katharine le quesne
Innovation … Who’s Really Doing It?
October 19, 2017
By Katharine Le Quesne Certain industries are synonymous with innovation, trailblazing, game-changing. Hospitality is not one of them; a business built on bricks and mortar is not easily – or cheaply – transformed. That said, whilst the industry can be likened to a supertanker that takes time to turn, once it starts shifting direction, the momentum creates lasting change in how hotels are designed and operated. Consumer trends are key drivers of change; and today's consumers have some contradictory desires and motivations, as IHG's 2017 Trend Report also notes. Today's consumer is highly mobile and connected; information-ric...
In Search of Inspiration, Innovation and Transformation in the Hospitality Industry
April 13, 2017
by Katharine Le Quesne The good, the great and the – sometimes – downright innovative came together in Berlin this month to discuss the state of the hospitality industry and make their voices heard both on and off stage. On the face of it, it was "business as usual" and so the on-stage messages contained few surprises. But by and large it was in the panels and off-stage discussions on innovation that would have provided some inspiration for the next generation of hoteliers. The pace of structural change in our industry is accelerating, driven by new technologies, new owners and fresh thinking; and the opportunity to create n...
