Long considered by hotel owners and operators as "the bible" of the industry, the Trends publication allows interested parties to compare the operating performance of their property to industry averages for properties of similar property type, location, size, and room rates.  "Over the 17 years I've been involved with this survey, I've seen hotel 
managers become more analytical in their approach to budgeting, revenue management, and cost controls.  Concurrently, we've seen a rise in the participation of hotels in the Trends survey," says Robert Mandelbaum, Director of Research Information Services.  "To meet the need for more analytical data, we have continually added to the content of the publication.  This year, we are adding information from hotel balance sheets and budgets."

"A new feature in the 2000 Trends report will be a special section focusing on profitability," says Dr. Jack Corgel, Managing Director of Applied Research for HRG.  "Using standard analytical methods frequently applied in other industries, we will prepare and present a new look at hotel profitability.  Hotel owners and operators will be provided with new measurements to understand what drives hotel profits."

Another indicator of hoteliers' thirst for performance data has been the continual increases in the sale of the Trends publication.  However, to avoid the $225 cover price, most hotels opt to partake in the survey since participants receive a complimentary copy of the final report.  Participation is free of charge, and all individual property data is kept strictly confidential.

"Participation requires the submission of a hotel's 1999 year-end financial statement and balance sheet," says Mandelbaum.  "Most properties simply make an extra copy of their December financial statements and put it in the mail to us."  Electronic options for the submission of data are also available for those who would prefer.

The Hospitality Research Group is the research affiliate of PKF Consulting, an international consulting and real estate firm specializing in the hospitality industry.  The HRG, along with PKF Consulting and hotel brokerage affiliate Hospitality Asset Advisors Incorporated are all wholly owned subsidiaries of Hospitality Asset Advisors International, a U.S. Corporation.  HAA International has offices in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Singapore.