HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25, 2024
Industry Happenings
AHLA Condemns New York City Council Passage of the Safe Hotels Act
AHLA | October 24, 2024
WASHINGTON (Oct. 23, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey released the following statement today after the New York City Council passed the “Safe Hotels Act.” “Today’s passage of the ‘Safe Hotels Act’ (Int. 991) by the City Council caps a legislative scramble and special interest power play that will do irreparable harm to the city’s hotel industry and tourism economy. From the start, this rushed and haphazard legislative process has been in service of one goal; to deliver a single special interest victory at the expense of small and minority-owned ...
Spain’s Malaga To Ban New Holiday Flat Permits in 43 Neighbourhoods
October 24, 2024
MADRID (Reuters) - Malaga will ban new short-term tourism rentals in 43 neighbourhoods of the city, the latest step taken by Spanish authorities to address residents' concerns that they are being priced out of the property market by the booming tourism business. The city in southern Spain joins other cities in cracking down on short-term rentals, including Barcelona, which plans to scrap licences for tourist rentals by 2028. Residents protesting against high rents and a lack of long-term supply blame it on the proliferation of short-term renting on platforms such as Airbnb and booking.com and an a influx of foreigners choosing Malaga as...
Venice Expands Tourist Entry Fee System to Include More Days
October 24, 2024
By Crispian Balmer ROME (Reuters) - Venice is going to broaden its tourist entry fee system in 2025, almost doubling the number of days visitors will have to pay to see the lagoon city, and hiking the price for last-minute arrivals, officials said on Thursday. In a world first, the Italian destination introduced a 5- euro charge in April for daytrippers arriving on particularly congested days, hoping the levy would help thin the crowds. The initial scheme, which was watched closely by other global tourist hotspots, covered 29 days over a four-month period. This will be lifted to 54 days next year, over the same April-July window. ...
AAHOA Expresses Disappointment Over Passage of New York City Council’s Safe Hotels Act
AAHOA | October 24, 2024
ATLANTA, GA, OCTOBER 24, 2024 — AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) is deeply disappointed by the New York City Council's decision to pass the Safe Hotels Act on Wednesday, October 23, despite recent revisions. While the exemption for hotels with fewer than 100 rooms offers relief to some, AAHOA remains concerned about the adverse effects of this legislation on the broader hotel industry, particularly minority-owned businesses. The revisions fail to address industry leaders' critical concerns throughout the legislative process. The Safe Hotels Act (Int. No. 991-C) threatens to disrupt normal hotel operations and could in...
Department of the Air Force To Commercialize Lodging Program
Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center | October 24, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) – In an effort to ensure a sustainable lodging business model, the Department of the Air Force has decided to pursue commercialization of its lodging program within the United States, its territories, and possessions. In 2023, DAF leadership completed an in-depth analysis of the DAF lodging program and determined the best way to sustain it is through commercialization. With a portfolio of many facilities at or approaching expected service life, new construction and renovation is now needed at many locations to meet the needs of official travelers. In Fiscal Year 2019, the DAF completed an Office of the Secretary of ...
Hotel Association of NYC Applauds Passage of Safe Hotels Act
HANYC | October 24, 2024
NEW YORK--The Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) issued the following statement regarding the New York City Council’s passage of Intro 991, known as the “Safe Hotels Act.” Vijay Dandapani, President and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, said: “After hard-fought negotiation and necessary adjustments that exempt small hotels from onerous costs and all hotels from arbitrary licensing rules, the legislation passed today by the City Council will create a fair and practical standard for hotels that will protect both our industry and employees – and also provide the best possible experience for our guests so that ...
María Quintero of HVS Middle East & Africa is the 2024 Recipient of the ISHC Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consultin
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants | October 24, 2024
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 24 October 2024: The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) has named María Quintero of HVS Middle East & Africa as the recipient of the annual Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting. María was honored at the ISHC annual conference held 26-28 September at the St. Regis Dubai, The Palm. As the winner, María received a one-year associate membership to ISHC to further professional relationships and experience all that the Society has to offer through planned events and networking with top hospitality industry consultants from around the globe. Quintero is...
HSMAI Announces 2024 Sales Career Achievement and Professional of the Year Honorees
HSMAI | October 24, 2024
McLean, VA (Oct. 24, 2024) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is proud to introduce the 2024 Career Achievement and Sales Professional of the Year award recipients who will be celebrated during HSMAI’s Sales Leader Forum on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington D.C. The following hospitality executives have showcased exceptional talent, a deep passion for their profession, and outstanding expertise in hotel sales. HSMAI’s Award for Career Achievement in Sales Dan Surette, Chief Sales Officer, Omni Hotels & Resorts Dan Surette is chief sales officer at Omni Hotels & Resorts where he leads the...
AHLA, World Wildlife Fund Make It Easier for Hoteliers to Reduce Food Waste
AHLA | October 23, 2024
WASHINGTON (Oct. 23, 2024) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association and World Wildlife Fund today announced a revamped Hotel Kitchen platform that will help hoteliers around the country prevent food waste, protect the environment by diverting food from landfills, and reduce operating costs. The revamped Hotel Kitchen platform will make it easier to reach the goal of cutting U.S. food waste in half by 2030. Improvements include: Guidelines and best practices for hotel employees at all levels, including corporate leadership and owners, hotel operators, and staff who run meetings and events and food & beverage operation...
US Fines American Airlines Record $50 Million Over Treatment of Disabled Passengers
Reuters | October 23, 2024
By David Shepardson (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday said it was fining American Airlines a record $50 million for its treatment of disabled passengers, including failing to provide some with adequate assistance and mishandling wheelchairs. The fine is 25 times larger than the previous highest airline penalty for disability protection violations, setting a "new precedent" for future enforcement, the department said. "The era of tolerating poor treatment of airline passengers with disabilities is over," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "By setting penalties at levels beyond a mere cost of doing b...
Spain’s Airlines See Winter Sales Boost Due to Middle East Conflict
October 22, 2024
MADRID (Reuters) - Airline operators in Spain expect to sell 12% more seats this winter than a year earlier as travellers look to steer well clear of conflict zones, the head of Spain's airlines industry group (ALA) said on Tuesday. Tourist destinations such as the Canary Islands will see more flights as some airlines re-route planes from Israel and other destinations in the Middle East, ALA President Javier Gandara told a press conference in Madrid. For the winter, "there have been a number of changes in airline schedules, many of them caused by the conflict in the Middle East, and Spain has had additional schedules," he said. An AL...
AAHOA Opposes Los Angeles City Council’s Proposed Minimum Wage Increase for Hotel Workers
AAHOA | October 22, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA, OCTOBER 22, 2024 — AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association), representing 1,165 hotel owners in the Greater Los Angeles Area, voiced strong opposition to the Los Angeles City Council's proposed minimum wage increase for hotel workers, which would raise wages to $30 per hour, along with an additional $8 per hour for healthcare. AAHOA maintains that a recent economic impact study supporting this measure is fundamentally flawed, inaccurately concluding that the hotel industry can absorb such a drastic increase. AAHOA Members have testified multiple times before the Council, including last week when a delega...
Stella Blythe Receives 2024 Rising Star Award Asia Pacific
ISHC | October 22, 2024
Singapore (22 October 2024): The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), in partnership with the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) awarded Stella Blythe, Director, Hotels and Hospitality, Asia at CBRE, with the Rising Star Award Asia Pacific during the HICAP event on 17 October 2024. With over a decade of experience, Stella has a proven track record in hospitality and real estate, spanning transactions, capital markets, valuation and consultancy. Her deep market knowledge has enabled her to advise on high-profile deals, including the sale of a 300-key Singapore hotel and a 120-villa Maldivian resort in 2023. ...
Hospitality Companies Pledge More Than 100,000 Hours of Work for Overlooked Populations
The American Hotel & Lodging Association | October 22, 2024
WASHINGTON (Oct. 22, 2024) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the largest hotel association in the United States, and Procure Impact, a first-of-its kind B2B marketplace for products that support overlooked communities, today announced a major milestone in the implementation of their Dignity of Work Pledge. Twenty-three hospitality companies have pledged over $7.4 million in purchases to reach the Dignity of Work Pledge goal of 100,000 hours of paid employment for people who face barriers to work. By choosing to source responsibly through Procure Impact, the companies will provide millions in revenue for businesses ...
Thousands Protest in Spain’s Canary Islands Against Overtourism
October 21, 2024
By Borja Suarez GRAN CANARIA, Spain (Reuters) - Thousands of people protested in holiday resorts in Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday against overtourism which they say prices local people out of the housing market. Under the slogan Canary Islands has a limit, residents demonstrated simultaneously in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro and called for a change in the tourism model for the islands. In the Playa de las Americas in Tenerife, protesters appeared on the beach while tourists were sunbathing and chanted "This beach is ours." Activists claimed the arrival of millions of visitors every ye...
The Hospitality Show Announces Highlights and Key Sponsorships for 2024
The Hospitality Show | October 21, 2024
NEW YORK (Oct. 21, 2024) – The Hospitality Show, the industry’s leading technology and operations event produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), announced an extensive list of program highlights and sponsorships today. This year’s event will take place at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 28-30, bringing together thousands of owners, operators, and leading hospitality professionals for three days of networking, education, and tangible tools to operate more efficiently. Recently awarded the prestigious Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Grand Award for “Bes...
Delta to Pause Flights Between New York and Tel Aviv Through March
Delta Airlines | October 16, 2024
October 16, 2024 - Delta Air Lines said on Tuesday it will pause its flights between New York's JFK airport and Tel Aviv through March, due to escalating conflict and safety concerns in Israel. The airline said it has issued a travel waiver for all customers who were booked on its flights to travel to and from Tel Aviv before March 31, 2025. It had earlier suspended flights to Tel Aviv through the end of 2024. Several airlines globally have suspended their services to Israel and Lebanon, while also revising schedules to avoid the Iranian and Lebanese airspace, in an attempt to ensure passenger safety as security concerns rise in the region...
Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Releases Fall 2024 Conference Industry Outlook Survey Results
HAMA | October 15, 2024
LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024—The Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) today announced the results of its Fall 2024 Industry Outlook Survey. The semi-annual report conveyed the latest opinions, experiences and predictions of nearly 70 hotel asset managers on topics ranging from budget forecasts to management company outlooks. Conducted in conjunction with HAMA'S 2024 Annual Fall Meeting that was held in La Jolla, Calif., the results were presented to media live with a concluding Q&A session via online conferencing. In total, 65 asset managers, comprising approximately one-third of membership, participated in the...
Top Four Winners Announced in ImageFIRST’s ServiceSTARS Contest, Honoring Hospitality Professionals
ImageFIRST | October 15, 2024
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., October 15, 2024 – ImageFIRST® announced the winners of their 1st Annual ServiceSTARS Contest – where ImageFIRST Customer Advocates recognize exceptional Hospitality professionals who go above and beyond to positively impact the lives of their guests. After receiving an overwhelming number of nomination submissions from the ImageFIRST Service Team, 10 Stars were chosen as finalists. Votes were cast by the public on the contest’s website for the Star who inspired them the most. Following the nationwide vote, the Stars that received the most votes will be awarded a cash prize, totaling $8,250. * The top f...
Beyond the ‘Crazy Rich’: Expedia Group Reveals Mass-Affluent Asian Travelers Trend Set To Boost Global Travel Industry
Expedia Group | October 11, 2024
Four in five (81%) mass-affluent Asian travelers report that travel is still a priority despite inflation. On average, mass-affluent Asian travelers plan to visit four destinations over ten days for their next international trip, with Japan, the United States, Canada, France, South Korea, Australia, and Germany leading the list. They plan to dedicate nearly a quarter of their income to travel in the next 12 months. Nearly half seek airline and room upgrades, with two in five opting for first class or business class seating. Seattle, October 11, 2024 – Today, Expedia Group unveiled its study highlighting the preferences of t...
U.S. Travel to Congress: Pass Hurricane Disaster Relief as Quickly as Possible
U.S. Travel Association | October 11, 2024
WASHINGTON (October 11, 2024)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement calling for Congressional action to fund hurricane disaster relief: "The devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton demands that Congress pass disaster relief as soon as possible. Communities, small businesses and workers in the path of the storms—many of whom depend on visitors—are unable to welcome conventions, meetings and leisure travelers until Congress provides the required resources to rebuild. If there are any unnecessary delays, American communities will needlessly suffer.”...
HVS Takeaways – The Lodging Conference
Luigi Major, MAI | October 11, 2024
By Luigi Major, MAI This week marked another successful and highly attended Lodging Conference. HVS was proud to sponsor and speak at the event. Our recap on the conference sentiment follows. The event was marked by cautious optimism as industry professionals assessed the current state of the U.S. hotel market. With the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates, many believe that the worst effects of rate hikes and inflation are behind us, offering hope for a rebound in hotel transactions after the significant slowdown over the last 18 months. The upcoming election and intensifying geopolitical concerns continue to somewhat balance the r...
Supporting Communities Through the Storm: Resources for Those Impacted by Hurricane Milton
Beth Hawks | October 10, 2024
As Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Milton, the hospitality industry is rallying to support the state’s residents and communities throughout this challenging time. In crises like this, hotels often become places of refuge, offering shelter and resources to those in need, including first responders. The hotel staff work tirelessly, often putting their own needs on hold, to serve those around them. As an industry, we understand that this dedication goes beyond business—it’s about helping people when they need it most. To assist in these efforts, Hospitality Upgrade is compiling a list of companies and organizations committed ...
Marriott International Resolves State Attorneys General and Federal Trade Commission Investigations into 2018 Starwood Database Security Incident
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. | October 10, 2024
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR, “Marriott”) has reached final resolutions with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 49 U.S. State Attorneys General and the District of Columbia in relation to the 2018 Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide guest reservations database security incident. The resolution with the State Attorneys General includes an agreement to pay $52 million. As indicated in the agreements with the FTC and the State Attorneys General, Marriott makes no admission of liability with respect to the underlying allegations. As part of the resolutions with the FTC and the State Attorneys General, Marriott will cont...
