Changes in the C-suite: Several hotel companies have announced changes in their leadership. RLH Corporation announced it has named John Russell as its interim CEO, according to a news release. Russell has 40 years of hospitality experience and most recently served as president and CEO of Sentry Hospitality. He was also vice chairman of the travel division and CEO of the hotel division at Cendant Corporation, the predecessor of Wyndham Hotels.
Ashford announced Remington Hotels appointed Sloan Dean III as its new president and CEO, according to a news release. Dean was previously the company’s COO.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts CFO David Wyshner has decided to step down effective immediately, according to a news release. The company has promoted Treasurer and EVP Michele Allen to CFO.
Stocks fall after Trump signals no rush for deal with China: President Donald Trump said he has “no deadline” regarding negotiating with China, adding he likes the idea of waiting until after the 2020 presidential election to finalize the trade deal, Bloomberg reports. The administration had set a deadline of 15 December that, without a deal, would impose more tariffs on Chinese imports.
“A flurry of U.S. trade moves in the past 24 hours has eroded investor optimism that Trump would ease up on tariffs that have slowed the global economy,” the article states. “Rather than ratcheting down trade tensions, Trump is indicating confidence that his import taxes are good for America.”
Spain’s urban-focused Room Mate expands into resort segment: Room Mate plans to open its first resort property next April on the island of Majorca, a move the company’s founder feels is the next step in Room Mate’s growth, reports HNN contributor Benjamin Jones.
“We’re going through a company’s normal process of growing, and we’re moving into other segments of the business,” founder and President Kike Sarasola said. “We started in hotels, then went into apartments, and so I thought it was time to go into resorts as well,” he said.
Veganism finding foothold in hospitality: The number of people who have become vegan continues to grow each year, and the hotel industry has taken notice and is responding accordingly, CNN reports.
The Saorsa 1875, set in a 19th-century Victorian mansion in Scotland, features 11 guestrooms with bed linens made from organic cotton and pillows and duvets made without animal products, as are the toiletries and cleaning products. Electricity comes from a vegan-certified green energy company. The menu, of course, is entirely plant-based.
While not every hotel is going vegan property-wide, many are making an effort. The Hilton London Bankside has a “fully vegan suite,” which includes furnishings made from a natural leather alternative made from cellulose fibers in pineapple leaves, organic cotton carpeting, bamboo flooring and a plant-based room service menu.
Winter storm hits the U.S. East Coast: A winter storm hit the Northeast at the tail end of the holiday weekend, dropping 10 to 24 inches of snow (and more in some areas) from Maine to Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reports. Heavy snow is also expected in the Appalachian Mountains south to Tennessee and North Carolina.
The winter storm led to the cancelation of more than 780 flights into and out of the U.S. on 2 December and delayed another 5,600 flights, many of which were at New York and Boston-area airports, the article states. The storm canceled another 950 flights and delayed 8,800 flights on 1 December.
Compiled by Bryan Wroten.