Quoting Higher Rates and Overcoming Objections Regarding Rate/Availability Restrictions
Doug Kennedy | February 6, 2024
Education
Best Habits for Hotel Sales Site Tours: Stand Out When They Stop By (Whether in Person or Virtually)!
Doug Kennedy | March 7, 2024
Doug Kennedy’s Next Training Webcast - Complimentary Registration Now Open Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, March 18, from Noon – 12:45pm EST. REGISTER HERE “While many group and event bookers go through the buying cycle without ever visiting the hotel in person, there are still plenty who prefer a site tour,” said KTN President Doug Kennedy. “And smart salespeople always offer to conduct live virtual site tours for those who cannot visit.” Ty...
StudentUniverse Releases Their Annual State of Student Travel Report Revealing Key Trends Amongst Gen Z Travelers
StudentUniverse | February 14, 2024
This Year StudentUniverse Delves into the Importance of Traveling for One’s Mental Well-Being, the Impact of AI, Top Destinations for 2024, Embracing Sustainability, and Inspirational Travel Platforms Waltham, Mass. (February 14, 2024) – StudentUniverse, a Flight Centre Travel Group company and the world’s largest student and youth travel marketplace, today released its annual The State of Student & Youth Travel Report delving into the latest travel sentiments amongst those aged 18-25. The report reveals some interesting trends amongst Gen Z travelers including a preference for taking “dry vacations” and a concern for the...
Early Career SHM Alumni Pay It Forward
PENN STATE’S SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT | February 14, 2024
Recent SHM alumni have provided their alma mater with new student support options UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – The School of Hospitality Management (SHM) in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development (HHD) has received a series of gifts from recent alumni, bolstering the support available to students. In the following months, this series will spotlight recent alumni who have decided to give back to their alma mater, supporting students following the path they helped to trailblaze. As one of the longest-running hospitality programs in the nation, SHM equips students with the technical knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary...
Embracing the Sponge Mentality: The Pathway to Leadership
Ana McFee | February 13, 2024
By Ana McFee For me, the concept of the "sponge mentality" stands out as a beacon of growth and adaptability. It is a process that embodies the metaphor of a sponge, soaking up knowledge and experiences and squeezing them out to share with others. But beyond this simple analogy, what does it truly mean to be a sponge in the context of leadership and personal growth? And how does adopting the sponge mentality contribute to one's success? The sponge mentality explained At its core, the sponge mentality is a mindset characterized by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a genuine curiosity about the world. To embody this mentality, you m...
The Future of Tech in Hospitality
Tatyana Tsukanova | February 8, 2024
By Tatyana Tsukanova In prehistoric times, our technology was limited to tools made of stone and bone. In the 21st century, we live in an era of technological innovation that is changing almost every aspect of our lives, from communication and education to recreation and entertainment. Technology continues to evolve and in the hospitality industry we have seen drastic changes in recent years. A look into the future is necessary today, if only to better understand the current situation and to plan for 2024, as well as to understand what existing players are already doing and, undoubtedly, what guests and customers expect. Hospitality rides...
Quoting Higher Rates and Overcoming Objections Regarding Rate/Availability Restrictions
Doug Kennedy | February 6, 2024
Doug Kennedy’s Next Training Webcast; Complimentary Registration Now Open Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording, of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, February 19, from Noon – 12:40 pm EST. REGISTER HERE “As many resorts, vacation rental companies, and hotels enter the peak booking season, now is a great time to train your reservations team on tactics for successfully selling the higher rates that your revenue managers have most likely rolled out this year,” said Kennedy. Due to today’s h...
Prime Time for Service Robots
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | January 31, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic catapulted the hospitality industry into a more digitised future. Coupled with the vast social changes and prominent safety concerns, this wave of technological innovation could transform the hospitality workforce, according to Professor Seongseop (Sam) Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors. Service robots could solve many of the safety concerns felt to this day, but how are they perceived by customers? To probe these issues in more depth, the researchers investigated how feelings of safety and the intention to visit an establishment are shaped by ...
Global Revenue Forum Announces Sommet Education as a Multi-City Sponsor for a Day of Unique Educational, Networking, and Commercial Opportunities at G
Sommet Education | January 25, 2024
London - January 25, 2024: The Global Revenue Forum is pleased to announce a partnership with Sommet Education to provide enhanced learning programs and educational opportunities at its upcoming events in London, Milan, Stockholm and Lisbon. Themed “Roadmap to Resilience,” The 30 January Global Revenue Forum will enable attendees to learn new strategies and solutions to help them adjust to today’s evolving market conditions and adapt to the future of hospitality before it arrives. As part of the partnership, Sommet Education will be onsite to meet with hospitality professionals to help build personal roadmaps for 2024, particularl...
NEWH Brings Biennial Leadership Conference to Nashville in 2024
NEWH | January 25, 2024
The three-day event gathers hospitality professionals from across the globe to learn and network Shawano, WI — January 24, 2024 — The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH)’s biennial Leadership Conference will take place in Nashville, Tennessee from February 15 - 17, 2024. Hosted at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, the event draws leaders in the hospitality industry from all over the world. Over the three-day conference, attendees will discuss strategy, share insights on emerging trends, and get to know their peers in a lively, encouraging environment. Embodying NEWH’s mission to support the advancement of professio...
AHLA Foundation Launches New Scholarship Application Portal for Hospitality Students Nationwide
The AHLA Foundation | January 8, 2024
The new platform will allow increased access to scholarship opportunities, supporting the future of hospitality and diversifying the talent pipeline. WASHINGTON (January 8, 2023) – AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, launched a new platform to streamline its scholarship application process. The platform not only improves the user experience, but includes a built-in eligibility assessment that allows students to access every Foundation-hosted opportunity for which they qualify. The Foundation has long supported rising hospitality talent through the generous support of individual donors and c...
Complimentary Registration Now Open For Doug Kennedy’s Next Training Webcast: Contemporary Approaches for Upselling at Check-In
Doug Kennedy | January 8, 2024
Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording, of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, January 22, from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE “Lately, too many hotels seem to be relying on pre-arrival drip campaigns to upsell guests to higher-priced accommodations. The problem is that guests’ inboxes are flooded with similar offers from airlines, rental cars, and other hotels on their itinerary, so most just ignore them,” said Kennedy, “And that’s assuming they don’t get marked as spam.” Kennedy bel...
HSMAI Announces Intercollegiate Global Conference and Collegiate Case Competition
HSMAI Foundation | December 18, 2023
McLean, VA (Dec. 18, 2023) – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation announces the 2024 Intercollegiate Global Conference: A World of Opportunity which will take place February 5-9, 2024. The virtual event is a unique opportunity for hospitality students and faculty to gain valuable insights and connect with top industry professionals. Undergraduate and graduate students who share passion for hospitality marketing are also encouraged to submit entries for the HSMAI Foundation Global Collegiate Case Competition. Conference attendees will hear from guest speakers from leading industry brands ...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Hospitality Training: 12 Steps to Reclaiming Your Spirit of Hospitality From the Gra
Doug Kennedy | December 5, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast. This month’s topic rotates back to hospitality, and it is one that a lot of our participants can relate to: 12 Steps to Reclaiming Your Spirit of Hospitality From The Grasp Of Cynicism scheduled for Monday, December 18, from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE “As we look to the start of a new year and reflect on a string of several of the most stressful years in the history of the lodging industry, I hope to remind us all why we...
Penn State To Honor Jim Risoleo, Ted Balestreri With Hospitality Industry Awards
The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society | November 30, 2023
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society (PSHRS) and the School of Hospitality Management will honor Jim Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., and Ted Balestreri, chairman and CEO of Cannery Row Co. and chairman, CEO and co-founder of Sardine Factory Restaurant, at the 2024 PSHRS Industry Awards and Reception. The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. on April 2, 2024, at the school’s Marriott Foundation Building among alumni, faculty, industry partners and students. Risoleo will receive the society’s Hospitality Executive of the Year Award and Balestreri will receive the Lifetime A...
Redesigning Hospitality for Transformative Impact
Madalyn Scerri | November 27, 2023
By Madalyn Scerri, Anita Manfreda A new wave of thinking is transforming the concept of hospitality, especially in the eyes of customers, driven by values such as well-being, authenticity, and meaning. Researchers and consultants at BMIHMS are uncovering the fundamental pillars for creating transformative hospitality experiences. In the realm of hospitality and hotel management, we possess a remarkable power—the power to elevate individual well-being and foster positive transformations within our communities. Our industry is undergoing a profound transformation as we reimagine traditional offerings to create experiences that not only ...
Workplace Fun, Afterwork Socializing Can Lead to Employee Substance Use
The School of Hospitality Management | November 20, 2023
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fun in the workplace can yield positive benefits to employees and employers alike, but it may also lead to an increase in afterwork employee substance use, according to new research from the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. Researchers led by Michael Tews, associate professor of hospitality management, found that fun activities for employees inside or outside the workplace and a manager’s support for fun are both correlated with substance use through coworker socializing. They published their work in the Journal of Drug Issues. “We know that fun has a positive impact in the workplace, but this...
AHLA Foundation Receives Grant From Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to Advance Opportunity Youth Into Hospitality Industry
AHLA | November 6, 2023
Through the Empowering Youth Program, AHLA Foundation aims to bridge the hiring gap in the hotel sector WASHINGTON, DC (November 6, 2023) – AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), has received a $605,000 grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support its Empowering Youth Program (EYP) over two years. The primary goal of EYP is to address the critical workforce shortage in the U.S. hotel and lodging industry by promoting equitable hiring practices and training untapped talent, including Opportunity Youth (age 16-24 and currently not in school or employed) and other priorit...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Reservations and Group/Event Sales – Use Storytelling Selling
Doug Kennedy | November 6, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast: Use Storytelling Selling – Narrate The Pictures They Already Viewed Online scheduled for Monday, November 13, from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE “Years ago, all that guests had to research options were a few pictures displayed on a fuzzy, low-resolution monitor. Now, prior to calling or emailing about booking an event or important stay, those who inquire have already seen extensive photo galleries and probably a...
HFTP Accepting Proposals for 2024 HITEC North America Education Program
HFTP | October 26, 2023
Austin, Texas (October 26, 2023) — Each year, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) seeks input from industry professionals and presenters to help create an engaging, informative and comprehensive education program for the association's foremost event, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). New for 2024, HFTP is inviting well-informed hospitality technology professionals to share their expertise and submit a presentation proposal as part of the program development process. The proposal submission period will run through January 10, 2024. HITEC 2024 is scheduled for June 24�...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Renews Clark Atlanta University Partnership to Help Build Early Career Talent Pipeline
IHG | October 24, 2023
ATLANTA (October 24, 2023) – Clark Atlanta University (CAU), the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the southern United States, and IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, hosted an event earlier this month highlighting the importance of corporate HBCU partnerships to support student success. Together with CAU students and leaders, IHG announced it would again renew its commitment to CAU as a Premier Corporate Partner for 2024 and unveiled a renovated student lounge at the School of Business. During the event, students participated in an engaging Q&A panel discussion w...
AHLA Foundation and Yum! Brands Executives Appointed Conti Professors
THE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT | October 19, 2023
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State School of Hospitality Management has named Anna Blue, president of the AHLA Foundation — the nonprofit arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association — and James C. Fripp, chief equity and inclusion officer of Yum! Brands, as its 2023-24 Walter J. Conti visiting professors. The Conti Professorship program brings hospitality industry leaders and scholars to serve as guest lecturers and mentors with students in the Hospitality Management program, as well as to connect with faculty members and researchers in the school. As part of its 35th anniversary year, Blue and Fripp represent the con...
Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Opens 2023 Student Case Competition
HAMA | October 6, 2023
More than 30 Undergraduate and Graduate-Level Programs Invited to Participate BOSTON, Mass., October 5, 2023—Officials of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) today announced that it has begun accepting submissions for the 18th Annual HAMA Student Case Competition. Participating students from more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide are given three scenarios from which to choose to present a case study, including: Management company change Brand change ROI Working with a HAMA member and their respective university professors, student teams will be required to prepare a comprehensiv...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Proactive Prospecting: Meet Your Hotel’s 2024 Sales Goals by Transitioning to
Doug Kennedy | October 5, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast: Proactive Prospecting: Meet Your Hotel’s 2024 Sales Goals By Transitioning to “Sales Hunting” scheduled for Friday, October 20 from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE Is netting “fair share” going to be enough to meet your hotel’s 2024 sales goal? Given an uncertain economic climate, is your sales team being challenged to do more prospecting? KTN’s next webcast covers realistic, actionable, daily sales habits that help...
PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management Partners With World Travel and Tourism Council To Define the Future of Global Retail Tourism
PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management | September 27, 2023
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has joined hands with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to support the sustainable development of global tourism. Undertaken collaboratively by teams from the SHTM’s Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre and the Council, the WTTC–SHTM Global Retail Tourism project offers critical data-driven insights into the key trends, challenges and opportunities shaping retail tourism in the post-pandemic era. Although travellers collectively spend billions of dollars every year on shopping, to date there has been a lack of an accurate estimate ...
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