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
Case Study: Hotel Paso Del Norte Re-Opens as One of the First Autograph Collection Hotels Using Bipolar Ionization for Air Purification
Greenwood Hospitality | October 29, 2020
When the historic Hotel Paso Del Norte began a full-property renovation three years ago, the hotel’s leadership had a vision to restore the property to its former glory. In addition to completely new furniture, fixtures, and amenities in guestrooms and public areas, the historic hotel is now one of the first Autograph Collection hotels in Marriott International’s portfolio to make use of bipolar ionization to purify and sanitize air on-property at all times. The bipolar ionization system works differently from traditional air filtration systems, which gradually replaces air within a property over time. The system at work in the Hotel...
Support Grows for Hotel Industry’s Safe Stay; Former CDC, WHO Official, & Infectious Diseases Society of America Endorse Guidelines
AHLA | October 28, 2020
Washington (October 28, 2020) — Support for the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Safe Stay initiative continues to grow with endorsements coming from leading scientists, physicians and public health experts in epidemiology and infectious disease. The new endorsements come from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Linen Management which represents the personnel involved in the textile care industry, as well as a certified industrial hygienist and former infectious diseasesepidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and World Health Organization...
Summarizing the Financial Consequences of the Pandemic
Larry Mogelonsky | October 28, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Is COVID-19 the Armageddon for the hotel industry? That’s the first question I asked Dr. Donald W. Wise, co-founder and senior managing director of Turnbull Capital Group. With over 36 years of investment banking experience in the hospitality industry, he and this firm have been involved in roughly $20 billions of advisory, consultation, note sales, preferred equity and debt placements, and transactional engagements on both the buy-side and the sell-side. Given our current state of affairs, it behooves all senior executives and aspiring hoteliers to know a bit about the behind-clo...
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Outperforms Industry Through Rapid Execution of Plan as Pandemic Quickly Spread
Hospitality Ventures Management Group | October 26, 2020
Company Shares Strategies Leading to Significant Outperformance for Stronger GOPPAR Results and GOP Percentage ATLANTA, October 26, 2020—Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, today shared key elements of its strategy that led to significant industry outperformance in multiple metrics, according to STR data around expenses and operating margins. For the three-month period June through August 2020, HVMG delivered substantially greater GOPPAR (Gross Operating Profit Per Available Room) and GOP percentage than the industry and continues to outperform indu...
Pacific Countries: From the Highs to the Lows, Where Does Performance Stand Now?
STR | October 26, 2020
Countries across the world have seen various levels of impact over the last seven months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So where exactly do Pacific countries stand now? We look at how performance has changed over the course of the pandemic. Australia Australia experienced its lowest occupancy and RevPAR levels in April, 19.8% and AUD23.59, respectively. ADR, on the other hand, was at its lowest a month later in May at AUD118.36. Performance has since grown in the country as restrictions have ultimately eased. The country saw its highest performance levels in July: occupancy (41.5%), ADR (AUD143.96) and RevPAR (AUD59.72). In August, however, ...
Call to Action for Hospitality, Event and Travel Professionals to Take Part in Research Ahead of HSMAI Europe Curate
HSMAI Europe | October 22, 2020
Research to guide debate and identify potential challenges and solutions about the future of the events and diversity and discrimination in the industry LONDON, October 2020 – Hospitality, events and travel professionals across the UK and Europe are invited to take part in two research projects ahead of HSMAI Europe Curate virtual conference which is taking place 3 - 4 November this year. The research focuses on both discrimination and diversity in the industry as well as the future of events; identifying current challenges and potential solutions faced by the industry - particularly in light of the pandemic. Industry professionals ca...
A Message to the Travel, Lodging and Hospitality Industry That May Save your Business
Frederick J. DeMicco | October 22, 2020
By F.F. Miles and Frederick DeMicco Ph.D., Professor, the Franke College of Business, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Northern Arizona University With our extraordinary downturn in hospitality and travel, I sought out a corporate business traveler, a frequent flyer, road warrior extraordinaire and someone in our global travel industry who occupies the C-Suite. With travel starting to spring back to life, especially for leisure travelers, I thought it would be a good idea to interview a frequent traveler to learn what life is all about today when flying, staying in hotels and renting cars, etc. Below reflects my interview wi...
As More Companies Let Employees Work From Home Permanently, What Is the Outlook of Business Travel?
Linchi Kwok | October 22, 2020
By Linchi Kwok When the pandemic hit the global economy in March, business travel was estimated to lose $820 billion in revenue. Under the best scenario, businesses were expected to reopen in late spring or early summer. As we entered into the summer, indicators showed travel and hospitality businesses were picking up, but we all knew travel recovery would not occur until people are taking business trips again. “Travel, as we knew it, is over,” concluded by Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Now in October, we still have not contained the coronavirus. To make it worse, new COVID-19 cases now surge again across the US and Europe. More co...
Joe D’Alessandro and Ernest Wooden Jr. to Be Inducted Into U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders
U.S. Travel Association | October 22, 2020
WASHINGTON (October 22, 2020) — Travel industry leaders Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association, and Ernest Wooden Jr., former president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, will be honored as the 2020 inductees into the U.S. Travel Association Hall of Leaders, the organization announced Wednesday. Distinguished individuals are named to U.S. Travel’s Hall of Leaders for “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry and raised industry-wide standards.” With these two inductions, 102 travel industry luminaries have been named to th...
Nominations Open for HSMAI 2020 Top 25 and Lifetime Achievement Honors
HSMAI | October 21, 2020
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) Americas is now accepting nominations for its Lifetime Achievement and Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization honors. HSMAI will recognize honorees during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Dinner in conjunction with the HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference and other HSMAI Marketing Week events in 2021. Nominations are open until December 1, 2020. 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 hos...
COVID-19 Recovery: How Hotels Can Reestablish Brand Trust
Dr. Rick Garlick | October 21, 2020
By Dr. Rick Garlick Fall is in full swing and as businesses continue to face myriad challenges related to COVID-19 and economic downturn, brand trust continues to stagnate across the travel, hospitality and leisure sector. As such, several behavioral and attitudinal shifts will have long-term impacts across the industry and cause recovery challenges as consumers resume travel – but there are also some bright spots on the horizon. Where does trust stand? The Magid data shows that, despite significant investments to assure travelers that various venues are safe, the needle is not moving. In April, the first wave of the study showed tha...
The Future of Innovation in Hospitality: Current Best Practices, Key Success Factors and Main Challenges
Dr Carlos Martin-Rios | October 20, 2020
By Dr Carlos Martin-Rios Just before the majority of countries around the world went into lockdown, we (Pr. Martin-Rios from EHL and Pr. Chan from NY Institute of Technology) completed a report on the future of innovation for hospitality. HSMAI America commissioned a scenario study as part of the association's continued commitment to unfolding a vision of the current U.S. hospitality’s emerging sales, marketing and revenue optimization (SMRO) innovation strategic initiatives with its challenges and needs. This report addresses best practices, success factors and challenges for the development of strategic innovation in hospitality in ...
New Hospitality Brand Azumi Launches
Azumi | October 20, 2020
October 2020, JAPAN: Adrian Zecha, Founder of Aman, alongside Japanese hospitality group Naru Developments, announce the launch of their new brand Azumi. The brand will offer a fresh take on the Japanese ryokan by combining the wholehearted, personal hospitality that characterizes a traditional stay with the best elements of the global hotel experience. The first Azumi property is scheduled to open in the Setouchi Region of Japan in Spring 2021. The ryokan - a type of Japanese inn - can be traced back to as early as the 8th century, serving as a waypoint for weary travellers to refuel and rest overnight. While modern hotels have been d...
Vesta Hospitality to Manage New Hilton Garden Inn Wilsonville Portland
Vesta Hospitality | October 19, 2020
Vancouver, Washington, October 19, 2020 – Vesta Hospitality announced it has been selected to manage the new Hilton Garden Inn Wilsonville Portland in Wilsonville, Oregon. The hotel will open later this month. Vesta Hospitality President Mark Hemmer made the announcement. The hotel has 118 rooms and features first-rate amenities including an indoor pool, fitness center, two meeting rooms, and Parkway Grille serving northwest regional American style cuisine and local wines, local brews and specialty cocktails. It is located off I-5, just north of the Willamette River and down the street from Memorial Park and is also only 20 minutes from ...
HSMAI Foundation to Honor Leadership During the Pandemic With Adrian Awards
The HSMAI Foundation | October 19, 2020
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation is proud to honor hospitality professionals and organizations who have excelled in providing exemplary leadership in uncertain times with the second-ever Talent and Leadership Development Adrian Award. The pandemic has caused significant challenges in human resources during the pandemic, with major layoffs, furloughs, and reorganization – for this reason, it is important now, more than ever, to recognize leadership under trying circumstances. “Strong leadership has been absolutely essential in 2020,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO ...
Study: In Era of COVID-19, Airlines and Airports Must Do More to Accommodate Stressed-Out Passengers
Florida Atlantic University | October 19, 2020
Personalized Profiles, Encouraging Messages Would Help Travelers Cope BOCA RATON, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2020) – With the coronavirus crisis dealing the travel industry one of the biggest blows in its history, a new study from researchers at Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast universities suggests that airlines and airports should be doing more to help passengers cope with stress. Airlines and airports need to design services and create marketing strategies for passengers dealing with stressful leisure travel, according to Ye Zhang, Ph.D., and Melanie Lorenz, Ph.D., both of FAU, and Jase Ramsey, Ph.D., of FGCU. The study, published i...
Siegel Sez – This Year’s Odd HITEC Pilgrimage
Douglas Rice | October 16, 2020
October 16, 2020 I took three flights last week and, yes, they were all horse related. I flew three legs on three airlines-- Southwest, Jet Blue and Delta. After meeting with friends who flew American and United, all I can say is stick to the three I mentioned. I can’t believe other airlines are packing people in. The three I flew all kept the middle seats empty and if you were lucky enough to get upgraded to first class on Delta they kept the seat next to you unoccupied. Maybe I am overreacting, but if our ultimate goal is to get people flying and staying in hotels again it helps knowing that some airlines are doing what they can to mak...
U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey 2020
Luigi Major | October 15, 2020
By Luigi Major In 2019, the national lodging market reached new heights, with hotels reporting the highest occupancy and ADR levels ever recorded. Similarly, hotel development continued at a steady pace, with new hotels opening to a burgeoning market and new and exciting projects continuously being moved through the development pipeline. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, government restrictions, travel and group cancellations, and an overall fear of traveling have caused an unprecedented drop in travel and tourism demand in the country and around the world, which has resulted in substantially lower occupancies and average rates. T...
All-New stayAPT Suites Hotel Brand Launches in U.S.
stayAPT Suites | October 14, 2020
MATTHEWS, N.C., Oct. 13, 2020 - New hotel brand stayAPT Suites is providing U.S. travelers with an unmatched hotel experience as the venture launches nationwide this fall beginning with their first location, which opened October 1 in Goldsboro, N.C. Guiding the stayAPT Suites experience is a design philosophy that abandons the traditional one-room hotel layout in favor of a residential-feeling suite with intentional spaces. Travelers visiting the Eastern region of the country will be among the first to utilize the game-changing layout marked by a dedicated living room, full kitchen, and separate bedroom. stayAPT Suites opens several new ...
Study Reveals Increasing Importance of OTA Travelers in Economic Recovery
Expedia Group | October 14, 2020
SEATTLE - A new Expedia Group study, in partnership with global research firm BVA BDRC, examines the contributions of online travel agencies (OTAs) to the US travel and tourism sector, the spending patterns of OTA travelers, and the role of OTAs in the hotel booking journey. The research points to the increasing importance of OTA travelers to propel economic recovery for the US travel industry. Key findings Traveler Preferences Traveler Behaviors Travelers are 57% more likely to book their travel through an OTA now than before COVID-19 Domestic OTA travelers spend 16% more per trip and 5% more on-property tha...
Consumer Survey Finds 70 Percent of Travelers Plan to Holiday in 2021
WTTC | October 14, 2020
Research provides data on issues industry needs to address to hasten recovery An overwhelming majority of US and Canadian travelers (99 percent) are eager to travel again, with 70 percent stating that they plan to take a holiday in 2021, according to a Travel Leaders Group survey of nearly 3,000 frequent travelers. The survey was conducted in September in conjunction with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Results indicate that 45 percent of respondents have already made plans or are starting to make finite plans for their next holiday, while 54 percent say the...
Chain Affiliation Is on the Rise but Which Hotels Will Rebrand?
EHL | October 13, 2020
Hotels can change brands (i.e. rebrand). An independent hotel may affiliate itself to a chain (or vice-versa), or a branded hotel may change affiliation from one chain to another, or even within a chain. The rebranding trend has been hot in recent years (see Figure 1): between 1990 and 2017, 32% of hotels in the US were rebranded at least once, with some changing their brands up to seven times. Since 2011, on average 1200 hotels (110K rooms) have been rebranded annually. The hotel rebranding trend From 57 hotels (4,445 rooms) in 1992 to 371 hotels (36,074 rooms) in 2017, the number of independent hotels affiliating themselves to a chain h...
Tourism After Lockdown: Taking the Pulse of Travel
STR | October 12, 2020
STR’s Tourism Consumer Insights team has been keeping a close eye on consumer trends around the industry during this truly unprecedented time. The twists and turns of the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to seismic changes in tourism, which has included the cessation of international travel for some countries. As a whole, we have witnessed long-lasting shifts in consumer behavior and attitudes, producing an increase in active travel, soaring levels of e-commerce and, yes, even ballooning rates of pet ownership. Keen to take the pulse and measure the sentiment of global travelers, STR conducted quantitative research in late August a...
Mixed-Use Development – The Most Sustainable Model for Hotels Going Forward
Mandeep S. Lamba | October 12, 2020
By Mandeep Lamba, Akash Datta, Dipti Mohan Mixed-use development, usually a planned combination of hotels, retail, office or residential space, is a fairly widespread concept globally with several such iconic projects around the world. In the last decade or so, the concept has been gaining ground in India as well, though the combination (two or more elements) of retail, office, and residential spaces have been more popular. However, as investors look to maximize returns through efficient land usage and optimal utilization of FSI, hotels have also been added to the mix. Mixed-use projects leverage the best of each asset class, while dive...
