Chicago, IL– November 14, 2017. SOPHY, the new 98-room boutique hotel in Chicago’s popular Hyde Park neighborhood, is under construction and scheduled to open in summer 2018.

Developed by SMART Hotels and managed by Olympia Hotel Management, SOPHY is located at 53rd Street and Dorchester Avenue on Chicago’s South Side, close to the site of the future Barack Obama Presidential Library, the University of Chicago campus and the Museum of Science and Industry.

SOPHY will feature a bar, a restaurant with al fresco dining and a fitness center. Designed as a four-diamond property and engineered to achieve LEED Silver certification, SOPHY will be a preferred hotel of the University of Chicago. The hotel is firmly rooted in the history of Hyde Park, famed as the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. In a neighborhood in the midst of a dynamic revitalization, SOPHY will play a central role. Earlier this month, Chicago was named the #1 Big City in the U.S. in the Condé Nast Traveler 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Chicago-based GREC Architects is the project architect, with interior design from Stonehill & Taylor Architects of New York. The hotel is being built by William A Randolph, Inc. of Gurnee, Illinois. SOPHY aligns with SMART Hotels and Olympia’s expertise in developing and managing independent, award-winning boutique properties that evoke a strong sense of place and become an integral part of the community.

The name “SOPHY” is rooted in the Greek word “sophia,” meaning wisdom and dedication to excellence through the pursuit of knowledge. It was inspired by the rich legacy of intellectual, artistic and cultural innovation that is part of the fabric of the University of Chicago and greater Hyde Park. Gospel music, science, mathematics, art and literature are the themes that will inform the hotel’s interior design. SOPHY will feature artwork from contemporary Chicago artists and design elements inspired by the World’s Columbian Exposition, including barn doors in the private dining space that use circular elements to suggest the world’s first Ferris Wheel, which debuted at the fair. 

Globally established luxury lifestyle brand Nobu Hotels, founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper is delighted to announce the arrival of a new Nobu Hotel and Nobu Atlanta Restaurant, at Southeast’s premier mixed-use development at Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza.

Partnering with Simon, a global leader in premier shopping, dining and entertainment destinations, Nobu Hotels will intuitively blend its hotel and restaurant as one – with 150 rooms, a striking rooftop pool, corporate conference space and spa facilities. Nobu Atlanta restaurant, revered for its signature new style Japanese cuisine, will operate in a 10,000 square foot space. Additional elements of this exciting new Phipps Plaza development call for a 90,000 square-foot Life Time® Athletic healthy living, offices and entertainment destination.

Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer of Nobu Hotels said, “We are very proud of our partnership with Simon, one of the world’s largest and leading owners and managers of high-quality retail destinations. They have a vision to create a dynamic lifestyle experience within Atlanta at Phipps Plaza and we are pleased to be a cornerstone for this. Our hospitality brand thrives on being a catalyst for global mixed-use destinations whether this be from hotel, restaurant, retail or residences.”

“Today’s exciting news without question enhances Phipps Plaza as the luxury destination of choice for shopping, dining, entertainment, and hospitality in Atlanta and the entire Southeast,” said Patrick Peterman, Simon’s Vice President of Development and Asset Intensification. 

Construction is slated to commence in 2018 with a phased opening beginning in spring 2020. These new elements will be completely integrated into the existing footprint of Phipps Plaza, which will continue to be anchored by the extremely productive Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Shopping and parking at Phipps Plaza will not be affected during the construction of the project.

Frankfurt am Main, 15 November 2017 - An IntercityHotel will open at the main railway station in Flensburg in 2020. It will feature the design concept of the Italian architect Matteo Thun, whose work can already be admired at the IntercityHotels in Braunschweig and Duisburg.

The planned hotel, a new build earmarked for development at Bahnhofstraße 40, will offer 152 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, three conference rooms and an underground garage. It will be operated via a lease agreement with IntercityHotel’s partner company JARA Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH.

Located less than ten kilometres from the German-Danish border, Flensburg is a popular destination for tourist and weekend visitors alike. The city is also just under four kilometres from the Baltic Coast. Flensburg also offers good rail links to Kiel, Hamburg and to Fredericia in Denmark as well as boasting a harbour which is mainly used for tourist activities and a fish market. The IntercityHotel Flensburg will enjoy demand from both leisure and business travellers.

LAGOS, Nigeria, November 15, 2017 -- Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) and Landmark Africa Group (www.LandmarkAfrica.com) today announced the signing of Renaissance Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments. Slated to open in 2020, the hotels will be located within the Landmark Village precinct, a premier mixed-use, business, leisure and lifestyle development along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront in Victoria Island, the central business district of Lagos.

“We are excited to partner with the Landmark Africa Group on this project. With the rapid pace of urbanization more and more guests are looking for the value, the convenience and the vitality that mixed-use provides. The Renaissance Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments will be a significant addition to our strong Nigeria portfolio. There is a growing need for high caliber short and extended stay lodging in Nigeria and we believe the two hotels together will help bridge this gap,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.

The 25-floor hotel will feature the 216-room full service Renaissance Lagos Hotel and 44-room Marriott Executive Apartments offering extended stay apartments with space, ambience and the privacy of residential living. The hotels will offer a wide range of amenities, including local and international restaurants, spa facilities, a fitness center, and an infinity pool with access to a 100-meter-long boardwalk overlooking a vibrant beach club offering exciting watersports. 

“Marriott International is synonymous with quality and unique lifestyle experiences globally, which we, at the Landmark Africa Group continuously strive to align ourselves with. We look forward to bringing Marriott’s hospitality and passion for excellence to the Landmark Village setting a new benchmark for mixed-use developments in the region,” said Paul Onwuanibe, Chief Executive Officer Landmark.

Designed to be the first Lagos equivalent of the Rockefeller Centre in New York, Canary Wharf in London, Rosebank in Johannesburg and Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, the Landmark Village features office spaces, luxury apartments, high end retail as well as international restaurants. It is rapidly emerging as a leading mixed-use development on the West African Coastline.

Summary: HEBS Digital’s “Closing the Loop on the Travel Journey” article, which details comprehensive 360-degree past and future guest engagement, retention, and acquisition strategies, has been featured in The Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Technology.

The Hotel Yearbook has just launched The Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Technology, an e-book offering technology insights from hospitality industry thought leaders, and HEBS Digital is proud to be featured in this respected publication.

In “Closing the Loop on the Travel Journey,” Max Starkov, President & CEO, and Margaret Mastrogiacomo, Vice President, Strategy at HEBS Digital, share strategies for comprehensive 360-degree past and future guest acquisition, engagement, and retention, with a focus on Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Starkov and Mastrogiacomo discuss how CRM is a critical component to delivering targeted, dynamic, and relevant communication, while also providing invaluable data on a hotel’s “best guest,” which in turn can be used to identify and target future guests. The result is an increase in direct bookings, lowered distribution costs, and retention of these “best guests.”

The Hotel Yearbook 2018 – Technology is the fifth Special Edition from The Hotel Yearbook, published by Wade & Co. SA. To download this year’s edition, click here.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (November 15, 2017) — The leaders of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) used its inaugural HITEC Dubai to announce an extensive global research project today that will provide guidance on the state of the industry; provide existing industry stakeholders with additional resources, and enrich the association's understanding of financial and technology trends that will shape the industry's future.

"HFTP has just celebrated its 65^th anniversary as a not for profit association, and our leadership intends to offer this foundation and provide a platform for the industry to build upon," said Frank Wolfe, HFTP CEO. "HFTP is in a decisive position where it seeks to develop the resources and benefits that best serve the current and future industry. HFTP continues to hear from its stakeholders that as the steward of finance and technology in hospitality, there is an opportunity to optimize the resources being provided to the industry."

The survey will measure the value that stakeholders are receiving from the industry today and seek feedback on areas of professional development, research and resources that are unfulfilled within the hospitality finance and technology arena. Currently in development, the survey will be distributed the first week of December industry wide.

"Participation from a large sample of HFTP's stakeholders in this survey is imperative to help the association draw a representative picture of industry professionals," said Wolfe. "HFTP, a nonprofit association, serves to provide resources that benefit the industry, and survey responses are going to guide the association to serve those needs."

Upon the completion of the survey, a complete analysis of the data will be completed by Forrester's expert consultants. These will serve as guidance for the HFTP Global Board to make key strategic decisions for the association. Forrester is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. Through proprietary research, data, custom consulting, exclusive executive peer groups, and events, the Forrester experience is about a singular and powerful purpose: to challenge the thinking of its clients to help them lead change in their organizations.

Contact HFTP Executive Services Administrator Millicent Gustafson (Millicent.Gustafson@hftp.org) for more information.

ATLANTA, Ga. – November 15, 2017 – Davidson Hotels & Resorts has announced the addition of Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa to its growing portfolio. The sophisticated 550-room full-service resort in Monterey, Ca. is situated in the heart of one of the most beautiful coastal cities in California. The property, which will continue to operate under the Hyatt Regency brand, will be managed by Davidson Hotels & Resorts and will be owned by an affiliate of Fairwood Capital LLC – a real estate investment firm specializing in hospitality-related real estate. 

“We are excited to embark on our third project with Davidson, leveraging their unrivaled experience with Hyatt,” noted Todd Solmson, managing director of Fairwood Capital.  “Davidson has been a tremendous operating partner of ours for many years and together we will implement a comprehensive plan to elevate the asset and guest experience on this beautiful property.”   

Located in the center of the prominent California Highway 1 corridor, Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa is tucked away within a 22-acre property, nestled along the historic Del Monte Golf Course, the oldest continuously-operating golf course west of the Mississippi. Guests choosing to take advantage of onsite offerings can utilize more than 40,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meetings space, ace the full-service racquet club with six championship tennis courts, tee off on the historic 18-hole Del Monte golf course, lift in a 24-hour Stayfit™ fitness center, relax in the 12,000 square-foot Marilyn Monroe spa and wine and dine in multiple food and beverage options inclusive of the TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar and Fireplace Lounge. 

 “The Fairwood team has proven to be exceptional investors and asset managers and we know they will be a strong addition to the Hyatt franchise community,” said John Belden, president and chief executive officer of Davidson. “This will be our 11^th full-service Hyatt hotel and we have tremendous confidence in the brand, its positioning and its strong offerings.  Hyatt has been an important part of the Monterey community and together with Fairwood we will create an exciting new future for the property.”

Davidson Hotels & Resorts, and its lifestyle and luxury operating division, Pivot Hotels & Resorts, is one of the industry’s preeminent hotel operators, specializing in branded and lifestyle full-service and upscale urban select-service hotels. For more information about Davidson Hotels & Resorts and Pivot Hotels & Resorts, visit www.davidsonhotels.com or www.pivothotels.com.  

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--November 15, 2017--John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) today announced that Nick Larsen has been promoted to corporate director of revenue optimization. With 15 years of revenue management experience at JQH, Larsen will be dedicated to the Hilton and independent brands within the company’s award-winning national portfolio. Larsen will report to Jennifer Torsleff, JQH’s senior director of revenue optimization. Springfield, Missouri-based JQH is a leading private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States, including operating more than 1 million square feet of superb meeting space. 

“Nick has extensive experience with the Embassy Suites by Hilton brand and with developing successful revenue strategies for a range of markets,” Torsleff said. “His progression within the JQH revenue optimization leadership team also reflects his keen ability to collaborate with internal and external groups.”

Larsen has 20 years of hospitality experience and is a certified revenue management executive (CRME). Prior to his promotion, Larsen served as an area revenue manager for JQH’s Embassy Suites by Hilton properties in Arkansas, which feature extensive meeting space and are recognized with the 2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence designation. He joined JQH in 2002 as a revenue manager in Iowa. Larsen has an Associate of Arts with a business focus from Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. He is a member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Larsen is active in his local community, including involvement in programs that feed and clothe those in need.

“My experience has been that JQH cultivates a supportive environment where you can effectively grow,” Larsen said. “I appreciate the additional opportunities to impact JQH’s successful revenue optimization team.” 

Bangalore, 15 November 2017: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies announced today the appointment of Vivek Bhalla as the Regional Vice President, South West Asia (SWA), effective from 1 January, 2018. Vivek succeeds Shantha de Silva who will progress his journey with IHG as Senior Director, New Hotels - Australasia and Japan.

Vivek will be responsible for spearheading strategic growth for the company and operational performance of 31 hotels in South West Asia, across four brands: InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Express®. He will also play an instrumental role in driving IHG's growth agenda to have 150 hotels open or in the pipeline in India within the next 10 to 15 years, starting with facilitating the opening of 33 hotels in India within the next 3 to 5 years.

In his last role as Director of Operations, SEAK, Vivek was responsible for the operations of IHG’s 30+ hotels across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Prior to joining IHG, Vivek was Co-founder and Managing Director of CASAM Hospitality, an asset management and consulting firm in South East Asia.

Vivek will be based in Gurgaon, India and report to Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG.

Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, IHG, India, Middle East and Africa said, “I am delighted to welcome Vivek Bhalla to the region and to his new role. Vivek has vast operational experience and commercial expertise, and I am confident he will provide strong leadership to this dynamic region and empower IHG to drive both performance and growth across South West Asia.”

Commenting on his appointment, Vivek Bhalla, Regional Vice President of South West Asia, IHG said, I am very excited to start my new role within IHG. South West Asia, especially India, is fast emerging as an important destination for travellers from across the globe and the region offers many growth opportunities for us. Through our global, preferred brands and strong distribution systems, we have managed to build a strong presence in India with 30 operational hotels and a robust development pipeline. I look forward to working with the team to further strengthen IHG’s presence in the region.”

A veteran in the hospitality industry, Vivek has also served as Senior Director, Operations for South Asia with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and was responsible for the Pre-Opening and Operations of the group’s hotels in India and South Asia. He has also held senior management positions in the commercial function with both Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Hyatt International Hotels based in Singapore and the United States respectively.

IHG® currently has 31 hotels in South West Asia, across four brands including InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®,  Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Express®, with a further 38 in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years**.

**Figures as of September 30, 2017

PARK CITY, Utah (November 15, 2017) - Montage Hotels & Resorts has announced the promotion of Afsi Bird to resort manager at Montage Deer Valley. A two-year veteran of Montage Deer Valley, Bird is now responsible for the resort's day-to-day operations including lodging, food and beverage management, human resources, attractions, and guest services.

"It is with great pleasure that we announce the promotion of Afsi Bird to resort manager," said Allen Highfield, general manager, Montage Deer Valley. "Afsi's dedication and passion for the industry has allowed her to gain extensive experience, and we look forward to the enthusiastic spirit she brings Montage Deer Valley on a daily basis."

Bird joined Montage Deer Valley in 2015 as director of rooms where she was responsible for all guest relations, including assuring top-of-line accommodations and exceptional service from the resort's front desk and reservations office. Prior to living in Park City, Bird resided in Denver where she held various roles including general manager at Hotel Teatro and area general manager for The Crawford Hotel and The Oxford Hotel & Spa, overseeing the hotel's pre-opening efforts. She also spent nearly two decades with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, including eight years as director of rooms at Four Seasons properties in Newport Beach, Scottsdale, Santa Barbara, and Aviara.

Bird is a graduate of Höhere Handelsschule in Aachen, Germany, and is fluent in German, Persian and English. Bird currently resides in Park City with her husband Justin, their son Dylan, and their Bernese Mountain Dog Jackson.

by Dr. Peter Tarlow

One only has to examine the controversies surrounding professional sports to know that sporting events play a major role in tourism.  In much of the world newspapers devote more space to sports news than to foreign news and major sporting events such as World Cup Soccer, the Olympic Games, the World Series and the Super bowl have become more than national pastimes but also real or quasi real national holiday.  Both young and old alike idolize sports figures as role models, so much so that when a sports figure ends up on the wrong side of the law or in a moral crisis that too becomes major news.  Perhaps nothing underlines this interaction between sports figures, the media, and the public as does the recent political positions taken by US football players. No matter which side a person takes concerning the etiquette or lack of etiquette shown by these players during the playing of the (US) national anthem, the fact that their actions have created such controversy speaks to the role of spectator sports in modern life. 

From a tourism perspective, sports really are two different commodities, the passive commodity called “spectator sports” and the active commodity called “participatory sports.”  Spectator sports are really part of the entertainment industry, in fact some call the US’s university sports system “edutainment” as college athletes are as much entertainers as they are students.  These athletic games exist as emotion releases and permit people to discuss “safe” and “non-controversial” subjects.  Participatory sports, such as skiing, swimming, or jogging, may or may not have a competitive side to them, but in call cases force the participant to increase his/her skill and physical stamina. In this latter category success is not dependent on the other but rather on the skill and luck of the actor.  Both spectator and participator sports can play a major role in a community’s tourism industry and in its quality of life. 

Sporting and athletic events are major tourism generators.  Thousands of people attend major sporting events such as Super bowls or Olympics Games and their attendance generates a great deal of revenue, not only for the teams but also for the tourism industries that serve these athletic spectacles.  Hotels, restaurants, nightspots, transportation facilities are only a few of the tourism industries that benefit from these sporting events.  Not unlike the major professional sports, sports connected to education such as in the United States university athletics bring thousands of loyal fans to the host community and in pre-game and after-game activities produce a great deal of economic revenue.

Midway between professional and academic sports and participatory sports is what may be called armature league sports.  These tournaments can be especially helpful to a tourism industry during an off-season and the players often bring their entire families to these localized series.  To help you develop a sports tourism program that is right for your community consider some of the following ideas:

- Use sports tourism to give your community a new image.  Athletics provides a community with a sense of sizzle and a dynamic image.  Use your sports tourism as a way to develop a halo affect that spills over into every aspect of your community’s self-image.

- Stay out of the politics of sports.  From a tourism perspective no matter what your political opinion may be, keep it to yourself. The recent decline in attendance at National Football League games is a clear demonstration that politics and sporting events do not mix. Only take a political position if you are prepared to lose a sizable part of your clientele.

- Know the legal consequences of any event and practice good risk management.  In today's society where litigation has become a way of life, check with your community's law offices about the need for waivers when conducting public tournaments, when hosting major sporting events or when encouraging out-of-towners to visit your community for recreational reasons.

- Determine what facilities your community has and build your sports tourism program around the best that you can offer.  Offer your visitors the best facilities and equipment possible.   If you are building your sports program around participatory activities then make sporting equipment easily available.  For example, a golf course that does not provide clubs may be well suited for the local population but may fail to become a tourism attraction if visitors cannot rent clubs easily.

- Visitors, especially who come for sporting or athletic reasons, tend to respond to their environment.  Surround your athletic facilities with pleasant surroundings, not only to develop a sense of ésprit de corps, but also to encourage people to stay in town after the athletic event has ended.

- Know the conditions under which tournament teams are going to have to compete. There is perhaps nothing as destructive for a community’s sports tourism reputation then taking its guests by surprise. Athletes want to know what to expect, what the playing conditions are going to be, and what challenges they are going to face.

- Sports tourism, just like other forms of tourism, requires that you maintain good community lists, and emergency numbers.  All sporting events have an element of risk.   Make sure that visiting athletes know where to go for medical attention, what restaurants serve before and post-games foods, and if hotel check-outs can be coordinated with sporting event timetables.. Know the risks that go with the types of sporting events that you are promoting.

- Be age sensitive. Especially if you are promoting participatory athletic activities know which are the special needs with which you may be challenged.  Business catering to older athletes may have to deal with different risks than those businesses that deal with visitors or younger sports enthusiasts.  Every sports oriented tourism community should know how to find a 24-hour pharmacies, hospital emergency rooms, and doctors and dentists who willing to take on emergency out-of-town patients.

- Use sports as a means to teach people new skills. Many people love to combine travel with skill enhancement.  Consider developing lists of athletes, formers professional athletes or educational centers that may be willing to accept tourists for the purpose of teaching them or helping them to improve a particular athletic skill.   Learning a new athletic skill may not only be beneficial for a person’s stress levels, but also can teach teamwork and offer a new outlook on life. There are numerous “sports schools” around the world that will accept both groups and individuals.  For example, Portugal’s Pierre de Coubertin Soccer Academy, located in Santa Maria da Feira, just outside of Oporto will teach individual how to incorporate the art of soccer into a person’s business life, or provide the person with a chance to distress on the soccer field during the day and over a glass of Portuguese wine at night.  These skill enhancement centers are a great way to increase a community’s tourism potential.

PHOENIX (Nov. 15, 2017) San Diego-based Parallel Capital Partners – which acquired the Arizona Center in a joint venture in late 2015 – has announced plans to add a 200-room AC Hotel by Marriott to the Class A, mixed-use property, located at 3rd St. and Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. Las Vegas-based LaPour Partners is currently under contract for an undisclosed amount for the 49,190-square-foot parcel on 5th Street between Fillmore Street and Van Buren Street with construction of the hotel slated to begin in April 2018.

“Downtown Phoenix is a true destination, and soon Arizona Center will be able to host out-of-town visitors in the heart of it all,” said Matt Root, CEO and managing partner for Parallel Capital Partners, which together with Angelo, Gordon and Co. acquired Arizona Center for $126 million in December 2015. “We are excited to partner with LaPour on this important hotel project and bring another much-desired element to this iconic mixed-use space.”

A 200-key upscale, urban-inspired select-service property, AC Hotel Downtown Phoenix at Arizona Center will soar 15 stories into the Phoenix skyline. The design will be classic, yet modern and includes a fitness center as well as the only rooftop bar, pool, and lounge in downtown Phoenix. The hotel overlooks a three-acre urban park lined with exciting new restaurants, retail and entertainment at the heart of Arizona Center.

“With so much growth and change happening in downtown Phoenix, Arizona Center is the ideal place for an AC hotel,” said LaPour president Jeffrey LaPour. “This new AC hotel will be across the street from Phx Bio-Medical campus and walkable to ASU’s downtown campus as well as the major sporting events, concerts and countless other downtown activities including all the new amenities coming to Arizona Center.”

The AC experience has been designed to give guests the essentials of a beautiful stay and has created an experience unlike any other. Breakfast finds inspiration in European roots. Room service is replaced with the flexibility of a quick snack or evening tapas plates. Bartenders become true urban spirits who share the unique buzz of the city and all it has to offer. AC is a member of the Marriott family of brands, and there are 110 AC Hotels throughout Europe and North and Latin America.

Arizona Center has been undergoing a significant facelift since March 2017. Major renovations to the retail mall are already underway, and the addition of a 31-story residential tower is slated to begin construction in 2018.

For retail and office leasing information at Arizona Center, visit www.arizonacenter.com/retail-leasing/.

(Orlando, FL) NOVEMBER 16, 2017 – Tavistock Development Company, a diversified real estate firm owned by Tavistock Group, today announced details surrounding an iconic performance resort and spa at its master-planned Lake Nona community in Orlando, Fla. Arquitectonica, a leading Miami-based architecture firm, is designing the Lake Nona Resort, which is planned to break ground in 2018 with an opening date set for 2020. 

Located along the southern shore of Lake Nona and just steps away from the new USTA National Campus – the world’s largest tennis campus with 100 courts – the eight-story Lake Nona Resort will feature cutting-edge design, top-tier amenities including 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a major fitness and spa campus, a 120,000-square-foot beach volleyball venue, one the nation’s largest manmade crystal clear lagoons bringing the beach to Central Florida, and 250 custom-designed guestrooms and 80 condominium units to optimize both performance and comfort.

“With Orlando now approaching 70 million annual visitors, it is a very competitive hotel market with many exceptional properties and operators,” said Tavistock Development Company President Jim Zboril. “Our focus is on sports and performance and we believe this is the first-of-its-kind performance-driven Resort created from scratch in the United States.  With our proximity to the airport, this facility will not only serve the Lake Nona community and our growing Sports and Performance District but will provide a unique addition to the Central Florida region. Lake Nona has become synonymous with innovation and wellbeing, and the creation of this iconic Resort highlights our dedication to building a holistic performance environment for residents, businesses and visitors.”

“The new Lake Nona Resort creates a gateway that announces arrival to one of the dramatic man-made water bodies anywhere,” said Bernardo Fort-Brescia, principal of Arquitectonica. “Water and glass interact; they perform together to create an unexpected yet memorable form in the landscape of Orlando's Lake Nona. The crystal lagoon creates a new geography that deserves a strong architectural response.  The building folds to create four facets that sinuously undulate in concert with the lagoon's organic edges. At its center, the building bridges over the lagoon forming a gateway into the long perspective of the lagoon as it fades into the horizon. The building skyline lowers at the roofline to create an open terrace overlooking the lake and the USTA tennis complex. It creates a delicate link between the two wings and frames the skies beyond.”

Inspired by Lake Nona’s forward-thinking mission statement, ‘To create the ideal place that inspires human potential through innovative collaboration,’ the Resort will offer the highest level of performance and healthy living in an exceptional resort setting, appealing to athletes, business travelers, weekend warriors and families seeking an escape with an abundance of healthy activity, rejuvenation and relaxation.

Situated within Lake Nona, the world’s most sophisticated wellness community as noted by the Global Wellness Institute, the hotel’s design and offerings are complementary with the community’s forward-thinking wellbeing initiatives. Every detail of the Resort is being designed around optimizing key tenets of performance, including nutrition and recovery.

Performance. To amplify one’s performance, the standard rooms are oversized by approximately 450- square feet to allow extra space for stretching and fitness equipment, television content and onsite programming and classes will be designed around performance and wellbeing, quick-turn laundry will be available for those athletes who demand immediate service, and there will be a kids’ area designed with healthy activities.  In addition to the fitness and spa campus, the Resort will feature a 24-hour Technogym-equipped fitness facility and trails throughout the community will be outfitted with Technogym training stations.

Nutrition. To encourage optimal health and nutrition, an onsite nutritionist will be available for all guests. Customized menus will offer pre- and post-workout recommendations across the Resort’s food and beverage services, which will also include juice bars and sports drink stations. An onsite garden will provide the Resort’s chefs local produce.

Recovery. An essential element of health is prescribed rest to allow the body to recover. Resort rooms will feature oversized beds with specialized fitness-designed mattresses, black-out shades and circadian lighting features, recovery-focused locker rooms and amenities that rejuvenate from music and aromatherapy to the world-class spa.

A natural addition to Lake Nona’s growing roster of investments that raise the bar on human performance and wellbeing, the Resort joins recent community anchors including the USTA National Campus, KPMG’s $400-million training and innovation center, as well as Johnson & Johnson’s Human Performance Institute and longitudinal community health and wellbeing study, the Lake Nona Life Project.

“With the Lake Nona Resort, our players and visitors will have unparalleled amenities tailored to amplify their performance and overall experience at the USTA National Campus, from onsite nutritional support and equipment storage to watching streamed matches on their in-room TV,” said Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer.

The crystal clear lagoon, designed with Miami-based Crystal Lagoons US Corp, will encompass more than 15 acres (with the potential to expand to more than 20 acres) and will be lined with sandy beaches. The lagoon will be accessible by Resort guests, as well as members from within the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. Nearly sold out, the top-ranked Club will expand the private residential golf club community along the southern shore of Lake Nona and the new crystal lagoon. Expansion plans include luxurious condominiums, single-family residences and a beach club with access to the lagoon.

​"Our partnership with Tavistock Development Company is based on a collective vision to create an environment fostering innovation, sustainability, wellbeing and an active lifestyle which our crystal clear lagoon will provide, further enhancing Lake Nona's reputation as a world-class development," said Kevin P. Morgan, Executive Vice President of Crystal Lagoons, US Corp. 

Additionally, the Resort campus will be home to an expansive rooftop lounge and 20,000 square feet in meeting space, including an expansive ballroom designed to accommodate large groups, business meetings, weddings and other functions. Several restaurant options will be available to guests including both sit-down and on-the-go options. In additional to traditional dining experiences, performance-focused food and beverage options will also be available, including menus specifically designed by leading nutritionists to complement the needs of athletes both pre- and post-workout. The Resort is expected to welcome 100,000+ visitors annually.

MONTGOMERY, AL – Sys-Con, LLC announced today the renovation of historic long-vacant, nine-story Hilltop Arms Apartments building into a modern upscale boutique hotel in downtown Montgomery, AL. The new hotel, Hilltop Suites & Spa, will feature 80 suite hotel rooms, over 6,000 square feet of spacious meeting and event areas, and numerous bars and restaurants. One of the most unique features of the hotel will be the roof top bar and lounge that overlooks the breathtaking views of downtown Montgomery and Alabama River. Construction will start in spring of 2018 on the Hilltop Suites & Spa and intended to complete by the fall 2019.

Sys-Con, LLC plans to be heavily involved with the revival plan of the Five Points area in Montgomery with a possibility of investing over 15 million dollars, some of which has already been invested in the acquisition of approximately 5 acres between Montgomery Street, Clayton Street and Goldthwaite Street. There are plans in the works for the possibility of new multi-use spaces that includes shops, grocery, residential and new other projects to follow. Hilltop Suites & Spa is a pivotal component of the reviving the Five Point area which Sys-Con, LLC hopes to be branded as a new urban dining and entertainment district in down town Montgomery.

“We are excited to announce this project with City of Montgomery. The announcement of Hilltop Suites & Spa, not only expands our business in the prefecture, it also highlights our new development strategy and strong management capabilities, as well as, our commitment to Montgomery," said Sung Do Kim, President and CEO of Sys-Con, LLC.

Sys-Con, LLC recognizes Montgomery as the home base of their business with the opportunities for new business with a great community. The acquisition of Hilltop Suites & Spa is a part of their continued investment in the community. With the company’s extensive experience in the industrial construction, Sys-Con, LLC has worked closely with the city of Montgomery on the revitalization plan of Five Point area, as well as, the surrounding historic district. The revitalization effort underway and look forward to the economic growth in the area. 

The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 2017 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Tom Garcia vice president and general manager of High Hampton Inn & Country Club.  A Benchmark Resort & Hotels property, the legendary resort is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Cashiers, North Carolina. Greg Champion, Benchmark’s president & COO, made the announcement. 

"Tom has been instrumental in supporting our company’s continued growth,” said Mr. Champion.  "He brings our company’s signature Be The Difference brand promise to High Hampton Inn, and his experience and expertise will be a wonderful asset in helping to oversee this unique, historical, and extraordinary destination in the future. We congratulate Tom on his new role with us.”

A longtime Benchmark executive, Tom Garcia has held several senior leadership positions with Benchmark.  These include serving as vice president and general manager of Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Chicago, serving as vice president of operations for the company’s Midwest properties, as vice president food & beverage, and taking on special task force assignments guiding new properties within Benchmark’s brand portfolios.

Previous to joining Benchmark, Mr. Garcia was vice president and regional manager for Noble House Hotels & Resorts.  He has held senior leadership positions at landmark hotels and resorts for leading hospitality brands within the United States and the Caribbean, including in Dallas, Houston, Lake Tahoe, Phoenix, Aruba and Grand Cayman.

Tom Garcia received his Bachelor of Science degrees in both Accounting and Management Information Systems from California State University.  He has previously served in leadership roles for the Dallas and Houston Convention and Visitors Bureaus, the Hotel Association of Dallas and Downtown Dallas.  He is relocating to Cashiers.  

HONOLULU, HI (November 16, 2017) – Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa announces the appointment of Doug Sears as the new General Manager for the resort. A seasoned Hyatt veteran of 38 years, Sears brings to the resort a deep knowledge of the travel industry and the culture and values of the Hawaiian Islands, having previously served for a total of 19 years in positions at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa as well as Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, and the former Hyatt Regency Waikoloa. Prior to his appointment at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, Sears served as General Manager at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa in California.

“I am honored to return to the Islands and lead our team at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa,” said Sears. “This property has always had a strong reputation and story in the community and across the globe.  It is so important to me to make sure that the soul of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is always strong and we continue to provide our guests with the services and amenities they have come to expect from us for over forty years.  By genuinely expressing the spirit of aloha we fulfill the Hyatt philosophy that we care for people so they can be their best and that is what makes this Hyatt so memorable for our guests from all markets.”

A native of Seattle and a graduate of Washington State University, Sears began his hospitality career with Hyatt as a Corporate Management Trainee at Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Since then, he has held General Manager positions at Hyatt hotels including Hyatt Palo Alto, Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Resort and Spa, Grand Hyatt Seattle, and Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa. 

Frankfurt am Main, 16 November 2017 - Daniel Hunger-Milkowitsch is to take over as General Manager at the Steigenberger Hotel and Spa Krems with effect from 1 January 2018. He succeeds Adelheid de Durand-Maier, who will retire at the start of the New Year following 30 years with the company and 26 years at the helm of the Steigenberger Hotel and Spa Krems.

Daniel Hunger-Milkowitsch is 34 years old and began his career by completing vocational education and training in the occupation of hotel specialist at the Steigenberger Hotel Bad Pyrmont. He went on to work both for companies within Steigenberger Hotels AG and for competitors, including spells in Germany, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Austria and Egypt. He was employed at the Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof in Vienna between April 2014 and July 2017, ultimately advancing to the position of Executive Assistant Manager. In this capacity, he was involved in Steigenberger’s provision of catering services during the Bayreuth Festival on three separate occasions. Since July this year, Mr. Hunger-Milkowitsch has been acting as General Manager at the Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt in Berlin on an interim basis.

2018 will see him return to Austria to take up the reins at the Steigenberger Hotel and Spa Krems. Set at the heart of the Wachau Valley, a renowned wine growing and cultural region, the hotel has 141 rooms. Guests enjoy stunning views of the River Danube and easy access to hiking, cycling and jogging trails. The attractive centre of the town of Krems is only a short distance away. The hotel also boasts a special feel-good factor in the form of a large health and beauty spa area. Extending over an area of 1,200 square metres, this facility offers everything guests need for a relaxing stay by providing several pools, saunas, a saline steam bath and a quiet zone complete with fireplace. A 550 square metre conference area contains six rooms with plenty of natural daylight which are equipped with state-of-the art technology.

Cape Coral, FL – November 16, 2017 – The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village announces the appointment of Michael Tighe as general manager. Widely known and respected within the Marriott family, Tighe brings more than 27 years of experience and leadership and will oversee day-to-day operations of the resort.

“With the city experiencing such a positive economic outlook and bolstering job creation, it’s an exciting time to join the burgeoning Cape Coral community, especially ahead of the highly anticipated opening of the Tarpon Point Ballroom,” said Tighe. “I look forward to strengthening our presence in Southwest Florida as a top leisure and business destination.”

Most recently, Tighe served as resident manager at the JW Marriott Marco Island where he played an instrumental role in rebranding the Marriott resort to a JW brand property and launched the first Spa by JW.  He has previously held management positions at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis and Atlanta Marriott Marquis, and began his career at the signature 1,957 -room New York Marriott Marquis.

Tighe was the recipient of Marriott’s EDGE Award and nominated for the Emerging Leader Program. As an active philanthropist and community advocate, Tighe is a member of organizations including the Children’s Miracle Network, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society and Harry Chapin Food Bank.

For more information about The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, please visit www.westincapecoral.com.

Emiliano Andres Di Franca has been appointed food and beverage operations manager of Rosewood Washington, D.C., the luxurious urban retreat located in the heart of Georgetown.  In his new role, Di Franca will oversee all aspects of Rosewood Washington, D.C.’s food and beverage services, including operations at the hotel’s sophisticated neighborhood restaurant, The Grill Room, and chic cocktail lounge, The Rye Bar. Located in one of Washington, D.C.’s most charming neighborhoods, the 49-room property is situated alongside the C&O Canal with many of the city’s most coveted cultural attractions nearby.

Di Franca brings over 12 years of experience in the industry to his new position. Prior to joining Rosewood, Di Franca served as the general manager of the SLS Brickell’s Fi’lia by Michael Schwartz in Miami, Florida, where he was part of the restaurant’s pre-opening and opening team and helped with the development of the establishment’s menus and beverage program. Prior to this role, Di Franca held a number of positions at the Andaz 5^th Avenue in New York City, including director of outlets and events manager, and at various Hyatt properties in Paris, Washington, D.C., and Argentina.

Di Franca holds a Diploma in Hotel Management from Ecole pour L’Hotellerie La Suisse in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Additionally, Di Franca received a Mixologist Diploma from the Professional Bartending School in Arlington, Virginia and a specialization in Food & Beverage Management from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association in Chicago, Illinois. 

WINTERGREEN, Va. (Nov. 16, 2017) — Christopher A. (Chris) Jones, who has 18 years of experience in the culinary and hospitality industries, has joined Wintergreen Resort as Executive Chef.

A President’s List graduate of National Institute for Culinary Arts, Jones is a classically-trained chef. His culinary business expertise includes managing costs and driving profits in hotels and resorts as well as privately owned casual and fine dining establishments.

Jones, who is Serv-Safe Certified and an active member of World Association of Chefs and National Culinary Association, makes it a habit of getting to know the community and catering to its needs.

“We are excited to bring Chef Jones and his passion for food and hospitality to Wintergreen Resort,” said Michael Hammes, Wintergreen Resort’s director of food and beverage. “We look forward to him leading our culinary team and meeting the challenge of creating new experiences for our guests.”

Prior to joining Wintergreen, Jones was executive chef at the Madison Fresh Market high-end grocery store on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Madison. Catering to students, the kitchen supported a seven-day menu cycle, offered regular demonstrations, cooking classes, and a full banquet menu.

Previously he was managing director of dietetic services at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital, Beckley, WV; executive chef Black Knight Country Club, Beckley, WV; executive chef The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels, WV; executive chef and general manager of food venues Purgatory Resort, Durango, CO; executive sous chef Wyndham Albuquerque Hotel, Albuquerque, NM; and sous chef P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Scottsville, AZ.

In his free time, Jones enjoys riding his snowboard in winter and his Harley in summer. He is an avid fly fisherman, but more than anything enjoys time with his dogs, friends, and family.

For more information call 888-329-5828 or visit www.wintergreenresort.com.