Chelsea Hotel, Toronto has named Christopher Ashby as Director of Commercial Operations.

Ashby brings 20+ years of sales, marketing and strategic planning experience to his new role on the hotel’s executive management team.

Over the course of his career Ashby has held senior roles in sales, revenue, communications and marketing for such brands as Shangri-la, Marriott, Sutton Place, Windsor Arms, Four Seasons and Intercontinental. In these roles, he has developed market leading revenue outcomes, opened three hotels, closed one and rebranded another.

“We are delighted to welcome Christopher in his new leadership role at our hotel,” said Rob Housez, General Manager, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto. “His proven track record for delivering superior financial results will be a tremendous asset to the hotel.”

TORONTO, ON (January 15, 2025) — Hotels by Marriott®, part of the ® global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands and 10,000 global destinations, today announced a multiyear agreement with the (CHL). As the official premium hotel partner of the CHL, its Member Leagues (the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League & Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) and marquee properties including the new and , this exclusive partnership unlocks new benefits and rewards for fans of the CHL, Delta Hotels by Marriott guests and Marriott Bonvoy members from coast to coast.

Dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences for sports fans, teams, athletes, and their families, the partnership will be realized through the by Marriott brand. Founded in 1962 as a 62-room motor inn in Richmond, British Columbia, Delta Hotels has a rich history in Canada and has grown to become the largest premium brand in Marriott Bonvoy’s Canadian portfolio of hotels. Globally, Delta Hotels by Marriott has a rapidly expanded presence with over 130 hotels in 12 countries and 30 openings in the pipeline. Through its ‘Simple Made Perfect®’ brand promise, Delta Hotels by Marriott creates a seamless experience for guests by focusing on the details that truly matter. With its stylish and intuitively designed rooms, free Wi-Fi for all, multiple food & beverage options on property including the Delta Pantry™ for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members, the brand delivers a streamlined and flawless stay where every touchpoint is designed to allow guests to enjoy the journey and make the most of their travels. 

“With Delta Hotels by Marriott located in over 70 percent of CHL markets, many of which are conveniently located only a short drive from an arena, the brand is uniquely positioned to support families, teams, athletes and fans of CHL hockey,” said Paul Cahill, Chief Operations Officer, Canada, Marriott International. “We’re excited to partner with the CHL to create exclusive offers, unique activations and one-of-a-kind experiences for our hotel guests and Marriott Bonvoy members and all fans of junior hockey across Canada and the U.S.,” he said.

Fans can get even closer to their favorite teams through Marriott’s award-winning travel program, Marriott Bonvoy. Through this partnership, fans will enjoy exclusive access to in-arena promotions, activations and special offers. In addition to exclusive benefits such as member rates, Marriott Bonvoy allows members to earn points for stays at participating hotels and redeem them for free nights, upgrades, and other benefits to enhance members’ experience. Marriott Bonvoy members will also enjoy “skip the line” privileges at the CHL’s championship event, the Memorial Cup, as well as one-of-a-kind experiences at national events such as Chalk Talks or behind the scenes tours, through the platform.

“We are thrilled to welcome Delta Hotels by Marriott as the official premium hotel partner of the CHL, its Member Leagues, and national events,” stated Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “The CHL is always striving to create incredible moments for our fans, teams, and players, in addition to the billets and families of our athletes and clubs. We look forward to working alongside an internationally recognized brand like Delta Hotels by Marriott to deliver on that through the creation of unique activations, promotions, and experiences that will help provide them all with lasting memories in CHL rinks both in Canada and the United States.”

Serving as the CHL’s championship event, the Memorial Cup is a four-team round-robin tournament played among the champions of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), along with a host team is scheduled to take place from May 22 to June 1, 2025, in Rimouski, and it will mark the return of the Memorial Cup to the province of Québec for the first time in 10 years. As hosts, the Rimouski Océanic will be one of four teams to participate in it alongside this season’s playoff champion from each of the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL.

For more travel inspiration , or to learn more about Marriott Bonvoy and enroll for free, visit . To learn more about the CHL, visit .

The most significant barrier preventing hotels from efficiently implementing successful gift card operations is due to restrictions within their technology stack

By Warren Dehan

What good is a gift card if it’s a chore to purchase or use? Keeping this top of mind should be key to hoteliers when considering program options, and it’s particularly important as travelers begin to cash-in gift cards bestowed on them during the recent holiday season. Gift cards and other forms of alternative payment are becoming increasingly popular with consumers, with a recent Capital One study finding that the U.S. gift card market is expected to generate $324.5 billion in revenue in 2024 and grow 17.7 percent annually. Clearly, travelers still have more to give, and hoteliers must make the process as easy as possible to tap into this lucrative revenue stream

Gift cards are a popular way for people to share travel due to their convenience. Rather than directly booking a trip, gift cards allow recipients to select the journey of their choice and apply a credit toward it when it is most convenient for them. Hotels are typically happy to accept gift cards because their use spurs other purchases on the property, but successfully implementing them frequently creates additional operating challenges, mainly depending on whether a hotel’s Property Management System solution is designed to fully accommodate them within the entire operational ecosystem.

The most significant barrier preventing hotels from efficiently implementing successful physical and online gift card operations is due to restrictions within their technology stack. Hotels must embrace technology capable of flexible payment processing and eschew siloing other departments from one another. Siloed operations cause a host of issues in today’s operating environment, from a lack of data transparency to potential security concerns. Most importantly, disconnected systems cause inefficiencies at a time when operators should be building trust with consumers.

Embracing Personalization

The first thing hoteliers should consider when deciding to improve gift card operations is the purchase experience from the guest’s perspective. Is your gift card purchasing available online with e-gift card fulfillment? Is your payment processing environment consistent with your brand? Does your hotel offer a boilerplate Visa card or a unique branded card? Branded cards are more impactful because they associate future purchases with your property. This is an invaluable asset for independent hotels, which should seek technology partners capable of offering personalized cards to expand their brand presence.

Gift cards also come with unique caveats in practice. Cards are often lost, purchased for the wrong guest, or no longer recognized for a variety of reasons. As such, hotels should be able to quickly track, sell, swap, and void cards as needed. Hotel workers should be able to quickly analyze a card’s balance and easily activate new cards for guests. New controls also exist to help locate the balance on lost cards, track purchasers and recipients, and provide a full transactional history.

These elements are essential for maintaining a high-quality, consistent card ecosystem that guests can enjoy without burdening operators. Gift card functionality also ties nicely into promotions and in-person events on property and should be promoted in advance to increase guest interest.

Gifting Consistency

Access to gift cards significantly uplifts your hotel’s identity and recognition and has real-world implications that can positively impact business. Maestro PMS has previously spoken about how gift cards can be a useful way to distribute tips fairly and consistently among employees. The same system can be used to manage both guest and hotel associate cards. Delivering tips through gift cards may also provide a more transparent and equitable tip environment that benefits workers while presenting a clear paper trail for hotel owners.

The key to gift cards, particularly for independent hotels, is to make them as simple to offer and deliver as possible. Whether online with physical or egift card fulfillment or on property gift card purchasing, gift cards should embody the meaning of “gift” and, therefore, must be a welcome and convenient way to distribute funds. The more convenient, the more effective for all users. This means having access to reliable tech support should errors or unexpected challenges arise with accessing, transferring, or voiding cards.

Experiences are back on consumers’ wish lists in a big way, with CNBC recently calling a travel experience the “hottest gift” of 2024. According to their figures, three out of four Gen Z and Millennial consumers said they would rather receive a “fun experience or trip” than a traditional gift this year. When considering how difficult it is to guess the right trip for every traveler, gift cards will be the safe and reliable answer. Let’s make sure they really are.

San Francisco, January 13, 2025 — , the world’s leading revenue management software provider for the hospitality industry, has solidified its position as the gold standard in hotel tech with a record number of wins in this year’s HotelTechAwards, reviewed by hoteliers as the #1 Revenue Management System, for the fourth consecutive year.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the HotelTechAwards once again. We owe it all to the trust our customers place in us and our team’s passion for helping hoteliers boost revenue,” said David Woolenberg, CEO, Duetto. “Hospitality is in our DNA and these Awards shine a light on the incredible partnerships we’ve built with hoteliers around the world.”

The monumental win reflects Duetto’s strong commitment to its mission, “To create software to unlock revenue and profit potential for hoteliers.” With its solutions —  for yielding and distribution, for reporting and forecasting, and  for function space optimization — Duetto empowers properties to maximize profitability, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

In addition to its top RMS status, Duetto has also been recognized by nearly 700 reviewers as the #1 Meetings & Events Intelligence Tool and the #2 Business Intelligence Software, securing the top spot in the Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech category, and ranking in the top 10 for the Hotelier’s Choice Award.

Commenting on the Awards, Jordan Hollander, CEO, Hotel Tech Report, said:

“The authentic voice of the customer decides the winners of the annual HotelTechAwards - ranking hotel software solutions based on users’ experience in buying, implementing and using those solutions,” adding, “Winning a HotelTechAward is the highest achievement in the industry.”

Driving Hospitality Innovation

As Duetto celebrates this achievement, it is also looking ahead. The team will soon release its highly anticipated, analyzing factors set to impact the industry this year, after surveying global revenue management professionals and interviewing leading hospitality voices.

From embracing AI to redefining revenue metrics, the report provides a roadmap for turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s successes. With real-world applications and forward-thinking strategies, it delivers actionable tools to help hotels, casinos, and resorts stay ahead of the competition and thrive in 2025.