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Notes from the ALIS Conference:
By David M. Brudney, ISHC, Februray 2006
Thanks to all of you that noticed: my articles have been missing since
last summer and I do promise to fix that.
I attended The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) last month
in Los Angeles. It was very upbeat. Everyone seemed to agree
that the lodging industry�s �good times� should continue through 2009,
some predicting through 2010 and even longer. Why? Demand�s
return is the driving force.
Some notes this writer made to share with you:
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Randy Smith reported that demand and supply are �even� for the first time
in 17 years
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Hotel operators are finally getting �control� of the Internet
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Aggressive pricing this summer; some bellwether markets (New York, D.C.,
Miami, San Francisco) expect double digit A.D.R. growth by summer
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China and India�s economic growth are responsible for 40% of the increase
in oil prices
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CFO Vasant M. Prabhu said Starwood is very bullish on development in Africa
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Starwood has become the new benchmark for spas - - they may put one in
every hotel, no matter the location
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Condo hotels are here to stay
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Hotel brands report that fractional, private residence owners of units
in cities like San Francisco refer to their homes as �urban country clubs�,
they �like living in hotels�
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Hotels are seeing huge numbers of referrals from these owners for new individual
and group hotel guests; also seeing a strong sense of pride from the owners
association with the hotel brand, e.g., �I�m a St. Regis owner!�
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Domestic leisure travel market is stronger than ever; international is
returning
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Lots of talk about all the new life style products and the appeal to Generation
X; IHG reports that although it�s still early in the game, the Indigo brand
pilot products in Chicago and Atlanta have �far exceeded� A.D.R. expectations
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Futurist Andrew Zolli entertained the 2,200 attendees with a humorous and
thought-provoking keynote address. Some highlights:
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Great opportunities for any industry due to the �massive revolution� within
technology and health care
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Get ready for �mainstream green�
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The �surplus society� has produced the dreaded �tyranny of choice�
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World demographics are changing: 9-plus billion population next 10 years;
largest growth to come from Africa and Asia
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California and Texas will absorb 47% of the next wave of immigrants to
the U.S. (Latin America and Asia mostly)
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And as to the �aging of America�: anyone born since 1979 will take care
of their mothers longer than their mothers took care of them!
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The ISHC Pioneer Award winner, Hasmukh H.P. Rama, Chairman and CEO of JHM
Hotels, delivered a very passionate, �only in America� acceptance speech
that touched everyone
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Former Disney CEO Michael D. Eisner, the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award
recipient was very gracious and humble in sharing some of what he learned
from his hotel development experiences. Two that come to mind: 1)
never cut back on resort landscaping and 2) install nothing but 100 watt
bulbs in guest rooms
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The breakout sessions and networking opportunities were the best ever.
All in all, it was quite a conference. Congratulations to Jim Burba
and all the good folks at Burba Hotel Network for another job well done.
[email protected]
760-476-0830
© copyright 2006
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David M. Brudney, ISHC, is a veteran sales and marketing
professional concluding his fourth decade of service to the hospitality
industry. Brudney advises lodging owners, lenders and operators on
sales and marketing �best practices� and conducts reviews of sales and
marketing operations throughout the U.S. and overseas. The principal
of David Brudney & Associates of Carlsbad, CA, a sales and marketing
consulting firm specializing in the hospitality industry since 1979, Brudney
is a frequent lecturer, instructor and speaker. He is a charter member
of International Society of Hospitality Consultants. Previously,
Brudney held sales and marketing positions with Hyatt, Westin and Marriott. |
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