natalie holmes
OK, Computer: Why Hotels Are Employing Digital Concierges
JLL Real Views | July 30, 2018
By Natalie Holmes "Alexa, where can I get good sushi around here?" Digital concierges have arrived, bringing hotel guests unprecedented levels of personalization and control. As the technology driving AI and recommendation engines continues to evolve, hotels are starting to embrace the power of digital concierges to provide a customized and on-demand service. In June 2018, Amazon announced Alexa for Hospitality, an in-room version of its voice-activated virtual assistant designed especially for the hotel industry. As part of the launch, Marriott International is set to introduce the experience at a number of properties in their brand po...
How Hotel Brands Are Cracking the Home Rental Market
JLL Real Views | May 24, 2018
By Natalie Holmes With homesharing apps now a firm fixture on the smartphones of many travelers, big name hotel brands are increasingly looking to build their own presence in the home rental market – and are doing it in their own way. Marriott International is the latest major hotel group to enter the market, launching a six-month pilot project in partnership with home rental management company Hostmaker, to offer a selection of over 200 vetted homes in London. Just days before, Choice Hotels, which has been running a Vacation Rental program since 2016, significantly expanded its offerings to cover 20,000 additional properties acr...
How Disruption is Driving Change for Hotels
JLL Real Views | December 18, 2017
By Natalie Holmes From the likes of Airbnb to growing competition in the food and beverage space, disruptive forces are striking the hotel industry from all angles. Yet this is far from being a bad thing, Arthur Adler, Chairman of JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group – Americas, believes. Instead, disruption is driving innovation across the industry as hotel brands and operators implement new concepts to improve their offerings and keep their guests coming back for more. "The guest experience and profitablility is really what's driving all of this innovation," says Adler. "As travelers' preferences for their lodging changes, the h...
Resorts & Country Hotels: How Workation Retreats are Blending Work and Relaxation
JLL Real Views | September 26, 2017
by Natalie Holmes Settling in with a laptop beneath a shady tree, connecting with colleagues around a fire pit, or sampling a local craft beer at the bar…this is work, but not in the traditional sense. As the boundaries between business and leisure continue to dissolve, secluded retreats are turning their attention to a new set of customers. Digital nomads, entrepreneurs and forward-thinking corporate teams are leaving the bustle of the city behind to immerse themselves in nature in the name of creativity and productivity. While some resorts and country hotels are updating their offerings to cater to this emerging clientele, new ...
International Hotels Expand Their Footprint in India
JLL Real Views | February 16, 2017
By Natalie Holmes International hotel groups are boosting their presence in India, with big name brands set to open numerous properties across the country in the coming years. As India's GDP continues to climb, international chains are taking advantage of a boom in demand for hotel rooms. Marriott, for example, plans to add 35 properties to their existing portfolio of 32, while Accor recently reached a 45-hotel milestone. By 2020, Carlson Rezidor is aiming for a total of 170 hotels, by which time, the international chains together are set to exceed domestic room offerings. "Though international hotel chains have in the past made mult...
How ‘Poshtels’ are Reinventing the Budget Accommodation Sector
JLL Real Views | January 4, 2017
By Natalie Holmes At a time when budget travelers are increasingly experience-driven, the hospitality industry is responding with a concept that caters to this new guest profile: the 'poshtel'. Unlike traditional hostels, poshtels typically combine a design-led ambiance with small, often shared sleeping areas and a focus on innovative communal spaces. "This reimagined hostel meets the needs of the modern traveler," says Graham Craggs, Managing Director of EMEA Hotels at JLL. "It offers flexibility on the room product, and, often, organized events that encourage guests to meet and mingle." Independent properties have been blazing a trail...
HREC Expands in the Northeast
JLL Real Views | September 8, 2016
O'Connell Hospitality Group, LLC Merges with HREC (Boston, MA; Denver, CO) - O'Connell Hospitality Group (www.oconnellhospitality.com) is excited to announce that they are strategically merging their premier Northeast hotel brokerage practice with HREC's national hotel platform (www.hrec.com) effective September 1, 2016. Going forward, Jim O'Connell will be Principal at HREC Investment Advisors and will be HREC's practice leader in the new Boston office. Post-merger: O'Connell Hospitality, already a national recognized brokerage powerhouse in New England, will further enhance its client centric practice by joinin...
Six Ways Cities Are Changing How They’re Perceived
JLL Real Views | July 15, 2016
By Natalie Holmes Cities are becoming increasingly innovative in their quest to attract visitors and residents, and to stimulate the local economy—giving rise to a number of initiatives that aim to draw the eyes of the world. "Competition among cities is greater than ever thanks to increased global mobility and connectivity," says Jeremy Kelly, Director of Global Research at JLL. "City leaders are being forced to pay more attention to building stronger city identities, whether by improving branding or adding new functions in order to compete globally. For example, many cities are establishing themselves as convention hubs or devel...
