This week’s Partner News is highlighted by Gillis Sales partnering with the IHG Owners Association; MOB Hotel implementing the IDeaS Pricing System; and KSL Resorts and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts launching their inaugural MICE Advisory Council. Read about all that and more below.
Gillis Sales partners with the IHG Owners Association
Gillis Sales, a remote sales and training organization for hoteliers, has formed a partnership with the IHG Owners Association (IHGOA) that includes reduced pricing for members on the Gillis Dynamic Sales Solution (DDS), a full-service, turnkey remote sales program, as well as other resources to help hotel owners solve the ongoing sales staffing crisis.
The hotel industry is experiencing an unemployment rate that is three times higher than the workforce of the rest of the U.S. Operational challenges of recruiting, hiring, training and managing sales personnel continue to be an issue. Gillis provides solutions to address these challenges by providing hoteliers with a responsive, knowledgeable and scalable solution that is more affordable than building expertise from within.
The Gillis DSS solution provides remote sales support that is 100% focused on revenue generation. In 2021, Gillis’ sales team generated $23M (8x ROI) across its client portfolio.
Association member discount pricing for the DSS program and value-added benefits will be provided to participating members. Additional benefits include a sales toolkit for the front desk to help capture incoming inquiries and group leads, a signed copy of the “Room to Grow” sales playbook and access to Gillis articles, online training and sales tools through the association’s Member Center.
MOB Hotel to implement IDeaS Pricing System
IDeaS, a provider of hotel revenue management software and services, has revealed that MOB Hotel (Paris property shown above) will implement IDeaS Pricing System across its portfolio of eco-friendly, socially minded properties in France and the U.S.
IDeaS Pricing System automatically distributes rates across hundreds of channels and develops occupancy-based forecasts to drive competitive pricing decisions and enhance operational planning.
IDeaS’ automated reporting functionality enables users to quickly create and schedule easy-to-read, impactful reports with drill-down analysis into total hotel and market performance.
KSL Resorts, Outrigger launch MICE Advisory Council
KSL Resorts and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts have launched their inaugural MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Advisory Council, which held its first meeting at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, a KSL property, last month.
The joint council includes industry leaders and select meeting planners from the Southern California area with the mission to bring professionals together to foster connection, share market and trade insights, promote new ideas and grow this key segment of the hospitality industry. Members are John Botticella (VP global accounts, Conference Direct), Robyn Mietkiewicz (strategic partner, Innov8 Meetings + Events), Mary (Ranone) King (senior director, meetings & incentives, Cadence), Scott Sentonaris (president, Site Selection Services), Carmela Jensen (VP, meetings & incentives, Luxe Travel Management), Jennifer Settle (managing director, Helmsbriscoe), Zabrina Hazeltine (president, Hamilton Group Meeting Planners), Liz Bernstein (senior travel buyer, Opus Agency), Matt Kisser (executive director, JNR Inc.) and Edgardo Barrantes (VP global accounts, HPN Global).
Looking ahead, the council’s May meeting will be at KSL’s Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, CA, and September’s in Hawaii, headquarters of Outrigger Hospitality Group, to showcase the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort after its $80-million transformation, as well as the recently purchased Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa.
Virdee named one of Austin’s ‘22 Start-Ups to Watch in 2022’
Virdee, a SaaS company delivering digital check-in and virtual concierge services to the hospitality and commercial real estate industries, was named one of Austin’s 22 hottest start-up companies to watch by Built in Austin, a platform connecting innovators, employers and investors in the Austin tech market.
The recognition comes on the heels of a year of rapid growth for Virdee in 2021, including the addition of new properties and brands to its customer portfolio and the expansion of partnerships to include all major lock companies and other key tech providers in the hotel space, further accelerating its ability to scale quickly.
“We are grateful for this recognition and are proud that Virdee’s growth places us in elite company in Austin’s vibrant start-up community,” said Virdee Cofounder Branigan Mulcahy. “Austin has cemented its reputation as ‘Silicon Hills,’ and we’re excited to bring our Austin-based innovation to the service of property owners around the country and the world. We look forward to sharing more growth news with the market in the weeks ahead.”
Copenhagen Admiral Hotel checks in with Infor
Infor, the industry cloud company, has revealed that the 366-room Copenhagen Admiral Hotel has selected Infor Hospitality Management Solution (HMS) and Infor EzRMS Revenue Management System (RMS). Infor HMS went live in Q4 2021 and will be followed by Infor EzRMS in 2022, replacing a legacy property management system (PMS) that restricted growth and limited the guest experience.
Facing operational limitations due to the poor integration options of their legacy PMS, and following a thorough review of the market, Infor HMS was chosen not only because of its connection to a range of third-party systems, but also its innovative features. These include digital registration for guests, self-service options for corporate bookings and improved workflows for the housekeeping staff.
Infor EzRMS was chosen to help deliver an intelligent, responsive revenue management strategy as the hotel seeks to increase the proportion of revenue derived from its 366 rooms.
