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
U.S. Hotel Demand Not Expected to Fully Recover Until 2023
STR | June 26, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Even with improving performance already underway, U.S. hotel demand will not return completely to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, according to the latest forecast revision from STR and Tourism Economics. “Compared with our last forecast, we actually improved our demand projection for 2020 from -45.0% to -36.2%, but we expect it to take 11 quarters for the number of room nights sold to rise to the corresponding levels of 2019,” said Jan Freitag, STR’s senior VP of lodging insights. “Similarly, it will take until 2023 for occupancy to reach the 20-year historical average. With lower occupancy levels, and t...
WTTC Lays Out Guidelines for a Safe and Seamless Travel in the ‘New Normal’
| June 25, 2020
London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has laid out its new guidelines Safe & Seamless Travel including testing and tracing, following medical evidence, to ensure people can enjoy Safe Travels in the ‘new normal’. The guidelines will ensure that the travel sector is provided with an extensive framework to help governments and private business work in collaboration to create aligned testing and contact tracing programmes. The initiative is part of the WTTC’s Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey (SSTJ) which aims to enable a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end traveller experience including flights and non-air...
How Hotels Can Succeed in a Post-COVID World
HotStats | June 25, 2020
COVID-19 hit the travel industry like a tidal wave, and hotels have spent the past several months being tossed around like a cork. Now, for hoteliers, it's time to find the surface and start swimming. Make no mistake, hoteliers will need to adjust to a new normal going forward. But there are ways to power full steam ahead toward profitability. Here’s how hotels can succeed in a post-COVID-19 world: Construct a Recession-Proof Operation Hoteliers need to prepare for a bumpy ride. U.N. jobs reports put global job losses close to 200 million. Chances are that as things level off, many of those jobs will come back — but many won’t. ...
Research Captures the Impact of COVID-19 on Travel Distribution Partners and Their Outlook on the Future
Travel Consul | June 25, 2020
NEW YORK (June 25, 2020) – During the weeks from May 11–25, 2020, over 900 travel executives (tour operators and agency owners) from the top tourism source markets participated in a global survey by Travel Consul, the leading international travel marketing alliance. The goal of this survey was to get a better understanding of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry, current needs and a view to what the future might entail. Here are a few highlights of the results: How destinations can support distribution partners in recovery When asked how destination organizations (DMOs) can best help travel advisors and tour operator...
U.S. Travel Responds to NY, NJ, CT Quarantine Policy
The U.S. Travel Association | June 25, 2020
WASHINGTON (June 25, 2020)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the announcement that New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will impose a new 14-day self-quarantine requirement for visitors from certain U.S. states: "States imposing new travel restrictions is not the direction we want to be heading for jobs and the economy. Medical experts have said that it should be possible for travel to gradually resume in phases as long as travelers and travel businesses embrace guidance on good health and safety practices. At this stage there is no debate ...
How Meeting and Event Venues are Adapting to the New Normal
Larry Mogelonsky | June 24, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) As the stay-at-home orders subsides and leisure travelers look to rediscover their own backyards, we cannot forget that numerous hotels around the world derive a healthy portion of their topline revenues from groups. And even after all the postponements, cancelations and booking credits, this side of the business is still a question mark insofar as when exactly it will return to 2019 levels. While undoubtedly a clearer picture will emerge as summer fades into fall, there are nevertheless several critical adjustments needed in the near-term as to how you can safely facilitate a confe...
22 Best Practices for Your Wellness And Spa During and Post Covid-19
June 24, 2020
New ways of working, new consumption patterns, new ways of interacting with guests, and most certainly, new cleanliness standards - these are the norms by which the attractiveness of hotels will be now measured. These changes will be especially felt on the spa operational level, where a tight infrastructure leading to reassurance must be put in place. There is no doubt that the Wellness and Spa industry will experience an immense transformation as a result of the pandemic. After all, wellness and spa experiences are all about personal service and the human touch. However, despite all the changes, one thing will remain: people will still wa...
Marriott International Announces Retirement of Tim Sheldon
Marriott International | June 24, 2020
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced that Tim Sheldon is retiring from his role as President, Caribbean and Latin America in early 2021, following a 35-year career with the company. “Tim has been an integral part of Marriott over the past three decades and it is difficult to imagine Marriott without him,” said Dave Grissen, Group President, Americas. “He has truly shaped the organization with his entrepreneurial spirit, astute focus on key business drivers and warm leadership style that has inspired many. We will certainly miss Tim, but I know that this new chapter in his life will be as meaningful and dynamic a...
2020 AAHOA Convention Goes Virtual
AAHOA | June 23, 2020
Parts of Convention will be held in an exclusive online virtual event New Florida Department of Health guidelines recommend against large gatherings ATLANTA, Ga., June 23 – AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, announced that its 2020 Convention & Trade Show will not proceed in person due to new health and safety guidelines for combatting COVID-19 issued by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday, June 20. The state is experiencing a significant spike in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, and the DOH now recommends limiting recreational gatherings to fewer than fifty people. The AAHOA Convention...
Restrictions on Travel Easing as Europe Leads Cautious Restart of Tourism
The World Tourism Organization | June 23, 2020
Restrictions on travel, introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a growing number of destinations. The latest research by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that 22% of all destinations worldwide (48 destinations) have started to ease restrictions, with Europe leading the way. At the same time, however, 65% of all destinations worldwide (141 destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed to international tourism. As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has been monitoring responses to the pandemic since the start of the current crisis...
HVS: Emerging Hotel Brands
Brittany Hart | June 23, 2020
By Brittany Hart As COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, the hospitality industry began to experience sharp declines in lodging demand given the cancellation of events and the travel restrictions set by the government, which contributed to the drop in all performance metrics. For example, RevPAR for U.S. hotels was down 65% for the week of May 31 through June 6, compared to the same week in 2019. Nevertheless, franchisees continue to search for brand-growth opportunities. Several new brands, ranging from economy to upscale products across all service levels, are being created to occupy...
Hilton and Country Garden Announces New Strategic Cooperation to Develop 1,000 Home2 Suites by Hilton® in China
Hilton | June 23, 2020
FOSHAN, GUANGDONG, China and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of an exclusive management license agreement with Country Garden to introduce and develop the Home2 Suites by Hilton® brand in China. The agreement with Funyard Hotel Investment (Asia) Limited, a subsidiary of Country Garden, further expands the strategic cooperation between Hilton and Country Garden. “As our second largest market globally, China has consistently seen rapid growth and is forecast to become the world’s largest lodging market,” said Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “We know from our success with several existin...
New Data Shows Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism as UNWTO Calls for Responsible Restart of the Sector
The World Tourism Organization | June 22, 2020
As tourism slowly restarts in an increasing number of countries, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released new data measuring the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. UNWTO emphasizes the need for responsibility, safety and security as restrictions on travel are lifted. The Organization also reiterates the need for credible commitment to support tourism as a pillar for recovery. After several months of unprecedented disruption, the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer reports that the sector is beginning to restart in some areas, most notably in Northern Hemisphere destinations. At the same time, restrictions on travel remain in place in...
Here’s How COVID-19 Has Altered USALI Financial Reporting
HotStats | June 22, 2020
By Tanya Venegas Occupancy decimation isn’t the only curveball COVID-19 has thrown at hoteliers. Turns out, accounting procedures have been hard to figure out as well. Enter the Financial Management Committee of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), which is tasked with responding to inquiries regarding operational reporting under the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). They have now put forth guidelines concerning the reporting of alternative revenue sources and recording expenses rarely seen before in the lodging industry. In this blog, we will provide an overview of the reporting of COVID-...
STR: U.S. Hotel Performance for May 2020
STR | June 22, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. hotel industry showed continued lower performance during May 2020, according to data from STR. In a year-over-year comparison with May 2019, the industry recorded the following: Occupancy: -51.7% to 33.1% Average daily rate (ADR): -39.9% to US$79.57 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -71.0% to US$26.35 The absolute occupancy and RevPAR levels were the lowest for any May on record in the U.S., but all three key performance metrics were up from April levels. Recent weekly data shows occupancy above 40% due to a slow and steady rise in demand....
Cybersecurity Guidelines: Protect Your Business When Working Remotely
Alex Sogno | June 22, 2020
By Alex Sogno In the first half of 2020, Marriott International announced they had experienced a data breach, putting the personal data of 5.2 million guests at risk1. While this number dwarfs in comparison to the data breach of the 500 million Marriott and Starwood guests in late 20182, the message is clear: Hotels are a target for threats and need to focus on protecting their employees and guest data. With the advent of COVID-19, your company’s cybersecurity is at higher risk. As employees worldwide switch to working from home, the dangers associated with mobile devices, remote access to core business systems and poor online practic...
Major Las Vegas Development Projects Status Update
Shannon Okada | June 22, 2020
As of the end of January 2020, prior to the closures of businesses determined to be non-essential and the announcement of stay-at-home recommendations due to COVID-19, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) indicated that construction of over 12,000 hotel rooms was scheduled to be completed by 2023. While all announced projects may have not ended up being completed, strong visitation over the past few years, overall market hotel/motel occupancy of 88.9% in 2019, and the construction of projects that were expected to be major demand generators, warranted the development of significant guestroom supply at that time. While the p...
HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame 2020 Inductees Announced
HFTP | June 18, 2020
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to announce two champions of hospitality technology: Michael Blake, CAE and Henri Roelings as the 2020 HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductees. Blake, CEO of Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG), was recognized for his experience and leadership in promoting hospitality innovation and technology. Roelings, owner and CEO of HospitalityNet.org, was recognized for building a comprehensive digital platform for broad distribution of industry news and commentary. Both will be honored at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and C...
Stronger, Greener and More Innovative: The Future of Tourism in the Americas
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) | June 18, 2020
Ministers from across the Americas have met to map a course for the sustainable growth of the region’s tourism sector, a lifeline for many millions and a key driver of economic growth. Though kept apart physically due to the extraordinary circumstances, the 65th meeting of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Regional Commission for the Americas saw Member States more united than ever in their determination to harness the power of tourism to recover from the economic and social impact of COVID-19 and drive future growth. The second of the UNWTO Regional Commission meetings to be held virtually, the high-level discussions were opened by C...
Indicators Show Travel and Hospitality Businesses Are Picking Up
Linchi Kwok | June 18, 2020
By Linchi Kwok Places are easing coronavirus restrictions. Travel companies are reopening their business with enhanced sanitizing measures. People are ready to travel again. Do you see early signs of recovery? Here are some positive updates, although it is still too early to claim it is business as usual. TSA The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that 430,414 people passed the security checkpoints at airports on Monday, June 8. That was about five times the record low traffic day of 87,543 in April and accounted for 16.27% of the air traffic in the same weekday one year ago at 2,644,981. It is worthy to...
Choice Hotels Announces 2020 ‘Best of Choice’ Award Winners
Choice Hotels | June 18, 2020
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 18, 2020 - Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) today announced the hotels named as "Best of Choice" award winners. One hotel was selected from each Choice brand for their commitment to superior guest service and operational excellence, and rank among the top properties in Choice Hotels' portfolio. The properties achieved high performance scores and exceptional guest ratings. "Recognizing stellar performance is one of the highlights of my role, and I want to offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to this year's Best of Choice winners," said Patrick Pacious, president and chief execut...
Covid-19 and The Hotel Resort Buffet: The Last Supper*?
Fred DeMicco | June 18, 2020
By Frederick DeMicco The summer of 2020 will be a year without many vacation holidays. The fear of Covid-19 will dissuade many tourists from traveling. So, in the United States especially, will loss of income from jobs placed on hold in response to the pandemic. From the “Fhobia of Flying” to those tourists lured by the sands of the Mediterranean, the Fear to take Flight now dominates the travel market. It does not help that some countries’ borders remain closed, and many also have Pre- and Post-Covid quarantines. Few events short of nuclear war could be as devastating to the global economy. Tourism is its heartbeat and a major co...
Hotel Report: $16.8 Billion Loss in State & Local Tax Revenue From Hotels in 2020 Due to COVID-19 Impact
AHLA | June 18, 2020
WASHINGTON (June 18, 2020)—As a result of the sharp drop in travel demand from COVID-19, state and local tax revenue from hotel operations will drop by $16.8 billion in 2020, according to a new report by Oxford Economics released today by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Hotels have long served as an economic engine for communities of all sizes, from major cities, to beach resorts, to small towns off the interstate—supporting job creation, small business opportunities and economic activity in states and localities where they operate. Hotels also generate significant tax revenue for states and local governmen...
5 Easy Steps to Bring Employees Safely Back to Work Using the InvoTech UHF-RFID Uniform System
InvoTech | June 17, 2020
InvoTech Systems provides the perfect solution to help wardrobe operations transition employees safely back to work in the current situation—respecting social distancing and hygiene norms to enable full productivity of staff. Track your entire inventory and distribute uniforms without physical contact using the UHF-RFID Uniform System—from uniform purchase, assignments, daily use and laundry activity. Processing uniform transactions and recordkeeping is automated by simply passing the uniform items over a counter-top RFID antenna, a bulk reader station or using a portable handheld RFID reader. Here are the 5 easy steps you can implemen...
