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From Density to Distancing
H. Keith Thompson | May 12, 2020
By H. Keith Thompson, Principal Avison Young Hospitality Group Ten short weeks ago, business was about packing in as much density with as many people as possible. From hotels, conventions, sports venues, air travel, resorts, retail, and office buildings - down to going to a Costco. Now, ten weeks later, it is all about staying separate and distancing yourself from other people. How can this be possible? Because COVID-19 (‘CV”) has caused a shift in the paradigm of personal life and commercial life that no one saw coming. Ten weeks in, we now judge every face-to-face interaction differently than we used to. Behind closed doors, al...
Hotels Count the Cost of COVID-19 Pandemic and Look to Remodel Business to Rebuild Consumer Confidence
HVS | May 12, 2020
By Russell Kett 12 May 2020, London: With much of Europe’s hotel sector still closed for business the industry faces a huge challenge to rebuild consumer confidence once Covid-19 lockdown restrictions start to lift later this year, says global hotel consultancy HVS London. Providing hotel businesses survive financially - utilizing a combination of rent and bank loan freezes, Government support, working with owners and furloughing staff - they also face the question of how long it will take for consumers to once again feel confident staying in hotels.< “When demand for hotels does start to return, whether that’s later this ye...
New Alma Resort Welcomes Ingo Stöneberg as Executive Chef
Alma | May 12, 2020
CAM RANH, Vietnam (May 12, 2020) – A seasoned professional with almost two decades’ experience in luxury hospitality in Europe and the Middle East and a passion for teaching and mentoring others has been named Alma Resort’s executive chef. German national Ingo Stöneberg has joined the 196-pavilion and 384-suite resort overlooking Long Beach, on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh peninsula, to oversee its rich culinary landscape comprising 14 dining venues. Five restaurants including Italian, modern Asian and traditional Vietnamese dining establishments, three bars and a food court with an array of local and international cuisine are among venu...
WTTC Unveils “Safe Travels” – New Global Protocols to Restart the Travel & Tourism Sector
May 12, 2020
London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector has unveiled a range of new worldwide measures to restart the sector. The measures have been designed to rebuild confidence among consumers so they can travel safely once the restrictions are lifted. The new Safe Travels protocols provide consistency to destinations and countries as well as guidance to travel providers, operators, and travellers, about the new approach to health and hygiene in the post COVID-19 world. The health and safety of travellers and workers is put at the heart of the new global protocols, ...
Forging the Future, BENCHMARK Takes the Risk Out of Meeting Planning; Launches the Meeting Accelerator Program
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company | May 12, 2020
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, May 12, 2020 - BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has officially launched its strategic recovery initiative that will support meeting planners and partners while forging new solutions for the industry’s future in a post COVID-19 world. In effect through March 2021, the far-reaching plan significantly mitigates the risk and uncertainty of committing to new meetings and events. To provide reassurance to corporate planners, the plan includes flexible short-term bookings, relaxed attrition and cancellation fees, and 100% credit given on re-bookings. Meeting spaces at Benchmark properties will be restru...
Best Practices for Reassuring Your Customers and Employees During the Closure of Your F&B Outlets
Alex Sogno | May 12, 2020
By Alex Sogno During this disruptive time, most hoteliers and F&B managers agree on one thing: A not-so “business-as-usual” future will follow the current changes. We know that as the hospitality industry begins recovering from COVID-19, there will be many new challenges ahead. But what can be done with F&B outlets now, to come out of this crisis stronger and better prepared for these future changes? Together with industry experts, we compiled best practices for providing reassurance to customers and employees during the closure of your F&B outlets. Furthermore, we offer you some suggestions on how to build up relationships...
Statement on Corporate Layoffs at Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation | May 12, 2020
Due to the historic drop in travel demand and the expected slow pace of recovery, Hyatt has made the extremely difficult decision to implement layoffs and restructure roles across its global corporate functions, beginning June 1, 2020. These actions will impact around 1,300 colleagues around the world. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyatt has taken numerous actions in an effort to meet the challenges our industry is facing including reductions of company-wide expenditures, extended salary reductions for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors, and temporary work and/or pay reductions for all corporate colleagues. Unfor...
Hilton Volunteers Join Forces With Springboard to Keep Hospitality Dream Alive
Springboard | May 12, 2020
LONDON - Hilton has teamed up with charity partner Springboard to encourage Team Members to volunteer for the charity, as it faces the challenges of delivering crucial services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 crisis has had a profound impact on Springboard, which delivers training and support to disadvantaged and young people looking to start a career in hospitality. With social distancing and funding cuts hampering its operation whilst demand for its services grows, the charity has reacted quickly by introducing virtual training and mentoring. It is now seeking volunteers to support its members, many of whom have found themselv...
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions Enhances Commitment to Sustainability and Transparency by Publishing Third-Party Certified Environmental Product Declarati
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions | May 12, 2020
Worldwide provider of security access solutions demonstrates product life cycle transparency and ongoing support of waste reduction while enhancing customer abilities to achieve certifications such as LEED, Green Globes and BREEAM. Stockholm – May 12, 2020 – ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions has announced its latest achievement in maintaining a priority on sustainability and transparency with the recent publication of third-party certified Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for 18 of its security-based solutions. ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions worked with Sustainable Solutions Corporation to conduct the Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and pu...
Uncompromised Customer Service
Travel Outlook Hotel Reservations Call Center Services | May 12, 2020
What Role Will Call Centers Play in the New Norm? The travel industry is facing a challenge unlike any other right now including immense distress and financial uncertainty, leaving hoteliers wondering what the future holds. Now, more than ever, the industry needs to pull together, stay strong, and find ways to support one another. What lies ahead remains unclear. But what we can safely assume is that customer service, procedures, policies, and restrictions will change in ways we never imagined. Therefore, we must start planning now for the day when travel resumes. John Smallwood, CEO at Travel Outlook, says, “While call volume ...
Crescent Hotels & Resorts Adds Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Dual Property in East Moline
Crescent Hotels & Resorts | May 12, 2020
East Moline, IL (May 12, 2020) – The Hyatt Place East Moline/Quad Cities and the Hyatt House East Moline/Quad Cities are now being managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of major hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Canada. The 233-room dual-branded hotel, offers free parking for guests, a free shuttle, and is minutes from the Tax Slayer Center, John Deere Harvester Works, Deere & Company World Headquarters and the John Deere Pavilion. Many guest rooms feature Mississippi River views, and with riverfront access, guests can hike, bike or stroll ...
Next Beekeeper COVID-19 Webinar to Discuss ‘Weathering the Storm and Preparing for Recovery’
Beekeeper | May 12, 2020
Leading hospitality experts from IHG, Fitler Club, and HDG Hotels join Beekeeper to discuss actionable ways to prepare for the ‘next normal’ and how to be successful in the new world San Francisco, May 12, 2020 — What will it take to be successful in the new world? As part of its ongoing COVID-19 Webinar Series, Beekeeper will host industry experts from IHG, Fitler Club, and HDG Hotels to discuss weathering the COVID-19 storm and planning for recovery. The online event will be held Tuesday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. EST / 5:00 p.m. CET. James Lemon, founder and CEO at The Growth Works and Strategy & Innovation Lead, Commercial &...
Marriott Results Illustrate Competence, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | May 12, 2020
Following the recent announcement of Marriott’s Q1 results; Ralph Hollister, Analyst, Travel & Tourism at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the situation: “Marriott significantly missed already lowered estimates for first-quarter profit. Alike its competitors, bookings plunged in the later stages of Q1 as restrictions on movement became more draconian around the globe. Factors that contributed to the loss that were specific to Marriott included guaranteed reserves of $148m, as well as impairment charges and bad-debt expenses. “Although adjusted earnings of $0.26 per share severely lagged e...
Duetto Launches Enterprise Rate Guidelines Feature for Hotels
Duetto | May 12, 2020
San Francisco, May 12, 2020 — Duetto, hospitality's innovative software as a service provider of revenue strategy solutions, has introduced several new features to its GameChanger pricing application. Designed by and for hoteliers, the new add-ons have been specifically built to answer the needs of hoteliers trying to gear up for re-opening or a resumption of business after running on low occupancies in recent months. The two new features have been developed to enable revenue leaders to centralize control over their revenue strategy, while still empowering properties with pricing flexibility for their localized strategy. Enterprise...
As You Re-Open Your Hotels, Clear Sky Software’s Housekeeping Inventory System Can Help
Clear Sky Software | May 12, 2020
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – May 12, 2020 – Clear Sky Software, Inc. – The Hotel Industry is experiencing the most difficult business environment in our lifetime so keeping a watch on your bottom line will be important like never before. As you prepare to re-open your hotels, an increased dedication to safety and cleanliness is going to be your focus. Hotels who fail to do this will not give guests the confidence they need to return to your properties. The housekeeping department is going to be front-and-center in this objective. Without a good housekeeping inventory system, you risk running out of cleaning products you need or ordering...
Hospitality Financial Leadership: Chapter 7 – Lunch
David Lund | May 11, 2020
By David Lund The chapter below is an excerpt from my new book. It’s fiction but some of the characters and story lines are based on people I have worked with and events that have taken place in the hotels I have worked in. The book is a fable about a hotel manager who has some very bad habits. He must change in order to survive and the book takes him and you through the lessons needed to be a great hospitality financial leader. I’m writing ahead each month so I’m not sure how the book will end. I hope you enjoy it and if you missed any earlier chapters you can find them on my website blog tab. I have had lunch with Cedrick tw...
Crisis Management for the Pandemic and Beyond
Anne Sweeney | May 11, 2020
By Anne Sweeney Anne Sweeney gained experience in crisis management through her work in corporate communications at Pan American World Airways. I saved the world today. Everybody’s happy now, the bad thing’s gone away. — The Eurythmics It’s called crisis management and damage control — not make the bad thing go away. From major corporations with high-powered communications staffs to the boutique or restaurant on the corner, businesses are struggling to deal with the cataclysmic effects of COVID-19. This global disaster, made profoundly more dangerous by a lack of preparedness, misinformation, coverups, lies and politicizat...
Choice Hotels International Reports 2020 First Quarter Results
Choice Hotels | May 11, 2020
97% of domestic hotels remain open; Choice Hotels' brands experience RevPAR index gains versus competition in Q1 and April ROCKVILLE, Md., May 11, 2020 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, today reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2020. "The safety and well-being of guests, franchisees and associates is our top priority during these challenging times. We sincerely thank those who have been working to keep all of us safe through the COVID-19 crisis, particularly healthcare workers and first responders. The strength of our brands and dedication of our fr...
Canada’s Hotel Construction Pipeline Remains Strong With Double Digit Increases Year-Over-Year*
Lodging Econometrics | May 11, 2020
May 11, 2020 – PORTSMOUTH, NH - Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) report that at the close of the first quarter of 2020, the total construction pipeline in Canada remains strong with 304 projects and an all-time high of 40,291 rooms. The construction pipeline is up an impressive 15% by projects and 22% by rooms, year-over-year (YOY). A driving force of the pipeline’s double-digit growth is the surge in projects in the early planning stage at an all-time high of 103 projects/15,964 rooms, up 29% and 41% YOY, respectively. Projects under construction, also at record highs, are at 101 projects/12,563 rooms, up 9% by projects and 20% ...
Hotel Asset Management – In Good Times and Bad
Hank Fonde | May 11, 2020
By Hank Fonde The practice of asset management for hotels entering the third decade of the 21st Century has evolved into an intricate process of analyzing layers of data and operating results, and then acting based upon the conclusions. The process requires great focus. Asset management is the practice of managing the value of the owner’s investment. And now that process becomes more urgent, but also more important than ever before. When we began writing this article, it seemed that a relevant analogy would be to create a theme based on the year 2020 with perfect vision on increasing asset value. What a convenient theme that would ha...
Sam Moon Group Plans June Opening of New Hyatt Regency Frisco
Hyatt Regency | May 11, 2020
FRISCO, Texas (May 11, 2020) – Hyatt Regency Frisco proudly announces that its doors are expected to open on June 1, 2020. Designed for productivity as well as a respite from the stress of travel, the stunning 18-story 303-room hotel, located within Frisco’s Stonebriar Centre at the intersection of Preston Road and the Sam Rayburn Tollway, will offer elevated experiences for both leisure and business travelers. Guests will arrive at the dramatic street-level entry to an open, contemporary lobby space with subtle décor and full of natural light that encompasses dining concepts and areas for working individually or in small groups. The hot...
Marriott International Reports First Quarter 2020 Results
Marriott International, Inc. | May 11, 2020
First quarter 2020 comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR declined 22.5 percent worldwide, 30.4 percent outside North America and 19.5 percent in North America; First quarter reported diluted EPS totaled $0.09, compared to $1.09 in the year-ago quarter. First quarter adjusted diluted EPS totaled $0.26, compared to first quarter 2019 adjusted diluted EPS of $1.41. First quarter 2020 reported and adjusted EPS included impairment charges, bad debt expense, and guarantee reserves of $0.45 and $0.42, respectively; First quarter reported net income totaled $31 million, compared to $375 million in the year-ago quarter. First quarter ...
World Tourism Remains at a Standstill as 100% of Countries Impose Restrictions on Travel
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) | May 11, 2020
From the start of the crisis, the United Nations specialized agency for tourism has been tracking responses to the pandemic. This latest research shows that while discussions on possible first measures for lifting restrictions are underway, 100% of destinations worldwide still have COVID-19 related travel restrictions for international tourists in place. Out of all 217 destinations worldwide, 156 (72%) have placed a complete stop on international tourism according to the data collected as of 27 April 2020. In 25% of destinations, restrictions have been in place for at least three months, while in 40% of destinations, restrictions were intr...
Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index Up 15.6% in April
Baird | May 11, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee, and MILWAUKEE—The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index rose 15.6% in April to a level of 3,177. Year to date through the first four months of 2020, the stock index was down 39.7%. “Hotel stocks rebounded in April following one of their worst months on record, but the stocks remain well below levels seen earlier this year,” said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. “Worst-case zero-occupancy scenarios have not unfolded as investors had feared, and the hotel companies have significantly bolstered their balance sheets with credit facility draws, bond offerings, and points pre-sales...
