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Destination, Commune hotels retain individuality
Lifestyle hotel management company Commune Hotels & Resorts and independent operator Destination Hotels have announced a merger that will allow each hotel to retain its own branding and spirit, executives from both companies told Hotel News Now during an interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit. The combined company will have more than 90 hotels and resorts in its management portfolio and is planning to increase that footprint, according to a news release announcing the deal.
Commune CEO Niki Leondakis and Destination President and COO Jamie Sabatier said the union of both companies will drive return for owners, offer more choice for guests and give employees increased opportunities.
Commune’s brands include Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels, Tommie and Alila Hotels & Resorts, and Destination Hotels’ portfolio is comprised of independent hotels. The merged company will be based in Denver.
Independents trade high in 2015
According to the LW Hospitality Advisors 2015 Major US Hotel Sales Survey, nearly 200 single-asset hotel transactions over $10 million happened in 2015, totaling roughly $14 billion and including approximately 53,000 guestrooms.
Several high-profile independent hotel transactions made the list. A regional all-time-high per-room trade included $1.7 million for the Malibu Beach Inn in Malibu, California; and $1 million for the Marker Waterfront Resort in Key West, Florida.
Best practices for driving paid, organic search
Digital marketers shared tips and trends for hoteliers to take advantage of paid-search advertising and search engine optimization in a two-part Hotel News Now series. In “How to navigate the paid search landscape,” marketers shared search engine marketing tips for taking advantage of paid-search platforms such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads and Yahoo Gemini.
In “How to drive organic search results for hotels,” marketers honed in on SEO best practices that will help a hotel’s site rank higher in online searches, such as focusing on content, consistency and keywords.
An independent hotel for every taste—even gaming
Amsterdam is home to the first hotel catering to video game players—The Arcade Hotel, located in the city’s De Pijp neighborhood. According to Engadget.com, the hotel’s 36 rooms have video game systems and games, and guests can check out equipment to play multiplayer games in the hotel bar.
Deals and developments
- The following properties recently joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World: the 38-room Keemala in Phuket, Thailand; the 143-room Mar Adentro Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; the six-room Casa Colombo Collection in Mirissa, Sri Lanka; the 12-room La Peschiera in Monopoli, Italy; and the 11-room Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge in Cappadocia, Turkey.
- HRI Properties announced it will manage the River’s Edge Hotel and Spa in Portland, Oregon. The 99-room property will undergo a $3-million renovation this year.
- Jeroen Quint was named GM of Hotel Irvine, the recently repositioned 536-room Orange County, California, hotel owned and operated by the Irvine Company.
- The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, A Destination Hotel, joined Associated Luxury Hotels International. The 326-room resort underwent a $10-million renovation in 2015.
- Stash Hotel Rewards recently added the following properties to its system: The Clarkson Inn in Potsdam, New York; The Berkeley Hotel in Richmond, Virginia; Cypress Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California; Lenape Heights Golf Resort in Ford City, Pennsylvania; and Casa Cayuco Eco Adventure Lodge in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
Compiled by Stephanie Ricca.