Hotel Engine Partner Spotlight: Island Hospitality Management
We recently sat down for a Q&A with Melissa Prince, VP of National Sales for Island Hospitality Management and a Hotel Engine partner for the past 5 years.
Island Hospitality Management is a National Hotel management company with a reputation for its expertise in managing upscale extended stay, select service and full-service hotels across major brands such as Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood and IHG.
Based in Palm Beach Florida, IHM operates hotels across the United States as one of the largest independent, third-party hotel management companies, serving more than 160 hotels.
IHM has been a Hotel Engine partner for the past 5 years. Recently, we sat down with Melissa Prince, Vice President of National Sales for IHM, to discuss why IHM initially decided to partner with Hotel Engine, and how they have benefited from the partnership over the years!
HE: Tell us, Melissa, what makes the business travel community an appealing audience for IHM?
MP: Island Hospitality has 70+ hotels across the country for travelers to choose from. We manage Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG & WaterWalk hotels – hotels that already have an excellent reputation within the business travel community.
Our hotels range from an upscale extended stay, perfect for a longer stay or those wanting a kitchen, to a more traditional hotel for shorter stays. So, our properties can accommodate any type of business, leisure, or the up and coming “bleisure” trips and keep travelers comfortable.
HE: What other types of value does Island Hospitality Management offer to business travelers?
MP: All our hotels follow the brand standard in cleaning as well as the IHM cleaning protocol, which has become increasingly important to travelers over the past year and a half.
Our true value for any of our travelers lies in the fact that we truly embody a spirit of hospitality and appreciate every guest! Especially when traveling for business, people crave a home away from home, and we are ingrained to provide that experience.
HE: In your opinion, what are some of the best features of your Island Hospitality Management properties?
MP: I would have to give all credit to our people here. I believe the teams we have in place really epitomize the word hospitality; we ensure a great stay. It all starts with our people.
HE: Why did you choose to work with Hotel Engine?
MP: Hotel Engine is very thorough and has the guest experience in mind. They are selective about which hotels they partner with, which helps us to ensure the best experience for our guests. It’s a win-win for us!
Residence Inn, San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter
HE: How does Hotel Engine’s unique partnership model benefit you (aka dynamic rates, multiple rate programs, project services, Perk programs, etc.)?
MP: Because Hotel Engine sources several diverse types of room needs, there is a good fit for every hotel in our portfolio and every traveler’s budget. Our hotels appeal to a wide audience, and Hotel Engine has cultivated that audience, built trust in the community, and created an amazing experience for their travelers to then book at our properties.
HE: What value has the partnership brought to your company as a whole?
MP: We’ve received a lot of value out of the partnership, but probably the most important is just the simplification of the booking process for our guests. Hotel Engine makes it so easy for them to book and manage their reservations, and offers them assistance for changes. It has also helped us gaining exposure to potential guests that we may not have been able to find otherwise!
Island Hospitality has been partnered with Hotel Engine since the beginning. We really didn’t have any hesitations about working together even then, as the mission was very clear from the beginning. It is so exciting to see the growth and your ultimate vision come to fruition!
Interested in becoming a Hotel Engine partner? Get in touch!
