Summarizing the Financial Consequences of the Pandemic
Larry Mogelonsky | October 28, 2020
HSMAI Foundation to Honor Leadership During the Pandemic With Adrian Awards
The HSMAI Foundation | October 19, 2020
Industry Happenings
Tourism Tidbits: Thinking About Our Security Needs Once We Have Gone Beyond Covid-19
Peter Tarlow | November 2, 2020
By Dr. Peter Tarlow In today’s very politically and economically unstable world the tourism and hospitality industries have no choice but to be sensitive to the needs of security and safety (S&S), and to emphasize public health requirements. Despite this needed emphasis on Covid-19 and the universal pandemic, other classical issues of tourism security and safety still exist and should not be ignored. Security and safety professionals continuously reexamine these issues and are constantly seeking new ways to assure that the public is safe during its travel experience. Each security incident makes the travel industry’s many com...
The Outlook for Hospitality: Silver Linings in the Midst of Crisis
Fran Worrall | November 2, 2020
Vendors Address The Future of The Industry, Part 1 By Fran Worrall During the past seven months, the hospitality industry has faced the worst crisis in recent history. As COVID-19 has spread around the globe, hotels have been forced to lay off employees, curtail services and in some cases close. At some point, however, the world will regain its equilibrium. Consumers will be eager to travel again. And businesses will want to hold group meetings and conferences. What will the hotel landscape look like? Can anything positive come out of this crisis? We talked with a number of vendors for this multi-part series on the outlook for ho...
STR: Canada Hotel Results for Week Ending 24 October
STR | October 30, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—STR data for 18-24 October 2020 showed slightly higher occupancy, but lower rates from prior weeks for Canada’s hotel industry. 18-24 October 2020 (percentage change from comparable week in 2019): Occupancy: 31.1% (-55.6%) Average daily rate (ADR): CAD112.33 (-28.7%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): CAD34.89 (-68.4%) Occupancy for previous weeks came in at 29.9% (17 October), 32.2% (10 October), and 34.0% (3 October), respectively. For the week ending with 24 October, British Columbia recorded the highest occupancy level (40.2%) among the provinces. Vancouver (35.7%) was the only ...
U.S. Hotel Occupancy Falls Below 50% Mark
STR | October 30, 2020
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—U.S. weekly hotel occupancy fell back below the 50% mark, according to the latest data from STR through 24 October. 18-24 October 2020 (percentage change from comparable week in 2019): Occupancy: 48.0% (-31.7%) Average daily rate (ADR): US$95.49 (-29.4%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$45.83 (-51.8%) Aggregate data for the Top 25 Markets showed lower occupancy (43.2%) but higher ADR (US$99.81) than all other markets. Four of those major markets reached or surpassed 50% occupancy: Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia (54.1%); Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida (53.8%); Phoenix, Arizona...
174M Travel & Tourism Jobs Could Be Lost Due to COVID-19 and Travel Restrictions, Says WTTC
WTTC | October 30, 2020
Research reveals small yet positive job gains, driven by the return of domestic travel in a number of markets Already in present circumstances, 143m jobs will be impacted Worst forecast can be avoided if an immediate coordinated response is implemented London, UK: New figures from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveal that despite a slight improvement since June, a staggering 174m Travel & Tourism jobs could be lost in 2020 if barriers to global travel remain in place. The new figure comes from WTTC’s latest economic data, which looks at the punishing impact of COVID-19, as well as local and global travel restricti...
Marriott International Update on Conclusion of UK ICO Investigation Into Starwood Database Security Incident
Marriott International | October 30, 2020
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (“Marriott”) acknowledges the decision issued today by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (the “ICO”), which brings an end to the UK and EU regulatory investigation of the Starwood reservations database incident reported by Marriott in November 2018. The decision includes a fine of £18.4 million. Marriott does not intend to appeal the decision, but makes no admission of liability in relation to the decision or the underlying allegations. As the ICO acknowledges, Marriott cooperated fully throughout the investigation. Marriott deeply regrets the incident. Marriott remains commit...
Case Study: Hotel Paso Del Norte Re-Opens as One of the First Autograph Collection Hotels Using Bipolar Ionization for Air Purification
Greenwood Hospitality | October 29, 2020
When the historic Hotel Paso Del Norte began a full-property renovation three years ago, the hotel’s leadership had a vision to restore the property to its former glory. In addition to completely new furniture, fixtures, and amenities in guestrooms and public areas, the historic hotel is now one of the first Autograph Collection hotels in Marriott International’s portfolio to make use of bipolar ionization to purify and sanitize air on-property at all times. The bipolar ionization system works differently from traditional air filtration systems, which gradually replaces air within a property over time. The system at work in the Hotel...
Support Grows for Hotel Industry’s Safe Stay; Former CDC, WHO Official, & Infectious Diseases Society of America Endorse Guidelines
AHLA | October 28, 2020
Washington (October 28, 2020) — Support for the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Safe Stay initiative continues to grow with endorsements coming from leading scientists, physicians and public health experts in epidemiology and infectious disease. The new endorsements come from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Linen Management which represents the personnel involved in the textile care industry, as well as a certified industrial hygienist and former infectious diseasesepidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and World Health Organization...
Summarizing the Financial Consequences of the Pandemic
Larry Mogelonsky | October 28, 2020
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) Is COVID-19 the Armageddon for the hotel industry? That’s the first question I asked Dr. Donald W. Wise, co-founder and senior managing director of Turnbull Capital Group. With over 36 years of investment banking experience in the hospitality industry, he and this firm have been involved in roughly $20 billions of advisory, consultation, note sales, preferred equity and debt placements, and transactional engagements on both the buy-side and the sell-side. Given our current state of affairs, it behooves all senior executives and aspiring hoteliers to know a bit about the behind-clo...
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Outperforms Industry Through Rapid Execution of Plan as Pandemic Quickly Spread
Hospitality Ventures Management Group | October 26, 2020
Company Shares Strategies Leading to Significant Outperformance for Stronger GOPPAR Results and GOP Percentage ATLANTA, October 26, 2020—Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, today shared key elements of its strategy that led to significant industry outperformance in multiple metrics, according to STR data around expenses and operating margins. For the three-month period June through August 2020, HVMG delivered substantially greater GOPPAR (Gross Operating Profit Per Available Room) and GOP percentage than the industry and continues to outperform indu...
Pacific Countries: From the Highs to the Lows, Where Does Performance Stand Now?
STR | October 26, 2020
Countries across the world have seen various levels of impact over the last seven months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So where exactly do Pacific countries stand now? We look at how performance has changed over the course of the pandemic. Australia Australia experienced its lowest occupancy and RevPAR levels in April, 19.8% and AUD23.59, respectively. ADR, on the other hand, was at its lowest a month later in May at AUD118.36. Performance has since grown in the country as restrictions have ultimately eased. The country saw its highest performance levels in July: occupancy (41.5%), ADR (AUD143.96) and RevPAR (AUD59.72). In August, however, ...
Call to Action for Hospitality, Event and Travel Professionals to Take Part in Research Ahead of HSMAI Europe Curate
HSMAI Europe | October 22, 2020
Research to guide debate and identify potential challenges and solutions about the future of the events and diversity and discrimination in the industry LONDON, October 2020 – Hospitality, events and travel professionals across the UK and Europe are invited to take part in two research projects ahead of HSMAI Europe Curate virtual conference which is taking place 3 - 4 November this year. The research focuses on both discrimination and diversity in the industry as well as the future of events; identifying current challenges and potential solutions faced by the industry - particularly in light of the pandemic. Industry professionals ca...
A Message to the Travel, Lodging and Hospitality Industry That May Save your Business
Frederick J. DeMicco | October 22, 2020
By F.F. Miles and Frederick DeMicco Ph.D., Professor, the Franke College of Business, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Northern Arizona University With our extraordinary downturn in hospitality and travel, I sought out a corporate business traveler, a frequent flyer, road warrior extraordinaire and someone in our global travel industry who occupies the C-Suite. With travel starting to spring back to life, especially for leisure travelers, I thought it would be a good idea to interview a frequent traveler to learn what life is all about today when flying, staying in hotels and renting cars, etc. Below reflects my interview wi...
As More Companies Let Employees Work From Home Permanently, What Is the Outlook of Business Travel?
Linchi Kwok | October 22, 2020
By Linchi Kwok When the pandemic hit the global economy in March, business travel was estimated to lose $820 billion in revenue. Under the best scenario, businesses were expected to reopen in late spring or early summer. As we entered into the summer, indicators showed travel and hospitality businesses were picking up, but we all knew travel recovery would not occur until people are taking business trips again. “Travel, as we knew it, is over,” concluded by Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Now in October, we still have not contained the coronavirus. To make it worse, new COVID-19 cases now surge again across the US and Europe. More co...
Joe D’Alessandro and Ernest Wooden Jr. to Be Inducted Into U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders
U.S. Travel Association | October 22, 2020
WASHINGTON (October 22, 2020) — Travel industry leaders Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association, and Ernest Wooden Jr., former president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, will be honored as the 2020 inductees into the U.S. Travel Association Hall of Leaders, the organization announced Wednesday. Distinguished individuals are named to U.S. Travel’s Hall of Leaders for “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry and raised industry-wide standards.” With these two inductions, 102 travel industry luminaries have been named to th...
Nominations Open for HSMAI 2020 Top 25 and Lifetime Achievement Honors
HSMAI | October 21, 2020
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) Americas is now accepting nominations for its Lifetime Achievement and Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization honors. HSMAI will recognize honorees during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Dinner in conjunction with the HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference and other HSMAI Marketing Week events in 2021. Nominations are open until December 1, 2020. HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards HSMAI’s Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing and Winthrop W. Grice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Public Relations recognize hos...
COVID-19 Recovery: How Hotels Can Reestablish Brand Trust
Dr. Rick Garlick | October 21, 2020
By Dr. Rick Garlick Fall is in full swing and as businesses continue to face myriad challenges related to COVID-19 and economic downturn, brand trust continues to stagnate across the travel, hospitality and leisure sector. As such, several behavioral and attitudinal shifts will have long-term impacts across the industry and cause recovery challenges as consumers resume travel – but there are also some bright spots on the horizon. Where does trust stand? The Magid data shows that, despite significant investments to assure travelers that various venues are safe, the needle is not moving. In April, the first wave of the study showed tha...
The Future of Innovation in Hospitality: Current Best Practices, Key Success Factors and Main Challenges
Dr Carlos Martin-Rios | October 20, 2020
By Dr Carlos Martin-Rios Just before the majority of countries around the world went into lockdown, we (Pr. Martin-Rios from EHL and Pr. Chan from NY Institute of Technology) completed a report on the future of innovation for hospitality. HSMAI America commissioned a scenario study as part of the association's continued commitment to unfolding a vision of the current U.S. hospitality’s emerging sales, marketing and revenue optimization (SMRO) innovation strategic initiatives with its challenges and needs. This report addresses best practices, success factors and challenges for the development of strategic innovation in hospitality in ...
New Hospitality Brand Azumi Launches
Azumi | October 20, 2020
October 2020, JAPAN: Adrian Zecha, Founder of Aman, alongside Japanese hospitality group Naru Developments, announce the launch of their new brand Azumi. The brand will offer a fresh take on the Japanese ryokan by combining the wholehearted, personal hospitality that characterizes a traditional stay with the best elements of the global hotel experience. The first Azumi property is scheduled to open in the Setouchi Region of Japan in Spring 2021. The ryokan - a type of Japanese inn - can be traced back to as early as the 8th century, serving as a waypoint for weary travellers to refuel and rest overnight. While modern hotels have been d...
Vesta Hospitality to Manage New Hilton Garden Inn Wilsonville Portland
Vesta Hospitality | October 19, 2020
Vancouver, Washington, October 19, 2020 – Vesta Hospitality announced it has been selected to manage the new Hilton Garden Inn Wilsonville Portland in Wilsonville, Oregon. The hotel will open later this month. Vesta Hospitality President Mark Hemmer made the announcement. The hotel has 118 rooms and features first-rate amenities including an indoor pool, fitness center, two meeting rooms, and Parkway Grille serving northwest regional American style cuisine and local wines, local brews and specialty cocktails. It is located off I-5, just north of the Willamette River and down the street from Memorial Park and is also only 20 minutes from ...
HSMAI Foundation to Honor Leadership During the Pandemic With Adrian Awards
The HSMAI Foundation | October 19, 2020
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation is proud to honor hospitality professionals and organizations who have excelled in providing exemplary leadership in uncertain times with the second-ever Talent and Leadership Development Adrian Award. The pandemic has caused significant challenges in human resources during the pandemic, with major layoffs, furloughs, and reorganization – for this reason, it is important now, more than ever, to recognize leadership under trying circumstances. “Strong leadership has been absolutely essential in 2020,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO ...
Study: In Era of COVID-19, Airlines and Airports Must Do More to Accommodate Stressed-Out Passengers
Florida Atlantic University | October 19, 2020
Personalized Profiles, Encouraging Messages Would Help Travelers Cope BOCA RATON, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2020) – With the coronavirus crisis dealing the travel industry one of the biggest blows in its history, a new study from researchers at Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast universities suggests that airlines and airports should be doing more to help passengers cope with stress. Airlines and airports need to design services and create marketing strategies for passengers dealing with stressful leisure travel, according to Ye Zhang, Ph.D., and Melanie Lorenz, Ph.D., both of FAU, and Jase Ramsey, Ph.D., of FGCU. The study, published i...
Siegel Sez – This Year’s Odd HITEC Pilgrimage
Douglas Rice | October 16, 2020
October 16, 2020 I took three flights last week and, yes, they were all horse related. I flew three legs on three airlines-- Southwest, Jet Blue and Delta. After meeting with friends who flew American and United, all I can say is stick to the three I mentioned. I can’t believe other airlines are packing people in. The three I flew all kept the middle seats empty and if you were lucky enough to get upgraded to first class on Delta they kept the seat next to you unoccupied. Maybe I am overreacting, but if our ultimate goal is to get people flying and staying in hotels again it helps knowing that some airlines are doing what they can to mak...
U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey 2020
Luigi Major | October 15, 2020
By Luigi Major In 2019, the national lodging market reached new heights, with hotels reporting the highest occupancy and ADR levels ever recorded. Similarly, hotel development continued at a steady pace, with new hotels opening to a burgeoning market and new and exciting projects continuously being moved through the development pipeline. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, government restrictions, travel and group cancellations, and an overall fear of traveling have caused an unprecedented drop in travel and tourism demand in the country and around the world, which has resulted in substantially lower occupancies and average rates. T...
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