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
Tripadvisor Reveals Top-Rated Hotels in 2023 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards
Tripadvisor | May 23, 2023
Accommodations Recognized in 10 Subcategories - in the U.S., Regionally and Globally 2023 Awards include Two Brand New Categories: The Best Hotels with Spas and the Best Hotels for Sleep Rambagh Palace in India World's No.1; Perry Lane in Savannah Best in U.S. NEEDHAM, Mass., May 23, 2023 -- Today, Tripadvisor® announced the winners of its 2023 Travelers' Choice® Best of the Best Hotel Awards. In its 21st edition, the awards align with the kickoff of the summer travel season, providing inspiration by revealing the best places to stay in the U.S. and around the world. Tripadvisor analyzed 12 months of review data (January 1, 2022...
HSMAI Announces Marketing Award Honorees
HSMAI | May 23, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: McLean, VA (May 23, 2023) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will celebrate three remarkable marketing leaders during HSMAI’s Marketing Strategy Conference in Toronto on June 27. Jay Hubbs, CHDM, Vice President-Advertising, Marketing, Innovation and Analytics of BWH Hotels, and John White, CRME, CHBA, CHDM, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kaanapali Beach Hotel, will be presented with the Marketing Professional of the Year Awards for corporate and single/multi-unit categories, respectively. Dr. Makarand Mody, Associate Professor of Hospitality Marketing at Boston University, ...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Underlines Commitment to Growth and Leadership in the Premium Category
IHG Hotels & Resorts | May 22, 2023
ATLANTA (May 22, 2023) – IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) recently outlined its strategies to help premium portfolio owners drive hotel performance and revenue and elevate the guest experience during its first IHG Americas Premium Investors & Leadership Conference. Held May 8-10 at the voco Chicago Downtown hotel, the Conference brought together more than 500 owners, general managers, sponsors and corporate colleagues for three energizing days of networking, presentations and discussions on super-charging brand delivery and profitability. The Conference focused on the recent successes and continued evolution of four key brands –...
SURVEY: Most Americans More Likely to Stay in Hotels, Vacation This Summer vs. Last
AHLA | May 22, 2023
WASHINGTON (May 22, 2023) – This summer, most adults are more likely than they were in the summer of 2022 to stay in a hotel and take vacation trips, according to a new national Hotel Booking Index survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and conducted by Morning Consult. Thinking about the summer ahead, most adults report being more likely than they were in 2022 to stay in a hotel (56%), take more frequent (55%) and longer (52%) leisure or vacation trips, the survey says. According to the findings, hotels are the top lodging choice among those planning to travel for business (77%) and leisure (54%)...
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions Named “Overall TravelTech Company of the Year” in 2023 TravelTech Breakthrough Awards Program
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions | May 22, 2023
Prestigious Annual Awards Program Recognizes Standout Travel Technology Companies, Products, and Services Around the World Stockholm – May 22, 2023 – ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions today announced it has been selected as “Overall TravelTech Company of the Year” in the inaugural TravelTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by TravelTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout travel technology companies, products and services around the globe. Recent advances by ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions that led to its being named this year’s winner include the unveiling o...
HFTP Announces Participating Startups for Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Dubai Co-Located With The Hotel Show Dubai
HFTP | May 19, 2023
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (May 19, 2023) – Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has announced the nine outstanding startups participating in Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) Dubai held on May 23, 2023 at HITEC Dubai, co-located with The Hotel Show Dubai. As the premier hospitality technology pitch competition for nearly a decade, Entrepreneur 20X is a unique opportunity for startups to gain visibility and credibility in the industry and network with fellow solution providers and influential industry professionals. Participants will have fou...
AHLA, IFBTA Announce Technology Partnership
AHLA | May 19, 2023
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2023) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the International Food and Beverage Technology Association (IFBTA) today announced a new strategic partnership that will more closely align the two associations to benefit their respective members and advance technology within the hospitality and foodservice industries. The partnership will enhance AHLA’s connectivity to food and beverage technology content and key industry suppliers while expanding IFBTA’s organizational reach by aligning it with America’s largest hotel association. The new agreement includes the following areas of collaborati...
Hundreds of Hoteliers Lobby Congress for More Workers
AHLA | May 19, 2023
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2023) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) this week hosted its Hotels on the Hill fly-in on Capitol Hill. More than 200 hoteliers representing 30-plus states met with members of Congress to share how labor shortages are impacting hotels and lobby for policies to help grow the hotel workforce. The event took place May 15-17 and included more than 100 meetings with House and Senate offices, including House and Senate leadership. During the event, hoteliers urged Congress to: Expand the legal H-2B guestworker program by including an H-2B Returning Worker Exemption in the Fiscal Year 2024 Depar...
American Hotels Support Nearly One in 25 U.S. Jobs
AHLA | May 18, 2023
New research highlights hotel industry’s significant economic impact Click here for state-by-state economy-wide hotel guest spending Click here for state-by-state hotel wages and salaries Click here for state-by-state hotel federal, state, and local taxes WASHINGTON (May 18, 2023) – American hotels support 8.3 million American jobs, which is equivalent to nearly one in 25 U.S. jobs, according to an economic analysis released today by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Oxford Economics. The study, which includes a breakdown of the hotel industry’s economic impact in every state and congressional dis...
Exhibit Space for HFTP’s HITEC 2023 Is Sold Out, Wait List Added; 325+ Hospitality Technology Companies Represented
HFTP | May 18, 2023
The largest and longest-running hospitality technology event will be held June 26-29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. The 78,000-square-feet exhibit hall will showcase the industry’s most innovative technology. Exhibit Space for HFTP’s HITEC 2023 is Sold Out, 325+ Hospitality Technology Companies Represented Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has just announced that exhibit space for the 2023 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) is sold out, and a waiting list for interested companies has been started. The status is a signifier of the contin...
HSMAI Announces 2023 Revenue Optimization Honorees
HSMAI | May 17, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: McLean, VA (May 17, 2023) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will celebrate four outstanding revenue optimization leaders during HSMAI ROC Americas in Toronto on June 28, part of HSMAI Commercial Strategy Week 2023. HSMAI will honor Andrew Rubinacci with the prestigious Vanguard Award for Achievement in Revenue Optimization. Monika Morrobel, CRME, CHDM, Senior Corporate Director of Commercial Strategy at Kessler Collection and Don Hood, Director of Commercial Services at Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa, will be presented with the Revenue Professional of the Year Awards for ...
Questex to Assume Management Control of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference Following June 2023 Event
NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality | May 16, 2023
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023-- Questex, a leading information services and event company, today announces it has agreed to assume management control of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference from the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) starting with the 2024 edition. This strategy fits perfectly with Questex’s initiative to build on its leading position in the operational real estate and hospitality marketplace, enhancing its powerful global hospitality portfolio. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed. The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, whose 45th annual conferenc...
Is Facebook Still an Effective Marketing Vehicle for Hotels?
Lodging Interactive | May 16, 2023
For years, critics have been prognosticating the downfall of Facebook, with many so-called "experts" predicting that the platform's user base would dwindle, and its relevance would fade. However, despite the numerous claims that Facebook is dead, the social media giant continues to thrive, especially when it comes to advertising and marketing within the hospitality vertical. In this post, we share our thoughts on why Facebook remains the top platform for marketers, thanks to its powerful ad targeting and ROI tracking abilities. The Failed Predictions The Decline of Facebook's User Base: Many experts had claimed that Facebook's user b...
‘Travel Works for America’ National Advocacy Tour Launches With First Stop on Capitol Hill
U.S. Travel Association | May 15, 2023
Travel Works for America—a national advocacy tour designed to highlight the $2.6 trillion economic impact and far-reaching contributions created by travel—relaunched this week in the Washington, DC, region. “Our Travel Works activations will take the powerful message of the industry’s impact on the American economy from Capitol Hill to cities across the nation, demonstrating for lawmakers and community leaders how travel benefits not only their regions but also other sectors within the economy,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. The May 10 kickoff—held during the 40th anniversary of Nation...
HFTP to Host AAHOA President/CEO for a Virtual Legislative Update
AAHOA | May 11, 2023
May 11, 2023 (Austin, Texas USA) — Later this month, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is featuring Laura Lee Blake, president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), for an HFTP Virtual Education webinar: “U.S. Legislative Updates from AAHOA.” The webinar is scheduled for May 23 at 1:00 p.m. CDT and is complimentary to all industry stakeholders. This exchange is part of a deepening partnership between the associations with a shared pursuit to advance the hospitality environment to the benefit of their members and the overall industry. “This webinar is an example of our asso...
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran to Serve as Co-Chair of Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus
U.S. Travel Association | May 11, 2023
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) has been named co-chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, the bipartisan body of 23 members that champions efforts to increase and support travel to and within the United States. He joins Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who also serves as caucus co-chair. Senator Moran steps into the co-chair role previously held by former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. “It’s always a joy to share the beauty of a sunset in the Flint Hills or the boyhood home and library of President Eisenhower in Abilene,” said Sen. Moran. “Tourism helps drive economic investment in local communities, and as co-chair of the Senate...
HFTP Announces Participating Startups for Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Toronto
HFTP | May 10, 2023
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (May 10, 2023) – Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has announced the seven exceptional startups participating in Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) Toronto held on June 28, 2023 at HITEC Toronto. As the premier hospitality technology pitch competition for nearly a decade, Entrepreneur 20X is a unique opportunity for startups to gain visibility and credibility in the industry and network with fellow solution providers and influential industry professionals. Participants will have four minutes each to present their i...
From the Back of House to President of the HFTP: An Interview With Hospitality Leader Neil Foster
Alan Young | May 9, 2023
By Alan Young, Hospitality Industry Advisor, College Professor, and Co-Founder of Puzzle Partner At first – and even second and third glance, Neil Foster’s career in the hospitality industry gives no impression of being an accident. Instead, Foster has spent the last quarter century making a significant mark on the industry while working with hotel companies and technology vendors to uncover better ways of doing business. And yet, Foster himself would describe his introduction to the hospitality world as a happy accident. What began with washing dishes and bussing tables later evolved into a role as an electronic data processing ma...
Hotel Industry Update – Latest Presentations Now Available at HotelLawyer.com
Jim Butler | May 8, 2023
By Jim Butler The 30th edition of Meet the Money® 2023 national hotel finance and investment conference was held May 1 – 3, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency LAX. Some very insightful and informative presentations were made at the conference about the national economy, the national and California hotel markets, the latest version of the ISHC’s CapEx study, the Lodging Industry Investment Council’s Top 10, and three different views of the lodging industry’s performance and prospects. To download these free presentations, please go to www.hotellawyer.com, click on the RESOURCE tab of the website, and then scroll down and select “Hotel Ind...
The Hospitality Show 2024 to Be Held in San Antonio Oct. 28-30, 2024
AHLA | May 8, 2023
SAN ANTONIO (May 8, 2023) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Questex today announced that The Hospitality Show 2024 (The Show) will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, through Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Created in partnership between AHLA and Questex, operator of Hotel Management, The Show is a new event for the entire hospitality industry. Today’s announcement builds on the overwhelming success of sponsor investment and attendee registration for the inaugural Hospitality Show being held this June in Las Vegas. The two organizations have agreed to jointly ...
AHLA Statement Regarding National Small Business Week
AHLA | May 8, 2023
WASHINGTON (May 5, 2023) – AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers released the following statement today marking National Small Business Week. “Six in ten hotels are small businesses, and National Small Business Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the tremendous opportunities hotels are creating for employees and other small companies to grow and thrive,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Hotels support millions of good-paying jobs and generate billions in state and local tax revenue in communities across the nation. To continue doing so, we’re looking to hire more than 100,000 people around the country. With avera...
UH Study Finds Luxury Shoppers Opting for High-End Experiences Over Goods
The University of Houston | May 5, 2023
HOUSTON, May 5, 2023 – In an ever-evolving, post-pandemic world, more and more consumers of luxury goods are opting for unplanned, high-end experiences instead, according to researchers at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. In a new study published in the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, Minjing Shin, an assistant professor at Hilton College, and her colleagues at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, suggest unplanned purchases of luxury experiences increase positive emotions and a sense of escapism. Hospitality experts define escapism as an intense experience that allows indivi...
Women Growing Among Hospitality Leadership
AHLA Foundation | May 5, 2023
WASHINGTON (May 5, 2023) – Representation of women within hospitality leadership continues to increase, with women gaining some ground at the CEO and president levels, according to a new report commissioned by the AHLA Foundation and conducted by Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management. The AHLA Foundation is a philanthropic organization that aims to inspire, support, and advance the hospitality workforce. The 2023 “Women in Hospitality” research report focuses on evaluating the state of women’s representation in leadership in the hotel industry. The findings indicate that in 2022 the hospitality industry made steady, increm...
The Transformation of Business Event Travel
Thomas Hazinski | May 4, 2023
By Thomas A. Hazinski HVS Convention, Sports & Entertainment and Access Intelligence recently surveyed more than 350 business travelers to gain insight into how their travel habits and attitudes have changed in the wake of the pandemic.[1] The survey reveals that there has been a significant shift in the behavior of business event attendees, including those who attend conventions, conferences, exhibitions, tradeshows, corporate events, and sales meetings. The survey results indicate that business travelers expect to attend significantly more in-person business events in 2023 than in 2022, with pandemic and health-related travel con...
