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Hotel Nikko Hai Phong Set for August 2020 Opening
Nikko Hotels International | July 6, 2020
HAI PHONG, Vietnam & TOKYO - The Hotel Nikko Hai Phong today announced that it will open on August 1st, 2020. Operated by Nikko Hotels International, one of three hotel groups belonging to Okura Nikko Hotels, the hotel is situated in Hai Phong, the largest port city in Vietnam. Inspired by Japanese-style “omotenashi” hospitality, Hotel Nikko Hai Phong will offer the utmost comfort and relaxation with elegant rooms, prestigious cuisine and a wide range of facilities. With the hotel’s prime location in Vietnam’s main overseas trading gateway surrounded by many of Northern Vietnam’s attractions, guests will enjoy convenient ...
Plotting the Comeback for Hotels in a COVID-19 Environment
Dan Skodol | July 6, 2020
By Dan Skodol For the past nine weeks since our original blog post, we’ve continued to track hotel selling rates, planned opening dates, occupancy, and usage of out-of-order rooms among our client hotels. It’s been interesting to monitor the extent to which hotel reopenings have stayed on track with initial plans and how demand has responded to the reopenings. The interactive tool we provide here illustrates how the four key metrics we’ve tracked have changed week-by-week from May 5th to June 30th. Reopening timelines As of May 5th, 80% of hotels had sell rates available for June 1st and beyond. At the time it seemed th...
Millennial Influencers Will Be Indispensable in Travel Sector Recovery, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | July 6, 2020
Elite and young independent travelers are crucial to the recovery of the travel sector as they are likely to be the first tourists to embark on international travel, however according to a survey by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, *35% of Gen Z and *48% of Gen Y are still extremely concerned about COVID-19. Many travel and tourism influencers are drawn from this traveler group, and what they think of and write about in their travel experiences can be highly useful to travel marketing and so they will be indispensable for destination recovery if utilized effectively. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst...
Hotel Industry Launches Training Course to Advance Safe Stay Guidelines
AHLA | July 6, 2020
WASHINGTON (July 6, 2020) – To further expand the hotel industry’s Safe Stay initiative, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced COVID-19 Precautions for Hotels, an online course developed in partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and created to help hotels train their staffs on the enhanced safety and cleanliness guidelines. The new training course was created in consultation with the AHLA’s Safe Stay Advisory Council and represents a united industry approach around the Safe Stay guidelines endorsed by all major U.S. hotel brands, hospitality associations in 50 sta...
WTTC Cautiously Welcomes Government’s Decision to Re-Open England’s Borders
July 6, 2020
Gloria Guevara, World Travel & Tourism Council President & CEO, said: “WTTC cautiously welcomes the government’s decision to relax the international arrival rules on July 10 to enable travellers and holidaymakers to travel again. Consumers and those who work within the Travel & Tourism sector have been eagerly awaiting this news. “However, there has been a disappointing lack of co-ordination to ensure the same rules apply at the same time across the whole of the UK. We have learned from the past that a lack of coordination between governments and with the private sector causes long-lasting travel disruption, higher costs ...
STR: U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending 27 June
STR | July 6, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—U.S. hotel performance data for the week ending 27 June showed another small rise from previous weeks and less severe year-over-year declines, according to STR. 21-27 June 2020 (percentage change from comparable week in 2019): Occupancy: 46.2% (-38.7%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$95.37 (-29.0%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$44.03 (-56.5%) Aggregate data for the Top 25 Markets showed lower occupancy (40.0%) than the national average and only slightly higher ADR (US$95.43). Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia, was the only one of those major markets to reach a 60% occupancy level (61.4...
STR: Canada Hotel Results for Week Ending 27 June
STR | July 6, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—STR data for 21-27 June 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 23-29 June 2019, the industry reported the following: Occupancy: -62.2% to 27.5% Average daily rate (ADR): -35.4% to CAD114.27 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -75.6% to CAD31.38 The previous three weeks produced absolute occupancy levels of 25.6%, 23.6% and 22.2%. Two provinces reached a 30% occupancy level: British Columbia (35.6%) and Manitoba (30.2%). Vancouver (30.0%) was the only major market at or above...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: Pay to Play
David Lund | July 6, 2020
By David Lund I have learned a few things since starting my own business nearly seven years ago. Here is a short list of accomplishments: I have managed to survive as my own systems manager which also means looking after Johanne’s stuff which is no small feat for an older guy like me. I also have learned how to navigate our own health care plans which really means there is no plan at all, I live in America after all. Lastly, I have come to understand the hospitality world and the pay-to-play landscape. You can have anything if you’re willing to pay. Really, this is true and in the hotel communication and event world it’...
Global DMC Partners Shares Insights From Virtual Industry Panel on the ‘New Normal’ for Meetings and Incentives
Global DMC Partners | July 6, 2020
Washington, D.C. – July 6, 2020 – Global DMC Partners (GDP), the leading global network of independently owned destination management companies (DMCs) and creative event experts, held a virtual open forum on Wednesday, June 24. Facilitated by GDP President and CEO Catherine Chaulet, the panel discussion, The Meeting Planner’s New Reality in the “New Normal,” addressed the new challenges that planners face due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s short- and long-term effects on the meetings and events industry. The featured panelists included Becky Cavanaugh, Associate Director, Medical Meetings and Events, Syneos Health; Elliott Grant, Dire...
Fairfield by Marriott® Hotel Opens in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Led by General Manager John Koenig
Fairfield by Marriott | July 2, 2020
Brooklyn Center, MN – July 2, 2020 – The 82-room Fairfield by Marriott hotel located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota is now open for business with a new décor that provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at 6250 Earle Brown Drive, the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Minneapolis North will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Empire Hotels Group and managed by Rudra Management of Cheektowaga, New York. Situated next to the historic Earle Brown Heritage Center and eight miles from downtown Minneapolis, the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Minneapolis North offers guests convenient acces...
PM Hotel Group Opens Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown in Texas
Canopy by Hilton | July 2, 2020
AUSTIN, TEXAS (July 2, 2020) - Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown is pleased to announce its grand opening on Wednesday, July 1. Situated at 604 W 6th Street, the six-floor, 140-room property provides a dynamic urban oasis for guests seeking to experience the city at the intersection of metropolitan living and a lively nightlife scene. The developer and owner is locally-based Scenic Capital Advisors, a private real estate investment firm founded by Rick Singleton, and the property’s operations are managed by PM Hotel Group. “Austin is known for its funky city culture, tech innovation, and oasis of outdoor activities and natural beauty, and...
Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown, New York Completes Multimillion Dollar Renovation
Vista Property Management | July 2, 2020
Binghamton, NY, July 2, 2020 - Vista Hospitality Group’s property management division is very pleased to announce the completion of a multimillion dollar renovation at the Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown, New York. The upscale guestroom renovation offers travelers to the Southern Tier of New York state the newest hotel rooms in the Binghamton Market. And the initial guest reviews are in – “Overwhelmingly positive!” The project at the Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown involved constructing all new Guestrooms (including the creation of dynamic new two-room suites), attractive Lobby, and beautifully redesigned Meeting Space. The stylish...
Rethinking Fitness, Food, Fresh Air and Floor Plans for the Post-Pandemic Guest
Stephanie Quilligan | July 2, 2020
By Stephanie Quilligan While would-be travelers have sheltered at home, hotels and resorts have been putting protocols in place to keep guests safe when travel resumes. Now that doors are starting to open, what other factors will determine where travelers choose to stay? A greater emphasis on healthy living, open air and personal space, brought about by COVID-19 concerns, will influence travel decisions going forward. And while certain hotels and resorts will have a natural advantage in this area, there are easy-to-implement changes any property can make to enhance their appeal to post-pandemic travelers. Here are four: Fitness on th...
COVID-19: Impact on Forward Hotel Bookings in Key European Markets
STR | July 2, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for global hospitality, with travel restrictions and lockdown measures forcing hotel closures and performance declines that exceed the levels witnessed during the global financial crisis and other challenging times for the industry. An area of the industry where the impact continues to evolve is business on the books, or reservations booked for future dates. To provide a forward-looking view of the COVID-19 impact on hotel performance, STR utilized data from Forward STAR to analyze business on the books for key European hotel markets Forward STAR data is processed on a ...
Safety, Communication, and Sensitivity
The Penn State School of Hospitality Management | July 2, 2020
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The COVID-19 pandemic has put intense pressure on the economy, but it has hit businesses in the hospitality sector especially hard. Though these times are unprecedented, hospitality operators have faced a series of crises this century including terrorist attacks, power-grid failures, financial crises, and other epidemics. What can be learned from industry responses to these crises that can inform how to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and unforeseen, future problems? To answer that question, Penn State School of Hospitality Management doctoral student Anqi Luo and Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Asher Director and a...
Early Effects of COVID-19 on Travelers and Their Motivations
STR | July 2, 2020
COVID-19 and the ensuing global economic crisis have caused dramatic changes for the travel industry that may take years to fully resolve. Over the past few months, STR has been releasing insights from research conducted during March and April 2020 about shifting consumer willingness to travel as COVID-19 spread. First we looked at how travelers from different markets reacted, then we assessed how travelers who used different accommodation types planned to adapt their travel plans. In this piece we look at the impact on future travel plans by respondents’ age and motivations for choosing destinations. As in both of our previ...
What Does the Future Look Like for Australia Hotels?
STR | July 2, 2020
As markets slowly begin to reopen and leisure demand picks up, specifically on weekends, it is important to look towards business-on-the-books data to see how these markets will perform in the coming weeks and months. While evaluating past data is crucial for the industry, it is imperative to take a step into the future to see how your hotel may compare against your market or competitive set. STR’s Forward STAR reports do just that—look 90 or 365 days ahead with this report to strategize more efficiently by correlating uptake in bookings with your marketing and promotional campaigns, as well as events or conferences in your a...
Benchmarking Can Help Restructure Debt, Avoid Closures
STR | July 2, 2020
During a recent webinar on the impacts of COVID-19 on European hotels, STR Managing Director Robin Rossmann drew on his experience at Deloitte and shared with viewers an important practical application of benchmarking. No hotel has escaped the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed, which may make performance benchmarking appear less important. Rossmann warned against such complacency, reminding listeners, “that day will come” when lenders and lessors undertake restructuring analyses. When that happens, benchmarking will be more important than ever. Downturns cause financial distress Downturns of any nature can cause hotels or hot...
Key Questions on Employees’ Minds Right Now, Part II/II
James Houran | July 2, 2020
By James Houran & Matt Peterson Many hospitality students and professionals around the world recently participated in AETHOS’ series of development webinars. These sessions offered attendees the opportunity to complete the 20|20 Skills™ assessment to gain a personal SWOT analysis to help them navigate these challenging times of occupational crisis and change. Interestingly, the attendees consistently voiced certain concerns and follow-up questions. We wanted, therefore, to address these issues publicly for the benefit of business owners, leaders, and HR professionals who are eager to understand the issues presently on the minds ...
WTTC Says Even a Small Turn On the Travel Tap Could Be a Massive Boost for Struggling European Economies
July 2, 2020
London, UK: New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) shows even a modest increase of just one million more international arrivals into Europe could generate an extra $0.48 billion in GDP. This would provide a massive and much-needed economic boost for EU economies struggling to survive following the imposition of travel restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus. Many governments are evaluating reciprocal ‘travel corridors, including the UK government and those in Europe which are under immense pressure, to enable holidaymakers to take summer holidays and prevent the collapse of the Travel & Tourism se...
Unconstrained Voices – Staying Positive in the Face of Adversity
Klaus Kohlmayr | July 2, 2020
By Klaus Kohlmayr For everyone whose lifeblood is the hotel industry, the last few months have been heartbreaking. Of course, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc and unimaginable pain and hardship for countless people around the world, but we could never have imagined seeing the entire world stop traveling completely. I experienced this disruption firsthand while on vacation in New Zealand, having to scramble to find a safe place to “shelter” for an extended period of time, with travel restrictions and flights changing literally by the hour. Despite being trapped Down Under—mind you, I can think of far worse places to be stuck in limbo—m...
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Appoints Doug Ridge as New General Manager
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa | July 2, 2020
SAN ANTONIO – July 2, 2020 – JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is proud to announce that Doug Ridge has been appointed as the resort’s new general manager for the 1,002-room resort. Ridge joined the resort team in March 2020 after previously serving as the general manager for Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Excited to begin his journey in San Antonio, Ridge brings an strong background and impressive expertise to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Ridge has more than 35 years in the hospitality industry, having served in nearly all hotel ...
BLLA Dares to Adapt With First Digital Summit
the Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) | July 2, 2020
LOS ANGELES (JULY 2, 2020) - Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) will combine its two most popular gatherings as an unmissable digital event this fall. The Boutique Lifestyle Digital Summit will be held September 17 with the message of 2020, “Dare to Adapt.” Top creative minds in hospitality will headline interviews, panel discussions, keynotes, bootcamps and newly designed formats including mentor power-hour sessions, a virtual trade show & invite-only meetups. The 2020 StayBoutique™ Award winners will also be announced during the summit with a special ceremony recognizing the most innovative and successf...
Tourism Tidbits: Fundamental Questions to Ask When Developing a Tourism Business Plan in an Age of Pandemics
Dr. Peter Tarlow | July 2, 2020
By Dr. Peter Tarlow Traditionally, the summer months are a great time to see where one’s business is headed and what future challenges it will have. In this period of rebuilding after so much of the tourism has closed down, the need for a new and updated business plan is more important than ever. Perhaps the number one reason why a tourism business fails be that business a place of lodging, an attraction, a place of dinning, or a form of transportation, is the lack of a well thought through business plan. All business ventures are risky, but as we have seen in this period of pandemics, tourism businesses often have special challeng...
