Located just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby French Quarter and Garden District, New Orleans’ 226-room Le Pavillon Hotel exhibits distinctive architecture, original antique furnishings, and specially curated artwork that spotlights the property’s history. Read more about the design of the Frenchman Suite here.
Using Ambient Scenting to Create a Unique Hotel Experience
Special additions to a hotel like customized lighting and artificial intelligence make a property unique and compliment the guest experience—even if guests do not notice them. Ambient scenting is one of these elements—while not visible or often noticeable to guests, an original smell in public hotel spaces creates a customized facet for a brand. Click here to read the full article on how scent can change a guest’s perspective.
Insights From ALIS: Checking In With Andrea Foster
Milwaukee-based hotel management company Marcus Hotels & Resorts has been using this long period of industry growth and stability to tap into unique markets and expand the company’s reach, especially with projects in its own backyard. Andrea Foster, senior vice president of development for Marcus Hotels & Resorts, acknowledges that the hotel industry is stagnant in a good way, but hoteliers need to implement innovative technology and practices to keep up with guests’ evolving needs. Foster spoke with LODGING at ALIS about the industry’s progress and Marcus’s evolution. Read the full interview here.
Checking In: Carole Angel
In November, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) earned a 100 percent perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. IHG has been given this honor four years in a row, and this year, IHG was named the best place to work for LGBTQ equality. The survey rated more than 900 businesses and evaluated company practices relating to the LGBTQ community. LODGING spoke with Carole Angel, director of government affairs at IHG, about what it means to receive a perfect score. Read the full interview here.
Hotel Industry Program Offers Employees Low-Cost Education
A new hotel industry pilot program is offering college associate and bachelor’s degrees to adult hospitality workers for little to no cost. In partnership with Pearson’s AcceleratED Pathways program, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and its foundational group, the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF), announced the program on a press call Wednesday, Feb. 28. Read more from the press call here.
Wyndham Grand Encourages Travelers to Be More Present
We’re all guilty of neglecting loved ones in favor of sending an email or text message. On vacations, when disconnected from the office, unwinding and putting the cell phone away can be even harder. Seeing guests experience the same issues over and over again, Wyndham Grand Hotels has developed a program called Reconnected that encourages guests to lock their phones away and be more present. Click here to read more about the program, with information from a live event in New York City.
A Closer Look at Three of 2017’s Biggest Hospitality Deals
Three of the biggest hospitality deals of 2017 were Wyndham Hotel Group acquiring the AmericInn brand, RLJ Lodging Trust merging with FelCor, and Valor Hospitality merging with Kemmons Wilson Companies. To read more in-depth about these three game-changing deals, click here.
Openings: Ironworks Hotel Indy
The first boutique hotel to open on the north side of Indianapolis, the Ironworks Hotel Indy was designed as a modern take on 19th-century industrial charm. Leather, iron, and wooden accents in the lobby and common areas play on the property’s industrial theme, while unique metalwork and artwork adorning the walls add interest to the space. Read more about the new property here.
Five Benefits of Emerging Tech in Hotel F&B
The growth of intuitive technology in the food and beverage industry has had a positive and innovative effect, especially when it comes to food safety and inventory management. Francine Shaw, president of Food Safety Training Solutions, lists the following benefits of technology in the F&B space. Click here to see Shaw’s insights.
Checking Out: Kimpton Hotel Born
On the edge of the Union Station platform in Denver, Colo., stands the Kimpton Hotel Born. The product of a collaboration between Semple Brown Design and Ellen Bruss Design, the 240-room Kimpton Hotel Born offers an atmosphere that feels like home with warm and cozy design details—like hand-woven rugs—throughout the property. Read more about the property’s lobby nook here.
Robin McLaughlin 