In a World of Mobile Lifestyles and Remote Working, What Role Will Hotels Play?
Kimberly Yoong | May 4, 2021
Siegel Sez: The COVID Year – What Tech Changes Will Last?
April 23, 2021
Industry Happenings
April Group Data Shows U.S. Meetings and Events Volume Increased 58.5 Percent Over March 2021
KNOWLAND | May 6, 2021
Knowland numbers reveal that average meeting attendees are nearing 2019 levels ARLINGTON, Va. — May 6, 2021 — Knowland, the leader in AI-powered data for hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, conference centers and other meeting venues, today released its monthly meetings and events data for April. The numbers reveal that April U.S. group meetings volume increased 58.5 percent over last month. As we move past the one year mark when lockdowns began in the United States, Knowland will now be comparing Average Attendees and Average Space Used market data to its 2019 numbers. As bigger cities such as New York and Las Vegas begin to re-o...
In a World of Mobile Lifestyles and Remote Working, What Role Will Hotels Play?
Kimberly Yoong | May 4, 2021
By Kimberly Yoong, Borivoj Vokrinek At a time when many of the world’s events continue to be plagued by COVID-19, making plans even a week in advance may seem difficult, much less 10 years into the future. Nearly overnight, the dialogue shifted from “where to for lunch?” to “can you hear me?”. And as hotels emptied out and travel restrictions drag on, many may wonder, where lies the future of hotels? To answer this question, it is first important to recognize that the hotel sector does not exist as an individual silo, but one which forms part of a much wider network: the ecosystem of how we live and work. The cities in which ...
FAU Poll Tells Disturbing Tale of Hospitality and Tourism Employment in Wake of COVID-19
Florida Atlantic University | May 4, 2021
BOCA RATON, Fla. – May 4, 2021 – The world’s battered hospitality and tourism industry has a long way to go to rebound from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey of workers conducted by Florida Atlantic University. Roughly 70 percent of the more than 4,000 respondents felt COVID-19 would have a negative long-term impact on the industry, while 65 percent said they felt the industry did not protect its employees better than other sectors. More than one-third of respondents indicated they would be seeking employment outside the industry over the next year. Meanwhile, desperately needed entry-level work...
PACE Financing Lawyer: New York Opening PACE – a Big Opportunity!
David Sudeck | May 3, 2021
By Jim Butler, David Sudeck The NYC PACE Financing Program has finally released its program guidelines! Prospective qualified PACE lenders are now carefully reviewing the guidelines, applying for approval to be a PACE lender in New York City, and seeking projects that may benefit from PACE financing. It is time to get ready, but the official launch date for the program is being delayed a bit and has not yet been set. We expect the launch soon. New York’s Law Will Motivate Building Owners to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions While PACE financing has been available throughout the country for years, the PACE program for New Yo...
New Data: State-by-State Breakdown on Projected Hotel Industry Job Loss for 2021
AHLA | May 3, 2021
Download Fact Sheet on 2021 State Job Loss Here WASHINGTON — May 3, 2021 — Today, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released new data showcasing the ongoing devastating impact of COVID-19 on hotel industry employment, including projected hotel job loss through the end of 2021. Without targeted relief from Congress, nationwide, hotels are expected to end 2021 down 500,000 jobs. Hotels are the only major hospitality and leisure segment yet to receive direct aid. The top five states projected to end 2021 down the highest number of jobs include: California: 67,169 jobs lost Florid...
Vaccine Skepticism Should Not Be Ignored in US Outbound Travel Recovery, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | April 30, 2021
Vaccine skepticism coupled with COVID-19 concerns will continue to affect US outbound travel recovery in 2021 and potentially 2022, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. COVID-19 concerns are high in the US. According to GlobalData’s Q1 2021 consumer survey, 52% of US respondents stated they were ‘extremely concerned’ about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in general, which is 10% higher than the global average. However, GlobalData’s Live Verdict Poll found that 23% of respondents in North America did not intend to take a vaccine against COVID-19. This was higher than any other region and suggests that a large p...
Travel and Franchise Industries Endorse ‘Save Hotel Jobs Act’
U.S. Travel Association | April 30, 2021
WASHINGTON — April 30, 2021 — The U.S. Travel Association and the International Franchise Association (IFA) on Thursday voiced strong support for new legislation that would provide relief for hard-hit hotel workers until travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. The Save Hotel Jobs Act, introduced in both chambers of Congress by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL), would support jobs in the devastated lodging industry through a combination of direct payroll grants and tax credits, among other provisions. The measure earlier won the joint endorsement of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and UNITE HERE, th...
Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Announces Results of “Spring 2021 Industry Outlook Survey”
HAMA | April 30, 2021
BOSTON — April 30, 2021 — The Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) today released the results of its bi-annual survey of asset managers' thoughts, experiences and forecasts for the upcoming year as the hotel industry continues to deal with the on-going pandemic. With approximately 100 participants, topics ranged from “return to 2019” RevPAR levels predictions to the status of the lending market. Additional topics included current acquisition appetites, new brand/management plans and the leading issues of concern for asset managers right now. The survey was conducted in preparation for HAMA’s 2021 Annual Spring M...
California Hotel Workers Laid Off Due to COVID-19 Get Rehire Rights
Travis Gemoets | April 28, 2021
By Jim Butler, Travis Gemoets On Friday, April 16, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom put new employer obligations into law by signing Senate Bill 93, requiring hotel, event center, airport hospitality and janitorial employers to first rehire workers laid off during the pandemic when jobs become available, essentially establishing “recall rights” more commonly associated with union collective bargaining agreements. Senate Bill 93 takes effect immediately after quickly making its way through the Legislature as a budget trailer bill and will be in effect until the end of 2024. Gov. Newsom vetoed a more expansive labor-backed bill last year. SB 9...
WTTC Launches Ground-Breaking Initiative to Support Women in Travel & Tourism
WTTC | April 28, 2021
CANCUN, MEXICO: The world’s leading Travel & Tourism leaders pledged to work towards women’s equality and boost female representation in leadership roles in an announcement before the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The commitment came as WTTC, which represents the Travel & Tourism private sector, launched its Women’s Initiative, at its Global Summit in Cancun, with the help of 18 Grand Slam singles title winner, Martina Navratilova. WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara unveiled the public-private-academic partnership to promote diversity and drive inclusivity which will help lead the way to achieving equali...
Hotel Industry & Union Join to Urge Congress for Aid AHLA, UNITE HERE Call on Congress to Pass ‘Save Hotel Jobs Act’ to Help Hotel Workers
AHLA | April 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – April 28, 2021 – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and UNITE HERE, the largest hospitality workers union in North America, today joined forces to call on Congress to pass the Save Hotel Jobs Act. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), provides a lifeline to hotel workers, providing the assistance they need to survive until travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, applauded Senator Schatz and Representative Crist for introducing this critical legislation to support hotel workers. “Every day, hotels...
CHLA Forms “Issues PAC” As Legislative & Regulatory Rapid Response Team
The California Hotel & Lodging Association | April 28, 2021
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) has formed an “issues PAC” under the leadership of Alpesh Jivan, CHA, to serve as a rapid-response team for proposed legislation or regulations affecting hoteliers in the state. “This new entity is a direct result of our association’s success in defeating the Proposition 15 initiative that was on the ballot last November and would have dramatically increased business property taxes in California,” explained Bijal Patel, CHA, Chairman of CHLA. “We were part of a coalition that effectively and impressively mobilized state-wide in a fast, proactive, coordinated way on behalf...
Upcoming 2021 HFTP Club Summit Addresses High Priority Topics; Strong Registration Demonstrates the Interest for Professional Engagement
HFTP | April 27, 2021
Next month, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is bringing back its Club Summit after a one-year hiatus. Relatively new to HFTP's slate of events (est. 2018), this conference has quickly become a key program for the association's club segment offerings. The Summit delivers a vital opportunity for high-level club professionals and industry experts to directly address the topics that are most compelling and important to this specialized segment of hospitality. Coming up this May 24-25 at the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach – a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; HFTP is seeing great interest ...
Customer Satisfaction With Hotels Hit Worst Mark in More Than a Decade, ACSI Data Show
the ACSI | April 27, 2021
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - April 27, 2021 - When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, travel industries were among the first businesses to take the brunt of the global crisis—and no segment was spared. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) Travel Report 2020-2021, only airlines keep customer satisfaction moving in a positive direction. The car rental industry holds steady, yet guest satisfaction for hotels heads south, as almost every major chain experiences ACSI losses. Satisfaction with online travel agencies sinks to an all-time low. “Prior to the pandemic, the state of customer satisfaction among airline...
A Year Later, the Hotel Industry Recalibrates, Reassesses
HotStats | April 27, 2021
Just over a year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the global hotel industry is—slowly—stirring from hibernation and seeing at least modest gains in traveler demand. The wait has been long, and it remains a work in progress. But making headway is all you can ask for after a 12-month headache. In the U.S., which saw performance calve last March, before bottoming out in April, small gains continued to be made in most key performance indicators in March 2021—though the strides only shined a light on the decrepitude that was 2020. Consider gross operating profit per available room, which was up 328.9...
Hotels, Labor Union Announce Targeted Industry Relief
AHLA | April 27, 2021
AHLA, UNITE HERE & Representative Crist (D-Fla.) to Join Virtual Press Conference WASHINGTON – April 27, 2021 – On Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m. EST, the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) president and CEO Chip Rogers along with UNITE HERE president D. Taylor will join U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) to host a virtual press conference announcing new legislation to provide targeted relief to the ailing hotel industry. The introduction of this critical legislation comes at a time when the hotel industry has lost 10 years of job growth, is shuttering doors and losing employees for good. Leisure and hospita...
The Castell Project Releases Fourth Annual Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership Report
THE CASTELL PROJECT | April 27, 2021
ATLANTA — April 27, 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 released the 2021 Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report. Celebrating its fourth year, the report details women’s progress in leadership within the hospitality industry. “While the rhetoric surrounding women and diversity in leadership escalated in 2020, the needle barely moved, exacerbated by COVID-related layoffs and furloughs,” said Peggy Berg, chair, Castell Project, Inc. “The effects of the pandemic on women and minorities ...
GBTA Poll: Positive Momentum Continues for Return to Business Travel
the Global Business Travel Association | April 26, 2021
Alexandria, VA – April 26, 2021 – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association, today issued the findings from its 18th COVID-19 poll assessing the impact of the pandemic and the road to recovery for the business travel industry. Nearly one-quarter of poll respondents report that their company has resumed non-essential business travel, or that the company has in place a plan to resume travel. This latest poll shows multiple positive signs for business travel recovery, including an increase in willingness to travel, a decrease in trips cancelled and a more optimistic view towards retur...
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Announces the 9th Annual Pebby Award Winners
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | April 26, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - April 26, 2021 - Pebblebrook Hotel Trust today announced the winners of its Ninth Annual Pebby Awards. The Pebby Award winners were chosen for their outstanding accomplishments in 2020, as determined by the Company. “This year, a Pebby Award symbolizes not only hotel management excellence, but extraordinary work despite severely restrictive conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jon E. Bortz, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. “Today, we recognize and celebrate our talented property teams and skilled asset managers, and we look forward to jou...
Siegel Sez: The COVID Year – What Tech Changes Will Last?
April 23, 2021
I will encourage you to read Doug Rice’s column that follows which includes the latest technology news. This week Doug talks about the technology changes inspired by COVID-19, which will stay, and which won’t. For those of you who have been out to eat - would you really want to look at a menu any other way than holding it in your hand when COVID-19 is behind us? Doug brings up some good points as to possibly why you wouldn’t, especially if you owned the restaurant. There will be a transition in the world and especially in the hotel industry as the recovery gains legs. Leisure travel will probably set records this year and groups and ...
Will the Lodging Industry’s Supply Growth Outpace Demand Growth?
Linchi Kwok | April 22, 2021
By Linchi Kwok The COVID-19 vaccination rate is climbing steadily in the U.S. At its current rate, three in four people, or 75% of eligible residents, will be vaccinated by June. Businesses are reopening. The U.S. economy is now operating at 88% of its pre-pandemic level, with hope for continuous improvement. People want to travel again. In mid-March, Disneyland announced it would reopen on April 30. Now, all reopening day reservations for both single-park and park-hopper tickets are sold out already. On April 2, the Friday before Easter, TSA screened over 1.58 million people at airport checkpoints, the highest number sinc...
Half of Americans are Likely to Take a Summer Vacation and Many Plan to Spend Big
The Points Guy | April 22, 2021
NEW YORK - April 22. 2021 - Half of U.S. adults (50%) are likely to take at least one vacation this summer (June – September 2021), according to a new study by The Points Guy and Healthline Media. The interest in taking a summer vacation rises with those who are likely to get a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine or are already vaccinated (54%) versus not likely to get a vaccine (40%). Of those who aren’t taking a summer vacation, more than 2-in-5 say they can’t afford it (41%), the most popular reason overall. Click here for more information: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/summer-vacation-cost-health-trends/ While 27% are very likely and...
Travel + Leisure Announces the 2021 It List of Best New Hotels
TRAVEL + LEISURE | April 20, 2021
NEW YORK - April 20, 2021 - Meredith Corporation's Travel + Leisure announces its annual It List of the best new hotels of the year, spotlighting the 73 most remarkable new and newly redone properties around the globe. Selected by the editors of Travel + Leisure, the hotels on this 16th annual list provide experiences that are sure to inspire wanderlust, offering travelers more reasons to make plans to get up and go. The 2021 It List is featured in the May issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands now, and at www.travelandleisure.com/it-list. Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure, said, "It's an honor to recognize each o...
HSMAI Foundation Distributes COVID Relief Grants to More Than 260 Hospitality Professionals Around the World
HSMAI Foundation | April 20, 2021
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation is supporting the hospitality industry by distributing more than $130,000 in HSMAI Foundation COVID Relief Fund grants to more than 260 hospitality professionals around the world. The HSMAI Foundation COVID Relief Fund was established in 2020 with the generous support of benefactors and individual donors. The fund provides HSMAI membership and educational grants for HSMAI programs to members and non-member industry professionals in need due to challenging circumstances related to the global pandemic. The first quarterly call for HSMAI Foundation COVID R...
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