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
As Pandemic Concerns Fade, 76% of North Americans Plan to Travel Soon
Oracle | June 22, 2021
Oracle Survey respondents are ready to spend more on hospitality perks beyond the room charges, hoteliers add new services to extend the customer experience AUSTIN, Texas – June 22, 2021 – After more than a year in lockdown, 76% of consumers in North America plan to travel within the next six months. According to a new Oracle Hospitality survey, 24% of respondents in the US and Canada plan to travel immediately, 31% in the next one to three months, and 21% by the end of the year. People are largely traveling regionally, but venturing further from home. Domestic travel will account for 61% of travel plans (vs. 44% last year), 19% of ...
STR: U.S. Hotel Performance for May 2021 Shows Highest Levels Since Before Pandemic
STR | June 21, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The U.S. hotel industry recorded its highest monthly performance levels since before the beginning of the pandemic, according to May 2021 data from STR. May 2021: Occupancy: 59.3% Average daily rate (ADR): US$117.69 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$69.81 Each of the three key performance metrics were the highest for any month since February 2020. While year-over-year percentage changes show significant increases because of comparison with a pandemic-affected period in 2020, the country’s performance levels remained well below the pre-pandemic comparable of May 2019: occupancy (-13.5%), A...
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...
Siegel Sez: The Apple Changes Its Stripes
June 18, 2021
Siegel Sez June 18, 2021 Have you ever found yourself in excruciating anticipation because you’re so eager to share something? That is what the last 24 hours have been for me. Last week was our Executive Vendor Summit with a crowd of 88 from the vendor community, a half dozen or so CIOs from the hotel world, the leaders of HTNG, HFTP and HSMAI and some amazing speakers and staff for a crowd of 103 attendees. It was amazing. During our planning for EVS, I had this creative idea for our first-night ice breaker and even though my team thought I was nuts, I said we could pull this off. I know the vendors for the hotel industry are a somewhat ...
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...
UgoVirtual™ Debuts New 3D and AR Elements to Enhance Engagement and ROI of Virtual, Hybrid and Physical Events
UgoVirtual | June 16, 2021
Innovative new addition to UgoVirtual’s modular virtual/hybrid event solutions platform leverages the advanced power of 3D and AR to maximize attendee engagement and ROI for virtual, hybrid and physical events. ATLANTA – June 16, 2021 – UgoVirtual™, a leading global provider of a comprehensive digital platform of modular engagement solutions designed to meet the rapidly expanding needs of the virtual/hybrid conference and event management industry, today announces the debut of Ugo3D & AR Elements, a highly advanced and unique way to add dimension to virtual, hybrid and in-person events. With the addition of Ugo3D & AR Ele...
Hodges Ward Elliott Mourns the Passing of President Mark Elliott
June 15, 2021
Hodges Ward Elliott (HWE) is saddened to share the news that company President Mark Elliott passed away unexpectedly on June 12th. Mark joined the firm in 1983 and has served as the strategic leader of the firm’s various business lines for nearly forty years. Along with his partners, he dedicated his career towards shaping the culture of HWE and his steady-hand approach remains a central pillar of the firm’s overall philosophy. Mark is also one of the true legends in the hospitality industry and over the course of his career, he sold more hotels than any other individual in the United States. He was a past co-chairman of Industry ...
Revenge Travel Is Trending, but the Destination Price Tag Determines Where 87% of Consumers Go
Discover | June 15, 2021
RIVERWOODS, Ill. - June 15, 2021 - After a year stuck at home, the majority of U.S. consumers, 70%, say they want to start traveling again, with more than 50% planning one to two vacations in the next six months, according to Discover’s annual travel survey. Following a stressful and socially distant year, 66% of consumers are planning trips between one to six days in length and report their top reasons for wanting to take a vacation are: to relax, 37% visit family and friends, 18% and experience a change of scenery, 10% Of those looking to spend time with family, Boomers lead the charge, 28%, compared to 18% of G...
Hotel Lawyer: Independent Boutique Hotels at BLLA Conference
Jim Butler | June 11, 2021
By Jim Butler The Global Hospitality Group® was pleased to sponsor and participate in BLLA’s virtual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference, which took place online June 2-3. As the hospitality industry prepares for increased travel and sunnier economic forecasts, independent boutique hotels are stronger than ever and attracting positive attention. Hosted by the Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association, the Boutique Hotel Investment Conference focuses on and celebrates the boutique hotel concept and what it offers the hospitality industry. During the conference, Partner and Chairman Jim Butler discussed “13 Keys to Success–...
‘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...
U.S. Meetings and Events Volume Shows Double Digit Growth for Fourth Consecutive Month According to Knowland
Knowland | June 9, 2021
May group data shows a 28.4 percent monthly increase in meetings and number of attendees have reached 2019 levels ARLINGTON, Va. — June 9, 2021— Knowland, the leader in AI-powered meetings and events data for hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, conference centers and other venues, today released its monthly meetings and events data for May. The numbers reveal that May U.S. group meetings volume increased 28.4 percentover last month. We continue to see metric improvement as average attendees aligns with 2019 levels and meeting space used comes within 10% of 2019 values. Throughout the summer, we forecast higher attendees and lowe...
She Has a Deal Announces Pitch Competition Winning Teams
She Has a Deal | June 9, 2021
McLEAN, Va — June 9, 2021 — Officials of She Has A Deal (SHaD), a real estate investment platform that creates pathways to hotel ownership and development for women, today announced the winners of its event held Saturday. Over the last year, participants completed more than 12 hours of intensive hotel investment education to learn how to source, evaluate and raise capital for a real hotel deal. Five teams were selected at a virtual preliminary round to move forward to the finals, where they pitched live to a judging panel of top-level hotel business executives, entrepreneurs and investors. Held at Hilton’s Innovation Gallery at the ...
Out & About at The Hunter Conference: Hospitality’s Open House
Shawn Bolivar | June 8, 2021
By Shawn Bolivar, Jennifer Chesek Is the hospitality industry still breathing after Covid? Definitely. It has now been three weeks since the 32nd Hunter Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta, and good vibes remain from this first major hospitality industry event held since the onset of the pandemic. We could see the momentum building in the final weeks before the event as the number of registered attendees more than doubled. From our perspective, we were eager to meet our industry peers in person, as vaccines became more widely distributed and people began to cautiously ease back into the “old way” of living. The Hunter family...
Siegel Sez: Biometrics
June 4, 2021
Siegel Sez June 4, 2021 Last week I went to the HFTP Club Summit in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I had never been to this event before, but I went this year for the sole reason of the experience. For the 150 attendees and myself it was the first live event most of us had been to in 14 months. I wondered how attendees would react. How would the issue of vaccines be dealt with? Next week our own event, the Executive Vendor Summit, has 102 attendees gathering in Nashville, and it motivated me to go to the HFTP Club Summit. I was curious -- would they wear masks? Would they be OK being close to each other or was social distancing going to be the no...
Cloud5 Communications Ranked Top HSIA Provider in May GPNS Vendor Report by Marriott International
Cloud5 Communications | June 3, 2021
Chicago, IL. — June 3, 2021 —Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of communications solutions for the world’s top hotel brands and management companies, has been recognized by Marriott International as achieving the highest vendor ranking in May for High-Speed Internet service based on its stringent Global Property Network Standards (GPNS). Cloud5 is one of a small group of providers that has earned the GPNS “Full” designation and is also among the select few approved to install and support HSIA at Marriott’s large, full service managed properties. Cloud5 outranked competing vendors in May’s GPNS report for areas includin...
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,...
HFTP E20X Dubai Competition Debuts in the Middle East With Eight Start-Up Competitors, Software Platform Company Hoick Announced Winner of the Judges
HFTP | June 2, 2021
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) successfully featured eight start-up companies with innovative technology solutions at its Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) competition at HITEC® Dubai on June 1, 2021. This was the Dubai debut for E20X, which was first established in 2015 at HITEC North America. The competitors each pitched their solution to a panel of six industry experts for four minutes, which was then immediately followed by four minutes of Q&A from the judges. At the conclusion, the judges selected the top competitor and presented The Judges’ Choice Award, which included a $2,500 USD prize. The 2021 E20X was held...
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 ...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: The Top 10 Forecasting Secrets
David Lund | June 1, 2021
By. David Lund Forecasting is incredibly important because we need a fresh and current plan to help us execute our financial strategy and as the saying goes, “Without a map any road will take you where you want to go.” I know for many hotels the idea of having a monthly forecast seems far-reaching and complicated, but I know it’s not. Once you start you will see what I mean and if you already complete this important planning piece you fully know what I mean. Secret #1 Budget first. That is the critical building block, to ensure you have a 12-month detailed budget completed on an annual basis. Once the annual budget is built and app...
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...
Choice Hotels Announces 2021 ‘Best of Choice’ Award Winners
Choice Hotel | May 24, 2021
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 24, 2021 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, today announced the hotels named as "Best of Choice" award winners. One hotel was selected from each Choice brand in the domestic (and international portfolio where available) for their commitment to superior guest service and operational excellence. The properties rank among the top in Choice Hotels' system for achieving high performance scores and exceptional guest ratings. "During a year unlike any other in our industry, I am especially proud of the collective response, dedication and resilience of our franchi...
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...
