Four Trends for Beyond Revenge Travel 2.0
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | March 2nd, 2022
Although Pre-Pandemic Profitability Will Remain Elusive, the Industry Will Make Strides Toward Recovery in 2022
Fran Worrall | January 5th, 2022
Hotel Industry Updates Mask Guidance for Vaccinated Hotel Employees
AHLA | June 21, 2021
WASHINGTON – June 21, 2021 – The following is a statement from Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), on easing face covering and physical distancing requirements for hotel employees in response to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance. “In response to increasing vaccination rates across the country and of our workforce, and consistent with CDC and OSHA guidance, the hotel industry supports vaccinated employees being given the choice whether to continue wearing face coverings, in accordance with s...
AAA Adds Inspected Clean Enhancement to Its Diamond Hotel Inspections
AAA | June 16, 2021
ORLANDO, Fla. — June 16, 2021 — In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hotels have adapted their cleaning procedures and housekeeping standards, and the AAA Diamond Program is evolving to meet the changing expectations of today’s travelers. In fact, according to AAA research, 76% of consumers surveyed would be disappointed if a third-party inspection did not evaluate whether high-touch areas in a hotel are sanitized. As a result, AAA is enhancing its housekeeping evaluation to include objective, scientific validation of the cleanliness of common surfaces throughout hotels. Hotels that meet AAA’s standards for cleanliness, condition and...
‘Have Shot, Will Travel’, Tripadvisor Research Reveals COVID-19 Vaccines Driving Demand for Summer Vacations
Tripadvisor | June 10, 2021
NEEDHAM, Mass. - June 10, 2021 - A new travel trends research paper released today by Tripadvisor®, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, reveals that vaccine rollouts globally are driving increasing demand for summer vacations, with vaccinated travelers more likely to stay longer and spend more on their trips than unvaccinated travelers. The report, entitled 'A Shot in The Arm for Travel? Examining the Vaccine's Impact on Leisure Travel Demand', provides a unique insight into emerging travel planning trends around the world by combining behavioral analysis of Tripadvisor's first-party search data - revealing the type of trips t...
Spotlight on Campus Hotels Leading Economic Recovery
Olympia Hotel Management | June 3, 2021
A Conversation with John Schultzel, Chief Growth Officer of The Olympia Companies Portland, ME – June 3, 2021. There’s growing evidence that campus hotels are a good barometer for economic and pandemic recovery, especially as the industry looks to fall 2021 when colleges reopen and there’s a return to in-person learning. No one knows this better than Olympia Hotel Management, a division of The Olympia Companies, and an industry leader continually refining the concept of campus hotels for the past decade. The company, whose goal is to genuinely and creatively link campus and community, has been in the forefront of campus hospitality,...
Covid Tested the Limits of Hoteliers’ Strength and Tenacity: Resilience Is Key
Sherri Kimes | June 1, 2021
ITHACA, N.Y., June 1, 2021 -- These and other findings are found in "How Hotels Have Responded to Covid—One Year Later," by Kimes and Roberts. In their worldwide survey of 391 hoteliers, they found that since demand was limited, hoteliers concentrated on trying to generate demand while maintaining rates. There was also an emphasis on providing value-added features rather than offering discounts. While local business has never not been relevant in the hotel industry, the pandemic highlighted its strength and importance. Staycations have been very popular during the pandemic and many respondents plan on continuing them even once travel ...
Hunter Conference Marks a Return to In-Person Conferences
Rod Clough | May 27, 2021
By Rod Clough As to be expected, the prevalent theme was that leisure demand continues to drive the initial recovery, with corporate transient and meeting/group demand lagging, but one must wonder if meeting/group demand will bounce back quicker than anticipated given the rather last-minute popularity of this event. Multiple panels reported that small and mid-sized corporate group bookings are picking up, which will be a critical piece of the recovery story in the second half of 2021. Also highlighted was that travel would return to normal more quickly if/when companies quicken their return to the office and once normal in-classroom educat...
The Unforeseen Pandemic Outcome: Normalization of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Jos Schaap | May 25, 2021
By Jos Schaap In the past 12 months, millions globally have been forced to work from home due to domestic lockdowns and restrictions. Now, after a year of remote work, and as many worldwide are vaccinated in increasing numbers, organizations are getting serious about what a return to the office will look like. However, companies may have a hard time dragging everyone back to the office. The pandemic highlighted many advantages of remote work and employees won’t be quick to give them up. They want to keep their newfound work-life balance. The future looks hybrid: Flexible work is here to stay. While occasional remote working this wa...
Hotels Are Slowly Recouping Business, But When Will the Corporate Guest Return?
HotStats | May 24, 2021
Predicting the return of corporate travel would be a cinch if foretelling the future was foolproof. No one, however, has that extraordinary prescience and even if they did, the future is, at best, murky. The continuing popularity of work-from-home arrangements, the COVID-19 induced reluctance of both individuals and companies to get back out on the road, and issues throughout the travel supply chain are all converging to create a less-than-hospitable environment for individual business travelers. “Before you get corporate travel back, you have to get people back to the office,” said Daniel Lesser, President and CEO of LW Hospitality...
U.S. Travel Reacts to E.U. Plan to Reopen Borders
U.S. Travel Association | May 19, 2021
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2021)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement: “The European Union’s risk-based, science-driven plan to reopen international travel will hopefully spur the U.S. to heed the many calls for a plan and timetable to safely reopen our borders. The right conditions are in place: vaccinations are increasing, infections are decreasing, all inbound visitors get tested or have to prove they’ve recovered, and it’s possible to determine vaccine status. “Vaccinated Americans can travel to other countries because EU governments know they’re essential tourism spenders and wil...
Survey: Urban Hotels Hit Hard by Pandemic, Recovery Expected to Take Years
AHLA | May 19, 2021
Only 29% of Americans Considering Travel to a City This Summer NYC: 200 Hotels Have Already Closed Permanently Hotels Push for Federal Aid Until Business Travel Resumes WASHINGTON (May 19, 2021) – A national survey conducted by Morning Consult commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) found that only 29% of Americans would consider traveling to a city or urban destination this summer, further showing the economic devastation facing urban markets, which rely heavily on business from events and group meetings, underscoring the need for targeted relief from Congress. Urban hotels ended January down 66% in room re...
Think In-Room Wellness to Welcome Back Post-Pandemic Guests
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | May 12, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky The concept we want you to remember is ‘post-COVID stress disorder’ (PCSD), inscribing those guests who are emerging from the pandemic, and most likely vaccinated, yet still have some lingering fears about travel and their exposure to the virus. To quell these doubts, and turn a buck while at it, consider the idea of merchandising spa and wellness products within the guestroom. As background, it’s important to note that with all the lockdowns of 2020 and repeated messaging about physical distancing and self-isolation, new habits have solidified and have caused many of us to become more introspective or...
Top U.S. Travel Leaders Urge White House to Reopen International Travel
U.S. Travel Association | May 12, 2021
WASHINGTON — May 12, 2021 — Leaders of 23 global travel companies sent a letter to President Biden Tuesday urging greater progress toward reopening international travel—as is successfully happening elsewhere in the world—and warning of dire economic consequences if U.S. borders remain shut. The letter notes that current science, the success of the U.S. vaccine rollout, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s own guidance allows for steps toward a safe resumption of international visitation. “While U.S. borders remain closed to much of the world, the remarkable scientific advancements to combat the COVID-19 pa...
U.S. Travel Association Reacts to U.K. Placing U.S. on ‘Amber’ List for Travel
U.S. Travel Association | May 10, 2021
WASHINGTON — May 10, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on today’s release of the U.K.’s “traffic light system” for international travel: “The U.K.’s decision to put the United States on their amber status for reopening just isn’t backed by the science. Putting the U.S. on amber status ignores the scientific data regarding increasing vaccination rates, lower infection rates and that the U.S. has the right strategies in place to mitigate risk. “The U.S. needs to demonstrate leadership and come to the table with the U.K. and increase dialogue to allow for a reopeni...
April Group Data Shows U.S. Meetings and Events Volume Increased 58.5 Percent Over March 2021
KNOWLAND | May 6, 2021
Knowland numbers reveal that average meeting attendees are nearing 2019 levels ARLINGTON, Va. — May 6, 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 April. The numbers reveal that April U.S. group meetings volume increased 58.5 percent over last month. As we move past the one year mark when lockdowns began in the United States, Knowland will now be comparing Average Attendees and Average Space Used market data to its 2019 numbers. As bigger cities such as New York and Las Vegas begin to re-o...
In a World of Mobile Lifestyles and Remote Working, What Role Will Hotels Play?
Kimberly Yoong | May 4, 2021
By Kimberly Yoong, Borivoj Vokrinek At a time when many of the world’s events continue to be plagued by COVID-19, making plans even a week in advance may seem difficult, much less 10 years into the future. Nearly overnight, the dialogue shifted from “where to for lunch?” to “can you hear me?”. And as hotels emptied out and travel restrictions drag on, many may wonder, where lies the future of hotels? To answer this question, it is first important to recognize that the hotel sector does not exist as an individual silo, but one which forms part of a much wider network: the ecosystem of how we live and work. The cities in which ...
FAU Poll Tells Disturbing Tale of Hospitality and Tourism Employment in Wake of COVID-19
Florida Atlantic University | May 4, 2021
BOCA RATON, Fla. – May 4, 2021 – The world’s battered hospitality and tourism industry has a long way to go to rebound from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey of workers conducted by Florida Atlantic University. Roughly 70 percent of the more than 4,000 respondents felt COVID-19 would have a negative long-term impact on the industry, while 65 percent said they felt the industry did not protect its employees better than other sectors. More than one-third of respondents indicated they would be seeking employment outside the industry over the next year. Meanwhile, desperately needed entry-level work...
Vaccine Skepticism Should Not Be Ignored in US Outbound Travel Recovery, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | April 30, 2021
Vaccine skepticism coupled with COVID-19 concerns will continue to affect US outbound travel recovery in 2021 and potentially 2022, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. COVID-19 concerns are high in the US. According to GlobalData’s Q1 2021 consumer survey, 52% of US respondents stated they were ‘extremely concerned’ about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in general, which is 10% higher than the global average. However, GlobalData’s Live Verdict Poll found that 23% of respondents in North America did not intend to take a vaccine against COVID-19. This was higher than any other region and suggests that a large p...
Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Announces Results of “Spring 2021 Industry Outlook Survey”
HAMA | April 30, 2021
BOSTON — April 30, 2021 — The Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) today released the results of its bi-annual survey of asset managers' thoughts, experiences and forecasts for the upcoming year as the hotel industry continues to deal with the on-going pandemic. With approximately 100 participants, topics ranged from “return to 2019” RevPAR levels predictions to the status of the lending market. Additional topics included current acquisition appetites, new brand/management plans and the leading issues of concern for asset managers right now. The survey was conducted in preparation for HAMA’s 2021 Annual Spring M...
California Hotel Workers Laid Off Due to COVID-19 Get Rehire Rights
Travis Gemoets | April 28, 2021
By Jim Butler, Travis Gemoets On Friday, April 16, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom put new employer obligations into law by signing Senate Bill 93, requiring hotel, event center, airport hospitality and janitorial employers to first rehire workers laid off during the pandemic when jobs become available, essentially establishing “recall rights” more commonly associated with union collective bargaining agreements. Senate Bill 93 takes effect immediately after quickly making its way through the Legislature as a budget trailer bill and will be in effect until the end of 2024. Gov. Newsom vetoed a more expansive labor-backed bill last year. SB 9...
Hotel Industry & Union Join to Urge Congress for Aid AHLA, UNITE HERE Call on Congress to Pass ‘Save Hotel Jobs Act’ to Help Hotel Workers
AHLA | April 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – April 28, 2021 – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and UNITE HERE, the largest hospitality workers union in North America, today joined forces to call on Congress to pass the Save Hotel Jobs Act. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), provides a lifeline to hotel workers, providing the assistance they need to survive until travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, applauded Senator Schatz and Representative Crist for introducing this critical legislation to support hotel workers. “Every day, hotels...
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...
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...
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...
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...
