Quoting Higher Rates and Overcoming Objections Regarding Rate/Availability Restrictions
Doug Kennedy | February 6, 2024
Education
Penn State’s Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management Elevates Careers in Hospitality
Penn State School of Hospitality Management | April 16, 2024
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State School of Hospitality Management is accepting applications for its Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management for the fall 2024 semester. The program helps professionals gain in-demand skills and leadership experiences that translate directly into hospitality management and upper-level management positions. Applications to start the program in fall 2024 are due by June 1. “Obtaining a graduate degree in hospitality management sets individuals apart in the field,” said Lori Walker, coordinator of the Penn State Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management program. “A...
It’s Time to Eliminate Generationalism in the Hotel Workplace: Myth of Generational Differences Has Been Busted by Research
Doug Kennedy | April 8, 2024
By Doug Kennedy As my frequent readers know, I have been bemoaning the myths that are thrown out as facts at conferences, podcasts, and in books and blogs that, at best, mislead hospitality leaders and at worst, lead to discrimination based on birth year. Generationism is harmful, just like racism and sexism. Worse yet, many of those spewing these falsehoods are making a handsome profit by doing so. Seems like just about every conference I speak at lately has another high-paid keynote speaker addressing some topic related to what “Gen Z” or “Millennials” want out of work, life, and what they are looking for in a hotel workplace....
Successfully Fielding Legitimate Guest Complaints AND How to Stop the “Full Refund Scammers”
Doug Kennedy | April 3, 2024
Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording, of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Friday, April 19, from Noon – 12:45pm EST. REGISTER HERE “While the vast majority of guests who complain simply want to be heard and have their issues resolved, a small but vocal minority intentionally seek out issues they can use to argue for compensation, discounts, or even a full refund,” said KTN President Doug Kennedy. “Unfortunately, untrained staff and first-level supervisors cave all too easily, and worse yet, grow cyn...
Navigating the Digital Seas: A Dive Into Corporate Digital Responsibility in Hospitality
Khoi Yan Phon | April 1, 2024
By Khoi Yan Phon In the dynamic scene of hospitality, where traditional business practices meet disruptive innovations, a seismic wave is on the horizon. This is not just referring to the usual corporate social responsibility (CSR) jargon; it is diving into the digital deep end with corporate digital responsibility (CDR). This article will explore the nuances of CDR, and how it reshapes the way hospitality giants navigate the tech-infused landscape. The Crossroads of CSR and CDR Unlock the mystery of CDR: think of it as the cool cousin of CSR, orchestrating a symphony of digital prowess and ethical commitment. As the hospitality industry...
College & University Hotel Ownership Symposium – Key Takeaways
Rachel Roginsky | March 28, 2024
By Rachel Roginsky The College & University Hotel Ownership Symposium (CUHOS) convened at Harvard University in early March. The focus of the symposium was to allow college and university employees charged with the planning and administration of their institution’s hotels an opportunity to attend seminars and discussions important to the development and oversight of hotel assets. The biennial event, hosted by Pinnacle Advisory Group at a college or university partner, featured data analysis, perspectives, and insights from expert hotel industry partners with on-campus hotel experience. Previous CUHOS symposia have been hosted by Pinn...
Does the Fate of Tourism Hinge on Land Use?
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | March 26, 2024
Changes in land use rights to encourage tourism can have unexpected negative consequences for tourist businesses, according to Dr Michael Lin of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors. Noting that the impact of land use regulation on tourism has historically been understudied, the researchers performed an impact assessment of a unique form of tourist business in Namibia. They found that although regulatory changes had expanded access to land use rights, the economic outcomes for these ventures were not entirely positive, due to legal complexities and conflicts between stakehold...
More Than 5,700 Careers Created: Hyatt’s Opportunity Youth Advancement Program Marks Major Milestone
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | March 20, 2024
RiseHY program brings untapped talent into the hospitality industry, emphasizes retention and progressive skills training CHICAGO (March 20, 2024) – Hyatt celebrates its global RiseHY program, designed to connect young people with long-term careers in hospitality. Since the program’s introduction in 2018, more than 5,700 Opportunity Youth* have joined Hyatt or a Hyatt hotel. This marks a pivotal step toward Hyatt’s global commitment to have Hyatt and Hyatt hotels hire 10,000 Opportunity Youth by 2025. With more than 23% of the world’s young people unemployed, according to the International Labour Organization, investing in u...
AHLA Foundation Expands Program to Support HBCU Students Pursuing Hospitality Careers
The AHLA Foundation | March 20, 2024
The travel scholarship program, supported by a grant from the Nareit Foundation, will increase student exposure to commercial real estate career pathways WASHINGTON (March 20, 2024) – AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), today announced plans to expand its travel scholarship program in partnership with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The opportunity to grow the program, and formally connect HBCU students to the real estate investment trust (REIT) industry, was made possible by a 2023 grant from the Nareit Foundation’s Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & In...
Best Habits for Hotel Sales Site Tours: Stand Out When They Stop By (Whether in Person or Virtually)!
Doug Kennedy | March 7, 2024
Doug Kennedy’s Next Training Webcast - Complimentary Registration Now Open Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, March 18, from Noon – 12:45pm EST. REGISTER HERE “While many group and event bookers go through the buying cycle without ever visiting the hotel in person, there are still plenty who prefer a site tour,” said KTN President Doug Kennedy. “And smart salespeople always offer to conduct live virtual site tours for those who cannot visit.” Ty...
StudentUniverse Releases Their Annual State of Student Travel Report Revealing Key Trends Amongst Gen Z Travelers
StudentUniverse | February 14, 2024
This Year StudentUniverse Delves into the Importance of Traveling for One’s Mental Well-Being, the Impact of AI, Top Destinations for 2024, Embracing Sustainability, and Inspirational Travel Platforms Waltham, Mass. (February 14, 2024) – StudentUniverse, a Flight Centre Travel Group company and the world’s largest student and youth travel marketplace, today released its annual The State of Student & Youth Travel Report delving into the latest travel sentiments amongst those aged 18-25. The report reveals some interesting trends amongst Gen Z travelers including a preference for taking “dry vacations” and a concern for the...
Early Career SHM Alumni Pay It Forward
PENN STATE’S SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT | February 14, 2024
Recent SHM alumni have provided their alma mater with new student support options UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – The School of Hospitality Management (SHM) in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development (HHD) has received a series of gifts from recent alumni, bolstering the support available to students. In the following months, this series will spotlight recent alumni who have decided to give back to their alma mater, supporting students following the path they helped to trailblaze. As one of the longest-running hospitality programs in the nation, SHM equips students with the technical knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary...
Embracing the Sponge Mentality: The Pathway to Leadership
Ana McFee | February 13, 2024
By Ana McFee For me, the concept of the "sponge mentality" stands out as a beacon of growth and adaptability. It is a process that embodies the metaphor of a sponge, soaking up knowledge and experiences and squeezing them out to share with others. But beyond this simple analogy, what does it truly mean to be a sponge in the context of leadership and personal growth? And how does adopting the sponge mentality contribute to one's success? The sponge mentality explained At its core, the sponge mentality is a mindset characterized by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a genuine curiosity about the world. To embody this mentality, you m...
The Future of Tech in Hospitality
Tatyana Tsukanova | February 8, 2024
By Tatyana Tsukanova In prehistoric times, our technology was limited to tools made of stone and bone. In the 21st century, we live in an era of technological innovation that is changing almost every aspect of our lives, from communication and education to recreation and entertainment. Technology continues to evolve and in the hospitality industry we have seen drastic changes in recent years. A look into the future is necessary today, if only to better understand the current situation and to plan for 2024, as well as to understand what existing players are already doing and, undoubtedly, what guests and customers expect. Hospitality rides...
Quoting Higher Rates and Overcoming Objections Regarding Rate/Availability Restrictions
Doug Kennedy | February 6, 2024
Doug Kennedy’s Next Training Webcast; Complimentary Registration Now Open Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording, of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, February 19, from Noon – 12:40 pm EST. REGISTER HERE “As many resorts, vacation rental companies, and hotels enter the peak booking season, now is a great time to train your reservations team on tactics for successfully selling the higher rates that your revenue managers have most likely rolled out this year,” said Kennedy. Due to today’s h...
Prime Time for Service Robots
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | January 31, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic catapulted the hospitality industry into a more digitised future. Coupled with the vast social changes and prominent safety concerns, this wave of technological innovation could transform the hospitality workforce, according to Professor Seongseop (Sam) Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors. Service robots could solve many of the safety concerns felt to this day, but how are they perceived by customers? To probe these issues in more depth, the researchers investigated how feelings of safety and the intention to visit an establishment are shaped by ...
Global Revenue Forum Announces Sommet Education as a Multi-City Sponsor for a Day of Unique Educational, Networking, and Commercial Opportunities at G
Sommet Education | January 25, 2024
London - January 25, 2024: The Global Revenue Forum is pleased to announce a partnership with Sommet Education to provide enhanced learning programs and educational opportunities at its upcoming events in London, Milan, Stockholm and Lisbon. Themed “Roadmap to Resilience,” The 30 January Global Revenue Forum will enable attendees to learn new strategies and solutions to help them adjust to today’s evolving market conditions and adapt to the future of hospitality before it arrives. As part of the partnership, Sommet Education will be onsite to meet with hospitality professionals to help build personal roadmaps for 2024, particularl...
NEWH Brings Biennial Leadership Conference to Nashville in 2024
NEWH | January 25, 2024
The three-day event gathers hospitality professionals from across the globe to learn and network Shawano, WI — January 24, 2024 — The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH)’s biennial Leadership Conference will take place in Nashville, Tennessee from February 15 - 17, 2024. Hosted at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, the event draws leaders in the hospitality industry from all over the world. Over the three-day conference, attendees will discuss strategy, share insights on emerging trends, and get to know their peers in a lively, encouraging environment. Embodying NEWH’s mission to support the advancement of professio...
AHLA Foundation Launches New Scholarship Application Portal for Hospitality Students Nationwide
The AHLA Foundation | January 8, 2024
The new platform will allow increased access to scholarship opportunities, supporting the future of hospitality and diversifying the talent pipeline. WASHINGTON (January 8, 2023) – AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, launched a new platform to streamline its scholarship application process. The platform not only improves the user experience, but includes a built-in eligibility assessment that allows students to access every Foundation-hosted opportunity for which they qualify. The Foundation has long supported rising hospitality talent through the generous support of individual donors and c...
Complimentary Registration Now Open For Doug Kennedy’s Next Training Webcast: Contemporary Approaches for Upselling at Check-In
Doug Kennedy | January 8, 2024
Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording, of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, January 22, from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE “Lately, too many hotels seem to be relying on pre-arrival drip campaigns to upsell guests to higher-priced accommodations. The problem is that guests’ inboxes are flooded with similar offers from airlines, rental cars, and other hotels on their itinerary, so most just ignore them,” said Kennedy, “And that’s assuming they don’t get marked as spam.” Kennedy bel...
HSMAI Announces Intercollegiate Global Conference and Collegiate Case Competition
HSMAI Foundation | December 18, 2023
McLean, VA (Dec. 18, 2023) – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation announces the 2024 Intercollegiate Global Conference: A World of Opportunity which will take place February 5-9, 2024. The virtual event is a unique opportunity for hospitality students and faculty to gain valuable insights and connect with top industry professionals. Undergraduate and graduate students who share passion for hospitality marketing are also encouraged to submit entries for the HSMAI Foundation Global Collegiate Case Competition. Conference attendees will hear from guest speakers from leading industry brands ...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Hospitality Training: 12 Steps to Reclaiming Your Spirit of Hospitality From the Gra
Doug Kennedy | December 5, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast. This month’s topic rotates back to hospitality, and it is one that a lot of our participants can relate to: 12 Steps to Reclaiming Your Spirit of Hospitality From The Grasp Of Cynicism scheduled for Monday, December 18, from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE “As we look to the start of a new year and reflect on a string of several of the most stressful years in the history of the lodging industry, I hope to remind us all why we...
Penn State To Honor Jim Risoleo, Ted Balestreri With Hospitality Industry Awards
The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society | November 30, 2023
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society (PSHRS) and the School of Hospitality Management will honor Jim Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., and Ted Balestreri, chairman and CEO of Cannery Row Co. and chairman, CEO and co-founder of Sardine Factory Restaurant, at the 2024 PSHRS Industry Awards and Reception. The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. on April 2, 2024, at the school’s Marriott Foundation Building among alumni, faculty, industry partners and students. Risoleo will receive the society’s Hospitality Executive of the Year Award and Balestreri will receive the Lifetime A...
Redesigning Hospitality for Transformative Impact
Madalyn Scerri | November 27, 2023
By Madalyn Scerri, Anita Manfreda A new wave of thinking is transforming the concept of hospitality, especially in the eyes of customers, driven by values such as well-being, authenticity, and meaning. Researchers and consultants at BMIHMS are uncovering the fundamental pillars for creating transformative hospitality experiences. In the realm of hospitality and hotel management, we possess a remarkable power—the power to elevate individual well-being and foster positive transformations within our communities. Our industry is undergoing a profound transformation as we reimagine traditional offerings to create experiences that not only ...
Workplace Fun, Afterwork Socializing Can Lead to Employee Substance Use
The School of Hospitality Management | November 20, 2023
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fun in the workplace can yield positive benefits to employees and employers alike, but it may also lead to an increase in afterwork employee substance use, according to new research from the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. Researchers led by Michael Tews, associate professor of hospitality management, found that fun activities for employees inside or outside the workplace and a manager’s support for fun are both correlated with substance use through coworker socializing. They published their work in the Journal of Drug Issues. “We know that fun has a positive impact in the workplace, but this...
