INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Whether it’s celebrating an anniversary, receiving an award, earning a certification, debuting a new product or expanding the business, hotel companies and vendors achieve new milestones on a daily basis. Here’s a look at recent accomplishments:
ProfitSword Names COO and Director of Tech
ProfitSword has appointed John Crutchfield as COO and Sean Hoggard as director of technology. The appointments come as a result of ProfitSword’s continued market expansion and increasing demand for its business intelligence and data management solutions. Crutchfield and Hoggard will both serve vital roles in further streamlining company operations to meet growing industry demand, as well as assist in implementing new business strategies and identifying additional opportunities for greater company growth, according to the company.
Originally joining ProfitSword in 2018 as an agile operations leader, Crutchfield has since been credited with enhancing the performance of the company’s suite of solutions. Prior to joining ProfitSword, Crutchfield held numerous notable roles that include serving as director of sales operations and marketing for Marriott Vacations Worldwide. As COO, Crutchfield will oversee the organization and strategy of multiple ProfitSword departments including quality assurance, project management, software support, architecture and development as well as client success.
Hoggard takes on the role of director of technology after having initially joined ProfitSword in 2008. Previously recognized for his ability to enhance team collaboration and ensure full customer satisfaction, Hoggard’s new position will task him with providing oversight for development and technical support teams, and will report to Crutchfield in this capacity.
ProfitSword provides a single database solution that powers several robust software applications. ProfitSword applications include ProfitSage, a robust reporting environment that also provides tools for data management such as forecasting and budgeting.
Pegasus & Travel Tripper Hit Milestone in Global Sales
Pegasus and Travel Tripper set a new company record in September by converting 52% of its partner hotels’ new corporate RFP targets for the 2020 season. Each year, hotels compete to secure new RFP invitations from global corporations, which could result in lucrative corporate business from these firms for the coming year.
The global sales team already set a record conversion rate of 44% for the 2019 season, which concluded last year. Comparable industry services yield an average conversion rate of 14%. This number was surpassed once again this year, with 52% of corporate targets already converted, with potentially more conversions in Q4. The corporate sales services, together with the team’s TMC and consortia sales services, helps partner hotels generate more than $300 million in bookings from these channels each year.
Wall Street Journal to Partner With Okura Nikko Hotels
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co. Ltd., has concluded a business partnership agreement with Dow Jones & Company Inc., publisher of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The agreement will allow customers staying in Okura Nikko Hotel group hotels to access online editions of the WSJ. In addition, members of Okura Nikko Hotels’ One Harmony loyalty program will be able to purchase WSJ subscriptions at specially discounted prices. Later this year, Okura Nikko Hotels plan to offer various services to WSJ subscribers, including special offers such as the chance to enter a lottery and win a complimentary stay at the Royal Suite at The Okura Tokyo, to celebrate the hotel’s opening.
Sage Co-founder, President/CEO to Receive Award
Sage Hospitality revealed that its co-founder, President/CEO Walter Isenberg is a winner of the Denver Business Journal’s 2019 Most Admired CEO Awards.
Out of the group of award winners, the award judges selected Isenberg as the recipient of the 2019 Pinnacle Award, signifying the notable impact of his career and leadership on the overall Denver business community.
“I am humbled to be recognized amongst this group of truly impactful and inspiring business leaders,” said Isenberg. “I am truly lucky to be passionate about what I do and have the opportunity to lead a team of amazing and talented people at Sage. I believe that if you love what you do and love who you do it with, no day will ever really feel like work. Being at the helm of this company is something I love, and the success of the company is thanks to the people I get to work with every day.”
M3 Wins Big at Tech in Motion’s Atlanta Timmy Awards
Tech in Motion, an international event series uniting local tech communities, recently named M3 a multi-award winner during its annual Timmy Awards, which recognize the industry’s top workplaces and movers and shakers in the Atlanta region. M3 was named a winner in the following categories: Best Tech Workplace for Diversity and Best Tech Manager.
The selection criteria for the Best Tech Workplace for Diversity was based on diverse hiring and employment practices, inclusive thinking to produce an innovative product and use of resources to explore and celebrate differences. Since its founding in 1998, M3 has been dedicated to maintaining an inclusive and diverse work culture. These efforts are incorporated throughout the company at every level, beginning with the M3’s hiring and recruiting practices at diverse college campuses and organizations throughout the Southeast U.S.
In addition, M3’s Software Development Manager Sujata Devraj was named a winner in the Best Tech Manager category. This award recognizes individuals who promote career growth and inspire innovation, ensure positive team culture and employ a communicated vision to create a product.