HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25th, 2024
Valor Hospitality Partners Expands UAE Hotel Portfolio With Investment Corporation of Dubai
Valor Hospitality Partners | January 6, 2023
ATLANTA, Ga. – January 6, 2023 – Valor Hospitality Partners, a global full-service hotel management company announced today their highly anticipated partnership with the hospitality and leisure vertical of Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the principal investment arm of the government of Dubai, which manages a portfolio of commercial companies and investments. With the joint venture firmly in place, Valor Hospitality has commenced the operational transition of 800+ keys across popular and established hotels in the Emirate, including Dubai’s first five-star property, the Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek and 3 Wyndham Dei...
HFTP Announces 2023 Global Executive Committee and Board of Directors
HFTP | January 5, 2023
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has announced its 2023 Global Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The association leaders represent a wide variety of segments within the hospitality industry, including: clubs, academics, hotels, finance, technology and more. These HFTP leaders volunteer their time and professional expertise to help guide and progress the association to the forefront of the industry as it carries out its strategic plan. The HFTP Global Board is the primary decision-making body of the association. Under the Board’s vision, HFTP is able to expand its international reach and address th...
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration 2023 Hospitality Leadership Summit Highlights Experience Innovation
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration | January 4, 2023
(January 4, 2023) Boston, MA – Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) is proud to announce the annual Hospitality Leadership Summit on Friday, March 24, 2023, 8am-6pm at Hotel Commonwealth (500 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston). The Summit brings together students and faculty with hospitality industry colleagues for a day-long conference of inspiration and networking, spotlighting exceptional speakers who are revolutionizing the bounds of hospitality. Further highlighting “Experience Innovation” in hospitality, student teams vying for top prizes at the inaugural $50k Poyiadjis Ho...
HSMAI to Honor GCommerce Solutions With 6 Adrian Awards for Outstanding Travel Marketing
GCommerce | January 4, 2023
Award winners to be celebrated at in-person event in Los Angeles in February McLean, Virginia, January 4, 2023 – GCommerce Solutions will be honored for travel marketing excellence by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at the annual Adrian Awards Celebration at the JW Marriott LA Live on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The Adrian Awards, now in their 66th year, are the largest and most prestigious competition in global travel marketing. For 2022, Adrian Awards are being presented in advertising, digital, PR/communications, and integrated campaign categories, as well as the following “focus categorie...
Anger Over COVID-19 Layoffs Keeping Hospitality Workers From Returning to Jobs
The University of Houston | January 3, 2023
HOUSTON, Jan. 3, 2023– Researchers at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership say many skilled hospitality workers who were furloughed or laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic are angry and unlikely to return to the industry. During the first few months of the pandemic in 2020, travel and dining out declined rapidly putting severe financial strain on hospitality organizations, especially those in the lodging and food and beverage sectors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hospitality industry lost nearly 8 million hospitality jobs were lost, making it the hardest-hit industr...
The Work-From-Anywhere Trend Is Changing 2023 Travel Patterns
Daniel Craig | January 3, 2023
By Daniel Craig Here we are at the start of 2023, and it’s almost time again for ITB Berlin. It’s a long way to travel from Vancouver for me, so I usually make a larger trip out of it, visiting clients in cities across Europe. But this year I can’t help but wonder, will there be any clients to visit? With so many people working remotely these days, many offices are running on skeletal staff or have shut down completely. Enabled by technology and precipitated by the pandemic, the remote-working trend is one of the biggest shifts in business demographics we’ve seen in decades. And the hotel industry has yet to see the full i...
HFTP and AHLA Announce 10-Year USALI Agreement
AHLA | December 22, 2022
HFTP/AHLA Committee Will Jointly Produce Hospitality Accounting Standard Washington/Austin, Texas (Dec. 22, 2022) — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals Association (HFTP) announced today a 10-year agreement to jointly produce the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). The USALI is used all over the world as the “standard” for hospitality accounting, and today’s announcement reverses HFTP’s decision earlier this year to publish the next USALI edition without AHLA’s formal involvement. AHLA and HFTP have reengaged the joint Global F...
Top Concerns and Trends for Hoteliers in 2022
Joseph Pierce | December 20, 2022
By Joseph Pierce As we get ready to flip the calendar to a new year, we are reflecting on the hospitality industry in 2022, which has proven to be a dynamic and interesting year. Many of the challenges that plagued the industry in 2021 still exist but in many instances to a lesser extent. By year-end new challenges such as the highest inflation rate in 40 years and the fear of a recession have started to have an impact. But the industry remains flexible to the needs and desires of the guest and continues to pivot to meet the challenges of the future. H&LA’s consultants have worked on many assignments in 2022, bringing with them th...
HSMAI Honors Top 25 ‘Extraordinary Minds’ of 2022
HSMAI | December 19, 2022
McLean, Virginia, December 19, 2022—The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) is proud to recognize the 20th class of the “best and brightest” in the hospitality industry with its list of the 2022 HSMAI Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization, and Distribution. These 25 professionals, selected by a panel of senior industry executives, will be celebrated February 23 at the JW Marriott LA Live in Los Angeles in conjunction with the annual Adrian Awards Celebration. HSMAI’s 2022 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds not only adapted to the post-COVID travel environment but anticipated and capital...
Knowland and ConferenceDirect Release 2023 State of the Meetings Industry Report
Knowland | December 19, 2022
Survey reveals key insights to help industry professionals understand the state of the meetings industry from a planner and event manager perspective ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 19, 2022 — Today, Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, and ConferenceDirect, a full-service global meetings solution company, announced the results of a survey entitled, 2023 State of the Meetings Industry. The collaboration reveals insights to help industry professionals understand what meeting planners and event managers expect and will prioritize in 2023. Download the Meeting Planner Survey...
Wyndham’s Geoff Ballotti to Receive Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award
The AHLA Foundation | December 15, 2022
LOS ANGELES (December 15, 2022) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, and The BHN Group announced Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, will be awarded the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. Ballotti will be recognized during the AHLA Foundation’s premier fundraising gala, Night of a Thousand Stars on Sunday, January 22, 2023, as well as during the 22nd Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. “Geoff – much like Arne – is a true embodiment of all the good that hospitality represents. His emp...
HFTP Schedules HITEC 2024 in Charlotte and HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis; HSMAI to Co-Locate Its Commercial Strategy Week
HFTP | December 15, 2022
December 15, 2022 (Austin, Texas USA) — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has set the 2024 and 2025 dates for its upcoming Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). The world’s largest, nonprofit, hospitality technology event will debut two new U.S. cities to its roster. In 2024, HITEC will be held June 24-27 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2025, HITEC will be held June 16-19 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Co-locating with HITEC at these future events is the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (H...
AHLA: Proposed DOL Rule Would Make Bad Labor Market Worse
AHLA | December 14, 2022
WASHINGTON (Dec. 14, 2022) – In comments submitted to the Department of Labor yesterday, the American Hotel & Lodging Association strongly opposed DOL’s proposed regulations that would revise its analysis for determining employee or independent contractor classifications under the Fair Labor Standards Act. AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers also released the following statement today opposing the proposal. “The Department of Labor’s proposed changes would make the historically difficult labor challenges even worse,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “With almost all hotels dealing with staffing shortages, h...
HSMAI to Honor Marketing, Public Relations Visionaries Peter Strebel and Mary Wagstaff
HSMAI | December 12, 2022
McLean, Virginia, 12, December 2022—An innovative marketing executive who has left a lasting imprint on multiple hotel brands and a public relations expert who founded her own hospitality media and marketing firm and a food and travel entertainment company are being honored by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for their significant achievements. Peter Strebel, chairman of Omni Hotels & Resorts, is receiving the Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing. Mary Wagstaff, partner and managing director at MMGY Wagstaff, is receiving the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Hospit...
A Year After Borders Reopen, Biden Admin Inaction on Visitor Visas Exacerbates Int’l Travel Recovery
U.S. Travel Association | December 9, 2022
One year following the reopening of U.S. borders to inbound air travelers on November 8, outrageous wait times of more than 400 days for visitor visa applicants is delaying the recovery of the critically important international travel sector. U.S. visa wait times now average a staggering 400+ days for first-time visitor visa applicants in the largest countries for inbound travel. Visa interview wait times for potential travelers from Brazil, India and Mexico are now 317, 757 and 601 days respectively. These excessive delays are the equivalent of a travel ban, driving potential U.S. visitors to choose other countries. U.S. Travel ...
U.S. Travel Escalates Efforts to Reduce Visa Wait Times With New Portuguese, Spanish Websites
U.S. Travel Association | December 9, 2022
The U.S. Travel Association is escalating the consequences of lengthy visitor visa interview wait times by launching Spanish and Portuguese language versions of the website USVisaDelays.com. It will be shared widely in key source markets abroad where potential travelers are experiencing extreme wait times—years-long in some cases—simply to apply to visit the United States. “With the launch of these new multilingual websites, we aim to give a voice to potential visitors who are waiting hundreds of days just to get an interview to visit the U.S.,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “We cannot afford...
U.S. Travel Escalates Efforts to Reduce Visa Wait Times With New Portuguese, Spanish Websites
December 9, 2022
The U.S. Travel Association is escalating the consequences of lengthy visitor visa interview wait times by launching Spanish and Portuguese language versions of the website USVisaDelays.com. It will be shared widely in key source markets abroad where potential travelers are experiencing extreme wait times—years-long in some cases—simply to apply to visit the United States. “With the launch of these new multilingual websites, we aim to give a voice to potential visitors who are waiting hundreds of days just to get an interview to visit the U.S.,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “We cannot afford...
AHLA: Proposed NLRB Rule Would Significantly Harm Hotels and Franchise Model
AHLA | December 8, 2022
WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2022) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association today strongly opposed the National Labor Relations Board’s proposed regulations to establish a new “joint-employer standard” under the National Labor Relations Act in comments submitted to the board. AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers also released the following statement opposing the regulations. “If implemented, NLRB’s proposed ‘joint-employer’ rule would have a chilling effect on the hotel industry and the entire U.S. franchising model,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “It would minimize franchisees' control over their own bus...
BDNY Returns With Enthusiastic Attendance and a Spotlight on Thought-Provoking Design
BDNY | December 7, 2022
Event brings 13,000 hospitality and design professionals back to NYC NEW YORK, NY (December 7, 2022) — Boutique Design New York (BDNY), the leading trade fair and conference for the boutique hospitality and lifestyle industry, gathered nearly 13,000 designers, architects, brand executives, hoteliers, developers, purchasers, manufacturers, and other professionals from 47 countries at the Javits Center on November 13-14 to experience new products, engaging conversations, and strategic networking events. BDNY started off strong with a sold-out Kickoff Party on November 12th and continued with a noticeable increase in attendance proving t...
AHLA Announces 17 State Hotel Conferences for 2023
AHLA | December 7, 2022
WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2022) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association announced today the dates, cities, and registration information for its 2023 On The Road State Hotel Conferences. The conferences will provide hoteliers, suppliers and service providers opportunities to connect with their peers as well as hospitality and policy leaders to learn about the latest news and information affecting the hotel and lodging industry. The half-day, free events are part of AHLA’s On The Road Events Series and open to anyone who works in the hotel industry. “AHLA’s On The Road State Hotel Conferences are designed to help local hotel...
It Is Time to Be True Leaders!
Vanguélis Panayotis | December 6, 2022
By Vanguélis Panayotis A career is a lifetime achievement - from early days in one's career all the way to maturity, expectations will inevitably evolve for those who have chosen the industry. It is our duty to adapt to these expectations. Whatever they might be, we all search for meaning. As an industry, it is up to hospitality to bring this meaning to its employees. Therefore, many stakeholders have become involved in helping communities, implementing concrete actions to preserve the planet and addressing (gender) diversity. Let’s remember that tourism accounts for 10.3% of global GDP and also more than 300 million jobs worldwide*. ...
High Demand for Luxury Travel Continues Unabated
The Olinger Group | December 6, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 6, 2022 -- Luxury travelers are taking more trips and spending more money as the demand for luxury travel and experiences continues unabated, according to a study conducted in Q4 2022 by The Olinger Group, a market research firm whose specialties include luxury travel and luxury brands. The Q4 study is a follow-up to The U.S. Luxury Traveler Study 2022, which was conducted in the spring to provide baseline information on the identity, expectations, and behaviors of luxury travelers. The Olinger Group timed the studies to coincide with the summer and holiday peak travel periods, thereby providing timely information to com...
HFTP Opens Applications for the 2023 Entrepreneur 20X North America
HFTP | December 6, 2022
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has opened the application process for the North American Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) start-up pitch competition. Established in 2015, E20X gives innovative hospitality technology startups an opportunity to pitch their cutting-edge ideas to a room full of HITEC attendees and a panel of expert judges. Two awards will be presented to the top competitors: the Judges’ Choice Award —selected by the panel of judges and the People’s Choice Award — selected by popular vote determined by HITEC atte...
U.S. Travel Welcomes Extension of REAL ID Deadline After Robust Industry Advocacy
U.S. Travel Association | December 6, 2022
U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) postponing the deadline for full REAL ID compliance from May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025: “Extending the REAL ID deadline is the right decision, and U.S. Travel appreciates DHS leadership for recognizing that with more than 100 million Americans still lacking a REAL ID, now is not the time to create significant travel disruptions. This delay helps to give travelers the time necessary to get the credential needed to fly domestically. “It remains critical that DH...
