Analysis-Companies Boost Social and Climate Reporting Amid ESG Backlash
November 4th, 2024
Slow but Steady Recovery for the Silicon Valley Lodging Market
John Berean | August 21, 2023
Trends in Remote Work and Layoffs Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Silicon Valley has experienced drastic changes including the shift to remote work policies, the exodus of several major companies, and the widespread layoffs in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023. The table below summarizes recent layoffs and remote work policies at major companies in Silicon Valley. Recent Layoffs and Remote Work Policies Source: TechCrunch On top of the shift in workforce policies, a number of major companies have relocated out of Silicon Valley in recent years. Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) announced in December 2020 that it will move its headquarters from...
Hilton Brings First Internationally Branded Airport Hotel to Saudi Arabia With Signing of Hilton Dammam Airport
Hilton Hotels & Resorts | August 21, 2023
The property joins Hilton’s expanding portfolio in Saudi Arabia, serving the eastern region with direct access to King Fahd International Airport DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is continuing its expansion across Saudi Arabia with the signing of Hilton Dammam Airport, its first airport hotel in the country. The 273-key property will be completed in partnership with Al Musbah Group and Damman Airports Company (DACO). Hilton Dammam Airport will offer guests spacious and contemporary accommodation with direct skywalk access to the terminal building at King Fahd International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Saudi Ar...
Everline Resort & Spa Welcomes Andre Priemer as Managing Director
Everline Resort & Spa | August 21, 2023
Olympic Valley, Calif. (August 21, 2023) – Everline Resort & Spa, a spacious year-round mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe, announces Andre Priemer as managing director. In his new role, Priemer will oversee the daily operations of the 405-room resort, including the on-site spa, more than 47,000 square feet of functional meeting space, championship golf course, and multiple on-site restaurants. “In this role, I look forward to providing world-class service and curating an unforgettable bespoke experience for our guests at Everline Resort & Spa,” said Andre Priemer, managing director at Everline Resort & Spa. “Having li...
Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa Welcomes Ryan Bunker as General Manager
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa | August 21, 2023
FRISCO, Texas [Aug. 21, 2023] - The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa proudly introduces Ryan Bunker as its new General Manager. In this role, Bunker will oversee and manage the daily operations of the North Texas resort, steering it toward peak performance and continuous progress. Expressing his enthusiasm, Bunker remarked, "Assuming the role of General Manager at Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa is a privilege I hold dear. This haven of relaxation in Frisco embodies an essence of sophisticated comfort, and I am eager to contribute by perpetuating an even more elevated guest experience through my leadership and e...
My Place Hotels Expands Footprint With Opening in Boise/Nampa, Idaho
My Place Hotels of America, LLC | August 21, 2023
ABERDEEN, SD — August 21, 2023 — My Place Hotels of America has opened My Place Hotel Boise/Nampa, ID-Idaho Center in Nampa, ID. The property, owned by Rimrock Companies and managed by Johnson Hospitality, has 85 keys and is strategically situated in the flourishing Boise-Meridian-Nampa metropolitan corridor. "As we establish our presence in Boise/Nampa, we're immersing ourselves in a community celebrated for its green parks, premier golf courses, and venues that light up with iconic concerts and thrilling horse races," said Ryan Rivett, co-founder and CEO at My Place Hotels. "At My Place, it's more than just opening a hotel...
Upscale and Upper Midscale Brands Dominate China’s Hotel Construction Pipeline at Q2 ‘23
Lodging Econometrics (LE) | August 21, 2023
August 21, 2023 – PORTSMOUTH, NH — As seen in the most recent Construction Pipeline Trend Report for China from Lodging Econometrics (LE), the country’s pipeline stands at 3,666 projects/678,965 rooms. At the close of the second quarter, the total pipeline is slightly less than the all-time high of 3,711 projects/704,101 rooms set in the second quarter of 2022. Projects in the under construction stage in China rose slightly year-over-year (YOY), closing the quarter at 2,655 projects/478,703 rooms. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months stand at 357 projects/64,174 rooms. Projects in the early planning stage re...
Q2 Industry Perspectives: Looking Ahead for the Travel Industry
Jamie Mageau | August 18, 2023
By Jamie Mageau Over the last several weeks, many travel businesses released their Q2 earnings and shared their latest expectations. These insights and perspectives help us understand how some of the largest corporate travel players are viewing the state of the economy and its impact on the travel industry as well as opportunities or barriers on the horizon that may impact their continued growth. Here is a deeper dive into their perspectives. Leisure demand normalizing and returning to pre-pandemic trends Hilton CEO, Chris Nassetta: Leisure demand in the U.S. remained strong but grew more modestly year-over-year due to tougher compariso...
Understanding Today’s Guests and Capturing Revenue Beyond The Room
Rohith Kori | August 18, 2023
By Rohith Kori Filling up as many rooms as possible with the most optimized pricing for each room has always been the main focus of the traditional hotelier. While revenue per available room (RevPAR) has been the most common metric to hotels in the past, today they are finding revenue per available guest (RevPAG) to be even more important. Instead of solely looking at the occupancy (OCC) and average daily rate (ADR) for one room, now properties are looking more closely at the guest (or guests) that reserve these rooms, what they are interested in, and how to capitalize on those interests and capture more of their spend. As The Ame...
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence Welcomes Charles Fisher as General Manager
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | August 18, 2023
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence welcomes Charles Fisher as the newly appointed General Manager of the luxurious hotel in Egypt, bringing a whole new vision for change through innovation and creativity. Hailing from the UK, Charles Fisher makes the move from Tokyo, Japan to the heart of Cairo as General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, poised to enter an exciting new phase of transformation for the property and destination. Charles brings an impressive 24 years of hospitality experience, tenured at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts properties across the globe and an unwavering belief in the pow...
A Focus on the Margins: US Hotel Performance in the First Half of 2023
HotStats | August 18, 2023
by Laura Resco, HotStats Director of Hotel Intelligence Americas Hotels in the United States saw general pressure on profit margins in the first half of 2023, with Gross Operating Profit (GOP) margin falling by 1 percentage point compared to the same period in 2022. A closer look at brand-scale performance reveals that the extremes were particularly affected: both the luxury and midscale and economy segments exhibited the greatest year-on-year margin declines, as shown in Figure 1. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="800"] Figure 1 US GOP as a % of Total Revenue, H1 2021, 2022 and 2023[/caption] A major factor influencing this tr...
Louisville, KY Hotel Market: Room to Grow
Kaitlyn Hennessy | August 18, 2023
By Kaitlyn Hennessy Recent Hotel Trends Since 2020, the Louisville hotel market has seen an increase in leisure travel associated with bourbon tourism, its nearby universities, and the Kentucky Derby. It is because of these large demand generators that the market has been able to recover most of its occupancy-based COVID-19 losses. Commercial travel has also helped to bolster the market. As employees have begun to return to offices and as business travel has increased, demand within this segment has improved. While some properties were able to recover occupancy faster than others, a large amount of new supply has entered the market over...
Andhra Pradesh Welcomes its First Hyatt Place Hotel with Hyatt Place Vijayawada
Hyatt Place | August 18, 2023
The centrally located 81-room property is a short drive away from the Vijayawada International Airport CHICAGO (August 18, 2023) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Hyatt Place Vijayawada, a modern haven offering 81 rooms and suites. The hotel marks the debut of the Hyatt Place brand in the state of Andhra Pradesh – a significant landmark in Hyatt’s brand growth in the market. Developed by RVS Conventions Private Limited, the property features the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere, and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food offerings. Inspired by Hyatt...
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley Launches Extensive Renovation
August 18, 2023
AVON, Colo. (Aug. 18, 2023) –The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley has launched an extensive renovation called “The Next Chapter” that will be completed by Winter 2024 - including a guestroom refresh, the creation of a new Adventure Center with activity concierge and the Vail Valley’s first rooftop bar. Named one of the “50 Best Resorts in the World” for 2022 by Conde Nast Traveler, the renovations currently underway at The Westin Riverfront include: Room Refresh: The resort is completely revamping all 230 guestrooms, outfitting them with fresh mountain modern furniture including newly released N...
Courtyard Wichita at Old Town Celebrates Completion of Renovation Project
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | August 18, 2023
Wichita, KS (August 18, 2023) – The Courtyard Wichita at Old Town, managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, —the award-winning operator of over 120 hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada— announced today the completion of its extensive renovation project, marking a new era of elevated hospitality in the heart of historic Old Town. This milestone greatly enhances the guest experience with a refined ambiance that pays tribute to the rich history of Wichita's railroad and aviation heritage, as well as the Old Town district. In addition to an increased availability of suites, property enhancements include new FF&E in ...
Steve Pastor Named General Manager at Great Wolf Lodge Northern California
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. | August 18, 2023
MANTECA, CA - (August 18, 2023) - Great Wolf Resorts named Steve Pastor as the General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge Northern California. Pastor brings an extensive background in hospitality to his tenure at Great Wolf Lodge, with over a decade of experience managing hotels in California having previously worked for Evolution Hospitality with roles at both Hotel MdR in Los Angeles and Hyatt Regency Westlake Village. Additionally, Pastor previously managed the Radisson Mall of America Hotel Waterpark, an indoor water park resort in Bloomington, Minn., now known as Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota. In this role, Pastor will oversee all operations o...
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix Appoints Devin Mahoney as New General Manager
IHG Hotels & Resorts | August 18, 2023
Boutique Downtown Phoenix Property Appoints Devin Mahoney to Top Leadership Role PHOENIX (Aug. 18, 2023)– An urban Downtown Phoenix oasis anchoring the CityScape experience, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle collection, today announced Devin Mahoney as its new general manager. A dedicated leader and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants veteran with nearly two decades of experience, Mahoney is celebrated for creating experience-driven environments, an outstanding guest and teammate experience and is positioned to further elevate and evolve the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix experien...
NTTO Releases New Report on Characteristics of Canadians Who Visited the United States by Land in 2022
International Trade Administration | August 18, 2023
The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) is releasing a new report that details the characteristics of the 7.1 million Canadians who visited the United States by land in 2022. "For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Commerce now produces statistics on the characteristics of Canadian visitors to the United States. This provides critical intelligence to policymakers and U.S. businesses about this important international inbound source market for the U.S. travel and tourism industry," stated Brian Beall, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism. 10 key highlights of the Calendar Year 2022 Canadian Overnight Land ...
Four Seasons Hotel Baku Welcomes Mahmoud El Keiy as General Manager
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | August 17, 2023
Mahmoud El Keiy, a seasoned hotelier, has taken over the role of General Manager to lead the team at the 171-room luxury Four Seasons Hotel Baku in the heart of the city as of July 3, 2023. Mahmoud's journey in the hospitality industry has been one marked by passion and a profound understanding of the significance of guest satisfaction. Having graduated from Faculty of Tourism and Hotels in Cairo, Mahmoud garnered his 22 years of experience with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the General Manager role in three different cities of Egypt: Alexandria, Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh. As a result, he has emerged as a true connoisseur of creating ...
U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 12 August
CoStar Group | August 17, 2023
WASHINGTON – 17 August 2023 – U.S. hotel performance declined from the previous week but showed mostly positive comparisons year over year, according to CoStar’s latest data through 12 August. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. 6-12 August 2023 (percentage change from comparable week in 2022): Occupancy: 68.3% (flat) Average daily rate (ADR): US$156.47 (+2.0%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$106.89 (+2.0%) Among the Top 25 Markets, Los Angeles saw the largest year-over-year growth in each of the key performance metrics: occup...
Who Is to Blame for Poor Service?
Shep Hyken | August 17, 2023
By Shep Hyken The short version of the story is this. At about 9:15 p.m., I pulled into one of my favorite fast-food restaurants. There was one customer ahead of me in the drive-through lane. I assumed he was placing an order. After several minutes, I realized something else was going on. I wasn’t sure what, but the amount of time he spent talking to the person on the other end of the intercom took much longer than it should have. Eventually, he pulled around to get his food. It was now my turn. I waited for the person to welcome me and ask what I wanted. It never happened. I then pulled around to the drive-through window. The emplo...
Virtual Reality in Hospitality: A New Dimension of Luxury
Kevin D’costa | August 17, 2023
Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) are becoming more popular by the day, redefining the entertainment industry with innovations like never before. Spatial computing, Metaverse and other new virtual adventures may have been more famous for their entertainment-based applications, but businesses increasingly realise their potential as an operational tool. VR is specifically helpful in delivering critical information to potential customers before making purchase decisions. But what are the other out-of-the-world experiences that VR promises to the hospitality industry? 1. Virtual travel Virtual explorations are one of th...
The Hotel Maria Announces December 2023 Opening in Helsinki
Preferred Hotels & Resorts | August 17, 2023
Heralding a New Era in Luxury Nordic Hospitality, This Urban Oasis Will Be Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ First Legend Collection Property in Finland HELSINKI, Finland (August 17, 2023) — The Hotel Maria will redefine Nordic hospitality when it opens its doors in the heart of Helsinki on December 15, 2023 as a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ prestigious Legend Collection. Nestled in the historic Kruununhaka district, The Hotel Maria is a destination in its own right with 117 spacious rooms, including 38 luxurious suites, alongside two elegant restaurants and bars, a ballroom, chapel and state-of-the-art spa and wellness fa...
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco Appoints Aimee King as New Director of Sales and Marketing
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco | August 17, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 17, 2023) – The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is pleased to announce the appointment of Aimee King as Director of Sales and Marketing. King brings extensive knowledge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s hospitality sector and a proven track record of spearheading impactful marketing campaigns with her hands-on leadership, which will play a pivotal role at this landmark hotel. As an experienced Director of Sales and Marketing, King has established an impressive background across a variety of esteemed San Francisco Bay Area hotels, including the Omni Hotel, Hotel Adagio, St. Regis and more. Most recently, she was the Di...
Accor Signs With Sarin Hotels to Open The Sebel Wellington Thorndon
Accor | August 17, 2023
ACCOR BOLSTERS ITS NEW ZEALAND PORTFOLIO WITH THE SIGNING OF THE SEBEL WELLINGTON THORNDON ACCOR’S THE SEBEL BRAND DOUBLES IN NEW ZEALAND IN 2023 Accor, Australia and New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, is thrilled to announce a signing agreement with Sarin Hotels to open a second The Sebel hotel in Wellington - The Sebel Wellington Thorndon - following the successful opening of The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt in May this year. Located at 172 Thorndon Quay in Wellington’s central suburb of Piptea, The Sebel Wellington Thorndon is set to open in September 2023. The beautifully-appointed nine-storey serviced apartment hotel is id...
