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
Arne Sorenson, In Memoriam
Michael Frenkel | February 17, 2021
By Michael Frenkel I did not know Arne Sorenson well. Met him at some private industry events - collaborated at a distance on Thought Leadership projects. Like the rest of the industry, I mourned his death upon learning of it, though I was not shocked at the outcome or the timing: my mom was lost to late stage cancer a few years back, and one learns to read the signals, signs and pronouncements, even if from a distance. It spares few, and makes an ineluctable beeline toward its intended conclusion. Apart from the obvious business impact - the industry lost the head of its flagship and most influential company - Arne’s passing ...
A Consultant’s Perspective on the Pandemic in 2021
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | February 17, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky The pandemic continues to plague our operations and practically all aspects of our daily lives. In 2020, we may have found ourselves feeling disconnected from the world around us and losing touch with old friends as we all shuffled about to adapt to the new normal. That’s why it was great to reconnect early in January with Cornelia Kausch, a veteran hotelier who hails from Germany and who I worked with in what seems like several lifetimes ago. Currently living in Berlin, Cornelia is the founder of CK Hospitality Advisors, and she can offer a unique perspective on where hospitality is headed as we anxiously...
ADA Defense Lawyer: Whitaker v. Tesla Motors – the End of Cookie-Cutter ADA Complaints?
Jim Butler | February 17, 2021
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com For many years, businesses classed as public accommodations under the ADA have been the subject of “cookie-cutter” complaints that allege discriminatory conditions without providing any specific examples. Thousands of nearly identical complaints have been filed in federal courts nationwide, and their lack of detail makes it difficult for courts to provide a remedy that will prevent future harm. Martin Orlick, Chair of JMBM’s ADA Compliance & Defense Group, summarizes the recent decision in Whitaker v. Tesla Motors which may put an ...
Marriott International Announces the Unexpected Passing of Arne M. Sorenson, President and CEO
Marriott International | February 16, 2021
BETHESDA, MD — FEBRUARY 16, 2021 — It is with profound sadness that Marriott International announces that Arne M. Sorenson, President and CEO, unexpectedly passed away on February 15, 2021. In May 2019, the company announced that Mr. Sorenson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On February 2, 2021, Marriott shared the news that Mr. Sorenson would temporarily reduce his schedule to facilitate more demanding treatment for pancreatic cancer. Mr. Sorenson became the third CEO in Marriott’s history in 2012, and the first without the Marriott surname. A visionary leader, Mr. Sorenson put the company on a strong growth trajectory ...
Impact of Recent Federal Stimulus on the Travel Industry
Thomas Hazinski | February 15, 2021
By Thomas A. Hazinski, Joseph Hansel Introduction The COVID-19 crisis consumed the United States for approximately three-quarters of the past year. In December 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.[1] The development and distribution of an effective COVID-19 vaccine, alongside other public health measures, should allow us to combat the health effects of the global pandemic. With certainty coalescing around the health solutions to the pandemic, attention must turn to economic solutions. The economic impact of COVID-19 is seen in almost all economic indic...
U.S. Travel Reacts to U.S. Airlines’ White House Meeting
U.S. Travel Association | February 15, 2021
WASHINGTON — February 15, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the meeting between U.S. airlines’ chief executives and White House coronavirus response officials: “The high cost and low availability of testing make a domestic testing mandate a challenging concept to put into practice. Based on January 2021 data, a testing requirement for domestic air travel would necessitate a 42% increase in daily testing capacity nationwide—a substantial use of testing resources when air travel has already been shown to be safer than many other routine activities. “The recent implemen...
Siegel Sez: It’s Not Just a Room – Part 1
February 12, 2021
February 12, 2020 Sometimes it is nice just to take a moment to reflect. Unfortunately, right now I am reflecting how great my relationship was with my 6-year-old laptop which I am in the process of replacing. Honestly, is there anything more frustrating than getting a new laptop and trying to bring everything over? There are always a few surprises, like finding passwords and missing documents. But enough of my venting. As I reflect and sort through the old to transfer what I might need, I think about all the people from the industry who I have gotten to know. Over the years, we have produced 15 Executive Vendor Summits which brings the s...
Luxury’s Next Competitor Is Not a Hotel
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | February 10, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Every hotel property aspires to be luxury in one way or another, even as the word ‘luxury’ has become a bit overused in the past decade. As such, there are always new entrants testing out concepts and evolving various features, amenities or service offerings, all in an attempt to get one step ahead of the curve. The pandemic has, of course, shifted priorities but the pursuit of luxury still remains as a means of capturing guests’ hearts. Concurrent to this arms race amongst traditional hotels – and now also alternative accommodations – it is important that hospitality brands consider those accommod...
Leisure & Hospitality Accounts for Whopping 39% of Jobs Lost to Pandemic
U.S. Travel Association | February 9, 2021
WASHINGTON — February 9, 2021 — Almost four in 10 of all the U.S. jobs lost since February of last year are in the Leisure & Hospitality industry, according to analysis of the latest Department of Labor national jobs report—triple the number of the next-hardest-hit industry. The meager 49,000 jobs created by the U.S. economy in January were viewed by economists as a disappointment and a major sign of lingering pandemic-related stress in labor markets. But according to analysis created for the U.S. Travel Association by the research firm Tourism Economics, the real underlying story is the 61,000 jobs lost by the Leisure & ...
How Are Hotels Adapting and Innovating During COVID-19?
Company Debt | February 9, 2021
Covid-19 has hit businesses of just about every shape and size hard, but few have felt the effects quite as strongly as those in the hospitality industry. Bars, restaurants and hotels in many parts of the world have been forced to close as restrictions to limit the spread of the Coronavirus have taken hold. Before the pandemic slammed the breaks on international and domestic travel, the global hotel trade was looking rosy. The corporate travel industry alone was forecast to grow into a $1.7 trillion industry by 2023. But rather than enjoying what was predicted to be one of the biggest growth spurts hoteliers have ever seen, they have been...
HSMAI Honors Dorothy Dowling and Mary Gostelow With Lifetime Achievement Awards
HSMAI | February 9, 2021
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards in marketing and public relations. Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, will be recognized with the Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing. Mary Gostelow, publisher of the Gostelow Report, will be honored with the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Public Relations. HSMAI will celebrate Dowling and Gostelow at the virtual Adrian Awards Celebration on March 23, 2021. The HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards recogn...
WTTC Says Governments Should Abandon the Concept of ‘High-Risk Countries’ and Instead Focus on ‘High-Risk Travellers’
WTTC | February 5, 2021
London, UK - February 5, 2021 - The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for governments to abandon the concept of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on how individual ‘high-risk travellers’ are treated at borders. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, is urging governments around the world to shift their focus from whole countries, towards individual travellers. Instead, WTTC says governments around the world should redefine their whole approach to risk assessment, to revive international business and leisure travel. Combined with a common international consensus on the m...
Davidson Hotels & Resorts Refines Company Architecture, Rebrands as Davidson Hospitality Group
Davidson Hospitality Group | February 5, 2021
ATLANTA – February 5, 2021 – Premier hospitality management company Davidson Hotels & Resorts has refined its company architecture and rebranded as Davidson Hospitality Group. The following clearly defined operating verticals will now all reside under the new masterbrand, Davidson Hospitality Group: Davidson Hotels: Davidson Hotels is the operating vertical of Davidson Hospitality Group focused on industry-leading heritage brands, including Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt. Over the decades, Davidson Hotels has built a trusted brand that values financial cunning and employs an owner’s mentality, while remaining true to heart for ...
Call to Action for the European Hospitality Industry to Capitalize on Its Business Recovery and Increase Revenue During and Post Pandemic
HSMAI | February 5, 2021
Ten valuable insights and next steps for hotels’ business recovery following HSMAI Europe Day 2021 LONDON - Thursday 4 February 2021 - More than 300 international brand leaders in the European hospitality industry were given valuable insights on how to proactively prepare for and roll-out their business recovery in 2021 and beyond when they attended the HSMAI Europe Day 2021. This included the HSMAI Revenue Optimisation Conference (ROC) Europe and Chief Officers Roundtable (COR) Day 2021 last week. Speakers and facilitators at the virtual event included industry chief officers, senior management, academics and economists, resea...
U.S. News Announces 2021 Best Hotels Rankings
U.S. News & World Report | February 2, 2021
Eleventh annual list recognizes the leading hotels during a trying year for the industry. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2021 -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced the Best Hotels rankings, which evaluate more than 30,000 luxury hotels and resorts across the USA, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Even though global travel remains limited, these hotels continue to operate at the top of their class for luxury and hospitality – a recognition made more meaningful during these challenging times. "The travel industry has faced numerous challenges over the pas...
Vision 2050 – 2nd Edition: The Recovery Year
Robert Rauch | February 2, 2021
By Robert Rauch The Recovery Year For Hotels The final U.S. lodging industry numbers for 2020 came out and RevPAR literally finished at half of where it finished in 2019—that’s right, half! Occupancy was 66.1% at $131.17 average rate and RevPAR of $86.76. 2020 finished at 42% at a rate of $103.00, RevPAR was $43.26. The impact to the bottom line is easy to see in our bank accounts as breakeven has always been thought to be close to 60% occupancy but many forget the importance of rate to that equation. Travel Demand How and when do we recover? The when is certainly up for debate but most pundits are focused on 2023 or 2024....
Business Travel: Full Recovery Expected by 2025
the Global Business Travel Association | February 2, 2021
Alexandria, Virginia – February 2, 2021 – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest business travel association – released its annual BTI™ Outlook, a detailed analysis of business travel in 2020, with projections for 2021 and beyond. The BTI Outlook, now in its 12th year, is an exhaustive study of business travel spending and growth covering 75 countries across 48 industries. The true global financial impact of COVID-19 began in Q2 2020, resulting in an expected 68% decline (to $738 billion USD) from April 1, 2020 to the end of the year. Because of the relatively strong (pre-COVID) first quarter of 202...
HSMAI To Honor the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds of 2020
HSMAI | February 2, 2021
McLean, VA - February 2, 2021 - The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) is proud to recognize the brightest minds in the hospitality industry with the 2020 HSMAI Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization. These professionals have been selected by a panel of senior industry executives and will be celebrated virtually on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. HSMAI's Top 25 Extraordinary Minds have shared innovative ideas and overcame obstacles in the preceding 18 months. Each of these individuals has exemplified leadership and brilliance in their respective roles. Collectively, they are contributing to th...
Is This the Year the World Will Finally Return to Normal?
Michelle McKinney Frymire | February 1, 2021
By Michelle McKinney Frymire As a Finance and Strategy leader, an important part of my job is trying to “see around corners” for our company – to know what is coming and how to react to it, but I must admit that a year ago I would not have predicted where we are today. And, while I still can’t predict when the pandemic will end, there are some things I see about 2021 that I would like to share. The first is a view some of you may not want to hear -- I can confidently tell you that the world is never going back to the “normal” that existed before the pandemic. It is time to move to our “next normal”, and frankly, I wouldn...
6 Hospitality Trends to Watch in 2021
Amadeus | February 1, 2021
With the global roll out of COVID-19 vaccines underway, we are all hoping for brighter days ahead along with the return of travel. But it’s also important to acknowledge that the experiences and customs we once knew may look different – either temporarily or permanently due to the pandemic. As the year progresses, what will travel look like? How can the hospitality industry restore traveler confidence while demonstrating resilience? As COVID-19 wears on, 6 significant trends have emerged that will continue to shape hospitality for the months and years to come. Go big (near or far): making travel dreams come true As roads, skies, and ...
State of the Travel Industry Event Maps Out Comeback for Hardest-Hit U.S. Industry
U.S. Travel Association | January 28, 2021
WASHINGTON — January 28, 2021 — “Travel’s Next Great Chapter.” That’s how U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow described the coming era for the American travel and tourism industry following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the industry lose 4.5 million jobs by the end of last year—the most of any U.S. industry. In the annual State of the Travel Industry address delivered via webcast from the National Press Club on Wednesday, Dow acknowledged the hardships the pandemic has inflicted on travel—both as an industry and as a fundamental part of American life—but struck an optimistic tone abou...
After Unanticipated 2020, Hotel Industry Knows What It’s Up Against
HotStats | January 27, 2021
The end of 2020 is not the end of the problems for the global hotel industry, but it does bring hope on the wings of a vaccine that, in time, could be a panacea for what ails it: fear. The hotel industry does not perform well without its most significant ingredient: people. The pandemic has removed that element. In its place sit unused guestrooms, vacant restaurants and empty conference and meeting spaces. It’s a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what was concocted last year. But the close of the calendar doesn’t automatically mean a brighter 2021. It will still take time. Last year ended on a high note for hotels in the Midd...
Pandemic Lessons From a Las Vegas Hotel Leader
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | January 27, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky The city of Las Vegas always presents an interesting picture for the state of global hospitality. Often standing in contrast to the rest of the world, this nexus of conventions and sometimes excessive leisure trips is also a center of hotel innovation. Now with the sharp demand for contactless experiences so as to prevent the spread of viruses through The Strip’s innumerous corridors and grandiose lobby floors which can see tens of thousands of visitors a day, we look once more to this city for how it is adapting to the times. We’ve known Shannon McCallum for well over a decade. And like the two of us, s...
How Hotels Are Getting Back to the Business of Meetings
Fran Worrall | January 26, 2021
Although in-person events may look different, the outlook is optimistic By Fran Worrall With the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine, can the return of meetings and conferences be far behind? Although the pandemic has no doubt changed the way events will be held—at least for the foreseeable future—most hoteliers and industry experts are feeling optimistic. In fact, many properties and meeting planners are already glimpsing signs of life after COVID. “We’re seeing an increase in inquiries, especially in the second half of 2021,” said Blair McSheffrey, vice-president of global & hotel sales at Sonesta, who attributes the uptick...
