 |
| Thompson Seattle is a member of the newly combined Two Roads Hospitality. // Photo by Andrew Pogue |
From a new hotel company to our partner publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, becoming a finalist in Folio’s Eddie & Ozzie Awards, here are the headlines to follow in the travel industry today.
New Hotel Company: Two Roads Hospitality
In hotel news, the recently-merged Destination Hotels and Commune Hotels & Resorts have announced their new overarching company: Two Roads Hospitality. Billed as an “international lifestyle company,” it encompasses Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels, Destination Hotels, tommie and Alila Hotels & Resorts. In total it operates more than 95 independent, boutique and lifestyle hotels in eight countries.
Jamie Sabatier and Niki Leondakis will lead the newly established company as CEO of Two Roads Hospitality and CEO of Hotels & Resorts, respectively. Sabatier will oversee the company’s operating and financial performance, global development and growth strategy, human resources and technology. Leondakis will be responsible for hotel property financial performance, including operations, sales and marketing, guest experience, food and beverage programming, and interior design strategy. Other core executives will include: Tom Luersen, chief operating officer; Todd Wynne-Parry, EVP, global acquisitions and development; Andre Fournier, EVP, sales and marketing; Mark Hays, chief financial officer; and Andrew Arthurs, chief information officer. John Pritzker and Robert Lowe, Jr. serve as co-chairmen of the combined company.
The name of the new company draws inspiration from Robert Frost’s “road less traveled,” as well as the distinctive paths of both Destination and Commune. In the last four months, the company has expanded by opening Alila Anji in China, Thompson Seattle, The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel in Lower Manhattan, and Cliff House Maine, A Destination Hotel in Cape Neddick, Maine. In the next 12 months, it will roll out projects including Thompson Nashville; Joie de Vivre properties The Troubadour in New Orleans, Hotel 50 Bowery in New York City and a project in Baltimore; and Alila hotels and resorts in India, Cambodia, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia. In addition, the company has new hotels and resorts under development in Hollywood, CA, West Los Angeles, Austin, San Antonio, Chicago, New Orleans and Kansas City.
Study: Florida Travel Down 15 Percent Following Zika
In sobering news for Florida travel, a new study by travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance shows that the number of Americans planning to travel to the state over the peak fall and winter travel season has dropped by almost 15 percent following the discovery of locally-transmitted Zika virus in Miami.
In August the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned pregnant women and their partners not to travel to Miami Beach after Zika was found in mosquitos in the area. Another CDC advisory, for the Wynwood neighborhood north of downtown Miami, was recently lifted.
Allianz said it reviewed more than 940,000 Americans’ travel plans made during the month of August for travel mid-November 2016 through mid-April 2017 and compared the results with the same period last year. According to the analysis, the number of travelers planning to book flights to Miami is down 29.11 percent, while the state of Florida as a whole was down 14.84 percent. Excluding Miami, the rest of Florida saw a 12.4 percent decrease in travelers intending to book flights over the fall and winter. Tampa saw a 32.79 percent decline, and Palm Beach saw a 15.51 percent decline.
LTA Named Finalist in Folio’s Eddie & Ozzie Awards
Finally, to toot our own horn a bit, our partner publication Luxury Travel Advisor has been named a finalist in Folio’s Eddie & Ozzie Awards for the B-to-B – Full Issue – Travel category.
Luxury Travel Advisor received the recognition for its 10th anniversary issue, which was published in July 2015. That issue included all of the travel advisors who had graced the magazine’s covers since its inception in 2005.
Luxury Travel Advisor is the travel trade’s first and only publication dedicated to educating a select group of luxury travel advisors through coverage on destinations, top hotels, cruise lines, events and more. The Eddie & Ozzie Awards recognize excellence in magazine editorial and design across all sectors of the industry. Winners of this year’s awards will be announced at a celebratory luncheon during The Folio: Show on October 31 at Hilton Midtown in New York City.
Have a tip on major travel industry news, or an inspiring story you’d like to share? Reach out at aleposa@questex.com.
And keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for the latest travel industry news, trends and updates.