Four Seasons names new exec: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has named Marc Speichert to its executive leadership team in the role of executive vice president and chief commercial officer, effective May 3. Prior to joining Four Seasons, Speichert was global chief digital officer at GSK Consumer Healthcare for four years, where he led the digital transformation of its marketing functions, and more recently added supply chain, research and development, and the company’s broader marketing transformation to his scope of work. Previously, Speichert was also a senior executive at Google on its global clients and agency solutions department.
Auberge to manage in S.F.: The Mill Valley, California-based Auberge Resorts Collection will manage The Hearst Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in San Francisco. The Hearst-owned building is a 1911 landmark being redeveloped by San Francisco real estate investment and development firm, JMA Ventures. Following an extensive interior renovation and redesign, the 13-story building will open as a 150-room hotel with an Auberge Spa, social spaces, restaurant and rooftop bar. The hotel will be conceptualized and designed by Roman and Williams and is anticipated to open in 2023.
Demand for long-haul travel: Despite travel restrictions caused by COVID-19, it appears that consumer confidence has not been drastically deterred. A recent survey by analytics company GlobalData indicates that 36% of respondents would consider an international trip to a different continent in the next 12 months, just 8% more than the percentage of respondents that stated they would consider an international trip to a country within the continent in which they live.
Times Square ground lease bargain: After years of sliding valuations and multiple auctions, the ground lease for the New York City-based Gallivant Times Square Hotel once valued at US$126 million has sold for a fraction of its previous value. The ground lease of the 334-room hotel was sold to Mehran Kohansieh of Kohan Retail Investment Group for US$4 million, according to records filed with the city last week. Kohansieh told Bisnow that the company, which owns aging malls around the country, plans to keep the property as a hotel and “revitalize” it.
‘Together by Hyatt’: Hyatt Hotels Corp. has launched “Together by Hyatt,” a new suite of events offerings designed to meet planners as the industry begins to climb out of the pandemic. The offerings include the ability to work with “Hybrid Event Experts,” offering event planner certifications, and access to resource guides and meditation apps.
Read about the program details
Scandic’s interim report Q1 2021: Overall, for Q1 2021 Scandic’s net sales decreased by 72% to 930 MSEK (US$111 million) and average occupancy dropped to 17.5% during the quarter. According to Scandic President and CEO Jens Mathiesen: demand in the big cities was affected by the lack of business travelers combined with “an almost non-existent range of entertainment,” with restaurants closed or limited in their hours of operation. Mathiesen says he expects a recovery driven by domestic leisure travelers. “Last year, occupancy increased from an extremely low level in April to just over 40% in July, and we expect a similar pattern this year. This summer, however, occupancy is expected to be higher than last year, driven by better demand in the big cities. At the end of March, we carried out an offering of convertible bonds at the same time as we reached agreements with our lenders to extend existing credit facilities until the end of 2023.” Mathiesen added that these measures are expected to cover Scandic’s liquidity needs until “the market has normalized” and Scandic has a positive cash flow.
Hawaii counties may impose extra 3% hotel tax: Hawaii’s four counties would be able to impose their own additional hotel room taxes under a bill that passed its final reading Tuesday in the state’s legislature. The bill has gone through several controversial changes. In early April, the bill, which was up to that point largely concerned with reconfiguring the state’s management of two aerospace programs, was amended to significantly curtail the duties and funding of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Counties now would also be allowed to impose their own countywide transient accommodations tax, at a rate of up to 3%, in addition to the current statewide transient accommodations tax.
PATA names new CEO: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has appointed Liz Ortiguera chief executive officer effective May 17, succeeding Dr. Mario Hardy who will finish his term at the end of May. Ortiguera has experience in working at both multinational corporations including American Express and Merck and start-up environments in software as a service (SaaS), e-commerce, and ed-tech. For 10 years she was the general manager for Amex’s Travel Partner Network in Asia-Pacific.
Cali lodging group forms ‘issues PAC’: The California Hotel & Lodging Association has formed an “issues PAC” under the leadership of Alpesh Jivan, CHA, to serve as “a rapid-response team” for proposed legislation or regulations affecting hoteliers in the state. The working group of hoteliers will monitor for legislative and regulatory proposals that could help or harm the hotel industry. The group will be ready to take immediate action, either to support or to defeat initiatives, in conjunction with appropriate allies and affected parties. Jivan is founder and managing partner of TenSeventy Hospitality, which is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area.
New ‘rules of revenue strategy’ at virtual forum: Duetto, in partnership with Silver Hospitality Group, has launched the first in a series of virtual revenue strategy forums. The half-day virtual event will combine education, networking, and high-level information exchange among hotel executives and respected industry leaders responsible for increasing revenue and optimizing demand. Scheduled for May 19, the virtual half-day event will feature industry leaders “who will articulate and iterate the evolution of revenue strategy, while also addressing key issues in data, marketing, and innovation.” Keynote speakers and participants already confirmed for the event include Michael Levie, CitizenM; Priya Chandnani, vice president of Revenue Management, Benchmark Global Hospitality; and David Rochefort, president, Graduate Hotels.
See registration info. for the free event