NEWS BRIEFS update Nov. 12, 2019

New venture for Jaret Waddell and Dan Folk

Jaret Waddell (left) and Dan Folk have formed a new Canadian hotel management company. After a combined 26 years of working for Airline Hotels as co-chief operating officers, Jaret Waddell and Dan Folk have formed a new company, Globex Management Corp. Globex will be focused on hotel acquisitions, unique and progressive management contract services and supply chain integration.

The transition was a perfect fit for both Airline's owners and its senior leadership team. Head office associates of Airline Hotels have moved to join Jaret and Dan in Globex.

“It has been and continues to be our most distinct pleasure to have been a part of a family as important as Airline,” Wadell told CLN. “Leading by the values instilled in the company by its founder and current president has been an honour and has cemented the importance of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Entrepreneurship in all we will do to create success in our new company.”

STR Canada Q3 Performance

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The Canadian hotel industry reported mostly negative year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the third quarter of 2019, according to data from STR as reported on HNN Newswire.

In the third quarter, Canadian hotel occupancy fell 2 per cent to 76.3 per cent, and despite a 0.4 per cent ADR increase to CAD183.39, RevPAR decreased 1.5 per cent to CAD139.85.

August, historically Canada’s peak performance month, was the top month of the quarter in absolute values: occupancy (79.0 per cent), ADR (CAD185.25) and RevPAR (CAD146.42).

Among the provinces and territories, New Brunswick registered the largest jump in RevPAR (+4.1 per cent to CAD112.59), due to the largest lift in ADR (+5.0 per cent to CAD141.81).

Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the highest rise in occupancy (+2.3 per cent to 72.8 per cent), but the steepest drops in ADR (-6.2 per cent to CAD141.72) and RevPAR (-4.1 per cent to CAD103.21).

Manitoba reported the next steepest decline in RevPAR (-4.0 per cent to CAD89.38), because of the largest drop in occupancy (-3.2 per cent to 72.5 per cent).

Advantage Hotels launches VistaRez

AUSTIN, Tex. – Recognizing the fact that not all properties need to be affiliated with a franchised brand, Advantage Hotels, Inc. president & CEO Patrick Mullinix recently announced the launch of the VistaRez Independent Collection – a complete sales & marketing solution with an integrated property management system and reservation system for independent hotels.

“Over and over, I hear from unhappy owners at various brands that their franchise fees are too high, they’re not getting enough reservations, they don’t see the value in mandated PIPs and brand standards, and their franchisor doesn’t listen or care. For those reasons, they want to go independent. However, they don’t know how and are fearful of going at it alone without any support and assistance. So, we developed the VistaRez Independent Collection to offer hotels a competitive advantage through strategic sales and marketing support and a best-in-class technology package,” said Mullinix.

VistaRez is AHI’s complete hospitality technology package. It’s a compilation of software and online tools that optimize an owner’s revenue opportunities and allow integration and connectivity to all distribution channels.

The VistaRez Independent Collection provides three main solutions for independent hotels at a very affordable cost:

1. Sales & marketing support that is customized for each hotel’s individual market and demand

2. Best-in-class Central Reservation System – Powered by Sabre, national brand discounts, 24/7 reservation call center

3. State-of-the-art Property Management System – Powered by Sabre, directly connected with the CRS

Contact: VistaRezind.com or call 440-306-2442. Or, to franchise with Vista or Select Inn, visit AdvantageFranchises.com.

Second Blumination at Blue Mountain Village

BLUE MOUNTAINS, Ont. — The second-year spectacle, called Blumination Dream Trail at Blue Mountain Village, features even more inventive technology as one million lights guide visitors through bigger, brighter and some brand new Aaah! inspiring light displays, starting Nov. 30.

Once again, Blue Mountain Village will bring visitors the Blumination Dream Trail, a complimentary experience for all to enjoy. Spectacular lights. Sensational sounds. It’s a one-kilometre winter stroll through the heights of innovation to the edge of imagination. Follow the trail along beautiful, tree-lined pedestrian streets and pathways through the Village and around the Mill pond to discover magical, mega-watt light displays. From the “Ice Garden” to the “Enchanted Forest” and through the “Mind Warp”, to name a few, it’s an exciting and interactive adventure sure to spark the imagination of the whole family.

The journey ends in the Events Plaza where the illuminated “Dream Tree” is the focus of an amazing visual and musical display every hour on the hour. And, new this year, each creative installation will “dance to the music” – also on the hour from dusk to 10 pm – making it a truly multi-sensory experience. All of this plus fireworks at 8:15 Saturday nights in December!

Days Inns Scores with CHL

TORONTO — Days Inns – Canada has announced an expanded two-year partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

“After a successful launch in 2018, we’re thrilled to have Days Inns – Canada on board as a dedicated affiliate partner for the next two seasons,” said Kyle Ferguson, director of corporate partnerships, Canadian Hockey League. “Strategic partnerships are a fundamental part of our strategy and we value the support of those like Days Inns – Canada, who share the same vision as we do.”

The hotel chain’s sponsorship deal will feature branded web presence, in-ice logo placement, video board commercials, spectator giveaways as well as an in-venue kiosk as part of the CHL’s National Events calendar that includes the CIBC Canada Russia Series in November, the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January, and the Memorial Cup in May.

In conjunction with the on-site activation events, Days Inns – Canada will be giving fans the chance to win prizes through a series of social media contests.

“With CHL teams in 60 markets, the onsite presence in local communities is invaluable,” said Ally Wesson, senior director of marketing, Days Inns – Canada. “These events provide us with the unique opportunity to connect with CHL fans from near and far, while showcasing our brand.”

George Courey & The Unscented Company partnership

TORONTO — George Courey Inc., a key player in the wholesale of high-quality linens and terry for over 109 years, recently announced a new exclusive partnership with The Unscented Company. The Unscented Company is a Canadian natural home + body care company built on redefining the notion of clean by offering a complete line of unscented and refillable products.

Through this strategic partnership, George Courey and The Unscented Company plan on helping the hospitality sector reduce their waste footprint. As The Unscented Company’s exclusive hospitality partner in North America, George Courey Inc is able to provide their clients with full turnkey sustainable solutions by including this unique line of environmentally friendly amenities, which compliments their current line of sustainable linen and terry collections.

The hospitality industry has a significant bearing on the environment, primarily due to factors including water consumption for linens and single-use plastic. Studies by Scandic hotels and Accor have shown 70-85 per cent of packaged bathroom amenities end up in waste. Several major players within the hospitality sector, such as IHG Hotel Group and Marriott International, have already pledged to eliminate plastic toiletry bottles and move to bulk toiletries.

The partnership between George Courey Inc and The Unscented Company stems from an effort to continuously support the hospitality sector with innovative and competitive solutions to attract a growing market of socially aware guests who favour businesses with sustainable initiatives. According to a preliminary research done by Hilton, 80 per cent of surveyed guests said a hotel’s social and environmental efforts mattered to them, and over 60 percent said these efforts would influence their booking decisions over the next 12 months.

Government of Alberta moves to apply tourism levy

EDMONTON — In Alberta's recent provincial budget announcement, Premier Kenney stated that the government intends to bring forward legislation in spring 2020 to apply the Alberta tourism levy to temporary accommodation providers.

“The AHLA has become increasingly concerned about the lack of fair rules for short-term rentals [STRs],” said Dave Kaiser, Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association president & CEO. “We are pleased that the government has committed to level the playing between hotels and STRs with regards to the collection and remittance of the Tourism Levy.”

To facilitate the collection of the levy from STR operators, online marketplaces will be authorized to collect and remit the levy to government on each operator’s behalf. Government will work with online marketplaces to implement this change. This will enable efficient collection of the levy, and will allow the government to measure the scale of STR activity in Alberta.

The AHLA will continue to work with the provincial government as they prepare to bring forward this legislation.

On a municipal level, the AHLA will continue to advocate for fair rules in Alberta’s two largest cities, alongside Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels, the Hotel Association of Greater Edmonton, and the Calgary Hotel Association. Councils from both cities are expected to consider further regulations for STRs in December.

LG introduces 4K Ultra HDTV for hotels

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bringing a new level of premium quality video and audio performance to LCD hotel TVs, LG Business Solutions USA has launched the first 4K Ultra HD TVs designed specifically for the hospitality market with NanoCell display technology.

LG’s UT770H series of Pro:Centric® smart hospitality TVs brings LG’s award-winning LCD TV display technology from the consumer market into the hotel room for the first time. These new hotel TVs leverage the power of LG’s NanoCell IPS technology panels to deliver impressive picture enhancements, color accuracy and wide viewing angles to LED-backlit LCD TVs.

LG’s proprietary NanoCell technology uses nano particles (each roughly one nanometer in size) to absorb surplus wavelengths of light, enhancing the purity of colors on the screen while expanding the color gamut and ensuring consistent color performance from any angle. To match the stunning visuals with excellent audio performance, each model utilizes DTS Virtual:X, a new audio optimization technology that analyzes incoming signals in real time and adjusts output to provide the perception of surround sound from a two-channel system.

The UT770H NanoCell TV Series offers hotels visually stunning, easy-to-use smart TVs in four sizes that meet virtually every need a modern guest might have. The new NanoCell IPS display provides detailed 4K UHD resolution, wide viewing angles, exceptional color accuracy and remarkably slim bezels while the Pro:Centric management solution offers customizable tools to create unique, interactive experiences for hotel guests.