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
Preparing the Year Ahead for Post-Covid Hotel Luxury
Larry Mogelsonsky | June 17, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) As hoteliers work tirelessly to reopen their properties in an uncertain world and with many new Covid policies that must be implemented, who has the time to look ahead at what will be required for the rest of the calendar year and into 2021? Particularly at the luxury end where close contact is a hallmark of great guest service, changing rapidly takes a sound mind to steer the ship as the hospitality world ebbs and flows through the post-pandemic cycle. To help understand where this segment is headed, I’ve recruited four veteran GMs: Franck X. Arnold, General Manager of the R...
Global DMC Partners Hosts Free Virtual Industry Panel on the ‘New Normal’ for Meeting Planners
Global DMC Partners | June 17, 2020
Washington, D.C. – June 17, 2020 – While meeting and event planners have always bravely faced challenges and risen to the occasion, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the MICE industry like no other previous crisis. To help the industry come together and face these new challenges head on, Global DMC Partners (GDP), the leading global network of independently owned destination management companies (DMCs) and creative event experts, is hosting a free virtual open forum at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 24. Facilitated by GDP President and CEO Catherine Chaulet, the panel discussion, The Meeting Planner’s New Reality in the “New...
Milestone Inc. Develops New Digital Recovery Framework to Accelerate Business Stability and Growth
Milestone Inc | June 17, 2020
Milestone Inc, a leader in omnichannel digital marketing software and services, announces a proven program to help businesses recover and rebound as the economy reopens. Born out of its Covid Crisis-Recovery-Growth framework and webinar series, the Recovery Framework redefines new steps in the marketing funnel before purchase to address the significant disruption the pandemic has had on consumer sentiment and the possibility of exposure. The new sub-steps include, 1. Building Confidence, 2. Building Demand, 3. Driving Conversions, and 4. Building Trust. “Businesses must play an active role in evangelizing confidence and safety and...
COVID-19 Threatens to Ruin a Record Year for Africa’s Hotel Developers
W Hospitality Group | June 17, 2020
LONDON, United Kingdom, June 17, 2020 - African hotel development had returned to growth at the start of 2020, with more than 78,000 rooms in 408 hotels in the pipeline, according to the 12th annual survey by W Hospitality Group, acknowledged as the industry’s most authoritative source. However, the COVID-19 outbreak is now shattering the dreams of Africa’s hotel industry. W Hospitality Group’s Managing Director, Trevor Ward, said: “The growth of the chains’ presence in Africa has been a very positive story since we started this analysis in 2009. It is quite clear from the numbers that the chains, the developers, the investors ...
Founders Close Softscribe Inc. After 20 Years
Softscribe Inc. | June 17, 2020
Board of Directors of Award Winning Tech PR Company Planned Closure Independent of Pandemic BENTONVILLE, AR – June 17, 2020 - Softscribe Inc., a 20-year-old tech PR and marketing company with a vertical market focus, announced it is ending its run. Both founders confirmed the current pandemic was not the main reason for the decision, the timing is coincidental. “Our Board of Directors began discussing closure during our annual meeting in 2019,” said Michael Squires, Softscribe Inc. president and co-founder. “Closure was timed to support our clients through 2020 HITEC, which is traditionally in June. Bentonville, Arkansas, where ...
RIU Hotels & Resorts Launches RIU Protect, a New Healthcare Service for Its Customers
RIU Hotels & Resorts | June 16, 2020
The RIU Hotels & Resorts chain presents RIU Protect, a new service for its customers that provides medical assistance to its guests, including any affected by COVID-19 infection during their holidays. This is a unique and differentiating product, designed with insurance support from AXA XL and the guidance of Mercer Marsh Benefits, with which the hotel chain wants to offer extra safety to its customers when they take their holiday trips during this crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessing the service will be very easy. When booking with RIU through its website or call center, the customer will automatically receive this servic...
Allied for Action: Tourism’s Restart Brings Hope for Millions
UNWTO | June 16, 2020
Global tourism has never been more united than it is now. Both in assessing the impact of COVID-19 and in looking at how we can restart tourism in a responsible way, based on the best that our sector has to offer: sustainability, innovation, collaboration and solidarity. It’s more than three months since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis continues to threaten jobs and livelihoods in tourism and beyond. Changing gears to #RestartTourism The UNWTO led Global Tourism Crisis Committee supported our guidelines to restart tourism, and we are now transforming this determination into concrete actions ...
3 Simple Steps to Ensure Cleanliness Amid Covid-19 Worry
HotStats | June 16, 2020
COVID-19 has amplified the call for hotel cleanliness. Long after the virus is gone, the dangers of germs will linger in guests’ minds — producing anxiety with every sneeze, every handshake and every dubious surface. It’s up to hoteliers to both protect visitors and put their minds at ease. For hoteliers, the only way forward is through a fresh hotel cleanliness strategy. In this article, we’ll lay out a plan to not only keep guests safe, but also calm their nerves about virus threats. Here’s how to assure visitors of hotel cleanliness during and after COVID-19. Step 1: Reevaluate Your Deep Cleaning Plan Before the travel in...
Hilton Update on Corporate Response to COVID-19
Hilton | June 16, 2020
McLEAN, Va. - The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has created unprecedented challenges for the travel and tourism industry. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HLT) took early and decisive action to boost liquidity and reduce corporate expenditures. Hilton today announced additional measures to reduce its cost structure, including the intended reduction of approximately 2,100 corporate roles globally, and the extension of previously announced furloughs, reduced hours, and corporate pay reductions for up to an additional 90 days. Christopher J. Nassetta, President & Chief Executive Officer of Hilton, said, “Never in Hilton’s 10...
Cloudbeds’ Global Sentiment Survey of Independent Hoteliers Reveals That Caution Remains but 64% Expect Doors to Be Open by August
Cloudbeds | June 16, 2020
(San Diego) June 16, 2020 - Cloudbeds, a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions for more than 20,000 hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals across the globe, released the results of a sentiment survey with responses from more than 1,000 independent owners and operators across 65 countries. The goal of the survey is to equip Cloudbeds’ customer base with key market level indicators that will be integral to decisions they make as part of their recovery plans moving forward. The survey incorporated everything from the timing of restriction liftings to demand channels. The majority, 64%, said they expected to be open by late Au...
Travel Predictions for Summer 2020 After Two Seasons of Pandemic and Social Unrest
Zongqing Zhou | June 16, 2020
By Dr. Zongqing Zhou It is relatively difficult to predict summer travel, particularly after the massive national protests that add a potentially tide-turning consumer psychological breaker. But, if the protests do not trigger a second wave of the pandemic, the threat of contamination by the coronavirus will be drastically reduced in the minds of the travelers and we may expect a more peaceful and steady increase of travel for the latter part of summer. We won't know, though, until the two-week window is over, which brings us to the end of June. To the contrary, if the protests induce a second wave of the pandemic, consumers will ...
Ripclear Releases New V2 COVID-19 Face Shields to Safeguard Hotel Personnel
June 16, 2020
Ripclear, makers of the most advanced protective film for outdoor sports eyewear, announced the launch of its V2 Shield, designed to protect personnel dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak including hotel staffers, EMS workers, nurses, police, facility and operations personnel, and other front-line staff. They expertly designed V2 Shield features with 91% optical transparency, so that personnel can safely and effectively do their work while staying protected via a certified medical face shield. “We heard the needs of frontline responders and essential workers across the country, and are producing an optically clear, anti fog, foam padded fa...
Extending the Covid Summer Into Fall
Larry Mogelonsky | June 15, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Data from numerous sources supports the notion that people are eager to start exploring the world once more. However, with travel restrictions still in effect for international flights, many won’t be able to take advantage of the regular summer season vacation, and this may result in numerous travelers holding out until autumn when more freedoms are restored. Firstly, a gradual rollout of ending the lockdown means that the start of the post-pandemic revival will come from drive markets or regional air travel. By now, this should be pretty obvious. In other words, don’t expect in...
U.S. Travel Searches Indicate Initial Signs of Hotel Recovery
Expedia Group | June 12, 2020
Rising traveler intent is positive indicator for industry, according to insights from BVA BDRC and Expedia Group SEATTLE, June 12, 2020 – According to new consumer research from BVA BDRC[1] and supported by Expedia Group search data[2], Americans are increasing their intent to travel this summer, a positive indicator for the industry. While U.S. domestic and regional travel searches steadily dropped throughout March and into the first week of April, according to Expedia Group data, search has been steadily climbing over the last month in total volume. Expedia Group search data also showed that for domestic travelers who searched within t...
Hotels Welcome Travelers as California Reopens Friday
California Hotel & Lodging Association | June 11, 2020
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 11, 2020 - Hotels throughout California will begin welcoming guests Friday as California counties lift travel bans for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak in March. Under revised California Department of Public Health guidelines, all but seven of the state's 58 counties are permitting hotels to reopen this Friday and the majority of those are allowing individual and leisure travelers to stay at hotels. To ensure the well-being of guests and employees, hotels have implemented Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-backed health safety self-certifications programs, hotel-specific plans, and employee trai...
Hotel Market Analysis: 8 Ways Hotels Should Combat the Crisis
EHL Hospitality Insights | June 11, 2020
An analysis of how Covid-19 has affected the hotel market and the importance of adapting to new parameters in staffing, marketing and technology to avoid extinction. Impactful consequences of the current crisis The coronavirus has taken an unprecedented toll on the travel industry. At the time of writing, every single actor has been taking concrete actions and cutting costs to keep their head above water. As a hotelier, you have most likely had to make fast and difficult choices to shelter your business from the crisis, involving an immediacy factor often leaving you with nose to the grindstone, unable to craft a long-term strategy. However...
Global Hotel Stay Data Shows U.S., Canada Follow China’s Precedent of Early Recovery With 30% Increase in May
Onyx CenterSource | June 11, 2020
Dallas, Texas (June 11, 2020) – While globally hotel stays remain relatively flat at all-time lows, the U.S. and Canada saw stays increase 10-30% week-over-week in May, according to the latest data from Onyx CenterSource, a leading global provider of B2B payments and business intelligence to the hospitality industry. OnyxComp internal analytics show recent hotel stay trends in parts of the U.S. and Canada follow earlier data from China, shared on the Onyx blog yesterday, indicating signs of initial market recovery. In contrast, South America continues to see low hotel stay volumes, in line with the region’s ongoing struggle to contain COV...
Radisson Hotel Group Rolls Out Holistic Recovery Plan for Properties in China
Radisson Hotel Group | June 10, 2020
Shanghai, China - June 10, 2020 - Radisson Hotel Group has unveiled a holistic recovery plan for its hotels and resorts in China, as the revival of China’s travel and hospitality industry is now picking up speed following the COVID-19 global pandemic. The majority of hotels in the country are now open for business and occupancy levels reached close to 50% during the recent Labor Day holiday – ten percentage points higher than in recent weeks¹. Encouragingly, this included an upswing in corporate travel in first tier cities such as Beijing, where hotels in the financial district have seen their occupancy triple². As China rebounds, ...
Marriott Has a More Realistic View on Demand Recovery in Europe, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | June 10, 2020
Following a recent webinar event hosted by New York University, which saw the senior executives of Accor, Sebastien Bazin and Marriott, Arne Sorenson stating opposing outlooks regarding how demand recovery in Europe will play out; Ralph Hollister, Analyst, Travel & Tourism at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the situation: “Sorenson thinks both the US and China have the same kind of travel industry fundamentals to fuel a stronger recovery than Europe. Europe’s situation is more precarious, the region is made up of a vast number of countries that are still applying different rules regarding qua...
More Than 197M Travel & Tourism Jobs Will Be Lost Due to Prolonged Travel Restrictions
June 10, 2020
• WTTC says Governments must act now to save the sector • Prolonged travel restrictions and lack of urgency will result in the loss of $5.5 trillion in T&T GDP • Worst-case scenario can be avoided if governments around the world follow four-point plan for recovery and start easing restrictions now, ahead of the summer London, UK: More than 197 million jobs could be lost in the global Travel & Tourism sector if barriers to global travel, such as blanket anti-travel advisories and quarantine measures remain in place, according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). T...
Hospitality-Tech & COVID Roundtable
June 9, 2020
Insights to Position Your Hospitality-Tech Company for a Post-COVID World Join hospitality-tech leaders from Hyatt Hotels, Knowland, and SHR on Thursday, June 11th for a discussion and shared insights around the future of hospitality-tech in a post-COVID world. Panelists Jeff Bzdawka, Robert Post, and Rod Jimenez will join host Dexter Hopen from Serent Capital on June 11th at 12pm EST / 9am PST to discuss: The future of hospitality-tech in a post-COVID world What the data is telling us about recovery How hospitality technology buyers are evaluating purchasing decisions How hospitality-tech leaders can not only survive COVID, ...
Nearly 3 Million UK Travel & Tourism Jobs Could Be Lost Due to Prolonged Travel Restrictions, According to New Research From WTTC
June 9, 2020
09/09/2020 - • Up to 2.9 million jobs are at risk in the UK Travel & Tourism sector alone • Prolonged travel restrictions could result in the loss of $186bn to UK GDP • 1.7m jobs could be saved if restrictions are removed in June • Worst-case scenario can be avoided if UK follows four-point plan for recovery London, UK: Nearly three million jobs could be lost in the UK Travel & Tourism sector if barriers to global travel, such as quarantine measures and blanket anti-travel advisories remain in place, according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The deva...
How COVID-19 Is Eating Into Hotel Profit
HotStats | June 9, 2020
COVID-19 plunged a knife in the collective heart of the global hotel industry and in one fell swoop destroyed demand, sending revenue and profit to historically low levels. This global pandemic is the most harrowing event to ever besiege the hospitality industry. As stridently as room sales have plummeted, the crash in food and beverage (F&B) is even louder. We reviewed March data to see how deeply the F&B department has cratered and what this means for Conference and Banqueting (C&B) and other areas of the profit-and-loss statement (P&L). The volume of business for U.S. hotels decreased dramatically in March: a 48.8-per...
Unlock New Possibilities With Contactless Access Control
ID&C | June 9, 2020
Florida based company, ID&C, helping to provide solutions to protect hotel staff and guests As the world emerges from self-isolation and people begin to travel once again, is your property ready with a plan for how you are keeping your hotel staff and guests safe? Now is the time to offer the option for your guests to purchase contactless access control products, such as “single use” pre-packaged RFID wristbands and key cards. With the increased need to ensure proper sanitation and health standards everywhere, it's important to secure your venue and easily identify your authorized guests. ID&C offers RFID and non-RFID contac...
