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
TraknProtect Launches TraknKleen™ Technology Solution to Promote Hotel Cleanliness, Guest Safety and Wellbeing
TraknProtect | June 9, 2020
Staff safety solution innovator releases housekeeping app to improve protocol SOPs and brand standards to meet guest expectations in a post-COVID world Chicago – June 9, 2020 – TraknProtect, a pioneer of location-based technology purpose-built for the hotel environment, today announces the launch of TraknKleenTM, a new IoT technology solution designed to help hotels further enhance housekeeping operations, while providing guests with security and peace of mind during post-COVID travel. TraknKleenTM trilaterates data from multiple sources, such as housekeeping carts, I.D. cards, cleaning supplies, and other assets, to automatically trac...
It’s Time to Invest in Your Employees’ Safety
Jay Reed | June 9, 2020
Ensuring a safe and confident workforce sets the table for a successful reopening; Hoteliers must do everything possible to reduce staff risk, so they want to return By Jay Reed It’s a dangerous world out there. New threats are making it challenging to reduce risks facing hotel employees. Even with heightened cleaning standards and sanitizing technology, it may be difficult to lure frontline workers – especially housekeepers – back to work. Think about it. There is no Coronavirus vaccine; those who return to work are doing so knowing that conditions are unsafe and that they can potentially get sick. As an industry, we need to rall...
Restaurants Reopening: An Overview From Lausanne, Switzerland
Beatrice Venturini | June 8, 2020
By Beatrice Venturini & Dr. Reza Etemad-Sajadi On Monday 11th May, restaurants and bars were among the few public establishments in Switzerland allowed to reopen. The move was preceded by lengthy Federal Counsel regulations made available to all restaurateurs setting out the now rather familiar guidelines: 2m distances between tables, maximum 4 people at a table, strict hygiene measures, service staff in masks and required contact details of each customer. Some noise was made about whether the move had come too soon, since initially the Swiss government had suggested reopening around early June. But with the Swiss Germans claiming f...
HotelAVE Projects New Cleanliness & Social Distancing Protocols Could Cost Hotel Industry $9 Billion Annually
hotelAVE | June 8, 2020
PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 8, 2020 - Hotel Asset Value Enhancement (hotelAVE), the premier hotel asset management company, today released its latest projections that offer significant insights to the anticipated costs that hotel owners and operators can expect to incur as they prepare to reopen. Post Script, hotelAVE's operational efficiency division, estimates that new cleaning protocols could potentially cost the hotel industry as much as $9 billion on an annual basis, based on factors such as the increased frequency of cleaning guest rooms and public spaces, new supply costs and reopening expenses. The projections were announced today by Mic...
WTTC Gives Global Destinations Stamp of Approval for Safety Protocols
June 8, 2020
London, UK: Major destinations around the world have signed up to the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp, launched recently by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The extensive endorsements have come from many major holiday destinations around the world, from Bulgaria to Turkey and Jamaica to Mauritius, among many others. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, designed the special Safe Travels stamp to enable travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which adopted its health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so consumers and holidaymakers ...
Impact of COVID-19 on Hotel Insurance Premiums: Are Refunds Possible?
Alex Sogno | June 5, 2020
With many hotels closed worldwide, hotel owners and investors are rightfully looking to their insurance policies for compensation after the pandemic. This article focuses on how to go about adjusting the settings on premiums in order to secure justifiable rebates. By Alex Sogno Much has already been written about insurance issues arising from the Covid19 virus. With many hotels closed throughout the world, it’s inevitable that hotel owners/investors are looking to their insurance policies for compensation under the Business Interruption section. But, sadly, for almost all hotels the probability is that their Business Interruption wordin...
Comscore Sees Signs of Recovery in Travel Industry
Comscore | June 5, 2020
Visitation to Online Travel Agencies and Airline sites rose in May 2020 RESTON, Va., June 5, 2020 -- The latest insights from Comscore (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating media across platforms, show an increase in consumer interest across several travel categories, signaling the industry may be showing signs of recovery. According to data from Comscore Media Metrix, visits to travel sites during the five-week period between March 23, 2020 and April 26, 2020 were down as much as 70 percent versus early February 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic altered the global travel landscape. However, May 2...
Will Home-Sharing and Luxury Hotels Recover Sooner Than Other Lodging Products?
Linchi Kwok | June 5, 2020
By Linchi Kwok As more places are easing coronavirus restrictions, travel companies are getting ready to reopen their business. Yet, do people want to travel again soon? If so, who are the travelers? STR (Smith Travel Research), a leading data analytics provider for the lodging industry, conducted an opinion survey about travelers’ attitudes towards different types of accommodation facilities based on their preference from the past experience. One assumption for such an analysis is that travelers tend to stick to the same kind of accommodation facility for their trips. STR surveyed 2,391 respondents who showed interest in travel fo...
Knowland Announces Getting Back to Business Webinar Series to Give Hoteliers Step-by-Step Plan to Faster Recovery
Knowland | June 5, 2020
June 5, 2020 – Hoteliers are weeding through over-information to determine how to take their hotels forward. This multi-part series will allow hotels to learn the next steps to getting back to business. What a hotel does next depends on if its Recovery Curve is in a leading, on track or delayed position. Join us on a journey to faster business recovery. Seats are limited and filling up fast for this important series and attendance is complimentary. Prior to registering, attendees should visit the free Knowland Hotel Recovery Dashboard to calculate the position of their property’s recovery or K-Curve. Then register for the session that ...
SmartHands 8-Hour Defense Hand Sanitizer in 2oz Bottles Immediately Available for Hotels. Great for Guests!
Minibar Systems | June 5, 2020
SmartHands™ With microSURE™ 8-Hour Defense Hand Sanitizer And microSURE™ All Purpose Disinfectant Now Available Rockville, MD - Minibar Systems is proud to present the microSURE™ family of persistent sanitizers and disinfectants that use unique mechanical-kill spikes that act as a barrier to provide better protection against germs and viruses beyond hand washing and chemical-kill alcohol based products. 8-HOUR Defense™ hand sanitizer has proven up to 8 hours of defense against germs when properly used and will not crack, dry or burn skin. microSURE™ All Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant provides nanotechnology micro-crystall...
What to Know About Travel Marketing Across Generations Post-COVID-19
Ann Fishman | June 4, 2020
By Ann Fishman Recovery from the fallout of COVID-19’s social distancing orders will be shaped by each generation’s ability and desire to begin traveling again. As travel and hospitality industry leaders begin to think through their future marketing strategies, they should consider the ways in which each generation is formed by unique generational characteristics, which in turn are shaped by historical events during each distinct generation’s formative years. Here are some tips that travel providers can look to when making adjustments to accommodate the future needs and proclivities of distinct generations of American travelers...
STR: U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 30 May
STR | June 4, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—STR data ending with 30 May showed another small rise from previous weeks in U.S. hotel performance. Year-over-year declines remained significant although not as severe as the levels recorded previously. 24-30 May 2020 (percentage change from comparable week in 2019): Occupancy: 36.6% (-43.2%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$82.94 (-33.3%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$30.34 (-62.1%) *Previous weekly U.S. weekly occupancy levels: 17-23 May 2020: 35.4% 10-16 May 2020: 32.4% 3-9 May 2020: 30.4% 26 April - 2 May 2020: 28.9% 19-25 April 2020: 26.2% 12-18 April 2020: 24.4...
STR: Canada Hotel Results for Week Ending 30 May
STR | June 4, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee— STR data for 24-30 May 2020 shows Canadian hotel performance up slightly from previous weeks with the same significant level of year-over-year declines. In comparison with the week of 26 May through 1 June 2019, the industry reported the following: Occupancy: -70.4% to 21.4% Average daily rate (ADR): -40.1% to CAD102.82 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -82.3% to CAD22.04 The previous three weeks produced absolute occupancy levels of 18.9%, 18.4% and 17.5%. British Columbia (25.3%), Saskatchewan (22.9%), Ontario (22.2%) and Alberta (20.0%) were the provinces with occupancy of at least 20.0%....
The Case for Targeted Federal Aid to DMOs and Tourism Agencies
Thomas A. Hazinski | June 4, 2020
By Thomas A. Hazinski, Joseph Hansel The COVID-19 pandemic has placed at risk the substantial investment of state and local governments in the tourism and hospitality industries. Publicly funded destination marketing organizations (“DMOs”), tourism agencies, and convention centers face budget shortfalls, staffing reductions, and growing financial uncertainty. Targeted federal aid is urgently needed to support DMOs, tourism agencies, and convention centers whose work is critical to the recovery of vital sectors of the US economy. Introduction The COVID-19 crisis has shined a spotlight on the importance of public sector investme...
61% of Americans Plan to Visit Family and Friends for First Vacation After Covid-19 According to ValuePenguin.com Survey
ValuePenguin.com | June 4, 2020
NEW YORK, June 4, 2020 - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans found visiting family and friends to be a challenge and others were unable to do so at all. As everyone preps for the new normal, many Americans are eager to get back on the road and enjoy some quality time with loved ones. In a recent survey by ValuePenguin, more than 61% of Americans will visit family and friends before taking leisure vacations. As restrictions continue to ease, Americans will travel to these popular destinations: Florida, California, and New York for vacation. First upcoming trips will revolve around family and friends: 47% of Americans sai...
Eldorado Resorts to Reopen Five Nevada Casinos Today
Eldorado Resorts | June 4, 2020
RENO, Nev.--Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI) (“Eldorado,” “ERI,” or “the Company”) announced that it will resume operations at Eldorado Resort Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus Hotel Casino in Reno, MontBleu Resort Casino Spa in Lake Tahoe and Tropicana Laughlin today, Thursday, June 4, 2020. With today’s reopenings in Nevada, 16 of Eldorado’s 23 casino entertainment facilities have resumed operations following the suspension of operations in March. “We are excited and grateful to be able to reopen our casinos in Nevada. As we resume operations at our facilities across the country, the health and s...
How to Make Sure Your Hotel Is Ready When the Economy Turns Back On
HotStats | June 4, 2020
COVID-19 has smashed into the global economy like a rogue asteroid. And it has left a crater in the travel industry. However, as the dust settles, travelers will soon emerge from the wreckage and start traveling again. When the economy does turn back on, the world won’t go back to business as usual. Even when demand is restored, the aftermath of COVID will linger and weigh on the decisions travelers make. Luckily, there are ways to prepare for higher hotel profit in a post-COVID economy. Here are some steps hoteliers can take now in order to thrive when the economy turns back on. Use Data to Prepare a Hotel Rehiring Plan With the ec...
U.S. Travel Applauds Passage of PPP Enhancements
the U.S. Travel Association | June 4, 2020
WASHINGTON (June 4, 2020)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on Senate passage of H.R. 7010, the package of Paycheck Protection Program enhancements that had been previously approved by the House: "The PPP changes passed by both chambers are another important step in providing relief to small businesses that otherwise will not survive until the economic recovery phase." "The modification to the portion of funds that can be used for non-payroll expenses is especially crucial to travel-related small businesses, which have comparatively high cap...
Europe’s Hotel Construction Pipeline Continues to Expand in the First Quarter of 2020 Despite COVID-19 Pandemic*
Lodging Econometric(LE) | June 4, 2020
June 4, 2020 – PORTSMOUTH, NH - Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that at the close of the first quarter of 2020, Europe’s hotel construction pipeline expanded to near-record highs with 1,840 projects and 294,047 rooms, a 10% increase in projects and a 15% increase in rooms, year-over-year (YOY). Projects under construction stand at 878 projects, with an all-time high of 142,185 rooms; while projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months stand at 522 projects with a record-high 82,229 rooms. Projects in the early planning stage have 440 projects/69,633 rooms; up significantly at 27% and 44% respectively, YOY....
Cloud5 Announces Webinar Series to Help Hoteliers Leverage Technology Post-COVID-19
Cloud5 Communications | June 3, 2020
Session 1: The New Dawn of IoT in the COVID-19 World, June 10 at 1PM ET June 3, 2020 - Mass adoption of IoT has been expected for many years with some hospitality brand leaders very bullish on their predictions despite several years of deployment and support challenges. Now that COVID-19 is fundamentally changing our industry and the application of technology, hoteliers need trouble-free solutions. This webinar will look at how IoT can help hotels operate more efficiently and deliver on guest ever-changing expectations in the new normal. Join us on a journey from quarantine to innovation. clique What the state of IoT is today for hospit...
Covid-19: Winning Back Trust and Creating Safe-Havens Through Effective Communication
EHL Hospitality Insights | June 3, 2020
The key to building and regaining trust with your stakeholders, employees and customers is to be transparent and keep communication channels open. Here are a few tips on what to think about when it comes to your communication strategy. Inform your customers about how you’re handling the crisis. Be clear about what you’re doing to keep them safe. Let them know what to expect before they arrive for their stay, and what safety measures you’re putting in place to make their stay as safe and germ-free as possible. Be empathetic and keep your communications truthful. Show consideration for those affected by the crisis and spell out wh...
Top Dining-Out Trends for a Post-Pandemic Society
FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management | June 3, 2020
MIAMI, FL. – June 3, 2020 … Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management projects five dining-out trends affecting restaurants, bars and consumers that are emerging in a post-pandemic world. The trends were presented by Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School--one of the top 50 hospitality schools in the world, and the culinary and academic professional who created the world’s only curriculum blending the Culinary Arts with Food Science, Culinology® “The abruptness of COVID-19 has caused many of us in the food and beverage industry to stop in our tracks and pause for a minute,”...
STR: U.S. Hotel Profits Fell 116.9% in April
STR | June 1, 2020
BROOMFIELD, Colorado—U.S. hotel gross operating profit per available room fell 116.9% during April 2020, according to the latest monthly P&L data release from STR. In a year-over-year comparison with April 2019, the industry reported the following: GOPPAR: -116.9% to US-$17.98 TRevPAR: -92.9% to US$17.39 EBIDTA PAR: -140.2% to US-$32.30 LPAR (Labor Costs): -72.8% to US$20.80 “Whereas only the later portion of March was affected, April was the country’s first full month in the COVID-19 world, and the impact on U.S. hotel profitability was historic,” said Joseph Rael, STR’s senior director of financial performa...
Optimism Versus Reality
H. Keith Thompson | June 1, 2020
By H. Keith Thompson I am, by my very nature, an optimist. I don’t think you can be a hotel broker and not be an optimist. Optimism is welcomed, wonderful, and useful, but there must be some reality woven in. Today there are 40+ million people unemployed in the US, and it is expected that the May 2020 unemployment rate will be 20+/-%. For the hospitality industry, COVID has caused performance to plummet to levels never seen before. While I am happy to see public companies rebounding in stock value, a close friend of mine asked me what I believe could be the best question. Why? With hotels especially, as well as office, multifamily,...
