Editorial Board   Guest Author

Mr. Cepeda

Javier Cepeda

Regional Vice President, LEVEL Furnished Living

In his role as regional vice president of LEVEL Furnished Living, Javier Cepeda leads the opening and overall brand growth strategy for the Downtown Los Angeles development. Overseeing the $200 million, 33-story tower that will open this summer 2015 in the city's South Park District, Mr. Cepeda keeps a keen eye on industry trends and business news to maintain a strong presence in today's competitive landscape. A proven leader with extensive hospitality experience, Mr. Cepeda leads his teams by setting clear expectations, realistic goals, capitalizing on growing market trends and establishing lasting business relationships. A seasoned veteran of the hospitality industry, Mr. Cepeda brings more than 15 years of relevant management, guest services, sales and communications experience to his current position. He previously worked in the operations department at both Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and Four Seasons Resort Whistler before joining the LEVEL Furnished Living team in 2010. Since joining the LEVEL Furnished Living team, Mr. Cepeda has been an integral part of spearheading the opening of their flagship property in Vancouver, Canada and now looks forward to leading the Downtown Los Angeles property to similar success. Colombian born and raised, Mr. Cepeda has also lived in Dominican Republic, Mexico and Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Tourism and Hotel Management from Universidad Externado de Colombia. In 2010, he served as operations supervisor for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the non-profit organization responsible for planning, organizing, financing and staging the Games in Whistler, Canada. He is a 2015 recipient of the Tower of Excellence Award for Individual of the Year from the Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA). http://www.stayinglevel.com/los-angeles

Please visit http://www.stayinglevel.com for more information.

Mr. Cepeda can be contacted at 213-873-8400 or dtla@stayinglevel.com

Coming up in January 2020...

Mobile Technology: Meeting Tech Expectations

What once seemed futuristic is now the norm, owing to the escalating developments in mobile technology, and hotels must continue to innovate in order to meet guest expectations. In a recent study from Mower, 65 percent of guests said they would gladly pay more for a hotel that provides the mobile technology they deem essential. The same study shows that 44 percent of travelers are more likely to book a smart hotel, and nearly 7 in 10 want to use smart devices provided by the hotel. And how do guests wish to use all this technology? A majority expressed a desire for mobile check-in and check-out, and mobile payment options. They also want to be able to stream content from their phone to the TV; to make service requests of the hotel staff; to control in-room lighting, temperature and sound; to order food and beverages; and to request a wake-up call - all from their mobile device. Guests also expressed preferences for robust wi-fi and convenient device charging ports throughout the hotel. They also appreciate the use of hotel branded apps which allow a guest to book a room, access loyalty programs, receive discounts and rewards, and even use the app to choose the room, floor and view they prefer. Some hotel apps also allow a customer to track their charges throughout their stay, rather than waiting to receive a bill at the end. Finally, mobile tech lounges are popping up more frequently in some hotels. These lounges offer guests the opportunity to perform tasks like airline check-ins or access to local info guides, but they also provide a place where guests can comfortably get some work done outside their room. The January Hotel Business Review will report on what some hotels are doing to meet their customers' expectations in the mobile technology space.

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