IDeaS Gears Up for 2021 AAHOA Convention
IDeaS | July 15, 2021
Bleisure as Usual and Five Other Factors to Boost the Groups Segment
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | July 14, 2021
Industry Happenings
Knowland Executives Return to the Road, Facilitating Industry Discussions at Key Events
KNOWLAND | July 26, 2021
As the industry re-opens, Knowland leaders gear up to provide unique insights and information at events around the country ARLINGTON, Va. — July 26, 2021 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, announced today its participation in several key conferences and events as the industry returns to in-person meetings in the fall season. Throughout the pandemic, Knowland has remained vigilant in providing up-to-date, actionable meeting and event data to the hotel industry. Now its company executives return to the road to share insights and work with industry leaders to f...
International Travel Largely on Hold Despite Uptick in May
UNWTO | July 22, 2021
The biggest crisis in the history of tourism continues into a second year. Between January and May, international tourist arrivals were 85% below 2019 levels (or a 65% drop on 2020), UNWTO data shows. Despite a small uptick in May, the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the recovery of international travel. Meanwhile, domestic tourism continues to rebound in many parts of the world. The latest UNWTO data shows that over the first five months of the year, world destinations recorded 147 million fewer international arrivals (overnight visitors) compared to the same period of 2020, or 460...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Canada, Mexico Border Closure Extension
U.S. Travel Association | July 22, 2021
WASHINGTON — July 22, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the announcement that the United States has extended border restrictions on Mexico and Canada through August 21: “Every day that our borders remain closed further delays our industry’s recovery, causing greater damage to the millions of Americans whose livelihoods depend on travel. The continued closure of the Canadian border alone costs the U.S. economy $1.5 billion in potential travel exports each month. “Given the strong vaccination rates on both sides of the borde...
U.S. Travel Association Reacts to Canada’s Border Reopening Plan
U.S. Travel Association | July 20, 2021
WASHINGTON – July 20, 2021 – U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement regarding the announcement that Canada will begin admitting vaccinated visitors for non-essential travel: “Canada is getting this right and we applaud the release of a timeline that will allow vaccinated Americans to visit and cross the land border after many long months. Travel is a core component of the economy and job creation, and today’s announcement will spur a rebound of both in Canada. While we have stated that vaccines should not be a requirement for travel, we stron...
Business Travel Demand Is on a Steady Rise but Government Policies Continue to Hamper Return to International Travel
The Global Business Travel Association | July 19, 2021
Alexandria, VA – July 19, 2021 – More companies are reporting a willingness and actual return to business travel, with domestic travel taking the lead. However, government restrictions on international travel continue to hinder the ability for companies to conduct key business functions. This according to the latest poll from The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest business travel association and worldwide leader in education, research, networking and advocacy for the industry. This poll is the 21st in a series tracking the pulse of GBTA’s membership of global travel buyers and suppliers and how the tr...
Success in the Summer of ‘21
Robert Rauch | July 19, 2021
How To Welcome Post-Pandemic Travelers Back Into Hotels By Robert Rauch The venerable hotel industry has been completely overturned during the past 15 months. We will have to create a very different strategy to outperform the competition this summer. What are the dynamics of hospitality industry competition today and how can we put together a winning plan in time for the Summer of 2021? Today, a digital marketing strategy is an industry imperative and critical business solution in this digital age. Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow hotels and restaurants to engage guests and offer a highly personalized level of...
Approved Vaccine Inconsistency Could Delay the Restart of International Travel
UNWTO | July 15, 2021
London, UK - July 15, 2021 - The restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The global tourism body, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, has issued its warning following concerns tourists face being turned away at the borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognised and approved COVID-19 vaccines. This comes just days after a number of British holidaymakers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZenec...
IDeaS Gears Up for 2021 AAHOA Convention
IDeaS | July 15, 2021
As the franchise community gathers in Dallas for AAHOACON21, revenue management leader IDeaS prepares to tackle industry challenges MINNEAPOLIS—July 15, 2021—IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the world’s leading provider of revenue management software and services, announced it will participate as a Platinum Level sponsor at the upcoming Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) convention and trade show in Dallas, August 3-6, 2021. IDeaS is planning a host of events and contact points to engage the franchisee and owner community in preparations for the new challenges of the post-COVID era. Elements of the expanded partnership with A...
Bleisure as Usual and Five Other Factors to Boost the Groups Segment
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | July 14, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Now firmly in summer and it’s safe to say that the leisure segment is back online from the druthers of 2020 – groups, not so much. While every hotelier wants meetings and events to strike back in a similar fashion, there are a few almost irreversible considerations for the post-pandemic groups landscape. Rather than try to make it 2019 again, the wise hotelier will accept these changes and pivot operations to meet the new types of demand that are emerging. For meetings and events, this will mean fewer large-scale conventions and open-for-all receptions, and more limited, invitation-only gatherings. Start...
The Post-Pandemic Hard Reset
Vikram Singh | July 13, 2021
By Vikram Singh I wrote two articles during the pandemic, one around the beginning and one in the middle. It’s time to complete the trilogy. Our industry has been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fundamentally change itself. How we market, price and operate hotel assets needs to evolve to meet the changing market landscape. Here are my thoughts on how to make real changes in order to embrace the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead. Embrace the Hard Reset The hotel and travel industry was ground zero for the impact of global lockdowns: the hard reset button on the entire industry was pressed. A hard reset on an electronic ...
UK’s Status as Most Visited Destination for US Tourists in Europe Is Threatened by Mandatory Quarantine
GlobalData | July 12, 2021
The UK’s status as the most visited destination for US tourists in Europe is threatened by the mandatory quarantine on arrival. The list of European destinations now allowing US tourists to travel without quarantine is growing, meaning other European hotspots could prove to be more desirable in the short term, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “News of a transatlantic air bubble or ‘travel corridor’ between the UK and the US has long been rumored. What remains clear is that the longer it is delayed, the greater risk of US tourists opti...
Two Dozen Industry Groups Release Blueprint to Reopen International Travel
U.S. Travel Association | July 8, 2021
WASHINGTON — July 8, 2021 — A coalition of 24 trade organizations representing a large and diverse swath of the U.S. economy is renewing urgent calls to lift restrictions on international visitation to the United States, and on Wednesday released a policy blueprint for reopening borders safely. Called “A Framework to Safely Lift Entry Restrictions and Restart International Travel,” the document identifies policy principles for finally welcoming international visitors back to the United States while keeping health and safety as the top priority. “The travel industry agrees that being guided by the science is absolutely the corr...
Knowland’s June Group Meetings and Events Data Shows Continued Growth With Healthcare Leading the Corporate Segment
Knowland | July 8, 2021
June 2021 numbers indicate a resurgence of top tier markets ARLINGTON, Va. — July 8, 2021— Knowland, the leader in AI-powered meetings and events data for hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, conference centers and other venues, today released its monthly meetings and events data for June. The numbers reveal that June U.S. group meetings volume increased 16.5 percent over last month. Growth continues in the groups segment and while the sheer number of meetings have not returned to 2019 levels, meeting statistics have stabilized at or near 2019 levels. The average number of attendees have leveled out with 2019 numbers. • Aver...
Vaccines and Digital Solutions to Ease Travel Restrictions
UNWTO | July 7, 2021
The global vaccination rollout and increased adoption of digital solutions for safe travel should lead to a rise in international mobility over the weeks and months ahead, the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicates. According to the newest edition of the Travel Restrictions Report from the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, as of 1 June, 29% of all destinations worldwide have their borders completely closed to international tourism. Of these, more than half have been completely closed to tourists for since May 2020 or longer, with the majority of these belonging to the Small Island Development States of...
What Exhibitions Tell Us About MICE Recovery
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | July 7, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky Freeman (www.freeman.com) is the global leader in exhibition management. Family-owned and operated, they are the ‘go to’ folks behind numerous convention centers with a bevy of services to create memorable, large-scale events. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to stay behind at the end of a tradeshow, or for that matter set up a booth, you’ll be amazed at the speed and capabilities of their team members. I recently had an opportunity to chat with Mickey McClay Wilson, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. My interest was simple: can Freeman shine a light on the recovery of a business inextricably...
The 2021 Edition of the Women in Travel and Hospitality Conference, Powered by BLLA, to Be Held Digitally July 14, 2021
TIEWN | July 7, 2021
Almost 70 speakers will impart wisdom and mentorship, closely aligning with the conference theme - Resilience Los Angeles - July 7, 2021 - This Trade Conference is an online gathering of enlightened women and advocates in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. The event has been held annually since 2013 and is supported by more than 12,500 women globally who belong to the Travel Industry Executive Women’s Network (TIEWN). This Conference recognizes women internationally who lead in their fields and who are excited to pass on their legacies. This conference consciously creates a forum for women to support each other and to dis...
Now Accepting Nominations for the 2021 Rising Star Award Asia to Be Presented at HICAP
ISHC | July 6, 2021
Singapore - July 6, 2021 - The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), in partnership with the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), is now accepting nominations for the Rising Star Award Asia to be presented at HICAP on 20-22 October 2021 at the Fairmont Singapore & Swissotel The Stamford. Candidates must meet the following criteria: 35 years of age or younger, born on or after 23 October 1985 Have a minimum of five years in a hotel development and/or investment related field with a minimum of one year with the current company Recognized by leaders in the hospitality field as a rising star ...
Red Roof Announces an Accelerated Partnership With Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA to Assist Families in India Impacted by COVID
Red Roof | July 1, 2021
Columbus, Ohio - July 1, 2021 - Red Roof®, the leader in economy lodging, has announced the launch of a month-long fundraising campaign to accelerate its support for the work of Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA (LPS) and its Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA COVID Relief India Project 2021, as the organization works to provide support for hospitals in Gujarat, India province which have been impacted by the devastating effects of the COVID pandemic. The new campaign, which will run throughout the month of July, will be seeded by a Red Roof donation of $10,000. Red Roof will encourage its franchise partners, vendors, and the entire industry to join them...
Growing Up at The Grande: Living at the World’s First InterContinental Hotel
IHG Hotels & Resorts | June 24, 2021
IHG Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand. From one hotel to more than 200, InterContinental has grown with the advent of technology and evolving hotel operations, but its pioneering spirit of luxury travel endures. As we look back on the legacy of this iconic brand, we speak to someone who has truly lived the InterContinental life. "My father was the second General Manager of the InterContinental Hotel Grande in Belém, Brazil," says Kirby Payne. He moved into the hotel when he was four years old. Hotel Grande was the world's first InterContinental, opening its doors...
AHLA Urges Swift Passage of Bipartisan Senate Per Diem Bill
AHLA | June 23, 2021
WASHINGTON – June 23, 2021 – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Chip Rogers released the below statement after Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced S.2160, the “Restored, Equitable, Coronavirus Adjusted Lodging (RECAL) Act,” a bipartisan bill that would require the General Services Administration (GSA) to calculate federal per diem rates for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 using data from 2018 and 2019, prior to the pandemic wiping out 10 years of job growth in the hotel industry. “Government travel supports tens of thousands of hotel jobs and billions in travel spending ...
Most Americans Willing to Disclose Vaccine Status to Businesses
SafetyCulture | June 23, 2021
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - June 23, 2021 - As the U.S. reopens, the majority of Americans (63%) say they are comfortable sharing their vaccine status with businesses, according to new research from SafetyCulture. Plus, 43% of Americans said they would have increased trust in organizations which require or request all entrants to share their inoculation status. SafetyCulture’s nationwide research of 1,000 U.S. consumers was developed in partnership with YouGov. The survey is a follow-up to its June 2020 research which assessed consumer comfort levels interacting with businesses across a variety of industries. Key research findings: Vaccina...
As Pandemic Concerns Fade, 76% of North Americans Plan to Travel Soon
Oracle | June 22, 2021
Oracle Survey respondents are ready to spend more on hospitality perks beyond the room charges, hoteliers add new services to extend the customer experience AUSTIN, Texas – June 22, 2021 – After more than a year in lockdown, 76% of consumers in North America plan to travel within the next six months. According to a new Oracle Hospitality survey, 24% of respondents in the US and Canada plan to travel immediately, 31% in the next one to three months, and 21% by the end of the year. People are largely traveling regionally, but venturing further from home. Domestic travel will account for 61% of travel plans (vs. 44% last year), 19% of ...
STR: U.S. Hotel Performance for May 2021 Shows Highest Levels Since Before Pandemic
STR | June 21, 2021
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The U.S. hotel industry recorded its highest monthly performance levels since before the beginning of the pandemic, according to May 2021 data from STR. May 2021: Occupancy: 59.3% Average daily rate (ADR): US$117.69 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$69.81 Each of the three key performance metrics were the highest for any month since February 2020. While year-over-year percentage changes show significant increases because of comparison with a pandemic-affected period in 2020, the country’s performance levels remained well below the pre-pandemic comparable of May 2019: occupancy (-13.5%), A...
Hotel Industry Updates Mask Guidance for Vaccinated Hotel Employees
AHLA | June 21, 2021
WASHINGTON – June 21, 2021 – The following is a statement from Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), on easing face covering and physical distancing requirements for hotel employees in response to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance. “In response to increasing vaccination rates across the country and of our workforce, and consistent with CDC and OSHA guidance, the hotel industry supports vaccinated employees being given the choice whether to continue wearing face coverings, in accordance with s...
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