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Art Gallery-Worthy Hotel Announces "Meetings in Museum" Offering for Event Planners

The Hotel at the University of Maryland is offering meeting planners a unique experience for their attendees with the new "Meetings in a Museum" program. With more than 100 pieces of artwork on display throughout the hotel, planners can provide participants with information for a self-guided tour. "We are offering our meeting guests the chance to engage in a thought-provoking yet relaxing opportunity that highlights our proximity to a highly rated university," said the Director of Sales and Marketing at The Hotel at the University of Maryland Adriana Niepa. "Our art collection features pieces in various mediums combining colors, textures, and images to evoke feelings of peace and happiness. Meeting planners can utilize our in-house museum as a break or group activity for guests, allowing them to become a student of art while also learning from your event." U.S. News & World Report recently ranked The Hotel at the University of Maryland as the #7 hotel in Maryland. The hotel is located directly across the street from the University of Maryland, which U.S. News & World Report named number 17 among public universitiesin the United States and 44 among national universities for 2025. "I met the founder and former CEO of Southern Management Companies, the parent company of The Hotel of the University of Maryland, David Hillman, at a Chamber of Commerce event years ago, and what started as a conversation turned into a full art exhibition," said Rhonda Dallas, curator of the collection and executive director and chief curator of the Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council. "Mr. Hillman's generosity created a space for local artists to showcase their talents. The museum converges contemporary aesthetics and unbounded expectations, allowing visitors to view art beyond traditional assumptions of abstract art and modernist photography. After Mr. Hillman's passing, his wife and the current CEO of Southern Management Companies, Suzanne Hillman, has carried on his legacy, ensuring art is an integral part of The Hotel at the University of Maryland." The collection includes 104 pieces by 14 artists. Pieces are located throughout the bottom two floors of the hotel and in the health corridor, which features the spa, fitness facility, and indoor pool. To reserve space for your event with the "Meetings in a Museum experience, call (301) 277-7777.

IDeaS and Benchmarking Alliance Announce Technology Integration Partnership

IDeaS, a SAS company and the world's leading provider of hospitality revenue management software, has announced a technology integration partnership with Benchmarking Alliance, a growing market leader in specialized competitor benchmarking data for the hospitality industry. Benchmarking Alliance's competitive intelligence platform encompasses data from hotels, conference centres, restaurants, resorts and more to help hospitality providers gain an accurate understanding of their market environment. With daily data reports from more than 2,000 hotels in the Nordic region, the seamless data interface between IDeaS G3 RMS and Benchmarking Alliance will provide hotels with detailed, timely market data to enhance their competitive edge and optimize operations. Key benefits of the partnership for hoteliers include: View Benchmarking Alliance data within IDeaS Solutions Use of advanced market intelligence to make better revenue strategy decisions Identify and react to market trends as they happen Henrik Karlsson, business development manager, Benchmarking Alliance said: "As the main provider of benchmarking and market data in the Nordics and the Baltics we understand that working together with other hotel tech providers is key for our customers' success. We are happy to announce that we now team up with IDeaS to help our customers drive revenue and profit." Olga Tolle-Rodrigues, director of global alliances, IDeaS, said: "IDeaS is committed to forging mutually beneficial partnerships throughout the hospitality technology landscape, and we're very pleased to see this collaborative effort come to life. Market intelligence data is a critical piece of the puzzle for optimal revenue results, and this integration partnership ensures hospitality providers in the region can reach their full revenue potential." About Benchmarking Alliance Benchmarking Alliance is a specialized competitor benchmarking platform for the hospitality industry, encompassing hotels, conference centers, restaurants, resorts and more. With daily data reports from over 2000 hotels in the Nordic countries, Benchmarking alliance allows businesses to gain an accurate understanding of their market environment. By leveraging this detailed and timely data, companies can make informed decisions to enhance their competitive edge and optimize their operations.

RobertDouglas Advises TPI Hospitality on the Successful Refinancing of A Premium-Branded 7-Hotel Portfolio in the Twin Cities MN MSA

RobertDouglasannounced today that it represented, as exclusive advisor, TPI Hospitalityon the successful refinancing of a 770-key, 7-hotel portfolio of premium-branded hotels in the greater Twin Cities submarkets of Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes and North Metro. RobertDouglas secured $70.4 million of attractively priced floating-rate debt with an institutional balance sheet lender for the portfolio. The premium-branded portfolio consists of the 96-key Residence Inn Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes; 84-key SpringHill Suites Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes; 115-key Courtyard Minneapolis Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes; 120-key Hampton Inn Minneapolis Northwest Maple Grove; 119-key Staybridge Suites Mpls-Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes; 136-key Holiday Inn & Suites Maple Grove/Arbor Lakes; and 99-key Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Saint Paul-Shoreview. RobertDouglas also recently advised TPI Hospitality on the successful refinancing of two Homewood Suites hotels in the greater Twin Cities MSA. "TPI Hospitality is a best-in-class owner-operator," said RobertDouglas Principal & Managing Director Evan Hurd. "The new lender was able to partner with an exceptional sponsor with unparalleled market experience on seven institutional-quality, high performing hotels with an attractive last dollar basis and at a significant discount to replacement cost," "This transaction demonstrates the investment appeal of well-positioned, institutional-quality, premium-branded hotels in today's marketplace," added RobertDouglas Vice President Max Chipouras. "This portfolio commanded A+ locations in premier Minneapolis submarkets with zero new supply in the pipeline. In addition, these properties have substantial franchise term runway." "We are extremely pleased to once again be working with RobertDouglas on another transaction. Their holistic approach to addressing the capital markets needs of our portfolio and their ability to execute strategic initiatives have been critical. In this case, they have successfully aligned us with an exceptional lending partner." said TPI Hospitality Chief Investment Officer Chris Flagg. About TPI Hospitality With over 80 years of experience in the industry, TPI Hospitality is Minnesota's largest and most respected hospitality company focused on delivering exceptional service. They develop and operate hotels, restaurants, and conference centers throughout Minnesota and Florida, including award-winning facilities for industry-leading, category-killer hospitality brands such as Holiday Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Hampton Inn. Their 32-hotel portfolio ranges from full service beachfront resorts to select-service hotels. With over 1,700 employees, TPI's extensive expertise and experience in development and hotel renovations keeps their properties competitive in the marketplace. TPI Hospitality manages the entire development process from design, bidding, and the construction of the asset to pre-opening marketing, sales and market positioning. Supported by their experience as landowners, self-designers, and developers, TPI masterfully oversees intricate brand-mandated construction, design, and renovation projects.

The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa Appoints Mary Beth Seamands as New Director of Sales and Marketing

The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, a AAA Four Diamond resort situated among the Santa Catalina Mountains, announced the appointment of Mary Beth Seamands as its director of sales and marketing. As a seasoned hospitality leader, Seamands is an accomplished hotel executive with more than three decades of industry knowledge, with past roles including catering and convention service manager and corporate director of sales and marketing. She began her career in Tucson before moving onto South Dakota, Washington and most recently Tempe, Arizona. With experience spanning across brands such as Hilton, Wyndham and Omni, she is a people-oriented, strategic thinker, who drives operational efficiency, creates guest-centric experiences and boasts a deep understanding of sales and food and beverage marketing. Now with the opportunity to return to the Sonoran Desert, Seamands is thrilled to contribute to the resort's success with its newly unveiled renovation, as well as strengthen ties with the community she has always considered home. "Mary Beth's extensive experience in hospitality, passion for delivering an exceptional guest experience and deep connection to Tucson, makes her the perfect fit for this role," said Fabrizio Poli, general manager of The Westin La Paloma. "With her guidance and leadership, we look forward to continuing to elevate our offerings and building on the momentum of our refreshed resort."