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
Almost 180,000 UK Travel & Tourism Jobs Could Be Lost if Restrictions Return, Warns WTTC
WTTC | November 15, 2021
London, UK – November 15, 2021 – Up to 180,000 jobs could be lost across the UK Travel & Tourism sector this year, if travel restrictions are reimposed this winter, according to alarming new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). WTTC, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, made the warning after an analysis which showed the impact caused by a further tightening of borders. The figures were revealed today by Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, during the 2021 Tourism Alliance Conference, a major event where industry leaders will discuss how to rebuild the UK Travel & Tourism s...
HVS NYU Investment Conference Takeaways
Rod Clough | November 15, 2021
By Rod Clough The NYU Investment Conference arrived five months late this year, but it was worth the wait. The event attracted over 1,000 registered participants eager to hear from a stellar lineup of the global industry’s top leaders and influencers, and it kicked off in a bustling Times Square on the same day U.S. airports reopened to fully vaccinated international travelers. The Marriott Marquis did an expert job of handling the event, including top-notch service, food, beverages, and cleanliness. The attendees, all required to be fully vaccinated, were treated to a fantastic program arranged by Dorothy Jennings and her ...
Hyatt Recognizes Full Service and Select Service Owners, Operators and Developers at 2021 Americas Owners Conference
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | November 11, 2021
CHICAGO, IL – November 11, 2021 – Hyatt Hotels Corporation awarded 32 owners, operators and developers at its 2021 America Owners Conference, held at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif. During the conference, a number of Hyatt’s leadership team members presented the awards to a combination of full service and select service owners, operators and developers, celebrating operational excellence and hotel performance throughout 2020 and 2021. “At Hyatt, we remain focused on our growth and we are both intentional and thoughtful about where we want the Hyatt flag raised. Our brand growth an...
AHLA Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
AHLA | November 8, 2021
WASHINGTON – November 8, 2021 – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Chip Rogers released the below statement following House passage of a bipartisan infrastructure package. “Reliable and modern infrastructure is vital to the hotel industry because it facilitates travel, commerce and American competitiveness. This package would go a long way toward achieving those ends, but it comes at a steep cost. The bill would terminate the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) two months early. Many hotels and their employees are counting on this program—especially given lingering COVID-19 concerns and the negat...
Survey: Nearly 60% of Americans Unlikely to Travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas
AHLA | November 8, 2021
WASHINGTON – November 8, 2021 – While rising vaccination rates against COVID-19 have increased travelers’ comfort levels, most Americans are still opting to stay home this holiday season, according to a new national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) conducted by Morning Consult. The survey found that 29% of Americans are likely to travel for Thanksgiving and 33% are likely to travel for Christmas—an increase from 21% and 24%, respectively, compared to 2020. Those who do plan to travel over the holidays expect to drive, but rising gas prices may dampen those plans. The survey of 2,200 adult...
U.S. Travel Applauds Infrastructure Bill House Passage
U.S. Travel Association | November 8, 2021
WASHINGTON – November 8, 2021 – U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: “The passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is both significant and long overdue. The bill will have a profound impact on how people travel for decades to come. By making historic investments in our transportation infrastructure now, we can emerge from the pandemic with stronger, more modern and efficient systems that can facilitate a resurgence in travel demand. “U.S. Travel has stro...
U.S. Travel Welcomes Return of International Inbound Travel
U.S. Travel Association | November 5, 2021
WASHINGTON – November 5, 2021 – At air, land and sea ports of entry, and across destinations nationwide, the U.S. travel industry will welcome all vaccinated international visitors back to the United States after 19 months of pandemic-related border restrictions beginning Monday (November 8), a long-awaited milestone that marks the rebuilding of international inbound travel. This action is a key first step in the recovery of the highly lucrative international travel market. In 2019, international inbound travel produced $239 billion in export income for the U.S. economy and directly supported 1.2 million American jobs. “...
Business Travel Spend Set to Reach Two Thirds of Pre-Pandemic Levels by 2022
WTTC | November 4, 2021
London, UK – November 4, 2021 – Worldwide business travel spending looks set to rise by more than a quarter this year and reach two thirds of pre-pandemic levels by 2022, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The forecast comes in a major new WTTC report in collaboration with McKinsey & Company called ‘Adapting to Endemic Covid-19: The Outlook for Business Travel’. It draws on research, analysis and in-depth interviews with Travel & Tourism business leaders to enable organisations to prepare for corporate travel in the post-pandemic world. Business travel was disproportionately affected by COVID-...
Nearly 2-in-5 Hospitality Workers Considering or Have Plans to Leave Their Job in the Next Two Months
Medallia | November 4, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – November 4, 2021 – New research released today by Medallia, Inc., the global leader in customer and employee experience, reveals that 38% of hospitality workers say they’re considering or already have plans to leave their jobs in the next two months. This and other insights are available in the full report, Global Staffing Report: Employee Experience Impacts Hospitality, released today by Medallia Zingle, the leading intelligent messaging provider used by some of the world’s biggest hospitality brands. For the report, Medallia surveyed more than 1,250 travel and hospitality workers from the United States, Uni...
NYC, Paris, London Reign Supreme: Travelers Finally Returning to Iconic Cities This Winter
Tripadvisor | November 3, 2021
NEEDHAM, MA – November 3, 2021 – As the autumn season is sadly winding dawn, leaves are slowly beginning to fall, and all focus shifts to the holidays, Tripadvisor's new Winter Travel Index divulges where Americans are heading for the next season. The final installment of the Tripadvisor Travel Index for 2021, which is based on first party site data and consumer sentiment data, reveals that over half (55%) of Americans report that they are planning to travel this winter. This is up from 50% who traveled in this season in 2020, but still lags behind the 63% who hit the road in 2019. Last-minute bookers: Notably, 24% of Americans are st...
2021 Boutique Hotel & Industry Award Winners Announced by BLLA at Annual Leadership Conference
the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) | November 3, 2021
Los Angeles, CA – November 3, 2021 – The Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) presented the 12th annual awards on October 26th during the organization’s annual leadership conference held virtually. The Awards, known as the StayBoutique Awards by BLLA, recognize leaders, innovators, and icons in every corner of the boutique, lifestyle, and luxury worlds. Founded in 2010, the StayBoutique Awards by BLLA originally served to recognize leaders of independent hotels globally and the properties themselves. However, with the advent of new technologies, the boutique sector is now open and accessible to everyone. Frances Kiradjian, F...
AHLA Statement on Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2021
AHLA | November 3, 2021
WASHINGTON – November 2, 2021 – Following the introduction of the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2021, American Hotel & Lodging Association President and CEO Chip Rogers released the below statement. “AHLA applauds Rep. Maloney for introducing this legislation, which would help ensure America’s travel industry has a critical safety net in the event of a future pandemic. Had this bill been law before COVID-19, hotel owners could have purchased affordable insurance that would have helped keep thousands of workers employed and offset the billions in economic losses hotels have experienced since. COVID-19 is the worst economic...
Knowland Reports October U.S. Meetings and Events Volume Growth Up More Than 30 Percent Over September 2021
Knowland | November 3, 2021
Corporate market segment realizes a significant increase in percentage of overall business representing nearly 70 percent of the meeting and event business ARLINGTON, VA — November 3, 2021— Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, today released monthly meetings and events data for October. The numbers reveal that October U.S. group meetings volume increased 30.4 percent over September 2021. Average attendees per event remains stronger than 2019 for the second month in a row. Additionally, average space used was still higher than 2019, however the gap between these ...
Cendyn and Pegasus to Merge
Cendyn | November 2, 2021
The merger of Cendyn and Pegasus provides hoteliers with a platform to maximize the direct-booking channel, enhancing the guest experience end-to-end Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – London, UK – Today Cendyn, the leading provider of cloud-based software and eCommerce services for the hospitality industry, enters into a merger agreement with Pegasus, a leading provider of revenue and distribution solutions for the hospitality industry. The combination of both companies provides hoteliers with a platform to maximize their direct-booking channel and enhance the guest experience across every touchpoint. With many hoteliers struggling with reso...
Five BENCHMARK® Resorts Receive Condé Nast Traveler’s Prestigious “2021 Readers’ Choice Award”
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company. | October 28, 2021
Travelers Recognize Luxury Resorts in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Texas and Vermont The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, October 2021 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is honored to announce that five of its luxury resorts have been named to the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list for 2021. A coveted consumer travel award for hotels, resorts, airlines and destinations around the globe, the Readers’ Choice Awards are presented annually in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. The extraordinary Benchmark resorts achieving the list in 2021 are located in unique destinations, spanning the mo...
Global Hotel Performance Moderates With Summer’s Close
HotStats | October 28, 2021
The cold hard truth is arriving with the chillier weather: global hotel performance has a ways to go before it's back to its former self. In the U.S., there is, however, cause for optimism. First, COVID case count: According to The Washington Post, new coronavirus infections in the country have dropped nearly 60 percent since a September spike due to the Delta variant. The seven-day average is also down some 58% since a mid-September infection peak. Coupled with a decreasing case count is the recent Biden administration decision to lift COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors beginning November 8, a ...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Additional Details on Nov. 8 International Air Travel Policy
U.S. Travel Association | October 26, 2021
WASHINGTON – October 26, 2021 – U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s announced policy for entry of international air travelers, beginning on November 8: “U.S. Travel has continuously advocated for the safe reopening of our borders, and today’s guidance detailing how international air travelers can prepare for resumed travel to the United States starting November 8 provides much-needed clarity for planning. We are grateful this additional detail has been made available as we move to reopening to fully v...
Amid a Labor Crunch, One Hotel Tried Something Different
HotStats | October 22, 2021
Opening a hotel amid even normal times is a challenge. But these times are anything but ordinary. For The Rockaway Beach Hotel, in Queens, NY, opening last fall was compounded by a raging global pandemic and a resultant labor crunch. According to HotStats data, labor costs globally are on the rise, but still below their 2019 levels. In the U.S., total hotel payroll on a per-available-room basis sat at $52.99 in August 2021 and has been on a steady incline since the beginning of the year—now 62% of 2019 levels. Labor costs are now more than $20 higher YOY per available room than at the same time a year ago. Europe, likewise, is seeing...
Nominations Open for HSMAI 2021 Top 25 and Lifetime Achievement Honors
HSMAI | October 22, 2021
McLean, VA – October 22, 2021 – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) Americas is now accepting nominations for its Marketing and Public Relations Lifetime Achievement awards and Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization honors. The nomination period ends Dec. 20 and coincides with the annual HSMAI Adrian Awards competition. HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards HSMAI’s Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing and Winthrop W. Grice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Public Relations recognize hospitality professionals who have dedi...
That’s a Wrap: Awesome People, Fantastic Event and Amazing Technologies
Tim Henthorn | October 21, 2021
By Tim Henthorn What a show! Maybe the most dominant undercurrent was how much product innovation occurred during the height of the pandemic. One silver lining that many vendors on the exhibit floor described to me was the fact that the previous 18 months gave them an opportunity to make significant progress on the backlog that technology businesses sometimes face under normal circumstances. HITEC was an opportunity to showcase all of the incredible work that was completed as a result of addressing customer request queues in addition to the usual forethought from the many capable vendors across the industry. I originally planned to high...
New International Border Openings Set to Accelerate Lift in Business Travel
GBTA | October 21, 2021
Optimistic signs of return and tangible recovery in the business travel sector could be seen over the past month. In the latest poll from The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), half (52%) of industry respondents reported more optimism compared to September. October also saw an increase to 66% of those polled who said their companies are allowing non-essential domestic business travel and, in a high for the year, 42% international travel, while m Three in four (74%) indicated support for the opening of U.S. borders (now slated for November 8) with the required protocols, with seven in 10 expecting an increase in international busine...
HITEC 2021 – A Resounding Success
Ron Strecker | October 18, 2021
By Ron Strecker I have spent this past weekend “decompressing” from HITEC 2021. This has included reviewing my session notes, updating my contact information for old friends in new jobs, and adding new contacts for all my new connections. For me, this was one of my most successful HITECs when measured by the number of changes I observed. The lower attendance did have the side benefit of allowing me to spend more valuable time in one-to-one conversations with our vendor partners. Reflecting on the week, my experiences fall in three categories: reconnecting with long-time friends, connecting with new friends, and the need for follow-u...
AHLA Statement on White House Travel Announcement
AHLA | October 18, 2021
WASHINGTON – October 18, 2021 – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Chip Rogers released the below statement following a White House announcement that it will lift travel restrictions for foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning Nov. 8. “Hotels have kept travelers and employees safe as a result of our industry’s rigorous health and safety protocols, and we continue to encourage our workforce, guests and all Americans to get vaccinated. We applaud President Biden’s move to reopen America’s doors to international, fully vaccinated visitors from around the globe. It’s a ...
The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels List Announced
Historic Hotels of America® | October 15, 2021
Reported paranormal experiences include ghost sightings of Revolutionary War soldiers, jilted lovers, a young girl carrying flowers, a man in a top hat, friendly spectral bellhops, and more. Historic Hotels of America® offers travelers spectacular experiences and stories to take home with them, but some offer more than the usual textbook history. The historic hotels included on the 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels list are locations for ghost tales of Revolutionary War soldiers, jilted lovers, unexplained footsteps, as well as friendly spectral bellhops. For believers and skepti...
