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
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...
She Has a Deal Announces Pitch Competition Finalists
She Has a Deal | May 19, 2021
McLean, Va., May 19, 2021— Officials of She Has a Deal today announced the five finalist teams selected to advance to the final round of their annual hotel investment pitch competition to compete for the prize of $50,000 in hotel deal equity following the conclusion of a virtual, preliminary round of pitching. The goal of She Has a Deal is to increase the number of women hotel owners and developers, and the organization offers inspiration and education to channel the power of collaboration and mentorship. She Has a Deal creates new pathways to hotel ownership and development by exposing participants to the hard-to-find details needed to suc...
The Castell Project, Inc. Releases “Black Representation in Hospitality Industry Leadership 2021” Report
The Castell Project | May 18, 2021
ATLANTA, May 18, 2021—Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today released the “Black Representation in Hospitality Leadership 2021” report. In spite of industry statements of support, Black employees lost share of hospitality industry employment and remained under-represented in leadership over the past year. “Hospitality is even more dependent on Black employees than other industries in North America so equity and inclusion will be vitally important to the industry’s ability to attract employees post COVID,...
Reunited and It Feels so Good: Survey Finds Family Travel a Top Priority for Americans This Year
Wyndham Destinations | May 17, 2021
A new survey from Wyndham Destinations and Atomik Research reveals 72% of U.S. adults will travel to reunite with family and friends in 2021 ORLANDO, Fla.--May 17, 2021--Wyndham Destinations, the world’s largest vacation ownership business, announced today the results of its most recent travel trends survey* which indicate vacationing is on the horizon for a majority of Americans this year. In an online survey of 1,005 Americans, produced by independent creative market research agency Atomik Research, 72% of participants said they will prioritize traveling to see family and friends, with three-fourths agreeing they are likely to do s...
Gstaad Palace Mourns Loss of Visionary Hotelier and Former President of Leading Hotels of the World, Ernst Andrea Scherz
Gstaad Palace | May 17, 2021
Gstaad, 17 May 2021 – The Gstaad Palace is mourning the loss of Ernst Andrea Scherz (1939-2021). The doyen of international luxury hospitality who played a significant role in establishing the global alliance "Leading Hotels of the World" passed away on 13 May 2021 at the age of 81, following a long illness. Ernst Andrea Scherz presided over the legendary Gstaad Palace from 1968 to 2001 – before handing it over to his son Andrea Scherz who is continuing his father's legacy as third generation owner and general manager. "We are mourning our father, and more broadly also a person who was, quite literally, born to be a host. Messages of c...
California Hotel and Lodging Association: State Hospitality to Receive Much-Needed $95 Million
the California Hotel and Lodging Association | May 14, 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - May 14, 2021 - On behalf of California’s more than 6,000 hotels and 235,000 hotel employees, the California Hotel and Lodging Association released this statement in response to Gov. Newsom’s proposed $95 million for marketing to revive California’s travel and tourism industry: “California’s hotels and our employees are so ready to be fully reopened and re-welcome guests from near and far,” said Lynn S. Mohrfeld, President and CEO of CHLA. “We are grateful for Gov. Newsom’s extraordinary support that will provide much-needed funds to let the world know that California hotels are safe, healthy and open....
Harris Poll: 77% of Americans Planning Summer Travel
May 14, 2021
WASHINGTON — May 14, 2021 — More than three-quarters of Americans (77%) plan to take a trip this summer, according to the results of a Harris Poll survey requested by the Let’s Go There coalition of 75 travel companies and organizations. The strong number represents a stark one-year turnaround: a similar Harris Poll conducted in June 2020 found that just 29% of Americans planned summer leisure travel amid the grip of the COVID pandemic. The latest poll’s sample reflects the sentiments of all Americans. The poll also found: Two-thirds of Americans have a summer trip either already planned out (36%) or booked (30%). Of ...
The Hotel Industry Has a Labor Problem. Here’s How to Solve It.
HotStats | May 13, 2021
If you hadn’t heard, hotels are facing a labor crisis. After major furloughs and layoffs last year due to the pandemic, properties now need to staff up to be prepared for the return of business. But they are facing a drought of workers, which some call the worst recruiting climate in the industry’s history. Making conditions even more challenging is the fact that the dearth of prospective employees could be attributed to several factors, and it’s unclear which ones are the biggest obstacles. These include immigration issues, specifically over H-2B visas, which, in the U.S., the Biden Administration is addressing, unemployment insura...
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...
Travel – The Essential Commodity
Travel Outlook | May 11, 2021
Why Travelers Are Checking Off Big-Ticket Items on Their Bucket Lists In March 2020, the travel industry effectively hit pause in response to the Covid-19 pandemic spreading quickly across the globe. After a brief hibernation that may have felt like an eternity to travelers and those in the travel industry, travel is back on track. As normal slowly starts to appear on the horizon, many around the world are eager to get back out on the road. Domestic travel has already seen substantial growth since travel restrictions began relaxing in the late months of 2020, and as the Covid-19 vaccine rollout continues international travel is sure to...
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...
PACE Financing Lawyer: New York Opening PACE – a Big Opportunity!
David Sudeck | May 3, 2021
By Jim Butler, David Sudeck The NYC PACE Financing Program has finally released its program guidelines! Prospective qualified PACE lenders are now carefully reviewing the guidelines, applying for approval to be a PACE lender in New York City, and seeking projects that may benefit from PACE financing. It is time to get ready, but the official launch date for the program is being delayed a bit and has not yet been set. We expect the launch soon. New York’s Law Will Motivate Building Owners to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions While PACE financing has been available throughout the country for years, the PACE program for New Yo...
New Data: State-by-State Breakdown on Projected Hotel Industry Job Loss for 2021
AHLA | May 3, 2021
Download Fact Sheet on 2021 State Job Loss Here WASHINGTON — May 3, 2021 — Today, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released new data showcasing the ongoing devastating impact of COVID-19 on hotel industry employment, including projected hotel job loss through the end of 2021. Without targeted relief from Congress, nationwide, hotels are expected to end 2021 down 500,000 jobs. Hotels are the only major hospitality and leisure segment yet to receive direct aid. The top five states projected to end 2021 down the highest number of jobs include: California: 67,169 jobs lost Florid...
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...
Travel and Franchise Industries Endorse ‘Save Hotel Jobs Act’
U.S. Travel Association | April 30, 2021
WASHINGTON — April 30, 2021 — The U.S. Travel Association and the International Franchise Association (IFA) on Thursday voiced strong support for new legislation that would provide relief for hard-hit hotel workers until travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. The Save Hotel Jobs Act, introduced in both chambers of Congress by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL), would support jobs in the devastated lodging industry through a combination of direct payroll grants and tax credits, among other provisions. The measure earlier won the joint endorsement of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and UNITE HERE, th...
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...
WTTC Launches Ground-Breaking Initiative to Support Women in Travel & Tourism
WTTC | April 28, 2021
CANCUN, MEXICO: The world’s leading Travel & Tourism leaders pledged to work towards women’s equality and boost female representation in leadership roles in an announcement before the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The commitment came as WTTC, which represents the Travel & Tourism private sector, launched its Women’s Initiative, at its Global Summit in Cancun, with the help of 18 Grand Slam singles title winner, Martina Navratilova. WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara unveiled the public-private-academic partnership to promote diversity and drive inclusivity which will help lead the way to achieving equali...
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...
CHLA Forms “Issues PAC” As Legislative & Regulatory Rapid Response Team
The California Hotel & Lodging Association | April 28, 2021
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) has formed an “issues PAC” under the leadership of Alpesh Jivan, CHA, to serve as a rapid-response team for proposed legislation or regulations affecting hoteliers in the state. “This new entity is a direct result of our association’s success in defeating the Proposition 15 initiative that was on the ballot last November and would have dramatically increased business property taxes in California,” explained Bijal Patel, CHA, Chairman of CHLA. “We were part of a coalition that effectively and impressively mobilized state-wide in a fast, proactive, coordinated way on behalf...
