Charting a Course for 2022 With Tech
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | September 15, 2021
Siegel Sez: Not Your Father’s Power Socket
September 3, 2021
Industry Happenings
HITEC 2021 – A Resounding Success
Ron Strecker | October 18, 2021
By Ron Strecker I have spent this past weekend “decompressing” from HITEC 2021. This has included reviewing my session notes, updating my contact information for old friends in new jobs, and adding new contacts for all my new connections. For me, this was one of my most successful HITECs when measured by the number of changes I observed. The lower attendance did have the side benefit of allowing me to spend more valuable time in one-to-one conversations with our vendor partners. Reflecting on the week, my experiences fall in three categories: reconnecting with long-time friends, connecting with new friends, and the need for follow-u...
AHLA Statement on White House Travel Announcement
AHLA | October 18, 2021
WASHINGTON – October 18, 2021 – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Chip Rogers released the below statement following a White House announcement that it will lift travel restrictions for foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning Nov. 8. “Hotels have kept travelers and employees safe as a result of our industry’s rigorous health and safety protocols, and we continue to encourage our workforce, guests and all Americans to get vaccinated. We applaud President Biden’s move to reopen America’s doors to international, fully vaccinated visitors from around the globe. It’s a ...
The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels List Announced
Historic Hotels of America® | October 15, 2021
Reported paranormal experiences include ghost sightings of Revolutionary War soldiers, jilted lovers, a young girl carrying flowers, a man in a top hat, friendly spectral bellhops, and more. Historic Hotels of America® offers travelers spectacular experiences and stories to take home with them, but some offer more than the usual textbook history. The historic hotels included on the 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels list are locations for ghost tales of Revolutionary War soldiers, jilted lovers, unexplained footsteps, as well as friendly spectral bellhops. For believers and skepti...
LTI Announces the World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands 2021
LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence | October 15, 2021
October 15, 2021 – Welcome to our annual World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands report. This is not just another World's Best list. LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence - has taken the past 12 months to apply the perfect assessment process: a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands. This year, our algorithm has 131 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum accumulative score of 4736. The touchpoints relate to overall brand performance, rather than the performance of individual properties. It is all about a brand’s abi...
U.S. Travel Welcomes Border Reopening Date
U.S. Travel Association | October 15, 2021
WASHINGTON — October 15, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the announcement that the U.S. will officially reopen its borders to vaccinated international travelers on November 8: “U.S. Travel has long called for the safe reopening of our borders, and we welcome the Biden administration’s announcement of a set date to welcome back vaccinated international travelers. “The date is critically important for planning—for airlines, for travel-supported businesses, and for millions of travelers worldwide who will now advance plans to visit the United States once again...
Will ‘Less Is More’ Become the Tourism Buzzword of 2022?
Gregg Rockett | October 15, 2021
Reflections on the post-pandemic approach to sustainable tourism By Gregg Rockett The unprecedented 18-month hiatus in the global tourism industry has been a unique opportunity for communities to assess the pros and cons of their current tourism strategy. Tourism receipts evaporated, but so too did the throngs packing the streets and disrupting the lives of locals. The big-name ‘Bucket List’ destinations were given some rare peace and quiet and, maybe (hopefully), time to consider that enough is enough. Traveling in Portugal and Greece this summer, I witnessed first-hand the return of tourists to two of Europe’s most en...
77% of Travelers Want to Travel in the Next Year, With Europe Reigning as Top Destination, According to New Traveler Research
Amadeus | October 14, 2021
LONDON – October 14, 2021 – The survey of 9,074 consumers across France, Germany, India, Spain, Russia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the US shows the appetite to travel is high. At the same time, it reveals that greater clarity on restrictions and guidelines will be key to unlocking increased traveler confidence. Over a third (35%) of travelers said the current international guidelines around where and how to travel are confusing, making them less likely to book business and/or leisure travel. At the same time, travelers are exhibiting increased openness to embrace technology and a willingness to share health data so they can start ...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Lifting of Land Border Travel Restrictions for Vaccinated International Travelers
U.S. Travel Association | October 13, 2021
WASHINGTON — October 13, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the announcement that restrictions on U.S. land border travel with Canada and Mexico will be lifted for vaccinated individuals: “U.S. Travel has long urged a reopening of the U.S. land borders, and we applaud the Biden administration’s plan to ease entry restrictions for vaccinated visitors. This action will bring a welcome surge in travel from our two top source markets of inbound travel. “Declines in international visitation since the start of the pandemic have resulted in more than $250 billion in lo...
London’s Outlook: An Analysis by Hotel Class
STR | October 11, 2021
When booking a hotel room, guests are considering more factors than ever in deciding which property to call home in their destination. One of the many considerations is price, and by extension hotel class, which leads us to this latest analysis of occupancy on the books in London. Examining future occupancy levels by class allows for a better understanding of the traveler booking rationale for the upcoming months. Merry Christmas and not such a Happy New Year The short-term outlook for London is positive as summer ends and the industry transitions into the typically slower autumn and winter months. Leading bookings in the short-term are...
A Brighter Future for Colombia?
STR | October 11, 2021
Colombia’s accelerated vaccination rollout and lessened restrictions on eligibility pushed the country’s vaccination rate to 32.1% as of 22 September, according to Our World in Data. Is that growing vaccination rate helping improve hotel performance in this key South American country? The answer would seem to be, yes, but to a lesser extent for some areas of the country. As noted in one of our first articles regarding the early stages of Colombia’s recovery, the country’s hotel performance has been closely tied to the pandemic timeline. Most recently in August, Colombia’s hotel occupancy reached 48.8%, which was 76.9% of the 20...
Rising Costs, Staffing Shortages and Multi-Speed Recovery Play Havoc With the UK Hotel Sector
HVS | October 7, 2021
06 September 2021, London: Resetting the hotel balance sheet to be fit for recovery was the theme of the latest conference organised by global hotel consultancy HVS, legal expert Bird & Bird, publishing group EP Business in Hospitality and restructuring advisory firm AlixPartners. Addressing both in-person and online delegates yesterday [5th October 2021) Graeme Smith, EMEA head of hospitality & leisure at AlixPartners considered the support received by hotels from lenders, resulting in limited restructuring activity, despite disruption that the pandemic caused. “There are now a number of different lenders, the landscape ...
Powering Recovery: HSMAI 2021 Adrian Awards Open
HSMAI | October 7, 2021
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is now accepting entries for the 2021 Adrian Awards. Marketing, advertising, and public relations have been at the forefront of leading the recovery of travel as leisure and business travelers moved from reluctance to excitement to get back on the road — and the 65th annual Adrians competition will focus on capturing the great work done by hotels, destinations, and their agency partners to get the country moving again, showcase safety and security, and welcome those travelling for the first time in more than a year. “Hospitality and tourism professionals con...
Trips to Visit Friends and Family Set to Rise by Ten Million by 2024 as US Relaxes UK Travel Restrictions, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | October 6, 2021
VFR travellers likely to lead demand in the immediate travel recovery phase VFR travel set to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.8% between 2021 and 2024 UK-US flights set to underpin recovery as demand for flights increases The announcement that US travel restrictions for vaccinated UK residents will be relaxed from early November will be met positively by people keen to reunite with family and friends. Leading data and analytics company GlobalData notes that the number of people travelling out of the UK to visit friends and relatives (VFR) is set to rise from 10.6 million in 2021 to 20.5 mi...
BLLA Creates a Newly Updated Glossary of Terms for the Independent Boutique Hotel Sector
the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) | October 6, 2021
Both seasoned hoteliers and those new to hospitality will find the abbreviated tool of great value in their everyday quest to find clarity and answers LOS ANGELES, CA – October 6, 2021 – The official organization of the world’s authentic boutique hotels, BLLA, brought together the industry’s thought leaders to create an educational program aimed at more clearly defining the most important terms in the boutique hospitality space. The key purpose of this project was to assist anyone seeking abbreviated guidance in developing or operating a boutique hotel and additionally, as a universal tool for students in hospitality, thos...
The Lodging Conference – HVS Perspectives
Rod Clough | October 4, 2021
By Rod Clough With nearly 2,000 registered, the Lodging Conference brought together members of the hospitality industry to discuss the recovery, challenges, and successes of the industry to date. The highlights of the event from those that attended from HVS are summarized here. Market Performance The U.S. economy is headed towards a cooling period this fall and winter due to factors such as the COVID Delta variant, supply chain issues, higher energy prices, a recent cutback in consumer spending, and the scarcity of materials. Looking beyond the next two quarters, a much more normal business cycle is anticipated. GDP growt...
Vaccines and Reopened Borders Driving Tourism’s Recovery
UNWTO | October 4, 2021
International tourism enjoyed signs of rebound in June and July 2021 as some destinations eased travel restrictions and the global vaccination rollout advanced in many parts of the world. According to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, an estimated 54 million tourists crossed international borders in July 2021, down 67% from the same month in 2019, but the strongest results since April 2020. This compares to an estimated 34 million international arrivals recorded in July 2020, though well below the 164 million figure recorded in 2019. Moderate rebound for most destinations Most destinations reporting data for June and...
HITEC Returns to In-Person Event in 2021 With Success
HFTP | October 1, 2021
Dallas, Texas – October 1, 2021 – The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) was back this week after 25 months off. Running September 27-30 in Dallas, Texas USA. Produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), HITEC® showcases the industry's latest innovations and provides a top-notch education program for attendees. This year just over 4,000 attendees participated, with 250+ exhibiting companies set up in 60,000+ square feet of exhibit space. In addition, HFTP’s Annual Convention was co-located with HITEC with a focus on education sessions that featured finance-related topics. ...
What Professionals Are Saying About the Return of Business Travel
Hilton | October 1, 2021
Business travelers miss traveling for business, according to a recent survey commissioned by Hilton and Morning Brew of more than 7,000 of the news site’s business-savvy readers. While some have returned to traveling for work, 87% of respondents say they miss hopping from city to city to pursue their work. Most of all, business travelers miss visiting new places (66%), discovering local culture (41%), discussing projects in person (37%), and attending in-person conferences (36%). Once business travel is back in full swing, they can’t wait to enjoy a comfortable hotel bed (45%) and some much-needed alone time (62%). With these insig...
Amex Trendex: Consumers Prioritizing Wellness and Mental Health With Their Time, Money and Travel Plans
American Express Global Business Travel | October 1, 2021
October 1, 2021 – According to the Amex Trendex1, a trend report from American Express, consumers surveyed in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Mexico, India, and Canada are investing more time and money in their physical and mental health to combat the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on their well-being. More than two-thirds (69%) of consumers surveyed indicate that their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic – either by isolation restrictions or concerns for well-being – and 66% agree that the pandemic has encouraged them to spend more money on items or experiences that help with their overall mental ...
The Castell Project Presents 2021 Castell Award to Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global Chief Executive Officer of JLL Hotels & Hospitality
THE CASTELL PROJECT | September 28, 2021
ATLANTA, GA — September 28, 2021 — Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, today named Global Chief Executive Officer of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Gilda Perez-Alvarado, as the recipient of its second annual Castell Award honoring a woman leader in the hospitality investment arena. The award was presented to Perez-Alvarado at the 2021 Lodging Conference held in Phoenix, Ariz., where she received a piece by artist Brad McCollum personally designed to evoke her heritage, her role as a trailblazer and her leadership as a c...
New Survey Finds Post-Pandemic Travel Will Pose Challenges Old and New
Wise | September 28, 2021
NEW YORK - September 28, 2021 - Wise today released the Wise International Travel Survey, assessing U.S. international travelers’ attitude and willingness to travel abroad. This comes on the heels of the White House announcing that the U.S. will reopen in November to air travelers from 33 countries who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the three market study of consumers, 82% of U.S. travelers say that as things get back to normal, international travel is one of the things that they’re looking forward to most. While 72% expressed that they are currently planning an international trip. “While the Delta Varia...
What if Labor Shortage Is a Long-Term Threat to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry?
Linchi Kwok | September 27, 2021
By Linchi Kwok The U.S. economy finally shows signs of a strong recovery from the pandemic. Nevertheless, the surging delta variant cases, inflation, and the global supply chain disruption, among other concerns, add considerable uncertainty to the economic outlook. Notably, the hospitality and tourism industry is unlikely to recover any time soon. On the one hand, there is no real sense of recovery until people are traveling for business again. Yet, more companies have postponed the return-to-office plan and let employees continue working from home. On the other hand, the industry is facing an extreme labor shortage that slows do...
Business Travel Continues Slowed Recovery While Some Companies Consider New Travel Program Approaches
GBTA | September 23, 2021
Alexandria, VA – September 23, 2021 – Despite continuing to report an overall willingness and optimism for the return to business travel, business travel industry sentiment continues to waver, due to ongoing uncertainty around the Delta variant and other variants. However, indicators show companies and their corporate travel managers may be looking at new focus areas and ways of working for their business travel program. This is 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 in...
Visual Matrix Celebrates Hospitality’s Recovery by Showcasing Latest Advances in Hotel PMS Technology at HITEC 2021
Visual Matrix | September 22, 2021
Uplifting hoteliers with the continuation of its “Hospitality ROCKS!” theme, the community-centric PMS provider will demonstrate how hoteliers can utilize innovative developments in property management systems to boost operational efficiency. RICHARDSON, TX – September 22, 2021 - Visual Matrix, an industry-leading hotel property management software providing an all-in-one PMS, today announces its official participation at HITEC 2021, which will take place in Dallas from September 27-30. Set to exhibit the latest advances in cloud-based PMS technology at Booth #4911, Visual Matrix will provide attendees with the opportunity to part...
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