Business Travel News is reporting that InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is reducing commissions from 10 percent to seven percent for group and meeting business at its properties in the United States and Canada. The commission change will be effective January 1, 2019. It does not apply to business contracted before that date, or to properties outside of the United States and Canada. IHG's … Read More about IHG Cutting Third-Party Commissions
NEW YORK —Virtuoso, the global network of luxury travel agencies, has released the top trends and insights seen among recent additions to the Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts collection, it was announced Jan. 9. Luxury Hotel Boom in Emerging Destinations: According to the 2017 Virtuoso Luxe Report, South Africa, Portugal and Colombia are among the hottest up-and-coming destinations this year. As a … Read More about Hottest Luxury Hotel Trends for 2017
DALLAS — The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is now VisitDallas, president and CEO Phillip J. Jones announced at the organization’s annual meeting on Dec. 1. “Dallas is catching on, and we must discover the social currency and triggers that will make Dallas a must-visit destination,” said Jones. “We are within reach, but we have more work to do. This is an exciting time for Dallas … Read More about Dallas CVB Rebrands as VisitDallas
VANCOUVER — The Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver, slated to open in January, will feature more than 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The 69-storey hotel’s meeting and event spaces include the 5,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom, with 19-foot ceiling; leather and dyed eucalyptus wood walls; floor-to-ceiling windows; and custom built air walls featuring an STC rating … Read More about Trump Vancouver Offers 15,000 s.f. of Meeting Spaces
MONTEREY, Calif. — A renovated conference centre and refreshed hotels are on the books for Monterey, as properties invest substantially in major renovations, remodeling and additions, it was announced last month. The $60 million renovation of the Monterey Conference Centre will be LEED certified and will result in 40,000-plus square feet of meeting space and a capacity of 3,200 people. The … Read More about What’s Happening in Monterey
OTTAWA — Infinity Convention Centre, featuring 15,000 sq. ft. of space, will hold its grand opening in the nation’s capital Oct. 13, it was announced in mid-September. The facility is located in a hotel cluster near Ottawa International Airport, adjacent to West Hunt Club retail developments, and can accommodate 1,200 people in a customizable, obstruction-free space featuring 23 ft. ceilings. … Read More about Ottawa’s Infinity Convention Centre Opening Oct. 13
NEW YORK — Hotel Shocard, the new boutique hotel in New York City’s Times Square, has unveiled two new event space options, the Sho-Stopper Suite and the Ensemble Suite, it was announced Aug. 15. The Shocard Suites feature a residential-like layout comprised of function space with open-air terraces for an indoor-outdoor experience. The Sho-Stopper Suite is the larger of the two and can … Read More about Hotel Shocard Unveils New Event Spaces
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cliff House Maine, which reopened on Aug. 21 following the completion of the first phase of a $40 million renovation, has been accepted as the newest member of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), it was announced Aug. 17. The 132-room oceanfront resort, which welcomed its first guests in 1872, is ALHI’s first and only member hotel in Maine. Located in southern … Read More about ALHI Adds First Hotel Member In Maine
ORLANDO, Fla. — Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando, an addition to the Associated Luxury Hotels International portfolio, opened July 14, it was announced Aug. 10. The Caribbean-inspired Loews Sapphire Falls Resort offers 1,000 guestrooms and 115,000 square feet of versatile meeting space. This includes a 41,000-square-foot ballroom divisible into 12 sections, a 31,000-square-foot … Read More about ALHI Loews Resort Opens at Universal Orlando
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Napa Valley will open for previews in September in St. Helena, Calif., next to Beringer Vineyards and Estate, it was announced June 9. The hotel’s 68 guestrooms and suites, all with fireplace-outfitted outdoor terraces, overlook neighbouring vineyards or winery, including 10 rooms featuring outdoor soaking tubs on private balconies. … Read More about Las Alcobas Hotel Opening in Napa in Fall
CALGARY — WestJet and Qantas have signed a reciprocal agreement whereby members of the airlines' frequent flyer programs can earn their choice of WestJet dollars or Qantas points when travelling on flights of either airline, it was announced last month. This agreement expands on the existing codeshare relationship between Qantas and WestJet announced in 2014. "This will be a significant … Read More about WestJet, Qantas Frequent Flyer Agreement
Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas has announced several additions to its inventory of group event spaces. The AAA Five Diamond and LEED Gold-certified resort has refreshed its convention centre, debuted a dedicated event space in The Shops at Crystals and opened two new restaurants, Carbone and Herringbone. Scheduled for completion this month, upgrades to the 300,000-sq.-ft. convention … Read More about Aria Opens New Spaces for Groups
The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico is the newest member of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). The oceanfront property, which opened in 1919, underwent a comprehensive $200 million restoration and renovation that was completed last year. It reopened in December 2014. "Condado Vanderbilt Hotel has been impressively restores to its grandeur, but it is even better … Read More about San Juan’s Condado Vanderbilt Joins ALHI
Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa Runaway Bay and Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa Ocho Rios have signed to become part of Hilton Worldwide's upscale brand, Curio - A Collection by Hilton. They are the first two Caribbean properties to join the brand. "Surrounded by the natural beauty of Dunn's River Falls and Mystic Mountain, the Jewel properties have long been synonymous with … Read More about Hilton Adds Jamaican Properties to Curio Brand
The Sea Pines Resort has opened Sea Pines Beach Club, a new, two-story, 25,000-square-foot facility located on Hilton Head Island. The new facility features a 1,938-square-feet event space on the second floor, which has unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean and distant Tybee Island; large floor-to-ceiling windows; and a spacious outdoor deck connected by terraces and covered verandas. The … Read More about New Event Venue Opens on Hilton Head
Loews Royal Pacific Resort, the largest meeting hotel at Universal Orlando, is expanding its meeting and event space from 85,000 square feet to more than 140,000 square feet. It the largest expansion in the resort's history. The new space will feature a design inspired by the beauty of the South Pacific. It will include a nearly 36,000-square-foot ballroom (divisible by 12) along with four … Read More about Orlando Resort Undergoing Major Meeting Space Expansion
Chill Ice House, Toronto's first ice bar and lounge, is now open and available for group buyouts. Located at 82 Bathurst Street, adjacent to the city's Entertainment District and close to downtown hotels, this cool new venue is owned and operated by brothers Nic and Gresham Bayley, sons of event pro Cass Bayley, CMP, CMM. Before opening Chill Ice House, the brothers honed their skills working at … Read More about Toronto Gets Cool New Venue
Groups at Enchantment Resort, in Sedona AZ, now have exclusive access to Seven Canyons, one of America's top golf retreats. Designed by golf champion Tom Weiskopf, Seven Canyons is spread across 200 acres that border the national forest and Arizona's famed red rock canyons. The par-70 championship course features classic-style bunkering, natural water features and constant changes in … Read More about Sedona Resort Offering Groups Access to Top Golf Course
Hornblower Niagara Cruises is ready to launch its boat tours to the base of Niagara Falls. Once the ice clears on the Niagara River—in approximately mid-May—the company will begin its unique tours of one of Canada's best-known natural attractions. Hornblower was awarded a 30-year contract to be the sole operator on the Canadian side of the Falls following an open procurement process conducted by … Read More about New Operator Setting Sail in Niagara Falls
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort is scheduled to open this summer. The resort, which is located minutes from the Magic Kingdom® Park Epcot®, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios®, has 444 luxury guestrooms, spa, Tom Fazio-designed golf course, waterslides, pools, tennis and basketball courts, woodlands, nightly fireworks and more. "The … Read More about Four Seasons Opening Property in Orlando
