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
Upcoming 2021 HFTP Club Summit Addresses High Priority Topics; Strong Registration Demonstrates the Interest for Professional Engagement
HFTP | April 27, 2021
Next month, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is bringing back its Club Summit after a one-year hiatus. Relatively new to HFTP's slate of events (est. 2018), this conference has quickly become a key program for the association's club segment offerings. The Summit delivers a vital opportunity for high-level club professionals and industry experts to directly address the topics that are most compelling and important to this specialized segment of hospitality. Coming up this May 24-25 at the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach – a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; HFTP is seeing great interest ...
Customer Satisfaction With Hotels Hit Worst Mark in More Than a Decade, ACSI Data Show
the ACSI | April 27, 2021
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - April 27, 2021 - When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, travel industries were among the first businesses to take the brunt of the global crisis—and no segment was spared. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) Travel Report 2020-2021, only airlines keep customer satisfaction moving in a positive direction. The car rental industry holds steady, yet guest satisfaction for hotels heads south, as almost every major chain experiences ACSI losses. Satisfaction with online travel agencies sinks to an all-time low. “Prior to the pandemic, the state of customer satisfaction among airline...
A Year Later, the Hotel Industry Recalibrates, Reassesses
HotStats | April 27, 2021
Just over a year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the global hotel industry is—slowly—stirring from hibernation and seeing at least modest gains in traveler demand. The wait has been long, and it remains a work in progress. But making headway is all you can ask for after a 12-month headache. In the U.S., which saw performance calve last March, before bottoming out in April, small gains continued to be made in most key performance indicators in March 2021—though the strides only shined a light on the decrepitude that was 2020. Consider gross operating profit per available room, which was up 328.9...
Hotels, Labor Union Announce Targeted Industry Relief
AHLA | April 27, 2021
AHLA, UNITE HERE & Representative Crist (D-Fla.) to Join Virtual Press Conference WASHINGTON – April 27, 2021 – On Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m. EST, the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) president and CEO Chip Rogers along with UNITE HERE president D. Taylor will join U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) to host a virtual press conference announcing new legislation to provide targeted relief to the ailing hotel industry. The introduction of this critical legislation comes at a time when the hotel industry has lost 10 years of job growth, is shuttering doors and losing employees for good. Leisure and hospita...
The Castell Project Releases Fourth Annual Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership Report
THE CASTELL PROJECT | April 27, 2021
ATLANTA — April 27, 2021 — Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today released the 2021 Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report. Celebrating its fourth year, the report details women’s progress in leadership within the hospitality industry. “While the rhetoric surrounding women and diversity in leadership escalated in 2020, the needle barely moved, exacerbated by COVID-related layoffs and furloughs,” said Peggy Berg, chair, Castell Project, Inc. “The effects of the pandemic on women and minorities ...
GBTA Poll: Positive Momentum Continues for Return to Business Travel
the Global Business Travel Association | April 26, 2021
Alexandria, VA – April 26, 2021 – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association, today issued the findings from its 18th COVID-19 poll assessing the impact of the pandemic and the road to recovery for the business travel industry. Nearly one-quarter of poll respondents report that their company has resumed non-essential business travel, or that the company has in place a plan to resume travel. This latest poll shows multiple positive signs for business travel recovery, including an increase in willingness to travel, a decrease in trips cancelled and a more optimistic view towards retur...
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Announces the 9th Annual Pebby Award Winners
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | April 26, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - April 26, 2021 - Pebblebrook Hotel Trust today announced the winners of its Ninth Annual Pebby Awards. The Pebby Award winners were chosen for their outstanding accomplishments in 2020, as determined by the Company. “This year, a Pebby Award symbolizes not only hotel management excellence, but extraordinary work despite severely restrictive conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jon E. Bortz, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. “Today, we recognize and celebrate our talented property teams and skilled asset managers, and we look forward to jou...
Siegel Sez: The COVID Year – What Tech Changes Will Last?
April 23, 2021
I will encourage you to read Doug Rice’s column that follows which includes the latest technology news. This week Doug talks about the technology changes inspired by COVID-19, which will stay, and which won’t. For those of you who have been out to eat - would you really want to look at a menu any other way than holding it in your hand when COVID-19 is behind us? Doug brings up some good points as to possibly why you wouldn’t, especially if you owned the restaurant. There will be a transition in the world and especially in the hotel industry as the recovery gains legs. Leisure travel will probably set records this year and groups and ...
Will the Lodging Industry’s Supply Growth Outpace Demand Growth?
Linchi Kwok | April 22, 2021
By Linchi Kwok The COVID-19 vaccination rate is climbing steadily in the U.S. At its current rate, three in four people, or 75% of eligible residents, will be vaccinated by June. Businesses are reopening. The U.S. economy is now operating at 88% of its pre-pandemic level, with hope for continuous improvement. People want to travel again. In mid-March, Disneyland announced it would reopen on April 30. Now, all reopening day reservations for both single-park and park-hopper tickets are sold out already. On April 2, the Friday before Easter, TSA screened over 1.58 million people at airport checkpoints, the highest number sinc...
Half of Americans are Likely to Take a Summer Vacation and Many Plan to Spend Big
The Points Guy | April 22, 2021
NEW YORK - April 22. 2021 - Half of U.S. adults (50%) are likely to take at least one vacation this summer (June – September 2021), according to a new study by The Points Guy and Healthline Media. The interest in taking a summer vacation rises with those who are likely to get a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine or are already vaccinated (54%) versus not likely to get a vaccine (40%). Of those who aren’t taking a summer vacation, more than 2-in-5 say they can’t afford it (41%), the most popular reason overall. Click here for more information: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/summer-vacation-cost-health-trends/ While 27% are very likely and...
Travel + Leisure Announces the 2021 It List of Best New Hotels
TRAVEL + LEISURE | April 20, 2021
NEW YORK - April 20, 2021 - Meredith Corporation's Travel + Leisure announces its annual It List of the best new hotels of the year, spotlighting the 73 most remarkable new and newly redone properties around the globe. Selected by the editors of Travel + Leisure, the hotels on this 16th annual list provide experiences that are sure to inspire wanderlust, offering travelers more reasons to make plans to get up and go. The 2021 It List is featured in the May issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands now, and at www.travelandleisure.com/it-list. Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure, said, "It's an honor to recognize each o...
HSMAI Foundation Distributes COVID Relief Grants to More Than 260 Hospitality Professionals Around the World
HSMAI Foundation | April 20, 2021
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation is supporting the hospitality industry by distributing more than $130,000 in HSMAI Foundation COVID Relief Fund grants to more than 260 hospitality professionals around the world. The HSMAI Foundation COVID Relief Fund was established in 2020 with the generous support of benefactors and individual donors. The fund provides HSMAI membership and educational grants for HSMAI programs to members and non-member industry professionals in need due to challenging circumstances related to the global pandemic. The first quarterly call for HSMAI Foundation COVID R...
Cloud5 Earns Top Hospitality Partner Recognition by Mitel With Technical Excellence for 2020 Award
Cloud5 Communications | April 20, 2021
Communications technology provider endorsed for its best in class solutions and leading hospitality industry expertise. Chicago, IL. — April 20, 2021 — Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of communications solutions for the world’s top hotel brands and management companies, has been named the winner of the Technical Excellence Award for 2020 by Mitel, a global leader in telecommunications technology. Providing a full-service range of high-performing internet solutions, voice systems and managed IT services, Cloud5’s latest achievement serves as further recognition of the company’s technological ingenuity and high le...
WTTC Releases Major New Paper for Inclusive & Accessible Guidelines to Aid Global Travel & Tourism Recovery
WTTC | April 16, 2021
London, UK - April 16, 2021 - The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launches its new high-level guidelines for inclusion and accessibility in the sector which focus on the experience of travellers with disabilities and will help make the Travel & Tourism sector a more inclusive space. These innovative and important guidelines were compiled on the basis of insights and frameworks developed by private sector leaders in Travel & Tourism, travel and disability experts, and research from intergovernmental organisations. Divided into four pillars, the guidelines follow a similar structure to the High-Level Inclusion &am...
Tourism After Lockdown: Travel Barriers
STR | April 16, 2021
STR’s Tourism Consumer Insights team has been keeping a close eye on traveler and tourism trends as the industry moves through the most optimistic point of the pandemic. The twists and turns of the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to seismic changes in tourism. These include the cessation of international travel for some countries, and, as discussed in previous “Tourism After Lockdown” pieces, shifting preferences when it comes to choosing accommodation and places to visit. In February 2021, STR conducted quantitative research via its Traveler Panel to examine attitudes toward travel in this “new COVID world.” In this bl...
CH&LA Statement: New Regulation Slows Hotel Workers’ Return
the California Hotel and Lodging Association | April 16, 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - April 16, 2021 - The California Hotel & Lodging Association issued the following statement about the passage of California Senate Bill 93, which mandates hotels and others offer employees laid-off due to COVID-19 get their jobs back before hiring others through. “California hotels have lost thousands of employees permanently during the pandemic,” said Lynn S. Mohrfeld, President and CEO of the California Hotel and Lodging Association. “We need all our returning and new employees ASAP to meet the reopening demand at our hotels. Unfortunately, restrictive hiring regulations only slow down our employees from res...
HVS Webinar Recap: Cross-Border Hotel Investment Between the UAE and Israel
Russell Kett | April 16, 2021
By Russell Kett The first-ever webinar on Cross-Border Hotel Investment between the UAE and Israel took place last week, jointly presented by HVS at the Israel Ministry of Tourism, the UAE-Israel Business Council and Copeland Hospitality. More than 230 delegates from the hospitality industry worldwide gathered online to hear contributions from MK Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Minister of Tourism of the State of Israel, and her ministry colleagues Amir Halevi and Lorin Maugery. Robin Rossman of STR presented an analysis of the recent performance of hotels in the UAE and Israel, followed by an interview with Kamal Naamani of the A...
With 71.7% of Americans Planning In-Person Events in 2021, Restaurants and Venues Need to Prepare for Bookings to Heat Up
Tripleseat | April 15, 2021
CONCORD, Mass. - April 15, 2021 - With summer around the corner, and an imminent surge of demand for experiences and events in the months ahead, Tripleseat, the leading web-based sales and event management platform for restaurants, hotels, and unique venues, and SevenRooms, a data-driven guest experience platform for the hospitality industry, partnered to survey 1,000 U.S. consumers to better understand their feelings about planning events in 2021. According to the data, 72% of events are expected to be held in-person and of the venues chosen, unique venues, hotels and private restaurant space were among the top selected for hosting. The...
Hotel Lawyer: New rules for anti-money laundering compliance?
Vince Farhat | April 14, 2021
FinCEN Seeks Comments on Ownership Disclosure Requirements in New Federal Anti-Money Laundering Law By Jim Butler, Vince Farhat See how JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® can help you. The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is currently accepting public comments on a provision in the recently enacted Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) which requires some privately-held business entities to disclose ownership information directly to a law enforcement agency. Interested parties should consider commenting before the May 5th deadline, and companies who may be impacted should take this opportunity to review...
React Mobile Leading Discussions on Employee Safety During AHLA’s 2021 Virtual ‘Safety Summit’ Today
React Mobile | April 14, 2021
CEO Robb Monkman and CTO Riley Eller to speak in discussions focused on leveraging technology to improve employee safety. Seattle, WA — April 14, 2021 — Today at the American Hotel & Lodging Assn.’s 2021 Virtual Safety Summit, hoteliers will gather to discuss top safety concerns that are critical to the future of the hotel industry. This “can't-miss” event is designed to help prepare and protect owners and operators from what lies ahead. React Mobile, a Supporting Sponsor of the event and a provider of best-in-class hotel safety platforms, will play a key role with CEO Robb Monkman and CTO Riley Eller moderating three ro...
HSMAI Foundation Announces Mike Dimond 2021 Scholarship Program
| April 13, 2021
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation excited to open the 2021 call for applications for its Mike Dimond Scholarship Program. This scholarship program was established to support degree-seeking students who are pursuing careers in hospitality sales, marketing, or revenue optimization. The late Mike Dimond was widely recognized as one of the top hotel marketing executives in the United States. He was an iconic sales and marketing executive at both the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and the Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. Dimond is a member of the HSMAI Hall of Fame and was hono...
Entrepreneur 20X, HFTP’s Hospitality Technology Start-Up Pitch Competition Featured at HITEC Dubai
The Hotel Show Dubai | April 12, 2021
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), is currently accepting applications for participants, judges and mentors for Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Dubai. Those who wish to participate in the Middle East version of E20X can apply online; start-ups should apply by 15 May and mentors and volunteers should apply by 20 May. E20X Dubai will take place at 15:30 on Tuesday, 1 June, 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre during HITEC Dubai. Both events will be co-located with The Hotel Show, produced by dmg events. E20X participants will b...
The Lodging Conference Is Tracking for a Great Turnout This September
THE LODGING CONFERENCE | April 8, 2021
New York - April 8, 2021 - With six months still to go, The 26th Annual Lodging Conference in Phoenix is tracking for an excellent turnout. The annual event, which attracts the top hotel owners and operators from around the country, was canceled last year because of the pandemic but demand for this September's event is very promising according to conference founder Harry Javer. "It's still early, but we already have 800+ hotel company executives signed up and rooms at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort are practically sold out. With vaccinations rolling out, and air travel picking up rapidly, we are expecting to have a great event ...
March Group Data Shows U.S. Meetings and Events Continue to Rise
KNOWLAND | April 8, 2021
Knowland numbers reveal that group business is turning the corner ARLINGTON, Va. — April 8, 2021 — Knowland, the leader in AI-powered data for hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, conference centers and other meeting venues, today released its monthly meetings and events data for March. The numbers reveal that March U.S. group meetings volume increased 42.5 percent over last month. While corporate continues to lead the way from a segmentation perspective, there were multiple large sports tournaments, home shows, bridal expos, and mid-size association events throughout the month. Average attendees – The average number of atte...
