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
COVID-19 Causes Modest Shifts in 2020-21 School Break Calendars
STR | July 27, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—While questions remain regarding the return of in-person learning in schools throughout the U.S., STR’s annual School Break Report shows only modest shifts in academic calendars for the upcoming year. The report summarizes vacation break dates in 2020-21 for a robust sample of U.S. public K-12 school districts, colleges and universities. As a result of COVID-19 shifts in previously approved calendars, STR implemented extra measures to ensure the accuracy of 2020-21 calendar data with additional information included regarding e-learning (remote) scheduling and other specialized data points. “Aside from the...
From Lockdown Staycation to Sustainable Tourism: Accelerating Change
July 27, 2020
During the current public health crisis, we have grown perhaps a little too familiar with our own four walls. COVID-19 and the widespread lockdown has forced upon us a period of reflection, removing the possibility of travel altogether in the interim. What with closed borders, cancelled flights and several ports having suspended their operations, we are increasingly looking for ways to get that holiday feeling from the comfort (or discomfort, as the case may be) of our homes. When we consider the prospect of resuming travel, some of us may be all the more eager thanks to pent-up demand, while others may be tentative about braving the big w...
HFTP Introduces CYBER HITEC 2020, A Virtual Platform for the World’s Largest Hospitality Technology Event
HFTP | July 27, 2020
The interactive online event will present a comprehensive education, exhibits and networking program; starting with three live days and continuing on-demand access to the event’s resources for one month. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has unveiled the details for its virtual CYBER HITEC. The 47-year Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) recently pivoted from an in-person to a virtual program, but still retains the full-breadth of features and expertise HITEC is known for. Stepping into the virtual event, a participant will encounter education planned and presented by industry in...
Africa Traveler & Hotel Guest Sentiment Survey
Tim Smith | July 27, 2020
By Tim Smith COVID-19 has, and continues to, dramatically impact every aspect of our lives. At the time of writing globally there have been approximately 13.5M cases and 580,000 deaths. Almost every country has had restrictions placed on their daily lives. However, perhaps the most challenging aspect of the pandemic is the uncertainty. No-one knows how long it will go on for or when we will be able to start a meaningful recovery. The tourism and hospitality industry has been hit the hardest, airlines not flying, hotels not open, conferences postponed and no customers for restaurants and bars. It doesn’t matter the size or stre...
The U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Remains Robust Through the First Half of 2020, Despite Pandemic.*
Lodging Econometrics | July 27, 2020
July 27, 2020 – PORTSMOUTH, NH - Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that at the close of the second quarter of 2020, the total U.S. hotel construction pipeline stands at 5,582 projects/687,801 rooms, down a mere 1% by projects and rooms, Year-Over-Year (YOY). Remarkably, despite some project cancelations, postponements, and delays, there has been minimal impact on the U.S. construction pipeline. Contrary to what is being experienced with hotel operations, the pipeline remains robust as interest rates are at all-time lows. Projects currently under construction stand at 1,771 projects/235,467 rooms, up 3% and 1% respectively, Y...
Humanizing Hotel Brands During COVID-19 Could Encourage Tourists to Return
July 23, 2020
Hotels should build an emotional attachment with tourists when communicating during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic if they are to encourage them to return, according to new research. The study finds that crisis communication emphasizing shared emotional responses to risks enables tourists to humanize the hotel, which can subsequently create an emotional attachment. This attachment can then increase tourists’ intentions to visit once the crisis ends, which is crucial if the industry is to recover. Researchers from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Bath and West of England say their findings challenge the approach that domina...
WTTC Warns Country-Wide Border Closures Could Seriously Stall Global Economic Recovery
July 23, 2020
Advises regional and local measures only to combat COVID-19 spikes Travel & Tourism sector will help power the global economic recovery London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned governments around the world that further country-wide border closures could seriously jeopardise global economic recovery. WTTC is urging authorities to take a more carefully calibrated approach and introduce localised measures, and only when necessary. This would avoid blanket restrictions, prevent stalling the fragile economic recovery and not cripple the already bruised and battered Travel & Tourism sector. WTTC would su...
Cleanliness and Communication Continue to Drive Hotel Guest Satisfaction, J.D. Power Finds
J.D. Power | July 22, 2020
A year ago, hotel summer marketing and advertising efforts were in full swing with images of epic pools, zen-like spas and cozy bed linens. Today, hotel ads are filled with images of electrostatic sprayers, updates on new cleaning protocols and offers for free last-minute cancellations. These are smart moves, according to the J.D. Power 2020 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study,SM released today, which finds that meeting guest expectations for cleanliness and proactively communicating with guests prior to arrival continue to be critical drivers of guest satisfaction. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly ampli...
COVID-19’s Potential Lasting Impact on Fixed vs Variable Hotel Expense Ratios
CBRE authors | July 22, 2020
By Mark VanStekelenburg, Kannan Sankaran, Andy Hartley and Vanessa Gonzalez As a result of COVID-19, hotel operators have been forced to make tough decisions, including the most basic one on whether to keep the lights on. Many were required to close their doors after municipal mandates were put in place and some decided to remain open, despite record-low occupancy levels, to house pandemic-related first responders and other essential personnel related to the fallout from the spread of coronavirus, largely in place of more traditional sources of demand during “normal times”. Depending on the type of hotel and its service level, the deci...
Thinking for Yourself May Be the Only Regimen for a Full Recovery Part I
Steven Ferry | July 22, 2020
By Steven Ferry “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” Groucho Marx Do you personally accept the "New Normal" for the hospitality industry and society as a whole—which is based on the premise that Covid-19 is a singularly dangerous threat that requires a complete change in our lives, when (as it turns out) it is actually on a par with the common flu and (as it turns out) every other incorrectly declared pandemic? Or do you want to understand what has happened and do whatever is in your power, big or small, to return to the old, fun and life-f...
How to Enhance Customer Experience During COVID-19 to Differentiate Your Brand
Tom Riccio | July 22, 2020
By Tom Riccio Earning consumer confidence during the pandemic with a well-executed safety strategy is vital if hotels are to win back customers as the nation tries to reopen. With Covid-19 a major ongoing hurdle for the hospitality industry and consumers alike, the biggest opportunity for hotels is to protect and enhance their brand by implementing broad public health measures and communicating them effectively. A hotel’s health strategy will either put customers at ease and build trust or signal the establishment is disorganized and perhaps unsafe. Brands that provide comprehensive safeguards – plus variety and flair – will posit...
Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 234: Curt R. Strand, President, Hilton International
Stanley Turkel | July 21, 2020
by Stanley Turkel, CMHS Hotel History: Curt R. Strand (1920-2020) On July 12, 2020, I received the following email: “Dear Friends of Curt, With a broken heart, I am telling you that Curt passed away last night in his home. He was, as you would expect gallant till the end. Love, Barbara Lynn”. In 1948, Conrad Hilton formed Hilton Hotels International. One of the first employees was Curt R. Strand who wrote in the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly June 1996*: “Hilton International started small in 1947, but I was endowed with a great asset. It is a wise parent who does not bestow money on his children, just in...
All Hyatt Hotels in U.S. and Canada to Require Face Coverings for Guests
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | July 21, 2020
CHICAGO (July 21, 2020) -- At Hyatt, the safety and security of our colleagues and guests is always a top priority. Guided by our purpose – to care for people so they can be their best – and following medical expert guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, beginning Monday, July 27, for the foreseeable future, all Hyatt hotels in the U.S. and Canada will require face coverings within indoor public areas, which include meetings and events spaces, restaurants and bars, and fitness centers. Some guests may be exempt from this mandate, including but not limited to people with medical conditions, consuming food or beverages in restaura...
Hospitality Industry Urged to Embrace the New Customer Journey and Re-Think Processes in the Post-Pandemic Business Recovery
HSMAI Europe | July 21, 2020
In order to overcome the challenges and capitalise on opportunities in the post-pandemic business recovery, the hospitality industry will need to re-think former working processes and be prepared to adapt to meet the changing customer requirements. This was the clear and inspiring message from the recent HSMAI Region Europe webinar entitled ‘The All New Customer Journey’ which took place last week. Research findings According to the latest research from HSMAI Europe unveiled at the webinar, more than three quarters of the membership surveyed believe firmly that customer experience rather than profitability will be a core focus for...
Hotel Industry, Reeling From Covid-19 Economic Fallout, Lays Out Priorities for Covid 4.0
AHLA | July 21, 2020
Hotels Still Below 50% of Pre-COVID Staffing; Industry Calls for Increased Liquidity Measures & Targeted Tax Provisions Click here to download the letter WASHINGTON (July 21, 2020) – As lawmakers consider additional legislation to address the ongoing health crisis and economic fallout from COVID-19, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) sent a letter to Congress calling for additional help in several areas, including extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for severely impacted businesses and their employees, creating targeted lending facilities and liquidity measures to help hoteliers meet debt service, ...
Survey Finds Americans’ Overall Perceptions of Travel Safety Hold Steady Despite Rise in U.S. COVID-19 Cases
MMGY Travel Intelligence | July 21, 2020
KANSAS CITY, MO (July 21, 2020) – According to the latest results of MMGY Global’s Travel Safety Barometer (Wave VI), which measures the impact of COVID-19 on traveler perceptions of safety, the current surge in cases of the virus across the U.S. has not made Americans more fearful of becoming ill. It has also not impacted the number of respondents who plan to take a leisure trip within the next six months, which has held steady at 40% since early June. While the travel industry still has a long road to recovery ahead, there are two areas where perceptions of safety are in fact rising. Americans’ confidence in the safety of domestic fl...
Reopening Delays Giving Hawaii Hotels Added Time to Ensure Employees, Guests Are Safe
React Mobile | July 21, 2020
React Mobile continues its ‘Employee Safety Culture’ Webcast Series with a deep look at what’s happening in Hawaii; Ryan Doi of Prince Resorts shares several technology-based best practices, including remote medical diagnostics for staff and guests if they feel ill Seattle, July 21, 2020 — As hotels coast to coast prepare for reopening, Hawaii braces for more delays. Although there was talk of travelers returning August 1, the recent surge of COVID-19 cases on the U.S. mainland has postponed the effort once again, this time until September. In Episode 2 of the “New World, New Employee Safety Culture” webcast series, React Mobil...
Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment Complete Merger
Caesars Entertainment Inc | July 20, 2020
RENO, Nev. and LAS VEGAS, July 20, 2020 - Caesars Entertainment, Inc. ("Caesars," "Caesars Entertainment", or the "Company", formerly known as Eldorado Resorts, Inc. or "Eldorado") announced today that it completed its acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corporation ("CEC"). The transaction creates the largest casino and entertainment company in the U.S. The transaction further enhances Caesars' position as the leading regional and destination gaming operator in the U.S. The combined company owns and operates more than 55 casino properties worldwide, including an iconic portfolio of eight casino hotel properties on the Las Vegas Strip. ...
Hotels Sue SF To Protect Workers, Guests From Unsafe Cleaning Ordinance
July 20, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO, July 20, 2020 - The Hotel Council of San Francisco, the California Hotel and Lodging Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association filed a lawsuit today to overturn the County of San Francisco's so-called "Healthy Buildings" ordinance that endangers hotel employees and guests and causes significant economic hardships by forcing many hotels to remain closed and permanently lay off thousands of workers. The ordinance, approved on July 7 by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and signed on July 17 by Mayor Breed puts hotel employees at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, will delay those workers' return to ...
COVID-19: Impact on the Hospitality Workforce
Sukrit Dogra | July 20, 2020
By Sukrit Dogra The ruthless march of COVID-19 throughout the globe is first and foremost a human tragedy, affecting the health of hundreds of thousands of people. The consequences of measures taken worldwide to curb the pandemic are having a growing impact on the global economy. This article aims to offer key highlights on the impact being felt by the industry due to factors including, but not limited to, the migratory nature of the hospitality work force and the pause on global travel, tourism and restaurant services. Business impact on travel and tourism Accounting for the unprecedented travel restrictions, the United Nations ...
Travel Industry Outlines Relief Needs as Reopenings Falter
U.S. Travel Association | July 17, 2020
Recent News Has Hurt Americans’ Views on Traveling, Polling Shows WASHINGTON (July 17, 2020) - Amid a new round of coronavirus-related economic closures and fresh data that Americans are as wary as ever of traveling, the devastated U.S. travel industry on Friday submitted to Congress and the administration its policy requests for the next coronavirus relief package. The slate of proposals includes measures to help travel employers survive the worst of the downturn; assistance with health-related necessities such as robust sanitation and personal protective equipment; and, eventually, incentives to get Americans safely traveling again...
Hotel Industry Releases Top 5 Requirements to Travel Safely
AHLA | July 17, 2020
Face Coverings, Physical Distancing to be Standardized at Hotels; Download the Guest Checklist WASHINGTON (July 16, 2020) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today released the “Safe Stay Guest Checklist” for guests on how to travel safely while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide. This checklist is part of AHLA’s Safe Stay guidelines, an industry-wide, enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees. The Safe Stay Guest Checklist includes: Require face coverings in all indoor public spaces and pract...
The Impact of Social Distancing on Hotel F&B Operations
HotStats | July 17, 2020
When 2020 is over and done with (could not come sooner, right?), “social distancing” will be the frontrunner for buzz term of the year. It doesn’t even matter that the World Health Organization has lobbied vigorously for the phrase to be dropped in favor of “physical distancing.” Poppycock ... hogwash ... piffle ... social distancing shall proceed as the preferred patois of the pandemic. Social distancing will play a key role in hospitality operations going forward, and in no place will this be more pronounced than food and beverage operations (F&B), which include restaurants, bars and conference and banqueting. F&...
How Hotels Should Adapt Meetings and Events
Bob Rauch | July 16, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic will change how hotels host meetings and events, and if done correctly, they can help the industry in both the short and long term. By Bob Rauch, President of RAR Hospitality and Sarah Andersen, Business Development Manager at RAR Hospitality In this time of great uncertainty, how can we best prepare for a new landscape in the hospitality and events industry post-COVID-19? The timing for recovery in 2020 is going to be dependent on consumers and businesses having confidence that our cities and venues are safe again. We won't be seeing any events in June or July but expect Q4 events in the fall to start up a...
