service team members are thoroughly trained on local knowledge and look forward to connecting guests to the local area. Our floor-to-ceiling TowneMap® also helps guests instantly acclimate themselves to Austin by featuring great places to eat, play and explore. The TownePlace Suites Austin North Lakeline is located within walking distance to the Austin MetroRail and 20 minutes from downtown, and offers guests easy access to HEB Center at Cedar Park, the Lakeline Mall and Concordia University.

Ideal for travelers who need accommodations for longer stays, this new property offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, as well as separate living/working and sleeping areas. Guests can work and relax on their own terms in modern suites that feature full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, adjustable work spaces with built-in shelves and lighting, a large flat screen television, as well as luxurious new bedding. Most rooms also feature the Home Office™ Suite, designed to provide guests with plenty of storage and flexible space to spread out and make it their own.

The TownePlace Suites Austin North Lakeline allows guests to maintain a healthy lifestyle with an array of food options. While on property guests can create their own complimentary hot breakfast every morning in the lobby area, and can fire up their stay by grilling up dinner on our outdoor Weber grills. The 24-hour In a Pinch® market and On Us® coffee service offer guests the chance to get their snack and caffeine on whenever they feel the need.

TownePlace Suites helps its guests stay organized on the road with the help of our partners the Container Store. While staying at the TownePlace Suites Austin North Lakeline travelers can unpack their suitcase in a custom elfa® closet. From drawers to shelves to smart hanging space, you'll find everything you need to make you feel right at home. Other hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center open 24 hours per day, laundry facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and on-site business services, including copying, faxing and printing. As a brand TownePlace Suites recognizes that your family may include more than just humans, that is why the TownePlace Suites Austin North Lakeline is pet-friendly (fees may apply).