Partner News

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:

HSMAI Honors Dowling, Gostelow With Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has awarded two industry veterans with 2020 HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards in marketing and public relations. Dorothy Dowling, SVP/CMO for Best Western Hotels & Resorts, will be recognized with the Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing. Mary Gostelow, publisher of the Gostelow Report, will be honored with the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Public Relations. HSMAI will celebrate Dowling and Gostelow at the virtual Adrian Awards Celebration on March 23.

The HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have spent most of their careers in hospitality and travel and have contributed to the betterment of the industry in a significant and lasting way over an extended period of time.

With more than 30 years in the industry, Dowling directs all marketing and sales strategies, overseeing Best Western’s loyalty program, consumer and field marketing activities, advertising and public relations. Since joining Best Western in 2004, Dowling has implemented a number of measures to increase market share and contemporize the company’s iconic brand. Mary Gostelow is publisher of the Gostelow Report, a monthly market intelligence report for the luxury travel sector. She is a coach, rather than mainstream media, when it comes to suppliers and customers of luxury travel, especially in the hotels and resorts sector, according to HSMAI.

Outrigger Unveils The Outrigger Promise
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has unveiled The Outrigger Promise with a bold pledge: guests will love their Hawaii holiday at Outrigger; if not, the brand will credit the guest for a future stay, on the house.

Participating properties include Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and the all-new Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger, Hawaii’s only craft hotel in the heart of Waikiki, anchored by Maui Brewing Co. restaurant.

The Outrigger Promise states, “We promise that guests who stay at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort or Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger for four nights or more in 2021 will love their Hawaii experience; if they don’t, they can simply phone Outrigger’s call center to be credited for a future stay, subject to applicable terms and conditions.”

Agilysys Adds New Features to rGuest Book
Agilysys Inc. has made enhancements to its commission-free, direct-channel online reservation solution, rGuest Book. The product’s latest innovations extend its functionality across the enterprise with flexible new capabilities to further enhance the guest experience and grow revenue.

The software now allows guests to combine their room reservations and stay activities into a single booking. In addition, the Agilysys Common Guest Profile ensures that guest preferences are applied appropriately and available to staff at each step in the itinerary. It has also added a new feature that enables guests to select their preferred villa, home, RV-space or room using a simple map view. Guests can browse through a list of available units, filter by amenity and select the exact one they prefer.

Also, rGuest Book for Groups is an easy-to-use group planning, booking and management solution that is designed to provide group planners and delegates a customized event experience, and rGuest Book now offers the ability for customers to offer amenities such as an early check-in, bottle of champagne or a wine and cheese plate while reviewing their reservation after confirmation.

Virdee Partners With Shift4 Payments
Virdee, a SaaS company serving the lodging, multifamily and commercial real estate industries, has partnered with Shift4 Payments, a provider of integrated payments and eCommerce solutions. Using an API-first approach and key partner integrations, Virdee’s virtual reception technology provides contactless check-in and additional customer engagement such as the ability to purchase upgrades and order room service.

This partnership provides Shift4 compatibility with Virdee’s ongoing approach to elevating the check-in/checkout process with software for ID verification, payment collection, access control and remote support. By leveraging technology for 100% of guest arrivals, owners and management companies can reduce costs at any property that requires front desk payment or access control services.

Seascape Beach Resort Selects Sonifi
When Seascape Beach Resort in Monterey Bay, CA, wanted to enhance its WiFi network, it turned to global technology provider Sonifi Solutions for a cost-effective solution that exceeds guest and hotelier expectations.

Sonifi deployed a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) solution that delivers WiFi using the property’s existing coaxial cabling. This approach eliminated the need for opening walls, moving furniture or disturbing newly remodeled rooms. The DOCSIS solution also provided a 90% cost savings over installing a new Ethernet solution.

Guests, owners and employees all report exceptional WiFi service and bandwidth throughout the resort. Coverage expands from each guest suite and villa to all the property’s indoor and outdoor public spaces.