Using the Labor Data from Hotel Effectiveness to Minimize Costs and Turnover
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Four Creatively Destructive Forces for the Hotel Industry
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Thinking for Yourself May Be the Only Regimen for a Full Recovery – Part II
Steven Ferry | August 4, 2020
By Steven Ferry “Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Control of the flow of information is the tool of the dictatorship.” Bruce Coville Last week, we looked at how the official response to the pandemic morphed from great concern about the danger; to numbness at the economic devastation (the UN World Tourism Organization estimated earnings down 80% on 2019 and the loss of 120 million jobs); to increasing rejection of the absurd. In this article, we review how a draconian censorship of the medical community is being enforced not just in China, as one might expect, but also in the Western world; we examine the...
GBTA Calls on Congress to Take Action on Expanded Relief for Distressed Business Travel Industry
The Global Business Travel Association | August 4, 2020
Alexandria, VA – As the U.S. Congress negotiates a new coronavirus relief package for individuals and businesses, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the leading voice of business travel worldwide – has called on Congressional leadership to enact measures to renew business travelers’ confidence and to curb the devastating impact of the pandemic on this vital sector of the global economy. The August 3 letter to Congressional Leadership calls for increased funding for rapid COVID-19 testing across the U.S. and for additional financial relief for stricken travel businesses that continue to face the near-cessation of all work-...
Q2 2020 Major US Hotel Sales Survey
Daniel Lesser | August 3, 2020
It appears that this downturn may very well produce a period that rivals the very best in both returns and depth of opportunity. By Daniel H. Lesser The year 2020 will not be soon forgotten as the spread of COVID-19 and society’s reaction to the virus have combined to devastate the global economy. U.S. GDP in the second quarter declined by 32.9 percent on an annualized basis, the most significant quarterly decline observed since the 1940’s. While the stock market has rebounded considerably from its lows and seems to be reflecting an optimistic view regarding an economic recovery, base case will be a slow and very bumpy re-opening o...
America’s Hotel Owners Optimistic About HOPE Act
AAHOA | August 3, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 3, 2020 – AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Helping Open Properties Endeavor (HOPE) Act of 2020, a bill to provide relief to small businesses, like hotels, who hold commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) loans. The legislation would require the Department of Treasury to establish a facility to guarantee certain preferred equity investments in CMBS borrowers impacted by COVID-19: “Many of AAHOA’s members, the small business owners who run local hotels, use CMBS loans. This crisis hit them hard, and there is no other relief for th...
Xenia Hotels & Resorts Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results
Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | July 31, 2020
ORLANDO, Fla., July 31, 2020 -- Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: XHR) ("Xenia" or the "Company") today announced results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Second Quarter and Year to Date 2020 Highlights Hotel Status: The Company had 8 hotels open and operating for the entire month of April. Having temporarily suspended operations at 31 hotels between late March and early April, the Company recommenced operations at 5 hotels in May and 13 hotels in June. Therefore, at the end of the second quarter, 26 hotels were open and operating. By July 31, 2020, the Company will have recommenced operations at 9 additional hotel...
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Reports Results For Second Quarter 2020
Host Hotels & Resorts | July 31, 2020
BETHESDA, Md., July 31, 2020 -- Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST) (the “Company”), the nation’s largest lodging real estate investment trust (“REIT”), today announced results for the second quarter of 2020. James F. Risoleo, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am incredibly proud of Host’s swift and decisive response to the challenging operating environment we faced in the second quarter. We significantly reduced our monthly hotel-level loss from April to June by working with our operators to reopen 19 hotels in a socially and financially responsible manner while continuing to carefully control expenses. O...
How Will the Hotel Industry Recover From COVID-19?
JLL | July 31, 2020
Hotels were hit fast and hard when the pandemic began to spread. What’s next for the sector? If Hollywood writers had written the script for how fast and hard the hotels industry was hit by COVID-19, most producers would have laughed them out of their office. Nearly overnight, many hotels went from “no vacancy” to “high vacancy.” But even before that, disruption had upended the sector. From Airbnb to VRBO and others like them, many outside forces were pushing dramatic change on the industry. Guests wanted an experience, not just a room. As Gilda Alverado-Perez, CEO of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Americas, tells James C...
COVID-19 Testing Is Critical to Restart Travel Safely
the Global Business Travel Association | July 30, 2020
GBTA Urges the EU to Boost Testing Capabilities Brussels, Belgium (30 July 2020) – As the travel industry braces for a second Covid-19 wave, GBTA, the Global Business Travel Association, calls for widening testing capabilities and requirements across the EU as a better alternative to blanket travel restrictions. “Sudden and unilateral shifts in government response, such as imposition of quarantines or border closures, take a heavy toll on the travel industry, further impeding economic recovery and causing chaos for travellers”, says Dave Hilfman, new Executive Director of GBTA and airline industry veteran. “Increased testing is w...
Tourism Restarts: 40% of Destinations Have Now Eased Travel Restrictions
July 30, 2020
The responsible restart of tourism is underway around the world as growing numbers of destinations ease COVID-19 related travel restrictions and adapt to the new reality. According to the latest analysis from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 40% of all destinations worldwide have now eased the restrictions they placed on international tourism in response to COVID-19. The United Nations specialized agency for tourism has been monitoring global responses to the pandemic from the start of the crisis. This latest outlook, recorded on 19 July, is up from 22% of destinations that had eased restrictions on travel by 15 June and the 3% prev...
4 Alternative Uses for a Hotel During COVID-19
HotStats | July 30, 2020
Every second that hotels sit vacant, money is being burned. It’s an unfortunate byproduct of COVID-19. However, savvy hoteliers are finding creative ways to repurpose these now underused hotel spaces to generate extra revenue. Here are five alternative hotel revenue generators and how to put them into action: 1. First Responder Quarters By providing housing to first responders and essential workers, hotels can supply a much-needed service and bring in extra cash. In some cases, cities have offered to lease hotels for an estimated $1 million per month to house emergency medical staff. In addition to acting as an additional revenue ...
5 Reasons Guests Matter More Than Ever
David Berger | July 30, 2020
Hotels hamstrung by operational limitations, dizzied by government mandates, and sensitive to traveler anxiety are challenged, but will rise again through continued focus on the guest experience By David Berger Providing a quality guest experience is more important than ever for hoteliers seeking to compete in the post-COVID-19 world. Much has been said over the past six months about social distancing, mask etiquette, and the need for greater vigilance in protecting public health. No question this is table stakes, but the goal of hospitality—providing a positive guest experience—is more paramount than ever. Here are ...
Ripe for Rebound: The Future of Hospitality
David Millili | July 30, 2020
By David Millili They say that smooth seas do not make for skillful sailors, and indeed, over the past several months, that belief has been put to the test. As global communities continue to work tirelessly to combat the spread of the coronavirus, the hospitality industry has been placed in an incredibly vulnerable position. But, within that sobering reality, it’s important to remember that the hospitality sector is no stranger to crisis. Our industry has survived countless challenges and periods of economic downturn, and COVID-19 is no exception. Now, as our economy braces for revival, hospitality leaders have their focus trained o...
Autumn Offers Worth Driving For
Larry Mogelonsky | July 29, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) This is the summer for staycations. With group, convention and most corporate travel in stall mode due to COVID-19, you will need strong programs in place to motivate leisure guests from now-critical drive markets to continue to book with you through the autumn months. As part of this seismic shift in travel behavior, first consider the disruption to L2B timeframes. For the rest of summer, bookings at this point may mostly be last-minute as travelers hold out due to the vacillating news cycle on Covid numbers. Many rural resorts already have high occupancy and simply need a few nigh...
AHLA’s National Day of Action—Save Hotel Jobs – Wednesday July 29, 2020
Danny Hudson | July 29, 2020
By Danny Hudson It comes as no surprise that the hotel industry is hurting. The drop in travel and occupancy was quickly reflected in the supplier community, group and event locations, technology companies and the wide array of companies that service the hotels that welcome the world’s travelers. We need your help! By adding your name to www.HotelsAct.org now you directly help raise the visibility of the message that the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is advocating for on our behalf. On an HFTP Hangout around three months ago, Rich Siegel of Hospitality Upgrade identified a gap in support for the technology sector. ...
Brand-New Boutique Resort at the University of Florida to Deliver a Mobile-First Guest Experience
INTELITY | July 29, 2020
Hotel ELEO at the University of Florida will provide guests with personalized, contactless service through a custom, INTELITY-powered brand app Los Angeles, CA (July 29, 2020) - INTELITY®, the provider of hospitality’s most comprehensive guest experience platform, has signed a deal with Hotel ELEO at the University of Florida to deliver contactless service to guests with a branded mobile app. The app will supply robust digital capabilities and another layer of safety for guests and staff at the new, upscale hotel in Gainesville, Florida. With the new app, guests will have the ability to tailor service to their preferences before, dur...
Survey: Only 37 Percent of Hotels Have Brought Back at Least Half of Their Employees
AHLA | July 29, 2020
WASHINGTON (July 29, 2020) – As Congress debates a new round of COVID-19 recovery legislation, a new survey of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) members shows that the pandemic continues to have a devastating effect on the hotel industry and its employees. Results show nearly nine in ten hotels have been forced to lay off or furlough employees due to COVID-19 and the resulting drop in travel. Four months into the crisis, only 37 percent of survey respondents report that they have been able to bring back at least half their full-time employees. To raise awareness for hotel industry priorities, AHLA is declaring Wednesday, Ju...
Hotel Industry Applauds Release of Senate Covid Relief Package, Calls for Swift Passage
AHLA | July 28, 2020
WASHINGTON (July 28, 2020) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) applauded Senate Republicans for including several hotel industry priorities in the coronavirus relief package released today and urged Congress to move quickly to pass the legislation. Among the provisions in the Senate package are additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and limited liability protection for businesses as they reopen, both of which will support the hotel industry and our employees during this unprecedented crisis. “Hotels and hotel employees have been severely impacted by the pandemic,” said Chip Rogers, president and...
How Government Loan Assistance Has Helped Prop Up Hotel Profitability
HotStats | July 28, 2020
The tidal wave of COVID-19 has left many in the hotel industry gasping for air amid choppy financial waters. Luckily, governments across the globe have tossed hotels a much-needed financial floatation device. Unfortunately, keeping government loan assistance straight can be tough, especially if you’re trying to keep a hotel running or investments profitable. Wondering how government loan assistance is helping hotels get back on solid financial ground? We’ve mapped out how governments across the globe are using funding to jump-start hotel profitability. How Has Government Assistance Helped the U.S. Hotel Industry...
Welcome Back Guests With Certainty
Vizergy® Digital Marketing | July 27, 2020
By Kristen Sullivan With travel resuming after the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, travelers are looking for newly implemented safety procedures when determining which hotels to patron. More companies are taking the approach of digitalizing certain aspects of their business to create a contact-less experience that guests will appreciate. Having an interactive, user-friendly website serves as the foundation of your online presence. However, there is more you can do relatively quickly to assure guests you have safety and positive experiences in mind. Here are 6 ideas to start: 1. Contactless Check-in/Check-out Providing an online check...
Global Hotel Profit Performance Sticks to Script
HotStats | July 27, 2020
In 1973, English rock band Led Zeppelin was filmed over three days of concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York. The footage was released three years later under the title: “The Song Remains the Same.” The film was promoted as the first time the world had a front row seat to the legendary band. Unfortunately, as the hotel industry continues to labor through COVID-19 and its impact, the emerging trend mirrors the Zeppelin title: “The Story Remains the Same.” A front row seat to a fright show. As the second quarter of 2020 closed, global regions continued to struggle with the effects of the coronavirus, with some areas jum...
Humanizing Hotel Brands During COVID-19 Could Encourage Tourists to Return
July 23, 2020
Hotels should build an emotional attachment with tourists when communicating during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic if they are to encourage them to return, according to new research. The study finds that crisis communication emphasizing shared emotional responses to risks enables tourists to humanize the hotel, which can subsequently create an emotional attachment. This attachment can then increase tourists’ intentions to visit once the crisis ends, which is crucial if the industry is to recover. Researchers from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Bath and West of England say their findings challenge the approach that domina...
WTTC Warns Country-Wide Border Closures Could Seriously Stall Global Economic Recovery
July 23, 2020
Advises regional and local measures only to combat COVID-19 spikes Travel & Tourism sector will help power the global economic recovery London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned governments around the world that further country-wide border closures could seriously jeopardise global economic recovery. WTTC is urging authorities to take a more carefully calibrated approach and introduce localised measures, and only when necessary. This would avoid blanket restrictions, prevent stalling the fragile economic recovery and not cripple the already bruised and battered Travel & Tourism sector. WTTC would su...
Hotel GMs Share What They Are Doing to Welcome Guests Back Safely and Comfortably
David Berger | July 23, 2020
By David Berger As the hospitality industry realigns to new guest requirements it begins the process of reopening hotels across the U.S. While each of their situations are unique, hoteliers are navigating similar economic and environmental challenges. Now is the time for hotel operators to learn from one another while formulating and sticking to a selection of best practices to ensure guests feel as confident checking in now as they did one year ago. To take the pulse of the industry, I spoke with four hoteliers to better understand their reopening plans. The Gale South Beach aspires to open its doors to the public on October 16th. Whil...
Take Local to the Extreme
Larry Mogelonsky | July 22, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Prior to Covid, hoteliers all over the world were already working on various programs to support local businesses and showcase the best of the community to guests. Now that the pandemic is practically locking out international travelers, the push for drive market customers and ‘local everything’ has bloomed exponentially. But if you are pursuing a course that many of your competitors are also going after, how do you stand apart? The answer is to go deep into your culture and lore, and simply outdo your rivals through what I call ‘extreme local’. Every city is unquestionab...
