Risky website business: According to a study by Symantec Corporation of 1,500 hotel websites in 54 countries, two out of three websites inadvertently leak guests’ booking details and personal data to third-party sites, including advertisers and analytics companies. The hotels ranged from 2 to 5 stars and did not include Marriott properties. Information includes full names, email addresses, credit card details and passport numbers of guests.
Fire at Bangkok hotel: Three people are dead after a fire at Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping center, adjacent to the Centara Grand hotel. Authorities said the fire started in a document room on the eighth floor of the 16-story shopping center, which was evacuated along with the hotel.
Bigger than your brand: According to a white paper by Expedia Group and Unabashed Research, price and guest ratings are more important to a potential customer than brand value when choosing a hotel. There is a 72% chance that a traveler would pay more for a hotel with higher guest ratings, versus solely selecting a hotel by brand, the study said. Conclusion: Guest ratings have “essentially leveled the playing field for independent hotels,” Expedia said.
Nashville hotel sold: Atlanta-based investor, owner and manager Hospitality Ventures Management Group sold the 138-suite DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport to a JV of investor and asset manager Wexford Lodging Advisors and Trinity Private Equity Group. HVMG will retain management and oversee a US$2.5 million renovation of public spaces and guest rooms. The purchase price was not named.
Marriott hits 7,000: Marriott International opened its 7,000th property, The St. Regis Hong Kong. The company said earlier that it intends to open another 1,700 hotels by year-end 2021, including 320 in the Asia Pacific region.
Millennium Place to open second: Millennium Hotels & Resorts Middle East and Africa will operate the Millennium Place Barsha Heights. The second Millennium Place property, a lifestyle brand, in the UAE, with 915 rooms and serviced apartments, is expected to open late this year.