NATIONAL 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:
HotelSigns.com Launches Annual Charity Contest
HotelSigns.com has launched its annual charity giveaway, now in its third consecutive year, and is seeking participants from the hospitality industry to vote on their favorite charitable organization. This year’s nominees are the following: Prevent Blindness, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Wounded Warrior Project and HealthWell Foundation. Everyone is able to vote once a day until the end of the voting period. The winning charitable organization will receive a $5,000 donation from HotelSigns.com’s parent company, Intersign Corporation. HotelSigns.com’s third annual charity contest runs until Dec. 18, with the winner to be publicly announced in January.
Benchmark Inn Partners with Hotel Internet Services
Hotel Internet Services has added content casting abilities at the Benchmark Inn in Provincetown, MA, with its successful implementation of BeyondTV GuestCast. Compatible with virtually any internet network and television used in today’s guestrooms, BeyondTV GuestCast sidesteps the need for complex integrations and serves as a cost-effective casting solution that mirrors the functionality and ease-of-use that guests are accustomed to when at home, according to the company. For Benchmark Inn’s owners, this advantage meant being able to implement an effective casting service without having to replace existing television sets. Also compatible with more than 1,000 mobile-based apps, BeyondTV GuestCast ensures that guests staying at the property can access essentially any personalized content that they now expect to be able to experience on a larger guestroom television screen.
Crave Interactive Installs In-Room Tablets in the Osthoff Resort
Crave Interactive has installed its in-room tablets in the Osthoff Resort on Elkhart Lake, WI. The resort has installed Crave’s 8-in. T-Mini in-room tablets and charging docks in all of its 145 guestrooms and suites. The tablets serve as an all-in-one digital directory, as well as the in-room alarm clock and ordering solution for all of the hotel’s amenities, including in-room dining, housekeeping, spa services and dining reservations. The one-touch tablets also provide The Osthoff Resort the ability to instantly send messages to any room or group of rooms, including wedding parties as well as retreat and conference guests. In addition to all the hotel’s amenities available via the Crave tablet, the digital directory provides guests instant access to an array of activities available on property and in the surrounding area of Elkhart Lake.
McKibbon Places Officially Opens Corporate Headquarters
McKibbon Places, a hotel development and renovation company, has opened its new corporate headquarters. Located in Alpharetta, GA, the new location is closer to Atlanta and will serve as the central command center for McKibbon’s development and renovation projects. It features technology to maximize effectiveness of project management. With strong roots and a tenured team previously headquartered in Gainesville, GA, the newly formed company has an added focus on third-party development and renovation management in addition to developing projects for McKibbon.
Terranea Resort President Terri Haack Honored
Terranea Resort President Terri A. Haack was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Los Angeles 2019 Best of the Best Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have proven exceptional dedication and contributed to the betterment of the hospitality industry in a significant and lasting way. With a distinguished career spanning more than 35 years in hotel and resort operations management, Haack is responsible for the overall operating performance of Terranea Resort, the 102-acre luxury destination, located along California’s coastline on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Haack joined Terranea in 2007, spearheading pre-construction operations for the $480-million property and guiding the resort’s debut in June 2009. Now, in 2019, she celebrates the significant achievement of a decade of leadership at Terranea coinciding with the property’s milestone 10-year anniversary.
Mobilitie Serves Up High-Speed Wireless at The Diplomat Resort and Spa
The Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, FL, has added high-speed wireless connectivity. A recent renovation offers new amenities to complement conceptual cuisine and a modern spa. And now, thanks to the in-building wireless network from Mobilitie, resort guests have access to uninterrupted wireless service from all of the major carriers, whether it’s to share their experience at the hotel or remain connected at The Diplomat’s convention center.