The Courtyard / Residence Inn Jekyll Island is set to open summer 2021! Check out an update below.
LNWHospitality
Courtyard / Residence Inn Construction Progress! /
Our Courtyard / Residence Inn on Jekyll Island is coming along! Check out our latest construction progress video. The hotel is opening in the spring of 2021!
Welcome Back to Jekyll Island! /
As we continue to rev up the economy safely, Jekyll Island has seen an uptick in visitors. To prepare for further visitors and groups, Jekyll Island has created a whole series of enhanced procedures at its Convention Center, while the hotels on the island have all adopted stringent health standards.
Check out the Welcome Back video put together by the Island’s governing authority, which shows all that’s being done!
Three Ways Hoteliers are Giving Back /
by: Aline Matias
Keeping six feet apart means we’re getting closer—to communities, that is. As people practice social distancing and healthy measures, hoteliers are finding innovative ways to take care of those in need as well as those in need of small, relaxing breaks. Because we all could do with a bit of good news, here are three ways the hospitality business is giving back:
Giving back relief: Events D.C.—a convention and sports authority—announced a relief package worth $18 million to assist hotels, restaurants and hospitality employees impacted by COVID-19 in Washington, DC. Programs in the funding package will help recovery efforts in the business and provide assistance to workers in the industry.
Giving back hope: They respond to our health needs, now hoteliers respond to their accommodation needs. Hotel chains and independent properties offered 3.4 million hotel rooms as temporary housing to first responders. The initiative, Hospitality for Hope, garnered the support of more than 15,000 hotels opening their doors to the health community. Health care workers, looking to rest while maintaining a close distance to work, were able to do so in the comfort of a hotel. In fact, LNW Hospitality has partnered with first responders at its properties, providing refuge to those who keep us safe.
Giving back joy: So you’ve traded in your suitcase for the baking pans? Great; you can still bake your luscious loaves of bread at home—alongside Italian, luxury hotel chefs! As travelers buckle down home, luxury hotels are providing online lessons to make your couch life worthy of a five-star experience. Watch The Artesian at The Langham London’s demos to perfect your craft cocktails; finally make your parents proud and learn how to clean your room in a way only The Four Seasons can; and for those with little travelers at home, make Lucky Charms cereal bars alongside The Langham Chicago’s very own pastry chef. All these lessons--from hotel family yoga lessons and more--right in the comfort of your own space. The only caveat? You can’t take the mini toiletries home.
Travel and hotel visits might be a bit slow at the moment, but for now—and in the future—we continue doing what we do best for all: Giving.
Homes at the Moorings at Jekyll Harbor Now Available! /
by: JJ Singh
Carolina Holdings Group and LNW Hospitality announced the sale of new condominiums and duplex homes at the Moorings at Jekyll Harbor, on Jekyll Island, GA. Brought to you by the same group that created the successful Ocean Oaks at Jekyll Island and Cottages at Jekyll Island, the Moorings will have 39 three-bedroom residences and nine raised townhomes ranging from 1,726 to 1,946 heated square feet available for purchase.
Located on the coast of Georgia, Jekyll Island is a barrier island steeped in history. In the late 1800s, the island became a tourist destination when it was purchased by the Jekyll Island Club, which constructed a vacation resort for the nation’s leading families. In 1947, the state of Georgia purchased this once-private paradise and has worked tirelessly, ever since, to preserve the island's pristine natural beauty, only allowing 35 percent of Jekyll Island to be developed.
Today, residents and visitors alike enjoy its meticulously maintained natural aesthetic, ecology, and history. The island boasts unspoiled beaches and other great amenities such as the Jekyll Island Landmark Historic District, biking trails, the Summer Waves Water Park, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The beach and Beach Village are just a short bike ride away from The Moorings. Jekyll Island was ranked the #1 best place to go in 2019 by Money Magazine.
The Moorings site is home to the Jekyll Harbor Marina, a magical enclave on the banks of the Jekyll Sound, surrounded by majestic, moss-draped oaks. Jekyll Harbor is ideal for a day of fishing or exploring the many meandering rivers and creeks of the Golden Isles. The marina offers both wet storage and dry storage at reasonable rates.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to create a community that fits into what makes Jekyll Island great,” said Gary Wadsten, Managing Partner of the Carolina Holdings Group. “The homes fit seamlessly into the natural landscape, offering homeowners serenity and breathtaking views. We’ve collaborated with the Jekyll Island Authority throughout this process to ensure that this development befits the character and beauty of Jekyll Island. I’m thrilled to partner again with the JIA and our co-developer LNW Hospitality.”
“The Moorings at Jekyll Harbor is a special community,” said Dave Curtis, Co-Managing Partner of LNW Hospitality. “With refined finishes, picturesque views, and proximity to the marina, beaches, dining, golf, and biking, the Moorings at Jekyll Harbor offer an unbelievable home and getaway.”
“These homes are stunning,” said Daniel Hoover, lead sales agent for the Moorings. “Home buyers will really be able to take advantage of this ‘quiet side’ of Jekyll Island – where life moves slower, southern hospitality is even more gracious and glorious sunsets are commonplace. All starting in the $400s.”
Home prices start at less than $500,000, with construction by the Solid Rock Co. expected to begin in the spring of 2020. For further information: The Moorings at Jekyll Island or call 843-997-5540.
Beyonce Was Wrong… Women Aren’t Just Running the World, They’re Travelling It /
by: Aline Matias
Hotel Zena, courtesy of Hotelguides
Beyoncé lied to us. Women aren’t just running the world — they’re traveling it, and hoteliers are taking note. With the upcoming opening of Hotel Zena in Washington, D.C. — one of the first hotels dedicated to celebrating female strength and accomplishments — the hospitality business is proving that this powerful demographic is worth the powerful investment.
Owned by Bethesda’s Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Hotel Zena will become a part of the Viceroy Urban Retreats Portfolio, a series of boutique hotels managed and operated by Viceroy Hotels and Resorts. Opening in Spring of 2020, the hotel offers opportunities for guests to enjoy diverse experiences in D.C. from coordinated hotel monthly music sessions to eating at unique restaurants and bars from nearby 14th Street. But aside from boasting 191 rooms, a cocktail-themed lobby lounge, a 14th-floor rooftop pool, and let’s admit it, a name echoing that of the best warrior princess, Hotel Zena’s interior design reminds us that the future of travel is female.
Hotel Zena, courtesy of Bloomberg
Guests will be able to engage in thoughtful conversation in the cocktail lounge near the mural of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Or for an even more casual setting, drinks on the rooftop overlooking the skyline of the nation’s capitol is always an option. With art decorations inspired by feminine icons travelers are immersed in herstory, and men, don’t worry, you too can be a part of this experience as Hotel Zena is available for lodging to all travelers.
Hotel Zena is not the first to provide a holistic and targeted guest experience — hotels such as the Eaton provide artful amenities for its artist, activist, and entrepreneur guests — but it is the first to celebrate female accomplishments. And we’re not surprised. After all, as reported by the Travel Industry Association, approximately 32 million American women travel alone every year and 75% of women plan to travel on their own in the next couple of years.
As women seek wellness experiences internationally and domestically — from weaving tapestries to taking boxing classes with a world champion — travelers are relying on each other for guidance while creating an industry of women led travel businesses and experiences. Groups like Wild Women Expeditions, El Camino Travel, and Girls Love Travel provide platforms created by women for women to share travel advice, book potential tours and travel routes, or post photos of treks up pebbled Portuguese castles.
With such a large group of travelers, and one that is projected to keep growing, it’s no surprise that markets influenced for female travelers are abundant, reaffirming Beyonce… that girls truly do run this world.
Why Doesn't Front Desk Tell me my Room Number? All about Security at Hotels /
by: Marissa Consalo
Have you ever noticed that when you get your key at reception, they never tell you your room number—only the floor on which you’ll be staying? That’s for security reasons—they want to keep your room number private. Small measures like this are factored into the design, construction, and operations of a hotel; they are are meant to provide additional safety to guests, employees, and the property.
As we launch into the 2020s, hotels are taking further steps toward the integration of more modern technology within their security systems. With hotels increasingly moving away from all forms of paper, more is being done to combat cyber crime.
According to Top Hotel News, “To combat cybercrime, hotels are taking steps to incorporate more advanced firewalls, limiting who has access to data and securing mobile devices of employees.” Additionally, hotels have been installing virtual local area networks (“VLAN”), which provide enhanced connectivity, with an additional layer of protection.
Mobile Key App
When it comes to the physical safety of the guests, the mobile room key has added a new layer of security for travelers. With this new technology, the guest can only get in their room through the use of their mobile device, which greatly reduces the chance of a room key falling into the wrong hands. Some hotels even provide an alert system through the mobile key app, that will let guests know if their room has been entered without them physically being there.
The hospitality industry has also stepped up the security for not only their systems, and their guests, but also their employees. Last year, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (“AHLA”) launched their “5-star Promise” to prioritize the safety of employees more than ever before. In a video, the AHLA showcased a new device that allows room attendants to send a silent signal to the hotel’s security system along with the direct location of the employee who pressed it.
By 2020, the AHLA projects that over 20,000 properties will have devices of this nature for not only their housekeeping departments but all of their employees, and they are on track to becoming the standard across all brands.
While these technological advancements in security may come at a hefty cost for hotels, the safety and well being of the guests, employees, and the property are priceless, and for that reason, companies will continue to push towards building the most efficient systems possible for their properties.
Hygge - A New Hospitality Trend or a Cheer for Dear Old UVA? /
by: Elska Vuong
There’s a new word that capturing the attention of the hospitality industry. "Hygge” (pronounced HOO-guh) is not a new cheer for the ‘HOOS of the University of Virginia, the 2019 men’s basketball national champion. Rather, according to Country Living Magazine, “Hygge is a Danish concept which cannot be translated into a single word but encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life.”
There has always been a market for hotel gyms and spas, offering guests a way to stay healthy on the road. However, with terms such as “hygge,” “mindfulness,” and “self-care” becoming buzzwords and movements of late, health and wellness seems to be having a moment.
The concept of health and wellness has evolved; it is no longer just about discrete wellness treatments or health-related activities and more about a holistic lifestyle focused on overall well-being. Guests are increasingly looking to maintain this lifestyle and/or find ways to incorporate “mindfulness opportunities” into their travel experiences, expecting more than just a hotel spa or gym with a treadmill and free weights.
Many properties and chains have taken notice, making concerted efforts to associate their brand or products with wellness. Starting in 2011, Marriott’s Westin Hotel and Resort brand began introducing amenities such as health-focused options on food and beverage menus, exercise clothing and shoe rentals, concierges to help with running routes, bike-share programs, saline swimming pools, and in-room high-tech Peloton fitness bikes in some cases. In 2017, Westin also launched its first global campaign in over five years – called “Let’s Rise” – with the aim of positioning itself as a leader in wellness tourism.
Other chains have also leaned in to the wellness wagon. Hilton launched its “Five Feet to Fitness” guestroom concept in 2017, installing more than 11 different fitness-focused items in hotel rooms. Priced at 20 percent above normal room rates, guests have the ability to access a range of fitness options and maintain their routines without leaving their rooms. Beyond high-end fitness equipment, the rooms also offer a meditation chair, blackout curtains, Biofreeze to ease muscle tension, and a range of protein and hydration drink options.
At its last global conference, Wyndham Hotel Group unveiled their new guestroom design looks, focused on color schemes and themes that focused on reducing guest stress level and inspiring guests to have “the feeling of being almost home.” In recent years, Wyndham has also launched a “Stay Well” guestroom program, using design features, amenities, and programming focused on keeping travelers healthy. Part of these features are circadian lighting technology to help reduce jetlag, wall-mounted air-purification filters to reduce allergens and microbes, and aromatherapy options.
Introducing new wellness offerings is not just a way for a hotel to differentiate itself. It’s also an opportunity to increase revenue and tap into the $639.4-billion wellness tourism industry. Health-conscious travelers reportedly spend as much as 130 percent more on hotel amenities than other guests. Within the coveted traveling millennial demographic, 60 percent of them say that health is the most important thing in their lives.
Today, health-conscious travelers are not just guests who are traveling specifically for a wellness experience, like a spa or yoga retreat. Rather, the majority are travelers who are looking to stay healthy or access health and/or wellness-focused amenities while on the road. As a result, there’s an incentive for hotels at every level and price point to find new ways provide their guests with health and wellness opportunities.
Au Revoir Marriott Rewards, Bienvenue Bonvoy /
by Elska Vuong
If you watched the Academy Awards last month, you might have noticed something… aside from Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, that is. Marriott has finally unified all of its rewards programs into a new loyalty program called Bonvoy. During the show, Marriott featured a splashy 60-second commercial directed by Oscar-nominated director Jean-Pierre Jeunet as a part of its effort to introduce Bonvoy. The campaign will include activities across 22 countries throughout the year and leverage major cultural events to further highlight the new travel program, according to Marriott.
The new program, which merges together Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest, comes after years of keeping the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs separate, following Marriott’s acquisition of the smaller company in 2016. The acquisition made Marriott the largest hotel company in the world. Bonvoy has an estimated 120 million members, in turn making it the largest loyalty program for a single hotel company globally.
With the ad campaign and its associated tagline, “Rewards Reimagined,” Marriott hopes to raise Bonvoy’s brand recognition, along with the profile of its 30 hotel brands. “It’s about the emotional part of what good travel means,” said Karin Timpone, global marketing officer for Marriott International. “That’s what the campaign is all about — people experiencing the joy of good travel and they have one word to describe it, and that one word is ‘Bonvoy.’ The more people hear that, the more they connect that idea of good travel to our portfolio and that program.” The company reportedly spent extensive time researching, before deciding on Bonvoy, shorthand for ‘bon voyage,’ including investigating how the name would be pronounced by foreign language speakers.
Part of the new tagline also reflects a shift in focus from a loyalty program that is exclusively points and in-hotel-perks-driven. The new program and campaign emphasizes customized, special experiences you can have as a Marriott Bonvoy member, including musical performances, sporting events and culinary collaborations. “We think [Bonvoy is] good because it relates to travel, and relates to Marriott, and also points to something new — that the loyalty program is now the richest set of benefits, and much more than what it was in pieces,” said Timpone.
Home is Where Alexa is... /
by: Elska Vuong
“Alexa, turn off the lights.”
“Hey Google, what’s the weather?”
If those sentences trigger a sense of déjà vu, you’re likely one of the many people (approximately 43 million, if we’re counting) who own a smart speaker – an Amazon Echo or Google Home, for example.
While the use of smart speakers in homes is well known, the devices’ commercial applications are still being tapped. In particular, hotels and airlines are exploring how the devices can be adapted to enhance the guest experience.
“...guests can use the devices to change the temperature in the room, request fresh towels from housekeeping, or ask what time the hotel’s restaurant closes...”
This past year, Marriott International teamed up with Amazon to test out Echo devices with a new “Alexa for Hospitality” mode in select rooms. Tailored to each property, guests can use the devices to change the temperature in the room, request fresh towels from housekeeping, or ask what time the hotel’s restaurant closes, among other applications.
In the future, guests will also be able to link their own Amazon account to the in-room Echo during their stay so they can listen to their own music, much like how guests at some hotels can connect to Netflix or Hulu on a smart TV.
The hospitality mode also has specific security settings which delete interactions daily, recognizing the concerns that may arise regarding guest privacy.
Meanwhile, other hotels have begun testing out smart speakers beyond the guest room. Caesars Palace, for example, started using a newly-launched “interpreter mode” on Google Home as real-time translators at their check-in counters and concierge desks. When a person uses a trigger phrase like, “Hey Google, be my Slovak (or Mandarin or German) interpreter,” the Google Assistant begins to start translating the conversation. Other hotels and even retail outlets around the world could adopt similar approaches.
The big smart speaker players are also starting to incorporate features that enable these digital assistants to become digital travel agents. Amazon has teamed up with Expedia and Kayak so that customers can use Alexa to book hotels and rental cars. Google Assistant can not only book hotels and rental cars, but also track and book flights. And through a partnership with United Airlines, consumers will soon be able to ask Google Assistant to check into their flights and fetch their digital boarding pass.
Worldwide, smart speaker ownership is on track to reach 225 million units by 2020. As the technology continues to proliferate, it’s likely that we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface on all the possible uses of smart speakers across the travel and hospitality industry.
Triple-Headed Monster... Multi-Branded Properties Taking Over /
by: Stephen Schindel & Seth Collett
Did you hear that Hilton has opened its first TRI-branded hotel in Chicago? It has a Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, and Home2 Suites, all in the same property. Seems crazy—what’s next a six-story building with a different brand on each floor?
Multi-branded properties are becoming more common, but the question is why? It turns out that there are a lot of benefits for both the guest and the developer.
Guests
Multi-branded properties share facilities and amenities. When you stay on property, you might benefit from an offering provided by another brand. Take for example, our coming-soon Courtyard/Residence Inn on Jekyll Island. We’ve got two pools—a family pool and an adult lap pool—both of which are available to guests regardless of which flag they choose.
Additionally, when you’ve got a large group for a wedding or a convention, your party can choose whether they want one type of experience (suites, for example), versus another.
And while we don’t endorse this method, we haven’t tried it, and we don’t know if it works, we have heard of “hotel hopping” where a guest can spend one night in one brand and another night in the other brand, thus counting as two separate stays for status purposes.
Developers
Courtyard by Marriott / Residence Inn by Marriott, LA Live, Los Angeles, CA
From the perspective of a developer, the advantages are clear. First, you gain a wider audience for your property, by having flags that each bring in a different customer. Second, like in a merger of two companies, there are opportunities to streamline personnel (one general manager, for example). Finally, one building with two brands is generally more efficient to build than two separate buildings. You don’t need two lobbies, two porte cocheres, or two sets of offices for management.
Where do we go from here?
For developers, the key is to figure out how to retain some of the brand identity from each flag, while still retaining an integrated experience for the guest. For the guest, it’s all about optimizing experiences and having several options that cater to your needs. Needless to say, the days of the 800-key behemoth, single-branded hotel, are in the past… like a buffet, the future is chock full of options in a smaller space.
Intern Stephen Schindel Published in Hotel News Now! /
by JJ Singh
We’re pleased to report that intern Stephen Schindel has been published in Hotel News Now. In his piece, The Hotel Metrics that Point to New York’s Rebound, Stephen takes a look at what’s driving the growth in RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) in and around New York City. In summary, more people are visiting and the economy is good—all strong signs for the future of the market.
Stephen is a senior at the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics and will be with us for the fall semester. Look for his commentary on all things hospitality over the next few months!
Stephen Schindel, LNWHospitality Intern
Bleisure... What it is and Why it Matters /
by: Elska Vuong
Bleisure. It doesn't roll off the tongue. It sounds unappetizing, gross even. But it's a major hospitality trend and it's not going away anytime soon.
Not to be confused with a ‘workcation’ – where employees work on the road rather than taking time off – bleisure (a portmanteau of ‘business’ and ‘leisure’) refers to the practice of tacking on extra time before or after a business trip for leisure.
“bleisure (a portmanteau of ‘business’ and ‘leisure’) refers to the practice of tacking on extra time before or after a business trip for leisure”
A study commissioned by the Expedia Group found that in 2016, 43% of US business trips were bleisure trips. In 2017, that number had increased to 60%, almost a 40% increase in one year! Business travelers – particularly millennials – are increasingly opting to mix business with pleasure, extending their trip typically by a day or two so they can experience their destination beyond the meeting room or convention center.
So what does this mean for the hospitality industry?
- Whether a business trip turns into a bleisure trip is primarily driven by the availability of enticing leisure activities. Unsurprisingly, food, beaches, and entertainment options (i.e., sightseeing and culture options) are major factors in determining whether travelers turn a business trip into a bleisure trip.
- Overwhelmingly, business travelers visiting a city for a conference are the most likely to turn the excursion into a bleisure trip. Host conferences, hold audiences.
- Bleisure travelers typically spend less time researching their destination than they would on a leisure trip, so marketers have an opportunity to reach and convert travelers mid-trip, particularly for add-on products like dining, entertainment, tours and activities.
- Bleisure travelers typically remain at the same hotel for the duration of their trip – so a 1-2-night stay can easily convert into 3-4 nights
- A third of bleisure trips are in a different city as the business trip, which means travelers are willing to travel from their business destination for leisure.
Ultimately, bleisure can be big business for destinations both big and small, you just need to know how to target them.
Come Get your Shrimp and Grits! /
by: Seth Collett
Shrimp and Grits
Back by popular demand this year, is the Shrimp and Grits festival on Jekyll Island, presented by Southern Living. The event combines the classic southern dish with family-friendly entertainment, an artists’ market, live music, a kids’ zone, food, and a craft brew fest. The three-day, award-winning event is held during the third weekend in September in the Historic District. It one of the most popular events on the island every year. Find out more here: Shrimp and Grits
This year’s schedule:
- Friday September 14th, from 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday September 15th, from 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday September 16th, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Georgia-Florida Golf Classic
Pre-game for the SEC college football showdown between the red & black and orange & blue on Jekyll Island. The decades-long tradition is the Georgia-Florida rivalry itself, but the golf, food, and fun at the 39th annual Georgia-Florida Golf Classic is not to be missed. Register here: Georgia-Florida Golf Classic
Welcome! /
by: JJ Singh
Welcome to the LNW Hospitality Blog!
Here in this space, the team at LNW Hospitality will share our thoughts on the hospitality industry from a variety of perspectives. From best practices as a traveler, to the latest in what’s happening with the brands, we hope you’ll visit and learn more about our exciting industry and our new developments.
Have a topic you want to learn more about? Send us a note! You can reach me at jsingh@lnwa.com. Happy reading!
